Disclaimer: Naruto, his friends and the world he lives in don't belong to me but to Masashi Kishimoto. I write this story only for my pleasure and I don't make any money with it.


Chapter Twenty-Six: The second letter

They might have done some touristy stuff the next day but Sasuke insisted that they did not go to some museum or exhibition but just paid a visit to the center of town, where he headed straight to the big book store at the market place. Once arrived, he went equally straight to one of the shop assistants.

"I need to find out about the game we saw yesterday", he said. "What was it called again, Naruto?"

"Football."

"Yeah, football. I need to know how it works."

The shop assistant led him upstairs, with Naruto in tow, and showed him a table full of books. With great astonishment (living at Orochimaru's place had led to some deficits in his education) Sasuke looked at the huge piles of thick large-formatted volumes, and when he opened them he found them filled with coloured photos, mostly of famous players, but also of teams or important scenes, with the occasional snapshot of a pretty fan in between. There were also tiny bits of text, all of them completely incomprehensible to Sasuke.

"I need explanations, not pictures", he told the shop assistant.

"Oh, sure", she answered and went to the shelves that covered the walls of the shop. "Here's a book on the history of football, and there's one that tells what happens behind the scenes and how in foreign countries the big clubs have become major business corporations."

"I don't need to know about foreign countries", he replied. "I need to know about the game itself."

The woman took a book from two shelves below the first one.

"Here's one that explains the technics of handling the ball, and some basic tactical moves. It's for kids who learn to play, though of course they mainly learn during training, not from books. Coming to think of it it's probably a book for aunts who hope that a book on football will finally make their nephews read."

With this book Sasuke took some more time to have a look at it while the shop assistant continued taking books from the shelf and putting them into his free hand. "They are from other publishing houses", she said. "You might want to have a look at them too."

"Thanks. It's fine but it's not what I'm looking for. I want to know why young strong men listen to someone who's twice their age and much weaker and accept his decisions when they are fighting for their part of town."

The shop assistant looked at him confusedly. "Well, it's not fighting but football, and he's the referee, isn't he?"

Sasuke had never heard of the term, and looked as confused as she was.

"I think I will manage by myself", he said, attempting to smile.

"Oh, just do. Take as long as you want. Over there in the corner are some chairs where you may sit down to look and read."

Sasuke followed her advice and went to that corner. Naruto went with him.

"You might have asked me to help you", he said. "Maybe I would have been quicker to discern what you want."

Sasuke glared at him. "You don't trust me to deal with a shop assistant, do you? Or to choose a book by myself?"

He was determined to learn to live at that place, and understanding football was part of it, just as getting along with the locals.

Naruto shrugged. "They have a cafe in the second store. I'll wait for you there: join me when you've completed your mission."

Naruto did not take the direct way to the cafe but chose a detour via the department for fiction: He wanted to look for the Gutsy Ninja, to see whether it was really out of print. Indeed he found almost the complete Icha-Icha series on the shelf, yet not the Gutsy Ninja. It might be a coincendence – they might have just sold their last copy. He decided to ask one of the shop assistants (not the one who had been harassed by Sasuke) whether the Gutsy Ninja was still available, and followed her to her desk where she took a huge book from the shelf and tried to look it up.

"It's not in here", she said. "I'll have a look into the Books in Print itself."

It was a bit smaller than the previous book, but part of a multi-volume series (volume Ji). "Here I have it", she said. "Out of print. "No new edition planned. Sorry."

Naruto should have been prepared for the answer, but it was no help. He felt sad and disappointed when he went upstairs to the cafe, wondering about himself how it should be possible that he was mourning for a book. He was mourning for Jiraiya himself, he realized. It had been his most personal, least commercial book, the book his heart had gone into, and in spite of the technical flaws Karin had pointed out it was, in Naruto's opinion, Jiraiya's best book and the only one that had managed to move him. In this book, not in his erotic romances, Jiraiya lived on for him, and the fact that it was out of print made him think that he was even more dead.

Naruto had ordered his second coke when Sasuke finally turned up. He had bought not one book, but three: A very small one, containing the rules of football (written especially for tourists), a bigger one with pictures about the history of football in Music Town (Sasuke did not take any interest in countries beyond the mountains, beyond the desert, beyond the sea) and then a Do-it-yourself-book on carpentry.

"This is an amazing place", he said. "They have books on everything."

He sat down and opened the book on the history of football in Music Town. "It's for you", he said. "It's even got some pictures of your hero. Here, the guy with the number ten."

Naruto was stunned. He had not got many presents in his life, not even on normal occasions as his birthday or the day when he had graduated from the academy, and now Sasuke presented him with a book on what seemed to be a whim.

