Aims and Dreams

Chapter 3

This statement let Naruto take a sharp breath and clench his fists in tension. The mere thought of finally meeting his friend again released unexpected energies in him. Yet the blonde didn't know how to act when he faced Sasuke. His feelings were a nothing but a chaotic mixture of anticipation, nervousness and anger and he would have loved to let them out, but didn't know how.

Part of him wanted to beat the living daylight out of the bastard for everything he had done. At the same time there was so much he wanted to tell him, to talk over with him as well as many insults he'd hurl at him.
But even if Naruto wasn't quite able to manage the confusion of his emotions, there was one intention he was absolutely sure about: This time he would bring Sasuke back to Konoha at any cost.


As the eight-headed group finally reached the clearing the blond boy involuntarily held his breath. In the middle of the treeless area was the raven-haired male with three other shinobis and was looking at the direction the Konoha ninjas were approaching from.
Although the Uchiha sat relaxed in the grass, Naruto was appalled how pale and drained his friend looked.
Rays of the sun let the beads of sweat on his skin glisten and tousled strands of his black hair were sticking on his bloodstained face. Dark shadows beneath his onyx-colored eyes were even better noticeable because his skin seemed to have lost its color.
Only when Naruto managed to avert his gaze from Sasuke to take a closer look at the surroundings, he made out that the body behind his raven-haired friend was Itachi. That the elder Uchiha lay there motionless left only one conclusion and the boy's blue eyes widened with realization. The bastard had made it!

A few meters before Sasuke the Jinchuuriki stopped and didn't exactly know what to say nor do. The uneasy feeling in his stomach and chest, which he had felt for a while, was almost unbearable now.

As the two teens were facing each other the rest of the world seemed to fade to insignificance, since their undivided attention was focussed on each other.

"Hn, you're really persistent, I’ll give you your due, dobe," Sasuke mused and his voice held overtones of arrogance, "You'd better give up bringing me back to Konoha."
"Shut up," Naruto yelled, he didn't want listen to this shit. The bastard's attitude towards him pissed him off and to his already quite pressurized emotions this was the last straw that broke the camel's back. Kyuubi's influence became apparent, the whisker-like marks had noticeably deepened and his fangs seemed longer and sharper. "I will take you home even if I have to break all your bones!"

"I haven't got a place to call home any more," the Uchiha’s voice was flat, however for the split of a second Naruto saw sadness beyond description in those black eyes.
The blonde didn't know if it had only been his imagination or if his eyes were playing tricks on him, because the emotions were gone as sudden as they had appeared.

The demon vessel swallowed hard and he tried to figure out what hurt more: The bastard's claim not to have a 'home' or the unexpected melancholy in this usually so emotionless gaze.
Yet he still remembered that he had promised himself he would drag Sasuke-teme back to Konoha – if necessary by brute force. He crossed his fingers in a hand sign, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Around the black-haired male appeared about ten blond clones and formed a circle. The bunshins heard the Uchiha sighing as he activated his sharingan. They watched the boy standing up quickly and skilfully, but they were taken aback by the lack of the usual elegance.

As Sasuke stood on his feet again the world around him started to spin and he saw small, white dots dancing before his eyes, which rapidly grew into large, black spots and covered his view. Suddenly his shaky legs gave in and he lost his balance, while a distant and worried voice called his name.

A thud was heard as the Uchiha's unconscious body hit the ground.

Naruto cursed inwardly that he hadn't been quick enough to catch Sasuke in time. His anger was all of a sudden like blown away and only concern for his friend remained. The ninja dispersed his clones, which burst with loud popping noises and knelt down in the grass next to the black-haired male.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto called nervously, turned his head and his gaze wandered until it got caught on pink hair. The girl had sat down and was undoing the bloody bandage, which was tied around the leg of the unknown kunoichi with bright red hair.
Sakura bent over her patient and inspected the wound accurately; afterwards she took some deep breaths. She lifted her hands, green chakra had gathered there and she directed it into the thigh of the female shinobi.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto yelled again, this time imploring and impatient.
What if Sasuke's life was in danger? He felt his blood run cold at this thought and a searing pain hit his chest.
"I'll see to him soon, Naruto. However – right now she needs my help the most," the young woman muttered in a chocked voice. She felt distracted by the loud boy.

The blonde sighed distinctly to make sure everybody heard how indignant he was at having to wait until the male next to him finally got medical care as well.
Naruto looked down at the raven-haired and his flawless face. Gently he stroked the smooth skin of the person that meant so much to him, while he lovingly combed blue-black, silky strands to his sides.

"Don't let your thoughts pull you down. I'm sure he's alright," Kakashi tried to reassure the blond boy with his soothing, deep voice. The copy-nin laid his hand encouraging on the shoulder of his student and, as far as Naruto was able to tell because of the mask, he was smiling at him.

