Autumn arrived in Konohagakure with a festival. Merchants from the Land of Fire and beyond gathered to sell exotic wares to the thousands that flocked to the colorful tents and stands constructed in front of the Hokage Tower. Civilians and non-essential Shinobi were given the entire week of the festival off to celebrate not only the coming of the season but also the triumph over the Nine-Tailed Fox that almost destroyed the village. Each of Konoha's major clans aided in the decoration of the festival ground to display loyalty to both Konoha and the Land of Fire.
For Sasuke Uchiha, it meant five nights of fun with Itachi and her parents. Despite being in the ANBU, Itachi always managed to take the entire week off thanks to a work ethic that stopped him from usually taking vacation days. Her mother, Mikoto, ensured that the family had new clothes to wear and plenty of good food to snack on. Fugaku, her father and leader of the Uchiha, decided to pamper both of his children with gifts and quality time, bestowing an entire day on each. She knew that the world was at its happiest during the autumn festival.
Iruka-Sensei, eager to start his extended holiday, decided to dismiss the class early. Sasuke, deciding that being six meant she was a true ninja, chose to walk home instead of waiting for Itachi or her mother to pick her up. She ignored the chattering of the other children in favor of starting the exciting journey homeward. It felt nice to be able to roam the village without the nagging warnings of her mother or the over-protectiveness of her older brother. But she was a ninja, and ninjas walked home alone. The quickest route back to the Uchiha compound required her to travel through the village's main road. Still, she wanted to see the park's beautiful orange leaves, which took a long way. She arrived at Senju Park only to freeze at the gang of boys approaching her.
"Hey! Murder-Eyes!"
Sasuke sighed at the nickname given to her by Toji Hyūga, an older boy three years her senior yet somehow only a class ahead of her. The boy and his three friends had made it his mission to harass her as much as possible. Their nickname came from a silly rumor that her clan's gift, the Sharingan, required the murder of a close relative to awaken. Her older brother told her not to listen to ignorant people.
"What do you want, Toji?" She glared at the older boy. "Don't you have a floor to mop or something back at your compound?"
The boys began to giggle at the insult to their leader. Still, they grew silent once he threatened to activate his Byakugan. "So, why did your parents name you after the Third's father? I heard that you stand to pee!" Somehow, the insult earned a round of laughter from the other boys. Her name, however, did manage a harsh glare. She never understood why her father gave her a boy's name instead of something appropriate. Her mother and brother, when alone, always called her 'Saika.'
"Look! He is about to cry!" Toji pointed at her and began mocking sounds that were supposed to sound like a baby crying. It was super-effective. Sasuke felt hot tears roll down her face.
"Why don't you leave her alone!?" A young boy emerged from the forest and threw a rock at Toji. Sasuke recognized him as the class clown, Naruto. She never really talked with him outside of a few group assignments. According to her mother, he was a troublemaker that would get her in trouble.
The rock whistled through the air and missed Toji completely. All the boys decided to focus their attention on a far better target. "Look at what we have here! I didn't realize the loser club was in session!"
Naruto shook his fist. "I ain't a loser! My name is Naruto Uzumaki, future fifth Hokage! Believe it!"
Despite the bravado, the gang of boys began to laugh. Toji smiled and activated his Byakugan. "Hokage, huh? Come on, guys! Let's teach this trash his proper place!"
Naruto gave a quick wink to Sasuke moments before fleeing back into the woods with the boys in hot pursuit. She moved to chase after them, not wanting her 'rescuer' to get too hurt but stopped when a soft hand touched her shoulder. "Leave it be, Sasuke. He'll be fine."
"But…what if they catch him, big brother?" Sasuke glanced up at the smiling face of Itachi. Of everyone in her life, he meant the most to her.
"Trust me when I tell you that they won't be able to catch him," a playful tone forced her to smile. "I shall check in on him later if you wish."
Sasuke nodded. "Thanks! What is mom making for dinner?"
Despite the sudden change of topic, she did not stop thinking about Naruto until dreams took her that night.
Sasuke next encountered Naruto during the third night of the festival. Unlike the previous nights, her father decided to escort her around the different tents to witness the many performers blowing fire, singing, or reciting poetry that almost made her cry. She was about to approach a vendor serving fried chicken when a familiar tuff of blond hair caught her attention. Naruto sat alone on a bench watching the festivities with a deep frown. His bottom lip quivered as if struggling to hold back tears.
