Chapter Seven

Sasuke woke with a start, sweat beaded his forehead. What was that, a nightmare? The details were blurry but there was a color that seeped into his mind, red. He sat there breathing quite heavily, glancing around he noticed that Naruto was still in a deep sleep. Shifting carefully off the bed and onto his feet he silently made his way into the bathroom. Staring at his reflection his brows knitted together, even though he still couldn't recognize himself in the back of his mind something was telling him this face reminded him of someone else.

A small headache grew, and sense he was up he decided why not just take a walk. The cold fresh morning air would help him, at least he hoped it would. Pulling on his sandals he mentally promised to be back and left Naruto's somewhat cramped apartment. Even though it was still pretty early there were plenty of other villagers out and about, some all too quick to notice him. Brushing off the glares Sasuke stuffs his hands into his pockets and started to walk off in a random direction.

The Uchiha couldn't shake the feeling that people were following him as he walked. No matter where he went there always seemed to be someone, now fully aware that he was indeed being stalked Sasuke took all sorts of desperate measures to shake whoever the heck was following him. But he was so focused on doing that, that before he realized it he had hit a dead end in one of the many alleyways. Sasuke clicked his tongue, all he wanted to do was take a simple walk but of course with the looks they were giving him they weren't going to make it that simple.

"That's far enough you brat." One said in a low tone, Sasuke didn't even have to turn around to hear that there was more than that multiple shuffling and some weapons drawn. "We're not dumb, we know what you're up to!"

Glancing back he was considering his odds, there was no way he could take them all on not while his memory was still lost on him. It didn't help they blocked his only exit, a sigh passed his nose and he took a step to turn toward the small mob, he was trying not to make it look like he was panicking.

"Is that so?" He questioned in a calm manner, his hands still stuffed into his pockets. "And what pray tell would that be?"

"Don't get smart with us!" That's all it took for them to rush forward.

Naruto felt cold, opening groggy eyes he forced himself to shift up into a sitting position. He looked down at the empty space beside him, and it took a good minute for it to finally click as to why things felt off.

"Sasuke!" He jumped to his feet, not bothering to change he just rushed out the house in search of the other. 'Could he have gotten his memory back…?'

He bolted down street after street until he heard something weird. Like a group of people we're sparing with a dummy, muffled kicks echoing across the narrow walls. Curiously he peered down, his gut was right this small group of villagers were beating up on something. No, Naruto's eyes widened when he realized it was someone and ran down to break it up.

"Whoa! Whoa what are you doing?!" The blond yelled still trying to push through them. "You guys should know better than…"

Words caught in his throat when he reached who was in the middle of them, Sasuke lay there writhing in pain. His arms were wrapped around his head in an attempt to protect himself taking most of the trauma aimed at his face. Something snapped inside Naruto and red flooded his eyes and a surge of chakra made the villagers freeze. A glare was all it took for the villagers to flee, it took a moment for him to calm down somewhat. The surge of chakra had awoken most of the village, but Naruto really didn't care as he crouched down and reached out to touch Sasuke.

The blond was taken aback when the other harshly slapped his hand away. And before he could say much Sasuke sat up, albeit rather shakily, a stone cold glare in his eyes.

"You…" he started off, venom lacing his voice. "...You were trying to manipulate me…"

Those words shocked Naruto to his core and his eyes went wide. "W-what? No of course not Sasuke!"

"Shut it!" His voice was a harsh whisper but sounded so loud. "I remember everything Naruto!"

Sasuke managed to get to his feet, disgust painting his face. His chest felt tight, was Naruto really going that low to try to force him to stay in this god awful village?

"Sasuke! I really..!" But before Naruto said anything else the raven had already taken off. "I only meant for the best…"