Chapter 8
Winter came suddenly that year. A deep blanket of snow covered the fallen leaves and raw earth that littered the many construction sites, putting the rebuilding process on hold for the season. As the large, fluffy snowflakes fell, they seemed to silence the world. Despite the cold, people on the streets often stopped to look up at the pristine flakes fluttering down from the grey skies, their breaths billowing around them like smoke.
This gentle beauty went unnoticed by Sasuke, to whom the changing seasons had no meaning. His entire existence was within the windowless confines of his cell, its four stone walls carved and vandalized by the previous tenants. The room boasted a low bed with a rusting iron frame, a toilet with a sink, and a small wooden desk that was bolted to the ground. In these conditions, Sasuke was glad that he had abandoned his pride. He knew that the old Sasuke would have lost control by now, confined as he was with only his imagination for company.
And it was rather poor company, indeed. He hardly slept because of the nightmares that haunted him, but these same phantoms forced their way into his waking hours as well. Whispers of his old self would rise like tendrils of smoke, seeping into his mind and clinging to the small doubts and fears that existed there. Sasuke often heard his own voice, icily cold and distant, taunting him from the deep hollows of his chest.
"He's abandoned you. He's left you here to rot. Do you have any idea how long it's been?"
Sasuke often sat and wondered when time had stopped. At some point, the day and the month had become meaningless to him. For a while, he had judged time by the meals brought to him by the guards, but it wasn't long before they too had blurred together into undefined moments. Sasuke had no choice but to conclude that time had stopped the moment Naruto had left him behind.
"I'll always be waiting for you."
He had charmed one of the young guards into bringing him books and scrolls, distracting himself by becoming immersed in history and literature, studying battle strategy and rare jutsu. He filled his mind with knowledge, too stubborn to submit to the doubts that pestered the back of his mind. If there was one fear that he openly acknowledged, it was the fear of being powerless: of being too weak to serve any purpose to his King.
In Sasuke's dark mind, Naruto was the King. He was the man who had saved him from despair and hatred, and given him hope for a different future. There were times when Sasuke scared himself with the level of devotion he felt towards his childhood friend, but these uncertainties would pass as soon as the memory of those brilliant blue eyes flashed across his mind.
"The world is too dark without you. And that's why I'll always be waiting for you, too."
There were moments, when Sasuke had been wandering aimlessly after the war, when loneliness struck him fiercely. However, that feeling was insignificant compared to the isolation he felt now. The chakra seals placed upon him, when coupled with the many barriers placed around his cell, made it impossible for him to sense anything that went on around him. As far as he knew, the only people who still existed in the world were himself and his guards. And yet, every now and then, he could feel something within himself stirring, like birds taking flight. Goosebumps would rise on his pale skin, though they'd have nothing to do with the damp chill in the air. It was in these moments when a deep sense of relief would settle over him, washing over him warmly and chasing away his doubts.
It was in these moments when he knew, without a single doubt, that Naruto was near.
And so, on the evening when this sensation pulled him roughly from his sleep, Sasuke was puzzled to discover a stinging sensation behind his eyes. The book that had lain open upon his chest tumbled to the ground, the sound echoing loudly in the silence. Even as he rose to his feet, relief, followed quickly by exhaustion, struck him. Sasuke's knees buckled suddenly, his hands slapping the cold floor loudly as a rattling breath escaped from his chest.
He remained this way until the guards came to collect him, head bowed as if deep in prayer while broken gasps continued to tear out of his throat. Sasuke didn't say a word as they put him in irons, covering his unseeing eyes with a blindfold of roughly woven cloth.
A pair of gentle hands guided him out of his cell, one holding his wrists while the other rested on his trembling shoulder. The guard spoke then, and Sasuke immediately recognized the soft voice of the young guard who had brought him the books he requested.
"Pull yourself together, Uchiha-san. You have a visitor."
"Naruto."
It was then that a sigh of relief slipped between Sasuke's lips. The cold knot of fear that had claimed his stomach suddenly burst, and a feeling of reassurance that he had lived without for years took purchase in his heart as he faded into unconsciousness.
The lights were flickering to life, one by one.
