Colors of Life and Death series
Truth in Dreams
by Songbird21

Chapter 27

Jiraiya's lungs were burning by the time he returned to team seven, and as he ran onto the field where the battle had been he got a shock. Not only was his team alive, but it looked like Itachi was the one the ground. When he reached the group his eyes widened at the severity of Itachi's wound. "H...how did you...?" he asked softly.

Sakura looked up at the old hermit. "Naruto and Sasuke did it. They used a combination jutsu I've never seen before." She looked down at Sasuke. "We won," she said quietly.

Jiraiya was confused. He would have thought everyone would be happy, but as his gaze followed Sakura's he knew something was very wrong. "Why do all of you look so depressed?"

"We'll explain on the way. Right now we need to leave," Naruto answered.

"I hope you don't mind, Naruto-kun, but I need to go home and rest," Kazehana said with slowly drooping eyelids.

Naruto gave her a small smile. "No prob. You did great."

Kazehana responded with a grateful, yet sleepy smile before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Jiraiya frowned and, with a long sigh, knelt down next to Sasuke. "I'm sorry, but I need to take him," he said gently.

Without a word Sasuke slowly stood and began to walk towards home.

The depth of Jiraiya's frown increased as he scooped up Itachi's body. He stood and looked at the other two. "Let's go."

Naruto and Sakura nodded and the three took off after Sasuke.

Tsunade sighed and dragged her hands along the top of her head. There were days she hated being the Hokage. After hearing Jiraiya's report she very much wanted to kick the elders into the stratosphere but her position prevented her from doing that. She looked at Jiraiya. "I want Uchiha Sasuke under suicide watch."

"I'll do it," Naruto offered quietly. "He's my brother. I should be the one to take care of him."

Tsunade nodded in understanding. "Alright." The team stood to leave when she spoke once more. "And Naruto, Sakura—good work," she said with a small smile.

The two teens nodded their solemn thanks and left.

Tsunade turned to her dark-haired side kick. "Shizune, sake, and lots of it."

Shizune hung her head and sighed, then left the room.

"Well, I better be going. It's a long walk back to my place," Jiraiya commented as they stepped out into the moonlight.

Naruto looked up at him with raised eyebrows. "You have a place?"

Jiraiya smirked. "Sort of. I don't even really live there. It's just where I store my stuff."

Naruto laughed. "We'll see you later then."

"Send word if you need me." Jiraiya held up a hand. "Ja."

Naruto watched him go for a moment before turning back to Sakura. "We better go check on Sasuke."

"Nhm," Sakura answered as they started walking. "Neh, Naruto-kun?"

"Hm?" Naruto replied absentmindedly, his thoughts obviously somewhere else.

"Do you think he'll be alright?"

A small smile curled its way across Naruto's face. "I think so. I mean, he's a survivor. Always has been. I'd expect him to take revenge on the elders before I'd think he'd kill himself."

Sakura nodded. "Yeah." Silence. "Do you think he likes Tenten?"

Naruto's turned his head sideways. "Ehhh?"

"I've just been thinking. What if he was avoiding her because he was worried about falling for her?"

Naruto almost laughed. "Oh come on. The guy who's pushed away every girl who's come at him is suddenly gonna have a crush? Not a chance."

"It's not sudden. It's been building since last October. And she isn't every girl who's come at him. She's one of the few girls in Konoha who hasn't made stalking him her life's work."

Naruto snickered. "Like you?"

Sakura's fist wasted no time in making full contact with the top of Naruto's head. "Shut up, baka!"

Naruto rubbed his head. "Okay okay. Sheesh. Lighten up will ya?"

Sakura calmed down. "Anyway. I've never seen him just start avoiding a friend for no apparent reason. I wonder what's going to happen now that Itachi's dead."

Naruto looked completely lost. "What's that got to do with Tenten?"

Sakura palmed her forehead. "Ugh. You are such an idiot. Obviously the only reason he would be worried about falling for her is that he didn't want her to be hurt if he died fighting Itachi."

Naruto just blinked for a moment. "This has gotta be one of those 'girl things' that guys just aren't meant to understand."

Sakura sighed and shook her head. "Boys are so completely clueless."

"Naruto-kun!"

Naruto and Sakura stopped mid-step and turned around to see Hinata running toward them.

"Hina-chan!" Naruto called out happily. He opened his arms wide and pulled Hinata into a tight embrace.

Sakura smiled but it quickly faded. "Neh, do you mind if I go see Lee-kun instead?" She knew now that Hinata was there she didn't have to keep Naruto company. Although she was worried about Sasuke, Lee had much more than a mental wound.

Naruto nodded. "Go ahead. I'll be fine."

"Thanks. I'll see you later." And with that, Sakura headed for the hospital.

"How was your mission?" Hinata asked after a moment.

Naruto's smile fell away. "Complicated."

