Change of heart

Hi there. I'm new to fanfic writing so cut me a little slack. I'm an artist not a writer but I decided to expand my repetoire. Enjoy my little expariment.

Chapter 1

Naruto whimpered as his small body shook with sobs of paid and despair. The moon shone through the open curtain onto his tanned shuddering skin.
'Why, why, why? How could this have happened?' His child-like mind failed to wrap around the painful concept. He raised his hands and held his head in denial. Slowly shaking his head against the onslaught of tortured memories he sobbed as tears streaked down his face. 'Why do they hate me? I never did anything to them.' He sniffled and raised his eyes to look at the clock.
'I have to meet the others in an hour.' He thought dully as he wiped away his tears. Straining his muscles he sat up in bed and hissed at the pain that throbbed through his body. 'I can't go like this.' Sitting on the bed he stared out the window at the pre-dawn sky with dull blue eyes. He sighed. 'I need to get clean.' He shuddered. 'I feel so dirty.' He swallowed his last sob and bit his lip.
Trembling from the cold, Naruto rolled off his bed and stumbled to the bathroom. He clenched his teeth against the pain as he slowly made his way to the sink. He stared at his reflection and frowned. He looked awful. His eyes looked hooded and his normally tanned skin looked pasty and sick. Shaking his head he turned on the water and stepped into scalding stream with a yelp.
He let the water run over his body and through his hair. He stood there and let the water wash away his thoughts. When the water finally turned cold he stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off. He stepped out of the bathroom and slipped into his usual orange jumpsuit. Five years of life did nothing to sway his decision to wear orange. He stepped back into the bathroom just to check his look. He tried to smile brightly but only failed miserably.
'OK. No smiling today. I'll just act happy.' Smiling sadly he left his apartment and headed towards the clearing where they had planned to meet. 'Keep smiling.' He told himself. They don't need to know the truth.

~ ~ ~

Sasuke sat under the sprawling branches of a giant oak. The Sky was just beginning to turn pink and he was already bored. It was true that he was early but for some reason this morning gave off a vague uneasiness. As if something were very wrong. He growled under his breath and shifted to get more comfortable. He deepened his breathing and forced himself to calm down. Years of training were not going to go to waste.
His mind wandered in the calm of the moment and he thoughts ran back to the day two years ago.

He faced Naruto from across the same waterfall they had parted ways across three years ago. He stared at the small, fragile looking shinobi with a mixture of anger and surprise. How dare that dobe come for him like this! He wasn't some wayward child that needed to be saved, he was an elite ninja that had chosen a dark path. He wouldn't let this child beat Him. He wouldn't let that dobe win this battle.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, Naruto had beaten him senseless and had proceeded to drag his ass back to the village. Weeks had gone by until Sasuke had realized that this was were he wanted to be. Not getting stronger with Orochimaru but here, getting stronger with Naruto.
Shaking his head again Sasuke grumbled. That time was past. He didn't need to relieve that. He was here, training to kill Itachi. And he was getting better here anyway.
He turned his head at the sound of approaching footsteps. He watched as Naruto entered the clearing and sat down a few steps away from Sasuke who grunted a return greeting to the blond.
Sasuke watched as Naruto settled in to wait and went quiet. Now that was strange. Naruto and quiet did not belong in the same sentence. He was loud at all times and this was downright strange. Naruto stared off into space and seemed to be thinking hard about something. Sasuke shook his head. Naruto was quiet. Everyone was entitled to a little quiet time.
He turned his thoughts again. Kakashi had asked them to come to that clearing two days ago. He said it was an important mission. One that wouldn't last more that a day. Right. Kakashi was perhaps the least trustworthy shinobi in the village. He tended to make light of a serious situation, exaggerate everything, and never tell the complete truth. One of the trickiest shinobi out there.
Sighing, Sasuke looked at the sky again and shrugged in slight annoyance. Sakura and Kakashi were both late. The sun had finished rising in the sky and the sunlight filtered into the shady clearing through the trees. Sasuke stood and stretched his tight muscles, glancing over at the strangely quiet shinobi he tried to make conversation.
"Hey dobe! Lets train until they get here." He called over to Naruto.
"No. I'm good. I just want to wait." Sasuke gaped at Naruto's back and was very grateful that the other boy was turned away. Naruto.... Not want to train?! That was just wrong. Naruto was one of the most enthusiastic people he ever new when it came to training. He never turned down an opportunity to train. Never!
Sasuke stared at Naruto's back with a faint frown. He was starting to get worried about Naruto's strange behavior. He new that Naruto could take care of himself but this was weird and Sasuke couldn't help but get worried.
"Hey, are you all right?" He asked uncertainly.
Naruto turned to face him with a slightly surprised expression. He smiled gently. "Yeah. I'm OK. But thank you for worrying."
Sasuke just stared as Naruto turned his back. 'OK. Something is really wrong. Naruto never thanks me and NEVER smiles like that. What the hell happened?'
Sasuke was about to ask but That was when Sakura decided to make her entrance with Kakashi. He scowled but listened as Kakashi explained their mission and led the way to the trail they were to follow out of the village.
Silence followed them and surrounded them but Sasuke couldn't get his mind off Naruto and his strange behavior.


Lookie! First chapter up. I know it sorta sucks but it'll do for now. Stay tuned, the next chapter will be up in a few days.

Dagan