Dreams

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto... (prays to be mine....then struck by lightlning)

+++++++ time change (past/present)

----------- scene change

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Chapter Three: Last Chance

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chap 3

"NO!" Naruto ran toward the fallen shinobi. Blinding emotions kept Naruto from realizing the black flames that covered the face of his enemy before he dissapeared from view. This mistake caused Naruto to jump off the waters edge and collide with a flying Sasuke. Blue eyes turned red upon seeing the ashen skin and cobalt blue hair. Red chakra swarmed around the Hokage before throwing a fist at the damned cross on the cursed's face. Sasuke leaned back and rolled in the air and caused Naruto to fall to the rocks.

"HOKAGE-SAMA!" rung through the air as hundreds looked on morbidly to their leaders' supposed death. But of course, you can't kill a demon that easily. The kyuubi container compleated a sommersault and landed smoothly between some rocks, the water rippled away from his form as he doubled his power. Naruto sat there, crouched between two rocks that suspended him just inches off the water.

"I can't believe you fell for that. You're just as weak as you were when we were young, and just as pathetic." Sasuke then launched himself toward the fallen blond. Sasuke prepared for chidori once again and thrust his fist before him.

Naruto's head snapped up and held his hand at his lips, he inhaled for Sasuke's famous Katon jutsu. He exhaled a more grander fire ball than Sasuke had ever created. The flying beast froze in mid-air and released his chidori to protect his face. Fire enveloped around him as he breathed in hot air and flame through his surprise. Naruto held the jutsu until Sasuke's singed and battered body fell from the mass of flames and into the water. The blond hokage followed shortly.

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The next day you could see Sasuke still beaming with the afterglow of sex. Sasuke knew that his blond lover had gone away for a mission or something, but he couldn't help but think of that blond haired blue eyed beauty.

"Sasuke!"

The way that those lean muscles rippled above his body and under his touch. Those deep blue eyes that had lost it's naive brilliance only to be filled with the deep blue wisdom.

"Oi, Are you listening to us?"

Had Naruto always had these feelings toward him? Was that why he--

A hand waved infront of the daydreaming eyes, the body stopped abruptly to take in his surroundings. He was heading toward the fields where him and Naruto used to train as kids. Three pillars stood erect out of the ground down the hill and some ways.

"Honny, we've been trying to talk to you for a while now." Sakura chuckled a little.

"What's got you in dream land in the middle of the day, Uchiha?" Lee asked without the usual suffix behind his name. Sasuke ignored it, the missing 'Sasuke-san' or 'Uchiha-san', he actually missed the way the 13 year old flamoyant ninja said his name.

"Sorry." was all he could offer, unfortunately, he noticed a little too late that he was grinning like a cheshire cat who had gotten into all the cream. He started off walking again with the expecting parent's behind him. Perhaps he was happy for them as well as for himself. He felt like he should say something. "Sakura, I just wanted to say congrat's on your pregnancy, I know you both will make great parents."

Sasuke missed the way that the two looked at him, then looked at each other, then looked down at Sakura's still flat mid-section. Wait, she was what?! Sakura had just found out yesterday afternoon, went to the temple, prayed and told her dead family and friends about the good news, and was planning on telling Lee today. There was no way that even Ino would have found out by now. So how was it that Sasuke knew?

"There's Shika-a- my Captain, See ya later guys." With that damned smile again, plastered on his face. If any one were to ask why the usually dark and distant Uchiha and an Anbu Captain were both glowing but concealing it differently, well, they would obviously deny it. Although, both men were obviously floating a little higher than the rest, they both showed it differently. Shikamaru hid his outward feelings, trying to act a little indifferent to everything while Sasuke tried in vain to cover his smile and the way his body was toatally relaxed.

"Had a good night Sasuke?" Shikamaru asked his new subbordinate.

"One you could hardly re-create, or mimic with your talents." Sasuke said smugly.

"Or with your Sharingan as well I'm presuming." Shikamaru moved from a little more than casual talking straight into business. Sasuke put on his game face and followed his Captain more better than the others would have thought.