This is what Sasuke perceived from beneath the tight blindfold that was tied over his eyes. He sensed that he had been brought somewhere while he was unconscious, as the air around him was warm and dry. Cold chains were cutting into his skin, a wooden chair hard against his back.
Just as Sasuke was settling into his new surroundings, a slight noise made him aware of another person in the room. He jolted in shock before going completely still, waiting breathless and hyper-aware of his own vulnerability.
"Are you awake now?"
Sasuke inhaled sharply at the familiar voice, hardly daring to believe his ears. A single name slipped between his lips, spoken like a prayer in the silence.
"Naruto?"
The only response was the sound of soft footsteps crossing the floor. Without warning, warm, gentle fingers tucked Sasuke's hair behind his ear before pulling back his shirt to reveal pale shoulders. For a moment, those hands smoothed idly across Sasuke's skin, raising goose bumps in their wake. Then, warm chakra was tracing symbols around the curse mark on his left shoulder. After a while, the warm touch fell away, and the soft voice spoke again.
"This might feel weird, but just bear with it for a minute."
When Sasuke had nodded, he heard the slight brush of skin and hum of chakra that indicated the forming of hand signs. And then, simultaneously, all the chains and seals placed on him by the guards fell away. At the same moment, he felt the symbols on his left shoulder burning as the new seal that controlled his chakra came to life. Sasuke rolled his shoulder in discomfort as the sound of the heavy chains hitting the ground faded.
He heard a soft exhale, and then those familiar hands slipped into his hair once more, untying the blindfold. Sasuke opened his eyes as the strip of fabric fell onto his lap. And then he was staring into burning eyes of sapphire blue, his mouth falling open as his heart caught in his throat.
"N-Naruto?"
Suddenly, Naruto fell to his knees, and the two ninja collided in a jarring embrace, clinging to one another desperately. It took Sasuke a minute to realize that Naruto was shaking; his muscular frame trembling as his breath rasped hotly on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Finally!" Naruto choked out, reaching up to rest his hand on the back of Sasuke's head. "I've missed you so much, you know!"
"Calm down, dobe," Sasuke said, though his voice lacked its usual edge.
Naruto nodded, pulling away to wipe at his eyes. Although he continued to smile, Sasuke noticed that there were large dark circles under Naruto's eyes, and he seemed hollowed by exhaustion. Silence fell between them, both men suddenly discovering that they had no idea what to say. Naruto rubbed at his head self-consciously, becoming very interested in the pattern of the tiles on the floor.
Sasuke's dark eyes scanned the Sage warily. "You grew again." He observed softly. He quickly glanced away when Naruto's gaze slid over to him, his blue eyes catching the light. The blond smiled, nodding in Sasuke's direction.
"So did you."
Sasuke could feel his defenses rising, a cold comment rushing to the tip of his tongue. But he bit it back, reasoning that Naruto looked too exhausted to be bullied. So instead, he gestured vaguely at his shoulder, his voice a disinterested mumble as he asked, "Since when do you know how to do such advanced Sealing Jutsu, dobe?"
"I started learning it a few months ago from Kakashi-sensei. I'm a pretty fast learner, even though this sort of thing isn't my strong point."
The gentle, deep tones of Naruto's voice danced across Sasuke's ears like music. Sasuke hadn't realized how dearly he had missed his voice until now. A familiar pain came to life in Sasuke's chest, chasing a melancholy smile onto his lips.
"I told you not to visit me, Naruto." He whispered, his voice breaking.
Sasuke had been determinedly ignoring the fragility of his mental state. But now, as he snuck another look at the blond Jinchuuriki, he could feel his mask crumbling to pieces. As if sensing this, Naruto graced him with a reassuring smile as he leaned back, arranging his legs so that he sat cross-legged in front of Sasuke's chair.
Naruto scanned Sasuke's face carefully, trying to organize the jumble of words and emotions that were racing around his mind. Finally, he took a steadying breath, his voice echoing deeply in the small room as he spoke.
"Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if anything, even a single moment, turned out differently than it did. What if you had stayed? What if I had beaten you and brought you home back then? Maybe you would have resented me, hated me for the rest of your life. And what would you have done if I had died before I could catch up to you? Maybe I'm too full of myself, but I always imagined that you would avenge me, too."
