Der Letzte Tag

A/N: hello! Gah I'm so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I just had a lot of trouble getting through this though once I hit a block. It was my girlfriend who actually helped me get out of it when she helped me figure out the direction i want this story to go in.. so my little muse prevails once again. Anyways, I tried to make this a lengthy chapter for all of you and a beta'd version will be posted soon after.. though you'll notice this being constantly updated once I post it as I'll probably be editing it every time I find something wrong with it.

Anyways, nothing to big happens in this chapter, just another plot advancement. But I did do a little flashback for when Sasuke came back to show the contrast in how he and Naruto are treated. So you'll notice that once you start reading it. More flash backs are to come soon too.. maybe even some more ItachixNaruto goodness too (I will state.. I am a Sasu/Naru fan.. but the Ita/Naru thing is working for this story and it pleases me)

On that note I'd like to give some special thanks to my readers, Kirai who seems to be sticking with this story, as well as Telpei for the awesome review, and everyone else who had reviewed so far. You guys have been awesome so far and I appreciate feedback, it's actually what also motivated me to finish this chapter this evening. So I hope you guys like it. Please ignore all my mistakes right now, they'll be fixed as I go along. XP

One other small update:
Don't forget to add me on livejournal at: http://fujinakaheero.livejournal.com/
to get updates on this story as well as any future projects. :D

Der Letzte Tag
Chapter 3

Hand grasping the shiny silver door knob tightly, Naruto had to calm his fast beating heart in order to figure out what he was going to say this time, he hadn't expected that.
Had Itachi really said that when him and Sasuke confronted each other? What the hell had Itachi been thinking?! Slowly turning around, Naruto faced Sasuke, grin in place again.

“Ne, Sasuke that could have been anyone he was talking about. Why would you assume that was me? Besides, I told you I was traveling with a cute girl.” Naruto began to wonder why Sasuke had chose now to bring this up and not earlier in the past few weeks he'd been there. “Besides why would you assume he was speaking about me when he was talking about someone you wanted?” He laughed at this to show how ridiculous that sounded even to him. Waiting for Sasuke to reply, Naruto shifted on his feet, changing the way he was standing to change what was carrying his weight. Looking back at Sasuke he could see the raven staring at him but was still not saying anything. “If that's all I'm going to bed now, good night teme.” Finally turning around he went into the bedroom he was currently occupying until he could get off his probation.

~*~

Sasuke sat back on his couch. He hadn't responded when Naruto started to speak, who had turned around his doubts about the blond for a moment. But he knew Itachi wouldn't have said something like that to him without it being the truth even if he was a master of deceit and lies. At the moment things were looking grim for the young Uchiha, there were pieces still missing from the puzzle that Uzumaki Naruto made. Finally noting the time, he got up and went to his room. He needed sleep if he was going to be up in time to escort Naruto to the council meeting in the morning.

Stepping into his room and shutting the door behind him he realized something. He still had yet to read the rest of the letter he had received a little more than two weeks ago. He would have to do that tomorrow after the meeting, the letter seemed fairly important this time or at least that is what he gathered from the note and the attitude of it. Making sure to put it in his bed side drawer this time he stripped to his boxers, not wanting to find any pj pants to put on and crawled into bed. He turned off his light and laid in bed, closing his eyes, long black lashes brushing against the under of his eye as they closed. He'd worry about every thing tomorrow when he needed to.

He paused for a moment when he realized that he had never really answered Naruto's question when the dobe asked why he would assume Itachi would be talking about him. He huffed at that, if the blond had to ask then he was much more stupid then he had thought. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but himself, but he harbored feelings for the blond. He always had since they were younger and just in their youthful days, after Naruto had proved to be someone Sasuke could actually trust and knowing that Naruto had never given up on him and took him in again after everything he had done to the blond and the village had deepened his feelings. But he'd call himself a bastard first before he decided to admit that to anyone or tell anyone of these feelings he had. They were already setting him back.

Finally letting go of his current thoughts he finally was able to get some sleep. Sadly dreams of a blond had decided to plague his dreams that evening.

~*~
“Uzumaki Naruto, you are here today to face the trial of becoming a missing nin. It has been just over two years now since your disappearance from Konoha. We now ask why you have come back.” Naruto looked from the elder in the middle who had been talking to the left of him where Tsuande currently was sitting, Hokage robes on. He took a deep breath and released it before speaking.

