Naruto bobs excitedly up and down from his seat across the table as Itachi sets some silverware before us, tan hands outstretched and eager to help him. I had come home from my session with Dr. Yamanaka to be surprised with a loud pop of confetti over my head and a bright "Happy Birthday Sasuke" hung across the arch of the entrance hall. "What do you want for your birthday?" Itachi had asked the night before while Naruto helped Tanaka clear up the table, Kurama at his feet anxious for any leftovers that might "accidentaly" fall off the plates. "An explanation." He had avoided my questions over the day that we held the meeting with the board members, and I was still curious as to find out more about the unknown side of Itachi I had witnessed that day. Who he had associations with, who that Kisame was, or when it was that he had been investigating something "ground-breaking" as Orochimaru had stated…and if that "investigation" had anything to do with Naruto and his arrival to the Uchiha mansion. But something always came up, or he was always busy, or it was always something "trivial that didn't mean anything at all". That didn't still my interest at all. However, as Itachi and Naruto leave to bring the "special birthday dinner" to the table, I realize that I wouldn't be getting any answers today either. "Are you sure you're not just putting too much thought into the situation?" Dr. Yamanaka had asked, eyeing me closely from his seat by the window. Of course I wasn't. Anything that has a slight chance of having to do with Naruto is of my total concern, despite how small or "trivial", as Itachi names it, it might be. Kurama places his head on my lap and whines softly, his blue eyes scanning my face worriedly. I offer him a small smile and scratch the back of his ears gently, almost laughing at the sad glare he gives me when I tell him that I will not be giving him my leftovers again today. He, like Naruto, are much too big for my liking. I already voiced my concerns about my height to Tsunade when I went in for my 6-month check-up a few days back, but she insisted that I didn't have any real need for growth hormone treatment. "You're actually about 3 inches taller than you were in your last check-up, Naruto's growing seems faster because he's a child. He'll slow down once his spurt is over." Regardless, I have decided to get a second doctor's opinion if Naruto starts growing past my chest. On a different note, Tsunade had also warned me about my need to wear glasses soon, if not right away. "A common Uchiha problem." As she had said. Itachi only wore his when reading or writing, so I'll avoid wearing them for now. I don't want Naruto laughing at me after all.
Said blondie walks into the dining room again, a bowl of salad balanced in his hands. "I wanted to invite Suigetsu but Itachi said no." he signs to me from the other side of the table just as Itachi walks back in. "There's no need, this is a more private festivity, only family." He explains as he lowers a jar of Tanaka's homemade iced tea unto the table, which just happened to be my overall favorite tea. As pang of hunger echoes through my stomach as Tanaka reenters with the main course in a large platter, the air instantly filled with the aroma of roasted meat. "To Sasuke." Itachi raises a glass towards me, Naruto handing me one quickly before seating back down beside me and grabbing a glass of his own. His still smaller frame stands on the seat to reach Itachi's glass, a stunning smile on his tan face. Tanaka bows silently and makes to leave as we toast and sit back down. "Tanaka, I thought we were celebrating with family today." The old butler stops and turns back to me with a confused face. "You are, young master."
"Then sit." I take a sip from my iced tea to hide the somewhat reddened color of my cheeks as Tanaka's surprise turns to a smile, his fingers brushing past his eyes softly. "Of course, young master." Naruto smiles and pats the seat next to him eagerly, Itachi sending me a rather satisfied look from the other side of the table.
"I noticed that you didn't eat your tomatoes." I say to Naruto as he sits down next to me in the couch, Kurama following behind him and settling down at our feet. He makes a face and reaches for the remote, turning on the TV just as his favorite show about some rather obnoxious ninja kid comes on. "I don't like tomatoes anymore." I feel a small pang in my chest. Is he kidding me? Not like tomatoes? Is that even possible? What kind of despicable creature is he turning into? Itachi laughs as he sees my face, which had had to be in utter shock much like my mind was at the moment. "If you ever leave tomatoes on your plate again, I will no longer take you out to eat at Ichiraku's." his face falls, instantly giving me an angry pucker. "But tomatoes are gross." I glare at him from my side of the couch, my arms folding against my chest. "Nevermind what I said, if you ever leave ANY vegetable on your plate again, I will not take you to eat ramen anymore." I correct after remembered the numerous nights before when he would leave peppers, greenbeans, and cucumbers in his plate, refusing to even take a bite of them. His eyes widen further and his scowl deepens. "You're mean!" he stands to leave, Kurama standing up instantly to tail after him when he turns around and throws something at me. "I hate you!" Naruto runs off to our shared room, the small, oddly wrapped box laying unceremoniously in the empty seat he left behind. "Naruto asked me to help him buy it the other day when I picked him up from school."
