Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto walked through the streets heading to their respective homes. Sakura noted that since they were back in the village and the meeting with Tsunade was over, that she felt an enormous weight had simply lifted off her shoulders. She let out a smile.
"What's the smile for?" asked Sasuke.
"It's finally done," she replied. "The war and getting you back both in one fell swoop."
"I didn't know me returning to Konoha was deemed important enough to note in the same sentence as the end of a major war," said Sasuke.
"Sasuke, I know we've kind of said it before, but you don't understand how much stress and concern not to mention emotional issues Naruto and I went through because of what you did," explained Sakura.
"I never asked you to care so much," he said lowly.
"Well, we did. We were classmates, and then we were teammates. We went through so much together before you left even in that short amount of time. I was so worried about why you did what you did," Sakura said.
"Hn," was all that Saskue could reply to Sakura's outpouring. He noted a few tears left the corners of her eyes. She nonchalantly wiped them away. They were tears of relief, not of sadness.
They came to the place where they would part ways for the day. Sakura practically jumped Saskue and held him tight with an unexpected hug. After a second or two, he reciprocated by squeezing her back.
"See you guys tomorrow at training," she said as she jogged away waving.
"Bye Sakura!" shouted Naruto. He turned to his friend. "Let's go home."
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Naruto led Sasuke to his tiny apartment.
"Well, this is home," he said.
"You never moved?" asked Sasuke. He laughed a little. "I think I remember being here a few times back when I was still a Leaf shinobi the first time."
"There was never a reason to move," said Naruto. "It's not like I spend a lot of time in here or anything."
"But now you've got me," said Sasuke. "I'll be here for at least 6 months."
"So?"
"So where am I going to sleep?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto walked over to his one and only closet and started ruffling some things on the top shelf. He eventually emerged with a bunch of what looked like bed linens.
"Here," he said tossing them to Sasuke. "I always keep a spare futon."
"Um….why?" asked Sasuke. "Has anyone ever stayed here?"
"Actually, now that you mention it….no," said Naruto. "But…you just never know."
"Oh I see…are you hoping someone stays the night…someone in particular maybe?" prodded Sasuke.
Naruto opened his mouth, but then thought twice about confiding in Sasuke just yet. After all, on a personal level, they hardly knew each other yet. Also, there was the fact that Naruto hadn't even seen his crush since the war started. She could be completely different for all he knew. "No."
"So there is someone. You know you can't lie to me…you never could," said Sasuke. "But I'll drop it for now."
The two friends set the futon up perpendicular to the foot of Naruto's twin bed.
"I know. When they give me an area of the village to rebuild my clan, you'll have to come live there with me," said Sasuke.
"But I'm not an Uchiha," said Naruto.
"I don't think overpopulation is going to be a problem for a while," noted Sasuke.
"Ah, right," said Naruto.
"There," said Sasuke, referring to the futon set-up. "Home sweet home."
"More like 'bed sweet bed'," said Naruto.
Sasuke's stomach growled and Naruto heard it.
"You got anything to eat?" asked Sasuke.
"What do you think?" Naruto asked. "I just got back here myself. Let me treat you to Ichiraku….I can't believe you haven't had any for six years."
"Deal," said Sasuke.
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"Naruto!" said the owner, Teuchi. "It's been forever since I've seen you. Welcome back!"
"Naruto?" Ayame repeated. She was cooking and wasn't facing the customer area. She turned and saw her favorite blonde-haired shinobi. "You're back! And you're safe!"
"Sure am!" answered Naruto. "Two bowls of ramen with spicy pork, please!"
"Coming right up!" said Ayame.
"So who's your friend here, Naruto?" asked Teuchi.
"Oh this person? He's a teammate of mine, Sasuke Uchiha," Naruto answered.
"Sasuke Uchiha?" Teuchi repeated. His tone was one of disbelief mixed with a bit of disgust. "I thought you had betrayed this village. They actually let you back in here?"
Sasuke took his lumps from the owner without saying a word.
"Don't talk to him that way!" insisted Naruto. "There are a lot of things you guys don't understand. There were reasons he left. It's just going to take time for everyone to get the full story. If the Fifth can forgive him, can't you?"
Teuchi stepped back for a moment. "I'm not sure I like it, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. If Naruto says so, I'm in. He did save this village more than once."
"Tell you what, if this guy right here ever betrays this village again, I give you permission to never serve me ramen again," said Naruto.
"Now that some serious stuff there," noted Ayame. "He would never say that unless he was sure."
"I'm dead serious," said Naruto to the two proprietors.
"Here you go, two bowls of ramen with spicy pork," said Ayame putting the bowls in front of her patrons.
Naruto said his blessings and dug right in. In between bites, he leaned over to Sasuke and said, "You had better never do anything like what you did again. If I couldn't eat here, I would die."
"Thanks for sticking up for me," said Sasuke. "I don't deserve it."
"You give yourself too little credit. When you left here, I never gave up hope that you'd return. I think I may have been the only one. Sakura was close, but I know there was a bit of time there when she wavered as well. Sasuke, I know Itachi was your real brother, but for the record, you will always be a brother to me. If you ever need anything, just ask."
"Thanks, Dobe," said Sasuke.
"Anytime, Teme," answered Naruto.
OlOlOlOlOlO
Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto all showed up at, what used to be, their usual meeting location for a training session. As always, Kakashi was late - but the three members weren't surprised or upset.
"Did you have a good night?" asked Naruto to Sakura.
