Time for a change ...

and as promised another chapter for you

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Sasuke walked into the kitchen but stopped at the doorway, inside the ‘blond was laughing and talking a mile a minute to a brunette which Sasuke noticed to be Iruka. Gaara was standing next to the blond nodding with Shikamaru gently holding him around the waist. Tsunade’s words floated in his head
‘They weren’t human…’ Sasuke shuddered a little, those words were cruel and yet as he watched them seemed unfit to describe the 3, but then again that was now.

“Then there was this boot that had a tub full of fishes in it. They were really nice but really hard to catch, I tried but the paper broke. But Sasuke did it, he manage to get two of them. I have them in my room, one gold one and one black one. I’ll show them to you later, the gold one is named Naruto and the black one is named Sasuke. They are really cute, and they keep opening their mouths like this.” Naruto began mimicking the fish and Sasuke had to smile.

“You look just like the golden one … dobe.” Sasuke walked over to the blond.

“Oi teme didn’t I tell you not to call me that!” The blond pouted, Sasuke couldn’t help but laugh, the blond only reacted to the name rather than the insult of him looking like a fish. The raven kissed him and gently slid a hand around the blond’s waist. When they separated, Shikamaru decided to clear his throat so he could announce their present, which seemed to have been forgotten.

“Oh almost forgot teme.” Naruto took his hand and turned to the brunette. “This is Iruka, he comes here every Wednesday to talk to us, but he also comes here to eat breakfast with us from time to time. Iruka this is Sasuke, my boy …” Naruto stopped himself, he wasn’t sure if it was right to call Sasuke that yet. Sure the date had been successful but then again he also read it had to be a decision made by both parts.

Sasuke reached out his hand, “The boyfriend, Uchiha Sasuke.” Iruka’s eyes harden as he heard the name and the raven could tell by the handshake that he had not been approved of yet by the older man. Naruto smiled from ear to ear, unaware of the hostile look Iruka was giving Sasuke. He somehow felt proud, the raven had just announced them an official couple.

“Breakfast is ready.” Shikamaru announced breaking the silence between Sasuke and Iruka. Naruto grabbed the raven’s hand and dragged him to the seat next to where he was going to sit.

The breakfast went on in a rather quiet manner, there were some conversation but none of it stuck. Sasuke could tell Iruka was trying his best to give him the cold shoulder but Naruto kept insisting to have a conversation going between the two. It was obvious to the raven that Iruka was an important person to Naruto and the others thus he had to try extra hard in order to get on the older man’s good side.

“So you and Gaara are an official couple too then?” Sasuke asked before taking a sip of his orange juice.

“I guess, we did go on a date. I presume that is what couple does.” Shikamaru looked at Gaara. Both Sasuke and Iruka could tell they were not completely aware what it actually meant to be a couple and how to behave but that would come with time, plus they had Iruka to guide them.

“Yeah” Gaara said nodding.

“So what’s the plan for today boys?” Iruka asked.

“Well Grannie gave us a job …” Naruto began but he let Shikamaru finish the story.

“The information we brought back from the Uchiha corp. is finished decrypting so we are heading for Kakashi-san tonight to retrieve it along with some floor plans of the institution.”

“Ah well then I shall see you again tonight.” Iruka said when the brunette finished. Sasuke lifted an eyebrow and stared at the older brunette. Naruto placed his hand on Sasuke to gain his attention. Sasuke turned to look at the blond who gave him a ‘I’ll tell you later’ look.

When breakfast was done, Iruka stayed behind helping with the dishes before he announced his departure. “Well boys I shall see you tonight then, I’ll bake some cookies for you.”

“YAY!” Naruto jumped with one arm in the air, Iruka just laughed and waved before he turned to leave.

“Iruka-san!” Sasuke followed the older brunette out in the hallway of the temple “May I have a word with you?” Iruka turned to see Sasuke standing in the middle of the hallway. Iruka knew he had to talk to the Uchiha sooner or later but he had somehow hoped it would be later rather than sooner, he was probably to angry to be his usual rational self.

“Now is not the time Uchiha-san,” he said in a cold and poisonous tone.

“If you don’t mind me saying Iruka-san, I think now is better than later” Sasuke insisted, he was going to talk to the brunette before he left because he sensed that it would be difficult to get on his good side if he let things stew for a while. Iruka sighed and gave in to the raven’s request, somehow he knew the stubborn Uchiha would probably not stop asking until he had gone through the temple gates.

“Very well but make it short, I have to get back to the kids.”

