Psychic King: :::laughing maniacally::: It's done! It's done! Finally, I finished it!!!!!!!
Sakura: :::Looking up at the crazed author::: Okay.... :::glancing at Naruto and Sasuke::: You know... She's been acing really weird recently...
Sasuke: How can you tell?
Sakura: Well... For starters, she hasn't updated in a long time, but she's been writing like crazy. For another she's started talking to herself.
Everyone: :::turns to watch as Psychic King mutters to her self:::
Psychic King: :::Rubbing hand together::: Heh heh heh... I decide who lives or dies...
Naruto: Seems pretty normal to me...
Psychic King: :::Wrapping an arm around Naruto::: That's right, I'm just a little stressed. But it's OK, because I've just written the best chapter ever of Embrace of solitude... You believe me, right? :::Glancing at Sasuke::: Right?
Naruto and Sasuke: :::backing away::: Of course...
Psychic King: That's good... Good... Because I could handle it if I had to write that chapter again, I'm never writing that chapter again ever... I don't think the voices will let me...
Sasuke and Naruto: :::still backing away, almost off screen::: Right... Well, we're sure it's great, so just... Relax a bit... :::Dash desperately the rest of the way off screen and out of Psychic King's field of vision:::
Psychic King: :::Glancing at Sakura::: Hell, yeah! You see, it's not necessary to use a lot of make up or special effects, you just gotta use your imagination.
Sakura: :::Sighing:::: Fine, you win. You CAN scare those two.
Psychic King: And my reward??
Sakura: Fine. I won't make any negative comments about chapter 24. But it's not MY fault if it ends up sucking.
Psychic King: Tsk, tsk... That almost sounded like a negative comment. Oh well. :::Turning to readers::: Well, it finally happened, chapter 24 is done. Thank God! For those of you that read the top part and not the bottom for whatever reason PLESE READ the author's comments AT THE END!!! I have a question on how to proceed and I'd like some feedback! But, for now, please just enjoy chapter 24 of Embrace of Solitude! And for those of you that have been waiting patiently for this chapter, I hope it was worth the wait. Well, even for those of you that haven't been waiting so patiently... :::Grin:::
:::::Break:::::
Embrace of Solitude
Chapter 24
As soon as Sasuke fell into sleep he began to dream. In his dream he traveled across the ocean. When he reached the land he walked through forest and over mountains and into a desert until he reached a tower. The tower was reached high into the sky, far into the clouds and shone as if it were made completely of glass. There were no doors. Sasuke walked around the tower and could find no entrance, there was no door; yet he felt himself compelled to enter. Many days passed as he tried over and over again to find the tower's entrance, finally on the tenth day, hot, exhausted and dehydrated Sasuke collapsed.
He lay on his back, panting as he stared at the point that the tower disappeared into the sky. As if by chance he saw a bird flying high above him. Even from this distance it was obvious to him that this bird was no average creature; he wondered briefly how much taller it was than he. He watched as the bird circled the tower, three times, on the third it disappeared. Sasuke's eyes widened as he sat up, waiting for the bird to reappear, but there was no sign of it. For the first time in days he opened his mouth and let a long, hysterical scream escape his lips. Allowing his body to crumple to the ground in a heap a low chuckle escaped his lips. "Come back here, damn bird!" He screamed, still laughing. "At least if you eat me, if only for an instant, I'll be inside."
As if it had been waiting for this the bird swept from the tower, swooped down and in a quick, fluid motion grabbed Sasuke in its talons. Pain tore through Sasuke's shoulder as its claws tore through his chest. The pain was so real, so familiar, but he couldn't remember where he knew it from. He just knew, with a euphoric sense of finality, that he was finally going to enter the tower.
Higher and higher the bird carried him, until it was hard for him to breathe when, as suddenly as he'd been picked up he was deposited on a cool marble floor. The bird perched next to him and he stared at it and noticed that it was beginning to change. The feathers flittered away, disappearing as they reached the floor; Sasuke's hand reached up and he grabbed one before it could completely fall, it remained solid in his hand.
