Naruto Fan Fiction / Crossover With Non-anime Series Fan Fiction ❯ Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4

“I can't believe it!” Naruto ranted. Sasuke growled slightly, while Harry looked slightly puzzled.

“It was just an observation, Naruto.” Harry said placatingly. Naruto whirled round.

“But you, you said…” Naruto spluttered.

“Give it up, Dobe,” Sasuke called. “Not everyone likes ramen.”

“Don't call me that, Teme.” Naruto retorted. “How can you not like ramen?”

The reason for this overreaction on Naruto's part was simple. It had occurred only half an hour previously, just after they had finished a lunch of cup ramen in Sasuke's kitchen, where Harry had commented that ramen had no flavour and wouldn't it be better to have the pasta with a sauce. Both Sasuke and Naruto had stared at him; Naruto, in horror, while Sasuke looked slightly puzzled. Naruto had launched headfirst into a speech about the awesomeness of ramen, so Sasuke had quietly asked about this `sauce'. Harry had been surprised but had decided it was a culture difference from wherever he came from. He had told Sasuke that he would show him, they just needed groceries, while Naruto carried on with his speech.

Currently, they were walking to Hokage tower to see Tsunade, and thankfully, Naruto had run out of steam and only made a few random comments.

Harry, though he participated in the goings on around him, was deep in thought. Why had he told Sasuke he'd show him? Could he cook? How did he even know to say that?

Sasuke was having similar thoughts, but he was ultimately pleased. Harry seemed to be getting his memories back rather quickly, and he could eat something other than ramen. Everything was right with Sasuke's world, temporarily anyway.

Soon, the trio stood outside the door to the Hokage's office and as Sasuke reached out to knock, Naruto decided to burst through the door with a loud “Baa-chan!!”

“GakI! Don't call me that!” Tsunade shouted, her head shooting up from where it had been lying on the desk; there were slight lines of ink on her face. “So, to what do I owe this visit?” She looked straight at Sasuke, rather than Naruto, to explain.

“Harry has regained some of his memories.” She raised an eyebrow. “He also wishes to train as a shinobi.” Tsunade's other eyebrow rose to meet the first.

“I suppose you want my permission.” The three nodded, although Naruto's and Harry's were much more vigorous. “And even if I didn't give my permission you would probably teach him anyway.” She finished. Naruto and Sasuke nodded again, while Harry looked between the two. Tsunade sighed. “Fine, but if anything pertinent to village security comes up you let me know straight away.”

“Hai, Hokage!” The two said simultaneously. Tsunade turned her gaze to Harry, who shifted uncomfortably. Her stare reminded him of someone else, he received a quick flash of an old man with twinkling blue eyes hidden behind half-moon spectacles and a long silver beard, sitting behind a desk. Harry staggered slightly, but he was caught by Sasuke and led to a chair, where he sat down gratefully.

“Your remembering.” Harry nodded at the Hokage. “Does it seem to be coming back faster now that it's started?” He nodded again. “Okay, you can start the basic ninja training, but when you remember things, could you please tell either Sasuke or Naruto?” She requested and Harry agreed, it wasn't too much to ask anyway.

“Naruto. Could you take Harry outside a minute?” Tsunade was staring at Sasuke again as she said this. Naruto shrugged, before helping Harry up and supporting him as they left the room. Once they had closed the door behind them, Tsunade asked:

“What has he remembered?”

“Small things.” Sasuke started. “He doesn't like girls, that was on the way to the estate when he met Sakura and Ino.” He sneered and Tsunade smirked.

“Continue,” She waved a hand in a `go on' motion.

“He blacked out for a while when we were at the estate and he said he remembered the `Draco' he mentioned earlier. It seemed to be triggered by an argument between Naruto and myself.” He paused.

“Anything else?” She had on a thoughtful expression.

“He apparently knows how to cook, and it's not food that's native to the area. He mentioned pasta in a sauce. Ramen didn't seem to appeal to him that much.” Sasuke smirked, which was mirrored by Tsunade.

“Thank you for small mercies.” She mumbled, before resting her chin on her fingers steepled in front of her. “Keep Harry's training as secret as possible and report to me if he remembers anything else.”

“Hai, Hokage-sama.” Tsunade dismissed him, but he hesitated.

“What is it?” She asked, narrowing her eyes.

“There was an incident on the way to the estate.” The eyebrow rose once more. “Harry threw Hyuuga Neji into a wall with one push.” Tsunade's eyes widened.