"With what money?"
"He had been saving up from the lunch money I had usually sent him during school."
"Was he eating?" Itachi laughs again, his hands reaching over to ruffle my hair, something that I no longer reproach him about, as my hair has become more tamable as of late. "He's healthy, growing and happy, well, most of the time anyways." He winks at me and turns to leave. "Where's your gift?" I ask him as I flip through the channels lazily with the remote Naruto had left on the table, pretending as if the topic wasn't as important to me as it actually was. "Waiting for you to grow up." He sends me a sad smile and exits the living room, his steps echoing towards where Naruto was most probably curled up under the covers, whispering to Kurama about how insufferable I am like he always does whenever he's angry with me. I feel a sense of nervousness as I look over at the small package that Naruto had flung at me, my fingers tracing over the bright orange wrapping paper when my phone begins to ring. "What is it?" I answer exasperatedly after seeing the caller ID.
"Happy birthday Sasuke! How was your day?" Suigetsu yawns loudly against the speaker, a rushed gulp following it after a moment of silence as I don't answer him back. "I wanted to go over and surprise you but Jugo forbid me from going. You'll have to wait till Monday for your gift." Jugo, always saving me from Suigetsu's unwanted surprises. "Thank god he did, as if your cheap knick-knacks are of any importance. Naruto and Itachi made me a small dinner, nothing special."
"Did Naruto give you anything?" he chuckles softly, ignoring my insult like always.
"What do you know?" I almost feel sad over the fact that he couldn't see the most perfect Uchiha-glare of all time that I was dedicating to him.
"He did, didn't he? What is it?" he gasps, followed by a loud laugh and I am forced to pull the phone an inch away from my ear to prevent any permanent damage.
"I haven't opened it yet."
"Well, open it and tell me."
"It's none of your business."
"It is soooo my business. I want to know what my competition got you." I roll my eyes and scoff softly. "It's none of your business. Now shut up, I want to go to bed."
"You're no fun. See you." I hang up and throw the phone unto the table before turning my gaze back to the gift Naruto had given me. My stomach flips uncomfortably and I regret having eaten so much during dinner. Tanaka steps in and clears his throat subtly after an eternity of me just staring at the orange wrapping paper hopelessly. "Is there anything I can do for you?" I glance at the clock that marks 11:25 against the pearled wall. Is it that late already? Where did the time go? I shake my head at him, my eyes falling on the potted plant beside him. "No thank you, you can retire for the day if you wish." Tanaka bows before turning to leave, a small package in the table he had stood next to. "I sincerely hope your day was gratifying." I offer him a small smile and a nod before turning back to the TV that was transitioning to the late night news. More murders in the South District, and the apparent rise of a new gang that seemed to be gaining power rather rapidly. "Suna" I repeat silently. Maybe that's why Itachi had ordered such a tight security around us since our visit with the board table. New gangs always target the most elite in their search for supremacy, and he was probably worried about our wellbeing with such a dangerous turn of power within the gangs of the South District. I shift in my seat, trying to find a more comfortable spot as the news turn to the stock market, which was more of my concern than any gang rising, when my hand brushes past the small gift again. It's just a gift, a voice from the back of my head says arrogantly. Of course it is, but I still feel a strange bit of anxiousness whenever my hand reaches towards it. My heart races more than it should and that makes me uncomfortable. I had never felt this way over something Naruto had given me before, and it was unnerving to not know how to explain it, to not know what was happening within me. There's a small whine echo from behind me and I turn to see Kurama stare at me nervously, his ears downcast and his feet restless as his head points towards the room persistently.
