Naruto and Sasuke sat in the training area waiting for their teammates to arrive..
"I told you we were too early, Dobe," said Sasuke.
"Would you have rather waited around my place instead?" asked Naruto.
It was a typical argument between roommates.
"Hey guys," greeted Sakura.
"Hi," they both replied in unison upon hearing their teammate approaching.
Sakura finally reached the boys and started to stretch out her arms and legs.
"So you think we'll actually train today?" asked Sasuke.
"I'm pretty sure we will. I don't think there's much more information that needs to be exchanged," she answered.
Before they knew it, Kakashi swooped down out of nowhere. "Good morning, all."
The three younger members of the team looked at him in silent astonishment.
"What?" asked Kakashi feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
"Sensei, I don't think you've ever been on time. Ever," said Sakura.
Kakashi smiled broadly. "Things went more smoothly than usual, I guess," was the only response he could think of.
"You mean you didn't get lost on the path of life this morning?" questioned Naruto.
Kakashi ignored the comment. "Hurry and get warmed up. We've got some sparring to do today."
"Hai," they all answered.
"Today I want to work on close-combat situations," said Kakashi. "Naruto and Sasuke will begin; however, the boundaries are those trees, that rock, and the stream over there. Oh, and no ninjutsu."
"But sensei!" Naruto whined.
"I mean it Naruto…you guys have to practice your taijutsu as well. You don't know that you will have enough chakra each and every time you battle."
Both of the boys looked at Kakashi with a disbelieving smirk that he had actually just said that.
"I know the chances of it are slim, especially for you two….just do as I ask, ok?" said Kakashi.
Sasuke and Naruto looked at each other and took a ready stance. "You ready, Teme?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke lept forward with a side kick. "Does that answer your question?" he said.
"No fair!" answered Naruto, who easily dodged the kick and immediately punched back.
As Sasuke and Naruto continued to spar, Kakashi and Sakura stood off to the side observing.
"So did you two have a nice talk yesterday?" asked Kakashi after a while.
"Yeah," answered Sakura. "He told me why he is back. I told him about some of what happened while he was gone. By the way, what was that meeting with the Hokage about?"
"Just some suggestions on how to get him accepted quicker into the village," answered Kakashi. "Ow, that's got to hurt," he added seeing Sasuke land a kick right in Naruto's gut, sending the jinchuriki flying backwards.
"And?" added Sakura.
"Just that we should start with his classmates," said Kakashi.
"It makes sense. The bunch of us were his closest friends before he left," said Sakura.
"The meeting was nearly useless though," added Kakashi. "I had already put my plan in motion after that first meeting."
"Plan?" repeated Sakura.
"Hi Forehead!" said a voice behind Kakashi and Sakura.
Sakura turned. "Ino?" Then she looked at Kakashi. "Oh I see," she said to him.
Team Asuma, comprised of Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara were slowly approaching them. They got within ten feet of Sakura and Kakashi and noticed the commotion going on in the distance.
"Oh no, I'm not getting anywhere near him!" said Choji as soon as he figured out who was sparring.
"As if you didn't realize he'd be here," said Shikamaru flatly. He, of course, had already guessed what was going on when Kakashi had asked him and his teammates for a joint training session.
Sakura's eyes went from happy to see her friends she really hadn't gotten to see since the war ended to a little disappointed.
"It's great to see you, Sakura," said Ino. "But I'm afraid I have to agree with Choji on this one. He betrayed our village. I'm not too keen to be anywhere near him let alone train with him."
Shikamaru sighed in frustration. He wasn't happy either, but saw this more as a necessity than a choice.
"Kakashi, why didn't you tell us he'd be here? You led us to believe it would just be the three of you," asked Choji.
"Because you wouldn't have come," Kakashi truthfully answered.
"Guys, just bear with this, ok?" asked Shikamaru.
"Why are you siding with them?" asked Ino.
"I'm not," answered Shikamaru. "But the truth of the matter is, the Hokage has allowed him back into our ranks. I trust the Hokage and follow her orders without question. If we don't train with him...if we won't even go near him...how can we be effective shinobi?"
Ino and Choji looked at each other for a second. Then back at Shikamaru.
"Ok," said Ino.
"We'll try," said Choji.
"Great," commented Kakashi. "BREAK!" he yelled so that Naruto and Sasuke could hear him. At that instant, they stopped sparring and made their way to where everyone stood.
"Hey guys," said Naruto.
Sasuke didn't say anything. He was already hypersensitive to the body language of others – and Team Asuma wasn't exactly giving him good vibes.
"Sakura, it's your turn to spar. Let's see. Ino. Take your ready stances," said Kakashi.
"Why do you always have to pair us together?" Ino whined.
"Shut it, Ino-pig," answered Sakura. "If you beat me every time, you could complain. But since you don't…"
"Go!" shouted Kakashi indicating that they could begin sparring.
Sakura and Ino started punching and kicking and naturally made their way away from where the rest of the two teams stood. It was uncomfortably silent and stiff for a while.
"So how'd you guys make out in the war?" asked Naruto.
"Well, we're here," said Choji.
