Wrong Again

Chapter 16

Thank you to my faithful readers for sticking with me thus far. I know it's been a while but not as long as the last time (phew!) Anyway, the more I write the more I realize that this could damn well be too long of a story! There's so many aspects that I want to explore. Everything's in my head but as some reviewers have pointed out to me, there are several holes in the stories that are confusing because it's in my head but I either didn't write it down (intentionally) or I simply didn't think about it at all, which happens. A lot. So if there's question please ask! Because there might be an answer waiting for you!

Btw, this is an eventual narusasunaru fic and if you're impatient, please realize that in all manners of speaking, they are only 12 physically, and I will not throw them together without developing their relationship (if you want that kind of a story there are plenty out there that do it with one chapter or less).

There are quite a few POV jumps, I've separated them with lines but it should still read smoothly (hopefully).

Otherwise, please enjoy!

"Oi, Naruto, quit rocking your chair," Shika complained when the blonde's impatient rocking was jostling him around. The three were sitting at Naruto's favorite restaurant after a long day of intense training with Itachi. Obito was a little softer on them and put more emphasis on teamwork; Itachi however expected perfection, or damn near close to it, from the three boys when it came to techniques. The crazy physical training had been hell but he could already see huge improvements in himself. Each boy was nursing their own thoughts and Shikamaru just couldn't stand Naruto's fidgeting as his ribs hurt from a vicious kick a couple hours ago.

Naruto on the other hand seemed perfectly fine. The boy couldn't wait for his ramen to arrive and was thus barely holding onto his seat. Sasuke sat on the other side of Naruto in a dark glower. When Shikamaru thought on it, Itachi was tough but he always seemed tougher on Sasuke. Today the older Uchiha had pulled Sasuke aside briefly. Whatever had transpired between the two had left the younger Sharingan wielder in a foul mood.

Shikamaru studied him briefly; not even Naruto had been able to cheer him up. If there was one thing he had learned fast, the two boys were like the moon and the sun, completely opposite but irrevocably attached at the same time.

"Ahh," he grunted when Naruto practically leapt for the bowl approaching him. Shikamaru looked to Ayame who carried his bowl. He didn't have time to ponder the other boy's mood. Naruto would get to it later. With a gusto that surprised even himself he dug into his own bowl of ramen just realizing that he was starving. All this troublesome training sucked.

"Eh, Sasuke, what'd Itachi say to you?" Naruto mouthed around his fourth bowl of noodles. If it was even possible Sasuke's fierce scowl darkened more at the question. The boy lowered his face closer to his bowl and shoved a chopstick full of noodles into his mouth. Shika didn't bother to tell Naruto that now wasn't a good time to pester the Uchiha.

It had been over a week since he became part of this team. He learned pretty fast when to stay out of someone's way and when to offer an enlightening comment or two. No one could say he didn't try at first only to learn that Naruto never listened to him and Sasuke didn't care. Letting Naruto take his course was always the best action, not to mention it made his life easier-most of the times. Hell, he'd learned a lot of stuff. He even learned that sometimes yelling worked better at getting the two boys' attention than his shadow technique which was sadly still not able to hold them for very long. He never in his life imagined that anyone would get him to yell. The shocked duo had been stunned into silence-mainly Naruto, but Obito had sported a knowing grin.

"Sasuke? Teme! What did he say?" Naruto's persistent prodding went unheeded by Sasuke. A poke to the side earned him a muted glare with a muttered 'mind your own business.'

"Fine, be a bastard, see if I care!" Naruto retorted before digging into his bowl once more. Shikamaru sighed inwardly in relief; he didn't need to be caught up in another of their fights. Half the time he didn't even know how they started.

As he finished his bowl he heard the familiar cry of his name from down the road. Two boys and a puppy ambled up amicably to his side. The red tattoos and puppy marked the more exuberant boy as Kiba. The other munching on a bag of chips was none other than his best friend Chouji. The two were originally in his class at the academy. Ever since he graduated he hadn't seen them every day like he used to.

"Hey, Shikamaru!" Kiba greeted and slung an arm around his neck almost knocking over his empty bowl. He grunted at the pain but otherwise remained silent. Chouji's greeting was much more civilized. He gave a wave and popped another handful of chips into his mouth in lieu of speaking.

"So what are you doing here, man? We haven't seen you in a week!" Kiba exclaimed, not noticing the blond and brunette beside Shikamaru.

