Here's to the Fox

disclaimer: this is the last one cause i'm tired of typing it: see chapter 1

A/N: hi all! welcome to another exciting installment of 'where the hell is this story going?' welcome, all, to chapter 5. i must say, i'm damn proud of this one. it's longer!! and you want to know why? the reason is... Kakashi has arrived!!!!!!

thanks to each and every one of my reviewers. if anyone is gonna get this story cranked out, it's y'all. thank you so much for your lovely comments and suppport.

enjoy!


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Here's to the Fox: Chapter 5
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Sasuke gazed at the entrance of the restaurant with no small amount of trepidation. Saki-chan had said that Naruto came to restaurant everyday, but after what Sasuke had done last night, he wasn’t sure he could face the blonde. He’d been watching the eatery since eleven that morning, not knowing exactly when Naruto took his break, but it was past noon now, and still the blonde hadn’t shown. Sasuke was beginning to fear that Naruto knew what he had done, while consciously knowing that that was impossible. But the blonde had so many surprises, who could be sure anymore?

Summoning up as much courage as he could, Sasuke stalked across the main road to the entrance. He’d just go inside and wait for the blonde. He needed to talk to him about what he’d be telling the Hokage, and maybe persuade him to accompany Sasuke home. Before Sasuke ducked under the cloth signs, however, he thought he caught a flash of silver out of the corner of his eye. But when he looked, there was nothing silver about, so he shrugged it off as a trick of the light and entered.

He was greeted loudly, although somewhat tersely, by Kagura-san. She explained that Naruto wasn’t there, but if he’d follow her to his table, he could wait for the blonde. Nodding his head, he did just that, but before she walked away, he placed an order for onigiri and ramen. Better to have something to butter the blonde up first before he asked any favors.

Waiting for Naruto while trying not to think of the previous night proved difficult for the young Uchiha. Though, he was successful in not turning an alarming shade of red each time his thoughts drifted that way. Of course, that could change the minute he saw the blonde, then Naruto would ask why he was red, which would lead to him shutting up and glaring, which would lead to Naruto being mad at him and then not listening to what he had to say. God, he was so screwed up.

“Oi, Sasuke, what are you doing here?”

Sasuke looked up at his friend and tormentor. That easy grin was in place, and Sasuke didn’t think it was forced, so he was obviously pleased that the Uchiha was here. That’s a good start.

“I thought I’d buy you lunch, but you’re rather late, dobe.” At Naruto’s crestfallen look, Sasuke let out a small chuckle. “I’m kidding. The food should be right here.” There was that beaming smile. Hn, it was easier than he thought it’d be facing the blonde. Of course, thoughts of the previous night assailed him right then, about what he’d done and whom he’d thought of as he did it. And the dreams that followed… Sasuke didn’t even know if there was a waterfall in Konoha1. Shaking his head to rid it of those thoughts, Sasuke leaned across the table and flicked Naruto’s forehead. “So where were you, dobe?”

“Ah, well, you remember Kyo-kun, right?” At Sasuke’s nod he continued. “Well, his mom runs the bathhouse here, and she sent him to get me this morning because some strange men were peaking into the women’s bath. If she’d confronted them, they’d have just run away, so she sent Kyo for me so I could deal with them.”

“She doesn’t know you’re… um, you, does she?”

“Ahaha, no. But I’m a blacksmith’s apprentice, so people tend to think I’m as close to you know who as anyone. Anyway, when I got there, one of the guys spotted me and just disappeared into thin air. I think it was a transportation jutsu. So that had me suspicious, knowing at least one’s a ninja and all. The other guy, some weirdo with freaky white hair, went to tell his friend something, saw me instead and kind of freaked. He summoned a huge toad and ran away.”

Sasuke nearly choked on his quickly indrawn breath. He gazed at Naruto blankly and asked flatly, “Did the other man happen to have silver hair and a Leaf Village hitai-ate?”

“How did you know that?!”

Sasuke groaned as his head smacked the table. What the hell could those two possibly be here for? Naruto reached across the table to put a concerned hand on his shoulder. A cleared throat announced that their food was there, and Sasuke reluctantly brought his head up so the onigiri could be set down in front of him. He watched as Naruto broke apart his chopsticks and dug in. After a few slurps, the blonde set them down and looked up.

“You know, I wasn’t done. When that other guy left, I patched the hole they’d been peaking through, and then I went to your inn. I, uh, thought you’d like to have lunch with me.” Sasuke thought he saw a little tint of pink to the blonde’s cheeks, and he had to hide his smile behind a rice ball. The dobe was too cute sometimes. “Anyway, some girl was there asking for you. I thought for a minute that it was your girlfriend or something. I mean, she knew where you were staying and everything.”