Glancing up, Sasuke noticed that where the bird had been a man was now standing. Large, prominent nose mounted below two of the most attentive, piercing black eyes Sasuke'd ever seen. Perhaps even more striking than the man's eyes was his hair, handing in multicolored strands of blonde, red, brown and black around his golden face. If Sasuke were familiar with the term Greek god he most certainly would have used it to describe this man. The man moved closer to him, he seemed to be sniffing. Eventually his face broke into a huge smile, "I knew it! That scent..."
For some reason the man's smile, his reaction filled Sasuke with a sense of contentment. The man approved of some part of his existence. That thought in mind Sasuke collapsed to the floor in a heap.
A pair of strong hands was around him in an instant. "None of that, now. You can't rest here."
Sasuke stared at the man's face. There as something comforting about that smile, something familiar, if he could just grasp what it was...
"His scent is all over you." The man continued, walking towards a spiral staircase. "Although what that means considering that you're not really here is..." He trailed off, looking at the confused expression on Sasuke's face.
Sasuke noticed how musical the man's voice was, like every word was a song. He wasn't sure what the man meant by him not really being there. He felt like he was there. His shoulder still throbbed from where the bird's talons pierced through him. He realized that now that he was in the tower he had very little care for what was there. Perhaps he needed to enter simply to meet this man? "Where is this?" Sasuke's voice came out in a rasp whisper.
"You are in the tower of Tagen-sama. It is rare that any outsider should come visit, but Tagen-sama has been calling for the last twelve years. It was only a mater of time before someone should reply, although you are none of the people he's been expecting..."
"Who has he been calling?" Sasuke asked, sure that he should know. The answer was just outside of his grasp.
"Our brothers, their families. For you to smell so strongly of my older brother... You must be very important to him." The man grinned after a moment and added, "And he must be very important to you for you to hear Tagen-sama's call."
Questions rose in Sasuke's head as the man carrying him spoke. Who was this special person? Why couldn't he remember? In what way was this not real? But these questions fled his mind as the man reached the end of the spiral staircase and opened the door that was there. A room fit for a king greeted his eyes; treasure pilled high along each wall, in the center of the room was a sitting area of sorts, pillows littered across the floor, spread out luxuriously across those pillows were the most beautiful (and scantly clad) women Sasuke had ever seen. Standing with his back to the door was a man.
The man was what drew Sasuke's attention more than anything. Even only looking at his back Sasuke could see the power this man had just from the way he held himself. He had long, soft black hair tied loosely in the back. He was wearing large baggy black pants, but nothing covered his upper body. His pale skin shone like moonlight, even during a day as bright as this was. He turned his head slightly and Sasuke's eyes widened. The man man's face was amazing; small, delicate features compiled together in such a way that it could only be called perfection. Thin, but mysterious lips, a nose that was big enough to be useful but small enough to be beautiful, a few stray strands of hair flowed loosely across his face, serious purple eyes glanced at him curiously. Sasuke knew immediately that it was this man that he had come to meet. It was for this moment that Sasuke needed to enter the tower.
"What have we here?" A voice that could only be described as commanding issued from the red lips; a slender pale hand reached out to grab Sasuke's face.
Sasuke struggled as the black eyes pierced into his soul. He could almost feel the presence of another in his mind and unbidden thoughts and memories of the last twelve years, of Naruto, flashed through his consciousness. The man was barely touching his face and yet Sasuke could not break from his grasp. When the memory of waking in the hospital to see an adult Naruto and baby Kentaar finally flashed through his mind the man released him. Sasuke fell to the floor, shaking slightly.
"I see." The man said, turning away from Sasuke. "My younger brother, Naruto, you will deliver a message to him for me."
:::::Break:::::
Sasuke awoke with a start. He'd just had the strangest dream about a man with black hair and purple eyes. The man was very commanding and had insisted that Sasuke deliver a message to Naruto. And then he had laid his hands on Sasuke and... Sasuke shook his head. He was still confused.
The first thing Sasuke noticed as he began to regain his bearings was that he was no longer in the hospital, but instead in his own bedroom. How could he have slept through being moved? After all, he was in a great deal of pain whenever he- Sasuke's eyes widened as he tore off his shirt, his wound from Naruto's bite was gone? He ran his hands over his chest, not even a scar remained, and there was a giant golden feather clutched in his hand... Was it all a dream?
