Like a joke that you don't understand, but you laugh because it is the right thing to do, because you don't want to feel left out, because you want to be part of something, because everyone else is laughing.
Like those feelings that you suppress because they make no sense and you try to hide behind the coy smile that touches your lips momentarily, irrationally.
Your life expands under your feet, darkens the ground, poisons the earth, and spreads misfortune further. Swirling, changing, destroying—four months, three hours, two seconds, one moment. In the eye of this storm you become helpless and weak, but you have to watch. No blinking allowed.
Connections, bonds, friendships…the more you run away the more they pull you back—A laugh that no one hears—because contradiction is the insanity that keeps us sound.
Everything begins to crumble, pieces of sadness chip off your cheeks, and your lips tremble in fear.
And then… a calm breeze will explain to you the purpose of kindness, and the taboos of believing, and the meaning of trying—and you'll admit to yourself that you are crying.
So you walk the path of Fire blindfolded, holding your heart in your hand and a smile on your lips. Through the foggy lies and the blinding truth you stand merciless.
No Regrets…
No Salvation…
Because in this place…
No one hears you apologizing.
•
Exile
By Saori-Hime
Izumo and Koteshi – Chuunins that carry out the Hokage's orders… the ones that found Sakura at the park that morning!
Flashback
Chapter Four – Deterioration
Anko slipped out of his room while pulling her coat over her shoulders tiredly. She glanced to the side, noticing a shadow near by, and recognized her newest "comrade" not too far away from her. She eyed him wearily—always distrustful—and still unsure of what lay behind those meek eyeglasses.
She turned her face towards the table in front of her, and uttered "Morning," as she walked towards one of the chairs nearby. She plopped down heavily and allowed her voice to linger in the darkness, "I knew it wasn't going to be like eating dango, but… my Chakra still feels depleted."
"The effects should wear off soon. If you hadn't pushed yourself too much this week, you wouldn't have felt them at all. You seem anxious to leave this place…"
Anko rested her head back on the chair, eyes looking up at the ceiling aimlessly and accompanied by a filtering glint of dark emotion. "Kabuto, you are Orochimaru's right hand man, but that doesn't mean you can talk to me that freely." She didn't spare him a glance and didn't bother to sound distressed. Her words flowed down calmly, in a straightforward fashion. "We are not friends."
He walked towards the window and opened the curtains slowly; the light from outside made Anko squint in displeasure. "It seems to me that Orochimaru-sama and you had a past…" He dared to continue; Anko was silent, "We don't need to be friends, but working together would be easier if we trusted each other."
Anko could have smiled, "I work alone."
"You can't do everything alone."
"Says who?"
"Anko-san, you wouldn't be here otherwise."
Her head lowered to its regular position and her ominous brown eyes were visibly irritated by the hidden meanings of the conversation. All about him was queer. His toying threats. His arrogant tone of voice.
Manipulative bastard.
She stood up with little grace and traced the end of the table's surface with her fingers as she walked closer to his silhouetted form. She stopped in front of him—measuring him with candid eyes—and reached out only to be held back by his own hand. Hazel brown narrowed, and she brought forth her left hand, which he didn't resist. Her fingertips touched the ends of his glasses delicately, and she took them off his face in slow motion; her dark eyes watched him brazenly. He didn't avert his gaze, curiosity and surprise getting the better of him. He was beginning to understand what was special about this woman—what made Orochimaru treat her the way he did.
"You are right, I do need a little help once in a while…" She breathed out, "But the things you imply make me wonder if you want my trust to suit your own dark intentions," Killer's lips trying not to smile, "Kabuto-san."
He grabbed her left hand roughly, securing his property with an iron grip, and his black eyes narrowed down in calculated intimidation. She returned the provoking stare, her face inching closer to his on purpose, "I do not need your help." She looked away suddenly, a fleeting memory allowing the tension to lessen. She slipped her hands from his grasp smoothly, and added, "At least, not yet. Hopefully, not soon."
Kabuto put his glasses back on offhandedly, "You are… interesting, Anko-san."
"You are… too spoiled, Kabuto-san." Anko mocked him as she turned her back on him and started to arrange the weapons lying on the table. "Orochimaru sure knows how to choose them." She murmured and Kabuto watched her begin packing for her departure calmly.
"How does it feel?"
Anko paused, confused by his last statement. She finished assembling her ANBU equipment before turning back to glance at him. He was smiling slightly with those omnipresent beams of light shining off his lenses and making her eyes squint. "To be back that is." Anko stared at him for a moment before her gaze drifted to the side. She grabbed her mask and walked out of the room. Seconds later, a soft click announced that she was gone.
Kabuto stood by silently until the screeching hinges of Orochimaru's door made him turn towards him. The dim light revealed his dark figure dressed in a simple black kimono with sleeves that touched the floor heavily. Kabuto looked at him, and Orochimaru could tell what he was thinking. Unnecessary chuckles escaped his cold lips.
"Unlike you or Sasuke-kun, Anko never possessed a truly remarkable power…" He began as he walked towards the same chair Anko had been resting on minutes ago, "And yet she had the talent of a true Shinobi—someone who kills for the act to kill without reservation." He sat down, propping both arms on the sides of the chair as he did, "But when that spirit is crushed, she becomes ordinary… I had no use for someone like her then." Orochimaru's snake-like gaze turned towards him, "It would seem that she came here to prove me wrong…but Anko is not that simple…"
Kabuto's hand pushed his glasses up slightly, "What is she hiding?"
"Ah…" Orochimaru's lips curled up and his excitement dripped down from his mouth like humid saliva, "Whatever she has in mind will become pointless. After all…" His raspy voice made the hair on Kabuto's neck stand up, "I've ordered her to kill that kid…" His demeanor tarnished visibly, and his face wrinkled up in anger, "If she fails, I'll kill both of them myself."
•••
Crispy lines and corrupted circles—shapes that were not shaped at all—darkness made with funny light—yellow, orange and red—like the boiling blood that dripped down these walls without staining his skin.
"Traitor."
There wasn't anyone in here but him, and yet he knew that voice all too well. His lips parted into a smirk because he found it funny, "I had to follow my own path… idiot."
"You made Sakura-chan cry."
His smirk began to fade away little by little, "She was in the way."
"You picked him over us."
Sasuke turned around, both hands hidden inside his pockets, and his face narrowed down in concealed irritation. His eyes fluttered around, trying to make out what was behind the corrupted fragments of time, "You don't understand…" He glared at the poignant light and the evoking reflections, "You'll never understand."
