Ch.18.: Sweet Apple

Sasuke had begun to fall into a routine, a pleasant one at that. People still gave him glares, even if they did so when they were sure he couldn't see them. Some just stayed still, even going as far as holding their breaths until he passed by as if he were a white shark. His Rinnegan eye, even if it was rendered almost useless by the chakra restraining bracelet, managed to scare whoever locked gazes with him.

All in all, the frequency of those antics had been reduced even a little in the span of one week. People were finally starting to mind their own business.

It had become part of his routine to go help open Ichiraku's and cook ramen with old man Teuchi. Every day he visited the shop, just at the same time the sun rose up and helped prepare everything. The man was happy with this and constantly praised Sasuke's talent in the kitchen. After the third day of insisting him to accept a bowl of ramen for his services, the Uchiha finally gave in (and was glad he did so).

At their daily meetings, Teuchi informed him of everything that went on at the village. Sasuke had previously seen Naruto's memories and had realized how far his friend had gone. Yet, hearing it all from a different point of view, really put into perspective how much Naruto had done for the village during the time he was gone. Teuchi was filled with good stories about his old team and, even if Sasuke did not ask for them, he enjoyed them all the same.

A week of trying to reinsert himself into Konohagakure's routine after years of absence had gone…better than expected.

He'd been doing mundane things but, in some way, they were a break from the hectic few months he had been living. Helping cats stuck in trees get down, basic training -just to keep in form, retrieving children's balls from the rooftops, or running some errands for Kakashi as simple as passing on a message to some chunnin. All in all, he was, in Kakashi's words, doing pretty well.

By the corner of his eye, he spotted a really old lady, juggling her crane and grocery bags, trying to balance them. He immediately ran to her aid her. The old lady wore real thick glasses, kind eyes peaking beneath them and her face looked like a raisin. All in all, she was the epitome of fragility, bony limbs gripping tightly her belongings.

Sasuke grabbed her bags before speaking.

"Ma'am, you need some help?" The old lady smiled and squinted her eyes before nodding.

"Thank you, son. Ah, these arms aren't as strong as they used to be, ask my grandson." She chuckled. "I used to swat him whenever he was being nasty, a good boy he was." the woman reminisced as they began walking towards the woman's house.

"Was?" Sasuke asked suddenly starting to feel sorry for the lady.

"Ah, don't worry, he ain't dead yet. I said was cause he ain't visiting me as much since he became chunnin." The granny sighed. "Here, turn right, a couple streets and we would have arrived."

Sasuke nodded.

"Hai."

"You know, he finally visited me. That's why I went and bought all this, if he had known I went out he would've helped me." She reasoned. "You should stay for dinner, boy. You look about my grandson's age, perhaps you'll get along and become friends. He's a shinobi ya know, perhaps you know him. Are you a…?"

"Granny, where were…" Sasuke's gaze snapped to the person in front of him. A chunnin, the woman's grandson, stood in front of her house, his eyes widened when he noticed who was by his grandma's side.

"I was doing grocery shopping, Tamaki-chan."

"T-That's- that'sUchiha Sasuke…" his voice trembled.

The woman apparently hadn't noticed, as she looked up and her eyebrows shot up in recognition.

"C-come here gran-" the shinobi started urging as if she were in grave danger.

"Atta boy, it looks as if I didn't raise you well." The woman suddenly scolded, making the shinobi shut up automatically. "Don't be rude then, the boy's a war hero, show some respect."

Then she turned towards Sasuke and smiled sweetly. He was shocked by the woman's words in his defense.

"Forgive my grandson, dear." She spared Tamaki a glare. "Come in, I'll prepare lunch for the three of us…"

"Thank you, ma'am, but I'll have to pass, you see, I've got an appointment…"

"Ah, you look so thin." She gasped, adjusting her glasses. Tamaki, behind her, just stood still, a scared expression to his face though it was more because of the petite woman than Sasuke himself. "Sure you don't wanna stay for lunch?"

"I appreciate the invitation, truly. But it will have to be another time."

The woman rummaged through her bag until she took out a fuji apple.

"Here, at least have something in your stomach." The woman offered. Sasuke hesitated a second before accepting the fruit, a look of slight surprise on his face.

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Uchiha-san. For my old bones, it would have been a long walk home carrying those bags." She smiled. "I'll see you around." The granny turned to her grandson and whispered not so quietly.

"Tamaki-chan, say goodbye to Uchiha-san."

Tamaki, even if nervously, bowed in thanks.

"G-goodbye, Uchiha-san. Thank you for helping my grandma." His eyes were looking anywhere but Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded before turning around, the apple held tightly on his hand.

"You're welcome."

As he walked away, he could make out, with a small smile, the faint scolding voice of the old woman before her door closed.

Almost all his days were spent roaming Konoha's streets, like a lost soul looking for someone who wanted his help. A lot of people had troubles of their own but, as soon as he got close, they pretended they hadn't seen him while shaking. He would not force them to accept his help.

