A/N: Oh my goodness thank you all again for reading, reviewing, and alerting!! I really shouldn't be updating again as I have to work tomorrow and whenever I start a chapter I always feel the need to finish before I go to bed. So with that said I will probably start updating every couple of days. I will try a lot harder to update at a faster pace but no promises. Also the more everyone reviews the faster I am at updating. I know all authors say this but it is extremely true!
Warning: This fic is yaoi. If you don't like than don't read! There is going to be spoilers throughout this story as it takes place one year after chapter 430 of the manga. There will be the occasional OC but they will be filler characters that don't have a major role in the story. The Naruto characters will be as IC as plot possible but there will more than likely be some OOC.
Blanket Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters, places, or jutsu. I do however own this plot, any OC's I create, and any jutsu that I make up.
----------- scene break
Italics – thoughts
Bold Italic – Kyuubi's thoughts
-=-=- flashback/dream
Naruto: Sage Chronicles
Chapter Two: Welcome Home…?
The forest was serene, calm, and had a certain tranquil quality to it. Sasuke couldn't remember a time when the forest had felt this welcoming, this peaceful. In all the years that the Uchiha Clan had called these woods their own he had never felt the peace that he now felt. Something was calling to the trees, the birds, and, it seemed, the very essence of the life that surrounded him. Sasuke was never one to really notice these things but it was as if it was in the very air that he breathed.
The tall giant, Jugo, walked silently beside him. The chattering little birds had quieted down and now they birds seemed to be waiting for something. Karin walked slightly beside Jugo and for once the red head was actually silent; though Sasuke knew this was not to last.
"Ne, Jugo?"
Sasuke stared ahead as Karin 'tried' to talk to Jugo. Sasuke had the feeling that Jugo didn't really enjoy talking with the girl. After all Sasuke himself didn't enjoy talking with her either. If she wasn't great at sensing chakra he wouldn't have even added her to his team. But what drove him crazy the most was the fact that she liked to fawn herself all over him. He never showed that he hated it but if he ever did he knew that Karin would be an emotional wreck.
Over this time away from Konoha he had come to realize one thing. Naruto. The blonde haired hyper active shinobi was always on his thoughts. At first he just played his thoughts to their rivalry. But as the time of their separation grew he came to realize, once again, that his thoughts were not centered around being stronger, better or more powerful then the Jinchuuriki. No his thoughts were on the blonde. He wanted to have Naruto to himself. He wanted to own, possess, and be the only thoughts that Naruto himself had.
"Yes Karin?"
Sasuke smirked to himself. So Jugo can talk when he really wants to. Though I do enjoy his silent company. Sasuke pushed a low hanging branch out of his way as they continued on their little trek through the forest. He knew that there was a lake nearby and he had every intention of bathing.
"Why are you following Sasuke-sama?"
A light chuckle sounded behind him before Jugo's voice once again filled the early morning air. "The birds have been talking almost nonstop about the Golden Sage and I wish to see this person."
Karin huffed, "You are your birds. I mean really how can birds tell you about this Golden Sage!? If there was such a person I wou—"
Sasuke stopped walking as he turned around to look as to why Karin had stopped talking. Her eyes were closed and she had a strange soft look upon her face. Sasuke shuttered slightly as a chill ran up his spine. There was something near them. It was gathering…energy?! "Karin?"
"Sasuke-sama…this is amazing!" Her voice was merely a whisper as she exhausted softly. Her red eyes opened as she smiled at the Uchiha in front of her. "I have never felt anything like this before. It's coming from straight ahead." Before Sasuke could ask her anything else she bolted towards the lake.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow as he looked in the direction that the fiery red hair had just run. "Come on Jugo."
"Hai Sasuke-sama."
The forest blurred past the two Team Hawk members as they followed after Karin. Sasuke didn't even know that Karin was able to run that fast. Blurs of colours flashed past as he gained on the girl. Sasuke's brow furrowed as said girl suddenly stopped and he, Sasuke, had to back pedal slightly as to avoid hitting her. They had reached the lake.