"I've been assigned to a team," the shadow user said casually. He wasn't one to gloat at all but as soon as he said the words he winced. To Kiba, the sentence would sound like gloating. He'd be lucky if the boy didn't take offense at the non-existent challenge.

"What?" predictably the dog lover shouted, he grabbed Shikamaru by the sleeve of his jacket. "When did this happen? Mizuki-sensei never said anything to us! That's not fair! Who are your teammates?" As his voice rose he started shaking the tired boy as if doing so would make him talk faster.

"Hey, dog-breath! We're his teammates!"

Naruto couldn't help but be annoyed that the two boys hadn't even noticed them yet. He hadn't seen them personally yet and it was killing him not being able to say anything. So when Kiba demanded to know who they were he jumped at the chance to be seen.

"That's right; me and Teme here are Shika's teammates. We're gonna compete in the chuunin exams!" His mouth started running and he loved the gaping attention that he was getting. He grinned and opened his mouth to let out more but a hard knock to his ribs shut him up. It was like reflex now. Every time Sasuke elbowed him he automatically shut his mouth. He didn't want to admit it, but it was a habit he had to pick up on due to his father's method of punishment.

"Uchiha Sasuke and this idiot is Uzumaki Naruto," Sasuke calmly greeted the shocked pair. Naruto mumbled under his breath about stupid bastards always trying to sound cooler than him before he perked up again. Now that they've been introduced finally he could talk to them!

Kiba was still gaping at the declaration that they were competing in the chuunin exam. Chouji took it in stride as if he knew Shikamaru was always going to compete. "Hey, when is that anyway, Shika? Your dad said you've been busy. He said he never would have guessed the day would come when he'd see you actually run that fast just for training," Chouji spoke in-between bites.

"It's in a couple of weeks," Shika answered, inwardly waiting for Kiba to explode. The boy hadn't recovered yet. In truth, he reminded him of Naruto. The blond was a bit slow sometimes and tended to overreact to things. At first it was annoying, then it was a little funny, but now it was just normal.

"WHAT!" Naruto grinned smugly at the disbelief on Kiba's face. In the first exam he had fought Kiba and won. Thinking back on it, he defeated Kiba but only because it brought him closer to the one person he wanted to fight and that was Sasuke. Too bad Kiba hadn't graduated yet; they wouldn't be entering the exam this year.

"Yeah, we're gonna be chuunins in a couple of weeks, dog-breath!" he laughed loudly and obnoxiously at the boy. He missed the way Sasuke rolled his eyes and looked away. Shikamaru sighed and straightened up just in case he had to keep Kiba from jumping the blond. He wasn't worried about Naruto; the kid could take a thousand hits to the head and still stand up and ask for ramen. Kiba was just as hot-headed as Naruto; he only lacked the power to back up his temper.

"What the hell? Why are you calling me dog-breath, loser? What kind of ninja wears orange?" Kiba retaliated. He sneered at the dirty jumpsuit, "Enemy ninja can spot you from miles away! You're partners with this idiot, Shika?" The boy scoffed and the testosterone level rose as Naruto's temper flared at the insult. No one called him an idiot and got away with it!

"You're just jealous, you're not even a ninja yet, dog-breath," Naruto taunted.

"You won't be one for long wearing that!" By now both boys were almost nose to nose, short of fire breathing. Kiba reached for Naruto's jacket while Naruto simultaneously pulled his fist back.

"Enough." The shadow pulled Kiba back and the boy gaped in shock. A pale hand held onto Naruto's fist and the other wrapped around his middle, tugging him back away from Kiba. Shikamaru had spoken and stopped Kiba. Sasuke had grabbed him since the jutsu wouldn't have kept him back.

"We're leaving. Later Shikamaru," Sasuke spoke evenly as he tugged Naruto with him. Naruto tried to protest but one look at Sasuke's murderous glare had him holding his tongue. Whenever Sasuke had that look on his face it meant 'bother me and die'. He settled for turning his nose up at Kiba and sneering, "Later dog-breath, bye Chouji, Shika!"

"Why you little jerk! Shikamaru let me go! I'm gonna beat the shit out of that cocky bastard!" Kiba's voice faded as they left. As they were out of sight Naruto lost his smug look and sighed; that hadn't gone as well as he had thought. Kiba was supposed to worship him and ask him about what missions he was taking and all the cool stuff he had learned! They weren't supposed to argue and fight!

