Walking a Mile

For clarification, this story is AU after Sasuke kills Orochimaru and before he picks up Suigetsu.

—

The next morning the pair had to go to Naruto's to get a change of clothes for Sasuke.

"Naruto, how can you live like this?"

"Like what?"

"It looks like a rodent warren."

Naruto fetched a fresh set of clothes and tried not to watch Sasuke change. It was his body, but it still seemed in indecent to watch his friend changing.

Now was the most dangerous part: Kakashi. With his Sharingan and innate intelligence, he will know what happened. But Kakashi never used his Sharingan unless he really needed to.

Sasuke tried to keep his eyes up and his hands out of his pockets and repeatedly hit Naruto whenever he put his hands behind his head.

"You're going to give me cramps."

"You're in too good a shape for that." But Naruto finally decided it would make Sasuke happy and be fun to imitate Sasuke: hands in pockets, frown, and head slightly lowered.

Sasuke wanted to roll his eyes when he saw Sakura, alone. He wanted to get this over with, and he feared how Naruto would react to Sakura.

But Kakashi was remarkably early. For him.

"Yo."

"We don't have a mission today, do we Kakashi- sensei?" Sasuke whined.

"O, I thought you wanted more challenging missions."

"Not today, can we just train today."

"Actually that's the plan."

Drawing himself up too much, Naruto said, "I think Naruto and I should train by ourselves, work on our teamwork. We need the most work after all."

"We should work together, Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, moving closer to Naruto.

"Sakura, you're not a frontline fighter like the two of us, you'd do better to work with Hokage-sama to improve your other abilities. Or try sparing with Kakashi. Though you are more valuable as a medical-nin, it wouldn't hurt to improve your close fighting skills."

Sasuke had never seen Sakura so angry to him before. Even he thought that was cold. Then he realized, Naruto was trying, though holding back, to drive Sakura away from Sasuke. He decided to help the knucklehead out.

"Hey, Sakura-chan, I want to train with you."

"Beat it Naruto!"

"Ah, but Sasuke's right. Sakura, you and I will work on your close combat skills and let the two of them develop their teamwork."

"Let's go further out in the forest," Naruto said.

"No way, I want you to really come after me, and you'll burn the forest down with your fire-jutsu. We'll find a place on the riverbank."

With that, the pair went off.

—

Helping Naruto activate the Sharingan, they made sure no one was around.

"Keep it activated, just deactivate it if it starts to drain your chakra. You know that once you're back in your own body, you won't be able to use any of these jutsu very well. You charka nature isn't suited to it."

"Right, right."

Sasuke showed him how to do most his fire- jutsu, then they fought, Naruto using the Sharingan to make it more difficult for Sasuke. They both took it easy on the other when it came to actually hitting the other; those were their bodies after all.

By the end, they were both exhausted. Not only was this challenging, but they were both using muscles they weren't used to. Both got their share of cramps from trying to use those muscles in way they weren't used to.

They lay on their backs near the water, Naruto blowing fire out of his mouth every once in a while, trying to make shapes. Sasuke didn't care, he watched the resulting flames with dethatched interest. The sun was going down and they had forgotten about lunch. They had actually had fun doing this.

Naruto puffed out a perfect circle. "I think I'm actually going to miss this. You won't let me try Chidori, will you?"

"Too dangerous. It's also very draining. Though I think my body can handle it. I still don't want to chance it."

"What about you trying it with my body?"

"Huh?"

"Try it with my body."

"I don't know how your charka nature will react. You should work with Kakashi on that. Your wind nature makes needles, in Chidori form it could very dangerous."

"I wish I have your natures: fire and lightening."

"You haven't discovered your second nature yet, you may have one of them."

"I doubt it. I can't do these fire- jutsus very well." Naruto puffed out a long stream. "But you can do stuff like that."

"Wind nature is rare. For all you envy me for, I wish I had wind nature as well. I'm thankful for the two I have, but wind nature would be interesting. Imagine combining it with fire nature."

"Can't we do that? Maybe a combo between us?"

"That's a thought. Well, you are using my brain."

Naruto hit Sasuke playfully, but not gently. "You are such an ass Sasuke."

"Well, you're still an idiot, even with my brain. We'll ask Kakashi about it after we get back to normal. Now we should get something to eat and then go home."

"Which home?"

Sasuke sighed. "Yours. Let's pick up another set of clothes for me at your place, go back to mine to clean up, then we eat. I'll need the energy to clean that pigsty of yours."

—

Clean at last, Sasuke could actually dane to sit down in Naruto's apartment. Naruto helped, but not much.