The three teammates stood atop a cliff near the waterfall that fell into the lake. Trees guarded them from view and the roar of the waterfall muted anything that they would be saying to each other. Sasuke looked over at Karin and was shocked to see that she was blushing brightly as she stared intently at the shore of the lake. Sasuke shook his head slightly as he too looked in the same direction.
Onyx eyes widened at what he saw. Sitting, crossed legged, upon the sandy shore was none other than the person that had been plaguing his thoughts for years. Golden hair, a lot longer than he remembered, sat in an orange tie at the nap of his neck. The golden hair swayed and flicked in the morning breeze as the shinobi sat in complete silence. Naruto…
"It's amazing…"
Sasuke tore his eyes away from the blonde to look upon the one whose words broke over him. Karin was staring at the shinobi with wide admiring eyes. "What?"
Karin's eyes flicked momentarily to Sasuke before once again looking down at Naruto. "I've never felt this before. I don't think its chakra that I am feeling. It's like…I mean I think…"
Jugo walked up on the other side of Karin as he too let his gaze fall to the blonde haired teen. "What are you talking about Karin?"
"It's as if that golden haired man down there is calling to the very Earth! Everything in the area is going to him. Pure and untamed energy is flowing towards him and the strange thing is is that his body is absorbing it at a fast pace."
Sasuke's eyebrow rose slightly as he turned to once again look at the object of his thoughts. Is this the power of the Sage's? Is Naruto really and truly a Sage? I never would have even thought it possible for the air head to get this strong. Sasuke couldn't seem to draw his eyes away from the scene below.
Onyx eyes flashed to a deep red as he stared harder at the Jinchuuriki. His eyes told in everything around him. The swaying of the grass in the wind. The spray from the waterfall. The large and frothing bubbles that were created upon the water of the waterfall impacting with the lake. But what had him hypnotized that most was Naruto. Strange swirls of energy whipped all around and traveled towards the boy.
What have you become dobe?! How are you doing this? Even my sharigan can't see what it is that you are doing. Does this mean that the Sage jutsu is in the same league as a bloodline limit? The energy pulled faster and faster towards Naruto as the boy's breathing increased. Sasuke could no longer tell the difference between Naruto's body and the energy that was pulling into it. Suddenly Sasuke's eyes widened as the energy flashed and Naruto was momentarily covered in a cloud of smoke.
"I can't believe that I am feeling this?! This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! Not to mention that that golden haired man is very good looking!"
Sasuke growled softly, which was carried away by the sounds of the rushing water, as he turned to glare at Karin. Karin, for her part, wasn't even paying Sasuke the least bit of attention. Her eyes seemed to only have one target and that target was his blonde haired shinobi. Hn! She needs to keep those eyes of hers in her head! He's not a piece of meat! Sasuke's eyes widened slightly as he turned away from the others. Where they hell did that come from?!
Deep rich laughter reached his ears as he once again turned towards the beach. He could now see Naruto perfectly without the smoke that had covered him a few moments earlier. Sasuke's eyes widened as he now gazed down upon Naruto. His eyes were no longer the crystal clear azure that he envisioned all the time but they were now a deep rich gold with strange sideways pupils. Deep red eye makeup of sorts were around his eyes. But what drew him was the fact the Naruto seemed to be talking to himself.
"That must be what a Sage looks like. The birds say that every day the Golden Sage comes here and trains. He is doing something with the water."
"Strange…" Sasuke glanced back as Karin stared with analyzing eyes.
"What Karin?" Sasuke couldn't help but feel, once again, annoyed at the fact that she was staring so much at Naruto.
"I can't sense him anymore. I mean I can see him. I saw all the energy that he gathered but I can't sense his presence anymore. If I wasn't looking at him right now I wouldn't even think that anyone was in the area."
