Author's note: I've picked up writing this fanfic again, but I realized that I wanted to make a lot of editing and corrections, so I deleted the last chapter and some of the end of this chapter. I'm almost done writing the new Chapter 6, so please, bear with me, all right? 3 The new chapter will be up either today or next Sunday. You can always review to motivate me!
XOXO~
Chapter 5: Reunion (Part I)
He sat near the edge of the bed, body stiff and unbendable. It was more of a ritual now. Something he did everyday. Like breathing. Thinking. Eating. He didn't like coming here. It reminded him of many things. Things that were too painful, too wearisome. But what else was there to do? He trained most of the day away, and during his spare time, he trained some more. Simple.
Breathing. Thinking. Eating.
His onyx eyes came to rest of their faces again. He had seen them lying on that same bed for eight years, yet their expressions had never changed. Nor had the color of their skin. The same. Unresponsive. Lifeless. Pallid. Wan.
And if it weren't for the machine at the corner of the small room, beeping whenever their hearts gave a feeble thump, Sasuke could not tell that his parents were alive.
Coma?
What a joke.
They were more like zombies.
The tired teenage boy stood up awkwardly. Bowing, he said, "Father. Mother. I'll be leaving. See you tomorrow." Then, turning without a single glance backwards, Uchiha Sasuke walked out of the hospital room.
Five minutes. He stayed in that room for five minutes.
Two more minutes than how much he stayed yesterday.
What a waste of time.
He could've been training.
XXX
She groaned.
Shit.
They were tracking her again. They never did give up, huh? The poor girl wondered how much their boss paid them. Must've been a lot, since they've been chasing her for two dreary weeks. If she didn't know any better, if she had no purpose to return to that village, the girl probably would've just let them capture her. Just for the hell of it. Just for the monotony to end.
But fuck. That stupid baabaa gave her a message to deliver to the damn grandpa, and well, she promised. So she would.
Either way, though, shit.
Simply her good luck.
She rolled her eyes. Konoha wasn't far off. But the two crappy assassins behind her… She needed to get rid of them before she arrived at the village. Except how? They were stronger and far more experienced than she was. There was no way she'll beat them without any help. She had already tried and ended up with a busted arm.
Oh screw that.
Konoha ought to have some strong shinobi.
Naruto picked up a faster speed, hoping to lose them. Nonetheless, with a jolt, she felt her trackers' chakra signatures start moving towards her with a quicker pace as well.
"Dammit," she snarled, and the girl began dashing the final miles to Konoha.
XXX
It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The dew glistened on the leaves of the bright green plants, and the sun shone gloriously through the spaces between trees. Somewhere a little sparrow chirped, and another soon answered it.
Kiba was training with Akamaru in the forest just outside of Konoha. It was almost the start of the Chuunin Exams, and Kiba was nervous. They were going to be the rookie class of this year, and that did not bode well. Akamaru must've felt Kiba's restive energy for the faithful dog gave a reassuring yip.
Kiba looked up at the dog on his head and smiled lightly.
"Thanks, Akamaru," he said, petting the white bundle of fur. "I needed that."
Akamaru barked again, his tail wagging furiously.
Kiba laughed, feeling his spirits soar. "'Kay, then, Akamaru, let's practice some more!" The teenager took out some shuriken out of his pouch and poised, ready to attack. Taking a deep breath, Kiba was about to let the throwing stars fly out of his hands when he heard loud noises coming deep within the forest.
Kiba glanced at Akamaru warily.
"You hear that, boy?" he whispered.
Akamaru growled in agreement.
Now it was apparent someone was there.
To be exact, he or she was running pretty fast.
"What the crap?" Kiba muttered.
Deafening crackling of the branches.
And bam! A black-haired, stocky looking boy came jumping out of the bushes. Kiba's mouth fell open in astonishment, and he froze. Akamaru instantly began snapping ferociously at the intruder, but the boy took no notice.
"Shit!" he exclaimed after catching sight of Kiba, and he grabbed the stunned boy's hand. "We've got to get out of here, man! Doggy, you come too. Shut your mouth and hurry! No time to waste! Up up up!"
