OMG, you people hated me for leaving it at a cliffy in the last chapter!!
Sorry about that, I couldn't help myself…thought it was a brilliant place to end it; I've never had so many reviews at once for this story before! It was great fun to torment you all!
Yeah, so here it is, the conclusion to that mean chapter six! Don't hold your hopes up though, you'll probably hate me for it…trust me though, it won't continue like this for long, give me another two or three chapters and things will get way better…
So thanks all for your reviews! And the four of you who voted for Sasuke's hair XD. The official vote was 3 - 1 to keep it long! So even if it is slightly cliché the people have spoken!!
Also I am willing to write a one-shot of any pairing that reviewer number 53 wants!! Yes, that means I need to get from 41 reviews to 53…so whoever reviewer number 53 is, I shall write a one-shot, unless you don't want me to…T-T… then it goes to reviewer 54….
Hmmmmm…so don't kill me for this next chapter!! Please enjoy!
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Chapter Seven
Konoha High, a place that sounded vaguely familiar to Naruto, even though he wouldn't admit it to anyone aside from himself. As he'd thought about it while he'd dressed into his new school uniform, he realised that he would have to go through it all again.
School number six in five years…from Suna for only a month, to Mist, to Star, to Waterfall, back to Suna for a little longer before he came to Konoha…he didn't say that he hated it. He was just used to it, moving from school to school and house to house every few months or so. He'd never known why, or if there even was any sort of reason behind it…it was simply that they did, and he couldn't get attached here either, he'd only move away again in a year at the latest.
As usual the house was empty when he woke. His daily bento awaited him aside the tonic and pills on the granite kitchen counter, he put it in his satchel after drinking down the daily tonic and drugs and almost at once headed to leave, without putting a moments thought into breakfast.
He was very early, he realised. But that was okay, as long as he was out of the house it was all fine, as always he couldn't stand being there for longer than needed, even food was irrelevant, he simply made his way away from the house, locking the large front door as he exited, and headed off down the driveway to begin his fresh new day.
Azure eyes hovered blankly over the new scenery that unfolded ahead of him, showing him a warm and cosy neighbourhood, one like he hadn't seen in quite some time, were the streets were lavished in perfectly crisp lawns and neatly pruned shrubs and soft scented flowers. Indeed it was a comforting place and so very familiar, Naruto could have sworn that he had lived there once before. Remembering those long streets and neat houses, and the many streams that seemed to run throughout the place, dotted with small bridges and wild-gardens, yes, maybe he had lived there once before.
He liked it, safe to say, but he wouldn't miss such a place, he didn't need such trivial things to get him by, it didn't matter how green the grass was or how sweet scented the flowers…or at least it shouldn't matter…and it shouldn't matter where he went, yet somehow, the streets and the surroundings, these were the things that he usually missed the most.
Naruto's long golden bangs hovered aimlessly ahead of both of his eyes, brushing passed the bridge of his nose, the longer layers of his almost carefully out-grown hair brushing softly along his jaw-line, those much loved golden spikes of the past given way to the passage of time, showing up only at the back of his head where his hair was somehow much shorter…appearance was not something that Naruto felt he needed to dwell on, in fact, he never dwelt on anything.
Well, he tried not to.
Feeling the pills at work and his muscles tensing slightly, Naruto's pace slightly slandered a passing slug…and within moments had stopped entirely, stood quietly upon a bridge, talking the short time as his muscles began to loosen up again, to look over and watch the soft pink petals of the nearest sakura trees as they floated casually upon the surface of the lolling river.
Such sights were rare to Naruto. In the Suna there hadn't been such wonderful rivers, it had been so much drier, so much emptier and lonelier, even as he stood there on that bridge surrounded by no-one, Naruto could feel the presence of people near by…the Suna had been so empty, it opened a whole new door of loneliness to Naruto, so he was slightly happier to be in Konoha, even though he knew all too well that he should never grow attached to anything, or to anyone.