"What?!" Sasuke turned back to look down at Naruto. The teen was currently opening a large scroll and his brows were drawn together as he obviously read something within the roll of paper.
"I can't explain it Sasuke-sama. I've never witnessed a Sage before. Orochimaru never had a chance to get his hands on one. I do, though, remember him talking about trying to get some Toad hermit to transform in front of him but I don't see how that comes into play with Sages."
Sasuke just growled, frowned, and crossed him arms. He didn't have a clue about Sages. Everything he had been taught about Sages from Orochimaru spoke of people running from Sages as they were pretty much an all powerful source. When Sasuke had questioned Orochimaru about Sages the snake just smirked and told him one thing. He told Sasuke that if he was every faced with a Sage that they only thing that he should do is run. And hope that he was faster than the Sage.
Sasuke was drawn from his misusing as Naruto stood and started to walk towards the lake. Upon his first step on the lake he could tell that Naruto had been here many times. He was not hesitant in any of his steps. Karin and Jugo were muttering behind him but his eyes and thoughts were solely on the teen. Once the golden haired shinobi reached about half way out he took up a stance. I've never seen that stance before. What are you doing Naruto?
Karin's gasp thankfully overshadowed Sasuke's as the water around Naruto started to swirl, whip and finally bubble up around him. The next thing Sasuke knew he was completely and utterly entranced by the Sage upon the water. The lithe form of Naruto moved effortlessly from stance to stance as the water churned and followed the graceful dance of skill and agility. Faster and faster the lean body moved and as he did so so did the water.
Sasuke was so absorbed in watching the dobe that he failed to noticed that they were not the only ones watching the performance on the water. Sasuke jumped slightly as a loud female voice screamed over the sounds of the both the waterfall and the soft splashing and churning that the water whips were making.
"Oi! Gaki!"
Sasuke smirked as Naruto yelled out and stopped his training. The water crashed down around him as he turned his attention to the two women on the shore. Naruto's eyes narrowed as he spoke to the two. Slowly he walked across the water until he was standing in front of them.
"A Sage is truly interesting. I would love to study him."
Sasuke turned away from the scene of Naruto talking to the two women and settled for looking at Karin. "What are you talking about now?"
Karin's glasses glinted in the morning sun as she adjusted them on her face. "While the Sage was training on the water I could sense him but it was actually very hard. I could only sense him because I had felt the Sage coming upon the energy. You see Sasuke-sama I don't think that the Sage was using any jutsu at all during his training."
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he gave the girl a quizzical look. "He wasn't using jutsu?"
"I didn't feel any chakra in the forms that he was making. It was more like he was pushing and pulling the energy within the water. The energy was like the energy that the Sage had collected. It makes me wonder if Sages can control an element through simply pushing and pulling the energy that is within the element themselves…"
"That's an interesting idea."
Sasuke glanced at Jugo who seemed to be looking over his shoulder. The silent giant seemed to be watching the conversation that was happening between Naruto and the women. Sasuke on the other hand was still waiting for Karin to continue to explain her theory.
"Just you wait Sasuke I'm going to find you! You hear me Sasuke!"
Sasuke jumped slightly as Naruto's voice carried over the area. He slowly turned around but as he did so he was suddenly overwhelmed by a spell of dizziness. Once again his mind was plunged into a sea of darkness as the sounds of battle rang throughout his mind. The screams of the people fighting. The sound of metal ringing against metal but the worst thing was he could once again hear the soft, sweet voice of Naruto calling out to him. The boy's pain clearly ringing through his voice.
"Sasuke-sama?!" Sasuke ignored his teammates as he leapt from the cliff. There was only one thought running swiftly through his head. He needed to get to Naruto. The strange visions that entered his mind were more and more frequent and he knew, he just knew, that something was coming after the boy. Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto vanished in a swirl of wind and leaves.
"No! Naruto dobe!"
