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Being Alone

It'd been near five days since his return to the village. Sasuke had his daily routine in check and was getting the hang of how to find his own normal, just him and himself.

After getting out of the shower, steam decorating the air and fogging the mirror he stood in front of, he took a breath. He hadn't left his apartment in days, over fear of casually running into old comrades, namely Naruto. Speaking of which, the knucklehead hadn't rushed over to see him, meaning he still didn't know Sasuke was in the village.

Sasuke scoffed at the thought. There's no way he wouldn't have found out by now. Sakura, Shikamaru... Both of Naruto's dearest friends had interactions with Sasuke. Why would they not have told him? Unless...

Sasuke opens up the door to the bathroom, letting the steam follow him out from behind as he dries his raven colored hair with the towel he had around his waist only a second ago.

Perhaps Naruto did know, but he was... Busy.

Shikamaru said that I missed a lot.

Sasuke found it hard to believe that the boy who chased after him for years, fighting and begging for him to return "home," would just ignore or avoid him when it actually happened. But then what was Shikamaru insinuating? What else could he have missed?

Sasuke shakes the remaining water droplets from the tips of his lengthy hair and hangs his towel on a hook outside the bathroom door. He feels a cold chill run up his spine as he casually stands, naked and alone in his own house, as if the ghosts of his past were trying to haunt him.

Looking in his barely used closet, he puts on his every day attire. Black on black on grey on black. His entire appearance was meant to not draw attention and hide in the shadows, but he had the feeling that, during this time of peace and warmth, he's the one who stood out amongst the crowd.

Sasuke moves towards the window and peers out at the sunny, cloudless sky illuminating the village. In the distance, the Hokage Mansion sits in plain view. Unsure of what to do, his days all blending together and social interactions kept to a minimum, he makes a decision.

I'll see Kakashi.

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As Sasuke walked through the bustling Konoha crowds, he felt more on display than ever. He couldn't help but constantly look down at his feet trudging along, kicking up the dust on the street, consequently dirtying up the bottom edges of his long cloak. The sun was beating down on him, harder than ever, causing him to break a sweat, so he moved quicker to escape it.

Upon reaching the Hokage Mansion, he squinted as he looked to the window of the Hokage's office. He takes a deep breath and then walks inside.

Down the long stretch of hallway, he remembers it well as it has barely changed since he was a kid. He takes one step in front of the office door and at the moment he lifts his hand to knock...

"Come in." Kakashi's distant and muffled voice behind the door calls out to him.

Sasuke opens the door to see his once sensei sitting behind the all important Hokage desk, with papers piled high on either side. However, the room seemed rather neat and orderly. Taking care of one's space was something the two of them had in common.

"So, you've returned." Kakashi gestures for Sasuke to shut the door behind him, so Sasuke does just that. "Earlier than expected, I might also add."

Sasuke stands idly close to the door. He still doesn't feel welcomed in this space, even though Kakashi had never done anything to make him feel unwelcome. Perhaps it was his own fears that held him back. Sasuke's eyes wander.