“Tch, as if, dobe.”

“Shut up, teme! Anyway, when the receptionist said that you’d left some time ago, the girl went all mad-crazy, so I high-tailed it out of there.”

Sasuke sighed and cursed under his breath. Naruto, with his damn animal hearing, heard it anyway and smirked at the Uchiha.

“I take it you know this girl?”

“Only if her hair was pink.”

“Hm, now that I think about it, it was pink!”

Sasuke found his head connecting with the table yet again. What in any hell they choose were they doing here, damn it! It was his vacation! He didn’t need those three morons bothering him.

“Sasuke, are you okay? Who is that girl?”

Sasuke brought his head up and rubbed his face with his hands. “She’s my teammate, Sakura. I told you about her.”

“Oh yeah, her, the one training to be a medic nin, right?”

“Yeah, but unfortunately, she didn’t come alone.” At the blonde’s questioning look, he went on to explain about the two perverts. “The two men you chased away from the bathhouse are people I know as well—my sensei and a famous sannin.”

Naruto looked at him, and in a very flat voice said, “Your sensei is a pervert.”

Not missing a beat, Sasuke answered just as flatly, “Like you wouldn’t believe.”

“Hm, if that other guy is a sannin, why did he freak when I caught him? He could’ve just used some jutsu to get rid of me. Well, he couldn’t have, but he wouldn’t know that. Maybe he could feel my chakra, though I mask it completely.”

“He was probably just upset that you interrupted his ‘research.’ He’s probably not here for that reason, and therefore didn’t see the sense in staying.”

“What are they here for, Sasuke?”

Sasuke would have answered, whether he knew the answer or not, but suddenly there was smoke and women screaming, and a silver-haired jounin appeared by their table.

“Yo.” Sasuke swore he’d smack that man someday. Except that smack would be an ass-kicking. Glaring at his sensei, he waited for the man to explain himself. “Well, aren’t you going to introduce me to your, um, heh, friend?” The one eye that was visible was crinkled in amusement, and it irked Sasuke.

He saw Naruto lift his hand, waiting for the other man to offer his. “Uzumaki Naruto.” Sasuke saw his sensei’s eye narrow suspiciously while he reached for Naruto’s hand.

“Hatake Kakashi, jounin of Konohagakure, Sasuke’s sensei. It’s nice to meet you.” Sasuke saw Kakashi’s other hand come up, fingers flying through signals, then the jounin shouted, “Kai!”

Sasuke shot forward and grabbed Naruto by the arm, hauling him out of his seat, utilizing the Fox’s speed he’d copied the other night to get away from his sensei. He and Naruto burst out of the restaurant, and Sasuke took to the rooftops. Not until they reached the blacksmith’s and they were safely inside did he let go of the blonde.

“Sasuke, what the hell was that about?”

The Uchiha turned to answer him, but upon laying eyes on his friend, he fell silent. Kakashi had dispelled Naruto’s henge, and Sasuke was looking at Naruto the way he’d always been, but with thin streaks, three sets on each cheek, very whisker-like in appearance. He thought back to the night he’d followed the Fox, recalling staring through a window, wide-eyed, as three wide purple whiskers had thinned and dimmed before the henge had been activated. He was seeing the real Naruto.

“Oi, teme!”

“Shut up, dobe. My sensei deactivated your henge, so I grabbed you before he could see your… whiskers.”

Naruto gasped and ran to the back of the shop. Sasuke supposed he was going to look in a mirror. And the startled yell just confirmed it. The blonde ran back with a panicked look on his face.

“What happened? Why is it gone?!”

“Are you telling me that you learned the henge, but not how to dispel one?” Naruto looked confused for a moment then kind of sheepish, a shy grin breaking across his face.

“Ha, um, guess I took off before one of my sensei could teach me that.” An arm came up and scratched at his neck nervously. Sasuke had seen him do that before and had thought he looked cute. But now, with the whiskers, he just looked… adorable.

“Hey, but that still doesn’t tell me why you did what you did.”

“Well, I don’t know if anyone in Konoha knows the Kyuubi vessel had whiskers, but if anyone can figure it out, it’s my sensei. I was just trying to… protect you.” That last part had been nothing but a whisper, and Sasuke actually hated himself for that weakness. Not that he had wanted to protect the blonde, more that he’d been rather shy in admitting it. Uchiha Sasuke was not shy, under any circumstances… until now, at least.

He looked up when he heard Naruto laughing at him. “What’s so funny, dobe?”

