...but sing no more this bitter tale that wears my heart away.

The sight of Konoha's an gates always instilled a strange sense of anxiety in the pit of Sasuke's stomach.

In his memory they were always seen through blurred eyes, his head in splitting pain between fading in and out of consciousness. Naruto's arms that day had been strong, carrying him and dragging him and slinging him over his shoulder in all manner of ways. Each time he'd come to he would be in a different position, a different view to see before his vision faded to black once more. Trees and brush and skittering animals, sometimes the setting sun in the sky, other times the pain-twisted faces of his comrades—but always heavy in his nostrils was the smell of blood. If Sasuke had never considered them to be friends before that day, he very well couldn't consider them friends when they'd almost died because of his own stupidity.

But—as Naruto had insisted time and time again—they'd all come along because they were Sasuke's friends. Whatever the case and however little Sasuke would believe it regardless, the approach to the village's border wall was accompanied by an uneasy feeling he couldn't quite shake. After all, Sakura still wasn't home, and Jiraiya had been more cagey about news of her than ever.

"One long year away from home," Jiraiya himself started then. Sasuke's brooding hardly ever went unnoticed by his mentor, and now was no different. "It's the longest you've been gone, isn't it?"

Sasuke said nothing; no matter how accustomed he was to his master's attempts to put him in a good mood, he was never exactly comfortable divulging too much personal information to the old man. And besides—Jiraiya was more intuitive than even Kakashi. There wasn't much Sasuke ever needed to say that Jiraiya didn't already know.

"You're as quick a learner of advanced techniques as you were of the basics," he prattled on. "I gotta admit, I was looking forward to a bit longer of a vacation. At least two years, maybe closer to three."

Sasuke's smirk had long since been schooled to look annoyed, no matter how much he really thought something was funny. "Only you would consider a year of intensive training a vacation."

"A working vacation is still a vacation. One day maybe you'll come to appreciate that." From the corner of his eye he glanced down at Sasuke. "We still have time to turn around and refine your taste in relaxation."

He did let a chuckle escape him at that, his mind flashing to Naruto's smiling face, his optimism unwavering the morning Sasuke left with Jiraiya. It was only privately that he would admit he was looking forward to seeing that sunny-haired idiot. A whole year without him had been strangely...quiet.

Besides, there were certain things that needed to be discussed without the prying eyes of sannin in the way.

"Not a chance."

"Oh?" His master's voice held that same near-mischievous edge it always did, like he was little more than a child beneath all of his strength—and perversions, too. "So you're happy to be home after all?"

For all of Jiraiya's vibrato, he knew when best not to press things. When Sasuke offered no further reply, the two of them strode through the gates and into the village in comfortable silence. The afternoon sun was high in the sky, its brightness intrusive now that they were out of the thick forest cover. Konoha was the same as ever, from the mundane chatter of the civilians to the dust of the dirt roads kicked up behind them. Smells of food frying in preparation for the dinnertime rush filled his nostrils, twisting his stomach. They'd forgone breakfast to get back to the village before nightfall, and there was little else in the world that frustrated Sasuke more than the growling of his own stomach.

But their first stop was to Lady Fifth's office, and they made their way slowly but surely through the busy streets. A few civilians and shinobi he recognized turned their heads to watch them curiously, some nodding or bowing their respects to his master. Sasuke, though, knew that if he was not by the old man's side, he'd get nothing but strained, awkward smiles and people scurrying out of his way.

He felt Naruto approach, that giant presence of chakra near to bursting with excitement, far before he'd been able to spot him. When he did, though, it was in a flash on the nearby rooftops of those orange pants and that flowing green coat he'd been gifted by Lady Fifth. He leapt from the buildings, running the remainder of the distance between he and Sasuke.

"Oi!" But from Naruto, it sounded more like: Ooooooooooiiiiiiiiii!

When he tried to throw his arms around Sasuke's shoulders, he pivoted just slightly to the side. Naruto's recovery was quick, spinning once to instead take one of Sasuke's hands in his own, squeezing it in a much-too-friendly handshake. At the annoyed clicking of Sasuke's tongue, Naruto had only his wide smile to offer in return.

"You're back! Ero-sennin too!"

"I sometimes wonder how you function in society, stating the obvious like you've just discovered fire." Fighting the blush spreading across his face he snatched his hand back, crossing his arms over his chest.

But when he finally did take the time to look up at his closest friend, the differences were shocking. The two of them had grown close in the two or so years immediately following Sakura's departure from the village, but nearly a year ago—when Jiraiya abruptly suggested they train far from home—Naruto had still had that boyish look about him.

