Ocean Of Blood And Fire [Sasusaku]

Chapter Twenty: Sasuke's P.O.V.

A/N: Okay, so Tsunami is waaaay OOC here but oh well. Boo hoo. Stfu and read the damn story.

Kidding, don't be mad at me.

•❈•❉•❊•❃•❅•❆•

"Wow, your home is so cool, Tazuna-san!" Naruto shouted in excitement as soon as it came into view. Did he ever run out of energy? We had just walked four hours, including the battle with Zabuza. I was drained. The emotional and mental exhaustion had just as much effect as the physical tiredness did. I needed to rest.

Sakura was standing next me, slightly swaying on her feet. I glanced over at her, knowing she must've been exhausted as well. I wanted to reach out to her, to steady her, and reputation be damned. As it was, I wasn't prepared to further deepen the bond that was undeniably forging between us. I knew it was too late to stop it. I had crossed that line when I'd carried her to my home and allowed her to sleep in my bed a couple days ago. Yet I still tried pushing her away.

I lightly brushed past her subtly steadying her in the process, trying to mask my concern with mockery. "Don't fall."

At my condescending tone, she planted her feet in determination, that now- familiar fire back in her eyes. "I won't."

I hid a smirk as I followed Kakashi and Naruto inside. Every time...

The inside felt just as cozy as the outside looked. Immediately upon entering, and seeing the family pictures, I was filled with a warm feeling that I'd almost forgotten. The feeling of family. The feeling of home. It was a bittersweet reminder of my one and only goal. Itachi stole this feeling, this warmth from me. He will pay, I seethed in anger.

"Wow, Tazuna -san! Your home really is cool!"

A woman stepped out from around the corner. "Ah, why thank you, young man! What's your name, fella?" She smiled down at Naruto and my heart froze.

M-mom...?

No, it wasn't my mother. I knew deep in my heart it wasn't. Mother, along with the rest of my family, was dead. Mercilessly slaughtered at the hands of my former brother.

Still, I couldn't help the rush of longing that came with the woman's smile. It reminded me so much of hers. In fact, this woman had an extremely uncanny resemblance to my mother. Same hair, same face. Same graceful air. And, as I watched her pinch Naruto's cheeks, she had the same beautiful, same nurturing soul.

I missed Mother so much. She was the only one who seemed to be proud of anything I did. Father was always so cold, and Itachi was always so distant. Uncle and Auntie- everybody, really- were just too focused on how special Itachi was to be proud of my accomplishments.

But Mom...

She was always there for me. She would give me that smile, ruffle my hair, and give me a rice ball with tomatoes. She knew that was my favorite.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat as she turned her smile on me. "Hello, handsome young man! Who might you be?"

I took a deep breath so my voice didn't crack. "Sasuke," I said slowly, finding it harder than expected to keep my composure.

"Oh, that's a very nice name. It matches your face." She ruffled my hair lightly and, despite myself, my heart swelled. I blinked away the sudden moisture in my eyes and stared at her until she stopped.