Fading Scars

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

***Warnings for some graphic material***

Thoughts in Italics


Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Forty-Four:

Naruto had slept late, something he usually didn't do too often. By the time he was up, he figured he might as well skip breakfast and wait until he met Sasuke. As it was, he arrived first to the old ramen booth, chatting idly with the owner as he waited. I wonder if he'll want to spar. I hope...he changes his mind....

Sasuke showed up around the promised time, a little surprised that the ramen stand seemed smaller... Though he had been young, the last time he'd been here. The owner looked surprised to see him but didn't comment. "Hey, Naruto." He slid onto the stool next to him. "You treating a guest or what?"

"Why not?" he replied cheerfully, covering his faint anxiety, waving to the owner. "We're gonna need two! I get to treat my old teammate, and he's stingy!"

Sasuke chuckled. He suddenly couldn't remember if he and Naruto had ever shared a meal here, as if...they were real friends. A lot of things had been different back then. "At least your appetite hasn't changed," he remarked. "Still a ramen freak as always."

Naruto have him a mock horrified look. "And what's wrong with ramen? Best meal in the world, right Pops?" He grinned at the owner as a pair of steaming bowls were set out for them. Naruto easily began picking out a few pieces of meat to start with. "Bet you don't get anything this good up North, right?"

"Nothing like this, that's true," Sasuke admitted. He scooped some of the ramen into his mouth, and was surprised by how the nostalgic taste warmed his stomach so well. He really might have missed it. "But you guys don’t get beef down here, like you do in the mountains. It great stuff."

"Well, then next time you'll have to bring me some," he replied. The easy talk was helping him to settle, and they continued on casually for some time as their meals gradually vanished. I can't remember him ever talking this much, though, he reflected near the end. "You've changed."

"Hm?" Sasuke glanced over at him curiously. He'd been thinking the same thing about Naruto, about this place, but it hadn't quite occurred to him that he'd changed himself. "What do you mean?"

Naruto shrugged, digging out some money for the owner, leaving it on the counter. "I dunno. You just seem different. Open." He paused for another mouthful. "You're not such a tight-ass anymore."

Sasuke choked a little on a mouthful of noodles at that remark. He quickly gulped them down. "Well, I wouldn't say that…." He shook himself. "You think so?"

"Sure. I'd almost even call you friendly," he added, elbowing the other boy. "But that might be stretching things a little. Is it...because of Orochimaru?" he had to ask, too curious not to. "Because you lost that curse?"

Sasuke frowned sharply at that. "It..." He shifted on the stool. "It wasn't really Orochimaru," he said, eyes darkening a little. It's because…Neji helped me back off of him. His hands tightened a little around his chopsticks. "I guess...all the training we've been doing, the progress we've made...it put everything into prospective, I guess. I haven't felt like anyone's been holding me back." He plucked out a fish patty to gulp down. "I guess you could say it's Neji's influence."

Naruto hummed thoughtfully, considering that. "He seems different, too," he muttered. "Though, I'm sure that's because of his curse. It'll really be something if he can give that cure to the rest of his family--free them all. He really...seems happy, now."

"He is," Sasuke assured, and just knowing that made him smile a little deeper. "It's about time someone stirred up Hyuuga. If Hokage really agrees to this alliance, and Neji is able to give our jutsu to Hyuuga's branch family, it'll mean a lot of changes for Konoha. For the better."

"For the better...." It really would help a lot. Naruto was watching Sasuke closely now, watched the smile on his face. It, somehow, looked familiar, though he couldn't tell from where. "You two are good friends now, aren't you. That Koshaku, too. You're real comrades now."

Sasuke blushed a little, to his profound embarrassment, and quickly nodded. "Yeah. Weird, huh?" He chuckled. "Neji and I used to be the angriest little bastards here, and now we…really get along. And Koshaku, too."

He's.... Naruto leaned closer, poking at Sasuke's cheek, almost not believing. "You're blushing," he accused. "When the hell did you start doing that?" And why would he be blushing like that?

"I'm not!" Sasuke quickly protested, squirming away. "The...the ramen is hot!"

"Ha! You so are!" Naruto laughed, then lifted his bowl to finish the last of the broth. "I can't believe that someone like you figured out how to blush!"

"I'm not blushing!" Sasuke insisted, though of course by now his face was redder than ever. He snatched his own bowl of ramen, gulping it down as if he could then blame the steam for his colored skin.