"Finally awake, huh?" A familiar voice spoke softly next to him.
Sasuke turned his head to see a very adult looking Naruto-but Naruto all the same- leaning forward in a chair set up next to his bed. It was, perhaps, the most welcome sight he'd ever seen. "Naruto!" Without thinking he launched himself from his bed to land on the blonde man, wrapping his arms around his massive chest.
Sasuke heard Naruto's surprised intake of breath and then a strong pair of arms was wrapped around him. For a brief moment Sasuke enjoyed the way it felt breath Naruto's scent, to absorb Naruto's warmth, to hear the pounding of Naruto's heart. The moment passed quickly, however, and Sasuke immediately pushed the large man away, scowl already forming on his lips. "You're still pretending to be an adult?"
A small smile played across Naruto's tanned face and Sasuke had to admit that he'd aged well, if not freakishly fast. His body was massive, larger than Tenmar's. he even looked older than Tenmar, but not by much. His nose and mouth seemed to fit more naturally than they had on the awkward twelve-year old. The whisker scars across his cheeks that had once made him look like a rebellious cat child now made him look like a hardened fighter. His blonde hair now stood a little longer, so that the spikes closest to his face drooped down and hung slightly into his eyes. Sasuke noticed that he was not wearing his forehead protector.
"No," Naruto replied after a quiet moment, blue eyes turning serious. "I've stopped pretending to be a child." He let Sasuke mull over those words as he yawned, stretching his long arms over his head. "How do you feel? You terrified me, waking up from your coma only to immediately fall into a deep sleep for the next ten days..."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have let me fall back to sleep so quickly, dobe." Sasuke retorted, still scowling. "Where's your...?" He pushed his middle finger against Naruto's bare forehead.
Naruto looked away, shrugging. "I guess I lost it, bastard."
Sasuke smirked, and then realization hit him. The last time he'd seen Naruto there'd been a baby Kentaar in his arms, where was that child now? How was everyone? Did anyone die? He settled back into his bed so that he was sitting up, facing Naruto. "How is everyone?"
"Everyone?" Naruto repeated, sad smile crossing his features. "There were 37 casualties on our side, many were left injured and a few have not been accounted for yet, but I hear it looks hopeful. There was major property damage everywhere there was fighting, many have been left homeless and rebuilding is proceeding slowly. We moved you back to your house because the hospitals are all full. Well, that and the fact that the hospital was no longer willing to look after 'my kind.'" Naruto offered Sasuke a sad smile. "I'm afraid that you've been grouped with me by association... I'm not sure what happened to your injuries." Naruto ended the sentence, leaving an unspoken question hanging in the air.
Sasuke sat in shocked silence, taking in what he just heard. 37 people died? For what? A battle against a few wolves? Or had there been enemy ninja as well? The night blurred together in his mind. He could tell that Naruto was blaming himself for what happened; he could see the guilt reflected in his blue eyes. "My injuries?" Sasuke repeated dazedly, trying desperately to keep his mind on topic. "Um... OH! My injuries." He shook his head, he wasn't ready to tell Naruto about his time in the tower, he didn't want to pass his message along to the blonde; knowing that once Naruto knew he was likely to leave. "Someone took care of them."
The blue eyes narrowed, Sasuke'd been asleep for almost all of the last fifteen days, most of which Naruto himself had been watching over him for. Who could have 'taken care' of his injuries without Naruto noticing? "I see."
"How's... everyone else? Sakura? Tenmar? Mina?"
Naruto leaned back in his chair, moving his eyes to stare at the ceiling. "Sakura, Kakashi, Iruka... They'll all be fine. Bruises, scratches, nothing big. Uzu and Ganten are in the forest, looking for the remnants of Kentaar's men and taking care of Moab. Tenmar is here, helping me take care of..." Naruto covered his eyes with his hand, a gesture that depicted more exhaustion and grief that he intended. "Mina. Mina still hasn't woken up."
"Her wounds are that serious?" Sasuke whispered eyes downcast. He felt slightly guilty that Naruto was with him rather than taking care of the girl. Even if she was still out of it, he was certain that Naruto's presence would comfort her.