Kiba suddenly found himself dragged against his will towards the gates of Konoha with Akamaru panting heavily behind them to keep up. "Boy!" Kiba shouted to the guy running in front of him. "Who the bloody hell are you? Where the crap are we going, dammit?"
"Going?" the boy yelled over his shoulder. "Isn't it obvious?! We're going to get away from those fucking apes!"
Kiba stared at the newcomer with skeptical eyes. "What are you talking about? What ap – " Two arrows whizzed by them, and Kiba flinched. "What the fuck?!"
The black-haired boy snorted. "Those apes. Now c'mon! Let's get Konoha's skilled ninjas work this out! Run, dude!"
Kiba didn't need to be told twice.
Trees flew by swiftly as they ran on, and Kiba was quickly losing his breath. But the sound of people pursuing them forced him to run faster, and it fueled energy to his exhausted legs. There! There, where the trees were beginning to clear out, were the beloved wooden gates of Konoha. Kiba barely had the breath to shout, "Oi! Over here! Help us!" to the sentries before falling to his knees, wheezing and huffing.
The four sentries hastily leapt up from their positions near the gates and raced over to the three.
"What's happening?" one of them asked the black-haired boy.
The stranger pointed to the woods. "Assassins alert. Watch out though. They're tough. I'm not sure what country they're from, but definitely not in this area. They carry poisoned darts." The boy rolled up his white sleeve. His arm was bandaged, but it was starting to bleed… purple blood? "Took me three days of trying to mend this wound with my poor chakra abilities before I got the most of the damn poison out of my system. I still got some left in there. Can't feel my arm." Then he gave the stunned sentries a cocky grin. "Don't die!"
Whoosh.
Two masked and cloaked figures appeared before them, and they were both holding long swords. But Kiba glanced at their legs, and sure enough… Darts.
The bigger one of the two stepped forward. "We will not fight. We only want him."
The sentries and Kiba turned to look at the boy. One sentry asked the stranger in a cagey voice, "Who are you?"
The boy gave him an offended glare. "Friend of Hokage."
"He lies!" the leader of the two cloaked figures shouted, and without any warning, he jumped up, about to swing his sword down at the boy. The black-haired boy readied himself and whisked out some shuriken.
"Bring it on," he snarled.
Luckily for Konoha, help arrived just on time.
"Maa," Kakashi said calmly, suddenly materializing next to Kiba with an unconscious cloaked shape in his arms. "What's this?"
Iruka appeared from behind the remaining masked stranger, kunai at the trembling man's throat. "Seems to be Lightning Country, Kakashi."
But Kakashi didn't seem to hear. Instead, the silver-haired ninja's one visible eye was wide, and his attention was directed at the black-haired boy. "No, it cannot be…"
The boy, noticing that his two enemies were either captured or unconscious, gave a sigh of relief. "Whew. They were such a pain. Been after my damn tracks for a fucking two weeks. I thank you." The boy stopped, and he lifted up his amber eyes to gaze at Kakashi's and Iruka's bewildered faces. The black-haired stranger grinned widely. "Kakashi-sensei. Iruka-sensei." And then the boy's piercing stare landed on Kiba's face, and it flickered to Akamaru who was on Kiba's head. "And to you, Dog Breath-sama. Hello, Aka-chan."
There was only one person that had ever called Kiba Dog Breath-sama.
And he had been told that she had got her memories back.
And had returned to her family.
But this boy here…
Iruka broke the silence. "N… Na…" the young man stuttered. "Na…"
The boy laughed a tinkling laugh. "All right," he said. "Show's over." Performing some hand signs, he then muttered, "Kai!"
Poof.
Right after the smoke cleared, the twelve-year-old sturdy boy was gone. Instead, a lithe and petite teenage girl – whiskered cheeks – with long, radiant-golden hair stood in his place. And had the most beautiful cerulean eyes that Kiba had ever saw.
Or rather, the most beautiful cerulean eyes that Kiba had seen in a very long time.