"Truth be told, it was an invaluable experience, but I never want to see it again if it can be helped," added Shikamaru. "I heard you were the one who defeated Tobi."
"I had to fight Tobi and that freaky statue with the ten-tails," said Naruto. "Did you fight anyone other than those white guys?"
"We had to fight Asuma," said Choji.
"You had to fight your own sensei?" exclaimed Naruto. "I don't think I could ever do that."
"It was really hard. It was more of a mental challenge than anything else. Plus it helped that his soul would also give us encouragement to beat him," said Shikamaru.
"Any one else I would know?" asked Naruto.
"Yeah, you remember learning about the gold and silver brothers out of the Cloud? The three of us got to them right after Darui defeated the silver one. The gold one went nuts and turned into the nine-tails…," Shikamaru explained.
"How is that even possible?" asked Naruto.
It was then that Naruto heard Kurama's voice in his head explaining the situation in his head. Of course, the others could not hear it, so they were kind of confused about why Naruto was seemingly now talking to himself and making odd facial expressions.
"Naruto -," said Shikamaru.
"Oh, sorry," he said. "I get it now. Kurama told me."
"Uh -," Choji uttered.
"That's the nine-tails," added Sasuke.
"I wasn't talking to you," said Shikamaru flatly.
"Knock it off, Shikamaru," said Naruto. "Don't be that way to him."
Shikamaru looked away coldly.
"Kurama is the nine-tails, just like Sasuke said. Bee showed me how the tailed beasts and their jinchuriki cannot be enemies. Kurama and I are now on good terms," Naruto explained.
"That monster?" added Choji.
"Be careful, I'll let him come out after you," said Naruto, jokingly. "But seriously guys, he isn't what you think…and neither is Sasuke. Trust me."
Choji and Shikamaru looked at one another with resigned faces. They felt trapped in a way – there was what had been told to them by people they trusted – their parents, their teachers – and now here was the savior of Konoha telling them just the opposite.
"Oh, and just for the record….I couldn't have beaten Tobi without Sasuke's help. I was a goner until he came around," said Naruto.
"Seriously?" asked Choji.
"Yeah right," said Shikamaru, not quite ready to believe his friend.
"BREAK!" shouted Kakashi. Ino and Sakura came down from the trees they were standing in and made their way back to the group.
Both of the ladies were breathing heavily. Ino bent over and put her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
"Ok, next I want Sasuke and….," started Kakashi.
Not me, not me, not me, thought Choji.
"Choji," said Kakashi. "Take your ready stances. Go!" Off they went.
"So Naruto, tell me what happened…for real," said Shikamaru. Now that Sasuke wasn't standing right next to them, he could be more open and honest.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Sakura.
"These guys still aren't very happy about having Sasuke around," said Naruto.
"He's changed," Sakura immediately added.
"I'm sure he has," said Shikamaru. "It has been six years. Everyone changes in six years."
"I've been talking to him," said Sakura. "He wants to be back with us. I can't say that he regrets everything that he's done, but I can say there was a reasonable explanation for everything he did. How would you feel if you knew the identity of the person who killed your entire family?"
"I'd kill him," said Ino. They all looked at her. "What?"
"Exactly," said Naruto. "Do you really blame him?"
"Not to mention the fact that you have all these super-powerful shinobi running around offering to help you out. You don't think that Tobi or Orochimaru had any influence over Sasuke, a young teenager and new academy graduate?"
"Well, I wouldn't have left," added Ino.
"You weren't in his shoes," said Naruto.
"Can we stop talking about this, please?" said an irritated Shikamaru. "We're not getting anywhere."
"Not until you at least give him the benefit of the doubt. We don't expect you to forgive or forget right away…but please don't exclude him or be mean to him. He is, after all, our teammate. He just needs to restore his reputation," said Sakura.
"I guess I can do that," said Ino.
"What a drag," added Shikamaru, obviously agreeing to Sakura's terms.
Kakashi had been overseeing the sparring session, but had kept his ear open to what was being said behind him as well. It would seem that we have taken a step forward, he thought to himself.
"BREAK!" he shouted.
Sasuke and Choji immediately stopped sparring and came back to everyone else.
"Great job you two," said Kakashi. "Choji, I would have thought you were really angry at him the way you were kicking and punching out there."
Choji just stared at Kakashi when he said that. Kakashi knew exactly what was going on out there and called him on it.
"I think that is enough for one day," said Kakashi.
"But Kakashi-sensei, Shikamaru hasn't even gone once yet," said Naruto.
"That's alright," said Shikamaru. He knew what this meeting of the teams was all about and what Kakashi wanted to hear. "I'm a long distance fighter anyway. This really isn't the best training for me."
"Oh…right," said Naruto, clueless to all the undertones in what was going on.
"It's just about lunchtime anyway. Shikamaru, does Team Asuma want to join us for lunch? My treat," said Kakashi.
"Of course!" said Choji without hesitation. He caught himself a split second after saying 'yes', but by then it was too late to back out. The less time around Sasuke the better.