It would save him the pain afterwards, making it easier to move on. Konoha and its sweet little streets it was only a temporary setting that Naruto might not see for another several years, so he would most certainly never come too accustomed to such a place. He would only be the one hurt in the end.
A train wasn't needed for transport to the new High School; it was only a few blocks away from the new mansion that Orochimaru had purchased. It wasn't a huge school, like Suna had been. Konoha was smaller, quainter and seemed all together less busy.
He passed the train station on the way, watching as a few more boys his age got off the train and walked along behind him, a pair of girls walking ahead, both showing off photographs of their great summer vacation, laughing with one another over the scene in each photo that sent them into a whirlpool of remembrance.
Naruto followed them towards the school; he mingled among them for a while, passing a group of boys who stood close to the gate, one guy with weird red marks on his cheeks was barking at another with an appearance that seemed way beyond lazy…Naruto looked passed them and headed onwards towards the entrance.
Being there was a usual routine; Naruto only had to find where he needed to go. Find the headmistress's office was first on the list. And sure enough there is was, not difficult to find and he was soon being ushered into the room by a young dark-haired woman, and before he knew it, there he was, ahead of a blonde-haired, heavily endowed, beautiful woman.
Naruto handed her the usual letter, of which he was still uncertain about, but kept that mystery alive as one of life's little secrets. She read over it quickly before looking back up to the blank eyed boy that sat ahead of her desk, wearing a mask totally void of all expression. Tsunade pursed her lips and placed the strange letter aside, and resting her elbows on the desk looked over that the motionless blonde and narrowed her hazel eyes…
"So, Uzumaki, Naruto…" She said in a matter-of-fact tone. He made a sort of empty eye contact with her, meaning it only seemed as if he was looking at her, when in fact he wasn't really paying her any attention. "You're new here, and by the looks of your record you get moved around a lot, so I suppose you don't really need to hear yet another introduction speech, and to be frank, I'm not really in the best of moods to give one to you…so," She announced promptly, sitting back in her chair, she reached over and pressed one of the buttons on the telephone until a voice appeared on the other side.
"Hai, Tsunade-san?"
"Send him in now, Shizune." Tsunade said, and removed her finger from the button.
She looked back to Naruto, placing the letter in the top draw of her desk as the door behind Naruto opened and the boy looked slightly over his shoulder as he watched a very tall and strangely pretty boy entering the room, bizarre silver eyes looked over Naruto and long dark brown hair fell over his shoulders and down his back, neatly tied near the centre of his spine.
"Hyuuga, Neji, meet Uzumaki, Naruto." Tsunade stated, putting out her arm to indicate from the tall pretty boy and back down to Naruto, who although wasn't exactly short, was dwarfed against the Hyuuga.
"Naruto-san, Neji here will be your guide for the day. He's the Student-Body president here, at Konoha High, and I was hoping that he could help guide you around today, you wouldn't mind that, would you?" she smiled, Naruto was about to open his mouth to speak, but restrained himself as he watched as Tsunade was about to cut him across - which she did not moments later.
"Okay then, Neji! I trust I can leave Naruto here with you for the day, now go, go! Make sure he meets up with Iruka-sensei too, would you, before he gets to form room."
"Hai, Tsunade-sensei." Neji bowed formally and looked back towards Naruto, and with another smooth hand gesture showed Naruto out of the room. Naruto said nothing, as usual, nothing really needed to be said.
Soon, and almost too soon did Naruto find himself stood ahead of a classroom filled with kids his age, once more, all staring at him, making him slightly more nervous, he hated that part, when so many people were looking at him…but that time, there was just something about that room, he could feel kind eyes watching him, and he was relaxed, and then for the first time that morning, Naruto spoke, introducing himself to the class.
"My name is Uzumaki, Naruto." He paused for a moment, his eyes searching the ground, listening to the unwelcoming silence that had fallen over the class, a shiver flooding down his spine. "I've just transferred from Suna High…" he was almost certain…there was just something so familiar now, not the place; it wasn't the same familiar as it was just being in Konoha, but there was something, and as Naruto's eyes searched the room he was almost more certain of it…
Sasuke?
