Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered ❯ The Green Leaf of Konoha ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. ::goes off to cry in a corner::

 

I would like to take this moment to thank my beta. She points out my random brain farts. Thanks Bernie.

 

 

Chapter 6: The Green Leaf of Konoha

 

Sasuke was sitting Indian style on his bed staring at his copy of the Team 7 picture. He had been sitting there for an hour. His legs had fallen asleep a while ago, but he hadn't noticed. He was running a finger across the picture when he heard a small knock on the door.

 

“Come in.” He assumed it was Sakura. He wasn't sure if he could face Naruto at the moment. Unfortunately for him, it was Naruto. Naruto walked in and shut the door, not once did he look up from the floor.

 

Neither one knew what to say. Naruto had spent the last hour trying to come up with an apology. He had it all planned out, and yet as soon as he walked in Sasuke's room his mind went blank. He couldn't think of a single word to say. He couldn't even look at him. Naruto surprised himself as well as Sasuke when he walked over to the bed and sat down. He didn't remember telling his legs to move, they just moved on their own accord. Silence once again filled the room.

 

“I'm sorry.” Sasuke couldn't wait for Naruto to start talking. It was best if they just got it all over with. Naruto would yell at him, he would apologize and Sakura could try and mend things between them.

 

“I told you to stop apologizing. It's scary. Besides it was my fault. I didn't follow the plan.” Naruto wasn't sure why Sasuke was apologizing. He was the one who went against the plan, not Sasuke. If anything Sasuke should be mad at him.

 

“Will you ever trust me like you did before?”

 

“I thought I already did. But when those shuriken hit me I just snapped.”

 

“I didn't expect you to trust me like before. But that look you gave me was the same as the one from….”

 

“Stop.” Naruto knew where Sasuke was going with that. It still hurt to talk about the fight, even if it was three years ago. “I shouldn't have gotten that mad. It was uncalled for.”

 

“Will you stop taking all the blame?!” Sasuke turned to look Naruto dead in the eye. Sasuke was getting tired of other people taking the blame for his mistakes. He was the one who ran off three years ago, he was the one who tried to kill Naruto. No one made him do it, he did it all on his own. He didn't want someone else taking his sins. They were his to carry, and no one else's, especially not Naruto.

 

“Why do you have to be at fault? I know you didn't do it on purpose!” Naruto didn't understand what the problem was. Sasuke was getting mad at him for apologizing for a mistake he made. That's what people are supposed to do. It was rare for Naruto to admit to being wrong, and even rarer for him to admit it to Sasuke.

 

“You wouldn't have gotten that mad at me had I not hurt you three years ago!” There he had said it. Sasuke had said the one thing he had been trying not to admit to Naruto. It was all his fault, everything. All the hurt, the pain, the lack of trust, everything was his fault, not Naruto's. Sasuke was the one who betrayed everyone, who turned his back and walked away. It was Sasuke who took away the innocence in Naruto's eyes.

 

He waited for Naruto to say something, anything, but Naruto just sat there and said nothing. He couldn't say anything. Sasuke's words had struck a cord deep within him. Yes, Sasuke had hurt him. But hearing him say it had a profound impact on Naruto. Sasuke never admitted his mistakes. If he admitted he was wrong, then it made it okay to move on, to heal. It was then that Naruto noticed the picture of Team 7 next to Sasuke. Naruto reached over and picked up the picture. “Do you think we'll ever be like this again?”

 

Sasuke looked at the picture Naruto was holding. Sasuke remained silent for a moment before looking at Naruto. The first step to healing was admittance of a wrong deed. Admitting was never easy or painless, but after looking at the picture Sasuke knew it was worth it.

 

“Yes. It won't happen today or tomorrow. It'll take time, but I think that one day we'll be able to be that carefree again, to smile that way again.”

 

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke and smiled. He had to agree with Sasuke, one day they would be happy like this again.

 

“So Naruto, are you gonna tell me how you got the bell from Jirayia?”

 

“That's a secret.” He gave Sasuke his best smirk.

 

“Dobe.”