Straight-ahead and turning yellow and orange and red and tearing at his pupils, begging for attention inside this sinfully colorful environment, he could see him—the only person who could blind him in his flecked and vivid darkness—there, standing feet away from him, outlined in his depravity, watching, reproaching, childish like only Naruto could be.
And they did not move.
It was Naruto's honest disappointment, and Sasuke's always-unreadable expression.
Finally, the blonde lowered his head in thought and said, "I understand one thing." Sharp blue eyes looked up at him and Naruto began to walk closer, ripping through the colors, shattering the mirrors, and his lips moving without hesitation, without denial, "You are weak."
Sasuke's eyes widened, and Naruto's body stepped through him like light, causing the curved lines to bend and the sides to expand, making his breath stop short in shock, to be later overwhelmed by the warmth of Naruto's back resting against his. Faced against the intangible and cynical colors, with the uprising horror of everything making him dizzy and frightened, and Naruto's voice ringing loud into space, changing red with yellow, black to blue, pink in white.
"That time you couldn't even—"
"Shut up!" Sasuke yelled, his control caving in—his own outburst causing his integrity to fail. Sasuke's confused feelings unraveled inside of him and his sentimentalism perished in rage. He turned around and grabbed Naruto by the collar, pulling him close to him and writing a death-sentence with his eyes. "Say that again and I'll—"
Naruto's arms wrapped around his neck, and a malicious spark lurked behind blue eyes, "What will you do…" His voice rippled in different shades of colors and deep scarlet burned down morning-blue sky—Sasuke gasped—demonic eyes stared at him in amusement, mirroring his forbidden wishes—his silent pleasure.
"Naruto—" Black eyes shivered—why did his throat feel so tight? He tried to talk, tried to move, but he was paralyzed—He closed his eyes and saw flashes of pain and sorrow and betrayal and power, and his pale fingers dug the raw air and bled it. "Can't you see…?" The colors whispered against him as soft lips converged with his.
Sasuke's eyes snapped open and he drank on the new and dark environment with shameless need. He tried to sit up, but he stopped short when he heard a noise coming from inside his room—His body stiffened. No, this wasn't his room. He inspected the surroundings closely and a breathless sigh escaped his mouth when he realized this was Kakashi's apartment.
The memories of the week flowed through his mind and turned incoherent thoughts into annoying revelations. His eyes closed in dismay, understanding that it had only been a dream. He was used to being tormented by his subconscious; it was a routine for him to bypass those nightmares as ridiculous and suppress them back to where they belonged.
His hand reached up to touch his lips faintly and his eyes slid open again, glistening regret trespassing his unreadable features for a moment; this was the first time he dreamt about Naruto…
His hand rose to his forehead and he sunk his teeth down in anger, what was he thinking?
He heard the flapping curtains once again and looked up. The dim sunlight from the early dawn penetrated the room faintly, framing Sasuke's body with a rim of light, and just before he turned around to try and fall asleep again, he realized Kakashi's bed was empty. He stared at the opened window for another second—and figured that Kakashi must have left during the night.
He was alone.
Sasuke turned away and began to undress quickly. He was getting up and heading towards the door even before he had finished putting all of his daily clothes on. He reached for the doorknob of the only other place he could have called a home—and was stopped by the only other person he could have called a father.
"You woke up early today, Sasuke." He stifled a gasp and turned towards the end of the room, recognizing in disbelief the figure standing at the foot of the bed.
Kakashi walked in and towards his small fridge without further questioning, and began to search for something to eat. "Hungry?"
"…No."
"Good, since there are only leftovers." The silver-haired Jounin said as he stood up and held a plate with buns in his hand. "I'll share with you." Sasuke frowned, his handsome features turning hostile. "I said I wasn't hungry." Kakashi shrugged off Sasuke's irritation and walked towards the table. He was going to lower his mask, but stopped short when he noticed Sasuke looking his way. "Are you sure you are not hungry?" Sasuke turned away, facing the door adamantly, and replied with a "When can I go home?" Kakashi watched him in amusement from the shadows as he ate, "You can leave when Hokage-sama says," There was a pause and Kakashi added thoughtfully, "Don't worry, it might only be a couple of months." The icy tension coming from the other room didn't make Kakashi loose his appetite.
He finished eating minutes later and began to read Icha Icha Paradise, expecting Sasuke to loose his interest and drift back towards his futon, but when Kakashi looked up from his book, he noticed Sasuke was still fretting about his failed escape by the door. He finally broke the silence, "You know, sneaking off to train is not a good idea."
"I wasn't sneaking off, I was leaving since you were not here."
"You'd have a point if I hadn't caught you doing it." Sasuke's hands tightened in anger. Was he implying it was his fault he was still here? "I'll leave next time." Sasuke said nonchalantly, "Even if those two don't notice, I know you leave Konoha every day."
"Ah." Kakashi said casually as he flipped the page of his book, "You are wrong. Naruto saw me two days ago and Sakura asked me the very first day I left you on your own."
Sasuke glared at the door, "That's not the point."
"Teamwork could have helped you gather information faster. If you had asked Sakura, even Naruto—"
"That doesn't have anything to do with this. Why do you keep bringing them up?"
Kakashi shouldn't be smiling, but alas, even with his mask on, and even though Sasuke was facing the door, the Uchiha could still feel his irritating grin. "It was you who brought them up, I was just correcting you, but we can stop talking about them if it bothers you."
Sasuke gritted his teeth, "It—you are doing this on purpose."
"Um," Kakashi flipped another page, "Bothering you on purpose?"
Sasuke reached out and took the doorknob in his hand, "Forget it. I'm leaving."
"I was never stopping you." Sasuke's eyebrows ticked in anger, but his feet seemed stuck to the floor, "Actually, you were clearly aware that I was not there to stop you." Black eyes looked down and his hand tightened its grip on the doorknob. "That's why I have to repeat my question, does it bother you?" Kakashi had closed his book by now and was observing his silent student in hopes of a little improvement.
Sasuke did not move.
Kakashi got up, walked towards Sasuke, and helped him open the door. Sasuke stared at him questioningly, "If you must train before everyone else does, then it is only a matter of asking." Kakashi's eye smiled as he went out the room, "After all, I thought you'd run away, so I didn't bother furthering your training." Sasuke stood inside the apartment for a moment longer, confusion and uncertainty getting the better of him, but without giving himself time for second thoughts, he closed the door behind him and followed after his teacher.
Kakashi glanced down at his irritated and yet satisfied student.
He understood his undeniable desire to become stronger and what goals motivated him; he knew about the dangerous curse on him and to whom he had recurred for power.