The tall busty blonde woman turned to face him. Her mocha eyes widened as she stared at the breathless Uchiha. Fuck! FUCK! Where the hell did he just go!
"Uchiha…Sasuke…?"
His onyx eyes flicked to the woman as he grew more and more angry. Naruto just fucking disappeared! What had they been talking about?! "Why did you let him go?!"
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Azure eyes flashed opened as he appeared in his apartment. He was so excited that he couldn't seem to think of what to do first. He had finally been allowed to go and look for Sasuke. Or course he had to go and see Gaara first that he was actually looking very forward to that too. He hadn't seen his friend in a year.
Calm yourself chibi kitsune. Think about what you need to do so that we can leave.
"I can't! I can't believe that we are finally going to start searching for Sasuke again!" Naruto was so excited that he couldn't even keep his thoughts to himself. He knew that this was a bad idea as Tsunade had asked him not to speak to Kyuubi a loud but he didn't really care at the moment.
Well first thing you need to go is to make sure that you have packed your weapons. Then you will need your sleeping gear, some food, and a change of clothing.
"Okay…" Naruto breathed deeply as he started on his trek around his apartment. Every once and while Kyuubi would made a comment on something that he had forgotten and then he would fluster about once again.
"Kyuubi?" Naruto stated as he concentrated on packing up his pack.
Yes chibi kitsune?
"Do you think that we will finally find Sasuke? I mean I will never stop looking for him but I keep getting the feeling that he is moving further and further away from him."
What does your heart tell you?
Naruto stopped packing as he closed his eyes. His heart? His heart wanted Sasuke back. His heart never wanted Sasuke to leave in the first place. His heart was telling him that this time he would find the raven haired teen. But his heart was unsure if he would be able to actually convince him to come home.
"I know what my hearts wants. Strangely enough it has always known what it has wanted when it comes to looking for Sasuke but what it doesn't know is…is…"
Is if you will actually be able to bring him back?
Naruto sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah. I don't want to fight him to come back but at the same time I don't care if I have to beat him into a bloody pulp just to make sure that he does come back with me."
Chibi kitsune there is no point in thinking such things now. First and foremost we need to find him. That should be all we are thinking about. It has been a long road for you and your search. It's high time that you start thinking about finding Sasuke in steps.
Naruto zipped his pack closed as his eyebrows drew together in confusion. "In steps?"
Yes in steps. You are worrying yourself because you are thinking of the whole picture. Trying thinking of this in steps. Step one is finding Sasuke. Step two could be talking to him. Step three is seeing if he will come home with you. And so on and so forth.
Naruto grinned as he swung his bag over his shoulder. "I like that. Okay than off to step one!"
Wait a minute how are you planning on getting to Suna?
Naruto laughed nervously. "Uhm…I was thinking of teleporting there…not a good idea?"
Naruto could hear the Kyuubi sigh within the confines of his mind. You have just managed to actually teleport. The Time/Space jutsu isn't something to be taken lightly. Remember you have to be able to visualize your destination perfectly or it won't work.
Naruto frowned as he adjusted the pack on his shoulders. "I know that! I have been in Gaara's office before!"
That may be true but there are two things wrong with that idea.
Naruto glared at the wall. He wasn't able to glare at Kyuubi so the poor wall was going to feel his wrath. "Okay all high and mighty Kyuubi tell me what is wrong with my plan."
You are far too young to be cheeky with my chibi kitsune! One is what if Gaara-nii-san changed his office around and you end with half a plant or a piece of furniture through your body.Naruto cringed at the thought. He had no idea what kind of jutsu he would have to use to get himself out of the object that could be going through his body. And two is that what would happen if you all of a sudden showed up in Gaara's personal office. His guards might actually attack you!
Naruto frowned as he turned his attention to the window. It was still very early morning as the sun had just appeared above the horizon. "Fine I will take my time. I have some places memorized on the way there. It will take longer but it will make sure that I don't end up with something half in and half out of my body plus I won't have to worry about guards attacking.
