Clan Chapter 4, a naruto fanfic

Chapter 3 – Hiraiyama

While most of the damage wrought by the Suna-Oto War had been repaired, the small complex at the far end of the village had been forgotten, left to fall into disrepair. Tsunade stood at the entry way of said complex, her face flushed in embarrassment. She turned to the Hiraiyama clan leader, the older man sporting a very amused expression on his face. "I am very sorry about this, Hiraiyama-san…"

He turned to her, a grin spreading across his face. "Nonsense, Hime-sama," he assured. "This place has seen far worse, let me assure you."

"All of you will be comfortable?" she asked.

"I suppose it will take adjusting to," Ryuuno Chika sniffed, still perfectly coifed despite being covered in dust and armed with a hammer and armful of planks. "With all of our time on the road, it's been many years since some of us have seen one another."

"Your families are still very close?" she asked, walking with the two retirees to a small table that had been set up for their impromptu meeting.

"Yes, very much so…" Hideaki responded. "Our teams have always done very well assigned together. Hirai-Shiro-Ryuu they called us."

'Much like the Ino-Shika-Cho combination,' Tsunade mused. "And the members of Yondaime's Jounin squad?"

"My nephew Tetsuo, Chika's brother Tsume, and Daiki's youngest… kami rest her soul…" Hideaki answered.

"Yet they were sent along on this mission… on the Yondaime's orders?" Tsunade asked. "Your entire clans?"

"All that were active ninja, at least," Daiki answered.

"I suspect those behind it are long since gone," Hideaki murmured. "But the nomination for the seat of Yondaime no Hokage brought with it much controversy, as you well know."

"Yes," Tsunade agreed. "Not only was Sensei still alive and capable of carrying out the job, but many felt that the new Hokage was just too young to be a suitable choice."

"Yes, there were people in the council that feared his rash youthfulness would doom the village… so they wanted to get him under the thumb as soon as possible."

'And they couldn't do that with 3 clans backing him… The sneaky bastards…'

"Whatever their motives may have been, the mission was for the sake of the village," Chika said softly. "We have all lost many – friends, family, loved ones – but we are still happy to be home."

"We are happy as well," Tsunade replied. "If there is anything I can do for you… please let me know."

"Actually, there is something…" Tsunade looked up to see Shiromoto Kanae approaching the table, the woman looking uncharacteristically meek. "Is it true what we heard… about Yondaime-sama?"

Tsunade's face clouded over. "He died… not long after…"

"Yes, Hime-sama… we know… we wish to hold a ceremony to honor him. But, is it true what we've heard?" The Hokage noted that the clans' heads looked just as eager to know as the younger kunoichi. "About Yondaime's Legacy…?"

Tsunade's face went ashen white. 'Aw, shit!'

Several days had passed since the arrival of the returning ninja clans, or the Rurouni Ninjatai as the rumor mill had come to call them. With all the paperwork Tsunade found herself dealing with, she had yet to find any time to give Team 7 the reaming she felt they deserved after their most recent travesty of a mission. As such, rather than report to her office and incite her wrath, the members of said team found themselves at their usual meeting spot. No one wanted to talk about what had gone wrong on the mission – where could they really start? – so they instead focused on the current goings-on of the village.

"Three new clans, huh?" Sasuke leaned against the railing of the bridge, obsidian eyes focused on the calm waters below. "I don't see the big deal."

"They're not new really," Sakura corrected. "Shizune-sempai said they resided here in the village nearly 20 years ago…" She paused, a frown passing over her face. "Though I do think it's strange to send so many people out on one mission… and for so long…"

"Someone probably wanted them out of the way," Sasuke ventured.

Sakura nodded. "You think they had a good reason for wanting them gone?"

"Power," he answered. "It's the only real reason anyone does anything."

The pink haired kunoichi frowned at her teammate, unsure of how to respond. Despite all of her efforts, however reformed he might have been there were still some times when there was just no pulling the Uchiha out of the funks he managed to work himself into. Not to say that his bad mood wasn't of his own making, of course, but it still worried her. Unsure of what she could do, Sakura glanced at their other teammate in hopes that he might be able to somehow lift the dark cloud that had fallen over the group.

