This Changes Everything" - by Ichigo-chan
Chapter Three: I'll Tell You What
******
Ichigo: Andddd WE'RE BACK!! That fiend Trish! (she posts my chapters for me) She miss labled my second chapter!! ARG!
Sakura-kun: Yes! Arg indeed!
Ichigo: Oh well **sigh** minor detail.
Sakura-kun: Yeah! This is where the story starts getting to the POINT!
Ichigo: um, yes, yes it does.
Sakura-kun: Bout time too!
Ichigo: Yeahhhh - **resists urge to hit Sakura-kun**
Sakura-kun: WAIIII! ^____^
DAH! My apologias for a first two chapters fraught with plotlessness! I assure you! It's all plot driven from here on out! Not to worry! I thank you for sticking with me! I'll do my best to make it more then worth your while!
Plot Summery (again, again) - The relationship between Sasuke and Naruto has changed a lot over the years, especially now that they both seem to have come to the same realizations. However, Sasuke finds himself unable too runaway from links to his past - especially those in the form of a strange, tragic, second generation, missing-nin. To find out more about himself, his brother, and to save a life, Sasuke has to decide just how far he's willing to go - as well as what, and who, he is willing to leave behind.
Now, about this THIRD chapter - again, a little shorter, but that's just cuz I'm gonna keep on posting things quickly, one right after another for a while since - like I said before - I'm pretty stocked up! I hope you don't all run off on me when you start to predict things based on the foreshadowing though, cuz it's not what you're gonna think! Uh, at least I hope not - O_o;
Chapter Summery - With the old team together Kakashi tells them of their mission: to find and retrieve a young missing-nin for the forests outside of Konoha. Sounds simple enough. Yeah well, things aren't always as simple as they seem!
Warnings - a squijin of shounen-ai at the beginning, and a little bit of language, but nothing else. (WHAT!? squijin's a word!)
(Once again, this is my disclaimer: "not mine")
***
Half awake, and half asleep, it took him a moment get a grasp on where he was. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes Sasuke yawned as he heard the light sounds of Naruto's shower running. Sighing he leaned back into the deep, soft, corner of the couch and closed his eyes again. Feeling - more so then thinking about - the sensation of Naruto still sleeping there next to him, curled up in his arms.
"All birthdays should turn out like that." Sasuke thought to himself, despite uneasy feelings creeping their way into his mind.
"Morning!" Naruto smiled broadly when he walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his towel back and forth through his damp hair.
"Hi." Sasuke smiled back, arching his back and stretching his arms out high above his head.
"Kakashi sensei was here this morning." Naruto informed him.
"Yeah?" Sasuke said, feeling a nervous twinge in his chest all of a sudden; realizing that what had happened last night wasn't exactly something he wanted the entire world to know about.
"He's got old hag Tsunade to put our old team back together for a new mission if you feel up to it!" Naruto explained, his voice sounding visibly enthused.
"Really? That'd be interesting." Sasuke nodded, rather intrigued by the idea of working together with Naruto and Sakura again.
"Kakashi said he's gonna meet us at the gates at noon. Oh, plus, he said not to wear our Chunnin uniforms or headbands - for whatever reason." he shrugged, "So if you're gonna want to go home first you better hurry." he laughed.
"Shit, what time is it?" Sasuke asked, jumping to his feet.
"It's almost eleven."
"Ah crap, I got to get going then." Sasuke groaned, and head for the door. Half way he stopped and turned around again - Naruto bounding over to him and grinning broadly before kissing him quickly on the lips.
"Bye Sasuke." Naruto smiled, as though it were perfectly normal.
"Bye." Sasuke nodded.
******
When he arrived back at his house, Sasuke, closed the door behind him and stopped for a moment. Thoughts of the last nights occurrences flashed in his mind, and he felt as though he could still feel Naruto's lips against his own. He'd always dismissed any hint of feelings he'd had for Naruto as just strange thoughts, but now - he knew what he'd really been thinking.
A little flustered at the whole idea, and unsure of what he was feeling, Sasuke walked into his bed room and flopped down on his bed - sighing heavily.
A strange, heavy, thud caught his ear and he sat back up; and looking down at the floor he notice a package next to his bedside.
"Where'd this come from?" he asked aloud, picking up the mysterious, flat, brown box. "I don't remember putting this here."
A slight breeze through his hair made him turn, and he realized his window was slightly ajar.