I stand quickly, running through the hallway instantly and as I enter my room I notice the jittering movements of the sheets that cover Naruto. Kurama sits at the entrance way, his eyes still eyeing me nervously, his head lowering as his tail curls around himself. I pull the covers off my trembling kit to find him with that same agonizing look on his face that he had had years ago when his sleep had been restless, his mouth open in that same horrifying, silent scream. When was the last time he had nightmares? I couldn't remember, as they had stopped soon after he had moved into my room. Nonetheless, this wasn't the first time he had fallen asleep without me beside him, and it was puzzling to see him have another episode after such a long time of their absence. I find myself glued to my spot beside him when Kurama whines again, his eyes pleading at me to do something. It was the first time he saw Naruto like this, so it was more than obvious that he would be so confused, much like I was at the moment. I climb slowly into bed beside him, my arms reaching over to hold him as he goes rigid again. His hands fly to my arms when I touch him, his nails digging painfully into my flesh as his eyes shoot open, his breathing heavy and uneven. He releases me instantly when his eyes register my face. "Sasuke" he mouths my name as tears stream down his face, his body shivering and covered in cold sweat. Kurama moves towards us slowly, his head still hung in confusion as Naruto reaches over to pet him before turning back to bury his head against my chest. His feet touch my calves and I can feel clearly the clamminess of his skin as he wraps his legs around mine in a feverish attempt to confirm my existence. I rub the back of his head softly, my chin against the top of his head as I wait for him to calm down and fall back asleep. But he doesn't. He still trembles softly against me after an hour, his fingers rubbing continuously against my shirt. "I'm scared." He finally signs to me as he looks up and finds me staring at him tenderly. "You're safe here, you know that." He shakes his head softly. "That man, the one we saw at the company a few weeks ago." I remember him clearly. Kisame, as Itachi had called him. "What about him?" Naruto lowers his gaze, his mouth biting his lower lip as his brow furrows. "I'm scared of him."
"Why?"
"I don't remember." Naruto's eyes reflect sincerity, his entire face cross with confusion. "When I woke up, I remembered him and was scared of him. I don't know why."
"Well, he's ugly so it's understandable, even I would have nightmare about him." Naruto smiles, a small laugh silently escaping his lips. Kurama inches his head closer to Naruto, happy to see my blond kit smile again. "Naruto," he turns his eyes back to me, his expression a lot calmer now. I feel the words trap inside my throat, and I can't find myself able to continue with my train of thought. "Do you want me to stay with you?" he nods eagerly, his smile bright again. "I left the TV on, I'll be right back." Kurama climbs into bed when I stand, Naruto's arms wrapping tightly around his neck as I leave towards the living room again. I flip the TV off as a sitcom jingles into the screen and grab Naruto's gift, placing it on top of Tanaka's before turning to face the entrance hall once more, a loud sigh passing through my lips. It's been 3 years…Dr. Yamanaka doesn't want to tell me anything of what happens during his sessions with Naruto, and only gives me vague answers about his recovery and regression. I still have that night that Naruto spoke to me vivid in my mind, but despite all the help he has been getting, I don't understand why it is that they can't get him to speak normally. I try to ignore that small part of my memory and pretend that I had never heard his voice yell at me in such a hateful manner. I try to go on everyday pretending that Naruto is okay and that his not speaking is completely natural. But there's still that small part of me that wants to ask him, why? What is eating away at his young mind that makes him unable to express himself properly? What is haunting him whenever he has those horrible nightmares? My fists roll up painfully tight, my arms shaking slightly as I fight back any desire to feel wretched over this. Like Itachi had said, Naruto was healthy, growing, and happy, most of the time anyways, whenever he's not busy being angry at me. I should be happy knowing at least that. For as curious as I might be, I'm more afraid of the answers that my small blondie might give me. I breathe deeply, taking the two gifts into my arms and making my way back to my room silently. Naruto is already fast asleep when I enter, his arms still wrapped around Kurama who lifts his head up as best as he could at my entrance. "Well, I see that I'm easily replaced by you." I snarl at him softly. He whines once again, his nose reaching out towards me and nuzzling into my outstretched hand. He's cute, but that doesn't compensate the fact that I was out of a bed to sleep in tonight.