Unfortunately, he was seated on the opposite railing engrossed in a book that thankfully seemed to have nothing to do with porn. She couldn't help assuming at first – after all, with a sensei like Kakashi and a mentor like Jiraiya, it was a wonder the boy wasn't a flaming pervert. Still Sakura couldn't help but sigh. She was glad that Sasuke was at least making an attempt at atonement and normalcy, but she found that in turn Naruto had taken on an entirely different stance in regards to their team. In the old days he'd acted out, making a fool out of himself to get attention; some days it seemed as if it would take an act of Kami to silence him. However, nowadays the blonde never actively participated in group conversations unless someone actually incited him to. One on one he was normal enough – joking, laughing, pulling small pranks like normal – but while with the whole team, unless it was relating to a mission, Naruto always limited his contact, finding some way to blend himself into the background.

Sakura knew she was to blame for this. When she first learned he had finally been returned to Konoha, Sakura's entire life was put on hold to dedicate herself to Sasuke and his rehabilitation. She would have liked to say that she was acting as a medic-nin should tending to a patient but she knew that wasn't true. Regardless of the hurt, anguish, and anxiety his defection had caused, at the sight of his broken body teetering on the brink of death the 18 year old medic found herself backsliding back to the insecure 12 year old genin she had once been. Despite the fact this once sullen-faced little boy had thought her nothing but a nuisance, an obstacle in his path to vengeance, he was once again her whole world…

To be fair, the years had changed Sasuke. Experiences brought wisdom and new perspective, and the young man had quickly come to realize that his goals could not be achieved as a puppet for the power-mad Snake Sannin. No one could be certain, but somewhere along the way it occurred to him that after all he had done, all the risks he had taken would have been for naught.

The Curse Seal that he bore was exactly what the name suggested, a stain, a dark taint that would eventually consume him body and soul. So, he returned… well, technically, once captured he agreed to stay and accept whatever fate the Council chose to give him. With no brother to kill, Sasuke was without a purpose… in the ended he needed Konoha just as much as it needed him… out of Orochimaru's hands.

She hadn't known what had happened during his retrieval. She hadn't asked and Naruto did not seem inclined to tell. The moment she laid eyes on Sasuke, the blonde merely stepped back watching her coddle the traitor, willing to pretend along with her that nothing was amiss. They'd pretend he hadn't chosen the Devil over two people willing to stand by him not matter what. Pretend he hadn't run a Chidori-charged hand through Naruto's chest, leaving him for dead. Pretend that Naruto had kept his promise to bring their missing teammate back because it was what they both that she wanted…

It had taken some time for Sakura to realize they were only pretending… but by then the damage was already done. Naruto had taken himself out of the picture… thus the game went on.

"Naruto-kun?"

The blonde glanced up from his book, blinked, and fixed his pink-haired teammate with his patented fox-grin. "Yes, Sakura-chan?"

There was even something different about the way he said her name now. His tone still held the same adoration for her, but sometimes it seemed a little forced… even Sasuke would react to the difference from time to time – not that he'd ever mention it, of course. Sakura was too much of a coward to bring it up either. Really, what was she going to say?

"Have you heard anything about these clans?"

He blinked again. "The old lady hasn't said anything to you about'em?"

Sasuke glanced at her, his eyes revealing his own curiosity about the matter. "Um, no…" She answered, embarrassed. In truth, she'd been trying to stay under her mentor's radar the last few days. All the paperwork had made her veerrrry cranky. "We've been too busy, I guess…"

"Hm," the blonde turned back to his book, his expression turning thoughtful at a particular passage before morphing into resigned amusement. "I haven't heard anything either."

"About what?" Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of them, complete with his usual smoke for affect.

"You're late, Sensei!" Sakura and Naruto said in unison, as per their custom.

"Yes, well," the silver-haired Jounin paused. What excuse hadn't he used yet? "I had to pick up my masks from the cleaners."

"Really now?" Sakura's tone was skeptical.

"Of course," Kakashi's eye crinkled in amusement. "I can't very well go out without a mask on, can I?"

Sakura and Sasuke fixed him with a bland look.

"What? Are you scared all the cute kunoichi'll run away getting a look at your horse teeth?" Naruto teased. "C'mon, I'm sure it's not as bad as you think."

