Unexpected travels home

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Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Susake's mind wandered as he looked into the small campfire. They were almost there, less than a day left. They could of gotten there tonight, if they pushed it, but he had to stall. Saying they needed to camp, the real reason was his curse, it had started to activate on it's own. Giving him an incredible urge to kill her, anything really. Giving he the excuse, as he ran off 'to scout out' a place to camp. He needed time to subdue it and the feelings it was giving him.
Even though he had wanted to press on, he desperately wanted to remove this thing. He thought, as he rubbed his palm over it. Other things aslo entered his thoughts. He was more than a little apprehensive about seeing everyone, especially, Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi.
Naruto, he had tried to kill him, until the end. My god what was he going to say.
Kakashi, his teacher, his mentor. He had tried to warn him. The path he had taken, he was right, Sasuke grudgingly admitted to him self.
Sakura.......Sakura, her face appeared in front of his eyes. What did she mean to him, she unrequitedly cared for him, love him even.
Would they accept him back?
Yukiko had told him of course, they are his friends. Why wouldn't they. He needed their support in his new path, but still he wondered, he was so uneasy.

Dawns first rays started to peak through the treetops. It brought him out of his contemplation.
It was time.

"Yukiko, are you awake? It's time to go." Sauske said softly as he extinguished the rest of the dying embers.
"Hhhmmm.......Yes, okay." She said sleepily. Rising, she picked up a hooded cloak, she was using for a pillow.
"We don't need to disguise ourself anymore, not being this close to Kohona. Orochimaru, or his henchmen shouldnb't be lurking about." He explained.

Taking the cloak form her he added it to his own in a small cart. One he had been pulling along for suplies, and more importantly, the scroll box. Then he went back to Yukiko, taking her hand and placing it along side of the cart. Sauske then pulled it on to the road leading to their destination.
He didn't speak, deep in his eariler thoughts again. Yukiko content to leave him in them, know that only he could really work them out.
Suddenly he halted the cart.

"Sauske?"
"We are here." He stated as he looked at the gates only a couple of yards away.
"We will wait here. I'm sure we haven't approached unnoticed." As Sauske finished his statement, four animal masked Anbu, appeared and surrounded them.
"Uchiha Sasuke." Said a fifth masked ninja, apearing. He motioned to one of the first four, never taking his eyes off of Sauske and Yukiko.
"Inform the Hokage"
"Yes." One of them spoke as she knelt, then dissapeared suddenly.

Yukiko stayed still and silent. Sasuke had told her that there might be a confrontation, also stay calm. Let him handle the situtation. It was still unnerving, knowing that more people would be arriving and Sasuke might get hurt.

"I have come back. I wish to rejion Kohona." Sasuke stated as he stared at the lead Anbu member.
"We shall see. The Hokage will decide that." Was the reply.


The Fifth Hokage, Tsunade. Was rifling trough a stack of papers, at he desk. Trying to think of a plausable way out of this days humdrum work. When an Anbu member appeared in front of her.

"Hokage. Uchiha Suakse has returned."
"WHAT?!" Tsunade said rising form her desk, paperwork forgotten.
"He is outside the main gate, wiht a woman. Ranari is detaining them, until you arrive."
"Rejoing them. I will be there immedately." She ordered.
"Yes. Hokage." The masked ninja once again dissapeared.
"Shizune!"
"Yes?!" She came rushing through the dor, Ton-ton trailing behind her.
"Find Jiraiya. Tell him to meet me at the gat, I will also need Morino here, at the ready. Sasuke has come back." Tsunade barked her insturctions, as she rushed out of the room.

Shizune also took off, a few seconds later. Heading towards the ramen shop. She had no idea where Jiraiya might be at, but hopefully he might be there. He and Naruto had just gotten back from training, maybe Naruot made the Sannin take him to the ramen shop. As she ran at full tilt towards the shop, she quickly scanned the street, looking franticly for Jiraiya. She suddenly heard a familar voice rising out form the shop.

"Oi! Perverted hermit! I can't beleive you 'forgot' your wallet!"
"Hey don't call me that. Least wise not in public, call me teacher!" Jiraiya shouted back at the young, blonde man.
"I bet your broke!" He yelled back, pointing at the elder man.
"Jir....raiya....Hokage...." Shizune broke into their argument, gasping for breath.

Both men stared at the young apprentice. Instantly knowing something was up. They stood up waitng for her to continue.

"The Hokage needs you at the gate, immediately. Sauske....." She managed to gasp out. Catching her breath.
"SASUKE!!!" Naruto stared at her in surprise.
"Yes." She confirmed.

He looked from her, back to Jiraiya, who had vanished. Sasuke had returned. Oh my God! He started to move, when a hand grabbed him.

"Wait. We don't know why, or if it is Orochimaru, in his body. Let Jiraiya and The Hokage take care of it." Shizune tried to stop him.
"No way!! It has to be him!" Naruto jerked out of her grasp.
"It has to. I know it! Sakura will know it too. I have to get Sakura! Once we see him we'll know." He said as he ran away from her.

