Homecoming

Just a reminder - this story was written in 2003, so no spoilers and it disregards anything that happened after Sasuke left Konoha.


Part Nine
Memories from the Leaf #4

The strong wind didn't bother the only costumer in the teashop. Sasuke shifted in the wooden chair and downed another tiny glass of sake. Outside people rushed through the streets to finish their business and prepare for the impending storm that was forecasted for the next day.

"Ojisan," Sasuke addressed the old man that stood behind the counter, polishing glasses. "What time is it?"

Despite the severe weather alert, Sakura wasn't going to give up on the field trip she planned for her academy students. She had asked him to assist and he refused. Of course, he should have known it wasn't going to go quietly. She had a way to get him to do things. With Naruto, the idiot would simply provoke him until he broke down his resistance completely. Sakura's best weapon against him was talking. If he wanted her to be quiet he had to go along with whatever she wanted, for the most part.

"Almost four," the old man answered.

"So I have time for another shot." Sasuke took out a few coins from his pocket.

Just then a small bird landed on his shoulder.

"Hold the sake," Sasuke told the man and got up. The bird flew away and Sasuke stepped out of the teashop, holding back the curtains that slammed against his face from the heavy wind.

He was about to leap away, when he heard Hinata call him. "Sasuke-kun?" He turned around to face her.

He wasn't aware of the seething hatred that boiled inside him until he realized his fists were clutched so tight they were shaking. He gritted his teeth as he looked into the girl's silver eyes. She appeared so innocent, and yet, she knew.

Her eyes could read through him.

"Um…" she hesitated. "How are you?" she asked quietly and he was taken aback.

She never approached him directly and he never bothered to show her any kind of emotion or slight acknowledgement. Not only was she from a rival clan, but deep inside she was always a rival for him on a certain blond's heart. He didn't know why Naruto liked the quiet, weak and useless girl so much. It was one of the things that made him feel insecure and he hated it. Naruto was either blind or ignorant not to see that Hinata was in love with him, but Sasuke was watching her closely with his sharp eyes.

'It doesn't matter now,' A voice called in his head. 'It's over. Let him go.'

"I know we never really talked…" Hinata continued. Sasuke blinked at her.

Could she not see the inner turmoil she was evoking in him? Neji was able to read everyone like an open book. Surely the heir to the Hyuuga clan possessed that annoying ability as well.

"I have to go." Sasuke mustered his composure. There were more important things at hand. He was just given a mission.

"I just want us to get along… since you're Naruto's best friend and I'm going to be his wife…"

"What?" He felt his heart miss a beat. His entire body froze as he glared at the girl.

She took a step back, her bottom lip quivering and her hands flew up before her body, as if wishing to keep a distance from him.

Sasuke was certain she could see it now. The raging jealousy, the darkness surging wildly inside him, more violent than the wind.

"You're going to… marry?" he slurred.

"Well," she mumbled again, her words swallowed by the wind. "We're making the official announcement soon…" she flinched when Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Well… I don't want to keep you long… do you know where's Naruto? We were supposed to meet and-"

Sasuke clenched his teeth, trying to control the trembling of his hands. He could feel the chakra flowing inside him searing the tips of his nerves as it boiled in his channels.

"Kids' field trip in the forest…" he uttered between gritted teeth. "He's helping Sakura. North 30, East 25. You should find him there," he pinpointed the location, keeping his face clear of the emotions that rampaged through his body.

"Thank you, Sasuke-kun… um, goodbye."

"See ya…" he replied coldly and watched her.

"Ojisan, I think I'll have another shot of sake," he said huskily and stepped back into the teashop.

***

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled. "Watch out!!"

"What?" Sakura raised her head and a flying pan smashed into her face. "Ouch!" she yelped and sighed. "That damn wind! I shouldn't have insisted on going out to this trip after all!"

Naruto smiled and shielded his face from more flying objects. "Ah come on… the kids enjoy it more than a sunny picnic."