“I’m sorry, Sasuke. It’s just the thought that I, of all people, need protection. But, yeah, I can see where you’re coming from.” Sasuke glared and turned his head away. Is that how his concern was repaid? “Oh, and Sasuke?” He turned his head back. “Thanks.” Strong arms came about his neck and squeezed him. Sasuke sighed and wrapped his arms around the blonde’s waist. It occurred to him that he’d been hugged more times in this unfamiliar village than he’d ever been in Konoha, Sakura excluded. Damn, that girl was clingy.

“Lads, not that I mind ya two clinging like a couple o’ school girls, but there are some men out front that would like to speak with the ninja. Might I suggest ya put the henge back on and take Uchiha-san out there?”

“Hai, ojiisan. Come on, Sasuke.” Sasuke watched as Naruto activated the henge and hid his beautiful face. Not that the one before him wasn’t beautiful, it just lacked that special something that the whiskers gave it. Wait; did he just think Naruto was beautiful?

Sasuke groaned inwardly, but dutifully followed Naruto to the door. Before the blonde could step through, he pulled him back and exited first. Waiting for him were the two biggest perverts to come out of Konoha… Fuck that, out of the whole damn Fire Country, and it didn’t help Sasuke’s sense of ‘rightness’ that both of them were so damn powerful.

“What do you two want?”

“Ah! It’s the ero-sannin!” Sasuke nearly choked on his half-laugh. The other half was decidedly not a laugh. He tried not to roll his eyes as he stared Kakashi down.

“You damn gaki! My name is the great Jiraiya-sama!” Sasuke didn’t hold back his snort at this. Jiraiya turned his anger to Sasuke, while Kakashi grinned. At least, that’s what Sasuke thought he did. It was so damn hard to tell sometimes with that damn mask…

“Sasuke, you shouldn’t have run away earlier. I had some important information for you.”

“Hn, you should have thought about that before you decided to harass my…” Sasuke trailed off, knowing at the same time that he probably shouldn’t have with these two perverts.

Just when he knew one of the two was about to come out and say something about Naruto being his… boyfriend, the sound that Sasuke dreaded above all others, the sound that Sasuke ran from, the sound that gave him nightmares at night exploded through the air.

“Sasuke-kuuuuuuuuuuun!”

He would have done it. He’d have used a substitution jutsu, grabbed Naruto and run if Kakashi’s hand hadn’t clamped down on his shoulder. Sending a particularly scathing glare to his sensei, Sasuke reluctantly relaxed and waited for the pounce. But it never came. Instead, Sasuke found himself looking down at the ground, a pile of tangled limbs and pink and blonde hair at his feet.

“I’m so sorry, ma’am, I must’ve tripped.” Sasuke saw Naruto smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Did Naruto not like Sakura? Then Sasuke realized what Naruto had said. He’d called Sakura ‘ma’am.’

“You miserable little runt! Don’t you dare call me that! And get off me! Now!” Sasuke tried to hide his smile, he did. But there are some things that just couldn’t be helped. However, Sakura, as always, misinterpreted him. “Ah, Sasuke-kun! I’m so glad to see you too!” She would have tried to hug him again if Kakashi hadn’t stepped in this time.

“Sakura, this can wait. We have serious business to attend to.”

She sobered instantly, and Sasuke’s interest was finally brought to the fore. Just why were these three in Reihi? The only reason would be to find him, but why? As he was about to ask, his sensei shook his head, indicating they needed somewhere private, so he dropped it. Sasuke motioned for everyone to follow him, and without realizing it, he grabbed Naruto’s hand and began to walk in the direction of his inn.

It was only when Sakura caught up to his side and gave him a strange look that he realized what he’d done. Quickly dropping the blonde’s hand, he turned to look at him only to see anger flash in blue eyes slightly before it vanished. Was Naruto angry that he’d grabbed his hand? He hadn’t meant to. Or had he? Damn it, he was so confused! But he didn’t let that confusion show and continued on.

~*~

“Why are you three here?” Sasuke and the others were gathered in his inn room, Sakura on the bed, Kakashi and Jiraiya leaning on the wall closet to the door, Naruto sitting in a small chair by the window, and Sasuke standing next to him. When no one answered him, Sasuke grit his teeth in irritation.

“Sasuke, this isn’t something we can talk about in front of mixed company.” Kakashi eyed Naruto, obviously still suspicious of why he was using a henge. But Sasuke wasn’t going to let Kakashi see Naruto’s true form.