Eight years, to be exact.
"Naruto…" Kiba whispered quietly, as if in a daze.
Azure eyes snapped over to meet his for a second time. There was a hush, but it was broken by her big grin and chiming giggle. "Long time no see, Dog Breath," she teased.
In three steps, Kiba was by her side, crushing her in a tight embrace. "Oh my god. Naru-chan, when… How…" He grabbed her shoulders and gawked at the blonde. "Explain. Explain and don't leave a single thing out."
She grimaced. "Kiba, ow. My arm, please. Didn't I show you guys? I can feel at least some pain if you fucking squeeze it." He hastily dropped her arms, but his searching, almost frantic, eyes never left her face. Naruto sighed deeply. "I can't talk right now. I need to see Sarutobi before I forget this damn message that the baabaa made me repeat a billion times."
Kiba mentally reeled back. His auburn eyes gazed into her sky-blue eyes, and he finally grasped it. The thing that he had missed upon his excitement in seeing her back.
She had changed. She no longer was the little innocent girl he knew. There was a cloudy veil covering her eyes. They were haunted looking. It was as if Naruto had seen things more than the regular fifteen-year-old should. And her voice. It was rough. Sarcastic. Not childlike anymore.
There was nothing childlike about the teenager standing before him.
Naruto must've realized Kiba was inspecting her, and she must've seen the puzzlement etched in his tanned face for her big grin fell into a tiny, forlorn smile. One hesitant hand came up to rest on her arm. "I'm different now, aren't I?" she asked faintly. "I always knew it. But I guess I needed to come back and to check with you guys to confirm it."
He felt guilt slash at his chest, and his arms gently wrapped around her little body once more. "Change? Naru-chan, you've barely grown an inch. How long do you expect for us to look down on you?"
That broke the ice.
She gave an indignant gasp and tried to smack his arm, just she used to do. "Kiba!" Naruto exclaimed, mouth open in outrage. "I am not short! I'm just… just a late bloomer. So there."
He eyed her… womanly chest. "Mhmm."
Her mouth fell open even wider and she tried to slap him. "You fucking pervert!"
Kiba laughed, and Akamaru jumped from his head and fell into Naruto's outstretched arms. "Welcome back, Naruto. It's all right if you don't want to tell me everything right now. But I'll keep asking."
Naruto scratched Akamaru's white head. "Kay. I don't mind, Kiba." The blonde turned her attention to the two shocked men standing next to them. "And you have nothing to say to me after all these years, Kakashi-sensei? Iruka-sensei?" she inquired with sparkling sapphire eyes.
Kakashi broke out of the trance. He was immediately at the blonde's side and examining her hurt arm. Well, not before ruffling her hair affectionately. "We'll catch up with everything later. Your arm?" he asked.
Before Naruto could answer, Iruka could be heard tying his captive up, and the man was next to Naruto in a second as well. He was less formal.
"Ouch!" Naruto said, wincing. "Iruka-sensei! You're squishing me to death." Iruka let go of the girl reluctantly.
"I'm so sorry," Iruka-sensei said sincerely to Naruto. She understood the hidden meaning in the apology and shook her head.
"No. Don't worry. That baabaa wasn't so bad. These eight years passed pretty darn fast," the teenage girl reassured the troubled man. "I'm fine. And so is my arm, Kakashi-sensei. It's healing hella fast."
Kakashi sighed. "Maa, either way, we've got to have a medic nin check that up. And you say you need to talk to the Hokage?"
Naruto shrugged. "Better now than never." She turned to Kiba, who shot her a grin.
"It's all right. I won't come," he said again. "You'll tell me when you're ready. And I'm pretty sure there's someone in town that you'll gonna want to visit first…"
Naruto's eyes widened. After a few moments, she bit her lip and looked at the ground. "How is… he?"
Kiba's face was bleak. "Truth?"
She glanced up at his face. "Please."
It was an anxious but firm whisper.
Kiba looked away. "Not doing too well. Kakashi-san can catch you up on that."