“I've come back to face any trials I have here. I was young and was too afraid to let things set me back. I have come back after traveling with a woman to face anything that may come now. I am ready to accept any and all consequences.” He bowed to them and waited for them to say something. He already knew the outcome of this, it would be the same as before he had left. He'd be stripped of the title shinobi and would probably be put under house arrest for the next few months until he could be trusted again, giving him time to work on the details of his plan some more, how he would kill them, when he would do it, he smiled inwardly at the mere thought of them suffering.

“Uzumaki Naruto, your actions have put this village is grave danger. You know that if you had been caught by the Akatsuki they would have used you against us, causing danger and harm to all of the village. For that we are required to put you under house arrest for two months with the supervision of Uchiha Sasuke. But it has been brought to our attention that you have come here willingly and we have had proof shown to us that you have done nothing but protect this village while here, for that we have taken that into consideration and have decided that we will not be stripping you of your title as a shinobi. You will be attaining your level of juunin back, after taking a test which Tsuande will be putting you through, but you will not be allowed back into ANBU for one year. If you can prove your worthy and loyalty to the village again we may consider allowing you into ANBU as a member but not a leader. After your two month house arrest is over we will be talking about missions again and possibly allowing you to a team again if, again, you prove your loyalty to Konoha. Expect only C and D level missions and nothing more though.” Naruto frowned, this was not something he had expected, for them to change their minds now after everything he had gone through already. He made sure to give a once over of the elders that sat in front of him, memorizing their faces for later reference. He knew the one in the middle was the main voice of them, the one that gave the orders and was the one to persuade the others to agree with him, he'd have the longest, painful death, by the time he was through with that man, the elder would be begging him to just kill him already. “If there is no other misunderstandings, you may now leave while escorted by Uchiha Sasuke.” Naruto looked back at him.

“I have on question actually. Why has there been a change in what you were planning to do with me?” He couldn't help but glare now, he knew they wouldn't be this nice to him without them expecting something from him in return. They were sneaky little shits after all, he didn't want too much trouble while he stayed here for a bit longer.

“Those matters are none of your concern, but you may thank Tsuande-sama and Jiriya-sama with your verdict.” He glared harder at the middle elder, he knew then that something was going to be amidst, meaning he'd have to be on his guard at all times in case they decided now was the time to do what they were secretly planning, or at least he'd be on guard until his plan was put into action, then the council could fuck themselves for all he cared, not like they would worry about that while they were dying. Looks like he'd have to start mapping out his plans now, though he had no idea how long he'd be here before he went along with his plans. He nodded and bowed to the council who stood and left the room, Tsuande stayed behind after and made her way to the blond. She noticed that the way the council had just treated him and brushed off his question had severely disturbed him. She could already see the walls being put up around him as he smiled at her. Little did she realize that walls were already around him, the Naruto he was showing everyone was someone who had died a long time ago when the only person keeping him sane had been killed.

She put a hand on his shoulder, he was much taller now for her to put her hand on his head like she use to when he was younger, and gave him a small reassuring smile. He titled his head slightly but didn't say a way as they made their way out of the meeting room to be greeted by a disgruntled Sasuke who looked like he had gotten little sleep the night before. He was leaning against the wall closest to the door they had just exited and almost looked like he was sleeping but the eyes that landed on them told them that he was still awake.
Tsuande waved to him to follow, she lead the two men back to her office to brief Sasuke on the verdict and make sure that Naruto was truly ok as he had yet to say a word to her.

As they got into her office they stood in front of her desk where she took a seat at. Her honey eyes looked from one man to the other before sighing, taking the sake that Shizune had placed on her desk before they arrived back at the office, she took a gulp before speaking.

“ I know you two have been together for the past couple weeks now and are probably at the point where you want to kill one another at times. I would change things so that Naruto could stay at someone else's place but at this time I'm at a lost for any control now. But I tried changing their minds on your punishment and it seems to have worked, for now. I want you to be on your guard though Naruto, I know the council can be sneaky but they have not told me anything else. You may now leave and get some food in you brat, you look like you haven't had a decent meal in ages.” She gave him a smile and he returned it with one of his that he had perfected before coming there. Who knew acting would be so easy and so fun? It really was no different from when he was a child, he had smiled, laughed, and acted stupid back then too to hide his true emotions.

~*~


Sasuke and him left the hokage tower in silence. Things were starting to progress for the blond, he had his targets sighted and figured out, now all he had to do was wait for the perfect oppertunity to strike and complete his mission. He was sure many people would be mad at him and even go hunting for him to bring justice, but by the time that happened he'd be long gone again. Just like the last time he left. He looked over to his right where Sasuke was walking beside him, wondering if he'd ever say anything, even though he didn't like to speak much any more he still hated silence for some reason. It probably had something to do with his childhood, but who was he to really know that shit?

