AN: So it's been what, three years since I've updated? The Naruto arc has really progressed. Keep in mind, everything before this chapter happened before we found out how Kakashi got his Sharingan as well as Naruto's first encounter with Sasuke. I will try to keep the charas IC with the new storyline…but my arc will still go down a different path. I hope my writing style has improved – I tried to focus on character development through plenty of metaphors. R&R. Many thanks.
Chapter XI: The Old Sasuke
"Yahh!" Naruto stretched his arms high above his head.
Night had fallen and the moon, a crescent in the misty blue, was shining above the sandy shores of the Fire Country. Naruto lied sprawled on the sand, the bottom of his pants soaked from training on unsteady waves. He and Jiraiya had covered all they could for the day, and now he had time to enjoy alone.
The locals had all gone to sleep soon after the sun had set, but Naruto, despite his exhaustion, could not bring himself to bed yet. He had never seen so many stars in the sky as he did now. Clusters upon clusters shone bright and clear as day, like many holes punctured by needles into a fabric-covered dome. Some were brighter than others, distant planets no doubt.
Naruto listened to the waves crash and crawl up the shore then recede, continuously pulling and dragging layers of sand. He walked up past the tide line and relished in the feeling of water gushing, splashing around his feet as the tide came in. His eyebrows rose in surprise when the sand beneath his feet rushed out, causing immediate imbalance. If the outbound tide had been stronger, he was sure it would have conquered him and dragged him out to sea. Instead, he laughed and regained solid footing. The wind blew the salty ocean air about his face and he closed his eyes allowing himself to simply smell, to simply feel. In that moment, he had the whole world to himself. A phantom glow of warmth cushioned his back and hugged his waist like a pair of strong arms, and he leaned back just as the tide receded. This time he almost fell.
'I have to stop daydreaming,' Naruto opened his eyes and sank his feet into the sand. 'When will I wake up?'
He quickly scuffled away from the oncoming waters, trembling involuntarily from the cold. His feet felt frozen now that they vulnerable to the cold air. When had the temperature dropped? Looking back, he bid his last farewell to the night and to the ocean, the temptress that she was. Digging his toes into the small dunes, he made his way up the hilly shore with each determined step.
'I'm tired of thinking about him,' he eyed his hut warily as he approached it. 'It's time to move on. The dream's over.'
Sakura quickly brushed herself off and sized up her appearance in the small mirror of the bathroom. She and Tsunade had been experimenting with some new antidotes, some of which had not turned out as successfully as they had hoped. She sniffed her shirt and wrinkled her nose at the odd smell, but she couldn't help it. Changing out of her uniform was simply out of the question.
'Well, here it goes,' she gave herself a half-hearted smile. 'Time to check up on Sasuke again.'
It had been a week since she last saw Naruto. Thanks to the tip Naruto gave her on Sasuke's whereabouts, she had literally bribed Akiba with gifts from the local pet store to get him and Akamaru to track Kakashi's home. After all, she couldn't harness a dog's ability to smell out the once proclaimed missing nin. However, he had sent her back home that day. This time, she hoped he would let her see Sasuke, if only for a minute.
She was about to knock on her former teacher's door when it swung open.
"Sakura! Thanks for visiting." Kakashi's creepily smiling face suddenly popped up in front of her and she jumped back in fear. She quickly recomposed herself and gave a hesitant smile back.
"I still can't believe you beat me to the door, Kakashi-sensei."
"Expect the unexpected," Kakashi explained. "Come on inside."
"Thanks," Sakura fidgeted. "So am I allowed to see Sasuke this time?"
"Hm, let me go see if he's around," and with that, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Sakura stood, feeling slightly awkward alone in the empty foyer, surrounded by closed doors. She held two bento boxes under her arm, one for her teacher and one for her teammate. Naruto would have been jealous if he knew Sakura had made lunch for Sasuke. She smiled, imagining the incredulous look that would grace Naruto's face and all the names he would call Sasuke.
Sasuke.
"Sakura."
She jumped. "Ah. Kakashi-sensei."
"He's out in back, taking a break from training. Follow me." Instead of leading her down the hallway, Kakashi walked out the front door and went around the house.
Upon rounding a corner, Sakura's heart jumped in her chest. Sitting on a stone bench was Sasuke in his new, entirely black uniform. He was looking off in the distance and didn't turn his head to acknowledge them. Although it had only been a few weeks since she last saw him, he seemed to have aged even more. He wore a worn out but troubled look on his face.
"Sasuke-kun."
He turned to her, his face back to its usual blankness. "Sakura."
