Chapter 21

One week later. April 17th. Monday

There was a clan trial that was held for Danzo, and through the mindwalking of the Yamanaka family on the Root Anbu there was enough evidence of treachery, disobedience, and even treason to bury Danzo alive.

Danzo had been calm and collected, trying to gain favour with the family heads by rallying the trial witness and the council. Yet no excuse for protecting Konoha was good enough to defend against plotting to murder the third, giving order for the Uchiha massacre, of collaborating with Orochimaru, a terrorist and a known Konoha criminal.

When Danzo saw that nothing he could do could save him, he became almost deranged in anger.

"YOU IMBECILES. I AM NECESSARY FOR THIS VILLAGE. IT WILL PERISH WITHOUT ME!"

Hiruzen only looked on in scorn. "On the contrary. I believe that without you, for the first time in a long time, the village will prosper. Falcon, if you'd please."

The falcon masked Anbu needed no further confirmation. With a swing of his sword, Danzo's head was lobbed off.

Just like that.

….

Naruto watched the spectacle from his seat next to his mother.

The room was sealed with fuinjutsu courtesy of Kushina to ensure absolute privacy. The many clan heads ranging from Hyuuga, to Nara, Akimichi, Yamanka, Uchiha, Inuzuka, Aburame and Uzumaki. Both Matriarch and Patriarch of each were present in their respective seats, as well as a few Jonin in attendance to witness the trial. Naruto, being an adopted member of the Uzumaki clan, which had two available seats, was allowed to attend as well.

Sasuke was also there for the same reasons as well as belonging to one of the affected parties along with his mother.

The two had been invited over to the Uzumaki house for dinner many times over the months and vice versa. Though Sasuke remained aloof, Naruto had gotten to know Mikoto and was glad that the bond between her and his mother was reforming. Mikoto was very kind, although she didn't like to show it through her stoic features. Since she didn't have the strength Kushina had to protect herself and her clan, she had to put on a mask of an unshakable and untouchable leader. Though throughout the years, the mask had become a part of her and her expressions were muted along with it.

It was a good thing that it began to slip in the constant presence of her best friend–one that she'd regained over the past months–and was beginning to thaw her frozen heart.

Sasuke, though…still had many unresolved issues.

Naruto was observing the sole heir of the Uchiha, though none could tell with his blindfold on. He saw the way Sasuke clenched his fists so hard his nails were practically digging into his skin. He was biting down on his lips, trying to stop himself from shouting in rage. He'd just found out the truth of the Uchiha massacre and the orders of his brother. But as he stared down at the head of the person responsible, he looked…lost. His rage had no direction to go but it was still there.

…Hopefully in this world, he'd have the support he needed to move on…

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

"So this is where you were…" Sasuke said as he approached Naruto in the training ground.

Naruto could barely even turn around and answer when Sasuke rushed him.

His foot landed on Naruto's chest and…and…

…and Naruto just stood there unmoving, looking at Sasuke, blinking. "...what are you doing?"

Sasuke tried to hide his surprise and leaped backwards. Once he regained himself, he spoke."I want a spar. You're about the same age as me, but you're chuunin. I need someone strong to test myself against."

Naruto arched an eyebrow at him. "I've heard from three distinct classmates of yours that they've been handling themselves against you pretty well recently."

"Tch," Sasuke tutted, "If you're talking about the three bimbos that follow you around, then I'd hate to inform you that they haven't won against me yet."

Naruto smirked. "But they're catching up aren't they?"

Sasuke sneered and dashed towards him once more. He'd always been faster than any of his classmates, even the Hyuuga heiress, Hanabi. He'd always been at the top…though seeing the rapid growth of three in particular…it made him sour at his own lack of progress.

And those three only had one thing in common after he found out during his frequent visits to the Uzumaki house…it was Naruto.

He struck efficiently as he was taught, each kick and punch executed to perfection. Yet for all his efforts for about 15 minutes. None landed. "Throw back!"

