After The Rain

Here's chapter 3! Please read and review! (Don't worry the yaoi is coming, but I will keep you sated for a while with some KakaIru.)



After the Rain



Chapter 3, Leaving the Leaf Village







"Iruka-sensei, do you mind if I talk to you about something?" Naruto asked, looking at his sensei with an absolute

seriousness, that he hadn't seen in a long while.



"What is it Naruto?" Iruka-sensei asked. "Does it have to do with what was wrong with you earlier?"



"I have to find him, Iruka!" Naruto informed him, tears about to swell in his eyes. "I am leaving tomorrow. I can't bear

another day without him. I have thought about this for a while. Sakura told me she wanted to see him one more time. I

love him Iruka, ever since we started out on missions together. We have never been apart, until those three years ago.

That battle, Iruka, it was like the Sasuke I knew was gone. He was gone. The curse mark had completely taken over him.

I know that if Orochimaru was dead, I could have Sasuke back. I vow to bring Sasuke back at all costs. I am bringing him

back for Sakura's sake. Then, if he desires to go, I shall leave with him. I would abandon my village to be with the man

I love. I must be crazy, Iruka-sensei."



"You know, Naruto, if I were separated from Kakashi, I would be doing the same things you are doing right now. I don't

blame you for anything that you have said thus far. I have been there for you throughout your life and I am not going

to stop supporting you anytime soon. I just can't abandon the only one who has been like my only son." Iruka-sensei

hugged Naruto. "You do what you have to. I will explain everything to lady hokage."



"Thanks, Iruka-sensei," Naruto said, hugging him back. "I think I better get going."



"Goodbye, Naruto." Iruka smiled at him, one of those loving smiles, just as he always did.



"Goodbye, Iruka-sensei. I will bring him back. Tell Sakura I left and make sure she is fine throughout her pregnancy.

After all, those babies are going to call me Uncle Naruto."



"Will do, Naruto," Iruka laughed. "You be careful out there. You never know what kind of traps you are going to get into."



With that, Naruto had already been making his way out of the gate of the Leaf Village.



"Not so fast," called out a voice that sounded oddly familiar, and all the sudden TenTen and Neiji appeared in front of him.

"We are going with you, Naruto!"



"You can't make it alone," Neiji added, "You can't even read a map."



"I suppose you are right, thanks guys," Naruto grinned. "I am glad to have friends like you guys! Believe it! You both

realize why I am going, right?"



"We overheard your whole conversation with Iruka-sensei," TenTen told him. "We understand that you love Sasuke, actually that

clarifies alot of things for us. Most of us had wondered anyway."



"Thank you both!" Naruto thanked them. "Shall we get going?"



"Let's get a move on, we can get alot of ground covered before dawn," Neiji agreed. "If we are caught on a mission without

approval from Lady Hokage, we could be considered traitors, TenTen. I would hate to have involved you in something as

dangerous as this."



"As long as I am with you Neiji, I don't care my fate, as long as that time is spent with you," TenTen flirted.



"So, can we get a move on?" Naruto asked. "I have a gut feeling about the Land of Waves. I don't know what it is, but I have

a feeling he's been there recently. We might be able to find clues."



"Any objections with the Land of Waves, TenTen?" Neiji asked her kindly.



"Not at all," TenTen smiled at him. "It would be nice to see the ocean with you."



"Okay, lovebirds, let's go. I want to find Sasuke, I need to give him a piece of my mind! Believe it!" Naruto exclaimed.



They set out the front gate of the Leaf Village, knowing that they wouldn't return there for quite some time. They could be

gone for a year or more. However long it took to find Sasuke, that's what it would take. Naruto wouldn't quit unless he

physically saw Sasuke's corpse, although he didn't want to think about that. But, nonetheless, he was ready to do anything

to find the man he longs for. He didn't think that Neiji nor TenTen understood exactly how serious he was.



"I plan on killing Orochimaru," Naruto told them in a very serious tone. "Once he is dead, I believe that the curse mark will

release Sasuke and he will be the Sasuke I used to know, instead of this evil version of Sasuke." Naruto sighed as he

continued walking alongside Neiji and TenTen.



