Uwaahhh. It was so hard for me write this chapter or write at all because I'm so lazy and wanna sleep. (snore) the weather is so cool and it is slightly raining that it is even such an effort to get myself off the bed. It makes me wanna cuddle with my pillows and stay there forever.
See! It took me a lot to write this just to prove that I AM a responsible author.
Anyway, thank you guys for the reviews. Keep reviewing it's the only thing that motivates me to move my lazy yet not fat ass to move.
Disclaimer:
What do YOU think? (Rolls eyes and curses the injustice of it all)
Chapter 4
Tenpou dipped his brush in the small pot of ink and continued writing.
…we are well. The security is slightly disappointing seeming that is slightly below satisfactory…
He took a sip at his coffee and replaced it back at the table. At the background, you could hear the soft gurgles of the coffeemaker brewing coffee.
Little people know that he is coffee addict and a chain smoker. Of course, there are also small amount of people who knew him and most of them are dead.
…as a secretary of his office mainly just doing all his work while he spends his time at his leisure…
Sometimes it takes almost all of his control to just not pull a cigar out of his pockets and inhale it off when in presence of his young master which is almost all the time. He had to remind of himself about the eldest Uchiha's orders and threats nevermind that he could simply dispose of the younger man easily. Not that the dark haired ninja had any idea of it of course.
…Naruto-sama is taking his examinations today and I suspect that the results would come after maybe three days later or longer given the situation he is in but there would be no doubt in my part that he will pass on all of them.
This will be the end of my letter. Please remember to take care of yourself Itachi-dono and visit us as well when you have the time. I could tell that the young master already misses you dearly even at the short expanse of separated time. I suspect the same to you as well maybe even more…
At this Tenpou slightly smiled to himself. He so loved dearly to tease the younger man. He imagined that the missing nin's eyebrows would twitch when he reads that part.
…please inform me when you do come so it would give me time to prepare. Perhaps some curry and a bit of dessert? Till then enjoy your time with Kisame-san and send him my regards.
Tenpou
Tenpou folded he parchment and tied it on the rather large falcon waiting by the open terrace.
His eyes turned to a crescent as he pats lightly at the sharp eyed bird's head. "Thank you for waiting. Please send this to Itachi-dono. Have a safe journey."
The falcon blinked and cocked its head to the right as if acknowledging his words before taking off.
With that tenpou returned to the paper filled tables and produced a scroll from his pockets.
He took up the ink brush once again and began writing this time the ninjitsu training for his young blond charge.
He didn't mention in the letter that he had copied the scroll of seals and other useful kinjitsus he had seen at the hokage tower. Instead he had summarized them and began writing them in order which he deemed from weakest to strongest order for the whiskered boy.
It was no contest. If he to be given a choice whether to leave either of them, he would follow the young blond. Though his feelings for the boy and the Uchiha are purely platonic, there is no question that he favors and adores the blond more than the older man.
He would go hell and back for him.
Yes, He treats the two of them as his family despite the honorary titles he supplies to them. Itachi is his friend perhaps even close to a brother of some kind but Naruto to him is much more like his son.
Outside the skies have turned quite gloomy, soft pellets of rain hits the now closed window.
His dead son…
Briefly unwanted images drifted to his mind. He shook his head and rolled the finished parchments.
Rain has always made it easy for him to be reminded of unwanted memories.
'Though there are good memories that had happened when it was raining too.' His mind supplied and he smiled.
An image of a younger version of Naruto sitting on Itachi's shoulders both caked with mud and him following them in equal fashion entered his thoughts. The three of them back then were laughing even the serious dark haired Uchiha was at ease and was chuckling despite the heavy weather beating on their backs.
He cleared away the table and placed the scrolls at the bookcase for later. He had better go and prepare food for the young master.
Break:
Naruto pouted as his stomach rumbled softly. 'I'm hungry.' He unconsciously rubbed his tummy as he drones out the rest of Iruka's congratulatory speech.
"…in a few days will be informed about the cells…"
'we passed over the old ramen place I used to eat at when I was still here…I wonder if the old man Ichiraku is still the one who's cooking.' He scrounge up his eyes and pouted even more never minding the sound of cooing at the background as his body instinctively evaded the pinching hands.
Yes. Very evil pinching hands.
