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Walking Corpse	By : suomynonakun Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 7267 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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A/N: I�ve been agonizing over this decision for the past couple days. I�ve had a lot of reviews begging for yaoi, and I�ve had a lot pleading that I don�t go down that route. Personally, I�d like to write yaoi, but I know what it feels like to get into a story then not be able to finish because you just don�t like the pairings. I�m like that with Sasuke/Sakura.

So, here�s what I�m going to do. I have this story posted on both fanfiction.net and adult-fanfiction.org. For those of you looking for yaoi, stay right here. Those of you who would rather this story remain about the friendship between Sasuke and Naruto head over to fanfiction.net: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2166001/1/ , or go to www.fanfiction.net and look me up, my author name is dazdnconfusd730

Up until this chapter both stories are exactly the same. So I would make sure you�re at the place you want to be before continuing because this chapter is where things start to slowly progress.

I hope this works for everyone.

Sasuke rolled over again, laying on his back and glaring up at the ceiling of his room as if it was the reason he was unable to sleep.

He�d been so close. So close to getting the answers he�d been searching for since Naruto�s return.

�That�is the reason I�ve been pretending to be dead for ten years.�

Naruto had been about to go on, both men ignoring that they were lying together on the kitchen floor, when there was a loud knock at Sasuke�s door. Immediately, Naruto clammed up. Sasuke could feel the difference. Pulling himself from Sasuke�s arms, which, Sasuke only noticed then, had remained wrapped around the other man, Naruto stood. Offering his hand to Sasuke, he pulled the dark haired man to his feet.

The knocking became more insistent.

�Uchiha-san!� they could hear from the other side of the door.

Without a glance back at Sasuke, Naruto made his way out of the kitchen and down the hallway of Sasuke�s one story house. Sasuke watched him disappear into the guest room across from his room with a sigh.

Stalking to the door, he pulled it open with more force than he meant to, glaring icily at the visitor. Two jounin stood on his doorstep.

Sasuke was unfamiliar with the one who had been knocking and calling his name. He was young, maybe twenty.

The jounin behind him stood a few feet away, a distinct look of disinterest on his face. Shino, Sasuke thought, was the only other man he knew whose _expression could remain as impassive and indifferent as his own. Actually, he amended, Shino was probably better at it than he was, since Sasuke�s _expression could usually vary to angry and, on occasion, surprised. Shino rarely even twitched an agitated eyebrow. He stood now with his hands stuffed into his pockets, round sunglasses over his eyes.

�Uchiha-san,� the first jounin said. �We were patrolling and we felt a large surge of chakra from your house. We wanted to be sure everything was alright.�

Sasuke almost snorted in amusement. The young jounin looked extremely anxious and Shino looked anything but concerned. He actually looked bored.

�Everything�s fine,� Sasuke said, sending a look of annoyance at the jounin. �I was�� he paused. �Practicing Chidori.�

�In your house?� the young man asked. He had heard tales of Chidori�s destructive power.

Sasuke knew the lie was pretty bad when he saw Shino make the effort to raise an eyebrow. Deciding the best route to follow was the one that worked most often; he crossed his arms and glared at both of them. �Why is it suddenly your business what I do in my own house?�

The young jounin looked horrified to have pissed the Anbu off. He stuttered out his next words. �We just�just wanted to be sure nothing had happened, sir.�

�I think,� Sasuke sneered. �That I am more than qualified to take care of myself, don�t you?�

�Yes, sir,� the jounin stammered.

Shino spoke, surprising them both. �Sorry to bother you, Uchiha.� He turned and walked away, and the young jounin took one look at Sasuke and quickly made his way after him.

With a shake of his head, Sasuke closed the door and went in search of Naruto. As he headed down the hall towards the guest room he passed the bathroom, and, hearing the gentle thrum of the shower, he realized he wouldn�t get to talk to him until later.

But when later came, Naruto brushed off the entire incident. He either ignored or changed the subject whenever Sasuke tried to bring it up, which was why Sasuke was now tossing in bed at two o�clock in the morning.

