;;' C.h.a.p.t.e.r.0.6';; Memories
Sasuke sat up, yawning a moment after. This may as well be the best sleep he'd had in years. For some reason, the sight of that blond boy constantly lingering in his mind had made him more peaceful. Who is he? He still had no idea. But his curiousity was not as important as his revenge. I will avenge Okaa-san.
But he couldn't forget that sight, the feel of holding the blond in his arms. I wouldn't half mind hearing his obnoxious voice again. He almost smiled at the memory of that stupid shouting. He was such a dobe. He sat up, looking over at the wall. Maybe he should look into seeing the blond one more time. It wouldn't harm him to learn why he was so attracted to him.
I'll go to the last place I saw him, and see if I can trace him somewhere.
This wouldn't be easy, but he'd do anything to quench his thirst.
--
He stopped at the spot he had held the boy at. Nothing special yet. He frowned as he remembered how scared the boy had seemed. He didn't seem to recognize me, but I know I know him. I have him buried in my head.
He could never focus on avenging his mother with that blond dobe clouding his mind. How do I know you? How the hell do I forget you? Nothing was working out. He just had to know what that blond moron meant to him. Why did he become so obsessed with him?
"Oh? Who are you?"
He looked to one side, but his eyes only widened at the sight. A woman with silver hair and dark skin stared at him, for a few moments. She was a pretty looking woman, but he noticed. One of her eyes must be missing. She has to wear a prosthetic eye. It was unfortunate, but he couldn't say much to it. "Oh, don't feel bad for me. I was just here to see someone I once knew," she said. Sasuke blinked in confusion.
"You see… I once had this little orphan living with me, his name was Namikaze Naruto. But he's been gone ever since the villagers chased him away…"
"You know him. You know that blond kid," Sasuke said. He was almost surprised by hearing the kid was an orphan. But who else would know pain. Besides, that ANBU he was with might have just been a friend. He's like me. "Aye. Naruto was a wonderful boy," the woman spoke. Her hand reached to her cheek, where a sigh escaped her lips. "Maybe he's gone off to Konohagakure. My dad's live there; Hatake Kakashi and Umino Iruka. Maybe he's with them," she whispered.
I know… I know them all. I know all of those people… but I still don't know how I know them.
--
He walked down a street, his mind reeling with questions. Namikaze Naruto. I heard the name Uzumaki Naruto when he spoke. Why is that more familiar? I don't know where to begin looking. That girl doesn't know anything about his childhood…
His eyes narrowed for a moment. Hatake Kakashi and Umino Iruka. In Konohagakure. I could ask them.
But something seemed off. As if he couldn't just go there. I'll ask that lady to call them here. It's the only way.
--
"You wouldn't believe it, Iruka. Ishii's calling us to Sashiko Village. She says someone wants to meet us."
Iruka's eyes widened at the mention of their daughter. Ishii had stopped calling for a long time, ever since she lost a large percent of her eyesight. Iruka had adopted her in memory of Naruto. She instantly adapted to taking Kakashi's last name. She was a sweet, wonderful child. I can't wait to see Ishii again.
He thought it over, for a moment. Should he tell her she has a little brother now too? Naruto is, after all, his favorite student, his son. His joy at having a second chance to protect his son was overwhelming. Kakashi too seemed excited, but they knew one thing for certain.
"If we go, Iruka, we can't tell her about Naruto."
--
"Thank you for helping me, Miss Ishii."
The woman smiled softly. "Of course, Sasuke-san, was it? I've been aching to see dad and papa for so long. I haven't had the courage to see them ever since Naruto was chased out of the village," she said. Her eyes lowered to the ground, where she sighed softly. Though Sasuke understood the part of being lonely, he was curious as to why the blond was chased out of this village. He seemed like such an annoying, loud, honest person. Attractive too.
"Why was he chased out?"
"Someone named Orochimaru attacked me. Naruto used… used some ninjutsu to attack him. And I—Sasuke-san?" she asked. For some reason, Sasuke couldn't breath. Orochimaru… I know that name. I know… I know this… I…
"You will come seeking power, Sasuke-kun."
"Those times weren't completely meaningless. You became my… best friend."
"I'm your friend!"
"I won't let that snake have you! I'll break all of your bones and drag you back if I have to!"
"S-stupid… my body just… moved on its own…"
"You don't have enough hate, little brother."
"I am an avenger!"
"Te-teme, I swear… I s-swear I'll bring y-you back to K-Konoha… I-I promise…"
"Ishii-chan it's really good to see you after—Oh my."
