Chapter 7 : Dusk till Dawn.
The base of my love is not fragile.
Even if it is weak to survive.
I will make it work, just for your love.
The sunrise was beautiful. It was one of the most beautiful dawn Konoha had ever seen.Or so Naruto thought.
The sky was painted orange. More of a sunset than a sunrise. Naruto basked in it joyfully.
He had always dreamt of leaping high up in the air to touch the sun and then flying down to the ground: victorious under the orange sky.
Naruto was the saviour of Konoha but the oppressor of his own friend.
For years Naruto chased Sasuke. Trying to be better than him. Then, trying to be better for him.
In the end, it didn't even matter. For, Sasuke's chakra was sealed and he lost his power to fight a ninja battle.
Naruto was itching to see Sasuke in action. He wanted to see Sasuke come alive, be alive. And Sasuke was never more alive than when he was fighting.
It was art. It was beauty. And it was everything that was perfect in this world: The sharpness of wind.The grace of water. The thunderstorm of lighting. The malice of fire.The strength of earth.
He was all of this and more. He was Sasuke . He was darkness and he was light. To Naruto, he was everything beautiful and sad. Everything worth fighting for.
Sasuke was his rival. Had been his rival. He was craving to see him, to remind him how it feels like to have someone who you can fight with and fight for. Sasuke was that someone.
Today, Naruto will get to see that again.
He hoped that it won't break him apart.
Like the last time they fought.
It was good then that Naruto wasn't the one fighting Sasuke. It was Kakashi. Naruto was content watching, for today.
It was heartbreaking, the circumstances but Naruto was working on that. He never had thought Konoha would be like this. This side of Konoha unsettled him.
He didn't like that. Naruto will do anything to stop that side when he becomes Hokage...
Hokage?
For a second, Naruto completely blanks.
Yes, Hokage. Now that Sasuke was back, becoming Hokage was Naruto ultimate goal and he was free to pursue that.
Naruto smiled. A burden had been lifted He was thinking about his future again after a long time. His dream to be Hokage. Believe it! Naruto jumps, feeling his inner child once again.
It was a new dawn, a new day in Konoha and Naruto couldn't be happier.
Off to Sasuke!
Kakashi sensei had said he would meet Sasuke in the morning. So, Naruto went to meet Sasuke first.
It was eight in the morning when Naruto went to meet Sasuke.
He found Sasuke in the backyard.He was practising his katas. Sasuke was sweating and panting. His hands and legs shaking. His muscles straining under the stress of his training but Sasuke did not stop. He never knew how to stop; when to stop.
For Sasuke it was all the way or no way. No in between. Sasuke, all his life had known only this, done only this: training.
Naruto stood at the threshold of the back door watching him. Sasuke was so engrossed that he did not even notice Naruto. So, Naruto stood there and let himself have his fill.
It was something magical to be able to watch Sasuke train. It had been three years since the last time Naruto saw Sasuke practising his moves. He was ferocious and dedicated as always.
Naruto felt goosebumps. He pinched himself. It wasn't a genjutsu.Sasuke was here. Finally home. Right where Naruto wanted him.
His heart thudded in his chest, watching Sasuke practice like all the time he had when they were genin. He was back now. Naruto felt sunlight on his face- Hope - warming his face up. He let his lips form a soft smile. If happiness was a feeling, Naruto was feeling it.
Sasuke finally stopped, bending down to rest his hands on his knees, breathing heavily, panting loudly. Wind rustled his hair, sweat trickled down his face and neck.
Naruto takes a step forward, "Hey Sasuke!" He calls out. Sasuke narrows his eyes and looks at him without turning his face or anything. He, of course, doesn't looks thrilled to see Naruto.
"Practising in the morning, huh? " He says , grinning. His smile can rival the sun. Sasuke turns his eyes away.
"And all night" He mutters, as he makes his way back to pick his sword.
"Huh, what?" Naruto stops, confused. Did he hear all right? Sasuke was practising all night?
He looks again at Sasuke and the fatigue is clear on him. The way Sasuke walks, the way his body strains, it is clear he is in considerable pain. Sasuke face, admirely, shows nothing.