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Sasuke threw off the covers and climbed out of bed. He didn�t flinch as his bare feet came into contact with the cool wooden floor, used to the feeling after so many years. He only slept in his shorts and didn�t bother putting on a shirt as he padded out of his bedroom. He wasn�t even sure where he was going, but he knew tossing in bed was getting him nowhere.

As he walked by the guestroom Naruto inhabited he couldn�t help but notice the faint light glowing under the door. Pausing, he listened carefully but could hear nothing to indicate Naruto was awake. The door wasn�t shut completely and Sasuke debated pushing it open slightly to see if Naruto was sleeping.

He knew he could just knock, but he didn�t want to wake him if Naruto was asleep. At least one of them should get some rest.

Finally, he gave in, quietly pushing the door open just wide enough that he could peer in.

Naruto sat in the middle of the floor, his back to the door. A small lamp sitting on the dresser that stood against the wall to his left softly illuminated the room.

The other man appeared to be meditating. He was still fully dressed, including his arm wrappings, and Sasuke had to wonder if he ever changed. His face mask was pulled down, but his hair was still tied up under his hitai-ate.

Opting not to disturb him, Sasuke reached for the handle, preparing to pull the door closed.

�Need something, Sasuke?� Naruto said, not turning to look at him.

Sasuke paused in surprise. �I was just wondering if you were up,� he finally said.

Naruto did turn to look at him then. The light of the lamp caused odd shadows to dance across the contours of his face and made it difficult to read his _expression. Naruto stood, and his shadow stretched across the room, reminding Sasuke of Shikamaru�s Kagemane no Jutsu.

�I told you I don�t sleep much,� Naruto said, turning from him and moving to sit on the bed that was in the corner of the room across from the dresser.

�Well, I figured you�d take advantage of being here to get some rest,� Sasuke told him, stepping through the door. �It�s not like you�ll get attacked in Konoha.�

Naruto snorted, catching Sasuke off guard. �It�s not shinobi attacking me that I worry about,� he said.

�Then�what?� Sasuke asked in confusion.

There was a long pause as Naruto seemed to debate whether or not to tell him. �Today,� Naruto finally began. �What happened in the kitchen. That was rare. Kyuubi was trying to prove a point. He rarely tries to overpower me when I�m fully aware.�

Sasuke had unconsciously moved further into the room.

�When I said I only sleep for a few hours�that was a lie. I�ll catch half an hour here and there, but usually I don�t sleep at all. When I sleep is when he strikes. The first time I woke to find him weaving his essence through me was terrifying. It took everything I had to push him back. Every time he does it a little more of him becomes a part of me.�

�He�s trying to merge with you?�

�Not trying,� Naruto said, and when his blue eyes looked up at Sasuke in the dim light, he swore they looked haunted. �Is.�

Sasuke shook his head. �Don�t be stupid, dobe,� he said, refusing to believe what Naruto said could possibly be true.

Naruto growled at him, and Sasuke had to admit, the sound wasn�t altogether human. �I�m not being stupid,� he snapped. �It�s not my imagination and I�m not worrying over nothing.� He turned away, refusing to look at Sasuke. �Forget it,� he finally said. �I was stupid to think the Great Uchiha Sasuke would understand.�

Sasuke felt his stomach clench at the words. Naruto had opened up to him and he�d blown it. He hesitated before moving over to the bed and sitting next to Naruto, who turned from him, giving Sasuke a good view of his profile. �Naruto, gomen.� He took the time to study Naruto�s features. It seemed he never had much of an opportunity, since the other man kept his mask up as much as possible. The last time Sasuke had really seen him Naruto was twelve. That brief time in battle when they were fifteen didn�t really count, he wasn�t exactly trying to get a good look at the boy.

Naruto had lost his baby fat in exchange for muscle. He had a lean, yet athletic build. His chin and jaw line had become more angular. Sasuke frowned as he realized that he hadn�t noticed that the whisker marks on Naruto�s cheeks had grown more pronounced. They were wider and darker.