Naruto's eyes focused for a moment on round black orbs that stared back at him, sharing an equal amount of disbelief and heartache…Naruto felt his heart wrench in his chest, and its beat hastening as his hands balled at his sides…he bit the inside of his lip, so hard that he tasted the copper tang of the blood. Those inescapable eyes…they stared at him…but he had to look away…
Sasuke…that's Sasuke…isn't it? How can that be him? How…?
Naruto shut his eyes and looked away, finally Iruka-sensei caught on that there was something amiss, and spoke up as Naruto felt his whole body was about to give way any second now. His heart, he could hear it thudding heavily in his head…he didn't even know if that was Sasuke or not…he didn't know…it couldn't be Sasuke…it can't be…
"Thank-you, Naruto-kun. You can take a seat now; look over there, next to Shikamaru." Iruka-sensei was kind enough to point out a seat across the room from where Sasuke sat…much to Sasuke's utter horror…
In Sasuke's mind there was absolutely no doubt about it…Naruto…it is you…
He looked back ahead, down at the desk…able to feel his body shaking…Naruto had even turned away from him…looked away…Sasuke had hated that look in his eyes…I've never seen him like that…never…His fists balled upon his thighs beneath the desk, his body continued to tremble as he sat there, mind racing and alive with so many things…and it was Naruto…
He was so much taller… those azure eyes were so dark, like they'd seen so very much, yet his flesh still glowed with a brilliant olive tint…the height, that was something Sasuke couldn't get over…and his beautiful golden hair, gleaming like sunshine through a window…he looked so different…but he was still very much the same…without a doubt…it's him…absolutely no doubt about it…
Sasuke was torn between tears and laughter…he felt all of whatever colour there had been in his face entirely drain away, leaving his ivory skin as white as anything. He could barely catch his breath, it was hitched in his throat, his brows furrowed slightly…what the fuck am I supposed to do…? How…how am I going to do this? It's Naruto…the Naruto my brother took me away from…he looks so detached from everything…so alone…
Sasuke felt one single tear roll down his cheek before clashing softly against the wooden desk. That single tear betrayed him and he felt as if his mask was just crumbling away…he felt such a massive pressure surrounding him, smothering him even deeper in guilt and he was suddenly lost in it…
…What if…what if he…hates me?...
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Naruto felt no sense of escape…instead there was suffocation.
He didn't want to be there…five years…that's how long its been, hasn't it…five years…after all of those days I spent waiting…after all of those months I spent forgetting…I knew I would never be able too…I knew he would come back somehow…to cause me more pain than he did when he left….
He couldn't stay there…even if Sasuke didn't remember him, even if he had only looked upon him with curiosity…Naruto felt his heart aching, he shouldn't stay there, he couldn't allow it to happen…not Sasuke…not again, he can't come back, he has to stay where he is, I won't let him get back in…
Naruto could hardly believe how well he was actually dealing with it…his chest was tight and his mind ran through with different and pressuring thoughts that caused him pain to think about…but he wasn't breaking down…not like he thought he would…though he'd convinced himself long ago that even thought Sasuke had left him, that Sasuke would be happy and better off where he was…even though he didn't look it.
Naruto reasoned with himself, mind over matter, mind over matter…he had to keep his calm, stop his body from trembling…it was better if Sasuke had forgotten him…that would mean that he would remain safe, that there was a greater chance that Orochimaru wouldn't find out about him…Naruto wasn't usually one for rational thinking, but in that instance it was Sasuke's life that was on the line…I can't let it happen…no matter how much it hurts…
Naruto made sure that he was one of the first to escape the class as soon as Iruka-sensei dismissed them. Naruto did not look over his shoulder as he left, but he knew it, he could feel it, Sasuke getting closer and closer…he could feel it tugging at him, all emotions that he hadn't felt in such a long time, the sadness was beginning to creep back into his azure eyes, giving them the slightest sign of life…he couldn't stop the trembling, and before Naruto knew it he was running…
Sasuke had lost sight of Naruto only moments after he'd left the classroom. His eyes were broad, searching frantically for the blonde, pushing passed students as they emerged from other corridors and classrooms as the morning begun.