Sounds like a plan to me.
Naruto laughed as he shook his head. Ever since he had managed to free the true spirit of the Kyuubi there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't converse with the spirit. Kyuubi was always very helpful when he needed it and was the voice of reason to him. Though he had grown quite a lot over the years he still had a knack for jumping into something, when excited, without thinking first. Kyuubi always managed to help him.
Naruto hitched his bag and patted the strap to his scroll. Finally! I didn't think that I would ever be allowed to leave the village to find Sasuke. I will find him! Naruto closed his eyes as he envisioned his next stop. There were only a few places that he could instantly get to. His apartment for one, the old training grounds of team seven, his current training ground, and the Hokage Monument. Trees, brushes, a wide open field. Birds chirping, little rabbits hiding in the underbrush, insects dancing on the breeze. Faster and faster the images washed through his mind. The sights, the sounds, and the scent grew within him.
And on that cool autumn morning as the inhabitants of Konoha walked up and down the streets a young shinobi vanished from his apartment in a swirl of wind. No one noticed. No one heard his departure. No one was aware that Uzumaki Naruto was no longer within the village of Konoha.
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Sakura advanced on the slightly trembling blonde in front of her. She was pissed. No. She was beyond pissed. You'd think he would show up for his own meeting! But noooo…he sends one of his damn kage bunshin instead!
"Now now Sakura-chan let's not do something that we will feel bad about later." The kage bunshin raised his hands out as if to defeat himself against the coming wrath of the medical ninja.
"Why didn't you come to the meeting?! I thought that I made it clear to you that Kakashi-sensei was going to be giving us a meeting." Bright teal eyes flashed as the pinked haired girl slipped on her gloves.
"I will still know what happened at the meeting Sakura-chan. Once I disappear Naruto will know everything that happened!"
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she continued to stalk towards her friend. "That's not the point Naruto!"
The kage bunshin was sweating as he looked over at the amused face of their team leader. Kakashi-sensei was grinning or at least Sakura thought he was. He was still wearing his mask but she could just make out the slight dents at his cheeks to show that he was smiling under the fabric. Sai just smiled softly but made no move to stop her.
"Kakashi-sensei can't you stop her?! Naruto will need to know what is happening and he can't do that if I am destroyed by Sakura-chan."
Kakashi-sensei reached into his back pouch and pulled out his copy of Icha Icha Paradise. Sakura smirked as Naruto paled even more. "Now it is time to pay up Naruto. You shouldn't have sent a kage bunshin in your place."
Naruto licked his lips as he backed up even more. He suddenly bumped into the railing of the bridge that they were standing on. His attention was temporarily drawn to the object that he had backed into and Sakura took the weak moment as a sign. Without so much as a whisper in the wind Sakura leapt through the air, fist drawn back, and sailed towards Naruto.
The kage bunshin turned just as her fist descended upon him. "Wait Sakura! Don't destroy the dobe!" Sakura blanched at the sound of the voice but she couldn't stop herself. Her fist connected with the kage bunshin's chest and in a puff of smoke it vanished from the bridge.
"No!"
Sakura stood frozen; her arm still extended. It…it can't be…can it… Slowly she turned her attention towards the voice that still rang throughout her head whenever she thought at the man. She felt light headed as her teal eyes fell upon the one person that she didn't think that she would ever see again.
"Sa…Sasuke-kun…?!"
Standing on the bridge's entrance was the man that she had last seen as a boy. His hair was the same and he was still dressed in the strange clothes that she had last seen him in when they found Orochimaru's underground lab.
"Sakura…"
Standing slightly behind Sasuke was her Shishou and her personal assistant Shizune. Sakura couldn't remember a time seeing that look on her Shishou's face. It was an odd mix of sorrow and…disappointment. "Shishou…is that…I mean is he…really…" Sakura lowered her arm and pulled it towards her chest.
