Chapter One

Bonds


Tsunade stared at the cluttered desk before her. There were week old empty Sake bottles on her desk and mission reports staked to the ceiling. Her brows furrowed as she sat in her seat and scanned the top of her desk for a place to set her elbows. Frustrated, a resigned sigh escaped her lips as she decided to just lean back into her chair instead. "Where's Shizune?" she wondered agitatedly until visions of the blonde haired shinobi flashed in her mind, replaying what had just happened a few moments ago.


(Flashback)

The blonde woman opened the door as she stepped into Sasuke's hospital room but made a sudden stop at the sight in front of her. "Naruto!?" She exclaimed at the young blonde passed out in the chair besides Sasukes bed.

"Huh- what?!" Naruto sprung up from the same position he was in the night before, his muscles were stiff and he wiped a bit of drool from the side of his chin. Looking side to side, Tsunade sighed.

"You should work on your sensory skills more" she voiced as she strode over beside him.

"Oh, hey granny Tsunade" Naruto greeted, scratching the back of his head as he grinned sheepishly at the older woman. "I must've fell asleep last night." Suddenly, his eyes widened as he hastily snapped his head back to the sleeping Uchiha. He exhaled heavily before his blue orbs softened and a smile plastered itself onto his face.

Tsunade's lips parted to reprimand the young blonde but something told her it wasn't the right time. But still, a few minutes didn't mean a few hours overnight. "Naruto" she began "he won't be able to leave the village when theres ANBU stationed all over his hospital room. There is no need for you to personally stay here overnight and guard him."

"W-What?!" Naruto stuttered "It's nothing like that!" he defended himself, flailing his hands side to side in front of him. "I guess I was more tired than I thought. Don't worry, it won't happen again." He flashed a bright smile at the Hokage and she simply brushed it off, allowing her gaze to settle on Sasuke.

"Today I'll be speaking with the village elders" she began hesitantly, earning an interested glance from Naruto as he waited for her to continue. "I told you before, the village elders word holds more value than my own, the decision I make will be one made as Konoha's Hokage."

"What?!" Naruto interrupted angrily "aren't you even going to try to argue Sasukes case?!"

"If you keep interrupting me then maybe I won't, brat!" Tsunade shot back, almost at her wits end with the young blondes newly found edginess since he brought back Sasuke. There was a moment of silence as Naruto furrowed his brows in response, allowing her to continue. "But" she began "I will appeal to them as best I can for Sasuke's future here in Konoha. As the last Uchiha, it'd be wise to keep his blood line alive."

Tsunade kept her eyes on the raven haired boy, studying the rise and fall of his chest. His breathing seemed normal enough, he was on a speedy road to recovery. She turned to Naruto who seemed as though he were doing the same thing. "You haven't got much to say now, Naruto" she lightly teased.

"Thank you, granny Tsunade" he replied as he turned to her and smiled. She'd be lying if she said part of the reason she would fight for the Uchiha's right to stay in the village wasn't for Naruto. She held his judgement in higher regard than he believed. "But I wouldn't tell him that, his heads big enough as it is" she thought as she returned his smile.

(End flashback)


"The village elders will be here at any moment and all this paperwork is already beginning to give me a headache" Tsunade thought grimly, very unenthusiastic to meet with the elders. As if arriving on cue, there was a knock at the door. The older blonde straightened her spine as she decided to just place her elbows atop of the papers scattered over the desk and rest her chin on her interlocked fingers. "Come in" she called.

The door creaked open to reveal Homura and Koharu. "Good morning Princess Tsunade" Homura greeted as Koharu shut the door behind them.

"Yes, good morning" she responded to them both. "Please take a seat" she voiced as she gestured towards the two chairs purposefully placed in front of her desk. She was determined to make this encounter as quick as possible.

The two village elders complied as they sat down and examined the clutter over her desk as if they were searching for a rat. The older blonde was already getting frustrated as they scrutinised her, she cleared her throat "as you know from the report I sent you yesterday evening, Team Kakashi was successful in bringing Sasuke Uchiha back to Konoha. He is currently in intensive care in the hospital. I've stationed six ANBU guards to supervise him, there are three placed on the inside of the room and three placed on the outside. Any attempts made to escape would be immediately terminated and I would be notified instantly."

Koharu glanced at Homura as he nodded before returning her sights back to Tsunade. "As part of the Konoha council, we believe that Sasuke Uchiha has acted unlawfully against the Leaf Village and must be convicted to a fitting punishment." Koharu said before Homura continued in agreeance.

"For betraying Konoha and conspiring with Orochimaru, a well known enemy of the Leaf, he should be interrogated and then executed" finished Homura.

Tsunade's hazel orbs widened in almost disbelief as her jaw slackened slightly. Was she hearing this correctly? Did they really not read the entire report she handed them not even twenty four hours ago? She clenched her jaw together and furrowed her brows, defiantly staring at the village elders as tension began to surface. "With all due respect" she began harshly "if you read my report correctly, you'd see that Sasuke Uchiha killed Orochimaru himself! Not only did he eliminate that snake, he defeated Itachi, another wanted missing nin of Konoha for eradicating his own clan!" She leant back into her chair a bit as she realised she began yelling at the village elders half way through her sentence. As their expressions dropped, it was clear that they didn't appreciate the way she was addressing them.

