In Good Company
Six: Unit 3
Ehime Taro is only three years older than Sasuke, but he's ten times as crude and entire magnitudes more fire-friendly than any Uchiha that Sasuke has ever met. The man is an explosions expert, Jiro explains during their meeting. Give him some C4-heck, give him a flint-and the man can make the sky light up.
"My friends call me Tottori," Taro says by way of hello, gripping Sasuke's hand hard. He's a brunette with a disarming smile and an easy laugh. Sasuke feels himself returning the shake and saying, "Uchiha-"
"Uchiha fucking Sasuke, I know," Tottori interrupts enthusiastically. "Dude, you and me? We're a match made in fucking heaven, man. I'll provide the explosives, you provide the spark, and boom. The rest, as they say, is history." Sasuke doesn't doubt the man because according to his file, he's had quite the record with Special Jounin, SCI and ANBU already at the ripe age of nineteen.
The rest of Jiro's team is just as impressive. Jiro is a weapons and traps specialist, on par with Tenten, according to Neji. He is the oldest in the group at twenty-two, and the most experienced ANBU. The others are all new to the force, and Sasuke is youngest (sixteen, a year and a half younger than anyone else in his graduating class at the Academy), and the newest to the ranks. He is also the only one-apparently in all of ANBU history-to go directly from genin to ANBU C.O. Sasuke winces at this bit of information. Like the blind leading the blind, he realizes. Jiro, by all accounts, should have been C.O. of the new Unit 3. But for some reason, Hiashi singled him out.
Sasuke's new unit also includes an asset that Sasuke had been hoping for some time: illusions experts. Aichi Kenshin-"you can call me Ken," only twenty-one-is a linguist, fluent in seven languages and apparently has the finest henge no jutsu in the entire eastern seaboard. He was embedded in deep covers for the past four years. But he got sick of the spy's life and returned back to ANBU. He didn't even have to take the ANBU exam, according to the record. Hiashi laid out a red carpet for the man to join. In Jiro's team, he had been second-in-command.
And of course, there's Lee and Chouji, two of ANBU's freshest recruits. They were transferred out of Jounin ranks two weeks ago, Jiro explains, not because they requested it but because Hiashi and Shikaku put in the joint orders. It's not surprising, Sasuke knows, because putting Lee and Chouji in the same team as Shikamaru and Neji will be an advantage on the field. The men have many years of experience working together, so placing them in the same ANBU unit is ideal.
"Neji! We are united again as comrades!" Lee says by way of hello, grinning wildly. Neji does not say anything, but there is a slight twitch of his lips when Lee throws an arm around Neji's shoulder casually. "Let's train later."
"We trained this morning, Lee," Chouji grumbles. He's already made himself comfortable next to Shikamaru, and almost absent-mindedly holds out the packet of chips he's devouring steadily. Shikamaru takes up on Chouji's offer and begins munching on the chips as well.
"So that's all of us," Jiro says. "Gentlemen, this is Uchiha Sasuke, your commanding officer."
"And this is Hyuga Neji," Sasuke introduces, gesturing at the man. "He's your second." Neji looks surprised at the introduction, but the choice was easy to make for Sasuke. There is no reason to make Jiro his second, even if Neji and Sasuke have a history of antagonism. The Hyuga is good, one of the most efficient, professional ninja that Sasuke has ever seen on the field. Letting emotions get in the way of this choice would be stupid-and besides, Sasuke thinks. Neji and Naruto are not dating, so there really isn't any reason to hold a grudge against the man.
Apparently, Neji wasn't even gay.
The new members shake Neji's hand, Tottori with an enthusiastic, "Two fucking dojutsus in a team. Niice."
"There's three other blood lines as well. Nara, Inuzuka and Aburame families are all represented," Neji corrects. "I'll introduce you to them."
Neji glances towards Sasuke for the final okay, and he nods. They file out, but Jiro lingers for a moment after they leave. "Sir," he begins, and then clears his throat. "I just wanted to say that the best man got the job. It'll be a privilege to work with you."
Sasuke nods, unsure of how to respond to something like this. "Likewise."
"Sir," Jiro says, and then the door closes shut after him. Sasuke breathes out into the silence of his office. He moved in earlier that day, grumbling the entire time about the absolute waste of resources it is giving ANBU C.O.s an office of their own. But now, he understands the need for a space to himself. It's nine men now, all under his control, and the missions they will get will be harder, tougher, and bloodier.
"It'll take time," Nidaime says from somewhere in the room, and Sasuke curses his surprise.
"The fuck, Nidaime, a little warning," Sasuke grumbles, and lets his sharingan swirl into life. The man is lounging against the far wall.
"It'll take time," he repeats. "Your Captain will build up your missions. Tonight's job is just patrol."
Sasuke shrugs, sitting in his chair carefully. The damn table even has a plaque with his name on it, UCHIHA SASUKE, COMMANDING OFFICER, UNIT 3. There is no pride with this title though, just the apprehension of being responsible for these men.
"Something's wrong," Nidaime says, and he appears across the table from Sasuke.
Sasuke shakes his head, and flips open a folder. It's Jiro's, describing in detail the extent of his abilities. The man has a better record than Sasuke-certainly no treason charges-and not a single life has been lost in his name. "He should be C.O.," Sasuke says finally, glancing up at the Nidaime. He feels ashamed for admitting this, but these are his thoughts, and if he can't share them with a ghost, then who else?
"Iwate Jiro," Nidaime reads. He leans forward to catch Sasuke's gaze. "You think he should have been made C.O. Why?"
Sasuke pushes Jiro's folder even further towards the Nidaime. He doesn't have access to his own folder, but he knows what it must read like: traitor, incapable of following orders, one man injured on a routine mission already, and a fucking expiration date with Itachi's name next to it. Side-by-side, Jiro's folder must outshine his by several leagues. Whatever possessed Hiashi to promote him over Jiro, it is a mistake. "And you think," Nidaime says slowly after reading his folder, "That he is a better man for this job than you."
Sasuke feels his face flush. Kakashi taught him never to doubt himself, but his entire life has been whittled down to a series of doubts: Can I kill Itachi? Can I escape Orochimaru? Will I ever be forgiven? Is there a special spot in hell reserved for trash like me? And now, it's: Can I protect Naruto?
"I can't change how you think," Nidaime says finally. He stands up, tugging at his Hokage robes firmly over his shoulders. "But I can tell you this. If I had been your Captain, if I had been your Commander, or your Hokage, I would have appointed you to this job. Look at me, boy."