"What the hell?" he wondered, walking over to the window cautiously and peered out.
He knew he hadn't left it open; thus, the only logical explanation then was that somebody had been in his house.
A little unsettled at the idea Sasuke picked the package back up again and examined it. On the flip side, written in pencil, were six disturbing words:
"To the brother of Uchiha Itachi."
He stared wide eyed at the writing for a moment, unsure of what to make of it. However, curiosity getting the better of his judgement - he carefully, and uneasily, opened the brown paper wrapping. So far so good?
Upon opening the box inside he found a perfectly harmless and rather beautiful, silver chain and pendent.
"What the hell?" he thought aloud, lifting it from the box and eyeing it scrutinously. The chain was thick and heavy, and suspended from it was a flat, round, crescent moon shaped pendent.
"Who would - ?" Sasuke thought on it for a long time as he stared at the necklace in his hand, but nothing came to him.
******
When Sasuke arrived at the gates at noon, Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura were already waiting for him.
"Yo Sasuke." Kakashi waved to him.
"Hey." Sasuke nodded back.
He was glad to see his old sensei, but at the same time it was strange to see Kakashi in street clothes. Just a pair of khaki shorts, a green t-shit with the sign of the leaf on it, and a black bandana where his head protector would normally be.
"Morning Sasuke-kun!" Sakura smiled, looking quiet good herself, dawning a scarlet and black variation on her usual split dress and tights.
"Morning." he nodded back at her.
"Didn't think you were gonna make it!" Naruto teased him, standing there, with a smug little smile on his face; disorderly blond hair hanging in front of his eyes without his head protector to hold it back.
"Shut up dobe." he snapped back at him smartly.
"Well, now that we're all here I guess I can explain this mission!" Kakashi began, standing there with his hands deeply in his pockets.
"Alright." Sasuke nodded - a welcome feeling of nostalgia washing over him.
"This is a "Find and Retrieve" mission." he began, "In theory this isn't going to be that dangerous, but chances are it's still gonna be sort of difficult."
"In theory?" Sakura questioned.
"Well, yeah. I mean, it IS one against four so I don't see how anything could go wrong." he nodded, visibly grinning - his hand to his chin as though he were contemplating the situation.
"Four on one? So, we're going after somebody." Sasuke, observed.
"Yes as a matter of fact." Kakashi nodded.
"What sort of target is it?" Naruto asked, grinning widely; his fist clenched in excited anticipation.
"Actually, we're looking for a missing-nin."
"What?! Isn't that a job for the Hunter-nin?" Sakura pointed out.
"Normally yes, but in this case we're not out to kill anybody."
"So then what ARE we out to do?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, the person we're after is actually a second generation missing-nin."
"Second generation? What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto scowled - not catching on.
"Um, well," Kakashi began to explain, "before you guys were born, there was an Anbu couple who deserted The Leaf. The Hunter-nin went after them of cource and they caught the husband pretty much right off and killed him, but the wife got away. They tried to catch her, but she killed two of our best Anbu and escaped into the forests around Konoha."
"Hmm, shitty." Naruto shook his head.
"Oh it gets worse." Kakashi laughed, "So anyway, she was missing for about seven or eight years before the Hunter-nin finally found her, but instead of just letting them kill her she committed suicide."
"Harsh." Naruto added, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops and sighing.
"Harsher then that," he went on, "was that she had a child"
"What?!" Sakura gasped.
"See, she'd been pregnant when she left and nobody knew about it."
"Awww, that poor kid." Sakura said piteously, lifting her hands to her mouth.
"Not really," Kakashi shook his head, "She was a top Anbu and trained the kid herself. Even after she was gone the kid obviously just kept on living life normally; cuz there's been a lot more sightings lately the usual."
"Sightings?"
"Yeah - it's dangerous to travel outside of Konoha, people are always getting robed and attacked, and that kids just another reason why. I mean, you gota' look after yourself somehow right?" Kakashi pointed out.
"Well that's shitty." Naruto thought aloud.
"Why didn't he just come to Konoha?" Sakura inquired, thinking that would have been the rational thing to do, "It'd be better then having to live on your own as a petty criminal!"
"If your mother was a deserter, do you think she'd talk too highly of the Leaf?" Kakashi pointed out.
"I, suppose not." Sakura sighed, still thinking it made no, logical, sense.
"Yeah well, there's been a rash of incidents lately outside of here and everyone one says they've seen the same person. So Hokage-sama thought it'd be best if she sent someone out to finally collect her."