Naruto glanced at Kakashi, whose head was tilted up at the sky, slyly avoiding those sapphire eyes. "Kakashi-sensei?"
The silver-haired ninja coughed. "Maa, I guess you should know. As you said, better now than never." He paused. "Team seven consists of me, Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, and Sai from Root. Let's just say Sasuke doesn't really get along with the other people. He's… very cold towards others now. I'm not sure if he's how you'll expect him to be."
"No," Naruto replied quietly. "I ain't expecting shit, sensei. Just want to see his face again. That's all."
XXX
The Hokage smiled at her. "It truly is good to see you again, Naruto-chan."
She grinned sarcastically back. "Really, now? Well, good to see you too, gramps. What are you gonna do about the baabaa's message?"
"There is nothing we can do unless the other country makes a move themselves," Sarutobi answered truthfully. "Just because Satoshi-san told us that Lightning Country is plotting something bad doesn't necessarily mean it's gonna happen right now."
Naruto's face hardened. "The assassins that were after me? You say the interrogation will be later. But Iruka-sensei said they might be from Lightning Country. They were the ones that killed Satoshi-baachan."
The Sandaime bowed his head. "Once more, I'm very sorry to hear that."
Naruto smiled thinly. "Why would you? I mean, Satoshi-baachan to you is just another person besides everyone else you have to take care of in this village. Why would you say you're sorry?"
There were outraged mutters from the ANBU crowd, but the Hokage cut them short with one raised hand. Sarutobi then examined Naruto carefully. "Child, I assume something has happened to you?" he asked softly.
She smirked. "Something happens to everyone."
"You will not speak of it?"
She shook her head. "Nope."
Sarutobi sighed. "Very well. Now we shall move on to where you shall live. If you want – "
"What?" she inquired, raising an eyebrow. "Live? Gramps, I'm just here to visit, ain't I?"
The Hokage blinked. "No, you are not. You are living here. Satoshi-san is dead, isn't that what you said? Then you shall be living again here in Konoha." Naruto opened her mouth, but Sarutobi smiled. "It's all right. The danger is over. At least, it should be. You can fight now, can you not? I'm assuming Satoshi has taught you some skills."
A dangerous glint appeared in Naruto's sapphire eyes. "You could say that." She paused. "So I'll be living here yet again?"
The Hokage's eyes crinkled into a warm smile. "Yes. And I assume you'll be living where you used to live?"
"Of course," she replied matter-of-factly, standing up. "Now may I be excused?"
"One more thing," Sarutobi said, standing up as well. "There's something called the Chuunin Exams about to go on right now. Do you know what that is?"
Naruto looked thoughtful. "Satoshi-baachan told me a little about it in her stories. The rank above 'genin,' right? People compete against the other country ninja to get the title 'chuunin.'"
The Sandaime nodded his head. "Correct. It's good to know that Satoshi-san taught you some quite important information. Yet the look on your face… You do not approve of the Chuunin Exams?"
Naruto shrugged. "It's a bunch of bullshit to me. I mean, you just fight and fight. There's no point. Why waste the energy?"
"So you gain experience. Some week I'll be putting you in one match to see your skills."
The girl stiffened. "Oh? Really?" she asked under her breath in a sardonic voice.
The Hokage was stunned. "You… do not want to?"
"Well," she answered. "I just don't like fighting. But it's all right. Rhe medical ninjas said my arm would heal in three days if I use their damn medicine. So I guess I even have time to train a little." She paused, considering something. "All right then. May I be excused?"
"You may. Do you still remember the way to the Uchiha Estate?"
She laughed bitterly. "Don't worry. I made a vow to never get lost again. Terrible things happen when you get lost. I should know." With a flick of her hand and a nod towards the ANBU guards, Naruto left the room.
XXX
Naruto walked down the streets of Konoha at ease. After all, nobody would really identify her. Not without a lot of experience like Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei. She was in her "safe" mode again. Thick and short black hair. Amber eyes. Young. Stocky. But most of all, a boy.
