Author's Note: I don't own Naruto.
Hi everyone. I am back with another chapter, as promised.
Thankyou for the follows, favorites, and views on the first chapter. It means a lot to know you love it. Share your favorite parts of it in the comments. :)
Also, the poem 'Resist' at the end of first chapter was quoted from Instagram - mypoemscorner, with permission. Feel free to check it out. It felt like the poem suited here.
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I have tried to be as canon-compliant (both manga and anime, and the lite-novels) as much as possible, and left the time stamps of the events in this fic vague, because I couldn't find an official timeline. Feel free to assume on your own if these events happened within few weeks, or within a few months.
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I hope you like this too. Enjoy Chapter 2 of 8.
Chapter - 2 - Learning
Kakashi had gathered Team 7 for an early morning drill by the Lakeside. Although Sasuke wondered why they needed to practice given that team 7 was not up for missions soon, he held back from asking the obvious question in hopes that Kakashi would answer it unprompted. But now that they all gathered here at dawn, Kakashi seemed to wait for something in the skies. Though Naruto tried to coax the reason out of the silver haired ninja in vain, and his star pupil also tried her hand after waiting longer than he thought she was capable of, Kakashi still did not give in. Sasuke, however, resolved to remain silent. If he had anything better to do, he might have asked, but anything was better than Naruto's snoring. At least there was a view to enjoy here.
"Kakashi-sensei", Sakura asked, stifling a yawn. "What are you making us wait for?"
Kakashi however remained as impervious to prodding brought on once again by the pink haired kunoichi he so admired. How long could he keep up his silence anyway. Soon enough, it seemed as if their question answered itself as a smile spread beneath the mask on their teacher's face as the very next moment an ink hawk soared the skies above them. Kakashi did not need to push the three ninja to follow him to an open clearing, as it was evident that its rider was the one Kakashi had been waiting for.
As soon as Sai stepped down the hawk, the being dissolved promptly into one of his scrolls. "Good morning, Kakashi-sensei", the pale boy greeted through an emotionless smile as he rolled up his scroll.
"You were waiting for Sai!? You could have just said so", cried Naruto as he began to whine. "I would have slept in for another hour."
"Hello everyone", Sai greeted the remaining members, not focusing on Naruto's jibe.
"So, let me tell you why I have gathered you all here today", began Kakashi.
"Finally!" chimed Sakura, as she stood quickly. With one hand on her waist, and another one rubbing her eye, fending off the sleep that was trying to take over her, she was more than eager to know.
"So, Naruto. Yesterday you were saying something about not being able to do things properly with one arm" Kakashi started. A part of Sasuke suddenly felt like he knew where this was going. It also made sense why Kakashi did not tell them earlier. He was probably concerned that his dearest genin would hang him out to dry. Nevertheless, the Uchiha did not interrupt.
"Yeah, so?" asked a confused Naruto.
"I have decided to make that easy for you. Today all of you are going to train to fight each other with one hand," the silver haired ninja grinned. Naruto and Sakura's jaws fell to the ground in response.
Sakura was the first to break the silence. "What!? Why do I need to be here for that?" she asked. "They each have one arm, they can practice together", Sakura said in an obvious manner.
"Now now, Ugly, it's better for the future in case you lose an arm. You won't have to learn anew", Sai offered shamelessly.
If there was any remnant of sleep in Sasuke Uchiha's eyes, it slipped away the instant these words came out of the boy's mouth. Something about Sai humored Sasuke. He was aware that Sai was a member of Root, and therefore underwent extreme brainwashing by Danzo that had left him devoid of using any emotions. But calling Sakura ugly, and suggesting she might lose an arm some day (drastic turn for a medical nin), even Sasuke knew that went too far. And if the way his pink haired teammate glared at the skinny lad was any indication, Sasuke assumed that she wanted to break every bone in his body.
"YOU!", she yelled at Sai through seething rage. "Shut it". Atleast the pale boy had the decency to break a sweat.
"Why Sakura! He is right", Kakashi mused, adding fuel to the fire. Sasuke was shook watching the situation unfold in front of him, and he was sure Naruto was watching dumbfounded as well. "You never know what is going to happen tomorrow, so you must train. After all, the strongest ninja are not so strong when they lose their limbs fighting…" he added eyeing the duo of silent boys, "...over inconsequential things might I say," he ended in a whisper.
Sasuke almost glared at his teacher, soon deciding otherwise. He was fine with this training anyhow. It was only Naruto and Sakura that seemed to cry about it.
