I don't own Naruto...
Sasuke reached his estate just as the sun was finishing it's emerge over the horizon. In silence he walked through the neighborhood, still as he had left it so many years ago.
He made it to his house and slipped off his shoes before entering. Everything here seemed to be just as he had left it before as well.
He stepped into the kitchen and took a look around. Moldy bread lay in a bag on the counter top, cheese in a milk carton in the fridge. The electricity must have been cut off long ago.
Sasuke ventured to his room. Everything was the same there as well.
He looked through his old closet and stared at the clothes that he wore so many years ago. They certainly wouldn't fit now.
He'd need something more appropriate than his current attire. He had been wearing the same outfit since he was with Orochimaru.
Entering Itachi's old room, Sasuke found something suitable. It was a basic wear, nothing special. Plain black pants and matching short-sleeved shirt, the later with a small Uchiha fan at the base of the neck on the back. Something most likely once worn under ANBU armor.
ANBU...
He changed and thought of what he would do with the get up he had previously been wearing. Why did he ever agree to wear that weird purple-braid-bow-obi-thing in the first place?
In his room he propped up a few floorboards and stored it in there, not wanting to look at it, or sure of what else to do with it.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Hinata stepped onto the Hyuuga grounds lightly on her healing leg. She could walk fine, but she had been told to go easy on it.
Slipping off her shoes she went to give her report to her father. As she turned the corner around the veranda she could hear footsteps and slowed her pace.
"Good morning Hinata-sama."
"Good morning Neji-san" She looked into his eyes with a bright smile in her own.
"I see you are back from your mission." he stated looking her bandaged leg up and down.
"Yes. It went well. Not much happened." she answered lightly. "I have to go see Otou-san now about my move. I'll see you around Neji?" she smiled and began walking past him.
"Yes. I suppose you will."
- - - - - - -
"So you will be completing your move out of the estate today?"
"Yes sir." Hinata said clearly as she sat traditional style face-to-face with her father.
"I'm sure you'll do well on your own Hinata-chan, and I trust your decision in the new heir."
"Thank you father. I know that Neji-san will lead the clan well one day. Hinabi-chan has made it know to me that she agrees."
- - -
Hinata had the remainder of her things in one last box. She closed the sliding door quietly and walked out the front walk of the grounds, passing no one on her way.
After reaching eighteen, Hinata had decided to leave the Hyuuga grounds and live on her own, to spread her wings.
She had purchased a very basic apartment for a low cost with money saved from missions around a month ago.
In between missions she had been moving her belongings there; tonight she would be sleeping in a new bed.
Sliding the key into the lock and turning the knob, Hinata entered a new chapter in her life.
One that would be even more eventful then she could have ever dreamed.
- - - - - - - - - - -
He couldn't stand it here!
Just being in the house now frustrated him. He wanted to go out on a killing spree and chop off Tsunade's head.
The air was thick with blood-thirst and revenge; everywhere he went in the place brought up memories that were threatening to ruin all he had worked for.
He had to get out!
Sasuke ran out of the room, outside, into his sandals, and down the road.
On his way he saw scenes flash before his eyes. All of the people that once inhabited the place where there once more.
He ran past the lake with the dock and sped up.
- - -
The village was waking up now. People were walking around doing everyday things, opening stores, readying for the day to come.
Children ran through the streets chasing one another and playing games.
Ninja were everywhere.
Most everyone at least stopped some to look at the passing Uchiha. The only ones who didn't weren't old enough to remember the man.
He really was back, and how much he had grown!
Sasuke just walked by not giving a glance either way.
He kept walking, deciding on where to rest.
- - -
In traditional style he sat in prayer at the old memorial site, his eyes closed, his head bowed.
Prayer was good meditation, it kept things off of his mind, and the site was a secluded and quiet place.
He thought of all of his family.
They were all KIA..
They were all trying to protect what was precious to them when they died.
All of them.
It was while he sat there that he figured out a solution.
He would ask the Hokage for housing. Nothing much, anything he could live in besides that place.
It would appear that he was truly trying to settle down and join the ranks of Konoha again.
He rose from his place and started for the Hokage Tower.
- - -
'Knock, knock'
"Come in."
Sasuke opened the heavy door and entered the room as he was told.
"Ah, Sasuke. What is it?"
He glanced around the room blatantly. It was a mess. Books and papers everywhere, not to mention the empty sake bottles.
"I've come to request housing Lady Tsunade."
"Don't you have a whole estate to your name Uchiha?" she questioned, eyebrow raised.
At this Sasuke turned his head away, trying not to show emotion on his face.
"Yes," he returned his gaze back to his addresser slowly.
"But I wish to leave my past behind me and start on a clean slate. I can't seem to do that while I'm there." he stated honestly to the woman in front of him, waiting to be judged.
"I figured as much." she replied simply.
"I've had places looked into for you. There is a small apartment for sale in the eastern part of the village. It's not much, simple, only the basics, but it's the only thing in your price range as of now."
Surprised and intrigued by the information, Sasuke consciously lowered his eyebrows back down.
"Thank you Lady Tsunade. I would gladly and gratefully accept."
"Here's the address. You'll be expected to start missions soon. Only 'B' and 'A' ranked missions to start. The money will be taken from those missions until the apartment is payed off."
She handed him a small piece of paper and he bowed his head greatfully.
"Thank you again Tsunade-sama."
- - -
Tsunade was right on target when she said "basic".
It was a three-room apartment: one bedroom, one bathroom, and a kitchen.
In the bedroom, a bed. Go figure.
The bathroom, a sink, toilet, and shower.
The kitchen, a small refrigerator, two-burner stove, sink, counter, two chairs, and a cabinet.
He had never seen a two-burner stove before.
Not having anything to put into place, he just sat on the bed and thought about what he'd do next.
- - - - - - - - - - -
It's shorter than the other chapter, but I figured I'd cut it off here. It seemed like a good cut. I've been working on it for a while now too so I need a break. Thank you SO MUCH for the reviews! I really do appreciate them. I'll write the next chapter after about 5 more reviews ;) I need a break for a day. ;)
-Complicated.