Reise zu Reinkarnation

III.

Naruto slouched in his chair. Hinata would yell at him for doing so, since he was Hokage after all, but since Sasuke was sitting across from him so rigidly, his lie was that he was slouching to make Sasuke more comfortable in his new surroundings.

For two years, he’d let Sasuke rot in prison. Two and a half years, really, but the point was he’d let someone he made a promise – and not just any promise – to rot in prison not knowing what his fate would be. He could justify the first year and a half of leaving the Uchiha in prison because he’d been very busy, slowly taking over and being taught the position of Hokage. He hadn’t known it then, of course, and figured his new – and ever increasing – duties came from Tsunade’s own giddiness about getting married. And she wasn’t marrying just anybody, no; she was marrying Jiraya. His new Icha Icha had been co-authored, so the cover said, by his wife-to-be, so naturally it was the number one best seller in the village because EVERYONE wanted to see how much of a pervert Tsunade really was. Naruto himself had bought that particular copy.

He kept it in his desk drawer so if he needed a laugh he could pull it out.

So when Tsunade had bid farewell to Konoha for her honeymoon – which Naruto was sure would result in more Icha Icha – Naruto was formally installed as Rokudaime Hokage of Konoha. His ceremony was full of mistakes and horribly amusing moments – and that was just practice – so everyone was expecting much the same at the real thing. Except nothing happened because the council had promised fun afterward. And they would put up with boring for two hours so they could run wild all night long. Naruto even remained stoic and got through his speech without snorting or making some joke about the Godaime so he could aim fireworks in the direction of Kakashi, who – as Naruto knew – was trying to make out with Iruka-sensei. It had been hilarious the first five times and then Kakashi had threatened to ram a firework up his ass.

Suddenly, it didn’t seem so much fun anymore.

Still, after the Konoha-wide party, Naruto had been subjected to the council, whining about Uchiha Sasuke, who was actually behaving himself in prison. It was something unprecedented even for Sasuke. Usually, he would’ve tried to escape by now, Naruto knew, but there he was in prison, sitting nice and pretty in his cell, waiting for his punishment. Naruto had stood with Sasuke’s ANBU guards for a long while, watching Sasuke sit in the corner of his cell, face hidden by the long curtain of his hair, half curled in a fetal position as though he was falling asleep. When Naruto had finally approached, he noted something of a sluggishness as Sasuke looked up at him. He fought not to grow angry as Sasuke’s eyes fell upon him, not recognizing him at all until he was about leave him in the cell. Something was wrong with Sasuke, he knew, and that knowledge was heightened when Sasuke took his hand to follow him out of prison. The Uchiha Sasuke he knew would never have taken Naruto’s hand nor would he have asked him anything. Naruto resolved then to ask Sakura to give Sasuke a psych evaluation and maybe get her to contact Tsunade to see if this was really Sasuke or just a clever ploy by Orochimaru. They’d tested Sasuke before they’d put him in prison and the results had been promising. But Orochimaru could’ve chosen to remain dormant until this very moment.

Ah, jounin paranoia.

Naruto’s eyes flicked to Sasuke when the elder man got to his feet suddenly, pacing around the office like a trapped lion, pausing only on the third circuit around and finally sitting again. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

“What’s the matter?” Naruto asked when it became apparent Sasuke wasn’t going to say anything. Dark eyes flicked here and there before they settled on Naruto.

“They’re watching us.”

“The ANBU? Of course. I’m the Hokage. Naturally, they’re paranoid that I’m going to die at any given hour.”

Sasuke snorted. “Then perhaps they should be in more strategic areas than behind secret walls.”

“Why do you say that?”

Sasuke snorted again, leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes.

“A human’s natural reaction time to anything is about, maybe, point five seconds. Even longer with the rush of adrenaline because of a startling situation. Jounin, ANBU or not, we’re all human.” Sasuke paused for a breath. “Those walls take about ten seconds to open, less if they’re bypassed by a transportation jutsu, but still, by the time they get here, someone will be dead.”

Naruto blinked, electric blue eyes flicking to the hidden cameras set in the corners of his office. He wondered, then, if Ibiki had gotten all that. The ANBU were probably itching to kill Sasuke now.

“And what about you?” Naruto asked. “How’s your reaction time?”

Sasuke stared at him for a long while before tilting his head. He was debating, Naruto saw, dark eyes narrowing in thought before he looked away. His lips drew into a thin line and Naruto wondered if he’d pushed a little too much. Sasuke finally turned back to him and shrugged.

“I don’t know.”

Naruto sighed. Good enough.

“You asked me what you could do now that you’re a free man. I was going to ask you if you wanted to be my bodyguard.”

“After all we’ve – I’ve – done to you?” Sasuke asked in return, head tilting. “You’d trust your life to me?”

“Why not? We were friends weren’t we?”

“Are we still?”

“I’d like to think so.” Naruto said, leaning forward a bit. Sasuke’s dark eyes studied him, as though looking for a trap in the words. The brunette sat back in his chair, eyes closing as he thought. Orochimaru wanted the opportunity; he could kill yet another Hokage and perhaps succeed this time. Uchiha rebelled, wanting to live in solitude for a while and make a fool proof plan to escape Konoha. Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself and sighed. Again they were fighting and Naruto was waiting for an answer. If he agreed, he’d have trouble with Orochimaru. If he refused, well. The decision was a double edges sword. Sasuke wanted to stay with Naruto, wanted to protect him. That’s what –he– wanted. Finally, Naruto made a noise and Sasuke flicked his eyes to him.

