As We Grew Up

Chapter 20: Orders

Sasuke has been yelling a lot of things from his room recently. It has only been a week since we were 'attacked' by Suna. That aside, the only thing I'm worried about is my brother. I have been hearing things like the following

"Temari please come back."
"Please reciprocate my feelings."
"Damn it, stop controlling me!"
"Naruto, Naruto, Naruto,"
"Temari, Temari, Temari,"
"Temari likes no one, not even me."

I've concluded that Sasuke likes this girl Temari. She's from Suna, I saw her fight in the exams against Shikamaru. I cannot tell why he has been so affected though. Sasuke likes Temari, something hard to believe because Sasuke has been so shut-in but I guess he likes someone as the opposite sex. Somehow, I expected him to grow a liking on Sakura but I was wrong. I do not know what I can do right now to help, yet I hope my little brother gets closure with this girl Temari. 

It's been a while since I wrote on this paper, I've been hearing Sasuke scream 'stop, it hurts.' a lot more than before. He always screams in the bathroom when mom and dad are not around, so I'm the only one who could hear. I want to reach out but I don't know how. Forgive me for being a cowardly brother, whoever is reading this is the near future.

That's what I read when Naruto gave me the piece of paper, the paper he apparently received from Itachi, Sasuke's brother.

Yet, I do not understand why Naruto has such a terrified look on his face. What's so wrong with Sasuke growing fond of me, despite the young age? Maybe he's conscious about the last part. I infer from that last part that Sasuke has been in Sakura's control for a while now. So maybe, just maybe, it adds up.

Perhaps, Sakura was controlled by that snake instead of Sasuke? Argh, too vague. How? I need to think of something and fast.

I glanced at Naruto as he gave me a knowing look. I know he's tired of this all. I know.

"H-hey, Suke-kun liked me, so what?" I said as I scratched my cheek. Yes, indeed Suke-kun may have liked me.

"I..." he opened his mouth to say something yet it was not followed through. It seems that Naruto is hesitating. 

"Spill it, I'll hear you out."

I tried to put my words gently so that it didn't intimidate him. But he didn't budge. Naruto was hiding something more than what was written on paper. But I couldn't lay a finger on it. I sighed, forcing him to talk would not work, so I'll let it pass.

"Okay, you don't need to share whatever's on your mind, just..." I thought. "Just don't be afraid to tell me anything. I know it's getting to you, everything we've learned. I don't need an answer, I get that you're stressed and clouded with so many thoughts-"

"Thank you." he said as he cut me off. Yet, I smiled.

"I did nothing, there's no need to thank me."

But my fellow blond shook his head as a reply. We walked towards the door of the Hokage's office each second we used to talk.

"You understood me. That's more than enough to thank you." he flashed me a smile. It was refreshing to say the least. He hasn't smiled since all of this happened and it got to him. 

It was a clear reflection of his thoughts and feelings. He's back to the Naruto I know.

I nodded and returned his happiness with a smirk. We kept on walking.

Seriously though, there was no need to thank me there. I mean, the least I could do was understand him, he's the one carrying the burden of these sudden events. Sakura and Suke-kun are so close to him. I sighed.