Sasuke drags his eyes away from Jiro's folder and meets the Nidaime's gaze. "I would not hesitate," Nidaime goes on. "Not to make you a commanding officer, and not to place my life in your hands. Am I clear?"
Sasuke sometimes forgets that these ghosts-the men who watch him stumble out of bed, badger him into eating healthier breakfasts, and comment on the state of his sex life without much hesitation-are Hokages. He forgets that they are the same men in history textbooks, the four greatest ninja that Konoha ever produced, the finest warriors on the Continent.
"Am I clear?" Nidaime repeats again, stern, and Sasuke is reminded of this man's legend.
"Yes," he says finally, and gets up to meet the rest of his unit.
"Yes, what?" Nidaime barks.
"Yes, sir," Sasuke says, and this time, the Nidaime smiles.
**
Yuuta makes his second report towards the end of their patrol. He appears suddenly just as the Unit is wrapping up for the night in the watch tower, logging anything they saw or noticed. In the relatively small room, he gets lost in a flurry of feet.
"What the hell is this?" Yuuta hisses, slithering towards Sasuke.
Chouji is the first to notice the snake, and he does it loudly. "Holy-" Two kunai fly towards Yuuta in the next instant, and then another three as Jiro reacts.
Yuuta dodges all of them easily enough-Jiro doesn't have enough room to let his weapons fly-and slides up Sasuke's leg with a slither. He coils around Sasuke's bicep, hissing angrily at the others in the room. "Stand down. He's my snake," Sasuke orders, turning back to his paperwork.
Patrols like these are mostly tedious, a waste of time in Sasuke's opinion, but it is the best way to get familiar with each other for a new team. It takes a few moments, but eventually, the men get back to logging their hours. "Fucking hell," Ken mutters, giving Sasuke a wide birth. Akamaru considers Yuuta for a few long minutes, tail wagging, before returning to Kiba's side.
"They're moving West," Yuuta begins without prompt, sounding slightly hurried. "There are several high-level nin. They gather at a place filled with women and fornicate, but they conduct their affairs away from the village."
"A whorehouse," Sasuke mutters. Orochimaru liked to gather with his men in whorehouses as well. It was the perfect field trip for the men: a chance to get work done and fuck all wrapped in one. It's comforting, almost, to see that Akatsuki operates just like any other outlaw group.
"A what?" Yuuta snaps, impatient.
"A whorehouse, a brothel," Sasuke clarifies. "It's where men gather with women to fuck."
"There was a lot of that, yes," Yuuta says, sounding unimpressed.
Sasuke chuckles. "You watch, Yuuta?"
Yuuta's bite is fast and almost painless against his neck. "You want your report or not?"
Sasuke ignores the sting on his neck, angling his head away from the snake. "Yeah."
"I sensed Kin-Butcher, and another one of your blood," Yuuta interrupts, and this time, Sasuke freezes. This is not one of Yuuta's usual reports. Something is worrying the snake, enough for him to act out like this. "This other one, he is ancient, much older than the others. He is your blood-"
"There is no one but me and Kin-Butcher," Sasuke interrupts sternly. "You were mistaken."
"I wasn't mistaken," Yuuta snarls, and he sounds unearthly in the quiet of the Tower room. "There is another of your blood."
There is no one, Sasuke knows, because he checked himself. After Itachi, he checked, counted the bodies and lined up each mangled form with a name. There were twenty-three of them that day, eleven sharingan users, and their families. There is no one else, Sasuke knows, because he feels the solitude of his existing pressing heavily onto his shoulders each day, with every breathing moment he feels the loss acutely.
Yuuta must have sensed his doubt because he insists, "I don't make mistakes, boy. I know your chakra, and your blood. I sensed another of your kind."
Sasuke can either trust Yuuta's instincts or dismiss them. He settles for a neutral, "Anything else?"
"The ancient one, he sensed me I think."
"No one can sense you, Yuuta," Sasuke mutters. Yuuta stays silent at this, and it is only now that Sasuke notices just how loosely the snake has coiled around his arm. It's been a week now, not as long as some of his other missions, but something has clearly drained Yuuta this time. Sasuke reaches over to grab the snake, and almost immediately, Yuuta starts to snarl. It's a guttural hissing noise, the kind that makes someone's hair stand on end. Nothing human, certainly nothing normal, but Sasuke has gotten used to these sounds. He's heard Rin at her most dangerous-Yuuta's bitching is not intimidating.
Akamaru begins to whimper slightly, coming up to hover anxiously by Sasuke's feet. "Fuck, man," Tottori mutters.
Sasuke begins to uncoil Yuuta from his wrist when the snake bites, sinking both fangs into his hand. There is a slight tingle from the poison, but Sasuke ignores it in favor of examining Yuuta's scales. Neji draws in a sharp breath. "Uchiha-"
"In a minute, Hyuga," Sasuke says, and Neji falls silent. There is dried blood and dirt caked along the snake's underbelly. Satisfied, Sasuke lets go of Yuuta. The snake coils around Sasuke's wrist, squeezing now hard enough for the bones in Sasuke's arm to start hurting. This isn't out of hostility, Sasuke knows. This is just how his snakes react. "Rest, Yuuta," Sasuke orders, and the snake drops to the floor with a small thud.
Akamaru backs away with a loud bark. Yuuta doesn't immediately vanish though, just stares up at Sasuke. "I don't make mistakes, boy," he insists.
I know, Sasuke communicates forcefully. Yuuta is a meticulous spy, and his information has always been better than any human intelligence. This ninja that Yuuta sensed could be anybody, and it would require Sasuke to personally look into it. But as promised, Yuuta finished his mission: Sasuke knows where Akatsuki is, and he also knows which way they're headed.
"You trust me," Yuuta demands, and that is the closest the snake will ever come to asking that question.
Sasuke crouches by the snake and takes a breath to answer. He still remembers the first time he saw Yuuta, how he had stupidly held out a hand carefully to lure the snake closer. Yuuta bit him then, latched on with all his force and drew blood. I'm no dog, human, Yuuta had spit viciously then. What do you want?
Yuuta's first mission had been to spy on Orochimaru, memorize his schedule and report back to Sasuke. It was Yuuta's intelligence that helped Sasuke kill Orochimaru and eventually escape Village of Sound. Out of all the others, Yuuta was the first snake that Sasuke trusted, the first and last he always relies on for help. Nothing-not even a supposed sighting of a third Uchiha-can shake this.