'No wait. I wonder how ramen should taste at all! Stupid It-chan. You MEANIE!' He stomped one of his feet to the ground. The whole academy compound shook.
"O..oi! Are we having an earthquake now!"
"It wasn't mentioned in the news…"
"…wait it's gone."
"That's weird."
He sweatdropped and tried to look inconspicuous by staring at the window. The floor beneath his feet is marked suspiciously by a crack.
He absentmindedly smiled. It happens most of the time when he thinks of his absent lover. 'I wonder…I wonder how It-chan is right now. I also wonder where he and fishy-chan is right now. Maybe they are fighting again. I like it when they're fighting. They're so funny.'
Somewhere out there:
Itachi and Kisame are camped at a barren wasteland.
Itachi is casually cooking rice and Kisame was grumbling to himself.
"…How was I supposed to know that I purchased the wrong map? As soon as we get back there, I'm gonna flay that conniving old fat bastard alive. Now we're stuck here, under a dying tree in the middle of no where."
"You are an Idiot Kisame." Came the soft yet low voice of Itachi. (Might I just tell everyone that his voice is very sexy?) "Hand that over will you?" He gestured the groceries lying at the floor. They had one before they left.
Kisame growled and swiped an egg. He threw it at the Uchiha. "Go suck an egg weasel!"
Itachi merely brought a hand up and caught the egg without it breaking; He raised an eyebrow and chose not to comment as he continued to prepare their meal with him getting the stuff himself.
A few minutes passed…
"Dinner is done." Itachi proclaimed as he grabbed a pair of chopsticks for himself.
Kisame rubbed his hands in anticipation. While Itachi may not be as a good of cook as his servant, he cooks quite well. Besides, he's starving. "What are we having anyway?"
He sat down opposite of his partner. Itachi passed a platter of food to him.
His eye twitched. "This is…"
Itachi smirked; he took a bite from his sushi.
"bastard."
Back at Naruto:
"Waah! Finally." Naruto jumped up from his seat, his eyes curved to a crescent, he heard the distinct sound of giggles.
"…Naruto-chan is so kawaii."
He ignored everything around him and hummed a happy tune. Yep. He's going. He's going to fill his empty stomach. He's going to eat till his tummy bursts.
He pouted though; he isn't the only one hurrying to get out. The doors are completely blocked off by students running off.
His eyes caught the sight of It-chan's outoto.
The brunette raised an eyebrow then lets out a cocky smirk before his form is lost among the sea of rushing teens.
Naruto inwardly huffed. He doesn't like that guy at all. He looks mean and seems proud and arrogant.
'It-chan also keeps to himself but he's not arrogant. I don't like how that guy make me feel.'
He glared at the spot where the previous boy was before shifting his thoughts to more happy ones. He crossed his arms behind his head and makes his way out the classroom when Iruka stops him.
"Eh? Sensei?"
"You're not finished with the exams Naruto."
"Nani?"
Iruka raised a test paper and grinned. "You also have to come back here tomorrow for further tests."
Naruto's stomach grumbled out loud. His eyes began to water. "But…but…."
The brown haired chunnin sternly pointed an empty seat. "Saa, Naru-chan. The faster you finish, the faster you get home."
"NO WAY!"
The blond pouted. His sensei merely continued to point. Finally Naruto gave a defeated sigh and slumped down to the seat.
Break:
Sasuke watched the people below with distaste. He is leaning at the railing of the school roof, looking at the families meeting and congratulating their children from graduating the academy.
The rain did nothing but annoy him. He pushed away some of the wet hair obscuring his view.
The smiling faces, the warmth, comfort and welcome.
'It's so fucking annoying. They are so annoying.'
The picture of the perfect families portrayed below is so perfect so normal so close that he wants to tear them out. Destroy such pretty picture, burn it, cut it, slash it with a sharp kunai, he doesn't care.
'Kill them.'
These people are so ignorant.
'Make them bleed.'
He saw some children squirm out of their mother's big hugs. It disgusts him. It makes his blood boil that these children, no, these people don't have the slightest clue that just any second that all of it might go away.
'And taste it. The metallic flavor of the crimson liquid. Share and let the other people understand my misery.'
He remembered when he enrolled to the academy. His father was reluctant to take his place among the other parents escorting the other children. If not for his brother insisting to go with him and forget his mission, his father would have not come.
His brother.