"Her?" Sasuke asked, having just jumped to the conclusion that they were after a boy.
"Yes yes, HER. She's barely a year old then you guys so she shouldn't be too much trouble, but considering she hasn't been caught yet she's obviously one tough customer."
"It can't possibly take all of us." Sasuke scoffed, thinking there was no way one rogue girl could possibly require the work of four trained ninjas.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kakashi shook his finger at him, "A pair of the Anbu said they thought they came across her once, and on top of getting away she also put one of them in the hospital."
"Whoa!" Naruto said wide eyed, sounding all impressed.
"Yeah well, here's hoping the four of us can do it. I figured we'd make a good team for this, seeing as we all work so well together." Kakashi smiled.
"Ture true." Sakura nodded happily.
"But what's with the clothes?" Sasuke inquired, pulling at the edge of the usual blue, and Uchiha-logo emblazoned shirt he hadn't worn in ages.
"I wanted us to go casual!" Kakashi laughed, "Trust me!"
"Um, ok." Sasuke agreed, with a puzzled look on his face, knowing better than to bother to ask anymore.
"Well then, lets get going!" Naurto shouted with his usual go-get-em' attatude.
"Indeed."
***
To be continued -
******
Ichigo: DAH HA! WE HAVE A PLOT!
Sakura-kun: Bout TIME! YEESH!
Ichigo: Shut up already! **hits Sakura-kun over the head with her key board** (**hehe** Thought you'd get away with out it this time didn't you. ^^)
Sakura-kun: T_T WAIIIIIII!
Hmmm well, guess you'll just all have to wait and see what happens now huh? Just, please don't be going "Oh dear GAWD no. Not another Mary-sue story **groan**" cuz it's not QUITE what you're thinking. You're all just gonna have to trust me on this one ok? TRUST ME! Hahaha! **sigh** Goodness.
What to expect in later chapters - The hunt for the missing-nin girl commences and Sasuke takes it upon himself to confront her alone. However, this mysterious girl turns the tables on him when she appears to know far more about him then he does about her. All of a sudden, returning her to the Leaf turns out to be a FAR more complicated matter then they initially thought.
Chapter Three: I'll Tell You What
******
Ichigo: Andddd WE'RE BACK!! That fiend Trish! (she posts my chapters for me) She miss labled my second chapter!! ARG!
Sakura-kun: Yes! Arg indeed!
Ichigo: Oh well **sigh** minor detail.
Sakura-kun: Yeah! This is where the story starts getting to the POINT!
Ichigo: um, yes, yes it does.
Sakura-kun: Bout time too!
Ichigo: Yeahhhh - **resists urge to hit Sakura-kun**
Sakura-kun: WAIIII! ^____^
DAH! My apologias for a first two chapters fraught with plotlessness! I assure you! It's all plot driven from here on out! Not to worry! I thank you for sticking with me! I'll do my best to make it more then worth your while!
Plot Summery (again, again) - The relationship between Sasuke and Naruto has changed a lot over the years, especially now that they both seem to have come to the same realizations. However, Sasuke finds himself unable too runaway from links to his past - especially those in the form of a strange, tragic, second generation, missing-nin. To find out more about himself, his brother, and to save a life, Sasuke has to decide just how far he's willing to go - as well as what, and who, he is willing to leave behind.
Now, about this THIRD chapter - again, a little shorter, but that's just cuz I'm gonna keep on posting things quickly, one right after another for a while since - like I said before - I'm pretty stocked up! I hope you don't all run off on me when you start to predict things based on the foreshadowing though, cuz it's not what you're gonna think! Uh, at least I hope not - O_o;
Chapter Summery - With the old team together Kakashi tells them of their mission: to find and retrieve a young missing-nin for the forests outside of Konoha. Sounds simple enough. Yeah well, things aren't always as simple as they seem!
Warnings - a squijin of shounen-ai at the beginning, and a little bit of language, but nothing else. (WHAT!? squijin's a word!)
(Once again, this is my disclaimer: "not mine")
***
Half awake, and half asleep, it took him a moment get a grasp on where he was. Sitting up and rubbing his eyes Sasuke yawned as he heard the light sounds of Naruto's shower running. Sighing he leaned back into the deep, soft, corner of the couch and closed his eyes again. Feeling - more so then thinking about - the sensation of Naruto still sleeping there next to him, curled up in his arms.