Kakashi gave him a suffering look before glancing at the book in his hand. "What's that you got there, Naruto?"

The blonde held up his book, never once tearing his blue eyes from its pages. The title 'Standard Battle Tactics for Shinobi Warfare' stood out in bold letters on the front cover. The other members of Team 7 stared in silence, causing him to glance up in curiosity. "What?"

"Uh…" Kakashi stopped short, shaking his head. "Never mind… Is it interesting?"

"Kinda…" Naruto admitted. "Some of it's straight outta the Academy… but even the simplest stuff works best, right?"

"…Right."

Oblivious to his teammates stares of disbelief Naruto shut his book, stuffing it away in his side pouch where another thin booklet could be seen. Similar thoughts of 'Naruto reading… what the hell…?' went through the others' minds simultaneously, though no one dared voice it aloud.

"So, Sensei," the blonde's arms went up behind his head in his customary stance. "Tsunade-baachan got any missions for us or are we still on her shit-list?"

"No missions yet," Kakashi answered. "She might wanna meet with us about our last mission after all this new business dies down, so be prepared."

The 3 ninja nodded.

"You know any of these ninja?" Sasuke asked.

"A few," Kakashi answered. "Did a few missions with some of them when I was younger." Before they could start drilling him for information, he turned away, scratching his head in a laidback way. "I better get going… more errands to run and all that. Later!" With a wave of his hand he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Well, that was informative," Sakura sighed. Although who could expect much else from the Copy Ninja. Still, with no missions lined up, what was she supposed to do for the rest of the day? It wasn't as if she could go by the hospital. "I really could go for something to eat," Two sets of eyes fell on her and she grinned widely. "You wanna go grab some lunch? Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke glanced back down at the water before pushing away from the railing to stand next to her muttering a soft, "Okay." Part of her would cheer every time he would agree to go on an outing with her, believing her perseverance to have finally paid off. However, a more sensible part of her knew no matter what, Sasuke would always agree to go with her… out of guilt.

She smiled at him nonetheless before turning a questioning eye to the blonde. "How about you, Naruto-kun? You're coming too, right?"

Yet, just as Sasuke would always say yes, Naruto's reaction would also always be the same. He'd study the two of them with bright blue eyes, give her a squinty-eyed grin and then say, "Nah, sorry, Sakura-chan. Maybe next time." Then in a manner much like their teacher, he would give a jaunty wave and then vanish in a poof of smoke leaving Sakura too upset to genuinely enjoy the outing.

Still, she could pretend.

"You ready, Sasuke-kun?"

"Yeah,"

The air in the compound was heavy with incense: someone somewhere was playing a lilting tune on a shamisen. It was a sad, haunting tune that made him feel like his heart was breaking and mending at the same time. It was very strange.

He stared down at the small shrine raised to honor the dead, among them two Hokage whom had died protecting the village and its people. There would later be a larger ceremony, but for now…

He closed his eyes, his fists clenched at his sides. It still hurt. "If only we could have been here…"

"We couldn't have," Tsume was beside him, dressed in black from head to toe. Kneeling before the small altar, his hair a stark contrast in the dark room, he like a ghost. When he spoke, his voice was quiet like the wind. "We had our orders… we could not return until the prescribed time."

"I know, I know," He turned away from his friend, suddenly feeling all of his 43 years of age. "But he had to have known… he should have sent for us!"

"Say he did know… perhaps that's why we weren't recalled," Kanae stood several feet behind them, allowing the two remaining original members of Squad 7 room to mourn their comrade. While she hadn't joined the team until her mid-teens – the late Yondaime had already made Jounin by then – she too had been very close to the genius ninja. "He knew we wouldn't have allowed him to carry out his last action…at least not alone."

Tsume nodded, his face calm despite the sadness Tetsuo could plainly see in his dark eyes. "It was a Fool's errand."

"All the same, we have to look ahead now," Kanae's voice was full of determination. "Yondaime-sama may be gone… but he's not forgotten."

Tetsuo looked up, his green eyes bright. "Yes, that's right… our mission isn't done yet." He glanced down at the piece of paper tucked in his pocket, an old worn photograph, as a fond smile came to his face. "We will carry out your last wish, Arashi-kun."

