It was afternoon when Naruto woke up with a terrible headache, he moved his arm over his eyes to block out the sun, a smile tugged at his lips when he felt Kakashi breathing underneath him, but it all vanished when he needed to get of off Kakashi as soon as possible.
Naruto ran to the bathroom and dropped on his knees in front of the toilet, he was glad with the medicine his baa-chan made for him but this side effect he hated the most. He winced as he felt the pain in his hands.
'' Aah … Shit. '' Naruto cursed before throwing up.
Sasuke woke up from Naruto's not so quietly cussing. He got of his bed and walked to the bathroom. Sasuke saw Naruto hunched over the toilet, trying to balance himself without using his hands, that he had injured yesterday. Sasuke quickened his pace and helped Naruto steady himself, he rubbed gentle, calming circles on his back. Naruto was slightly shocked to feel hands on his back, so when he had time he looked up to see who was helping him, he saw Sasuke steadying him.
'' When did you … '' Naruto said, but stopped and turned back to the toilet once again.
'' Come back? '' Naruto finally finished.
'' Several hours ago. '' Sasuke replied.
Naruto slowly stood up and flushed the toilet, he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of is sweater. Sasuke looked at Naruto, his eyes were dull and that pleasant smile wasn't there anymore.
'' How was your family? '' Naruto asked, concern laced in is voice.
'' They're fine …. It was one of my father's tricks to get me home. '' Sasuke replied. He was surprised that Naruto even remembered why he had left, even though he didn't even knew his parents. Sasuke looked at Naruto for a moment.
'' But that is not really important is it, how are you? What in Kami's name happened yesterday? '' Sasuke asked.
'' I'm okay … we, we should get back. I'll try and explain everything. As promised. '' Naruto replied.
Naruto and Sasuke walked back to the main room. They saw that Iruka was now comfortably leaning against Kakashi's chest, Naruto smiled slightly at the sight of those two. Sasuke went to his bed and sat there, he felt that Naruto had joined him. An awkward silence filled the room for a while.
'' I … uhm … I promised. '' Naruto said, but kept glancing back at his hands.
Both Iruka and Kakashi noticed, but only Iruka stood up for a closer inspection. He knelt down in front of Naruto, Iruka gently took Naruto's hands off of his lap and gently starting to unwrap one of his hands.
'' What did you do? '' Iruka asked, the bandages where both bloody again.
'' I-I was in the … bathroom and fell forward I-I wanted to catch myself, but I-I forgot. '' Naruto replied, looking at his hands, which were treated by Iruka.
Iruka had unwrapped both Naruto's hands and looked at the damage, he got up and got some paper towel made it wet and then returned to Naruto and gently cleaned his hands in the mean time Sasuke stood up and walked to the kitchen where he made a sandwich and filled a glass with water. Kakashi carefully watched Sasuke's movements. After Sasuke was done he walked to the desk where he got a pill out of the top drawer. When he had gathered everything he set the plate beside's Naruto. Naruto smiled and nodded his thanks.
'' What does this do except for stinging? '' Naruto asked.
'' It is a lotion against the swelling, my mom thought it to me when I was young. '' Iruka answered. Naruto knew the look in Iruka's eyes, he knew it all too well.
'' She died … didn't she? '' Naruto asked softly.
Iruka nodded. '' Yes they did. I screamed and cried, just like you. I was moved to this village to live with my aunt … here I met Kakashi and Minato, we became best friends and they helped me through my grieving. We laughed and we cried together, not long after Kakashi and I became a couple … and we still are. '' Iruka told, while he bandaged Naruto's hands again, a sad, remembering smile on his lips.
Naruto looked to Kakashi and then to Sasuke and as last to Iruka and then lowered his gaze to his hands.
'' I … I was angry at him for leaving me and I was sad. Then I was angry at m-myself for being angry at h-him. I-I threw stuff everywhere and I smashed my hands on the floor. '' Naruto said tears streaming over his face with an alarming pace.
'' How did he die Naruto? '' Kakashi asked.
'' He died right in front of m-me, shot j-just beside his … his h-heart, a fatal blow. He died slowly, watching me c-cry and scream and f-fussing over him, when w-we both know he isn't going to m-make it. '' Naruto said, sometimes choking on his own words.
Iruka had lowered his head at the beginning of Naruto's story and now tears where slipping past the barrier of his eyes and falling on Naruto's fingers, which he was still holding. Naruto gently lifted Iruka's head so he could see his eyes, and search for some answers. But Naruto only found sadness, such immense sadness.
