A.N.: Next chapter is coming October 6th, if there's any feedback or things you'd like to be added (And I'm able to without changing the course of the story) I'll be glad to accommodate. Enjoy and thanks for reading :D
Ch. 23: Corner Bugs
They'd made their way towards the spot where that root faction had been hiding, finding out obviously that it had been vacated. She'd used her byakugan to search for any sort of chakra trails, yet it was obvious that the other ninja had foreseen that course of action since there were more than twenty different trails going in several directions, meaning they'd used decoys to throw them off.
Sai had instructed the Aburame to use his insects in order to cover more field and follow each of the trails. That's how the hunt began. They weren't looking for regular shinobi but Bingo book level ones who'd belonged to the most ruthless faction of ANBU in the leaf, Root. It was vital not to lose track of them, hence why Kakashi had assigned them the mission in such a hurry.
They'd decided to follow one of the strongest trails as they waited for the Aburame's- Inu, his codename- bugs to arrive. Obviously, there'd been traps set along the way, but they'd been easily avoided with her Byakugan and the Inuzuka's -Neko, ironically her ANBU name- nose.
As the sun shone right above them, they made a stop to replenish, their meals being nothing less than practical. It was at that moment that one of Inu's bugs returned bearing the news that precisely the chakra trail that they'd been following did belong to one of the guys they were looking for. They quickly packed their lunches and resumed their way. According to it, there was a small village ahead of them less than a day away from Konoha where the Root guy was apparently stationed. It seemed almost way too easy. Why had that guy stopped and decided to stay in a village so close to Konoha?
She activated her Byakugan. In the war she'd reached her limit by keeping her kekkei genkai active for twenty minutes, resting every five for three hours. She'd found out that after pushing herself and serving as Sasuke's guard her limit had increased to three hours and a half. Still, she wasn't going to risk it so decided to only activate it in fifteen-minute spans.
That's when she spotted the village Inu's bugs were referring to. It was small, approximately 10 miles from there but bustling with people. She knew of it, it was one of the small villages surrounding Konoha, most of which served as a place to spend the night for travelers and merchants on their way to and from the Leaf village. It had been smart for the Root member to choose that place since he could easily disguise himself as a merchant and join one of their caravans. Yet it was way too obvious a strategy for a shinobi like the one they were chasing.
"We're nearing Mokuzai village it's about 9 miles from here, there's where the trail is leading us." She informed them. It was already some time past midday, so they quickened their pace.
The team made it to the outskirts of the village with plenty of time to spare, where they decided to set for their next course of action.
"Can you sort him out in a crowd?" Sai asked Neko.
"I'm afraid he's made sure his scent is all over the village, I would think in hopes of throwing off anyone who'd try to track him by it." she said, shaking her head.
"Same with my bugs." Inu added. "They may be able to pinpoint a scent, but it's spread all across the village, by the time things have become clearer, he might already be on his way in a merchants' caravan."
Sai thought about it for a moment, he may as well be able to draw some mice and scatter them around, but it would be difficult if the rogue nin they were looking for was using a henge.
"I can look for trained chakra networks." Finally, the Hyuga suggested. "The networks of a shinobi and a civilian do have substantial differences." She paused for a moment. "The only problem would be that I doubt he's the only shinobi at this village, so I'd need to sort out the people with trained chakra networks and well, it'd have to be one of them." Neji finished as she took out her water bottle and took a sip.
"Very well." Sai said before addressing the Aburame. "Have you received news from your other bugs yet?"
"Not yet." He answered. Neji was sure that if he weren't wearing a mask, Inu would've adjusted a pair of sunglasses that every member from that clan seemed to wear, just like Shino. "But it shouldn't be long."
"Tora and I will pinpoint our possible suspects and wait for nightfall, once they're all settled down wherever they are meant to spend the night, we'll begin sorting them out." Sai instructed. "Inu, you'll keep watch at the northern gate and look out for anyone who's leaving the village through there while we wait for your bugs to return. Neko, you keep watch on the other gate and its surroundings for anyone who matches the scent you've picked up. We'll meet back here at 2000 hours."
"Yes, captain." Everyone said before disappearing off to their tasks.
