Rating: NC-17/M

Pairing: Sasuke/Naruto

Summary: Ten years into the future, the Nanadaime Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto, is being chased by a Shadow. A very familiar Shadow, who claims to have come for forgiveness. Is it true, or has Sasuke returned only for revenge? This time around, though, Naruto is not a straightforward child; he knows what he wants and has his own agenda. In a battle of wills, who will win?

Disclaimer: This story is based on events and characters belonging to Mr. Kishimoto and associates. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Warnings: Foul language and explicit sexual content between two males - slash; angst; violence; maybe spoilers, mainly for the Uchiha story; AR.

Words: ~2,300

Vocabulary:

- sugegasa: an Asian wooden hat, conically shaped, which is tied to the person's head with a strap of cloth.
- yukata: a summer kimono.
- obi: the slash that ties the kimono together.
- hakama: a kind of Asian trousers, used mainly by warriors, which looks kind of like a skirt.
- kusanagi: a Japanese sword, shorter than a sabre and longer than a katana.

THE LOST SON

Chapter 1

By Dani-ko

"Come on, Naruto," a pink-haired kunoichi was shouting, waving her hands hard enough to make her breasts jump lightly. Disgusting.

The Shadow watched the events with a sense of fascinated distaste. Uzumaki Naruto moved down the street, not a step quicker than before, and the Shadow felt oddly smug about it. Until he saw a curvy raven-haired woman dangling on the right arm of Naruto. Hinata Hyuuga. The Shadow began quivering in anger. Naruto had aimed high, uh? Out of nowhere, familiar faces popped out and they all addressed Naruto with familiarity and intimacy. The Shadow did not appreciate the reminder of how he didn't belong to this group anymore.

"Coming, Sakura-chan," Naruto yelled back, making Hinata giggle shyly. The shinobi with a dog threw in his two cents about the couple and was smacked in the head by a ditsy blond, whom the Shadow remembered being BFF with the pink-haired woman, apparently called Sakura. The Shadow noticed with a sense of sadistic satisfaction that the dog-lover was jealous of Naruto.

They were approaching his hiding place and, to avoid any unnecessary confrontations, the Shadow pulled his sugegasa down to hide his face and his scent better: the wind was against him and that dog could mean trouble. They passed by him and nobody acknowledged his chakra signature, or any other indicators of the Shadow's identity.

However, Naruto tensed impossibly and, for a fleeting moment, his impossibly blue eyes flickered to the side and the Shadow had the distinct feeling that their eyes had met, if the jolt of energy that cursed through his body was of any indication.

The group stopped near the restaurant - the one where the Shadow had set his vigil, because he knew that Naruto couldn't help but to come here eventually. He was glad that not everything had changed, even if Naruto obviously had. Where once had stood a diminutive obnoxious child and, then, a determinate lonely teenager, now stood a tall, broad, solid man. Oh, and what a man! Naruto's blond hair was cut very short, and he was sporting a short goatee, but his eyes still shone with that same determination and gentleness the Shadow could still see in his dreams. Even after ten years.

The Shadow then realised with smug satisfaction that Naruto had refused the Hyuuga girl's advances, and had extricate himself gently from her grasp. As he did so, his eyes flickered to the spot where the Shadow stood, and the Shadow, unable to help himself, felt a warmness spread through his chest and the known sense of home and safety impend to come forth. He squashed it, like he had done so many times before, and would do again every time this folly threatened to corrupt his judgement.

~*~

Naruto entered his home, on the top floor of the Hokage Tower. It had been an entertaining night with his friends. The only down side was that they kept trying to set him up with Hinata-chan.

Immediately, he felt the known presence hidden in the balcony, waiting for a mishap on his part. He gave none, as he moved around his home to take a shower and find himself a snack. After half an hour, he returned to the living-room, with instantaneous noodles and his ridiculous sleep-hat. Naruto may be twenty-six years-old, but he refused to let go of his sleep-hat. He turned on the television and proceeded to make himself comfortable. After a while, he fell asleep on the couch.

It spoke volumes about Naruto, how he managed to fell asleep with a foe - which for Naruto was no foe at all - on his balcony, waiting for a moment of weakness. Unfortunately for said foe, Naruto's wards were unbreakable. It was almost midnight when Naruto woke up with a start and moved for the bed. The Shadow hadn't left. So much for wearing him down. Deciding to test the other's patience a little further, Naruto fell asleep, only to woke up the next morning when the sun hit him in the face.