Taking a deep breath, she continued calmly "I think you should reconsider an execution when this boy had done nothing to earn that punishment. A punishment is what he does deserve but not that one. When he is healed I will consent to an interrogation led by Ibiki but no one will lead him to his death." she concluded firmly.

"Princess Tsunade" Homura began "I don't think you are seeing sense. He could've planned anything with Orochimaru to come back to Konoha as a ploy to destroy it from the inside out. How do we know Orochimaru is truly dead? Would the thirds sacrifice be for nothing if we just allowed this boy to resume his life here?!"

"Keeping the boy alive could be a grave mistake for the sake of Konoha if we don't do something about it now" agreed Koharu.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes at the two elders, she couldn't deny that there wasn't firm evidence to confirm Orochimaru's death but recently his 'test subjects' had been subdued by the ANBU and had been taken in for questioning. The ones that decided to speak revealed Sasuke released them because the young Uchiha killed Orochimaru himself. Knowing her former team mate as well as she did made her confident that Orochimaru would never release his subjects unless he really were dead.

"If something were to happen, I will take full responsibility. I will execute Sasuke on the spot if I have to, to protect this village. I will not allow Sarutobi Sensei's death to be in vain! But I strongly believe Sasuke Uchiha is innocent of any treachery you believe him to be a part of. With the Sharingan, it makes him an important asset to this village and with the current situation with the Akatsuki and Pain, we could use all the help we can get. Sasuke is a skilled Shinobi, this could be an advantageous opportunity."

Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance before the older woman questioned "what do you suggest we do with the boy then?"

Tsunade leaned forward and placed her chin on her interlocked fingers once again. "I suggest we put him on a probational period of one year with ANBU surveillance at all times. Within these twelve months, he will be assigned low ranking missions and eventually, be put back on his original team alongside Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki. Kakashi will be assigned to evaluate his loyalty when working within Konoha and once this probational period is up, we can decide a fitting fate for him. Just give him one year."

A moment of silence followed as the two elders contemplated before giving each other a stern look. Homura's gaze made its way back to Tsunade's hazel orbs as he spoke "have it your way Tsunade. If this is your decision then the twelve month trial will begin now. If he is going to have the freedom to walk around Konoha then he must be set up with a room under surveillance by ANBU guards here in the Hokages headquarters. If he betrays Konoha or attempts to leave, he will be executed. Do you accept these conditions, Princess Tsunade?"

"I accept" the blonde confirmed "he hasn't woken up yet since his fight with Itachi but it shouldn't be long now."

"Well then" Homura stood as Koharu followed "if that is what you've chosen to do then all we can do is wait. But if anything goes wrong, it will be in your hands. You will be responsible."

"I understand that…" Tsunade responded unfazed.

The two elders turned to leave but as Homura opened the door for Koharu, the older woman turned back to face Tsunade. "Why are you so adamant about the boys fate?" she genuinely questioned.

"The Uchiha clan was once a proud and noble people. Sasuke is the last of the clan and if he is willing to protect Konoha, I will gladly welcome him. Perhaps one day, he can continue their clans legacy." Tsunade's voice was firm and unwavering. As she spoke, she didn't miss the chagrinned expression that flashed over their faces for an instant. "What was that about?" she wondered as she narrowed her eyes at the two elders.

"Do what you wish Tsunade. But be warned once more, if he fails to meet all the tasks and expectations of him, he will be executed" Koharu's words lingered in the air before she and Homura walked out of Tsunade's office and shut the door behind them.

"Finally" Tsunade exhaled as she shook an empty bottle of sake with her fingertips. "I thought they'd never leave" she sighed as she leaned back in her chair. She heard her door creak open once again as her hazel orbs snapped up to see who it was. Hastily, a black head of hair appeared as the rest of her came in holding a small pig. "Shizune!" Tsunade called sternly from across the room.

"Ah! Lady Tsunade!" the dark haired woman was flustered as she hobbled through the door with a stack of today's paper work and mission reports. "I'm sorry I'm running late, I forgot you were coming in earlier today to meet with the elders, usually you don't get up till later and—"

"Shizune! Don't worry about that now, I need a contract for Sasuke Uchiha written up immediately!" Tsunade ordered, trying to ignore the growing headache upon seeing that pile of paper.


Homura shut the door to the Konoha Council room as he took a seat opposite to Koharu. "This sort of impudence was expected of Princess Tsunade. She is still quite young after all" the older woman began, breaking the silence.

"But even so" Homura's brows furrowed at the thought of another Uchiha walking free around the village "without Itachi alive to protect Sasuke anymore, we should have the full authority to sentence the Uchiha to death. Especially if the Hokage wishes the Uchiha bloodline to continue, this could endanger the whole village just as it had back then!"

Homura was outraged and Koharu shared his fury. "Princess Tsunade is still naive. She is not aware of the threat the Uchiha's posed. But after this twelve month period is complete, we will know what to do with the boy."

The door to the Konoha Council cracked open as a tall figure entered the room. "Danzo?" Homura questioned, surprised at his sudden entrance. "What is it?"

"Homura, Koharu, please forgive me. I could not help but overhear the Uchiha's name. I see Princess Tsunade decided to allow the boy freedom after a probational period."

"Not only that" Koharu began "she wants their bloodline to continue through this boy. To allow one Uchiha to live can risk history repeating itself. For the sake of the village, I don't agree with this."