"Yes! Yes!" one of the children who were trying to hold onto their backpacks shrieked. "Survival training!"

"Thank you for showing up, Naruto…" Sakura sighed. "It was hard to get Sasuke to come here… and I finally got him to promise to arrive at four…" She glanced at her watch, her other hand trying to move pink strands from her face. "Ten minutes ago. He's late."

"I promised Hinata I'd meet her, but I'll stay until he gets here, don't worry." Naruto smiled again. "And I see the others are having a blast." His eyes averted from Sakura to Ino, who was lecturing to a group of girls. Next to her Shikamaru sat cross-legged, leaning his face on his hand and looking bored. Chouji entertained the children with his multi-size no jutsu, which the kids found useful as a trampoline.

"No one cares about the wind," Naruto continued. Just then a book smacked him in the back of his head. "FUCK!" he cussed, rubbing the sore spot. He looked down at the book that landed near his feet.

"You!" he turned around and pointed at the silver-haired Jounin. "You did that on purpose!"

"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura yelped and raised the book. "Don't bring out this book in front of the children!"

"Sorry, sorry…" Kakashi smiled and waved his hand.

***

Sasuke leaned his chin on his hands and closed his eyes. He didn't understand the extreme reaction of his body to Hinata's announcement. He took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down.

And why did she come to tell him in person that she was going to marry Naruto? He doubted Naruto told her anything about them. The blond man was a trusting fool, but he would never tell anyone their secret. They worked hard and sacrificed a lot to keep it a secret for five years.

For Sasuke, it was the most blissful time of his entire life since he was seven years old. Having someone to hold him, care for him, and love him unconditionally despite his faults. Someone who had seen the darkness of his heart and yet reached out and embraced him, bringing him back to the light.

His thoughts drifted to Naruto. He never knew a mother's love, or a father's encouraging words. He never had anyone to teach him manners or skills and basic knowledge. Everyone looked at him coldly and saw the demon that was sealed in him. Even now, when the villagers no longer saw him as the demon fox, they still didn't try to reach out and embrace him. And now he sent Naruto back to that loneliness.

Hinata wasn't so bad. Maybe she could love him unconditionally, and give him her whole heart, the way Sasuke tried. Maybe she could banish Naruto's loneliness the way Sasuke couldn't.

"Hinata!" Sasuke slammed his fist on the table and rushed out of the shop. "What have I done?!"

***

"Okay, you've had your fun, now stop kidding around!" Sakura scolded Kakashi, waving her finger at him.

"What? I was merely suggesting…"

"Don't say it again!"

"Where's Sasuke?" Naruto asked quietly as the time passed and there was still no sign of the raven-haired boy. He sat down and watched Sakura and Kakashi bickering.

"Do that thing! I'm really tired of this wind!" Sakura continued yapping at Kakashi.

"What thing?"

"The seal that makes you control the weather! You can give us some sun for a little while!"

"Sensei, sensei, using jutsus so carelessly." He drawled and Naruto let out a giggle as he watched them in amusement. Kakashi managed to irritate Sakura so easily, and he enjoyed it too.

"Kakashi!"

Kakashi and Sakura silenced when a Chuunin appeared before them. Naruto perked his head, listening to what the shinobi had to say. He had a bad feeling about it.

'Sasuke… still hasn't showed up…'

"The northern patrol group was attacked at point North 30, East 25. All of them were slaughtered, except for one who managed to escape… Sasuke was sent after them alone. But when the Chuunin came to, he said there were seven of them. Most of the Jounins are out-"

"Oh God…" Sakura gasped, covering her mouth.

"Sasuke…" Naruto got up.

"Naruto, wait-" Kakashi started saying but Naruto already teleported himself. Kakashi sighed and lowered his hand. "We've gotta think of a plan first…"

***

"Hinata!" Sasuke shouted when he caught sight of the raven-haired Chuunin.