But it was also obvious that Sasuke had chosen to come back. It was obvious that he was not here against his will.
The reason why he was here, even as logical as it seemed, was tough to accept in his position, and all Kakashi could do to help him was guide him towards the right answers.
Kakashi smiled.
The more things changed, the more they stayed the same.
•••
"Iruka…" Tsunade sighed, trying to keep her eyes open just a moment longer. "Listen, I checked Naruto a week ago… he was fine, Kakashi—"
"That's the problem Hokage-sama," Iruka insisted, "Kakashi-san might be one of Konoha's best Jounin, but that doesn't mean he is the best at handling children." Iruka had been worried about Naruto's condition since he got out of the hospital, but he had trusted him to Kakashi, and he had even allowed himself to think that he would be able to solve the bitter confrontations that would surely come up between Naruto and Sasuke. However, he had never expected that the silver-haired Jounin would be irresponsible enough to leave those three kids alone, in a situation as critical as this one, just to complete a couple of missions on his own!
"I don't oppose your judgment, Hokage-sama." Iruka continued despairingly, "But why must Kakashi-san leave his team alone for such long periods of time? I don't think it's necessary…"
Tsunade was quiet, so quiet that it could have fooled Iruka into thinking she had fallen asleep… Ah, maybe she had!
"Hokage-sama…" Iruka sighed, and Tsunade snapped out of her daze. She took a little time to remember what exactly she had been discussing, "Oh…" She yawned tiredly before continuing, "The reason why I allowed Kakashi to take on missions was because he personally requested them. I didn't think it very wise at first, but he was very convincing."
"Welcome, Kakashi. This is sudden, any news?"
"Besides the constant tension, there hasn't been a change in attitude. Sasuke is obstinate… and these things require time so it's probably best for him to figure it out by himself… that's why, I have come to ask you for special missions."
"Oh? I can't let you go out with them… it's too risky."
"I meant missions only for me." That was strange…
"But what about them?"
"They need to remember how to work as a team, so I'll leave them to complete their mission, while I complete mine."
"Kakashi, the village is overflowing with undone requests and missions, we look rather nonprofessional at the moment, and it is taking a toll on everyone to work this hard, but… even as tempting as your request sounds, you know you have enough in your hands as it is."
"If you are referring to Sasuke's… lack of cooperation, then you must know as well as I do that he still seeks revenge, and as long as Itachi exists, Sasuke will probably be unable to move forward—but I'm starting to think that his determination is wavering." Kakashi's eye curved, "I know that he isn't staying in the village because of what you and I've told him, so there has to be another reason."
"That should be the least of our worries. Orochimaru will not sit idly by and wait for Sasuke to make up his mind. That seal—even I cannot stop it from becoming active at its current level. All I've done is modify your previous containment seal, and made it clear to Sasuke the punishment he risks if he breaks it… but like you said, I don't think he listened very well."
"One week is enough to prove my point—besides, I have a feeling I will need these missions…in case anything else goes wrong."
"I can't leave him alone, you understand this Kakashi?"
"I'll return from my missions before sunset, and I will have them work together until then—and, if Naruto stopped Sasuke once, I don't see why he won't do it again."
"If you want me to let you go off with that, I think you are—"
"That was a joke…Hokage-sama," She was not laughing, "If a week goes by and nothing happens, you might find it funny." She was quiet.
"Only one day—"
"That won't be enough to—"
"You are not serious!" She glared at him.
"It's hard to be serious—but yes, I am."
Tsunade put both hands on her face tiredly, remembering how calm and unworried he had looked when he said that. She still had the feeling that he had been smiling behind that mask the whole time. She heard the wood creak in front of her, and she blinked, realizing Iruka was still on the other side of the room. She lowered her hands and crossed her fingers together, a thoughtful expression on her face—to Iruka it looked like she was trying to pass off as if she hadn't just forgotten he was there—and she continued, "Sasuke is a complicated kid, and Kakashi seems to understand him very well. He didn't explain to me in detail, but he told me that as long as Naruto and Sakura were around him, he would stay put." Tsunade sighed, "I gave him a week to test his theory, and fortunately enough, it has been a week. Kakashi has completed six A-ranked missions and one S-ranked mission, and his team of Genin have endured the same painful projects only Chuunin were allowed to work on." Tsunade looked angrily at Iruka, "The fact that you have come here to ask for Naruto's custody is out of the question. A team should stay a team, under all circumstances. They might have their differences, and they are probably struggling at the moment, but Kakashi is right, they are the ones who have to deal with their problems, otherwise matters will never get better. They are not children anymore."
Iruka lowered his gaze, and Tsunade waited patiently for the information to sink in before speaking again, "There was something else you wanted to report to me, wasn't there?" Iruka wondered if he should mention the weird explosion that happened two days ago. He had thought that maybe Naruto and Sasuke had been fighting, since Naruto refused the charges adamantly, but now he was beginning to question whether that was a reasonable explanation after all.
"No… that was all. Thank you Hokage-sama."
"He cares for them," Iruka blinked, "Even if his careless attitude doesn't say so. Sometimes you can't judge a person by the way they act…" Tsunade smiled lightheartedly, "He won't let anyone in his team get hurt." Iruka looked down and an embarrassed blush colored his cheeks. The morning dew from outside made Tsunade sneeze, and Iruka got up, "I'm sorry for bothering you this early in the morning, Hokage-sama."
"That's okay, Iruka." She gave him a look, and then added, "But you know what? It'd be really helpful if you took those stacks of paper over there and started filing them in the opposite room!" Iruka turned to see the piles and piles of paper hidden behind her desk, and for the first time in his life, he was afraid, "…o-of course Hokage-sama." Tsunade smiled, "Great! And after you are done, you can start with the envelopes over there!" Iruka had an unsettling feeling that he had just turned himself in for many horrible upcoming years. He sighed and began to carry out Tsunade's orders.
After Iruka left, Tsunade grunted, "I can't believe I allowed those good for nothing Izumo and Koteshi to take the week off… but a bet is a bet. Next time, I'll play poker instead."
•••
"Hey Naruto…"
"Yeah Sakura-chan?"
"You look…ugh, did you even brush your hair today?"
"Well… I…" He laughed a little, "Does it really matter if I brush my hair or not?"
Sakura blinked at him in confusion, and Naruto looked at the flowing water below them with his eyes closed. "Of course it matters. You don't have to be here so early, you know? Brushing your hair and…" She sighed, why did she even bother? "You used to be here late all the time… why the sudden change?" Sakura asked, her curiosity incited.