Still chuckling, Naruto hopped off his stool, taking a few moments to stretch and let his meal settle. Strangely, if felt like it'd been a long time since he'd laughed, and as soon as the thought passed through him, he sobered a little.

Sasuke finished as well with a gasp, and wiped his mouth on his sleeve as he turned to face Naruto. "I don't have to be back until this evening," he said. His eyes flashed a little. "Wanna pass some time?"

He shrugged. "Sure. You have something in mind?" He was trying to sound casual, but he already had a good idea of what Sasuke was going to suggest….

Sasuske grinned. "What else? A little sparring match." He straightened, giving his knuckles a crack. "I keep hearing you're top Jounin around here these days. I wouldn't mind seeing for myself."

Naruto smirked a little, though the expression was vaguely forced. "Fire's top against Stone's best, huh?" He cracked his neck before starting down the street. "Well, if you really want to, I suppose I wouldn't mind a little exercise."

Sasuke fell into step beside him. "I won't go easy on you," he promised. He really was looking forward to this, as evinced by his tightened fists at his sides.

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Naruto retorted, though his fingers were curling restlessly in his pockets. His stomach wasn't hurting as much today, but.... Whatever--it's just some sparring. It'll be fine.

"Well, good." Sasuke smirked, picking up his pace a little. "Any place near by we can go to? We might need...a lot of space."

Naruto considered, finally turning them towards the eastern end of town. "A lot of the students have started taking over a bunch of the training grounds, now that our class is pretty much through. There's one out here the jounin use, and it should be free right around now."

"Sounds good." Sasuke glanced to his old teammate, his mind already working. He had no idea how good Naruto might have gotten since he'd been gone, what new Konoha techniques he might have learned. He vowed to be ready for anything as they made their way to the training ground.

It was a wide space, surrounded by thick trees they had to climb through just to get to the place--ensuring that no one could sneak up undetected, or that students could stumble into. Naruto immediate started on some warming stretches, watching Sasuke while trying to seem like he wasn't. I wonder how strong he is. If he's got the favor of the king....

Sasuke adjusted the wraps on his hands and shins and did a few of his own stretches. He could tell that Naruto was just as tense as him. It's been a few years, after all, learning from entirely different teachers…. This ought to be interesting. He swirled his finger around the loop of a kunai. "Ready?"

Naruto shook out his arms before taking up a ready stance. His stomach gave a little twinge that he ignored. "Yeah." Better to get this over with, I guess. He smirked faintly, and without further warning launched into an attack. Just something easy, to start with, a few simple punches and combination kicks.

Sasuke smirked as he met him at the center of the field. Already Naruto was better than he remembered, and they met blow for blow. It was a little nostalgic, fighting someone of Konoha style. As they fought he quickly realized that Naruto's brute strength was probably greater than his own; his speed helped keep them even.

Sasuke was still faster, even after Naruto tried to increase his pace, but he'd expected that. He tried instead a few of his newer moves, attacks he'd developed with Lee that, though not terribly fast, could be devastating with the full force of their strength in them. So long as he didn't have to start pulling up chakra, he'd be all right....

But Sasuke wasn't as easily satisfied. Though he wasn't so serious as to start slinging fireballs, he broke off long enough to call up a move he was sure Naruto hadn't encountered before--a stone clone. I wonder how great his Kage Bunshin has gotten by now….

Naruto sensed the shift in power, but it was too late to pull back his attack. His heel collided with what was supposed to have been Sasuke's chest, only to meet with a long stone. The surface cracked deeply at his strike, though he was already turning away to meet Sasuke again. He was still holding back, just a little, but it was getting difficult--he was enjoying the exercise, and wanted to see just how far they both had come....

He's holding back. Sasuke licked his lips as they rounded each other and struck again. I can tell. I know he's stronger than this. Determined to push Naruto harder he strengthened his own attacks, finally breaking through Naruto's defense to land a punch to his jaw.

Naruto retreated, rubbing at his stinging jaw. Damnit, I can't beat him like this. He smirked faintly before charging again. Nothing would happen, right? Not with a little sparring. He could push himself, could try a few jutsus. Before he could second guess himself he'd summoned a trio of clones, knowing Sasuke would find them a little sturdier than those he previously called.

Sasuke's eyes flashed, finally calling forth his sharingan. That's more like it. He freed a pair of kunai, quickly seeking out and engaging the clones. They're tougher than before. He really has been training hard.