The calming words had the desired effect and the teen relaxed slightly. He looked around out of curiosity and noticed Hinata standing beside Sakura with a greenish complexion. The sight of the injury was evidently too much for the shy girl.
Yamato-taichou and Shino seemed to be absorbed in a conversation with the huge, orange-haired ninja, but they were too far away for Naruto to be able to listen to them. Since nothing else attracted his gaze he spaced out soon.

"Alright, I'll check Sasuke-kun's condition now," a high voice sounded behind Naruto. The boy quickly turned around and stared expectantly in the kunoichi's turquoise eyes.
Sakura knelt down and started to examine the unconscious, young male. A minute later she smiled at the blonde ninja, "It seems as if Sasuke-kun physically reached his limits. His body saw no other solution than forcing a rest. Naruto, he's fine! His injuries are minor and he's asleep, but he'll have to take it easy for some time."

The boy's blue eyes were shining overjoyed, because Sakura's explanation washed away all his concerns.


Soon after that the group, including three additional ninjas, set off for Konoha. Naruto insisted on carrying Sasuke himself, which no one raised an objection against.
While the blond shinobi was leaping from branch to branch a strange feeling overcame him. He realized that he would finally keep his promise of bringing the bastard back. For years he had tried to achieve this and the knowledge, that he was about to fulfil it, made his head and heart burst. It seemed too good to be true.

As Naruto looked over his shoulder at the bastard, he felt sad that his friend had no idea how much his return meant to him. In addition to becoming Hokage bringing Sasuke back had become his dream, even if he had never said it out loud.

Meanwhile the Uchiha had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep and was shaken like on a rollercoaster. His body was so cold and numb; his muscles almost started trembling to produce warmth through the motion.
However a source of heat appeared to be quite close to him, one that was so familiar and gave him a sense of security, never asking for anything in return. Therefore he willingly accepted the invitation and cherished the pleasant warmth.

Naruto's cheeks felt like on fire when the blonde sensed Sasuke sighing slightly and pressing closer to him. Was the bastard snuggling up to him?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The sun had set a while ago and the first stars were twinkling in the sky when the eleven-headed group arrived in Konoha. After hospitalizing Sasuke and his team – though Naruto wondered what was wrong with orange-haired giant – the remaining eight shinobis had to give report to Tsunade.

Much to the annoyance of all involved persons the village's elders were also present and, as usual, they seemed to make everything even more complicated. Over and over again they emphasized how much of a threat the Uchiha and the two others were to the villagers. Fortunately Tsunade gained the upper hand concerning most decisions.
So Karin was allowed to recover before they'd decide what happened to her. Juugo's medical case was entrusted with Tsunade and her pupil personally. Naruto was now even more curious about the alarming illness the huge guy had.

On Sasuke a vehement discussion broke out and Naruto, who had been silent before, couldn't help it – he had to butt in on the conversation once in a while to defend his friend.
However no agreement was reached and so the council settled upon severe surveillance by ANBU, until the Uchiha regained consciousness.
When he would wake up long interrogations awaited him and their outcome would determine further measures.

Shortly before midnight the meeting was finally over and Naruto, who was on the way to the hospital together with Sakura, had to get his anger out. "Those stupid elders! They don't even have the faintest idea about anything!"
The young woman had to smile to herself. Her friend always said what he thought and didn't mince his words. Even during the previous debate he had stood up for Sasuke and had given the elders a piece of his mind.


It was absolutely quiet as the two teens entered the hospital and their steps echoed in the corridors while they were looking for their ex-team-mate’s room.

Sasuke was kept under severe surveillance, before his room stood two ANBU-guards, inside were two other ones. Naruto grimaced because he couldn't endure his friend being handled like a dangerous criminal. The blond boy got one of the chairs standing by the window, put it at the bedside and looked absent-mindedly at the sleeping male.
In the meantime Sakura checked the Uchiha's condition and was contented it was as well as one might expect under the circumstances. Her eyelids were heavy and she yawned sleepily, while she looked at Naruto, who had a sad expression on his face.
"I'm looking forward to my warm bed. Naruto, you'd better go home too and get some rest," she suggested trying to cheer him up.
"Mmm... Good night, Sakura-chan," he muttered and the kunoichi saw he had to struggle with himself before he tore his gaze away form the Uchiha and looked her in the eyes.
"Oyasumi nasai, Naruto," she answered and left the room.

After the door had slammed shut, the blue-eyed teen sighed and propped himself on his hands, elbows on the bed and fingers massaging his temples. He didn't feel like going home, much less going to bed. He was afraid that Sasuke's return was just one of those dreams he had had countless times.
Even if this was no dream – who could assure him that his friend would still be there when he returned in the morning? Who could assure him he was still there when he closed his eyes?

He listened to the faint noise of the Uchiha's breathing and watched fascinated as his rib cage rose and fell in a steady rhythm. His sleeping face was so peaceful.
Naruto wasn't able to describe how he felt since the bastard was back – words failed him.

He never ever wanted to lose him again.