Now, though, the length of his unkempt hair suited the newly-matured features of his face. There was a muscled build about his shoulders and his biceps, the long coat he wore tighter across his back than it'd been last year.

"Well?" Naruto asked, beaming as he confidently rested his fists on his hips. "I bet I look a bit manlier, don't I?"

Sasuke swallowed to be asked such a thing, attention called uncomfortably close to his present musings. He felt his face go red, and he glanced away to keep from stammering. It was then he noticed that group of genin watching him, crowded behind Jiraiya as if Sasuke was some scary monster from a children's book. He sucked his teeth once more, furrowing his brows in mock-annoyance to face Naruto once more.

"You look the same as ever." And for good measure, he tacked on his best, "Idiot."

Jiraiya's stifled laughter was still loud enough for Naruto to turn his head. His old master took a few steps and reached out his hand, ruffling his shaggy hair the way a grandfather might do. The three genin huddled together, one of them, Sasuke recalled, the grandson of Lord Third, watching the interaction with wide eyes.

"You've grown, my boy. Certainly man enough to make this old sage proud." As if an actor in a stage play he thumped his fist against his chest. "I'm sure the two of you have plenty of catching up to do—Sasuke, meet me in Tsunade's office in an hour."

With that, he was gone. Sasuke was used to the old man changing plans, taking his leave in an instant after some degree of dramatics, but today was different. Typically Sasuke would protest at being left alone with Naruto, but where usually sat annoyance in his stomach, there was now a strange nervousness that grew by the second.

Also in his stomach, though, was a growl of hunger that caused Naruto to grab him by the arm and plop him into the first open seat at Ichiraku. Sasuke didn't need to do any talking, for the other boy had his order memorized for years now. The three genin had tagged along, but now that they were occupied with their food and whatever mundane conversations kids their age had, they paid their seniors little mind.

Sasuke swallowed down a small mouthful of noodles, then nudged Naruto's elbow with his own, keeping his voice low.

"Oi."

In Naruto there was far less tact, and he turned his head with nearly the entire bowlful of his own noodles hanging from his mouth. A quizzical grunt sounded from his throat, his eyes curious.

"You heard anything lately?"

They stared at each other for a moment longer before Naruto noisily slurped up his food, an understanding settling on his face.

"Nothing, but..." He put his elbow on the counter, propping his head in his fist.

"What?"

"Tsunade-baa's been almost too quiet about it, you know?"

Sasuke nodded slowly. "Jiraiya too. He's been hiding something from me since the day we left Konoha together, I'm sure of it."

Naruto's brows rose at that, but then he pursed his lips. "I've been getting same feeling. Y'know, ero-sennin took you out in quite a hurry when we found out Sakura-chan ran away from Orochimaru."

"He did." He looked back down at his bowl, stirring the broth absentmindedly. "Nothing else, then?"

"There's something going on in Sand the last few days," Naruto explained after some thought. "And last month I did overhear the old hag briefing Kaka-sensei on gathering info in Rain."

This wasn't necessarily new information to Sasuke, as Jiraiya had made a not-so-subtle point not to stray too far from Fire Country and the small territories bordering it between Earth and Lightning Countries. The Village Hidden by Rain was never too far off, and Sasuke had been suspicious of such behavior within the first month of their time on the road.

"That she's sending Kakashi..."

Naruto nodded seriously. He'd been involved, if only slightly, in the rigorous training their former sensei had given Sasuke in mastering the Sharingan. They both knew just how talented—and dangerous—a shinobi Kakashi truly was, and that Tsunade had kept so tight-lipped about sending him out for intel recon was a troubling prospect, indeed.

"What is it?" Naruto pressed, worry laced through his tone.

"I don't know," he admitted with a slight frown. Deep in his heart, he knew that Sakura hadn't been taken against her will as was still the leading theory. And even if she hadn't always been the nicest person, he was sure that she wasn't a traitor. Somehow he knew, deeper still, that it was his fault that she'd left the village in the first place. He sighed his frustration, the sting of guilt as potent as it'd been nearly three years ago when first she'd disappeared. "If I could just talk to her one-on-one..."

"You'll get that chance. Don't worry, you know?"

Beneath the counter Naruto let his hand fall, and in the small space between them both, he tentatively reached out his small finger. When he hooked it around Sasuke's, the latter felt his heart all but stop beating in his chest. Jiraiya, as always, had been right: it was good to be home. And far be it from Sasuke to admit that he believed in Naruto, but now he dearly hoped he was right.