"Alright…", Sakura deflated. "Where to?" she asked the senior ninja.
Kakashi waited no time to explain the training today. Two people will fight, while the rest will watch and observe. To make the battles difficult, they will fight against Sai who would use both of his hands. And lastly, at the end of every spar, Kakashi will help identify any faults they have been making (yeah, right!), as room for improvement. And with these rules set, they began their morning learning something new.
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Naruto panted as he made his way back into the tree shade Sasuke was sitting by. Sai had been a formidable opponent in his spar but the fact that he had been allowed to use both his hands seemed to be an unfair advantage now. While Naruto thought he would easily pummel the brown haired boy with a rasengan, the fact that he needed more than two clones to make the ball of chakra properly came as a surprise to him. But either way, Kakashi immediately stepped in and banned all of that. 'No. Chakra. For you three. Did you forget Naruto?', he had said, and the blond groaned. And the ninja who had won against the goddess of chakra herself, failed to stop ink from splashing on his face.
"Boy I did not think it would be this hard", he said aloud as he bent forward with a hand on his knee, trying to catch his breath. Now looking at the field, it was Sakura who was sparring with Sai's ink minions as Kakashi had bound one of Sakura's arms by her shoulder.
Sasuke kept his gaze stuck to the field but responded to Naruto anyhow. "It's fine. You are picking up well", he said plainly.
Sasuke was an observant person, Naruto had known. But the fact that he was able to pick up improvement in such a short span of time made the blonde wonder whether the raven haired ninja had activated his sharingan to ascertain that better. But another interesting fact today was that Sasuke himself was doing better than any of them. While Sasuke was ambidextrous since his days in the academy, it should not have been this easy for him. But then again, Sasuke did wield his sword in his right hand as far as Naruto remembered. Nevertheless, he thought to remark on it.
"You seemed to be doing just fine though you went first", Naruto said patiently. Sasuke may or may not choose to explain where he got such skills from, and Naruto did not want to push him more than he must have already felt being pushed.
Sasuke however shifted his gaze from the ground towards the Uzumaki standing beside him and raised an eyebrow. Are you really asking me in such an indirect manner? Naruto could read his face instantly.
Sensing some apprehension that surely made its way to Naruto, Sasuke cooled a little and looked away.
"You don't have to tel-" began the blonde, surely so that the last Uchiha did not feel too bothered. But Sasuke did not think there was any reason to hide anything anymore.
"Orochimaru", he simply said interrupting the blond, still looking at the sparring field. "Next time, don't beat around the bush. Just ask", he said, gesturing to his friend to sit down.
Naruto obliged and took his place beside him. His gaze on the teen Uchiha was clear to the latter, prodding him to proceed.
"The third hokage had sealed away his hands, so he learnt combat without them", Sasuke revealed the not-so-secret secret. "Of course, he imparted the knowledge to me as well. But there is a difference between training and the reality of having one hand".
Naruto chuckled at that. "So he was not just a bastard who poisoned your mind", he grinned, turning to face the field again. Sai had begun breaking a sweat now, trying to be quick on his feet.
Sasuke however, continued. "I wanted power, and he made me powerful. It came with a price", he said bluntly, and Naruto's sudden head-turn towards him signaled how he was caught off-guard. Yet the Uchiha kept his eye on the field, watching as the pink-haired kunoichi fell tumbling backward to the other end.
Naruto was stunned at Sasuke's admittance of his wrong ways. When Sasuke declared Naruto to be the winner at Valleys end, they did reconcile, but they had never spoken about the toll Sasuke's deeds had on himself. But the fact that Sasuke was now willing to admit that his defiance came with a price was unbelievable to some level. Yet again, it was necessary for him to realize he was not alone. So Naruto let him be, and did not poke for more explanation after Sasuke fell silent.
Naruto turned to watch the remaining two members of team 7 barely near a conclusion. Surely it would still take some time for either one of them to be a victor. But suddenly, Sakura balanced herself on her right hand, which had remained free, and kicked Sai flatly in the face. "Oooooh, that must have hurt Sai," remarked Naruto through surprise and laughter. "That'll teach him to call her names", he said as he roared at her, "Good job, Sakura-chan!".
"She is good," Sasuke joined. "Her analytical skills are allowing her to improve much faster than any one of us. I am almost scared," he smirked.
"And she was watching us when we had our go," Naruto added. "Anyway, I'm not worried", Naruto cooled, as he smacked his good hand on Sasuke. "She goes easy on the two of us anyway".