They arrived back at the Uchiha compound and separated into their respected rooms once inside, it seemed they both needed their space at the moment. Naruto mostly because he had plans and details to work out, while Sasuke still had that letter from one of his undercover spies to finish reading. He still didn't understand how it took him this long to remember the letter, he had just been getting to finding out more about the new member that had been traveling with his brother and Kisame. The sooner he found out the information he was seeking the sooner he'd find out if Naruto was lying to him last night. He picked up the forgotten scroll from his bedside drawer and began unraveling it to reveal the rest of the letter. As he was about to start reading it he heard a shout from the kitchen. He sighed again, it seemed like the dobe always picked the most inopportune times to do something stupid. Setting the letter aside on his bed he got up and left his room to head to the kitchen. He could hear the blond cussing and throwing things into the sink.

Naruto had went into his room and had went into his pack to retrieve the ring that had belong to Itachi, he needed reassurance that what he was doing was the right thing. He had closed his fist around it and held it to his chest before letting out a puff of air. The sooner he did this mission the sooner he could get out of Konoha and get away from everyone, he felt like he was just suffocating again. He had slipped the ring onto his thumb, letting the cool metal touch the warmth of his skin before deciding he would get some food before sketching out his plans. It wouldn't take him long to sketch out a plan that would allow him to kill effectually and get a head start getting away from the village before people realized what had happened.

With that thought he had headed out to the kitchen to make some food. He had looked through the cupboards to see what was in them. The Uchiha needed to do some shopping again, the cupboards were nearly empty. His stomach let out a loud enough noise to notify Naruto that it was hungry and that it would not accept not being fed. Going through the refrigerator he finally decided on making some udon soup. The bastard could have some too later whenever he got hungry. Taking out the necessary ingredients, he set them on the counter so he could get out a pot big enough to boil everything. Chopping the different veggies and spices had been fine, he had added them to the pot to let them boil to help create flavor for the base. He had put a lid on the pot to boil it quicker and had proceeded to see what else was in the house that he could eat with his food. He had found some bread that he could slice and eat with his soup. He grabbed the sake bottle he had stashed in the back of the 'fridge and warmed it. He went back to the stove where the pot was, he could hear the contents boiling and reached for the lid handle to take it off, not considering that it might be hot to the touch.

And that was where he was now, cursing out loud while the pot lid lay on the kitchen tiles. Instead of thinking logically and putting his hand under cool running water he stood in his spot, waving his hand around in hopes that the air might cool his burning hand. His shouts had brought Sasuke out of his room and looking annoyed. He stood in the threshold to the kitchen and just glared at Naruto, waiting to see what had happened.

Naruto turned around and looked at him. Holding out his hand he said, “I burned my fucking hand on that damn pot lid. This day just fucking sucks, and now look! My hand is fucking red!.” Sasuke couldn't help but give the blond an arrogant smile which set the blond off. “Fucking Teme!! This is no time to be fucking laughing. Look at my fucking hand, there's even a blister on my pinky finger!” Smirk still in place, Sasuke sighed but took the blonds other hand and led him to the bathroom. Setting the blond down on the toilet seat, he left the room for a minute to turn off the stove so nothing burned before returning.

He rummaged through his drawer in his bathroom before pulling out a first aid kit. He opened it and grabbed what looked like some lotion and a bandage. Grabbing Naruto's now angry red hand he opened the lotion bottle and put a generous amount on it. He began to rub it on the angry red burn marks and heard Naruto hiss at the friction it was causing on his burn. He let go of the hand for a moment and grabbed the gauze he had taken out of the kit. Unwrapping some of it he began to bandage the blond's hand.

As he was finishing with the gauze a silver gleam on the blond's hand caught his eye. It looked like a fairly thick banded ring that was a little too big on his thumb. As he turned Naruto's hand around to cut the bandage he looked at the ring once more before the hand snapped away, he had only caught a glimpse of it but he was sure he had seen that ring before. He shook his head, he was just being paranoid. Grabbing the pair of scissors that was in the kit he cut the bandage and stuck it to Naruto's hand. Looking up he was caught off guard when deep blue were looking down on him. He paused for a moment as he stayed still and gazed into deep blue depths. If he had not been looking he would have missed the look of misery flash through those eyes and the tears that seemed like they were being forced back. He frowned.