The blond shook his head, bringing his eyes back to Sasuke's face. "No, they've already started healing. We don't know why she hasn't woken up yet, but a few days ago she started screaming at random intervals. Until then we had the two of you in the same room. We had to move her to the far side of the house. Tenmar and I take turns watching over her and watching over you. Sakura and Iruka stop by for a few hours each day. Make sure we get something to eat."
That explained some of his exhaustion. He probably wasn't sleeping, trying to be there to take care of both of them. "What about... Kentaar...?" He asked hesitantly.
Naruto's blue eyes hardened, he fixed Sasuke with a serious glare. "Kentaar is dead."
"Ah." He considered this for a moment. "It's just... When I woke up there was a baby with you."
Naruto shook his head unwavering in his insistence. "Kentaar is dead. That was Moab."
Sasuke shrugged. Whoever this Moab was, he looked a lot like a baby Kentaar, but it was obvious that Naruto didn't appreciate being questioned on this topic. Anyway, he got the feeling that Naruto had something else he wanted to tell him. "And?"
Naruto finally broke his gaze and Sasuke's scowl deepened. So there was something else. "Maybe we shouldn't talk about that right-" His words cut off as the door to Sasuke's room opened tentatively.
"Father..." Tenmar's voice called, head peeking slowly into the room. "Sakura-chan's he-" His eyes landed on Sasuke. "Sasuke-sama," he smiled, "You're awake."
"Who's with Mina?" Naruto asked, eyes swiveling to his oldest son.
"Sakura-chan is sitting with her right now." Tenmar replied, smile dropping from his face slowly. He stepped into the room as Naruto rose.
"I'll just go check on her." Naruto replied, walking out of the room. The door closed with a small slam, leaving Sasuke to turn surprised eyes to Tenmar.
"Is he OK?"
Tenmar shook his head, moving towards the chair Naruto had inhabited. "He hasn't slept in over ten days, even for Father there has to be a limit..."
Sasuke looked at Tenmar as the man sat down; he looked even more exhausted than Naruto. There were also some changes to the man's appearance. Most notably was his hair. "What happened to your hair?"
"Ah..." Tenmar ran a hand sadly through his hair to grab onto the now short nub that was his pony tail. The hair that had only flowed luxuriously down his back in a thick ponytail was now no more than a small, thin wisp. "There was a fire near the end of the battle and..." Tenmar shrugged. He looked so disappointed.
Privately Sasuke thought it looked better this way. Hair tied tightly against his head, a small strand just barely too short to fit in the ponytail curled around his face; it made him look mature, but he couldn't bring himself to tell him that. Instead he stared at the blonde quietly.
Tenmar shifted under Sasuke's glare. Even barely awake for an hour the boy was already glaring. But it was good to see him awake. "I'm so glad you woke up... I was worried what we would do if you didn't wake up by tomorrow."
"What's so special about tomorrow?" Sasuke demanded
Tenmar's eyes widened and he slapped a hand over his mouth. "Father didn't tell you?" When Sasuke's glare darkened, Tenmar stood, inching towards the door. "Well, it's not really my place... If you'll excuse me, I should go." He slipped outside quickly, leaving Sasuke to stare wide eyed at the suddenly closed door. That reaction was almost out of character for Tenmar. There was definitely something going on. Sasuke thoughtlessly twirled the feather in his hand.
:::::Break:::::
Uzu rolled his eyes as he picked through the woods with his younger brother. They'd been searching for days, most of the remnants of Kentaar's army were dead, the wolves had scattered without their ringleader. They'd found only one person, a boy with broken arms and legs, Uzu was pretty sure that had been Ganten's handiwork as his brother had found the boy immediately after they were sent out. They'd left him at their camp; he hadn't put up any kind of resistance, and anyway, his legs were broken. He wasn't going on a killing spree anytime soon. Ha name was Rin and Uzu was beginning to suspect that there was something going on between Ganten and the boy...
"That's it!" Ganten called, waving to his brother. The baby strapped to his back squirmed and let out a light hearted shriek as Ganten bounded towards Uzu. "I think that's enough for today. We've covered every part of this forest, there's nothing here."
