[BOOK 2 OF THE SHARING SERIES]Once, two girls were sharing one life. Their existences turned into one, and as the lines blurred and the beginning of one life merged with the other, the girls found a way to fix their problem. They went their separate...
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𝓝𝓪𝓻𝓾𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼 in bed in a dark room that once belonged to his former teammate, his best friend, his brother. And it feels weird. No, scratch that; it feels utterly wrong. Because Sasuke shouldn't have come to this place at all, have left the village and isolated himself only to get stronger—something he could have achieved with them at home.
Naruto applies his fists to his eyes, forcing them to stay closed, and for a second, he thinks he'll fall asleep. But then, the thought of his ex-teammate wakes him up again.
It's easy to see that the last four years have been lonely for the Uchiha. Naruto noticed it upon entering the room earlier, the bare walls, the empty desk, and the neatly done bed. He was looking for something attached to Sasuke's past, trying to know more about the new rogue. But there were no pictures, empty ramen cups, spare t-shirts smeared with blood and dotted with holes, no notes, nothing. And Naruto has the feeling it's always looked like this, just a cold empty room in which Sasuke felt miserably alone.
Sasuke is more powerful now than ever, so Naruto has to admit that part of this must have been worth it for the Uchiha. But Itachi is still alive, and his skills still seem unattainable. If he could meet his former teammate, Naruto would knock some sense into his stupid thick head and make him understand the only way to defeat his older brother is by letting people in. Not that Sasuke would listen to any of his words, but with the help of his fists, maybe... Yeah, maybe Naruto could have his former teammate back. And no matter how hard it would be, he never gives up anyway.
With a grunt, Naruto sits up, shoulders slumped. He won't sleep, not here, not tonight. After one big inhale, his legs fold into a cross-legged position, and his eyes close.
At least, if Itachi shows up again, I'll be prepared.
He starts by focusing on his breathing and lets go of any uncomfortable thoughts, replacing them with the knowledge of the natural energy surrounding him: the wood of the bed, shaped by calloused human hands; the ageless concrete of the walls and the floor that has seen so much, that has lived through everything and nothing at the same time; the grey mouse under the desk, getting ready to welcome a bunch of little mice.
When Naruto can do this in a safe, secluded environment, alone, and with no time limit, hours pass without him noticing. If he could tell his younger self how disciplined and still he can be today, the thirteen-year-old would probably laugh in his face. But he's now seventeen, and the demon inside of him is one of the most wanted things in the shinobi world. He can no longer act like a boy. He has to make sure no one will get hold of the Kyūbi.