Sasuke watched him, very content that he had managed to surprise Naruto. To him it seemed perfectly appropriate that he should use the first money he had earned in this place to buy a present for Naruto to thank him for his hospitality. He was also pleased that he had managed to make up with the shop assistant, telling her that he had found what he wanted and thanking her for her support. She had accepted his thanks, making him feel that he might learn to live here. Only when he had smiled she had blushed and turned her face, which was a bit annoying.

He was not sure actually whether he would really find in this book the answer to the questions that had bugged him since yesterday evening: how it was possible to win or lose without actually fighting or hurting each other, and why they had all listened to the man in black, even though they were younger and stronger than him. He might not find the answers to these questions, but he was confident that he had found a beginning.

He ordered some coffee (a drink he had not known before he had come to Music Town, but he wanted to find out about it too) and then listened to Naruto, who had already found the photos of the current team of Inner Center and tried to explain to him their different personalities, and then they turned to the chapter that explained how the club had been founded in answer to the creation of the new club of Center Uptown.

Life gained a certain routine during the following days. At some time after breakfast they went out as Naruto's apartment was rather crowded even when Juugo was not with them. Naruto found out that it was best to give the magazine with events to Sasuke and let him choose what they would do – in most cases he'd opt for something where they would mix with the locals, not the tourists, and Naruto actually preferred this to the more fancy stuff he would have chosen to please his guest. If Sasuke didn't find anything they simply walked through town, having a look at shop windows and sometimes even doing some actual shopping. (Sasuke had decided that in order to better blend in he needed to replace the violet rope he used to hold his pants in place with something less extravagant. He hoped that it would stop the female part of the population from staring at him, but it didn't work.)

Later they'd go to Heroes' Park, have picnic and talk. There were fewer awkward silences now, as working in the restaurant always gave them something to talk about, yet they both were aware that they were steering carefully around the topic that was most important to them and that would have given some depth to their conversations: The political situation in Konoha, and how they might gain revenge for Sasuke. (He kept collecting newspaper articles though.)

When they returned to Naruto's place they'd both take a break. Sasuke would read (he was still reading the Gutsy Ninja) while Naruto just lay on the bed and listened to some music until their shift started.

At the end of the week it was time for Sasuke to collect his new contacts and he insisted on going on his own. Naruto felt irritated, he wondered what he had done to annoy Sasuke, and even though he knew that it was irrational (Sasuke's backpack still leant against a wall, his katana still lay on Naruto's wardrobe, and the picture of his family still stood on the sideboard) he was worried that Sasuke might not return.

On the other hand it came convenient that he had some time to spend by himself, as some days ago he had received a letter from Sakura which he did not want to read when Sasuke was present. He opened the envelope and another, smaller envelope fell out of it, addressed to Sasuke. Well, it was to be expected. He put it aside and read what Sakura had written to himself.

Dear Naruto!

I am glad that you're doing well at that place where you are staying. I am glad to know that you are far from Konoha and safe – be glad too: Wherever you are, it must be better than here. I wish you all the best!

Here, the situation is getting worse from day to day. Shikaku, Shikamaru's father, has been demoted to chuunin on the ground that as the father of a man who has betrayed the village he can no longer be trusted to act in the best interest of Konoha. I heard the news from him personally as I happened to be visiting Shikamaru's mother, who wanted to discuss the latest news of Temari's baby, when he came back from his appointment with Danzou. For about one hour it was impossible to interrupt him while he was ranting against Danzou, who fails to value what he has done for the village in more than twenty years, not counting how many times he has risked his life and never failed to put the village above his own interests. He also cursed his own son for being careless, but mostly he blamed Danzou and how he ruined our alliance with the Sand. When he had finished ranting he went to his room and shut himself in, and neither me nor his wife could talk to him.

Shikaku's seat in the village council and also in the Jounin assembly has been taken by a member of Root, and the same goes for Kakashi's seat. Kakashi is more relaxed about it, he has accepted that he won't be able to take up his career as a ninja. He still works as a nurse for Tsunade, and when there's nothing else to do he reads the Ichi-Icha-series to her and they have a lot of fun. He says that he is glad that he is no longer part of the administration of Konoha and does not have to take responsibility for decisions he doesn't really approve it.

I still do my best at the hospital. Cheating has become more difficult now; we have a new director, a member of Root too, and he checks every attestation I write to see whether people are really as ill as I say they are. I suspect however that he does not know much about medical ninjutsu: a few times now I've caught him talking utter rubbish and I guess that he won't notice if with some little tricks of mine I'll make my patients appear much worse off than they really are. I wish I had not to resort to such tricks to gain them the time they need to recover their strength. Two people have already died because someone (not they themselves) has messed up for lack off sleep, but Danzou does not see that he cannot waste people's lives as this.