The Shadow was still there. "Teme . . ." he whispered, frustrated.

With a sigh, Naruto dispelled his Jutsus and took down his wards. Immediately, the Shadow broke in. Naruto shook his head, half-amused, half-exasperated at how well he knew this Shadow. Then, he moved towards the shower. He took his time, trying to achieve a much desired state of relaxation, before facing the man currently sitting on his living-room. Really, that bastard spared no time. He dressed himself in his Jounin uniform and geared himself up. Then, he stepped out of his room, into the living room.

Even though he had been ready for what was expecting him, he still felt his breath hitch and his eyes water at the sight that greeted him. Thankfully, his Shadow didn't notice. Then again, Naruto didn't want him to.

Sasuke Uchiha, the prodigal son, was sitting on his couch as if it were a throne, with his legs crossed and an arm propped on the back of his black-leather couch. They stared at each other, Naruto eagerly taking in the sight of his old friend. Sasuke was pretty much the same, albeit taller and broader. He was still pale like moonlight and his hair and eyes were still black as onyx stone. They shone like it, too. The man was wearing a dark blue yukata, with a white obi holding it together, and a white hakama. Sitting near its owner, stood the deathly kusanagi.

The entire picture looked like something out of this world. Beautiful, deathly and so very damaged.

Naruto forced his mind to take control and act like the good shinobi that he was. "Howdy," he greeted dryly. Sasuke turned his reproachful gaze towards Naruto.

"You knew I was there," he accused. Naruto ignored him and started to make breakfast, allowing himself to be a little satisfied that he could still annoy Sasuke like before. Sasuke didn't say anything else, obviously waiting for Naruto to give in first. Unfortunately for him, Naruto had greater self-control these days.

They said nothing until the breakfast was on the table. Without prompting, Sasuke got up and searched the kitchen cabinets until he found the dishes and silverware and he set the table himself. Still, they said nothing. They ate in silence, and Naruto allowed himself to assess the man sitting at his side on a deeper level.

Sasuke was thinner than he should be, which could only mean that he hadn't been feeding himself properly . . . However, there was something else, something odd about the whole picture that was bothering Naruto. After a moment, he gave up any pretension of nonchalance and shifted onto his side until he could look at Sasuke properly. The Uchiha's movements seemed somehow detached from he man himself. With a start, Naruto realised what it was. "Sasuke," he called, cautiously.

The other chuckled humourlessly. "Took you long enough," was the sole reply. Naruto swore he heard bitterness lace those words, but he could not tell how true his suspicion was.

"How long?" he asked instead. Sasuke turned to give him a look, and Naruto realised that Sasuke wasn't actually seeing him, even though he was sure that Sasuke knew exactly where he was. "What happened? Itachi's eyes--"

"They weren't good enough, so . . ." He didn't finish his statement and just shrugged. Naruto shouldn't be feeling sorry for Sasuke; after all, Sasuke had made the bed he was lying on, but this man meant too much to him. Naruto felt his heart break for Sasuke. "It's odd," Sasuke said all of a sudden.

"What is?" Naruto asked, when it became obvious that a raised eyebrow wouldn't be enough. Sasuke looked away, not because of Naruto, but because he was trying to protect himself. Naruto had never seen Sasuke so vulnerable. Then again, he was blind.

"I can't tell what you're thinking," Sasuke explained. "You used to be a open book, now you're just," he hesitated, "dark." Naruto frowned.

"Dark?"

"Yes." As if to emphasise the meaning of those words, Sasuke nodded. "I can feel the people, what they want. Their chakra tells me." Naruto fought back the awe that threatened to fill him to the brink. Sasuke had always been something else. "Even before, I could always feel yours: hopeful, ambitious, righteous and with a edge of darkness. Now, it's blank. It's like you're not you anymore."

Naruto felt at loss of what to say. He wasn't doing it on purpose, but over the years, he had learnt how to control himself, not only because of the Nine-Tails, but because he had to keep a straight mind to make the right decisions for the village. Sometimes, he had to sacrifice his shinobi for the safety of the majority. That was what a leader did, and that was why he had become Nanadaime Hokage. "I'm still me, I can assure you," Naruto replied, dryly. "Or else, you be in a damp cell right now."