"All birthdays should turn out like that." Sasuke thought to himself, despite uneasy feelings creeping their way into his mind.
"Morning!" Naruto smiled broadly when he walked out of the bathroom, rubbing his towel back and forth through his damp hair.
"Hi." Sasuke smiled back, arching his back and stretching his arms out high above his head.
"Kakashi sensei was here this morning." Naruto informed him.
"Yeah?" Sasuke said, feeling a nervous twinge in his chest all of a sudden; realizing that what had happened last night wasn't exactly something he wanted the entire world to know about.
"He's got old hag Tsunade to put our old team back together for a new mission if you feel up to it!" Naruto explained, his voice sounding visibly enthused.
"Really? That'd be interesting." Sasuke nodded, rather intrigued by the idea of working together with Naruto and Sakura again.
"Kakashi said he's gonna meet us at the gates at noon. Oh, plus, he said not to wear our Chunnin uniforms or headbands - for whatever reason." he shrugged, "So if you're gonna want to go home first you better hurry." he laughed.
"Shit, what time is it?" Sasuke asked, jumping to his feet.
"It's almost eleven."
"Ah crap, I got to get going then." Sasuke groaned, and head for the door. Half way he stopped and turned around again - Naruto bounding over to him and grinning broadly before kissing him quickly on the lips.
"Bye Sasuke." Naruto smiled, as though it were perfectly normal.
"Bye." Sasuke nodded.
******
When he arrived back at his house, Sasuke, closed the door behind him and stopped for a moment. Thoughts of the last nights occurrences flashed in his mind, and he felt as though he could still feel Naruto's lips against his own. He'd always dismissed any hint of feelings he'd had for Naruto as just strange thoughts, but now - he knew what he'd really been thinking.
A little flustered at the whole idea, and unsure of what he was feeling, Sasuke walked into his bed room and flopped down on his bed - sighing heavily.
A strange, heavy, thud caught his ear and he sat back up; and looking down at the floor he notice a package next to his bedside.
"Where'd this come from?" he asked aloud, picking up the mysterious, flat, brown box. "I don't remember putting this here."
A slight breeze through his hair made him turn, and he realized his window was slightly ajar.
"What the hell?" he wondered, walking over to the window cautiously and peered out.
He knew he hadn't left it open; thus, the only logical explanation then was that somebody had been in his house.
A little unsettled at the idea Sasuke picked the package back up again and examined it. On the flip side, written in pencil, were six disturbing words:
"To the brother of Uchiha Itachi."
He stared wide eyed at the writing for a moment, unsure of what to make of it. However, curiosity getting the better of his judgement - he carefully, and uneasily, opened the brown paper wrapping. So far so good?
Upon opening the box inside he found a perfectly harmless and rather beautiful, silver chain and pendent.
"What the hell?" he thought aloud, lifting it from the box and eyeing it scrutinously. The chain was thick and heavy, and suspended from it was a flat, round, crescent moon shaped pendent.
"Who would - ?" Sasuke thought on it for a long time as he stared at the necklace in his hand, but nothing came to him.
******
When Sasuke arrived at the gates at noon, Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura were already waiting for him.
"Yo Sasuke." Kakashi waved to him.
"Hey." Sasuke nodded back.
He was glad to see his old sensei, but at the same time it was strange to see Kakashi in street clothes. Just a pair of khaki shorts, a green t-shit with the sign of the leaf on it, and a black bandana where his head protector would normally be.
"Morning Sasuke-kun!" Sakura smiled, looking quiet good herself, dawning a scarlet and black variation on her usual split dress and tights.
"Morning." he nodded back at her.
"Didn't think you were gonna make it!" Naruto teased him, standing there, with a smug little smile on his face; disorderly blond hair hanging in front of his eyes without his head protector to hold it back.
"Shut up dobe." he snapped back at him smartly.
"Well, now that we're all here I guess I can explain this mission!" Kakashi began, standing there with his hands deeply in his pockets.
"Alright." Sasuke nodded - a welcome feeling of nostalgia washing over him.
"This is a "Find and Retrieve" mission." he began, "In theory this isn't going to be that dangerous, but chances are it's still gonna be sort of difficult."
"In theory?" Sakura questioned.
"Well, yeah. I mean, it IS one against four so I don't see how anything could go wrong." he nodded, visibly grinning - his hand to his chin as though he were contemplating the situation.
"Four on one? So, we're going after somebody." Sasuke, observed.
