Chapter 10
"Shit, how did I get myself into this situation?"
Shikamaru ducked into an alley, crouching low to avoid the debris as a series of explosions demolished a nearby building. He fiddled with his transmitter while he waited for the blasts to subside, trying desperately to get a signal.
"Neji! Come in, Neji!"
The sharp crackle of static was the only response.
"Dammit!" Shikamaru thought as he peered around the corner. "How the hell did they manage to get so many enemy shinobi into our territory? Are our defences really that weak?"
A kunai with a paper bomb attached landed a few feet away. Reacting quickly, the shadow-nin took the opportunity to jump to the rooftops, trying to gain an advantage over his unseen opponent. He channeled chakra into his feet as he ran over the icy roofs, glancing around quickly. A flash of lightning caught his eye a few blocks away, followed by a loud explosion.
"Looks like Kakashi's tied up too." He glanced in the other direction, where most of the ANBU unit who had been protecting the prison had gone. Their battlefield was in the still-undeveloped part of Konoha, and even from his position, Shikamaru could see flashes of flame and hear the rumbling of shifting earth.
"Where are you looking?" A cold voice suddenly asked.
Shikamaru's head whipped around. He found himself face-to-face with the opponent who had been lurking in the shadows until this moment. Half of his face was covered in a mask of shining black metal, crafted to look like the grinning fangs of a wolf. The shinobi's icy green eyes caught the moonlight, gleaming eerily as Shikamaru ducked under the vicious slash of his kunai. Shikamaru flipped backwards, his sharp eyes never leaving his attacker as he made distance between them. Snow and ice flew around him as he slid to a stop, the shingles of the roof groaning from the strain.
"So, you finally came out of hiding." Shikamaru said as he straightened up. He took in his opponent with a bored expression, seeming completely uninterested in the situation. Pulling out his own knives, he shifted into a defensive stance. "If you're going to try and get past me, you'd better hurry up."
The masked ninja hesitated, glancing past Shikamaru in the direction of the prison.
"Just as I thought," Shikamaru continued to watch his target like a hawk, his genius mind noting even the smallest detail. "It looks like they have some sort of time limit. When I ran into that ninja from the Inuzuka Clan, she said that the one she took down seemed like they were in a rush. They didn't even notice she was coming until she had them by the neck. It turns out that one was a clone as well, though. If I can make this guy falter under the pressure, it might throw him off enough that I can take him down."
He glanced at the sky, giving the pale moonlight a withering look. "However, I hadn't actually planned on fighting tonight. I only came to find this guy because the ANBU unit picked him up and was threatening to abandon their posts to find him. In the end, Neji had to order them to go and hunt down a group that appeared over in that developing area, though."
The voice of his opponent interrupted his train of thought. "You are quite right, boy. I have no time to play around with a Son of Deer."
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, his voice an unenthusiastic drawl. "Son of Deer? What the hell, nobody calls the Nara that anymore."
"Oh, you are an insolent brat, aren't you?" The man said, circling forward slowly like a predator closing in on its prey. "We shall see how well you can move that tongue of yours, by the time I am through."
"How scary." Shikamaru replied in a perfectly monotonous voice.
With a growl of irritation, the enemy rushed forward as swiftly and coldly as the winter wind. Sparks flew from their kunai as they clashed, the sharp ringing of metal echoing loudly in the cold air. They exchanged a few blows before it became apparent that Shikamaru was at the disadvantage. He felt himself being driven back slowly, his feet slipping in the snow with every vicious slash he countered. The masked shinobi cried out, swinging his blade towards Shikamaru's exposed throat.
Shikamaru could feel his spine groaning in protest as he threw himself backwards; using the moment he was airborne to form the hand signs for his Shadow Stitching Technique. As soon as his feet hit the ground, his shadow came to life. His opponent took a step backwards in alarm when the pale blue shadows darkened and began to move, rising like twisted serpents from the snow. He recovered quickly, however, twisting to avoid all but one of the spearing shadows. As the dark blade cut through the front of the man's cloak, a dark tattoo directly below his left collarbone caught Shikamaru's eye. The symbol embedded in his skin was of a single character, forming the name "Kou".
"Kou? Why does that name seem so familiar?" Shikamaru wondered aloud.
"His name is Miyagi Kou."
Shikamaru froze as Naruto's low voice echoed in his memory. On the night that he returned from the Hidden Cloud, Naruto had recalled the events which had taken place there, including his confrontation with the man who claimed to be the leader of the rebellion: the man who had threatened not only Sasuke, but of all Naruto's comrades.
This moment of hesitation was all the Kou ninja needed. Before Shikamaru even registered that his opponent had moved, he found himself on his back with a hand around his throat. The air rushed out of his lungs as the man pinned him, making it impossible for him to move.