He leaned forward, the loose sleeves of his cloak sliding down as he rested his elbows on his knees. The sleeves of his black undershirt were pushed up to reveal his tanned and muscular forearms, tendons rippling under the skin as he flexed his fingers. Sasuke denied him a response, sniffing loudly as he pointedly looked away.
"I'm sorry I haven't come to see you in such a long time," Naruto said guiltily. "But I wanted to be able to come to you with good news."
Sasuke leaned an elbow on the arm of the chair, resting his chin on his knuckles. "Why are you apologizing when I'm the one who told you not to visit me?"
Sudden laughter drew his gaze. "Yeah, that's a good point." The blond said brightly. "But I still felt kind of guilty, you know?"
Sasuke couldn't help but smile at Naruto's sudden mood change. He cleared his throat as curiosity took root in his mind. "So, since you're here now, is it safe for me to assume that you have good news?"
The electrical lamp on the ceiling buzzed softly while Naruto chose his next words.
"Do you know how long it's been since you came back to the village?" Naruto asked. He continued when Sasuke shook his head in response. "You were in here for about three months before the trial, which was in October. Today's date is January the fifteenth."
"I've already been in here for six months?" Sasuke exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Well, closer to seven months, when you count up all the days," Naruto muttered before quickly changing the subject. "But yeah, I do have news about your trial. I'm sorry that you've been in the dark for so long, but it took forever to get everything sorted out. Since you were an international criminal, we needed to get approval from all the Kage. I've been working non-stop since the trial. I don't think I've been home for at least a month now."
Sasuke leaned forward intently. "So everything's final now? You know the verdict from my trial?"
Naruto nodded as he inhaled deeply, settling his emotions. "Your abilities as a ninja were your selling point. For the next year, you'll be on parole. If you behave yourself, you'll be able to resume your duties as a ninja the year after that."
Sasuke stared at the blond, utterly dumbfounded. "How is that possible?"
"Because I agreed to be your guardian." Naruto replied. "That seal I just placed on your shoulder not only controls your chakra, but acts as a landmark for my Teleportation Jutsu. So don't even think about going AWOL again. The only way that seal will come undone is if I release it, or if I die."
When Sasuke didn't say anything, Naruto averted his eyes. "I know it's kind of lame that I have to babysit you all the time, but I think if we live together it will feel a bit more natural. Also, I'm really busy with missions and stuff, so whenever I'm away you'll be guarded by Black Ops and you aren't allowed to go outside. If it makes you feel better, I could leave a clone behind too. Also, if you behave yourself, I'll slowly loosen that seal so your chakra comes back a little at a time. That way, you should be back to the level of strength you had a year ago by the time you can rejoin the ranks."
Sasuke, who had been frozen in shock, suddenly shook his head.
"It would have been better if I died. You've chosen to be a prisoner for the rest of your life, just for the sake of my freedom."
"If I'm just going to be a prisoner anyway, why don't I just stay in here? If you really are as busy as you say, then wouldn't that make things easier for you too?"
Naruto was silent for a few seconds, a mixture of emotions passing across his face. Finally, he settled for a sad smile, still not looking at Sasuke as he replied, "This isn't a hotel, Sasuke. You can't extend your stay just because you don't like the verdict from your trial."
"But you see what they're doing, don't you?" Sasuke retorted heatedly as he leaned forward. "They couldn't go against your wishes and have me killed because most of the ninja world sees you as some sort of savior, and those who follow you share your desire for peace and progress. However, the Elders still needed some way to control you, so they forced you to become my Guardian! If anyone complains about me, or thinks that we're conspiring together or any other bullshit like that, then you'll be forced to kill me with your own hands! Not only that, but as long as my chakra is sealed I'm completely useless to defend myself! They could threaten to have me taken out if you aren't doing things the way they want. And on top of that-"
"Enough, Sasuke." Naruto cut in sharply, anger flashing in his eyes. "I've been aware of that for a long time. I agreed to be your Guardian months ago, knowing full well what it meant. But I agreed to it, because this is the only way that you can be free."