"Thanks."

"Whatever. If I have to stay here, I, at least, don't want to be walking on empty ramen cups. I'll take the couch. You steal all the bedding."

"Yo," Kakashi appeared in the window.

Naruto started. "Kakashi-sensei! Where'd you come from?"

Kakashi's eyebrows shot up. That was the sort of reaction he expected from Naruto, not Sasuke. And Naruto merely tuned his head. In a very Sasuke-like gesture.

"I just came to ask how the teamwork was going."

"Pretty good."

"You even came over to help clean Naruto's apartment. Any particular reason you're so eager to shore up your teamwork, Sasuke?"

Naruto got control of himself. "I don't see why I have to tell you."

Sasuke also got back into character. "He's been talking about Itachi this and Itachi that. I guess he thinks he needs my help." Sasuke grinned.

Naruto took the hint and growled, "Baka."

"You're both acting odd today. And Sakura said Sasuke was acting odd yesterday."

"Oh, that," Sasuke laughed, "it was just a bet. Sasuke was actually a good sport about it. Not about being seen though."

"I see. I believe we'll have a mission tomorrow, so don't stay up too late." And he was gone.

"You're the guest," Sasuke said, "you take my bed."

Naruto looked at him curiously at first, then realize Sasuke thought Kakashi might be spying on them. Naruto nodded, went into the bedroom, brought out a pillow and blanket, then went to sleep in his own bed. Sasuke cursed being without his Sharingan and hoped Kakashi wouldn't see how Naruto, in Sasuke's body, ravished the bed.

—

By acting like they hadn't gotten any sleep, the pair were able to pull off their deception the next day. The mission was a simple escort to the Fire Temple. Sasuke just acted tired and Naruto did a good impression of the emotionless Uchiha. Sakura still sensed something was wrong. Every time she said anything to Naruto, he would shrug her off. Sasuke suffered, for Naruto's sake, Sakura's attention. She was being much nicer to him than they thought she'd be.

On their way back to Sasuke's apartment to spend the night there, they stopped at Ino's family's flower shop to see if her father was back. No such luck.

"I told you it'd be about a week. I'll come get you when he does get back. I think I'm in for it too. I shouldn't have talked about my jutsu. You two must have tried it out on each other at the same time."

"But shouldn't the release jutsu reverse it?"

"Did you both try it at the same time?"

Sasuke and Naruto turned to face each other, formed the hand sign and yelled "Release!"

"Well?" Ino asked.

The two of them opened their eyes and sighed in defeat.

"Father will be able to fix you. He once told me that as an interrogation technique he swapped the minds of two prisoners. They screamed like little girls and fessed up. He'll fix you."

They were both moping as they headed toward Sasuke's apartment. Sai appearing in front of them out of nowhere wasn't going to help either of their moods.

"Sakura-san wanted me to talk with Naruto about your strange behavior." Blunt as always. Or rather, tactless as always.

"I'm fine," they said in unison.

Sai looked at what he thought was Sasuke. From the moment they met, Sasuke hadn't liked Sai. And since his return to Konoha, they silently agreed they hated each other. Naruto was surprised to see any heated emotion in Sai's eyes, and especially surprised to see them turned on him.

"How is it that you can be exceedingly cruel to Sakura-san without her trying to kill you?"

Even though the comment hadn't really be directed at him, Naruto felt something snap inside him.

"Why don't you mind your business?"

"Sai, now is not the best time. Can we talk later?" Sasuke was irritated but he sensed Naruto was close to losing his temper. Which scared him. It was bad enough Naruto losing it could call up the Kyubi, but Sasuke had the curse mark, which Naruto knew nothing about containing. He wasn't worried about Orochimaru, he was contained in Sasuke's consciousness, not his body. Sasuke still had a tight lid on his former master.

"We can talk later. But I want a word with Sasuke."

"This is not a good idea Sai. We're expected—"

"Aren't you tired of defending him, Naruto?" Sai never looked away from 'Sasuke's' eyes. Sasuke was surprised to hear that he needed defending at all and even more surprised that Naruto apparently came to his defense often. "To me he's still a traitor who sold out his village to Orochimaru."

"You're one to talk," Naruto growled. "Who went off with Orochimaru, giving him classified information."

"I wasn't there to betray Konoha, but to defend it, by killing you."

"Looks like you failed."

Sasuke was getting angry, but he wouldn't allow himself to lose his cool. He was too concerned for Naruto. Naruto was taking it all personally and Sasuke knew the curse mark was close to activating.

"Look, your both sort of reformed traitors, right? Why can't we just leave it at that?"