"Change?" Naruto looked up startled, and Sakura lifted her eyebrows, "Yeah… you know, being here on time, so quiet during missions. You only seem interested in picking fights with Sasuke-kun." She narrowed her eyes, "I already told you to quit that too!"
Naruto started at her for a moment, until his blank expression turned into a soft smile, "You really like Sasuke, don't you Sakura-chan?"
Sakura's eyes widened and she blushed. She looked away, thinking about how straightforward Naruto was, what was he smiling about anyway? Sakura put her hands in front of her face, but it was true, she did like Sasuke-kun a lot, maybe Naruto had finally given up on her, maybe he had heard something from Sasuke-kun! What was she thinking!? They only argued with each other, why would they bother talking about her? Sakura could not suppress an excited squeal.
Naruto watched Sakura turn and twitch and just hover above the clouds with a lazy smile, and then he turned his attention back to the running water below. His eyes were as dull as the river's crystal clear water.
"Hey, Naruto," Sakura started shyly, "Has Sasuke-kun told you anything about me?"
Naruto was quiet and before Sakura could yell at him for not paying attention, he spoke up, "Sakura-chan, I have something to ask you."
Sakura stared at him with wide green eyes. Oh no, was this a confession? What type of confession? His confession? Sasuke-kun's confession? Was she ready for this? What if he only wanted to borrow money? Oh, she'll punch him if he asked something stupid like that—
"Well… I continue forgetting some stuff and…" He looked at her for a moment, "And…I did say good morning to you, didn't I?"
Sakura was clearly disappointed, but her disillusion changed rapidly into anger, "What's with that stupid question? Of course you did, you practically screamed my name a mile before I got here." He smiled stupidly at her and put a hand behind his head, "Haha! I thought so…I was just worried, and, well yeah!" Sakura glared at him in annoyance, "Worried about what?"
Naruto paused and his arm dropped down by his side. He opened his eyes, and looked seriously worried, "Because… this is the third time I don't remember how I got here."
Sakura felt a pang of terror hit her spine.
"Yo, Sho-kun!"
Sakura and Naruto didn't flinch, and before Kakashi noticed he wasn't getting yelled at for being late, Naruto turned around and pointed an accusing finger at him, "You are late!"
Kakashi's eye curved, "That is because I could not find my right sock, and it took me two hours to find it under my pillow."
"How did it get there?!" Naruto wondered out loud, a confused fascination plastered all over his face.
"Sasuke did it."
"You LIAR!" Sakura cried out, somehow disturbed by that idea too much… she shook her head and proceeded to bash Naruto's head with her fist, "And you! How can you believe such a dumb story?" She fumed and continued to scold both her teacher and her idiot teammate, was everyone trying to scare her today with absurd lies?!
Sasuke just took to ignoring everything that happened in the morning.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei, hey, hey! I want to get a very awesome mission today, to make up for the other bunch of useless missions we've had so far! Tell me we have a great mission, today! Hey! Kakashi-sensei!"
"Umm…" Kakashi looked up, "Yes, it is a different mission today. Instead of painting the inside of Konoha's wall," He raised a crucial and commanding finger, "You'll paint the outside of the wall."
Both Naruto and Sakura grunted loudly, and Sasuke simply did not care. Kakashi took his time explaining their mission further, but Naruto lost his interest after the second syllable. Blue eyes drifted towards certain raven-haired boy, and to his surprise, Sasuke was looking towards him as well. Naruto gave him a blank look—and Sasuke stared at him indifferently—then Naruto looked away.
To Sasuke it almost seemed as if the blonde was waiting for something to happen.
•••
The trees howled under the wind's rapid tormenting, and even though the sun was out today, the temperature lowered and prickled his skin. Sasuke was perched at the top of Konoha's wall, paint bucket and brush put aside beside him. Below him was Sakura, who seemed too tired to continue climbing the wall. The pink-haired girl had lasted pretty long today, but it was probably because she just wanted to prove her worth around him. Sasuke eyelids lowered in thought before he turned away.
Sakura sneezed, and wrapped her arms around herself. The weather was chilly today. What happened to yesterdays warm breeze? Maybe she should call it quits for today and go home, take a nice long shower, and slip into bed. What she would give for a hot bath! Sakura sighed tiredly, and looked around, ready to persuade Naruto into boycotting this mission. After all, Kakashi-sensei was not here, he would probably never find out.
To her dismay, the blonde nuisance was nowhere to be found. Actually, she could not even find Sasuke! Her heart skipped a beat; was she all alone, with her back facing this unsettling part of the forest? She turned around, and inspected her surroundings suspiciously.
Sasuke-kun wouldn't leave her behind—would he?
The silent grunt of trees answered her question.
•••
Naruto was on the wrong side of the wall to begin with, and Sasuke would have made fun of the idiot if he did not find talking to him annoying. The moron did not even seem to notice his presence, he was too absorbed swirling the paint with his brush. How long had he been doing that anyway?
"How long are you gonna stand there?" Naruto spoke up, not looking up, and not stopping his constant mixing. Sasuke did not speak because he did not need to.
Naruto looked up, "Did you really hide Kakashi-sensei's sock?"
Sasuke gave him a look, "No. We wear sandals, we don't use socks."
Naruto stared at him blankly, and then laughed, "Oh yeah…" He looked down at the red paint, and watched it twirl upwards, twisting every now and then to the paintbrush's handle. "I wonder why Kakashi-sensei said that."
"You are painting the wrong side of the wall." Sasuke cut in, tired of hearing about something as pointless as Kakashi's nonexistent sock.
"What's wrong with this side?" Naruto frowned at him, finally leaving the paintbrush alone, "It's the same wall…either side is fine, there is no difference." Naruto looked confused, so he decided it was Sasuke's fault for making his words sound stupid. He looked at him angrily, "Don't tell me which side of the wall to paint."
"Kakashi said the outer side of the wall."
"This side looked like it needed painting."
"That is not the mission."
"How do you know what the mission is!?"
"Can you not even follow orders, you idiot?!"
"Idiot—idiot! Why am I the idiot!? It's not like you are better than me—hell, I'm stronger than you are!"
Sasuke scoffed, "Did you hit your head hard today?"
"It's the truth!" Naruto suddenly reacted, clear blue eyes dancing with unfulfilled thoughts, "You know it!" He yelled as a wave of anger overtook anything that was in his mind before the argument started, "Why won't you accept it?"