She sighed wearily. Somehow, she had thought she'd at least be happy to be back.
Surprise.
Well, she did feel joy bubble in inside of her when she saw Kiba and Akamaru's faces again, but it was… remote. Like she was feeling it from a far distance away. And instead, she dreaded seeing everyone once more. She didn't like company. Company meant closeness. And closeness only lead to pain.
Naruto frowned. She seriously had changed… without even noticing it. Was that supposed to be a good thing? The blonde suddenly heard laughing and loud noises come from behind her, and curious, she turned around.
And felt the world spin to a stop.
Hinata, Shino, and Kiba walked towards her.
Her eyes became wide, and she couldn't breathe. Dammit! She didn't want to start talking to everyone of the way home. Hell, she didn't even see home once yet. And…
Wait a minute.
The girl realized with a start that she was in a disguise. There was no way that they would recognize her. So…
Except for Kiba. He knew.
Kiba had stopped talking upon seeing her, and they had stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity. But Naruto gathered her wits together, and she feigned delight. "Kiba!" she – he – said, grinning. "I didn't know you were out, man!"
Kiba blinked in befuddlement but caught on pretty fast. "Er…" he coughed out. "Yes. I was training. These are my team members. Hinata. Shino."
Naruto nodded to the two. "My pleasure. I'm Mahito, cousin of Kiba. I don't believe he told you about me?"
Hinata blushed, looking sideways. "N-no. Nice to meet you, Mahito-kun. It's a p-pleasure to meet you."
Shino merely nodded.
Naruto could scarcely hold in her grin. Same old Shino and Hinata.
"Wh-where are you going?" Hinata stuttered out.
Naruto smiled. "Home. Came out to chill a bit. It sure is nice here."
"I… I s-see. D-do you live in the same h-house as Kiba-kun?" Hinata questioned politely.
"Oh no," Naruto replied, thinking fast. "There's no room. I'm…" Pause. "… staying somewhere else," she then finished lamely. "You? Out training with Kiba?"
"Y-yeah," she answered, still not meeting Naruto's eyes.
Naruto then turned her amber gaze to Shino. "And you?"
"Training."
The girl smiled in a wise manner. There was a moment of awkward silence before Naruto laughed shakily and said, "Well, people, I guess I'll be going? I wanna catch some sleep."
The girl nodded at the three – meaningful glance at Kiba – and turned around, ready to walk off.
Shino spoke.
"You are the same age as us. Sixteen."
She froze. Her mind was racing, and she felt panic rise up in her chest. Dammit! But Naruto thought fast, and she faked innocence. Circling around slowly, she smiled a thin smile and asked courteously, "Really?"
Shino looked at Naruto mildly. "It was an assumption."
Her heart had begun beating again.
Whew. It must've been a test.
Naruto's thin smile blossomed into a relieved grin. "Close assumption. I'm fifteen."
Shino nodded.
"S-So, Mahito-kun, are you g-gonna j-join the Chuunin Exams?" Hinata then asked.
Naruto could feel Kiba's gaze on her face, and she bowed her head in a cautious manner. "Yes, the Hokage told me he'll put me in one match to test my skills." There was a sharp intake of breath from Kiba, but luckily nobody noticed except for Naruto. She lifted up her face, all grins. "And, again, I shall be leaving n – "
"Wait," Kiba cut in sharply. "I'mma walk you home, Mahito." She shot him a dirty glare, but he just set his mouth in a grim line. "Hinata, Shino, you guys get going. I need to say a few words of advice to my cousin here."
Hinata and Shino, both looking very perplexed, said "okay" and walked by Kiba and Naruto. Naruto waited for them to disappear around a corner before turning to Kiba and looking at him with upraised eyebrows.
"Kiba?"
He shook his head and began walking, motioning her with a quick wave of his hand to follow. Naruto frowned but tagged along. They walked with a steady and slow pace. Every few moments Naruto would look at Kiba's face. His eyes were distant, unfocused, and there were worry lines on his forehead.
It reminded her of someone she knew. Someone she will meet again very soon.