It was early morning when Sasuke woke up. He'd decided to pay Naruto a visit that day so, after fixing himself some breakfast he made his way toward the Academy where he was bound to find the blond.
Just as he predicted, his friend was in a classroom with the door open, watching intently out of the window instead of reading the scroll in his hands. Shikamaru was by his side writing something on a scroll of his own.
"Naruto, stop distracting yourself, we'll get a break in fifteen minutes." The Nara said without lifting his gaze as he continued scribbling something down.
Sasuke cleared his throat to make his presence known.
"Oi, Sasuke!" Naruto sprung out from his chair as if he hadn't been dozing off just a couple of seconds ago. "What brings you around!"
Shikamaru looked up from his paper and looked at Sasuke in a blasé manner.
"Hey."
Sasuke lifted off his own book.
"I was hoping to keep you company, serves I help to stray you from goofing around." Sasuke smirked. "Hey, I may even help myself with some of your scrolls, might even apply for the Hokage position myself." He said, in hopes of riling his friend off. It had always been funny.
"You take that back, bastard!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing a finger at Sasuke. "And get your grubby hands from MY scrolls. They're for the future Hokage-ttebayo, me!"
Shikamaru chuckled as Sasuke began chuckling. At this Naruto stopped his tantrum and joined in the mirth.
"If you wish to compete for the position we can always try and sort it out, again." Naruto half joked. "Though I would prefer if we could wait until Tsunade-bachan and Sakura-chan have our arms ready, wouldn't be able to eat ramen without both arms."
Sasuke laughed again, it was pretty unusual for both Shikamaru and Naruto to watch him express himself so openly, but it was a well-received development. It wasn't a broken maniacal laugh like the ones Naruto had heard from him after his stay with Orochimaru. It was soft and raspy, one might even think he was choking, but with no trace of derangement.
"I'm sure you'd manage a way to eat your weight in ramen with or without hands, but don't worry, I was only kidding." Sasuke had stopped laughing but the smile still reached his eyes. "My plans do not involve running for Hokage, be grateful I'm leaving you the path clear, usuratonkachi."
"Hah! Even if you weren't running for it-" Naruto started before doubling back. "Wait, so then what are your plans?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, suddenly interested in whatever Sasuke had to say.
Sasuke had several goals in mind, both long and short term like trying to repair his bonds and getting that annoying chakra bracelet off him. Other long-term ones involved redeeming himself and maybe trying to get the Uchiha clan back on the map.
"I will support you on your dream." Sasuke assured him, earning a warm smile from his friend. "But before that, I must embark in a journey of redemption, there are some loose ends that must be tied. The peace that has been achieved costed so much blood…" Both Naruto and Sasuke's minds drifted to Itachi. "I must make sure there's nothing to disrupt it."
A small smile formed on Shikamaru's lips though Naruto was suddenly sporting a frown.
"Oi, but you just got back. How long is this journey of yours gonna last?" he asked concerned.
At this Sasuke shrugged, if he'd had his other arm, he would've crossed them.
"However long it takes to tie those ends."
"You just got back and are already planning on leaving again?" Naruto started; he sounded hurt.
"The sooner I leave the sooner I'll come back. Don't worry."
"Can't you stay here? You know, like on a mission, going away for a couple weeks and coming back here, to your home…" the blonde pouted. "Are you really leaving us again? Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, me…!"
Sasuke firmly shook his head, trying to calm the Uzumaki.
"It's only temporary. You must understand Naruto, it is something I must do." Sasuke said. He wasn't all that comfortable with Shikamaru being witness to their conversation but was aware that if someone would be able to knock some sense in Naruto asides from team seven, it would be him.
"Naruto, calm down. You already knew he was planning on leaving; besides, just as he said it'll be temporary." Shikamaru spoke, looking at Sasuke. "Right?"
"Yes. I'd already told you about this, Naruto. Did you think I'd changed my mind or something like that?"
Naruto sighed and rubbed his head.
"I kind of thought you and Neji had something going on since you'd asked to stay alone with her yesterday." He admitted, Shikamaru's eyebrows rising lightly. "I thought you'd changed your mind and had decided to stay, start settling down, you know? Restoring your clan." He wiggled his eyebrows.
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose.
"No, there's nothing going on between the two of us and no, I have not changed my mind." He grumbled, a tad annoyed at his best friends assumptions. Naruto, noticing this was quick to add in an effort to mend things.
"Hey, don't be mad, Sakura-chan thought so too!" Sasuke only glared at him. "A-and Hinata! It was a fair assumption to make-ttebayo."
"Naruto, stop trying to fix it." Shikamaru intervened, placing a hand on Naruto's arm, getting him to sit down again. "Sasuke came here to keep you company, and more importantly, to help me on babysitting duty, and you're already drilling him. Give him a break, so troublesome."
Naruto pouted once more and muttered.
"Babysitting duty my ass." In response Shikamaru shoved the scroll he was supposed to be studying under his nose.
"Then stop behaving like a baby, loser." Sasuke deadpanned at a fuming Naruto.
Sasuke did feel guilty.
He hadn't changed his mind in the slightest, but he knew that leaving wouldn't make Sakura and Naruto happy at all. That was why, in a spur of the moment thing when talking with Naruto about his short internship at Ichiraku's, he'd offered to host dinner for him and Sakura.
To say that Naruto had been delighted was an understatement. It had even worked as an incentive to stop procrastinating and finish that day's assignments even sooner. Shikamaru seemed relieved.
That's how he had ended up in the busy Konoha streets shopping for ramen supper. He already had bought everything needed. He still received glares from the villagers, but they had gradually grown used to him haunting the streets and weren't gawking anymore.
By the corner of his eye, he saw a little restaurant. Tori's Den. Inside it he could spot Lee and Gai-sensei, their bright spandex being an eye sore. He wondered if she would be there. Sasuke decided to approach the establishment, passing it off as just greeting Gai-sense. The man had been kind enough to Sasuke ever since he'd come back to Konoha.
"Sasuke-kun!" Lee exclaimed as he spotted him. He'd been talking to some sandy haired guy which looked kind of familiar. "What brings you here?"
"Just doing some grocery shopping when I saw Gai-sensei and thought I'd greet him." Sasuke answered politely. He noticed the other boy was staring at him. He was already used to it, the stares, but there was something familiar about him… Suddenly it clicked, he was the grandson of the old lady he had helped a couple days ago. Sasuke stared straight back at him and the boy diverted his eyes. Lee followed his gaze and gave the Uchiha an apologetic smile.
"Well, I'm glad you've stopped by my boy." Gai grinned. "I hope you haven't been wasting your youth! As I always say to my students…ENJOY YOUR YOUTH TO ITS FULLEST!"
Everyone at the restaurant had turned their heads towards them but the green-clad pair paid them no mind, gushing about the power of youth. Sasuke sighed already regretting his pit stop. As he looked around, he saw no sign of Neji. Gai must've noticed as he got close to Sasuke, he nodded his head toward Tamaki and Lee left them alone, going over Tamaki to chat him up.
"Tenten was supposed to meet us here, but I guess he's late."
Sasuke nodded as Gai continued.
"Neji, well, she's been busy lately. She's been sent on a long mission, so she won't be able to join us any time soon." He finished, a knowing glint in his eyes.
"She's already been sent on a mission? She just got out of the Hospital." the Uchiha couldn't help but ask before adding. "She told us yesterday, we all met for dinner."
"Well, that's our Neji. Lately she hasn't stopped even to catch her breath." Gai sighed. "Don't get me wrong, she's taking full advantage of her youth which I applaud, it's just that I don't know if she's really enjoying it."
Sasuke's brows furrowed. He'd assumed she hadn't taken her post back as his guard due to her being in recovery. Why had Kakashi sent her on a mission so soon? He was caught in his musings so didn't notice Lee had come back.
"Are you joining us for dinner, Sasuke?" he asked enthusiastically. "We would be delighted, right sensei?" Gai only nodded, a big smile on his face.
"I'm afraid not, I've already made plans for supper." He answered lifting his groceries' bag. "But thanks, anyways. I'll see you around." He bid his goodbyes before heading towards his compound.