"As you trust me," Sasuke hisses carefully.
The snake angles his head a fraction. And just like that, he's gone.
**
Shikamaru puts two and two together even before Sasuke returns to his office. "You have information," Shikamaru says by way of hello. He steps neatly out of the shadows, and this time, even the ghosts startle.
"He's good," Nidaime mutters, clutching at his chest and breathing heavily. The ghosts had been waiting for him at the end of patrol, eager to hear news of how the new unit was functioning. Apparently, the Nidaime had shared Sasuke's apprehensions with the others, and they were all waiting to offer their support. It made something warm in Sasuke's chest to see them all vouching for him, but the moment was short-lived. "Yuuta came back with a report," Sasuke said in a low voice, and the ghosts fell silent.
"How did he find out?" Yondaime demands, looking irked. "Uchiha, can't you keep a secret to yourself?"
"What makes you think I do?" Sasuke asks politely and steps around Shikamaru to get to his desk. Tomorrow, Hiashi will be expecting a report on the Unit's integration and progress. Usually, Neji does all the paperwork. The man is a perfectionist and he has no patience for Sasuke's two-line reports and utter disregard for protocol. Today is no different. As always, Neji and Sasuke will spend the time after missions getting through paperwork and figuring out the nuances of keeping the team cohesive.
"You know, I never understood how you collected your intelligence," Shikamaru says politely. "None of my sources knew anyone who talked to you, and as far as I know, you've cut all contact with Land of Rice Fields-you mind if I smoke?"
"No," Sasuke says, and when Shikamaru holds out the pack, Sasuke takes one himself. Sasuke ignores the ghosts' protests as he lights up (tobacco kills, Sarutobi says seriously. Sasuke refrains from pointing out the very obvious fact that he will die long before lung cancer ever gets to him).
Shikamaru settles across Sasuke with a yawn. "But I noticed today that your snake summoned itself. Appeared right out of thin air, and you know what else? Your chakra level didn't budge. Not one bit. So it got me thinking."
The man falls entirely silent and stares at Sasuke with a blank expression. "This man," Shodaime says in the ensuing silence.
"Nara Shikamaru," Sarutobi supplements. He pauses a beat and says, voice soft, "It's a joy to see him again. I used to play chess with him sometimes. The boy used to skip class because he got bored, and his mother came to me to ask for help. So I'd spend some time with the boy, talk to him, and-"
Shikamaru sits forward a bit. "Your sources are your snakes. Although I haven't figured out how you can extend your chakra across the country." He takes a deep drag of his cigarette and blows it out carefully. "But then again, you don't use your chakra for your snakes, do you? They're bound to you by some other oath, not chakra, but something else."
Sarutobi chuckles. "He was always a bright boy."
Sasuke rubs at the line of his jaw. He can deny it, but this is Nara Shikamaru, and he'll figure it out eventually. "There a point to this?"
Shikamaru grins at this, and it is the first time Sasuke has seen the expression on the man's face. Sasuke can't help the twitch in his lips at the sight. He doesn't have to worry about Shikamaru sharing this information, the man would go to his grave with it. It is just nice, after all these years, to be able to share this with someone else. Even Kakashi doesn't know, because he operates under the firm belief that the relationship between a man and his animal spirits is private.
"So how are they bound to you?" Shikamaru presses, angling his head a fraction.
Sasuke knows that there is a blood oath, but all animals have that with their humans. The blood binds their loyalty, and the chakra binds their subservience. He has both of these, but there is something else that lets him speak with them in their tongue, share his thoughts with them without ever speaking, and to summon them from thousands of miles away without performing a single seal. They know him, his snakes, know the beat of his heart, the thrum of his chakra, and each and every single shame and doubt that Sasuke carries on his shoulders. This is not a blood and chakra bind, and he's not sure he can ever explain it to another human being. So he settles for a shrug.
"You don't know," Shikamaru breathes, sitting back. "You've got to be-"
The door opens with a knock and Neji breezes in. He stops at the door, spotting Shikamaru. "Is something going on?"
Shikamaru cranes his neck and watches Neji for a few moments. Neji stares right back, but then, it begins to get uncomfortable. "Okay," Nidaime says carefully. "Is there something about these two that we need to know or are they-"
"Uchiha here has information on Akatsuki," Shikamaru says finally, sounding as bored as he always does. Sasuke turns to stare at Shikamaru, a dozen different reprimands on the tip of his tongue (what the fuck do you think you're doing, Nara and this is classified and I never gave you permission to share this information). But the ghosts step in neatly. "You'll need the Hyuga," Shodaime counsels, voice pitched low and speaking fast. "He's loyal to Naruto, and he is your second. Your snakes will not be enough. You will need manpower for this mission, you know this."
Neji sits down very carefully in his seat. He seems composed, but his eyes are icy blue. The nerves around his eyes have spidered out (whoever said that the sharingan was a freaky dojutsu, Sasuke realizes, must never have seen the byakugan). "What do you know?" Neji asks finally.
Sasuke lets his sharingan come to life and glances at the Nidaime. The Shodaime is right, but just because he needs manpower doesn't mean he has the right to drag these men into a mission that will most likely end bloody for everyone involved. "Well?" Yondaime presses, sounding hopeful. "What will you-"
Sasuke points to the door. "The two of you can walk out of this room if you'd like."
The Yondaime interrupts again. "You need more manpower, Uchiha. You can't do this alone-"
Neji answers first. "You're not the only one who cares about Naruto, Uchiha. If you think-"
"I am giving you the option to walk away from this," Sasuke interrupts again.
Neji sneers, the expression making his usually handsome face ugly. "I am not a coward, Uchiha."
"I am giving you the option to walk out because you have families and friends in Konoha. Not because you're cowards," Sasuke explains, and it takes all his will to not raise his voice. They don't understand, can't see this situation for what it is. Naruto is their friend, true, but they have mothers, fathers, sisters, girlfriends and teammates who depend on them to return at the end of each mission. The value of ninja is not just a sum of his mastery of ninjutsu and taijutsu-if that were the case, Sasuke would be one of the more valuable fighters in the village. But Sasuke has learned, over the years, that the value of a ninja is measured by those around him. Neji, Shikamaru, Kiba and the others, they are all valuable, far more valuable than Sasuke ever was or will be.
Priceless, by comparison. So Sasuke adds, "Take twenty-four hours to think it over. Now, get out."