Sai and Naruto were still staring kuni at each other.

"You defend him far too much, Naruto."

"I wasn't aware I needed defending," Naruto countered.

Sasuke saw the curse mark begin to send out the black waves which could overcome Naruto without Sasuke's practiced control.

Sasuke grabbed Naruto and pulled him back away from Sai. "Get a grip," he whispered. "You have to calm down. You can't control the curse mark. Calm down."

Naruto looked up into his own concern-filled blue eyes and the waves retreated.

Sasuke turned back to Sai. "This really isn't the time for this, Sai."

"You're still a danger to this village, Uchiha." Just before he disappeared, Sasuke saw a small hint of fear in Sai's eyes. So he feared the curse mark. Interesting.

"Come on," Sasuke said. "Let's get home."

As soon as they were safely behind a locked door, Naruto lost his cool again. "That bastard Sai!"

"Why are you so angry? He thought he was talking to me."

"I can't stand the way some people talk about you."

"Some people? Who talks about me like that?"

"Neji, Choji, Kiba, a few of the Chunin and Jounin, some others." Naruto was too upset to realize he was telling Sasuke something he'd tried to hide from his friend.

"They all think I'm a traitor, a danger to the village?"

Naruto began to realize what he'd said. His fury died away. "Oh, shit." All his furious energy drained and he collapsed on the sofa. "I didn't want you to know that."

"What? Who are you to decide what I should be aware of? If that's what people think, I have a right to know!"

"I know how it feels to be feared as a danger to the village. I didn't want that for you. I thought I could change their minds. In time they would forget it."

"Not fucking likely."

"Sakura and Kakashi do it too. But people rarely say anything to them. They know Sakura's in love with you and no one wants to anger Kakashi."

"I can defend myself! I can fight my own battles!"

"I just want to protect you. You're like my brother. In a lot of ways, my older brother. But I feel like no one else will stand up for you, so I will."

"I don't need your protection! After all I've been through I've learned how to protect myself!"

"I'm sorry. I know you can take care of yourself, I just . . ."

Again, it was seeing himself looking so dejected that calmed Sasuke down. Get a grip! "I'm sorry I blew up at you. I just don't like being kept in the dark about something like this."

"I guess I should have told you."

"How? 'Hey, Sasuke, by the way, everyone in the village believes you're a traitor. Hey, but don't let it get cha down.'"

Naruto laughed. "Yeah."

"Just do me a favor, don't get so worked up. That curse seal takes a lot of practice to control."

"I'm glad you don't use it."

"Why? Afraid of it?"

"Those wings are creepy."

Sasuke chuckled. "Well, it's a gift from Orochimaru, what do you expect?" Naruto chuckled too. "The wings were strange at first, but they're useful. Hurts like a bitch when one gets torn off."

"Sorry about that."

"It's okay. I was trying to kill you."

"Were you really?"

Sasuke hesitated. "I'm not sure. I don't think I really knew at the time either. I was sort of half crazed at the time. And angry. You were right thought. If I wasn't so . . . I should have listened to you. Yet I don't regret what I developed while with Orochimaru or what I learned from him. Though I'm sure if I used half of what I learned from him I'd be arrested."

Naruto laughed. "If they don't nab me for my Sexy no Jutsu, they won't pick you up." Naruto spontaneously decided to show off his Sexy no jutsu. Instead of his normal blonde hair, blue eyed, pig-tailed cute naked girl, Sasuke saw a black haired, black eyed—still pig-tailed—naked woman. He was starting to get over Naruto doing anything in his body and smiled. In addition to getting a bit of a hard on.

"You look like one of my cousins," Sasuke said with a smile. Just as quickly his smile and slight hard on disappeared. "They're all dead."

Naruto released the jutsu. "Why did he do it?"

"He said he wanted to test his limits, test his ability. I guess he discovered he was strong enough. I'm the only one he left alive."
"Why? I mean it seems silly to leave anyone alive, especially someone who would seek revenge."

"He wants me to come after him. It seems strange, but he thought I had the potential to be challenge for him." There wasn't any hate or rage in his eyes. Naruto thought that was strange. "He was my brother. I loved him, I looked up to him. And then he did that. I hate him, but I miss him."

"Sounds like you still love your brother."

"My brother died the night he killed our clan."

Naruto was shocked to see a tear in his eye. Naruto took Sasuke into his arms and was surprised when Sasuke didn't push him away. Even more when he started weeping.

Sasuke barely remembered the rest of the night. He woke up in the middle of the night being spooned by Naruto. He wasn't just thrown over him, but holding him. Sasuke snuggled back against him and fell back asleep.