The Uchiha merely hummed in response. But something about his best friend watching Sakura intently made Naruto wonder if Sasuke was truly back and reciprocating Sakura's feelings. Reminding himself of how Sasuke told him to not beat around the bush, Naruto asked away after momentary hesitation, phrasing his question clear as day.
"So, have you thought about her?" he said warily. While a part of Naruto that crushed on Sakura would be disappointed if the Raven haired boy answered in affirmative, Naruto knew that answering otherwise would probably tear the team apart. Sakura held a flame for the brooding Uchiha since they were kids, but Naruto knew her feelings were deeper than any superficial displays of affection Naruto tended to see around him.
But Sasuke's response was different. "No. Not really", he said.
Naruto's shock wore off as soon as it came on and turned into anger. His best friend was truly blind, sharingan or not.
"Sasuke!", Naruto looked at him bewildered. "You-… She-...she still loves you. How can you say that? You owe this to her after everything yo-" Naruto began ranting.
But the raven haired heartthrob did not waste time in shutting him down. "Some other time, Naruto", he said in an assertive tone. "I can't afford thinking about it right now. There are other things I need answers to, first and foremost", he said with a hint of defeat, yet not taking his eyes off the field. "Until then…" his words faded away into silence.
Needless to say, Naruto was stunned. His best friend, who was never the one to beat around the bush, seemed to have used more words trying to say 'No' than simply telling that he did not like Sakura in that way. Maybe Naruto should then take Sasuke's words, as simply as he put them. 'Not really', and 'other things I need answers to until then'. Maybe Sasuke will come around later, Naruto read between the lines. But Sakura… would she wait?
Naruto sighed and nodded at the black haired boy and focused on watching the fight again. Sakura's analytical skills were improving vastly, but taijutsu would need practice none the less he noted as Sai knocked her off balance and pushed her to the ground. Naruto shook his head in disappointment. A part of him hoped Sakura would knock Sai out and garner a first win for the old team 7 today.
"She will pummel him tomorrow, won't she?" Sasuke asked, smirking with what Naruto could only discern as pride?
Maybe there was hope after all. Sasuke seemed to have kept his doors open. "Yeah", Naruto grinned from ear to ear.
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Once Sai's hands were tied, Naruto noticed he did not seem to look forward to fighting the team 7 trio anymore. Good for Naruto himself that he was the first one to go up against the one handed boy. He had a few more rounds of practice than the ink-master.
While Naruto and Sai were equally bad at fighting one handed, Sai realized, later than sooner, that he could draw another arm to use as an anchor for flying, and threw Naruto to the ground as soon as he slipped. Although asking Kurama to take over seemed like a reasonable option to Naruto, Kakashi had immediately shut down those thoughts by clearly stating that use of anything but Taijutsu was just using their abilities and not practicing a skill. While Naruto wanted to argue, Sakura and Sasuke agreed with their silver haired sensei and Naruto was cornered to into seeing their point.
As Sasuke took the second round of spars with Sai, who once again had one of his hands tied by Kakashi, Naruto and Sakura sat underneath the shade again observing the ongoing match. Sasuke was clearly improving, and Sai seemed to be on his toes even more so than earlier. But something about his friend sitting by him kept pulling Naruto back from observing their spar. Sakura was observing the match intently. More importantly, she was observing Sasuke. There was this shift in her demeanor that Naruto found he was unable to name, something he came to notice the evening Sasuke was released. Yet, there was a newfound exuberance on her face. Something more tranquil than what Naruto had become used to seeing on her.
Maybe it was hope that was radiating off her face. Maybe Sakura was expecting Sasuke to reciprocate her feelings any moment now. But given the talk he had with Sasuke a while ago, he needed time. So the question struck him once again. Would Sakura wait for Sasuke?
"He'll come around Sakura, I'm sure of it", Naruto began. How shameful, his first words were to offer her comfort, before he broke her heart by revealing what Sasuke said. But maybe he needed to choose his words more wisely. "He… just needs a little time", he sighed, plastering a fake smile on his face as he looked away. Maybe that would protect his own heart from breaking, if he doesn't look at her all heartbroken.
Sakura however, continued to watch the fight intently. The few seconds she took to answer felt like years to Naruto. But he continued to look at the ground and await a response. And then, Sakura finally spoke.
"It's alright Naruto", she said. Something about the honesty in her voice made Naruto want to look up. Will she really wait, he wondered. But he was not prepared for the surprise her response would touch him with. "I'm not thinking about that anymore", Sakura said through a faint smile, not taking her eyes off the training field, not taking her eyes off Sasuke.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as these words fell upon him. "What?" he mustered to say. "What do you mean, Sakura?" he asked in panic. "You don't love him anymore?"
