The sun had barely risen when I woke up. Today was the day we were leaving. I sat up and looked around the room. Everyone was already getting ready. Sakura was stuffing her things into her bag while complaining under her breath.
"I can't believe we stayed an extra day." I looked at her.
"You survived though" She glared at me.
"Because I had to." I laughed.
"Good morning to you too."
"Don't start, Naruto."
Sasuke walked past us with his bag over his shoulder. "Come on, Naru-nii" I looked at him.
"You're in a hurry?"
"I want to get home."
"Someone's excited."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"Just hurry up." He rolled he's eyes. It made me laughed. There it was. He was definitely getting comfortable around me. A few days ago, he barely talked to me unless he had to. Now he was casually calling me Nii-san. Honestly... I kind of liked it. He reminded me of the little brother I never had. A quiet, grumpy little brother.
You have officially adopted him.
Shut up.
Tazuna was waiting for us. We're going home anyways.
"Thank you," he said.
I smiled at him, "You don't have to thank us."
"I have to, you help this Village. Even though you don't have to because of the changes of the mission" He looked at each of us.
"You saved this village." Sakura smiled.
"It was nothing." She answered as if she did something. Sasuke glanced at her. "You did help."
Sakura immediately glowed. Sasuke just complimented her. Well yeah, she did help but still, she's more on a screamer than doing something to ease the situation. The only thing she did right was to lead the bridge builders to safety.
"Really, Sasuke-kun?" He nodded. She practically glowed. I shook my head. I'm kind of disappointed that he complimented Sakura. Because she's more likely take it and think that she's doing great right now.
'She's so easy.'
Sasuke looked at me. Seeing my reaction "What?" He asks. I shake my head for an answer. He narrowed his eyes not believing me.
"You're laughing."
"No, I'm not."
"You are."
"You're just imagining things."
Sasuke shook his head defeated.
"Idiot." I chuckle by what he said Yep. Definitely my little brother.
Then I noticed Inari standing behind Tazuna. He wasn't saying anything. He's just hiding behind he's grandpa. "You, okay?" I ask him that he answered with a nod.
"You don't look like it though." He looked down. "I just don't want you to leave." I smiled and placed a hand on his head. I ruffled he's hair. "But I have to." He pouted by what I said. "I know."
"You'll be okay." He stared at me for a bit. Then he's expression changes and the look of determination adorned he's face.
"I'm going to become strong." He stated. "I know you will." I smiled at him. He looked at me seriously.
"Will I see you again?" I paused. Hearing that makes me wonder too. I can't say what future holds. I smiled. At him. "Maybe." His eyes brightened.
"I'll be waiting. And that day comes you'll be proud of me"
"Then I'll make sure I'm worth waiting for." Inari smiled. I then hugged him.
"Goodbye, Naruto."
"Goodbye, Inari."
With that, I turned around. Sasuke was waiting nearby. I didn't even notice that Kakashi and Sakura was walking ahead. He looked at me for a moment.
"You done?"
"Yeah."
He nodded and ask me to walk along. He really didn't have to wait for me I was really creating a short drama there. "Alright, little brother." I said with a teasing tone. Sasuke stopped.
"...What?" He stared at me.
"Did you just call me little brother?" I scratched my cheek.
"Did I?"
"Yes."
I just smiled at him. Sasuke sighed and shakes he's head. He's cheeks flushed pink maybe he doesn't really expect me to call him that.
The moment we reached the bridge, I stopped. I looked down at the water below. This bridge had been the reason we'd come here. So much had happened because of it. People had almost died. The village had nearly lost everything. And yet...
Here we were. Leaving it behind. Sasuke walked past me.
"Are you coming?"
"Yeah."
I smiled and followed them. We crossed the bridge together. Once we reached the other side, I looked back. The Land of Waves was slowly disappearing behind us.
You made quite an impression here, kit.
I guess I did.
You changed that boy.
I smiled.