—

The next mission was a real mission. Guarding a gold convoy. They had gotten used to their new bodies so they could fight, though once they fight in front of Kakashi he would notice how different they were from usual. To make matters worse, Team Gai came with them. Gai and Lee could get annoying, as could TenTen, but it was Neji they were afraid of. His Byakugan might notice something off. They prayed for no action. Not so lucky.

Luckily, Sasuke had taught Naruto a few of his fire jutsu and was able to fire several off at the bandits. Sasuke moved in for close combat. But without using shadow clones or Naruto's favorite Rasengan. Once the battle was over Sakura mentioned it.

"They were just bandits," Sasuke explained. "I didn't feel the need for shadow clones or the Rasengan. I've been working on my tai jutsu with Sasuke, so I decided to test it out."

"Better than your usual tai jutsu, certainly," Kakashi said.

"Lee is still much better of course," Gai gushed.

"Sasuke, I am still willing to fight with you!" Lee announced.

"I think we should stick to guarding the convoy right now."

"You are right of course."

They hadn't seemed to have peeked Neji's curiosity yet, so they believed they were safe from his Byakugan. For now. The convoy made it home, now they had to get home. Once back at Naruto's apartment they could relax. But until then . . .

Sasuke was naturally quiet and didn't trust himself to bluster like Naruto, while Naruto was thinking about the night before. Sasuke had been so vulnerable. He hated Itachi even more now. Not only was he a murderer, a member of the Akatsuki, and the reason Sasuke had gone to Orochimaru, but he had betrayed the love and trust of his little brother. He'd broken Sasuke's heart.

Naruto moved closer to Kakashi as they flew though the trees.

"Kakashi," he fought not to add 'sensei' to his name. "Weren't you in ANBU at the same time as Itachi?"

Sasuke came up closer and everyone else remained silent to listen in.

"I wondered when you'd ask. Yes, I was. I didn't know him well though."

"Was there no sign that Itachi would . . ."

"He was insular and had no friends in ANBU. We always wear masks so I rarely saw his face, but he was usually expressionless."

"You didn't see any signs?" Neji asked 'Sasuke.'

"He was a kid," Sasuke said.

"Who could have foreseen that?" Naruto said.

"Why do you ask now?" Kakashi asked.

"I want to go after him. Soon."

Sasuke sensed Naruto was not speaking as Sasuke, but as himself. Naruto wanted to go after Itachi.

"I'm with you." Sasuke said.

"Are there teams looking for him and the rest of Akatsuki?" Lee asked.

"Yes," Kakashi answered, "but they are notoriously hard to locate. They work in two man teams and never congregate. They are always on the move. They will come after Naruto soon enough and I would bet it will be Itachi who will come for him."

"Why do you think that?" TenTen asked.

"Itachi knows this village and the region. Not to mention many of the most powerful Shinobi. He knows our capabilities and favorite techniques. No other member of Akatsuki has that advantage. Especially with Orochimaru no longer among their ranks. I'm glad you came back to us, Sasuke. Not only will it be advantageous to have a natural Sharingan user, but you know much about Itachi's techniques, at least some of the Uchiha specialties."

They continued in silence after that. good

—

At the gates of Konoha, Gai and TenTen left the group. Sakura came up to 'Sasuke.'

"Want to have dinner with me?"

Naruto just tried to remember that the meaner he was to Sakura now, the better chance he'd have with her once he was back in his own body. He turned away and said, "Do I ever?"

Dejected, Sakura started to head for her own apartment. Lee chimed in: "I'll buy you dinner, Sakura!"

"Alright."

Naruto wanted to belt Lee, but could see that Sakura only took him up on his offer as to not be alone.

Neji came up to 'Sasuke' once Sakura and Lee were far enough away. "Do you really intend to kill Itachi?"

"Why would you think I wouldn't?"

"He's your brother."

"He murdered my father, my mother, my cousins, my entire clan, everyone who I could call family. I will kill him."

Sasuke recoiled. Naruto seemed to be channeling him. Maybe Naruto did understand his pain. He certainly understood his loneliness . . . Maybe the pain of never having a family was akin to losing one.

Neji was satisfied. "When the time comes, I will assist if I may. He is a threat to the village. And as Naruto taught me, people can change. He believes in you. Perhaps I should as well." It was as good as a 'I don't really believe you're a traitor anymore' from Neji. Perhaps everyone in the village could begin to trust Sasuke again. Neji walked away.

It was just Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi. Naruto and Sasuke started off toward Naruto's home together.