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The following weeks were a flurry of training and missions for Anbu Captain Shikamaru's team. All were done though, without problems, without any hinges, regretably to the others, all because of Sasuke. Eversince the ninja had joined their team, their Captain was a little more at ease, he was finally able to think straight again. Little had known, but their leader was about to be de-moted to Jounin work, or possibly even Chunnin. The other teammates were actually glad that Sasuke had had this effect on their captain.

"Alright, We have a mission tomorrow. Assasination. Someone is leaking out information to Lightning that we have Nan-daime's Jutsu scrolls. Everyone knows that Naruto-sama had created his own jutsu's in the last, for lack of better words, in his last days." Shikamaru's eyes darkened but never blamed the guilty one. "We are to destroy the traitor and cover up any loose ends. Hokage-sama has informed me that it may take months. Be ready."

With that, three members dissapeared while the other two stayed. Simply tolerating eachother's presence. Sasuke wished that he could be able to see his dobe before he left.

"Sasuke." the shadow user said, but he was unsure what he wanted out of the brunett. "Nevermind. We'll talk later."

They walked back to the villiage in silence. Unexpectedly, enjoying each other's company. They even decided, without telling each other, that they would eat dinner together. It was a quiet dinner, Shikamaru had payed, seeing as he no longer could pay for Chouji's meals. Sasuke apologized like he did a week ago for his friends' death. Shikamaru gave a small smile.

"There haven't been any clouds lately." Sasuke said conversationally. Shikamaru looked the other way.

"I haven't looked at clouds anymore, not since the war. Too many familiar faces." Shikamaru said honestly, without blame.

They arrived at Sasuke's apartment, the man had never even entered his estates upon coming back. He intended to turn his back on his past. They stood outside, lingering on their newly developed friendship. Their backs against the wall, one looked up while the other gazed down. Black eyes roamed the sky, a cloudless night, you could see the stars perfectly. The moon hung above their heads providing a shelter from the darkness. Their elbows brushed, Sasuke's head snapped back down from the sky. Their gazes locked. An unexpected event. Yet, each shared a hallowness neither expected to find. Their souls connected through the thin layer of defence.

Closer they drew, neither knew why, but it was as it was. Noses touched for their own kiss while their southern neighbor's drew closer together. A gentle touch, soft, full lips caressed smaller, dry lips. Shikamaru's mouth opened up to Sasuke's invading tounge. A strong, smooth muscle played with the other, dancing, languidly together. Their heads bobbed as they tried to delve further into eachothers mouth. Shikamaru wrapped arms around the taller shinobi's neck, their bodies melted together. Sasuke was amazed that he was alright with this. His lover was out on a dangerous mission while he was kissing his lovers' friend. Somehow he knew, that this was an alright thing to do. Shikamaru's kiss grew amazingly needy, the mouths organ pressed harder into Sasuke's receiving mouth as another organ pressed into the other. Hardening erections shared their pleasure together, meeting for the first time. Inside the men's heads were timid thoughts, displayed by almost agressive touches. Sasuke's hand found Shika's round bottom and gave it a gentle squeeze. A moan was swallowed. Their kiss broke, breathless as they were, they ground into eachother, their dicks loving the attention.

"Is it alright if I come inside?" dirty thoughts danced inside the Uchiha's head, wondering the possibilties that he could do with the smaller man's body. Shikamaru's voice was heavy when he spoke, his desire filling his lungs, his need, slowly building below. Sasuke nodded, and invited the sweet plum fragrant man inside his house.

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Nobody would have been the wiser if they had seen the two men walk out of the ex-traitors apartment dressed and ready to take on a rogue ninja. Of course, nobody was up before the birds as well. No one would have asked why the two ninja's had a fullfilled smirk on his face, and the other, a content and calm gaze, dark brown eyes peircing the sky once again.

It wasn't that Shikamaru could read the clouds and predict the future. It was only that he forgot that this was how he was able to sharpen the mind's blade and know what was coming by logic. So, as it were, they were waiting for the other three members that would meet them in three hours time. They enjoyed the peace while the nature of the world stirred and woke. Leaning against the proverbial old oak tree, Shikamaru was looking at the sky, picking at the signs, sorting through time to find what was yet to come. He found, that in a short while, something was going to happen, it was unclear what. But something, in the cliche of life changing events, his life was to be impacted and shaped differently. He knew he would come out of it heartbroken and lonely again. Would he lose Sasuke? He hoped not. No, he would not, Naruto made sure of that. They would be together forever.