"I will not-"
Sasuke levels a stare at Neji, and he stops short. Shikamaru gets to his feet. "Sir," he says, and turns towards the door. Neji lingers for a few moments longer, but mimics Shikamaru. They leave with a soft click of the door.
Sasuke takes another long drag of his cigarette in the silence that follows. He picked up smoking in Village of Sound to blend in with the others. It was to his disadvantage to be able to smoke with the other men and be included in the gossip and information that was shared during those moments. Underground, with little to no ventilation, the entire village smelled like tobacco. Sasuke assumed that once he left the village, that after he escaped Orochimaru, he would stop smoking.
But.
There's a comfort in familiar motions. The first cigarette is done-it's not even his brand of choice. Sasuke shifts in his seat, reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a pack and taps out another cigarette. He lights it carefully, lets the embers pick up just so, and breathes in deep.
Most likely, both Neji and Shikamaru will return, willing to lay down their lives. But they deserve the chance to change their mind. Maybe some time with their families will give them pause to think, but twenty-four hours from now, Sasuke is willing to bet that both Neji and Shikamaru will be in his office.
Konoha isn't in the habit of raising cowards, Sasuke knows. Except one, of course-and what a coward I am, Sasuke thinks.
When, finally, he lets his sharingan flare back to life the ghosts are nowhere to be seen.
**
The ghosts ask questions while Sasuke gathers some cleaning tools, but they fall silent once Sasuke reaches the shrine at the edge of the Nagoya River. It's across the river from a neighborhood of houses, built on the land that Sasuke's forefathers once owned. He couldn't afford the taxes to maintain the Clan's compound, so he was forced to sell and watch as they razed down the buildings. Now, there is a gated community with cookie-cutter houses. The only thing left is the Uchiha Clan's shrine, left in peace because even real estate agents know not to dishonor the dead.
The shrine is a small building, a little bigger than Sasuke's living room, but with a sloping roof and brick-red walls. It's set on a grassy hill overlooking the river below. Shisui's father, Uncle Kyoguku, once told Sasuke that the Uchiha Clan's earliest members practiced their art by the banks of the Nagoya, that the Nagoya's water tempered the Uchiha's fire. Sasuke walks through the gate-with two dragons etched in at the top-and up the steps with all his supplies thrown over his shoulders.
The ghosts linger at the gate, hesitant. "You can come up if you'd like," Sasuke throws over his shoulder, trying to sound casual. This is not a personal visit. It is strictly business, so he does not need to get sentimental about this.
The Nidaime is the first to take Sasuke up on his offer, and passes through the gate. The others follow closely behind, giving Sasuke the space to push open the imposing double-doors of the building. He doesn't take his shoes off, although it is called for, just drops his backpack of cleaning supplies on the ground and gets to work.
Eventually, curiosity gets the better of the Nidaime. "What are you doing?" he asks mildly.
Sasuke looks up from his crouch by the bottom of slab of stone. For all their pride, the Uchiha Clan's shrine is sparse, nothing at all like some of the other family's shrines. It is just a large slab of gabber stone, polished to an ink-deep shine, and with names etched in.
He has a flashlight in his mouth so he can read the scroll he's holding up. Uchiha Kyoguku once told Sasuke that no name can ever be etched into this stone without the complete extinction of the user's chakra. An Uchiha must pass from this world to the next-his sharingan must be cremated-before this stone will accept his name. The stone, according to legend, was carved from the mountains of the Great Dragons, long before ninja nations were ever born. The red-eyed dragons were the ones who shared their secret with the Uchiha, and ever since, the Uchiha Clan has been its keepers.
It is a superstition, Sasuke knows, but no Uchiha's name has ever been recorded in this memorial without absolute and utter certainty of his cremation.
"Sasuke," Sarutobi asks finally. He crouches by Sasuke, old face kind and open. "What is it, child?"
Sasuke rolls his eyes. He's never understood why everyone gets so sympathetic around him when it concerns his family. It is not their loss, not their grief, and none of their damn business. An Uchiha carries his own burdens, his father told him once, and Sasuke will. "Fffawing a leaaf," he mumbles around the flashlight. Sarutobi blinks at him, so Sasuke takes the flashlight out of his mouth and repeats, "Following a lead."
He lays out the scroll on the dusty floor. When he shines the flash light on it this time, the ghosts gather around him to observe. It's a family tree, spanning generations and traced all the way back to Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna. "There are ninety-six names on this wall," Sasuke explains and flashes his light in an arc over the slab of stone. It's standing up right, a foot from the back wall, and bracketed on both sides by oil lanterns. The lanterns hang from the ceiling, and according to tradition, they must be lit at all times.
It has been nearly a decade since the lamps have been lit, nearly seven years since Sasuke has set foot to face his ancestors. Sasuke points to the scroll again. "Of them, forty-two are sharingan users. I need to verify that each one of their names is here."
The Shodaime gives him a look. "Why?"
"Yuuta came back with a report," Sasuke explains, rubbing his fingers together. This close, the ghosts can make his breath come out in a mist. "He verified Akatsuki's location and said they were moving west." And that is enough information, Sasuke decides, so he stops talking.
Nidaime sits down on the ground. He takes a deep breath and prompts, slowly, as if talking to a particularly stupid child, "And what about that report made you come out here in the middle of the night?"
Sasuke looks away from the ghosts and picks up the roll of paper towel again. He sprays a generous amount of cleaning liquid and starts to wipe down the stone. He doesn't want to share this information with them because this is personal, this is his family. The Yondaime prompts him with, "Uchiha."
But the Yondaime has a stake in this too. This is his son, and the man deserves an explanation. "Yuuta sensed two Uchihas," Sasuke answers finally, not looking up at any of them yet. "My brother"-Kin-butcher they call him-"and another, more older one. I'm here to check."
"Is your snake sure?" Nidaime demands, pressing forward. "How can it be sure?"
"Yuuta knows my chakra and my blood," Sasuke explains and goes back to cleaning the stone of its dirt. It's a tedious process, made all the more difficult by years of dirt that Sasuke has neglected.
The first year after the massacre, Sasuke felt each of their loss acutely. Every moment, each breath he took, was in their absence. As the years passed, though, the desperation matured. He started missing the smaller, quieter moments of their existence: the crinkle of the morning newspaper that his grandmother read at the table every day, the sound of a kitchen full of his aunts and mother making dinner enough for twenty-three, the soft thuds of Shisui and Itachi training in the compound.