"This is the end for you, Son of Deer."
The light of the moon glinted off the raised kunai, making the steel gleam like a blade of ice. But, before Shikamaru had the chance to feel fear, a familiar sensation of warmth washed over him. He smirked, laughing softly when his attackers' eyes widened in confusion.
"I wouldn't be so sure." He said, his voice straining around the tight grip on his throat. "The Guardian is on the move."
Before the man could reply, a bright flash of light was blinding them. And then, the chakra of the Jinchuuriki was crushing them with its incredible vastness. Shikamaru felt a sudden chill that had nothing to do with the snow melting at his back. The brightly shining flame which represented Naruto's chakra, usually bright and warm, was blazing fiercely with his anger.
"Woah, he's really pissed off."
He peered over the Kou ninja's shoulder, staring at the brightly shining Jinchuuriki who had come to his rescue. A pair of glowing golden-red eyes returned his gaze. Much to Shikamaru's surprise, Naruto's voice was completely calm when he spoke.
"Are you okay, Shikamaru?"
As Shikamaru nodded, the man pinning him shook himself from his shocked stillness. He pressed his knife to Shikamaru's throat, his voice a nervous hiss when he cried, "If you make even a single move, I'll cut his throat!"
Naruto didn't even spare the shinobi a glance. A hand made out of his chakra shot forward, snatching the man away from Shikamaru as if he was nothing more troubling than a fly. The Jinchuuriki hoisted the target, his chakra mimicking the flaming fist of the Demon Fox as he stepped forward, helping the Shadow-nin to his feet.
"Shikamaru, please report the situation to Granny Tsunade right away." He said as he gestured towards his captive. "I'm taking this guy straight to prison. Actually, we've already rounded up a few more, but a lot of them seem to be clones or substitutions."
"Then, everyone else is alright?" Shikamaru asked as he brushed snow from his clothes.
"Yup." Naruto said, smiling reassuringly at his comrade. "Don't worry Shikamaru; I won't let any of my friends get hurt."
When Shikamaru nodded, Naruto turned away. "Stay with Granny Tsunade." He said then, adopting the tone of command. "I'll keep in contact using the radios."
He didn't need to wait for Shikamaru's response. Both shinobi immediately jumped into action, Shikamaru heading towards the Hokage's mansion while Naruto made for the prison. Within seconds, he appeared before the front steps, where a group of ninja guards were waiting for him. He dropped his captive in front of them, watching silently as they rushed forward to restrain him.
"Unbelievable, Naruto-sama!" One of the guards exclaimed, his eyes gleaming. "You weren't kidding when you said you'd bring us another one in two minutes!"
Naruto grinned. "It's nothing, you know?"
"Sensei, are you heading back out again?" Another guard asked as she hoisted the prisoner to his feet.
"No, actually." Naruto said as he held up two fingers on his right hand. "I'll be disappearing now, because the original me is on the move. Thanks for all your hard work!"
With that, he vanished in a cloud of chakra smoke. When the smoke had cleared, the guards exchanged a quick glance.
"Did you know he was a clone?" The kunoichi asked, her voice high with shock.
The only response she received with the shaking of a dozen dumbfounded heads. Before they had the chance to recover from the sudden disappearance of the Uzumaki clone, another brightly shining flame flashed above them. Naruto landed on the roof of the prison from which he had departed only an hour earlier with Sasuke. His flame-laced cloak billowed behind him as he walked swiftly to the edge of the roof, his bright eyes scanning the village. His strong desire to protect had his blood boiling, but the words of his Hokage kept him in check.
"A leader must maintain their composure in any situation." Tsunade had said during one of their lessons together. "Obviously, I'm not telling you to be emotionless. However, no matter how frustrated you are you have to keep your head clear. The more stressed you get, the more stressed your subordinates will get. If you want to keep everyone as safe as possible, then your first task is to maintain your self-control."
Naruto let out a slow exhale, his eyes slipping shut as he focused on the active chakra's spread over the village. It seemed that their small battles had gone relatively unnoticed by the general public, who were either so used to living in a ninja village that a few explosions didn't faze them; or who were so confident in the sense of security that came along with Naruto being in the village, that they didn't bother getting out of bed to investigate the disturbances. Even though that was a problem in itself, for the moment Naruto was glad of their trust in their ninja guardians. What troubled him was the fact that the chakra's of the off-duty shinobi within the village were beginning to stir.
He slipped his eyes open when a chakra appeared directly behind him. An ANBU ninja rose up from the roof like a phantom, kneeling respectfully before his future Hokage.
