Side Note: There is some mention of two guys liking each other in this chapter. If this bothers you, please don't read it.
Date 06.12.06
Day 4
Naruto awoke slowly, as if surfacing from dreamland onto the shores of reality. Blinking the sleep out of his eyes, he looked around the room, still not fully aware of the situation. He found himself on a mattress, curled up next to a handsome, breathtakingly beautiful young man. Despite the years spent apart, Naruto was sure that he liked the boy beside him.
Blushing at the thought, but also open minded enough not to toss it out the window, he sat up and stretched, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his tanned skin. It was a morning like most others, peaceful with the birds chirping their summer songs and the sky pure blue with specks of white in the distance. He looked down at Sasuke again and ran a hand down the sleeping boy's cheek. God, Sasuke was pale, but he knew the reason for that. Now, someone just needed to wipe that reason off the face of the Earth.
Naruto rose slowly and stumbled into the living room of his apartment. Carnage met his practical gaze. All four of his chairs were broken and lay haphazardly all over the place. The table had been turned over, and a crack ran down its middle like a jagged lightening bolt. The pictures of Sakura and Sasuke had fallen off the wall, and one of the frames was cracked. He surveyed the situation and decided to clean up before Sasuke awoke.
He cringed at the sheer mess but spent a few minutes cleaning up the worst of the damage. As he worked, he found a small note attached to the wall by the kitchen window. Pulling it off, he turned it over a few times before reading it to himself.
"Hey, Naruto, it's Granny Tsunade here." Naruto scratched his head and went on. "Your friend will be okay, but he won't be able to move for a few days. He might start hallucinating as well if the drugs are potent enough. Don't panic and try to restrain him as best as you can. I'll send Sakura to check up on you both later this afternoon. Be good."
"The Fifth speaks. Err, writes." Naruto commented to himself. "She of the Ageless Masks."
He went back into the bedroom and sat down on the bed beside Sasuke, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of his life like this. "Wake up, sleepy head."
Sasuke opened his eyes slowly and blinked up at Naruto, at first confused about his surroundings. Instinctively, his hand reached for the blonde's, and the pale-haired teen didn't complain. Placing his other hand under Sasuke, he helped the teen sit up. All this happened in silence because Naruto didn't know what to say and Sasuke wasn't up the task of speaking just yet.
Finally, though, he said, "You need a bath. One of the ANBU left you some clothes more in your size, but still, shower first! Nothing like soap to wash Orochimaru's influence right out of you!"
Sasuke blushed at the thought and whispered, "All right."
"This is going to get embarrassing isn't it." Naruto bit his lip. "Didn't think about that. I have a very bad tendendy not think..."
A wan smile appeared on Sasuke's lips. "I won't tell if you won't."
"I like you, just so you know, as a more than just a friend," Naruto said softly, looking at the floor. "Feel free to totally ignore that. I won't push or anything. Just letting you know in advance."
Sasuke blinked and leaned against Naruto, feeling tired. "I like you, too. Let's just save the hard stuff for when this is all over."
"Hard stuff?" Naruto paused. "I thought this was the hard part."
"Liking someone is easy, but getting people to understand that is much harder." Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.
And then Naruto did what he was known so well for. He plunged in, just like he did on the battlefield and in training. He didn't think, didn't plan, and didn't give it a moment's second thought. He just wrapped his arms around his best friend and lifted him up into his arms. Careful as ever, Naruto carried Sasuke into the bathroom and sat him down on the floor, then started the water running.
Naruto was many things, but not especially shy. Over the years, he'd realized that if he didn't believe in himself, no one else was going to believe in him. And with the fox for a legacy, that seemed truer than ever.
While the small room warmed up, Naruto helped Sasuke undress. Given the raven's condition, Naruto did most of the work and Sasuke just helped by sitting still. He had stopped blushing by then and had simply fallen into the comfort of knowing that only they had to know. Only Sasuke knew how Naruto felt and how confused it made him feel.
Once he'd gotten off Sasuke's clothes off him, he looked over his handiwork, proud. The clothes lay neatly on the floor beside the pale boy, who had his knees up and his arms wrapped around them. He looked like he hadn't eaten enough in ages. Shyly, Sasuke uncurled his body and put one hand in the rising warm water.
"If it makes you feel any better, Naruto, I'm just as confused," Sasuke said softly as they waited for the tub to fill.
"Funny thing is, I never felt this way around Sakura," Naruto whispered as he undressed as well and pulled a couple of towels out of the closet beside the bathroom door. "Yeah, I liked her, but never like this..."
Sasuke shrugged, not sure what he could say. Naruto had always been different, but he'd gone after Sakura when they were younger, and the dark haired boy had never seen any indication that Naruto had other preferences. He was sitting down, leaning up against a wall, with one hand in the water. Totally naked, he still felt very warn inside the now humid room. He realized with a laugh that he'd completely forgotten what this felt like. Looking at Naruto again, he smiled.