He couldn't help but think about Gai-sensei's words. When he'd seen the Hyuga the day before she looked, to put it mildly, tired. He had ascribed it to her near-death experience, but now that he'd thought about it, she looked as if she had been in that state for a long time. Sasuke was mildly worried about his friend. Yes, now he could call her friend again. Yet there was little to nothing that he could do, especially since she'd been sent away so soon after, which also posed the question of why Kakashi had appointed her with a mission on such short notice.
Once inside his kitchen he began cutting up the vegetables and setting up the broth. He'd found especial comfort in cooking, being surrounded by the different aromas, only the sound of the water boiling and his knife against the cutting board setting a soothing atmosphere. He'd cooked for himself while he'd been away from the leaf, yet he hadn't been able to really enjoy it, to prepare a complex meal and take his time setting everything up.
A knock from the door distracted him from his musings, it was still too early, the meal wasn't ready yet, but he went on to open it. There stood Sakura, a couple bags in hand, and a smile on her face. Outside was chilly as winter was almost there, so she was wearing a long-sleeved sweater, her cheeks red from the cold.
"Hi, Sasuke-kun." She greeted him. "Hope I'm not too early, but I got out of the hospital early so decided to come here and see if you needed a hand." She raised the bags in her hand. "I brought dessert."
"Thank you, come in." he stepped aside so she could enter the house. "It's not ready yet, I was just cutting up the green onions."
Sakura followed Sasuke to the kitchen, looking around his house discreetly. "Hope you don't mind, I brought anmitsu."
"It's alright, it's not that sweet." He took the bags from her. "Here, let me help you."
Sasuke knew Sakura was far stronger than him, but he'd been taught to be chivalrous. Even if he hadn't been so lately.
Once inside the kitchen Sakura helped him season the ramen under his instructions and both of them entered a pace, as coordinated as they'd been on war. He couldn't help but enjoy the comfortable silence they were in, the only sound aside from the kitchen noises being Sakura's humming. As she fluttered around the kitchen, he could hear her hum a song he couldn't recognize.
Sasuke could almost picture a life like that, both of them getting dinner ready every night, living together. Yet something kept him from painting the full picture, he just couldn't see Sakura in that light. Just as Naruto was like his brother, Sakura was like a sister. The memory of the last person to enter his kitchen came to him. It had been Neji, when she had finally told him about her seal. That day had been pretty significant, he'd made a promise that had been broken, also it was the first time since his parent's death that he'd invited anyone into his home.
"Do you want me to boil some tea?" Sakura asked, taking him from his thoughts.
"Yes, if you wish to, though I only have green tea." He spoke. Sakura started filling the kettle with water before looking for the leaves. "It's on the right cabinet."
"Thanks." Sakura said as she rummaged through said cabinet. She prepared the tea and sat down next to him and the kitchen table. "I guess we're all done, only thing left id for Naruto to arrive."
Just at that moment, there was a knock at the door.
Sasuke stood up and went over to open the door, already knowing who would be on the other side.
"You're late." He stated.
"Only for six minutes!" his blond friend complained. "You said 7:00 o'clock, it's 7:06. And I was busy, you know?"
"Just come in."
Suddenly Naruto perked up as he caught on the smell coming from inside the house and promptly entered it, Sasuke closing the door behind him.
"That smells really good, didn't know you were able to cook this good, bastard." Naruto joked as he arrived at the kitchen by following the smell of ramen. There Sakura was already setting up the table. "Oh, Sakura-chan! You're already here. No wonder it smells so good."
"Oh, it was almost all Sasuke. I just followed his instructions, recipe straight from Ichiraku's." she grinned. "Now come and help me serve the tea."
"Well, I don't even know where he keeps his teacups." Naruto mused, looking around.
"I keep them at the bathroom." Sasuke deadpanned.
"Wha- Why would you keep them in the-?" Naruto stopped mid question when he noticed both his teammates giggling. "Ugh, don't bother I'll look for them myself."
Finally, Naruto found the cups and served the tea. The three of them sat at the table before they started digging in. Naruto couldn't stop praising his work in the kitchen, finishing his first bowl even before he or Sakura had even gotten to eat half of theirs.
"This is really good, Sasuke. You know, when you invited us over, I didn't really know you'd be this good I mean, have you always cooked this good? If so, why haven't you invited us sooner, huh?" Naruto chatted as he served himself a second bowl.
