Hey!
Hope you all liked the extra! I'm planning to do a few more similar ones! But before that, let's finish the major story and its plot.
As the title says, it is the long dragged confrontation that is finally here.
Before the chapter, the disclaimer: I'm don't any of the characters, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto; just this single plot going on is from my imagination.
Let's get on with the chapter...
Chapter 28: A Heartfelt Confrontation
Uzushiogakure no Sato
It was about an hour past midnight. Naruto hadn't been able to fall asleep. Her mind was playing with her a lot more that day than it had in years. If she had to say, it would be the time that she was still in shock after the villagers of Konoha had violated her a second time. All other times, she had had her kids to put her mind off. But since the time the group from Konoha had arrived at Uzu, her mind refused to shut up.
Even though she had been able to convince her kids to calm and forgive, deep in her heart, she still felt betrayed. She had trusted her brother with everything since the time he had been told about their relationship after the massacre of the rest of their clan. She had let him into her heart as much as she had allowed her children in.
The moment her Aniki had left to follow that stink of a snake, Orochimaru, she had felt like she had lost a part of herself. He had been her courage, her strength. He had supported and encouraged her to open her heart and be her best self. She had even tried to console herself after the battle with Orochimaru in the forest of death, since the time he had started to ignore her and even started having an aura of hate directed towards her. But he had broken her the moment he left. So much that she had forgotten to protect herself. So much that the moment those vile creatures had touched her, she felt vulnerable, like her old self before he had come into her life. She felt disgusted with herself and she felt that she could never piece herself back together.
The only reason she had been able to live past that incident was for her kids. All three of them. Even though she had Ruka-nī and Kashi-nī, she had kept them at a feet distance with a barrier between them and her. If it hadn't been for Kono-kun and Ume-chan trying to help her along with Jiraya-oji, she wouldn't have been sane again. Then they brought her to Uzu where she found herself a home. The people in Uzu along with Jiraya and the kids, she had rebuilt herself and put a barrier around her past. She had planned to never deal with those memories again.
Whenever she saw him after that day, she had kept the barrier from cracking and breaking. Even the last few days, she had contemplated bringing him back into her life, but she wanted to keep her promise and also give him another chance. Her mind and heart wouldn't have agreed if she didn't do so. Therefore, she sent the letter with permission. But the last forty-eight hours seemed to be proving difficult. Her mind didn't seem to settle down. Finally, after seeing him today, she felt those guilty eyes break her barriers that were built over the years. Even right now, she could see his eyes every time she closed her eyes. Yet, she didn't know how to approach him. She felt scared to allow those walls to break. So she went out to the rooftop of her home.
It was a chilly night. The moon was shining brights forming a single source of light. The breeze reminded her that it was still winter. Still, she sat over there, thinking over what to do. She had to calm herself before her kids saw her the next morning. Else, they would surely recognise her trying to hide her feelings.
After an unknown amount of time, she heard the roof window opening. On sensing the chakra, she realised that it was him. She froze. She didn't know how to face him. But she knew that she had to get over her past before her kids saw through her facade. So she decided to see what happens and face her fears. She patiently waited for him to come and settle down next to her.
They quietly stayed in their position for quite some time. Naruto didn't dare to turn and look at him.
"The moon is beautiful tonight", she started. "It makes Uzu look even more beautiful under the moonlight".
"I'm sorry, Naruto", Sasuke immediately blurted out.
"The peace that has been earned after all the war and tragedy can finally be seen over here. The people have gone through a lot, especially in Uzu", Naruto continued.
"Imōto, I am really sorry", Sasuke tried to stress.
"Oh, so it is Imōto now, is it?", Naruto snapped. "What happened to 'You don't mean anything to me other than a dummy to test my strength against?'. And even better, 'If you hadn't entered my family in the first place, they wouldn't have ever cared for you and started the riot against the village and died in the process'?"
