Death is the only way to freedom

Thank you all for the sweets comments XD I love it when you praise my writing... here you go - plz enjoy; though its another sad chapter.

Chapter 17: Ashes to ashes, dust to dust 1

“Hokage-sama?” The frustrated academy teacher cried out as he pushed past Shizune, who was trying to block his entrance, but without success.

The blonde leader of the hidden Leaf turned her attention from the pile of papers that she was inspecting. She glared at the brunette with a frown on her face. For once she was actually enjoying being able to work in peace and quiet without interruptions.

“What can I do for you this morning, Umino-sensei?” She growled in annoyance. Iruka noticed the use of his last name, which the Kage usually never did, unless she was really pissed, but he chose to ignore it for the time being.

“Naruto-kun, he’s…gone!” Iruka almost yelled as he made his way to the massive wooden desk in the middle of the room which was filled with papers, scrolls and empty sake bottles.

“What?!” Tsunade rose from her chair and nearly broke the desk as she pounded her fists onto it.

“He’s not on the training grounds and he hasn’t even been at his apartment since he got dismissed from the hospital yesterday!” Iruka explained with a hint of desperation in his voice.

“…” Tsunade´s eyes widened at first, then she began to relax and smiled forgivingly at the flustered teacher.

“What?!” The brunette felt anger well up inside of him as he saw the relieved smile on the Hokage´s face. What was wrong with her? Naruto´s wounds could have reopened during training and could be in terrible pain somewhere, didn’t she care? Iruka sometimes thought of Naruto as if he was still a child even though the blonde was all grown up and could take care of himself.

“Have you looked on the Hokage mountain?” She asked, while sitting back down and rested her elbows on the desk.

“Yes, he wasn’t there!”

“Hmmm, what about the Uchiha district?” Her smile turned into a smirk as she saw the frown on Iruka´s scared face.

“Why would he be there?” He asked in confusion. “The last time I spoke with Naruto, he seemed to avoid Uchiha-kun and wouldn’t spend time with him, even if he was ordered to?”

“Things change!” She said with a smug grin.

So Naruto was at Sasuke´s place! She could only wonder if they had talked things through and ended up spending the night together in each others arms. “Why did you want to see him anyway? Did you want to have breakfast with Naruto?”

“Yes… NO! I have to tell him something important…”

“Really?” Tsunade asked as she raised her golden brows and leaned in over the desk.

“… Yeah, Kakashi asked me to marry him and I accepted,” Iruka said with a blush. He had to get used to be more open about their relationship now that they were going to get married.

“… Congratulations Iruka-sensei, when is the big day?” She asked with a smile that reflected in the honey-gold eyes. So Kakashi had finally pulled it off and asked Iruka to marry him; she felt really happy for them.

“We haven’t decided on a date yet,” He chuckled shyly. “I just wanted to share my happiness with Naruto and ask him if he want to be my best man.”

“I understand. I´m sure that you will find him at the main house of the Uchiha district, probably empting Sasuke-kun´s fridge right now,” She laughed before she kicked him out. She had a funeral to prepare after all.

“I´m going to bury a dozen kunai´s and senbon needles in Uchiha´s back, if he has done anything to hurt my sweet little Naruto!” Iruka promised himself as he jumped the rooftops towards the Uchiha district to find his favorite blonde and almost adoptive son.

~ # ~

Sakura walked down the main street. She stared at the dirt in front of her feet; she was pissed. Not only did Kakashi leave without telling her the name of his sweetheart… but he also ran from the bill, just like last time.

Her mood was dark but at least she was feeling a little better. Sasuke was surely in love with Naruto, that much she could tell… and Naruto… Naruto was definitely gay. She had been sure that he would have jumped around and shouted in happiness as she confessed her love for him… but no, she had waited too long and lost him…to a man.

So what to do now? She was a skilled medic, pretty and single…. Surely there would be someone out there who would want her as a girlfriend! Anyone would be fine… well except Lee… and Gai, of course!

Oi, Sakura-chan!” She looked up from the ground to see who was calling out to her.

“Hi guys!” She managed to smile at the three teenagers who were walking towards her. Hinata was riding on Akamaru´s back with Kiba walking next to the enormous dog and Sai was accompanying them.

“What’s wrong?” Kiba asked as he helped his girlfriend down.