Sauke smirked. "Che, usuratonkachi, you're welcome to try." Naruto felt a jolt of excitement curse through him. It had always been like this: a word from Sasuke and Naruto's world would be turned upside down. Getting no response, Sasuke sobered again, and shifted in his seat, maybe uncomfortably.

Naruto cleared his throat. "How long have you been," he hesitated, "blind?" As if he had been waiting for the question, Sasuke answered right away.

"Three months." Naruto frowned. Months? So little time, and Sasuke was already in a such a good shape using only his other senses? As if understanding Naruto's confusion, Sasuke continued, "I tried hard to be good - to get good - without my eyesight. If I hadn't, I would have been vulnerable afterwards. And I don't trust well," he explained, but Naruto knew that better than anyone. Finally, something occurred Naruto.

"Is that why you came back?" he asked, knowing the answer, but dreading to hear it anyway. "Because you're finally good enough for your impossible standards?"

"Yes," Sasuke confirmed simply. "I came to turn myself in, too." Naruto's face didn't betray a thing, but inside he was aching. If Sasuke were to face a trial, he would most surely be sentenced to death. Even after being hurt so many times by this man, Naruto wouldn't be able to bear such a blow.

"Why?" he asked promptly. "Why now?"

Sasuke's smirk was an ugly sight. "I don't intent to be put down like some lowly mutt, dobe." The pet insult did nothing to ease Naruto's anxiety. "Instead, I'm going to offer my services to the village. I'm a Shadow. I'm sure you, as Hokage, can find some use for me . . ." Naruto didn't know how could he tell, but he was sure that Sasuke didn't believe that the Council would accept such a deal. He opened his mouth to say something reassuring - or tear apart Sasuke's ideas of forgiveness at once, he wasn't sure which - but, in that moment, Sasuke's head snapped at him. "I can see your despair," he affirmed coolly, as if that was a novelty.

Naruto squared his shoulders and tightened his jaw, shoving his wayward emotions farther into his mind. "It doesn't matter. I have to get you to trial."

Sasuke's smirk turned evil and manipulative and that was when Naruto realised he had fallen into Sasuke's trap once again. "Or you could hide me and prepare the village for my return."

Naruto glared at other until he remembered that Sasuke couldn't see it. Still trying to make a point, Naruto let his anger flare long enough for Sasuke to feel it. The raven-haired man shivered, and, with a start, Naruto realised that it was caused by delight. Sadistic bastard. Sasuke knew that Naruto would never let him be executed without putting a fight. No matter that Naruto didn't wear his heart on his sleeve anymore; it still existed and, as Sasuke could very well tell, it beat for him only. "How long have you known?" Naruto asked, disgusted with Sasuke and himself.

Sasuke chuckled. "That you love me?" Naruto said nothing, too ashamed of this weakness that almost cost him his life many times before. "You practically yelled it at me every time we fought. " 'I really wanted to become like you. You were my . . . inspiration. That's why . . . At that time, I was really happy . . . that you finally accepted me. That was the first time you said that to me'," Sasuke mimicked, with a smile that almost seemed honest. "And 'This is one of the first bonds I've ever had.'(1) "

Naruto straightened on his seat, looking away, not sure why he suddenly felt nostalgic and sad beyond hope. "Yet, you remember what I used to say," he replied. "Maybe I'm not the only one who feels this way."

Sasuke got up and started to clear the table, storing the long forgotten food in the fridge and starting on the dishes. "I'm sorry. I killed my heart long time ago."

Neither said anything for a long time. Naruto left the penthouse for work, warding it against any of his ninja. It was almost lunch time when Naruto returned to his house to find an amazing lunch waiting for him and his house shining, as if it had just been cleaned. Which was probably true. Sasuke was waiting for him at the table.

The blond sat down and it seemed like no time had passed since breakfast, because Sasuke spoke, as if continuing their conversation, "I'll take care of your house to repay you for letting me stay." He paused, and looked straight at Naruto, with those black eyes that saw nothing at all. "And I appreciate your help. I truly do." Naruto didn't believe him.

TBC

Thank you for reading.

(1)These sentences have been taken from Naruto's lines.