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Disclaimer: As before.
Warnings: Bad fight scenes, swearing, blasphemy, original characters, etc, etc. No porn though. So it's all okay, really.
A/N: Okay, exams are currently killing me. (For those of you that follow From Six, apply same excuse there). I know that's no excuse for the... five month wait, but it's the only one I have and I have a sort of bond with it. So. Yeah. On other notes, several people have complained about the name 'Arrekusu' (which is fair enough, because it is an awful name). Would people in general like to see it changes, and if so, what to? Am currently working through reviews to try and reply to them, so any other questions I should get back to eventually – if you leave some form of contact. Thank you all for your patience. (As a note, this chapter may well be subject to editing as it is quite rushed).
Chapter Three
“Yes,” he grunted in an affirmative, and he heard the guard stiffen at the perceived insolence, clothing rustling slightly. Sandaime seemed to have made some kind of movement, because the tense feeling of the guard's chakra being gathered faded away – although Sasuke could have sworn he felt eyes boring into his head.
“I see,” Sandaime said neutrally, shuffling his papers. “I don't remember any missing nin with the clan name 'Arrekusu'.”
“It goes a couple of generations back,” Sasuke said, keeping his voice emotionless. “I think my grandfather changed his name when he left -” What would be the best village to choose; obviously not Konoha, “ - Sand.”
His thoughts drifted away for a second, after having heard Sandaime faintly affirmative 'hmm' and the scratch of pen on paper. Naruto had started the academy two days ago – his arm was still in a sling, but the medicnins assured them that it was healing surprisingly fast, and he'd probably regain full usage of it before the end of the month. Shizuka still sounded vaguely guilty whenever she spoke of climbing trees, as if it were now some forbidden sin, but she was getting on alarmingly well with Naruto. Any time the both of them were free, they could be heard crashing around the house, playing some bastardised form of hide-and-seek, which Naruto inevitably seemed to win, much to Shizuka's chagrin.
“Your clan name comes from your father or your mother?” Sandaime asked, breaking in on Sasuke's reverie, and Sasuke frowned underneath white bandages. Why-?
“If they're asking you abnormal questions, there are normally reasons for it. Give the most logical answer, and avoid elaborating if at all possible.”
Kunoichi were generally less well known than their male counterparts – so, settle on that. “My mother,” he said, and Sandaime made that same irritating 'hmm' as before.
“Did you know your father?” he asked, and Sasuke was genuinely bewildered at that – although fortunately, it didn't show on his face. Why all these questions on his lineage?
“No,” he said after a bare second of thought. “My mother never mentioned him.”
“I see,” Sandaime murmured, and Sasuke almost had to bite his tongue to keep from a sharp, 'Well, I don't'. He'd forgotten how infuriating authority figures could be, having been his own commander for the past year, and a favoured subordinate even before then.
“Is there a reason you chose to take such an interest in Uzumaki Naruto, Arrekusu?” Sandaime said, changing direction abruptly. What-?
“My friend-” he said, slowly and haltingly, his mind moving quickly – what had he told Shizuka, what did he know about Naruto that could be integrated with his story? “-Owed a debt to your Yondaime. Uzumaki has been called-” What was it, what was it? “-Yondaime's Legacy, for a while. My friend wanted to come and offer his help when he heard- about your Yondaime's death but-”
He let his shoulders droop slightly, as if ashamed of himself – and oh God, that wasn't hard to pretend, because he could remember shoving his hand through Naruto's chest and it was all his fault. “My friend died. I- My- I decided to take on his debts. I owed him that.”
“What was your friend's name?”
“Haru,” Sasuke lied.
“And how did he die?” Sandaime asked, his voice mild but pressing. Sasuke felt his fingernails digging into his palm and straightened his back. Mix truth in with your lies. They are much more convincing.
“I killed him,” he said, and there was a note of self-loathing in his voice that he couldn't remove. Could he ever really atone for what he'd done? The complete destruction of Konoha – so many dead – serving the enemy – he was as much of a traitor as Itachi.
“Do you intend any harm to Konoha, Arrekusu?” Sandaime asked, and Sasuke was caught off-guard by another right-angled turn in the conversation. Damn, but Sandaime was good at this.
“Not unless it intends any harm to me or Uzumaki,” he said, and then after a pause, he added grudgingly, “And I suppose Shizuka as well.” He did owe her a debt after all, and he paid back what he owed, unless it would bring harm to him or Naruto.