Sakura gasped at the notion and turned to look at him. "What? No, No…. That's- That's not what I said", she hurried to correct. The pinkette closed her eyes momentarily and opened them once again only to release a breath. "I mean…" she began again, as she looked at her sparring teammates once more. "I mean… that… He is back, Naruto", she almost whispered with devotion. "Sasuke-kun is back, and he knows that he has people who care", she said with glassy eyes and a fixed smile.
The earth shattering effect her statement had on him initially was gone, only to be replaced by uncertainty. "What are you trying to say Sakura?" Naruto asked, confused.
Sakura looked at him once again. "I - ... It's just that… I have never seen him like this. We have never seen him like this," she said, turning to look towards Sasuke again. "He looks- Okay. He looks- like he doesn't think he is in the wrong place anymore. He-" she sighed.
Naruto was dumbfounded.
She continued. "It was rather selfish of me to not see it until the war ended. I always said I understood him, yet... I was so caught up wanting to save a part of him with my love that I didn't even think if he saw that part of himself. Now," she said, "he can see his own light."
The blond did not bother asking her once again what she meant, because he was sure that his confusion and the need for elaboration was evident on his face. But Sakura continued on her own.
"He had always been so consumed by vengeance that he could not even be a person, Naruto", she explained. "I never saw that before. But I know better now."
And something about that warmed Naruto's heart. I've only wanted revenge for so long, I don't know who I am without it, Sasuke's words rang in his ears. Sakura really understood Sasuke. And she did not even have a conversation with him to do that. Maybe this is what feelings as deep as Sakura's looked like, thought Naruto, as he pondered about his own.
"But I am so glad that he is back, really. That is enough for me", the kunoichi said and smiled looking at Naruto. He smiled in a reflection of her, in recognition of the likeness his two friends displayed.
"There is something good awaiting the two of you, believe it", he said.
Sakura smiled again in response. It was wonderful how she was doing that more often. Happiness suited her.
"Even if it's not, Naruto, I am happy that he can finally be himself", she said. "Right now, my feelings come second", she added as she looked back at Sasuke who had finally scored a victory against Sai.
Something about this surprised Naruto. As long as Naruto had known Sakura, he had known her to have feelings for Sasuke. Even when he was a rogue nin, Sakura believed he had good in him. But today, Sakura's honest confession of everything that was going through her heart left Naruto speechless.
Here he had begun thinking that Sakura might give up on Sasuke and move on if he did not reciprocate her feelings, but not only did Sakura respond in a completely opposite manner, she went one step ahead. Where Naruto hoped Sakura would wait for Sasuke, she instead declared that she would watch him go if that meant Sasuke's happiness. And Naruto was sure he did not know what that felt like, to watch someone that special go.
Even when Sakura had confessed her feelings towards Sasuke in front of him all those years ago, Naruto only remembered feeling dejected, yet finding himself happy for his friend who had a lovely admirer. But after what he saw today, he understood his crush on Sakura was nowhere near the depth of her love for Sasuke. Naruto for one did not know how someone could live with the heartbreak of watching their loved one go. But here sat Sakura, smiling through what could only be unbearable pain, because it meant Sasuke's happiness. And it was in this moment, he realized how much he was rooting for Sasuke to love Sakura back, with the same desperation, and depth. And it would be everything that both of them deserve.
Sakura broke the silence that came with Naruto's introspection. "Whatever you did, it worked. Thanks, Naruto, I can finally see him happy," she uttered.
"He needed someone who understood his loneliness, Sakura", he said as they both continued to watch another round of their duel. "He needed to know he was not alone."
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Kakashi retired to the shade of the tree once and for all. While his favorite book had kept him occupied during the start of their training, it was now close to three hours since they began practice, and even Kakashi was becoming tiresome from refereeing the matches. The trio was becoming more and more sneaky and Kakashi had to keep a close eye on them to ensure their fair usage of ninjutsu throughout their spars.
While Naruto's complaints about having to use only one hand were significant, highlighting that the three strongest ninja of the village were not at their hundred percent, Kakashi's concerns were that they might not even remember what being there for each other felt like. While Naruto and Sasuke almost grew up alone, Sakura had become alone due to their antics, and Kakashi could not help but feel like he failed his students when it came to having someone to fall back on. So, he had decided to give them some bonding exercises, disguised as team practice, which by the looks of it, seemed to be partially successful.
