For Sasuke, Winter was the best season. People stayed inside, animals were few and far between, and everything seemed quieter. From where he stood in the snow covered woods, Konoha was a faint silhouette. A dark grey shadow shrouded in snow and trees. He was finally back. He could hardly say he had atoned for anything, but the information he had for Kakashi was quite urgent, and probably couldn't wait.
It wasn't long after Sasuke's departure that he had come across some of the mess that came with a war. During his travels, Sasuke had dealt with a multitude of misinformed vagrants dragging war heroes' names into the mud. He had come across shinobi intent on finding something living to blame on the destruction of their homes. The careless villages that had let the war get so bad. The people that hadn't prevented the ten tails destruction. The shinobi who should've killed the tailed beasts years ago.
Sasuke had fought many enemies that probably could've become more dangerous, talked down a few angry communities that had been ready to plan an uprising.
Mostly he had been searching for any residual Akatsuki hideouts. Taking any left over scrolls, artifacts, anything that was pertinent. As for why he was here now in the Leaf, Sasuke hoped it was something that could be extinguished quickly.
A face came into his mind, blonde hair, an incessant voice, and an irritating smile. Sasuke did not want to admit he was also returning because he was curious as to what Naruto was up to.
He could sense he wasn't close, and could only guess he was off on some peace-making mission. He was sort of hoping to get Naruto's, or more so Kurama's opinion on this. It did pertain to the tailed beasts after all.
After the war, Naruto had kindly set the remainder of the tailed beasts free, to reside wherever they chose. It was a heroic and kind action in theory, but Naruto unfortunately did not have a grasp on realistic politics.
With the balance of power within the villages gone, technically, those living chakra beings were anyone's game. If they could take them on of course, after all, it had been done before.
Sasuke had heard from multiple sources that smaller villages had been conspiring to acquire their power one way or another.
Sasuke had thought nothing conclusive of it until a girl in the Hidden Stone Village had been halfway through a blood summoning jutsu that could've brought the four-tails straight to their home. She had killed four other villagers.
Sasuke was sure eventually, someone would figure out how to make more jinchuuriki or harness a beast's power. And then what? The idea was threatening, it put the lull of universal peace at risk. It risked restarting the cycle of hatred. Sasuke only hoped Kakashi had some ideas on how to protect the beasts and the peace.
Sasuke knew that in truth, there would always be people contending for power like that, but that girl, her face smeared in blood, had claimed that all the smaller villages would get their due, that the tailed beasts would save them all. That she would bring glory to the Stone Village, and with the six-tails power, they would become the greatest village. That her family had died for that promise. It was an unfortunate thing to see.
It was only in the past week that things had started to look bad. Sasuke had come across the dead girl's sister, who had been distraught and had claimed a man with white skin and purple eyes had convinced her sister to do these horrible things. It sounded just like an Otsutsuki. Sasuke had tried to track down this figure's last known whereabouts, but had been too late multiple times.
He only hoped Kakashi could provide him with some reinforcements.
As night grew closer, Sasuke finally made his way to the outskirts of Konoha. A few guards were waiting at the gate. They stared at him, eyes wary, but said nothing. It was nothing Sasuke wasn't used to. He made his way right to Kakashi's office, he had no time to waste.
When he arrived, he could already hear people talking through the door. The voice sounded like a woman's. Then he realized it was Sakura.
"I have a bad feeling about this Kakashi-sensei, It's been a week longer than the entire mission was supposed to be. I'm only hoping Gaara replies that Naruto is taking his good old time in Sunagakure."
Kakashi sighed heavily, "It has definitely been longer than was expected, but Naruto is one of the most powerful shinobi I can think of, he would never go down easy. Nonetheless, if we don't hear from Suna soon, I can send back up."
Sakura must've nodded, "He's strong Kakashi, you're right. But he's also naive. If someone needs help, he won't ask questions."
Sasuke took that moment to step in.
"You're right, Sakura." Sasuke walked up to stand beside her, facing Kakashi. Sakura's eyes widened, her face evidently surprised.
"Sas-"
"I can at least tell you he's not dead. I can sense his chakra."
Sakura smiled nervously. "Well that's something, I suppose. It's not like I doubt Naruto's ability, I just hope he didn't get himself wrapped up in something complicated."