I just told him what I wish someone had told me.
Kurama went quiet. I knew he understood.
We continued down the road. For a while, everything was peaceful not until Sakura walked beside Sasuke and push me aside since I've been walking along side Sasuke since we left the village. I just shake my head and walk past at them. I just go to Kakashi.
"So, Sasuke-kun..."
Sasuke looked at her.
"What?"
"Do you think I did well during the mission?"
"No." Sakura's shoulder slumped. She was shocked by what Sasuke said. She's didn't expect that Sasuke would say no. Well basically she did nothing on this mission so….
"Really?!"
"Yes."
"But why? Earlier you…" I looked at Sasuke. Waiting for what he would say.
"I just said you did help" He answered shortly. Sakura frowned and want to scream at her crush but she calmed herself down.
'Wow! If that was me, she would be punching me now! Look at her claming herself'
"Well, that's her Crush though"
'Yeah right'
"But why?" Sakura ask again but now you can hear in her voice the disappointment and sadness. Sasuke did not answer her anymore and just quietly walk past her. I watch Sakura lower her head down. So, me being me I let go of Kakashi's hand. That he secretly held while were walking since Sakura and Sasuke are walking ahead us.
I go beside Sakura and patted her head. She was shock at first but she didn't tell me off. She was sad and in verge of crying.
"Sasuke's right though" I said at first, she looks at me but waited for what I was going to say.
"You did help, but not in the fighting way. Yes, you lead the builders away from the fight. But because Kakashi- sensei told you so. You more like a screamer and do nothing but get scared if you were in that fight"
She was going to scream at me just after I finished my sentence but since Im not yet done. I held her mouth shut.
"Shut up for a minute and listen to me bitch!" She makes a gaping sound and points at me but decided to shut up. Good.
"And when I ask to stay one more day to help the villagers, you strongly disagree. So, when Sasuke said no to your question. I immediately agree. Sakura remember that even if our mission is done our job being ninja is not. So, helping people is still our job, since we choose to be a ninja. Well even if I'm not a ninja I will still help people"
She didn't say anything she just quietly walking beside me and listening to what I'm saying. Kakashi then talk to her too.
"But your still young and basically a Genin, so you can still improve your ways and skills. Stop being succumb to your crush-crush feeling towards your teammates. I believe in you Sakura, well to all three of you" He smiled saying that. Sakura was quite the whole time maybe she was finally looking back to her actions this past few days.
I feel Sasuke's stares. So, I look at him. I chuckled a bit and shakes my head.
"What?" He asks me.
"Nothing." I answered
"You keep doing that." And he's now frowning. I just laughed.
"You're getting better at noticing things." He gave me a suspicious look. "Maybe because you're bad at hiding things Naru-nii." I froze for a moment. He wasn't smiling. He was serious. I looked at him.
"What do you mean?" Sasuke shrugged. "You're not as careless as you pretended to be." I stayed quiet. I can hear Kuruma's laughing inside me. I rolled my eyes at he's antics. Sasuke continued walking. Kakashi was Just listening to us. Sakura at the back was still quiet and didn't pay much attention to us.
"I've seen you fight." He started talking again. "And?" I waited for him to talk.
"I can see you holding back." My eyes widened slightly. Sasuke glanced at me.
"I don't know how much you're hiding." Then he looked forward again. I was silent and just listening to what he would say next. "But I know there's more."
I smiled. He really was observant. I really can't deceive an Uchiha's eyes. "You think so?"
"I know so." I laughed softly, and patted he's shoulders "Keep that to yourself." Sasuke nodded.
"I wasn't planning on telling anyone though."
I looked at him. For some reason, that made me trust him even more.
"Thanks, little brother." Sasuke sighed. "Stop calling me that."
"Definitely a No." I just laugh and continue walking.
After a few hours, Kakashi suddenly stopped.
"Break."
We sat down beneath some trees. I pulled out some food and started eating. Sakura looked at me.