Brown eyes closed and head lowered to complete the body's slouch. Hands deep in his pocket he pushed himself off the tree. Black eyes that held the ability of turning menicingly red, followed his lover's every move.

"Sasuke." the man paused his movement. "I need to grab something from my house. Tell the other's I'll be back momentarily."

He waited.
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"Aa. I'll be here."

The double meaning was not lost between the two. Yeah, Sasuke will be in that same spot, in that same position when Shikamaru returns. But, the Uchiha made a promise he was not able to make to Naruto.

----

They stopped for the first time that day to take a much earned rest. They had found their mark. The man was fast, but Sasuke was faster. One would have to be fast to be able to dodge and run from a Kage or two. Although, when Sasuke had caught up to his target, he found it hard to kill the man. Was it a traitors grace that kept this man from dying? He, the rogue, deserved a second chance did he not? Were not Sasuke's crimes greater than this man's. He was given that chance, hell, he was given more than a second. With every apology he made in the past few months, he was given another chance. The answer it seemed. Was no. The man didn't get a chance. Shikamaru and the rest arrived as soon as they did only to kill the man on the spot, no questions asked.

It was then, that Sasuke understood. The Konoha ninja knew, somehow, that all along, Sasuke had not truly wanted to leave everyone behind. To betray the villiage. This man was selling information, wait, no, he was giving information to another villiage with the intent to destroy the weak foundations of a once great country.

Sitting against a very large Bamboo shoot, Sasuke contemplated the man's life and compared it with his own. There was a great distsance between them. Sasuke left for power. The man stayed to bring down his own, he also killed many ninja after him and suspicious of him to keep his secret. Sasuke hadn't killed anyone from his home until the war three years ago. The war. The war.
A war that was devestating for both sides. The war was what crippled a great country and it's allies.

Sasuke remembered the war, quite morbidly, he remembered who was lost. Something he hadn't thought about before. He remembered seeing his master fall after a fight to a leaders position. An echo of his name. Rememered feeling his body being smashed and burnt, like it had in the Valley of the End. The echo returned. He could almost feel his heart break as liquid life ran down his arm from--

"Sasuke!" said man's head snapped up. The others were looking at him. "Sasuke, I've been calling your name." Shikamaru said plaintively. "Get some rest, we're leaving in six hours."

The others turned to finish setting up camp. Bed rolls, they couldn't be caught in a tent. No fire, too dangerous, food, dried meat and dehydrated fruit. Shikamaru came to sit by him.

"What were you thinking about?" Shika brushed a lock of hair behind his ear. "I can never tell with your mask on."

There was a double meaning again. The anbu mask hid his physical face, but the mask to his true emotions was what had kept so many people out of his life for as long as he had lived.

"I was just--" what was he doing? Now, he couldn't remember. "-- thinking."

Shikamaru nodded and took off his mask. Sasuke followed and revealed a disturbed face. He was trying hard to remember, was trying hard to forget as well. His past, it seemed, always seemed so dark. They sat in silence and in the night. Two comrades sleeping, one keeping watch from above.

"Sasuke, I--" he knew, now, that he had to do this "--wanted to give you something. Needed is more the word." he couldn't predict what his reaction would be. He fished in his pouch and brought out a small black scroll. "This was from... a friend. He tried giving it to you but he--" died "--couldn't." he handed the small object to his lover. "I wasn't sure what it was--" liar "--untill I read mine. It's more or less a present. He said that your sensei always said to 'Read underneath the underneath.' and that applies to this. I just want you to know as well love, that Naruto and I will always be there for you."

There, not here, was Shikamaru and Naruto planning to leave him for a while? He couldn't be sure. So, Sasuke sat staring at it. He couldn't bring himself to open the scroll and read the appologies and forgiveness. To read what was left for him, to read the death of-- What was he talking about. He didn't know what was inside this scroll.

"Don't read it till we get home love." Shikamaru kissed Sasuke goodnight on his neck and turned to his bed roll.

Sasuke didn't want to read it. What ever it was.