Sasuke watched with wide eyes as Naruto rose slowly to his feet, stretching the stiffness out of his limbs. He rubbed his head, pouting as he muttered, "If it bothers you that much, I'll have to go talk this over with Shikamaru. We'll see if we can get an ANBU unit assigned to you permanently, and then I'll only have to be around you a few times a month or something."
He turned quickly, red Sages cloak billowing behind him as he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his black Jounin pants. Naruto had just reached the door when a low voice found his ears.
"You're wrong."
The Jinchuuriki froze with his hand on the door handle, utterly motionless as Sasuke continued.
"It's not that I don't want to be around you. That's not it at all. In fact, while I was in here, I vowed…I vowed that I would devote the rest of my life to you. It's the only way I can repay you for everything that you've done. Even if I could only ever exist in your shadow, that would be enough. But you have to understand, Naruto, that from where I'm standing, it seems that all I've ever done is cause you trouble. I feel like the only way I can really help you is to disappear; just stay out of your way completely."
He paused then, studying Naruto's back with stinging eyes. "It's possible that I'm still too immersed in the darkness to be able to stand at your side."
The silence stretched out between them, broken only by their soft breathing and the muffled sound of activity in the building. Finally, Naruto leaned forward until the metal of his hitai-ite rested on the wooden door. His shoulders were stiff and defensive, but his voice was soft when he whispered, "Yeah, you're definitely still a pain in the ass."
"Naruto…"
His headband scratched the door as he shook his head. "Sasuke, I accepted the mission to become your Guardian because there's nothing that I want more than to protect my comrades. Believe me when I say that this is the best possible outcome that I can imagine."
He glanced over his shoulder, blue eyes pinched by tiredness as they swept over Sasuke. Sasuke's face was deathly pale, his dark eyes rimmed by red. Sensing his gaze, Sasuke looked down, his thick eyelashes brushing his colourless cheeks. His face had become rather thin, his cheekbones jutting out and casting his sallow cheeks into shadow. His straight, shiny hair served as a dark frame for his subtly crafted jawline.
Naruto traced his gaze over Sasuke's softly pointed chin, his faintly pink lips. He was the picture of regality, the embodiment of everything that made the Uchiha Clan beautiful, even in this diminished state.
As Naruto took in Sasuke's face, he felt something inside himself shift. Warmth bloomed in his chest as he slowly let go of the door handle and made his way back across the room.
Sasuke glanced up at the sound of footsteps, his eyes locking onto Naruto's as the blond came to stand before him. "We don't have a choice anymore, Sasuke." Naruto whispered as he leaned down. "As long as we're in Konoha, we have to follow the rules."
"As if you've ever given a damn about the rules." Sasuke scoffed with a smirk.
Naruto smiled, leaning down at the same time that Sasuke extended his neck upwards. Their lips met softly, the tenderness of the contact melting away the tension that had hung between them before. Naruto placed one hand on either arm of the sturdy wooden chair, barring Sasuke between his strong arms. The smell of pine needles and weapon oil clung to his clothing, the scent overpowering Sasuke's senses in such close quarters. Enticed by the rich and musky scent, Sasuke jutted his chin upward, deepening the kiss.
Naruto smiled softly, pulling away. When Sasuke glanced up questioningly, the look in Naruto's eyes stunned him into stillness. The blond knelt down, resting his hand on Sasuke's knee. He swept his other hand through Sasuke's raven-black bangs, guiding the wayward strands away from his face. Sasuke could feel the ends of his hair tickling the nape of his neck.
Naruto leaned in to rest his forehead against Sasuke's, their noses brushing. "You definitely do cause me a lot of trouble. It's been like that since we were kids. But I don't mind, because we're friends."
Sasuke's eyes drifted down, examining Naruto's lips.
"You said that you`re still too immersed in the darkness to be able to stand at my side, but that`s wrong, Sasuke." Naruto said with a soft smile. "I think that you can see the light better than anyone else, because you know the darkness so well."
