A Fox, a Dog and a Raven - Chapter 2 (Home Coming - Part 2)
#3 of A Fox, a Dog and a Raven
This is a fan-fiction based on the Naruto Shippuden manga/anime. It takes place at the very start of the Shippuden series, which takes place two years after the original Naruto series. I have changed a number of things in the story, the first being that Naruto now uses a sword. The second biggest change is that Sasuke never made it to Orochimaru, he still lives in Konoha. There are a few other changes which will be revealed as we go into the story, this story does focus on relationships that occur between characters in the story. So I hope I've done a good job and you enjoy the story.
For those of you not familiar with the Naruto series there may be some words or terminology that you are not familiar with. I have listed such words in a journal. (https://www.sofurry.com/view/579417)Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way, this is a non-profit fan-fiction written for fun.
In any case, you came here for the story, so I hope you enjoy it.
"I have to fight you Kakashi-sensei?!" Naruto yelled, Sakura being equally as shocked.
"Yup, that's right." Kakashi grinned, his smile obvious despite the fact most of his face was behind a mask.
"I'm so stoked for this! I can't wait to show you how strong I've become!"
"I look forward to it. But since you've just got into town you'll be tired, we'll fight later once you've rested up. See ya!" Kakashi said before making a hand sign and disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
"Where's he off to in such a hurry?" Sakura asked.
"I know." Jiraiya grinned, the revelation hitting Naruto and Sakura at the same time.
"THE BOOK!" They yelled in unison.
Home Coming - Part 2)
After finalising the arrangements for their upcoming fight with Kakashi, Sakura and Naruto headed over to Naruto's apartment. Pulling off the loose board in front of his apartment door Naruto reached in and was happy to find that the key he had hidden there was untouched. They entered and found the apartment was exactly how he left it, except the place now had a thick layer of dust over every surface. Thankful that he had cleaned up and thrown out any food in the place before he left, he couldn't imagine what the place would have been like if he hadn't.
Walking into his bedroom Naruto dropped his back pack on the floor, kicking up a cloud of dust, before picking up a photo frame. He wiped the thick layer of dust off it to reveal a picture of Team 7, both he and Sasuke looking less than amused with each other, Sakura smiling and Kakashi with an amused look on his face, even though the only art of his face you could see was his right eye and nose.
"Seems like forever since that picture was taken." Sakura spoke.
"Yeah..."
"Do you want a hand cleaning up?"
"Nah, one benefit of shadow clones, chores take no time at all." Naruto chuckled. "Come on, let's go see Sasuke and plan for our fight with Kakashi-sensei tonight."
"I think he just got back from a mission late last night but he should be up by now."
"Great! Then lets go see him!" Naruto grinned grabbing his sword sitting the strap across his shoulder to carry it. The pair made their way through the town, heading straight for Sasuke's house, Naruto once again got a sense of nostalgia wash over him as they ambled through the town.
"So tell me what's happened since I left?"
"Oh, well... everyone has passed the chunnin exams now."
"Wait! Everyone?! Then that means I'm the only genin left from our class?!"
"Sorry Naruto." Sakura said with a tone of sympathy.
"I guess... I have been away for two years..." Naruto slumped, depressed at the news.
"But you were away learning from one of the Sannin! You'll easily be the strongest genin in the village!"
"Yeah I guess that much will be true." Naruto half smiled.
"Tenten and Neji are dating now," Sakura continued trying to change the subject. "Neji's a jounin now... sorry Naruto!" Sakura apologised, realising what she had said had upset Naruto even more.
"Uh... Ino and Choji are seeing each other."
"What?! Seriously!? Choji is that last person I thought Ino would date!"
"Yeah, it came as a big surprise to all of us too. Ino did go into detail about how Choji's body expansion jutsu has some application in the bedroom." Sakura explained with a slight blush, Naruto giving her a confused look before it dawned on him what she meant, making him blush.
"Wow!"
"Yeah, I know right."
"I'm still surprised that she gave up on Sasuke. You two fought over Sasuke for years."