“I’ll do it,” Sasuke whispered. He got to his feet again, arms falling to his sides as he moved to face Naruto, getting dangerously close to invading personal space.

“I’ll protect you, Naruto.”

“Good,” Naruto replied, seeming amused. “Then I’ll leave early today to show you around the house.”

The Rokudaime shoved to his feet and by instinct alone, Sasuke jerked back, fighting to keep his face straight as Naruto smirked a little. Naruto moved from around his desk and bade Sasuke to follow him, moving out of the office into the hall. Almost immediately, Naruto was assaulted by Hinata, who stood with her hands on her hips, a fan in one hand, glaring hard at her village leader. It was only after Sasuke exited the office to stare at her did she seem apologetic.

“The hell was that for Hinata? Ow. Damn, I think you killed a few important brain cells.” Naruto muttered. One electric blue eye opened to look at the Hyuuga, blinking when he saw her staring open-mouthed at Sasuke. Naruto grinned.

“Cleans up nice, doesn’t he?”

Hinata shook herself, fighting away the blush on her cheeks. “You’re not to leave the office until five today.”

“Can’t you make an exception just this once?” Naruto pleaded, hands coming together in a prayer-like fashion. “I was just showing Sasuke what his duties here were.”

Sasuke blinked at the lie. “But, Naruto, you said that you were going to show me around the–“

“The building for your body-guarding duties.” Naruto said through clenched teeth, glaring at the smaller man. Sasuke nodded and glanced away. Naruto winced and made a mental note to tell Sasuke he wasn’t angry with him. Hinata tapped her lips, studying both Naruto and Sasuke in turn. She lingered on Sasuke though, watching his eyes, watching the dark orbs shiver and freeze and grow warm in succession. Were the rumours true then? She wondered. Hinata snapped her fan out then, glaring at Naruto.

“I’ll show Sasuke his duties. You go back into the office and finish your work or I’ll call Kiba and have him make Akamaru sit on you.”

Naruto winced and looked back at Sasuke apologetically. “Sorry, dude.”

Sasuke gave a small smile. “It’s all right.”

Sasuke watched as Hinata marched Naruto right back into the office and forced him down into the chair, a stack of papers set before him. She returned to Sasuke’s side once Naruto was working through the stack diligently, and she smiled at the taller man.

“You can follow me. I’ll find you something better to wear than prison clothes.”

Hinata gestured to him, and Sasuke followed obediently, studying the Hyuuga woman as they wandered further away from the Hokage’s office. She stepped lightly, almost without a sound, but Sasuke could hear the gentle footfalls easily. As easily as he could hear her heartbeat, Orochimaru supplied him. In reaction to the threat, the Sharingan activated, and Hinata became a violet humanoid shape, but only for a moment, as Sasuke forced the Sharingan away before she turned to him.

“This door leads to the ANBU office.” Hinata said. “Most of the time, you might be here, coordinating when the on-duty ANBU.”

Sasuke nodded almost numbly. Hinata moved on and Sasuke followed, the brunette man getting the long tour of the place as Hinata systematically explained everything to him, even certain particulars of his duties as he guarded Naruto’s life. Their last stop was a huge walk-in closet, lined with ANBU uniforms, chuunin and jounin vests, regulation sandals, and boxes full of hitai-ates. Hinata propped open the door and led him inside, gesturing to all the garments.

“Pick what you like. I recommend getting an ANBU uniform, since you’ll be initiated soon.” Hinata said, and stepped back to let Sasuke play. And play he did, wandering through the closet and touching everything he dared, pulling down a large jounin vest and several ANBU vestments, along with the black shirts that were worn beneath the vests. He looked down at the ratty, prison-issue tatami sandals and picked several pairs of sandals, carrying his prizes proudly back to Hinata. If she noticed he carried no hitai-ate, she didn’t say a word.

“Come on,” Hinata said finally, and Sasuke obediently followed her out of the closet and back up toward the Hokage’s office. When Hinata knocked on the door, it was opened by Kakashi who gave the younger jounin a cursory glance before he allowed them inside. Sasuke met Kakashi’s gaze and for a long while they stared at each other, until Kakashi looked away, toward Naruto. Sasuke too looked toward the blonde and found amusement sparkling in the Hokage’s electric blue eyes.

“Did you find enough, Sasuke?” Naruto asked, noting the clothes the elder man wore. Sasuke blinked and looked down at his burden and slowly nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Ah, I asked Kakashi to oversee your ANBU initiation. Hope you don’t mind.”

“No,” Sasuke whispered. He bowed his head and smiled a little. “I don’t mind.”

“Perfect,” Naruto said, looking toward Kakashi, who shrugged and nodded. Sasuke smiled a bit more as he listened to the plan for him. Kakashi would look after him during his ANBU training and he’d guard Naruto and they wouldn’t be able to get what they wanted because Sasuke was in control. There was abrupt movement out of the corner of his eye. It seemed then as all time stopped suddenly, as Sasuke whipped around faster than eyes could follow, his chosen garments tumbling to the office floor as his right hand latched onto Hinata’s throat. His left hand came across and grabbed his own wrist, quickly jabbing several pressure points to keep the hand from squeezing the life from her, or worse.