Kisame's face connected with the wall. Itachi looked at him angrily.
"How…the hell…could a half dead demon…escape?" asked Itachi. Kisame stood up, wiping the blood from his chin.
"I don't know…one moment I'm putting the food on the floor, the next he's out of sight" Kisame explained. Itachi sat down, his gaze baring holes into Kisame.
"It doesn't matter…I got what I wanted…all we have to do is use my otouto a little…and Naruto will be back in our hands" Itachi said with a smirk. Kisame looked at him confused, but preferred not to ask unnecessary questions.
"For now…we shall remain hidden, and follow Naruto and Sasuke's every move…then we set the plan in motion…and Kitsune will be in our grasp once again…in which we will remove the powers and finally achieve the power we deserve" Itachi explained. Kisame smirked as he sat down. This was going to be interesting to watch for the both of them.
/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
It has been exactly one week since Naruto was found, and Naruto's wounds were recovered…his physical wounds that is. Tsunade looked over his chart one more time and smiled.
"You are discharged as of today Naruto. Shikamaru and Neji will be keeping guard near you just in case another attack occurs. We won't lose you again" Tsunade said. Naruto nodded as he fixed his hitai-te on his forehead. Iruka had bought him clothes earlier to change in, and Naruto was thankful that his former teacher didn't buy him the orange jumpsuit, but gave him his chuunin uniform. Naruto bowed to Tsunade and left his room, where Iruka was waiting for him.
"Well Naruto…lets go for that ramen I had promised you" Iruka said smiling. Naruto nodded as he walked alongside his former teacher and his brother, not by blood but by experience. The two walked in silence, but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Both Iruka and Naruto were content with the other's presence, even after Naruto's ordeal. The two enter Ichiraku, where they were greeted by the owner who happily took their orders.
"Glad to see you around Naruto…we missed our number one client" the old man said. Naruto smiled slightly and nodded.
"Good to be back oji-san…" Naruto said. Naruto and Iruka ate in silence, enjoying their company.
"Yo" Kakashi said as he appeared behind Iruka. Naruto choked slightly on his ramen and looked at his sensei.
"Can you not surprise people when they're eating?" he asked angrily. Kakashi grinned under his mask and sat down next to Iruka.
"Irukaaaa….can I have some?" asked Kakashi. Iruka glared at Kakashi as Naruto just shook his head.
"Iruka sensei…I'm going to head home now…thank you for the meal…I'll see you two later" Naruto said as he stood up and left the two adults alone for some 'private' time.
"Kakashi" growled Iruka. Kakashi sweatdropped as he took out his book.
"Ma Iruka…Shikamaru and Neji are watching over him…and besides…I'm only going to bother you for a little bit…I have a mission soon so I wanted to spend time with my uptight dolphin" Kakashi said. Iruka's eye twitched slightly at the comment.
/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
Naruto made his way slowly down the streets of Konoha. The villagers simply ignored him, not glancing at him but not remarking either. Years of seeing the blonde made the villagers get use to his presence, and more use to the fact he was not going to go away.
"Naruto…" a voice called to him. Naruto stiffened and his eyes widen. He quickly dashed away from the voice, not even bothering to see who it was. Sasuke gritted his teeth as he ran after the blonde.
"Dobe…wait up…" Sasuke called out. Naruto jumped to a roof top, heading towards the hokage monuments.
"Dobe! Dammit Naruto!" shouted Sasuke as he kept pace with Naruto, surprised at how much Naruto's speed had increased. Sasuke's brows furrowed slightly. His speed surpassed his own, heck Naruto's speed surpassed Rock Lee's…so how was he captured in the first place? Sasuke's thoughts made him lose speed and soon the blonde was out of sight.
"Damn" Sasuke muttered as he sped up, knowing where the blonde was going to end up.
Naruto looked down at Konoha from the monuments, barely breaking a sweat from his run. Was it Itachi? Or was it Sasuke? He didn't know who it was, but he didn't want to find out either. Sitting down on the stone floors of the monuments, Naruto gazed at the village who saw him grow, saw him bleed, and saw him suffer, yet did nothing to stop it.
"I won't believe it though…it's just a strategy against me…" Naruto said.
"What is dobe?" asked Sasuke as he landed near Naruto, panting slightly. Naruto quickly stood up, ready to attack Sasuke.
"Don't just jump in front of people out of nowhere" Naruto said irritated. Sasuke raised an eyebrow slightly. He knew that years could change a person, but did it change Naruto this much? Or was it what Itachi's torture did? A scowl appeared on Sasuke's face momentarily, and in the same instant it disappeared.
"Why are you here Uchiha Sasuke?" asked Naruto as he sat back down. Sasuke was caught off guard by such indifference and coldness. Then again, it was to be expected.
"I'm here…because of you" Sasuke said simply. Naruto looked at him, this time he had a raised eyebrow.
"Huh?" came the intelligent reply. Sasuke sighed inwardly.