To clear her mind, Naruto questioned hastily, "Akamaru?"
"With my sister. He was a bit… too thrilled at seeing you, Nar- I mean Mahito. He's sleeping it off."
The frown of her face deepened. "It's one o'clock. I came to Konoha at around seven in the morning."
Kiba shrugged. "Too thrilled. Toldja."
There was another long and dreary silence.
Naruto at last lost her patience. "Kiba!"
He glanced at her and exhaled a long, gusty breath. "You're staying here for real now, ain't you?"
"Yes," she sulked. "Why? You don't want me to?"
He snorted. "Hardly. Just… worried for you."
"For me?" Her voice had gone up an octave. "Whatever for, Kiba?"
Kiba sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I know that during these past eight years you haven't met a lot of human beings, Mahito. So now all of a sudden the Hokage wants to put you in one of the exams. It ain't – "
She laughed freely. Her amber eyes twinkled mischievously, and if anyone were watching, they would've thought this particular boy looked just like a girl. Calming down, Naruto twisted her mouth into a tight smile. "Kiba, you're so sweet. But I know how to fight. Don't worry about me. I don't need none of that shit from you of all people."
Kiba exhaled again. "I know, I know. Even if I said that it was dangerous and that you should consider withdrawing, you wouldn't listen, would you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Don't make it sound like I volunteered. Fighting's such a messy business."
"Mhmm…" Kiba agreed. His eyes flickered to her arm. "What they say?"
"It'll heal. Don't worry." She smiled gently up at him. "Thanks. It really is sweet of you."
He glanced away, a blush on his tattooed cheeks. "You have no idea how weird that is."
Naruto looked at him, eyebrows furrowed. "How so?"
Kiba said exasperatedly, "Mahito-san, you are a boy. Boys do not say 'sweet.'"
She deadpanned. "Wow, Kiba. So open-minded. There are gays in this world, if you haven't noticed."
"And you're saying you fall under that category?"
"Hmm… and if I say I do?"
His head snapped around to stare at her. His mouth hung open, his eyes about to pop out in shock. "Naruto?!"
"Oh hush it," she hissed. Then snorting at Kiba's stupefied expression, "I was kidding. Though I really don't know. I'm only fifteen. How can a girl know anything 'bout love and that mushy shit when she's just fifteen?"
"Love and shit does not mix together, Mahito," Kiba muttered peevishly. "Don't scare me like that. And about fifteen-year-old girls and their love, right… I can think of two immediately."
Naruto brightened. "Ino and Sakura?"
Kiba barked a laugh. "Correct."
"Wait…" Naruto then said, baffled. "Sakura?"
"Yup. She and Ino ended their friendship. Seemed they both got the hots for – " Kiba stopped short, eyes widening. He peeked at Naruto tentatively.
Naruto sighed. "Kiba, I'm not gonna faint every time you'll mention Sasuke, all right? And even before I left he was the most popular guy in the class. So I'm guessing he still is. But Sakura…" A roguish look came into Naruto's amber eyes. "Who would've known? She was always so timid, so quiet."
"Not anymore."
Naruto grinned. "I believe you."
They walked quietly on, taking comfort in each other's presence. Naruto's eyes darted everywhere, taking in the place which she had once called home – and soon will again. It was nice to be back, however much she had changed.
"Kiba?"
"Yeah?"
"You wanted to walk with me just to warn me?"
Kiba coughed violently, face turning pink again. "Er, not really." She glanced at him with amused eyes, waiting for his reply. "Wanted to chat with you," he finally answered.
Naruto grinned. "That's sweet."
The tinge of pink became crimson.
"So," Naruto said after an embarrassed silence. "Tell me about Sai."
Kiba looked at Naruto and considered. "Well…" he started uncertainly.
"Yeah? Tell me. I can take it. No heart attack, I promise."
"That's hardly the point. Kakashi-san told you he's from Root, right? You know what that is?"
"Organization thingy that works for Konoha, blah blah."
Kiba snorted. "Quite. So since Sai is from there, he has to undergo a training."