We also have a special department in the hospital now, dedicated to the treatment of members of Root. None of the regular staff are permitted to enter, but their med nins keep swarming through the hospital, claiming the best equipment and the most expensive medicaments for themselves. I used to love my job, but now I stick to it only out of a sense of duty.

Shikamaru's mother has found a way to send letters to the Sand without any censorship. Some of the guys who do guard duty are her friends. She says that she couldn't do without news of her grandchild – I wonder how she'll behave once it's born. She is also looking forward to the wedding itself, but I fear that she and Shikaku won't be allowed to go. Not trustworthy enough. Shikamaru is already living at the Sand and will remain there.

I wish I had better news for you. People complain of the strain and the restrictions but most of them think that they are necessary. Few talk of what has allegedly happened to you, as if it was only natural that the host of the kyuubi has to be shut away.

Sai has asked about you again, however. He is glad that you are doing fine and he hopes that you will continue to do so. He told me that he is particularly happy that you have found Sasuke – he remembers how much you longed for him. I long for him too, by the way, and I still wonder how you almost forgot to mention that you found him. Have you managed to keep him with you at that place you are staying at, or is he still bent on revenge and denies all his former bonds? Tell him that I love him and long for his return and that I will wait for him, no matter how long it takes.

Keep well! Remember that I care for you!

Love, Sakura

Naruto put down the letter. It gave him a weird feeling – he had avoided thinking of Konoha these last days, mostly because thinking of Konoha meant thinking of a way to help Sasuke gain his revenge without getting killed himself, and with leaving him, Naruto, a chance to be appointed Hokage one day. Sakura's letter reminded him that even without taking his promise to Sasuke into account Danzou could not remain Hokage of Konoha. Only that he had no idea how to turn him out of office, just as little as he knew how to help Sasuke.

He sat down to answer Sakura's letter, but just then Sasuke returned from the ophthalmologist, blinking and very carefully rubbing his eyes, for the first time for more than a week without glasses and obviously very satisfied with himself. (Happy would be too much. Naruto had no idea how Sasuke looked when he was happy, but, well, the satisfied expression he was wearing at the moment was a first step, and a weird contrast to the concern for Konoha Naruto had felt after reading Sakura's letter.)

"You look good when you're smiling", he said. "But not as cute as with glasses."

Sasuke did not know what to make of this compliment, and his confused looks allowed Naruto to feel superior again.

"Sakura has written", he continued. "She sends you her love and her regards and also a small letter just for you."

He passed him the letter, and Sasuke opened and read it, raising his brows (but this may also have been an effect of the new contacts.)

Dear Sasuke!

Naruto told me that you're with him, and I hope that you still are, so that my words will reach you. I just want to tell you that I still love you and that every morning I wake up thinking of you and hoping that you're doing fine. Will you ever find your way back to Konoha?

With all my love, Sakura

Sasuke felt irritated and annoyed by these words, and he wanted to forget them as soon as he had read them, but of course it did not work. He'd have to deal with Sakura, someday, somehow. What was more worrying to him was the fact that apparently Naruto still tried to press Sakura on him. But he had complimented him on his looks, hadn't he, and he didn't seem to want Sakura for himself, but still nourished that foolish dream of seeing Sasuke happy with her. (Which would never be the case, Sasuke knew. Lines as the ones he had just read only drove him crazy.)

Where had the optimism gone that had filled his heart when he had entered? An optimism that had nothing to do with his revenge – imagining the completion of his revenge gave him a sense of fulfilment, and it seemed fitting that afterwards he would die, even though Naruto did not approve of it, but what he was looking forward to now rather felt as if a new path opened to him, a small path branching off from the general route of his life for some short time and soon uniting with it again to be sure, and still it gave him joy.

"I have some news too", he announced. "You remember those guys we watched on the festival two weeks ago? I have enregistered at a dance school where they teach to dance like them."

"What?" Naruto asked, utterly surprised as this was not what he would have expected of Sasuke.

"They were beautiful to watch, I thought. I want to learn this too. Besides, you said yourself that dancing was a requirement if one wanted to stay for longer."

It doesn't make sense, Naruto thought. Not with the way he acts around Karin, not with the way he acts around any female he was not acquainted with.

The explanation followed: "They asked me to name a partner. I gave them your name."

"What?" Naruto exclaimed again, and then, a bit calmer: "Why me? Why not some girl?"

"I don't know any girl here."

"Karin would love it."

"I wouldn't. Besides, you need to learn to dance too if you want to stay."

"But we don't want to stay. We want to return to Konoha."

"As long as it takes you to come up with a decent plan to fulfill your promise your should seriously consider learning to dance. Authorities here will begin to suspect that you are intending to stay for real."

Naruto did not have any answer to this.