Kakashi let out a dry laugh, "Oh don't we all."
"Kakashi," Sasuke was eager to change the subject to what was important.
"If you have time now, I'd like to relay some information to you."
Kakashi nodded, his hand folding together in front of him. For a second, he looked every bit a Hokage, the Rokudaime. He couldn't imagine Naruto being that serious for longer than 2 minutes.
"In the past few months, during my travels, I have heard several rumours of people's attempts to get their hands on the freed tailed beasts."
Kakashi nodded. "So I've heard, mostly by the smaller villages, right?"
"Correct." Sasuke answered. "I, probably like you Kakashi, took the rumours with a grain of salt. We all know the smaller villages are eager to gain power and influence."
Kakashi leaned in, resting his chin on his hands.
"Of course, although I try not to take any threat lightly."
Sasuke continued, "Well, it gets worse. I came across it myself. An attempt to summon the six-tails using some sort of blood seal jutsu."
Sakura made a face, "How fowl." Sasuke ignored her, continuing to stare straight at Kakashi.
"It was unsuccessful, and wasted many lives. A few days later I received a tip that it was orchestrated by a man described very similarly to an Otsutsuki."
The air in the room went cold. Sakura's gaze was still fixed on Sasuke, her face pale.
"The tip described essentially a male version of Kaguya, which is why I'm here. I'm hoping we can send a team out to quell the rumours, and find their source. Which is hopefully not something overly troublesome."
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Yes, granted, obviously. Take whoever you think is suited best, if they'll oblige you."
Oh yes, Sasuke had a very interesting reputation in Konoha. Requesting a team lead by him might prove to be difficult. Naruto had been doing his best to paint Sasuke as a hero within the village, but it wasn't a picture that was easy to paint. Another reason things were simpler on his own.
Sakura chimed in, "I'm sure Team 8 or 10 would be happy to help. I can talk to them."
Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"Sasuke, where did this whole blood jutsu take place?" he then asked.
Sasuke replied, "The ritual took place in an isolated shack on the outskirts of the Hidden Valley Village. There was no one within a mile's radius."
Kakashi suddenly stood up and made eye contact with Sakura. "In the Land of Rivers."
"Yes," It wasn't long before things came together for Sasuke.
"Don't tell me…"
"We sent Naruto to Sunagakure on a routine mission two weeks ago." replied Kakashi.
Sakura added, "The mission was only supposed to take a week tops."
"You sent him by himself?" asked Sasuke.
"He does have a nine-tailed beast to protect him, you know." Sakura said, her hand resting on her hip.
Her face then went dark. "But I really hope he didn't get roped up in this."
Sasuke hoped so too. This didn't appear to be the type of problem you could wrap up with a long chat about peace and friendship.
What Sasuke had seen had been violent and merciless.
It had been a bloodbath brought on by people entwined in ego and vanity. Wrapped up in having power just for the sake of it. That girl's family's deaths had not been quick and painless.
"In that case, I think weshould investigate."
Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Us? Even you Kakashi-sensei?"
Kakashi smiled, "Yup! And once we find Naruto, it'll be a whole Team 7 reunion!"
This was probably the moment Naruto would've chimed in, all bubbly and agreeing. But instead there was only an awkward silence.
"We should probably leave now then, if possible." said Sasuke. "Kakashi, are you sure you can just up and leave as Hokage?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, I'm sure this can be constituted as official business. Tsunade should be more than able to cover for me until-"
"Good." replied Sasuke. "We should leave as soon as possible then."
...
It was cold. It was freezing. The air was dank, and the life was being sucked out of the air. Out of him. Whoever he was. He couldn't remember. Because the air was so cold. Because the life was being sucked out of him.
Someone was trying to talk to him, but he couldn't really hear them. It was like being frozen in ice. He had to...He didn't know what he had to do. Soon all he knew was nothing. And cold darkness consumed him once more.
…
It was morning when they departed. Tsunade had agreed to watch over Konoha until Kakashi's return. Begrudgingly. According to the Hokage's office, the Lord Sixth was off on a top secret mission, S-rank, classified. Sakura was departing merely at the same time, off to make house calls in place of Tsunade. Sasuke was a voice in the wind.
Sasuke wished he had more information about the situation in the Village Hidden in the Valley. He hated to say most of it was a hunch. How had a girl from the stone even ended up there? But with Naruto MIA, he seemed to be right to feel concerned about the entire thing.