“…” She wasn’t sure what she should tell them. “Kakashi ran from the bill again!” She told them.

“Again?” Sai crossed his arms as he leaned lazily against the furry dog.

“Yup! He ran like the wind as I asked him who his girlfriend was,” She said with a fake smile. She decided not to mention anything about Naruto or Sasuke and make fun of her former sensei instead. Sakura suddenly noticed that Sai wasn’t wearing his usual outfit today. He was dressed in the traditional jounin uniform; black baggy pants, a black turtleneck and the green vest. It looked good on him; really good.

“Kakashi and a girl? I find it hard to believe that he’s the kinda guy who sticks with one girl!” Kiba chuckled. He had an arm wrapped around Hinata´s waist and used his free hand to play with her long hair.

“Say Sai!”

“Yes?” The ink nin asked.

“Why are you in a jounin uniform? Are you going on a mission?” Sakura asked.

“My skill as an ink nin was required for a mission!” He sparsely explained. “And I am a jounin now after all.”

“It was a mission at the wave… so we thought it would be best if we looked the same!” Hinata explained. Both Kiba and her were wearing the same type of uniform.

“Sou des ka! Looks good on you, Sai! On you two as well, of course,” Sakura said with a smile.

~ # ~

“Mmmmm Sas…ke, what is this? This tastes really good!” The blonde chuckled as he licked his lips after stealing some of the food from Sasuke´s bowl.

“Well, if you ate something except ramen, you would know that this is a simple dish from the Sound; Plums and cherries in a sweet/sour sauce with boiled rice, called Kyokai-ume no Gohan, dobe!” The raven said.

Traditional dishes from the different nations were something a good ninja had to know. To know how it had to taste and the differences between the dishes could mean the difference between getting away with it or be detected and caught, when undercover in enemy territory.

“I know, Teme. I just never tasted it made like this before… Not too sour or too sweet; so delicious. You’re a good cook!” Naruto smiled delighted at Sasuke.

´Oh Kami, why does he have to look so good? I can’t think straight when he smiles at me like that… and looks at me with those bottomless pools of blue. I have to think of something else fast or I’ll end up jumping him and take him, right here on this table!` Sasuke thought as he swallowed hard and tried to regain control over his body.

“Want me to make you a bowl? Or do you prefer to eat from mine?” The Uchiha smirked teasingly. A little flirting wouldn’t hurt anyone, right?

“Sure, if you don´t mind?” the blonde grinned.

“I don´t mind, dobe. I´m just starting to wonder where you put all that food?”

“Well, I didn’t eat anything after Sakura and I ate at Ichiraku´s before we came to see you, teme. So I´m practically starving.” Naruto explained with a smile. To spend time with Sasuke like this was something he had missed so much; it was nice and it felt so right, as if this was the most natural things in the world.

“I guess that’s partly my fault… why didn’t you mention that sooner? We could have stayed here over night, I have more than enough food, spare rooms and-“

“I know Teme, but I didn’t want to spoil the moment… we had back then… it was just too… perfect a moment. You, me, the city bathed in the moonlight and the starlit sky… it’s been a while since I felt so calm,” The blonde confessed as he took the bowl of the Sound delicacy from a stunned Sasuke.

“… Me too, I guess.” Sasuke found himself smiling a genuine smile at the slightly younger man.

“You know, I never planned to return here again… though I wanted to see you more than anything in the world… there is something about you that makes me… feel… Feel something I thought was lost in the darkness of my vengeful soul… I don´t want to lose that ever again, Naruto… it might freak me out a bit… but I don´t want to become a hollow being… and I will be… if you’re not there to save me…” Naruto´s deep blue eyes widened at Sasuke´s honest reply.

“Do you really feel this way about-“

“NARUTO?!!” Both Sasuke and Naruto turned their heads to see who dared to disturb their open conversation by breaking down Sasuke front door and yelling Naruto´s name like a mad man.

“Iruka-sensei?” The blonde cried out as Iruka rushed towards the blonde and embraced him in a tight bear hug. “Iruka…sensei… you… are… choking… me!” The blonde struggled to free himself from the fuming academy teacher.

“I was so worried about you… and here you are… eating breakfast… with that… that Uchiha-“

“Hey! We were in the middle of an important conversation here, Umino-san!” The raven hissed as he tried to help his dobe to free himself from the older man’s death grip. No one except Sasuke should be allowed to touch the dobe if it was up to the raven.