"You have been up all night practising? But Sasuke, today is the day you fight Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto says, feeling confused as to why Sasuke would do so. A training is fine but all night before a match? That's ridiculous.
Sasuke turns after getting his sword and makes his way to the centre and starts practising, completely ignoring Naruto. Sasuke fails to continue for long, maybe a couple of moves, before he has to stop.
Naruto steps into the field with him. Indirectly stopping Sasuke from using his sword anymore. The place is small and Sasuke won't be able to move freely without harming Naruto.
"All night" Sasuke repeats, his voice sounding hollow, looking down at the ground. His eyes are open and looks unnaturally round, like Sasuke is trying to look far beneath the earth, or open it.
Naruto feels heavily out of place. He keeps quiet, hoping Sasuke would continue.
"I had to stay up all night. " He looks up, looking - and Naruto hates to even say this- unhinged. Sasuke nods at Naruto. "Yes, Naruto, I had to stay up all night to train."
Naruto tries to pay attention but his attention is stuck to the point where Sasuke called his name. After three years, this is the first time he hears him speak it. Sasuke voice calling his name keeps echoing in his ears. Naruto doesn't know if he feels good or bad, but he's somehow content.
"I had to stay up all night to practice all my katas because I can't even keep it up for a few minutes without collapsing in exhaustion." Sasuke speaks, sounding so angry, Naruto grimances.
Sasuke seethes, stalking forward towards Naruto.
"I had to keep on practising again and again, from the most basic, force myself to keep going, to even complete one of them." His eyes are ferocious. Naruto keeps staring into them as Sasuke screams at him and vents.
"All my skills, all the training I did, is all useless because my body can't keep up!" Sasuke shouts.
And then, Naruto is hit with the realisation that Sasuke kept practising in a body where his chakra is sealed- to the point that even the most minimal labour will exhaust him very quickly.
Naruto can do nothing, say nothing other than feel bone-deep guilt. He takes a step back, looking away, bowing his head. He can't bring himself to look at Sasuke.
That seems to calm Sasuke down because he turns back and stalks back, away from Naruto. Naruto wants to reach out but he knows he cannot.
"Here" Sasuke calls out to him," Come, let's fight." Sasuke says looking straight at him. His voice clear and absolute.
Naruto eyes widen. what?, "Sasuke, no - uh, we can't." He quickly opens his mouth and stammers. Naruto absolutely does not wishes to fight with Sasuke, not when he is like this.
"Why not?" His words seems to have flare Sasuke' s temper again because that look of pure hatred comes back in Sasuke' s eyes. "Am I not good enough to take you down?" He gives an ugly smile.
"No matter what you become Naruto, you were always a loser. A fucking thing won't change that". Sasuke snarls, his face twisted in an angry expression.
Naruto sighs. He does want to do this. But he knows Sasuke is angry. Naruto still knows he can't let Sasuke get to him. He is past that. So, he speaks up.
"Why don't you save that anger for the match, Sasuke?As things are, you might need it."
Naruto slams his mouth shut. His face's carefully blank. His eyes never wavers from Sasuke' s but internally he curses. He doesn't know why he even worded it that way, he didn't mean any of it.
Watching Sasuke face morph into surprise and then anger makes Naruto bust his head for being so insensitive and stupid.
"Look, Sasuke, I didn't mean it, ok? I was saying we have only two hours left before Kakashi sensei arrives. Why don't you rest and get ready, I mean -" Naruto speaks as fast he can, clarifying but of course, Sasuke is not listening.
Naruto knows it will only get worse from here. " Hey, look, Sasuke. You wanna fight, ok, lets do that. But now, you need to bath, relax and eat something.You know it, Sasuke. Let's fight then- or- or after Kakashi?"
Sasuke doesn't say anything. He still is angry but now his anger is not fully displayed on his face. It is hidden underneath his cold gaze.Simmering beneath that carefully placed blank facade. In the rigidity of Sasuke's body and his tense silence.
Naruto swallows. His mind racing, wondering what else he can say to deter Sasuke.
Turns out he doesn't need to. Because Sasuke gives a look of contempt in his direction then walks off. Collecting his tools, the jar of water and clothes kept on the veranda, he walks inside. Leaving Naruto there, ignoring his existence, like the last few minutes never happened.