"Sasuke-kun!" she turned around in surprise.

Sasuke sighed and lowered his head. "Thank god I found you in time…"

"Where's Naruto?" Hinata made a step towards him.

Just then, a shadow-clad shinobi holding a large head-chopping cleaver appeared behind her. She turned around, and Sasuke jumped off the tree to save her.

"Not fast enough," a voice said in Sasuke's ear as he was grabbed from behind. His eyes widened in shock as he watched the large man strike Hinata down.

"Ha! You Leaf shinobi are really overestimated," the man muttered.

"You shouldn't have done that…" Sasuke hissed. "Sharingan!"

"Ohhh.. lucky! It's that Uchiha guy!" The villain smirked and wielded his Kubikiri Houcho again. "Isn't he the one that killed Itachi-sama? His head would make a nice trophy."

Sasuke hissed and bent his leg, tackling the shinobi that held him and bounced away, throwing a few shuriken at the other ninja.

"That's not going to help you, you bastard." Sasuke heard another voice behind him, just before he was knocked to the ground by an invisible force.

'What? I didn't see him at all!'

"Kill him, Riku!"

The man known as Riku was about to attack Sasuke again when the Leaf shinobi kicked him into the air to do his Lion Combo, when Riku abruptly vanished. Another shinobi appeared behind Sasuke and slammed him to the ground again.

'What the… who are these guys?! I didn't see!'

Sasuke struggled to get up, wiping the blood from his mouth. How could these people conceal their jutsu from his sharingan? He got up and looked at them. Seven Hidden Mist ninjas, dressed nearly the same, standing in a row and smirking at him.

'Chidori… I'll get them all with the chidori…'

He started concentrating the chakra to his hand, watching for their moves. The air grew thicker around him.

'That's it… they're using the humidity in the air to conceal themselves!' he realized. 'Not good… the weather plays in their favor…'

"Cut his arm!" he heard one of them shout. He barely evaded the slice of the sword.

"You're slowing us down, bastard."

'See them through the mist…' Sasuke ordered himself calmly. 'You can see them…'

The flow of visible chakra around Sasuke's hand started to sizzle loudly. 'There!'

He launched at them with a speed invisible to the human eye, and managed to impale four of them with his chidori. Only two screamed in agony as he sliced through them, the other two having evaporated into steam. 'What?! The Chidori didn't work??'

The mist grew thicker around him, and he could sense them closing in on him.

His mind worked fast. 'The sharingan isn't any good… I'll have to…'

"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" He created four shadow clones. "Chidori!" his hand, as well as two other clones, was covered with chakra again as he used his chidori capacity to his final limit.

It all happened so quickly. He felt himself falling to the ground almost in slow motion. He used too much chakra, he couldn't stand anymore. His eyes caught a glimpse of Hinata's lifeless body.

'How foolish of me…' He tried to stand again, his hands shaking as he propped himself up. The mist shinobis kept their distance, anticipating another chidori attack. He could hardly see them in the thick fog.

"Sasuke!" In an instant, Naruto's arms were around him. "Are you okay?"

"Naruto?" Sasuke whispered. "What are you--"

"Where are those bastards? Can you stand?" Naruto narrowed his eyes, trying to see through the fog.

"Naruto…" Sasuke gasped. "Hinata… they…"

"Hinata?" Naruto looked at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I…" Sasuke said before collapsing into Naruto's arms.

Naruto laid him down on the ground carefully and stood up. His eyes moved over two bodies of the intruders. He continued to scan the area, sharpening his sight and adjusting it to the fog, when he suddenly saw Hinata's body a few feet away.

"Hinata!" he cried out and moved there in an instant. He stood over her body in utter shock, his eyes shimmering as he assessed the butchered form. He felt his insides shake before he fell to his knees, vomiting.

"Oh, oh, what have we here?" he heard a voice cackle behind him.

