Love and Death
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto Characters.
A/N: Hey everyone! This is the third chapter...obviously...anyway, I just would like to say thanks to everyone that reviewed my fic. I will try and take all your advice and put it to use in my story. Anyway, I was planning to do something with this chapter, but I think I'll change my idea. I have something really unsuspected planned for you guyz! Enjoy chap. 3!
Chapter 3-
Memories and a BIG Surprise
"Oh my god! They're back!"
"I can't believe it! Eight long years!"
Voices such as these reached the ears of the three approaching Jounins (although some considered them Sennins) as they walked through the gates leading into the Konoha Village. Many people stopped and stared as they made their way purposefully through their old home.
Sasuke grinned slightly, for none needed to know of his joy. Although he had led his life as a genin making others believe that he didn't care, once he had left with Miharu and Neji, the way he had missed the others was incredible. It was almost impossible for him to believe. It was as if two sides of him were secretly raging inwardly. One side wished to keep his cool, collective mask on, while the other wished to crush the mask and hug everyone in sight (oh so OOC. Sorry).
Neji wasn't really all that touched at the immense amount of attention they were getting. He had known all along that this would be the outcome. After all, they were the top-ranking Jounins in the whole country. In fact, Neji would be surprised if there was even one person who did not know of them, even if it was not by name. He had figured that their coming back after eight years of training would be stunning to the villagers, with the exception of the other Jounins, and the Hokage, of course. Their team had interacted with the other ninja on several occasions. However, they hadn't seen one another in one or two years.
Miharu, unlike the other two, was thrilled to be back at her home town, and for the first time in eight years, be allowed to interact with the villagers. Leaving Sasuke and Neji to bask in silence, she ran from one villager to the next, hugging and kissing (on the cheek, on the cheek) them all. They told her how much they missed her, and in return she assured them that she had missed them as well. She was surprised at how much the villagers had changed. However, there was one place she just HAD to go to, even before they went to the se the Hokage.
*
Miharu leaned back in her seat and sighed pleasantly. "Ahhh...I haven't been so full in years!!!" she moaned with pleasure as she pushed her thirteenth bowl of turkey-flavoured ramen away from in front of her. "Feel free to share if you want, you two!" she added cheerfully.
Sasuke glanced over at Neji and rolled his eyes, making sure that Miharu wouldn't catch him. Neji saw this and grinned. They were both glad that she was full...despite the fact that they too were starving, she had finished off all the ramen (there was no more to share *sweatdrop*), along with all the money they had gathered over the past few months. If there was one person known to compete with the number one hyperactive ninja in a ramen eating competition, it had to be Miharu.
After an hour, Miharu sat up and stretched. She looked around herself warily only to find two things. One, everyone in "Ichiraku Ramen" (I'm not sure if that's the name) was staring at her, and two, both Sasuke and Neji were fast asleep. First of all, she got up and glanced around. "Ehehehe...please don't mind us...You all know that we've just been back after an extremely long and tiring journey. We just came her to relax. Please go back to your meals."
When everyone continued to stare, paying no attention to her words, Miharu became angry. "MOVE IT OR LOSE IT, YOU SLEAZEBALLS!" she screamed at them all. In less than two seconds, every head in the bar had whipped around and continued it's own conversation. Miharu sighed and slumped back into her seat.
Checking the clock nearest to her, perched on the wall, she realized with a gasp that they were twenty minutes late for the meeting that Hokage- sama had summoned them for. Quickly she kicked both Neji and Sasuke hard underneath the table, waking them with a start.
"Nani?" Sasuke asked groggily as he ran his hand across his eyes. Neji just glared at her.
"Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, but we're late for the meeting!" She hissed at them, sliding out from the table. She began to walk out of the bar, Sasuke and Neji following close behind.
"Our beauty sleep?" Sasuke muttered. "What about the three hour long ones you take?" Neji chuckled at this, but silenced quickly, along with Sasuke, as Miharu's head whipped around to stare at them.
