The Sound of Dreams

AN: Thanks for the reviews!! It is really nice to see authors that I have enjoyed reading reviewing my fic !!
As for posting Sasuke's PoV - while not exactly reviewiing those particular moments, he does get his thoughts and opions across, but then when doesn't he :)
I am currently writting chapter 17, so yeah, this is gonna be kinda long. I will be posting about 2 per week so I don't outpace my writing :)
I am also trying to work out my bold/italics issue. Got some tech help so hopefully we will see it in this chapter!


Thanks so much for reading!!


Chapter 2


After an unanswered knock on the door to Tsunade's office, Sakura tentatively stepped inside. She saw her mentor sound asleep on her desk, blonde hair splayed over her face. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she crept over to the side table to place the latest reports from the hospital. Details of supplies, patients and current medical research all dutifully reported for the Hokage's perusal.

She was passing her sleeping sensei again when the word "snake" written on a small strip of paper caught her eye. The small scrap, which she recognized as having come from a messenger bird, was lying partially under the large breasted woman's elbow. Using all of the stealth skills at her disposal, Sakura very carefully leaned over to get a better look.

'Snake meeting wi.....1 wk....Oto abando...' was all she could decipher.

Frowning, Sakura glanced at the still slumbering Godaime and decided to take the risk. Reaching down, she tugged slightly on the paper, drawing it out from under the sleeved arm leaning on it. Giving a startled snort, Tsunade sat up like a shot. Improvising quickly, Sakura immediately placed her hand on her teacher's shoulder. Maybe not the safest move considering the Sannin's monstrous strength but the best she could come up with on such short notice.

"...daime," she deliberately started in the middle of her word as if she had been talking all along. "How many times do I have to tell you to get a good night's sleep so you don't do it in your office?" She hastily glanced down at the piece of paper before looking into a pair of honey colored eyes.

"Don't startle me like that," the Hokage groused. She casually scooped her papers on the desk together, including the message slip. "What do you need, Sakura?"

"I just wanted to let you know that I dropped off the hospital reports for you." Sakura beamed a smile at her. "If you don't need me for anything else, I'm going to go eat lunch with Lee. And his teammates," she added hastily.

Tsunade gave a knowing smirk that somehow made Sakura blush. "Go on then and when you are done, report back to me."

"Yes, shishou!" She hurried out of the office, wondering where she could find Naruto. There was a high probability that Orochimaru was going to be meeting someone near the abandoned lair in Oto in a week.
*************************

Naruto found himself sitting at Ichiraku's a few days later, wincing at the incompetent new help and slowly starving to death. Kakashi and Yamato, tired of the constant diet of ramen, had excused themselves to eat elsewhere with an admonishment to be back at the training grounds in a few hours.

As he waited for his food, he mentally reviewed his progress with his new jutsu. In spite of the fact that his sensei told him he was advancing quickly, he still felt he needed to learn faster. It wouldn't be long before saving Sasuke would become a moot point.

He sighed as the raven-haired young man's name formed in his mind. He was trying to keep him firmly albeit indirectly in his mind. That way he could focus on his goal without dragging up all the emotions associated with him. However, once his name came to mind all of his thoughts and feelings came rushing back with it and his concentration got shot to hell.

The image of Sasuke standing atop the ledge above the ruined hideout flashed before his mind's eye. Seeing him standing there calm and composed with a hand on his hip as if he found the whole situation vastly amusing and yet beneath his notice at the same time.

Naruto had felt as if he had been hit in the chest with a sledgehammer.

Granted the exhaustion he had felt since fighting with Orochimaru had contributed to his inaction. But it was also trying to swallow past the sudden lump in his throat and dealing with his suddenly frantic heartbeat that held him locked into place as well.

He stubbornly refused to accept the bullshit explanation that his best friend had tried to feed him concerning his reasons for not killing him at the Valley of the End. Even before going to join the snake Sannin, Sasuke had always tried to deny he had any human feelings.

Then Sasuke had jumped down and appeared directly in front of him, putting an arm around his shoulders. That time Naruto had frozen up from fighting with himself to keep from sinking into his friend's embrace and pleading with him to come home. Of course then the bastard just had to try and kill him again (pathetically, he might add) and everything went to shit.

Naruto was jolted out of his thoughts as he felt someone sit down on the stool beside him. He noticed the cooling bowl of ramen that had apparently been placed in front of him unnoticed.

'The bastard's screwing with my ramen now. That I can't forgive,' he grumbled mentally. He glanced over at the pink head of hair that moved into his personal space.

"Sakura-chan!" he greeted, plastering a smile on his face. It wasn't that he was unhappy to see her, quite the contrary. However, he was enjoying one of his few successful brooding sessions. He usually didn't brood too well, finding the whole process boring after a good 10-15 minutes of angst. Kami knew that he certainly didn't have it down to the art form that the bastard did.