Without completely realizing what he was doing, Sasuke found himself reaching to touch the marks. Naruto jumped when he felt Sasuke�s fingertips lightly graze his skin.

�Sasuke, what�� he stopped speaking, watching in confusion as Sasuke lightly traced each mark on his cheek.

Deep gray eyes met his confused gaze as Sasuke slowly pulled his hand away.

�Why don�t you ever take off your hitai-ate?� Sasuke asked.

�My hair would give me away, don�t you think?� Naruto said with a small smile.

�There�s no one here but me,� Sasuke reminded him.

�I know,� Naruto answered quietly.

There was a long silence before Sasuke spoke. �Can I see your hair?�

Naruto looked at him in surprise, furrowing his eyebrows. �Why?�

�Because I haven�t seen it in ten years, and I can�t look at the sun without remembering its color.�

Naruto�s eyes widened before he looked away. �I told you, it gives me away.�

�Naruto, I already know who you are,� Sasuke said.

�It doesn�t give away who I am. It gives away who I�m becoming.�

Sasuke frowned deeply at his words.

Naruto reached up and slowly began to untie his hitai-ate. Sasuke watched in silence as he pulled it off. Golden locks fell from the dark cloth, falling loosely around his face. They were longer than the last time Sasuke had seen them and, taking in how they gently framed Naruto�s face, Sasuke was reminded of the fourth Hokage. But more was different to Naruto�s hair than just the length. Reaching a hand to gently finger the locks, he let a few strands of red hair fall through his fingers.

Littered throughout the blonde strands were streaks of fiery red highlights.

He looked questioningly at Naruto, who calmly allowed him to touch his hair.

�The more connected we become, the redder it gets,� Naruto explained. �It started out barely noticeable.� He looked down; his _expression almost seemed ashamed. When he spoke again his voice cracked and Sasuke could tell he was crying. �I don�t know what to do, Sasuke. I can�t stop him. I�m tired. So tired.�

Sasuke�s heart nearly broke when Naruto started to sob. Reacting purely on instinct, he reached out and pulled Naruto close, holding him while he sobbed into his shoulder.

~*~*~

�So what the hell�s going on with Uchiha?� Kiba asked leaning his head back and downing a shot of sake. Kiba was wearing his jounin uniform, and the red marks on his cheeks became more pronounced as his face flushed from the alcohol. Akamaru sat at his feet under the table, having grown too big to perch on Kiba�s head years ago.

�What do you mean, Kiba?� Rock Lee asked from the seat across from him. Lee had grown to look almost exactly like Gai. He wore the same green training suit he had when he was younger and now he had a jounin vest over it just as his sensei wore it. The main difference between the two was Lee�s round eyes, which gave him the look of perpetual innocence.

The others at the round table looked to Kiba for explain.

Since they had been old enough to drink the group of gennin that had taken their first chuunin exam together had been coming to the bar once a week to get together and catch up on one another�s lives. They always inhabited a large round table in the back corner of the dark pub, away from the bustle that was always around the bar.

The group varied from week to week, sometimes people were on missions or had other duties, but they all came whenever their schedules allowed.

Tonight Kiba, Hinata, Chouji, Shikamaru, Ino, Lee, and Sakura sat around the table.

They knew Kiba wasn�t commenting on Sasuke not being there, because Sasuke was never there, not for lack of trying on Sakura�s part. Since Naruto�s death and Sasuke�s return, the moody man had barely spoken to any of them unless it was in the context of a mission.

�Shino told me there was some weird surge of chakra from his house today,� Kiba explained.

Shikamaru saw Sakura and Ino exchange odd looks. Now what was that about?

Kiba continued. �When he and that new jounin�the twitchy one�what�s his name?�

�Ritsu?� Chouji offered, stuffing a radish in his mouth.

�Yeah,� Kiba said. �They went to check if everything was okay and he told him he had been practicing Chidori.�

�In his house?� Hinata asked in her soft voice. She looked as she always had. Her hair was the same short bob and the only difference in her outfit was the chuunin vest that had taken the place of her old jacket.