Naruto was caught off guard when Sasuke had suddenly looked up at him. After he realized that the Uchiha was going to see the ring he was wearing he had snatched his hand away in time. But he had not expected Sasuke to look up at him, nor the feeling he got as he gazed into the coal coloured eyes. For a moment he felt like he was looking at Itachi, the two brothers really did look so much a like. Those eyes were currently looking at him in the same manner as when he and Itachi were laying together at night, they weren't cruel, but filled with worry and something else Naruto never figured out. He almost felt the anguish wash over him and consume his body before he realized where he was and who he was with. Finally realizing that Sasuke was done bandaging his hand he stood up and left the bathroom without another word, taking the ring he was wearing off and putting it away in his room before going back out to the kitchen to resume cooking.

Sasuke soon followed, after getting over the small shock he had experienced after seeing the emotions that had passed in those eyes. He knew there was something Naruto wasn't telling any one and he wanted to know what it was. He sat at the kitchen table to supervise the blond's cooking in case he did anything again. He never questioned the blond about the ring, he still couldn't figure out where he had seen it. He realized one thing though when looking into those eyes, the Naruto that once shined through them wasn't there any more and he wasn't sure if he should have worried more about that.

They ate in silence and had spent the night watching movies for once, just hanging out like normal friends would. Sasuke had forgotten to read the rest of his letter, again.

~~~*~~~

Blue eyes opened slowly as light poured into the room he was sleeping in. He could already feel his legs were cramped and briefly wondered why until he realized he was still out in the living room, in the same spot he was in the night before. Slowly getting up, he stretched out his sore muscles, hearing a crack and pop ever few seconds as his joints tried to loosen. Looking around the room he noticed the movie they had been watching was now at the main menu of the dvd again. He looked over at the couch next to him and noticed Sasuke was there as well, curled up and still asleep. He wondered if he should wake the sleeping man up but then thought against it. Instead he chose to observe him. He started to look at the peaceful face, his features were relaxed. He had long, dark lashes, smooth pale skin, and full lips, and that's when he realized he was practically staring at a mirror image of Itachi. Itachi had looked that way when he was still asleep too. Every once in a while when Naruto would wake up before Itachi he would lay there playing with the other's hair while looking into the sleeping face. He felt his hand reaching out to move a stray piece of hair out Sauske's face and stopped himself before he could take it any further. He still missed the older Uchiha, every day something would happen to remind him of the other and being here, next to said Uchiha's younger brother was probably the biggest reminder of all, that he was gone, that they had been together, that the things he had felt were real and had been crushed at the hands of said younger brother. Moving his hand away, his fist began to clench as he stood.

Mind resolved, he left to his room, leaving Sasuke alone in the living room, to start sketching out his plan. Tonight would be the night he'd do it. He was sick of being here, sick of the memories he was washed away with. Sick of remembering the pain and hurt he had gone through in this village. He wanted out before he started making bonds to people, making friendships again, he didn't want it. He hadn't come here for that in the first place and he didn't care who he hurt while taking out his revenge, because they hadn't cared when he was hurting, when 'those' people had hurt him and so now he was going to hurt them back and make sure they would never hurt anyone again.

Finally in his room he took out a map he had sketched of Konoha and starting mapping out the details he'd need to know for that night.

~*~

FLASHBACK
Sasuke's return

No one was really expecting it that day, when one Uchiha Sasuke walked through the gates of Konoha. Yet there he was waiting for someone to tell him what he was suppose to do. He was now seventeen years old, his revenge still not accomplished but he was ready to face his problems back at home. He knew when the time would come he'd get his revenge and he was willing to wait this time. He wasn't surprised to find an ANBU member come towards him to escort him to the Hokage tower, though he was surprised to see bright, slightly longer, locks of blond hair pulled back in a pony-tail behind the fox ANBU mask. Right then he knew exactly who it was and smirked at seeing the dobe finally accomplishing his dreams. His feelings hadn't changed towards the blond dobe and he was sure they probably never would, he liked him.

His talk with the hokage had been an unpleasant one and he almost had gotten hit with one of her powerful punches, luckily Naruto was there to stop it before it got that far. Though the blond hadn't actually said anything as to who he was it was easy to guess that it was Naruto behind that mask, at least he could tell, if he couldn't then he would have second guessed himself. He had been instructed to stay under the supervision of Naruto- no, Yasha, until the morning, or he could go to the prison and stay in a cell for the night until he met with the damn council. He of course took staying with Naruto for the night. He wanted to laugh though when they had called him Yasha, wasn't that an obvious thing to call him?