Sasuke flinched at each of those statements. He had said both of them when he fought her the first time at Shūmatsu no Tani (the Valley of the End). He truly regretted ever telling such a thing. He had allowed Orochimaru's power overtake his mind and let go of reality. But he couldn't use them as excuses as it was still his fault for succumbing into that snake's clutches and leaving his family.
"You truly can't be calling me that after you broke every promise you ever made", Naruto continued. "You were the only person I had allowed myself to trust completely, unconditionally and then you just go and shatter it like it never mattered. You left me in a state where I can never ever trust anyone unconditionally. Then, now you come back and try to call me 'Imōto'? Do you even know what I had to go through to get myself back together? How any of it affected me? Do you have any idea how long it took Ruka-nī, Kashi-nī, Pervy Sage and Kono-kun to even make me talk? You have no f***ing idea. So you can't just call me that and ask for our relationship to get back to how it was all those years ago".
Tears started to stream down her face. But she kept her distance. He didn't dare to go near her. He could see the effects, his leaving had had on her. She had hidden the pain from everyone but she wanted him to see it; to know her sufferings that he had caused. He would never forgive himself now. Especially after seeing her in this state. His guilt was at an unmeasurable level now.
"Then why did you ask for me from Konoha", his voice cracked.
"You might have forgotten every single promise you ever made. You might have let your thirst for revenge and power take over you. You might have left your family to hell and gone. But that doesn't mean I'd do the same. I wanted to keep my end of the promise. I had promised you a new home away from Konoha and its people. I promised you that I'd never separate you from the family you have left and to always be there for you whenever you needed me. That's what I'm doing, nī-san. You might have forgotten that you ever had someone back home. But no matter how angry I am with you, I will always love you", answered Naruto. She was so sincere in her words that Sasuke could feel his own heart shatter from the pain he was causing her.
He could feel his own tears flow. "Thank you for everything. I know, that what I did was unforgivable. I won't ask for forgiveness. I don't deserve it. But even I love you, Imōto. I will earn back the right to call you that. No matter how long it takes. I will try my best to be your Aniki again. But you can give me any punishment you want as well", he said.
"I want to allow you in nī-san. But I can't have you shatter my heart again. I'll give you one last chance. But if you fail, I can't let you again. You can stay in this house for as long as you want. I won't separate you from us. But until you gain my trust, you are not allowed near my younger kids, Ume-chan and Kaede-kun without Ruka-nī, Kono-kun, Neji or me around, insight. My kids are my life. I won't allow you to hurt them as you hurt me. That's all, I can ask", she said.
Sasuke could understand her stance. He himself didn't know if he could trust himself around them. He was just thankful that she had allowed him near her sight.
"I also want you to go to a mind-therapist, nī-san. I know one person here, I'll take you over tomorrow morning. I really want you to try and help yourself heal", she added.
"I'll try my best at anything Naruto. If it means I can gain your respect and trust. I'll stay away from all three of them until one of you is around. I'll go to the therapist. I promise. Thank you for giving me a chance", responded Sasuke. "Also, thank you for taking back the Uchiha name", he said sincerely.
"I didn't do it for you, nī-san. Kaa-san, Tō-san and 'Tachi-nī would have wanted me to. But I couldn't bear to keep it when you had said those things all those years ago. Now, though, when you asked me to take it back, I could only think of them wanting me to take it. That's why I took it", she responded.
Sasuke just nodded in understanding.
"You should go back to sleep now. Better be well-rested before I take you to Tetsuya-san tomorrow", she advised before heading back inside.
Sasuke nodded once more and followed her. They both went back inside and headed to their rooms. Sasuke finally felt like he could sleep a bit. His sister had given him a chance and he promised that this time, he wouldn't break it at any cost. Both finally succumbed to their sleep.
Kind of sad but I felt it was a deserved conversation between the siblings. Hope you all liked it!
Thank you all for the follows, fav and support! Do review and let me know how you feel about the story!
As always, see you in the next chapter. Adios!