"Uzumaki-sama," He began, his voice slightly laboured. "I was sent here by Captain Hyūga, who was too busy in his engagement with the enemy to pass on orders. He advised me to find Uzumaki-sensei immediately. What are your orders, sir?"
"Neji."
Naruto tracked down the chakra of the young Captain, who was still fighting with Sai at his side. Both of their chakra's seemed to be running dangerously low. Naruto frowned. "Gather as many ANBU guys as you can." He said, turning towards the darkly-clad shinobi. "Have them patrol the streets and make sure that any civilians who are in need of help are given assistance. There are some damaged buildings a few blocks north. Also, if you see any ninja who were not part of the original team for this mission, direct them back to their houses on my orders. I'm going to finish this now, you know."
"Yes, sir!" The ANBU ninja saluted before sinking back into the roof.
When he had vanished, Naruto turned back to the village. This was the village that has scorned him, and treated him like a dangerous outcast. This was the village that had forever dirtied its hands by ordering a talented young ninja to massacre his entire clan. Despite himself, Naruto smiled. "Kurama, the village is in danger."
"Tch. Let it rot."
A huge surge of chakra exploded out of Naruto's body, blazing around him like a miniature sun. After a moment, the glowing chakra took on the form of the Nine-tails, its flaming ears perked in the direction of Neji and Sai. As soon as the chakra had rushed out, it retracted into Naruto's body; becoming a chakra flame so condensed it was almost white. In a gust of wind, the Jinchuuriki vanished from the rooftops.
"Isn't this overkill?" Kurama asked, lifting up his head from his paws as he sniffed at the unfamiliar chakra's all around them. "None of these people are strong enough to pose a threat to us, even if you weren't using me or your Sage Mode."
"I know." Naruto replied as he appeared suddenly in the middle of Neji and Sai's battle, crushing their opponent using one hand. The lightning technique that he had been using to keep the two ANBU ninja at bay quickly faded as he lost consciousness. "But I'm trying to send them a message, you know? Nobody fucks with Konoha. Not when I'm around."
"Get him behind bars right away." Naruto said aloud, his gaze sweeping over his comrades for sign of injury. "Then report to Granny Tsunade and wait for me there."
"No way, Naruto." Neji said, his chest heaving as he pushed himself to his feet. "We have to keep on fighting until they have all been captured."
"Idiots." Kurama said with a chuckle, "Human pride is an incredible thing. They hardly have any chakra left, and yet they want to continue fighting?"
Naruto shrugged. "Fine then, keep fighting if you want. But by the time you've brought him to prison, I might have already rounded up the rest of them."
With that, Naruto vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. For the next five minutes, Neji and Sai dragged their captive towards the jail in somber silence, while flashes of burning light and the faint sound of the Kyuubi's roar echoed through the streets.
By the time they were climbing the prison steps, the blond and blue-eyed Jinchuuriki was awaiting them.
Dawn was breaking by the time the commotion had been silenced. The Jounin once again gathered in the Hokage's office, their faces paled by tiredness. Sai stared in a daze at the broken remains of his ANBU mask while Neji exhaustedly peeled off his long black gloves. Shikamaru leaned against the wall, his head drooping as he fought to stay awake. Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets, unfazed and unscathed as he looked out the windows. Tsunade sat at her desk, her eyes unfocused as she stared at the door.
The silence hung over them heavily. Finally, in a tone which suggested that she was forcing herself to be calm, Tsunade spoke.
"So, not only did we have no idea that such a large number of them had infiltrated the Village, but they also have some sort of connection to our intelligence networks?"
"Seems like it." Kakashi replied.
Tsunade's eye twitched. "On top of that, the battles which took place resulted in some serious damage to recently built areas, and the casualties include not only several shinobi in the assigned ANBU unit, but civilians as well, am I correct?"
Kakashi swallowed nervously. "Yes, ma'am."
"And, am I correct in concluding that if Naruto hadn't ignored the plan and stepped in to assist all of you, then you might not be standing here talking to me right now?"
After a moment of hesitation, Kakashi laughed awkwardly. "That might be true."
Tsunade clenched her fist, shattering the mug she had been holding. "Enough of this!" She yelled as she jumped to her feet. "Where on earth did the Kou Clan even come from? And where the hell is Naruto?"
"Actually, Tsunade-sama," Neji said, "Naruto ordered us to report to you, and then return to the prison. He stayed behind to make sure everything was in order with the prisoners we captured."
"Ordered?" Tsunade repeated, her voice scathing.
"I'd say it was more of a request, wouldn't you, Captain Hyūga?" Sai piped up, smiling pleasantly.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter." The Hokage said with a deep sigh. "Let's just go before he gets tired of waiting and does something stupid."