Naruto had changed out of his uniform before leaving the tower, it wouldn't do him good if someone saw an ANBU member going home for the night and finding out where he lived. He had lead the way to a different apartment complex from where he use to live as a child. The complex was bigger and the apartments were bigger too. Instead of just a small room with a hot plate and bed all in the same room, he now had a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, and a bathroom, all of which were moderate in size, big enough for one person. So his dobe finally was getting places, getting things he only had dreamed about at one point in his life. He smiled at the blond's back and followed him to the extra room he assumed would be his for the night. He wondered if Naruto would ever speak to him, it seemed like Naruto was avoiding him as much as possible right now. He set his bag down in the room and turned to face Naruto. The blond saw he was being watched and turned away.

“Goodnight.” Was all he got before Naruto left the room to go to his own. He heard a door close and let out a sigh. So maybe he was expecting a better welcome home then this, but this is what he got for hurting the blond so much. He knew they were looking for him and when they had finally seen each other again he had almost killed the blond.. again. It was no wonder at all why he was getting this kind of reaction from him, but deep down he had been hoping for a warmer welcome home from the dobe than this. He sighed and laid down on his bed for the night, letting thoughts of what would happen to him tomorrow drown out his misery.

~*~

He hadn't expected what the council had sentence him. Instead of being angry and sending him to prison they had welcomed him with open arms. Proclaiming that the Uchiha line would gone on with Uchiha Sasuke back in his rightful place. Of course he was told he'd have to go through all the exams again, starting at the genin level that he had left off on. They had basically let him off scotch free. No other limitations, no other boundaries. He frowned. This wasn't right, because he was the last Uchiha here they treated him like royalty. That bugged him more then anything else. He knew if someone else was in his place they'd probably had sentenced him to death or life in prison. He shook his head as he left the room. It was just plain stupid to see them bow to him like that, it was almost sickening. He saw a lone figure waiting outside against the wall of the place.

He made his way over to the figure and stood beside him.

“So?”

“They're letting me off the hook, the only limitation I have is that I have to start at genin level again.” He shook his head as he crossed his arms across his chest. He just knew this wasn't right, but did he really want to argue with them on their decision?

“Well, that's good for you then. You'll be able to get a higher rank in no time then, ne teme? Looks like you can move back to your old place then. You can get your stuff from my place, I have to go though, my team is probably waiting for me.” Sasuke looked at him, team? Was he now taking on a genin team, as Kakashi-sensei did with them? It was odd seeing Naruto so much more grown up now. He nodded and watched the other take off towards the school area.

Sakura had approached him that afternoon. She had given him a good punch that had skidding across the ground before he looked at to her again to see her arms crossed across her chest and glaring down at him. She had basically lectured him on how much of an idiot he was and how much he had hurt everyone. But the person that he had hurt the most was Naruto, she didn't elaborate one how he had been hurt the most, only saying that Sasuke had been Naruto's special person. She then proceed to fill him in on what he had missed. Her and Lee had gotten together, which he was thankful for since it meant she had given up her silly crush on him. Everyone seemed to be doing well. She had told him about how after Naruto joined ANBU he started doing side missions for the hokage while taking a team of genin's. It seemed like his team was doing fairly well too, the chuunin exams were next month and he seemed confident that his student would pass with flying colours. He smirked at that. It was no surprise that his team was doing so well, he was quite the motivator. He had been surprised to not hear anything about Naruto hooking up with anyone from the village, he had expected the girls to be fawning over him these days, he had grown up quite a bit. He seemed more mature, and even shed the old orange he use to wear, though earlier that morning he noticed the orange boxers he had been wearing.

Sasuke and Sakura has gone to a small cafe for some hot sake and lunch before they parted. He went back to Naruto's apartment to pick up his stuff. He sighed as he made the walk to the old Uchiha compound. He wasn't really looking forward to going back but what choice did he have? He noticed someone standing outside his apartment. They looked up when they sensed him nearing. It was.. Naruto? Wasn't he suppose to be with his team?
He gave the blond a questioning glance as he neared him. He was caught off guard when said blond came up to him and put his arms around his neck, pulling him into a tight embrace.

“Thanks for coming back, teme.” He felt Naruto's warm breath tickle the side of his ear as he spoke. With that Naruto let go and left, leaving Sasuke is a confused state. What had just happened? He hadn't been expecting Naruto to do something that unexpected. Looking behind him to see if he could see the blond he was disappointed to see no one but random villagers walking by. Huffing, he seemed to be doing that alot today, he made his way inside his old house that was now filled with dust. He'd have a lot of cleaning to do these next few days to make this place livable again. He walked past his brother's room and glared before closing the door. That was one room he'd never touch or go in, it brought back too many memories he'd rather have forgotten by now. It only fueled his need for revenge though.

Finally at his room he set his things down before sitting on his bed. Everything was still the same as when he had left it. It was oddly eerie. He looked around the place once more before getting up and deciding that cleaning his room would be a good start.

END FLASHBACK.

~*~

TBC