"You want some?" I ask her, she nodded I just shrugged and give her some. Kakasi ang Sasuke pack their own food. She's only the who didn't because she was busy cursing me while packing her things earlier.
"Why are you still hungry? You were eating the whole time." Sakura asks, I shrugged "Training makes me hungry."
Sasuke looked at me. "You're always eating though Naru-nii" He spoke teasingly. I pointed at him. Up and down. Pointing at he's whole body. "See? That's why you should eat more too." See what I'm saying?
"Nope, I'm fine."
"You're too skinny." Sasuke frowned. I laugh a bit "I'm not." "Oh yes, you are."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
I held out some food. Since he finished the food, he pact.
"Eat."
He stared at it. Then at me.
"I already eat."
"I know."
"Then stop."
"Just eat."
He sighed and took it. Sakura stared at us. "What are you two doing?"
"Taking care of my little brother." Sasuke groaned.
"I'm starting to regret telling you anything."
I laughed. "Oh really?" He just shakes he's head and smiled a little.
After lunch, Kakashi announced training. Sakura stands up immediately.
"Let's do it" I can see the fire in her eyes.
Sasuke stood up. "Let's go."
"Someone's motivated."
"Of course, I'm not losing to you." I raised an eyebrow. "Who said you were?" Sasuke looked at me. Sasuke did have a huge amount of chakra. If he takes, he's training more seriously he would be a really great shinobi.
Kakashi started with basic movement drills. Sakura struggled with the first few. Sasuke performed them almost perfectly.
And me? Just like every time. I deliberately made mistakes. I moved slower than I could. I allowed myself to trip once. I even missed a target. Sakura looked at me. "How are you this bad? Are you being lazy?" "You were better than this during the mission." I froze for half a second. Did she notice what I'm doing?
Sasuke looked at me and didn't say anything. Instead, he simply walked past me.
"Try harder." Well maybe Sakura's right I'm being lazy by lying about my abilities. But I have to.
"Yes, little brother."
"Stop calling me that." Sasuke said, while he's face are getting red. Haha!
We did train a little more and basically, I pointed some of Sakura's movement. She didn't refuse and actually listens to me a lot.
As we continued traveling, the sun began to set. Kakashi looked toward the sky.
"We'll stop here." Sakura immediately dropped her bag.
"Finally!" I laughed.
"You're really tired." She just shrugged "of course!"
We started setting up camp. Sasuke gathered firewood so I decided to joined him. For a while, neither of us spoke. Then he handed me a piece of wood. "Here." I stared at it for a few second before I took it.
"Thanks." He looked at me. "Do you really see me as your little brother?" I smiled and nodded
"Yeah." He was quiet. Then he looked away. "...I don't mind." I blinked. Shocked by what I hear.
'Did I hear him right Kura-nii?'
Absolutely kit.
"What?"
"Nothing." I smiled at him and patted he's head "You're getting soft."
"Shut up." I laughed, while he's prying my hands off of, he's head.
That night, I sat beside the fire. Sasuke was sitting nearby, quietly looking at the flames. Sakura was already asleep. Kakashi was reading his book beside me. Everything felt peaceful. Almost like... A family.
I smiled. Maybe this team wasn't so bad after all.
Kit.
Kurama's voice was quiet.
'Yes?'
Stay alert.
I looked around.
'Why?'
I don't know yet.
I frowned. Kurama always knew when something was wrong. Before I could ask anything else, Kakashi suddenly looked at me.
"Naruto." I looked at him.
"Yeah?" His visible eye met mine. "Get some sleep." I just nodded. "Okay."
Sasuke glanced between us. He didn't say anything. But I noticed the way he watched me. He knew there was something about me that none of them completely understood. And for now... He was keeping my secret. I leaned back against the tree. Tomorrow we'd continue toward Konoha and we'd finally be home.
But deep inside...
I had a feeling that the road ahead wouldn't stay peaceful for long.