"Papa," she tugged her father's hand. "Can we get him something?"
Fugaku raised an eyebrow at his daughter's request and followed her gaze to the lonely boy. "Ah. Is that the boy that distracted the bullies?" She nodded. "Good deeds deserve good rewards." He handed the vendor a few extra coins for another piece of chicken. She held both small bowls as they approached.
"Sasuke?" Naruto looked up with a large smile. "Nice kimono!"
Fugaku snorted slightly but remained silent as a large blush crept onto Sasuke's cheeks. "Uh…nice pants." Her father decided not to comment on how the boy was wearing shorts instead of pants.
"Thanks! The Old Man got me these for my birthday!" Naruto wiggled his legs to show them off.
"Birthday?" Sasuke tilted her head. Iruka celebrated everyone's birthday with the entire class, but she did not remember anything said about his birthday. "When is it?"
"Today! October Tenth!" Naruto grinned like an idiot, unaware of the curious look Fugaku beamed at him. "I am six years old!"
Sasuke's eyes widened. She needed to give him something for his birthday. Her hand darted out with the piece of chicken. "Happy Birthday."
"First new clothes! Now, chicken? Can this day get any better?" Naruto devoured the piece within seconds, like he had skipped one too many meals. Then, out of sheer curiosity, Sasuke handed him her own chicken and watched it disappear into the black hole he called a mouth. Even her father, usually stern and even-tempered, looked fascinated at how the boy consumed. Finally, he muttered something about a 'Kushina.'
"Thanks for dinner," Naruto rubbed the back of his head with an even more enormous grin. "This is the best birthday ever!"
Fugaku sighed as his daughter stared at him with those eyes. He wanted to say 'no' and send the Uzumaki boy home. He knew his wife would tease him about getting soft if he allowed Kushina's son to tag along for the rest of the night. He feared the long-term repercussions of allowing his little girl to become friends with Minato's son. A chill ran down his spine at the thought of wedding bells. Yet, his daughter's pleading eyes forced him to motion the boy to follow them.
"Enough food," Fugaku commanded. "I shall give you each sixty ryō to play games. Win a prize for the glory of the Uchiha…and Uzumaki." Both children grinned at the coins. They spent the next two hours trying to win the rigged carnival games. The presence of the Uchiha Patriarch kept those unhappy about Naruto's amusement away.
The night ended with one final game and hope for either of the children to walk away with a prize.
Naruto stepped up to the booth, looked at the prizes, and noticed the single living rabbit in a cage. "Is that a bunny? Like, a real one?"
The carny spat a wad of tobacco onto the ground and shrugged. "I give out what they give me."
"That's awful! It looks sad!" Sasuke stomped her foot at the injustice of the fluffy white rabbit confined in such a small cage. Her eyes turned to Fugaku, who gave a bored shrug, then to Naruto. "Win the bunny! We cannot allow it to suffer any longer."
Naruto slammed his final coin onto the booth. The game involved tossing small kunai into moving buckets. Unfortunately, he lived up to his reputation as the worst student in the Academy by missing every kunai. Neither child smiled as Fugaku walked them away from the stand.
"I am sure someone will win the rabbit and let it go," Fugaku tried to reassure both depressed kids. "You cannot win every battle, Sasuke. Just work harder, so next time you'll win." His gaze landed on Naruto. "I assume you can find your own way home?"
Naruto flashed the man a wide grin. "Sure can, Mister Uchiha! Thanks for letting me tag along! I had a blast, ya know?"
Sasuke watched the boy run off into the darkness of the night with a smile. She felt warm knowing that he had a blast on his birthday. When the Academy started again, she swore that he would become her best friend. Her father held her hand during the long walk home, both lost in their musings about the blond boy.
The following morning, the rabbit from the festival sat for them in a new, much larger cage with a bag of carrots on the front porch of their home. Sasuke watched her father bring the animal inside with a large smile to counter his deep frown. Much to her joy, Itachi convinced the family to keep the rabbit as a pet on the condition that Sasuke took care of it. As she washed the carrots for her new friend, her brother mentioned that Naruto was banned from the festival after stealing something.