The Godaime sighed, flicked her bangs, and nodded at her student. "Yes Sakura it is. Uchiha Sasuke is the one standing before you."
A burning, heating sensation jumped into her eyes as she stared at the boy who was now a man. Oh my…he's back…he's back..he's back! Sakura gasped out a sob as he ran towards the raven haired man, who had yet to tear his eyes away from where the kage bunshin had been standing.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura could feel the tears running freely down her cheeks but she didn't care. All that mattered was that her old teammate, her friend, and her old love was now just a few feet from her. It felt like a dream and that at any moment she would wake up and find out that Sasuke had never been back in the village at all.
Sakura laughed and sobbed as she jumped at the boy; throwing her arms around his shoulders. She didn't care at that moment that he didn't move, that he didn't even make a move to show that she had just flung herself at him, nor did his breathing change. Tears blurred her vision as she buried her head into his chest. "Sasuke-kun!" Her voice was thick, tear logged, and didn't come out as anything more than a whisper.
"Naruto…no…"
Sakura sniffled as she pulled back slightly and gasped at what she saw. Sasuke's eyes were still trained on the bridge but so many emotions were rapidly running through his eyes that it was making her dizzy. Sakura glared slightly at Sasuke. I am holding him being super excited to see him again and all he can do is stared at were the baka Naruto was?! I may have come to terms with the fact that I don't love Sasuke but he could at least say something to me.
Sakura reached up and gently turned his face to her. His eyes were dark, glazed, and hints of red ran through them. "Sasuke-kun…"
Sasuke blinked before he growled and grasped her shoulders. She couldn't stop the squeak that escaped her as she was roughly shaken by the raven. "What have you done!"
"Eh?!" Sakura could see that Sasuke was getting madder and madder. What is he talking about?! He could have easily figured out that it was not the real Naruto. "What are you talking about?"
"The Dobe!"
Sakura freed herself from Sasuke as a dark glare marred her pretty face. "It was just one of Naruto's kage bunshin Sasuke-kun! Naruto is just fine!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he growled. Without so much as a backward thought Sasuke turned on his heal and walked towards her Shishou. What the hell?! The guy is gone for over three years and this is kind of treatment I get?! What the hell happened to you Sasuke-kun?! I know that you haven't always been the type to talk but really now it was just a kage bunshin!
Sakura wrapped her arms around her waist as she watched the animated conversation happening between her Shishou and Sasuke-kun. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she softly spoke, "Welcome home Sasuke-kun…"
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A/N: Oh my goodness I am so tired. I hate work DX!!! I wasn't planning on updating this story until Saturday night but you have all been so wonderful with the reviews so I figured I could for go without some sleep to finish this chapter. Please continue to review!! They make me and let me know that my first fanfic is going okay!!! Hugs!!! =bows= Bitter
Japanese words to know: Godaime –Fifth Hokage
Yondaime- Fourth Hokage
Kunai – leaf-shaped blade with a handle with a ring at the end
San – suffix for Mr./Miss/Mrs
Chan/Kun- suffix usually added to the end of a name between friends or when someone older is talking to a child or someone younger then themselves
Sama – suffix for Lord/Lady
Kyuubi – nine tails
Hokage – The Fire Leader of the Shinobi
Shinobi - Is a ninja though technically it means, basically, one who is skilled in stealth
Jutsu - technique
Kage Bunshin – Naruto's shadow clone jutsu
Suna – Sand Country
Baa-chan – Grandma
Myobukuzan – The Frog Village
Sandaime – Third Hokage
Gaki – brat
Kazekage – Leader of the Sand Shinobi
Kitsune – fox
Chibi – little/small
Jinchuuriki – is a human who houses one of the nine demons
p.s. if I mention some Japanese words that I don't give the meaning to please let me know and I will make sure it gets added to the list. I always hated reading other people's work and didn't understand a Japanese word so that's why I made this table. Ja ne (bye bye) Bitter :)