Naruto studied the goings-on with rapt interest from his spot on the rooftop of a large pagoda overlooking the development. Unlike the Hyuuga or empty Uchiha compound, this complex had no sentry posts at the main gate. The large doors were wide open, as was the service entrance; people came in and out carrying supplies for renovations. The blonde couldn't keep the grin from his face. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why these people were still looked at as a big mystery!

"Still hanging around?"

Blinking, Naruto glanced down to meet the aquamarine gaze of the same girl he had met only days before. However, the slight differences were the single blue stripe running across her cheek and her now unusually bright, cherry-red hair.

She'd used a henge on him and he hadn't even realized! "So, you're a ninja, too, huh?" He gave her a skeptical look.

She grinned sheepishly. "I never said I wasn't." she answered

"Coulda said you were from the beginning." he said, folding his arms.

Her expression turned contrite. "You didn't ask."

She had a point. Naruto sighed, jumping down from his perch. "You're right about that," he conceded.

The girl smiled at him. "Glad you're not mad," she said. "A ninja's gotta do what a ninja's gotta do."

"I suppose so," Naruto scratched his head. "So, you guys are living here now?"

The girl glanced at the construction going on behind them. "Yep… it's not quite 'Home, sweet home' just yet, but it's better'n sleeping outdoors."

"A lotta that, huh?"

"Yep… try 17 years of it."

"Wow, thought I had it bed,"

She grinned. Then realizing her lack of manners, she replied, "Ah! That's twice I've snuck up on you and scared you--"

Naruto pulled a face. "You only surprised me the first time!"

She laughed. "What I mean is, I haven't introduced myself yet." She bowed slightly. "My name's Ame. Hiraiyama Ame."

"Uzumaki Naruto at your service."

The redhead's grin only widened, catching the blonde off guard. What had he said? "If that's the case," she said, laughing. "You wouldn't mind giving us a hand, right?"

Us? He froze; that hadn't been exactly what he'd meant. "Well, I…"

Conveniently oblivious to his reluctance, the girl grabbed him by the hand and led him further into the compound. "C'mon, you'll get to meet everyone! It'll be great!"

Seemingly powerless against the girl's exuberance – damn Jiraiya and his bad influence! – Naruto could only nod dumbly and follow. Truth be told, this Hiraiyama girl looked to be very interesting, perhaps the rest of her clan would prove to be the same.

Hiraiyamas were redheads, Naruto deduced, taking in the vast number of carrot-topped individuals bustling in and out the line of houses dotting this section of the complex. As far as hair color had been concerned, Konoha's spectrum had been very limited. Because of this it was mind-blowing to see so many varying shades of red in one place. So caught off guard was he by the sight of them that he didn't notice the surprised looks being sent his way.

At his awed expression, Ame grinned. "You think our hair is something?" She tugged at a strand of her own cherry-colored locks. "Wait'll you see the Ryuuno's."

"Ryuuno… they're part of the Hirai-Shiro-Ryuu formation?"

"Yup," Ame answered. "There's never been a Hirai-Shiro-Ryuu group that failed yet."

"Yeah?" It all sounded much recited, but he thought nothing of it. In truth, Naruto found himself intrigued; it sounded a lot like Team 10's combo. "What's your specialty?'

Ame stopped by the side of one house, arming herself with a large pail and some paint brushes. Gesturing for Naruto to grab the remaining pails she answered, "Well, a lot of our groups specialize in combat mostly… but since we've spent so much time undercover, our skills eventually began to include tracking and surveillance."

"Oh, so that makes you a pretty well rounded shinobi, eh?" Naruto grinned.

She gave him a mock pout. "Oh, you don't believe me?"

"I'd have to see ya to believe it." Naruto responded.

"What are you, an expert?"

"Maybe not yet, but I will be," Naruto promised. "I'm gonna be Hokage someday."

"Hokage?" Ame paused in front of a large old house at the end of the street. Setting down her pail and brushes on the front step, she turned to give him a measuring look.

"What, you don't believe me?" he fixed her a squinty-eyed look, squirming under her scrutiny.

"Maybe," she sniffed. "But I'd have to see it to believe it." The wink she threw him assured him she was only teasing. "But, first thing's first… we gotta paint this house."