 

“So Sasuke, how strong are you really?”

 

It was now Sasuke's turn to smirk, “Shall we go find out?”

 

--

 

After the training Sakura had taken her time in walking back home. The walk usually took her 15 minutes, but today it took her an hour. She kept going over everything that happened. She couldn't help but feel as powerless as she did when Naruto and Sasuke fought on the hospital rooftop. `I hope Naruto is doing okay.'

 

As she opened the door to the house she noticed two pairs of shoes already at the entrance. She knew who they belonged to. For a moment she doubted they were even home since the house was so quiet. She was halfway to her room when she heard voices coming from Sasuke's room. She knew Naruto was in there talking with Sasuke, so she left to give them some privacy. There was only one other place she could go.

 

It took her only a few minutes to reach the training ground. Looking around the small clearing all she could see were worn out tree stumps.

 

“I must have missed him.” She walked up to one of the tree stumps and placed her hand on it. She wondered if she should wait for him, but decided against it. `I shouldn't bother him when he's training.' Sakura knew she had to talk to someone. She debated whether or not to go talk with Kakashi or Tsunade. She was so caught up in her thoughts she didn't even notice someone walking up behind her.

 

“Sakura-chan?”

 

Startled, Sakura whirled around to see a familiar green jumpsuit and a chuunin vest. She just stood there and looked at him. Lee still wore the same green jumpsuit, not that Sakura complained about it. The suit did a wonderful job at accenting his muscular body. He wasn't as large as Naruto, but Lee was still very well toned. His hair was now shoulder length. He said he was too busy training to cut it, but Sakura liked the length it made him look mature. After he became a chuunin a few girls had shown interest in him, but he had eyes only for Sakura. He was Sakura's and only Sakura's. He was her strength, and she at the moment needed him.

 

“Sakura-chan?”

 

Lee was starting to worry. Sakura was just staring at him. He'd never seen her in this state before. Her face looked tired and she was holding back tears. Without warning she closed the gap between them and hugged him. She wrapped her arms around his torso gripping the jumpsuit and buried her face in his chest. He just held her and ran his fingers through her hair. He felt her tears soaking through his suit. It tore at his heart to know she was crying.

 

Only one thing ever made Sakura cry and that was her team. She cared greatly for both Naruto and Sasuke and sometimes it just got the best of her. Lee knew Naruto wasn't the source of her tears though. Naruto cared about Sakura too much to make her cry. That left only one person. On his way to the training ground he had been stopped by Ino who asked him if the rumors about Sasuke were true. Ino said that she heard he was back. Lee knew nothing, but looking at Sakura now he feared the worst.

 

Sakura loosened her grip on Lee and took a small step back. “Sorry I interrupted your training.”

 

“You should know by now that you're much more important than my training.” The comment caused Sakura to blush. He always knew exactly what to say to her. “Now do you want to tell me what's bothering you?”

 

Sakura wanted to be sitting down while she talked. She kept few secrets from Lee. She had tried to keep secrets from him in the beginning but soon realized that it was causing more harm then good. Somehow he would always tell her what she needed to hear. When they first started dating she wondered if she could ever make him feel the way he made her feel. She was afraid he would leave her for someone else. When she told him about her fears he simply kissed her forehead and told her that he loved her and he would die for her because she was his life.

 

Now sitting under the tree Lee kept his eyes on Sakura who was staring down at her hands.

 

“Sasuke came back yesterday.”

 

“So the rumors were true.” Shocked, Sakura turned to look at Lee. “Word spreads fast, especially when it's about him.”

 

She simply nodded, knowing it was true. Rumors were always flying around about him. At first people would come to her and Naruto to ask if they were true. But when it became obvious that talking to her and Naruto about Sasuke was doing them both more harm then good, people stopped asking.

 

“Where is he?”

 

“He's at the house.”

 

“Is he causing you trouble? I know Naruto won't let him hurt you but if Sasuke does..”