Sasuke remained silent, unsure of how to respond to those gentle, supportive words. He shivered as Naruto's touch slipped away, leaving him cold and trembling. Sasuke glared at the ground as he tried without success to slow his racing heartbeat, a confusing jumble of emotions clambering around his head.
Naruto exhaled slowly, trying to calm his own emotions. He stood up, deciding it was best to create distance between them to keep the spark that flared within his stomach from igniting. He ran his tongue over his lips, tasting Sasuke. It was maddening to be so close after so long yet not touching. Naruto reminded himself that he was the one who had pulled away.
"Focus." He told himself. "I don't have much time."
Since there was only one piece of furniture in the room, Naruto leaned against the paneled wall. A sigh of exhaustion crept from his lungs as he crossed his arms, his eyelids sliding down.
Sasuke slipped into a mask of nonchalance, looking believably unaffected by Naruto's sudden silence as he arranged himself as comfortably as he could in the wooden chair. He studied Naruto through his dark eyelashes, following the fluid movements of his body as he shifted his weight from one leg to the other.
"So, since the court ordered you to guard me, did they factor in living arrangements? I agree that it would be more comfortable for both of us if we lived together, but can you even afford a house?" Sasuke said as he lounged in the chair, staring up at the humming light.
Naruto laughed. "I know that I've never been that good with money, but I actually have a lot saved up. I've been taking on a lot of 'A' and 'S' ranked missions, which are higher-paying than lower ones, and since I'm so busy I never have time to buy anything that I don't need. I have a small apartment right now, but it's pretty much empty."
Sasuke sighed. "You're not completely hopeless anymore, it seems. But this apartment of yours, how big is it? I suppose we could just stay there, although it might not be a good idea for us to live in a busy place."
"Don't worry about any of that stuff, Sasuke." Naruto said with a wide grin. "I've already got everything sorted out."
"You have?" Sasuke asked, straightening up to get a better look at the blond.
"Yup!" Naruto said, sliding down to sit with his back against the wall, stretching out his long legs. "I had a house built on Nara land, out of the main part of the city. I thought you would like to be somewhere quiet, where you'd be able to see the trees."
Sasuke bolted upright, his eyes wide. "How the hell did you afford that?"
Naruto looked away, rubbing his nose and blushing. "Well, I'm actually really close with a few people in the Nara clan, so they knocked down the price a bit for me."
Sasuke crossed his arms, making his voice haughty to hide his excitement. "There's no point in buying a nice house if we can't afford to eat for a year after."
Naruto glanced up with a grin, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "I'm sure you'll be fine if we get a tomato plant or two."
The look on Sasuke's face was so indignant that it sent Naruto into a fit of roaring laughter, his breathless gasps echoing around the small room. Sasuke turned his head away sharply, his eyebrow twitching in irritation.
"Idiot." He muttered.
When Naruto had finally calmed down, Sasuke cleared his throat. "So, if this is the final verdict from the trial, when am I actually going to be released?"
The Jinchuuriki smiled. "There're a few final things that I have to sort out, but I'll come to get you as soon as I'm done. It should only take a day or two."
"So soon?"
A cold sweat broke out over Sasuke's skin. He suddenly felt like a child with stage fright, unable to remember his lines. He was incredibly grateful for Naruto's ability to read people then, as the blond immediately noticed his distress.
"I know it's been a while since you've been around people, and it'll be especially difficult for you to talk to our old comrades. But don't worry; as long as I'm your Guardian, I have the authority to decide who can visit you and who can't. I won't let you be a hermit though, so you better get used to being around others."
Sasuke nodded slightly, his eyes widening fractionally as a thought crossed his mind. When Naruto tilted his head questioningly, he summed up his fears into a single word.
"Sakura."
Naruto's smile abruptly faded. "Sakura-chan never gave up on you, Sasuke. But I don't think she loves you the same way that she did before. It seems like she cares about you more as a member of our team now. But, I still think you owe her an apology, and I still think you're going to get a brutal punch when she sees you for the first time."
Sasuke watched silently as Naruto stood up, brushing dirt off his pants. "I suggest you take some time to figure out what you're going to say to her, you know. Until you feel like you're ready, I'll make sure that you don't see anyone that you don't want to. I'm going to protect you, Sasuke. Even if the only thing I'm protecting you from is Sakura-chan's fists."