*
Arriving at the tower fifteen minutes later, they plopped down onto the dirt road and leaned back, staring all the way to the top. "Eight long years..." Miharu said softly. "...since we've been to the village. Only four since we've seen any of the other Jounin or the Hokage. Actually, I heard that Tsunade-sama chose a new Hokage for the village..."
Neji looked over at her, slight shock showing on his face. "Really?" He inquired, a question to be left unanswered. "I never heard of this. A new Hokage, huh? I wonder who it is she has chosen...? "Neji trailed off wondering. Tsunade-sama had been a good Hokage. He wondered who she could have chosen to take her place. "Who could it be?" He asked softly.
"Huh?" came Miharu's reply. Neji shook his head in answer. Miharu nodded to show that she understood, then resumed her stare at the tall tower. How she longed to enter and see the others. It had been a while. "I wonder if any of them have changed at all?" She asked herself silently.
Sasuke, too, stared up at the tall tower. He had fond memories of this place. Memories that no one could know...even if they tortured him with all the kisses and hugs in the world. This was the place where the testing had commenced, was it not? The very same place he had first been teamed up with Naruto and Sakura. Those two...the last time he had seen them, four years ago on their most recent mission together, they had changed quite a bit. Although Naruto was still loud and hyperactive, he wasn't so much as number one. At least, he wasn't that annoying. As for Sakura, she had definitely become stronger. She could still identify all types of genjutsu on impulse, but she was able to fend for herself...she had learned more ninjutsu. She had changed in looks to. Finally filling out, she had looked more like a young woman than just a teenager. Sometimes Sasuke regretted leaving them for Miharu and Neji, even though it was what the Hokage had asked of him.
The tree remained like that, staring up at the tower, for some time. Finally, Neji snapped out of his trance and got up, dusting himself off. "Come on." He said to the others. "We have to go in."
Now officially one hour late, the group entered the building, memories hitting them with an impact like that of a rock. Continuing onward, they embraced the pain, welcomed it with open arms. If this pain was the price they paid for loving, protecting, and cherishing the memories that they held dare to their hearts, they would keep it.
Finally they came upon the door which would lead them into the room with all the others. Taking a deep breath, Miharu placed her hand on the handle of the oak doors. In doing so, she felt a sudden rush, as if a cold bucket of water had been thrown on her. She felt more awake...refreshed. Smiling brightly, she whispered to the others, "It's time."
The door was opened.
Silence greeted them. The faces of Sakura, TenTen, Lee, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru turned to their direction. The shock on their faces was evident. Kakashi-, Iruka-, and Gai-sensei all turned simultaneously to look upon the new arrivals. Their eyes, too, widened in surprise. The were the first three to break the silence. Stepping forward, Kakashi-sensei walked right up to Sasuke and looked him in the eye.
"Sasuke," he said, "I've been waiting for your arrival to give this to you, now that you are of age. Taking one of Sasuke's hands from inside his pocket, Kakashi sensei took a book from his vest and placed it squarely on Sasuke's hand, closing his hand around it, he said, "What do you think?"
Sasuke blushed furiously. Of course Kakashi-sensei had given Sasuke his very own copy of Para Para Paradise. Shoving the book in his back pouch and still blushing, he whispered, embarrassed, "Sensei, do you honestly think I'll read this?"
Inwardly Kakashi sighed in relief. At least Sasuke still acknowledged him as his sensei. Smiling in mock love, Kakashi stared straight across (noting how much he had grown) into Sasuke's dark abyss, also known as his eyes. He then stated pointedly, "If you weren't going to read it, Sasuke, wouldn't you have given it back?" Following this he promptly disappeared into the crowd.
Next Gai-sensei walked quickly up to Neji, tears overflowing in his round eyes, hidden under his trademark bushy eyebrows. "Oh Neji!" He wept. "How long it has been since last I saw you! A student leaving his teacher as he becomes a Jounin! Now you are at my level! Will you forget me, my past genin? Will I be no more in you fast and furious life?"
Neji rolled his eyes once, twice...no, three times at his former teacher. "Sensei, you're overdoing it again." He stated in an irritable voice, much like the one Sasuke had used earlier that morning.