 

“You don't need to worry.” Sakura had to grab Lee's arm to keep him from getting up. She knew he would go to the house and confront Sasuke about her crying. “Everything was fine until today. Kakashi took us out to train and Sasuke accidentally hurt Naruto.”

 

Lee settled back down finally understanding the situation. “I take it Naruto didn't react all too well to that.” He had seen what could happen when Naruto was upset. Lee shuddered when he remembered the day Naruto beat up Kiba.

 

“Jirayia calmed him down. But I just feel so tired.”

 

Lee reached over and pulled her against his side so that her head rested on his shoulder. “We can sit here like this for as long as you want.”

 

`This is why I love him.' Sakura felt like all her worries were being washed away. She could sit here for hours without saying a word and yet feeling like she was telling him everything. She took his hand in hers and examined it. His knuckles were wrapped in bandages covering all the scars. His fingers were calloused and rough, his nails short. She turned the hand over and ran their palms together. Her hand looked so small compared to his.

 

“Lee, you want to come over for dinner?”

 

“I don't want to impose.”

 

“No it's okay. Besides Naruto would like to see you again. It's been a while since you've come over.”

 

Truth be told Lee did want to go to the house. He wanted to make sure Sakura would be safe around Sasuke. He trusted Naruto's decision to let Sasuke back into their lives. He knew Naruto would never intentionally put Sakura into a dangerous situation. But Lee had to make sure.

 

Lee stood up and helped Sakura stand as well. “Let me go home and shower first. I'll meet you at your place.”

 

Sakura smiled warmly at Lee. He couldn't resist himself and leaned in to give her a kiss. He held her face in his hands and kissed her slowly. The kiss was warm and innocent. He always took his time kissing her, almost like he was kissing her for the first time. Sakura felt as if she was floating. She reached up and grabbed his forearms. Thinking it was a sign for him to go further, he tried to deepen the kiss, but as soon as she noticed his intentions she pulled away from the kiss.

 

His face was flushed and his eyes were full of passion, and yet Sakura couldn't bring herself to kiss him deeply. She was nervous about the whole thing. She wanted to take things slow. She wasn't ready for all the things that came along with being in a relationship. She knew she loved him, and yet she hadn't told him yet. She would one day, but not now. She was too scared and tired to tell him.

 

Lee knew why she pulled away. She was scared. But he would wait. He was a patient man. He took a step back and gave her his best “Good Guy” smile.

 

“I'll see you soon.” With that he kissed her forehead and ran off.

 

--

 

The first thing Sakura noticed when she walked in the house was the silence. She looked in every room and found nothing. Nothing was broken or out of place. `They must have gone for a walk or something.' Thinking nothing was wrong Sakura went to the kitchen and started dinner.

 

She was almost done with dinner when Lee knocked on the door. She let him in and went back to the kitchen to finish dinner. Lee noticed the house was unusually quiet.

 

“Where is Naruto-kun and Sasuke?”

 

“I don't know. They were here before I went to see you. But when I got back they were gone.”

 

Feeling useless, Lee started to set the table. He would have helped her cook, but for life of him he didn't know his way around a kitchen. Just as he finished Sakura informed him that she was done making dinner.

 

“I think we should wait for them. Naruto gets mad whenever I start eating dinner before he gets back.” Lee was about to comment when the door flew open revealing two very tired and dirty genins.

 

“I beat you.” Naruto was too busy taking off his shoes to catch the look Sasuke threw him.

 

“No you didn't. You fought dirty.”

 

“I did not.”

 

“What in the world happened?” Both Naruto and Sasuke looked up to see Sakura walking up to them. She quickly began to examine Sasuke, knowing that whatever injuries Naruto had were probably already healed.

 

“Sorry to worry you Sakura.” Naruto hated making Sakura worry. He knew she was more on edge now that Sasuke was back, especially after the training today.

 

“Leave it Sakura, they'll heal.” Sasuke didn't want Sakura worrying over a few cuts and bruises. He'd had worse. But when Sasuke tried to push her away, she didn't leave. She slapped his hand away instead.