"If you'd allow me to make a suggestion" Danzo began "there is already a member of Root on Team Kakashi. I'm sure if I assigned him an extra mission to keep a watchful eye on Sasuke Uchiha, we can find out many wrongdoings the boy makes. Sakura Haruno, Kakashi Hatake and Naruto Uzuamki have personal ties with the Uchiha, making it easy to overlook certain things. But Sai will be very adequate for this mission."

Koharu and Homura glanced at each other and the older woman nodded in approval. "Danzo" Homura began "as a direct order from the council, Sai will monitor Sasuke Uchiha over his time back on team Kakashi. If there is one thing Sai suspects is unlawful then please report it to us immediately."

Danzo's lips curled into a smile as he respectfully leaned forward slightly "of course."


"Sasuke!" Itachi exclaimed "You will be the one who'll be my new light!"

Red chakra seeped through his brother and extended itself to Sasuke, reaching for his right eye. He froze, what he was hearing was so far from what he expected when he came to avenge his clan.

"You have my spare eyes!" Itachi spat.

Sasuke's red orbs widened in surprise as he suddenly found himself pinned to the stone wall behind him. Itachi had suppressed him in an instant, his hand reached for his eye, Sasuke blinked as he turned his head to the side, finding himself unable to do anything. He turned his head back and snapped his red orbs open only to see that he and Itachi weren't inside anymore.

The entire scene around them was out in the open and the stone around them had fallen. It wasn't the confident Itachi attempting to steal his eye in front of him anymore but someone who looked more like the brother he remembered. Blood trailed from Itachi's lips down to drip off his chin, yet he raised his hand and Sasuke flinched in response "my eyes!?" he thought, desperately hoping this wasn't the end as he tightly shut his eyes.

Before he knew it, he felt two warm fingertips flick his forehead. His red orbs fluttered open to reveal Itachi smiling, genuinely smiling at him. "Forgive me, Sasuke. This is it" he mouthed before falling past the raven haired boy and landing lifelessly beside him.

The surviving Uchiha's red orbs widened in surprise. His whole body shook and the world fell away around him. He looked to his side to see Itachi fall away with his reality and he was left by himself in darkness. He walked for what felt like hours until his body broke down from exhaustion. Nothing existed, he was going to die. He felt like his entire life was flashing before his eyes, nothing existed except for his one goal but…

"Sasuke!" a familiar voice echoed through the dark around him.

The last Uchiha scoffed "Naruto." he thought "Leave me alone" he spat bitterly.

"Sasuke!" the voice drew closer before he felt his warmth next to him.

The raven haired boy looked up at the bright figure in front of him "I told you to leave me alo—" he paused as his sharingan lingered on Naruto's outstretched hand.

"Come home, Sasuke."

In an instant, the raven haired boy abruptly jolted upright, searching his surroundings. He recognised where he was but it wasn't where he passed out. He's always hated the sickly white walls of Konoha's hospital and it wasn't the most pleasant thing to wake up to. "It was a dream" he thought, recalling what he just saw.

"Sasuke?!" He heard a woman's voice calling him from the other side of the room. "You're awake!" she exclaimed.

He turned to look to his right only to see a head of pink hair and green orbs gleaming at him. "Sakura" he voiced nonchalantly. He scanned the room but there was no body else present.

The pink haired girl walked up to the side of Sasuke's hospital bed and placed a Daffodil on his bedside table. She fondly recalled the last time she came to bring him the flower years ago the last time he was in hospital after the Chuunin exams, competing with Ino about which flower meant the most.


(Flashback)

Ino picked a red rose from her flower shop "I think I'll bring him one red rose. It's the flower of love" she said distantly.

"Ha! How lame can you get?" Sakura exclaimed, picking a Daffodil. "Me? I'm going to get him a single Daffodil." She brought the white and yellow flower to her chest "a noble flower that bravely endures the long months of Winter then blossoms fourth as a sign of spring."

(End of flashback)


"At least this time, I actually get to give it to him" Sakura chirped to herself before seeing Sasuke glancing at the flower before disregarding it. She frowned slightly but wasn't discouraged "he has been through a lot."

The Uchiha sat in silence, a faraway look enveloped his eyes. Sakura has seen him distant during their time as Team seven but never to this extent. She wondered what could possibly be happening in his mind to make him this despondent. She noticed the cold sweat he had broke into moments before he woke up. She frowned at the thought as she cautiously approached him "I need to preform a daily check up on you Sasuke" she began, she could tell he wasn't in the mood for small talk. He never was. She searched for approval but his nonchalant facade remained.

Her palm glowed green as she scanned it over his forehead, it was cold and wet with sweat from before although she was used to these kinds of symptoms in people. After a few minutes she backed away, the green glow fading away from her palm. "It looks like you're going to make a full recovery. You're awake a lot earlier than we thought you'd be" she smiled as her green orbs softened at the young Uchiha. "You're still in the recovery process but it's nothing your body can't heal on its own."

Sasuke had still said nothing, not even hearing Sakura. He didn't care about his health at the moment. "It was a dream" he repeated to himself as it replayed in his mind. He scanned the room once more. "Where's Naruto?" he asked.

Sakura's green orbs widened as she processed his question. "He's out training at the moment. He came in earlier but we had to force him to leave, he's been slacking off since he brought you back, it's like he lives here these days" she chuckled slightly "same old knucklehead Naruto."

Sasuke's brows furrowed "training huh?" he said sharply.

