~~ Okay, I'm super happy that everyone likes that I brought Sasuke back in the picture, I wasn't sure how that was going to go. Anyways, thanks for reading. (=^_^=)~~
The sun set over the hills in the distance, outside of the massive gates that surrounded the prosperous village of Konoha. Not all was peaceful however, as Kakashi had run through the town carrying an fatigued and bleeding Naruto, and Sakura had run carrying a very dead looking Sasuke. Not many villagers knew what had taken place, but they were worried for Naruto's well being. The Ninja of Konoha were irritated however. They remembered exactly what took place between those two three years prior. Shikamaru was deeply disgusted, as was Garra. Both Ninja immediately wanted to tear Sasuke limb from limb for hurting Naruto once more.
As it was now, Naruto was bandaged up from several gashes, and was feeling the effects of his seals being overused. Unknowingly, Naruto had opened his Kyuubi seal, along with his Legendary Seal, which had caused a serious chakra unbalancing. He sat on the window seal in Sasuke's hospital room, his legs hanging over the edge, his eyes focused on nothing but the past. Sasuke lay in the hospital bed, still unconscious, and bandaged up as well, with more serious injures.
Tsunade has ordered that no one enter the room, she knew that Naruto needed some time. Something was wrong in his eyes when she had seen him as he entered the village. They seemed darker, distraught. The customary flame was not present. Naruto would not take anything for the pain however, and this worried Tsunade further. Hinata had decided to visit Neji and Hanabi and share the news of her pregnancy, and an invitation to her wedding, which would be in a week or so. She was thrilled about her wedding, but deeply worried about Naruto, more than anyone else.
As Naruto sat, Sakura opened the door and her voice barely audible spoke
"Naruto-kun? Is it okay if I come in?"
Naruto did not respond. He sat in silence, not even blinking. Sakura sighed, and walked in, gently closing the door. Her sea foam eyes rested on Sasuke, lying peacefully asleep. She walked over, and brushed his bangs from his peaceful face with her slightly shaking fingertips.
"Isn't this ironic Naruto? This seems all too familiar. I should be in here with an apple, cutting it, and offering it to Sasuke." she paused as Naruto visibly stiffened. " Oh, Naruto would you please talk to me?" Sakura whispered, her eyes filling with tears.
"I… I just don't know anymore Sakura." Naruto whispered, his voice raucous. " When I was fighting Sasuke… something inside of me snapped. I could feel my desire for bloodlust. It clouded my judgment. I know I dipped into the Kyuubi form, although I don't understand how I stayed in my Legendary form. Sakura, he was pleading for me to understand, all I could feel was hate. I wanted to break him, fight him. I wanted to make him feel what you and I felt the moment he left. I wanted him to see what I saw when I saw him sever our bonds. Sakura, tell me what am I supposed to do? This pain, it has not gone away. I feel disdain rise up in my throat like vomit when I look at him. Yet, I feel the bonds that we once shared. I want to help him, I want to earn his trust." Naruto spoke, his words wavering.
Not speaking, Sakura ran forward and embraced Naruto crying. Naruto returned the embrace and cried right along with her.
"I want to tell Hina what is going on. I love her with all of my heart. She's the only one in the world for me, but she doesn't understand. She wasn't the one in our squad. You know Sakura, we share the same pain, and I don't have to explain anything. I need that right now." Naruto sobbed.
"Oh Naruto-kun, no one can even fathom the intensity of the emotions we feel. I don't know whether I want to kiss him, or break his jaw." Sakura laughed, removing herself from Naruto's friendly embrace.
"Well, that was embarrassing…." Naruto laughed, his eyes sparkling.
Sakura laughed with Naruto. The two finally calmed down. Naruto walked over to wear Sasuke lay. He kneeled and sighed deeply.
"I just want everything to be the way it was Sakura. I wonder if he even knows that Itachi is dead. I wonder how he will react once I tell him that is was I who killed him." Naruto smirked.
Naruto and Sakura both gasped, as Sasuke's eyes fluttered open. His piercing black eyes were filled with a foreign emotion, could it be… contentment?
"Naruto, Sakura. I am sorry. I want to be here, revenge does not matter anymore. I have been through Hell. Madara and Orichimaru are dead." Sasuke spoke.
"Dead?" Naruto gaped.
"Yes, I killed them both. I was hoping that would clear my name. Naruto, Sakura, please forgive me." Sasuke pleaded, closing his eyes to prevent his tears from spilling out.
Naruto and Sakura both rushed in, and embraced the young Uchiha. Instead of pulling back, Sasuke melted into their embrace. For the first time since his clan's obliteration, Sasuke felt his heart melt. 'This, this is all the family I need. This village, these Ninja, and I will never take them for granted again.'
"Sasuke, I need to talk to you about something…" Naruto paused as he pulled away. " Itachi and Kisame attempted to capture Garra and myself about two months ago. Due to some unfortunate events the Suna 3 have become the Suna 2, and Garra and Temari are now Konoha residents. Anyway, I killed both Kisame and Itachi…" Naruto spoke, choosing his words delicately.
Sasuke's eyes grew wide, and he became still. 'Itachi, dead?' Sasuke thought vaguely. Sasuke jumped out of the bed, and shot his fist through the air.
"Thank you Naruto. Now when the day comes for me to rebuild my clan, I can not fear anything from destroying it!" Sasuke smiled " Come, let us talk to Tsunade."