"OH NEJI! You still see me as your sensei! I am so proud of and happy for you, my student!" Quickly walking backward, he managed to crash into the wall, ending up in an unconscious, crumpled heap on the floor. Neji, Miharu, and Sasuke, along with every other person in the room, sweatdropped.
The last person to advance was Iruka. Walking slowly towards Miharu, he smiled warmly. "It's been a while, huh, my student?" Inquired her old sensei.
Smiling brightly at him, she nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! It has, hasn't it, sensei!?" under sudden impulse, she grabbed him in a tight hug. "I missed you all so much." She sighed into his vest, a single tear running down her cheek.
Pulling her away from him, he smiled down at her. "You shouldn't be telling that to ME..." He moved out of the way so that she faced the whole crown of ninjas...her old friends. "...you should be telling that to them..."
Disappearing from beside her to stand next to Kakashi, he watched to see how the Jounins would react after all this time. It seemed that, never mind their rank, they would always act as they had as children, whenever surrounded by one another. Even Gaara was mixed in with the crowd. (Is that OOC?)
The three reunited ninjas looked at the crowd that greeted them. They all looked different in some way, with the exception of Akamaru, who, as a dog, looked basically the same as ever. (What a long life that dog must have!)
Sakura's hair had grown long once again, but now she kept it in pigtails, high up on her head, at either side. She had discarded her red training outfit for a new red one. This outfit was a loose red tank top completed with red and black capris, which cut off in between her ankles and knees. Attached to her right leg was her case with kunais and shurikens, and higher above that she had tied her hitai-ate.
Lee had grown his hair so that it flew away on either side of his head, and was in one single braid at the nape of his neck, which reached down to his waist. Instead of his green suit, he wore a Chinese-style white shirt, lined with black, and black Chinese-styled pants. He wore the traditional Chinese shoes also. (It's the same kind of outfit Ranma wears) His arms were still bandaged, his hitai-ate was still tied around his waist, and his pouch was still tied around his right leg.
Shino's outfit was exactly the same except for the fact that his white top had been traded for a blue one which was exactly the same, without the sleeves.
Hinata now wore a tight purple T-shirt embroidered with blue stars around the edges. She wore capris similar to Sakura's, except they were white. Her right arm was bandaged from her shoulder to elbow, and on the bandage she had tied her hitai-ate.
Kiba now wore a long-sleeved black shirt with black track pants. His hitai-ate was tied loosely around his neck, and his pouch was tied to his right leg.
Ino had cut her hair to shoulder length and had let it hang. Her one bang still remained, though. Her outfit was basically the same, except it had a lower neckline. She wore a cross pendant around her neck. Her hitai- ate was tied atop her head much like how Sakura's once was.
Shikamaru, Choji, TenTen, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro all remained basically the same as they had always been, seeing no need to change their style. After all the talking and explaining and reuniting, Sasuke noticed that something was off. Of course! "Hey," he said loud enough to be heard over the ruckus. "Where's the dobe?"
Sakura smiled at him, her crush long ago thrown aside, forgotten. "Sasuke...you had better not call him a dobe anymore."
"Why not?" Sasuke inquired, challenging her. After she had gotten over that silly little crush of hers, she and Sasuke had gotten along great. Almost like brother and sister.
"Because..." came and extremely familiar voice from the front of the room. Sasuke, Miharu, and Neji turned towards the direction, having forgotten that there was someone in that side of the room after all.
Everyone in the room, including the sensei's, grinned. The chair swung around suddenly and the three ninjas gasped. Blonde hair stuck out from the red and white headdress worn by the most important person in the whole village. Blue eyes full of mischief peeked out from underneath. However, it was the face of a man, not a boy, which looked at them with glee.
"Because this dobe...is now Hokage!"
End of Chapter 3!
A/N: SO??? Was it good? Were you expecting this? I had originally had a whole different idea for this chapter, but while I was writing I was like, "Whoa! I have the coolest idea!" so, I put it. Anyway, The next chapter will be very interesting, and a new character is coming in. There should be some romance in there too, for all you romantics out there. Anyway, please review this chapter so I can improve in the next one! Ja!