The pink haired girls features creased in concern for the young Uchiha. "Sasuke" she began, still not capturing his full attention "there are ANBU guards placed in and around your hospital room. Even if you wanted to leave, you won't be able to." She turned on her heel and strode for the door, though she didn't really want to leave yet. "I'll go tell Lady Tsunade you've woken up and that I've done a full health check up. Kakashi Sensei and Naruto will be notifi—"

"No" Sasuke snapped his head to Sakura as she stopped in her tracks. "Not Naruto" he said, his nonchalant tone returning. "If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be here" he thought bitterly.

Sakura said nothing but looked at the young Uchiha in concern. "It's almost hard to believe he doesn't want to see Naruto" she thought but didn't say anything to him in this state. "Alright. But Kakashi Sensei must be notified anyway. I'll be back soon with Lady Tsunade and Kakashi sensei."

She slid the door shut behind her and grinned "Sasuke's really back" she thought excitedly as she hurried towards Tsunade's office. The more she thought about it, the more her smile got smaller and her pace slowed. "If it weren't for Naruto" she thought "he wouldn't be here." She remembered Sasukes sudden request at not wanting to see the young blonde. A bite of guilt struck her stomach. "If anyone has the right to see him, it's Naruto." As she neared the Hokages office, she shook off these thoughts and readied herself to give a full report on Sasuke's health status.


Tsunade briskly stood up from her desk as her palms slapped the top of her table. "He's awake!?" she exclaimed. "Already?" she thought to herself, surprised at waking up only 6 days after fighting Itachi. "His body was in terrible health" she speculated.

"Where's Kakashi and Naruto?!" she asked Sakura.

The pink haired girl was about to respond before the Hokages door creaked open to reveal a silver haired man. "Right here, Lady Tsunade. Sorry I'm late, I got stuck wrapping up some important details for this mission report." He handed her the papers from the Sasuke Retrieval mission and she simply threw them on her desk, amongst the pile of other mission reports.

Kakashi eyed the papers on her desk and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed it was easily disregarded "I put so much work into that" he sighed to himself.

"What's Naruto's excuse?" Tsunade barked.

"Lady Tsunade" Sakura spoke "Sasuke requested to not see Naruto." She put it in the kindest way she knew how, even though she was fully aware the young Uchiha didn't 'request' it at all. More like demanded it.

"And why not?!" the older blonde spat, taken aback.

"I… don't know." Sakura hesitated but it was true. She didn't ask for an explanation nor did he want to give her one.

Tsunade's brows furrowed as she held her thumb up to her bottom lip. "Ungrateful little brat" she thought, not really knowing why her blood gradually started to boil at this request. Hastily, she slammed her palms down on her desk once again and she slightly leaned over it, making Sakura jump a little.

Her pink haired student would recognise this stance any time and it made her a bit squeamish. "Oh no" she groaned to herself, remembering all the times Tsunade would do this when Sakura would anger her in some way when she first became her apprentice. Although luckily for her this time, it wasn't Sakura to blame.

"Sakura, Kakashi, head to the hospital immediately and meet me in Sasuke Uchiha's room." Tsunade ordered "I've got to collect some paper work."

"Right" Kakashi agreed as Sakura nodded. Immediately, they disappeared, obediently making their way to Sasuke.

Tsunade fumbled around through the papers for the contract Shizune had written up moments ago. "Shizune!" she called as the dark haired woman came to her side.

"Yes Lady Tsunade?" She asked genuinely concerned.

"Where did that damn contract go?"

"Oh, uh, right here" Shizune pulled out the contract from underneath Kakashi's mission report and handed it to the Hokage.

Immediately, the older woman snatched it from Shizune and ordered her to stay in the Hokage's office incase anybody comes by with important news. The dark haired woman nodded in understanding as Tsunade stormed out of her office. Shizune sighed as she exchanged a glance with the small pig she held in her arms. "Lady Tsunade is not having a very good day" she spoke as the pig nodded in agreeance.


"Kakashi" Sasuke spoke as the silver haired shinobi entered his room.

"Hello Sasuke" the masked man responded "nice to see you again. It's been awhile." His one visible eye curved upward, revealing the smile he wore under his mask.

"Hn" Sasuke averted his gaze to the window, looking over Konoha, not paying any mind to his former teacher.

"He's the same as ever" Kakashi noted although his dark orbs narrowed "but after killing Itachi, it's no wonder he's probably changed in more ways than we can see..."

Sakura followed in after Kakashi, she turned to slide the door shut until there was an opposing force on the other side, hurling the almost shut door open again before Tsunade bulldozed through the room where she stopped besides Sasuke. "Sasuke Uchiha!" she said, a hint of irritation laced her tone. The raven haired boy slowly averted his gaze from the window to the towering blonde woman in front of him. Without saying anything, he simply furrowed his brows at the older lady.

"First of all, drop the attitude brat" she ordered "second, here is your contract." Her voice turned stern as she handed it to him. He glared down at the piece of paper before taking time to skim through it. "I've spoken to the village elders. Despite your betrayal, they are allowing you to come back to Konoha and have a possible future."

Tsunade thoroughly went through the conditions of which the young Uchiha would have to comply with on the contract with Sasuke before setting a pen down on the bedside table. "You don't have to sign it now." The older woman pinched the bridge of her nose as she exhaled and addressed the raven haired boy again. "But if you don't sign it at all," she continued "then you will be marked a true traitor of Konoha and you will be executed." She turned to Kakashi and Sakura "did you two get all of that?"