Within minutes, the tired group was making their way across the rooftops of the still-sleeping Village, their footsteps barely making a sound as they went. Shikamaru was glad to be out of the Hokage's office, the crisp air brushing his face gently and clearing the grogginess in his mind. He rolled the tension out of his shoulders, trying to shake off the uncomfortable atmosphere that still lingered around the group. As far as any of them were concerned, the mission had been a failure because Naruto had been forced to come to their rescue. Yet again.
They stopped in front of the prison gates, making their way towards the front doors with Tsunade in the lead. The guards posted there bowed to their Hokage, who seemed to pick up on their somber mood immediately.
"How are things going with the prisoners who were brought in last night?" She asked.
The guards exchanged a quick glance before the eldest of the two bowed again. "We will take you to them immediately, Hokage-sama."
"What the hell?" Shikamaru wondered as they followed the man through the silent halls. He glanced over at Neji, and could tell immediately that he was thinking the exact same thing. It wasn't long before the guard stopped outside a quiet room, his hands shaking as he selected the correct key from his belt. As soon as the door was unlocked he ducked out of the way, gesturing towards the doorway as he bowed again. Tsunade nodded to him, leading the group into the room as apprehension settled over them.
As soon as they entered the room, the atmosphere hit them like a cold bucket of water. The shinobi felt a collective chill run down their spines as the door shut behind them, booming loudly in the silence. Before any of them had the chance to locate the source of the chilling sensation, a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Yo, I'm glad that all of you came."
Naruto was standing behind them, leaning against the wall near the door with his arms folded. Although his face and voice were calm, they could all sense the anger boiling beneath his skin.
"Where are the prisoners, Naruto?" Kakashi asked, trying to keep his tone as light as possible.
Naruto gestured towards several doors which lined the right side of the hall. Each of the heavy metal doors was outfitted with a barred window. Sai walked over to one of the doors, standing on his toes to glance though the window. After a moment, he glanced back at them, confusion on his normally blank face. Without saying a word, he walked over to the next door, glancing in the window again. Finally, he turned back to them, shaking his head.
"Naruto, these aren't the people we captured."
"Actually, they are." Naruto said, his eyes closed. "You might not recognize them, though, because the forms they're in now are different than the ones they had when you fought them."
"What are you talking about, Naruto?" Neji asked, his deep and regal voice resonating in the small space.
"What I'm saying," Naruto snapped, his composure finally slipping. "Is that the Kou Clan specializes in Possession Jutsu! I've already spoken to every single one of those people. They're all normal civilians, with a wide range of occupations and no detectable relationships to one another. The only thing they have in common is that the last thing they can remember before today is travelling to the Village Hidden in the Sand, you know?"
"Wait a minute, Naruto." Shikamaru said. "Are you saying that the Sand Village has something to do with this?"
"No, Gaara would never get involved in something like this, you know." Naruto said firmly. "What I am saying, is that the person behind all of this is hiding out near the Sand."
Shikamaru hummed thoughtfully, frowning. "That would explain the rapid increase of missing persons reports from that area over the past year. Though, we always just assumed that those people got lost in the desert."
Tsunade shook her head. "So, the Kou Clan were possessing innocent people and using them to do their dirty work? This could cause us some serious trouble, especially since none of our sensory-types are able to detect it. Sakura should have dug up some information about the Clan by now. We should look into the Kou before we make any move to inform the Kazekage. We can't make any false accusations at this point."
Suddenly, Naruto straightened up. "Let me know as soon as you've sent a messenger hawk to the Sand with the information about this."
"Why?" Tsunade asked, frowning.
"Because I'll be right behind it." Naruto replied, rubbing the back of his head. "But until then, I'm going home."
Without another word or a backward glance, Naruto left the room. The group stood in shocked silence, listening until the sound of his footsteps has faded. Neji glanced around at his comrades, slightly amused their similar expressions of confusion and rejection. Whenever Naruto was visibly upset about something, it left his comrades shaken. It seemed that, as of late, the cheerful knuckle-head of which they were all so fond was disappearing, replaced by a burdened and stoic young man. Every single one of them could feel his frustration and exhaustion, and it shook them down to the pit of their stomachs.
Neji smiled bitterly to himself. "I feel so guilty."
It was Sai who broke the silence. "This must be incredibly frustrating for him."
Kakashi nodded, still staring at the door. "Yes. Not only is he worried about protecting Sasuke and the rest of the village, but he also bears the burden of protecting the other villages from these rebellions. And now, he's learned that the Kou Clan not only uses innocent people as their pawns, but they're also hiding out in the Sands' territory, which is the home of his dear friend Gaara. I'm amazed that he's been able to keep himself contained after learning about all of that."