"Training…?"
"Correct. To rid himself of all emotions."
Naruto blinked, surprised. "Rid himself of all emotions? Surely not all?"
Kiba nodded. "Mhmm. Sai's a bit of an… oddball." The teenager snorted. "But you're gonna meet a whole bunch of other oddballs, so it doesn't really matter. Basically he's an antisocial freak like so many others you know."
Naruto grinned lopsidedly. "Any new freaks?"
Kiba's face paled a little. "This dude with an uber unibrow and wears like a green leotard thing. He's in Neji's group. Year above us. Seventeen."
Naruto tried to imagine it. She grimaced. "Ouch. Can't wait to see that guy. Poor Neji."
Suddenly, the Uchiha Estate came into sight, and Naruto's heart gave a joyful leap. She ran towards the gate, silly grin plastered on her face. Kiba followed, smiling. Naruto came to a stop at the front of the gate, letting all the good memories wash over her.
Home…
"I'll be going home now, Naruto," Kiba said softly after a moment of silence. "You will meet everyone else again, right? You will, won't you?"
Her carefree face dropped. "I want to. I really do..." Her voice trailed off, and she bit her lip. She lifted up her eyes to stare worriedly at Kiba, and he for the briefest moment caught a flash of blue in those amber eyes. "But I'm afraid. If they don't like the new me, if they won't accept me for who I am now - "
Kiba didn't care if it'll look weird to any passerby on the dirt road. Instantly he grabbed the 'black-haired boy' into a tight hug. "No way," he growled in her ear. "No fucking way. No matter what happens, you'll still be Naruto, you hear?"
Yes… She heard him. But she also heard something else in her mind. The eight-year-old memory was so clear, so fresh that it could've happened yesterday.
Her face was deep in thought when she asked in a timid voice, "Ne, ne, Sasuke-teme? Do you believe in other worlds? Do you think that they exist?"
Sasuke glanced at her to see if she was joking, but the frown on her face said otherwise. "I don't know," he answered truthfully. "Why do you ask?"
"Because… Because what happens if I'm not from this world?"
The boy started and realized the girl's eyes were worried and quite frightened. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "That doesn't matter. You're still Naruto. That part doesn't change, dobe."
"R-really? You mean it?"
"Really."
She smiled genuinely. "Thanks, Sasuke-teme."
"Hn."
Would he still think the same way?
That she was Naruto, not someone else?
Will he accept her for who she was now?
"Sasuke…" she murmured, biting the inside of her cheek.
Kiba's worried eyes immediately turned grim. "He hasn't changed, Naruto. At least, not that much. Don't worry."
She smiled sadly. "I hope so, Kiba. I hope so."
Kiba released Naruto hurriedly and looked at the sky. "I'll get going."
But Naruto still noticed.
"Kiba…"
He didn't respond.
"Tell me."
He wouldn't. His jaw was clenched tightly, as if holding in a bunch of angry words.
"Kiba…" she pleaded.
"Why?" he finally inquired in a wounded voice.
"Why what?"
"Why didn't you say goodbye to me?" he hissed harshly.
She started, stunned. Then the words began making sense in her mind, and Naruto shook her head despondently. "No, Kiba. You got it wrong. I didn't – "
"You said goodbye to him."
It was an accusation. And it hurt.
Tears welled up in her eyes. "No! You had no idea how terrible the 'goodbye' was. I… I wasn't even supposed to go talk to him. I was to leave. But Kiba, I did what I had to do."
Kiba's eyes flashed. "Yeah?"
She looked at the ground. "Yeah." Pause. "About Itachi-niichan and… and the massacre."
Kiba felt shock tear at his body, and the weight that had been pressing down on his chest transformed to shame. He took a doubtful step back. "I… I'm s-sorry," he stuttered. "I… I never… knew."
Naruto smiled miserably. "If I could, I never would've left. But there's no point in pondering at the past, is there?" She then added in a gentle whisper, "It's too late…"
Kiba didn't answer for a while. But he touched her arm tenderly and muttered, "Sorry."