Itachi receiving the rank of Anbu captain at thirteen.
His perfect brother...
Itachi carrying him at the back with a smile
How he loved him…
Itachi standing over their parents corpses
How he loathes him and despises him.
Sasuke punched the closest wall making it crack. He retracted his fist, bloodied.
He lets go a long breath and lets his anger, frustration and hurt fly away to the air leaving just numbness and emptiness.
He wipes his hand at his soaked dark blue shirt and put both of his hands at his pockets. Once more he is in control and able to think clearly.
He cast one last look at the now empty academy grounds.
Others should not experience the same things as he did. He would protect those ignorant fools from the kinds of people like Itachi. Because no matter how terribly stupid and clueless they are, they don't deserve such fate.
Or maybe they do…
No matter. Once more he has mastered himself and his goal is clear against his mind.
He made his way to the stairs.
How ironic that the one he had loved most is the one he hates the most.
A small voice in the back of his head whispered.
"And how ironic that you love him still…"
The blond wrote in a quite easy pace. His tongue stuck out at the side, sometimes he would erase what he wrote furiously only to keep writing again.
Naruto earlier tied his slightly long hair in pigtails. A few strands however left stubbornly uncooperative as he blew away some strands of his bangs away from his eyes.
A white band tied around his head is marked with written words of, "You can do it." With an additional peace sign at the end.
The door opened, signaling Iruka's return.
The chunnin tilted his head sideways and looked at the blond weirdly and snickered. "your hair, new style?"
Naruto hands the paper to his sensei. It was long and difficult; it makes him glad that he actually listened to Ten-nii's tutoring.
He glared. A small anger vein appeared as well as a blush of embarrassment. "THERE IS A REASON FOR IT! I tied it so that it wouldn't bother me while I take the exams." He untied his hair and lets Iruka ruffle it in an affectionate elder brother like manner as he pocketed one of the bands and tied his hair back in a short ponytail with the other.
"Why don't you just cut it?"
Naruto stuck out his tongue at the older man. "No way! Demo…I guess I wont let it grow longer than this."
Iruka scratched his head. 'Come to think of it, Tenpou-san also has long hair. Is it because Itachi influenced them?'
He gave away none of his thoughts however as he smiled amusedly at the blond. "…And the band at your head?"
Naruto pouted, "You made me stay here and take that horrible test! I'm so weak from hunger I had to tie that to make me concentrate and forget my poor tummy from the images of food I keep on thinking!" He whined.
The brown haired chunnin laughed. "Well, you're free to go and eat now Naru-chan. I have to stay here and check your paper."
The whiskered blond nodded enthusiastically and waved his hand. "Hai, hai. Arigato!Bye-bye Iruka-sensei!" With that he was gone before Iruka could blink.
Iruka blinked.
Blinked again and chuckled to himself as he shook his head. He sat down and began his work.
…………………
The rain is unrelenting. Sasuke walked the academy grounds fully intending to go back to his house.
Pitter…patter
The sound of water droplets hitting the surface of the umbrella Tenpou held to protect himself from the wetness.
Pitter. Patter
The sound of the droplets hitting the ground that Sasuke treads.
At the same time both individuals caught sight of each other from still a way off.
Pitter. Patter
5 seconds…
Pitter… Patter
2 seconds…
Pitter…
1…
Both of them are about to pass each other. Sasuke looked at the man. Tenpou looked at the boy.
Tenpou's eyes turned to crescents behind his small square frames and he smiled.
Sasuke merely looked at him devoid of emotion
…Patter
Both individuals had passed without breaking their pace. Tenpou didn't look back.
"Ten-niichan! Mitte miru. I have a head protector see!"
Sasuke didn't look back as he passed the gates.
"Hai. That is very good Naruto-sama. Come, let's go home. I had prepared something to celebrate your passing."
"Yey!"
Naruto smiled happily as he went beside his Ten-nii and grasped his hand. Tenpou smiling back squeezing lightly at the younger boy's hand but it was both clear them that both of their attention is not really unto each other.
Tenpou is watching in hidden fashion at his superior's brother.
Naruto is watching in hidden fashion at his lover's brother.
A/n:
Just a note:
The relationship of Itachi and Sasuke are purely platonic. You know, brotherly love and shit like that.
I just don't wanna confuse my readers who like to read between the lines.