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A Leaf in the Wind Country	By : Figaliz Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 973 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
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.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
SPOILERS� SPOILERS�
SPOILERS. ALERT! Spoilers up to manga chapter 384 in this part.

Part Nine: Rooftop
Revelations

Sasuke sat on the roof of the Suna
central building, the moon was a crescent in the sky, barely a sliver of yellow
in the darkness. Sasuke stared out at the village, looking pensive.
�What are you thinking?� Gaara
asked, sitting down next to the Uchiha.
�� Why should I tell you?�
Gaara shrugged, watching Sasuke�s
face.
��
Silence settled over both of them,
letting the sounds of night and the smells of the desert envelope then.
�I was thinking about my clan.�
�Must not be much to think about
then.�
�Excuse me?� Sasuke stared at
Gaara, a little puzzled.
�You�re the last of your clan,
correct? So there must not be much to think about.� Gaara explained, face impassive.
�Was that a joke?�
��
Sasuke laughed. �Your sense of
humor is pathetic and your timing is all wrong. Who taught you to make jokes?
Because they really fail at humor.�
�No one taught me.�
�Well then you aren�t a genius in
the area either.�
�You�re irritated. You usually
don�t try to bait me.� Gaara seemed to be more intrigued then stung by Sasuke�s
barbs. It annoyed Sasuke.
�� And you�re irritating. I�d tell
you to be less blunt but that would be the pot calling the kettle black,
wouldn�t it?�
�What about your clan irritates you
so much?�
�Who says it was my clan irritating
me? As you pointed out, I�m the only one of the Uchiha clan left. Maybe you�re
the one who�s annoying me.�
�Am I?�
�The one annoying me?�
�Yes.�
�What if I said yes?�
�I wouldn�t believe you.�
�Why are you so curious?�
�Because you are interesting.�
Gaara shrugged again, watching Sasuke�s scowl.
�You really want to know what
annoys me?� Sasuke�s lips curled in a sneer. �The Uchiha clan is a lie. Its
sole purpose in existing is� Was, I suppose, to overthrow Konoha. Everything. The
police structure, the Sharingan, all of it just power games. Every member of
the clan was in on it; except for me. But I was too young at the time it was
annihilated. They would have used me in that scheme eventually.�
�What�s the problem? You�re the
only member of the clan left; your village is in no danger from them.� Gaara
didn�t seem to be confused by Sasuke�s references to his clan�s positions of
power, which confirmed the Uchiha�s suspicion that Gaara had looked into his
past. Not that he could blame the Kazekage. In Gaara�s position, Sasuke would
have done the same.
�Yes, but it hasn�t been in danger
from the Uchiha clan for some time. Probably since the time they were all
killed.�
�Uchiha Itachi.� Gaara nodded, as
if Sasuke needed more confirmation that Gaara had looked into him. �By accounts
you killed him, and Uchiha Madara as well. I do not see what you are so
irritated about.�
�No you wouldn�t.�
�Why not?�
�Because it�s something Itachi told
me when I killed him. Something he�d been telling me ever since the night�The
night he slaughtered our clan. I hadn�t been paying attention. Too obsessed
with killing him to consider anything else.� Sasuke�s jaw clenched in memory.
�� Gaara simply sat and watched
Sasuke in silence, his stillness and attention drawing the words from the
Uchiha almost against Sasuke�s will. Sasuke hadn�t talked about this ever. Who
would he discuss it with? Team Hebi had disbanded once Sasuke had dealt with
Madara, and then� Then Sasuke had started stalking Shin Kadu.
�He told me �You are strong,
perhaps strong enough.� Then he revealed the purpose of the Uchiha clan. About
Madara fighting to become Hokage, and unleashing the Kyuubi on Konoha. About
the conspiracy every single member of my family was in on. Then he died. Three
weeks later I fought Madara and made sure I was the last Uchiha.�
�But that�s all over.�
�Perhaps. There are secrets about
the clan, the Sharingan, that should never be uncovered, that should never be
passed down. I was also wondering something. I was wondering if Itachi�s
insistence that I gain strength wasn�t a sick game he was playing, or a plot by
him and Madara. I was speculating if he had decided to do in the clan because
he hated what they planned, what they stood for, the secrets and the lies and
the blood and everything, but he was already too deep in it to stop. I was
wondering if he was molding me into an avenger not to kill him, but to kill
Madara.� Sasuke scowled at the stars, eyes narrowed to slits.