"Yeah..." Uzu replied, making a disgusted face at the baby as his brother turned towards camp. "Just gotta face facts; Ninja completely annihilate an enemy."
"You can say that again. I'll be glad when we head out tomorrow." As if in agreement the baby pounded his tiny fists against Ganten's back.
"How can you stand that brat?" Uzu asked for almost the millionth time since they'd been stuck taking care of it. He found it rather ironic that he, the one fox child that went berserk whenever faced with Kentaar, was forced to take care of this child that, for all intents and purposes, actually was Kentaar. Or at least, as close to being Kentaar as someone could get. To be honest, the only reason he didn't try to drown the thing was because he wasn't sure what it was.
After accidentally biting into Sasuke Naruto had insisted that the rest of his family, along with the ninja that were fighting along side them, retreat. They'd done so and watched as Naruto, in adult human form, walked strait towards Kentaar. When it looked like Kentaar swallowed Naruto they'd reacted immediately. Tenmar was fastest, racing towards the giant wolf screaming bloody murder; that was why Tenmar was the only person who was really affected by the explosion that suddenly happened. When Naruto walked out of the debris holding that baby... Uzu had jumped up to finish the job, assuming that it was Kentaar.
It was his father's insistence that the baby was not Kentaar, but instead named Moab that kept him from completely destroying the child. He didn't know any Moab, but he couldn't bring himself to kill a child that was possibly innocent. But Moab sure was one ugly baby-he looked just like a mini Kentaar from the tuffs of grey hair forming on his head to the glowing yellow eyes that gleamed above his button nose.
When they reached camp Ganten thrust the baby in Uzu's arms, wandering off to look after Rin. Uzu grimaced, raising Moab to eye level. The baby giggled, waving his hands about until they smacked Uzu's cheeks lightly. "Oi." Uzu said to the infant, throwing it under one arm as he walked towards the center of their mini camp. "Don't smack me you damn brat."
The baby squealed kicking his legs lightly as Uzu carried him. "I'm gonna be real happy when Daddy and Tenmar join us tomorrow." Uzu called, using his free hand to start setting up a fire. "Then maybe Tenmar can take care of this brat."
"You have nothing to complain about." Ganten said, glaring up from his position next to Rin. He was in the process of checking the other boy's bandages. "I've done most of the work taking care of Moab."
"That's only 'cause you're afraid that I'll toss him in the river or something." Uzu grumbled.
"Regardless, the only brat I see around here has red hair and a big mouth."
"Oh?" Uzu glared, shifting the baby to his other arm, "Them's fighting words, little brother."
Both Ganten and Rin smiled as they watching him place on hand on his hip. Under the other arm, being carried like a sac of potatoes was a wildly happy baby, waving its arms and squealing lightly. "I think you're little Moab's favorite person."
Uzu glanced down at the happy baby and sighed, annoyance taking over his initial anger. "Oi, brat. Don't you dare enjoy this."
Ganten stood from his position next to Rin, dusting off his hands and holding up a couple rabbits they had caught earlier. "Why don't you and Moab go take a bath while I get started on dinner?"
"I'd rather-" Uzu began, but one look at his younger brother he closed his mouth, stomping obediently towards the nearby river with the baby.
Ganten grinned as his brother stormed away, muttering under his breath. The thought that Uzu might drown the baby crossed his mind, but he wasn't too worried.
"He's not gonna kill the baby." Rin said quietly, eyes following Ganten. Ganten had propped him up in a sitting position against a tree. Technically he was almost well enough to take care of himself now, not without sever difficulties, but it was possible. He knew for a fact that Uzu and Ganten had no clue how quickly a 'normal' human healed, and until they suspected otherwise Rin was taking this time to get used to being surrounded by people like them.
They fought almost constantly, but Rin had been surprised to find that it was all good natured bantering. Despite their words, they had a relationship that was almost ridiculously close for brothers. Not even Rin and his own brother had been that close, and until he met Ganten he had thought his family was as close as they could be. Now he was starting to wonder how much strain rather than good his family's natural abilities of mind reading had actually put on them.
"I just wish that he'd try to accept it..." Ganten sighed, peeling the fur off the rabbits.