"You know, by in the morning, ANBU Black Ops will probably be hot on our tails. So we'd better stay on our guard," Neiji

instructed.



"Iruka-sensei said that he would talk to Granny Tsunade for me. He would let her know what was going on and my purpose for

leaving. I mean, even she could understand the power of love," Naruto blushed when he thought about Sasuke at the end of

that sentence. He would honor and respect Sasuke for as long as he was allowed to.



"Well, still we need to be on our guard," Neiji repeated himself. "I would hate to get our mission ended so slowly because

of the lack of an attention span on someone's part."



The walk seemed to last forever until the sun came up. They breaked for breakfast. Naruto was able to gather some fruits

from some trees and some berries from some bushes. TenTen failed to mention to Naruto that she had brought his instant ramen

in a cup, but didn't have a way to heat the water.



They ate in total silence, until Naruto broke it."So, Neiji, what made you decide to come with me?" Naruto looked at him

sternly, shoving some more berries into his mouth.



"Naruto, you helped me realize that one makes their own destiny and it hasn't already been planned out for them. You gave

me a new outlook on my life. I have learned to do things for myself and not be so stuck on everything I do is for the clan.

That gave a higher pride than I have ever had, and I thank you, Naruto," Neiji explained. Neiji usually didn't talk about

these things. He was a very proud man, seeing him leave his entire village to help his friend find the one he loves. Talk

about a strong bond of friendship.



"Neiji, I never expected you to want to help me," Naruto confessed. "I actually thought you would shun me for my feelings

about Sasuke."



"Naruto," TenTen said softly. "We could never do that to you. We all knew, ever since that supposedly 'accidental' kiss

at the academy. We noticed you two started acting different around each other. I mean, you still acted like rivals, but

there was a deep sense of caring between you both. We weren't the only ones to notice." TenTen smiled at him and continued

on with her breakfast.



"We musn't break for long," Neiji instructed. "Like I said, I think ANBU Black Ops could be coming after us."



"Well, what are we waiting for?" Naruto said, getting up and stretching out.



The three shinobi got on their feet again and began their long walk once again. Naruto's mind trailed to Sasuke. He

wondered what he could be doing.





*Meanwhile, with Sasuke*



"Sasuke," Orochimaru hissed out, "That Naruto Uzumaki is on his way here. When he arrives, I want you to finish what you

started three years ago. I want you to kill him. I want you to kill Naruto Uzumaki and those other useless ninja coming

with him."



"Yes," Sasuke acknowledged, "I will kill them, Lord Orochimaru."



"That's more like it. You know what would happen if you were ever to disobey my commands, don't you?"



Sasuke nodded and gulped. It had been three years since he had seen anyone from the leaf village. He wouldn't let that

stop him. His quest was for raw power, not for some emotional bonds. He would Orochimaru without even thinking twice. He

just wanted to wait until the time was right.



Orochimaru rose from his chair. "I want you to head out to find them. They left the leaf village in the middle of the

night. Find them, and kill them all in front of me."



"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Sasuke followed.



That boy, he won't do it. That will be his downfall. I don't think his quest for power is strong enough that he could kill

his best friend. I shall see though, so far that Uchiha boy has suprised me. I hope he keeps on suprising me until the

end. He snickered to himself. This shall be most interesting indeed.



Sasuke didn't think twice about leaving. He started on his way out the doors of Orochimaru's complex. You know, the best

place to hide was in plain sight, and that's what Orochimaru had decided to do. He and Sasuke had resided together.

Orochimaru had used him for everything, from fighting to sex. Whenever they had sex, Sasuke trembled in disgust but, in order

to recieve that ultimate power, he would do anything. His mind always drifted to someone else during sex. That knight in

shining armor that would rescue him from this life. Someone that he could grow stronger with, someone that would love him

as a person and not just as an object. Someone like Naruto. It was his duty to kill him and they other shinobi that were

with him. Maybe if he just disappered forever, he thought that Orochimaru would forget about him. But he knew his master

too well and knew he would never forget his student. His prodigy. His bed mate. Sasuke hated Orochimaru with a deep

burning passion. He knew he couldn't stop Orochimaru, at least not alone anyway.........