November came to Konoha with the first hints of a long winter. The temperatures dropped far below the expected average, and most nights came with the spits of flurries in preparation for the first significant snowstorm due by month's end. True to her oath, Sasuke became the inseparable companion of Naruto despite the urgings of the teachers and her mother. They sat next to each other in class, with her serving as his tutor. Iruka initially opposed sitting best friends together and allowed it after Naruto's test scores improved. Lunch came with her splitting her bento box with him or him bringing an extra cup of ramen. Afterward, they decided to roam the woods outside the village wall together until evening.
One day, Naruto came to class with extra excitement. She managed to calm him down enough to avoid the blond detention but unleashed him the moment class ended. "Okay, okay! What's got you so worked up?"
Naruto rambled nonsensical words for three solid minutes before dragging her away from the Academy into the forests of Konoha. She did not argue with him, curious to see what had him in such a mood. Her answer came in the form of an old cabin, most likely a decade in age, under a dead apple tree. The place looked abandoned but maintained a sturdy enough appearance to not look like an accident waiting to happen.
"Who owns this place?" Sasuke peeked inside the door to find nothing but an old bed and cobwebs. "Looks pretty old. Imagine the spiders."
Naruto jumped around the cabin. "I watched it almost all night. No one lives here! This is the perfect place for us to hang out, ya know? This can be our hideout!"
The idea of them having a hidden base far from the prying eyes of her family appealed to her. As much as she loved him, Itachi could be overbearing at times. Her parents, happy to see she made a friend, did not always like her spending so much time around the village pariah. The cottage would require much work to turn into something usable, but the payoff was well worth the effort. Her smile was all the permission Naruto needed.
"I'll grab some stuff and start to clean it up!" Naruto paused for a moment.
Sasuke chuckled and shook her head. His energy almost made her tired. "I can't help today. I need to clean Yuki's cage before dad gets home. Perhaps, once we're done, we can bring her here for some fresh air."
Yuki, the rabbit stolen for her by Naruto, had become the third member. While her parents frowned at her taking the animal outside the Compound, she often snuck her out on the weekends so Naruto could play with her. Yuki belonged as much to him as he did to her, and Sasuke enjoyed the smile on Naruto's face every time he saw the rabbit.
"Deal! I'm skipping class tomorrow, so everything should be finished by this weekend." Naruto waved his hand at Sasuke's scowl. "Iruka-Sensei doesn't care if I show up or not. He'll probably be happy not to deal with me for a day."
"Just don't make it a habit." Sasuke gave a soft glare to back up her words. "We can't have our future Hokage being an idiot."
True to his word, Naruto did not appear in close the following day, with Iruka legitimately looking to be in a good mood for once. It felt lonely not being able to spend lunch with Naruto. Once class ended, she darted straight out of the Academy towards the cabin, hoping he did not finish too much of the place without her help. The last thing wanted to be to him was a burden or a mooch. They were equals and partners, destined to become legends of their generations.
The cabin's exterior looked much the same as the previous day. Still, the trash from the interior had been removed and replaced with a small table, chairs, and a bookshelf. She looked around at the place, noticing that the dust and cobwebs had been swept away. The cabin could almost be considered liveable with a little more work. Once she was paid her allowance, Sasuke made a mental note to buy Naruto a bowl of ramen for his labor.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Naruto stumbled through the door cabin carrying a large chest.
"I like it," Sasuke took a seat at the table. "Where did you get this stuff?"
"Eh. I took it from my apartment." Naruto dropped the chest onto the floor. "The Old Man ordered one of the weird mask people to help me move the stuff. I'm hoping he lets me move here!"
Sasuke frowned at the prospect of her friend living in such a place but did not have the heart to argue with his grin.
"Oh! I spoke with the Old Man about the tree." Naruto opened the sole window of the cabin. "He told me that the tree might not be dead. Once he was not busy with work, he promised to show me how to use my chakra to wake it up! Think of all the apples we'll have!"
Once again, she decided to remain silent about how channeling chakra into objects was used as a training exercise instead of growing fruit. "Well, I'll help you do that. We'll do it together."