"This is our ancestral stone," Sasuke explains, more to distract himself in the silence than anything else. "My great-grandfather's father chiseled this stone out of the western mountains, back when the dragons still were alive. No Uchiha's name can be carved into this stone without his chakra being completely destroyed. The stone won't take the name of a soul that hasn't passed on."
It sounds more ridiculous now that he's said it out loud. "I don't…I don't know how else to check Yuuta's information."
Sarutobi lays a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, and this time, Sasuke is unable to suppress a shiver. "I'm sorry, Sasuke."
Sarutobi has been apologizing for Sasuke's past ever since Sasuke can remember. Sasuke doesn't understand why the man continues to apologize, because it isn't his fault. It's Itachi's. It's the sharingan, it's their blood. Uchiha Madara, Sasuke's ancestor, was a traitor. What was the world expecting from Madara's heirs? Heroes?
"It's a lead," Sasuke insists. There is no need to make this sentimental.
"It's your family," Sarutobi insists, and he looks devastated. The other ghosts are similarly stone-faced. It's not pity, not quite, but it still makes Sasuke's neck flush with shame. "It's your family, Sasuke."
Sasuke shrugs and goes back to cleaning. He can't help himself though, because the ghosts must all be thinking it too. "Figures. If there was another Uchiha alive-" The towel he's using is already grimy with dirt. Sasuke tears off another two towels and sprays it again. With each swipe of his hand, names come into view. Each one is identified by their last name, redundant in a site that is dedicated only to one family. U-c-h-i-h-a-
"Figures, though, doesn't it?" He asks again, huffing a small laugh. "The only other Uchiha alive, and he'll probably turn out to be a murdering, traitorous psychopath like the rest of us."
The Yondaime takes a deep breath, shoulders moving up and down with effort. "Get it?" Sasuke prompts. "It's funny."
Nidaime is the first to interrupt the silence that follows, but his voice is quiet now, not his usual loud bark. "Who's next, Uchiha?"
**
By the time Sasuke gets to his father's name, the sun is coming up and the flashlight is unnecessary. The ghosts have maintained a respectful distance this entire time, only responding to Sasuke's confirmation that yes, the name is here. It seems unnecessary to check this obsessively-just checking the police logs should be enough (and Sasuke has already done that; he has copies of each page of the Konoha Police Department's investigation into the massacre). But Yuuta is absolutely certain, and this is the best Sasuke can do.
Sasuke makes sure that he does not hesitate when clearing his father's name. He does not linger on the gravestone's inscription, and he does not pause for a moment of respect.
It's when he passes his mother's name on the way to Shisui's that he becomes still. She was from a small family from outside the Village, certainly not a sharingan user-women generally aren't, the gene that activates the sharingan is X-recessive. He doesn't need to clear her name to check (he's been skipping all the non-sharingan users until now), but it's only a span of seven inches of space, and he can't pass her name by, not when he can't even make out the Mikoto of her name.
Sasuke rubs at the dirt on his hands, wipes at his face with the back of his arm. He's here, might as well-
He begins to clean it. He's tried for ten years to visit this site and give his parents the respect they deserve. But mourning is difficult, Sasuke realized soon after his parents died, especially when he's the only one to carry the burden. He's not a good son, never has been, but he's not as bad as to walk by his mother's name without cleaning it.
Sasuke works quickly, keeping his head down. It takes nearly half a roll of paper towel because Sasuke might not be the cleanest person on the planet, but this is his mother's name, and she always kept a clean house. When he finishes, Sasuke lingers for just a moment, tracing a finger over her name-Uchiha Mikoto, he thinks, and the memory is easy to recall.
Sasuke doesn't remember exactly how she smelled, what her voice sounded like, or what it felt like when she hugged him. Only a few memories remain now: her outline at his door every morning when she came to wake Sasuke up, the brush she used to try and tame Sasuke's hair after his baths, her incessant humming while she graded her Academy students' papers. She didn't like it when Sasuke walked through the kitchen with muddy shoes on, and she always started her mornings with a cup of tea and toast with blueberry jam. She could make eggs just the way Sasuke liked them, served them with a large cup of milk and an apple for the walk to school.
Sasuke places a palm over her name, and it is enough to cover all the letters. Another decade, and he might forget these details too. But then again, Sasuke thinks, shifting over to return to the task at hand. Then again, he's probably not going to make it another decade. Another year, two at most, and that should be that. He's not sure why anyone would want to live for more than twenty years. Sixteen years, and it already feels like a hundred to Sasuke. Why would anyone-how could anyone-live beyond that?
The ghosts are still hovering at the door, silent. Uncensored, Sasuke finds himself saying, "I don't usually have time."
"Of course," Shodaime says, and it isn't unkind.
"I used to for a couple of years," Sasuke continues, picking up the family tree. The ghosts are silent, so Sasuke adds for clarification, "Perform my duties, I mean. As the son."
The sun is shining brightly now, and in this light, the ghosts look translucent. There is no need to explain himself to the dead, but it's shameful for a son to neglect his duties like this. "I was gone for a while. And now, with ANBU and Akatsuki…" Sasuke trails off.
No, that's not it. "There's a lot to do for one person," Sasuke says, gesturing at the lanterns. The members of the compound took turns checking on the light when Sasuke was young. For one person to keep a fire alive, day and night, is a difficult task. The silence is stifling, and Sasuke can feel his face getting hot. He's never been a good son, and there's no way to say that aloud.
They must know, though.
So he clears his throat and points at the name Uchiha Shisui on the family tree. "Last one."
**
Naruto finds him in his office the next day. "Well, well, ANBU," he says by way of hello, taunting. "It's about the size of my office's waiting room, but it's still an office."
Naruto is not alone. Sasuke hears a polite, "Good morning, Uchiha" from the Shodaime. Sarutobi greets him with, "Sasuke, good morning," and Nidaime with, "Hey, kid." The Yondaime is there, Sasuke knows, but he is probably throwing his routine hissy fit about Naruto's choice of company.
Sasuke ignores him in favor of signing off on the stack of papers that Neji placed on his table earlier this morning. He must have finished the paperwork at home, then, even after their argument at the office. "What do you want, Uzumaki?"
"You're no fun today," Naruto grumbles, dropping off his bag in one of the chairs. He walks around the table to stand next to Sasuke when Sasuke doesn't answer immediately. A moment passes, and then, "What's wrong?"
Sasuke doesn't answer for a few minutes. He gets through a full folder before Naruto reaches out a hand to tug at his hair lightly. He lets his hand linger, running his fingers through Sasuke's hair. It's intimate, but Naruto has never had any respect for personal space. "Bad night? You have nightmares?"