"Naruto…I know that four years ago…I nearly killed you. And I know you've trained all this time to get me back. But I couldn't let you interfere with my goals. I probably did get stronger, but did I get strong enough? I'm not sure…the only one who can tell my strength is you…because you are what gives me the strength. I went to Orochimaru for power…and came back with power….but with the power to stop Orochimaru…and help Konoha…my family…the family I was so foolishly unaware of" Sasuke said, staring at Konoha as the sun shined brightly in the sky. Naruto said nothing as he stared at the sky and the clouds. This definitely was not the Sasuke that left all those years ago.
But had Sasuke changed…for the better or for the worst? Did he become the mirror image of Itachi…in every aspect?
"Naruto" Sasuke called out. Sasuke noticed how Naruto refused to look at him. Could it be his image? Was it wounding Naruto even if he wasn't Itachi? Naruto slowly turned his gaze and let it fall on Sasuke. Yes…he was a mirror image of Itachi, but there was something different about the two.
For one Sasuke's eyes were not constantly sharingan, giving him some form of humanity look, and not the look of the devil. His skin was probably paler than Itachi's, and his features were much smoother. Unaware that Sasuke was watching his every move, Naruto allowed his eyes to linger over every aspect of Sasuke's body, taking in his form and making comparisons with his brother. Naruto sighed and turned back to look at Konoha.
Sasuke turned his gaze back, trying to figure out why the blonde was assessing him.
"Welcome back teme…but remember one thing…I'll kick your ass back to the depths of hell that you came from…and you can't stop me" Naruto said as he looked at Sasuke and smirked. Sasuke stared at Naruto's face, noticing how Naruto was smirking with confidence, and not fear or falsity. Sasuke allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he looked at the sun. After four years, he could finally feel the warmth of the sun, of his sun…of Naruto.
/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
"Dismissed" Sakura said. The group of young children all ran out of the room, happy to be free from the lecture. Sakura, now a chuunin and a medical Nin, decided to teach the basics of medicine to the gennins to be. She started gathering her papers when a soft knock was heard on the door. Sakura turned her attention and smiled as she saw Hinata enter.
"Hello Hinata-san" Sakura said as she grabbed the papers and walked towards the door.
"Hello Sakura-san…the hokage requests our presence" Hinata said. Sakura nodded as the duo made their way towards the Hokage's office.
Tsunade fixed the papers on her desk, running over the list of teams one more time. A knock informed her that Hinata and Sakura arrived. Both Sakura and Hinata entered the office, bowing respectfully at the hokage.
"I'll get straight to the point ladies…Naruto is in delicate condition, both physically and mentally. I have assigned you two as the ones in charge of his case. What I mean is that you two will work as a team, and make sure Naruto gets back to health. His condition" Tsunade rested her chin on her hands, staring at them intently.
"Is life threatening" she finished, causing the two kuniochi to stare at her in surprise.
"SO…Naruto's" Sakura started. Tsunade nodded slowly.
"Why…how?" asked Hinata.
"The treatment he received during the months of absence…has caused severe internal damage…his special abilities can only heal so much…and even with my treatments…we can still lose him" Hinata and Sakura nodded in understanding.
"As of today…you two will be accompanying Neji and Shikamaru in their rounds with Naruto…monitor his eating habits…and make sure that he takes the medication I will be providing shortly…Hinata…you will be in charge of the nutritional area of Naruto's condition and Sakura you will treat his physical wounds. The name of his illness…"
/Break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah break blah/
And I'm sorry for leaving it in a cliff hanger…but I had to do it…forgive me ne? Anyways…answers to reviews cuz I've been lazy and sick enough lol
Bhodi li: Well, Sakura grew up out of her love for Sasuke. Four years of training with Tsunade and getting to know others better made her love for Sasuke turned into a simple friendship.
Momochi Zabuza: /hands Zabuza a band aid/ aww thanks for the plushie /glomps/
Rosemary: I hope you enjoyed the small Itachi scene lol he'll be showing up more often now so dun worry…you'll get Itachi lol yay Itachi!
Naiei-no-miko: /bows down/ oh priestess lol did I get it right? The miko is priestess right? Oh…anyways lol yes…Sasuke won't be getting near Naruto much…even though this chapter says otherwise…they will suffer first lol
Magy: Here's an update for ya…thanks for the review
Red Rose: lol poor Naruto indeed lol the torture I put them through lol enjoy the update
Half-Devil: here's the next chapter. Enjoy and sorry for making them short…writer's block and all lol
Tamara2187: Yeah…I needed to show how time can change a person, no matter how much of a prodigy he was lol personally I think changing Kakashi's attitude may help this fic better lol
ePuiChi: oO work overload?? /hands over some coffee/ Oo
To everyone else: thank you a lot for reviewing and enjoying my stories. It really means a lot to me especially with such a hectic life style and problems…arigato gosaimasu minna!!!