"He has no choice but to keep himself together." Tsunade said, smiling softly. Feeling the inquiring looks of the men around her, she sighed and continued. "He has to keep himself in one piece, because there's someone waiting for him who needs him to be stable. Naruto bears the weight of a Guardian. He must constantly throw aside his own troubles in order to support those around him. He has chosen to be the light for the future and for his friends. Someone like that must never show their sadness."
Silence fell once more as they continued to stare at the door, listening to the shuffle of feet as guards and visitors went by. Even though they all knew there were things to be done, they allowed themselves this moment to stand together and be grateful to Naruto Uzumaki.
Sasuke sat propped up by his pillows, his blankets pulled around his bare shoulders as he watched the sunrise through the window. Although it had only been several months, the pale Uchiha felt like it had been many years since he had stopped to watch the breaking of day. The reddish light gleamed off the drifting clouds and got caught in the ice that coated the trees, making them blaze like pillars of bloody fire.
Sighing softly, Sasuke glanced away from the red light of dawn, taking in his new bedroom. The walls were covered in panels, many of them featuring scenes of running deer and tranquil forest paths. His futon was placed directly on the bamboo-matted floor, his white sheets bright against the neutral colour of the mats. There were two side tables, one on either side of the bed; as well as a low table meant for serving tea, and a dressing table which doubled as a desk. These pieces of furniture, all of them crafted from solid wood, were the same rich colour as the flooring in the main hallway. There was a large window directly across from the sliding doors that looked out over the Nara Forest.
Beside the window was a respectably sized closet, in which Sasuke had discovered a few basic items; a dressing gown, some pajamas and basic toiletries, as well as a few changes of clothes. He smiled to himself, imagining Naruto's stress when he was attempting to pick out things that he would like. Sasuke's smile faded as quickly as it had appeared at the thought of the blond. He glanced in the direction of the door, sensing the presence of the sentinel clone through the chakra seal on his shoulder.
He had woken in the night to the sound of the door closing. Even though he had suspected that Naruto would have to leave to help his comrades at some point, his sudden departure left Sasuke feeling strangely hollow. After years of being around Naruto, Sasuke had noticed that when he made his clones, they retained the mental and emotional state that Naruto had been in when he created them. Even now, the only feeling he got from the meditating clone by the door was a deep and unshakable focus.
Goosebumps rose up on his pale skin. Sasuke pulled his blankets up higher, slipping his eyes shut. "In the end, he stayed out all night." He thought as he steadied his breathing, inhaling the fresh, woody smell of the newly built house. "I hope everything's alright."
"I'm home."
Sasuke bolted upright. He had no recollection of falling back to sleep, but at the sound of the front door closing he felt himself drawn from his bed like a puppet guided by invisible strings. He pulled his blankets with him as he stood, barely making a sound as he quickly crossed the room to the door. Just as he was about to slide the door open, apprehension delayed his hand. Sasuke realized, with a jolt of nervousness, that he didn't know how he should act around Naruto now.
He took a steadying breath, sliding the door open and peering down the hallway towards the front door. Sasuke opened his mouth to welcome Naruto home, but the words faded in his throat as he caught sight of Naruto. The blond was leaning against the door, one trembling hand covering his pale face. His shoulders were slumped and lifeless, his knees slightly bent as if he was carrying a burden that was much too heavy for him. But the thing which bothered Sasuke the most was the definitive downward curve of Naruto's lips. Somewhere deep down in his chest, Sasuke felt as if something was breaking.
"What happened?" He asked, rushing down the hall, still dragging his blankets as if they were long and draping robes.
Naruto's posture changed immediately. His hand fell away from his face as he straightened, a smile forcing its way onto his face. He released his clone before kicking off his sandals, stepping out of the entranceway to stand before his new roommate.
"Hey, morning Sasuke." Naruto said, his voice breaking in his attempt to sound cheerful. "Sorry I was out all night, but it seems like there were some guys causing trouble. They needed my help getting things under control, you know?"
When several minutes of heavy silence had passed, Naruto finally looked at Sasuke for the first time since returning home. He blinked in surprise at the look of unrestrained anger on Sasuke's face.
"Woah," He muttered, "What are you so mad about?"
Sasuke sighed. "Naruto, you brought the issue of trust to my attention the other day. You said that you needed me to trust myself, so that you could trust me. However, I'm going to argue that statement right here and now. Not only are we best friends, but we're also roommates now. On top of that, you're in charge of keeping me alive. So, please at least have the decency to trust me enough, or respect me enough, to at least tell me the truth."