Naruto hissed and gritted his teeth. His brow twitched in anger, and he clutched tight his shaking fist. "You killed Hinata…" he whispered.

"Was that her name?" the shinobi asked. "Such a weakling, didn't even defend herself."

"YOU BASTARD!!" Naruto yelled and jumped at him, striking out with his fist. The mist shinobi disappeared and Naruto momentarily lost his balance. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" he shouted into the fog. "YOU'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!"

Sasuke groaned as he started to come to. His vision was blurry, but he could still see the red chakra surrounding Naruto's body.

Naruto's eyes were burning with a red flame as he growled, his fox eyes seeing the five men clearly even through the thickness of the fog. His face looked almost demonic as he lunged at them with a stormy perfect sphere in hand.

"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!!"

With inhuman speed, ten clones holding ten spiral balls of chakra attacked the mist shinobi before they had a chance to disappear. Blowing a hole through all of them, Naruto and his clones attacked again with the rasengan.

The fog started to grow thinner. Sasuke raised his head. 'He got them?' He looked at the five dismembered bodies on the ground.

Naruto and his clones continued to yell and rip the dead mist shinobi to pieces in their wrath. Sasuke hissed as he tried to get up.

"That's enough, Naruto…" Kakashi grabbed Naruto's hand, stopping him from mutilating the body any further. "They're dead."

"They killed Hinata!" Naruto shouted. His clones continued to deliver blows to the other carcasses.

"Becoming inhuman won't bring her back," Kakashi said quietly.

Naruto jerked his hand from Kakashi's hold. His eyes returned to blue and his clones disappeared. He stood without a word and walked over to Hinata's body, picking her up.

"Help Sasuke…" he whispered softly.

***

The typhoon was already near. The winds grew stronger and lightning cut through the cloudy sky every few moments. Many people ignored the powerful winds and fat droplets of rain as they crowded in the Hyuuga section of the cemetery to bid farewell to the heir of the Hyuuga house.

Naruto watched the crowd from afar from under a tree. Unlike the times in his childhood when he was shunned and forced to stand away and watch the others from a distance, this time he was expected to be there in the heart of the crowd.

But he couldn't bring himself to do it.

He saw Neji step away from the crowd, his hair blowing in the wind. His silver orbs seem to slice through him, and indeed he started to make his way towards Naruto.

"You." He looked down at the blond man when he reached him. "I'm holding you responsible for this."

Naruto couldn't bear his sharp look and lowered his head. "I know. It's my fault."

"Hinata-sama… she never deserved this kind of end. She was pure, unlike the rest of us," Neji said quietly and walked away.

'I know that, Neji… I know…' Naruto returned his eyes to the crowd of people before leaving as well.

***

The droplets of rain started to grow heavier. Naruto stood in the middle of the forest, watching the water wash away the stains of blood from the grass.

'I'm sorry Hinata. I didn't protect you.'

"Naruto." He heard Sasuke's quiet voice behind him.

Naruto didn't turn around. "You should be home resting," he said quietly. "You've nearly drained yourself of chakra."

"What about you? The storm is going to hit any minute now." Sasuke stood next to him.

"I don't care."

They stood side by side in silence for a moment, just watching the pouring rain. The thunder roared closer and closer.

"I feel…" Naruto started saying, but his voice disappeared in the thunder.

"Naruto, I'm so sorry…" Sasuke said huskily.

"I… I didn't protect her…" Naruto raised his hands and looked as the rain washed them. "I was supposed to meet her… if I'd arrived on time she wouldn't have gone looking for me…" He clutched his hands.

Sasuke looked down and sighed. "Naruto… it's not your fault…"

"Of course it's my fault…"

"…it's mine."

"It's not your fault, seven against one… no one could have-"

"I told her you were there," Sasuke said quietly.

"What?" Naruto raised his face to look at Sasuke. "What do you mean?"