Naruto smiled when Sasuke nodded. He habitually tightened his headband before fumbling around in the pockets of his green vest. Finally, he procured a scroll, unrolling it to quickly scan the contents.
"Sorry Sasuke," He said as he rolled up the scroll once more. "But I have to take off. I'll submit your release forms and whatnot on my way out, but they'll still be taking you back to your cell for now."
He made his way to the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps made him pause. Sasuke's gracefully thin fingers curled around his wrist, gripping it gently. After a moment, Naruto glanced over his shoulder questioningly.
Sasuke glanced away quickly. "I just wanted to say thank you." He muttered. "For everything you've done. And for never giving up on me."
Naruto turned, hooking a finger under Sasuke's jaw and pulling gently until Sasuke had no choice but to look at him. "Didn't I tell you that I would never give up on you, Sasuke? There's nothing that I wouldn't do for you." Naruto said roughly. "But I want you to promise me something."
He paused, seeming unsure about his next words. Finally, he took a deep breath, leveling Sasuke with a serious look.
"Can you promise me that we never have to go through this again? I'm trying my best to trust you, but it's hard when I can tell that you don't trust yourself, you know? Whatever darkness still exists inside you – I need you to fight it, Sasuke. Don't forget, that if you start turning into the old you, it's me who's going to have to do something about it."
A chill chased itself down Sasuke's spine. "Are you scared?" He asked softly, his fingers flexing weakly around Naruto's wrist.
The Jinchuuriki cradled Sasuke's face in his hand, suddenly noticing how natural and easy this sort of contact felt. He smiled sadly. "Yeah, I'm terrified." He admitted.
"Me too." Sasuke said, returning the smile. "But I do promise that I'll try. You know that I can't stand losing, Naruto, and that includes losing to myself."
"Good!" Naruto said with a firm nod. He pulled his arm free of Sasuke's grip gently. "I really do have to go, though. Wait for me Sasuke. I'll come for you soon."
The sound of the heavy door closing echoed up and down the empty hall. Sighing heavily, Naruto stretched his neck, rolling the tension out of his shoulders. He made his way to the end of the hall, turning the corner to see Shikamaru still sitting with the two guards who had brought Sasuke earlier.
"I'm done." Naruto said to them, smiling tiredly.
The guards bowed in unison, respectfully excusing themselves as they made off down the hall. Naruto watched them go, humming questioningly when he felt Shikamaru's sharp gaze on him.
"Did you tell him?" Shikamaru asked, his voice low.
Naruto shook his head. "I didn't want to freak him out. If he knew that there was a threat on his life from outside the village, he would have caused a fuss just so he would be able to stay locked up in here. He's pretty concerned about the amount of trouble this whole thing is causing me as it is."
Shikamaru frowned. "I should hope so. That bastard better be damn appreciative of everything you've done for him."
Naruto was too exhausted to get defensive, smiling softly as he gestured towards the staircase. Shikamaru nodded, standing up with a sigh. The two men made their way towards the stairs in silence, for the moment busy with their own thoughts. Shikamaru cast a sideways glance towards the blond, his frown deepening with concern.
"Why don't you go and get some rest, Naruto?" He said in a careful voice. "It's a drag, but I'll take care of the paperwork."
Smiling gratefully, Naruto nodded. After handing Shikamaru the scroll that he had pulled out earlier, he laughed guiltily. "Actually, I was sort of counting on you offering to do it." He admitted, rubbing at his nose. "I really appreciate it, Shikamaru."
"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed, snatching the scroll from Naruto's hand. "Anyway, you better go get some sleep. You look like you're running on empty."
They stopped at the top of the staircase, noise echoing up from the lower floors.
"Thanks for worrying about me, Shikamaru." Naruto said with a grin. "But I actually have to go and talk to Neji to make sure that everything's looking good on the ANBU side of things for Sasuke's release. After that, I have a meeting with Granny Tsunade and Kakashi-sensei."
Shikamaru's mouth fell open, but before he could say anything Naruto had jumped over the railing. He flipped midair, landing lightly on the windowsill a flight below. He flashed Shikamaru a wide grin, saluting before he turned and vanished.