"The truth?" Naruto said, tilting his head like a confused animal.
"The truth." Sasuke repeated as he put a hand on his hip.
After a moment, Naruto smiled widely. "Yup, you're still the same old Sasuke. Nothing gets past you, does it?"
"Of course," Sasuke said somewhat smugly, feeling triumphant. With a simple hand-on-the-hip tactic, the chakraless and admittedly frail Sasuke had just won his fight against the strongest ninja alive. "Now, please tell me what's really going on. And don't worry about sparing my feelings, dobe."
He watched as Naruto slipped out of his cloak and vest, hanging them on the hooks near the door. He tugged at the tight neck of his undershirt, momentarily revealing a sharply defined collarbone. Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. He felt his eyes drawn to Naruto's hands, then along his forearms, his tanned skin interrupted by dozens of faded and crossing scars.
He glanced up quickly when Naruto started talking. "Alright, I'll tell you everything." He said, his smile warming the deep tones of his voice. "But I'm going to talk to you from the bath, because I am freaking tired, you know?"
"Fine." Sasuke consented. Naruto vanished into the bathroom without further ado, shutting the door softly behind him. Sasuke made a nest for himself in his blankets outside the bathroom door, idly tracing the pattern of the wood grain in the flooring. He listened to the sound of running water, leaning his head against the door as he attempted to slow down the frantic beating of his heart. He silently reprimanded himself as the water was shut off, followed by the sound of the blond slipping beneath the water. Once he was settled in the warmth, Naruto reached over to open the door slightly so that he could see Sasuke sitting outside. Their eyes met momentarily, and Naruto noticed that Sasuke's obsidian eyes darted towards his naked torso before his ears turned red and he looked away. The blond smirked.
"Why am I getting so worked up just from seeing a bit of his skin? How do you manage to mess me up so much, you damn idiot-blond?" Sasuke cursed.
Naruto's voice interrupted his thoughts. "So, you know that there were a few groups who appeared after the war who rebelled against the peace movement, right? Well, recently we found out there's a good chance that they're all connected. It's likely that the ones behind all the opposing factions are a group of guys bearing the name of Kou. After your trial, I went to the Hidden Cloud to talk to the guy who claimed he was the leader. That man, Miyagi Kou, told me that their real target was me."
He paused for a moment, his deep inhale echoing off the bathrooms tiled walls. "Apparently, they don't think someone like me has a right to exist in this world. However, since they aren't strong enough to be a threat to me, the way that they were planning on getting to me was by attacking my comrades; by attacking you, Sasuke. That's what the commotion was last night. A group of rebels had infiltrated the village and slipped under the radar, and somehow they figured out that we were moving you. It's likely that they know about this place, so we're going to have a permanent ANBU guard for a while."
Sasuke stretched out his legs, staring up at the ceiling. Even though hearing this made him extremely aware of his own helplessness, he felt strangely calm. When Naruto was this close to him, any sort of threat felt slightly unreal. "I've heard the name Kou before." He said. "One of Kabuto's underlings was from the Kou Clan. I always hated that guy. Something about his eyes, and his way of speaking really pissed me off."
"I know what you mean." Naruto growled. "I've met a few guys from the Kou Clan, and they all give off this super creepy vibe. Creepier than the Uchiha, even."
Sasuke chuckled bitterly. "Are you saying I'm creepy?"
"Obviously!" Naruto replied, laughing. "Even Kurama says you're totally scary."
Sasuke smiled, waiting silently for Naruto's laughter to subside. Once he had sobered himself, the blond continued. "We don't know much about them right now, but it seems like the Kou use some sort of Possession Jutsu. They take over the minds and bodies of innocent people, using them as pawns. And on top of that, they're hiding out in Gaara's territory."
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder, trying to glean Naruto's emotions from his profile. "You're really upset about this," He said matter-of-factly.
"Of course I am!" Naruto said gruffly as the water splashed around him. "They're disrespecting everything that's important to me."
Sasuke sighed. "I would hit you, dobe, if I thought it would hurt you at all. Listen, Naruto. I know I've spent half a year in a cell, but the few times I was around you, I've clearly seen the way people act around you. So I'm going to give you a little advice. You have to stop getting so worked up over things like this. The people around you rely on you to be a pillar of support. You aren't just my Guardian, Naruto. If you truly strive to be Hokage, then you're striving to be the Guardian of this entire village. And since you also desire peace, you'll be the Guardian of many different nations and peoples and ideals. You can't afford to tie yourself down with your emotions and attachments, or else they'll end up weighing you down. That includes me, Naruto. You can't spend the rest of your life worrying about me, especially if you want to protect everyone else."