Naruto stands there, looking at Sasuke, feeling horrible. A dark liquid trickling from his chest and pouring into his stomach. He swallows and slowly walks inside.
It is no time to feel sorry. He has to make sure Sasuke is prepared- ready for that fight that Naruto no longer looks forward to. Kakashi will be here in an hour or so. Till, then Sasuke should at least relax his sore muscles.
When he reaches inside, he finds Sasuke in the kitchen. Tiredly keeping all his tools in place and trying to start the stove. He must truly be tired, the way his shoulder is sagging, and he is half bent like an old person.
Naruto feels his heart ache. He feels he should do something, he can't let Sasuke be like this: hurting. So, he takes a deep breath and gathers all the positivity he needs.
"Saauke , let's get you a bath. I will prepare you one to relax yourself. Hurry, we got no time" He speaks hurridly, not letting Sasuke protest, walking straight at him, taking him by the shoulders and turning him towards the bathroom, even pushing him.
Sasuke looks annoyed, but tired, he says with a sneer, "And how are you going to do that? There is no warm water."
Naruto stills. He blinks twice, slowly.
"What? " he feels dumb, sounds dumb.
Sasuke shrugs his shoulders to get Naruto's hands off him and walks away, muttering under his breath.
" Huh? Sasuke, wait up! You don't have warm water here?" Naruto asks then presses his lips together and grinds his teeth.
He feels annoyance creep on him. He shakes his head. He won't let them all get to him. With his eyes narrowed in determination, he speaks,
"Ok. Don't worry Sasuke, I will get you your warm water."
Then, he flashes a smile at Sasuke. Unfortunately, Sasuke is not looking at him,his back is turned towards Naruto. Naruto sighs.
Then, he closes his eyes. When he opens it, he is in sage mode. This feels like a stretch, going in sage mood to bring Sasuke warm water but Naruto only feels excitement.
"Be right back! " He tells Sasuke but doesn't wait for a reply. By the time Sasuke throws him a glance, he is gone.
And by the time, Sasuke blinks, looks around and turns his back again, Naruto is back. With him, there is two buckets of steaming hot bathing water.
Naruto grins. "Here you go. Now hurry up. I will also get us ramen for you to eat." Naruto says, " or vegetables, if you prefer that." he adds as Sasuke turns to looks at him.
Sasuke looks at Naruto, his eyes moving up and down Naruto's body, an eyebrow raised. He shakes his head lightly and looks away to his boiling pot of tea.
"Show off". Sasuke throws back, voice soft in whisper.
Naruto tilts his head, straining to hear then he smiles. His chest does not feel so heavy anymore.
Sasuke settles down in his bath. His muscles aches and burns. He lets out a grimance but relaxes as warm water meets his skin. He sighs. He feels he will drop asleep in the bath and against his struggle, his eyes dip close.
When he opens his eyes, the water has gone cold. He struggles to get out, still dizzy. Sasuke stumbles, and lands on his hands braced against the bathroom floor. For a second, black spots dance before his eyes, he groans.
Every movement hurts. The warm bath did little. He stays there for a moment breathing deeply, wishing the pain away. It was a bad idea, to keep training all night, after such a long break. Sasuke was never so careless but that time the rage he felt was enough to take over his common sense.
Now, he can hardly see sense as a migraine creeps up on him. He shuts his eyes close tightly but nothing helps.
He feels sick and tired to the bone, helpless and cold. More than anything, he wants to wake up from this sordid dream and find himself wrap in his mother's arm. Sasuke wishes-
Someone is holding him, touching him, taking him in their arms. He is being moved, someone touches his forehead and shakes him a little.
"Sasuke?-Sasuke-suke-?"
Sasuke cannot keep up with what they are saying. The voice is familiar but it evades him who this could be.In a hazy dream, he hears a child scream:
"Nii-san!!?"
Sasuke jerks awake. He is lying on his bed. A wet cloth on his forehead and under a warm comforter. He feels someone sitting beside him. Sasuke tries to turn his head but he doesn't need to. Naruto appears in his line of vision, removing the cloth from his forehead and replacing it.