The apple on his hand was light, just as his heart had been for a moment after receiving it. A younger Sasuke wouldn't have cared less, kindness directed towards him being something meaningless. Yet, after having had his epiphany just after having his ass handed by Naruto…well, it held some meaning.

His mouth was filled with flavor after taking a bite of the apple, the monotone expression laying still on his face though on the inside a warm feeling took over his body.

"Hey, Sasuke!" a voice called. Sasuke's eyebrows rose.

No one dared to call him out, so it would only mean…

"Gai-sensei."

The man wheeled himself towards the Uchiha, sporting a smile on his face.

"How you've been? My rival, Kakashi, barely has time anymore but he did ask me to look out after his precious student." Gai added with a wink, exuberant energy radiating from him.

Sasuke sighed.

"I- uh, Thank you."

"No need to thank me, my boy!" Gai exclaimed, before bringing his hand to his chin, rubbing it as if trying to remember something. "Ah, we just finished repairing my rooftop and were on our way to get some lunch, care to join us?"

"Um…"

"Don't tell me you have another appointment." Gai said, squinting his eyes.

"Uh, no. Not yet…"

"Then there's no problem! C'mere, Sasuke. We're going to an old friend's shop. It's where I used to bring my students."

Sasuke had the suspicions the man had been looking for him around Konoha, taking Kakashi's request of looking out after him seriously. With a sigh, he followed the jounin to wherever he was taking him. This time there was no Sakura around to help him get away. 'Look on the bright side, you're socializing which means perhaps less time with this bracelet on.'

They strolled down the street, Gai being completely oblivious (or rather ignoring) the stares they were receiving. Being seen walking around a recognized and beloved jounin as Gai certainly made those hateful stares turn into bewildered ones. Of course, there was some disdain underlaid, but they weren't the primary emotion their eyes showed.

They had finally reached their destination and Sasuke realized he recognized the establishment. A tinge of nostalgia washed over him as he remembered it was the place from where, so long ago now, Neji had bought food. So many years had passed by since they exchanged pleasantries until their bond vanished with time and had been finally completely severed. She had changed so much, not only physically compared to the last time he had seen her before his departure from the village. He recalled it had been…on the second round of the chunnin exams, right after receiving his curse mark. Afterward, everything had been so hectic due to Orochimaru's schemes. He'd been hospitalized and just after that he had isolated himself with Kakashi for a month to train, he'd arrived late for the third round, and she was nowhere near. He had been hospitalized for a second time, having heard Naruto defeated her and Gaara, it only having made his insides boil. And then, he had left the village. After that, the next time he saw her was when many years later he had saved her from being impaled and it hadn't even been for the sake of their past friendship, it had been only for him to secure that their bond had been severed.

The thing is, not only she had changed. Everyone had changed so much, especially Naruto. And he had been the only one who had stayed still, emotionally, for so many years. But, if Naruto had taught him something, was to value bonds. The only ones he had were Team 7 and Team Taka's. He would not be left behind by his friend, he would learn and walk forwards, leaving his poignant past behind him, making sure to only look forwards. Sasuke had been stuck looking in the same direction for so long now.

"Gai-sensei! Here!" Lee's yelling brought him back to reality. His bushy brows rose as he noticed Sasuke, but immediately a grin formed on his lips. "Ahh, Sasuke-kun, you're also here! C'mon, let us enjoy our youth sharing this delicious food together, yosh!"

The boy next to them, Tenten he recalled, only shook his head at Lee's antics.

Gai-sensei took his place and silently, Sasuke occupied his chair.

"Huh? Wasn't Neji supposed to join us?" Gai asked looking around, searching for her.

"She's working. Told me she couldn't make it." Tenten answered, taking a sip of the glass in front of him.

"Ahh, everyone's so busy nowadays." He closed his eyes just to open them again, manly tears suddenly filling them. "Oh, that's the spirit of youth!" he sobbed happily before Lee joined him.

Sasuke could only sweat drop as Tenten gave him an apologetic look.

"May I take your orders?" A voice cut their inspiration short. A small waitress stood in front of them, showing no surprise at their antics.

"A curry for me, extra spicy." Gai said.

"Make that two!" Lee butted in, gaining a thumbs up from his teacher.

The waitress scribbled everything down before addressing Tenten, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"Just a bowl of udon for me, please." He spoke. The waitress wrote that down before, finally locking eyes on Sasuke's figure. When she noticed who he was, she looked ready to bolt, her eyes quickly darting to Tenten's. Lee's teammate's eyes narrowed for a fraction. The waitress cleared her throat and proceeded to take his order.

"And f-for you, sir?"

"Donburi."

The waitress nodded, scribbled it on her pad and left.

"Your orders will be ready in a moment."

Tenten cleared his throat.

"Umm, forgive her. It's just that she's relatively new." He rubbed his neck embarrassed.

"No need to, I get it."

Lee and Gai had been too busy fawning over each other's identical food tastes -as they always were-, to notice the brief exchange.

"So, I heard Naruto-kun has begun his training for Hokage." Lee addressed Sasuke, in an attempt of making conversation.

