Author's note: Guess I owe you guys an explanation, huh?.

The truth really is ugly, and I'm not sure whether or not I should say it. Those who want to know, comment, and I swear I'll answer. I just don't think I should put it up here. Just know that I really do have a reason, and I'm truly sorry.

Updates from now on will be more frequently; three or two times a week. I've got the story planned and I've got a few chapters, so it shouldn't be a problem..

This chapter is dedicated to all of the people who still are interested, you guys rock my world. And of course, to the beautiful and missed Tsiedo-hime.

This is the day.

There was an odd, unnerving serenity hanging over the Uchiha compound as Naruto strode over the cold floor, moving silently with the grace that only a master could practice.

This is the day.

Not yet fully recovered and rendered imperfect by punishments he didn't really deserve, Naruto wasn't sure if it was right to kick him out into practice, and even worse – the judgement of the villagers.

This is the day hope and trust will be rebuilt.

"Sazzke" came his blurred voice to the young ninja lying in the bed. He cracked an eye open and was met with nothing but darkness once again. "Sazzge gedapp jougadda goto praktiz."

What the hell is that idiot talking about, the feverish thought entered his head. He could practically see the boy, still twelve years old in his mind but so much older in his heart, glowering at him.

"..practice! .. make you by force…"

As Sasuke's senses sharpened once again and the feverish fog was pushed away, he remembered.

Today is the day. I'll be murdered by angry ninjas.

"Why are you doing this, dobe? You're supposed to be at work."

Sasuke hadn't quite warmed up to the blonde. Bitter and degraded, he was once again a prisoner of the town he'd tried so hard to avoid.

"None of your business, bastard," came the smooth, cold reply.

Naruto hadn't quite forgiven the brunette. Relieved, but careful, he would not let his emotions run free again. He had to learn to distance himself, because really, when it really came down to it, if it came to a time when hard decisions had to be made, how would Naruto be able to stop him?

"Hn."

The now few exchanges of words were awkward and cold, the blanket of anger painfully obvious over the two as they sat by the kitchen table to eat their breakfast. Both of them were quiet most of the time, and had been for the past two days, as if walking on thin ice, trying their way forward.

Naruto watched Sasuke eat, tentatively outlining the shapes of the objects on the small table with his hands, pouring himself a glass of milk and nibbling at an onigiri, careful now that he wasn't fully alert because of the fever.

Sasuke even sat perfectly. He was a man of posture and balance, straight back, head held high. Naruto absently read his body language, not really getting anything out of it, you know, with them just eating breakfast and all, so he let his mind wander.

Naruto thought that it was clear that he was in some way familiar with the house. Sasuke moved around as if it was like.. Before. As if he hadn't ever left, and as if he could still see. Even though he was still sick, he no longer needed to use his hands as support to get where he wanted – though he mostly stayed in his own old room.

Itachi's room was some sort of Pandora's Box to his friend. Sasuke hadn't entered the room, or even gone anywhere near it, since the day Naruto had patched up his wounds. Naruto didn't know whether it was out of fear, respect or hatred, and he wondered if it had been that way since the massacre that took place eight years prior.

Naruto's eyes quickly focused on Sasuke's face again as he opened his eyes, which was pretty rare.

Sasuke's gaze was blank in a way Naruto wasn't used to. Sure, he had never really showed any emotion before either, but this was just plain weird. To be honest, Naruto preferred them to be shut, because it was unnerving to him – when he had his eyes open, which was a rarity, he never knew whether to look him in the eyes or not. Yeah, he couldn't see, so it probably wouldn't really matter where he stared for all Sasuke cared, but it felt degrading in some way that his friend didn't deserve, even though he wouldn't show him that he was worth it.

Yeah, Sasuke was worth to be looked in the eyes. People should know what a hard world had done to a child.

"Stop staring, idiot," hissed Sasuke.

It was then that Naruto noticed that he had stopped eating.

"It's rude, and even though I can't see it, I can feel it."

Naruto blushed and frowned. "T'chah, like I would stare at you anyway."

"Hn," the Uchiha said again and finished his meal.

"Naruto! Stop waving your hand in front of my face!"

"Heh, just making sure," the blonde said with a half grin and started cleaning off the table.

The brunette snorted mentally and closed his eyes.

Had Naruto watched him closely in right –that- millisecond, he might have been able to catch a weak smile on his friend's face.

Really..

There was light rapping on the door, and Naruto was fast as lightening as he opened the door.

"Yosh, let's go!" he said to the jounin escort who stood waiting.

Sasuke didn't know whether to be offended or relieved as the blonde fled from the evil silence. Familiar chakra was at the entrance, but he didn't welcome it one bit.