'' What's wrong Iruka-sensei? '' Naruto asked softly, he was barely audible. Kakashi got up and rubbed comforting circles on his back.
'' M-My parent where murdered in … the s-same way. W-Who was he to you? '' Iruka asked.
'' H-he wasn't supposed to d-die, it was s-supposed to be me … T-that man had said so, h-he made a mistake. '' Naruto mumbled, avoiding the question completely.
'' Who was he to you? '' Iruka asked again, wanting an answer.
'' M-my b-best friend, m-my only f-friend. One I loved as a brother. His name was K-K-Kyuubi. '' Naruto said softly. The room was silent for a while.
'' I have a question. '' Sasuke said.
'' Okay. '' Naruto said, still not looking at anyone.
Sasuke grabbed the sketchpad that he had set on his nightstand earlier and turned it so Naruto could see.
'' Who is this? Is this your friend, Kyuubi? '' Sasuke asked.
'' Y-Yes he is, how did you know? '' Naruto asked in return.
'' Well it was thrown on my bed and it is a male, so I figured it was him you talked about. '' Sasuke explained.
'' Why did you break down today? '' Sasuke asked.
'' Kyuubi was murdered on his birthday, his birthday was a year ago, yesterday.'' Naruto explained.
They understood now, yesterday was the anniversary of his friends death.
They were quiet for a while, slowly Iruka's and Naruto's tears dried. Iruka had joined Kakashi on Naruto's bed.
'' I have one question and I can't figure out the answer. '' Kakashi said. '' How did you manage to call Iruka? '' Iruka asked.
Naruto smiled and stood up he walked to his nightstand and picked up his Samsung Note. He pressed the button on the middle of his phone twice.
'' What would you like to do? '' The phone asked.
'' Call Umino Iruka. '' Naruto replied.
'' Calling Umino Iruka. '' The phone said.
Not much later Iruka's phone rang. He took his phone out and looked at the caller ID, he was amazed at the technology of the new phones.
'' How did you get my phone number? '' Iruka asked.
Naruto smiled mischievously.'' I have my ways, but I'll give you a hint for this one. Tsunade-baa-chan of course. '' Naruto replied.
'' I should have known. '' Iruka muttered.
'' We should go and start packing our bags for the camping trip tomorrow. '' Kakashi said.
Naruto stood up and walked to Iruka and hugged him. '' Thank you, Iruka-sensei, for being here. '' Naruto said.
'' That's okay Naruto, you can come to us if you need to talk. '' Iruka whispered, hugging him back.
Naruto let go of the Sensei en walked to Kakashi who was still standing by the bed, he hugged him as well, it really meant a lot to Naruto that they actually stayed.
'' Thank you Sensei, I appreciate it very much. '' Naruto whispered. Kakashi squeezed Naruto a little harder and then let go of the blonde and joined Iruka.
'' See you tomorrow morning Sensei. '' Naruto called after them.
Naruto closed the door and got out his black and his orange duffle bag. In the orange one he put: Swimming clothes, sport clothes, warm sweaters and pants, socks and boxers, t- shirts and towels. In the black bag he put: a mosquito net, torch, self inflating pillow, first aid kit, his own medical supplies, 6 extra bottles of water to take his pills with, pocket knife and of course his sketchpad, pencils and erasers.
Naruto had charged all of his phones, three he put in the black bag and the Note he kept with him. When he was finally done he saw that Sasuke also had packed his bag. Naruto sat down on the chair behind his desk and opened his laptop and mindlessly surfed the net.
Sasuke put his rain coat on top of his bag so he wouldn't forget it. Then he grabbed a book and laid down on his bed and began reading.
An hour later Sasuke looked up from his book, he got up and walked to the kitchen area where he filled a glass with apple juice. When he walked back he noticed that Naruto was fast asleep on top of the keyboard of his laptop. He drank his apple juice and then decided to take a nice hot and relaxing shower, so he grabbed a towel some underwear and a new set of clothes and walked into the shower.
When he returned an hour later Naruto wasn't in the room anymore, figuring Naruto would be back by dinner time, as usual, Sasuke started making dinner for the two of them. After a short hour dinner was ready and set on the table and Naruto still hadn't returned. Sasuke looked for a note or something, but even his phone still laid on the nightstand. So he decided to check Iruka's, maybe the dobe needed to talk.