"Is this where you're staying?" Naruto asked, surveying the old structure. It was a little rundown due to being uninhabited for many years, but it was none too worse for the wear. It had a simple elegance to it with mild elements of traditional Japanese architecture, setting it apart from all the others. The blonde found he rather liked it.

"Oh no, this house isn't ours," Ame said. She gave the house a very fond look. "It belongs to a very close family friend…"

The two stared at the house several moments before Ame clapped her hands together, breaking the spell of silence. "So, what say you to getting started?"

Naruto grinned. "Just this… Kage Bushin no Jutsu!"

"So, this is the one?" Ryuuno Chika held a small photo in small, weathered hands, her deep gaze studying the image contained within.

Tsunade glanced up from one of the Hirai-Shiro-Ryuu scrolls spread out in front of her, taking note of the small frame held in the clan head's hands. She did her best not to cringe; the particular image the refined, elder woman had happened upon on her bookshelf was one of the least dignified images of him in her possession. The taker of the shot was still unknown, but the photo contained her and Konohagakure's #1 Knucklehead amidst one of their verbal spars, their eyes squinted and faces red in fury. Judging by her stance, she was just seconds away from belting him across the room.

She couldn't remember what they were arguing about, but the photo itself was pretty damned funny.

The Ryuuno Matriarch reseated herself among the other two clan heads and their accompanying representatives in the small meeting room Tsunade had selected for them all to review and catalog the information collected during their mission. It was amidst one of their breaks that said picture was discovered.

"Who's this now?" Hideaki glanced up from his tea that he was attempting to mix with sake. Tsunade smirked; a guy after her own heart.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Tsunade answered, nodding her own thanks as the Hiraiyama Patriarch topped off her own cup, much to her assistant's displeasure. "Of Team 7…"

"Team 7?" Testuo remarked, intrigued. "Who's leading this time around?"

"Hatake Kakashi," Shizune supplied.

"Making quite a name for himself," Tsume said. "It's fitting, I suppose… considering who his sensei was."

"He's also had training with Jiraiya," Tsunade said, a hint of pride in her voice for her fellow blonde and surrogate little brother.

Daiki nodded his approval, but Tetsuo pulled a face. "I trust he hasn't picked up any bad habits from the old coot,"

"God, no! I'd never allow it!" the Hokage exclaimed. "He's quite unlike what you might expect from him…"

"How is that, Tsunade-hime?" Kanae asked, pouring herself and Chika another helping of tea.

"Well, for starters he's known as Konohagakure's #1 Knucklehead and he's best when it comes to surprising people."

"Sounds like a prankster to me." Tetsuo grinned.

"He is," Tsunade grinned, but her expression soon turned somber. "Always has been, too… when he was younger it was the only way he could think of to get attention."

Silence fell over the room.

"Why would the one the Yondaime chose to be the Hero of our village need to act out for attention?" Daiki asked, frowning.

The Hokage took a heavy breath. How could she begin to explain to the Yondaime no Hokage's greatest supporters that the one in whom he'd placed an ultimate trust had spent the greater portion of his life shunned by the very people he had died to protect?

"Naruto…" She trailed off, choosing her words carefully. "Has never received the kindest treatment from the people of this village." Certainly that was the understatement of the year… how he hadn't ended up a drooling, stark-raving, homicidal maniac like Gaara was a miracle she could not begin to comprehend. Though she had to admit the Kazekage had improved his temperament by leaps and bounds thanks to the roguish blonde. Still, only a handful of people had shown the boy any kindness early on in life… Sarutobi-sensei, Iruka, the Ichiraku owner and his family… and yet Naruto's ultimate goal was to become strong enough to protect everyone…

"He is… nothing short of amazing…"

"Hokage-sama…" Chika's soft and elegant voice was strained with incredulity. "Do you mean to say that the people are unaware of the sacrifice this boy was chosen to make on their behalf?"

That wasn't the half of it. Tsunade's face was strained with resentment. "After that day, a law was mandated that no one would speak of what occurred," she said bitterly. "It was the Yondaime's hope and way of repentance to allow the boy some semblance of a normal life. Sensei said that the Yondaime had wanted him to be viewed as the village's savior, but there were still some people that shunned him and taught their children to do the same, all but completely ostracizing him."

