Shattered Sun

Same but different

Naruto looked at Konoha, mind still reeling from time travel. The Chuunin exam will happen in a few weeks and he needed to get back in shape in that time duration. He was impressed that Jiraiya managed to get Tsunade back to Konoha using him. He's mature enough to not feel insulted being used for something that ended up benefiting them.

He looked at the all black he wears with the orange lines the only color on his new Shinobi gear. He had requested it from Hiruzen, unable to think about being the Orange Hokage he was famously known for. He knew, as he was told again and again by the dying, that he's not at fault. They knew how hard he worked to save them, to keep them alive for as long as he could, to give them even a little bit of hope. Inari had slapped him when he cried over his dying body, telling him that he's a hero in his eyes. Even so...Naruto hated that he was the only that survived.

A million deaths, he's mourning for a million deaths that has yet to happen. He will only wear orange once more when he wiped off Zetsu from the face of the world. He gripped his hands into fists, determined to see his one man mission through. Even if Hiruzen has started to arrange for things that might happen in the near future, Naruto wanted to see the whole world survive.

Naruto flinched as something flew at him. Instinct flared and he grabbed the offending fist, throwing the assaulter on their front by flipping them and almost break their arm when someone stopped him, "Naruto! Calm down!"

Naruto's eyes dimmed when he realized that he had almost broke Sakura's arm, her green eyes wide with terror. He stepped away as thought burned. Kakashi knelt before him, rubbing his arms as he murmured comforting words, "That's right, breath. In...out...that's right. Focused on me. Don't think about anything else, just listen to my voice. Ground yourself..."

Sakura winced; she swore she could feel her bones creaking from Naruto's grip alone. Sasuke looked at her, "Are you alright?"

Normally she would blow his attention into something more but the sheer terror of Naruto's violent reaction to her normal 'greeting' still run her blood cold. She rubbed her arm, "I'm f-fine..." She gulped, shaking off her terror and looked at him with a pout, "What was that about? First he ignored us! Then he attacked me!"

Kakashi looked at her, "Ma, ma...calm down Sakura. Something happened to Naruto, remember? I would ask the both of you to be calmer around him,"

Naruto looked at Sakura. He approached them slowly, as though afraid of hurting them. He reached out to Sakura, "Let me see,"

She pulled away, "No thanks! You almost break my arm!"

He flinched, hand pulled back like she burned him. He turned away, still refusing to look them in the eyes, "Sorry,"

Kakashi looked at Naruto, "Well...that aside...Naruto, where's your hitai-ate?"

Naruto blinked, hand reaching up to his head and Sasuke noticed the black bandage wrapping his right hand. He touched his temple and smiled a sheepish smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Sorry...haven't had to wear them for so long. I forgot,"

Sasuke frowned. Two months aren't that long to forget his hitai-ate.

Sakura blinked at the diamond mark on his temple, "What's that on your face?"

He touched the mark and blinked, looking away from her, "Nothing," He looked at Kakashi, "Let's get to work,"

Kakashi looked worriedly at him. He noticed that Naruto didn't look at either of his teammates. His eyes drifted to either their shoulder or their throat. He didn't want to look at their face. He remembered how Naruto let slipped that he had to kill his pregnant wife because she had been infected by a Zetsu. He morbidly wondered how Naruto would react should he come across his future wife. It won't be anything good, that's for sure.