"You've always fought with Kiba, let it go," Sasuke muttered as he let go of him and kept walking. Naruto pouted, "No we don't! There was that time when we were at the academy and he helped me prank Hachiko-sensei."

"That was before, Dobe. He doesn't know you that way," Sasuke pointed out, "You'd think after so many years you'd get used to this Konoha." Sasuke had a point, but it was hard letting go of his past friends because he didn't have the present ones to distract him, to create new memories. It was easy for Sasuke to say because he never really talked to them. He pointed this out to Sasuke.

"Whatever, Dobe," and he jumped up towards the roof only to disappear in a transportation jutsu leaving a stunned and slightly hurt Naruto behind.

"Moody bastard," he gritted out. Maybe he'd go and find Itachi and see what the hell that creepy prick did to Sasuke. Despite Itachi being the older brother Sasuke wanted, Naruto had never really got over the fact that Itachi, if given the chance, was totally capable of pulling a massacre again. The man's mentality allowed him to perform jobs that totally fucked with one's nindo. He only tolerated him for Sasuke's sake and teased him as best he could but inside, Itachi was still there standing in the way. He was still that unmoving obstacle that truly kept Sasuke from him completely. He'd always had to share Sasuke with him and sometimes it just pissed him off, just like right now.

He'd leave Sasuke to brood for now knowing the bastard didn't want to be bothered. Instead he turned toward his home where his dad wouldn't be back yet from the tower. In fact, he'd be going home alone. Most days it didn't even enter his mind but the interaction with Kiba along with a pissy Sasuke had soured his good mood. So with one more turn he made his way to the Hokage Monument for his favorite thinking spot.

It took minutes for him to get home. Usually he'd spend time with Naruto after training and just hang out; at least they would have stayed at the ramen stand a little longer. But what Itachi had told him today had ruined any kind of good day he could have had.

This morning his mom had made Itachi and him breakfast. Some days he'd sleep at home and others he'd spend at Naruto's place. She'd packed him some rice balls for a snack and she had made extra so that Naruto could have some too. The sun was shining and everything was going great. Ever since that night six years ago he spent every day cherishing all the small things; his mom's smile, Itachi's teasing comments, Naruto's obnoxious ways and even the peacefulness of Konoha.

He spent every night before going to bed thinking about how right most things were here. In fact, if someone asked him, he'd never go back to the old life that he left behind. This was a miraculous gift given to him, this second chance, and he wasn't going to waste it.

The day moved on and he went to training with his teammates, Naruto and Shika. It was Itachi's week to train them and he was looking forward to it. He knew his brother expected the best out of him and he didn't want to disappoint him.

Training was going fine; it was hard, exhilarating and challenging, nothing Kakashi did could ever compare to this. But the way his brother stared at him, made little corrections to his posture, his techniques all throughout sparring had bothered him. It wasn't bad at first, but as the day wore on he was getting mad. Whatever he did was unsatisfactory and his frustration just made things worse. He tried to keep his patience; after all, his brother did know what he was talking about.

It wasn't until Itachi had dismissed them for the day that he had a small moment of peace. In fact, he was looking forward to going to the ramen stand and just relaxing, maybe even listen to Naruto ramble about something. The peace was short lived though as Itachi motioned him over. Naruto and Shika glanced at them but were waved away by Itachi.

It didn't strike him as odd that Itachi would pull him off to the side like this. He often stayed back for a few minutes and conversed about training tips and such. Not thinking much of it he was completely taken by surprise by the harsh words.

"You're too soft." Itachi's eyes pierced his own. They were blank but that made them all the more accusing and cruel. His thoughts had yet to catch up before Itachi continued his criticism.

"If you keep it up, Naruto will die. Can you imagine him gone?" the words cut deep, especially from his brother. "You think that this world is perfect and because the Fourth and I am here, nothing will go wrong. So you don't try as hard, train as hard; you don't prepare for what could and will happen-"

"It won't happen," at this point he couldn't stand there and accept his brother's words. The truth of the statements clawed at him but he wasn't going to admit it. There was no way he'd let Naruto die, not on his watch. "I won't let it happen."

"Bold words, but words won't stop a man like Madara," Itachi countered, "Be warned, little brother. At this point you won't win." Itachi's words make him freeze. What the hell was his brother talking about?