A harsh winter passed over Konohagakure with howling winds and bitter temperatures. Sasuke and Naruto spent much of their free time training or playing board games at his cabin. He received permission from the Hokage to move into the place full-time, sleeping on a small cot stored in the corner. The kind donation of a wood-burning stove from the Third Hokage made the interior far more comfortable.
Like winter, spring arrived earlier than expected, much to the people's joy. At the beginning of April, the Academy closed for two weeks to allow students and teachers alike to enjoy the warmer weather. Various ceremonies and rituals were held across the village to honor spring's renewal. 'Senju Day,' celebrating the clan of the First Hokage, was the pinnacle of springs. Brightly colored banners bearing the markings of both Konoha and the Senju. Citizens wore robes of green or red, while Shinobi used forehead protectors with olive clothes. In the buildup to the main ceremony, Sasuke's mother decided to buy her a new kimono, much to her dismay.
Sasuke managed to slip away from the Uchiha compound long enough to visit Naruto. Since the start of the holiday, she had not managed to see him despite her best efforts. Her father passed an edict discouraging members of the Uchiha clan from venturing outside the Compound unless on a mission or important business. Itachi, usually relaxed, cautioned her against making her presence known too much when wandering the village. Everyone seemed to be on edge, and the paranoia frustrated her.
As usual, Naruto sat under the apple tree, trying to channel his chakra into it. The Third Hokage, affectionately dubbed 'Old Man,' taught them the basics of channeling chakra one afternoon shortly after Naruto moved into the cabin. She never expected Naruto, of all people, to be that close to the Hokage and accepted the lesson gladly. It was not every day that one received personal training from such a legendary figure.
"Hey, Sasuke." Naruto removed his hand from the tree. "I was wondering when you were going to come!"
Sasuke gave a slight bow. "Apologies. Father and mother have been strict lately."
"Don't worry about it." He moved to allow her a chance to nurture the tree. Despite many months of hard work, only a few leaves had formed. "I'll be here whenever you come!"
They sat silently as she poured chakra into the tree while he prepared a third cup of instant ramen. Neither of them felt the need for words, enjoying each other's company by presence alone. Beads of sweat rolled down her face as her chakra slipped away into the wood. Finally, she gasped for air and removed her hand.
"Not bad," Naruto handed her the cup of ramen. "You're getting pretty good!"
Sasuke accepted the noodles gladly. "I have a long way to go to match you. I cannot fathom how you can spend hours doing it."
"Old Man says I just have a lot of juice. Means I'm going to kick some serious ass one day!" Naruto beamed at the compliment given by the Third Hokage.
"That's if you can pass the academy," Sasuke smirked. "I saw that big fat 'F' on your latest report card."
Naruto shrugged and leaned against the side of his house. "Whatever. Iruka does it on purpose! I know I had all those answers right."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And how do you know those were the right answers?"
"I copied them off your paper," he replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the universe.
"Well, if you're going to cheat, you picked the person to cheat off of." Sasuke beamed with pride at her ranking at the top of the class. "If you did cheat off of me, why did you fail?"
Naruto frowned at this and rubbed the side of his head. "I don't think Iruka likes me, ya know? My answers were the exact same as yours."
"Maybe he figured it out?"
"Doubt it. Do you remember the last time Kiba cheated? Iruka made him apologize to the entire class and had to spend an entire week in dentation." Naruto crossed his arms. "I did not get anything like that."
Sasuke decided to speak with her father about this later. Despite his reputation, Fugaku took fairness seriously and would not like this. "Well, are you going to the big ceremony for Senju Day tomorrow?"
"Nah! Old Man suggested I continue with our tree." Naruto frowned for a moment, rubbing the side of his head.
She noticed the expression. "What?"
"He told me to stop with the pranks until the break is over." Naruto looked down. "Apparently, people are getting really annoyed with me."
"Huh. People do seem a little bit weird lately." Sasuke remembered the odd looks her mother received when picking up groceries in the public market. Both children remained silent in the face of a confusing world. "I have an idea! What if tonight…we sneak out for ramen? The good stuff at Ichiraku!"
In an instant, Naruto's face swelled with unrestrained glee. "Really?"
"Indeed!" Sasuke stood up and brushed the dirt from her pants. "And I'll pay with my allowance AND bring Yuki along!"
