Ch.16.: Baby Steps

As the sun shone its first rays, they seeped through Sasuke's room's window and landed on an empty pillow. He had risen before the sun, while darkness still ruled. He was good at mixing with the shadows, still, now the sun was out, he had decided to shine with it.

Konoha's streets were empty, only the bare minimum of people up. Sun had yet to fully come out, shop owners were starting to open up their businesses, no one paid attention to him.

Sasuke's steps came to a halt when he spotted a familiar place. That was the ramen shop he and team seven used to visit, back on his gennin days (even though technically, he was still one.).

The shop looked the same as it always had, the old man, owner of the shop was just arriving.

"Hey, boy, ramen's not ready yet. If ya' planning on standin' there least you can do's helpi-" The old man turned around and stopped mid-sentence once he noticed who he was talking too. The owner's eyes quickly darted to his chakra restraining bracelet. He seemed more relaxed but still wary. Sasuke sighed, turning around to start leaving…

"Umm, you're Naruto's friend, right?"

Sasuke turned around and nodded once.

Teuchi scratched the back of his neck, before adding with a bit of hesitation.

"Any friend of Naruto's is welcome at Ichiraku's. Ramen's not ready yet…"

"Thank you." Sasuke spoke. "But there's no need for you to be good to me for Naruto's sake…"

"Kid, I'm not. I-I do remember how you and Naruto used to eat here, years ago." Suddenly, a genuine grin appeared on his face. "Besides, I bet all those years away you should have missed Ichiraku's ramen. There's no ramen like mine!"

Sasuke hesitated a moment before remembering Kakashi's words. Letting people see him, get used to him, then perhaps he would be able to get rid of the chakra restraining bracelet.

"Thanks. Let me help you then."

The old man looked surprised but nodded anyways, a small smile on his lips. He gave Sasuke a couple of boxes to carry inside as he carried some more.

"Son, have you ever cooked ramen?" he questioned.

Sasuke shook his head.

"You're not much of a talker are ya'?" he deadpanned. "Doesn't matter, there's a first time for everything. Lemme teach you."

Sasuke was good at cooking and a quick learner, Teuchi noticed as he rambled about his daughter being away at a ramen fair, representing Ichiraku.

"You know, nowadays what you kids need- what everyone needs- is some cheering up. These have not been easy times. That's why my Ayame-chan went off to Kumo. She's only gonna be away two weeks, but a ramen fair I bet would cheer up at least a couple fellas."

Sasuke nodded, his eyes fixating on the ramen broth. Indeed, times had been hard on everyone. Ino's expression as she wrapped his flowers came to his mind. Even the bubbly ones had been affected by post-war depression.

"Oh!" Teuchi exclaimed happily. "You're good boy. You got the hang of it pretty quickly; I think it's almost ready."

"Thank you." The broth smelled amazing, especially to his empty stomach.

"Kid, in case you ever get tired of the shinobi life, tell me and I can teach you more than the basics. Help is always needed on the ramen business, and you've got talent."

At this, Sasuke let out a soft chuckle.

"I'll consider it. If the shinobi life ever tires me, I'll recur to you."

"Well, I think it's ready. Care to taste it?"

Sasuke's eyebrows rose.

"Sit down, kid." And added as he saw Sasuke reach out for his wallet. "And don't ya' worry 'bout money. Consider it a payment for the help. With Ayame gone, setting everything up has been taking me longer than usual. Thanks to you, my customers will be able to get their ramen earlier." He said as he began serving Sasuke a big ramen bowl.

"Here." Teuchi placed the bowl in front of Sasuke, smiling.

Sasuke eyed the narutos and let out a small chuckle.

"Itadakimasu." He said as he broke the chopsticks and started digging with gusto. Though ramen had never been his favorite food, it had not been one he disliked. Still, the old man was right, there was no ramen like Ichiraku's. He could hear the streets outside were starting to get busy, he had even detected the ANBU's shift again.

The smell of ramen had seemed to reach the streets as he sensed some people approaching the restaurant. The old man had been the only one, besides his old team, who had actually been kind to him. Sasuke did not wish to scare away his clientele so he finished his ramen, thanked for the food and left his ramen's money on the counter, ignoring Teuchi's protests.

He left just in time for the customers to arrive, a couple of glances following his form until he had exited the establishment.

People's stares kept following him wherever he went though they wouldn't last longer than a couple seconds, he thought it was mainly due to how scared they were of him. Would he actually be able to gain some of their trust back in six months? At least he had made progress with one of them. He knew the shinobi community would be a nut a lot tougher than the civilian one to crack.

