Autumn's Dream
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.
'thinking'
"talking"
CHAPTER 4
Everyone is gathered in Naruto's office. In other words, all his betas of the pack are here. The betas acted as assistants for the alpha, they usually advised him in certain matters, assist him in any activities or battles and educate the cubs.
Tsunade, being the head medic is of course present along with Jiraiya, a white fox demon who was eying Tsunade's figure secretly. Maito Gai, a leopard demon with bushy eyebrows and wearing a green spandex looks quite cheerful, although he kept eyeing Kakashi. Next to him is Hatake Kakashi who was humming while reading his orange book known as 'Icha Icha Paradise', one of Jiraiya's best work. However he is being glared distastefully by a brown fox demon, Umino Iruka, for reading it openly in public. Hyuuga Neji stood opposite of him with an unreadable look on his face, whereas Naara Shikamaru just stood beside looking bored and yawned. Beside him stood black wolf demon Sarutobi Asuma with a cigarette in his mouth and Yuuhi Kurenai, a red-eyed cat demon.
Sakura was the only non-beta present, she had a solemn look on her face and her emerald eyes were tingled with worry. Naruto, being the alpha male remained sitting behind his desk with worry written all over his face. He gave a deep sigh and asked,
"Neji, how's the search going on?"
"We've followed the trail upstream as you said, and evidence of a battle was found 10 miles from the village, by the looks of it, the cat demon was being pursuit by 5 other demons. Their battle trail extends from the boundary of Sound territory to upstream of Nakano River."
"Sound?"
Mumbles of worry can be heard from the group. Unlike the Sand pack, Sound pack is in direct opposition of Konoha pack, among the rival packs, Sound is the most hostile because they are lend by a former pack member of Konoha, Orochimaru, who was once a close friend of Jiraiya and Tsunade. However, he was convicted for conducting illegal experiments and the rebellion against the fourth alpha male, Naruto's father, Uzumaki Minato. He was later banished from the pack for ever, never to return again. But then, he raised the Sound pack for a hostile take over of the Konoha pack few years later and had become an active threat since.
Shikamaru suddenly spoke up, "But then, we have more troublesome matters at hand. That lone demon we picked up, he's called Sasuke right?"
Jiraiya closed his eyes and replied, "Uchiha Sasuke died 6 years ago in the Uchiha massacre, and just because another person has he same name as him doesn't make him the same person. We have to consider the possibility that he might be a spy for Orochimaru!"
"Now, now, Jiraiya-sama, just because he appeared from Sound territory doesn't mean that he is a spy, he might just be a lone demon who just happened to offend them." said Kakashi calmly as he snapped his book shut.
Tsunade then said, "Besides, we cannot rule him out as an Uchiha yet. Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi's body are still remained missing until today."
"Then why didn't he admit his identity then? With him we can know the true reason and culprit of the Uchiha massacre, that case had been unsolved for years. There were no clues, no nothing, hell we didn't even know how many culprits are there and how they entered Konoha territory undetected, much less assassinate an entire clan." Asuma said.
Naruto shook his head and said, "I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this, for the time being…" however he was suddenly cut short by Sakura.
"How could you say this Naruto? Didn't you see how he acted? How he looked? He acted just like Sasuke-kun! He talked just like Sasuke-kun! He looked just like Sasuke-kun! You even quarrel with him just like with Sasuke-kun!" she cried hysterically.
"Sakura-chan…"
"Sasuke-kun is our comrade, our friend! He went to Konoha Academy with us together! We fought, we laugh, we cried together! No matter what, he will always be a part of this pack! Always! Now there's a small chance to find out whether is he still alive! We should take it! You loved him once don't you?" saying so, she ran out of the room with tears streaming down her cheeks, and Tsunade ran after her calling her name.
Naruto gave an unconscious grip on his bracelet mumbling, "That was a long time ago, Sakura-chan…"
Deep down Naruto knew that what Sakura said was true. When he first saw him, he was shocked thinking that Sasuke had returned. When they spoke for the first time in the hospital, it felt like talking to Sasuke again, and Sasuke was the only one who called him dobe. And he would do anything to get his best friend back.
Above them, unknowing to all, a figure hid in the ventilation shaft listening to all their conversation. The figure gave a knowing nod and a hidden smile before slowly creeping away.
*****
Sasuke was walking on Konoha's street during midday, he was released from the hospital two weeks ago. Ordinary members of the pack were sending glances and whispers towards him. Obviously the rumor regarding him being the last Uchiha spreaded like wildfire. At this rate, Orochimaru will definitely come knocking. He gave a groan, why can't these people keep their mouth shut? 'Damn' he cursed inwardly as he saw the glances given by the female population. 'Fan girls' even Sound was no exception. He quickly took a side trip as the crowd behind was growing in size. He ran though several small paths and finally lost them.