Shikamaru rubbed his head, sighing irately. "You don't have to go that fast all the time, you know." He muttered, tucking the scroll into one of the pockets of his Jounin vest. He then stuffed his hands into his pockets, meandering down the staircase while wondering idly whether it was the current or future Hokage who caused him more trouble.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, the hinges creaking in unison with her deep sigh. Her desk was completely covered with scrolls and thick documents, all of which quietly demanded her attention. The Hokage closed her eyes. The pale light of the January afternoon streamed through the window, washing the room and the few ninja assembled in cold colours.
Tsunade cleared her throat as she waved her hand vaguely in their direction.
"Shikamaru, now that everyone's here, go over the plan one more time."
Shikamaru exhaled slowly and took a few steps forward before turning to address his comrades. Naruto stood closest to him, his wide eyes unshakably focused on the strategist. Kakashi stood a step behind him, concern slipping through his façade of practiced disinterest as he glanced towards his old student. Neji stood stiffly near the door, his Byakugan activated as he scoured the building for possible eavesdroppers.
"Alright, listen closely because I'm only going over this once." Shikamaru began in his lazy drawl, his hands in his pockets. "Since she loves to gossip anyways, I had Ino start a false lead. Word on the streets is that Sasuke is being released next week and will be staying indefinitely in the Hokage's mansion. This should help minimize interference when we move him tonight. We'll be transporting Sasuke at ten o'clock sharp."
When no one said anything, Shikamaru continued.
"Neji, have one of your units split into two groups. One of those groups will be forming a perimeter around the prison while the others guard the house. Be in your positions by eight o'clock at the latest. Kakashi will also be scouting the area around the prison, so make sure you stay in contact. I want to know about everything that's going on, so keep your eyes open and your radios on."
When Neji had solemnly nodded, Shikamaru flicked his dark gaze over to Naruto.
"Naruto, you're going to be our most important piece. I'll meet you at the prison at nine. From there, we'll go inside together, so that I can make sure everything's in order for Sasuke's release. Once that's all sorted, you'll be transporting Sasuke to his new location. If there are any disturbances, we will take care of it. Your first priority is protecting Sasuke Uchiha. Got it?"
After a moment's hesitation, Naruto nodded.
The corners of Shikamaru's mouth crept up in a tired smile. "Everyone make sure you follow the schedule, or else things will be unnecessarily troublesome. And for Gods sake, remember your wireless radios. This will go a lot smoother if we maintain contact with each other."
Tsunade's lashes lifted slightly to reveal her amber eyes. After she was finished examining her subordinates, the Hokage sat up to grab another scroll. "If you all understand, then you're dismissed. I have work to do."
Neji bowed respectfully, disappearing out the door before any of them even noticed. The other three saluted their Hokage, their footsteps loud in the silence as they made their way out of the room. Shikamaru shut the door softly behind them. Kakashi promptly pulled out his book, flipping it open to the page he had marked earlier. As the silver-haired ninja made his way down the hall, he raised his hand in noncommittal farewell.
"See ya." He said cheerfully as he rounded the corner.
Shikamaru sighed, glancing sideways at the silent Jinchuuriki. Naruto's brow was slightly furrowed, his eyes distant as they made their way through the halls. They remained silent until they had descended the steps of the building, their breaths billowing around them in the chilled air.
"This is all really happening." Naruto said in a low voice, his eyes mapping the movements of the lazily churning clouds. "I feel kind of dumb for saying this, but I'm actually nervous, you know? This sort of sneaky and delicate stuff was never my strong point."
Shikamaru didn't respond.
They walked side-by-side down one of the paths, the snow crunching softly beneath their feet. The two Jounin made their way down to the street, interrupting an epic snow battle between the local children. They stopped immediately, staring in awe and obvious recognition when Naruto walked by.
This trend continued as they walked down the street, both shinobi and civilians pausing to bow respectfully to the blond. Shikamaru tolerated this patiently for a while, but after Naruto had written the third autograph and handed it to the young kunoichi who ran screaming to her friends with excitement; he grabbed Naruto by the wrist and dragged him into the nearest teahouse.