"Some nerve he has." The Uchiha heard a couple jounin's whispering. Sasuke turned his head, making eye contact with them. They looked scared and their hands immediately went for their pouches, as if preparing for an attack. Then he felt the three ANBU chakra's flare. The pair of jounin must've sensed them too since they warily put their hands down, before breaking eye contact.

Reparations were almost finished, in fact, they were just giving them their final touches. Pre-war preparations and Post-war depression had slowed them down, the signs of the Pain attack on the village still visible, even if barely. He spotted shinobi helping, it sure was a way to keep their minds busy after everything. Missions had been scarce, but he knew they would soon enough return to normality.

He walked in front of a construction site, there was a man on a wheelchair. His eyes darted to the pair on the roof, helping to nail it down. Sasuke's eyebrows arched in recognition as he remembered both shinobi. Their heads turned in that instant, their gazes locking with Sasuke's, eyes widened. Lee gave him a tentative smile, while the other teammate who he couldn't remember the name, kept a neutral face.

The man in the wheelchair looked hesitant but called him. Sasuke noticed it was their sensei, the one who had fought Madara. A sudden feeling of remorse invaded him as his gaze shifted to the wheelchair.

"…Umm, Sasuke, how are you doing?"

Sasuke looked taken aback but answered, nonetheless.

"Fine. Um, thanks for asking."

"Thanks to you." The now retired jounin said sincerely.

Sasuke supposed it was because he and Naruto had released everyone from the Tsukuyomi.

"It was nothing." It had been a lot; it had cost him an arm (literally). Though the arm thing had been more a result from Naruto and his fight than from saving everyone.

Gai chuckled.

"For saving Neji. Thank you."

Sasuke did not know what to say, and Neji's teammates must've picked on it since they came down and nodded.

"You don't have to say anything." Lee said. "Whatever reason it was, thank you for saving our friend, Uchiha."

He hesitantly nodded in acknowledgment.

Silence reigned for a few moments, the Uchiha was about to retire when Tenten spoke.

"And thanks for saving us, also."

Sasuke was more surprised than what he let out. Besides his team and the Kages, he had not been thanked.

"Would you like to accompany us? I wouldn't mind the company." Gai said, way calmer than how he remembered the jounin used to be.

He remembered the old ramen man and inwardly smiled. He had followed a path of darkness for so long he had forgotten what light felt like.

"How can I help you?"

He saw the three of them hesitate before looking at his missing arm. Well, he wouldn't be of much help with repairing a roof without an arm and chakra.

"You could perhaps help passing us the beams." Lee answered after a moment of pondering.

There was a pile of wooden beams next to Gai-sensei. They were not big and looked quite light, he would perfectly be able to maneuver them even with his limitations, perhaps even serve as a workout of sorts after having been that time in confinement. Sasuke nodded and grabbed one.

They worked at a steady pace, chatting amongst each other. He remained mostly silent. They kept stealing furtive glances at him and Sasuke just knew they were dying to ask him about his and their teammate's (previous) bond.

"I'm sure Neji's gonna be here, she's been helping us in her free time." Lee said aloud to no one in particular. Sasuke sighed and passed him a beam. Lee had been throwing some Neji comments for a while now, maybe trying to get some reaction out of him.

"Yosh! Thank you, Sasuke-san."

He nodded. There wasn't a lot they could speak with Sasuke about. They had not been friends with him before he ran away, and everything else was a touchy subject.

Instead, Gai started rambling. Telling them about the multiples encounters he had had with his rival, Kakashi and, that as of that moment, he was winning by two. Gai's voice held a tinge of melancholy, but he hid it well. Sasuke again felt bad for the man, those encounters he'd had would happen no more.

"Naruto-kun is your eternal rival, right?" Lee asked, excited.

"My what?"

"Your eternal rival! Just like Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei, and as Neji and me, we're eternal rivals!" Lee beamed.

Sasuke thought about it. Naruto was his best friend, his brother. But he also was his rival, had always been.

"I guess so…"

"Yosh! See, the flame of youth burns in everyone with passion."

Had it been other times, Sasuke would have been fed up with it, but in that moment, he felt something warm. With baby steps, he was starting to reinsert himself.

That was when a couple of shinobi passed and greeted Gai but, after they noticed he was with them quickly excused themselves.