"Uh…I-I brought you and Kakashi-sensei lunch."
"Sakura. You shouldn't have," Kakashi piped in, happily taking a wrapped box from her offering hand.
Sakura scoffed. "Knowing you both for so long, I can't imagine either of you actually know how to cook. Especially not you, Kakashi-sensei." Sasuke accepted the box, nodded thanks, and began unknotting the fabric cover.
"Aha, that's where you are wrong. I haven't taught either of you this, but jutsus come in handy for cooking."
Sakura's face blanched. "I…I don't want to know," Sakura weakly stated.
"Well, if you two don't mind, I'm going to go inside and wash the box."
Sakura's face blanched again. When had her teacher finished eating his lunch? He never failed to surprise her.
Sakura stood by the bench, not knowing whether or not it was alright for her to sit down. Before, she would have sat next to Sasuke without hesitation and snuggle up since he was sitting in the middle of the bench. Instead, she chose to stand by him and watch him eat.
"So…" she tried to smile, "how is your training going?"
Sasuke chewed and swallowed without looking up. "Fine."
"Ah. Is living with Kakashi troublesome?"
He grabbed for another morsel of food with his chopsticks. "No." 'Nothing I can't deal with in time,' he thought.
"So…uh…I saw Naruto the other day." She noticed Sasuke's hand pause, chopsticks held briefly in midair before picking up a clump of rice. "He seemed to be doing well. He's training with Jiraiya-sama now."
Sasuke didn't seem to pay any attention to her now. Instead, he cleaned up whatever remained in the box and put the top back on.
"Sasuke…I know something happened between you and Naruto on your trip. If you…if you ever want to talk about it, I am here. You know you can trust me."
"Sakura. Leave."
She was stunned for a second. Taken aback by his rudeness, she retorted, "You know Sasuke, you've always shut us out of your life. If you prefer to be alone all the time, fine, but maybe for once it wouldn't hurt to open yourself up to someone else. We've known each other all our lives and it's…it's not right the way you treat me and Naruto."
Sasuke sneered, "Like you treat him any better."
"That's in the past. I've…I've changed my view of Naruto. I thought you had too, but looks like you haven't."
"Don't try to patronize me. Whatever happened between us is none of your business. Don't bother asking anymore questions. Just leave."
Sakura exhaled in frustration and took back the used bento box. "Fine, keep pushing me away. One day you'll need us and we won't be there." She walked away with her head held high and shoulders squared only to keep the pain inside. She would never understand Sasuke.
"And I don't need comments from you either," Sasuke stood up and brushed off his pants. He knew Kakashi had eavesdropped on their whole conversation.
Kakashi popped up beside the bench. "It's too bad you sent her off so quickly. Now I have to remember to bring the box next time I see her."
"Hn."
After a thoughtful moment. "She's right, Sasuke."
"You're not one to talk."
"I don't regret having loved ones. It is nothing to regret."
"Why have weaknesses," Sasuke began examining the sharpness of his kunai, "when there is no point in losing more than you need to. There is no point being attached to other people."
"Sometimes, it is easier being alone," Kakashi agreed. "But, it is always nicer being around other people. We are social beings."
"Not all of us."
"You are not the exception, regardless of your exceptional learning abilities."
Satisfied that his weaponry was in order, Sasuke tucked them away into his pouch. "Here, I will talk to Sakura. But not now. I'm going to train."
"Ah. Remember, do not go off too far."
With that, Sasuke was off. Kakashi sighed, watching his student walk towards the woods. He wondered when Sasuke would talk to Sakura: after he had finished off Naruto or before? Meanwhile, Sasuke planned on how he would obtain the Mangekyou Sharingan. And whom he would use it on. Training shinobis to allow themselves to have emotions again was difficult if nearly impossible. But Kakashi had hope for his student. He had to have hope. For both Sasuke and Naruto's sakes.
Miles upon miles away, by the sea, Naruto rustled restlessly on his straw mat. He twisted and turned the thin sheet about him, sweat beading at his temples despite the cool night air. After not even getting an hour of sleep the night before and training all day, he should have passed out quickly. Instead, he reached into his backpack and revealed a bottle of pills. Popping one into his mouth, he hoped it would knock him out for a while. In time, his eyelids began to feel heavier and heavier. He felt himself falling into a deep sleep and hoped none of the nightmares he had dreamed in the past two weeks would reoccur. He could only hope. For his sake. And his sanity.
AN: That's it for now. Love it, hate it, critique is welcomed. I pretty much forgot the plans I had years ago, so I'm just making a new plot up as I go. Everyone's hiding secrets from each other. Until the next chapter.