"What the hell are you babbling about—" Sasuke glared at him, not liking where this was going. Naruto opened his mouth, and Sasuke hissed at the same time—
"Back then—"
"Shut up—"
Naruto looked at him with wide eyes, and then his face cracked into a smile, "See? You do remember it!"
Sasuke stared at him for a moment before his face relaxed… and he allowed himself to smirk, "You… you are a total moron."
Naruto's smile faded and he gritted his teeth. There was something in his burning gaze that made Sasuke tense, and he watched with careful eyes as Naruto stood up.
It was Naruto's honest disappointment, and Sasuke's always-unreadable expression.
"What are you thinking, idiot," Sasuke broke the silence, "If you continue like this you'll end up dead."
Naruto's lips quirked down, "Say it again and I'll—"
"You'll what?" Sasuke's anger suddenly went off, déjà vu poking fun inside his head and causing his nerves to simmer with emotion, "What?!"
Naruto looked clearly surprised, and he dropped his gaze suddenly, as if he was trying to come up with a good reply. Sasuke stared at him in shock.
Sakura's soft cries reached their ears then, and both of them turned to look at her in surprise.
"You are fighting!" Her bitter voice replaced her tearful cries, "Why is it that you are always fighting! If you have anything to say to each other, why won't you say it and move on!" She felt her throat close, "Why can't things go back to normal?!"
The gripping silence hid their answers and replaced them with questions.
"Why… why can't we go back to working together. Kakashi-sensei promised… I thought we would—" Her sobs escaped her lips and echoed through their quiet reunion, "We would just continue being a team, and nothing would change!"
"Don't cry Sakura-chan." Naruto finally spoke up, "We are working together, and… I mean we are still a team." He looked at her, trying to be reassuring, trying to patch things up, "We are all here and that's what… it's like it used to be, right?" Naruto looked down, "Maybe a little changed, but…" He frowned deeply at his feet, "Just—don't cry…"
Everyone was quiet.
Sakura could feel her lips trembling as she closed them together, and even though she was trying not to show her grief, even though she was trying not to think about it—it still hurt. Naruto was the only one who seemed concerned for her—She glanced towards Sasuke, who was looking away, and she knew, deep down, that he was probably angry that she was crying. Angry that she was—
Naruto suddenly began to walk away, "I'll paint it—I'll paint the fucking right side!" He burst out, grabbing the paintbrush and bucket all in one swift movement. Sakura watched him walk by her with wet green eyes. What he said was almost as confusing as how she felt right now. He walked out through Konoha's main entrance and disappeared behind the wall.
"Sakura," Her eyes widened and her head moved almost instantly towards his direction—and she was shocked again by the fact that he was looking at her in the eye—and she held her breath. "Naruto… he has been acting weird lately, hasn't he?"
Sakura stared at Sasuke, and then looked down. What was she expecting to hear? Something stirred behind her eyes, but she forbid herself to continue putting up a scene, "H-he has," She started as she tried to dry her face with one of her hands casually, "I mean, like right now…he comes up with the silliest things… and—" Sakura looked up as she breathed in, determination finally allowing her to stop sounding insecure, "Sasuke-kun, I know a lot of things have happened, but I'm sure we can still fix everything." She tried to smile, "If you are worried about Naruto then that means—"
"I'm not worried." Sasuke cut her off harshly and glared at her crossly. Sakura closed her mouth, and scared green eyes tried not to look offended, tried not to feel hurt. She finally looked down, "Sasuke-kun…"
"Just forget I asked," He muttered, and without further explanation, walked past her.
The breeze made her hair stick to her face and she did not bother pulling it away. She just wanted not—She was not going to—she wasn't—
"Sakuuura!" Her eyes opened slightly when she recognized that voice, and she used both of her hands to try to wipe away the evidence. "Hey! Sakura?" Sakura smoothed her hair out and continued facing away.
"What are you doing here, Ino-pig."
Ino stood a couple of feet away from her, sporting a worried look on her face and one hand on her hip. "You can at least try hi."
"I'm trying to finish my mission, so if you don't mind—"
"It's okay to drop the act you know," Ino said with a frown, "I've known you for long enough to know that something's wrong."
"Nothing's wrong."
Ino shook her head, "Fine, whatever," She looked around, "Sasuke-kun and Naruto are not here, right?"
"They are painting the other side of the wall, and I just came to get some paint—"
"Yeah, like I'm buying that!"
"Stop annoying me!" Sakura finally yelled, "If you came here to make fun of me—"
"I asked Shikamaru." Sakura's eyes widened, and she turned around to stare at her ex-best-friend in shock, forgetting completely about hiding her puffy red eyes.
"I was curious too you know," Ino looked away, "I'm pretty good at getting things out of people anyway." She grinned at her, "He couldn't take the guilt."
"Ino… you came all the way here—" Ino cut her off, "Don't get things wrong! I came here looking for that idiot Shikamaru, and you just happened to be standing there while I searched for him." Ino took a step closer and poked her forehead, "You are still such a cry-baby." Sakura's eyes widened and she glared at her while Ino smiled faintly. Before Sakura could retort anything back, Ino prompted, "So… how about we go somewhere else? I don't want them showing up while I'm telling you what happened."
A bubbling feeling spread through her cheeks since Sakura realized that she would be able to solve the mystery with Ino's information, but doubt overcame her suddenly, did she really want to know what happened between those two? Sakura looked away, "Um… okay, we can—"
"Hey! Look!" Ino grabbed her hand, and pulled the pink-haired girl behind a bush, "What are you doing, Ino!" Sakura growled, but Ino gestured with her finger for silence. Sakura glared at her, and then followed her gaze towards the front gates.
Sasuke-kun was talking to Kakashi-sensei.
Ino squealed, and Sakura just made a face, "Is that it?!" Truth be told, she was tired of seeing Kakashi-sensei talking to Sasuke-kun. "Maybe you just don't know what happened and you are trying to distract me so I'll forget you even mentioned it!"
Ino scowled at her, "I was just happy to see Sasuke-kun! But also, we can't have your teacher seeing us, or else he'll get suspicious!" Sakura stared at her, unconvinced, and Ino laughed nervously, "And…I wouldn't want your teacher telling Asuma-sensei that I was here, okay?"
Sakura blinked at her, "But you said you were looking for—"
Ino glared at her through closed eyes, "I know what I said!" She turned her face away and twiddled her fingers, "I just didn't mention that finding Shikamaru had nothing to do with today's mission." Sakura gave her friend a long, scrutinizing look, before replying with a knowing grin, "Oooh, I get it now."
Ino rolled her eyes, "Don't even go there—remember that I'm going through all this trouble just to tell you what I know, and that I'm doing it for free. I should charge you or something."