"Well, it's not like I could've invited you a lot of times these years." Sasuke said as Naruto yelped, apparently Sakura had kicked his shin under the table.
"Naruto's right though, Sasuke-kun. It's really good."
"Thank you both, though it's not good as Teuchi-san's."
"Well, he's like a god of ramen or something like that so no worries." The Uzumaki praised, his mouth full of noodles.
"Don't speak with your mouth full, Naruto." The girl chided him as she wiped her mouth with a napkin. "Thanks for the invite, Sasuke-kun. It's been real nice seeing you more often."
"Well, I guess I've taken to heart what Kakashi told me." Sasuke put down his chopsticks. "About trying to socialize more and letting myself be seen." He looked at them and his heart felt warm at having his found family at his house. "Also, I guess I had missed this."
Naruto nodded in understanding.
"So had we." Sakura accepted. "We're so glad you're back. I hope when you go away for your mission you don't stay gone for so long." She added.
Sasuke sighed and nodded.
"I'll try to hurry, or at least visit from time to time. How have you been?" They quickly noticed how he was changing the topic so conceded.
"Well, you can imagine how busy it's been at the hospital. We are seriously understaffed, it's been so much work between training the new medics and tending to well, the people that were injured during the war. It's only going to get worse since we're nearing flu season." The girl began telling them all about her work in recent days. As every war, it left behind a long trail of death and injured. Tsunade had stayed at the hospital after retiring as Hokage as a favor to Sakura and Kakashi, but she had already planned to retire in a year or less so the full brunt of hospital business would fall on Sakura and Shizune's shoulders. Sasuke also was aware of his friend's project on a children's hospital, so it was a miracle she even had time for herself.
"I'm so tired but wouldn't change it for anything."
"So proud of you, Sakura-chan!" Naruto congratulated her, Sasuke nodding. "We both are, Sakura."
The pinkette only blushed as she took a sip from her tea.
"Thanks guys." She set her teacup back on the table. "So am I of you guys. I've heard from Kakashi-sensei your training has been going well, Naruto." At this the blond chuckled as he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "And you Sasuke, well, I've seen for myself how well you've integrated yourself, the fact that you even agreed to yesterday's outing was huge progress, it made me happy. Thanks."
Sasuke smiled at her words, content that his efforts at integrating had produced a positive effect on the people he loved.
"That's true! Even Lee told me he'd seen you around a couple times." Naruto interjected. He was on his fourth ramen bowl already, chopsticks in hand as he pointed them at Sasuke. The pink haired girl perked up when Naruto mentioned Lee, before chiming in.
"Right, I think Gai-sensei has taken a liking to you, Sasuke-kun. Lee said that the times you've hanged out with team Gai have delighted Gai-sensei."
Sasuke thought it had more to do with a sense of responsibility the man had towards him as a former student of his rival but decided not to mention it.
"Oh boy, I do wonder why Sasuke has been hanging out so much around team Gai." Naruto sing sang teasingly, only earning a glare from Sasuke.
"And why don't you enlighten me?" he scoffed. Sakura half-covered her mouth in an effort to suppress a giggle.
"Well, you've been looking for your girlfriend, right?" the Uzumaki baited him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He huffed, a light pink tinging his cheeks from embarrassment.
"Oh, come on. I've been dying to ask you! When I tried to ask her before she came back, she was as silent as a tomb. Couldn't get anything out of her." Naruto sighed.
"Wait, what do you mean before the war, you knew there was something going on?" Sakura asked as if offended that Naruto hadn't shared some gossip. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Well, I was umm…" Naruto spared Sasuke a nervous glance. "Looking for some things and found Neji's jacket she used to wear back on her gennin days on Sasuke's closet-"
"What?" Both Sasuke and Sakura asked. Only he was offended Naruto had dared to rummage through his stuff and Sakura was intrigued by that new piece of information.
"Look, before you get mad, I was looking for clues or something on how to get you back, so if anything, it's on you." Before Sasuke could argue Naruto continued. "And I confronted Neji about it, you know?" at the look Sasuke sent him Naruto added. "But she didn't say anything! I even invited her to get ramen, butter her up, you know. But she saw right through it and only told me that you both no longer had a bond or something like that."
