He jumped once more, twisting in the air as he let loose multiple kunai. A few thuds hit the dummy far on the side of the training grounds.

His friend? Naruto doesn't know what they are, looks at him with a raised brow?

Naruto shrugs, "How long have you been trying that?"

The Uchiha gathers his tools as Naruto recovers his own. "A while," Sasuke says as they go back to the middle of the field.

He nods, unsure of what to say but it seems Sasuke doesn't mind. Naruto takes out his bento and Sasuke does the same.

It's nice, he thinks to himself, sitting here with someone his age that he isn't forced to scream or cry, but someone warm and living. Sasuke had walked onto the field after Yamato left. He planned to train today anyways after his sensei called an end to their session. Yamato-sensei had advised him about working on quality over quantity. Today he began learning how to shape and harden his creations. His sensei left him with a scroll with his own notes he had taken and Naruto promised to study them.

Sasuke doesn't really ask many questions. He's short and clipped with heavy emotions that sometimes make Naruto's vision misty and fogged. Naruto doesn't prod or poke. He hasn't seen any others of his age in years and it's… difficult.

What do they talk about? What's interesting besides training, learning or food? Kashi said to find a hobby, but he wasn't sure of what to do. Flowers were really nice, maybe they could have a garden? Nanako-baachan would like -

"Breathe."

Naruto sucks in a breath, looking towards Sasuke. "Sorry," he apologizes, rubbing the back of his head with a small laugh. "Uhm, I was thinking about something Kashi told me."

He goes back to his bento, but Sasuke stops him again. "What did he say?"

"That I should find a hobby," he says after swallowing a few bites. "I thought maybe I could ask him if I could have a garden behind the apartment."

Sasuke says nothing afterwards and they finish their meals.

It's when they are leaving when Sasuke finally responds, "Tomorrow?"


"Are you sure it was him?"

"Yes for the fifth time already!"

Shikamaru rubbed his head, somehow in the moment he forgot how aggressive Ino could get. Asuma left sometime earlier and the three of them were still sitting on the training field. After she was sure their sensei left, Ino had flat out told them the kid from their first year had been attending counseling from her father and he had graduated somehow.

"Blonde, whiskers, but uh…" she stammers, looking away. "He has only one eye, but it's blue!"

He remembers that his father and mother were acting strange one night when he spotted multiple shinobi flickering throughout the village. His father had left, talking about a kidnapping.

Then one of their classmates never shows back up.

Troublesome.

Now usually it wouldn't sound so weird, but Shikamaru knew that something had shaken them like one would rattle a beehive. He had thought that maybe the blonde was an heir of some sort, but there were no records of an Uzumaki clan.

That he could find, at least.

"Have you asked him?" Choji questioned after putting his chips away.

"Well, no," Ino admitted, huffing, "That's patient confidentiality. Daddy told me multiple times that-"

Shikamaru laid back down on the grass, content to watch the clouds roll by, wondering what happened to Naruto.


Sasuke looked from the corner of his peripheral, seeing as how his friend? Rival? Naruto looked nervous. What brought this on?

They were lounging underneath one of the taller Hashirama trees behind the Monument, both of them content to sit in silence after sparring with one another. The bruises were still fresh and Sasuke kept trying to rub the soreness out of his shoulders. The blonde was incredibly strong and crafty. Sasuke had never exerted himself as much as he has the past few days, and he couldn't be more content.

Well, he could…

Naruto rubbed the back of his head, "Hey, uhh, I should probably go."

Sasuke sat up from the base of the tree he was leaning against, probing the Uzumaki.

"Why?"

Naruto looked at the ground and moved his index finger through the dirt, voice low as he muttered, "People are coming."

Who was coming all the way up here? For all Sasuke had known, hardly anyone ventured this way unless it was to retrieve either of them, and then usually it was only Kakashi or Yamato.

Sasuke scooted closer to the blonde, "So? I'll tell them to go away."

Some deep urge screamed at Sasuke to move defensively, take an initiative to ease the blonde's worries. He'd just tell these people to go away, he disliked that look that currently covered Naruto's features. He'd already pieced together what happened to hi-

"There they are!"

Sasuke turned his head and of course it's those losers from the Academy, even his own team. He had grabbed ahold of Naruto's hand, squeezing it as if trying to tell the blonde that everything will be alright. The gaggle of kids whispered among themselves and Sasuke could see Sakura giving him a wide eyed stare.

Sasuke cleared his throat then spoke to them, "What do you want?" His tone was cold and short as he scowled. Most tried to look away, but Kiba, the dumb mutt, had to open his mouth.

"Dude, what happened to you? You look like hell."

