Of Birds Who Fly Free

Chapter Two_Recollections

Ten years later, a twenty-six year old Naruto stirred out of his sleep and lay there in bed, staring up at the wall in surprise. He’d had an odd dream of the past, a memory of Itachi’s last request to him just moments before his fatal battle with Sasuke. But those days had come and gone like the changing seasons. The old leaves of Konoha had fallen, replaced by fresh green buds of the new spring.

War had come and gone, tears had been shed, but in the end…Konohagakure and its people were wiser now.

Besides, no one missed those old farts up at the elder council.

“Oi, dobe! Are you planning to sleep all day!” A voice cut through his thoughts, reminding Naruto just what had stirred him from the reminiscent dream.

Looking over towards his bedroom door, his roommate leant on the doorframe and scowled casually at him. Yes, Uchiha Sasuke had a scowl for every occasion. He had a happy scowl, a sad scowl, a casual scowl for all other times, and of course the scowl scowl.

Naruto shifted slightly and finally sat up, yawning and stretching a little in the morning light. “I’m up already! Damnit, teme, it’s only 5 o’clock!”

Sasuke shifted his features to his scowl scowl, “A ninja doesn’t sleep all day. He’s up and prepared by sunrise.”

“Yeah, well, who’s the jounin here?” Naruto shamelessly teased and stuck his tongue out childishly at his chuunin companion.

Sasuke’s scowl deepened slightly at the reminder. Since the war’s end, a lot had changed. Sasuke had killed the elder council, but because of killing Orochimaru, his help in defeating Madara, the fall of Akutsuki, and the case he built up in defense of Itachi and his actions, he’d been pardoned of his crimes under the agreement that he would swear his loyalty to the new Hokage, be under parol with no missions for five years, and only be allowed to advance as far as chuunin.

As for why they now lived together, it was no real shocking reason. The Uchiha District had been destroyed during the fight with Madara, a rather fitting location for the battle when Naruto thought about it, so Sasuke had to crash with the only person that would let him sleep under the same roof with him. And when they’d both became chuunin, they’d got moved to the apartments reserved for jounin and chuunin. And since such accommodations demanded ninja bunk in twos (coed not allowed much to Naruto’s chagrin), they’d decided to just stick it out together.

Of course, Naruto had never imagined when this started that he’d have to deal with Sasuke’s anal scheduling. Ok, that wasn’t really fair. Almost every other chuunin and jounin out there woke up at five or six in the morning. And Sasuke had actually changed his schedule a little to allow Naruto to sleep till six or six thirty. But to Naruto, who’d never stirred until eight, it was murder. Mornings should be made illegal. Maybe he’d ask Kakashi about that.

“Shut it, dobe. Breakfast is ready on the table,” Sasuke snapped, irritably leaving the room.

Naruto snapped out of his thoughts with a huge grin and swung himself out of bed. Having Sasuke as a roommate had lots of perks, though! Sasuke could cook, and though he’d protested against eating anything other then ramen, Sasuke had forced him into normal eating habits. So now he had actual breakfast in the morning instead of toast and ramen. Sasuke didn’t snore in his sleep, so he didn’t have to worry about a roommate that did. Sasuke had a neat freak side, and though he was nagged about it constantly, Naruto’s mess making was now kept in check. And living together…it really felt like they were family now. It was nice not coming home to a quiet, lifeless apartment.

Naruto brushed his teeth and pulled on a t-shirt, heading in to join Sasuke in the small kitchen they’d been supplied with. Today the eggs were burnt, which meant one thing. Sasuke was not in a good mood. Which would explain why he’d woke Naruto up at five rather then let him sleep till six.

Furling his eyebrows in deep thought, Naruto took a bite into some toast and slowly studied the other in an attempt to debunk the situation. It wasn’t pms, because Naruto had already debunked that suspicion years ago. Sasuke really was all guy and no bloody tampons had been found lying about in the trash. It wasn’t Sakura related, as she’d been on a mission for two weeks now and still had three more to go. And he hadn’t brought any girls to his bed last night, so that couldn’t be it.

Sasuke normally got very angry about that last one, mostly because he’d get stuck sleeping on the couch. Though there had been one or two times Sasuke had barged in and kicked Naruto and his nightly mistress out of the room so he could sleep in his own bed.

But he’d thankfully never done that when it was a girlfriend.

But that couldn’t be the reason. Naruto and Hinata had mutually broken up over five months ago, and Naruto hadn’t really felt like taking anyone home with him since. Instead, he’d had other issues. Like his dream last night, for one thing. And a few other odd dreams, all which had occurred around the time Gaara and Lee’s relationship had got outted to the group. It had been like the uncorking of a strange sake. First those two, then Shino and Kiba, then Kakashi and Iruka!

The reality of it was, Naruto had never been told and never had it occur to him that gender didn’t decide a couple. It made him finally realize after so long the full level of intimacy that must have been shared by Haku and Zabuza.

And with this revolution, Naruto had found himself looking at the world with a whole new view on things.

But really, that had nothing to do with Sasuke’s current bad mood. Frowning, Naruto shook himself from his thoughts and turned his gaze away from Sasuke stabbing his egg to the calendar. And then it dawned on him.

“Hee hee…” Naruto snickered, an evil smile lighting his features.

Sasuke paused in his stabbing, glancing up and narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the blonde. “What?”

“~Someone’s got a field trip today!~” Naruto sing songed, unable to pass up the chance to tease Sasuke on something the other hated.

Sasuke growled dangerously, gripping his plate and fork.

“Does someone not like helping watch the widdle kiddies as they pway ninja mission?” Naruto continued to tease, ignoring the warning.

Sure enough, Naruto found himself with a face full of egg and plate, Sasuke grumbling and getting to his feet.

“OI!!! TEME, YOU BASTARD!” Naruto screamed angrily as the plate dropped, leaving a trail of egg and ketchup down Naruto’s face and shirt.

Sasuke paused and looked back at him with a calm expression. “Naruto, you made a mess. Clean up and go take a shower.”

“WHAT!!!!!!!!!” Naruto howled, but was only ignored as Sasuke disappeared.

Naruto sat there looking indignant and wanted to drag the other’s ass back in and make HIM clean up. But when Sasuke failed to return to Naruto’s line of sight, Naruto gave up with a growl and reluctantly cleaned up the mess Sasuke had made. He then made a face at the ruined shirt and sticky goop now in his hair, making his way to the bathroom to shower.

After a thurough cleaning session, Naruto dried off and slipped into his jounin uniform and his father’s coat, something he’d inherited after years of the truth being kept from him. It was an excellent fit, and Naruto was keeping count how many times Kakashi would accidently call him Minato-san rather then Naruto.

“Are you ready to go yet?” Sasuke bravely made his reappearance.

Naruto frowned and raised an eyebrow at him, before smirking. “What. You need me to escort you there?”

“…” Sasuke’s scowl returned.

“And here I thought you were a big boy,” Naruto continued, having learned no lesson that morning.

“Just shut up, Usuratonkachi,” Sasuke growled and turned to leave.

“~Wait up, hun!~” Naruto laughed and rushed after the moody Uchiha.