AN: This is my first Naruto fic so if I screwed up somewhere please go easy on me!
I don't own anything, especially Naruto and its characters. I am just a poor little girl who likes to write yaoi. This is a Sasu/Naru of course. Please R&R on how my first attempt at Naruto go!
takes a deep breath Here we go!
Familiar Stranger..
Chapter One: Back home
Darkness was his ally, in the chill of the night he was most relaxed. One could say he was the creature of the night. The night which had forever lost its sunshine.
Today was his sunshine's birthday. It was one of those painful days he had to endure. While Konoha celebrated the entrapment of its most feared demon. Carrying on festivities, enjoying and rejoicing for the continuation of their filthy worthless lives. Uchiha Sasuke morned the loss of a treasures friend, a worthy rival.
Who cared? All these people with their noble ideals. They claim they would lay down their lives for the sake of this village. Nothing but lies, they were selfish weaklings who never understood the concept of sacrifice. He had sacrificed, Uzumaki Naruto had sacrificed.
No, he did not lay down his life, no he did not give up the right to breathe. That would have been a relatively easy route. What would cowards know of the level of his sacrifice. He used the very beast that nearly destroyed the village to protect them. Everyday, every hour, every minute, he held that demon inside of him, smiled that bright sunshine smile in the face of insults and threats. He transformed the darkness around him and produced light. What a treasure he was.
He, Uchiha Sasuke, respected no one, cared for no one yet he was coddled, loved and worshiped even. All because of the name. All because of the powerful blood that flowed through his veins. They did not realize that danger they lived in. He did not care for them. He would rather have them dead, but this was his beloved's village. This was Naruto's village.
What did they know? One day he would snap from the sheer amount of loneliness he endured. He would slaughter people in this village just as his brother had done to his clan. He would run in pursuit of power and try once again to kill his elder sibling, the shame of a brother that Itachi was. What power did they have over him, none.
The one who could tame him, keep him sane was gone. They chased him away with their poisonous tongues and careless actions. The light to his darkness was gone, irreplaceable. There were many Uchiha Sasuke, but there was only one Uzumaki Naruto. The one he loved. Oh so very much.
He looked up at the countless stars that adorned the night sky. He still remembered the childish belief that Naruto followed. The belief that one of those stars was his mother, looking down at him always. Sparkling in hope and love against the darkness of the sky. He realized that how comforting that thought can be even though it was just a silly belief. It made you feel less lonely.
'Are you looking at the stars too Naruto? Are you remembering the days we spent together? Days full of spars and insults that carried no venom. Days of friendly rivalry.'
Sometimes he wondered why you realized the importance of things when they were gone. He could laugh at all those times he thought the flutter in his heart that the sight of the blond was due to anticipation of a spar. Or when he thought the icy fear that coursed through him whenever that blond was close to death was due to loosing a worthy rival.
How immature he was, he had all he needed. He just had to reach out his hand and caress that sun kissed skin. He just had to grasp hold of that delicate looking wrist and pull him to his chest. Naruto's light would have chased away his darkness. Naruto would have acted as a healing balm to his aching, bleeding heart.
'How selfish!' he scolded himself. He too was selfish. He wanted Naruto for selfish reasons, he wanted Naruto's safety for selfish reasons. But how could one stop his own heart? That greedy organ that beat inside one's body, demanding love, friendship, companionship.
His absent minded footsteps stopped, his mind froze, incapable of coherent thoughts. He was in the middle of all hustle bustle. People littered the whole place, enjoying, celebrating. Men drinking sake, woman giggling and gossiping. Girls ogling over handsome boys and boys ogling over beautiful girls. Useless banter, meaningless activities, they had no purpose, no goal. The village seemed dead to him without the loud obnoxious blond. To Sasuke it seemed Naruto sucked away all the brightness and taken it away with him, leaving this empty shell. This shell that was filled with false light, that echoed of malicious laughter.
He walked to a secluded corner, away from attention hungry girls. Somehow he was not surprised when the lazy genius Shikamaru laying on the soft grass covered ground looking up at the sky.
Sasuke shrugged and sat down beside him knowing that he would not be bothered by this particular ninja. He was ready to carry on his musings when Shikamaru spoke up.
"He's still on your mind Sasuke? Even after five whole years? If you would have told him you love him, he wouldn't have left."
Sasuke sighed inwardly, knowing that Shikamaru was right. What he wouldn't do to have Naruto back, just one more chance. He would do things right this time.
"Hokage told me to inform you that you have a meeting with her 7 am." Sasuke just gave a curt nod. Shikamaru sighed and closed his eyes. He was comfortable with Sasuke, there was no useless banter when it came to him. Meaningful silence and a easy easy friendship had developed between them. That is how Shikamaru knew the Uchiha heir's deepest, darkest secrets.
Sasuke watched the night sky again, jumbled thoughts haunting him again. Not all about the blond, some where of Itachi, some of Orochimaru. He wondered if Itachi managed to get his hands on Naruto. He hoped not, he hoped his rival was alright, that he was safe and sound. Bothering some poor soul with his genius pranks and loud mouth. Dazzling someone with those beyond compare eyes and that bright welcoming smile.
His dobe was somewhere out there, lighting up someone's world with his shine.