“Thank you, I will make it as short as possible.” Sasuke put on his shoes as well and held the door open for the brunette. “I can tell you know what is going on and I can tell you don’t approve of me dating Naruto”

“That is an understatement.” Iruka said looking at the raven

“I must say you are different from what I expected you would be.” Sasuke had decided it was best to put on his business act, it seemed it would be the only thing that would get through to the brunette.

“Beg your pardon?”

“No offence Iruka-san, but you are acting rather different from what I have heard from Naruto. And I know it has to do with me being an Uchiha and my family’s involvement in the trios past.” Sasuke used the word Tsunade had used for the boys “But in my defense I am no older than Naruto, Gaara or Shikamaru. What my father did or does has no direct link to me. We are two very different people Iruka-san and I would appreciate that you would not look down upon me like you do my father because I am NOT my father nor will I ever be.” Sasuke placed some venom in the last sentence just to make his point even stronger. “I know trusting an Uchiha is rather difficult but like any other person I do think I deserve at least one chance to earn your approval and trust … as they say ‘never judge a book by its cover’.” Sasuke did not look at Iruka, he soley stared in to the sky with his hands folded behind his back.

Iruka was shocked at what Sasuke had just said, not because the boy was rude or anything but because he was absolutely right. The brunette turned to look at the boy who just stared into the open sky. What ever happened to Naruto and the others at the institution had nothing to do with Sasuke, he was too young or wasn’t not even born yet. Iruka had done the very thing he told every child at the orphanage not to do, judge people before they got to know them. Sure Sasuke was an Uchiha but that did not mean the boy was the same, Naruto was not stupid and if he accepted the boy close to his heart, he surely deserved a chance to prove himself to him.

“You are right Uchiha-san” Iruka began but was interrupted by Sasuke.

“Just Sasuke, please,” the raven turned and smiled at Iruka.

“Sasuke-san then, I am sorry. I have done the thing I have told so many of the children not to do, judge before intentions are known. For that I am sorry.”

“No offence taken, I understand the implications that my last name has on you and the others. But as much as I like to, I cannot change it. However Tsunade-san has given me the opportunity to use it for your benefit, and my opportunity to show you that I am sincere.” The raven said

“Oh, well then I wish you all the luck.”

“Thank you.” Iruka smiled and bowed a little before he left the Uchiha standing at the door by himself.

“Iruka-san!” Sasuke yelled after the brunette “It might not mean much now but Naruto means a lot to me, I might not be able to promise a smooth ride or that it will last forever but I will promise that I will treat him with respect and love as long as it lasts. As you said or as Tsunade said, I am an Uchiha and even though Naruto might have change some things in me there are habits that will take longer to break.”

“It is a start Sasuke-san, but I have no doubt he will succeed. Naruto is just that way!” He yelled back before disappearing around the corner.

Sasuke entered the temple again and went back into the kitchen to find the 3 still wandering around putting away the last dishes.

“Where did you run off to?” The blond asked.

“I just had to ask Iruka about something.” Sasuke kissed the blond on the cheek before taking the last plates and putting them in their rightful place .

“Oh.” Naruto responded, “so are you staying today?” He asked.

“I wish but I better show my face at home for a couple of hours today. The fact that I didn’t show for the family breakfast will probably cause some questions.” Sasuke turned to see the blond pout a little. “I’ll be back later, don’t worry.”

“But later we won’t be here, we’ll be over at Kakashi and Iruka’s” When Naruto said Kakashi and Iruka, Sasuke put two and two together and realised that the two must be dating. It was a strange thought though, the Kakashi Sasuke knew did not seem to be a person who would be in a steady relationship. Even fellow business partners thought the same, that no one could tame the white wolf.

“That reminds me I need to talk to the 3 of you.” Sasuke said looking in the direction of Gaara and Shikamaru, both of them raised an eyebrow.

“What is it?” The brunette asked.

“As you may have notice I had a private conversation with Tsunade-san,” the 3 nodded. “Well long story short I have been given the permission to help you in your quest for information.” Naruto, Gaara and Shikamaru looked at each other.

“I know it might seem like a lost cause, I am neither good in fighting nor stealing. But one thing I can do, which none of you can, is to walk freely into all the locked rooms in the office and the institution. Uchiha to you might not be a good name but it is a powerful one.” Sasuke finished.

Shikamaru thought about it for a second and nodded, it did make sense. Sasuke was a part of the Uchiha family, thus indirectly owning the Uchiha corp. and part of the institution. “True, that make sense. But what if you get caught, I’m sure there is some information your father or Orochimaru doesn’t want you to know. Your father might not do much to you but Orochimaru sure as hell will.”