"Sasuke, you are awake? I was worried- you were in the bath- and -"
Naruto continues speaking but Sasuke turns him out. He cannot concentrate. He again closes his eyes. It feels good. There is warmth here. He can probably fall asleep right here never to wake up-
He indeed falls asleep. The next time he wakes up, it is to the smell of food- ramen- his stomach growls and he struggles to get up. Naruto lifts him up, helps him sit up. Sasuke hates being like this. He pushes Naruto away.
Then, there is a steaming bowl of ramen in front of him with a cup of hot tea. Sasuke gulps the tea down, it burns his tongue and throat but his stomach and chest feels warm and good. Naruto reprimands him but he ignores it.
Sasuke eats ramen next, ravenously slurping the noodles. He cannot bring himself to stop and eat slowly, his growling, twisting hungry stomach will not allow it.
He was never a fan of ramen. Never liked eating them but today it tastes like heaven, the most delicious thing he could ever eat.
He looks up,in between slurping, to catch Naruto watching him. A soft smile on his face and stars in his eyes. Sasuke frowns, his mouth still full of ramen. Naruto in return gives him a full smile, as if he saw something funny and cute.
Sasuke looks away, focus back on his bowl. "Here" Naruto says, and puts another plate ,"Your precious veggies."
Sasuke stares at it, a bowl full of fresh tomato salad. He stops to gulp his mouthful of noodles and then sits back.
"Why? Why are you doing this? " Sasuke asks, his voice sober and eyes narrow.
That seems to have taken Naruto by surprise. "Why? Because you are my friend, Sasuke!" He says, his eyes wide.
Sasuke doesn't say anything. He does not believe him, no more trust him. But he moves his chopsticks to take a piece of tomato. His stomach still needs to be filled.
That seems to satisfy Naruto because he goes back to being silent and happy.
In between eating, Sasuke keeps glancing at Naruto and frowning at him. Naruto stays there unwavering.
He finishes eating and gets up. Trying to get out of the bed, he asks "What time is it?"
"It's almost time... " Naruto says but it is clear that he is hesitating. He doesn't want to.
"What? What time is it now, Naruto? " Sasuke asked again, annoyed.
"It's 11 a. m. now. "
"11? 11 already? But Kakashi-" Sasuke trails away, confused.
"Yes, Sasuke, but you fainted and you looked to be in pain. So, I talked to Kakashi sensei. He said he will come later when you are feeling better. " Naruto explains.
"Ah" Sasuke simply utters and relaxes back on his below, pulling up his comforter back up. His eyebrows are arched up. Mouth is set in a barely there pout. He is thinking.
"How generous of Kakashi." Sasuke speaks, but it is clear he is mocking.
Naruto does not reply. He stands there still alert, wondering what Sasuke would do.
In the end, he does nothing. Sasuke lays on his back and stares at the ceiling. Naruto, after some time worrying about it, settles near his foot on the bed.
They sit in silence. The morning is still pleasant. It's sunny outside with gentle wind coming through the window. Sasuke's room is lit with sunlight streaming inside, covering it in natural warmth.
Naruto feels comfortable, Sasuke falls asleep.
It was time.
Sasuke had slept the better half of the day after eating to his stomach full.
The last of his fatigue slowly faded away as he splashed his face with water. He still felt a bit sore but that was a welcome pain.A reward for his all night training .
He had woken up to find Naruto slumped across his legs. He was still buzzing with sleep when he tried to sit up but couldn't.
Sasuke had kicked Naruto to wake him up. Naruto woke up startled and had quickly gotten off his bed, hastily apologizing which Sasuke ignored.
He didn't care for anything Naruto had to say. His mind was focused on the 'war' he was about to have with Kakashi.
He washed up and then went out. Naruto was waiting in the kitchen. Sasuke went and drank some water first, his eyes fixed on Naruto.
He put the cup down and moved to pick his sword up. Raising an eyebrow at Naruto, he spoke, "Ready?"
"Ready? Ready for what, Sasuke?" Naruto said with considerable amount of apprehension in his voice, eyeing the sword warily.