Suigetsu pets Kurama's head absentmindedly as his eyes fall over the greenhouse that Naruto was busily working in. "He's got the greenest thumb I have ever seen." He awes as he admires the beautiful flowers that sat against the panes. "Well, he's barely bad at anything he does." I murmur, feeling once again completely content with the rather large umbrella Itachi had placed here to cover the reclineable garden chairs as the scorching summer sun once again blasts at us from behind a patch of moving clouds. A strategically well placed lounge, as it was close enough to keep an eye on Naruto without him noticing, and throwing a tantrum over our lack of trust in his ability to take care of himself. Suigetsu sends me a knowing smirk, his eyebrows raising amusingly. "Perfection lies in the eyes of the beholder."
"I thought it was beauty."
"Same thing." He taunts and turns back to face me once Naruto is far enough as to not overhear. "So, what did he give you?" Kurama eyes me from under Suigetsu's hand, and I could swear that he was trying to tell me something. Probably advise me against telling Suigetsu what Naruto got me.
"It's none of your business." I repeat. To be honest, I hadn't opened it yet. Something kept me from unwrapping that bright orange paper and peeking inside to see what he had bought for me. Tanaka's gift had been inexpensive, but I really appreciated that fox mini-statue that served as a book stand. I don't know how he knew so well about my infatuation with foxes, which had grown out of nowhere ever since Naruto had crashed into our lives. I think they resembled my small blondie to a fault. As curious as I was to open the oddly shaped gift Naruto had given me, the strange feeling of having a heart attack whenever I reach for it keeps me from finding out its contents.
"Well, at least tell me if it beats mine." I roll my eyes and glare at him once more. The portrait with Naruto's picture was barely an appropriate gift. I see the blondie every day, so I don't see how in the world it occurred to Suigetsu that I might need a frozen Naruto on my bedside when I had the living one lying beside me every night. Still, I'm even more surprised that he was able to keep Naruto still enough to take a picture of him, as he usually makes faces and moves in every direction except towards the camara whenever I try to take his picture. Still, my computer was filled with pictures of him, whether they were blurred shots, funny-faces, or snaps taken whenever he wasn't looking.
"It will always be better than yours." Suigetsu sticks his tongue out at me and looks around to make sure Naruto is still away before turning back to me. "On a different note, I hear Uonuma is going down bad paths." I raise an eyebrow at him, grabbing the glass of tomato juice Tanaka had left on the table beside me. "Bad paths Sasuke. Have you heard about Suna." I pause as the cold glass touches my lips. "I've heard something about them." I mutter boringly, taking a small sip. Suigetsu glances around, making sure no one is eavesdropping before leaning in closer to me, his hand cupping around his mouth unnecessarily. "There's a rumor going around that he's joined that gang."
"Bullshit."
"I'm serious, even Jugo saw him the other day driving into the South district with a bunch of shady looking guys." Itachi always says that all rumors have a trace of truth within them, and I find myself becoming rapidly concerned over the person I had once considered to be my friend. Before I beat the living lights out of him and he returned with thirst for vendetta of course. "That's too bad then." Suigetsu grimaces at me, his hands reaching over to grab the water Tanaka had left for him, knowing full well that this guy wouldn't drink any type of juice even if he was being pointed at with a gun. "Just be careful, you know he has it out for you, God knows what he'll attempt to do now that Suna has his back." I hum lazily, betraying the actual concern that was eating up at my insides as I take another small sip from my glass. Naruto runs back towards us, a stunning red rose in his hand, the thorns having been already plucked off. He offers it to me and smiles when I accept it, running back towards his greenhouse with Kurama tailing after him before Suigetsu can whine about him not getting one too. If Uonuma is smart enough, he would know that he couldn't do anything to hurt me. I have become immune to his threats, and since father was always such a nut about security and self-defense, I had been getting private lessons since I was 4, and knew rather well how to protect myself, which is why Jugo never really worries about me being alone in school whenever Uonuma makes it public that he will finally try to get even with me, something he has been presuming for years now. I'm basically untouchable to him, as I have no weakness that he can exploit.