Sakura looked up to the Hokage wide eyed as she nodded "Sasuke, on team Kakashi again?" She thought this over and over again since the older woman went through the terms and conditions of Sasukes contract. It was almost too good to be true. "But Sasuke…" her green orbs trailed to the pen Tsunade sat down on the table. She feared for his life that if he chose not to agree with this, he'll die. She wanted to oppose this and argue his case but she understood that Tsunade already went through this with the village elders. She hung her head as she said "yes Lady Tsunade, I understand."

Kakashi didn't know what to expect when he was called to the Hokages room. Although hearing this news wasn't as surprising as he thought it should be. He knew that team seven knows Sasuke best in Konoha, he couldn't deny that monitoring Sasuke would be uncomfortable but if he were Sasuke, he would've counted himself as lucky for getting the current punishment. He shared Sakura's same thought as he glanced down at the untouched pen on Sasuke's bedside table.

Deciding not to push the subject any further, Tsunade headed for the door before pausing to look back at the raven haired boy who was still staring at the contract in his lap. "Lastly" she began "I want you to inform Naruto about your twelve month probation. If it weren't for him, who knows where you'd be. If it weren't for his persistence to drag you back to the village all the time, you wouldn't be here. Even as your rival, I don't understand why he pushed himself to such lengths for you" she slid the door open in a much calmer manner. "You are free to roam within the village but you will constantly be under surveillance, any malicious attempt against the village and your contract will be terminated and I'll execute you myself if I have to. You have seven days to bring me your contract, signed or unsigned" she ended as she shut the door behind her.

Sasuke had stared after her in silence before returning his attention back to the contract. Sakura and Kakashi exchanged a glance before Kakashi spoke. "Take a good hard think about that contract, Sasuke. It's not every day the Hokage vouches for a missing nin." Returning his hands back into his pockets, he made his way out the door as Sakura followed.

"I'll be in to check up on you tomorrow Sasuke." Sakura said "Until then, get some rest" she smiled at him, though still concerned. The pink haired girl followed her sensei out, allowing one last glance at the Uchiha.

Tsunade headed back to her office, she found herself almost tired after her time with Sasuke. It wasn't a particularly unusual thing to be tired after a contract hearing but the Uchiha case wasn't one she was expecting to work herself up about. Personally, she didn't want Sasuke to be executed at all, she saw a potential in him than the village elders couldn't. Her brows furrowed as she recalled Sakura saying he repudiated Naruto's presence. "After all his whining and persistence to save that boy, which I had to deal with by the way, Sasuke has the nerve to turn him away." Initially, she thought this feeling was anger. But now, she understood that it was disappointment for the young blonde that determinedly never gave up on him. As she rounded the corner to her office, she found her door open as Shizune, Sai and Jiraya's three frogs waited for her.


Naruto lied on his belly in his bedroom. After a hard days training, he decided some rest was in order. He watched his clock ticking away as he read the time. 1:30PM. "I wonder how Sasuke's doing…" his thoughts wondered to a time where he had met Itachi on his mission to retrieve Sasuke.


(Flashback)

"Why are you so obsessed with my brother? He's just a rogue ninja" Itachi questioned.

"It's true that we may not be blood but he's more of a brother to me than you ever were to him." Naruto's words lingered in the air, he knew what he said was the truth but he felt like he could've worded it a little better. Brother? Not quite a brother but he definitely felt like it was more than friendship. Naruto always wondered if this feeling was how it felt to be with family.

Itachi's lips curled into a subtle smile, dismissed by Naruto as the blonde ran at him but black crows obstructed his vision. All too suddenly, the sky turned blood red and his feet weren't touching the ground anymore.

"You're already in my genjutsu" Itachi spoke "I'll say it again, I just want to talk. I know that you've been trying to take Sasuke back to Konoha, however, what if it doesn't go the way you want it to?"

"I'll do anything to make it happen!"

"Even taking him by force, sure if you're lucky Sasuke will obediently return with you to the village. What if the opposite were too happen?"

"What're you talking about?" Naruto questioned, furrowing his brows.

"You just said, you consider Sasuke to be like a brother to you" Itachi stated, not dismissing the flash of confusion that crossed Naruto's blue orbs. His red orbs narrowed as he continued "what if Sasuke were to attack Konoha? What will you do then?"

Naruto was taken aback. Why was Itachi asking him these things? Why was it so important what Sasuke meant to him? "What're you talking about?" He answered hesitantly "there's just no way Sasuke would ever do something like that."

"Sasuke is still just a blank canvas. He can still easily be dyed into any colour. If he resists will you be able to stop him? Or even kill him if need be? Could you weigh Sasuke against Konoha on a set of scales?"

Naruto's blue orbs widened in surprise "I would defend the village and I would find a way to stop sasuke without killing him!"

Itachi's red orbs bore into the young blonde and for a moment, Naruto saw the Uchiha's lips curl into a smile.

(end flashback)


Naruto's thoughts were interrupted by a knock at his window. He sat up to see Kakashi summoning him. The young blond abruptly sat up and opened his window to greet his former teacher. "Oh, it's you. Hey Kakashi sensei, what's up?" he questioned.