After they had seated themselves in the quietest room, Shikamaru let out an irritated sigh. "How the hell can you deal with that?" He asked, his tone slightly accusing. "If it were me, I would have taken a hint from Kakashi and started wearing a mask everywhere."
Naruto laughed, the rich sound echoing in the small room. "Sorry Shikamaru, I know it gets a little annoying." He said, wiggling comfortably on the low bench. "It's nice to be acknowledged though, you know?"
Shikamaru looked away, mumbling, "Troublesome," under his breath.
Naruto smiled, leaning forward. "Being able to go from place to place really fast helps." He said deviously. "Why'd you think I hardly ever just walk around anymore?"
Shikamaru chuckled as the waitress brought them tea, bowing low before she shuffled quietly out of the room. He watched as Naruto sipped at his drink, exhaling as the steaming liquid warmed his throat. Shikamaru frowned, warring with himself. But before he had the chance to decide whether or not he should speak, Naruto laughed softly, the sound effectively throwing off his train of thought.
"I can tell you're dying to say something, Shikamaru." Naruto said, glancing up from his tea. "Go ahead."
"Damn, you caught me." Shikamaru said awkwardly.
He was used to being safely unreadable, able to slip in and out of his iron-wall defenses like a chameleon. But Naruto's blue eyes cut into him, reading him as openly as a book. Shikamaru felt his eyebrow arching involuntarily.
"I almost preferred him when he was an ignorant, oblivious, knuckleheaded, noisy kid. Why did he have to get all Sagely and intuitive?" Shikamaru thought. "Such a drag."
He picked up his cup, sipping the tea slowly. He was aware of Naruto's eyes following his every move as he carefully organized the words he was going to say next. Finally, he put down his cup, returning Naruto's gaze.
"Listen, Naruto. You know that just because Sasuke's been released, it doesn't mean he's okay, right? I mean, it's going to take a while for him to be stable mentally. There's only so much you can do for him, Naruto, and I've been wondering how you plan on protecting him from himself."
After a moment of shocked staring, Naruto looked away.
His rough voice was softened by affection when he replied. "I know better than anyone else that Sasuke isn't 'okay', Shikamaru. But honestly, I don't plan on doing anything to protect him from himself. I'll support him as much as I can, but I think he needs to find the answers on his own."
He paused to sip his tea, his eyes distracted as he glanced over Shikamaru's shoulder and through the window.
"When I'm Hokage, I want to pass a law that makes it mandatory for shinobi to have psychological check-ups. It can be part of their physical exams, you know?" He glanced over at Shikamaru's confused face, and smiled. "Everyone gets a little lost, you know. I just want to be able to help my comrades in any way I can."
"Forever the optimist." Shikamaru taunted as he straightened up, interested in this new idea. "Think about it though, Naruto. Even if you just had one shrink to talk to all the shinobi in Konoha, that's still a ton of highly confidential information being recorded in one place. I know that the world is making progress towards peace, but imagine if an enemy got a hold of those records. Or if the person acting as shrink betrayed the village and sold off that information? It's a good idea, in theory, but in practice it's just too risky."
Naruto smiled. "I thought you would say something like that. And I already came up with a solution to that. We won't make any physical records and there won't be any therapist. It would be the Hokage's responsibility to talk with his comrades."
Shikamaru frowned. "That's all very nice, Naruto. But for one, you don't have any training as a therapist. And two, when you're Hokage you won't have time to sit down and chat with every shinobi in the village. And lastly, when it comes to things like this, it's best to keep some record of the progress you make with a person."
The Sage pointed towards his stomach. "I've already got a giant fox, a couple contract and sealing scrolls, and traces of chakra from three other people stored in here. The records I make don't have to exist in the physical world unless I summon them. And, by the way, have you forgotten that I can make thousands of shadow clones at a time? Even if I can't see everyone in person, a clone will work just as well."
When Shikamaru had reluctantly nodded in defeat, Naruto continued. "I know that I'm not a trained therapist or anything, but I can say from experience, that sometimes all you need is to know that you aren't alone."
A/N: Edited!