Naruto let his clones work for a few moments, shaking the last sting from his foot--that stone really had been tricky. He finally rejoined the fight, concentrating a ball of ki and attacking, hoping to force Sasuke back. If we were ever serious, this would be an incredible fight.

Sasuke dodged, but he quickly attacked with his own energy, forcing it into his palm to throw Naruto back when they connected. He leapt into the air, trying to land behind Naruto to land a kick to his back.

Catching his ankle, Naruto spun, flinging Sasuke towards a tree. The boy was too quick, though, managing to right himself in midair and land easily. He grinned. "You're not too bad, I guess," he called, tightening his headband.

"You, either," Sasuke called back around a smirk. He cracked his knuckles and neck. "You got a little stronger."

"A little?" He flexed his hand, gathering his power and feeling the air around him begin to tense and spin. "Maybe I'll show you something special," he teased. "Though I doubt even your little eye-trick will be quick enough to pick it up."

Sasuke snorted carelessly, but his eyes widened a little, focusing sharply on the chakra that Naruto was building. What…IS he doing? His own arm tensed, calling his own chakra in case he really had to defend against whatever Naruto was preparing. "We'll see."

Naruto grinned. It took me quite a while to learn this move--if he gets it after one shot, I'll be really disappointed. He built his energy faster, clothes whipping about with the power of his ki. Finally ready he shot forward, using the speed he'd learned from working with Lee as he brought his attack around.

Ah shit-- Sasuke didn't have time to ready Chidori or anything comparable, and in the end had to call up a stone clone to absorb the bizarre attack as he dove out of the way. Geez, that was a lot of chakra!

Naruto barreled through the stone, shattering it, as well as the thick tree just behind. He was grinning, pleased, as he turned back to face Sasuke. "Ha! Not too bad, eh? Didn't I say that--"

His voice cut off, his stomach spasming sharply. Naruto managed to keep the wince out of his face, hands fisting against his hips. Damnit, not now.

Sasuke didn't catch his lapse, too busy studying the neat hole Naruto hard carved straight through the tree trunk. "Crap. That's...really something." Probably just as strong as Chidori. I wonder how many of those he can pull off in a day....

His lip curled as he turned back, clasping his hands together in the seals to for the speed jutsu he and Neji had perfected. "But let's see if you can keep up with this."

Naruto gave them a little space, getting ready for whatever it was Sasuke was about to do. Sternly telling his stomach to behave, he pulled some more chakra into his limbs, ready to retreat or defend. "I can take anything you've got, Uchiha," he taunted.

Sasuke's eyes thinned, and without warning he was in motion again. In an instant he was behind the blonde ninja, bringing his leg about in a low sweep.

Naruto barely managed to dodge in time, feeling Sasuke's sandal scrape against the back of his legs. Shit! He's fast! Knowing better than to try and outrun him, Naruto only took the two steps needed to put him briefly out of Sasuke's range. He smirked over his shoulder. "You come up with that one?"

"Me and Neji," Sasuke admitted. This was starting to feel less like a sparring match and more like show and tell, but he didn't mind. He straightened. "You remember Chidori, right? I can almost do five in a row now."

"Yeah?" Naruto nodded appreciatively. "Didn't Kakashi say that was only good for a few? I don't think even he can do that many. Though...." He smirked. "I can do six of my wind spiral. Don't think it's quite as strong, but I guess it just means were still even."

"Yeah, I guess so." Sasuke raked his hair back. "You good for a while longer? Nothing fancy. I could use the exercise." And…it's kind of fun.

"You kidding?" Naruto punched his fist, calling up his power once more. "I haven't even gotten started. Get ready to eat fist, Sasuke!"

"Whatever you say, slow-poke!" With fresh energy Sasuke charged again, drawing them into another round of punches and kicks.

They continued for some time, every now and then throwing out a new jutsu they had learned. Though at one time Naruto would have been frustrated by not being able to best Sasuke, he was finding their even match-ups almost refreshing. He found himself pushing himself further, wanting to keep up with his former companion.

Suddenly his legs seemed to go a little numb, and it threw off his defense just enough for Sasuke to get a punch in. Coughing, Naruto stumbled backwards, arms tight around his middle and gasping after lost breath. Shit, was that--

As he'd promised, Sasuke didn't let up--he pursued Naruto, a kick catching him his folded arms and throwing him back against the nearest tree. It wasn't until then, when Naruto didn't retaliate, that he hesitated. "Naruto?"

