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Chapter 16: The Rift

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Naruto woke up to a harsh light and found his bed lonely and empty. Feeling a slight dread pulling at the pits of his stomach, he quickly rose from his bed. He exited the room, not bothering to fix it, with one thought running through his mind.

Where is Sasuke?

Anxiously searching around the house, he found no trace of his son. Disappointment and anger built up and his frustration overshadowed his mind.

His frustration further bothered him when he couldn't find his laptop, as he was just about to connect to their security camera to find out what happened.

Should those bastards got hold of his son, he'll never forgive himself. So angry was he that he felt a few tears coming down. Is this actually the end of his peaceful paradise? Are the good days finally over? Will the storm rain on their parade of paradise now?

Shaking his head to calm himself down, he took a few deep breaths and proceeded to exit the house. He wanted to relax for now and he needed ramen and milk. But just before he could enter his bar by the lake, he found Sasuke, toying around with his laptop.

And so he found his lover and his laptop in the same places. But wait, what is Sasuke doing with his laptop? Is it possible that he could have read the e-mail? Impossible! Attached to it is an authentic certification! And Sasuke would leave him.

Besides, Sasuke had no right to surf through his personal information. Well, technically he have because he's his lover, but Naruto is just angry right now. And who else wouldn't be? Finding his son missing and then later on discovering that the said person is looking at his laptop without his permission invokes a feeling of betrayal within Naruto.

Allowing his rage to take over his rational thought, he pushed Sasuke from his seat before the other could notice him.

He pinned the other's wrist to the floor and stared at him with such intensity in his eyes.

Sasuke, not knowing, his father's real intent merely smirked at his father.

"Good morning, Ruto-chan. Gee, papa, I never knew you'd be so kinky like this."

Naruto couldn't believe his ears! Sasuke was acting as if, he'd done nothing wrong at all. Tightening his hold upon his son, he sent a glare at his son and growled.

"What are you doing with my laptop, Sasuke?"

Upon hearing it, Naruto could feel Sasuke tensing, and the cheery look on his son dispersed. He felt guilty at the effect he had on his son. But he wasn't thinking straight at the moment.

"What does it look like, dobe?" Sasuke's cold, unwelcoming voice pierced Naruto as it pulled him out of his cloud of anger.

"Well... It's just that... uhmm... there could be..." Naruto lost his will to speak. How could he? He finally realized what he had done. He shouldn't have just harshly attacked Sasuke like this. But it was too late, he already pulled Sasuke out of his self-induced delusion, that both of them are still safe.

Originally, Sasuke went out in the lake to calm himself. The area where they first recognized their love for each other has caused some sense of deja vu to Sasuke and made him forget about what he had read. And he was able to browse through the legal document that was attached in the electronic mail, sent by an Organization called "Akatsuki" and some unknown name called "Uchiha".

But with the coming of his father, Sasuke was pulled back to the unwelcoming world he want so bad to deny. But although, this is good, since deluding yourself isn't really that good, but it was a little bit to soon.

Annoyed with his father's reaction, and lack of trust, Sasuke stared at his father with a disapproving look.

"I'll tell you what, Naruto." He paused before pushing Naruto off of him and dusted himself off as he stand up.

"You were actually attempting to hide this from me? I can understand when you're hiding my real parents from me, as well as the real reason why you adopted me. For all I care they might as well be dead. But neglecting to tell me that parents are still alive? I am disappointed."

Naruto regained his composure and was about to speak. But Sasuke stopped him by raising a hand.

"Shut up. I'm not done yet, Naruto. I really do think that you're selfish Naruto. For years, I've been dead set in hating you, planning your every demise and cursing your very existence. I thought that you were just a disgusting thief- a thief who's out to ruin another family and stealing their children."

Sasuke ignored Naruto's outraged look and continued.

"But over the years, I have grown to respect you. And for that, I started to trust you." Sasuke smiled and reached out a hand to touch Naruto's cheek, which in turn blushed at the touch.

"That trust grew to admiration and finally love. But Naruto... I trusted you too much and yet, you still hide things from me."

Naruto's dread immediately returned. Stuttering, he held out a hand to touch Sasuke shoulder.

"I-it wasn't like that at all, Sasuke."

"Then when do you intend to tell me, Naruto?" This time, Sasuke rose and he grabbed Naruto's wrist.

"Sasuke... I..." Naruto was loss for words. He wasn't planning to have this confrontation at all. And as a result, he hasn't prepared himself for what he was about to say should the confrontation come at all. His hesitation serves only to annoy Sasuke even more. Narrowing his eyes, he released his father's wrist and smiled bitterly.

"As I would have expected. You aren't planning to tell me at all, are you? You intend to hide this all from me for as long as I live. It's just your bad luck that my parents, practically cared about me to search for me. I wasn't happy with you at this time Naruto. And I suggest you set something straight before I'll be setting my feet on this house again."

Sasuke turned to leave and although it was breaking him to hear Naruto's sobs, he proceeded to leave, letting his feet carried him as he ran out of the house, ignoring his father's calls and tear-shaken voice that tried so desperately to catch his attention.

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Naruto stared at the empty streets. Even for his age, Sasuke is definitely faster than him and he was not fast enough to catch up with his son. Sliding down to the hard cement of the empty streets, he let sobs wracked through his body.

Flipping open his cellphone, he dialed a number. He would not allow Sasuke to be taken away from him. He'd be damned if he allow it. Once the other line has picked up, he immediately regained his composure and mustered up his authoritative voice.

"Hello... Look up into the Organization, Akatsuki. Found out all you can about them. I'm meeting up with you, this afternoon. Will that be alright?"

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Sasuke ran out of the house. He didn't know where he was going. How could he? He was not intending to leave home. He knew he was safe with his father. But why did he do it? What in the world possessed him to say those words? He loved his father and he was definitely contented with having him by his side.

But why did he leave him? Why did he ignored his father's cries for him to retain? Is he that much of a coward to leave everything?

He was angry, yes. But he was also concerned about his father and how everything would pick up from now. He thought of going back home to check up on his father. But his pride was foolish and he couldn't simply go back in this state.

Too many questions are running through his head, threatening to drown him in the sea of confusion and destructive thoughts. Cursing himself for being so dramatic, he urged his legs to move even faster. He wouldn't want to have a change of heart and go back to his father. There's so many things that he have to fix first, including his beliefs and where he stands.

Amidst his tears and blurry vision, he kept on running. Turning around and running tirelessly, he was so surprised when he bumped someone. As both of them fell to the ground, he found a hand shove to his face and offered aid.

"I'm sorry, are you alright?"

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T O B E C O N T I N U E D

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