Naruto really was nowhere to be seen. Sasuke couldn't believe it, that he'd gotten away so damned quickly…Sasuke could have gone into a frenzy, he knew that Naruto probably did hate him, but he would still try. He needed to explain, he needed to talk to him, to see him, just to be with him, after so long he couldn't even begin to think of what to say to him…he just needed to be with him, to look him in the eyes, just to stand there with him, even if they didn't say anything, they'd always been fine like that before.
Without a doubt, Sasuke remembered Naruto.
Naruto stood outside, sunk against a wall, his hands to his face as his thoughts threatened to spill out, his emotions threatening the same…and then he felt them, tears wetting his palms realising that he had been stupid for thinking that Sasuke would ever forget him…not after all of the things that they had been through together, not after what Sasuke had done for Naruto, not after everything…
Naruto clutched his trembling body and slid down the smooth wall of the building, hidden behind a few bushes, he felt safe there, Sasuke wouldn't find him…but there would be no avoiding him…Naruto's tears truly betrayed him, he'd not cried for all of those five years, he'd not cried since the night that Sasuke had left him, and now it was the day of Sasuke's return…those tears were ones of pain and yet, ones of joy.
Naruto couldn't have been happier to have Sasuke so close to him, the remembrance of their times together, it made Naruto gasp for air as he attempted to escape the recollection of those sensations…comfort…kindness…hope…love…
I've never stopped loving you, Sasuke…even though you left me…it was for the best, wasn't it? You had someone else who loved you…so it was okay, as long as you're not alone, it'll be okay…
Naruto realised what he had to do to make sure it remained that way, as hard as his tears fell, he simply couldn't let Sasuke be drawn back into his world again, he'd managed to escape once before…and Naruto knew that he could deal with being alone as long as he knew it wouldn't bring anyone else into the fold. And that person would certainly never be Sasuke.
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Third period came around, and there had been no sign of Naruto.
Sasuke decided he would give it a try just that once…although it was something he'd certainly never thought he'd find himself doing…you're doing this for Naruto…Naruto…you're doing this for Naruto…Sasuke reminded himself with his inner voice as he entered his maths classroom, Hyuuga Hiashi-sensei waiting for the class to be seated as he stood at the head of the classroom.
Sasuke's eyes scanned the crowd, drawing far more attention to himself than usual, his eyes as well as his body alert for any sign of the blonde…he still didn't know what he could say to him just yet, but he did have a plan…
"Ne, Sakura-san, could I sit here?"
Sakura's eye twitched. Her lips pursed and she was ready, willing and able to turn around and give the next boy a solid thump. That would be boy number seven, after she'd told the previous six - quite loudly - that she was saving the seat for Hinata…
Her head creaked around slowly from taking out all of her notes from her backpack, about to scream a rejection when -
"Sasuke-kun?!" Her jaw seemed to drop, her eyes broad and she quickly sat up straight, baring a smile that was fit for a princess. Sasuke held back a cringe and eyed her carefully…Sakura along with Ino were the school gossips…nothing could get passed them…or so Sasuke hoped.
"Yeah, so can I sit?" Sasuke asked again, the politeness of his words were painful to him, causing his cringes to turn into slight twitches.
"Of course!! Go ahead!" Sakura declared, emerald eyes watching him broadly as he continued - rather gracefully - to take the seat next to her…she found it difficult to hold back her content…
Sasuke knew all too well that he wasn't any good with things like this. So decided to come out and say it…if Sakura was the loyal fan-girl that she indicated she was, then she would answer all of his questions without a moments hesitation, and all he would have to do would be to put up with her for an hour…this is hell in its most annoying form…he grumbled mentally…
"Sakura?" he began, dropping the honorific at once. She still had her eyes glued upon him, and nodded frantically to the questioning tone he'd used when he'd said her name. "You know the new kid, Uzumaki, Naruto…" saying his name out load sounded so strange. He'd never said Naruto's name to anyone aside from Itachi in those five years and that was usually during arguments…
"Vaguely, what about him?" Sakura mused, clearly hanging off his every word.
