Familiar Stranger

Where the snow had melted, and the ground was softer, Sasuke had laid his blanket and sat. He had watched and waited, using a genjutsu to disguise his appearance, using new and mysterious techniques he had learnt to cover up his presence. Only when he slept did the mask slide away. It was then he was most vulnerable. Why was he not stronger? He thought this now, bound to his former schoolmate's back. He was lucky it had been these ninja, and not someone worse who had found him. As he got nearer to his old home, he thought back to the spot he had slept in, the spot he had sat in, for all of winter. In the distance, where his old blanket lay, tiny buds pushed through the earth, hoping for warmth. The first flowers of spring.

*

Twelve ninja charged into Tsunade's office, each demanding some kind of explanation, all shouting about their discovery. Naruto dragged Sasuke from Choji's back and almost flung him to the ground, before Kakashi came from nowhere and took the dark haired ninja to a chair. In the light of the lamps, Sasuke looked frail and malnourished. His clothes were dirty and his hair matted. Not the magnificent creature they had seen in the forest. Sakura crept into the office with Hinata, behind everyone else, and perched herself upon a seat, not taking her eyes from her former love. He could not look at anyone, and so looked at the floor; maybe he wished the ground would swallow him. The Hokage rose from her chair and shouted for everyone to shut up. Slowly, the young ninja quietened. Naruto stood, steam almost coming from his ears, his face red. Sakura still wept silently, Hinata comforting her as best she could. All the others looked shocked, although Gaara almost looked as if he'd expected it all along.
"Uchiha Sasuke." Tsunade said. His name sounded strange to speak aloud after so long. "Why are you here, Sasuke?" she spoke softly, unusual for the formidable woman.
The young man gradually rose from his stool and looked up, his eyes locking with the Hokage.
"I've left Orochimaru. I came back. Believe me or don't."
He was still a boy of few words, that much was obvious.
At his words, Sakura seemed to deflate slightly, sliding from her chair to the floor in a faint. Naruto ran to her side straight away, and held her to him, looking over at his ex- best friend. Did I see jealousy in his eyes just then? Naruto thought, as a flash passed across Sasuke's face, and he turned away.
"Sakura's still as dramatic as ever I see." The Uchiha smirked.
With that, Naruto jumped up.
"How dare you! Sasuke! She has pined away, waiting for you to come home. She never gave up hope. She never stopped…stopped loving you." Naruto looked at the floor as he said this, not quite believing his own words.
"Well I never asked her to be that way!" Sasuke retorted.
"This is not the time." Jiraiya stepped in, holding the boys apart. "Kakashi and I will take Sasuke and question him ourselves. I suggest you all go and try to get some sleep."
With that, the two grey-haired ninja each grabbed Sasuke's arms and hopped from the Hokage's window.

*

Kiba held Hinata tightly to his chest. Akamaru had walked ahead, scouting around in case someone might see his master in a compromising position with the Hyuuga heiress, and the two ninja were sneaking a private moment. Seeing Sasuke today had shaken them both, and they wondered if his motives were true.
"Kiba-kun?"
"Hai?"
"Do you think that Sakura still loves Sasuke? Do you think her and Naruto will break up?" Hinata snuggled closer to the Inuzuka, savouring his musty smell.
"I really don't know Nata." He replied, using his nickname for her. It made her smile to hear it.
Kiba bent his head down slightly and let Hinata kiss him lightly on his nose, stroking his face as she did so. He nuzzled his face in her hair, breathing in deeply.
"I wish you didn't have to go home. I wish you could stay with me. Shino's gone home for dinner with his parents, and he'll probably stay there the night" Kiba murmured into her fringe, "We'd have the whole place to ourselves." He added, squeezing her slightly.
She giggled and pushed against him.
"Is that all you think about?" She teased, looking up into his brown eyes.
"I can't help it if you're so beautiful I can't keep my hands off!" He growled softly, leaning forward to kiss her intensely.
She broke away from his kiss breathlessly.
"Really, Kiba-kun! I have to go home, father will send Neji after me otherwise, and I think he snuck Tenten into his room earlier on!"
"Then…Nata…? Why don't you sneak me into your room? I've never even been in there!"
Hinata looked up at her handsome Inuzuka and blinked her wide eyes in surprise.
"I never thought of that!" she said, and with that, they headed in the direction of the Hyuuga compound.

*

Naruto sat on the edge of his bed. Sakura slept peacefully, looking like an angel, murmuring slightly in her dreams. Is she thinking of me, or Sasuke? He thought to himself, bitterly. He glanced out of the window, thinking it would be a nice evening for a walk. Slowly he crept from his room, closing the bedroom door silently behind him, and padding across to his front door. He slipped on his sandals and was out, into the quiet night, and away from his horrible thoughts.
Konoha was quiet. The streets were empty of life. Not even a solitary cat or bird crossed his path as he headed for the Hokage Mountain. He liked to come here to be peaceful sometimes. Maybe it would calm him a little if he sat there.

*

Kakashi and Jiraiya left the small basement room, and closed the door behind them. Each looked grimly at the other and Kakashi nodded. Jiraiya sped off immediately, in the direction of the Hokage's office, and Kakashi turned to re-enter the room behind him. As he opened the door, Sasuke looked up from the chair he had been chained to for 5 hours.
"Kakashi-sensei? Will this be over soon? I swear to you, I am not a spy." The young ninja pleaded with his former teacher, at the same time straining against his bindings.
"I'm sorry Sasuke, this has to be done. It's ninja law. We have to be sure you aren't here to sabotage the village. You know this."
Kakashi walked forwards, stopping just in front of the Uchiha.
"However, Jiraiya and I have agreed that you are not a threat. Not now, anyway. Instead it is you who is under threat." The grey haired ninja edged closer to Sasuke, and slowly unwound the chains and ropes keeping him on the chair. The young man slid off his seat, stumbling slightly as he steadied his legs.
His wrists were raw from struggling against the ropes, and he winced as Kakashi put a soothing yet foul smelling ointment onto them.
"You can live at the Uchiha compound again, if you want to. But I think it's best if we have someone live with you, to keep an eye on you. I was thinking…"
"Naruto." Sasuke interrupted, "I want Naruto."