After a moment of splashing, the door slid opened in a sudden jerk. Sasuke, who had been leaning against the door, lost his balance and began to fall back, but his shoulders collided with a warm chest almost immediately. Before Sasuke could protest, Naruto had wrapped both of his muscular arms around him, placing his chin on his shoulder.
"If you don't want to weigh me down, then be a good boy for the next year, Sasuke." Naruto murmured in his ear, his voice a low purr. "Hurry up and get strong again. I want you to come with me wherever I go, Sasuke. I don't ever want to leave you behind."
Sasuke felt his ears getting hot as he struggled against Naruto's unyielding arms. "You're wet, dobe, get off of me!"
He froze completely when Naruto placed his lips on his shoulder, chasing a trail up to his ear and back. He inhaled sharply when Naruto lingered over the seal markings he had laced into his skin, the remnants of his warm chakra flaring.
"Hey, Sasuke," The Jinchuuriki whispered, his deep voice sending a shiver down Sasuke's spine. "When I loosen your seal for the first time, I'll make sure to give you just enough chakra for you to be able to give me a decent punch."
"Idiot." Sasuke said in a low voice.
But then he smiled, looking over his shoulder as he leaned back into Naruto's bare chest. He reached back, slipping his fingers into blond strands as he pulled Naruto's lips to his own. He felt long, damp bangs tickling his cheeks as Naruto leaned into the kiss, his soft lips maintaining their smile. He pulled Sasuke even closer against the warmth of his body, and the raven-haired ninja once again succumbed to the sensation that he was burning. A shiver ran through his frame as he twisted around in Naruto's arms. His hand brushed the towel wrapped around Naruto's waist as his fingers chased the path of water droplets up Naruto's torso. Sasuke pulled his lips away, watching in fascination as he traced a pair of elegant collarbones, then tucked his hands around to map the contours of Naruto's back.
Naruto shivered under his touch, his skin flushing. He leaned forward to place an open-mouthed kiss on Sasuke's throat, earning himself a soft gasp in response. He nipped gently at sensitive flesh, familiarizing his lips with the pale column of Sasuke's throat. Sasuke's breath had begun to grow heavy, when Naruto suddenly reached up to cradle his head in his warm hands. He placed a single kiss, as soft as a whisper, against his lips.
Their gazes met then, sapphire and obsidian. Instantly, a familiar ache bloomed in Sasuke's chest. He wrapped his arms tightly around the blond, pulling himself closer with a sigh. Naruto held him tightly, his muscles flexing in the effort of holding them both upright. Leaning his head against his chest, Sasuke listened to the beating of Naruto's heart as it slowed, trying to measure its beats against his own. Two hundred heartbeats later, his chest still aching as if he had been stabbed, Sasuke untangled himself from their mess of limbs.
He scooped up his blankets, looking down at the damp and flustered blond. Making a conscious effort not to scope out Naruto's body, Sasuke turned and made his way down the hallway. Sasuke wondered, tiredly, how someone could be so effortlessly alluring. He had reached the doorway to his bedroom when he glanced back over at his Guardian.
"Put some clothes on before you catch a cold, pervert-blond."
"Pervert?" Naruto yelled, jumping to his feet. "Jeez Sasuke, way to ruin the mood."
Sasuke smiled as the blond continued his muttering, stomping around his room across the hall. After dropping his blankets back onto his futon, Sasuke dried himself quickly before pulling a shirt over his lean torso. He glanced at himself in the mirror then, and stopped dead in shock. The man staring back at him, flushed and smiling and happy, was a man he barely recognized.
Catching sight of Naruto's reflecting leaning against his doorframe, Sasuke glanced over his shoulder.
"I'm going to stay at home for a while." He said in a gentle voice. "I'm really sorry that I had to leave last night, Sasuke."
Sasuke smiled. "You warned me that you're very busy."
"That's true, I guess." Naruto conceded before making his way to the kitchen.
Sasuke joined him a few minutes later, sitting at the table and watching him go about making breakfast. His keen eyes, trained to notice every nuance of an opponent in battle, now marked every shift of muscle, every sharp or graceful curve of Naruto's body. He rested his chin on his hand, frowning.
"You've changed me. Before I even noticed it, you completely changed me. If this is what it means to desire, then it's a sickness that I will gladly suffer. Nii-san, forgive me, but it's possible that I have already completely fallen for this man."
Naruto noticed his scrutiny, glancing over with a faint blush. "Is something wrong?"
Sasuke smiled, warmth rushing all the way down to his toes.
"No," He replied. "I think I'm fine."
Naruto returned his smile briefly, before turning to the whistling kettle.