A/N: Hey everyone! This is the third chapter...obviously...anyway, I just would like to say thanks to everyone that reviewed my fic. I will try and take all your advice and put it to use in my story. Anyway, I was planning to do something with this chapter, but I think I'll change my idea. I have something really unsuspected planned for you guyz! Enjoy chap. 3!
Chapter 3-
Memories and a BIG Surprise
"Oh my god! They're back!"
"I can't believe it! Eight long years!"
Voices such as these reached the ears of the three approaching Jounins (although some considered them Sennins) as they walked through the gates leading into the Konoha Village. Many people stopped and stared as they made their way purposefully through their old home.
Sasuke grinned slightly, for none needed to know of his joy. Although he had led his life as a genin making others believe that he didn't care, once he had left with Miharu and Neji, the way he had missed the others was incredible. It was almost impossible for him to believe. It was as if two sides of him were secretly raging inwardly. One side wished to keep his cool, collective mask on, while the other wished to crush the mask and hug everyone in sight (oh so OOC. Sorry).
Neji wasn't really all that touched at the immense amount of attention they were getting. He had known all along that this would be the outcome. After all, they were the top-ranking Jounins in the whole country. In fact, Neji would be surprised if there was even one person who did not know of them, even if it was not by name. He had figured that their coming back after eight years of training would be stunning to the villagers, with the exception of the other Jounins, and the Hokage, of course. Their team had interacted with the other ninja on several occasions. However, they hadn't seen one another in one or two years.
Miharu, unlike the other two, was thrilled to be back at her home town, and for the first time in eight years, be allowed to interact with the villagers. Leaving Sasuke and Neji to bask in silence, she ran from one villager to the next, hugging and kissing (on the cheek, on the cheek) them all. They told her how much they missed her, and in return she assured them that she had missed them as well. She was surprised at how much the villagers had changed. However, there was one place she just HAD to go to, even before they went to the se the Hokage.
*
Miharu leaned back in her seat and sighed pleasantly. "Ahhh...I haven't been so full in years!!!" she moaned with pleasure as she pushed her thirteenth bowl of turkey-flavoured ramen away from in front of her. "Feel free to share if you want, you two!" she added cheerfully.
Sasuke glanced over at Neji and rolled his eyes, making sure that Miharu wouldn't catch him. Neji saw this and grinned. They were both glad that she was full...despite the fact that they too were starving, she had finished off all the ramen (there was no more to share *sweatdrop*), along with all the money they had gathered over the past few months. If there was one person known to compete with the number one hyperactive ninja in a ramen eating competition, it had to be Miharu.
After an hour, Miharu sat up and stretched. She looked around herself warily only to find two things. One, everyone in "Ichiraku Ramen" (I'm not sure if that's the name) was staring at her, and two, both Sasuke and Neji were fast asleep. First of all, she got up and glanced around. "Ehehehe...please don't mind us...You all know that we've just been back after an extremely long and tiring journey. We just came her to relax. Please go back to your meals."
When everyone continued to stare, paying no attention to her words, Miharu became angry. "MOVE IT OR LOSE IT, YOU SLEAZEBALLS!" she screamed at them all. In less than two seconds, every head in the bar had whipped around and continued it's own conversation. Miharu sighed and slumped back into her seat.
Checking the clock nearest to her, perched on the wall, she realized with a gasp that they were twenty minutes late for the meeting that Hokage- sama had summoned them for. Quickly she kicked both Neji and Sasuke hard underneath the table, waking them with a start.
"Nani?" Sasuke asked groggily as he ran his hand across his eyes. Neji just glared at her.
"Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, but we're late for the meeting!" She hissed at them, sliding out from the table. She began to walk out of the bar, Sasuke and Neji following close behind.
"Our beauty sleep?" Sasuke muttered. "What about the three hour long ones you take?" Neji chuckled at this, but silenced quickly, along with Sasuke, as Miharu's head whipped around to stare at them.
*
Arriving at the tower fifteen minutes later, they plopped down onto the dirt road and leaned back, staring all the way to the top. "Eight long years..." Miharu said softly. "...since we've been to the village. Only four since we've seen any of the other Jounin or the Hokage. Actually, I heard that Tsunade-sama chose a new Hokage for the village..."