He watched as Shino threw his open palm to the back of the Inuzuka's head, "Hey! What was that for?"

Sasuke could feel sweat forming on Naruto's hand, so he squeezed a little more in assurance. His voice dropped low for only the blonde to hear, "Let's get out of here."

The two stood and started to walk away from the others, leaving on the opposite side of the field

"Way to go, moron."

"Kiba…"

"Naruto-kun…"


"Well, that couldn't have gone any smoother," Ami says as the group watched Sasuke and Naruto walk off the field.

"Kiba, do you ever think before speaking?" Shikamaru asked, turning his attention towards the Inuzuka.

"Come on, man! I said I'm sorry!"

The Nara heir looked to Hinata who was still staring off where the two passed behind the treeline. Shino's hand was on her shoulder, offering silent comfort.

"Like I said earlier, this was the wrong move," Shikamaru said after a moment with a sigh. "We'll have to wait for him to come around."


"Are you alright," he heard Sasuke ask after some time walking through the woods.

Naruto was happy to finally be out of there, the hurricane of thoughts and emotions had floored him. He wasn't even sure if he could have talked to them at all, as once they arrived his chest tightened and his throat grew dry.

He saw how some were looking at him and Naruto hated that look.

He didn't want that. Why couldn't they have been like Sasuke? He never looks at Naruto like that, never digs or pries. Naruto did not want to sate anyone's curiosity over his now apparent features, and could not speak the tale of what happened.

"Hey, breathe."

Naruto felt a hand on his back, Sasuke's familiar chakra once again reminding him of where he was. He nodded his gratitude towards him as they reached their destination.

"Want to come inside," Naruto asked, "Kashi is supposed to be making dinner tonight."

Sasuke looked away, "Not tonight."

He wasn't sure of what Sasuke's drive was, but there were times Naruto could feel white, hot rage roar in Sasuke's coils. It spoke of pain and loss. It hurt him to see Sasuke this way, coiled up like a viper ready to strike.

"You sure," he questioned, "Because his miso is really good, not too salty but he likes eggplant. I was going to cook some fish for mine and-"

Sasuke held his hand up, "Tomorrow, I… I'll see you then, alright?"

Naruto watched as the Uchiha dashed away into the setting sun, the door behind Naruto to show Kakashi's hair poking out before his eyes came into view.

"He'll come around," he said as Naruto looked up at him.


It had become a routine.

He'd arrive sometime before ten, train his cute little Genin and then watch as they enjoy (suffer) their D-Ranks. Today was a particularly eventful one and Kakashi resorted to laughing at Sasuke's disheveled appearance. He looked as if he had crawled through the side of Fire country, twigs still stuck in his hair as he brushed his clothes off. The two girls didn't fare any better. Sakura was complaining about her outfit being torn and Ami was miffed about being covered from head to toe in mud.

"How was the mission to capture Tora?"

His three Genin scowled at him and Kakashi smiled back, "Wonderful! I'm glad the three of you are finding your missions beneficial."

This is the part where Sasuke approaches him, which he does, and Kakashi is so happy that both children who have lost so much can find solace in one another.

The Uchiha looks at him as if expecting an answer without posing the question.

"Yes~?" Kakashi sings.

Sasuke grunts and narrows his eyes with much more bravado than he has shown before, "Naruto?"

"Hey, Sasuke," his pinkette says and Kakashi waits for them to finish. "Would you like to hang on with Ami and I? We were going to find Ino and-"

"No."

"Oh," Sakura says, looking down at the dirt below. "Maybe we could uh, come with you?"

Sasuke looks back to both of the girls with a raised brow, "Why?"

Sakura fidgets nervously, "Well, we're a team right? Shouldn't we hang out or train together?"

Sasuke scowls, "After what happened the other day? No." He turns back to Kakashi once again as Sakura sighs.

"Where?"

He knew of course, since Naruto told him that the graduating class had approached him. The blonde wasn't ready for such large groups of people yet. Kakashi knows that it will take time before Naruto is able to open himself to people once again, and that he still doesn't quite understand why Sasuke likes being around him so much.

Cute kids.

"Yamato gave him the day off after he was called for a mission. If you hurry, you might find him at the apartment."

Sasuke nods, already knowing which shop Kakashi was speaking of. The Uchiha doesn't slow down to hear Sakura telling him to wait, or Ami saying they should follow him.

Kakashi leaves shortly after his kids run off the field and finds himself facing his worst nightmare.

"YOSH! MY ETERNAL RIVAL! I CHALLENGE YOU TO-"


AN: I love the little interactions Naruto and Sasuke share.

We're sprinting into the next chapter, pack your bags for a trip.