Sasuke's head lowered to the ground, as his suddenly dark past seemed to get colder. Now he knew why he ached to see the blond again. He knew why he seemed so familiar. He knew why this whole fucking idea seemed so fucked over.
Uzumaki Naruto… I killed you.
--
"So… You're alive as well."
His old sensei. The same voice, the same knowing tone. So he does know Naruto's alive. Naruto…
Kakashi popped up before him, his one eye focused on him intently. Beside him, Iruka's eyes focused on Sasuke as well. They're a lot older. But they know I'm alive. They won't tell Naruto. I wonder, does that dobe realize I'm alive as well, or does he still think he's Namikaze Naruto?
"I don't know why you were reborn, but stay away from my family. That includes Namikaze Naruto."
Sasuke smirked, briefly. I've got to admit, it's ironic that Naruto's back with me. I wonder… is this the life he'll be mine in? His past self had said he couldn't return to Konohagakure. But who was to say he couldn't take Naruto from there? I should do just that. Make him mine… only mine. "Further more, if you do want him, it can't be now. He has no control over Kyuubi, especially when it concerns you," Kakashi continued.
Kyuubi? Me? He still has—
"He can't, he can't. He died with the demon, so how can he just be reborn with the demon in him?" Iruka argued. Sasuke's eyes narrowed in anger. Naruto was alive, but with the same problems. He would be ignored if the village found out he has the demon in him. He had each problem, yet he was still in Konohagakure. "A godly miracle or curse. Either way, Naruto is, once more, partnered with a demon," Kakashi said. His eyes looked towards one side, where Ishii was quaking in fear.
"Kakashi-sensei, I want you to make sure he's safe till he's mine. Keep Sakura, and those villagers far, far away from him."
Now was his time to leave. He turned, about to walk off, but he stopped when he felt Iruka's hand on his shoulder. "He still only loves you in that way. He turned Sakura down, even with her behaving so immaturely," he whispered. Sasuke felt relief cloud his mind. He's still mine. "In fact, he almost lost control of Kyuubi when she said something bad about you. You're fortunate, he's alive for his goal," Iruka continued.
With that, Sasuke left the house.
--
"RAMEN!"
Haku smiled softly at Naruto's childish shouting. He had switched into the purple clothes he normally wore and taken Naruto to the ramen shop nearby; Shiatsu Ramen. Naruto seemed to deserve it after spending so many days training. He had some feeling that when Kakashi and Iruka came back, bad news would arrive as well. I'll ask them once they arrive. It is important that I know, it might be what killed Naruto-kun before.
Naruto dug into his ramen, eating at a speed Haku could never rival. But he smiled at how Naruto's blue eyes twinkled. There was nothing more pleasing than Naruto's smiles. "Seconds please!" he shouted. Haku smiled more at his appetite. It was nice to spend some time with Naruto when it didn't involve training. "Haku, I was thinking. Isn't Iruka kind of like a daddy to me?" Naruto suddenly asked. Haku nodded and gave Naruto as bright a smile he could muster.
"Well, well, ain't that a pretty gal. What're you doing with the blond idiot?"
Haku's anger surged up. No one could call Naruto an idiot and live with it. He stood up, his hand slowly forming an ice needle. The man seemed pretty surprised at Haku.
"He is not a blond idiot. By the way, I'm a boy."
--
"H-Haku. You just knocked that guy out!"
Haku smiled softly. He had been a bit rough, but that was what they would get for saying crap about Naruto. Naruto was his only friend, his family. He would not tolerate anything said against him. "Finish your meal, Naruto-kun. It's no good to leave a good bowl of Ramen untouched," he said. This diverted Naruto's low attention span, and he was chomping down his ramen. Haku was glad he could spoil Naruto, and keep him from worrying too much.
"Hey, Haku… you'll always be with me, right? Even when I become a ninja of our village?" Naruto suddenly asked. It caught Haku off guard. His answer to this question was the same as always. Always, he would give this same answer.
He smiled softly. "I will always be your friend, Naruto-kun, your brother. I promise you this."
Naruto quickly turned around and began eating once more. I will, Naruto-kun. And we will find Sasuke-san, unless he finds you first.
--
Sakura wept as she remembered how blatantly Naruto had rejected her. Again, Sasuke was in her way. She buried her head further in the silk pillows she had bought and cried more. Her sobs were drowned out by the running water in her bathtub. She was sad; horrifyingly sad.
