I don't own Naruto.
A Thousand Lifetimes
Chapter 3
Lie awake in bed at night
And think about your life
Do you want to be different?
Try to let go of the truth
The battles of your youth – 30 Seconds to Mars
A week has passed since Naruto was allowed to go off with Rinji on the monk's daily excursions. It was Sasuke's turn to be physically healed completely. Mentally, on the other hand, Sasuke was on very shaky grounds. Naruto had been able to tell when Sasuke was able to listen to reason and when Sasuke should not be approached or spoken to. Sasuke went into fits of extreme brooding at least twice a day. Naruto never could tell what set Sasuke into such a mind set. He also knew that Maiya and Rinji both noticed Sasuke's strange behaviors (obviously) and Naruto could tell that they wanted to help Sasuke as much as Naruto did. But Naruto realized that for Sasuke to actually see some reason, the dark haired avenger should want the help first. No sense in forcing Sasuke to be something he's not.
As it were, Naruto figured that if Sasuke's mind was occupied with something other than their time or revenge or his Clan, maybe, Sasuke can be decent. Naruto, thus, volunteered Sasuke's time to join Rinji and Naruto on the daily excursions.
Sasuke, dressed in one of Rinji's old outfits like Naruto, prepared to stretch his legs and get some exercise. Naruto, the previous night while Sasuke was approachable with words, told him that Rinji takes his sweet time getting places and that walking was somewhat boring. Sasuke, then, did not see why he had to go, but realized that Naruto wanted to keep an eye on Sasuke, which annoyed the avenger. Uchiha Sasuke was not a baby that needed constant attention, nor was he some charity case.
"Ready to head out, Naruto-san, Sasuke-san," asked Rinji. Naruto agreed. Sasuke did not say anything, but the monk took it as agreement. Learning Sasuke's mannerisms were not all that hard. Maiya waved them off, while her days were tending to the temple that was falling apart and chores.
Sasuke walked somewhat behind Naruto and Rinji. The two were talking enthusiastically about animals or something like that; Sasuke was not paying much attention. He really did not want to be here anymore. He wanted to go home and deal with then, not somewhere in the past where Naruto and Sasuke really should not be.
The forest was nothing impressive or anything. Sasuke's guard was up from attackers that probably did not exist. He had the very strong urge to go train (or fight something).
"Oi, Sasuke, stop staring out into space," said Naruto. Sasuke stared at Naruto, who grinned and pointed at Rinji. Rinji was writing something in his scroll, while observing a plant that Sasuke has never seen before.
"What's he doing," asked Sasuke.
"I told you, observing nature," said Naruto. "It'll be ten minutes before we start walking again." Sasuke sighed, annoyed. This trip was going to take forever. "I know, I know, but be patient...which is something you are so good at."
"Your sarcasm is noted, dobe. It used to go right over your head," said Sasuke. The two boys glared each other, like they normally used to do.
"Let's go," said Rinji, raising an eyebrow at the two boys. Naruto and Sasuke snorted and followed Rinji. Rinji tried to ignore the boys giving each other dirty looks; it was making him quite uncomfortable.
"Hey, Rinji, could you tell us everything about Head Priestess Hinako, you know the one that used senjutsu," asked Naruto. Rinji stared, that was a random question.
"Well, I could, but I'm not much of a storyteller. But if you really want to know you should ask Maiya, she'd likes talking about the past," said Rinji. Rinji was more of a person that dealt with things that he could see and touch, Maiya dealt with abstract thoughts and theories. Naruto made a mental note to ask Maiya about Hinako during dinner.
Two hours later and ten times Rinji stopped to study a new plant; Naruto and Sasuke were collecting different kinds of berries and nuts. Naruto wondered how many berries they should get now that both he and Sasuke were at full health (both boys could eat much). Sasuke was busy wondering what the difference between the nuts he was gathering was and resisted the urge to tell Rinji to stop being weird and help them.
"He's mumbling to himself," said Sasuke to Naruto, in a hushed tone. Naruto shrugged; Rinji was saner than Sasuke.