Neji looked over at her, slight shock showing on his face. "Really?" He inquired, a question to be left unanswered. "I never heard of this. A new Hokage, huh? I wonder who it is she has chosen...? "Neji trailed off wondering. Tsunade-sama had been a good Hokage. He wondered who she could have chosen to take her place. "Who could it be?" He asked softly.
"Huh?" came Miharu's reply. Neji shook his head in answer. Miharu nodded to show that she understood, then resumed her stare at the tall tower. How she longed to enter and see the others. It had been a while. "I wonder if any of them have changed at all?" She asked herself silently.
Sasuke, too, stared up at the tall tower. He had fond memories of this place. Memories that no one could know...even if they tortured him with all the kisses and hugs in the world. This was the place where the testing had commenced, was it not? The very same place he had first been teamed up with Naruto and Sakura. Those two...the last time he had seen them, four years ago on their most recent mission together, they had changed quite a bit. Although Naruto was still loud and hyperactive, he wasn't so much as number one. At least, he wasn't that annoying. As for Sakura, she had definitely become stronger. She could still identify all types of genjutsu on impulse, but she was able to fend for herself...she had learned more ninjutsu. She had changed in looks to. Finally filling out, she had looked more like a young woman than just a teenager. Sometimes Sasuke regretted leaving them for Miharu and Neji, even though it was what the Hokage had asked of him.
The tree remained like that, staring up at the tower, for some time. Finally, Neji snapped out of his trance and got up, dusting himself off. "Come on." He said to the others. "We have to go in."
Now officially one hour late, the group entered the building, memories hitting them with an impact like that of a rock. Continuing onward, they embraced the pain, welcomed it with open arms. If this pain was the price they paid for loving, protecting, and cherishing the memories that they held dare to their hearts, they would keep it.
Finally they came upon the door which would lead them into the room with all the others. Taking a deep breath, Miharu placed her hand on the handle of the oak doors. In doing so, she felt a sudden rush, as if a cold bucket of water had been thrown on her. She felt more awake...refreshed. Smiling brightly, she whispered to the others, "It's time."
The door was opened.
Silence greeted them. The faces of Sakura, TenTen, Lee, Shikamaru, Ino, Choji, Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru turned to their direction. The shock on their faces was evident. Kakashi-, Iruka-, and Gai-sensei all turned simultaneously to look upon the new arrivals. Their eyes, too, widened in surprise. The were the first three to break the silence. Stepping forward, Kakashi-sensei walked right up to Sasuke and looked him in the eye.
"Sasuke," he said, "I've been waiting for your arrival to give this to you, now that you are of age. Taking one of Sasuke's hands from inside his pocket, Kakashi sensei took a book from his vest and placed it squarely on Sasuke's hand, closing his hand around it, he said, "What do you think?"
Sasuke blushed furiously. Of course Kakashi-sensei had given Sasuke his very own copy of Para Para Paradise. Shoving the book in his back pouch and still blushing, he whispered, embarrassed, "Sensei, do you honestly think I'll read this?"
Inwardly Kakashi sighed in relief. At least Sasuke still acknowledged him as his sensei. Smiling in mock love, Kakashi stared straight across (noting how much he had grown) into Sasuke's dark abyss, also known as his eyes. He then stated pointedly, "If you weren't going to read it, Sasuke, wouldn't you have given it back?" Following this he promptly disappeared into the crowd.
Next Gai-sensei walked quickly up to Neji, tears overflowing in his round eyes, hidden under his trademark bushy eyebrows. "Oh Neji!" He wept. "How long it has been since last I saw you! A student leaving his teacher as he becomes a Jounin! Now you are at my level! Will you forget me, my past genin? Will I be no more in you fast and furious life?"
Neji rolled his eyes once, twice...no, three times at his former teacher. "Sensei, you're overdoing it again." He stated in an irritable voice, much like the one Sasuke had used earlier that morning.