Sasuke tolerates the proximity for only a bit and then shrugs away. Naruto is the only one who talks about these details of Sasuke's life, reckless in pushing the boundaries with Sasuke at each and every turn of their friendship. Even Kakashi knows well enough to stay away. But Naruto-"Hey," Naruto mutters. He takes Sasuke's face in both his hands. He angles Sasuke's face up. "Did you get any sleep?"
"A few hours," Sasuke answers shortly. He doesn't want to tell Naruto about his trip to the Uchiha gravesite. He'd start asking questions, and then what?
Naruto bends at the waist lightly to rest their foreheads together. He closes his eyes, breathes deep enough for the both of them. "You used to come over to spar when you had nightmares," he mutters. "What are we now? Strangers?"
"I had work," Sasuke dismisses, and pulls away. The ghosts are politely looking away, but it's still odd to share these moments with someone else.
Naruto snorts. "Like hell you had work. That's not even your handwriting."
"It's Hyuga's," Sasuke corrects and skimps the paragraph on Tottori. Integrating well, Neji had there is a post-it note on the page: cost of explosives - expanded budget request? i'll file paperwork as needed.
"I heard you kept him as your second," Naruto says, hoisting himself up on the table. "He was surprised, you know. But." Naruto pauses for Sasuke to look at him.
There's no point fighting it. So Sasuke looks up. "But what?"
"I told him you finally figured out he wasn't gay," Naruto says, smiling lightly. There's a snigger from the Nidaime that Sasuke chooses to ignore. "He didn't know whether to be offended or relieved," Naruto goes on. "I told him he should be relieved." And this last part Naruto says with a quick glance from under the sweep of Naruto's lashes. Sasuke begins to notice the details-he always notices the details about Naruto, can't help staring at the blonde no matter how hard he tries.
For today, Naruto has switched out his earrings. His usual silver loops are gone, leaving behind small, dark holes where they usually were. He's dressed in civilians for today, dark jeans and a long, white-sleeved shirt with a wide collar. Even his hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail, not the usual slicked back look he sports for official work. The perks of working in the Tower, Naruto told him, was that he got weekends off. Politicians don't work on Sundays, he said once, and Sasuke thought he was joking. "Stop looking at me like that, Sasuke," Naruto says finally, flushing lightly. "Like you haven't seen me every day since we were seven-"
"Your earrings," Sasuke defends quickly. "They're gone."
Naruto traces the shell of his ear with a finger thoughtfully. "You don't like it? I thought I could go today without them."
Usually, Naruto looks sharp and beautiful, like he's daring the world not to look. He makes Sasuke's hands itch to touch him, makes his mouth go dry every time Naruto looks at him through his lashes. Today, though, Naruto looks scrubbed clean, fresh and soft. It's not the kind of look that makes Sasuke's uncomfortable in his pants, it's the kind that makes Sasuke want to pull Naruto close and run his fingers through Naruto's hair. He'd like to wake up to Naruto looking like this, be able to bury his face in the line of Naruto's neck and breathe deep and easy in the early morning sun. "I figured that a future Hokage shouldn't be waltzing around with piercings and tattoos," Naruto explains. "I'm trying to go respectable. You like?"
Sasuke makes a dismissive gesture at the question, trying to seem uninterested. "I like you however."
That, he realizes a moment later, did not sound uninterested. If anything...
"All right, that's it," Yondaime declares loudly. "That's it-"
"Namikaze-"
"He's flirting with my boy. Shameless, I tell you. In front of me, he's flirting with my boy like some sort of-"
Naruto kicks Sasuke's knee lightly, but there's a pleased smile on his face. "Idiot." He jumps off the table and walks over to his bag. "I have a present for you."
"Be grateful, Uchiha!" Yondaime thunders from his left.
Sasuke hm-s and goes back to paperwork. Hiashi likes to deal with his commanding officers on Saturday mornings, which is possibly the worst rule that the man has ever made. So now, Sasuke has to sign this last report on the team, drop it off in Hiashi's mailbox and hopefully be out of the office before lunch. Then, he has to follow up on this third Uchiha and make plans for surveying the area himself.
Naruto places a small white box in front of Sasuke. "Here," he says, and takes his seat on the edge of the table again. "Open it."
Sasuke stares at the box warily. Naruto is not angry at him, but still, he has to cover his bases. "Today is March 17th," he says slowly. The date doesn't seem important, but he could be forgetting some inane anniversary that Naruto has decided to celebrate. Usually, he can just take Naruto out to ramen, but if Naruto has gotten him a gift, then maybe it's something more important-
"Oh, just open it," Naruto mutters impatiently. "You haven't forgotten anything. I just got it for you for your promotion."
Sasuke glances up at Naruto to make sure-it could be a trap to see if Sasuke has really forgotten-but the blonde seems genuine. So he opens the box carefully. There's a thin white sheet, and when Sasuke folds it over, he sees the gift.
It's a framed picture of Sasuke and Kakashi, one of those candid moments that Sakura captured. The picture itself is at an odd angle, the background a crystal-blue summer day in Konoha. Kakashi is reaching over to smack Sasuke upside the head, eye crinkled in a smile, and Sasuke is ducking out of his reach. But what makes Sasuke pause is that in the picture, he's sporting a lopsided smile as well, looks entirely unguarded and at ease. "It's a good picture of you two," Naruto explains. "I thought you might like it for your office. Kakashi-sensei has a copy on his desk, you know."
Naruto takes the picture and places it on Sasuke's desk, angling it this way and that before he's satisfied. "What do you think?"
He likes the picture, feels something warm in his chest to be able to put it on his desk (the other C.O.'s have pictures, he knows, of girlfriends, families, teams). But he settles for a shrug.
"It's a good picture," Nidaime says with a chuckle. Sarutobi voices his agreement, and even the Yondaime says, sounding fond, "Kakashi looks good in it."
Naruto threads his hand in Sasuke's hair and tugs playfully. "Liar. You like it."
Sasuke moves away from Naruto's hand half-heartedly. He's keeping his hair much shorter now, cropped close to his head in short spikes so he can't be so easily identified as an Uchiha. But Naruto still tugs and manhandles it like he did when they were twelve and Sasuke had the Uchiha mane. Naruto announces, still tugging at Sasuke's hair, "Let's eat."
"Hey," Nidaime says, sounding pleased. "The kid's got a date!"
The Yondaime groans.