“Acceptable,” Sandaime said with some amusement. “I understand that you are taking on some children in a training course?” Sasuke nodded, and Sandaime chuckled. “Try not to... what was it... 'burn them to cinders' if they continue to annoy you. They are our future after all.”
...How could Sandaime have known that Sasuke had muttered that once? He had to have had someone watching every session – and someone good if Sasuke hadn't managed to notice them. He couldn't keep his body from tensing, hearing Sandaime chuckle again. Manipulative old man. This was some kind of psych-out – probably a test of some sort-
“So tell me, Arrekusu Kenshin,” Sandaime said, and Sasuke could hear the pleasant smile in the man's voice. “Did you ever manage to activate your Sharingan?”
...what.
“Sandaime-sama,” the guard beside him blurted out, seeming to forget all protocol. “You cannot mean to say-”
“Enough, Shisui,” Sandaime said, and Sasuke would have had to suppress amusement at the faintly audible irritation in the old man's voice, had his own thoughts not been racing away. Put everything together – Sandaime accepted that his mother was a missing-nin and that he didn't know precisely who his father was. He must have taken something about the appearance and patched it together; tried to throw him off, maybe just putting out random ideas – his own reaction would have told Sandaime that he'd hit on something, so there was no point in denying it anymore...
“Yes,” he said bluntly, and could feel Sandaime's satisfaction.
“At what age, may I ask?” Sandaime asked, every inch the benevolent ruler, and Sasuke stuck to the truth.
“Twelve,” he said, and he could almost hear the guard shifting as if wanted to say something desperately but being held in – barely – by protocol.
Sandaime 'hm'ed, and there was a scratching sound of pen on paper. “And you are currently how old?”
“Twenty one.”
“How did you get your injuries?” Sandaime asked, and Sasuke really, really didn't want to answer that.
“I lost one eye in a battle. The other I had removed by a medic-nin.” He remembered-
“Get rid of it.”
“Sasuke-sama-” Kabuto begins.
“Now,” he snarls, and Kabuto says nothing more, but there is a half-smile on his face-
“Why?” the guard – Shisui, was he called? Of course; Uchiha Shisui, who Itachi would kill – burst out, and Sasuke turned his head slightly to face where his hearing told him Shisui stood. He stayed silent, until Sandaime moved a piece of paper and spoke.
“I, too, would like to know, Arrekusu-san,” he said mildly. Sasuke stiffened his back, standing as if he was in ANBU, making a report. Some things had to be said – but didn't have to be said in front of a possibly power-hungry Uchiha.
“I would prefer if there was no Sharingan user in the room, Hokage-sama,” he said, in a tone that brooked no opposition, and Sandaime chuckled.
“And how did you know Shisui here has the Sharingan, Arrekusu-san?” Sasuke wasn't imagining it. There was a faint emphasis on his given name. Damnit, damnit, damnit. How did he lose control of everything so quickly?
“I'm psychic,” he snapped sarcastically, temper getting the better of him. Sandaime chuckled again.
“I'm sure,” he said indulgently. “Shisui, you may go. I will not need a replacement guard.”
“Hokage-sama,” Shisui protested, but was cut off – a hand-signal, Sasuke presumed. He felt the chakra signal leave the room, leaving the two alone, and turned his head to face Sandaime.
“All witnesses are now gone. Who are you really?” Sandaime said.
Sasuke took a breath; did he lie? No, he'd already seen how well that had gone. Irritating, all-knowing Hokages...
“Uchiha Sasuke.”
An intake of breath, and then, “How?”
“Fate shone on me, I suppose,” Sasuke said, a hint of self-mockery in his voice. “There was nothing left – and I needed to... to make up for what I had done.”
“When you say nothing left...” Sandaime began.
“Nothing. Konoha was razed to the ground. The three sannin were dead, you were long dead, I turned traitor and killed my best friend,” the words were rushing out of him, and he couldn't stop even if he wanted to. “My brother had killed my family, and I killed him, the Hyuuga clan was destroyed from inside-out, the civilians were burnt along with the village – there was nothing left.”
“Explain,” Sandaime said hollowly. “Now.”
“What?” Sasuke asked blandly, unable to force interest into his voice. Sandaime had insisted on picking every detail out of him, going as far as to cancel all of his other appointments without any explanation. Sasuke was exhausted – having to justify the actions that he couldn't justify, even to himself, talking until his throat felt raw. He had to explain the Uchiha Massacre, explain why he thought they should be... left to die, and that had made him feel sick.