"Naruto, Lady fifth is summoning you. Get ready quickly and come with me." There was a tone in his voice that the young blonde didn't like. Nonetheless, he quietly did what Kakashi had asked of him and got ready to set out to meet Tsunade.

Naruto entered the Hokages office. Before seeing the blonde haired woman, his eyes skimmed across the room to see Sai, Sakura, Jiraya's three frogs and then Tsunade, sitting at her desk. "What's going on?" he spoke as his gaze settled on the blonde haired woman. She looked distressed as she motioned for him to come further into her office. He complied as Kakashi followed him in and shut the door behind him.


Sasuke stood at his hospital window after throwing on his newly cleaned usual white and purple attire. A nurse had brought it in for him after Sakura and Kakashi had left him. He hadn't looked at the contract since Tsunade left although it hadn't left his thoughts. Live in Konoha or be executed. To Sasuke, it wasn't surprising that this was his chosen consequence but he didn't want to sign a binding contract to the village. After his fight with Itachi, it had left him almost for dead.

Tsunade's words flashed in his mind once again "I want you to inform Naruto about your twelve month probation. If it weren't for him, who knows where you'd be. If it weren't for his persistence to drag you back to the village all the time, you wouldn't be here."

"Where I'd be?" his mind lingered on that for a moment. "I'd be closer to finding Madara Uchiha" he concluded as his eyes narrowed at nothing in particular. Anger shook his core at the thought of Itachi's accomplice, anybody who took part in eradicating the Uchiha clan was an enemy in his eyes. And in Sasuke's red orbs, there was no truth he could not see.

"Even as your rival, I don't understand why he pushed himself to such lengths for you."

Sasuke's brows furrowed as he recalled the older woman's words, remembering something similar he asked the young blonde years ago, at the Valley Of The End before he left to seek out Orochimaru.


(Flashback)

Sasuke's Sharingan was downcast as he spoke "Why Naruto? Why would you go so far for me?"

"Because this is the first time, I've ever had a bond like this." Naruto smiled as Sasuke's red orbs met his turbulent pools of blue. "That's why I'll do anything I can to stop you."

At the young blondes words, Sasuke felt a familiar sting of anguish unfurl in his chest, one he hadn't felt since the Uchiha clan had been expunged. He lowered his gaze "It's too late, Naruto. It's just too late."

(Ends flashback)


Now when Sasuke looked back on this memory, he found himself allowing Naruto's words to echo in his mind, still not grasping them entirely. When he saw his former team mate now, he was surrounded by people he's met since Sasuke had left him and to the young Uchiha, Naruto seemed to have friends everywhere he turned. Yet, to this day, Naruto's determination to protect whatever bond they shared never faltered. The times where Sasuke had attempted to take his former friends life, the times he belittled him and severed their ties were all in vain.

"Bonds are what make people weak. They are what made me weak. what is it about Naruto's bonds that make him so strong? He's never experienced the type of pain that I have because I had those bonds once" he spat to himself. Sasuke's clenched fists uncurled as he looked to his palm to see there were crescent moons imprinted into his hand.

His brows furrowed as he returned his gaze back to Konoha. His thoughts settled as he let his dark orbs wander around the village. Despite the resentment he felt toward Naruto, an unrecognisable feeling began to bubble within his chest whilst he looked over Konoha. There were memories at every corner, most of them involving the young blonde. The village was still and the sun was starting to fall behind the five Hokage stone monument, showering Sasuke's form in an orange hue.

He remained glued to his spot until he spotted one figure walking out of the Hokages headquarters. He recognised the orange and black jumpsuit that belonged to Naruto Uzumaki. His eyes narrowed as he recalled Tsunade's last request.

"I want you to inform Naruto about your twelve month probation."

He sent a glance toward the contract that lied on his bedside table next to the pen and then back to the young blonde. Hesitantly, he strode across the room. An ANBU guard swiftly appeared in front of the door, blocking his path. "Where're you going?" the masked Shinobi interrogated.

Sasuke's brows furrowed, he wasn't in the mood to explain himself to anybody. He especially wasn't in the mood to explain his contract to Naruto. "I'm going to do what the Hokage asked me to do" the raven haired boy said matter of factly.

"Of course" the ANBU guard responded immediately "I'm required to lead the ANBU guards supervising you for the next year, until your probation period finishes. I will be watching where you go and follow you whenever you leave. I'm sure Lady Tsunade has gone through this arrangement with you?"

Sasuke nodded once as he glared at the ANBU, his patience was running thin. The masked Shinobi stepped aside as he let Sasuke pass. "Alright then" he said before watching the young Uchiha leave the room and make his way to the exit of the hospital.

It didn't take long for Sasuke's dark orbs to locate the young blonde, only this time he was talking to another man. It took the raven haired boy a bit of time to recognise the older man as Iruka. Sasuke turned to walk away, he wasn't about to butt into their conversation for something that could wait but he paused as something caught his attention.

Sasuke watched as Naruto slouched while he walked away from his former teacher with his fists balled deep within his pockets. If Sasuke wasn't mistaken, he remembered how close he and Iruka had been when they were students at the academy. His dark orbs narrowed as he watched the older man stare after Naruto. Something had happened and Sasuke decided now wasn't the time to talk.


Naruto sat in bed as he bent one knee to support the arm that rested on it while he let his head droop over it.

(Flashback)

Naruto stared at everyone in confusion. "What's going on…" he wondered. His gaze landed on the small toad with thick woollen brows and a robe wrapped around his small form as he addressed Naruto after asking Tsunade who he was in an abrupt manner.