Tetsuo rose from his seat so suddenly his tea tipped over, spilling across the table.

"So children begun to hate him without even knowing why!" he exclaimed.

"Yes… and neither did he," Tsunade said sadly. "Up until six years ago, he had no idea that he was the jailer of the Kyuubi no Youko."

"I cannot believe this!"

"Tetsuo-san," Tsunade said softly, her hands clenched so tightly around her cup that a hairline crack could be seen on the rim. "You do not know how much it angers me to think of all this boy has had to endure. I see the way people look at him, the way they treat him, and it hurts my heart to see him smile and shrug it off as if it doesn't mean anything when I know that it tears at him day by day."

"You care very much about him," Tsume commented, only his eyes showing the warmth he felt at her show of compassion.

Tsunade nodded. "I would not even be here if not for him," 'In more ways than one…' "And that's why it pains me, even after everything he's done for me and Konoha, to keep from him the most important secret of all…"

"Hokage-sama!"

"You mean he doesn't know!"

"Tsunade-hime," Tetsuo ground out. "After all he's been through… how could you keep something like this a secret from him?"

"It is part of the law Yondaime instilled," she said. "No one was to know, to protect him."

"From what you've told us, Hokage-sama," Tsume said. "He has not been very well protected at all."

"It's not the villagers we need concern ourselves with…" Tsunade frowned. "Naruto's given name is Uzumaki to protect him whilst he is outside the village." She took a sip of her tea. "God love him, but the kid has a big mouth… Can you imagine what would happen if he were outside Fire Country spouting off his true family name…?"

Shizune cringed, no doubt getting a visual.

"If he knew the truth…" Chika said. "Surely he wouldn't be so reckless…"

The Hokage snorted. "The latest pupil of the Legendary Jiraiya?" She smirked at the expressions on Tetsuo and Kanae's faces – unsurprisingly Tsume's remained impassive, but she may have seen his left eye twitch. "Surely you don't know Uzumaki Naruto!"

"Aahaaaa-Choo!" Naruto momentarily lost his balance, recovering quickly enough to catch his pail from tipping over.

One of his clones situated on the rooftop above him shot him a suffering look. "Man, what's with the sneezing?" it complained. "That's the fifth one in the past 3 minutes!"

"So glad you're keeping track," he remarked sullenly. "Must be coming down with something."

"Orrr," Another clone at the foot of the ladder, smirked up at them. "Somebody must be talkin' about ya!"

Naruto and the first clone stared at the second a few moments before simultaneously crowing, "Yeah right!"

Ame came around the side of the house with 4 more Naruto clones in tow, an awed expression on her face. Her mind was still, even after 3 hours of painting, trying to wrap itself around the fact that this boy was able to create not only solid shadow clones, but clones that were sentient, cognizant, and able to function independently of one another. Plus there was the number of clones to take into consideration. Naruto and two clones had been working on the eastern side of the house, she and the 4 clones on the west, while she had seen 5 others that reported to completing the rest before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

It was nothing short of amazing. She found herself wondering what else he was capable of.

"You finished already?"

She looked up at the three blondes grinning down at her. "Yep, I win," she teased. "Though I gotta admit I had some help."

The four clones looked away flustered, shuffling their feet bashfully.

"Aw, cut it out, you four! You're embarrassing yourselves!" Naruto exclaimed, and with another short cry of 'Kai!', released the jutsu.

Ame approached him as he jumped down from the ladder. "I've never seen someone with such a mastery of that jutsu," she awed. "It's Jounin level, isn't it?"

Naruto nodded, folding his arms behind his head as he surveyed his handiwork. It seemed as if all those D-ranks from back in the day had really paid off. "I know," he admitted. "It's one of the first jutsu I can honestly say I've mastered… though I nearly got in a lot of trouble for it." He remembered Mizuki and the Forbidden Scroll, Iruka-sensei taking the blow meant for him, learning he was the jailer for the Kyuubi… he pushed his mind from those morbid thoughts, refocusing his attention on the smiling redhead in front of him.

"I can bet," she agreed. "It takes a lot of chakra manipulation to create that many solid, stable clones." And ones she could paint and converse with for several hours, to boot. "You and me are gonna have to spar sometime."