Hoping he was right, Sizune herself began to run once again. She still needed to get Morino Ibiki.


Jiraiya met up with Tsunade right before the gate.

"Do you think it is him."
"I don't know, even if it is we have to proceed carefully." He said seriously.
"Let's go then." Tsunade said as she strode towards the gate.

They approached the gate threshold, taking in the scene.

There stode Uchiha Sauske, in his arrogant stance. A few years had matured his looks, but still he was the same. Both then looked behind him. Now looking at the woman he was with. She seen older, mid twenties. Long wave tresses of gold surronded her heart shaped face. Bright blue eye, somewhat familiar to them gazed unfocusingly off into the distance. She had a hand resting on the side of the cart Sauske was infront of. Her head tilted as they approached.

"Uchiha Sauske. Why have you returned?" Tsunade asked, blatantly.
"I want to come home. I want to get rid of the cursed seal. I want to get my life back." He replied honestly.
"Have you given up you thirst for power?" Jiraiya, fired at him.
"No, I still wish to kill that man, I know there is a chance I will never get a chance to kill him, and that’s fine, but I will still gain power my own way. Not as a pawn to anyone” He replied, as he uncounsiously rubbed the seal.
“How do we know you won’t just leave again? We don’t need people who abondon, Kohona.” Tsunade, need to know, as Hokage, Kohona came first.
“You have only my word. But know that my first priority is to reserruct my clan, and procect the people I care about, the people who are my home.”
“We can’t remove the curse, only seal it. But we can look into it.” Tsunade promised.
“Yukiko, will remove it, but she needs your help.” Sasuke motioned towards her.

Both Sannins now looked at the woman once again. Inspecting her closer, she was strikingly beautiful, even though she was dressed in plain traveling clothes. They heard foot falls approaching.

“Sasuke!!” Naruto yelled and Sakura gasped at the same time. Just now arriving with Kakashi at the gate.
“Yo.” Sauske casually replied with a raise hand.
“I knew he would come.” Muttered Jiraiya.

Both Sakura and Naruto started towards him. Only to be stopped by Kakashi.

“I think it would be best if you let The Hokage finish first.” Send an apologitic look at Tsunade. They froze never letting their gaze leave Sauske afraid that he would disapear, if they did.
“I will.........” Tsunade began, but was cut off, by a gasp of pain Sauske let out. Noticing him grab franticly at his shoulder.

All watched as the woman who had been silenlty waiting, quickly moved towards Sauake’s cry. Arms out stretch tring to find him. They watched in surprise as the curse immediately covered his body as he grabbed the waman b the throat with his right hand, slowly squeeing with force.

“I have no control.......please someone stop me” Sasuke pleaded, knowing full well that he was going to kill her if he wasn’t stopped.
Everyone around watching suddenly started to move, trying to pull free her from his grip.
“It’s okay....Sasuke.......you won’t hurt me.” The woman said gaspingly.
“Yukiko.” Trying to stop, but couldn’t. Though his grasp relented a fraction.
“I can’t control it.”
“Sasuke, If you want to end my life it’s okay. Just don’t regret ever meeting me, don’t let guilt over come you. Promise me.” Yukiko said with a small smile.
“What?! Please someone STOP ME!!!!!” Suake Yelled. As his gripped started to tighten once agian.
“Only..........you..........can.......stop.............Only...........” She gasped out.

Flashes of Orochimaru floated through his head, he leared at him, taunting him to finish her off. Then the flashes changed to his family dead at his brothers feet. Itachi’s voice telling him to gain more power, that he was weak. His brain seemed to overload with them.

“I WILL BE NO ONES PAWN!!!!!!!!” He screamed as he used every ounce of his being to release Yukiko, throwing everyone away from him, but her. Then his hand left her throat, as he coughed up a large amount of blood from his exersion. Smiling as he passed out, feeling hear pulling him into an embrace. He felt at peace.

“He’s okay now.” Yukiko whispered in a gravely voice. Ignoring the pain from her throat. She slid to the ground still holding him.
“What just happened?!” Naruto asked the question on everyone’s mind.
“He won, for now.” Jiraiya, surmised.
“Get him to the Hospital. Put guards inside and out.” Tsunade’s ordered.

Then turning to watch as Anbu members took Sauske out of the woman’s lap. A calm breeze started to blow, rustling through the group. Jairaiya gasped as he saw the womans birthmark. Making sure he wasn’t imagining things he lifted her hair. Everyone looked with intrest as the saw the birth markthat resembled Kohona symbol on her neck. Tsunade looked at Jiriaya for an explnation. He only shook his head, as to say, now was not the time to get into it. Letting her tresses fall back across her shoulders. Jiraiya did something that surprised Naruto. Taking the womans hand he galantly helped her up.

“Hokage I think we should take this disscuion else were.” Giving Tsunade a look.
“I agree I have to go and treat Sasuke. Kakashi, bring her to my office, in about an hour.” The Hokage ordered as she walked off.