"Shall we go meditate? Do you two want fish for dinner tonight," said Rinji. "Then we have to fish after meditation."
"Fish is fine," said Naruto. Sasuke did not say anything. What he really wanted to eat was some meat; Sasuke was getting sick of fish, berries, and nuts. He ate them for the past two weeks. Naruto gave Sasuke a look. The three of them walked to a clearing. Rinji sat down and Naruto and Sasuke followed suit.
"Oh you know how to meditate Sasuke-san," asked Rinji.
"Naruto told me," said Sasuke, quickly. Rinji looked at him, which made him feel very uncomfortable. As Rinji went into a deep meditation and Naruto dozed off, Sasuke snorted. He did not need this at all. Sasuke quietly got up and jumped into the trees and ran. He didn't need his old clothes (his sword was missing, Sasuke figures it is back in his time). Sasuke could figure out his own way home.
Whether Naruto returned to their timeline or not was not Sasuke's problem. He long since named Naruto an enemy and denied their former bond as teammates and best friends. However, Sasuke did not count on Naruto realizing what Sasuke was doing, especially when Sasuke was kicked in the back to the ground.
"What the hell," Sasuke asked, angrily, and getting into a defensive stance. Naruto was glaring at him.
"Where do you think you're going," asked Naruto, in a deathly calm voice.
"I'm leaving, what does it look like I'm doing, idiot," snapped Sasuke.
"So, you're just going to leave like that. How selfish can you get? Do you know what I have to do to defend you when everyone wants to kill you? Sakura doesn't even think it's right to keep you alive," said Naruto, not amused.
"You and I don't need each other to get back home, you know this, and so what's the big deal? I told you we are not friends anymore. I don't belong to Konoha or to anymore. I am an avenger, you shouldn't bother with me. You are too kind sometimes and that'll get you killed by maybe not me but someone else," snarled Sasuke. The 'someone else' was, of course, Uchiha Madara, who Sasuke referred to.
"Looks to me like you're running away from, I don't know, caring about someone other than yourself," said Naruto. "What would your brother say?" Sasuke growled and charged at Naruto, punching him in the face, which did not faze Naruto at all. Naruto wordlessly kicked Sasuke back. "So this is how it is going to be again, huh, Sasuke?" Naruto knew full well that mentioning Sasuke's older brother Itachi would get Sasuke beyond angry and attack him.
Naruto and Sasuke, perhaps both aware of where they are did not use chakra, were beating the tar out of each other. Punches and kicks flew relentlessly, neither bothered to dodge or block them. Their tempers were getting the better of them.
Naruto ran up a tree and used it to propel his body towards Sasuke with much force. Sasuke kicked Naruto away, though. At the rate of pure brawling that they were doing, both Naruto and Sasuke would wind up with concussions. After several trees were brought down, Sasuke found himself pinned to the ground. Naruto found himself pinned to a tree.
The latter felt this move before during his fight with Pain. Rinji activated his Rinnegan and used a fraction of the Shirai Tensai, the ability to manipulate gravity, to stop them from fighting anymore. Rinji had a look of disappointment and confusion on his face. The monk deactivated his doujutsu.
He grabbed both boys by their clothes and stood them up.
"What in the name of Kami were you two doing? You looked about ready to kill each other. I was under the impression that the two of you were friends and traveling partners. Friends are not supposed to look like that when looking at each other. Maiya and I took you two in and let you stay with us for the past two weeks so we respected your privacy. I didn't mind when you two whisper in your room at night, but now I really like an explanation, before I drag you to back to the temple to get you fixed up again," said Rinji, full of authority. Naruto and Sasuke merely looked at the ground, Naruto in shame and Sasuke in contempt.
Suddenly, Naruto did not feel too good, like his lungs were not working properly. He passed out. Rinji startled by Naruto suddenly stopped breathing properly, let Sasuke go.