"Yes." Lee stared at him expectantly, as if waiting for him to continue. The image of Itachi came to his mind. 'Live your life, make bonds… for Itachi.' "Um, hes been studying at the Academy. Not specifically training, more like studying."

Tenten chuckled

"Knowing Naruto that must be hell for him." Sasuke nodded, a smirk on his lips.

After that, they fell into amicable chatting. Sasuke had stayed quiet for most of it but still was included in the conversation. Finally, their food arrived, and they started eating.

Lee and Gai practically gulfed down their curry in a matter of seconds before asking for seconds. It was obvious they usually frequented that restaurant since the staff had already prepared their second serving, it arriving moments after.

"Itadakimasu!" they exclaimed before digging with the same fervor as before. Sasuke could only watch them, honestly weirded out but not surprised. Not even half of his donburi was gone, and they were already at their second serving.

"They usually have their fill at their fourth one." Tenten told him, an amused expression on his face as he held a couple of noodles with the chopsticks before devouring them. Sasuke only spared them one last glance before continuing to eat his food.

Antics and all, the first word that came up when Sasuke thought hours later about the lunch, was 'pleasant'. Sure, if he could have it his way it would've been a way calmer meal but, the fact they had treated him like a normal person, actually cheered him up. The only ones who treated him normally nowadays were his old team members. The only problem was that Kakashi was swarming with work from being Hokage, Naruto with studies from his training to be one, and Sakura had assumed the role of head of the hospital just after the war. The workload she managed was almost on Kakashi's level.

He would never get completely used to the green-clad pair but their presence, even if he had really interacted with them twice, was something that made him feel at ease. He wondered how many of those meals Naruto had enjoyed. How much time he had lost, alone. His feet made their way towards training grounds number 7. He could almost visualize a young Naruto throwing a tantrum for being tied to the pole.

With a smile he remembered how they had officially become gennin that day, a sense of dread invading his senses as he remembered all the pain he had caused. His teammates and teacher, even his classmates who had risked their lives on an attempt of retrieving him. He had lost everything he didn't know -or cared- he had, except Naruto. His home, his teacher, …his first friend. Since he had been released, he hadn't seen her. Sasuke had encountered everyone from their generation or at least friend group of sorts except her. Sasuke wondered if it was her who had been evading him, even that day she hadn't been able to make it to lunch with her team. He sighed. Once upon a time, he had really treasured their bond. He wondered if she really did hate him that much. Something he had noticed was that her jacket was missing from where he had left it. Someone had been rummaging through his room and he doubted it had been her but the fact that the only thing missing was that he could only ponder.

Sasuke sat beside the pole where Naruto had been tied, many seasons before. He could almost smell the snow; Sasuke was sure the first snow would fall sometime that week. His eyes closed as he breathed in, noticing another ANBU shift. The Uchiha had already figured their schedule, every four hours or so one ANBU arrived and one left. He knew he could feel their presence just because they were not making an attempt at hiding it. Without his Doujutsu, and the chakra bracelet leaving his chakra network at the level of a civilian's, there wasn't a lot he could do.

Hours passed and a snowflake fell on his nose, his eyes opening as he looked up at the darkening skies. 'Huh, it's already here.' The first snow had arrived.

Sasuke got up and dusted his clothes before heading towards the Uchiha estate, the ANBU following closely behind him.

As he walked down the street of the compound, he couldn't help but remember how it looked covered in snow. Before the massacre, it looked lively, kids playing in the snow. After it, the compound just looked plain and eerie. His eyes followed a snowflake as it descended from the sky, as it danced with the wind before finally hitting the ground. Just as it hit the soil, a thud was heard from behind. Sasuke almost jumped, already on a defensive stance. Then, his eyes widened, and his mouth parted as he noticed what -or rather who- had made the sound.

The body of an ANBU lay beside him. It had most likely fallen from the spot where he kept watch. He could recognize him as the ANBU he had ticked off the first day Kakashi had posted them with him. The Uchiha looked around, a frantic look on his eyes, cautious from enemy attacks. For fuck's sake, he wasn't allowed to brandish weapons, and his body was almost devoid of chakra. He could no longer feel the other two ANBU's presence.

A presence made itself known as it rushed towards him. The person was a man, yet the thing that caught his eye was the fact that he was an ANBU. And it was rushing towards him with the intent to kill. The porcelain mask glinting as he rushed past the falling snowflakes. And then, another ANBU appeared, just between Sasuke and the other ANBU. Her back was to him, brown long hair tied into a high ponytail.

"Explain yourself." She ordered, pointing at him with a kunai.

The man only chuckled, before his hands were surrounded by a dark blue aura. Then he rushed towards her.

Sasuke had distanced himself from the fighting, quickly rushing to the fallen ANBU's side, trying to look for a pulse. There was none, he was dead. Dammit.

From his spot he could see them fighting, the man had taken out a sai sword and was lashing it against his opponent, in an attempt of striking. He aimed for vital points; the murderer clearly had killing intent.