What is this? A new chapter? *gasp!*
Sidenote: I'm going to go back and edit the structure/grammar of the previous chapters in due time, with the *new* and improved chapters having their names changed to "Chapter _, [chapter name], instead of just for example, "Ch. 19."
"A goal with no plan is called a delusion. You need a plan in order to achieve your goal." -Overhaul, mha.
Home was, for lack of a better word, lonely.
It was easy to pretend that everything was right with the world when around the people who love you, it was enough to drown out the white noise.
Naruto, a huge idiot, but a lovable idiot nonetheless, whose genius truly shined in his empathy and brash kindness.
Sakura, someone who was like a little sister to me, and who was always there to pull our team's focus back on track whenever Naruto and I goofed off.
Kakashi, our scarecrow sensei who was somehow notoriously late without fail- yet somehow got what needed to be done, done.
Then there was the rest of the rookie 9, notably Shikamaru, my childhood best friend.
When there's these amazing people who care so much about you, it's easy to ignore your darkest feelings, to suppress the urge to give in and spiral into despair.
But when I'm home alone…
The only noise besides myself was the quiet hum of the wind outside my window.
…
…
…
Stretching my arms above my head, I let the tension drain from my muscles, making a satisfied noise when I twisted around just the right way to crack my back.
The Uchiha compound was empty, as always. Naruto once asked me why I still live in such a creepy place, with my go-to response being to smirk and tell him that it's a part of my aesthetic.
In all honesty, despite the depressing atmosphere, I couldn't bring myself to abandon it. Streets that me and Shisui ran down together, laughing as the victims of our pranks chased us. The dango stand Itachi would bring me to, maintained by one of our distant aunts who always gave us free samples. There were so many good memories, even if the bloody massacre loomed above it all.
I never once stop wondering what I could have done differently. If I had just tried harder, would they still be alive? Would it matter?
Maybe not. Maybe with Danzo apart of the equation, there never was another choice in the first place. Maybe even if I made all the connections in the world, nothing would have stopped it short of killing Danzo, which wasn't in the cards at the time.
Danzo. That man.
If there was one person I truly hated, truly loathed with all my being, and wanted to watch burn, it was him. I wasn't strong enough yet, just like how i wasnt strong enough five years ago.
I grunted, squeezing my eyes shut when Naruto's words from that time came flooding back to me.
"The Sasuke I know doesn't give up or wallow in his own self-pity. I may not know what happened or what's going on- but you're not alone teme! Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Sakura, Hinata, Kiba, even Shino are all your friends. I'm your friend." He wiped at his own eyes, matching Sasuke's wide ones with a fierce look. "So don't make yourself suffer alone."
He was right, of course. I wasn't alone- never was, but sometimes, it felt like I was. Sometimes the memories of that night came back with a clarity that was hard to ignore, followed by the buzzing of cicadas in my ears. Maybe it was courteously of my kekkei genkai that they were always easy- too easy- to recall.
I let out a shaky sigh, slapping my cheeks gently to bring me back to the present. Dwelling on the past won't change anything. The only option is to move forward.
But when every nightmare is filled with red- tears streaming down Itachi's face- spinning mangekyou bleeding with sorrow-
I sucked in a sharp breath.
Maybe I could spend the night at Naruto's.
"Good morning my cute little genins," Kakashi says with fake enthusiasm, materializing at the foot of the bridge where their team usually meets every day.
"Oh my gosh, Kakashi-sensei is early." Naruto gasps in horror, pointing at the silver-haired man. "The world must be ending- dattebayo!"
"You're right Naruto," Sakura whispers fearfully, grabbing his shoulder. "We should run while we can. Sasuke can Distract the imposter."
"Why does everything have to fall to me?" I whine.
Kakashi, used to our antics by now, merely sighs and digs around in his pocket, before pulling out three slips of paper.
"Chūnin exam application forms. All of you will be required to sign these, and you will only be allowed to participate if all three of you agree to the terms." he drawls, and like the little gremlins we are, we simultaneously snatch them from his hand.
"We're all gonna participate for sure dattebayo!" Naruto grins, Sakura nodding in agreement.
"Yeah! With all the new skills we've been learning, this is gonna be a breeze!" she says with newfound determination in her eyes.
"I'm in if you two are," I add, smirking.
There was something akin to pride in the scarecrow's visible eye. We've grown so much this past six months, and it's showing.
"Alright. Then all you need to do is get those forms signed and then turned in on exam day. Good luck." he smiles, before reaching out to ruffle Naruto's hair.
The blonde soaked up the little act of affection before Kakashi took a step back and offered us a two-fingered salute.
"Don't die."
"Hey guys, long time no see rookie 9. The rest of you nameless extras don't really matter in the grand scheme of things." I greeted with a vicious smile, hands behind my head as my team and I approached the group near the double doors.
"Who are you calling extras?!" A purple-haired kid from another village shouted at me, but he was dutifully ignored.
"Uh, it's you." Shikamaru groaned. "Will I ever get any peace and quiet in my life?"
"Nope!" I responded cheerfully.
He groaned again, dragging a hand down his face before turning on his heel. The Nara undoubtedly knew the whole thing was a ploy, but it seems he waited for us to show up to see if we were participating like he thought we would.
He truly does care.
"Ino, Choji, let's go."
"Right." the Akimichi nodded, but sent a friendly wave our way before following behind Shikamaru.
"Bye Sasuke! See you in the exam!" Ino calls, joining her teammates.
"Ah, they're so nice, aren't they." I sigh dreamily, slinging an arm over Naruto's shoulder.
He was about to respond, but a blur of green stole back both of our attention to the present.
"Uchiha Sasuke!" a boy barely a year older than us began, bowl cut swaying with the movement.
"You are an exceptional student. Please fight me!"
"There's nothing crueler than letting a dream end midway." -Shouta Aizawa