Sasuke was aware of the mother-like feelings Iruka had for the blonde… but Sasuke found that he hated when anyone; woman or man, was too close to what really belonged to him; and only him.

“I will be with you in just a moment, Uchiha!” Iruka growled protectively and Sasuke could see from the look in their former sensei’s eyes that the man wanted to pick a fight. Sasuke wasn´t really worried about that, because he was faster, younger and stronger than the brunette, though he thought that Iruka looked a bit scary anyway.

“IRUKA!!!!” The blonde barked as he finally succeeded to free himself. He placed himself in the middle between Sasuke and Iruka.

“What is wrong with you, sensei?” Naruto placed his hands on his hips and stared seriously at his surrogate father.

“You weren’t at home and Ichiraku hadn’t seen you since yesterday morning… I was worried about you!” Iruka answered. His temper was slowly returning to normal, though he still desired to kick the raven really hard in his privates for whatever he had done to keep the blonde from returning to his apartment.

“I´m sorry for making you worry, sensei, but we had a lot to talk about… and it kinda took all night!” The blonde explained patiently.

“I see, but I have something important to talk to you about as well, Naruto,” Iruka said. He was still throwing death glares at the Uchiha as he seated himself at the table and gestured for the two younger men to do the same.

“What’s up?” Naruto asked with curiosity as he sat down on the chair between Iruka and Sasuke, just in case they would decide to pick a fight anyway.

“… Should I leave?” The Uchiha growled. He didn’t want too leave but if these two had something important to talk about… well he would let them have their privacy.

“We don´t keep secrets from each other anymore, nee Sasuke!” The blonde put an arm on Sasuke´s arm to make him stay. “I´m going to tell him later anyway… we are best friends after all!”

“I never said that he had to leave, Naruto… All I wanted was to tell you something!” The brunette said.

“Alright!” The blonde’s said as his face turned into a warm smile that made both Sasuke and Iruka like him so much.

“I´m getting married,” He said.

“Really… Cool, congratulations, sensei.” Naruto cheered happily and hugged his former teacher, much to Sasuke´s dismay.

“Congratulations, Iruka-sensei. May I ask who’s the lucky girl then?” The Uchiha asked. His brows rose as both Iruka and Naruto gave him a puzzled look.

“Um Teme… Iruka-sensei… and… Kakashi-sensei… have been an item since forever.” Naruto softly explained. “So he finally proposed, nee?”

“Yeah, he did!” Iruka grinned happily back at the equally grinning blonde.

“What?!” Sasuke said in disbelief.

“It´s true, Uchiha-san, but only Naruto and the Hokage knew, so you’re not the only one who didn’t know.” Iruka smirked. He felt a little satisfied that he had been able to stir that cold teen up a bit, as it seemed that Naruto wasn’t going to let him hurt the boy… even just a little.

~ # ~

“Hokage-sama, you wanted to see me?” the priest bowed respectfully to the busty blonde.

“Yes, Tetsuha-sama. As I have already told you yesterday, there will be a funeral today. I want to ask you to perform a private burial ceremony at the Uchiha compound in a few hours.”

“Of course, my lady. I presume it’s concerning Uchiha Itachi.” The priest asked though he knew the answer. Tsunade always called for him when there was someone important who was going to be put to the eternal rest. She called for him, because she could trust him to be discrete, respectful and correct.
“What are the wishes from the family?” He asked respectfully. Though he knew the history of Itachi, he still had the respect to give the man a proper burial… that was every man and woman’s last right, no matter who they were or what they had done. Everyone was equal as they had to face Kami in death.

“The family and friends have already said their goodbyes. They will meet us after the body has been cremated at a secret location, chosen by them. I will lead you there… no one except those present at the funeral are to know where the final resting place is located, is that clear?” She said and the priest bowed.

“As you wish, lady Hokage. I will see to it that everything is ready for the funeral.” He bowed and was about to leave her office to cremate the dead man as he halted and turned to her.

“My lady?”

“Yes?” She asked.

“Is there a special urn that the young Uchiha wants his brother to rest in?”

“I will ask them and return the answer to you before long.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama,” He bowed and left the room to do his duty, while the Kage wrote a short note on a piece of paper before attaching it to a messenger bird. She preformed a jutsu that forced the bird to go to the main house of the Uchiha clan and only allow Sasuke or Naruto to retrieve the note, before sending it on its way.