"I…" Sasuke didn't raise his eyes from the ground. "She told me… about your engagement…"

"Sasuke, I was going to tell you, I-" Naruto stammered, but Sasuke raised his eyes and Naruto stopped talking.

"I was mad with jealousy… I didn't think… I lied to her…" Sasuke continued and looked at Naruto. "I'm so sorry."

Naruto swallowed, digesting Sasuke's words. His eyes flared up as realization sank in. He tightened his fist and slammed it into Sasuke's face.

The taller boy staggered back then wiped his mouth. He gazed down at the blood that was quickly rinsed away with the rain.

"How could you?!"

"Naruto, I'm sorry… I didn't mean…"

"Hinata is DEAD!" Naruto shouted and lunged at Sasuke again. "You killed her!"

Sasuke was too weakened and didn't even try to defend himself from Naruto's hit. "I tried to save her… I wanted to-"

Naruto didn't let him finish and punched him again. "How could you do this to Hinata?!" he screamed as he straddled Sasuke and hit him again. "HOW COULD YOU?!" The rain washed his face and mingled with his tears.

"How could YOU?!" Sasuke pushed Naruto's away and got up. "How could you get together with her when you didn't even love her?!" he shouted. "After lecturing me about using Sakura's feelings!"

"SHUT UP! YOU… YOU…" Naruto's voice quivered in anger. "MONSTER!"

"I'm only the monster you made me!" Sasuke retorted.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Naruto attacked again. This time Sasuke blocked and punched back.

"Do you want to kill me now, Naruto?" Sasuke grabbed Naruto's wrist. "Is that what you want?"

The lightning briefly lit the sky and Sasuke saw the fire flickering in Naruto's eyes.

"She was… the only pure thing in my life…" Naruto responded, his voice barely heard in the heavy downpour and harsh gusts.

Although Sasuke was still restoring his chakra, he managed to almost match Naruto blow for blow. Naruto started to use more force until he smashed Sasuke into a nearby tree. Sasuke hissed and pounced at the blond, kicking him away. Naruto recovered quickly and tackled Sasuke to the ground. He struggled, punching Naruto's stomach, but Naruto slammed down on him and pressed his arm over his throat, pointing a knife into his face with his other hand.

Sasuke's eyes glistened in recognition.


"It's a Tantou," Sasuke explained when Naruto slid the small knife out of the sheath. "It's used as a hidden weapon. You suppose to hide it in your shoe or something, and use it when you're pushed to a corner in a hand to hand battle."

"It's beautiful…" Naruto whispered, admiring the blade and decorated hilt.

"The blade is made from the same steel as the Katana and the Wakizashi," Sasuke said and took the tantou from Naruto's hand.

"Let's make an oath," he said. "So we'll be connected by blood forever."


"I can't die yet," Sasuke said as Naruto pressed the knife under his chin, cutting him. "But after I restore my clan, I will let you kill me, I promise."

"Is that all you think about?" Naruto hissed. "Go. Live. Restore your clan." His eyes were blue again. He got off of Sasuke. "I'll never forgive you."

"Naruto…"

"I hate you," the shorter shinobi snarled. "Don't ever speak to me again." He walked away, disappearing into the veil of pouring rain.

***

"Hokage-sama!" Sasuke burst into the room, making the Godaime and her counselors raise their heads.

"What is it Sasuke?"

"Naruto is gone…" he mumbled. "No one knows where he is. His apartment is empty."

"Yes, we're aware of that," Tsunade said.

"Is he a missing nin?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes, confused at her calm reaction.

"Not at all. I've sent him on a mission," she smiled lightly.

"A mission? With whom?" he asked in suspicion.

"It's a one man mission, I really can't say more. I'm sure you understand." The Godaime eyed him.

"I see. How long is this mission going to take?"

"Give or take three years."

Sasuke's bottom lip dropped. It took him a few more seconds to close his mouth and regain his composure. "I see."

He lowered his head and left the room quietly.