When Naruto entered the room he greeted the Hokage with his usual cheerfulness but when he noticed Tsunade's visitor he became calm and cold all of a sudden. He is just staring at Sasuke with his now sharp pupils that Sasuke could swear belongs to a tiger. This made him shiver in the inside of course he cannot show this to the other two. Sasuke don't know what to do now so he just turn his head on the direction of Tsunade indicating a sign of defeat. He can't do this. He found himself hard to breath. Good thing Tsunade decided to talk and explained the predicament concerning Sasuke to Naruto.
Naruto first don't want to accept Tsunade's proposal. The two have their fight of words while Sasuke just stare at them with tired eyes threatening to close. He don't mind that the two talk with each other like he was not there, because he is obviously tired and he is ready to sleep on the chair that is not comfortable to say the least. Though he really find it very disturbing that his former friend, or that's what he thought, is acting as if he has leprosy. He didn't notice that he is already getting unconscious and fell off his chair creating a loud thump startling the two blonds. Well they guess that Naruto should start making his decision fast because sleeping on the Hokage office's floor is not a good idea. Naruto and sighed and saying how troublesome this is, which reminds Tsunade of Shikamaru.
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Naruto placed Sasuke on the couch. He first thought of placing the now smaller boy on his bed but he remembered what Sasuke did and probably he deserves this. People might be asking why he had given up on Sasuke well the answer is he is tired of thinking Sasuke has a chance to change. All he could see now in Sasuke is an avenger not thinking of others. He even heard some reports of Sasuke taking missions from Orochimaru. He didn't have the chance to see him during this time because he have different mission himself but the actions angers him. He could have pulled out Sasuke on those missions and knock the hell of senses out of him.
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Weeks have pass and the news of Sasuke's return spread around Konoha. The majority is having some foul reaction of course. Even Sakura and Ino are having some bad reaction with this mostly because they don't fully trust Sasuke. They tried to be more formal whenever they came cross on Sasuke but he is possitive he could hear some whispers whenever he turns his back. Sasuke understands this action. Back then his 'friends' was so warm on him. Even the silent Shino shows a slightest of warm on him. Now, he was lucky that no one have tried to kill him so far. Then there was when he is with Naruto. Naruto acts as if he's having a ghost for a guess. He seems invisible. Sure Naruto don't mind cooking for him but he was not talking to him. He could not take this anymore. He really needed to gain the 'trust' again.
He asked Tsunade for a mission. Tsunade hesitated but agreed. Of course, Naruto is keeping a hawk eye on him. Then the level of trust slowly got high when he would successfully come back from a mission with Naruto for so many times. But he fully well knows that this is not enough. But things got very well with Naruto. Naruto would sometimes discuss with him some of battle plans. Sasuke was surprised when Naruto would tell him about some of his hard missions when he was gone. Indeed there are some changes in Naruto's fighting skill. He had gone stronger probably already surpassing Sasuke.
Then one night he was left alone on Naruto's apartment. It seems Naruto fully trust him now but he don't know if Tsunade would be happy for this. Naruto was sent to the Hokage's office. Then he came back with a strange look in his face. Sasuke didn't ask anything. Well base on his observation to his own self; he hadn't been talking too much. As if he talk a lot back then. What he mean is that he don't comment and when he was talking to Naruto it's as if his mute just listening on Naruto's ramblings. Not a good experience because for one, Naruto is not the most silent people around.
This time Naruto look at Sasuke as if he is hesitating, probably thinking if Sasuke deserve to know what the Hokage said to him. But in the end he spilled it out to Sasuke.
"We are having a very hard mission on the forces of Orochimaru from the east. We are having an assault and the plan is very delicate. Tsunade allowed me to invite you to join" 'He is very serious', Sasuke thought. "Sasuke I am trusting you and don't let me down"
"I'll go with you and your trust won't lead Konoha into danger", Sasuke sincerely said. Then there is a long pause and Sasuke said. "I promise"
Naruto decided to take it. But he should not be fully confident on this. His judgment should not be clouded by his feelings. It might not be visible but it seems he's feeling the feelings that he have before Sasuke left. He thought it might be because he is living with the very good looking human being together in one house but he realized it is more than that because he trusted the paler boy too much even though Sasuke haven't proven that much yet. He could not understand this. Nothing makes sense.
Sasuke was having a problem too. He could not understand why Naruto trust him, maybe because they had a history. Then there is the feeling when Naruto is near - the feeling of safety and something else. Everything is happening so fast. Then there's the mission. Maybe this is his chance. He knew he could do this but there's a feeling that something bad would happen, the feeling that he would not end up happy, but he brushed it off. He should ask Naruto to teach him to be optimistic.