Sasuke watched him incredulously- he never knew the dobe to do anything that didn't mean mischief or training. And if anything, right now, Naruto looked dead serious and somber.
It was like he was watching an entirely different child, and Sasuke didn't like it.
So he gathered himself off his seated position on his roof, and followed the boy slowly and carefully- he could never figure out how Naruto was so good at sensing him, but he was. And he had to take that into account now.
So he followed the blonde with all his skill, keeping in mind several facts; one, that he had never seen the blonde down this route before- but he chalked that one up to hi never really looking at the streets before, and two, that he had never really seen the blonde so at ease with himself, but that he shouldn't let that make him let his guard down.
You just never knew with Naruto.
Sasuke sneered at the thought of such unpredictability before he shook his head to clear it. It wouldn't do to think of the dobe any more than he was already (and even this was a stretch for him) because he was prone to give you headaches with all his contradictory behavior.
And Naruto was just like that.
Loud, sometimes completely obnoxious and rude, occasionally inconsiderate, playful and mischievous- hardly something you would think a ninja would be, but Naruto was. And then he was ever so often empathetic and determined to aid and abet, and confident and strong…
So much that Sasuke had come to describe the blond idiot, dobe and enigma of their class and graduating year…just Naruto.
There was no other way to say it.
But as he followed the blonde through the winding mix mash of streets that had become Konohagakure after wars and battles and construction and …life, he had to notice the somber tilt of his head and the sweeping but steady lope of his feet as they reluctantly took him somewhere.
This was nothing he could describe as Naruto; at least, not as the Naruto he knew. He startled himself out of these thoughts and he caught himself before he let the blonde detect him, and they were at the memorial, the initial training ground of team seven, where they were birthed as true genins and true shinobi.
The blonde had slowed and stopped at the memorial, and he kneeled slightly and ran a hand down the inscribed names before he settled into the traditional position of respect, on bended knee, and clasped a fist over his heart.
A blonde crop of hair shifted and bowed down in respect and reverence to the memorial, before a scarred and tan hand settled down one lone wild flower, chosen carefully Sasuke knew. He had watched Naruto choose that very flower this morning- and head even dared to scoff at the blonde for his seemingly womanly hobby.
Sasuke felt ashamed now- now that he had this whole new perspective.
He had watched as the sunny haired boy meticulously went through the wildflower field- as if it had rows that were well defined and purposeful- before he had shouted out in victory some ways into the middle of the rather large expanse of color.
He had reached in carefully; and had even taken out his kunai knife to cut the stem esthetically at an acute angle.
Sasuke watched that very same reverently cut stem be set upon the memorial tablet, and he couldn't help but regret the harsh and judging words he had spoken earlier.
"I always knew you were strange dobe, but I never thought you'd take up womanly skills." A scathing look at the single flower; "And not be very good at them either."
That same flower; dark purple with a splash of white and dark spots, long stemmed with a single bud coming off the side sporting a single tiny green leaf, seemed to be perfect now. Now that he knew and looked at it from a different perspective.
But he was drawn from his thoughts as Naruto gave an oddly devout gesture before standing swiftly, backing away three steps while still in his bow and leaving with all the reverence actions could allow.
So again he followed.
And again he was ashamed.
Naruto walked to the graveyard, past all the family plots that Sasuke knew were owned by the clans, past the plots designated for those ninja who had fallen and left no one behind and never belonged to such a prestigious clan, past the grave site set aside for villagers who had become somewhat of an idol amongst the village for some brave action or another, and even past the much cheaper graves (less cared for and weather worn) that were set aside for the poor villagers that came after the more well off villagers and all those in between.
Konoha had a very healthy respect for the dead, and Sasuke was loath to admit that he had not visited a grave in his life, and if he had it had been when he was younger and couldn't be able to remember and his mother had probably carried him through the whole ceremony that he wouldn't have understood anyway.
But they went past all these graves, although Naruto did pause briefly to bow in the direction of the poorer and lone graves that set off the beggars and homeless before he continued he was consistent in his path.
And then they reached the graves.