Sakura didn't say anything and Ino blinked, "What? You don't want to know now?" Sakura nodded her head weakly, but she was unsure of what she really wanted at the moment. Ino could read her friend's face like an open book, "I don't blame you." Ino frowned, "I don't quite it get it myself…" She looked disturbed, "It's so complicated that I sort of understand why Shikamaru was afraid of leaving the hospital."
"Stop saying stuff like that!" Sakura frowned; she was even more worried now, "Ugh! Just tell me."
"It'll be 50,000 yen,"
"Ino!"
Sakura turned away, exasperated. She actually believed Ino was being serious with her, but now she didn't think the blonde knew anything at all. "Well, where's the money?" Ino continued with a smirk and Sakura decided she had had enough. Ino saw her start to get up, and she had to yank her back down quickly, "Okay, okay! I'll tell you, jeez, but you better not be crying later!"
Sakura sat back down and watched her friend with a pair of expectant green eyes. Before Ino started telling her the story, Sakura thought of how glad she was that Ino was here with her.
•••
"Listen to me Sasuke, Orochimaru is as dangerous to you as he is to this village. He will do anything to lure you back towards him, and if you don't—" She sighed, fully aware that Sasuke was listening to her as efficiently as Kakashi was to getting somewhere on time. She looked towards Kakashi, who was standing in front of the door looking dead calm. He closed his eye and she waited for the stubborn 13-year old to reply. When nothing came, Kakashi spoke up, "Sakura did a good thing today and you have to understand that she was only looking after you."
"I don't need to be looked after."
"They are your teammates, that's what they are supposed to do." Tsunade responded, "Looking after each other should come naturally to the three of you by now, and everyone that got injured today did it for your sake, Sasuke." He was silent. Tsunade turned to Kakashi for motivation, and the silver-haired Shinobi gave him one more push, "Don't blame Sakura for what happened today."
"I don't care."
Kakashi's made eye contact with the Hokage and nodded his approval, but Tsunade didn't move, which made him wonder for a moment if she was going to change plans. Her serious demanour and the heavy atmosphere made him worry.
There was a long pause, but she finally shook her head. Kakashi was glad.
"You will be put under custody for the time being." Sasuke looked up, finally reacting to something she said since she started trying to persuade sense into him. Tsunade smiled at his black stare coolly, "I don't think you understand how dangerous Orochimaru really is, so it's better to have you guarded."
"I don't need—"
"You don't need to feel inferior because of this, and you aren't a prisoner either. It's for Konoha's protection." She narrowed her eyes warningly, "But I must make it clear to you right now that anything that disrupts the order of this village will be judged and punished without leniency. You being here solves one problem, but it causes many others to arise as well."
She got up from her sit, and glanced towards Kakashi, knowing that she had made him skip a couple of heartbeats back there. "Sasuke, if you are going to forget everything I've said to you today, at least remember not to let their efforts go to waste." He glared at her, and Kakashi walked towards him calmly, "Sasuke, please take your shirt off," Tsunade ordered, and Sasuke turned his dark glare towards his teacher.
"Relax Sasuke," Kakashi warned him, "It will hurt less if you do."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed down, and the next moment he found himself completely paralyzed. He stared accusingly at Kakashi, who only looked back at him calmly.
"Kakashi-san?"
Kakashi turned his head back to stare at a worried-looking Iruka. The shorter man cleared his throat, "Um… I was looking for you, I'm glad I've found you—but… are you okay?" He looked over Kakashi's shoulder, and spotted the Uchiha emblem on Sasuke's retreating back, "…and Sasuke, where's he—"
Kakashi put a hand on Iruka's shoulder, and he beamed at him with an almost scary happiness, "Iruka-sensei, I'm very glad to see you. How are you?"
Iruka blushed and his words stumbled out of his mouth without permission, "Me? Eh, of course me, I mean, I'm good, very good, why do you ask?"
"You look awfully red this evening." Kakashi said as his one eye opened slowly to look at Iruka's flustered features in amusement. "R-red?" Iruka stammered, "I must have been out in the sun too much—I don't think I'd be r-red otherwise…Kakashi-san, your hand—"
Kakashi didn't break eye contact with Iruka even after the other man decided to change the subject, but finally his gaze gave in and it turned to stare at his hand, which was gliding slowly down the teacher's arm. "You mean this hand?" Said the silver-haired man as he waved his other hand in front of Iruka's face. Iruka frowned at Kakashi, knowing full well that something odd was happening here, something out of the usual oddness that followed Kakashi.
"Kakashi—what are you hiding?" Iruka came out into the open with it, and Kakashi's one eye closed shut and curved. He stopped waving his free hand and set it on Iruka's other shoulder, which only made the other man loose his concentration slightly. Kakashi opened his eye and stared seriously at Iruka. "I'm going to do something I should have done a very long time ago, Iruka-sensei."
Iruka's face turned different shades of colors all too fast, but his expression remained the same: eyebrows stretched up, both eyes wide and mouth hanging open.
Kakashi took a step closer, closing the distance between the both of them, and his face inched closer to Iruka's slowly. "I'm going to…" Iruka gulped and he watched Kakashi's face in anticipation. "…have to ask you to take care of Naruto when I'm not here to do so."
Iruka gaped at Kakashi in utter bewilderment, and the older man let go of him then, "Maybe if I had said this to you earlier, I would have been able to prevent some of the things that have happened." Iruka's hand went up to his neck, and he let it rest there as his eyes glued themselves to the floor. "Um… Iruka-sensei? Were you expecting me to say something else?" Kakashi asked, his one eye glinting in the evening sky.
Iruka tensed and he shook his head, "No—no, I mean, yes! I will take care of Naruto. I actually went to Hokage-sama and…" Iruka's words died down, and he took a step back, "I don't want you to take this the wrong way Kakashi, I was just worried, so I…"
Kakashi smiled behind his mask, "So you told the Hokage I was an irresponsible idiot for leaving Team 7 behind and that you wanted to take Naruto's custody because of that?"
The shorter man's face went blank, and he nodded dumbly, absolutely ashamed of his actions. Kakashi looked down at Iruka and he shook his head, "I agree with you, Iruka-sensei." He turned around and rested his back against the Konoha gates with both of his hands inside his pockets, "You can see what I cannot…" He looked up at the sky, and saw the cloudy sky begin to darken. "That is why I'm asking for your help."
Iruka walked closer to Kakashi, and he stared in the direction Kakashi was looking at before he looked back down and sighed, "I don't understand you… but I'll be here to help you with whatever it is." He smiled lightly, his cheeks tinted with a blur of pink.