 

“I'll heal them right now, then we can eat dinner.” She quickly began gathering chakra to her hands and started passing it over his cuts. As soon as she was done all four of them went to the table and sat down.

 

“Thank you Sakura. But those cuts would have healed in a few days.” Sakura just smile at Sasuke. She had decided long ago that if she could she would make sure her team was healthy and safe.

 

“Were you two sparring?” Lee was still unsure about how he should act around Sasuke, so he decided to start with something safe and neutral.

 

“Yup and I won.”

 

Sasuke could feel his eyebrow twitching. “Dobe.”

 

“Naruto-kun it's been a while since you've sparred with me. I wonder if you've improved some.”

 

“I'll spar with you the next time I get the chance. And don't think that just because you have that vest that I can't beat you too.”

 

Sakura couldn't help but giggle at the interaction between her teammates and boyfriend. She was happy that they had moved past what had happened earlier. All four of them engaged in quiet chitchat as they ate dinner.

 

 

Sasuke was currently sitting in the living room waiting for Naruto to get out of the shower so he could take one. Lee had joined him a while ago after Sakura kicked him out of the kitchen for breaking a glass.

 

“It's good to see Naruto and Sakura happy again.”

 

“It's just good to see them again.” Sasuke had a faint idea where Lee was going with the conversation.

 

“I must be honest with you Sasuke. I came here tonight for one reason; to see if she would be safe around you.” Lee half expected Sasuke to get angry with him for thinking he was dangerous. Instead Sasuke just sat there and said nothing. “It's not that I don't trust Naruto's decision. I just wanted to check for myself.”

 

“You really care for her don't you?”

 

“I would die for her.”

 

“They are all I have left.” Sasuke turned to look Lee in the face. “I won't hurt them, you can trust me on that if on nothing else.”

 

Lee saw the look Sasuke gave him. It was a look he had seen on Naruto's face whenever he declared his intentions. “I'm glad you came back home Sasuke-kun. The suffering has gone on for too long.”

 

Sasuke noticed the change in Lee's attitude toward him. He could only hope that the rest of the village would be so forgiving. Sasuke looked over at Sakura as she entered the living room.

 

“When should we tell people you're back?”

 

Sasuke was about to answer when they heard Naruto screaming. Sasuke, Sakura and Lee took off running toward the bathroom. They were half way to the bathroom when Kakashi walked out of the bathroom. Behind him was Naruto, dripping wet with a towel wrapped around his waist.

 

“Here.” Kakashi handed Sakura the paperwork he was holding. Looking down at it she realized it was the application for the chuunin exam.

 

“They're to be turned in tomorrow by 3pm if you plan on participating.” Kakashi walked past them and out the door as if there was nothing out of the ordinary had happened.

 

“Why can't we have a normal sensei?!” Naruto was fuming, not with anger but embarrassment. Kakashi had walked in on him just as he was getting out of the shower. Naruto was busy flexing his muscles when he noticed Kakashi standing behind him. Without waiting for an answer Naruto walked into his room slamming the door behind him.

 

Sasuke started walking toward his room to retrieve the things he needed for his shower. As he walked past Sakura he said, “I'll announce my return at the chuunin exam.”

 

----

 

My chapters are getting longer and longer.

 

I think those books Kakashi reads are getting to him. ::giggles::

 

What did everyone think of the interaction between Sakura and Lee?? Isn't he just the sweetest thing ever?? I swear I'll have more Lee antics later. I didn't want to throw in a random comedic Lee moment just for the hell of it.

 

The next chapter is gonna be all about the chuunin exam and Sasuke's re-introduction. I'll announce who I kept as genins and who I let pass, even though I already announced what level three people are at in this chapter.

 

Oh that reminds me, I was planning on being really short on certain parts of the exam. I don't think people are really interested on the first part of the exam, you know the test. I probably won't have a prelim either. I do plan on writing about all the tournament fights though, cause well those are the most exciting. Also instead of having a chuunin exam every six months like in the series, in my fic its one every year. Why you ask? Well because its my fic and I said so. :P

 

 

You know the drill, comments, suggestions, flames, bank account numbers………..