They exited the building in silence. "Let's go," Sasuke said, and Naruto nodded out of pure habit.

"Aah," Said Kakashi, slightly saddened by the fact that his former student wouldn't acknowledge him.

Kakashi threw looks at the two as they made their way to the training grounds where they would meet up with the others.

It was obvious they were both trying hard to distance themselves from another, which in a way, he thought as they made their way to the training grounds, was a good thing.

Not for them, as individuals. But for them, as shinobi.

And Sasuke..

He was surprisingly good at finding his way over the rooftops. Kakashi wasn't really that surprised, since a good ninja would be able to do it practically sleeping and half dead (1), but it still had to be assuring to know that you can, whenever you want, depend on your eyesight.

Sasuke didn't have that assurance.

He watched out of the corner of his visible eye how Naruto kept close to Sasuke.

Tsunade was right, he chuckled in a wicked way to himself as he thought of the day when he, a half-curious Nara Shikamaru, and a very reluctant Hyuuga Neji (who assured them that, really, he was only doing it for the safety of the hokage!) had eavesdropped on their conversation. Who would be a better guard than the best friend left behind?

"Here," Naruto said, and they all came to a halt as they reached the training grounds. It was still early in the morning some would say, yet the area was filled with life. Kakashi-sensei, Neji, Rock Lee and Sakura were there, along with Iruka, Hinata, Shikamaru and Ino, their chosen assistants. Oh, and let us not forget all of the ANBU littering the forest at the orders of yours truly, Tsunade-hime.

Naruto was sure Sasuke sensed them, as he saw the small crease between the two thin, black eyebrows, but he made no move to reassure him in any way.

They all stood almost lined up in a weird manner. No one said anything, instead staring at Sasuke, who held his head high as he felt accusing and sad eyes on him.

It was his former sensei that broke the silence.

"Hatake Kakashi here. I will be the first to train you, along with Iruka," came Kakashi's voice from somewhere to his left.

"You still know me, I trust", said Iruka softly standing at Kakashi's side.

"Hyuuga Neji," came the exceptionally cold voice of Neji directly from the front. "I will be your teacher in learning the true ways of chakra. My assistant will be Hyuuga Hinata." His voice made it clear that if it wasn't for the orders of the Hokage, he wouldn't be there.

"P-pleased to meet you, Uchiha-san," Hinata said awkwardly from behind her cousin, probably not knowing what to really say.

Sasuke vaguely allowed himself to wonder why he'd be taught by a family whose entire skill was in the ability of their eyes.

"I will be taking over after Hatake-san is done."

Well, Sasuke didn't like the sound of that. His closed eyes formed into a glare and though he didn't see it, Naruto clenched his fist and allowed himself to give Neji a look of warning.

"Yosh!", came a determined voice and Sasuke mentally groaned and smirked at the same time. "Rock Lee reporting here, on the mission of the honoured Godaime Hokage. I will be here to teach you the great ways of the mind, I will help you explore the amazing maze of-"

"That's enough, Lee," came a bored voice, from the.. ground?

"Jeez.. Always has to exaggerate. Why'd I get picked by the most troublesome one?" Shikamaru sounded truly troubled as he lay there, on the ground, gazing at the clouds above. "Wait, why did I get picked at all?" came an afterthought, and Naruto sniggered.

He rewarded them with a small nod as it came as a pleasant surprise that they were at least neutral towards Sasuke, which would most likely make his unwanted visit here less painful and annoying. He wondered though, why Rock Lee hadn't chosen his former sensei as an assistant instead. He's probably busy with other missions, he shook it off.

"Haruno Sakura.-"

"-and Ino Yamanaka", came two voices from his right.

"I, along with Ino, will teach you how to find your real strength and how to use it, how to read the moves of others and how to influence their minds."

"We'll take over after Lee and Shikamaru," Ino said as Sakura cracked her knuckles.

Sasuke gave a snort of laughter.

"And last, and the opposite from least, me." Said Naruto with a half smirk on his face. "You'll just have to wait and see what I've got in store for you!"

"Hn," Sasuke said. "As if. You probably just havn't thought of something yet," he dared Naruto to reply.

Naruto kept silent, and Sasuke frowned.

"Well then, we should get started!" Kakashi said with faked enthusiasm. The other ninja disappeared, Naruto stayed in a nearby tree though.

Sasuke heard the ringing of two small bells, along with the rustling pages of a book.

Again!?

Well.. I don't know where to start. I'll just fill in the glossary.

(1) Heightened senses. You'll notice as things get close.