"I practically passed out," answered Sakura. "How about you, Sasuke? How is sleeping on Naruto's floor?"
"It's comfortable enough," answered Sasuke. "Though getting ready in the morning at the same time is a bit challenging. We were practically running each other over."
"There was no need to rush. Kakashi-sensei hasn't changed in the slightest - he'll be late even today," said Sakura.
"I wonder if Sai will be joining us," said Naruto aloud.
Sakura kind of laughed to herself. "I hate to admit it, but I almost forgot about Sai."
"You mean that really pale guy that I saw you guys with sometimes?" asked Sasuke.
"Yeah, that's the one," said Naruto. "I'll have to tell you the story of how he became a member of the team sometime."
"Is he a good fit?" asked Sasuke.
"...asks the grumpy, moody guy who left the village on his own accord six years ago," added Sakura.
Sasuke shot her a look.
"What?" she said. "It's true. I mean, if you were to ask me now who besides Naruto and me deserves to be the third member of Team 7...which was renamed Team Kakashi, by the way...I'd have to really think about it."
Sasuke decided to not say another word on that subject for now. Didn't these two just happily bring him back to the village? Didn't they just offer to do whatever they could for him? He knew he was going to get guilt trips from others, but wasn't too happy that this particular one was coming from his kunoichi teammate.
Kakashi swooped down and stood next to Naruto.
"Only a little late today, eh Kakashi?" said Naruto.
"Old habits are hard to break," he replied.
"And how is Obito and Rin today?" asked Sakura.
"They are...fine," said Kakashi not really wanting to discuss it any further. He 'checked in' with his two former teammates at the memorial stone each morning before going about his duties as a shinobi whether it be a mission or training.
"Who is Obito? Who is Rin?" asked Sasuke.
"Another time, Teme," said Naruto.
There was another instance of Sasuke being clueless about something that had happened while he was away. This was going to be harder than he thought. He didn't want to feel like a stranger...an outsider...but the fact that he wasn't on the same plane as everyone else anymore definitely didn't help.
"So what are we doing today, sensei?" asked Naruto.
"I thought we'd catch up a bit with one another. I'm sure there are techniques we three have developed that Sasuke is not aware of and vice-versa," explained Kakashi. "It is difficult when teammates don't know about each other's every capability. We need to start there."
"Hai, sensei!" they called.
For the remainder of the day, Team Kakashi demonstrated their abilities to one another starting with the mild techniques and getting more difficult as the day wore on.
Kakashi had a few more jutsu to demonstrate that he had collected as a result of the sharingan, but there were no new developments other than that.
Sakura demonstrated her strength, which Sasuke had an inkling she had developed since he had last trained with her. She had a few more jutsu as well, but she explained that her greatest talent lie with being the 2nd best healer in the Leaf village.
Soon enough, it was time for either Naruto or Sasuke to go and both argued about who should go first and who should go last. The argument was settled by Kakashi by suggesting they show one jutsu at a time and just take turns.
Sasuke could now summon a hawk and fly much like Sai did on his flying birds. It was a useful summons for the team to have access to. Naruto explained that his summons was the same as his father and Jiraya-sensei, one of many who live with the toads at Mount Myoboku.
"Father?" asked Sasuke.
"Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you that, either," Naruto admitted. "I found out who my Mom was as well."
"So who were they?" asked Sasuke.
Naruto hesitated. The whole topic of parents had always been a sensitive one for the Uchiha.
"Um, it's a very long story," said Naruto. "Can I tell you later?"
"Sure," said Sasuke. He exhaled loudly. It was just more info that he didn't have.
"So Sasuke, tell us all about your sharingan," said Kakashi.
"It's at its highest level now. Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," said Sasuke. "I have amaterasu and susanoo...and there are a few other things I am still working on."
Naruto accessed the chakra of the kyuubi within him and started glowing a bright yellow color all over so he could show Sasuke a better view of the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
"Whoa," said Sasuke.
"I've actually got one better," said Naruto. "Kurama and I are on a first-name basis now and I can use Tailed Beast Mode as well. That's like turning in to Kurama himself."
"Kurama is...the nine-tails, right?" asked Sasuke who inferred it though the conversation.
"Don't worry, we didn't know that one either," said Sakura to Sasuke.
"Yeah, that's a new one. It was right at the end of the war Kurama decided to help me out," explained Naruto.
"Well, if you two decided to use your full power in training, I fear we might destroy what has recently been rebuilt in the Leaf village," said Kakashi. "I dare to say we have one of the most terrifyingly powerful teams in Konoha's history. Let's just try to be smart about when and where we use our power, eh?"
"So what now, Kakashi-sensei?" asked Sakura.
It was just then that a genin started running towards the team. "It seems we have company," remarked Sasuke.
The four members of Team Kakashi watched this small boy run up to them.
"A request from the Hokage, sir," said the boy, handing a note to Kakashi. He looked at the note.
"It would seem that Naruto and I are to report to Tsunade's office immediately," said Kakashi.
"Us, too?" asked Sakura.
"No, you two are not mentioned. I guess Naruto and I have plans, but you two are free to go," said Kakashi. "Let's meet again, same time tomorrow."
Kakashi and Naruto started walking away from Sasuke and Sakura. "I wonder what Granny wants now," Naruto whined.
Sakura and Sasuke just stood there for a moment. A slight atmosphere of tension creeped in, though neither one really knew why.
OlOlOlOlOlO
Kakashi and Naruto entered the office of the Hokage.
"I have a task for you two," she said. "I believe it will make your lives easier as well as Sasuke's."