Rin laughed, "He's more accepting of it that he's wiling to admit even to himself." He fell silent as he watched Ganten move about, working on getting their meal ready. As usual, Ganten's mind was working on several things at once. Rin never met someone able to work at such a perfect level on so many different things. Besides cooking, he was worrying about his father, oldest brother, sister and Sasuke, thdark haired boy he'd fought earlier. On top of that he was working on the best way for seven people to travel, eight if this Sasuke ended up tagging along, while three of them were, most likely, going to be unable to move. Seven people... That number included Rin, himself and the baby Kentaar reincarnation...
Rin let his attention waver off Ganten's thoughts as they shifted to probabilities on the direction they would travel. The white haired boy would be entertained for at least a half hour as he weighed personality attributes of his family together to decided who would choose ultimately the direction they went. In the back of his mind he could faintly hear Uzu and the baby's thoughts as they bathed. It was amazing how simple, how pure Moab's thoughts were in contrast to what Kentaar's had been-not that Rin had spent a lot of time in the wolf man's thoughts when he could avoid it.
Kentaar had been both a blessing and a curse in Rin's life. He would never forget the day he met the man, it was hard to forget the day that your whole family was killed as you fled helplessly into the darkness of the woods. Kentaar had been the one to find him, silver hair shining in the moonlight, yellow eyes glowing mysteriously... He'd known as soon as he met him that it was Kentaar and his companions that had told the town his who his family was; what they were. But, as the large man reached a hairy arm down to Rin, the first offer of friendship he'd received all day, Rin found himself forgiving the man. No, it was not Kentaar's fault that humans could not be trusted.
From that point on Rin followed Kentaar, not because he had nowhere else to go, nor because he felt any affiliation with the man but because Kentaar promised him the one thing he craved; power. The power to avenge his family, the power to stand on his own feet, the power to live; the only thing Kentaar asked for in return was his soul. Kentaar had held true to his word; the first people that Rin slaughtered were those in the town that destroyed his family. Killing them had filled Rin with a sense of satisfaction, the knowledge that the act couldn't bring his family back seemed insignificant next to the way he felt. After that he had stayed with Kentaar if only because Kentaar allowed him to kill anyone that Rin found unsatisfactory. It was a working relationship, Rin didn't need an excuse to kill even Kentaar's closest of follower and in return he used his gift as a weapon for the yellow eyed demon.
He had never once questioned their relationship. Kentaar might have been an evil, insane bastard, but at least never pretended to be anything else. It wasn't until this whole nonsense with Naruto, with the children, that Rin even bothered to question Kentaar's process. Rin never dwelled on his past decision, he wasn't the kind to look back after he'd made a decision, instead he stood with his choices until the very end. It was the same with following Kentaar; even if he'd chosen an evil man, an insane man, even if he'd committed unspeakable atrocities, even if it meant that he would never be able to join his family in heaven when he died; Rin was prepared to face his fate. When Ganten found him three days ago and dragged him to the campsite, when he introduced Rin as an 'important friend' to Uzu, when he started taking care of him... Rin knew that there had to be something wrong with the cosmic balance. Someone like him didn't deserve the happiness he was currently feeling.
Ganten glanced up from his position crouching over the fire to stare at Rin. Usually the brown haired boy watched Ganten attentively, making occasional comments on his thoughts, whenever they were together. It seemed strange for Rin not to notice the white haired boy's attention, to now respond to the question in his mind. A small smiled toyed at the edge of Ganten's lips as the furrowed eyebrows suddenly relaxed and Rin looked innocently up at him. "Sorry, did I miss something? And stop calling me innocent."
:::::Break:::::
"Sakura-chan." Naruto called, stepping into Mina's room.
The pink haired girl rose, hands clasped in front of her chest as Naruto leaned down to place a fatherly-feeling kiss on her forehead. Sakura blushed to her roots. Over the past few days the memories of Illia were starting to fade, to feel less like a part of her, but around Naruto she still felt embarrassed, flustered, even attracted. It didn't help that Naruto as an adult was a lot less awkward than Naruto as a child making him suddenly appear very handsome. "H-hello, Naruto-san."
Naruto barely noticed Sakura's discomfort, immediately turning his attention to the girl stretched out on the bed. "She's still sleeping..."