"I'm not exactly sure where to begin this," the small toad began, casting his gaze downward "But let me see… I suppose the most important thing is," he paused before locking eye contact with the young blonde "I'm afraid Jiraya boy has died in battle."

Naruto could've sworn he felt his heart stop. Words ran circles through his mind but a simple "huh" he was all he could muster. "W-What're you talking about?" Naruto asked, still not quite sure if the old toad knew if that was a fact. He hoped with everything, it was just a speculation.

"I know this is very sad, so I understand if you don't believe me" the old toad exhaled before he continued but everything sounded like a blur to Naruto.

"The Pervy Sage… dead?" he told himself, barely paying attention to the information the older toad was relaying. An intense surge of grief flowed through his veins before it turned into anger. "You let him go. Is that right, Granny?" Naruto asked, his orbs never left the ground.

"That's right." she confessed.

In that moment, Naruto's head snapped upright and he glared at the older woman behind her desk. "Why would you ever let him do something so risky!? You knew Pervy Sage better than anyone Granny." He took a step forward "how could you send him somewhere so dangerous alone?!"

"Stop it Naruto" Kakashi interrupted as he placed a hand in front of his former student, blocking him from further advancements. "You of all people ought to know Lady Tsunade's feelings."

Naruto paused as he took a step backward. His fists clenched at his sides "dammit" he said just above a whisper as he turned to leave.

"Naruto, wait! Where're you going?" Sakura asked as Naruto placed his hand on the door handle.

"If the Pervy Sage had been the fifth Hokage, he wouldn't let granny Tsunade take a risk like that. Never." His voice dripped with venom as he continued to push the door open and left.

He walked out of the Hokage headquarters and past the hospital, recalling memories of his time with the Jiraya. He almost felt sick at the thought that he was gone, no longer a part of the world he lived in.

"Naruto!" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts and he mindlessly looked up to see Iruka. "I hear you've been real active on missions lately. Everyone in the village is talking about you. You and I should go somewhere and catch up! How about you and I hit up Ichiraku for some ramen?"

The young blonde thought about it for a moment before his mind was once again engulfed in the news of his masters sudden passing. "Maybe later" he answered dully as he continued to walk past Iruka and make his way home.

(end flashback)

His ramen was getting cold as it sat untouched in the kitchen. As usual, the only sound he could hear was the ticking of his clock. It was so silent but his thoughts remained too loud for his liking. Lazily, he rose up from his bed and made his way to the door, allowing it to shut by itself behind him. He didn't feel like being alone at his home tonight.


Since Sasuke had left the hospital, he had roamed around Konoha. It almost felt as if he were familiarising himself with the place again. The sun was setting quickly and he couldn't help but notice his guards tailing him at an uncomfortable distance. It was too close for the young Uchiha's liking.

Sasuke had almost made his way around every corner of Konoha, avoiding every area where he sensed a familiar chakra signature. His mood wasn't the best today and he didn't intend to talk to anybody unless he had to. There was one last place he was yet to revisit though. He slowly rounded a corner before reaching an entrance. He didn't enter although he stared at the rows of houses, uniformly lined up next to each other.

The Uchiha district wasn't the place he imagined he'd end up if he ever returned to the village although he couldn't help but allow his curiosities to get the better of him. After all, without any Uchiha's, what would be the point of a district dedicated to them? Although to his surprise, there was no work done on his old home. The only difference his eyes could see was the dirt and dust collecting on the old sector.

His dark orbs flickered to the trees surrounding him, although he couldn't see anybody, he could sense the chakra signatures looming over him. He decided revisiting his past was meant for another time, with only himself present. He began to turn and walk back to the hospital until he felt a familiar chakra signature close by. He narrowed his eyes as he began to walk toward it, it was the same chakra he felt as he lay dying by Itachi's side.

A bench occupied by Naruto sitting underneath the only street light caught Sasuke's eye. He thought of the contract as he drew closer but the light had illuminated streams of water falling from the young blondes blue orbs. Sasuke's brows furrowed, recalling the memory of Naruto walking away from Iruka just hours before. Now he was sure something had happened. His pace slowed for a moment, he was reluctant to approach his old friend. "...it's none of my business" he thought as he began to turn away, telling himself he'll review the contract with Naruto another day but something twisted inside of his stomach and forced him to stop in his tracks.

He turned to look at the young blonde once more. Even from far away, there was nothing Sasuke's eyes could not see. He watched as the tears streamed down Naruto's marked cheeks and drop to the ground. Something about the look in his blue orbs perturbed Sasuke. Despite the tears that fell, the young blondes face was completely still and unmoving. The raven haired boy turned back and began to slowly walk toward the young blonde.

If there was something that Sasuke truely knew about in life, it was pain and the anger and hatred that's associated with it. Behind Naruto's unbending face was a storm of emotions that Sasuke recognised. Before he knew it, he was already in front of the young blonde. For a moment, it seemed as though Naruto was ignoring the raven haired boy but it was more than that. He didn't even notice him. "Naruto" Sasuke said nonchalantly.

Naruto's blue orbs widened before looking up to the raven haired boy as his lips parted slightly. Sasuke's voice was so calm and melodic all the time and it was awhile since he heard it say his name. It immediately caught his attention. "…Sasuke?" The young blonde briskly dried his cheeks, not allowing another tear to fall in front of his rival. "You're awake?" he asked, though his tone was still distant.