There's a loud crash boom out from within the greenhouse and I'm rushing towards it before Suigetsu can utter a single curse of surprise. I find Naruto sprawled on the floor, a stair fallen not far from him with a broken pot scattered across the entire floor. Kurama eyes us from afar, his body tense and his tail curled around himself. Naruto looks up at me sheepishly and he tries to get up, his face scrunching in pain as he tries to put his weight on his left arm. "The hanging pots." He says before I can ask anything, pointing up at where he had tried to hang them with his eyes. We had seen them the other day on television, and he had apparently tried to mimic that idea after I had mentioned how pretty it looked. "You fell." I say curtly, kneeling beside him and pulling him into my arms to carry him inside as Suigetsu finally catches up behind me. "Shit Naruto, what the hell where you trying to do?!" Naruto blushes as Suigetsu follows behind us, his eyes downcast as the water addict's eyes scan him over anxiously. "I can walk." He signs to me guiltily, but I ignore his request. Itachi, who had been talking on the phone, hangs up as soon as he sees us enter the living room. "His arm." He nods quickly and calls Tanaka to pull the car around front. "I'm fine." Naruto insists despite the swelling tenderness that begins to grow around his forearm. "Shut up." I hiss at him, making him hunch further into himself, his head falling against me as I notice a rather large bruise hidden under his hair above his eyebrow. His eyes begin to flutter close when Tanaka finally comes around with the car after a few grueling seconds. "Naruto!" I shake him forcefully, a deep hole opening inside my stomach. "Let him be Sasuke, its best not to wake him, despite common belief." I gulp silently and nod at Itachi as I climb into the car, holding Naruto tightly against me as more dread began to eat at my insides. I notice Kurama sit at the front door through the rearview mirror as we pull away and into the street, and I can only guess the fear he might be feeling right now, much like I was feeling. Why didn't I keep a closer eye on him? Who the hell allowed him to take that damn stair from the shed? Why the hell did I ever say that those hanging gardens were pretty? They are absolutely horrendous now that I see the consequences. Why did Naruto have to try to satisfy my every thought?! Suigetsu turns his gaze away when he notices the moistness in my eyes, and I bury my face within Naruto's golden locks as a shudder makes my whole body tremble. Why did I ever have to build that damn greenhouse?
Tsunade is already waiting for us when we pull into the emergency driveway, and despite my growing need to keep Naruto against me, I place him unto the stretcher and watch him be rushed inside. Itachi sits next to me in the waiting room, Suigetsu to the other side of me, his right leg shaking violently with uneasiness. He hated hospitals ever since his mother had died here when he was young after months and months of battling cancer. Visiting her had been a living hell for him, seeing her wither away and having to smile despite being miserable himself so that she wouldn't worry about him had been an almost impossible feat for someone so young, and his animosity towards hospitals only grew each time he had to visit her until it turned into a real phobia when she passed away. Which is why when he had broken his knee after a rather violent fight with a former classmate, he had kept it secret, letting it heal by itself rather than telling someone and being forced to come to the hospital. To this day, he would sometimes limp whenever it rained heavily. Still, he was here with me right now, despite his obvious discomfort, and I was grateful for it despite my silence. I catch myself shaking too, my hands clasped before me in silent prayer. Let Naruto be alright, I found myself pleading at a God that I never cared to talk to before, Please, I beg you, and I'll do anything, anything at all.
Time seems to pass by painstakingly slow, and even Itachi begins to become restless, but due to hospital policy, he couldn't go in and see Naruto himself. I continue to silently promise good deeds in exchange for Naruto's wellbeing when Suigetsu suddenly tenses beside me, his hand clutching at my arm, but I ignore him as Tsunade hurries towards us. I stand rather quickly, my face betraying me and showing more concern than I had intended. "Naruto is fine, the CAT scan doesn't show any neurological damage, though he'll need a cast for a while for his arm, he's fractured his left ulna bon-" The relief on my face falls when I notice the reason why Suigetsu had been so tense and why he still sits frozen and pale in his seat. Uonuma sneered at me from a few seats away, a teenager I didn't recognize beside him with a rag full of blood against his nose, and I can bet that he had heard the entire conversation between us and Tsunade. Both are wearing a strange bandana with a metal plaque around their necks. I recognize the symbol resembling an hourglass immediately as the Suna gang symbol from the night I had seen the news report about them, and I felt my stomach drop.
Suigetsu had been right about him, and even worse, Uonuma now knew about Naruto.