Naruto and Sakura obliged, and walked towards the Hokage Tower. The villagers viewed a weary eye towards Sasuke, but if Naruto and Sakura were okay with this, then they should not interfere. As they walked up the stairs to the office, they paused behind the impassive doors. They all exchanged anxious looks. The council had no say in this matter, the decision rested completely on Tsunade.
For once in his life, Naruto knocked heavily on the wooden door.
"Enter." A very bored voice sounded from behind the door. The trio sighed, and pushed the door open.
Tsunade gasped, her eyes squinting.
"What the Hell do you two think you are doing? Sit down! For Heaven's sake, you both are still wrapped up!" her motherly instincts kicking in.
Sasuke and Naruto sighed, and rolled their eyes slightly.
"Now, then." Tsunade sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose. " Let's get down to business. Sasuke, tell me, what is your defense for the damage that was left in the wake of your selfish decisions?"
"Lady Tsunade, I was fueled by the desire of the curse mark. I could not fight against it, and I succumbed. I know this doesn't matter, what I did was wrong, and I will forever be haunted by those decisions. I have killed two enemies who were plotting an attack on Konoha however." Sasuke stopped.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow and questioned
"Who?"
"Madara Uchiha, and Orichimaru." Sasuke spoke, his voice clear.
Tsunade raised both eyebrows, and swiveled around in her chair. Her eyes rested on Konoha. If Sasuke was telling the truth, then Sasuke might have saved Konoha from being leveled.
"Here's the deal Sasuke, I am going to summon Yamashiro Aoba. He's going to probe through your mind. If indeed you are not lying, then you will be permitted to re-join the village, if you are lying, you will be removed forever. Deal?" Her voice strong.
"Y..yes." Sasuke stumbled. He wasn't too keen on having some guy flip around his thoughts.
Within a few moments, a ninja unfamiliar to the tree stood before them. He had spiky dark hair, and wore glasses that shielded his eyes. His headband was slightly slanted like Kakashi, except it did not cover his eye. His eyebrows lifted at the sight of Sasuke, although he remained emotionless.
"What is it that you requite of me Hokage- Sama?" Aoba asked quixotically.
"I need you to probe Sasuke's mind, and let me know if he truly killed Madara and Orichimaru." she ordered, her hands folded together.
He nodded, and briskly began the Jutsu. Sasuke fell asleep, and the process began. It took a great deal of time, and Naruto and Sakura both held their breaths. Finally after what had seemed like an eternity, Sasuke woke up with a start.
"He has not lied Lady Tsunade." He saluted, and transported back to his post.
"Come with me you three." Tsunade ordered, briskly walking towards the bookcase. She preformed many signals, and then placed her hand on a book. The bookcases opened, and lead down to a secret passage. The trio looked around, dread etched on their faces.
Finally, they reached a room with tons of Ninja equipment and attire.
"Okay Sasuke, let us begin." Tsunade ordered gently.
Sasuke was transformed back into a Konoha Ninja. He now wore slate gray Jounin pants, with a holster for Kunai. He wore a green rope around his waist, and a black tank top, with a fishnet vest underneath. He wore a light gray battle vest that slung across his chest like a sheath, and another rope that held his Katana onto his back. His shoes were Ninja style, that seemed to blossom on the top. He also wore battle gloves that were fingerless, and bands that covered the midsection of his muscular arms. Lastly, he wore a Konoha headband around his forehead, that pushed his should length bangs away from his face, and the end strands flowed down just past his shoulder blades.
The old team 7 ninja's decided to go to the old Uchiha residence, to clean it up. Unconsciously Sasuke wrapped his arm around the small of Sakura's waist. Unfortunately, Kiba just happened to be walking the same direction, headed to Tsunade as he had just returned from a B ranked mission.
"Sakura!" he shouted, and stopped dead in his tracks. He growled very dog like at Sasuke.
"You traitor! Get your hands off of my girl!"
"Kiba, I am not yours. I am not some possession so let it go. I am sorry, but it wasn't working. You're too controlling. It's over." Sakura spoke, the strength of Tsunade's training radiating out from her voice.
Kiba squinted and walked off briskly. Sasuke chuckled slightly and said
"Oh I thought you were dating Naruto."
"What? Why would you say that?" Sakura laughed.
"When we were fighting, he just got so protective and I noticed he's engaged, so I just assumed." Sasuke laughed.
"Oh, no. Sasuke, I'm engaged to Hinata." Naruto grinned, ruffling his hair.
Sasuke chuckled; relieved that Naruto had finally seen the love Hinata had always had for him.
"Speaking of Hinata, I must go. I have been an emotional wreck, and I need to spend some quality time with my bride to be. I'll see you guys tomorrow. You two behave." Naruto winked, and laughed as Sasuke blushed a deep red.
Naruto ran back to his clan house, smiling widely. 'I will not take my life for granted once more, I will make you proud Jiraiya Sennin!' Naruto thought passionately.
Sasuke and Sakura began to clean his clan's houses, laughing and reminiscing about the shady past and what had happened over the past three years. They sat on the roof of Sasuke's house, gazing into the night's starry sky, wrapped in each other's arms.
~~I had fun with this chapter! I hope you all enjoy it! Review please (=^_^=)~~
+Awoken Dreamer+