�Yeah,� Kiba said with a snort. �I know. Shino also said the chakra didn�t feel like Chidori at all. It didn�t even feel like Uchiha�s chakra.�

�Maybe it was that guy,� Sakura said to Ino.

�What guy?� Lee asked the pink haired woman next to him.

�Did Shino mention him?� Sakura asked Kiba. �Some strange masked guy is staying with Sasuke-kun.�

�Whoa, whoa, whoa. Uchiha, the self imposed introvert and all around antisocial bastard, has some stranger staying with him?� Kiba said.

Sakura shrugged, ignoring the insults to Sasuke. The older she got the less delusional she became. �That�s what he told me. This guy is really suspicious though.�

Ino finally spoke up, and Shikamaru realized how quiet she had been until that point. �Not suspicious, Sakura. Scary.�

Sakura looked at her sympathetically and Shikamaru�s curiosity was peaked.

�What do you mean, Ino?� he asked.

Everyone was looking at her curiously. With a sigh she explained what had happened earlier that day.

Shikamaru was the type of person who showed very little emotion, simply because it took too much effort for him to change his expression. So when Ino told her story and his eyes progressively widened, everyone at the table found themselves staring at him.

�What did this guy look like?� he asked her.

�Well, we couldn�t see his face, he had a mask on, and his hitai-ate covered all of his hair,� Ino said.

Nodding and lost in thought Shikamaru lifted his sake for a drink.

�The only thing I noticed about him was his bright blue eyes,� Sakura said, almost sadly.

Shikamaru choked on his sake and stood suddenly. �I have to go,� he said.

�Shikamaru?� Chouji said, looking up at him.

�See you later,� he called over his shoulder before exiting the bar.

�What they hell was that about?� Kiba asked as they all stared at the door Shikamaru had just left through.

~*~*~

Sasuke awoke early the next morning to the smell of eggs. Sitting up and looking around in confusion he realized he was in his guest room. He sighed, realizing that at some point last night he must have fallen asleep.

Naruto had eventually composed himself and they�d moved off the subject of Kyuubi. Laying side by side on the bed they told one another some of the things that had happened over the last ten years.

Sasuke stopped in his room to grab a shirt before entering the kitchen. Naruto stood at his stove scrambling eggs. His mask was down around his neck. He�d put his hitai-ate back on, much to Sasuke�s disappointment. He liked Naruto�s hair, even if it was a reminder of Kyuubi.

�Hungry?� Naruto asked when Sasuke walked in.

�Yeah,� he answered, going to the cupboard and grabbing plates. �Sorry I fell asleep,� he said, holding the plates as Naruto dished out the eggs.

�I didn�t expect you to stay up all night just because I do,� Naruto said, setting the pan of eggs back on the stove and taking his plate from Sasuke.

They had just sat down at the table and begun to eat when there was a knock on the door.

Naruto grinned. �You certainly get a lot of visitors.�

Sasuke set his fork down in exasperation. �I�ve had more people come here in the last two days than I�ve had all year.�

Naruto laughed, taking another mouthful of eggs. He remained in the kitchen as Sasuke went to answer the door.

Sasuke was surprised to pull open the door and see Shikamaru. He hardly talked to the jounin, let alone received visits from him.

�Shikamaru,� he said with a nod of acknowledgement.

�Sasuke,� Shikamaru said in greeting. �I came by to see Naruto.�

It was said so bluntly that all Sasuke could do was gape at him slack jawed.

Naruto, who had been listening, poked his head out of the kitchen to stare at Shikamaru, still holding his fork and wearing an expression startlingly similar to Sasuke�s.

�Ohayo, Naruto,� Shikamaru said, looking past Sasuke to the disembodied head that was peeking out of the kitchen.

Snapping his mouth shut, Naruto shrugged with smile. �Ohayo, Shikamaru.�

~*~*~

The three men sat around Sasuke�s kitchen table, Naruto and Sasuke staring at Shikamaru as he ate some eggs.