Naruto and Sasuke seemed to be talking a bit more and fighting a bit less, but they were living in the same house, so that might not have been a conquest anyway. Naruto and Sakura talked, and it seemed like something had changed there, Kakashi would find out soon enough. But Sasuke and Sakura did not interact much, outside the occasional rise to support each other during deciding the rules of the spar. The trio also did not seem to interact with each other, although that was most likely because they were sparring in pairs. For a moment, Kakashi wondered if he himself understood that the old team 7 will not be back again. But the hope that a new team 7 might come back stronger than before was something that kept him going.
As Kakashi settled down on a branch for a brief respite, his eyes went down to the ex-rouge ninja who was better at fighting single handedly than the remaining two that were sparring.
"Orochimaru?", Kakashi asked clearly. The question was not meant for anyone else and he was certain that the Uchiha would understand the implication behind it.
Sasuke did not torture him with silence or unnecessary looks, an improvement from before. "Yes", he replied simply. "This still keeps me occupied, it's not bad", he reassured.
Occupied was not what Kakashi was going for when he decided to train the bunch once again after three years. "Is that the goal? Routine?" he prodded. Maybe some thoughtful changes might be implemented by cross-questioning the raven haired boy, if today was any evidence of the successful conversation he had with Sasuke a few days ago.
"It keeps my mind off thinking", answered Sasuke primly.
Oh, how very much like the first few days of healing. Just trying to do right and not allow all the wrongs you did to hold you back. Keeping those negative emotions at an arm's length that would not help him through his redemption. But again, it might just be possible that Sasuke was not just trying to keep his emotions at bay, but also many many questions and doubts that surely must be looming over him. So Kakashi allowed silence to take over, in hopes that Sasuke would come out with them on his own. He had to believe that would happen, and he had to try to help Sasuke.
"I - don't know what I am - supposed to do now", the teen opened up hesitantly as he looked up at Kakashi. As if on cue, the Silver haired ninja jumped down the branch to offer some much needed direction to the lost Uchiha.
"To figure that out, Sasuke", Kakashi began, "You need to find out who you are, and who you've got".
Sasuke remained silent as he formed a response in his mind. But Kakashi was sure of the next words his student would say to him. I dont know how, would come out any moment now, he thought. But the words never came, and hesitation spread slowly, coloring the Uchiha with the faintest red of embarrassment.
Reading between the lines, Kakashi stepped in. "Try something new and see what suits you", Kakashi told Sasuke. But then, feeling bold, the masked ninja added another statement. "And don't let the worry of attachment stop you anymore."
And boy, how he hoped that Sasuke caught on to that last word. Because the silver-haired ninja not only wanted the teen to allow himself to be a human, he also hoped that the boy would realize the connection he so desperately needed. One pink-haired kunoichi who still remained at an arms length from the raven-haired boy in question.
Sasuke looked up at Kakashi in surprise. Was it always that his teacher had understood him so well, or did trying to walk on the path of love make his inner turmoil present itself on his face, he wondered. But truth be told, this was something he had done for a long time before... well. Attachments had come naturally to him. As the second Hokage Tobirama Senju himself had told him, Uchiha's did love fiercely. But after everything that happened with the massacre, Sasuke had slowly learned not to feel tethered to anyone. A part of that began with the loneliness that came with being orphaned, but slowly and steadily, Itachi's words creeped into his mind and he refrained from making any bonds even when they presented himself. Although that was not foolproof, something Sasuke found out later when they fought Zabuza and Haku and his body moved on its own to protect Naruto, or when Orochimaru's curse mark made it all the more easier. Two years of isolation finally formed a shield around him that did not allow anyone to approach him with attachments, and he was almost left with the ones he had made unknowingly.
But Kakashi's words made sense to him. The worry of attachment and the fear that they would be taken away had surrounded him for a long time. And to find himself, it only seemed logical that he would have to let go of that worry. So Sasuke simply nodded in understanding. Maybe, he was strong enough to save what mattered to him. So maybe he could find something that mattered enough to him, for him to keep safe.
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A/N : Dear readers, please please please let me know what you think. this is my first attempt at writing a fic after all.
Also, The fic is complete, and I will post weekly. You can tune in for a new chapter every Friday around 5PM GMT.
Up next ;) ;) - As secrets about the downfall of the Uchiha clan come to light, Sasuke has decisions to make. But will he be able to allow himself to hope, having been burned by the touch of Konoha before?