“Naruto stays. End of story.” Both Kakashi and Jiraiya looked at him a little stunned, and he glared at them to further illustrate his point: Uchiha Sasuke was never second-guessed. When they came back to their senses, they tried to argue, but a quiet cough from Naruto gave them pause.

“Ah, Sasuke, I should probably be getting home anyway. I, uh, have some things to do. Besides, this is probably a shinobi thing, and non-shinobi shouldn’t be privy to information. I’ll just catch you later.” Naruto stood and made to leave, but he turned back to Sasuke rather suddenly. “Unless you have to leave now, so I guess I’ll just say goodbye.” Naruto’s eyes were kind of shiny, glimmering with unshed tears. It kind of broke Sasuke’s heart.

For some strange reason, Sasuke wanted to hug the dobe. He’d been doing it for the time he’d been here, it didn’t make sense not to do it again. But the people who thought he was nothing but an emotionless ninja were standing not three feet from the two of them, and he didn’t think he wanted to go through the innuendo and jibes that would come with it. And then there was Sakura! However, when he looked back into those sad, crystal blue eyes, he decided to hell with it, and wrapped his arms around Naruto’s shoulders.

When the blonde got over his shock, he hugged Sasuke’s waist, but before Sasuke let go, he leaned over to Naruto’s ear and whispered, “Can I come to your apartment tonight?” A hesitant shake of the head, as if the blonde was afraid he was joking, and Sasuke released him.

As Naruto made his way to the door, Sasuke glanced at his company, taking in their surprised and confused faces. Or as much of Kakashi’s face that could be seen anyway. He just gave them the Uchiha glare that he’d perfected when he was twelve and waited until Naruto was gone before he asked his question again.

“What the hell do you three want? Don’t you know the meaning of the word ‘vacation’?”

“We do, Sasuke, it’s just that something has come up, and the Hokage needs you back in Konoha. It seems some rather unwanted people are stalking the perimeter of the village.”

Oh yes, Sasuke knew who ‘unwanted people’ were, and it was enough to have him seeing red. He was going to confirm with Kakashi anyway, but Jiraiya cut him off.

“That’s not the worst of it. There’ve been accounts of unwanted people lurking outside Suna. The Kazekage isn’t there, though, so they’ve retreated.”

“Where is the Kazekage?”

“We don’t know.” Hn, that was the quietest he’d ever heard Sakura in their seven years together. She was probably still in shock from seeing the untouchable Uchiha hug somebody. Well, let her be in shock. He wasn’t explaining or confirming that it actually happened. Should she retreat from reality, that was her own business.

Sasuke, still out of character, still in vacation mode, still in Naruto-friend mode, ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Well, then we have to assume one of two things: either the Kazekage knows he’s under watch and has gone underground…”

“He would never do that.”

“… Or he’s been captured.”

“Which we know wouldn’t happen so quietly.”

“Kakashi-sensei, we can’t ‘not know’ where he is. That’s not an option.”

“That’s why Tsunade sent Kurenai’s team to investigate.” Jiraiya unfolded his arms from his chest. “Look, kid, we need you home. You’re the strongest chuunin we’ve got, and with Neji out of commission, we’re short handed.”

“What the hell happened to Neji?”

“Not here, kid. Wait until we get home.”

It was only right. Secrets of the village could only be divulged in the village. Sasuke sighed inwardly and told them he’d pack right away. Jiraiya and Kakashi nodded, while Sakura jumped up, shouting something along the lines of “Sasuke’s coming home.” It was an uncomfortable shadow of a former time, and Sasuke had to ask if they’d just leave. Kakashi told him to be ready to leave by nightfall, and they left.

Nightfall was twenty minutes away. And he had to get to Naruto. To hell with packing! Sasuke strapped on his weapons pouch and hitai-ate and left his room from the window. Everything else he could replace. He had to see Naruto. There was no way he was leaving the dobe here.

Once again taking to the rooftops, Sasuke recalled the way to Naruto’s place and landed silently on the roof. Peeking over the edge, he found Naruto’s window open, and he slid in. The blonde sat up on his bed, eyes wide with surprise that Sasuke actually came.

“Sasuke…”

“There’s no time, dobe. Pack your things. You’re coming with me.”

Naruto was silent for a moment, but then he shook his head slowly. “I can’t, Sasuke. I told you what would happen if I left the village.”

“No, you told me what would happen if you ran. If you come with me to Konoha, I can assure you, nothing will happen to this village. I’ll even ask the Godaime to send ANBU here. Just please, dobe, come with me.”

Maybe it was the word ‘please,’ or maybe it was the way the Uchiha had said it, quietly, as if he’d never said it before in his life, which was close enough to true for Sasuke, but either way it gave Naruto pause. But then his eyes became sad again.