~ # ~

Naruto, with his enhanced senses, was the first one to notice the bird that had suddenly landed on Sasuke´s roof. He jumped up and signaled for the raven to follow him.

Both teens teleported themselves to the roof and retrieved the message from the bird.

“What is wrong?” Iruka asked as he materialized himself next to Naruto.

“I´m sorry sensei, but this is a private matter. How about… I stop by tomorrow for breakfast, and we can talk about everything?” Naruto said with a serious look on his face that made Iruka worry.

“Sure Naruto… Sasuke, you are welcome as well. I´m sure that Kakashi would like to see you as well… he might have something to ask you.” Iruka answered.

“Then we see you at nine A.M. tomorrow then.” The blonde said. He had already counted Sasuke in as well without waiting for the raven to answer.

“Alright, see you both at nine then.” The brunette waved at them before disappearing into thin air.

“Who says I wanna go?” Sasuke hissed in mild annoyance. He loved the idea of spending time with the dobe, but did it have to be in the presence of that perverted Kakashi and Iruka? And they were probably planning to talk about the wedding to. Sasuke sighed at the bare thought of endless hours of boring discussions about wedding dresses, food, cakes, guests, flower decorations and other things that didn’t concern him in the first place.

“Awww Sas… ke, please. Don´t be so anti-social and do this with me… I really want you to come.” The blonde pouted.

“I guess I’ll go… but only because you begged me!” He said with a sly smile. Sasuke could never resist the blonde if he looked that cute… and it would surely make the blonde more open to a more… intimate relationship… hopefully.

“Thanks!” The blonde cheered and planted a chaste kiss on the Uchiha´s cheek, which left the raven slightly flustered and very happy.

“So what do we do about the urn?” Naruto asked as they returned to the kitchen and sat back down at the table.

“Well,” The Uchiha began. “We have black urns with the family crest on them… but I´m not sure that that’s what Niisan would want. What do you think, Naruto?”

“He was an Uchiha none the less… but how about something that would honor him as the strong and proud shinobi he was…” Naruto wasn’t sure what Itachi would have wanted… but he knew that it was neither wise nor respectful to lay his ashes to rest in an urn with the Uchiha fan all over it at the glade.

Everyone in Konoha knew that the remaining family except for Itachi was laid to rest at the family shrine near the Nagoya river. If anyone were to find the urn it would only cause a lot of trouble and disturb Itachi´s peace… and Naruto wouldn’t want that to happen for anything in the world.

“… How about a black glazed urn with a small white leaf symbol on it? He never liked our clan and I don´t blame him… but still he loved this town, of that I´m sure.” Sasuke whispered. Why was he suddenly feeling so sad? Was it because Naruto´s beautiful eyes looked so sadly at the table; lost in his memory or was Sasuke suddenly realizing the he was the last survivor of his clan… and that this bloodline would end with him?

“… Yeah, I think you’re right, Sasuke… I think he would like that!” Naruto looked into the raven’s crimson eyes and nodded in accept.

“I’ll send the bird back to Tsunade with our answer.” Sasuke rose from his chair and did just that.

As he returned to the blonde, he could only smile at the sight that meets him. Fatigue had got its hold on the blonde, who was sound asleep; his head resting peacefully on his crossed arms on the table.

“I guess we could both use a little rest before the funeral, dobe.” Sasuke carefully picked up the slender teen and carried him, bridal style to a futon in one of the downstairs rooms. He laid the blonde down on it, covered him in a soft fluffy blanket and slipped under the warm fabric next to Naruto who mumbled in his sleep.

“I love you so much, dobe.” He whispered as he wrapped an arm around Naruto´s waist and leaned closer to the warm body and enjoyed the addictive sent of his golden hair. He really loved every little detail about the blonde next to him. From the foxy scars to the firm toned chest that was pressed against his… even the loudness and the playful insults were a desirable part of Naruto.

“Nnngh Sas…ke.” The blonde mumbled as Sasuke pressed his body against his and made Naruto unconsciously slip an arm around the Uchiha and snuggled into the embrace. Sasuke smiled happily as he slowly drifted into a restful nap, secretly wishing that this blissful moment would last forever.