𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ ꨄ︎ ꜱʜɪᴘᴘᴜᴅᴇɴ

Bonds?

_________________________________________

✧˖*°࿐

"Naruto... You came, too?" Sasuke adds. "Does that mean Kakashi's here as well?"

"Unfortunately, Kakashi-San couldn't be here. But I'm here in his place." A new voice speaks up, appearing from thin air like a skilled assassin. "We, Team Kakashi, will be taking you back to Konoha."

"Team Kakashi, huh?" Sasuke mumbles.

"Hey, and Kaz, too!" Naruto spins to the brown-haired jounin with the strange metal headpiece.

Sakura chews her bottom lip, clenching her fist down at her side. "Naruto..."

"We already discussed this." The jounin firmly states. "Kumo Suki is a flee-on-sight order by the Fifth. However, because of her direct involvement with Uchiha Sasuke, we'll have to engage in a fight with Orochimaru's only offspring." I notice the most subtle of nods from him.

Peculiar. Could he be an official who's aware? I keep my face still, looking away from the jounin's actions.

"Flee-on-sight?" Sasuke's heavy eyes roll to meet mine. "What on earth have you been up to that I haven't yet known of?"

Was it Tsunade's way of granting me the liberty of an easier life under the alias of traitor? I didn't know. It hardly gave me a boost of pride... or anything, really.

"Perhaps my vigorous ways have finally frightened the Leaf's protector." I give him a small smirk, amused at the twitch of his onyx eye.

He only seems to itch to fight against me now more than ever before. I guess it's forever hot and cold between Sasuke and I.

"Still...! If we bring her back as well, old hag can do something about her brainwash!" Naruto persists, giving the jounin a desperate frown.

"Again with that word..." I hiss. "I am neither brainwashed nor in the wrong state of mind." Tsunade's story is spoken out on my tongue, just as rehearsed those years ago. "Kabuto came back to provide my complete awakening. It was then I came across the lies and deceit of Konoha." Ignoring Sasuke's strong stare, I train the most grave expression one could muster. That seems to do it, based on Sakura and Naruto's shakes of apprehension. "I will never return. Under my father's eyes, I will carry out his dream."

Tch.

A heavy silence suffocates the fresh air until a clink of metal then snaps their attention to Sai, including mine. He's grasping onto his sword, holding it out for us to see.

"What kind of proud child looks at their father with malicious intent?" Sai questions, and I only stretch an amused smile in response.

"Sai! I knew it!" Sakura snaps, the stress in their atmosphere rising.

"So, that guy's my replacement? He was spewing some kind of nonsense about protecting bonds between Naruto and me..." Sasuke's furrowed brows relax into an expression of serenity. "One more pansy for the group, quite the fit, I'm sure."

"What of you? I certainly recall being less of a pansy than you." I remark, watching his lip twitch to a scowl.

Naruto nervously laughs, trying to find any semblance of familiarity in us. "K...Kaz! You're right as always about Sasuke!"