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A few weeks had passed since their return and after a few nights of love making, could only guess that Sasuke had not read his scroll. He knew that it was important, he knew that it would drive away the denial and hopefully, bring new life to his own world. Yet, a part of him wished that he wouldn't. They could live in bliss as ignorant fools do. They could love eachother for eternity to come. But Sasuke and himself couldn't live for eternity if the man didn't read his scroll.

Shikamaru was approaching the Hokage Tower to talk to a comrade, since they couldn't really declare themselves friends. The man was stressed beyond relief and to make matters worse, he heard chaos coming from the open window of said comrade's window. He recognized the voice to be Sasuke's. As fast he could, he ran up the stairs and down a few dim corridors to reach the Hokage's office.

"Sasuke you have to believe me." That was Sakura's strained voice. Voices only strain like that when they are either trying to hold back sob's and fresh tears or trying to hid old ones. This couldn't be good. "He's dead."
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No.

............They told him.

....How could they tell...

................................him.

................They promised.

........They promised he could tell him.

........................Sasuke.

........He didn't deserve this.

.....................................He deserved to live in bliss.

............................Deserved to live with Naruto and himself.
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He approached the wide open door to see a red eyed Sakura, the back of Neji, and Sasuke's disbelief and obvious pain. Two set's of eyes pinned Shikamaru to the spot. He looked at Sasuke, about ready to cry himself. They promised.

"Shika... They... I don't believe them... Did you know?" Sasuke was on boarderline hysterics. "They said he died.... but not in the mission he took a few months ago.... Why had it been so long? I haven't seen him... Where is he? Shika?" His eyes... they were lost. You could clearly see his soul. Broken, unmendable. "What are they saying?"

Shikamaru wanted to cry. He wanted to breakdown and cry right there. Instead he walked over and held his lover close to his body. Neji still had his back turned but it was obvious now, by the position of his head, that he was listening and aware of the conversation between two lovers. Sakura began to cry unabashed.

"Baby, I'm sorry." I can't. "They're right." [Blue eyes shining brightly] "He's gone." { 'Maru, don't forget.} I can't believe this. "He died at the Valley." No. [His smile could blind people from it's brightness and beauty.] {I love you.} "It wasn't your fault." I killed him. {I love you both.} [His warm embrace.] "He's dead." No don't say it.... I KNOW....... i know. "Naruto is dead."

Suddenly.. the reason why all those dreams came to him. He knew that they were his past. But it was like dreaming something he never lived, reading a book and not knowing the end. He couldn't remember. Now he remembered. Now, he couldn't forget.

"I need--" he wasn't crying. "--to be--" he couldn't cry "--alone." Sasuke tore himself away from Shikamaru a little too harshly and dissappeared in a cloud of smoke from the jutsu. All three were crying. Shika collapsed and bawled mercilessly into his hands. He knew what his love was going to do. And once again... he couldn't bring himself to follow the one he loves.

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Underneath the water, Sasuke's body swirled in the rapids. Naruto swam to the winged ninja and grabbed him around his waist. He kicked his feet and swam almost helplessly against the current trying to pull him down. Quickly, he released Sasuke's limp form to produce hand seals and, once again, aimed from his mouth. Only this time, instead of fire, a powerful stream of water shot from Naruto's pinched hands. He quickly grabbed Sasuke with his free arm as he drove to the surface.

Two bodies came shooting out of the water and landed roughly on the rocky banks. Several Konoha shinobi and others from the allying nations gathered around a huffing Naruto and an unconcious beast that was Sasuke. The Kage of Sand held Naruto's head as he coughed out water slightly tinged with blood.

"I'm alright. Check on Sasuke." Sai walked over to the blue creature and checked his pulse. It was feignt but it was still steady.

"He's fine. Just passed out." Sai looked up and smiled at Naruto. "You did it Naruto, you brought him back just like you said."

Naruto let out a releived chuckle and tried to sit up. He stopped before he could sit up all the way and looked at Sasuke's still form. //If he's passed out, how come his form wasn't released?// Sai stood up and took one step toward his friend, his smile still on his face.

"NO SAI!!" It was only a fraction of a second before Sai's stomach had a hole seven inches in diameter in it.

end chap 3
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