"Hn" Sasuke responded as he took a seat on the other side of the bench beside Naruto. The young blonde simply looked at him quizzically but at the same time, didn't have the energy to care either way. "I was sent to talk to you by the Hokage" the raven haired boy simply said, avoiding eye contact with his old friend.

Naruto's brows furrowed as he thought of his last words to Tsunade that afternoon.

"If the Pervy Sage had been the fifth Hokage, he wouldn't let granny Tsunade take a risk like that. Never."

He cringed a little at his words, he knew it was harsh but nothing could ease what he was feeling right now. "Not now Sasuke" Naruto said just above a whisper. Sasuke glanced at his old friend as a silence befell them. The raven haired boy didn't miss the flash on guilt that ran across his features when he spoke about the Hokage.

"Jiraya sensei is dead." Naruto's voice sharply sliced through the silence as Sasuke turned to look at his old friend. "He was killed by the Akatsuki. By Pain." His eyes began to water again and Sasuke looked down, silent but still listening. "All I wanted," Naruto continued "was for him to watch over me. For him to see me become Hokage. But I only showed him the worst, most uncool side of me. I'm still so…" He bit his lip as tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

Sasuke remained silent, recalling something he said to Naruto at the Valley of the End.

"It's not like you ever had a family in the first place! You were on your own right from the beginning, what makes you think you know anything about it, huh?! I'm suffering now because I had those ties, how on earth could you possibly understand, what it feels like to lose all that?!"

Naruto looked to Sasuke as he fought back his tears "is this what it feels like Sasuke?" he asked "is this what it feels like to lose someone you care about, forever?"

Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction as he snapped his head to Naruto, it's as if they were thinking of that same moment. "Naruto" Sasuke began as he stood up from his spot on the bench, avoiding eye contact "that day I lost my clan" he began and his voice hardened "the pain I felt was more than you'll ever know. My one goal in life was to eliminate my own brother."

Naruto casted his gaze downward as he contemplated his old friends words. "But" Sasuke continued, "even in death, my bonds with those I loved was never lost. I never wanted those bonds in life again. But we became best friends Naruto."

Naruto's eyes widened as he looked up to the Uchiha in disbelief. Why was he saying this now of all times? The young blonde blinked away his unshed tears. "After all these years" Sasuke continued as he clenched his fists "I see that sometimes it's better to have had those bonds and lose them to never have had them at all. Use the teachings Jiraya gave you and if you ever become Hokage." Sasuke turned to face Naruto "then maybe you'll have a chance at defeating me" he finished, smirking.

Naruto stared up at the young Uchiha in front of him. Confusion struck him and he wasn't sure how to feel but in Sasuke's words, he found something comforting. "Even in death… my bond with the Pervy Sage will still stay with me." Naruto allowed the first smile in what felt like forever to grace his lips. Looking down, he found that the orange ice block he held was beginning to melt away. He broke one side off the other and held it out to Sasuke. "Hey Sasuke, do you want half?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke raised one slim brow as he stared at the melting half of the ice block. "I don't like sweet things" he said before reading the slight disappointment that flashed across Naruto's face. He reached out and grabbed the stick. "But it'll melt if you just keep holding it like that. I'm going back to the hospital."

Naruto faintly smiled as he picked himself up from off the bench and began to walk alongside Sasuke. They made their way back to the hospital in silence as they finished the orange popsicle, Naruto was still grieving but he could read between the lines of what Sasuke was trying to say and it was more than enough.

Once they arrived at the hospital Naruto stopped as he watched Sasuke walk towards the entrance. "Sasuke" the blonde called as onyx orbs made contact with his blue globes "why are you allowed to leave the hospital now? ….Why did you come to talk to me tonight?" Naruto thought now would be a good time to ask before he left. The initial shock that Sasuke actually approached him started to settle in.

"I did it on a whim." Sasuke replied before turning back to the hospital.

Naruto stared after him, watching the Uchiha symbol on his back retreat into the large building. Once again, he balled his fists deep into his pocket and made his way home, with Sasuke's words echoing in his mind.


Sasuke slid his door shut before making his way to sit on his bed. He looked out of his window to make out Naruto's silhouette fading into the night. The raven haired boys brows furrowed as he averted his gaze to the contract. He didn't bother telling Naruto about it because as they spoke, he already made his decision. A part of him chastised himself for feeling such a hankering for this village but what more was there to do? He had killed Itachi. Until he could find proof that Madara Uchiha was truly still alive, there was no more he needed to do.

Since he came back all he's done was resent Naruto for bringing him back. And to Sasuke's dismay, for making him want to stay. An image of the young blonde with tears streaming down his cheeks appeared in his minds eye. For reasons he didn't understand, it made his chest tighten. It wasn't just a mere whim that made Sasuke willingly approach Naruto, he was sure someone else could've articulated something better to say. But after all he did to try and sever his ties with Naruto, even to the point of trying to kill him, Naruto insisted on never giving up on him.

Naruto made him weak. He was aware of that and a part of him found it very threatening yet he couldn't kill him. After all he's done, he was given a second chance at life in Konoha with Naruto and his old team. He didn't trust how well his circumstance was going but after seeing his old friend tonight, he picked up the pen that lay on his bedside table as he signed his name on the contract.