"OH NEJI! You still see me as your sensei! I am so proud of and happy for you, my student!" Quickly walking backward, he managed to crash into the wall, ending up in an unconscious, crumpled heap on the floor. Neji, Miharu, and Sasuke, along with every other person in the room, sweatdropped.
The last person to advance was Iruka. Walking slowly towards Miharu, he smiled warmly. "It's been a while, huh, my student?" Inquired her old sensei.
Smiling brightly at him, she nodded enthusiastically. "Uh-huh! It has, hasn't it, sensei!?" under sudden impulse, she grabbed him in a tight hug. "I missed you all so much." She sighed into his vest, a single tear running down her cheek.
Pulling her away from him, he smiled down at her. "You shouldn't be telling that to ME..." He moved out of the way so that she faced the whole crown of ninjas...her old friends. "...you should be telling that to them..."
Disappearing from beside her to stand next to Kakashi, he watched to see how the Jounins would react after all this time. It seemed that, never mind their rank, they would always act as they had as children, whenever surrounded by one another. Even Gaara was mixed in with the crowd. (Is that OOC?)
The three reunited ninjas looked at the crowd that greeted them. They all looked different in some way, with the exception of Akamaru, who, as a dog, looked basically the same as ever. (What a long life that dog must have!)
Sakura's hair had grown long once again, but now she kept it in pigtails, high up on her head, at either side. She had discarded her red training outfit for a new red one. This outfit was a loose red tank top completed with red and black capris, which cut off in between her ankles and knees. Attached to her right leg was her case with kunais and shurikens, and higher above that she had tied her hitai-ate.
Lee had grown his hair so that it flew away on either side of his head, and was in one single braid at the nape of his neck, which reached down to his waist. Instead of his green suit, he wore a Chinese-style white shirt, lined with black, and black Chinese-styled pants. He wore the traditional Chinese shoes also. (It's the same kind of outfit Ranma wears) His arms were still bandaged, his hitai-ate was still tied around his waist, and his pouch was still tied around his right leg.
Shino's outfit was exactly the same except for the fact that his white top had been traded for a blue one which was exactly the same, without the sleeves.
Hinata now wore a tight purple T-shirt embroidered with blue stars around the edges. She wore capris similar to Sakura's, except they were white. Her right arm was bandaged from her shoulder to elbow, and on the bandage she had tied her hitai-ate.
Kiba now wore a long-sleeved black shirt with black track pants. His hitai-ate was tied loosely around his neck, and his pouch was tied to his right leg.
Ino had cut her hair to shoulder length and had let it hang. Her one bang still remained, though. Her outfit was basically the same, except it had a lower neckline. She wore a cross pendant around her neck. Her hitai- ate was tied atop her head much like how Sakura's once was.
Shikamaru, Choji, TenTen, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro all remained basically the same as they had always been, seeing no need to change their style. After all the talking and explaining and reuniting, Sasuke noticed that something was off. Of course! "Hey," he said loud enough to be heard over the ruckus. "Where's the dobe?"
Sakura smiled at him, her crush long ago thrown aside, forgotten. "Sasuke...you had better not call him a dobe anymore."
"Why not?" Sasuke inquired, challenging her. After she had gotten over that silly little crush of hers, she and Sasuke had gotten along great. Almost like brother and sister.
"Because..." came and extremely familiar voice from the front of the room. Sasuke, Miharu, and Neji turned towards the direction, having forgotten that there was someone in that side of the room after all.
Everyone in the room, including the sensei's, grinned. The chair swung around suddenly and the three ninjas gasped. Blonde hair stuck out from the red and white headdress worn by the most important person in the whole village. Blue eyes full of mischief peeked out from underneath. However, it was the face of a man, not a boy, which looked at them with glee.
"Because this dobe...is now Hokage!"
End of Chapter 3!
A/N: SO??? Was it good? Were you expecting this? I had originally had a whole different idea for this chapter, but while I was writing I was like, "Whoa! I have the coolest idea!" so, I put it. Anyway, The next chapter will be very interesting, and a new character is coming in. There should be some romance in there too, for all you romantics out there. Anyway, please review this chapter so I can improve in the next one! Ja!