"I was just wondering…if you knew where he was…like his class or something…?" Maybe Sasuke was hoping for a bit much, but in all honesty he hardly knew what he was doing. He simply hoped that her reply would be useful.
"Yeah, he's with Hyuuga, Neji, being shown around mostly. He's in lots of classes below us…he doesn't seem very bright…" Sakura replied, much to Sasuke's delight and to his utter annoyance, Sakura had already began treading on thin ice…she had no right to say anything about Naruto…she had no right to make assumptions.
Sasuke bit back an insult, his fists balling beneath the desk. So find Neji…find Naruto…he mused, but it couldn't be so simple, could it…?
Right after period three came lunch, the perfect time for Sasuke to go searching. Knowing Neji, he was probably going to meet up with his girl-friend in the cafeteria, which to Sasuke was such a big social no-no. But he would risk being mobbed in order to find Naruto; there wouldn't be anywhere else he would eat right? Unless he had a bento…then he could be anywhere around the school.
Cafeteria…best place to start.
At once Sasuke spotted Neji sat with his girl-friend, the fiery Ten-Ten, captain of the school's Athletics' Team, and the strange yet unbelievably spirited Rock Lee. Sasuke wasn't slow to make his way over, nor was he shy about talking to them, although most other students were intimidated by Neji's icy cool manner and kept their distance.
"Hyuuga," Sasuke said, walking up behind them. Lee was the first to look up, still laughing youthfully at something said by Ten-Ten. Neji was the last to turn around, his silver eyes looking somewhat through Sasuke, though left him feeling nothing. Sasuke was well aware that he could have the same affect.
"Uchiha." Neji said calmly as he turned back around, Sasuke sat himself upon the bench seat that was next to the Student-Body president, his back against the table. Neji did not look back to him as he continued to gaze upon his own well prepared and made bento.
"You've been showing around Uzumaki, Naruto, haven't you?" Sasuke questioned, again, saying his name, it sounded so strange to him, so foreign, but he saw the change in Neji's eyes at once.
"Aa." Was Neji's response. "Is there something I could help you with, or is there something to do with him that you wish to know?"
"Do you know where he is?"
"Outside, near the playing fields." Neji replied, turning to face Sasuke. "Is there a reason why you want to know?"
Sasuke shrugged. "Need to speak with him, that's all." He stated simply…being only a half truth.
"Thanks, Neji." Sasuke said, getting up, Neji didn't reply nor did he watch as Sasuke walked away, though he did question in his mind…did I do the right thing…?
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Naruto sat beneath one of the trees that shaded him from the sun, watching as some of the younger students were playing basketball on one of the gated courts. On the playing field beyond him, more students played football, others talked and laughed as they ate their bento's and talked about the vacation they'd had…Naruto tilted his head back, feeling the warming rays of sunshine as they filtered through the tree's thick green mane, speckling his face and clothing in gold light.
His bento lay aside him, entirely untouched. He wondered what marvellous concoction Kabuto had come up with that day…actually he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know…he'd rather leave it untouched…he'd still have an hour or so to eat when he'd get back to the house before Kabuto would get back, maybe longer before The Snake would make an appearance.
It really was a nice day…and it was still a nice place to be. But you'd never be able to tell by the look on Naruto's face, and as true as it was, Naruto hadn't felt his emotions escape him so much in years…he was so used to being numb and unaffected by anything after his time with The Snake had become worse and worse, and there was still no stopping it…the experiments were ongoing and showed no signs of ever stopping.
Sasuke.
He hadn't thought about Sasuke in so long, but he'd never forgotten him, he had tried, but it had been more than impossible. After waking up the first time after he'd tried to kill himself, he realised that had become his reason for living…not only for Sasuke though, but for everyone or anyone that ever came into contact with The Snake.