"Oh...so it's something you can't tell me?" Hinata asked tentatively.

Naruto shook his head. "No. It's nothing like that. It's just that...I'm not sure exactly how to feel about it."

Hinata clasped his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Naruto's smile returned. "Come on. I'll tell you while we walk."

"If that's what's going on then maybe I shouldn't go with you. I don't know if he even really considers me a friend. He might be offended," Hinata said.

Naruto frowned in thought. "I think it'll be okay, as long as you don't say much," he said with a small smile.

They walked up to the door of Sasuke's apartment and Naruto knocked. There was no answer so he tried again.

"He's not there."

Naruto and Hinata turned around to see Kakashi standing behind them.

"I've been looking for him for about twenty minutes. You're both free to join me," Kakashi explained.

The two teens nodded and the search was resumed. I hope we find him soon, Naruto thought.

Sakura put a hand over her heart and let out a long, relieved sigh. "Thank god."

The doctor put her hand on Sakura's shoulder. "You did a better job than you thought at stopping the bleeding. If you hadn't helped him on the field we would've lost him."

Sakura gave the doctor a grateful smile. "Arigato."

"She's right you know," Tsunade said as she walked down the hallway towards Sakura. "In fact, you're doing well enough in your studies that I think we can move you to 'B' rank techniques."

Sakura grinned. "Arigato, Shishou," she said with a bow.

"He really shouldn't have visitors until morning, but I'll let you in for a few minutes if you promise to be quiet," Tsunade said with a smile.

"Of course," Sakura replied happily.

As the two walked into the room Sakura felt her chest gain a bit in weight. The sight of Lee lying there, hooked up to several machines, was difficult for her. She sat down on the edge of the bed. "You really scared me, you idiot," she said as she leaned down and lovingly kissed his forehead.

"Sssa...ku...ra?"

Sakura's eyes flashed wide as she lifted her head to see that Lee's eyes were partially open. A single tear of relief rolled down her cheek. "I'm here. I'm here," she repeated as she clasped his hand in hers.

A tiny smile crossed Lee's lips. "Did...we win?"

Sakura let out a small laugh. "Yes."

"Alright. You need to go now," Tsunade said gently as she put a hand on Sakura's shoulder.

Sakura nodded. "Okay." She leaned down and gave Lee a small kiss. "I'll be back in the morning. I promise. You get better, okay?"

Lee gave her a weak smile and nod. As he watched Sakura walk out the door his eyelids became heavy and he fell back to sleep.

Naruto, Hinata and Kakashi found Sasuke sitting in a tree at their old training field. He was nestled in the 'V' part of the trunk of a large tree, staring up at the sky. He didn't even turn around before he spoke. "I need to be alone right now, Naruto."

"I know. But Kaa-san told me to put you on suicide watch," Naruto explained with a wince.

Sasuke turned around. "Are you serious?" he asked with an incredulous expression.

Kakashi stepped out of the shadows. "It's a valid concern, Sasuke."

Sasuke shook his head and turned his gaze back to the sky. "Kakashi-sensei, if I was prone to suicide over traumatic events in my life don't you think I would have done it a long time ago?" he said with a slightly bitter tone to his voice.

"I suppose. But even if you are okay, orders are orders," Kakashi explained. "I have to report the situation to Tsunade-sama. Naruto, I'm sure you can handle things here." He left after Naruto had nodded his answer.

"I know you've got to do your job, but I really don't feel like talking," Sasuke said to Naruto.

Naruto nodded, having understood the not so subtle hint. And although it went against his very nature, he decided on giving Sasuke his space. "No prob. Come on, Hina-chan," he said with a smile as he held out his hand to her. She accepted it and they walked to the other side of the field.

Around ten-o-clock Sasuke jumped down from his perch. "I'm going home."

Naruto nodded as he and Hinata stood up from where they had been lying down. They had used the time to watch the stars together. "Okay. But I gotta come with you."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed. "Do what you need to do," he said as he began walking.

Naruto pulled Hinata into his arms, gave her a short kiss, and then rested his forehead against hers. "I'll see you in the morning."

Hinata smiled. "Hai. Oyasumi, Naruto-kun."

"Oyasumi," Naruto answered. He then turned around and followed after his brother.

Naruto parked himself in from of the door to Sasuke's bedroom to keep watch over his brother and had set the alarm on the clock he'd brought with him just in case he nodded off. He even made sure to set it early so he would be sure to wake up before Sasuke. "Oyasumi, Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed. "Yeah yeah. Just don't wake me up."

Naruto shrugged at his brother's complete lack of interest in conversation and made sure he was in a comfortable position for the nights vigil. He did everything he could to stay awake, but eventually sleep's siren song got the better of him and his eyes slid closed.

Naruto woke up and looked around the room. Unfortunately, Sasuke had apparently had the same idea as far as alarm clocks were concerned and when Naruto saw Sasuke's bed was empty and the window was open his expression flattened into a glare. "Damn it."