**
Lunch is not their usual ramen stand pig-out. It's a quiet, intimate affair on the balcony of some classy restaurant that Sasuke has never set foot into. The waitress leads them to a small table that overlooks the street underneath, and when Sasuke and Naruto take their seats, Sasuke's legs brush against Naruto's.
"You're a giraffe," Naruto says, kicking Sasuke under the table.
"The table's small," Sasuke corrects.
Naruto starts a low-pitched rant about his peace treaty, jumping from one topic to another. He leans forward as he talks, idly twirling the chain around his neck as he talks. It's not unusual, just another one of their lunches. But this time, it is at a different location, and Naruto's father is breathing down Sasuke's neck.
"Anyways," he says, tracing the rim of his glass with a finger. It makes a low whistling noise as he does this. "I don't understand what Danzo hopes to accomplish by being such an ass. This treaty is important. The Shodaime established this treaty during his administration, and it's been renewed every year since. After Orochimaru's attack, we've fallen out of the habit, but now…" He shakes his head, tugging at his necklace in frustration. "Now Danzo is going to spit on the Shodaime's grave by vetoing it in Senior Council."
"Well," Shodaime says mildly. "Not literally, I hope-"
"I mean, insulting Tsunade, insulting the Mizukage, insulting the Land of Water, I can live with that. It's politics," Naruto goes on in a low voice. "I just can't stand the insult to the Shodaime. It's like-it's like he's-" Naruto makes a vague, expansive gesture. "There's no words for that."
Nidaime whistles. "Wow, Brother. He's taking this pretty hard."
"I'm honored," Shodaime says solemnly.
Sasuke blinks at Naruto. He doesn't like politics. They're petty, pointless, and hardly suited for men like him. If Naruto wants to spend his days maneuvering the bureaucracy and politics of the Tower, then that's his choice. For his part, Sasuke would prefer to be on the field. "You know what?" Naruto asks suddenly, sitting up straighter.
Duty-bound, Sasuke asks, "What?"
"I should leak a quote to the press," Naruto says, and takes a sip of his water. He clears his throat. "Hear me out. Lord Danzo is abusing his power as Senior Council member. The treaty with Land of Water is historic and by vetoing this treaty, Lord Danzo is letting politics stain our nation's diplomatic legacy." He pauses expectantly. "Well?"
"Impressive," Nidaime says. "Minato, your kid's got talent."
"He does," Yondaime says, and Sasuke can imagine the proud set of his shoulders without looking.
"Sounds good," Sasuke mutters and reaches over to grab some of the food on Naruto's plate.
"Hinata will help me polish it up. We should be able to get a few inches in the Monday morning cycle," Naruto goes on, and rummages in his bag for a bit before drawing out a notepad and pen. He starts to scribble away angrily. "Danzo is not even a tenth of the man that the Shodaime was," he says, snapping his book shut once he's taken it down. He takes a breath. "Although, I guess that's an unfair comparison. I mean, Senju Hashirama against any man is an unfair comparison."
Nidaime starts to laugh at this. "Brother, he likes you-"
"Um," Yondaime says, clearing his throat. "I'm sure he doesn't mean it in that sense, Nidaime-sama. Probably just hero-worship or-"
"I saw some of Tsunade's pictures of when the Shodaime was younger," Naruto goes on, looking out over the balcony and towards the Hokage Monument. "My god the shoulders on that man."
"Right," Yondaime says hurriedly. "He's young, he says some things, and some of those things may be slightly inappropriate. For that, Shodaime-sama, I apologize. Truly, sincerely-"
"No, no," Shodaime says with a laugh. "I'll take it as a compliment." Sasuke's sharingan flares to life and he levels a gaze at the Shodaime. The man's smile falls away, even as the Nidaime and Sarutobi descend into laughter.
"Okay, here's something that you probably didn't know," Naruto goes on, leaning forward with a small smile, "The Shodaime was my first crush. I mean, the first man at least. Tsunade showed me her photo album, and I swear, love at first sight." Naruto sighs dreamily. "If he were alive…"
"He's not," Sasuke says flatly.
Naruto makes a face at Sasuke. "Well, I know that. Anyways, he's been my favorite Hokage ever since."
"He's your favorite Hokage," Sasuke says slowly, "Because you like his shoulders."
"Turns out I have a type," Naruto says, taking a bite of food. He swallows before adding, "I also think the Shodaime was the greatest political mind that this world has ever seen. The thing with the tailed demons? Using them as diplomatic leverage?" Naruto throws up his hands. "Brilliant. The world is about to collapse, and this man stares down the apocalypse with a straight face and goes, You know what? I'm going to fix everything because I am that awesome."
"Well," Shodaime says, and he coughs lightly to clear his throat. "My thoughts weren't really-"
"If that isn't sexy I don't know what is," Naruto says, jabbing his chopsticks at Sasuke. "Senju Hashirama, all alpha male, making everyone his bitch." Naruto's face goes blank, his eyes glazing over lightly. "I bet he was like that in bed too. Probably took control and tossed people around a bit-"
"Ohhh-kay," Yondaime says loudly.
"Will you shut up?" Sasuke hisses, feeling his face heat up. "He's-" Right here "-He deserves your respect."
Naruto makes a face. "I do respect him. All of them. I mean, don't get me started on the Nidaime-"
"Please don't," Sasuke scowls.
"Not like that," Naruto dismisses with a wave. "I mean, the Nidaime was a class of his own."
"Really?" Nidaime asks, sounding interested. "Ask him why, Uchiha. Go on."
Shodaime laughs. "Tobi…" There's a chill to his left, so Sasuke parrots, "Why?"
Naruto takes a bite of his food and chews thoughtfully. "We haven't seen military genius like that since…well, since ever. The Shodaime may have handled the Tailed Demons well, but the Nidaime was the one who put theory into practice and dealt with the aftermath. Especially after the Shodaime's death, Land of Fire could have potentially become a power vacuum. If the Nidaime hadn't been the man he was…We probably wouldn't be sitting here."
Nidaime chuckles. "Well, when you put it that way," he says, with exaggerated bravado. "I guess I am pretty good."
Naruto tilts his head curiously, and Sasuke knows now that the blonde is on a roll. He gets like this sometimes, when he's talking about politics or history. Naruto may have been the last in their class in the Academy, but now, he is anything but. He pushed himself physically, proved himself on the field. He still is pushing himself on the field, but now, Naruto is flexing his political and mental strengths. Hokage is not just being the strongest, he explained one day, it was about being smart about this strength. So Naruto made himself smart, went after it with the same dedication he did with training. There are still entire days that Naruto holes himself up in the library, devouring just about anything that comes his way, and steadfastly ignoring Sasuke's sparring challenges.