These were where the hokage had been buried, where ashes and memorials and vases were set aside for reverence and tranquility- away from the hustle and bustle of the village proper, and away from the prying eyes of tourists and enemies.
And he watched with stunned eyes as the blonde took on a whole new descriptive in his mind, something to add to the list that made Naruto…Naruto.
He settled himself in the grass, and he paid his respects to each and every memorial and ash filled vase before he worked his way to the last interred leader of Konoha.
Sasuke was filled with this odd feeling of awe as he realized something.
And although he had all this to add to his perceptions of the blonde – all this to add to his perspective – it was an uncomfortable feeling.
He didn't want to feel that way about his teammate.
He was Naruto, and that was how he should remain.
But then the blonde whispered out a prayer, or maybe he started a conversation, and he caressed the memorial cairn with reverence and this strangely gentle touch that Sasuke startled at.
Gentle; that was another word he would never have associated with the rambunctious blonde, but here was Naruto shifting and evolving in his perspective. He guessed it was only inevitable, his team mate was always evolving and growing stronger, and he accepted that. So why didn't he accept the fact that he was also changing in maturity and emotion…
Maybe it was because Naruto might have always been this way, and he was in no position to make these assumptions- maybe that was what unsettled him. That he didn't really know much about this one teammate and despite that he had him all figured out and categorized and judged.
Always scoffing at his ridiculous dreams and thinking himself above him just because he was.
And that's how it was…or how it had been.
But as Sasuke watched him at the graves, and recalled so many other incidences where Naruto would show this little soft side of him, he realized that he didn't really mind the blonde teen like this.
In fact, he kind of liked it.
It was Naruto, as close as he could ever see, on the way to his dream.
And that was assurance in itself.
Naruto, he self assured boy who couldn't dim his sunny smile.
Here was the boy who most would scoff at for his ridiculous dreams and aspirations, but here was a boy that Sasuke could see becoming hokage.
Because now he understood- he understood that Naruto understood.
There was so much more to being hokage than the strongest and most powerful ninja in the village. Hokage was…simply so much more. He was the mentor and friend, the person who looked out for everyone in the village and wanted to look out for everyone in the village.
He was the one who was strong and happy with his strength, content to watch over al that he surveyed form the tower at the center of town.
And he was the one willing to sacrifice all for his village, and maybe Naruto understood that part best.
Sasuke left quietly and swiftly, making sure not to attract the boy's attention as he was paying his respects. Naruto would understand the job, he visited the graves and understood the sacrifice, and he knew what it really meant to lead this village come hell or high water.
And Sasuke couldn't help but gain a new respect for him- just for that.
Sasuke let his lips smile as he realized something, the hokage was also the one who looked at the good in everyone in the village. And who else perfect for that than the boy who was shunned and could still smile s o brightly at it all.
Yeah, that was Naruto for you, and suddenly Sasuke found himself smiling with a hearty laugh as he pictured the villagers' faces when they themselves realized it.
Naruto, in Sasuke's new perspective, could and would achieve his dreams the hard way, and that just made Sasuke all the more certain that he too could achieve the peace of a dream.
Not an ambition.
So he smiled and nodded his head in respect to the blonde, and he couldn't help but anticipate the day that everyone else gained this new perspective.
He just couldn't wait.
.x.
I didn't get quite so carried away as my last one, but then again I'm tempted to rewrite this anyway. X No fear, I am not dead yet! And strangely enough this did break my writers block! WOOT!
Ahem. PS: I was wondering if people were averse to slightly AU one shots, just where I change one slight detail that doesn't affect the plot at all I assure you (Though I never did figure out how you could keep a fic canon and not even slightly AU when you are not the original author, but meh). As I stated, these are only small details that will aid me in writing these writers-block-stopping-one-shots that I get too carried away with anyways. I already have some ideas, but I would have to change those little details and if it bugs you too much then meh, I'll delete it or not even post the shot. Soo, I'll also take suggestions and ideas and encouragement; as long as it is plausible as a one shot and fits the general theme of these two I have written.
Other than that ENJOY!
Oh yes, some credits due to my sister for some helpful little conversation that inspired me for this…happy now?