Naruto only shook his head. "You're…you're upset about Danzo."

That stopped Sasuke in his tracks. The Uchiha heir looked at the whisker-marked chuunin. Then his expression took on one of fury. "What do you know about my struggles?!"

Sasuke struck again, frustration, anger, helplessness in every punch, in every kick, in every breath that he took.

"My vengeance…" Sasuke muttered under his breath but Naruto could hear him just fine. "My vengeance was taken from me."

Naruto's eyes softened. "You're angry and confused."

He dodged a punch.

"You don't know what to do next."

He jumped a leg sweep.

"Vengeance was what held you for so long."

"SHUT UP!" Sasuke snarled. His hand signs bleared as he went through them. 'Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!'

A giant fireball flew from his mouth, larger than what Naruto thought Sasuke would be capable of as a genin.

Yet he did not move.

Sasuke froze, a cold sweat and the shock of the jutsu landing brought him back to reality. No matter how angry he was, he hadn't wanted to kill anyone, especially not the ward of his mother's best friend.

"Hey! Are you alright?!" He shouted after cutting off the technique.

"So you have a heart after all," a voice said from right behind him.

Sasuke turned, backhanding the speaker reflexively.

It was caught by a bandaged arm.

Naruto smiled at him.

Sasuke wanted nothing more than to wipe it off his face. He cursed the fact that he showed even the smallest hint of sympathy. It was a weakness, a liability, a–

"Do you want to know how I got strong?" Naruto suddenly asked, his hand still grabbed on to Sasuke's, interrupting his thoughts.

Sasuke only looked at him but his eyes demanded an explanation.

Naruto didn't continue, letting the silence linger to Sasuke's irritation.

Seconds ticked by…

"...What?" Sasuke asked, proving Naruto right.

Naruto smiled. "It was love."

Sasuke only gave him an unimpressed look.

"It's true," Naruto said nonchalantly, "It was my love for the people I care about that kept me going, that brought me up when I was at my lowest, that keeps me moving forward everyday."

"Tch," Sasuke tutted. "Let go of my arm."

"Hmm…how about you agree to be my friend first?" Naruto said.

Sasuke punched him in the face and to his annoyance, only his fist stung from it. "I don't need friends."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yes you do. Why don't you come join one of my training sessions then, as a compromise?"

"I have nothing to compromise with you! Let go of me!" Sasuke snarled but before Naruto could do so, he did something he didn't expect.

Sasuke kicked him in the balls.

Hard.

Unfortunately for Naruto, his balls were still the most sensitive part of him, even through the muscle reinforcement of the Asura path. So he still felt the pain and was surprised, flinging himself back…with Sasuke still attached to him.

The result…they found themselves in a position that had given Naruto nightmares for the past years of his life…

Their lips locked and they both stared at each other, wide-eyed.

'What the heck is this bullshit?! Not again!' Naruto thought.

He immediately let go of Sasuke's arm and pushed his chest to try and get him off from atop him.

Pushed his…

…Chest…

…his…chest…

'Are those…boobs?'

Naruto groped it a tiny bit, listening to his intrusive thoughts, squeezing the bound dough balls of flesh…

'Those are…boobs…why does Sasuke have boobs?'

Naruto glazed at Sasuke's face, his bangs framing his eyes darkly.

"Uhmm…I didn't mean to do that…" Naruto said, still a bit confused.

"I'm…" Sasuke muttered quietly.

"What was that?"

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Sasuke roared as he grabbed a kunai from his thigh holster and tried to stab Naruto in the face, straddling him to get better leverage.

Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hands before the murder attempt succeeded. "Hey! I said I was sorry! This is an–accident!"

Naruto dislodged himself by bridging his hip and rolling sideways, dislodging the kunai from Sasuke's hands and flicking it away to a distance.

Then…then he found himself face first into Sasuke's now admittedly pert breasts, the bindings holding them together now coming a bit loose.

Naruto immediately sprung up from his position and fell backwards onto his ass. "S–sorry! Really! I–I didn't mean to do that!"