"There's nothing to be sorry for," Naruto answered, shaking her head again.
Silence.
"I'll go."
"Catch you later, Dog Breath," Naruto joked weakly. None of them smiled.
Kiba avoided Naruto's eyes as he turned around and walked off. She stared at his retreating figure before taking out the keys that Sarutobi gave her and opening the gate. Walking into the frontcourt, Naruto felt relieved. Good. He wasn't home yet.
"Kai."
Poof.
Naruto decided to go to the big backyard. It was quieter there. More peaceful. She wanted to think right now. Nothing more, nothing less. But the sakura tree caught her attention. She gazed at it with blank eyes.
The girl sighed unenthusiastically.
"I'm home, Mom. Dad. Missed you."
XXX
He was breathing heavily. There were cuts and bruises all over his body, but he didn't care. It was training. He was supposed to get hurt. But it meant getting the bed bloody and being sore for another few days.
Sasuke scowled. Whatever. It didn't matter.
Picking up his stuff, the raven-haired teenager started walking home. He ignored the dirty merchants trying to get him to buy their crap, he ignored the whispering of the men, he ignored the flirtatious looks of the women.
It was after all, just another same old boring day.
Nothing special.
Nevertheless, Sasuke was a bit relieved when he arrived on the beaten-up dirt pass that lead to the Uchiha Estate. He was also surprised at seeing another person walking towards him. The guy walked with his head down, his hands placed in his pockets.
Ah, Kiba.
Kiba stopped short upon catching sight of Sasuke, and the two teenagers stared at each other without a word. Sasuke realized that Kiba had a strange look on his face. It was pained… tortured… angry?
No one spoke.
Kiba suddenly broke the uncomfortable silence and growled in a low, brisk voice, "If you dare hurt her, I will kill you."
Before Sasuke could manage a reply, Kiba was already gone. The raven teen blinked slightly, but shrugged it off. The words of a raving lunatic. Nothing special.
The Uchiha arrived at the gates of his house. But… Here, Sasuke became uneasy, and the hairs on the back of his neck began prickling. Something was wrong.
He felt traces of chakra in his house.
Thieves?
Assassins?
Itachi?!
Throwing open the gate, Sasuke rushed into his house. Everything seemed okay… Nothing was out of place… Wait, what's with the kitchen? The raven teen dashed over. It looked like someone ate… Ramen?
Sasuke felt like a blow was delivered to his fatigued body.
That ramen was her leftover food. He had never gotten rid of it. So that he could've remembered her.
His sunshine.
Rage boiled inside of him. How dare they break into his house and eat her food. He'll kill them.
Following the faint traces of chakra, Sasuke was led in and out of different rooms. The thief or thieves seemed to have been exploring the place. But alas, Sasuke was finally led to the sliding door that connected to… The backyard.
Sasuke wavered only for a moment. He was tired, bloody, and sleepy. Did he really stand a chance? But then he remembered how they had eaten her ramen, and without another thought, Sasuke slid open the door so roughly that it hit the side with a big clang.
It alerted the "thief."
She hastily turned around, long blonde hair whipping her face.
Her cerulean eyes widened in shock. And then in recognition. And finally in fear.
He was sure the expression on his face matched hers. His blood pounded heavily in his ears. His head was buzzing, and his chest had started constricting. He couldn't think. He couldn't move. He couldn't even breathe.
"If you dare hurt her, I will kill you."
What Kiba meant… Did he…?
Sasuke numbly took in her build. Lean and nimble. She wore a green jacket and brown pants which blended in with her surroundings. Her hair fell to her waist, and her eyes… He stared into their vast blueness.
She broke the silence first. She always was the fastest to gather her wits together, Sasuke remembered dimly.
"I… I'm back, teme…"
He said the first thing that came up in his foggy mind.
"Dobe."
Her eyes widened even larger, but then, with a loud cry, she ran over and flung herself at him. He found himself hugging her back.
From here on, everything will be different than the original storyplot (just as a warning, my writing style hecka changed :x )
Review~