�What would you do if that was the
case?�
�� Nothing I guess. I have already
decided never to have children. The Sharingan will die with when Kakashi and I
die.�
�Then why does it make you so
angry?�
Sasuke was silent for so long Gaara
had almost determined that he wouldn�t answer. Finally the Uchiha spoke, albeit
slowly. �I spent years chasing my brother and hating him. Hating him with every
fiber of my being. Seeing nothing but his face in my dreams, wanting nothing
but his blood. My existence was fueled by hate, and I would have given anything
to see Itachi dead. Almost anything. I wouldn�t kill Naruto for him, I wouldn�t
become him. I would have let Orochimaru take my body if I needed to, had that
been my only and final option. I�m just wondering what Itachi was really
thinking at that time.�
Gaara leaned back a little,
frowning. �Does it matter? You�ll never know for sure. As you are now it�ll
just eat at you until you become useless with doubt. Your clan is gone, Itachi
is dead, you still have your old teammates�Naruto sends me letters every week
demanding when you�ll return to Konoha�it seems useless to obsess over.�
�It doesn�t matter. But you�re
right, I never will know. That irritates me. And you have a low opinion of me
if you think this will cause me to become, as you put it, useless with doubt.�
Sasuke smirked humorlessly. �Naruto really bugs you that much? Idiot.� Gaara
guessed the fondly murmured insult was directed at the blond Jinchuuriki, not
at the Kazekage.
They sat in silence for a while,
both men lost in their own contemplations.
�That�s why you didn�t go back to
Konoha.� Gaara said at last, not a question.
�What?�
�I�m not quite sure why, but you won�t
go back. Will you?�
�� Sasuke refused to meet Gaara�s
eyes.
�It has to do with the purpose of
your clan. You said you weren�t in on it, so why would it keep you from
returning?�
�It wouldn�t. You�re saying some
pointless things.�
�What will you do when this thing
with Kadu is over? Find more evil men to substitute for Itachi?�
�Do you want to fight me, is that
it? Because you really seem interested in pissing me off. All you had to do was
ask and I�d have gone a few rounds with you.� Sasuke snapped, eyes narrowed as
he glances sidelong at the Kazekage.
Gaara watched Sasuke�s reactions with
interest. �Living like that� Justifying your existence by killing. It sounds
very familiar.�
�I�m different then you. The man I
hunt is completely evil. I don�t randomly slaughter people in the street for
the sick fun of it.� Sasuke�s lips curled in a mocking parody of a smile.
�What does it matter if the people
are evil or not? If the end of their life justifies the continuation of yours?�
Gaara asked with maddening calm.
�Shut up.� Sasuke�s voice was ice
cold, his glare was blood red; he didn�t show the facial expressions of white
hot rage, but his entire frame was tenser then Gaara had seen Sasuke, even in
the heat of battle.
�� Gaara leaned forward, close
enough to see the strange black design in those red eyes. He�s never seen the
Sharingan that up close, Sasuke was usually incredibly careful with his gaze, especially
when the Sharingan was active, but at the moment Sasuke was staring right back,
obviously on edge. �One day Naruto won�t be there. Or the pink haired girl. One
day you will succeed in pushing them away, and you will have nothing left. No
bonds to confine you to killing only evil men. I wonder what you will do then?�
�Shut up. Why do you care?�
�Because Naruto is my friend. And
you are important to him. And I find you interesting. And I find that having
people� As complicated and illogical and frustrating as they can be, having
people to share� Feelings with is�� Gaara frowned; he really wasn�t good at
this. At all. This was Naruto�s sort of scene�the blonde Jinchuuriki would know
what to say to make Sasuke realize what a fool he was being. Gaara was not
Naruto; he struggled with the words, and wrestled with the emotions and
feelings behind them. Every sentence was a potential failure. Every barely
recognized emotion was a complicated and potentially deadly trap. �I think you
are the idiot, not Naruto. You let the dead dictate your life. If you don�t
want to return to Konoha, you can stay here. Or go somewhere new. You get along
with people when you want to. Girls like you. You could become� A fishmonger.�
�� Excuse me?� Sasuke�s wide-eyed
incredulousness, if not encouraging, was at least not discouraging either.