"For today, pretend it's a wonderful dream, and should we both survive this, we can discuss the details."
Naruto grinned, picked up Sasuke and nearly dropped him into the tub, then splashed into the water himself. He presented Sasuke with a rubber ducky and then found one for himself. For a while longer, there was time for laughter, for the comfort of the moment. Just for another moment, they were allowed to be the children again.
Naruto helped Sasuke wash up after they were done trying to sink themselves in knee deep water. Picking up a sponge, he put soap on it. Sitting up so that Sasuke could lean against him, Naruto gently began running the warm, soft sponge along his friend's chest and arms. The other sighed in pleasure and leaned back with his head on the blonde's shoulder.
"I missed hot baths," he said softly.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "No hot water in Orochimaru's castle?"
"Nope," Sasuke replied. "Want me to do your back?"
"Sure."
When they were done washing and the water started to cool down, Naruto let the water drain and wrapped his raven in a giant towel. His Sasuke. No one else's. It was weird to think that, when only days before, Sasuke was unreachable, as distant as the stars. Shivering, he dried himself and then decided it was time. As soon as they got out, someone was bound to find them.
"Okay, so I admit it. I like you. Well, I have for a while, I guess." Naruto bit his lip, but he wasn't one to let embarrassment stop him. "I always thought it was just friendship, and it was that, too."
It occurred to Naruto right then that he had been the butt of many jokes and that he had been embarrassed countless times. Ultimately, though, he never let something like that separate him from his goals. Now that he knew that he liked Sasuke and that the raven wasn't pissed at him for it, all the rest was piece of cake.
Sasuke smiled, clinging to the towel. "Again, I know how you feel. When we were first placed into the same team, I kept noticing the little details. The color of your hair, the way it shines in the light, the smiles, and the masks. You never seemed like the type, though?"
Naruto blinked. "At first I thought you were a prick, and then later, by the time I found out what it all meant, you left with the four from sound."
Sasuke nodded. "A stupid mistake on my part. Killing my brother is one thing. Selling my soul to the devil is another."
"Um, what about you, Sasuke? Who do you like? I mean, you spent a long time away from here. Did you meet anyone special?"
Sasuke shook his head. "I like you, and no, I never really spent time with other people."
"Are you sure? I mean, I know that Kakashi and Iruka are pretty much inseparable unless they are both kept busy, but those two are in a world of their own. No one else is allowed inside."
"Very sure, Naruto. Like I said, if we both survive this, we can both go looking for the future. Maybe there's one out there for us, somewhere."
"Assuming Sakura doesn't kill us both before then. I bet she doesn't see me as a potential rival for your affections." Naruto grinned.
Sasuke shook his head. "Sakura has Lee."
"She does at that. You know, I nearly ended up fighting with Lee."
"You're still alive?"
Naruto laughed as he helped Sasuke get dressed again, slowly sliding the clothes over soft skin. "Lee's good, and we fought hand to hand, without any techniques, but he is human."
"Whereas you carry a demon fox inside," Sasuke said with a grin.
"How'd you know?"
"I figured it out after our last battle," Sasuke replied, managing to stand with Naruto's assistance. "That's why people in town never really liked you, huh?"
"Tsunade said that my father died because of the fox, but that he was really brave," Naruto whispered. "She went and looked at the records for me, after I bugged her for days on end, and finally, she came out with the answer."
"Do you know your dad's name?"
"No, but I have a feeling I know who he was. What I can't figure out is why no one was willing to tell me from the start. What exactly do they think they are protecting?"
As the two teens stepped into the living room, Sasuke said between gasps for air, "My guess... they didn't... know."
"And the Third wanted to protect me from the thought that the demon fox is the murderer of my family. How helpful..." Naruto shook his head and let Sasuke down on the floor in the kitchen. "What do you want for breakfast?"
Seeing Sasuke get tired from about a twenty step walk put in perspective just how powerful drugs could be. The bug guy, Shino, always went on about that, and of course, Kabuto had plenty of evil up his sleeve, but it occurred to Naruto that, in the end, most humans were helpless against poison of any sort. You'd have to have a demon fox to keep you out of harms way.
"Cereal, please." A moment later, Sasuke added, "I don't know what happened, but things like that can't be changed. No one can rewrite history, but people can keep it from happening again."
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door and Naruto went to answer it. He was genuinely surprised to see Sakura on the other side until he remembered the note and looked at the clock. Sighing, he let the pink-haired girl in and closed the door behind her. He watched the pink-haired girl with that bounce in her step and the shining eyes. Sakura was finally happy, doing what she was good at it with Lee there for constant support and plenty to do to keep herself occupied.