Sasuke was…blushing? He…she? She was as red as her favourite fruit. "Y–you! You you you!"

Sasuke couldn't bring out what he wanted to say so she just glared at the blonde.

"You're a…girl?" Naruto enquired.

"My mother will have your head for this!" Sasuke said, finding words to work for her again.

Naruto thought about it. "...No she wouldn't. She loves me! I even gave her a hair tie when she visited the other day!"

Sasuke looked like she was chewing on a lemon. "This…if this gets out…"

Naruto immediately put up his hands to placate her. "My lips are sealed. I promise!"

"You–this. I can't believe you did this!" Sasuke said, still flushing red. "You groped me!"

"You kicked my balls!" Naruto retorted, "and tried to murder me!"

Sasuke stood up on shaky legs. "I wish I hadn't felt sorry for you when I roasted you alive."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, how magnanimous of you when you did…look, this…this never happened. Alright?"

Sasuke gave a reluctant annoyed nod after a minute of glaring.

Naruto sighed. "Well. Uhm, think over my training offer. You'll get to know the other girls."

"Tch," Sasuke turned away from him looking to leave, "they hate me."

"They'll get over it if I ask them to," Naruto said.

Sasuke continued on her way and gave no response.

"See you later Sasuke!" Naruto called out.

Sasuke stopped. Then she said something under her breath.

Naruto tilted his head in question. "What was that?"

"...Tch."

And with that, she was gone.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

~The weekend that week.

The trio of girls met up once again at the training grounds.

Sakura was adjusting her red hair ribbon, getting it just right to look almost like bunny ears as it held her ponytail together.

"Would you stop fiddling with it?" Ino muttered, "It's literally been over a month since you got it for your birthday."

Hinata giggled as Sakura stuck her tongue out at Ino.

"You're just jealous that you're the only one who hasn't gotten anything from Naruto yet," Sakura said.

"Just wait till it's my birthday, forehead, then I'll ask him for a gift that neither of you had thought of," Ino quipped back.

Hinata and Sakura looked curious.

Ino smirked. "I'll ask him for a harmless…little…kiss."

She gestured to her lips. "Right here~"

Sakura and Hinata blushed.

"That's so cheating, you whore!" Sakura snarled.

"That's highly inappropriate, Ino-san," Hinata said more politely.

It was Ino's turn to stick her tongue out at them. "You know, if I start asking for it from today. I'll eventually wear him down over the months till my birthday. Then when the time comes…"

Ino made a kissy face and Sakura pretended to gag. Hinata just looked scandalised.

"That's an awfully funny face you're making there, Ino-chan," Naruto commented as he shunshin'ed nearby. Over the first few weeks of knowing her, Ino had been adamant that he used the 'chan' suffix on her because he already used it for Sakura and Hinata. He'd relented since they had become close enough for him to do so at the time.

"Ah! Naruto-kun!" Ino said, "I was just thinking that for my birthd–"

"--shut it Ino-pig!" Sakura cut her off and smushed Ino's face with her palm, to which Ino promptly bit a moment later. "You bitch! That hurts!"

Naruto chuckled at their antics. "Heh. Alright you two, that's enough. What did we have scheduled for today?"

"It was teamwork drills, Naruto-kun," Hinata reminded him.

Ino and Sakura's squabbling died down at that.

Naruto smiled. "Hmm…why don't we try something different today?"

All three perked up at that.

"What's it going to be? Do we each have to land a clean hit on you again? Or do we have to catch you in a jutsu?" Ino asked.

Naruto shook his head before grabbing something from his waist pouch. It was three bells. He jingled it in front of them.

Sakura arched an eyebrow at him but remained curious. "What are we supposed to do…with…the…..bells…."

Her words died off as another person had joined the clearing, catching her attention mid sentence.

…It was none other than Sasuke.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" Ino asked condescendingly, raising her voice so Sasuke could hear her from afar. "Did you get lost?"

Sakura only gave the newcomer a death glare while Hinata remained apprehensive.