�If you wanted to leave being a
shinobi behind, because of your brother and the doubts, you could marry and
become a fishmonger.� Gaara repeated patiently.
�Yes that�s what I thought you�d
said. We didn�t spar today, so I know I didn�t hit you on the head.�
�I�m not making a joke.�
�I know. That�s what worries me.�
Sasuke looked away suddenly, turning those red eyes away from Gaara. �You�re
not just going to leave it alone are you?�
�It�s not really my business what
you decide to do with your life. But, I think I see why you are important to
Naruto. You are interesting. Your eyes are different then before, but
sometimes, tonight while we talked, they were the same as then, at the Chuunin
exams; empty. Hateful. Not like you.�
�And how would you know what is
like me?�
�I watch you.�
�You watch me.� Sasuke�s voice was
flat.
�Yes. Like I said, you are
interesting.�
�And so that�s enough reason to
tell me how to conduct my life? And watch me, apparently.� Sasuke�s voice was
wry, but the humor was more edged then real.
�Maybe. But I also like you. Is
that a better reason?�
Sasuke was silent for a few
minutes. �Why?�
�What?�
�What makes you like me?�
�I�m not sure. It�s just a feeling.
I�m getting to understand and recognize them better, but I don�t know why I
have them, most of the time. But I believe the feeling is fondness. You are
interesting to be around, and I enjoy your presence.� Gaara hesitated, a frown
forming in the line between his brows. He knew enough of Sasuke to be wary of
the Uchiha�s acid personality, but the feelings he was slowly learning to
accept and trust urged him to be candid, despite the risk of Sasuke�s acerbity.
�I would be� It would hurt, I think, to see�� Gaara narrowed his eyes, but the
words failed him, and he shrugged in frustration, willing the Uchiha to
understand what he meant.
�I see.� Sasuke was silent for a
while longer before he stood, looking down at Gaara. His eyes were once again
black, his face revealed nothing. �You say that very calmly.�
Gaara frowned, craning his neck to
look up at Sasuke. �How else should I say it?�
Sasuke sighed and ran his fingers
through his hair, continuing to stare down at the Kazekage. �Nevermind. I�ll
think about what you�ve said. And thank you for� The talk I suppose. Who knows,
if I do give up being a shinobi maybe I�ll have a talent for fish mongering. No
don�t answer, I was joking. I�m going to turn in, good night.�
�Good night.�
Sasuke�s steps on the roof halted
for a moment, Gaara just stared at Suna under the darkness, waiting for
whatever the Uchiha had to add.
�Gaara.�
�Yes?�
�It�s friendship. What you were
trying to say; it�s friendship.�
Gaara�s shoulder stiffened, but he
didn�t turn to look at Sasuke.
�I suppose I�m doomed to become
fond of idiots. Mentally or emotionally stunted, it doesn�t seem to matter.�
Sasuke finished, but Gaara didn�t hear or feel Sasuke�s presence departing.
�Are we friends?� Gaara asked at long
last, his voice sounding odd to his own ears.
�I would like that.� Sasuke�s reply
was barely audible.
�So would I.�
�Then why did you ask?� The
Uchiha�s footfalls started to recede, and then Gaara really was left alone on
the roof, to contemplate the odd feelings in his chest in silence.

Note: The theory about the purpose
of the Uchiha clan is just a theory. It is based on clues in the manga, but it
hasn�t been confirmed or denied. I imagine we�ll find out soon though,
considering what�s happening in chapter 384 right now. (Theory courtesy of my
wonderful partner BTW)

As to the events Sasuke refers to
regarding Uchiha Madara, for those who aren�t caught up with the manga, those
are real.
- 8
- 9
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A Leaf in the Wind Country