Kakashi's features relaxed, and he looked down to watch Iruka's face passively, and the sun began to set behind the cold, gray sky.
•••
The closer he got, the more the orange blob up ahead began to take the shape of his blonde teammate. Sasuke scowled, visibly upset that Kakashi had sent him to look for Naruto, until he felt the terrain vary under his feet, and his features suffered a complete change of mood. He looked down, and saw strange, intricate patterns carved down on the earth.
He kneeled, touched them with his fingertips… and assumed this was done with a kunai.
He got up, and began to walk faster, not sure why he felt the need to reach Naruto soon, but his eyes caught the same symbols drawn on the ground all over the place, on the trees, on the floor, on the rocks—Sasuke came out onto a clearing, and he stared at Naruto's back with black, narrowed eyes.
Naruto, who was crouching down in the middle of the clearing, decided to get up then, and he rubbed his hands clean on his pants loudly. Sasuke's eyes watched him closely… for Naruto was in the middle of various circles, all represented with the same patterns and shapes, and all leading the eye back to him.
"What do you think?"
Sasuke was silent even though he knew Naruto was talking to him, and the blonde stepped back and turned around to look at him. Sasuke's eyes widened when he saw the trail of blood slipping down Naruto's mouth, and when the blonde noticed his discomfort he used his sleeve to wipe it off. "That's been happening lately…" He explained even though there was no question.
"What are you doing here? Why did you leave the wall boundaries?"
Naruto walked towards one of the trees around them, and plopped down tiredly, his shoulders slumping forward. He finally shook his head, "I kind of… forgot." Naruto confessed, "…was busy and—hey," Naruto looked up, his eyes going over what he had concocted before making eye contact with Sasuke, who stared at him in cold tension. He knew Naruto had been acting weird, he had seen him doing things out of the norm lately, but each day he seemed to worsen. Was Naruto doing it on purpose?
Naruto's hand shot up, three fingers extended in front of him. Sasuke stared at him, not understanding. "That's why," His hand fell on his lap again, "I can't climb walls…" Naruto looked lost in thought, "…and that wall exploded."
"What are you talking about?"
Naruto was silent, and Sasuke glared at him, "Is that a new technique that white-haired Sannin has been teaching you?"
"…No."
"If you are trying to form a summoning circle, this is all wrong."
Sasuke watched Naruto's lips stretch, and he felt, for a fleeting second, what Naruto was thinking. He blinked.
Naruto got up slowly, "This morning… I couldn't mold chakra very well…" Why was he sharing this information with him, was all Sasuke could think, and Naruto looked up to watch him with his pleasant blue yes. Not afraid, not angry… just pleasant. Sasuke realized he was staring when Naruto smiled at him.
He looked away immediately, "Whatever." The Uchiha was about to walk away when he heard him speak up.
"Sasuke." The blonde took a step closer to him, "If I became Hokage, you wouldn't… acknowledge me, would you?"
"You are lucky to be alive, and you are still thinking that you can become Hokage. You are hopeless."
Naruto's jaw tightened.
Can't you see?
Naruto's eyes widened and he looked away. Minutes stretched…and stretched…in mindless spirals that did not end.
"Why." Naruto suddenly spoke up, "Why did you save me back there?"
Sasuke scoffed, and continued walking away.
Naruto snapped, his anger blazing in one quick glance. He began to run towards him, "Fine! Run off!" He yelled, "That's all you ever d—" His words were cut off as Sasuke's fist connected with his jaw. Naruto's head smacked against a tree standing thirty feet away from where he had previously been. He fell to the ground; the air knocked out of him, and doubled over, his hands holding his throbbing head. Sasuke's outstretched hand hurt from the impact and his Sharingan gleamed dangerously in anger.
"Shut up." Sasuke said it coldly, glaring at him, "Last time we did this you ended up in the hospital. Don't you ever learn?"
Squinting blue eyes stared at him with something more than betrayal reflected in them. Naruto was about to open his mouth, but… he couldn't. He couldn't say anything, and he hated himself for it. He hated Sasuke. His jaw tightened—he hated him. Hated him.
Sasuke scoffed, "If you had just kept your mouth shut—"
"You are the one always acting so fucking right, but when it comes down to—"
"Are you still talking about that nonsense—have you forgotten—"
"Yes! YES!" Naruto yelled, "I have forgotten!" Sasuke stared at the blonde, "Just fuck off Sasuke, just fuck off!" Sasuke gritted his teeth and he walked towards Naruto in anger, "Get up." Naruto did not move, nor looked at him. "Get up!" Sasuke yelled, now in front of him.
Naruto started laughing quietly, "…W-why are you so fucking angry all of a sudden." His hands pushed him off the floor weakly, "…You ask me to do things, but you can't even answer my question," He murmured as he kneeled, "Why did you save me?"
They were quiet until Naruto broke the tension with his blue eyes, which were looking up at Sasuke one more time, "Will things go back to normal?"
"Yeah…" Naruto felt relieved, "…That's what you'd like to hear," Sasuke added, looking down at Naruto and matching his gaze. A tired smirk crossed his features. "They will only get worse from now on." He put his hands in his pockets, never looking away from him, never letting any emotion display in his black-coal eyes, "I won't give up my path…"
Naruto stared up at him, eyes closing slightly in unspoken sadness, and he remembered who he was, and who Sasuke was, and he knew the truth… because he knew Sasuke.
"You haven't told me why—"
"Heh… don't feel too special, dimwit, I'll tell you the truth if you want to hear it so badly." His smirk remained far from a smile and far from a frown, and yet, it possessed the same effect either would have in this moment, "If you die, I'll have to search for that man. With you here, he'll come to me."
Naruto's eyes widened and Sasuke could have laughed.
"…You—bastard…"
"You wanted to hear the truth."
Naruto's hands dug trenches on the dirty ground, "Liar! You are always—lying." The blonde glared at ground, "Say the truth!" His voice sounded almost desperate, "Say it!" His breathing was trapped in his throat, "S-say…" He gritted his teeth forcefully.
Something was stirring inside Sasuke. Something buried deep down… something only Naruto could awaken, and Sasuke's eyelashes lowered…
Only revenge now.
Only hate.
"You'll never be a good ninja like that…what will happen the day someone betrays everything you believe in…" Sasuke's eyes were shadowed by his bangs. "You haven't experienced true pain yet…" He smirked, "…you are a fool."
"What do you know about me?" Naruto's piercing blue eyes reached his, "You don't know anything."