Naruto squealed and tackled her into a crushing hug. He failed to notice the massive blush turning Sasuke's face tomato red. "I'll meet you there at seven!"
"I'll make this a night you'll remember for the rest of your life."
Sasuke returned home early that night, planning on how to escape the house without alerting her parents. The months with Naruto and his numerous pranks gave me some solid ideas. Finally, with a slight smirk, she entered the house, holding her stomach. Her mother, constantly worried for her children's health, immediately rushed over.
"My stomach hurts," Sasuke moaned in the most pathetic voice she could muster. But, much to her joy, it seemed to work. Her mother ushered her to her bedroom and closed the door quietly. "Sucker."
Sasuke decided to dress in her new kimono. Of course, she would need to be careful to not dirty it, but the payoff of feeling pretty was too great to ignore. So with her tiny pink wallet in hand and Yuki snuggled into a small backpack, she escaped from the window into the streets below without a sound. Just as much as she trained Naruto, he trained her.
As expected, Naruto waited for her at Ichiraku. However, the blond perked up the moment Sasuke came into view. His massive smile seemed contagious, spreading to Teuchi and Ayame before jumping to Sasuke. Ayame whispered something to Naruto, who, in turn, blushed and shuffled forward.
"I got you this?" Naruto held out a single yellow flower picked from the fields by his cabin.
Ayame groaned. "You have to say it with far more confidence!"
"I got you this!" He repeated the gesture of handing the flower to Sasuke. She took the flower from his hand with a smile and tucked it into her hair for safekeeping. Satisfied, Ayame took their orders and prepared the bowls. Dinner passed with much laughter and ramblings from both. The world's troubles seemed far away in the warm glow of the Ichiraku. Teuchi, always eager to please his favorite customer, sliced a few carrots for Yuki.
An hour later, Ayame wished them a good night and urged them to return home. With Naruto by her side, Sasuke started the march back to the Uchiha Compound with a small smile. The way Naruto laughed and talked showed that she gave him a night to remember. She did not care if her parents discovered her absence. Being grounded was a price she was willing to pay for him.
"Looks like Mr. and Mrs. Loser are out for a walk!" Toji Hyūga stepped out of a shinobi store, followed by his gang. "Haven't seen you around, Murder-Eyes."
Naruto shook his fist at the older boy. "Go away, Toji! We are having fun!"
"Hmph." Sasuke crossed her arms, cradling Yuki. "I am sure Lord Hiashi has toilets that need to be scrubbed."
Toji ignored the insult in favor of smirking at the rabbit. "What do you have there, murder-eyes?" He reached for the rabbit but stopped as Naruto blocked his hand. "Out of the way, loser."
"Don't you touch her!" Naruto snarled and raised both fists like a half-drunk boxer. A few onlookers watched the scene with malicious amusement. Sasuke wondered if she had made a mistake for the first time that night.
"Out of my way!" Toji launched a hefty punch into Naruto's face, sending the boy to the ground with a bloodied nose. Sasuke tried to avoid his reaching hand but stumbled backward and landed on her back. In an instant, Toji snatched Yuki.
"Cute little thing, right boys?" Toji held the rabbit by the back of its neck. His gang laughed and tossed around jokes about making it jump.
Sasuke stumbled to her feet, uncaring about the filthy kimono. "Give her back!" She tried to hold back the desperation in her voice, vowing not to be afraid or cry. Yet, as the boys passed around Yuki, thick tears blurred her eyes. A dull pain formed within her head.
Naruto growled, growing angrier than she had ever seen him. "Give her back!" His whisker marks darkened as his fangs extended slightly. Most of the civilians at this point backed away, muttering darkly about demons and other horrible things that roamed the night.
Toji remained unbothered by the growing hostility. "Let's send this bunny to the moon!" He threw the rabbit into the air with all his might. Sasuke screamed as the rabbit slammed into the ground with an awful crunching sound. "Guess this bunny couldn't jump!"
Sasuke felt her vision suddenly sharpen. The world, blurred by tears, became clear as crystal. Every movement of the crowd and Toji's gang followed a pattern she could follow. Then, a surge of energy gave her a taste of power that promised an end to all the world's suffering.