"Have you figured out what you're gonna do if she doesn't wake up before... you know." Sakura asked tentatively.
Naruto shook his head. "I don't know. It's not so much that I'm worried about her surviving a long trip, but... I don't even know where we're gonna go."
"I wish you wouldn't go far." Sakura said instantly, jumping to her feet. "I mean, it won't be long before people remember what you did for us, and Hokage-sama is on your side! They can't enforce a FIVE year-" Her words cut off as Naruto turned to her, shaking his head.
"No, they can, and they will. Or have you forgotten that this isn't the first time that my family's been at the root of Konoha's destruction? Just because we took care of the problem this time doesn't mean that it won't happen again. I still have two brother's and God knows how many nieces and nephews running around out there. It's better that we go."
"But FIVE years!" Sakura argued, stomping a foot on the ground to emphasize her point. "That's way too long! Konoha will be rebuilt by the end of the month!"
"Five years is generous..." Naruto pointed out patiently, rubbing a hand over his weary eyes. This wasn't the first time that he and Sakura had had this conversation and he was sure that it wouldn't be the last time despite his shortening time.
Their conversation was interrupted but the sudden arrival of Tenmar into the room. He was panting and holding a hand over his heart as if he was afraid that it would pound strait out of his chest. After a moment he raised accusatory eyes towards Naruto. "Father! Don't tell me that you haven't told Sasuke-sama yet!"
Sakura glanced between the blonde men, eyes widening. "Sasuke's awake?"
"Yes, Sasuke's awake and no. I haven't told him. He only just woke up; I didn't want to burden him with it right away."
"Well, he damn well suspects that something's going on!" Tenmar almost hollered, "I thought he was going to glare little hate holes into my soul..."
Sakura sighed, sinking back into the chair she had been sitting in. In a normal situation she would have rushed off to see Sasuke, if only because they were teammates and she was worried about him, but right now, with him suspecting... "What were you gonna do?" She demanded, joining Tenmar to glare at Naruto. "Wait until tomorrow and suddenly grab your travel bag and say, 'Well, it's been fun, but we've been asked to leave for a few YEARS, maybe I'll see you around?'" She immediately covered her mouth as the words escaped her. She was having more and more trouble holding her tong lately, since the incident with Illia; but she was well aware that the last thing Naruto needed right now was her sarcasm.
Naruto purposefully ignored both of them, wrapping all of his attention into Mina, who looked almost peaceful, if it weren't for the heavy bandaging over the eye that had been taken out during the battle and the countless scars that now covered her face. The fact of the matter was he just didn't know how to tell Sasuke that they were leaving. Part of him wanted to take the dark haired boy with him, but logic told him that was not a good idea and his conscious told him that he needed to let Sasuke grow up before... Naruto shook his head, now wasn't the time for such thoughts. "I'll tell him in my own way."
"Tell me what, dobe?" The room's occupants when deathly silent as they turned their heads towards the door, which was now propped open; Sasuke was leaning against the frame, arms crossed, scowl imbedded across his face.
:::::Break:::::
Psychic King: OK, to save all bullshit for later for those of you that don't usually read this but have made an exception because ya love me... I want to know how you want me to proceed. The main story is all but done; one well ordered chapter at the end could sum up the rest quite nicely with a small few year time lapse. OR I could star book two if people are eager to see Naruto's journey to the East to find his brothers. It al depends on how much detail you want. I have a few special plans for Naruto's children and for Rin, but nothing much for the Naruto cast besides for Naruto himself (assuming that makes sense)... And maybe one or two other, SIDE characters. So what do you people what??? A nice wrap up or something that leaves room for book two, whatever that will be???????
Send all requests to either my e-mail (my name, Psychic underscore king at hotmail dot com; for some reason it won't let me just spell it out... Oh well...), OR use the handy review function on the story page thing to voice your opinion!
I'd really appreciate it!!!!! Thanks!!
-Psychic King
Sasuke: :::walking up and grabbing Psychic King's collar::: Rewrite it.
Psychic King: ::Waving at the readers::: Well, until next time... :::Attempting to break Sasuke's hold and run away:::
Sasuke: :::holding tight::: REWRITE IT!