***
Training ground 2 - Naruto is sparring with Sasuke, exchanging blow after blow with him.
The one-tomoe sharingan able to perceive Naruto's movement, countering and sending punches and kick at deliberate angles.
Pow! Naruto is taken off guard; a punch landed squarely on his stomach sending him back a few steps.
"Cough… teme…!". His eyes flared with irritation at Sasuke.
"... What are you dazing about dobe? Your head isn't even on me".
Even if he doesn't use his sharingan, Sasuke can see Naruto is not in his game since that day.
"Damn it. I will beat you this time! Sasuke!".
Tch.
Once again Sasuke sees an obvious opening. Seeing Naruto's obvious punch, he parried it with one arm, grabbed his wrist and threw him onto the ground in one swift motion.
Ack!
"Nnh…". Naruto groaned as his face ate some dirt.
Looking down on Naruto, he crossed his arms and spat some words.
"If you can't get your problem out of your head let's just forget it. I don't want to waste my time with you". Sasuke said with a cold tone, but the truth is he wanted Naruto to tell him.
Naruto sits cross-legged on the ground. That day still lingers in his mind. His eyes looking down at the grasses, noticing the ladybug crawling on one of the leaves.
Sasuke sat down on the dirt as well, seeing that Naruto is not going to stand up.
Why am I even doing this? Sasuke muttered in his heart. But he just sat silently opposite to Naruto who's dazing onto whatever it is.
…
"I am curious. What kind of training did she give you? I bet I could fare better than you". Sasuke tried to poke Naruto so he confessed.
"What do you know…". Naruto played with a small rock, rolling it on the dirt a few times.
"Tsu-chan… she…".
Hearing Naruto finally speaking, his body leaned forward subconsciously. Naruto confessed the details of that day. He just wants to tell someone about it. About those prisoners. The spies. That Tsuyu told one of them to… kill him. And that she just watched him get beaten up.
"It's… scary". Naruto muttered.
"Hmph. That was an enemy of Konoha. And he's trying to kill you. Are you such a scaredy-cat? I thought you wanted to become a Hokage". Sasuke felt it's actually dumb.
"... not that…".
Sasuke frowned, not understanding it at first but then it clicked.
"...? You mean… you are scared of Tsuyu?".
Naruto draws circles on the dirt. His eyes staring at the random scribbles.
" … She's different from you for sure". Sasuke didn't know how to respond to this situation.
…
"I get where you are coming from… I am scared of my brother too". Sasuke didn't know why his mouth said that nonsense. Him? Scared? Never. Though it's more of a self-comfort, recalling years before when Itachi looked at him with that murderous stare, with the fresh corpse of his parents behind him.
"Nevermind. Forget it". He quickly stopped himself.
"Your brother…? Oh…" Naruto recalled Itachi Uchiha, the one involved in the Uchiha massacre. And the one who killed Sasuke's family…
Naruto looked at Sasuke for a second, realizing that Sasuke had a lot in common with him.
"I guess, we both don't have that great of a sibling…".
"Hmph. Don't lump me with you. Your little sister is far better than that person. She is only harsh and strict to you. Don't be such an ungrateful brat".
"... She didn't care…". Naruto muttered while drawing with his stick.
Hearing such nonsense, Sasuke felt annoyed on behalf of Tsuyu.
"What bullshit are you saying? Do you even hear yourself? What, you expect her to be some girl that calls out to his onii-chan~ with a bright smile? Giving you puppy eyes asking if you are okay and crying for you? You know what kind of person she is. And the way I see it, she did it right. Idiot".
"... I know. But at times, I wished she's… more caring, ya know? And, at times I just thought she's not…- the way she… just kill someone- It's…".
The image of the bloodied prisoners, the way that person was killed in one single blow, and the way Tsuyu's eyes were as cold as ice even with what's going on… it's still imprinted in Naruto's mind.
"It's…". Naruto didn't know how to describe his feelings, and the accompanying discomfort remembering it. That his little sister felt inhuman? Naruto can't understand how she didn't feel anything about it. It's as if killing someone is as easy as drinking water, and it's disturbing for Naruto. And then there's also how it felt like Tsuyu didn't care about… what he wants. She just forced what she wanted of him.
Sasuke crossed his arms, rolling his eyes.
"From what you said those people are enemy spies. It's how the Shinobi world works, idiot. Someone has to do the dirty job. Every hidden villages are the same".
"... Then I hate how this world works". Naruto said with a firmed tone.
"Tch. What can you do about it?".
What can I do about it…?
Hearing Sasuke's mocking question somehow flicked something in Naruto's mind.
"Then I will change this world". He said with almost conviction, his eyes looking straight at Sasuke with seriousness.
Sasuke snorted. "You are naive".
"Whatever. You know what. I have decided! Once I become Hokage, this Shinobi world won't be suck anymore! No more stupid fights! No more hurting others!". