AN: Another short chapter, but I ought to update again next week. The semester's almost over! Final papers are due next week, so I've been working like crazy on school stuff for the past month. But break's almost here! I ought to be able to get a lot more work done on this story during break. I already have several more chapters written out, just not typed up.

This marks the beginning of part II.

Thanks again for all of the reviews and advice! They keep me motivated!

Connections

Part II

Making Connections

The jutsu back home felt a little like getting caught in a whirlpool. Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, tightened his grip on Sasuke and hoped whatever was happening to them wouldn't kill them. Tsunade-ba-chan had given them these scrolls, so he had to trust in that. But he was sure glad they didn't rely on any chakra control on his part. He'd probably fry his and Sasuke-teme's butts and Sakura would never forgive him for it.

He did not want to think about Sasuke's screams or the way he had been clutching at his eyes as if they were melting out of their very sockets.

Nope. Wasn't thinking about that.

The warmth and flood of sealed chakra started to recede. Naruto had just found something solid once more under his feet before he was pulled down by dead weight. "Oof!" Naruto grunted as the air was knocked out of him. Damn but the teme was heavy! "Oi, Sasuke! Sasuke-teme! You better be alive, asshole," he muttered as he stared up at the forest canopy above.

Damn it was good to be home.

The air was wetter but not as hot. There was no humming noise here in the forest. Just the sounds of birds and squirrels and the smell of leaves and dirt. Familiar. The kind of thing he could taste, hear and feel.

Naruto glanced down. "Oi!" He poked the dark lump half laying on him. "You broken?" Naruto frowned. "You better not be pissed at me for pulling us out of there. I had to. Look, I'm sorry, but everything was going to hell. Sasuke? Hey, man, you okay?" Naruto poked him again.

"I will - break - your hand - dobe," a strained voice hissed.

Just like an angry cat. Naruto smirked broadly. "Then get your heavy ass off me, teme," he replied before giving the other teen a "helpful" shove.

Sasuke didn't say anything. He rolled onto his knees and tucked his head down to the ground.

Naruto blinked and sat up quickly. "You okay?"

For several long heartbeats there was nothing but the soothing familiar sounds of the forest. Sasuke was breathing slowly but heavily. "Whatever happened – back there – caused a very – very bright light." Sasuke inhaled slowly but didn't lift his head. "I assume – you didn't see it."

"Was this before or after I heroically rescued – "

Sasuke growled.

"Okay, okay!" Naruto relented, holding up his hands defensively and laughing. "I mean, no, I didn't. Felt something weird, but it didn't hurt or anything." Naruto hesitated for a moment. "You going to be okay?"

"Yes."

Uh huh. "Sometime this week?"

Sasuke-teme uncurled enough to lash out with one fist. Naruto ducked and laughed back. "Well, if you're not dying, teme, then hurry up and get up. We need to find Sakura-chan and Harry."

Sasuke's whole body tensed before slowly easing. His head shifted and his dark eyes fixed on Naruto's. They were red and puffy, tears leaking out the sides as he blinked, grimaced and clearly struggled to focus.

Damn. Whatever that weird jutsu back there was, it apparently really did a number on Sasuke-teme's eyes. Now was definitely a time to be grateful he didn't have any freaky eye blood-limit.

"Where?"

"Huh?" Naruto blinked. Sasuke-teme's glare was familiar and creepy-level intense.

"Sakura and Potter. Where are they?"

"Oh! Um, heading towards Konoha, I think." Sakura had gotten back before them, so it made sense that she would. He wasn't sure where Kakashi-sensei had gotten to, however. If he'd had his sharrigan uncovered, then he was probably as messed up as Sasuke-teme was. Not that Naruto was too worried about him. Knowing Kakashi-sensei, they'd find him waiting for them along the path back to Konoha, reading one of his stupid books.

Naruto scooted back and watched as Sasuke-teme slowly push himself up to his feet. If it had been Sakura-chan, he would have eagerly offered to help. But since it was Sasuke-teme, and he didn't feel like getting punched, he managed to keep his mouth shut. It wasn't an easy thing for him. Especially with the way Sasuke was moving – like he was some kind of little old man.

Instead, Naruto jumped to his feet, jammed his hands into his pockets and grinned like a loon. "I can't wait to see what Harry's like," Naruto said quickly. It seemed like a darn good topic to talk about. "Though he did seem a little too much like you, you know." He made sure to glare at Sasuke-teme critically. "I sure hope he's not as stuck-up as you. I'd hate to have to beat some sense into him."

Sasuke's head jerked around and he stumbled slightly. "You will not touch him," Sasuke hissed.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Calm down, man!" Naruto replied quickly. "He's a civilian! Fighting with a civilian just wouldn't be fair. I know that. I was just saying, you know. What I mean is - I know we're all going to get along and everything. No matter what."

Sasuke-teme glared at him. Naruto didn't look away, but he couldn't help yanking his hands out of his pockets before shoving them back in just a moment later.

Finally Sasuke's shoulders relaxed and he turned away. For one surreal moment they both stood still, Sasuke with his back to Naruto. "Thank you."

Naruto grinned from ear to ear. "Come on, man, what are teammates for?" he cried out cheerfully. "Now let's go find Harry and the beautiful Sakura-chan and go home and get some ramen!"

Sasuke-teme shoved him into a tree. "No."