Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing. Seriously. I own NOTHING.

Hullo people! This is Cassi-chan and Milly-chan once again (yes, the crazy writers of The Circumference of a Moose). This story is a little more serious...acutally...A LOT more serious. We tried creating a fanfiction account for the two of us but then it said we'd have to wait three days...and we're not patient like that so...we're posting this one on Milly-chan's pen name. So yea..enjoy!

Chapter One: Home

Naruto and Sasuke looked up at the gates that signified that they had finally reached Konoha. They were finally home. After a grueling battle that had taken them each months to recover from, they were home.

Despite the relief they felt, both were hesitant to enter the hidden village. The knowledge that nothing would be like it was when Sasuke left wasn't something they were ignorant to. And who knew how much Konaha had changed? The village beyond the gate might not be as it had been way back then. Back when it had been the only place to call home. Could they even call it that now?

"Wow. We've battled the most elite of all evil villians and here we are...scared to walk back into Konaha." Naruto said, laughing nervously. His friend didn't say anything, only stared at the gate with a mixture of unknown feelings.

"Well..." The blonde one grinned and moved forward to push the last bit of land seperating them from their real home open. "Here goes nothing."

Never had there been so much of an understatement.

Sasuke stood a moment longer before following Naruto into the village. Once inside the two stood frozen again. Everything was exactly the same. Somehow it all seemed out of place...like there should be more people, or buildings, or raging fires. They didn't know, but it just didn't seem proper that everything should be so unchanged; when the two of them had changed so much.

Naruto stopped short when he noticed Sasuke lingering behind.

"You coming?" He asked. Sasuke shook his head slowly and began to follow the eccentric blonde ninja into the village.

"You look worried. The Sasuke I know isn't worried about anything." Naruto said with a sheepish grin, trying to lighten the moment.

Sasuke once again shook his head. "This isn't right Naruto. I can't just come here and expect everything to be fine. You know you are just as apprehensive. Stop putting on an act...it gets old."

Naruto blinked. He wasn't expecting Sasuke to explode like that so suddenly. However, he frowned despite all that. Sasuke was right. He had betrayed their village-but that shouldn't matter. If he could forgive Sasuke, why couldn't everyone else? After all, Naruto should have felt the most animosity toward him. They had been best friends, despite Sasuke's cool attitude.

"Can it, Sasuke. Besides, aren't you looking forward to seeing Sakura and Kakashi-sensei? I mean...just a little?" Naruto asked. Sasuke didn't respond and Naruto rolled his eyes. He knew Sasuke wanted to see the rest of the team. He just had a weird way of showing it.

Sasuke silently followed Naruto to the Hokage's headquarters. Sakura. She had been there the moment he betrayed them. He'd hurt her. Somehow, he didn't think that she would be excited to see him.

Naruto pushed open the doors to the aforementioned building and waltzed in, his black haired friend walking reluctantly behind him.

The two of them could feel the stares they were recieving as they walked to the Hokage's office.

Naruto put his hand on the knob, but it opened before he could do anything else. Apparently word traveled fast in Konoha.

"Naruto, Sasuke please come in." Tsunade motioned for the boys to enter her office. Sakura and Kakashi were inside...silent. Naruto scratched the back of his head, feeling the tension as it practically drowned them.

"Sakura! Kakashi-sensei! What's up?" He asked with a grin. The two recieving his good natured greeting looked at him and then at Sasuke apprehensively. The grin slowly faded from Naruto's face, but he regained his usually happy demeanor.

"Naruto. Sasuke. Welcome back." Kakashi said calmly. He was trying to keep his cool with the boys. After all, all the things that they had gone through would be hard on even him. And he knew that they would be getting a lot of grief from the other villagers about what they had endured. He tore his gaze from his returning students to the girl before him, sitting on a table looking rather downcast.

"Sakura, are you not going to welcome back your teammates?" He asked. After a moment she grinned up at the two boys gaily.

"Welcome back."

Sasuke knew it was forced. He was sure Naruto did too, but at least she was speaking.

Tsunade coughed to direct their attentions to her. "We are glad to have you back Sasuke." Sasuke remained silent. She continued. "I do hope you realize however, how difficult it will be for you to regain your position as one of Konoha's genin." He nodded. "Consider yourself on probation. Your training will be halted for six months while we evaluate your behavior to make sure that you are mentally capable of returning to the field."

"Six months!" Naruto was outraged. He hadn't gone and rescued Sasuke just so he could sit around like Shikamaru during their Chunnin exams. He wanted the real Sasuke back and not allowing him to train wasn't going to make that happen any faster.

"Naruto." It wasn't Kakashi or Tsunade who had spoken, it was Sakura.

Naruto looked over and met her eyes. He felt a pang in his chest. Her beautiful eyes that once burned with happiness and ambition were dull and emotionless.

"Sakura?" He asked. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Just be glad he's back." Sakura said. Naruto frowned and looked at the boy beside him who was glaring at the ground.

"Okay." Sasuke agreed. He knew he would have to work hard to regain what little respect he could from his fellow ninja and most of all from Sakura. He looked up at her and noticed she refused to look back at him. Either keeping her gaze on Naruto, Kakashi, Tsunade or the floor, Sakura would not meet his eyes.

For some strange reason this bugged him. He knew she wouldn't be the same Sakura that smiled all the time and loved his attention, and for this he blamed no one but himself. He had been the one to destroy her faith in him, and he was going to have to be the one to restore it.

"Naruto..." Sakura spoke once more, this time smiling up at her blonde haired teammate. Naruto looked at her.

"They built this new resturaunt near my home. They serve the best ramen." Instantly, Naruto realized how hungry he had been. Matching her grin he clapped his hands.

"Awesome! You gonna treat me, Sakura?" He asked jokingly. Sakura laughed and jumped off the table.

"Sure thing, Naruto. But just this once."

Kakashi sighed, smiling under his masks. It had been awhile since he had seen the young pink haired kunoichi smile for real.

Naruto cheered and turned to face Sasuke.

"You coming, Sasuke?" he asked happily.

Sasuke looked over at Sakura, who was once again refusing to meet his gaze. He shook his head. "No, I'm just going to go home and sleep." He really wasn't up for a night of ackward silences and forced conversation. He knew Naruto and Sakura had some catching up to do and wasn't going to take their moment of happiness from them.

Naruto frowned.

"Oh come on, Sasuke, you need to get out more. Come on, have fun for once! Celebrate with me and Sakura!" Naruto said, pumping his fist. Both Sasuke and Sakura remained silent. Their 'silence' was beinging to irritate Naruto.

"Naruto," Kakashi started, "Sasuke needs to rest, you understand don't you?"

Naruto sighed and nodded slowly. "Fine. But next time you are coming with us Sasuke...if I have to tie you up and drag you!"

A faint hint of half a smile appeared momentarily on Sasuke's face. "Sure thing Naruto."

This was enough to please Naruto for now, and if it wasn't, he didn't push the subject.