ch.1 The Dryness & The Rain

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One ordinary afternoon, like many before and many after, Jaraya had sent Naruto away on a training excersize. This day’s activities included speed training between Konohagakure and "the Valley of the End". Naruto was half way through his laps when a boy shaped blur appeared walking towards Konoha form the Land of Fire’s border. The closer Naruto got the clearer the blur became, until he had realized that was no boy, it was Sasuke. Before Sasuke had a chance to react Naruto was on top hime with the fiercest look in his eyes Sasuke had ever seen. "Why?" Naruto roared, and punched Sasuke in the face. "Why did you leave the Village? Why did you leave us, Sakura? Sasuke, why did you leave me?" With each syllable Naruto spoke his fist connected with Sasuke’s cheek. Sasuke just laid there and took it, he knew he deserved every moment of that beating. When Naruto had finally calmed down Sasuke had began whispering, "I was scared." As the look on Naruto’s face faded from anger to confusion, Sasuke’s whisper grew into a yell. "I was afraid, ok? I was terrorfied that you’d become so powerful that you’d leave me behind." Tears welled up in Sasuke’s eyes "That’s why I went to be with Orochimaru, so I wouldn’t become useless to you, Naruto-kun."

Thick, dark storm clouds had began to from over the two young ninja’s heads "Let’s go home." Sasuke whispered as a smile raced across Naruto’s face. The further Naruto and Sasuke walked the thicker and more awkward the silence grew between them, until Naruto final spoke, he spoke in a soft, reflective voice "I finally understand what you meant when you said-" Sasuke had begun speaking before Naruto had finished his thought "My..., my only wish is to be with you now, you were alone for so long even when Sakura and I were so close, we were right next to you, you could have reached out and touched us." Naruto slipped his hand inside Sasuke’s; it felt cold like a snake’s skin but it was slowly warming around Naruto’s fingers and palm. The longer they walked the more Sasuke grew warmer and the more talkative Naruto became.

"Sasuke, you’re a rogue ninja now, what if the Jonin try to capture you after we enter the village?" "Then we’ll pretend that we are the only two souls in the whole village. No matter what, I’m going home!" The thunder had finally boomed and lightning had finally cracked, Naruto had clung to Sasuke tighter than he had ever held on to anything before. Sasuke knew Naruto was more scared now than he had ever been. Naruto began shaking violently trying to not only keep a hold of Sasuke’s sleeve but to also keep a hold of his composer, before Naruto even had a chance to say anything Sasuke was already comforting him "Don’t worry Naruto-kun, I will never leave your side again."

As Naruto looked up at Sasuke’s face he heard a distant ringing that kept growing closer until he realized it was morning, and the ringing was his alarm, and he had been dreaming the whole time. "Damn it, why did this one have to feel so real?" Naruto said to himself wiping the tears from his eyes and geting ready for that day’s Sasuke-less mission.

End