I have made this chapter a little longer, since it took me some time to update. I hope you'll like it.

Chapter 12

It had been half a year since Naruto woke up and he still hadn't seen anything of Sasuke since then. He had been kept in his hospital bed for several long weeks and had slowly began his rehabilitation. It had been boring and happened too slowly for his taste, he hated lying in the bed and just waiting for his next session. He had kept his mood up, thinking Sasuke would come see him, but he quickly realized that that wouldn't happen.

He remembered Sasuke's parting words I'll see you sometime when you're well again so hurry up. That sentence was the only thing keeping him moving forward. He had to get well soon so he could see Sasuke again. After a few months he was released from the hospital and was allowed to live at his home. He still went to the rehabilitation sessions at the hospital every day, but it felt better sleeping in his own bed. He had thought Sasuke would come see him when he was finally home, but there was still no sign of him. Now half a year later he was finally done and was allowed to get back and do missions. He was still not allowed to go on the real dangerous ones, but it was still better than sitting at home and rolling his thumbs.

It still bothered him though... Sasuke had said he would see him, Naruto was sure they were finally friends.. but Sasuke still hadn't showed up.

Sasuke was on his way to Tsunade's office to inform her of his team's latest mission. He had quickly gotten a new member instead of Naruto and they were soon out doing mission as if nothing had happened. Sasuke was satisfied with the new member. Neji was like him, he liked order and disciplin and listened to him as his leader. He stayed back when he was told to and he remembered the strategy they had talked about..

He was the absolute opposite of Naruto and for some reason that irritated Sasuke. The dynamics in the group was off, it all felt wrong. He had been sure he could easily forget Naruto when he could put some distance between them, but the absence of him was just reminding him even more of how much he already meant to him.

He knocked on the door and waited for the reply.

"Come in" Sasuke walked inside and straightened up.

"We have completed the mission successfully and without any injury to us or the subject".

"That's good to hear. I'm sure you have already heard that Naruto is back again and will begin taking missions"

"He isn't ready for that" Sasuke tightly closed his lips, a bit shocked that he was almost yelling at Tsunade.

"I'm the one making the decisions here, not you" Tsunade sternly reprimanded him. Sasuke clenched his hands and could feel the nails dig into his palm.

"I know" He said though clenched teeth. "I still don't think it's right, you should rethink your decision. You know that idiot doesn't know what is good for him. He wouldn't slow down or take it easy, he will charge with everything he got and I'm sure his body can't handle that. He will strain it and he will get injured again." He tried to keep his voice steady and not let his anger show.

"It sounds like he needs someone who can look after him" Sasuke didn't like how amused she looked. He was sure she was up to something, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

"I'm sure his new group will be as efficiently as yours and they will be able to take care of him." Sasuke nodded hesitantly.

"But then again.. Who will be able to control Naruto? He is an energy bomb and they have to take care of themselves too." Sasuke tensed. He knew that. It had been hard to make strategies and to take into account that Naruto would probably do something completely different from what they had planned just because he thought he got a good idea. He would quickly go against orders if he thought they were against his moral code or his belief.

He had gotten used to it and could almost predict what he would do and could cover him if something went wrong... but would the other team be able to do that too? Would that idiot actually be safe in another group? He tried to drown the voice out that added Naruto wouldn't be safe without Sasuke to take care of him. He shouldn't think about him. He was moving on with his life. He had gotten the new member and he should just forget about Naruto.

Even though he tried to reason with himself he was soon walking towards the training grounds where he was sure Naruto and his group would be. He arrived at the large building where they had trained when they were younger, the place brought back memories but he tried to block them all. It wasn't easy and small images flashed before his inner eye. Memories about Naruto and him.. it was always Naruto. He tried to concentrate on anything else, but there wasn't anybody else in his memories.