If Naruto ever died then Orochimaru would want someone else so that he could continue the experiments…Naruto didn't want to die with that hanging over his head…he wouldn't let it happen…much like he knew what he would have to do to keep Sasuke safe, it pained him so much…there really wasn't any escape. The best thing that Naruto could do was to make sure that what was happening to him wouldn't happen to anyone else.
He was proud to say that for five years he had managed to hold true to it. Orochimaru hadn't even thought of bringing anyone else into the fold, Naruto was enough for him for the time being, and that was okay.
Naruto hadn't seen Sasuke since that morning. He hadn't had any classes with him, and he knew that he didn't need to worry about that. Sasuke had always been intelligent, that there was no doubt about. Sasuke would be in most classes above Naruto, therefore there was in no danger…even though he wanted to see Sasuke so much that it hurt…
…Just to look at him once more…to be with him…but I can't…I can't do that, for Sasuke's sake…
Sasuke eyed Naruto sat beneath a tree beyond the gated basketball court. He stopped at once, frozen in place as he watched him…he couldn't have looked more miserable…and deep inside Sasuke blamed himself for not being strong enough to be able to stand up against his brother…Itachi had only done what he thought was right for Sasuke…but that had meant that Naruto had been left behind…suffering…five more years of it…I can't even imagine that…
Sasuke almost couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't bring himself to go over there, even if it was just to sit there and watch him, but he needed it…that was Naruto, it was the Naruto that haunted his dreams, the one that he could never, ever forget…
"Naruto."
His tanned face turned around slowly and looked up to where the voice had come from. There he was. Sasuke. Stood so close that Naruto found it so painfully difficult not to launch at him and hold him tight…it hurt so badly to look up at him with an empty expression, but it hurt even more when he saw the pain evident in those ebony eyes as they looked down upon him…he seemed almost terrified. He couldn't believe it as much as Naruto, that after so long, they were finally together again.
Naruto got to his feet, surprised by his own height, Sasuke had gotten shorter, they were practically the same height now…and he'd grown his hair…he looked really handsome, like Naruto had always remembered him to be…really, really handsome…but he didn't look much healthier than he had those five years ago. He was still so very slim, his waist was tiny even if he had bulked out somewhat… and he'd never looked so pale.
Sasuke found his eyes were lined with Naruto's…he wanted to reach out and run his fingers through those golden locks of hair, just to stand there and be close to Naruto…but there was a blankness in Naruto's eyes that frightened Sasuke to an extent where it became almost unbearable.
It was a look that told Sasuke, that Naruto didn't recognise him.
"Is there something I can do for you?"
Sasuke jolted out of his thoughts and his eyes went broad…he could have broken down in tears. He opened his mouth, about to reply, but his words were caught in his throat. He couldn't speak. He couldn't cry, he couldn't yell at him or question him, he couldn't say anything…
…He doesn't even remember me…
Sasuke couldn't handle that. He took one last look at Naruto's blank face and shook his head, blinking for the first time in moments, and swiftly turned away, without looking back.
As Sasuke had broken eye-contact with Naruto, Naruto knew that what he'd said had, had more of an affect that he'd thought it would…he hurt too much now…would it even be worth it?
As Sasuke had turned, Naruto had allowed himself the gentle stroke of something that had become somewhat forbidden to him, his fingers running through Sasuke's silky black hair so softly that Sasuke hadn't even noticed the contact. Naruto was slow to lower his hand…he shouldn't have done that…he had just made it that much harder not to call out to Sasuke, he'd just made it so much harder to stop those tears from falling again…
Suddenly, Naruto hated Konoha.
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Those who want to shoot me for the mean ass person that I am - go ahead - cos this chapter is an evil one, and I really, really, really don't want this to last long…so it won't…because I'm the author and I have SPOKEN!! I can't let Naru-chan be miserable for much longer…its insane…but there shall be a nice little twist in the next chapter!!!
So people, please review! And remember! One-shot of your choice if you are reviewer number 53! 53 is the magic number!! So if you're number 53, I'll tell ya! Then I'll demand a pairing and write a nice long one-shot for you!!
Okay, I'm off to finish m course work!! Hope you enjoyed and remember to review!