The thought of a new sparring partner caused the blonde's grin to widen. "Anytime, anyplace."

Pleased at his response, Ame's grin widened to match his. "Well, all right," she said, gathering her pail and brushes in her arms. "I gotta run and get on to my next task, but you gotta come by again soon." She paused, and then smirked. "And next time you don't have to hide around in the trees; just ask for Ame, kay?"

Laughing out loud, Naruto nodded. "All right, all right, ya got me!"

"Well, I'll see you later, Uzumaki-san," she grinned, leaping off.

Naruto watched her go, a thoughtful expression passing over his whiskered face. 'Hiraiyama Ame…' Lingering in the yard only a few moments more, he turned and headed towards the compound exit, oblivious to the eyes following him the whole way.

Dusk set in and the street lanterns were being lit throughout the village's restaurant district as proprietors prepared for the evening rush. Walking down the slightly crowded streets, Sakura and Sasuke busied themselves with simply taking in the sights, enjoying the brief reprieve from mission…

… or at least they were trying to.

The pair had gone to lunch together at a small café near Team 7's training area, following that up with a brief sparring session. From then on the rest of the day was spent merely in the other's company. Most would think this a nice way for a young ninja couple to spend the afternoon; on most levels Sakura would be inclined to agree. Yet, as much as she had yearned for those one on one outings with Sasuke, there was always a strained tension between the two of them, as if both of them were forcing themselves to participate. It was like the outing was an obligation they both felt the needed to fulfill.

It all seemed so… fake. Sakura hated it, and yet she continued to play along.

"I thought today was really nice, Sasuke-kun," she said, keeping her eyes on the path ahead of them.

Sasuke's eyes fell on her briefly, before moving away again. He nodded slightly. "I'm glad you think so, Sakura…"

Had she expected him to say he had had a blast? Of course not… Sasuke would never lie. Yet, he too played along… but for whose sake…? He was like a marionette who went along with whomever pulled his strings the hardest. Itachi…Orochimaru… Konoha's Council… Sakura was infinitely glad the Snake Sannin no longer had a hold on him, but she didn't want to be his puppeteer either.

She was already the star in her own twisted little farce…

"We should get Naruto-kun and Kakashi-sensei to join us next time," she mused. "It'd be nice for us all to do something together for once."

"Hm,"

For one, it had been ages since they'd all sparred together. Perhaps that was the cause for the loss of their synchronicity (what little they'd had)… Or at least one of them.

"Maybe," Sakura persisted. "After our next meeting, all four of us can have a training session… it's been a while since we've all trained together." It was true; Naruto trained with Jiraiya, Sakura trained with Tsunade, Naruto sparred with Sakura, Sakura sparred with Sasuke, Kakashi sparred with Sasuke. However, the medic-nin could not recall the last time Naruto sparred with Sasuke or Kakashi. "That might be the reason we've been having so much trou—"

"Sakura," She turned to the Uchiha, whose gaze was fixed on the path they walked, his eyes darker than usual.

"Yes, Sasuke-kun?" She turned to him, smiling.

He stopped, an unreadable expression coming over his face. He gaze traveled up at their path, his voice very low. "Is there anything else you want to do today?"

Sakura's smile faltered, and she shook her head slowly.

The dark haired ninja nodded, his eyes briefly flickering to the rooftops where they both knew 3 ANBU were present. It was part of the terms of his probation; while not away on missions outside the village, Sasuke was to be under 24-hour ANBU surveillance until it was decided he no longer presented a threat to Konohagakure or himself. Also, he had to meet with a committee once a month to evaluate is 'rehabilitation'.

"We'll meet again tomorrow for some sparring, won't we, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke paused, glancing over at her. "We can't," he said.

She flinched, surprisingly hurt. "Oh… okay."

He gave her a studying look. "You have your shift at the Hospital tomorrow."

She blinked. How is it he had remembered that and she hadn't? "Yeah, that's right…" She rubbed her arm, embarrassed. "Thanks, Sasuke-kun."

He nodded once again, turning to walk away. As he did so, he said over his shoulder, "Maybe Saturday."

Sakura blinked again, then nodded as a small smile broke across her face. "Okay."

They had a long way to go… but maybe things would be all right after all.

End Chapter 3