"Murder-eyes!" The humor left Toji's voice. Instead, his face twisted horribly in pure fright. The gang of boys, once bold, cowered behind their leader. Neither he nor Sasuke noticed the increasingly feral sounds emitted from Naruto until the boy launched himself forward with extended claws.
A woman screamed.
The blow never landed.
Itachi Uchiha appeared in a swirl of leaves in front of Toji, snatching Naruto's claw and delivering a single blow to the back of the boy's head. Three other figures in animal masks surrounded the scene within an instant later. The crowd dissipated upon their command, eager to flee from the boy they had shunned for so long.
"Wolf. Bird. Please escort the boys back to their homes. Cat, please take Naruto to Lord Hokage immediately. Tell him that a toad is required."
The ANBU followed their captain's orders without question or comment. Itachi glanced down at the broken form of Yuki with an uncaring expression. He scooped the white body up gently. "Come, Sasuke."
The Uchiha did not attend 'Senju Day' the following day. Sasuke lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling in a vain attempt to block out her father's yelling at the Third Hokage. Both of her parents said little upon her arrival home the night before. Their looks of confusion and disappointment said enough. Her father took Yuki's corpse while her mother ordered her to bed. Lord Hokage came to them that morning with her parents ordering her back to her bedroom. After that, she worried only about Naruto.
The Academy began the following week again with strict changes to Sasuke's schedule. Her mother or brother would escort her in the morning and evening. After class had been released, she needed to stay within the Academy until either one of her parents or Itachi came to walk her back home. On the weekends, she was not permitted to leave the Compound alone under any circumstances, with the guards being on alert for escape attempts. She did not have the heart to disappoint her parents for the second time. The silver lining to all this came from her father granting Naruto permission once a week to join the family for dinner. His presence eased the growing tension between her father and brother.
The first day of summer arrived without much fanfare. Sasuke watched Naruto leave the Academy with a heavy frown. She missed their time alone at his cabin and wanted nothing more than to chase after him. The new 'normal' since the death of Yuki made her miserable. She prayed nightly for things to return to how they used to be. Her brooding stopped when Itachi arrived at the Academy.
"Sasuke," he called out from the door of the classroom. He wore the standard outfit of the ANBU, a 'weasel' mask dangling from a piece of rope by his side. "Go play with Naruto."
Sasuke looked away from the window with a raised eyebrow. "But…I am supposed to go straight home." Her brother loved rules and never broke them, even under stress. So why would the perfect son allow her to go with Naruto?
"Today is different," Itachi took a seat next to her. "We're going on a little trip in the morning, and you won't see Naruto for a while. So I figured you would want to say goodbye and spend a little time with him."
"A trip?" She tilted her head. "What kind of trip?" Her family never took trips outside the village.
Itachi poked her forehead, a loving gesture reserved for her alone. "An extended vacation. Mother and father decided it best for us to enjoy ourselves. Don't worry. I shall pack your things." His dark eyes looked out the window. "Hurry up. I'll meet you at his cabin later tonight with your stuff."
"Can't I say goodbye to mom and dad?"
"They'll come with me tonight." Itachi smiled. "Run along, Sasuke."
Sasuke needed no more convincing to dart from the Academy. She arrived at Naruto's cabin minutes after he did with a giant grin on her face. While sad at the prospect of not seeing her friend on vacation, it felt nice to be able to spend time with him, free of her parent's influence. He managed to turn around just as she barreled into him.
"Naruto!"
"Sasuke?!" He gasped for air as the girl squeezed him. "Where are…your mom or Itachi?"
She released him from her grip slightly. "Itachi and I are going on vacation tonight. He told me to come to spend the rest of the day with you!"
He raised a fist into the air. "Sweet! We'll be able to eat some ramen, play a game or two, and all that!" Then, like a rocket, he blasted off into the cabin to heat water for four instant ramen cups and to retrieve the new board game the Third Hokage bought him. Sasuke smiled but felt a tinge of pain at not being able to see him. She'll miss him more than anyone else.
The world ceased to be that evening; both were entirely lost within each other's company. They ate, laughed, trained, played, and dreamt while the sun slipped further toward the horizon. Each second represented an opportunity to build a memory neither would ever forget. By the end, as the stars climbed into the heavens, they lay side by side in the grass, listening to the symphony of crickets.