Naruto held his hands up placatingly. "Now, now, calm down girls. I invited him here."

All three eyes snapped back to him in stunned silence. Naruto only gave a sheepish smile. "I offered him to come train with us. I know you all have your history but he really needs some friends to have a healthy state of mind. Would you set aside your grudges for this training session?"

Ino and Sakura looked unconvinced, still mad about the intrusion Sasuke was causing. Besides, there was a reason they refused to invite any of their classmates from the academy over to train with Naruto. They wanted a monopoly on their sensei.

Sasuke only looked on from a distance, not yet approaching because of the hostility shown by the two girls.

"Do it for me?" Naruto asked, and the plea in his tone had caused the two girls to almost take a step back. There was something in his voice that showed of…desperation. "Please? Be patient with him. It'll mean a lot to me if you give him a chance…"

Ino and Sakura immediately caved at his request.

"Ofcourse, Naruto-kun," Sakura responded. "I still don't like him very much but I'll set my anger aside…just for you."

Ino only nodded. "I'll be fine with it too."

Then she thought of something. "Well…that is if you were to do something for me on my birthd–"

Her face got smushed again.

Naruto looked elated and the sight of his relieved joy made the girls' hearts flutter. He turned and waved to Sasuke in the distance, signalling him to come over…

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Sakura was…pulling her punches a lot less when sparring with Sasuke as compared to when she sparred with other girls. If Naruto didn't know any better, it would look like Sakura was trying to break his bones…

…

This was just a warmup for the teamwork drills, hopefully it would work out fine in the end.

-x-x-x-

The teamwork drill was a disaster.

An utter disaster.

It was like watching an avalanche of disastrous decisions collide with each other. The three girls he'd trained usually worked together like a well oiled machine but it seemed that just adding another factor into the equation in Sasuke had made the entire thing fall apart.

Credit to the three girls, they were trying their best to be inclusive of Sasuke upon Naruto's request but the Uchiha heir…heiress? – Naruto still couldn't decide which pronoun to give him/her…so he'll go with him being a boy for now until Sasuke said otherwise– was acting like a lone wolf encroaching on a foreign pack.

Sasuke wanted to do everything himself, not letting his teammates hinder him in his decisions, and they had no choice but to accompany him.

The drill went on for about 20 minutes with none of them coming even close to touching the bells.

Naruto sighed, now watching the four academy students argue…or three plus Hinata's mediating.

"Why're you so selfishly stupid, you raven haired moron!" Sakura screeched.

"Yeah," Ino added, "You just go off doing your own thing during a teamwork exercise!"

Sasuke sneered at them before turning his head away. "You'll only get in my way."

Before Sakura and Ino could explode, Naruto cut in.

"Enough!" Naruto snapped, and the tone in his command had shut them all up. He'd never raised his voice in such a way before.

Naruto turned towards the girls. "Take a break girls."

They did as he told and made themselves scarce by making their way towards their usual picnic tree a distance away. Then as they got to their spot, they peered back at him and Sasuke, like curious children waiting to see what'd happen. They were still close enough to hear what was going to be said.

"Sasuke," Naruto addressed.

The Uchiha didn't meet his eyes.

"Look at me," Naruto ordered and with reluctance, Sasuke did so.

He had defiance in his eyes as well as a stubbornness that held him back more than he realised.

"I've asked the girls to give you a chance, but I'd neglected to ask you to let your hate go."

Sasuke didn't say anything.

"I suspected that this would happen. You don't respect my ability to teach, my method of doing things," Naruto said, "you don't think that working as a team with others would be beneficial towards your individual strength."

Sasuke still didn't say anything.

"If you keep going the way you are now, you'll become another Itachi," Naruto said.

That…that had pissed Sasuke off.

The three girls remained silent as they heard what their sensei said. He spoke of a taboo topic that should never be said near the Uchihas, much less directly to Sasuke's face.

"What…what did you say to me?" Sasuke asked dangerously.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-