Someone you loved

Chapter 18

A clear message for everyone to see.

The Uzumaki weren't gone.

Uzushio wasn't gone.

They lived on in a single boy with hair like the sun and eyes like the ocean.

Chiasa watched the boy in the arena grow from child to shinobi mesmerized. Nothing reminded of the brash, insecure child she had met in an old Academy classroom; a child burdened with a duty unknown and despised for no reason; a child surviving alone. The person down in the arena, observing the uproar he had caused with his head held high and a proud, confident smile on his face, was what the lonely child had grown up to with a little bit of love.

This was who Uzumaki Naruto, son of Uzumaki Kushina and the last Whirlpool prince, was.

There were no words that could describe the pride and happiness she felt for the blond. Glancing at the Jounin next to her she didn't question the teary look in his eyes. While she was connected to Naruto through Kushina, Kakashi had watched over him from the moment Minato and Kushina had known of her pregnancy. For Kakashi the blond was the last remain of the people that had raised him.

Cheering loudly, Sakura leaned over the railing screaming Naruto's name as the blond made his way towards them. Meanwhile, Sasuke was awaiting the blond at the bottom of the stairs, a small, honest smile on his face.

"Hey, teme," murmured Naruto softly as he reached his friend.

Wordlessly, the Uchiha hugged him tightly, ignoring everything around them. Right now, the only important thing was Naruto and showing him just how happy he was for his success. He could worry about the show of vulnerability later.

"You're amazing, usuratonkachi," he whispered, just loud enough for the blond to hear.

Being so close to each other, Sasuke could feel Naruto's heart race from the left-over adrenalin of the fight. Letting out a breath, he slouched against the other boy as he felt arms wrapping around his hip, pulling him in closer.

"Really?"

Naruto's voice was so soft, so weak with uncertainty, that it made Sasuke's heart wrench painfully. It wasn't fair what his friend had gone through! And he despised Konoha with a burning passion for the pain it had caused his pack. Even if he could one day come to love the village, he was certain there would always be a tiny part hating it.

"Yes," he spoke quietly, a shiver running down his spine as the smaller boy pressed his head against his chest.

For one short moment the boys stayed like that, sheltering each other from the world that was relentless in pushing them down, until the cries and shouts for the next match became too loud to tune out.

"They're calling for you."

Reluctantly, Sasuke took a step back.

Sighing, he pushed his hands into his pockets, averting his eyes. Though, he couldn't resist glancing at the blond. The grin on the Uzumaki's face filling him with a strange warmth.

"Do your best, teme!" cheered Naruto when there was suddenly a disruption on the upper floor.

Exchanging a quick look with Sasuke, they curiously walked up a few stairs, catching sight of two foreign Chunnin stopping the red-haired Suna Gennin.

Silently, Sasuke stepped closer to the blond, the tension in the air palpable.

"Low-level tournaments like this Chunnin exam are ideal for gambling, you know," stated one of the Chunnin bored. "There are a number of lords who have just come for that reason.