“I can’t go to Konoha, Sasuke. I house the nine-tailed fox. I’m not wanted there.”

Sasuke didn’t know why it felt like his chest was being torn apart, but he refused to give into the pain. Naruto would go with him. “Don’t make me take you by force. Naruto, no one knows that you’re even still alive. Hell, I wouldn’t have known if you hadn’t have told me.”

“Sasuke… You don’t understand.”

“I do, dobe, more than you know. I’m just asking you to trust me, as your friend. Trust in me that I’ll do everything to keep you safe.”

He wasn’t just talking about the village should they happen to find out about Naruto. They were about to walk into a battle zone, and he wasn’t going to let the blonde come to any harm, forget that he was one with an all-powerful demon. Somehow, Sasuke felt like Naruto was his to protect, no one else’s.

Sasuke saw Naruto look at him in an odd way, and then he spoke quietly. “I’ll go, Sasuke. For you, I’ll go. I trust you.”

Then the Uchiha was crushing the blonde in his arms, so speechlessly thankful that Naruto was agreeing to come home with him. If the dobe had continued to refuse… He tightened his embrace. Never once did it cross his mind that maybe he hugged Naruto just a little too much for a friend or that he’d have to think of a logical excuse for bringing him along; an excuse that Sakura would think was suspicious and Kakashi and Jiraiya would distrust altogether.

But in Naruto’s arms, he didn’t care.

~*~

Naruto said goodbye to the blacksmith, who wasn’t quite as surprised that the blonde was leaving as Sasuke thought he should be, and they met his fellow shinobi back at his inn. Sakura had gathered the things he’d decided to leave behind, a questioning look on her face when she spotted Naruto beside him. Kakashi and Jiraiya didn’t say anything, but Sasuke saw a look pass between them, one he didn’t care to interpret.

“Hn, well, Kakashi and I are going to go on ahead. Sakura stay back here with Sasuke and his… friend, and we’ll have camp set about two miles out from here.”

Why the hell did they keep pausing before calling Naruto his friend? Was it so inconceivable that Uchiha Sasuke had a friend? Thinking on it, maybe they did have cause.

Kakashi and Jiraiya took off, small puffs of dust floating where they’d stood. Sasuke smirked. The jounin and sannin thought that Naruto was an ordinary civilian. Knowing that they did have to walk to keep Naruto’s cover, he let the smirk slip. But when he glanced over at Naruto, he saw a mischievous light in blue eyes.

“Hey, just because I’m not a ninja doesn’t mean I can’t be fast.” Sasuke’s smirk returned.

“Sakura, keep up.”

She made an inquisitive sound before both young men took off toward the gates leading out of Reihi. Just outside of them, Sasuke paused as Naruto slowed down, a fox waiting in some bushes to the side of the road. He watched as the blonde took out a folded sheet of scroll parchment and gave it to the fox. Its small mouth clamped down on it, and it took off into the forest. Naruto turned a brilliant smile on the Uchiha, shook his head to dismiss Sasuke’s unasked question, and they bounded into the trees, destination: Konoha.


TBC

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Nomme: I'd like you all to meet the reason this chapter exists. Meet Kashi! *presents chibi!kakashi* Kashi, say hello.
Kashi: Yo.
Nomme: *thwaps Kashi on head* Respect my readers a bit more, Kashi-koi.
Kashi: Can't. Reading.
Nomme: Whatcha readin'?
Kashi: *ignores Nomme*
Nomme: *reads over Kashi's shoulder* "He grabbed her around the waist and threw her on the bed. Her breasts, perfectly shaped and cream in color, heaved..." ... JIRAIYA!!! *stomps off screaming* How can you corrupt my Kashi-koi so?!!!
Jiraiya: What, woman! You're the one having his two students fuck each other senseless!
Nomme: Heh, heh...
Sasuke: Who fucks who?! Why would you even say something like that?! You really are an ero-sannin!
Naruto: See? I told you, but nobody wanted to believe me!
Kashi: *turns page*

A/N the second: so how'd you like chapter 5? Anna, Naruto's going to Konoha! High-five! and Nekohime, i know this chapter wasn't 'i've been here so long my ass is asleep' long, but it was longer than normal, ne? ^_~
give me some love, people

peace!

(btw, in a paragraph somewhere in the beginning, there was a 'Konoha1'. that was supposed to be a superscript, but it screwed up. anyway, that point was, that was actually a nod to chapter three of my "All That Really Matters" smutfest fic. it's in no way connected to this story, i just thought y'all might like to see what sasuke's dream may have looked like. ja!)