"Oh!" Sakura exclaimed as she remembered something. "It was that time you kissed at Ichiraku's?"
What? Had Naruto and Neji kissed? Sasuke had thought Naruto was infatuated with Sakura. Hell, he had thought if he were to pay a Hyuga attention it would be Neji's cousin, Hinata. Sasuke had no idea what kind of expression he must've had on his face, but Naruto frantically corrected Sakura.
"No, no, no! We didn't kiss, God no!" Naruto shook his hands as if trying to prove his point. "It was an accident-ttebayo! Ayame accidentally pushed us, we just punched each other, with our faces!"
Sasuke massaged his brow with his only hand. It was embarrassing enough that it had happened to him twice. It seemed as if the blond was an accidental kiss magnet.
"Hey, I'm only saying what Ino told Hinata and me since she saw you." Sakura chuckled before smirking at Sasuke. "Should've seen your face, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke's eye twitched. Great, they were ganging up on him.
"C'mon, you know the only way we'll stop bothering you is if you tell us." Naruto insisted. Between words he'd already finished his bowl and had stood up, going over to the counter for the dessert Sakura had brought. Sasuke looked at Sakura as if looking for some sort of support, but only found her eager face waiting for his next words, completely backing up Naruto's stance. The Uchiha let out a ling sigh as he waited for Naruto to set the anmitsu on the table. It looked pretty.
Once the blond was seated again, all of them sans Sasuke who wasn't in the mood for sweets with some anmitsu in their plates, he finally yielded.
"Okay, I just don't want you to go spread it around." When his friends exchanged glances as if they were about to hear the juiciest of stories he added. "It's not any of the sort you could imagine, I just like my privacy and so does her, there's a reason she hasn't gone around telling everyone." When Naruto and Sakura nodded, he continued.
"We met a couple weeks after my parent's death. I was…" he was pensive for a bit, thinking about the right words to describe it. "I was missing my family a lot and we happened to run into each other. I was willing to end it all, but her words gave me purpose and therefore saved me." He heard a sharp intake of breath from one of his teammates.
"I guess we bonded over our mutual pain over losing someone and well, we both had some desire for retribution or revenge." Sakura and Naruto were listening attentively to him, not interrupting him even once. "At that time, it seemed like the best idea for both of us, so we decided to train together in secret in order to achieve our goals. We had to do it in secret since she couldn't let the Main Family know she was practicing their techniques, otherwise it would've meant dire consequences for her, so we kept our friendship a secret. After losing my family, she became my first friend."
Naruto's brows were furrowed, a sorrowful expression on his face.
"After she made gennin we stopped seeing each other since she would be busy training with her own team every day."
"We could've invited her to train with us, we wouldn't have said nothing to the Hyugas." Naruto chimed in.
"We couldn't risk it." Was his answer as he kept on narrating the story. "The last time we actually spoke I made her a promise. At that time, we felt just as alone so we promised to each other that we would maintain our friendship and well, I said that I wouldn't leave her." Sasuke sighed, Naruto's eyes had moentarily been casted down as he knew what was coming. "Even if we no longer were to speak to each other as frequently, we both knew the other one was there. It's obvious that once I left everything changed given that I had broken my promise."
"That's why you saved her?" Sakura intervened. The Uchiha thought about it for a moment.
"She was the only bond I had left to officially break. I owed her my life in some manner since she had saved me when we met. It's true that my body moved before I could process it thoroughly, but I already had in mind I had to break my bond with her." Sasuke decided to omit the part where she had saved him from the Root member since it would also mean blowing her own ANBU cover. "When I came back, I realized that I wanted to reconstruct the bonds I had previously broken off, but I couldn't find her anywhere." Now he knew that it was because she had been guarding him. "So, when I saw her yesterday, I didn't know when I would get another chance to set things straight so that's why I asked to speak with her alone."
"And did you?" Naruto asked, over the edge of his seat.
"Did I what?"
"Did you reconstruct your bond with her?" Sakura assisted. Sasuke couldn't help but let a small smile show.
"Yes. We are friends again."