OlOlOlOlOlO
Kakashi led the six shinobi to the local barbeque restaurant that he knew Choji really liked (it didn't hurt to get on their good side as much as possible). The owner showed them to one of their private rooms because of the large size of their party.
"Sasuke, that really looks like it hurts," noted Sakura after seeing a gash across his lower arm.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," answered Sasuke.
"Don't be stupid…I'm right here. You may as well use me when you can," Sakura overruled him. She started working on his arm anyway.
What a drag, Shikamaru thought to himself. He knew the smart thing to do would be to swallow his distrust as well as his pride and actually get to know Sasuke better. What Kakashi had said earlier was very true – Lady Tsunade had allowed Sasuke back into the shinobi ranks of the village. If he was smart, he would use his time wisely to learn how he was now – in personality, skill set, and weaknesses – to use him to his utmost abilities if they were ever on a mission together.
"So Sasuke…," started Shikamaru. Choji and Ino turned to him with a look of surprise on their face. Was this their teammate really initiating a conversation with Sasuke?
"Word has it that you now have Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," added Shikamaru. "What exactly does that mean?"
"It's actually not the most pleasant thing to talk about," admitted Sasuke. "It's the ultimate sharingan level that an Uchiha can possess…well, anyone who has a sharingan, I guess, can get there," he said, not forgetting that everyone who has a sharingan was not necessarily an Uchiha. "It means that I can use Mangekyo Sharingan without the potential for eye damage."
"Using Mangekyo Sharingan is quite difficult on the wielder, and overuse can cause the wielder to irreparably damage their eyesight. They could even go blind," explained Kakashi even further.
"I've never heard of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan," admitted Choji. "How do you get to that level….just through training?"
"No, not exactly," said Sasuke. "You see, in order to get to an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, someone else's sharingan must be implanted into your eyes."
"Seriously?" said Ino.
"I'm afraid so," said Sasuke.
"So…whose eyes do you…ohhhh," said Shikamaru. He stopped when he had finally put two and two together. "You have Itachi's eyes, don't you."
"I don't care if he does," said Ino. "He was also a traitor and an enemy of the Leaf. If Sasuke is really back on our side now, Itachi's eyes will finally be put to some good use."
Sasuke looked down. "So you guys weren't made aware yet, huh."
"Now what don't we know?" asked Shikamaru. As one of the foremost strategists in the village, he was used to being in the loop about practically everything.
"You should tell them, Sasuke," prodded Sakura. "Now that the war is over and our enemies are dead, it's going to come out anyway."
The three shinobi on Team Asuma waited as patiently as possible for the information they were dying for. They knew something was being held back from them.
"It turns out that Itachi…never betrayed the Leaf," said Sasuke.
"He was a member of the Akatsuki for cripe's sake," said Choji. "Of course he betrayed the leaf."
"Just hold on," interrupted Kakashi, attempting to give Sasuke a chance to speak. "Hear him out."
"You guys know that I originally left to get stronger so I could defeat Itachi, right?" asked Sasuke.
Team Asuma nodded their heads.
"I did battle Itachi, and I did defeat him. He did die from my actions," said Sasuke.
"I remember when we arrived at the site of your battle just after it had ended," recalled Naruto.
"Here's what you guys didn't know. He was very sick already and was virtually on his deathbed. He planned all along to have me kill him," said Sasuke.
"But why, Sasuke?" Ino asked.
"It all went back to when the Uchiha clan was massacred. Yes, Itachi took part in that massacre, but it turns out that….that it was an order from the higher ups," said Sasuke.
Shikamaru's eyebrows raised in disbelief. "There's no way…."
"It's true," said Kakashi. "We heard it independently of Sasuke and it has been confirmed."
"Itachi was just a pawn in that tragedy. It was agreed that I would stay alive. He became an Akatsuki, but always kept working for the Leaf just the same. He planned to let me kill him and he planned to give me his eyes," said Sasuke.
"Wow," said Ino.
"Who would've thought?" said Choji.
"On top of all that," started Sasuke. "I ran into him again during Edo Tensei. I hated the Leaf as a result of what they put him through, but he still insisted on being a loyal shinobi for the village. Not only was he the one who ended Edo Tensei helping to assure victory for our side, but he is ultimately the one who convinced me to change my path once again."
Everyone around the table sat in either a stunned or revered silence.
"He's a hero, too," added Naruto after a while.
"Everyone will know it before too long," said Sasuke.
"It all makes sense now," said Shikamaru. He was definitely feeling better about Sasuke and all that had happened over the last six years after hearing this additional information.
"So the higher ups who ordered him to massacre your clan…are they still alive?" asked Ino.
"Two are," said Sasuke. "It was the one and only hesitation I had in coming back to Konoha. However, I have spoken with the Hokage and there will be an inquiry. I have decided to back down and let the Hokage and her officials handle the matter."
"If that's the case, you really have changed, Sasuke," noted Ino. "From what I heard, you were the type who wouldn't hesitate to hunt down and kill anyone who irritated you in the slightest."
Sasuke looked down at his hands in his lap. "Yes, I'm afraid I was that person before. But I have changed. I gave Itachi my word that I would."