She sniffled and looked at her beds headboard. Ontop of it, she had mounted a picture of Naruto. A picture she had taken with him on a mission. She missed him so much. But Sasuke. He just had to take him from me, again! Why does he keep taking him? Why?!
She furiously punched her pillow. This was the final straw. Naruto was hers in this life, and she would have him. Even if she had to lie and force her way into his life.
--
The sun came down, and Sasuke took a seat under the tree. His past life flew through his mind. How oblivious had he been to the way he had kept thinking of Naruto? He had seen him twice, and saved him both times. Though he knew the blond might never remember him, he remembered Naruto only too well.
He had those same blue eyes and that blond hair. That same personality like an idiot. Sasuke chuckled lightly. He was the exact same Naruto he had been madly in love with in his past life. But the person he had seen with Naruto was what worried him. Now that he had his memories, he knew who that was.
Haku. The ninja that almost killed me. If he's with Naruto, he must remember everything too. Whose side is he on? Is his partner still alive too? Sasuke didn't know how to handle Haku. Naruto might blindly trust him, but he didn't. If Haku tried to hurt Naruto, Sasuke would lose a chance to claim Naruto. To have Naruto by his side. Naruto should never, ever be someone else's. He has to be mine.
He looked up at the sundown and sighed. Tomorrow, he would have to try and find something to do. He couldn't take Naruto unless he was a whole lot stronger.
--
Naruto snuggled into his bed and sighed contently. This wasn't such a bad life to live. With Haku and Iruka-sensei here, Naruto could do anything. Maybe someday in the near future, he might be such a good ninja, that even that pervert from before might lose to him.
All fear the might of Namikaze Naruto, he thought. He grinned and nuzzled his pillow with his nose. So he couldn't be a ramen seller, and he couldn't live off of Ramen like in dream sequence number 10. But he could still eat ramen with Iruka-sensei and Haku. And he could be a ninja so he could one day take on all of the bad guys. And maybe I could protect this village too, he thought.
The light suddenly turned on. He blinked and looked over at his door, only to find Sakura standing there. "Get up, Naruto. We're going to leave the village," she said, sternly. Naruto looked half surprised. L-Leave Konohagakure? But Haku and Iruka-sensei are here, I can't go! She walked over and forcefully gripped his wrists. He struggled and tried to escape, but Sakura was a lot stronger than him. "Its okay, Naruto. I love you, so I'm going to look after you, like a wife should," she said.
He froze at those words. Wife?
Sakura smiled at his surprised gaze. Her jade eyes twinkled. "Yes, a wife. I was your wife in the past. Uzumaki Haruno Sakura. I… I missed you, Naruto," she whispered. I-I was married? She's my wife?!
He tensed as she began crying. His wife. He had to look after her. She was his wife. What was I thinking before? If she was my wife, I should be here with her! Why did I get myself killed? Sakura sat down on the bed, lifting her free hand, she wiped the tears on the back of the appendage. "I cried and cried, and all Tsunade-sama told me was that you were dead, gone! What else could I do? How could I know that you died on a mission? I was pregnant, Naruto, pregnant with our child," Sakura said. He uncomfortably wrapped his arms around her. It felt so wrong, but he did it anyways. "You were pregnant with our child?" he asked, waiting for her to continue.
"Yes, our daughter! You wanted to name her Ai, a symbol of our deep, true love!" Sakura exclaimed. "And then, then you died! Wh-when I found out, I had a miscarriage! Oh, poor Ai. She died before seeing the world, and her father with her!" He didn't know what to believe. He was her husband in his past life, and she had been pregnant. Could she really have loved him that much, and he loved her that much too?
He had to take up his responsibility. "I-I'm sorry, Haruno-chan. I-I'll m-make it up to you. I'll be yours, okay?" he said. He felt her stop, before she hugged him tightly. "Oh Naruto… you have no idea how much I've missed you," she whispered.
--
Once Sakura had left his room, she grinned. Bingo.
That whole story of 'I was your wife' had worked. Naruto believed he had been married to her. He had no idea he had only had a crush on her as a child, and that Sasuke was his lover. I win, Sasuke. He's mine! She laughed softly. Now Sasuke had lost. Naruto was hers. There was no more Sasuke to steal Naruto. No more Sasuke to stop him.
All I have left in my way is Haku. If I tell Naruto that Haku killed him, I might just get rid of him too, Sakura thought. She brushed a strand of her hair from her face. Naruto was in her hand. Once Haku was out of the picture, she would be home free. Naruto would be hers in this life, and so on.
--