"What do you mean 'at this point'?" he demanded. His brother's expressionless face darkened as he answered, "There have been reports of Madara moving around Fire Country." Disbelief wanted him to deny his brother's words but he overcame it with determination. If the man was moving around then he was planning something. His heart told him to be strong but his mind knew that Itachi was right. Perhaps if he were up to par with his old self, he'd have a chance against Madara right now.

Without the mengekyuo or any of its unique techniques he wasn't capable of going head to head with the Uchiha clan founder. The thought only made him mad. For six years he'd been training, but most of it had been wasted on cherishing created memories. Had he had the drive he did back then, the drive that made him seek out Orochimaru for power, he would have far surpassed anything his old self could have been by now.

It was with a dark mood that he followed Naruto and Shika to the ramen stand. He'd been so engrossed in planning and yelling at himself that he hadn't even noticed Kiba and Chouji until the dog lover had spoken.

He had counted to ten to try for patience but a glance at Naruto's shaking form shot that attempt to hell. Thinking on it now he knew he shouldn't have gone with them but what was done was done; just like the wasted years, he couldn't bring them back that he knew how. It was time to start getting serious.

With his head finally clear he decided he'd go to the Fourth. He'd fill Naruto in later on a need to know basis. Standing up from his bed where he'd gone straight to once he got home, he teleported to the Hokage's office leaving his mother downstairs where she had yet to notice him coming or going.

It was going to be a long night.

From the window of his office he could see Naruto scale the faces of the previous Hokages. His little orange and blond blur plopped himself on top of his very own stone spikes. When Naruto laid back he could no longer see him. Minato knew Naruto only went there when he wanted time alone. Too much recently he'd watch his son make that trip. He wondered what it was about this time.

He'd first given the order for Naruto and Sasuke to not interfere with the other children's lives back when they attended the academy. He knew Naruto couldn't stand it and Sasuke didn't care for the most part. But lately the order had been harder and harder for Naruto to obey. He'd been notified of a few close calls; usually Sasuke stopped him but once or twice another had to remind him.

Naruto tried to hide it, especially from him, less so with Sasuke, but now and then he could see the nostalgia in his eyes as he thought of what used to be. Minato sighed; for Sasuke, this life was what used to be, what he should have had. Not so for Naruto, who had grown into who he was through trial and hardship.

Minato made a note to talk to Naruto and maybe redress that order. Perhaps with the chuunin exam right around the corner he could introduce the two to the academy students as model genins.

Speak of the devil-or one of them in this case. Sasuke didn't bother to knock when he opened the door to his office. One look at the serious, "adult" expression on Sasuke's face wiped away any thoughts of Naruto's social life. He knew that look; it was only when Sasuke came out of his childish shell ready to talk strategy and orders.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

Without preamble the youth spoke, "Madara has been active." There was no question however Minato knew he wanted confirmation as well as more information. Itachi must have already hinted at the recent report. He normally would never tolerate such a leak of classified information but the two were brothers and Sasuke had a right to know.

"Yes, his current location is unknown. Last area of interaction was Wakai, several kilometers north of Fire Country's northeast border. His intentions there are unconfirmed as he did not interact with locals. Speculation is that it was a rendezvous with potential recruits. Villagers noticed another stranger but could not recall enough information to describe them. Madara must have used some kind of genjutsu to confuse anybody who could have seen them.

"For now I'm not ordering anything more than what I've been doing," Minato finished off. Sasuke did not protest. There wasn't enough to do anything about. Madara could teleport from place to place easily so going after him would be a waste of time.

"We're short on numbers as it is," Minato continued, "With the chuunin exam taking place I need ninja here. From the sounds of it there shouldn't be any problems from Suna or other countries. But Madara might have something planned with all the commotion. Please be extra careful, Sasuke."

The entire time Sasuke listened to the Fourth he was also thinking. If it was a potential rendezvous then that meant Akatsuki couldn't be complete yet. He didn't know the order in which they had been recruited and hadn't cared back then either. He only recalled the annoying blonde with the masked Tobi who had been Madara playing the fool. There had been no reports of a blond rogue with clay bomb techniques in the bingo book.

Once again, fate may have never given that person a chance like it did to Kakashi. They could only wait for more information. Sasuke hated this waiting game. He should be training right now despite having already spent the entire day doing so. It would relieve his mind perhaps. He thought of Naruto who was probably already at home waiting for him. He thought of how he had left the blond and decided that going home was not the best course of action.