"Sarutobi-sensei is probably the best ninja to ever walk this planet. He kept the world together after the Nine-Tailed Demon attacked, and he did it with grace," Naruto says, and he looks infinitely fond as he says this. "He was the wisest, kindest man to have ever walked this earth, and losing him was-" Naruto's voice stops, abrupt. He blinks hard, clears his throat for a moment. "His death was the heaviest loss this Village has ever had to bear."
"Oh, child," Sarutobi mutters, reaching out, almost as if he wants to put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. But before he can get there, Naruto recovers with an off-handed, "Mostly though, he intimidated his opponents by just existing, so let's not even go there."
Sarutobi laughs at this. "Well, that's not quite-"
"And Tsunade is just a big bully, and most men can't think straight when they see her, so she has her own style," Naruto finishes with a flourish. "And who knows what'll come next. Kakashi-sensei will have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the Tower, but he's Kakashi-sensei so you know...I wonder if you'll get away with calling him just Kakashi when he's Hokage..."
Sasuke isn't the only one who notices the omission, because the ghosts fall suddenly silent. Probably an honest mistake, Sasuke thinks, and prompts casually, "And the Yondaime, too."
Naruto laughs, and it sounds strange, forced almost. "The Yondaime-sama died before he could show what kind of Hokage he may have become."
When Sasuke glances at the Yondaime, the man's face has become stone-still. "He's a kid," Nidaime says quietly, putting a hand on the Yondaime's shoulder. "He's a teenager." The Yondaime looks away from Sasuke when their eyes meet, and oddly, Sasuke feels a need to defend the man. He's loud, obnoxious, and absolutely has no respect for Sasuke's personal space, but the man is good-the same breed of kindness and sincerity that Naruto inherited.
"The Yondaime," Sasuke says sternly. "Was one of the greatest warriors that Konoha produced. He saved this country, and he-"
"I know exactly what the Yondaime did and did not do," Naruto interrupts. His face has gone completely blank, and there isn't a trace of laughter anymore. "Unfortunately, he was my father, so I've done my research."
Shodaime is the one to break the silence that follows. "Minato, he's only a child. He's speaking out of anger."
"No, it's fine," Yondaime insists. "He has a right. I mean, what kind of father…" Sasuke keeps his eyes on his food. He doesn't want to look at the Yondaime right now because the man has a right to his privacy, and this isn't Sasuke's conversation.
"You don't mean that," Sasuke says finally, and it's the least he can do in the man's defense.
"Uchiha, I appreciate what you're doing, but Naruto has a right to feel the way he-"
Naruto's lips turn down into a frown. "Yes, I do."
"Kakashi says your father loved you more than you could possibly imagine," Sasuke insists, and it's only a half-lie. He's seen how the Yondaime watches his son, as if Naruto is the most precious, incredible thing that he has ever seen. Naruto's happiness, even the smallest joys, makes the Yondaime's face break out into a grin, and each one of Naruto's disappointments weighs heavily on the man. "He would have been a good father, if he had lived."
Naruto makes a face. "Don't lecture me, Uchiha," he snaps, and drops his napkin on the table. He reaches for his bag, getting to his feet to leave. "What would you know about fathers, anyways?"
He snaps his mouth shut the minute he says it, sitting back down slowly. "Sasuke, I didn't mean-I wasn't thinking-"
"It's fine." Sasuke puts his napkin down as well, reaching out for his wallet to pay for lunch. Because Naruto, in all his anger, had been right. Sasuke doesn't know about fathers, at least the good ones. Fugaku was hardly a model example, and it's not like Sasuke has experienced much fatherly love in his clusterfuck of a life.
"Sasuke," Naruto begins. "I didn't mean it-" Sasuke gets to his feet. Naruto gets to his feet as well, gripping Sasuke's wrist to stop him. "I'm sorry."
Which is when Sasuke realizes. Naruto thinks that he's angry, that he's leaving out of anger. "I'm not angry," he says with a shrug. Naruto opens his mouth to say something, but nothing happens. "You're right. Fugaku was a bad father, and he died when I was young, so I wouldn't know."
Naruto stays silent at this, and so do the ghosts. It is the first time that Sasuke has admitted that out loud, that Fugaku was anything less than ideal, and it is embarrassing to have done it so carelessly.
But before Sasuke can make his escape, avoid all the eyes following his each move, Naruto closes the distance between them. "Listen, you bastard," Naruto he says, and takes Sasuke's face in both his hands. He pulls Sasuke down until their foreheads are touching. "I'm sorry."
Naruto doesn't usually have reason to apologize to Sasuke, not even for being so persistently annoying. It's strange to have to hear those words coming from him, and it takes a moment for Sasuke to react. "It's fine," Sasuke says, and pulls away to pay for the food. He drops a few bills on the table, and is about to leave when Naruto grabs his wrist again. "You're right, though," he says, rubbing a distracted circle against the scar on Sasuke's palm (a kunai accident when he was eight; Itachi had been quietly furious).
"About my father," Naruto goes on. "He was a good man. I just-I just wish sometimes. Is all."
"Yeah," Sasuke mutters, and watches as Naruto carefully traces the scar.
Finally, after a few long moments, Naruto says, "The Yondaime Hokage was one of the greatest patriots and heroes that Konoha has ever seen. He sacrificed himself for the safety of his Village, and he did it with pride. He envisioned a world that was peaceful, where children did not have to go to war, and where men would live well into their old age. He was a kind man. I heard."
"He is a kind man," Sasuke promises, and Naruto smiles at him.
"If I ever become Hokage," Naruto says. "I want to finish what he started. I want to be like him." Sasuke can't help but glance at the Yondaime, just in time to see the ghost wipe at his eyes quickly. The Nidiame has a hand firmly on the Yondaime's shoulder, gripping tight.
And because it is getting a little too sentimental for Sasuke, he shrugs a shoulder, nonchalant. "Not as loud as him, I hope."
"OI! I am right here, you ingrate. Dishonoring a dead man like that, where do you get the nerve-"
"-calling him loud?" Naruto yells into his face, shoving him away. "I will show you loud, Uchiha Sasuke, or so help me god-"
Sasuke rolls his eyes at the Nidaime. The man smiles and holds up his hands as if to say, All yours.
End of Part Six.
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