"Yes as a matter of fact." Kakashi nodded.
"What sort of target is it?" Naruto asked, grinning widely; his fist clenched in excited anticipation.
"Actually, we're looking for a missing-nin."
"What?! Isn't that a job for the Hunter-nin?" Sakura pointed out.
"Normally yes, but in this case we're not out to kill anybody."
"So then what ARE we out to do?" Sasuke asked.
"Well, the person we're after is actually a second generation missing-nin."
"Second generation? What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto scowled - not catching on.
"Um, well," Kakashi began to explain, "before you guys were born, there was an Anbu couple who deserted The Leaf. The Hunter-nin went after them of cource and they caught the husband pretty much right off and killed him, but the wife got away. They tried to catch her, but she killed two of our best Anbu and escaped into the forests around Konoha."
"Hmm, shitty." Naruto shook his head.
"Oh it gets worse." Kakashi laughed, "So anyway, she was missing for about seven or eight years before the Hunter-nin finally found her, but instead of just letting them kill her she committed suicide."
"Harsh." Naruto added, hooking his thumbs into his belt loops and sighing.
"Harsher then that," he went on, "was that she had a child"
"What?!" Sakura gasped.
"See, she'd been pregnant when she left and nobody knew about it."
"Awww, that poor kid." Sakura said piteously, lifting her hands to her mouth.
"Not really," Kakashi shook his head, "She was a top Anbu and trained the kid herself. Even after she was gone the kid obviously just kept on living life normally; cuz there's been a lot more sightings lately the usual."
"Sightings?"
"Yeah - it's dangerous to travel outside of Konoha, people are always getting robed and attacked, and that kids just another reason why. I mean, you gota' look after yourself somehow right?" Kakashi pointed out.
"Well that's shitty." Naruto thought aloud.
"Why didn't he just come to Konoha?" Sakura inquired, thinking that would have been the rational thing to do, "It'd be better then having to live on your own as a petty criminal!"
"If your mother was a deserter, do you think she'd talk too highly of the Leaf?" Kakashi pointed out.
"I, suppose not." Sakura sighed, still thinking it made no, logical, sense.
"Yeah well, there's been a rash of incidents lately outside of here and everyone one says they've seen the same person. So Hokage-sama thought it'd be best if she sent someone out to finally collect her."
"Her?" Sasuke asked, having just jumped to the conclusion that they were after a boy.
"Yes yes, HER. She's barely a year old then you guys so she shouldn't be too much trouble, but considering she hasn't been caught yet she's obviously one tough customer."
"It can't possibly take all of us." Sasuke scoffed, thinking there was no way one rogue girl could possibly require the work of four trained ninjas.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Kakashi shook his finger at him, "A pair of the Anbu said they thought they came across her once, and on top of getting away she also put one of them in the hospital."
"Whoa!" Naruto said wide eyed, sounding all impressed.
"Yeah well, here's hoping the four of us can do it. I figured we'd make a good team for this, seeing as we all work so well together." Kakashi smiled.
"Ture true." Sakura nodded happily.
"But what's with the clothes?" Sasuke inquired, pulling at the edge of the usual blue, and Uchiha-logo emblazoned shirt he hadn't worn in ages.
"I wanted us to go casual!" Kakashi laughed, "Trust me!"
"Um, ok." Sasuke agreed, with a puzzled look on his face, knowing better than to bother to ask anymore.
"Well then, lets get going!" Naurto shouted with his usual go-get-em' attatude.
"Indeed."
***
To be continued -
******
Ichigo: DAH HA! WE HAVE A PLOT!
Sakura-kun: Bout TIME! YEESH!
Ichigo: Shut up already! **hits Sakura-kun over the head with her key board** (**hehe** Thought you'd get away with out it this time didn't you. ^^)
Sakura-kun: T_T WAIIIIIII!
Hmmm well, guess you'll just all have to wait and see what happens now huh? Just, please don't be going "Oh dear GAWD no. Not another Mary-sue story **groan**" cuz it's not QUITE what you're thinking. You're all just gonna have to trust me on this one ok? TRUST ME! Hahaha! **sigh** Goodness.
What to expect in later chapters - The hunt for the missing-nin girl commences and Sasuke takes it upon himself to confront her alone. However, this mysterious girl turns the tables on him when she appears to know far more about him then he does about her. All of a sudden, returning her to the Leaf turns out to be a FAR more complicated matter then they initially thought.