Change of heart

Hey all. It's been a while I know but here's a new chapter for all your viewing pleasure. I'll have another chapter up in a week or so.
Enjoy!

Chapter 3


Sasuke woke to the cheerful chirping of morning birds. The sun shone brightly through the blinds that covered his window.
'Stupid birds.' He thought grumpily as he climbed out of bed. He hissed as his bare feet made contact with the cold floor and he stood, stumbling slightly. He wasn't a morning person.
Going through his usual morning routine he glared about his house in a foul mood.
He had promised himself that he would talk to Naruto today. Right. Talk to Naruto. Talk to Naruto while somehow evading the usual argument. Sure. Anything was possible.
Sasuke left his apartment and headed towards the training grounds. There was no mission today so they had all agreed to meet and train together for a few hours.
Walking swiftly towards the training grounds he shuddered slightly as he heard the familiar shriek.
"Sasuke-kun!" Turning Sasuke watched as his pink-haired team-mate ran towards him. Sasuke truly didn't know why she bothered. When Naruto had dragged him back from Orochimaru, he had been pleased that Sakura had started dating Lee. Maybe she would stop bothering him , but no such luck. Sakura was still as clingy as ever and for some strange reason, she had been trying to get him hooked up with one person after another, ever since his return. It was annoying to say the least.
"Sakura." He said in a careful greeting.
"Hey." She smiled as she caught up to him. They continued to walk to the meeting place and Sasuke was confused but he unusual silence.
"Sasuke?"
"Yeah?" He was surprised by Sakura's soft quiet voice.
"Um... Did..." She looked over and stared for a few moments before turning for face to the ground. Frowning tightly she turned back to him and continued.
"I'm not sure if you noticed but Naruto was acting a little strange yesterday."
Sasuke snapped his neck around to stare at her. He honestly had thought that he was the only one to notice and that if she did notice, Sakura wouldn't care enough to talk about it.
"I did notice." He said after a minute of silence.
She blinked up at him but didn't seem surprised at all. "Yeah. I sort of figured you'd notice."
He frowned at her."What do you mean?"
"Well it's just that ever since you came back, you've gotten closer to each other. You don't fight all that often, you even carry on decent conversation once in a while."
Sasuke stared at her startled. "I suppose that's true." He looked thoughtfully at the ground. 'How did that happen? When did that happen? I didn't notice it all.'
"Well, I was wondering if you knew what was bothering him. Maybe he would tell you." She looked over to him hopefully.
Sighing, Sasuke shook his head. "No, he didn't. I was wondering the same thing as you though." He stared at the ground with a small frown marring his handsome Features.
Sakura sighed. "I see."
They walked on in silence.
"Hey." Both of them looked up suddenly. "Why do you two look so down?"
"Kakashi-sensei." Sakura and Sasuke sat down by their teacher to wait for Naruto. Sakura turned to Kakashi suddenly.
"Kakashi-sensei, did you... Did anything bad happen to Naruto as far as you know?"
He turned and looked at her with his one curious eye. "A great many had things have happened to Naruto."
"Yes." Sakura agreed. "But I mean recently. Something recent which would have upset him."
"Ah. So you both noticed Naruto's strange behavior yesterday as well." He nodded and put a hand to his chin, apparently thinking.
"I'm afraid there's nothing as far a s I know." Both Sasuke and Sakura looked down dejectedly. "But I did see him visit the hokoge, day before yesterday. She may know something."
Sakura smiled brightly. "Great! I have to train with her for a couple of hours this evening." She turned to Sasuke and clapped her hands together. "We could ask her then!"
"Shouldn't we ask Naruto first?" Sasuke asked.
"I did! Yesterday after practice but he just did his usual laugh and told me I was imagining things." Sakura tossed her short hair. "You know him. He doesn't like others knowing when something is hurting him. So are you going to come with me tonight or not?"
Sasuke looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You're going to ask her whether I come or not, aren't you?"
"Oh course!" Sakura said smiling.
He sighed. "Then I might as well come with you. Then I can ask any questions I might have."
Sakura grinned. "Good. Now be quiet. Here comes Naruto." She said as she waved to the approaching blond.

Sasuke stretched his tired muscled as he walked with Sakura to Tsunade-sama's home. It had been a tiring day. Apparently the day after Naruto was spacey and depressed he liked to beat himself into an exhausted heap. He had succeeded but on the way he had pounded his team-mates into the dirt as well. So four stumbling, exhausted shinobi had left the training grounds. Even Kakashi was sweating.
After a hot shower and a good meal Sasuke had felt human again and he had spent the afternoon studying his ninja scrolls.
Sakura had come to his house after supper to pick him up walking quietly in the disappearing light they came up to Tsunade's home and Sakura opened the door.
The interior was bright and friendly. Red ran rampant in the bright home. Everything seemed to be touched my it.
Leading the way through a series of hallways and stairwells, Sakura led Sasuke to the hokoges office. She opened the door and walked into Tsunade's spacious home.
Sakura." Turning Tsunade smiled at her young protege. "You brought a guest."
"Yes. Tsunade-sensei, we had something we wanted to talk to you about before I start my training for today."
Tsunade nodded and gestured for them to sit down. "OK. Shoot."
Sakura nodded and looked down at the floor. "We, Sasuke and I have noticed that for the last couple of days, Naruto hasn't really been himself. He's been quiet and depressed. For Naruto that's really weird. We talked to Kakashi-sensei and he said he didn't know anything but that Naruto had come to see you, day before last. We were wandering if you knew what had upset Naruto."
Sasuke stayed quiet and let Sakura talk, she was better at the sort of thing then he was.
Tsunade looked at them both for a moment before sighing. "I'm afraid I can't tell you."
"What...?" Sakura began.
She held up a hand. "That is for Naruto to say or not."
"But." Sasuke interrupted.
"No. It's nothing that affects either of you so you don't have a right to that information. You can ask Naruto and it's up to him wither he tells you or not."
"But sensei."
"No, Sakura. I won't tell you. You'll have to ask Naruto."
"all right." Sakura said looking down. "I guess I'll see you later Sasuke. I should get to my studies."
Sasuke frowned and glared at both Sakura and Tsunade before slamming the door on his way out.
Tsunade chuckled. "That boy is too hasty."
"Is Naruto really all right Tsunade-sensei?"
She sighed. "He will be all right eventually. I hope he decides to tell you. I think it would help him."
"I hope so too Tsunade-sensei. We're worried." Sakura said quietly.
"It'll be all right, Naruto's strong. But for now you need to practice so get to work!"

Dagan