Sasuke grabbed his phone and keys and walked out the door and locked it behind him, and then he headed for Iruka's and Kakashi's dorm room. When he arrived he knocked on their door a couple of times.
'' A minute! '' Iruka called form the other side of the door. Not much later the door opened.
'' Hello Sasuke, what brought you here? '' Iruka asked.
'' I'm looking for Naruto, have you seen him? '' Sasuke replied, Kakashi appeared behind Iruka.
'' No, I haven't seen him, didn't he leave a note? '' Iruka asked.
'' Can't you call him? '' Kakashi asked.
Sasuke shook his head. '' He didn't leave a note and I can't call him, I don't have his phone number plus he left all of his phones on the nightstand. '' He said.
Iruka looked at Kakashi, who answered with a single nod.
'' We'll help you look for him. '' Iruka said.
Kakashi grabbed his phone and keys and then left the room, he made sure to lock it and then followed Iruka and Sasuke. They had walked though several corridors when Iruka suddenly heard a violin, and electric one to be precise.
'' Do you hear that? '' Iruka asked.
They nodded and then followed their ears towards the music, they softly entered the music classroom. Naruto stood on the middle of the room, with his eyes closed. Kakashi took a seat behind his desk and Iruka sat in his lap, while Sasuke stood next to them, silently watching Naruto as he played the song perfectly on the violin.
'' I don't think anything he does can amaze us anymore, he'll always be brilliant and pleasure to look at. '' Iruka whispered. Kakashi and Sasuke just nodded their approval.
'' I know this song. '' Kakashi said somewhat later.
'' Yes, it is Secrets by One Republic. '' Sasuke answered.
'' So tell me something you want to hear, something that were like those years. Sick of all the insincere, so I'm gonna give all my secrets away. This time, don't need another perfect line, don't care if critics jump the line. I'm gonna give all my secrets away, all my secrets away. '' Naruto sang.
'' Just when you think he can't surprise you any more … '' Iruka started.
'' He sings … '' Kakashi finished shocked.
Naruto stopped playing and opened his eyes, seeing a small crowd by the desk.
'' So … Secrets huh? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Secrets, what secrets? … … Oh the song. '' Naruto replied, scratching the back of his head and smiling sheepishly when he realized they meant the song.
'' So how did you get in here? '' Iruka asked, as soon he was recovered by Naruto's stupid answer.
'' Oh, that … I picked the lock. '' Naruto answered truthfully.
'' You … picked … the lock. '' Kakashi repeated slowly.
'' Yes, I didn't want to go to baa-chan for the keys. '' Naruto grinned and he scratched the back of his head once more.
'' I'll clean up my stuff. '' Naruto said, as he walked to his amplifier.
'' I will help you. '' Sasuke said.
After a few minutes they had cleaned up everything and walked back to the dorm room, Sasuke had thanked Iruka and Kakashi for helping him look. Sasuke and Naruto now sat at their table eating their dinner, which was luckily for them still warm. They ate in silence.
After dinner Naruto cleaned the table and Sasuke washed the dishes, after the dishes had been put away Naruto sat down on his own bed, staring out of the window, it was raining quite hard outside. Sasuke followed Naruto's gaze.
'' They say that a storm is coming, thunder, rain and harsh winds. '' Sasuke said.
'' Thunder? '' Naruto asked. Sasuke simply nodded.
They were quiet for a while just watching the rain and not much later the thunder joined it.
'' I'm sorry. '' Naruto mumbled, he flinched when the thunder roared.
'' What are you sorry for, there is nothing to be sorry for. '' Sasuke said.
'' I shouldn't have left the way I did, I should have left a note or … something, but I needed … I needed to get my mind of things. '' Naruto said he had once again dunked his head when the thunder made itself known.
'' Did you dream of your friend? '' Sasuke asked, while he sat down besides Naruto.
'' Yes I did. '' Naruto didn't look at Sasuke.
Sasuke put an arm around Naruto's shoulder. '' If you want to talk, I will listen. '' He said. Naruto turned to look at Sasuke, his eyes filled with unshed tears.
'' Every time I dream, I dream about him, I see him getting shot, I see him dying right in front of me, over and over and over again. '' Naruto whispered, tears flowing over his cheeks
Sasuke gently wiped away the blonde's tears and pulled him closer into a hug, in hope to comfort the young man. Sasuke didn't really know how to deal with emotions and he really hoped, that this helped the young troubled man in his embrace, because Sasuke would do everything for him, he would listen to him, talk with him and hug him if it made Naruto smile again.