"Hello, Naruto," she said with what seemed to be forced cheer. "I've been looking everywhere for you." She beamed a smile at him that was almost as fake as his own and reached over to clasp his hand in hers.

He blinked in surprise a moment then gave her a more sincere smile accompanied by a light blush. "If you had wanted a lunch date with me, you only had to ask!"

"Unfortunately, I don't have time today," she replied, squeezing his hand tighter. "I have to get back to work. I'll talk to you later. Ja!"

Naruto kept his fingers curled around the small note in his hand, casually sliding it into his pocket as she left. He hurriedly gulped down his food, paid for it and left the stand. Once he was somewhere semi-private, he unfolded the note and read the contents. His eyes widened and without a second thought, started running towards the Hokage Tower.

Sprinting up the steps two and three at a time, Naruto skidded to a stop in front of the door to the Hokage's office. A masked ANBU was leaning against the wall next to the door. As he started moving toward the entrance, the ANBU smoothly stepped in his way.

"The Hokage is currently in a meeting. Come back later," he said in an emotionless voice.

"But I really need to talk to her!" Naruto protested.

"Hokage-sama is meeting with the elders. They are not to be disturbed."

Naruto gave a growl of frustration and headed back down the stairs. Once he was out of sight, he hopped out the nearest window and headed up the side of the Tower wall. Once he was a floor below Tsunade's window, he suppressed his chakra and jumped to the next floor. Catching a hold of the window frame, he pulled himself up only to find and empty office.

He was about to leave when he noticed the door to the conference room slightly ajar. Being as silent as possible, he eased the window open to see if he could hear. After all, if Tsunade-baachan was talking to the village elders they were probably discussing getting Sasuke back.

"Absolutely not!!" Tsunade's voice rang out in the room.

"No, Tsunade, things will be this way," an older female voice stated unequivocally. "We tried things your way. The first mission he steps outside the village for, he gets attacked by one of the strongest members of the Akatsuki. It was only providence that an elder from the Sand Village was there to help them escape."

She sighed and Naruto could almost envision her shaking her head. "No more missions. The jinchuuriki will stay in the village where he will be better protected."

"But as I stated before-" Tsunade started.

The elder interrupted her, "Yes, yes, the village would be in more danger and if he keeps moving they won't find him. I heard your arguments the last time we had this discussion. However, they found him quickly and easily. At least in the village there are those that can protect him and keep him out of Akatsuki hands. No more missions and I want at least two ANBU trailing him at all times. You've indulged him enough Tsunade. It is time you put the village and your duties before you feelings for the boy."

An older male voice spoke up at this time. "We are still considering the Hyuuga curse seal. If he is captured, it would be better if he dies rather than that evil organization getting their hands on the Nine-Tails."

At this announcement, Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief and dawning horror.

"He will not fall into enemy hands, I have said this before." Tsunade sounded strangled as if she were trying to reason with the elders and not outright shouting at them. "As I said, I would stake my life on it-"

"That was before he was almost taken the moment he stepped out of the village," the male voice stated calmly. "And besides, Tsunade, it isn't just your life that you are betting with. It is the lives of everyone in this village, potentially the lives of everyone in this country. And frankly, we all know about your luck and gambling."

Naruto moved his numb body to jump down to the floor below him, not hearing Tsunade's continuing arguments. Fumbling to get a handhold, he half crawled, half fell through the window and onto the floor. Shaking, he climbed to his feet.

'No longer to be able to leave the village. No longer to be able to go on missions. Either stuck at the missions desk or the academy (no offense Iruka-sensei.) No, it would be the mission desk. There were still some in the village that wouldn't tolerate "the demon" teaching their children. ANBU following me everywhere. Kami-sama! A possible curse seal on my head to fry my brains if I get caught!'

By now Naruto was blindly walking down the stairs, seeing nothing but his grim future. He abruptly stopped in his tracks. 'I won't be able to bring back Sasuke.'

Naruto spent a good five minutes rolling the fact around in his mind. 'I won't be able to bring back Sasuke.' He felt panic seize his heart. He couldn't give up on Sasuke. For Sakura's sake. For the promise he made. For his own sake.

"I have to go," he whispered out loud.

"Oh, no problem, Naruto-niichan. I understand you're busy learning cool new moves. Maybe you can teach me your new pervy jutsu later."

Naruto glanced up to see Konahamaru who apparently had been there talking to him without him realizing it. "You should get some rest soon, you look out of it. I'll talk to you later! Ja, ne!"

"Yeah, later," Naruto murmured dazedly. His hands slipped into his pockets and brushed the note from Sakura. Mouth firming in resolve, he started to walk.

TBC