"Yes, Yondaime-sama," he answered to the man's request to be extra careful. Of course there was the chuunin exam but he was not concerned with that. If Naruto and he followed the rules then regardless of what happened they would be promoted, perhaps Shikamaru too. Word from Suna was that Gaara was alive but more unstable than he'd ever seen. He doubted they would allow him to wreak havoc here in Konoha.

He hoped for the best but knew to prepare for the worst, or so Itachi had told him many times. He was drawn from his musings when Minato spoke again.

"He's sitting on my head out there if you wish to speak to him." The comment wasn't a suggestion. The Fourth had always been astute when it came to unspoken matters between Naruto and him. However, tonight was not a good night. He might give his secrets away. It had been determined since that day six years ago in the office to leave Naruto out of this issue. They had decided to let him have the childhood he should have received. Being on a need-to-know basis irked the blond but so far it had yet to be an issue. He lowered his head slightly in a negative response.

"I'm afraid I'm not good company tonight, Hokage-sama. I would only make things worse." Their eyes met and after a few seconds the older man nodded in leniency. He wouldn't push the issue at the moment.

With that Sasuke bowed deeply and dismissed himself. He was never formal with Naruto's father, only so when it was in front of others or when it came to grave matters like this. As he made his way to their personal training grounds he began his pre-kata meditations. It had been too long since he'd done them; the last time had been a few nights before he had killed Orochimaru.

Naruto brooded. His mood darkened even more when he knew that he had never brooded before. He blamed Sasuke and Itachi and his father and even Obito. He thought of everything that was going on and that wasn't going on and on what he should be doing at the moment but wasn't. His father was being patronizing and pretending that things were fine. All the others were in on it and he knew Sasuke had something to do with it. He wasn't fragile damn it! He still hadn't been able to prove to Sasuke that he wasn't second best. He was an equal; he ought to know what was going on too. The way Itachi looked at him sometimes made him mad but he blew his anger off on punching the trees or pounding the ground. Sometimes he took that anger out on punches and kicks at Sasuke because he was to blame too.

Most times he came here to internalize it all then let it out in one long sigh…or two. Recently it was two sighs now. He didn't like it but he didn't want to ruin it for Sasuke. He knew his other half wanted this more than anything and was willing to do much keep it. So he kept silent and watched his old friends from afar and smiled like nothing was wrong.

He didn't want to go home. Mostly he didn't want to sleep. He'd been dreaming a lot lately of what used to be. It was mostly because of Kyuubi. The fox demon didn't know the details of anything but it remembered the way Naruto felt. So it supplied the emotions and with his hyperactive subconscious the dreams were vivid and realistic.

They fueled his nostalgia and every time he dreamed it got worse. There were moments when he would wake up completely pissed off at Sasuke for doing something to show him up on a D mission only to find that Sasuke didn't recall whatever he'd been talking about.

Or how he'd called Obito Kakashi that one time. He shook his head. This sucked. He thought about sleeping out here. His dad wouldn't come looking, he already probably saw him climbing out here. Sasuke was iffy, it really depended on his mood if he'd come looking or not. In the end he sat up and made his way home.

Dreams or not, he wanted his bed and that stupid fox wouldn't keep him from it.

Sasuke entered their room to find Naruto climbing into bed. Their eyes met and held, neither able to look away. Something had changed with Sasuke; Naruto could almost smell it on him. He had showered but he might as well have come straight from training with the way the adrenaline still seeped from his pores. There was an air about him, a determination that had Naruto rethinking about his choice of coming home.

Naruto was the first to look away, slightly unnerved.

"Bastard," he muttered under his breath for good measure as he turned his back to the other boy. For what felt like the longest time Sasuke stared at him. He could feel those dark eyes boring into his back but he stayed rigid, refusing to give in to whatever it was. He didn't remember when he fell asleep but the warmth on his back may have kept the dreams away because Kyuubi couldn't recall this emotion.

Thank you to those who have read and to those who have read and reviewed, letting me know that this fic isn't dead and decaying somewhere on ff net. Once again, it's been a very long time. It's time to move the story along. I've read and re-read this chapter a million times and thought about cutting it off in so many places but I wanted to get to a little bit of tension between Naruto and Sasuke before I ended it. If you can guess the kind of tension then brownie points for you! I don't know how long you'll have to wait on the next chapter…Sorry.