"Come, train with me before Kakashi. I want to see if the training helped." He replied.
"But Sasuke- your chakra is still-" Naruto stopped before completing his sentence, eyes down.
"Doesn't matter. Come. " Sasuke insisted again, in a calm, levelled voice.
Naruto looked up again. He sighed.
"Okay, Sasuke, if he wish it so, but- I don't- I will not use chakra either." Naruto answered firmly.
"Suit yourself." Sasuke replied. With narrowed eyes, he beckoned Naruto to follow him.
They go to the backyard but even Sasuke can see that that place is way to cramped for a ninja fight- even without chakra.
He looked at Naruto and said " Outside " and gestured with his head towards the door. He went outside, expecting Naruto to follow.
Naruto did follow but he was reluctant when they got out of the main door.
"Sasuke, not outside. It is dangerous. " Naruto spoke, eyes looking around.
Sasuke didn't understand what he was looking for. There was nothing there. Trees and grass, a narrow trail, that's it. Nothing else. They were not in the village, just outside it.
"What you worried about Naruto? Kakashi will show up anytime.Just do it. I wanna see if the practice helped me."
Sasuke urged Naruto, seeing how Naruto may back out.
"Or it it that you want me to fail,Naruto? I can see why you want that, I am the enemy, I remember." Sasuke mused loudly, he had to see if he can move Naruto.
Yes, he can. He can very well control this loser because even after everything Naruto was Naruto. Stupid old loser.
They take their stance and he attacks.
Naruto went on the defensive, like Sasuke knew he would. Sasuke attacked him with every thing he had.
Anger, hatred, lust for vengeance bleeding into one. He kept slashing at Naruto with his sword. He managed to cut Naruto 's calf, it was only a small scratch but it was something. The next strike landed on Naruto's cheeks, again cutting it slightly.
A few slashes later, Naruto was bleeding from his calf and cheek. There was a tear in his clothes, right above his chest. Sasuke was panting but he felt incredibly satisfied.
Naruto kept dodging throughout their fight but Sasuke was glad he managed to land some hits. Even without chakra-
He stills. Sasuke watches as slowly all of Naruto's wounds get healed right before his eyes. It's strange. Sasuke is shocked, then he remembers - kyuubi, the power of the nine tails.
So this is what made you so powerful.
Sasuke is tempted he wants to say something but then he doesn't. Instead, he replies with : " No chakra, huh?", reminding Naruto what he had said before the match.
"Okay, Sasuke, you won. This is over. Let's end it, here." Naruto speaks, trying to dismiss what Sasuke said. He does look a bit pissed but that Sasuke understands. Naruto had never been good at holding back.
Sasuke smirks. "Sure, not like I can force you." He taunts.
Then as he turns around to go back, he adds, "Next time, do something instead of just standing there like a post."
He walks back to the house. Leaving Naruto standing there with his words clear in his mind.
Sasuke knows, by the silence, that Naruto understood what he meant.
Kakashi shows up later that day, late as usual.
He has captain Yamato with him. There is nothing different in his posture or face to show that this whole thing puts him off or something.
Naruto stands outside Sasuke's door, leaning against it. He didn't go inside after his spar with Sasuke. He couldn't bring himself to.
So he waited outside. Thinking, feeling, regretting, then thinking some more, feeling some more, and not regretting so much anymore.
He was alright. Just a bit miffed. But Naruto could never stay so upset for so long. He perks up when he sees Kakashi sensei and Captain Yamato.
"Finally, you are here, Kakashi sensei." He says, feeling better already. Naruto hates being alone. He does not feels so alone anymore.
"Yes, Naruto, we are here. Where's Sasuke?" Kakashi sensei asks.
"Yes, why are you standing alone here? Is everything alright?" Captain Yamato adds.
Naruto smiles lightly, "Ya, everything's all right. Sasuke's in there. I got bore waiting for you all to show up."He says.
"Hmm, let's go, get Sasuke" Kakashi sensei speaks, and steps up to go inside. Naruto and Yamato follows.
Sasuke is waiting for them. Sprawled on the sofa, feet on the table, he looks carefree, bore.But waiting for his latest amusement to arrive.