“Orochimaru was strong enough, even without the Sharingan. He only needs it for three years to gather the jutsus he wants. I don't want to see how it could get worse.”
and
“It's a mental flaw in us. Kabuto discovered it when he made me come in for physicals. Sharingan's almost like a photographic memory, and using it to much overloads the brain. Why do you think there so many Uchihas who die young, on missions? They go insane, get reckless, forget their own consciences – the brain can only really take nine years of intensive use of the Sharingan; slightly more if it's used sparingly, but... can you imagine Orochimaru becoming more twisted?”
and
“Mangekyou Sharingan is filthy. There should have been no records written about it – it should have been left to die.”
“...got accepted at the Academy!” Naruto babbled, his arm still hanging loosely in the sling as he waved the other around enthusiastically.
“Well done,” Sasuke said, ruffling the boy's hair as if in a dream. “Just... promise me something?”
“'kay, Kenshin-sensei!” Naruto said cheerfully, and Sasuke could imagine his eyes squinting away happily. Nostalgia rose in him for a second, before Sasuke beat it down.
“Avoid the Uchiha boy,” he said. “I have a bad feeling about him.”
“Huh?” Naruto asked. “'kay, sure. Whatever. Can you take me to the park? I'm meeting Ino-chan there, and there's this weird white-eyed boy who we're gonna take out, 'cause he was mean to Ryuu, even though Ryuu sorta deserved it because he was being a brat. Again.”
Sasuke's tiredness abruptly increased, combining with a sudden headache. “You want me to take you to the park so you can beat a boy up,” he deadpanned.
“Yeah!” Naruto said cheerfully. “He's a real bastard though.”
“Language,” Sasuke sighed, rubbing at his forehead. “And you're injured.”
“That's why me an' Ino-chan are gonna do it,” Naruto said, a tone of indisputable logic in his voice. “I'm not stupid.”
“Nice to see a little thing like 'honour' doesn't bother you either. A true shinobi,” Sasuke said dryly. “You're normally fine walking by yourself.”
“Yeah, well,” Naruto said, hesitating slightly. “Ino-chan's dad's gonna be there, and he's kinda weird. He keeps on staring at me. It's kinda creepy.”
Sasuke paused for a moment, thinking. Naruto was right; Inoichi did seem to have a tendency to follow Naruto around for some odd reason. There was no killing intent about him, so it probably didn't mean he planning anything harmful, but still...
“Fine,” he sighed. “No beating anybody up though.”
“Sensei,” Naruto whined in a token protest, before running off, his bare feet padding against the floor as he went in search of his shoes. There was a bang somewhere above them – Shizuka practising a jutsu, no doubt, and from the swearing drifting down the stairs it hadn't gone as it should have. He didn't bother to reprimand her for her language. Naruto probably knew worse, and he wasn't her guardian.
“Oi, Kenshin-sensei!” her voice bellowed down the stairs. “What's the second hand sign thingy in Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu?”
“Tiger,” Sasuke shouted back before freezing. She isn't trying to practise fire jutsus inside, is she? he thought incredulously. Not his business, though. Not his business.
It was strange how peaceful everything was. Sakura had resigned her place as Ino's best friend with good cheer and had become fast friends with both Ayame and Daisuke. Naruto and Ino were both hellions and should be put up against a tree and fireballed to death, but they were always good for raising enthusiasm in the group – they managed to drag everyone into their feuds, anyway, and that was nearly the same thing. Shikamaru tried to sleep through everything, but Tenten had discovered senbon needles and was busy motivating him in place of Ino (Shikamaru's mother seemed absolutely enamoured with the girl; Sasuke suspected she was already planning the wedding), while Chouji occasionally empathised with him, but was rapidly gaining confidence as a big brother figure to Ryuu – and, incidentally, keeping Ryuu from the numerous accidents he was prone to. Everyone, strangely, seemed to fit in a way they hadn't before; Sasuke could easily imagine them in teams whereas before-
“I regret the day you were put on my team, Uchiha.”
- before, there had always been a slight grating between the threes, not really clicking completely. Oh, they'd grown on each other, but it was never quite perfect, never quite as it should have been.
“Whatever white-eyes,” Ino's voice snapped from his right.