Shit--shit! He curled around his injured abdomen, feeling ill. His blood felt like it was boiling, chakra suddenly seeming to flood his body in a way he could barely control. He turned away from Sasuke, not wanting him to see, though.... Naruto leaned hard against the tree as he tried to force the bubbling ki back where it belonged.

Sasuke blinked, taking a step back as a strange--yet somehow familiar--chakra began to emanate from his friend. What is that? Is that his chakra? But... There was something thick and unnatural about that energy, and after a moment he approached Naruto to take his shoulders. "Naruto!"

He jerked, startled by the loud voice, and reached up to push Sasuke firmly away. "Don't--I'm fine." Naruto forced himself upright, still holding his stomach tightly with eyes closed. His strength only lasted a moment--all at once he was on his knees, gasping softly as a fresh wave tried to overpower him. "Shit--!"

"Naruto!" Sasuke grimaced when it suddenly became clear to him what was probably happening. Could it be…Nine Tails? Now? Too wary of moving or leaving Naruto he wrapped an arm around his shoulders, holding the shuddering boy against him. "It's all right," he assured firmly, suddenly reminded of Neji, the way he'd held him when his curse seal acted up…. His hand tightened against Naruto's shoulder. "You can fight it."

Naruto groaned, but he was slowly winning back control of the rampant chakra. Gradually his breathing slowed, though he was still trembling. It's getting worse. For something like our sparring to cause it.... He covered his eyes, unthinkingly leaning into Sasuke.

Sasuke didn't speak at first, allowing Naruto to lean against him. He even gave Naruto's back a firm rub, trying to help quell his shivering. It has to be the Nine Tails. Naruto…. He sighed quietly. Not all of us were able to get free.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto finally edged away from the other, somehow embarrassed. "Sasuke...." He stared down at his knees, still shivering a little, though the ache in his stomach was bearable now. "Sorry...."

Sasuke watched him carefully, just in case...something were to happen. "Are you all right now?" he asked evenly.

He nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." He straightened his shoulders, glancing at the other. I should tell him...shouldn't I? It's got nothing to do with him, but.... "Hey...you guys are going to be here a while, right?" he asked softly.

"Yeah. At least, as long as it takes." Sasuke tried not to let his concern show, if it would be unwelcomed. "It's a long trip back, so we might as well take our time here."

"Good." That helped, knowing that both Sasuke and Neji would be in the village. If it keeps getting worse, and something happens.... He closed his eyes, rubbing unconsciously at his stomach. At least there'll be enough strong shinobi here....

Sasuke frowned. It must be bad. We weren't fighting that hard. He knew he shouldn't press it, for the sake of Naruto's pride, but... "Have you told anyone?" he asked. If Naruto didn't want to deal with it himself, he might at least be able to get answers out of someone else.

Naruto flinched a little, expression darkening. "Shikamaru knows," he murmured, feeling ill again, though for a different reason. "That's it. But...we haven't been talking, since he found out...."

Haven't been talking…? That didn't sound like Shikamaru, but then, Sasuke had never really known him all that well to begin with. "All right," he said, and finally stood. He offered his hand. "Ready to go in? 'His Majesty' is probably going to want me and Neji to report in soon."

He glanced up at the offered hand, then looked to Sasuke's face. "You're not gonna scold me?" he asked suspiciously. "Or are you just scared?"

"Scared of you?" Sasuke echoed with a snort. "I was winning just now. Come on, I don't want to get in trouble." He gave his hand an impatient shake.

Naruto frowned, accepting the help in getting to his feet, though once there he moved away to stand on his own. Then...maybe he doesn't really know what it is. He looked away--he wasn't about to tell him. Not if it would end up like with Shikamaru....

His fingers tensed. He missed him--really missed him. Missed having someone he could trust. He didn't want to alienate anyone else like that, didn't want to scare anyone away....

Sasuke frowned at the face the other was making. It's just as hard for him here as it ever was, he realized, and it made his stomach twist. Konoha needs this change. Naruto…you should have come with us in the first place.

He stepped closer, throwing his arm around Naruto's shoulders again. "Come on," he repeated, steering him out of the clearing. "If it's not about to bust out I won't bother you about it. Just be careful. All right?"

A little surprised, Naruto found he wasn't able to protest. Instead he obediently followed along with Sasuke, marveling again how much the other had changed. "Thanks," he mumbled.

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