It was only Naruto he remembered. It was Naruto he mocked, him he trained with, him he beat, him he secretly watched grow stronger and stronger. He had kept trying to get better, to be stronger and had told himself it was for Itachi. He had wanted his brother to be proud, but maybe that hadn't been the whole truth.. maybe.. just maybe. . It was because he wanted to be stronger than Naruto. He wanted Naruto to forever watch him, to get Naruto to chase after him and only think of him.

He wasn't sure why he thought that. He shouldn't have been thinking about Naruto at all. He shouldn't get involved and now he was. He was soon through the building and came out to the big square with various equipment. He quickly spotted Naruto kicking on a life-size wood figure while the two other members where looking on the sidelines. Sasuke frowned. They should have trained with him, if he just trained with a non-moving object he wouldn't be able to fight a real component.

He finds himself walking over there and reassures himself it's only to see if the new team was strong enough to protect a former member of his team, it's only a normal act from a leader.

"So anybody up for a little practice match, just to blow of some steam. I'm sure you haven't fought against someone as strong as me in a while, so it'll be good practice."

"Wow, someone here should really try to tone down on the arrogance when talking to others" A brown haired guy with red triangles on his cheek said.

"He can't help it Kiba, it's just the way he is" Naruto said irritated.

"I'm Sasuke, but I'm sure you've heard of me"

"So you're Naruto's former leader. You're just as annoying as Naruto described you" Another boy said and Sasuke felt a slight pain close to his heart. He quickly dismissed it. He shouldn't care what others thought or said about him, even if it was Naruto.

"I might be his former leader, but I'm sure I'm better than his current."

"Let's test that" The other boy said.

"Shino, it's fine. You shouldn't fight him." Naruto looked a little nervous at him. He knew Sasuke would easily kick his ass.

"No, I'm curious. I want to see how good he is". Shino patted Naruto's shoulder and felt Sasuke's eyes on him grow colder. He smirked behind his big collar and thought of a good plan that he had to test out. Kiba and Naruto sat down and watched them fight. It was quickly over, it was easy to see that Sasuke was on a whole different level.

"Have you gotten enough or do you want another beating" Sasuke looked down on he guy on the ground. It had been fun to beat him, but it was hardly a workout.

"Fine, you can try Kiba then" Shino walked over to the other two and put his arm around Naruto's shoulder. He could see Sasuke tensed and had a hard time trying to keep stoic. It was fun to finally have something that could bother the high and mighty Sasuke. Shino leaned closer and whispered into Naruto's ear

"I bet Sasuke will lose this time" Naruto frowned, there was no way Sasuke would lose to Kiba. He was so much better. He looked up and got eye contact with Sasuke. Naruto couldn't determine what that look meant. Sasuke looked angry, but not like usually and it bothered him that he wasn't able to figure him out. Sasuke was always so hard to understand, but he had thought he was slowly beginning to get him.

The fight started, but Naruto could easily see that Sasuke was unfocused. He kept looking over at Shino and him. Shino pinched him and he couldn't stop a small yelp to get out. Sasuke heard it and before he could stop himself he looked to the side again to see what the new leader was doing to Naruto. The movement cause him to be unfocused again and Kiba's fist connected to his cheek and sent him flying back. Sasuke was disorientated, this wasn't like usually. He was way to unfocused and soon Kiba was sitting on his chest.

"I guess you lost this time" Sasuke could easily hear the amusement in Shino's voice. He could easily beat both of them and he was sure they would never be able to take care of Naruto. No one would be able to do it. Naruto was just so difficult, he needed someone who was intelligent and strong.. someone like him. He had to get Tsunade to transfer Naruto to a different team.

Shino's arm went lower and wrapped itself around Naruto's waist. Sasuke grabbed Naruto's arm and pulled him away from Shino.

"I need to talk to you" Shino backed away from the look he got from Sasuke. It was so obvious that Sasuke liked him. The power in that gaze that told him he would lose his arm if he kept this act up was sending shivers down his spine.