“I see. Well, keep an eye on him.” Sasuke nodded, before Tsunade went back to her piles of paperwork, groaning at their sheer size, as Sasuke moved to the door.

 

With Harry and Naruto, a whole different type of conversation was going on. The two had sat side by side in the otherwise empty waiting area, and Harry randomly stated.

“You don't have to hide so much anymore.” Naruto turned to him, slightly wary.

“What do you mean?” He asked, his eyes darting about the room in his panic. Harry leant forward, placed his hands on both cheeks and looked straight into his eyes.

“Calm down Naruto, breathe.” Naruto took a deep breath, then slowly released it, not once closing his eyes. “I know you hide yourself, that they only see what you want them to see. But let me in, I feel that I've been in a similar situation to you; hated for something you can't control. It's okay. Let the mask drop.” Naruto took another breath, closing his eyes this time, and when they opened, Harry could see all the emotions he had felt. All the pain and sadness that had been hidden away, but that Harry could still feel.

“You poor soul.” Harry stroked Naruto's cheeks fondly. “It'll get better, I promise.” The face he held, nuzzled into one of his palms, Harry smiled. “I don't ask for you tell me anything. If you want to, you can, but only when you're ready.” Naruto nodded. “For now though, let's build that wall up again, Sasuke is coming.” Naruto's eyes shuttered closed, and when they came back into view, they were filled with the same fake happiness from before, although now Harry could see that a small part of it was real, due to him.

“You should try to let Sasuke in, soon.” Harry whispered. “I feel dark times ahead for you both if he is left in the dark to everything.” Naruto nodded, before pulling out of Harry's hold on his face and standing as the door opened, mask completely back in place once more.

 

Naruto bounced ahead as they walked to the grocery store, but as they neared the building, Harry saw Naruto falter slightly, and was sure Sasuke had seen it too.

“Hey guys, I think I'll just head home.” Naruto said, but Harry grasped his hand.

“It'll be okay, Naruto, I'll…” Harry glanced at Sasuke. “No, we'll make sure it is.” The two ravens stepped in on either side of the blond and glared death upon all who looked in their direction with hate.

With help from Naruto and Sasuke, as Harry had trouble reading the labels, they were able to quickly collect the ingredients needed before heading back to the Uchiha estate. Once there, Harry shooed the two out of the kitchen and both were soon very curious, due to the delicious smells wafting towards them.

When Harry called them in for dinner many hours later; they had, had a spar to help time pass, they were awed at the spread of different foods arrayed in front of them.

Sitting down at the table, they helped themselves to some soft, warm garlic bread as Harry placed bowls of what he said was `spaghetti bolognese' in front of them, before seating himself.

“Itadakimasu!” Naruto intoned loudly, before digging into the food in front of him. Sasuke copied the actions, but at a more sedate pace, while Harry watched their reactions carefully; eating his own meal steadily at the same time.

Afterwards, with Naruto spouting about the deliciousness of Harry's meal, they were given the choice of dessert: toffee cheesecake, or a chocolate gateau. Naruto had some of both, while Harry persuaded Sasuke to try a small piece of cheesecake, being against sweets as he was. He thought it was fantastic; not that he'd ever admit it, so he just smiled and nodded, saying that it was good. Harry grinned happily at the praise, taking it for what it was.

“If you don't like being a ninja,” Naruto mentioned, when he stopped for a break between helpings. “You could open a restaurant!” He went back to another slice of gateau as Harry chuckled.

“I'll keep that in mind, Naruto.” Sasuke stood up.

“Time for bed. Naruto, you can stay here tonight if you want. I'll go make sure the rooms ready.” He wandered out the kitchen and up the stairs.

As the main bed room was his, he had decided on the room next to it for Harry's use. However, it happened to be his brother's room and he hesitated at the doorway. Stepping inside, it was exactly as he remembered it before the massacre, although there was a bit more dust. Concentrating on the task he had to do, Sasuke stripped the bed, and used them to dust the furniture partially, before dumping them in the hallway and getting fresh linen.

Sasuke repeated the exercise with his old room, so Naruto could use it, then headed downstairs with the dirty sheets. He looked into the kitchen quickly and saw that Naruto and Harry were washing the dishes, so he continued on and put the laundry in the washing mchine.

Sasuke met the other two in the hallway before leading them to their rooms.

“Get some sleep,” he advised Harry, outside his room. “We start your training early tomorrow.” Harry nodded, yawning, and moved into the room, closing the door behind him.

 

TBC…