The letter had come in from the Sand Village an hour ago. Naruto had never made it to their gates. In the letter, Gaara had sounded equally concerned. He had offered to have Temari and himself meet them somewhere between the villages. Sasuke wasn't sure what Kakashi's reply had said.
Ever since then, they had been tree jumping straight to their destination. They hadn't said a word. All that could be heard was the wind against their ears as they kept a fast pace. Winter hadn't let them forget his presence. The branches were slippery with ice, and the wind was sharp and went right through them.
It was interesting to be on a mission with Kakashi and Sakura, to say the least. Sakura seemed tougher, like she had in the war, but Sasuke still recognized the girlish glances she gave him when she thought he wasn't looking.
Kakashi had stopped trying to keep things light after the letter. He seemed only focused on the horizon. Sasuke wasn't really sure he knew these people anymore. Sure they looked the same on the outside, but years had passed. While he had been chasing the shadow of Itachi, and then Danzo, what had they been doing? Clearly they had earned their respective places in the village, but Sasuke had no idea what sacrifices it had taken to get there. He only knew Naruto's. He had seen those at the Valley of the End.
The rush to the Land of Rivers had been short. They hadn't stopped once for two days, and by the time they had arrived at a settlement, it was dusk.
Luckily there was an inn, and all three of them purchased separate rooms to board in.
Sakura had asked if he wanted to get dinner with her and Kakashi, but he had declined. Sasuke planned to ask the locals if they'd seen anything. He had seen her face fall, and had regretted his curt no.
"I will see you both tomorrow, at breakfast. I'm going out to see what the people here have heard, perhaps they encountered Naruto."
Sakura's face lit up just a tad. "Oh smart! Can I come?"
…
Kakashi sighed to himself, staring down at the bowl of ramen before him.
"Guess I'm dining alone…" he said to himself. They didn't need three people doing reconnaissance, that would scream suspicious.
"Do they not send upstanding shinobi in teams anymore?" Kakashi looked up at the cook who had spoken.
Kakashi let out a small laugh. "My team just left me in the lurch for the night actually, they probably think I'm too old."
"Well that's good to hear." The cook returned to chopping ingredients, but something he had said struck Kakashi.
"Do you see a lot of lone shinobi?" he asked.
The cook shrugged. "Now and again, I had one a week or so, chatty as ever, probably used to working in groups, was completely lost in these parts."
That was definitely Naruto. But being lost? Kakashi thought the kyuubi would at least be able to guide Naruto to Suna if he got lost.
"Did he have blonde hair?" asked Kakashi.
"Why yes, he did. Do you know him?" replied the cook.
Kakashi nodded, "He's a friend of mine, I'm looking for him. I'm surprised he sounded lost, he should know these lands quite well."
"I don't know," he seemed on edge, he said he felt like he was just going in circles."
"In circles?" asked Kakashi.
"Yes, he said every time he thought he was making his way past the village, he ended up back here, right before the Sanji graves. He must have figured it out though, because I haven't seen him in about a week."
Kakashi glanced down at his bowl. A frown forming on his face, and his brow crinkling in concern.
Naruto...he thought. Where did you go?
Circles, always ending up back where he started? Kakashi wondered if this cook had any credibility.
"I see," said Kakashi.
"He wasn't the first, these parts are easy to get lost in."
Not if you're a ninja. Thought Kakashi.
…
"I haven't seen anything, did you just come in my shop to ask me that?"
This was the fourth person Sasuke and Sakura had asked. Sakura sighed heavily.
"Sorry to have troubled you ma'am." Sakura bowed her head, but the lady just returned a scowl.
Sakura and Sasuke made their way out of the shop. There weren't many buildings left to check out.
"Well that's pretty much everyone, and nobody's claimed to have seen a thing. Did you want to head back to the inn? Maybe Naruto did end up making it all the way to the Hidden Valley?"
Before Sasuke could answer, a boy appeared from behind the shop they had just exited.
"My grandmother lied to you. I think I might know something about the person you're looking for."
His voice was soft, almost remorseful.
"They told me not to tell…."
He brought his hands out in front of him. They were shaking.
Sasuke's and Sakura's breath hitched. Within his hands was Naruto's hitai-aite.