“Well to be fair, I hadn’t thought that far a head. Not that I am planning to get caught.” Sasuke replied.

“I’ll teach him some moves that could come in handy” Naruto broke into the conversation.

“Well if Tsunade-san approved there isn’t much I can argue against it but …” Shikamaru was interrupted by Gaara.

“Don’t let it slip that you know us, it might have been years since we escaped, as I am sure Naruto has told you, but that doesn’t mean they have stopped looking for us.” Naruto nodded.

“Yeah, there were things they did to us that still have some value,” the blond added taking the raven’s hand and squeezing a little. Sasuke nodded and promised the 3 that their secret was safe with him, he had spent the last 5 weeks with them without mentioning anything to his friend and family.

“Well then I’ll stop by around 8.” Sasuke said kissing the blond, who nodded. The feeling of having Sasuke hold him was comforting and nice.

“Yeah, I’ll see you later.”

“Be careful, okey?” Sauske said kissing the other boy again. Even though they were only opening the book store and walking over to Kakashi and Iruka’s later, he felt that it needed to be said. Sasuke kissed the blond one last time before he turned to leave.

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“Welcome home Uchiha-sama,” the butler said as Sasuke stepped in the door.

“Hn,” the raven replied giving the butler his jacket. “Mother & father?”

“In the study sir.” The butler replied. Sasuke gave his trade mark hn as he walked over in the direction of the study.

“Sasuke-san,” his mother got out of the chair, his father merely turned his head and glimpsed at him. “Where have you been?” His mother walked over to him with a worried look on her face.

“Nowhere…” Sasuke tried to avoid his mother’s hands as she inspected him. His father had, as usual, lost interest in Sasuke’s presence and turned back to look at his newspaper.

“Father I have a question.” Sasuke looked in the direction his father.

“What?” Fukagu grunted, clearly annoyed by the interruption.

“Do we still do research at the Institution of Military and Enhanced Research lab?”

“Yes, why the interest?” His father replied.

“Nothing special, I am doing a report on different research sponsorships. I started off with a simple transaction between the University and a PhD professor in the architect department for a research grant. But to be fair it is the most simplest and boring thing, business research involves a lot more detailed transactions. So I did some digging in different sponsorships but found them all to be either really boring or that other students had taken them as an example. Then I remembered the institution from when you took me as a child, there has to be some sponsorship on research I could use as an example.” As an Uchiha it was important to get the best of everything and if he could trick his father into thinking that he was doing it for school he might at least get access to the institution without to much questioning.

Fugaku did not reply right away, it was like he was weighing the words coming out of Sasuke’s mouth.

“Of course its solely based on the transaction between the partners, it doesn’t matter what the research is, it is rather irrelevant.” The raven added, hoping it would sway his father into saying yes.

“I’ll make some calls…” His father said at last.

“Thank you father.” Sasuke replied in his usual flat tone as if un-interest, but silently he was celebrating the small victory, before he turned towards the door.

“Oh Sasuke-sama, the Haruno’s are coming over for dinner with Sakura-chan.” His mother called after him.

“Count me out mother.”

“But Sasuke-sama, these are your fiancé parents. You would do well to show up and show respect.” She replied.

“As I said, count me out. I have a lot of work that needs to be done.” Sasuke replied before closing the door after him.

“Sasuke-sama.” She sighed, there was no use, Sasuke had left the room and as an Uchiha it was difficult to change his mind when he was set on something.

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‘Knock knock’

“Enter,” the door to the office slowly opened and a familiar face stepped in and closed the door.

“Orochimaru-sama …”

“What is it Kabuto, I have a lot of paperwork that needs to be done.” Orochimaru looked up at the grey haired man who stood in front of his desk. Just as himself he wore a dark green military uniform with the exceptions of the same amount of stars on his shoulders.

“One of the spies had some very interesting news” Kabuto replied before placing a folder with some papers and photos in it. Orochimaru put the pen down and picked up the folder and opened it and after reading for a couple of seconds there was a big grin on the snakelike face. He picked up one of the photos.

“This is indeed interesting news … very interesting news.”

“Shall I send someone to greet them?” Kabuto asked smiling.

“That would be the proper way, wouldn’t it?” Orochimaru leaned back in the chair “Send out a two man team and the tranquillizer guns, I want them in one piece.”

“As you wish” Kabuto saluted him before leaving the room.

Orochimaru looked at the photo again and began to laugh “Well boys, looks like I need to clean your rooms.”

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and that is it for now, chapter 12 is well on its way so stick around. thank you and please comment.