Before he knew it, he ended up in front of the Uchiha compound, his old home. The place was completely deserted, cracks had begun to appear on the once white walls and moss had been creeping on the wooden walls. Brown leaves were scattered around the ground drifted across the compound floor as a wind blew pass. A heavy silence settled around the compound giving one an uneasy feeling, maybe that's the reason why no one wanted to come down here. He gave a soft sigh; everything had changed in this 6 years absence.
The village had new buildings built, some roads and blocked and new ones are built, he barely recognize the streets anymore, he actually gotten lost during the first few days in Konoha. 'My friends…' His friends changed the most of all.
Neji and Shikamaru… he always expected Neji to become a beta, but Shikamaru? That was unexpected, seems like he had an IQ of 200 underneath that lazy demeanor. Kiba, that dog demon that was always tagging with Naruto finally had the guts to ask the Hyuuga heiress, Hinata to be his mate, and Hinata seemed to be bolder that before, she doesn't stammer that much anymore. Chouji wasn't as chubby as before but he enjoyed chewing down junk food as before, although he ate less now. Ino…well she became more sensible now… although she still chased after him. Shino is still Shino… Tenten …err…he doesn't know her much. Lee was even crazier than before especially with that bowel hair cut, how does Sakura stand that? Sakura… she used to have a crush on him, but now it's over, she actually a very good friend, he enjoyed her presence sometimes. She's now a qualified medic and Lee's mate. It seemed that his undying devotion towards her actually bear fruit. Sasuke gave a soft chuckle at this thought. Kakashi, well… he hasn't changed much, except the fact that he had mated with Iruka-sensei, his academy teacher. All of them had matured and grown, they became stronger; their bonds strengthen during his absence.
And finally…Naruto. He's the one that changed the most. He rose from being the dead-last of them lot to the alpha male of the pack. Although he still had that goofy smile plastered on his face now and then but he had grown, no longer the scrawny little prankster he once known, he's now the well-built leader of the pack, respected by all. He even got a mate now, Haku. His heart ached thinking so, Naruto… the person he's been waiting for, the person who he endured hell and survived, the person he came back for, he person he will loved no matter what, could never be in his reach. He could never step out from the boundary that differentiates friends and lovers. Sasuke couldn't break them up even if he tried, he saw both Naruto and Haku together, and they truly loved each other, their eyes sparkle when they saw each other, their smiles when they're together.
Sasuke's heart sank as the fingered the silver bracelet; it was a gift, a promise when Naruto confessed his love for him 7 years ago. Now, his heart ached when he saw them together, the loving smile that Naruto once gave only to him, is now given to someone else. Sasuke clutched his chest, of all the scenarios that thought back in Sound, he never expected this, he thought no matter how long it took, Naruto will wait for him, but they had all moved on, Uchiha Sasuke was now a mere memory of the past, he was being left behind.
Sasuke knew, that he was being watched, everyone is guarded against him, they do not trust him as they once did, even if they did, they could never remained the same as the past. Sure, they chatted and hang out from time to time after his return, however circumstances had changed, and he never thought that he would be as lonely as in Sound. Despite that, he was contented to have life remaining this way, in order to avoid upsetting the delicate balance now, he could never be Uchiha Sasuke, just Sasuke will do.
He looked at the tombstone in front of him,
Here Lies,
Uchiha Sasuke
Lost but not Forgotten
Rest In Peace
He chuckled as he looked at it; it's quite ironic to stare at his supposedly resting place. He glanced at the surroundings of the Uchiha Cemetery, it's well kept and flowers can be seen on some tombstone. Seemingly the Uchiha clan had not been forgotten; friends still paid their respects from time to time.
He placed the white roses on his father and mother tomb, and later on his brother's tomb. He kneeled down before them, giving a few minutes of silence; this was the first time paying a visit to his family's tomb since their death. 'I hope you're all well in the afterlife… I really miss all of you a lot…' Their deaths are still vividly attached to his mind, courtesy of Orochimaru.
He missed them a lot, his mother's warm smile and cooking, his father strictness and odd display of affection, he was the clan leader after all… And most of all, Itachi, his elder brother. He missed the times they played together, the times they've trained together, the times where Itachi shared is odd philosophies that he could never understood as a child, even the times he made fun of him. He missed the warmth and protection of a family that could never be replaced, their laughs together, but now could never return. He felt tears forming in his eyes which were later wiped away.
He then stood up, shivering at the eerie silence of the graveyard. As he turned, his black ears pickled with discomfort. He glanced around his surroundings and said loudly,
"Come on out, I know you're here, show yourself!"
POOF!
Kakashi suddenly appeared beside him with a puff of white smoke with an amused look in his uncovered eye.
"Coming to pay your family and yourself a visit, aren't you, Sasuke-kun?"
*****
"Is this information true? Kabuto."
"I'm positive, Orochimaru-sama, the information was sent by the spy himself. Sasuke-kun is currently in Konoha." replied Kabuto pushing his glasses.
"Well, I should have known… his ties with his hometown haven't been severed after all, very well, send them to retrieve him immediately." hissed Orochimaru with a chuckle.
"As you wish Orochimaru-sama," said Kabuto with a smile on his face.