Sasuke pondered the meaning of his words. He had spent long months with the blonde nuisance and had had to put up with him in a daily basis in the past, but even then, if he thought about it… he didn't know anything about Naruto. Except from his insatiable love for ramen, the blonde was a mystery to him.
Naruto…
What exactly was he hiding?
Could it be that Naruto wasn't the defenseless idiot he had seen during these past months… was his outrageous power something he had been hiding all along?
…Was this what his brother was after?
"How strong are you really, Naruto?" Sasuke's voice spoke up before he realized it, "What… are you hiding?" Naruto's eyes widened. "That power of yours isn't normal." Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "What exactly are you?"
Naruto stared up at Sasuke, blue eyes full with dashing thoughts, dashing memories, and Sasuke could see him waiting, waiting for something to happen. That same look. Naruto looked away, "I'm stronger than you."
Sasuke lashed out, yanking Naruto by the shirt and pulling him to his feet. Naruto stared at him evenly, a frown surfacing on his face, and his hands grabbed Sasuke's wrists in reproach, "If you get in my way, I'll kill you." Sasuke stated, "And this time, don't forget it." He pushed Naruto off, and turned around to walk away.
Naruto stood there, his hand trying to smooth out the fabric Sasuke had pulled, and he watched him walk away in fading vitality.
Naruto looked down, and stared sadly at the messy writing on the floor. His lips parted, and he added to the atmosphere, "It's… a sealing circle."
He could hear a roaring sound in the distance.
•••
The waterlogged-mixture of sky and earth accompanied an infinite and rigorous tapping, while mirror-like patches overflowed every blurry dent on the street, clogging the way, drowning a city. It filled the morbid streets of Konoha with an unfeeling sadness as the raindrops continued their onslaught on the darkened pavement.
Puffs of smoke escaped from his mouth as he splashed his way through the rain. Clinging masses of water drenched his clothes, pulled his hair, clouded his vision, but he was almost there—Just a little faster—just a little harder.
"Just my luck! Iruka-sensei and Kakashi-sensei were right…"
Spiky shards of golden flew to the sides as he tried to shake the somber wetness off his head. He was under a roof now, safe from the cold-blooded downpour.
"Damn, I just didn't think it'd rain today—I hope Sakura-chan got home fast…stupid Sasuke, I hope he dies in the rain."
Freezing fingers stumbled with the forsaken doorknob leading to his destination, and a forgetful mind was overrun with surprise when he discovered his attempts to enter were futile.
"Shit, I'm freezing, damn it… keys…keys…"
After a mind-shattering trial-and-error exercise he was able to unlock the door, and squeaky shoes were welcomed by the floor's soft crunch when he walked in. Loud plops bombed the tatami by his wet garments, which flew about in shameless intimacy.
"Wonder if I've got miso ramen left…" His numb lips mumbled as he entered the kitchen in his boxers, warm greetings hugging his silent feet.
Can you see…
Toes paused in mid bend and droplets of water slipped from his jaw line with an inaudible cry.
Can't you see?
His heart hastened and his senses heightened with a crack. He turned around; frightening tension filled his stomach, blue eyes widened in shock.
…Nothing.
"The hell…" Naruto whispered, his mind racing fast out of control, one hand reaching down for his trustworthy weapons. Dead fingers found only slippery skin and his head bolted to his left, nervous eyes identifying the angry water crashing against the closed window.
Rain...
That was all…
It was noisy…
Too noisy today…
That was all…
Quick intakes of breath filled his ears and his mouth was dry in contradiction to his humid body. His heartbeat was alarming, but he still couldn't convince himself everything was okay. He was seriously not hearing things. Seriously.
"What a fucking wuss I am someti—" He paused, recognizing his lowered tone of voice, and he shook his head in indignation, feeling water shake inside his head and slide down his ears.
"I need a shower." He said to the room, eyeing every detail cautiously—not expecting to see something jump out of the smallest objects in the kitchen… of course…
"Feh…" His hand moved away from his leg, never noticing that he was unarmed to begin with, and straightened up, confidence making an appearance for the first time. He ordered his rigid limbs to move, and he walked out of the kitchen without glancing back, feet squishing some of his wet clothes as he made his way to the bathroom. A shower…that would clear his mind…
The door creaked.
Feet stopped; Ears pulsated.
The dreadful aroma of rain entered the apartment as the door continued to pry itself open, letting the light from outside ooze inside the room like white clouds in a foggy evening. It overtook his room and snaked closer to him… linking itself with his exposed feet, crawling up his legs, rising towards his midriff, touching and absorbing in mellow satisfaction every drop of water covering his skin. White light that caressed his shoulder blades… dyed his hair and obscured his features… introducing a shadow of himself to the floor, without asking for permission, without needing his consent.
He could see It in the eye for the first time—without understanding—in between the exposing white of past and the concealing black of future.
Footsteps.
Delicate prints of terror arousing his ears, seducing his panic, raping his thoughts, and he was trapped… and willing. So willing… because he knew… because it was…
His eyes dilated.
Husky breath rubbed against his ear, sliding hands embraced his shaking body.
Can't you see me? Can you…
"Sasuke—" His voice broke off, and something snapped.
TBC…
Comments: WAIIII! Finally posted this baby! Sorry to those who thought I had died… don't worry, I'm still alive, but to make a long story short, I was attacked by a horrible virus a long ass time ago, and I had to format my entire C-drive. Long behold, I kept everything important (writing related at least) in there, and I was extremely sad when I figured out I had lost all of those files. sigh… I had already finished writing Ch. 4 of Exile back then, and it just needed some proofreading before posting, but it all disappeared all too quickly, and I had no backup for it. Since I'm a person who writes on the moment, I lost all hope of ever ever being able to write anything remotely close to what I had before, and I became justifiably discouraged.
But the whole Sasuke vs Naruto saga that just ended in the manga re-hired my writing muse and the result is this Ch. 4 Version 2 I'm just glad I had some of the main parts of this chapter on paper It was inspirational enough to get me started.
To those who noticed… I apologize for the change in styles! I wrote at different periods of time, so it came out with different moods and point of views (AKA weirder than I planned Oo) besides that, I had a lot of trouble revising it, and I kept adding and removing stuff. This chapter's prologue proved to be the biggest challenge too which is weird. But I loved the ending, teehee
Once again, THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for your awesome reviews, they make me really happy (I'm so unworthy, really TT) Please R&R if you liked this chap! BTW, if you have questions, ask them too they might not be answered XP but it helps me keep track of what I'm doing
Anyway, until next time!
-Saori