When he sees them enter, he looks at them unbothered, his body still relaxed on the couch.
"Kakashi.Finally. I thought you dropped dead or something. I was almost worried about you." Sasuke says, his voice drier than the driest suna desert.
"But I guess it was for nothing. Here you are. Turns out, you are not a coward, afterall." Sasuke adds. Staring Kakashi dead in the eye. Face stony and cold.
"Let's begin." Sasuke says, getting up and standing straight before them. Completely ignoring Naruto and Yamato his eyes are only fixed on Kakashi.
When Kakashi doesn't move, Sasuke raises his eyebrow. Naruto feels a bit awkward.Throwing glances at Kakashi and Sasuke and then, even at Yamato.
Sasuke and Kakashi are locked in a staring contest. Kakashi opens his mouth and chooses violence.
"Hm..I see. That little play with Naruto earlier has made you more arrogant, Sasuke. Overconfidence is bad for your health." Kakashi mocks. Then, he adds in a far serious tone, "Tone it down."
Sasuke's mouth twist but he stares at Kakashi. " Are you going to fight or not?" He asks, each word out of clenched teeth.
"Yeah, sure. But first -" Kakashi raises a hand and points at Sasuke, "the seals? Let's get rid of them".
Dusk had fallen till the time Kakashi removed the seal marks from Sasuke.
Sasuke was stripped from his waist up and sat in a circle of chakra controlled marks drawn on the floor.
Later, Kakashi had stepped up and put his one hand on Sasuke's shoulder, right where the seal marks were placed. He drew different signs on them. His other hand was placed in a hand sign.
It took some time. It was spooky, since it was almost evening time when they had began and sunlight was fading out quickly.
When Kakashi was done drawing signs, he lifted his hands from Sasuke. Sasuke shifted , he looked uncomfortable.
Sasuke very reluctantly had agreed to participate in this process again. He was wary. Cautiousness was clear on his face with a tinge of apprehension.
"It's not our first time doing this, huh, Sasuke? You should feel a bit more relaxed." Kakashi said in a light, humorous voice. Naruto didn't get it. He thought Kakashi was talking about when these seals were placed on Sasuke.
And what was funny about that?
On the contrary, it was quite insensitive of Kakashi to say that at such a time. He was, therefore, surprised when Sasuke didn't react as harshly as he expected.
"Shut up, Kakashi." Sasuke snarls but stops fidgeting.
"Okay. Now's the main part. Brace yourself." Kakashi warns but does not wait for Sasuke to react.
It is not very clear to Naruto what happened but Sasuke doubles over, pain evident on his face. The marks of seal on Sasuke 's shoulder starts circling.
Naruto watches with his eyes wide, jaw slightly apart as the circle breaks slowly into individual signs. The seal appears to be opened. The signs are still present on Sasuke's shoulder, but no longer closed in a circle.
Few signs make a straight line, some are disjointed and curved. Others are just... there. No structure, no logic to their placing. Like a code undone, they sit there, ready to be joined again.
Sasuke falls slumped to the floor, his forehead and body covered in sweat. The black vein like lines that were on his body, a result of the seal mark are gone now. Sasuke's skin looks clear again.
There's a different presence underneath his skin now : the presence of his own chakra; unlocked and unbridled. Naruto feels it fill the room. Sasuke's chakra has a life of it's own.
Till now there was an emptiness that Naruto was not feeling but now that his own chakra clashes with Sasuke's, he is highly aware of what was missing since that time Sasuke was sealed.
Naruto never wants to not feel this again. Sasuke's chakra belongs in the open, free and unrestrained. Larger than life, pure energy and power.
Even Kyuubi perks up inside him, tasting Sasuke's chakra. It's intriguing to him as well. He is hooked on it.
Sasuke is still on the floor. He is pale and breathing heavily. But slowly that fragility is leaving his body, colour coming back to his face. His eyes are pinched shut but it's clear he is gaining consciousness.
Any moment now, Sasuke will wake up.
And, then, there will be hell to pay.
A/N:
I am sorry for my tense changes. I know it makes reading difficult and annoying. But pls bare with me, I'm still working on my writing.
Thanks for reading!