"Easy, Naruto-san, breathe, please," said Rinji. Sasuke stared at Naruto struggling to breathe and he bolted. Rinji glared at Sasuke's retreating figure. He picked up Naruto and ran. Rinji reached the temple in a matter of minutes and Naruto's breathing returned to normal. Maiya was fixing the roof, when she saw Rinji carrying an unconscious Naruto and Sasuke no where in sight. Maiya jumped off the roof and towards the two men.
"What happened," Maiya asked, as she helped Rinji set Naruto down on his futon in the guest area that Naruto and Sasuke are staying in. Naruto was resting peacefully, when Maiya stared at Rinji. "Tell me."
"Naruto-san and Sasuke-san got into a huge fight or something. I heard a little of it. It seems you were right that our guests weren't telling us the complete truth. When I stopped both of them from killing each other, I scolded them and then Naruto passed out. Something is wrong with his breathing. Sasuke ran," said Rinji. Maiya sighed.
"Go after Sasuke-san, we can't have him in town. I'll see what I can do for Naruto-san," said Maiya. Rinji nodded. He left as Maiya got a bowl of water. She cleaned up the bruises and some of the blood on Naruto's face. She wondered what really went on between the boys.
About ten minutes later, Naruto sat up. Maiya jumped back, being startled. Naruto looked around frantically.
"Where's Sasuke," asked Naruto. Maiya frowned.
"Rinji's getting him," replied the priestess.
"I gotta go," said Naruto, trying to get up. Maiya hit him on the head.
"Sit down, Rinji has got this. Once Sasuke-san is back, you two have some explaining to do. You can trust Rinji," said Maiya. Naruto sighed. What was wrong with him? This is the second time that he passed out from breathing off. The first time was in the Land of Iron, after everyone told him how evil Sasuke was and how he needed to be killed for the betterment of the world. Naruto thought that it was an anxiety attack, but now, Naruto is not too sure. Once he gets back to Konoha, Sakura or Tsunade is seriously going to have to take a good look into Naruto's health.
Meanwhile, Rinji managed to catch up with Sasuke. Sasuke did not fight back when Rinji told him to stop and talk to him. Sasuke glared at the monk; the kind monk who took him in and cared for his injuries and let him stay in the temple even though Rinji and Maiya were generally poor and did not have much to give.
"What are you doing, Sasuke-san," asked Rinji, sadly. "Do you really not care about Naruto-san like the way he does about you? Naruto-san could be possibly very ill and you just ran away. At this point, I really don't care what you or his story is; it's not any of my business. However, you are so angry all the time and sometimes Naruto must walk around at night as if he were worried that you actually would kill him in his sleep."
"You're right; this is none of your business. I have my path set out before me and it does not include that meddling blonde idiot or you or the moronic priestess. I must avenge my family and Naruto will always be in my way, until he dies," said Sasuke, snarling like a mad-man.
"Sasuke-san is a self-proclaimed avenger. You read the story of Head Priestess Hisano, do you learn nothing? Revenge is a selfish path, Sasuke-san. It makes no one happy, not the dead you are trying to avenge, not the people that care about you, not yourself. I can only tell you these things, for I am not in your place, and hope that you make the right choices. Deep down you are confused and scared to care about anyone else but your dead family," said Rinji. "There is one thing I am very sure of though, Naruto cares about you, whether you like to acknowledge it or not. In your darkest hour or a mere time when you are unwell, I'm sure that he would never abandon you. So will you come back with me, so Maiya can tend to your wounds and you can speak to Naruto?" Sasuke and Rinji stared at each other for a good ten minutes.
Sasuke knew that there was no way that he could beat Rinji in a fight, without chakra, especially all bruised and bloodied up by Naruto and he did just recover from worse injuries. Sasuke grunted. He'd go back for now, but there was no way that he was going to talk to that idiot again!
Naruto apparently felt the same way as Sasuke. Naruto refused to talk to Sasuke, when he and Rinji returned. Maiya and Rinji merely exchanged looks of worry during dinner as Sasuke and Naruto gave the other the silent treatment. With Naruto and Sasuke not on speaking terms, how can they figure out a way home, now?