“Does it make you feel good, being a bully?” Naruto said, his tone a mixture of self-righteousness and bewilderment. “Ryuu didn't do nothing to you.”
Note to self, Sasuke sighed mentally. Correct Naruto's grammar. He had a feeling that was going to be an uphill struggle, especially with Shizuka around.
“The weak are destined-” a voice said, and it was with faint amusement that Sasuke recognised it as a childish Hyuuga Neji, already deep in the embrace of fate and gnawing bitterness.
- “I am not afraid to die, Uchiha. I have fought my destiny, and I will do so again willingly.”
“You're stupid,” Naruto said decisively.
“Really stupid,” Ino added.
“And you're weak!” Neji snapped back, seemingly offended – but whether it was from the unimaginative insults or the idea that someone was calling him stupid wasn't something that Sasuke could decipher.
“Whatever, stupid,” Ino said breezily. “We have better things to do.”
“You're running from the truth,” Neji said, trying to sound dignified. “Because you're scared. And weak. Only weak people would break their arms.” That was clearly directed at Naruto, and Sasuke could feel the annoyance bristling off the boy, twitches of chakra flickering around him, reinforcing his body almost subconsciously, as all ninjas did-
“Naruto,” Sasuke said, not even bothering to raise his voice. “What did I tell you earlier?”
There was a pause, and then a soft, “Sorry sensei,” accompanied by the scuffing of a foot on the ground. “It's just-”
“Excuses,” Sasuke said, “Are for incompetents. Now stop drawing on your chakra and go... make friends or something. I'm sure you and Ino-chan are perfectly capable of finding some kind of trouble to get into.” He paused. “And take the Hyuuga brat with you. You're all disturbing my thoughts.”
“I don't-” Neji began and Sasuke sighed almost imperceptibly. He cocked his head to one side, and heard Naruto obligingly grabbing hold of Neji's arms and shouting at Ino to 'help him with the bastard'. If Sasuke had still had his eyes, he would have rolled them at the sounds of Hyuuga Neji being muscled away by Ino and Naruto, a distinctly undignified yelp escaping his mouth. As it was, he leant back again, feeling the press of bark against his back and tried to return to losing himself in his thoughts.
So, they all seemed to fit-
“Arrekusu-san,” Inoichi said from a few metres away, and Sasuke nearly swore. Was he not allowed to think anymore? Did people have to intrude in his solitude? He almost wanted to stab someone.
“Yamanaka-san,” Sasuke replied blandly. Is there a reason you’re bothering me? hung unsaid in the air, but Inoichi masterfully ignored it, obviously too used to Sasuke’s brusque ways already.
“I was over in Sand a few days ago,” he said, and Sasuke felt a moment of chill. This wasn’t some sort of revelation of ‘I know that the ancestral line you say you’re from doesn’t really exist, now meet your doom, liar’ was it?
-Wait, no. Only the Hokage and Shisui knew his cover story of ‘my grandfather was from Sand’, so he was just being paranoid.
“…Yes?” he finally said, when Inoichi didn’t seem likely to continue.
“Ah,” Inoichi said, and he seemed uncomfortable. “Well, I saw this kid – must have been about Ino’s age – and he was using sand as a weapon. I’ve not heard of any jutsus like that before, and as you were a wandering nin, I thought you might know-“
So, some kind of small talk to try and get the foreigner to open up – probably mixed with a genuine curiosity over the jutsu. Sasuke almost smirked; this kind of psychology he understood.
“There aren’t any,” he said bluntly, and could feel Inoichi’s twitch.
“I know what I saw-“ Inoichi began indignantly, and Sasuke raised his hand.
“I’m assuming you’re talking about Subaku no Gaara. I’ve heard rumours, but from what I can tell, the boy’s ability to control sand is closer to a bloodline than a jutsu.” He paused, and sensing a genuine interest, continued. “Some say,” and he emphasised the word say, as if to show his own doubt in the rumour, “that the boy has a demon inside him - and that’s what gives him his ability. As far as I know, though, there are no jutsus that an average shinobi could use that have sand as a base element.”
“Huh,” Inoichi said thoughtfully. “Sand’s got their own jinchuuriku then.”
“There are rumours,” Sasuke began, and Inoichi let out a huff that was close to laughter.