"Yeah... fancy that." Sakura laughed nervously, there was a reason that Ino had stopped chasing Sasuke, a reason that the pair of them discovered when they had burst into Sasuke's house to ask him out on a date and found him in rather compromising situation. Since then Sakura and Ino, in fact all the girls of the Sasuke fan-group had stopped following him around. Should she tell Naruto that Sasuke was gay?
"What about you Sakura?"
"What about me?"
"Are you still chasing after Sasuke?"
"Oh, um, no. Actually I'm dating Lee now."
"Fuzzy Brows!?" Naruto said in shock, a little disappointed as well since he had had a crush on Sakura since back during the Academy. "So he finally won you over? He was forever proposing to you since he met you back during the chunnin exams."
"Yeah, he kept doing it right up till I accepted his offer six months ago." She had been in shock and a little depressed over her loss of Sasuke, now knowing that he was batting for the other team. "Lee asked her out just like had had done a thousand times before, but this time she had said yes. It had been a moment of weakness but it was the best decision she had ever made. Lee was everything she had ever wanted from a boy friend, once you got past his sense of fashion and eyebrows that is.
"Well it's good to hear that you're doing well for yourself." Naruto smiled, hiding his own feelings for Sakura, he had to accept that things had changed since he was gone for two years. But he was happy that she was happy. The rest of the trip Sakura filled him in on various other new and gossip that was going round the village, before Naruto knew it they were standing in front of Sasuke's place. He knocked on the door, excited to see his friend after two years. After a minute minute Naruto lost patience and started banging on the door in frustration.
"Naruto! He's probably still asleep." Sakura scolded him.
"Well he can lose out on a little shut eye to see a friend he hasn't seen for two years can't he?" Naruto said continuing to hammer on the door. " HOI! TEME! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE!" He went to hammer on the door again when it slid open, revealing a tired and annoyed looking Sasuke.
Naruto had been taken by surprise at Sasuke's appearance, he had answered the door topless, wearing only a pair of loose fitting, grey jogging bottoms. His skin was nicely tanned and the seal on his shoulder that Orochimaru had put on him showed prominently on his other wise perfect skin. His defined pecs, wash board abs and toned arms on display for anyone who cared to look.
"Hey Dobe!" Sasuke snapped, "If you leave your mouth open like that you'll swallow a bug!"
"Shut it Teme!" Naruto snapped, he could feel the blush on his face. "Aren't you going to invite us in?"
"I hadn't intended on it."
"Fucking Teme! As unsociable as always!"
"You're one to talk. Don't you know that banging on someone's door when they're trying to sleep is rude?"
"Yeah, well... how was I supposed to know you were sleeping!?" Naruto ranted, not mentioning that Sakura had said as much just moments before Sasuke had opened the door.
"Tch... fine!" Sasuke sighed, walking into the house and leaving the door open to allow Naruto and Sakura to let them selves in. They followed Sasuke into the kitchen where the raven haired ninja was helping himself to a cup of coffee. "So what do I owe the displeasure of this visit?"
"You haven't seen me in two years and that's the first thing you say?!"
"You woke me up, I'm cranky."
"Teme!" Naruto huffed.
"We have a fight with Kakashi later, we wanted to talk about what we're going to do." Sakura interjected, hoping to stop a fight from breaking out.
"What we're going to do is win." Sasuke replied nonchalantly, taking another swig of his coffee and grimacing at the taste. "I hope you're a better ninja now Dobe, I don't want to have to carry you in this fight." Sasuke teased before calmly taking a drink from his mug, a smirk gracing his lips as Naruto took the bait.
"Carry ME!? Teme! I can dance circles round you, BELIEVE IT!" Naruto pumped his fist into the air.
"I wasn't talking about your dancing skills Dobe. I don't know about you Naruto, but I'm not the same kid I was back when I was a genin. I'm a jounin now and I can take care of myself."
"Wait! You're a jounin!?"
"Yes, Dobe. I'm a jounin and you're a genin which means I out rank you, so you'll follow my lead tonight during the fight."
"Like hell! You'll follow my lead!"
"Say that when you're the same rank as me." Sasuke said calmly, taking yet another mouthful of the disgusting coffee and walking out of the room.
"HOI! Where do you think you're going Teme!" Naruto yelled before chasing after Sasuke.
"Some things will never change..." Sakura sighed before following her team-mates.
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