Lee and Gai gave Sasuke an apologetic look.

"Just give them some time." Gai said, Sasuke nodding in understanding. Sasuke learned that Gai had just been released from the hospital a few days ago due to the injuries he had sustained while fighting his ancestor.

"Oi, Sakura-san!" Lee suddenly shouted waving his hand, abruptly letting go of the beam Sasuke was about to hand him. The beam fell, a splinter tearing a pretty superficial wound on his palm, yet enough to draw a few droplets of blood.

Sakura turned around, with the intention of returning the greeting but caught sight of the accident.

"Sasuke-kun!" she exclaimed rushing to his side. Apparently, Lee had just noticed also as he looked pretty mortified.

"Dear god, I am so sorry." Lee said looking at his wound.

"Don't worry." Sasuke dismissed. Lee still kept apologizing profusely, promising to punish himself later with laps and push-ups.

"Ah, it was pretty superficial." Sakura informed, the green chakra on her hand having erased the trace of a wound. It was then she noticed who he was with. She raised an eyebrow at him but kept quiet.

"Well, I say we call it a day." Gai announced. "It's almost time for lunch. Care to join us, Sasuke, Sakura?"

Sasuke had socialized enough for a day; besides he was getting irritated by the constant looks he kept receiving by half of Konoha. He would much rather stay home and cook. Sakura seemed to have picked on that because she answered.

"Oh, we would really like to, thing is I was looking for Sasuke. We actually have to go over a few things on his medical file…"

"Oh, can't it wait until after lunch…?"

"Kakashi-sensei told me he needed them before four o'clock. It will have to be another time, thanks."

"Another time it is." Gai conceded before turning to Sasuke. "Thanks for the help and…well, everything."

"You're welcome and thanks for the invitation." He bowed before leaving with his ex-teammate. Tenten and Lee bid them goodbye before heading out for lunch with their sensei, Lee pushing his sensei's wheelchair at full speed, both of them grinning towards the sunset.

He and Sakura walked side by side, no direction in particular.

"So…team Gai, huh?" Sakura started. "Looking forNeji?" she added, a tinge of bitterness in her voice. He knew since he had saved her, everyone had wondered exactly what kind of bond they had had. The fact they kept wondering only proved Neji herself had not dissipated their doubts.

He shrugged.

"I have no reason to look for her. I was just passing and, well, you know him better than I, you know how Lee's sensei can be."

Sakura chuckled.

"Heh. Sorry, I have no business asking about your stuff I just…"

Sasuke paused a moment.

"You heard her, right? We don't have a bond of sorts. That's all there is to know about."

Sakura stayed quiet and Sasuke wondered if he had perhaps sounded too curt.

"Sorry, I did not mean to cut you off like that. It's just that what you heard is all that is."

The pink-haired girl gave him a smile.

"Don't worry, I'm not pushy." She pondered before adding with a chuckle. "Not a lot anyways."

He happily sighed.

"And yes, I know how Gai-sensei can be." Her expression changed into a grim one for a second. "He is very strong. Not only physically."

The raven could only nod.

Had he not been in his revenge rampage and Sakura so obsessed with him, he could see his younger self having fallen for Sakura. She was insanely smart, beautiful, kind, friendly and a good listener. Yet. He felt their time had come and gone. As of now, he saw her as a sister. She was more than a best friend; she was now part of what he considered his family. He was proud of her, even admired her, not even he had the level of perfect chakra control she had. She deserved someone better and that would not be Sasuke.

Sakura had taken him to a discrete coffee shop, almost hidden from view. It was empty and Sasuke sighed in relief. No more stares. They ordered food and the bored waiter took their orders without taking a second glance.

They had fallen into amicable chatter, most of it coming from Sakura. She told him what had been going on in the village the time he had been confined; how Naruto had begun his Hokage training, it taking up most of his time. Sakura also had practically ordered him to get an appointment to get his arm situation dealt with as Naruto's new arm was just in the process of being made. Her presence, contrary to their gennin days, was more enjoyable.

They were getting to her home; the sun having shone its last rays when he muttered.

"Thank you, Sakura."

Sakura, who was talking about the amount of work they'd had at the hospital abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

"Huh?"

"Thank you." He said, this time louder. Words were not necessary for her to know he was talking about everything.

Her lips curved into a small smile, her eyes glinting ever lightly with unshed happiness tears.

Sakura got on the tips of her toes and kissed his forehead.

"Take care, Sasuke." Were her words, before entering her house.