"So you want us to be completely honest with each other, huh? I can deal with that. You know you can tell me anything, right Sasuke?" Naruto said as he poured steaming water into his mug. He took the teabag by its string, bobbing it up and down in the water. He smiled to himself as he looked down into the cup. "Actually, I want you to tell me everything, you know?"
Sasuke sighed exasperatedly as he stood up, making his way through the kitchen. "I'm not going to tell you every little thought that passes through my head, dobe."
Naruto chuckled lightly as he unplugged the kettle. Sasuke glanced towards the floor, frowning as he slipped into his thoughts.
"There are a lot of things I won't ever tell you. Like how I missed you when you were gone; and how I still miss you now. Or how when I think of you, all I can picture is an ephemeral flame. You are the sun and the stars, the wild northern wind and the southern heat. We humans are fleeting, transient beings. Even the slightest incident can cause our hearts to waver – I would know that better than anyone else – and make us lose our way. But not you, Naruto: you keep racing on ahead, leaving me to chase after you. And even though you kept calling for me, you never once looked back. And that's why, Naruto, I'm begging you to allow me to be the shadow to your flame. There is only one light for me. There is no one else like you."
"There's no one else like you." Sasuke whispered, his voice barely audible as he passed by the blond.
Naruto turned with a curious expression. His arm stretched across the space between them like a sunbeam, his warm fingers curling around Sasuke's pale wrist. A nervous smile touched his lips, the steam from his tea haloing around his golden head.
"You say that like it's a bad thing, you know."
"It is a bad thing." Sasuke replied. He turned towards the blond, but found himself unable to look any further than the strong hand cradling his wrist. "If I lose you, I'll never be able to find anyone who even comes close to you. And that thought annoys me, because, well, what would I do with all my free time if you weren't around?"
A sudden and forceful tug on his wrist sent Sasuke stumbling forwards. He collided heavily into Naruto's warm and unyielding chest, the arm which had pulled him in now snaking around his waist. Sasuke glanced up, his midnight-black eyes scanning every detail of the blue orbs that stared back at him. Naruto leaned in closer, so that his bangs tickled Sasuke's furrowed brow.
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered, his voice a low and resonating hum. "I swear, I will never leave you."
Sasuke allowed his eyes to drift shut, returning Naruto's embrace, but the gesture felt hollow and cold. Sasuke leaned forward, his lips brushing Naruto's throat. He inhaled lightly, filling himself with Naruto's familiar and musky scent. However, this was not enough to quench the pain that was rising in Sasuke's throat like a burning, insatiable thirst.
"I hope you're right."
Suddenly, something Naruto had said earlier flashed across Sasuke's memory. "Apparently, they don't think someone like me has a right to exist in this world."
Sasuke smiled bitterly, anger flaring in his chest. He pulled away from Naruto, crossing his arms as he averted his eyes. "I guess you know how it feels to be an Uchiha now." He said in a low, hissing voice.
He felt Naruto studying him, so he stared out the window. After a while, Naruto took a sip from his cup, walking out into the hall. Eventually, Sasuke turned to follow him, discovering the blond in their living room. He was sitting on the black couch, already scanning the first in a rather large stack of documents.
"What's all that?" Sasuke asked, leaning against the wall.
Naruto continued to scan the page as he responded. "I guess you could say it's homework? A bunch of these are reports from other villages about the rebel factions, but there are also letters from current or hopeful future Kage who feel the need to update me about everything or are trying to get my help with something. When I'm finished with these, I have some things to do for my lessons with Shikamaru, and then I'm going to start studying the next part of the Sealing Jutsu scroll."
Sasuke smirked. "Are you serious? I've never even seen you read something before, and now you're telling me you plan to do all that today?"
Naruto turned the page, giving no indication that he was paying any attention, until he said, "You've been away for a long time, Sasuke. It's true that I hate this shit, but I don't really have a choice."
Sasuke felt as if he had been slapped, his cheeks growing red. Without another word, he made his way over to the bookshelf, selecting the first book on the shelf. He walked back over to the blond, settling down on the opposite side of the couch and opening the book. After a few minutes, he glanced at Naruto from the corner of his eye, only to see a smile on his lips. Sasuke sighed deeply.
They remained this way as the morning faded into afternoon, listening to the ice crackling in the trees and the birds singing. Every so often, Naruto would laugh or swear or make Sasuke explain a word he didn't recognize in the stuffy letters from dignitaries. When it came time to respond to their letters, it was Sasuke who ended up writing them, as he was considerably more eloquently spoken than the blond. Whether they were bickering or laughing, the two spent the rest of the day talking side-by-side.
Whenever Sasuke thought back to this normal, peaceful day, he realized that it was the day when he truly fell in love with Naruto Uzumaki.