The door to Sasuke's old house opened with a protesting creak. He wandered slowly through the rooms, lost in his thoughts. Occasionally he would come across an object that had been left there from when he was younger, pick it up and put it in the large sack he had brought with him. It wasn't long before the bag was nearly half full.

The last room he visited was Itachi's. It looked exactly as he remembered it and that made his heart sink. He tried to ignore the feelings from the memories flooding his mind as he walked around, collecting whatever else he could fit in the sack, and finally came to a picture of him and his brother that rested on the nightstand. He picked up the photo and stared at Itachi's face for a moment before sighing and adding the image to his collection.

Naruto's face was frozen in an irritated frown as he jumped over the rooftops in search of Sasuke. "Damn him. He knows Kaa-san will kill me if I she finds out I lost sight of him. I'm gonna kick his ass when I catch up."

Sasuke walked into his room, pushed the bed away from its spot on the floor and knelt down. His fingers traced the floorboards for a minute or so before he found what he was looking for. He wriggled his fingers under the edge of one of the boards and lifted it up to reveal a small hole. He reached inside and pulled out a three-inch square box. He opened the box to reveal a ring with the Uchiha symbol on it and the memory of the day he'd received it came back to him.

(("Sasuke. Here," Itachi said with a smile as he held out a small box.

Sasuke opened it and looked at its contents with a quizzical expression. "What's this for?"

"It's a present to celebrate your first day of school."

Sasuke's expression brightened. He took out the ring and tried to put it on, but the crest on the top kept slipping down the side, finally coming to rest underneath his finger. "It's too big," he complained with a pout.

Itachi laughed. "Tou-san gave it to me when I became a chuunin. You'll grow into it." He bent over and flicked Sasuke's forehead.))

Sasuke closed his eyes with a sigh, then opened them and put on the ring. "Thanks...Nii-san," he said as he put the box back in its place.

As Sasuke walked out of the front door of his parents' house Naruto landed in front of him.

"Are you trying to get me killed?" Naruto asked loudly, his expression impatient.

Sasuke didn't respond beyond a quick shrug. He slung his bag over his shoulder, making him resemble an emo version of Santa Claus, and started to walk away.

"Oi!" Naruto protested as he stepped in front of Sasuke again.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed. "It's your job to keep an eye on me. It's not my fault if you suck at it." And with that he side-stepped Naruto and continued walking.

It took all of Naruto's self control not to start yelling a string of choice insults. I shouldn't insult him while he's depressed. I shouldn't insult him while he's depressed, he chanted in his mind. Instead he bit the inside of his bottom lip till it bled and then followed Sasuke. After a few minutes he calmed down and let out a relieved sigh. At least he's okay.

Four days later, Sasuke opened his eyes after the first nightmare-free sleep he'd had in ages. He blinked a few times and looked around the room. Something's weird. He got up, tossed the covers to one side and opened the window shade. As he stared out at the view from his window something was missing, but he couldn't put his finger on it so he decided to get dressed.

As he sat down to put on his shoes he looked to his bedside table. The portrait of himself and Itachi stared back at him and suddenly he realized what was different. Revenge—the weight of it was gone from his heart. He picked up the picture and his eyes misted over. "I'm free...We're both free," he whispered. The knowledge of this made his heart feel lighter as he finally understood that his life was now an unwritten book. For the first time since that awful night he felt like he had a future.

After a moment he put the photo back in its place of honor and smiled. Now that he knew he had a chance to live his life as he wanted to, that he wasn't sure he would die young, he had someone to talk to...

...TO BE CONTINUED

Hi guys. :) Well, this is a little sooner than the last two chapters. Hopefully it's a sign I'll be doing better. Part of it is cause I'm not writing a battle at the moment. Lol.

Ari-san: it's Konbanwa, not konbonwa. I wasn't paying attention, so I don't remember whether it was the evening or not, but Ohayo (adding gozaimasu for extra politeness) means good morning, Konichiwa means good afternoon, and konbanwa means good evening. ((Yup yup. It's evening. Trust me. I know my greeting times. And I have a hard enough time spelling in my own language, never mind another. Lol. But I try my best.))

Oh, and I'm amazed no one called me on this, but I left Kazehana out of a large chunk of chapter 26. It's not a lot, but I fixed the problem. :)

The rookie nin will be heading to the chuunin exams soon. I'm kinda dreading it simply cause Pein will be there and I need him to live, but I also need the Konoha people to get out of there safely. ((Head-desk)) Why do I do this to myself?

Time for my chapterly begging session- If there's anyone willing do work on COLAD doujinshi pages please PM me. Charu-san said she doesn't have the heart to continue with the scene she's been working on (Drawing Naruto sliced open bothers her). So all I really need at the moment is someone who can finish the scene. ((Gets on knees)) Pwease?

Ja na,

Song