"Sasuke, could I talk with you alone?"

Naruto hesitated. "Really I just want to get some sleep if it's all the same to you."

"Why are you going to Naruto's then?"

Sasuke spoke up. "We're staying with each other to firm up our teamwork. That's what you're all about isn't it Kakashi-sensei? Teamwork."

"You really intend to bring Naruto with you when you fight Itachi?"

Naruto looked over at Sasuke who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Yes."

"I thought I should tell you more about Itachi."

"Then tell us both," 'Naruto' said. The real Naruto nodded.

"Perhaps at Sasuke's, much less messy."

—

It ends up Kakashi did know Itachi while they were in ANBU. Better than he was letting on, Sasuke suspected. There was something else Sasuke noticed: Kakashi had really liked Itachi. The information Kakashi was offering was mostly dry data: favorite techniques in various situations, favorite weapons, tai jutsu proficiency . . . But there was undoubtedly admiration in his voice and in the words he choose. And something else. Disbelief. The Itachi Kakashi had known would not have slaughtered his clan. Nor would the Itachi Sasuke had known. Was he really that good of an actor? For months, years? His entire life?

Naruto thanked Kakashi and showed him out. Sasuke paced slowly pulling at his lip. Why Itachi?

Naruto activated the Sharingan and looked around; Kakashi was apparently gone. The Sharingan faded.

"I think he left."

Sasuke was lost in thought and didn't hear him. Sasuke wrapped his arms around himself as if cold. He missed Itachi so much. He was overwhelmed with loneliness. He remembered his father finally acknowledging him, his mother telling him that his father spoke of him often, how his aunt fawned over him . . . Itachi carrying him on his shoulders, showing him how to make hand signs, playing hide and seek in the woods, running to Itachi's room during a storm, Itachi coming to his room after a mission . . . Itachi would shower then come in and wake Sasuke just to talk with him. Itachi couldn't have been just pretending to be a caring older brother. Why would he come to talk him after missions? After ANBU missions. Sasuke heard that ANBU's missions were often very hard on the Shinobi who carried them out. Surrounded by death, Itachi came to Sasuke to hold on to some sanity, some humanity. Itachi was lying that night he slaughtered their clan, Sasuke was certain of it now. Then why?

"—ke?"

Naruto touching his arm brought him out of his retrieve.

"You okay?"

"Huh?" Sasuke realized his cheeks were wet. Sasuke rubbed them away. "I'm fine."

Naruto cocked his head, not believing Sasuke. "How 'bout I make some ramen while you clean up?"

Sasuke recovered quickly. "No. You take a shower and I'll make some dinner. I can only take so much ramen."

"Sure."

Making dinner, despite the fact it was for two, was such a habitual, mechanical thing that Sasuke could continue to think.

Sasuke was suddenly rocked back as a memory intruded violently on him. Itachi . . . was . . . crying. Itachi looked back at Sasuke with tears running down his face.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke whirled around.

"Sasuke?" Naruto was more concerned now. Sasuke was just short of outright weeping.

"What is it, Sasuke?"

"Itachi . . . He . . ." But Sasuke couldn't articulate it. He had to think for a few seconds. "He spared me because he . . . loved me. He was lying."

"Are you sure?"

"As you said, why else leave me alive?"

"But he did kill your parents. Didn't he?"

"Yeah. I don't understand." Sasuke rubbed his forehead. "I . . ."

"Why don't you go to bed?"

"I need to shower first."

Sasuke stood under the hot water for several minutes. He'd not felt the touch of another human being for so long that the only way he could remember it what it felt like was to feel the warmth of the hot water. But there was last night, when Naruto was spooning him.

Sasuke wondered out with a towel wrapped around his waist to find clothes laid out for him. He dressed and allowed his hunger to lead him to the kitchen/dining room. He stood in shock for a second. Naruto had finished making the dinner he started. And it ended up not resembling anything like ramen.

And Naruto was silent as they ate. Even though Sasuke didn't say it, Naruto knew Sasuke needed silence.

"Thank you, Naruto." Sasuke got up. "Sorry; I'm afraid I won't be good company tonight. Go on out if you want to. Just don't do anything foolish."

"Naw, I'll stay. I'm too dumb not to do something foolish." It wasn't the self-deprecating joke, but Naruto's joyful—though forced—expression that made Sasuke smile.

That night when Sasuke felt Naruto put his arm over him, Sasuke nuzzled back against him and savored the warmth of another human being. The last fleeting thought he had as he fell asleep was that it would be inconvenient to get too used to this sleeping arrangement.