We've all changed a lot, he thought to himself.
Sakura took her shoes off carefully right inside the apartment and then plodded into the kitchen in just her socks. Barefoot, Naruto followed her in and began rummaging in the fridge for some milk. Carefully, Sakura looked over Sasuke, checking on the state of his various injuries. He just sat still through it, knowing that with this one, there was no escape.
"You're doing pretty good, all things considered," she said, sitting down beside him.
He grinned and replied softly, "Thanks."
"Look, I also came by to ask if two had any crazy plans," the teen girl answered.
"Crazy plans?" Naruto asked as he handed out bowls filled with colorful cereal and milk.
Sasuke reached up to a cabinet by his head and pulled out spoon. "No, why?"
"Just asking, because it would be just like Naruto to go off by himself and do something reckless." Sakura smiled. "Or it used to be."
"Did you have any good ideas in mind?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto raised both hands in the air. "For once, I'm all for obeying the rules. I've done stupid stuff before and will do it again before long, but when it comes to this, all the anger in the world doesn't match the Snake Man's insanity!"
Sakura shook her head and ignored Naruto, as usual. "No, not really, but I keep thinking that we're sitting ducks! We have no idea of what will happen next or how. Only that something will happen."
"Which is precisely why I'm here," announced an all too familiar voice.
"Pervert!" Naruto screamed.
"Don't say that, Naruto."
"Why not? It's true!" the boy yelled back at his teacher.
Jiraiya jumped in through the window and leaned up against the kitchen counter. Looking about, he saw team seven, no longer as children, but as adults, ready for battle. No longer genin, not even Sasuke, they looked like they had transformed into adults, springing out of their cocoons with too much fervor. He still remembered them as kids, but after today, none of the children of fours years ago were still children.
New genin were being trained, of course, but they were still young, and if things got much worse, even they'd be doing A rank missions. Ah, the good old days. The pervert was reminiscing...
"Well, you know. It's not proper or polite. Anyway, I spoke to some of the people you fought along side fours years ago, and there will be a meeting tonight. Tsunade will be there, and all three of you should attend."
"What about?" Sakura inquired.
"Well, what it comes down to is that, even now, nearly four years after Orochimaru's attack, the village is still not truly back to full strength. We're getting there, but not quite yet. So, even though most of you are not yet jounin, you will probably all see the front lines.
"Orochimaru is coming. That is a fact. How prepared we are for him is another story all together." The old man with his white hair sighed. "A lot of ninja have been called back to the city so that we are ready, but they know how to work with their team mates. You know how to work with each other.
"So, tonight we will discuss strategies because the opposing side will be here tomorrow afternoon. Neji and Shikamaru have been looking over possible scenarios, and Ten-Ten has been very helpful by checking the state of our defenses with a fine tooth comb. As well, Gaara and his team have come as well."
"Gaara?" Sasuke asked.
"He's now the hokage of the Sand, and he is good. Really good. We've been allied with them for a while, and Naruto came to Gaara's rescue against Itachi's gang. Don't worry, those three are as loyal as they come."
Naruto smiled. "Temari and Shikamaru have become good friends, so Gaara has to visit often, or else the Temari goes crazy on him."
"Oh," Sasuke replied. "A lot has changed."
"We'll be there tonight," Naruto said with a nod. "I promise."
"All right," the pervert consented. "Here's another thing to consider. Itachi is after the demon fox, and he too is currently on the move."
"Is it just me or is everything bad going happen all at once?" Sakura asked.
Naruto blinked and grinned. "Don't worry, Sakura, it'll be okay!"
She punched the back of his head.
"What was that for?"
Sasuke laughed. "Big mouth."
And with that, they had breakfast. Neither Sasuke nor Naruto looked like love sick doves, yet. It helped because Sakura took over helping Sasuke more than even he needed and Naruto was arguing with his teacher about one could do with chakra. Normal conversation really.
Crash!
Three ninjas walked in through the now open doorway, having knocked the door into small splinters, and approached the small group. They wore headbands with the musical note on them and were white shirts with purple bow ties, the typical clothing of the average sound ninja under Orochimaru.
The group had already turned and taken defensive stances by then, but the three didn't seem interested in fighting. One of them stepped forward and stared directly at Jiraiya while the other two backed him up.
"This is Orochimaru's request for the prompt return of one his ninja, one Sasuke Uchiha. This is your only warning."
And with that, knives flew at the raven as well as the other three present in the kitchen that afternoon. Naruto and Sakura had on trouble dodging, and Jiraiya had his hair for protection. Only Sasuke watched the knife come at him helplessly, its point aimed straight at his chest.
I'm not sure where this is going yet in terms of Sasuke and Naruto. Maybe not anywhere. Maybe somewhere.