Sasuke sat in front of the hokage, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. She was not meeting his eyes, her gaze was trained on the scroll in front of her and for the past five minutes since he had arrived she had said nothing. His patience was wearing thin.
"Hokage-Sama, why did you call me here?" Sasuke practically hissed words through gritted teeth. Surprisingly she did not get annoyed. There was a serious atmosphere around her that calmed Sasuke down almost immediately. She lifted her head and met his gaze head on.
"There is a mission for you." Sasuke raised a twitching eyebrow at that, 'She took five minutes to say that!'
"It involves Naruto." Sasuke stilled at that announcement. His whole body went rigid as he met Tsunade's gaze, some sort of sadness had darkened her eyes making Sasuke fear for the worst. His palms clenched into tight fists, his knuckles going white, "What about him?"
Tsunade smiled slightly and said, "He's back."
Those words rang through his mind, his Naruto was back. He got his second chance, he got his silent prayer answered. Sasuke stood and turned to leave when the hokage stopped him, "I did not give you permission to leave yet Sasuke. Before you go on to blame Naruto there is something you should now." Sasuke sat back again and waited patiently.
"Sasuke, you must know that I sent Naruto away." Sharp eyes narrowed at the hokage in a death glare. She was far from fazed, thankful that Sasuke was holding his temper enough to let her finish. "I sent him away saying that he can come back whenever he wants. I had an unexpected visit from him yesterday." She smiled fondly and said, "You should see his Sasuke, he has changed so much. He is not a moron anymore Sasuke, you will have a hard time keeping up with his wit."
Sasuke lowered his head, his jaw set as he asked, "Why.. Why did you send him away?"
Tsunade sighed and leaned back in her chair looking up at the ceiling. "He was dieing inside. I could not bear to see that poor boy suffer each and everyday. He was loosing faith in himself Sasuke so I sent him to a better place, where he would learn to love himself. Where he would know his own worth. I wanted him to heal. These villagers kept inflicting wounds on him before even letting him heal."
She smiled and looked at him again, "Go see him Sasuke, see how your rival has turned out. Your mission is to keep him sane, be is guardian as he was yours. I am entrusting you with a person that means a lot to me. Take care of him."
Even the sky could not rival the color of his eyes, such beauty they possessed. Clear and sparkling baby blue, sometimes with mischief and sometimes with innocence. Sometimes with sharp intelligence and something with unparalleled naiveté. He was the contradiction of himself, maturity in the cloak of innocence, ice floating just underneath the fire.
Uzumaki Naruto was a boy no more.
A soft smile lit his features as he took in the familiar sight of the training grounds. His sweat his soaked these grounds so many times. Upon the earthly bed he had lain after each grueling training session rejoicing in the feel of blood rushing through his veins. How he loved the light headed feeling he got when he was exhausted after sparing with his rival.
His rival, his smile widened at the thought of Sasuke. 'Kyuubi, do you smell that. This is the scent of home, the air here is so warm and welcoming. Can you feel it fox. The winds, the trees, the soul, they are all welcoming us.'
'Yeah yeah Kit, I feel it. They are your companions. You can always trust them.'
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Warmth settled over his stomach as he spread his arms wide to embrace his home in his imagination. A look of utter bliss crossing over his features. He missed his home so much. He knew that he did the right thing, he needed a break, he needed that freedom and he couldn't thank Tsunade Baa-chan enough for the opportunity.
He just hoped that his friends find it in their heart to forgive him. One friend in particular. Speaking of which...
Slender fingers grabbed the kunai that was that was thrown at him deftly before it reached its target. A small smirk formed on rosy lips as he teased, "Come now, attacking poor unsuspecting people is not your style Sasuke."
Blond hair danced with the morning breeze as he turned to face his long time rival, one of the most important people in his life. The smirk turned into a sincere smile as he softly asked, "How have you been Sasuke?" A rush of air was is only warning as he found himself pinned to a tree with pale fingers wrapped around his neck in a firm yet gentle grip.
"How have I been you ask?" Sasuke hissed as he brought his face closer to Naruto's. Midnight black bored into baby blue as he whispered, "Why is it your concern? You left right? Without even so much as a good bye you left." Naruto locked his softened gaze with Sasuke's angry one and said gently, "I know you spoke to Tsunade Baa-chan. It was imperative that I left. You of all people should understand that bastard."
Sasuke scoffed at him but did not let go. He wanted a moment more, just a little moment of sharing his scented breath. A moment of feeling warmth flow from Naruto's body to his. A moment to know that he was for real and right here.
He lowered his head and rested his forehead against Naruto's and whispered, "Dobe.. You could have at least told me. I have yet to find a rival worthy enough of my presence." Naruto chuckled in response and murmured, "You are really hopeless you know that. A friend returns after five year and you throw kunai at him and crush him against a tree. What a warm welcome. I should be flattered." The Uchiha heir smirked at the blond, breathing in the scent of those sunny locks.
'Messy as always.' He thought absently. Naruto had grown up beautifully in five years, he was still shorter than him. Sasuke pulled back a little and looked at Naruto from head to toe.
He produced a classic mocking grin and teased, "Age has not been kind to you. Still short, and so skinny. You could easily pass for a girl. No need for you Sexy-no-Jitsu."
Sharp blue eyes narrowed as he growled, "Why you..."