“Give me some credit Kenshin-“ Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in address, but said nothing, “I may not know a lot about you, but you’re not the type of person to say anything, rumour or not, unless you had some belief in it. And as far as I can tell, your ‘slight belief’ in something is someone else’s hard proof. Therefore, Sand has a jinchuuriku, and probably one they’re training to be a weapon if I know anything about that village.”
Sasuke’s mouth twitched slightly, involuntarily. “And therefore-?” he prompted, interested to see where Inoichi would go with this.
“And therefore we need to start worrying about training our own generation, because…” Inoichi was probably frowning from the tone in his voice. “Because Sand is going to be looking for our clients, and with a jinchuuriku that they’re training instead of-“ there was a pause, and Sasuke mentally inserted ‘instead of ignoring, as we do to ours’ “Well, they’re going to be a very real threat in another eight years or so.”
Inoichi, Sasuke decided, was probably in Intelligence.
“So…” Inoichi said, trailing off, and Sasuke tilted his head towards him. The man was clearly uneasy, but Sasuke made no move to elevate his discomfort, more amused than anything. “Ah. Ino says she enjoys your lessons. Have you taught before?”
“Rarely,” Sasuke said, not bothering to elaborate. He didn’t want to make any mistakes in his cover story, and the easiest way to do that was to avoid talking about himself.
“Okay,” Inoichi said. “What were you involved in?”
“Combat specialist,” Sasuke said after a moment’s thought. “Ninjutsu in particular.”
“Right, so,” Inoichi began, and then swore. “What the hell is that Hyuuga doing?”
Sasuke half-twisted, listening intently and from a distance he could hear the sound of a blow hitting flesh and a cry that-
Naruto. Sasuke was on his feet before he realised it, but it wasn’t like the wild rush when he’d heard Naruto scream, falling from the tree, but instead a controlled stride towards the cry. He could hear raised voices – Neji seemed to be protesting over something loudly, and then running footsteps that only just warned him of Naruto approaching before the boy hit him like a bullet. Sasuke caught him without flinching, feeling a small hand clenching onto his arm, and turned to where firmer footsteps could be heard.
“You,” an unfamiliar voice said, cold and contemptuous. “What are you doing what that?”
Sasuke was tired. He was fed-up. His headache that had nearly disappeared with the mildly interesting talk with Inoichi was suddenly reminding him that he didn’t like Hyuugas – and Naruto was half-trembling in his arms, clearly expecting to be hit again and unused to someone holding him. It was with these things in mind that he placed Naruto down and straightened, turning his head to where the man has spoken from.
There was silence, and Sasuke almost smiled grimly when he heard the man shifting. Good. Off-balance and uncomfortable. Now, continue-
“Is it a habit for you to go around hitting children, Hyuuga-san?” he half-purred, and there were almost imperceptible twitches of chakra flickering around him. Apparently he was unnerving some people.
“That- that thing-“ the man began, blustering – and that was odd. Sasuke didn’t think he’d ever heard a Hyuuga bluster before.
“That boy,” he corrected, in the same almost languid tone, the dangerous undercurrent seeming a side-effect.
“What?” the Hyuuga said, sounding confused. Sasuke tilted his head to one side.
“That boy, not that thing,” he said. “Please try to use the right form of address.” He paused, and then let his voice drop slightly. “And mind me well, Hyuuga. Touch my charge again and you will have me to contend with.”
“Kenshin,” Inoichi said uneasily. “I don’t think threats are necessary. I’m sure Hyuuga-san didn’t mean-“
There was a shift and a rustle of clothing – the Hyuuga was moving, Sasuke guessed. Naruto edged closer to him, and Sasuke could feel the heat emanating from the small body as Naruto finally clutched onto his leg. “Why should I feel threatened by a blind man?” the Hyuuga sneered, trying to regain some composure, and there was easy laughter from behind them both.
“That’s a good question,” Uchiha Shisui said cheerfully. “Why don’t we find out? I think Training Area 23 is free.”
“Uchiha-san-“ Inoichi said, his voice placating, and Sasuke felt outrage stiffening his shoulders. He was not weak, and Inoichi did not need to make these kinds of decisions for him. His entire life he had been focused around strength, and to have people dismiss him because he was blind; because of a decision he had made himself – that did not sit well. The repentance that had made him remove his last eye was easily overwhelmed by his pride, even as his mind flashed through potential fighting situations. He might not be up to Itachi’s standard, but he was still a match for some over-arrogant Hyuuga – he just needed to even the fighting field somehow…
“I am willing, Hyuuga-san,” Sasuke said, inclining his head slightly and feeling a mocking smirk tug at the edges of his mouth. “Unless, of course, you are afraid of this blind man?”