"How long will you be gone for," he glanced at her with watery eyes. Both knew that Itachi would arrive any moment to sweep her away.
Sasuke shook her head. She refused to cry, having promised never again to show such weakness after the death of Yuki. "He did not say. It shouldn't be more than a few weeks or so. Month at most. Make sure you stay on top of your schoolwork, ya know?"
"Promise. I'll become the top of the class before you get back." He smirked. "Got to keep the chair warm until you can claim it from me."
"Good." Sasuke placed her hand on top of his. An ominous feeling, building since leaving the Academy, made her stomach flip. A primal instinct told her that this was the end of a chapter of her laugh. Things would never return to normal after tonight.
"Sasuke."
"Naruto." She saw her emotions reflected in his eyes. He knew something terrible was about to happen.
"Sasuke…" His hand tightened around hers. "No matter what, I'll find you."
"And I'll be waiting for you when you find me."
The soft rustle of leaves alerted them to Itachi's arrival. She stood up first to greet her brother, frowning at the emotionless expression carved into his face. Neither of her parents had arrived with him, but she did not bring that up.
"It is time to go," Itachi commanded without a smile. "We have a long road ahead of us." His onyx eyes landed on Naruto. A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "I assume you've said your goodbyes?"
"Yes, sir." Naruto hopped up and forced a pathetic grin. "When we will you guys return?"
Itachi closed his eyes at the question. "If you remain true to virtue, Naruto, I promise you'll meet her again." Then, without another word, he took Sasuke's hand and walked towards the forest. Thick tears ran down her face, a soft sob stopping her from wishing Naruto well.
"Wait!"
Naruto ran towards the cabin and scrambled up the tree. He plucked an apple. "Our tree, Sasuke, made this!" Sasuke's eyes widened at the ruby-red apple. She had not expected anything beyond a few leaves to grow from the withered branches.
Under the full moon, Naruto Uzumaki ran towards her across the meadow and kneeled. He offered the fruit to her.
No matter what, I'll find you.
And I'll be waiting for you when you find me.
Screams of the dying and distraught echoed above the flames, consuming the city of Kobe. Saika lay on her back with eyes trying to adjust to the stinging smoke. She tried to move but felt a sharp pain dance through her body. A piece of wood had embedded itself deep within her leg. With a heavy groan, she managed to find the strength to sit upright and remove the stake. Blood flowed onto the cobblestone. Vague lessons in first aid from Orisa told her to cover the wound to stop the bleeding. She tore a piece of her dress off and used it to wrap the wound.
The destruction of her world raged around her. Bodies littered the street, some moving and some motionless. Countless fires had broken out across the city and spread faster than the fire militia could handle. Her eyes focused on the pillar of black smoke rising from the ruins of Castle Tate.
Naruto.
No matter what, I'll find you.
Saika needed to believe the words as her world ended around her. A wave of rage coursed through her veins at the devastation. Orisa. Nikata. Kaede. Sora. She feared for their safety. Images of their corpses flashed in her mind, fueling the rage within and sending her into a depth of hatred that nursed the pain in her leg. She craved retribution upon those who stole everything from her. Memories from the moments leading up to the blast reminded her of the Shinobi that tried to take her away from Naruto.
A soft groan alerted her to another presence. Sakura Haruno lay pinned under a tossed cart, her bottom half slowly crushed by the weight. Jade-eyes noticed her with fright and panic. It appeared the damage caused had drained the woman of her monstrous strength. "Help."
It took Saika multiple attempts to stand up. Finally, she hobbled towards the cart to look down at the woman. With enough effort, the coach could be lifted enough for the kunoichi to crawl away. Sakura stared at her pleadingly, demanding a kindness never shown to her. These people came into her life and took everything. Echoes of the past haunted her vision. She dropped to the ground next to Sakura.
Retribution.
Pale fingers curled around Sakura's neck and squeezed.
I have to say...this is my favorite chapter written so far. Each of the scenes built details into Naruto and Saika (Sasuke) that will come into play later. I wrote this entire chapter while flying over the Pacific so apologies if the editing is a little weak. Please let me know what you think!