�So,� Sasuke finally said. �How did you know?�

�Ino goes into the mind of some strange guy with bright blue eyes and sees he�s got something residing in him. The same day there�s a strange surge of chakra coming from your house where this guy happens to be staying. It doesn�t take a genius to figure out.�

Naruto grinned. �And since you are a genius, it must have been pretty simple for you.�

Shikamaru nodded.

�Did you tell anyone else?� Sasuke asked.

�No,� Shikamaru said. �I figured that if it hasn�t been made common knowledge, there�s a reason.�

�Yeah,� Naruto said. �If you could just keep it to yourself it would be appreciated.�

Shikamaru nodded. �So why go through all the trouble of pretending you�re dead?� he asked.

Naruto tensed and Sasuke sent a glare at Shikamaru, who pointedly ignored him.

�It�s a long story, Shikamaru,� Naruto said with a forced smile.

Shikamaru studied him for a moment and Sasuke had every intention of throwing the jounin out if he pressed the subject. He would not let Shikamaru upset Naruto, not after seeing him last night.

Shikamaru didn�t push it though, recognizing both Naruto�s discomfort and Sasuke�s rising ire. Shikamaru might have asked something else but he was cut off by a poof of smoke above Naruto�s head.

When the smoke cleared Sasuke and Shikamaru stared at the large orange frog that sat on Naruto�s head. Naruto rolled his eyes upwards, but could only see the orange flippers that rested on his forehead. With a sigh, he said, �Gamakichi, what did I tell you about popping up without being summoned?�

�Big problems, kid,� the frog said, ignoring him.

Holding out his palms in front of him Naruto allowed Gamakichi to jump into his hands. �What�s going on?� he asked when the frog was facing him. Sasuke and Shikamaru noticed his serious tone.

�Akatsuki�s moving towards Konoha, but on the way they are ransacking villages, destroying everything they can.�

�What?� Naruto exclaimed.

�Judging by their movements their next target is a small village about thirty miles from here.�

�Are you sure?� Naruto said.

�Gamatatsu has been watching them like you asked. This is the only logical next move for them,� Gamakichi told him.

Naruto nodded. �How long before they get there?�

�Four days, tops.�

�That�ll be enough time,� Naruto said, apparently deep in thought.

�Enough time for what?� Sasuke asked.

�To get there before they do,� Naruto replied. He nodded to Gamakichi, who disappeared from his hands. Naruto stood.

�You can�t be serious,� Sasuke said, standing as well.

�Well, I�m certainly not joking,� Naruto said.

�Don�t be stupid!� Sasuke growled angrily. �You can�t defeat all of Akatsuki by yourself.�

Naruto shrugged. �I�ll be fine.�

�You said you would stay,� Sasuke reminded him.

�I never said how long,� Naruto countered.

�The Hokage ordered that you stay in Konoha.� Sasuke moved to block the exit.

�Sasuke, I�m �dead� remember? I�m not under her rules anymore. Now, if you don�t get out of my way I�ll crack more than your ribs this time,� Naruto said, incredibly calm.

Shikamaru, who had been quietly watching the exchange, decided it might be time to interject. �Naruto, taking on Akatsuki alone would be suicide. Surely you realize that?�

Naruto�s gaze shifted to the pony-tailed shinobi, but he said nothing. In fact, he suddenly looked a bit uncomfortable.

It was then Sasuke realized what Naruto was thinking. He had realized.

Striding across the kitchen so quickly Naruto didn�t have a chance to react he raised a fist and punched the whiskered man. Naruto�s head whipped to the side and he remained that way, refusing to meet Sasuke�s accusatory glare.

�Don�t you ever think like that again,� Sasuke hissed angrily.

Shikamaru could do nothing but gape at them, and suddenly he felt as though he were intruding on something private.

The tense silence pervaded in the kitchen until finally Shikamaru spoke. �Perhaps we should speak to the Hokage about this.�

The two men turned to look at him. �It�s likely she�ll send out a large team of shinobi to protect the village, also it will be a good indication of Akatsuki�s strength.�

Naruto sighed, and then nodded, still not meeting Sasuke�s eyes.
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Walking Corpse