There was a hiss of outrage, and Sasuke nearly smiled.
“Lead the way, Uchiha,” the Hyuuga growled, and Sasuke could imagine Shisui's triumphant grin. What did the man have to gain from this, though?
“No permanent damage or killing, people – remember that this is just a spar,” Shisui said in an inappropriately cheerful voice, and Sauke shook his head almost imperceptibly.
“Get on with it,” the Hyuuga snarled, and there was a sigh from where Inoichi stood, Ino, Naruto and Neji by his side and watching with a nervous sort of anticipation – although Neji seemed to have already decided how the match was going to go, and that was not in Sasuke's favour.
Well, they'd see.
“Ready? Okay, begin!”
Sasuke leapt backwards, his hands flashing in seals – even out the playing field, that's what he needed to do, and Byakugan didn't see through genjutsu-
-He slid away from the illusion-body he had made, feeling the dank slickness of invisibility covering him, but silently, move silently, and where was the Hyuuga coming from-?
Crack
Behind! he thought in blurring speed, then twisting the thought- no, illusion, doesn't know where I am- but that meant that he'd be attacking there so-
He had a kunai in his hands and thrown before he knew what was happening, but there was a clash as the Hyuuga knocked it out of the air – his own kunai? Presumably – returning the throw from the swish-flick that thrummed the air, but Sasuke had already moved- and goddamnit why was there a tree root there?- barely turning the fall into a graceful flip but if the Hyuuga had any combat sense he would have heard-
Tree, tree, why was the a bloody tree- stick to the bark maybe this could come in use-
“I can see you, you idiot!” came the gloating tone, and Sasuke barely thought moron-
-Before he was on the other side of the clearing, the faintly acrid scent of teleportation jutsu barely there and he was moving to reform the genjutsu- but no, the Hyuuga would no how to recognise that, but he was already on Horse, so-
-to the side, he could hear the movement- end with a Tiger and- The rush of warm – hot – burn that always accompanied the slices of flame, feeling like his skin could almost peel from his face at the heat-
-There's a yelp from the spectators, but it's too low to be a child's, too low to be Naruto's, so Sasuke dismisses it from his mind and instead focuses on the thwump of the Hyuuga switching with a log at the last second, hearing the wood burst into fast flame and altering his position because he can hear the fast movements of someone fighting with the jyuuken-
-and sway backwards, feeling the displacement of air as the hands passed so close, so close, but not close enough- bring a foot around in a sweep, and he wasn't expecting that- A chuunin, Sasuke thought dimly, the Hyuuga could not be above chuunin level with skills like this -his opponent trying to roll with the movement, but slam the foot down there and-
Sasuke left his foot resting on the Hyuuga's windpipe, breathing harder than he would have expected to. “Give?” he asked calmly, trying not to let the adrenalin show in shaking voice or body. That had been- been the strangest thing ever, to fight completely without his eyes, and not a sensation he found himself enjoying. He had won though, and-
He increased the pressure on the man's throat. “Generally, questions require a response,” he said, and the threat was unmistakable.
There was a pause, and Sasuke could almost hear the Hyuuga's pride being forced down. “You win,” the man said stiffly. “You have my word I will not interfere with your- charge.” There was unmistakable disdain on the last word, but Sasuke ignored it, feeling faintly generous and stepping away.
“God,” he heard Inoichi muttering as if in deep shock. “God.”
“Maybe,” Shisui murmured, walking in close to prevent anyone from overhearing, “You are an Uchiha.” There was a note of satisfaction in his voice, and Sasuke barely managed not to twitch at the irritation that flared at the man.
“Maybe,” he acknowledged, his lips hardly moving. “Or maybe it was just a freak accident. How do you think your bloodline developed anyway?”
There was a hesitation from Shisui, and Sasuke turned away, feeling tiredness hit in as the adrenalin faded away. “Naruto?” he said, raising his voice slightly.
“'m here,” an awed voice said of to one side. “That was awesome, sensei.” There was a twist of pride rearing its head in Sasuke at Naruto's unthinking words, for some reason he couldn't quite decipher, and he rested a hand on the boy's spiky head.
“Let's go home,” he said. “If you're lucky I might teach you one of those jutsus.”
...Was Naruto bouncing?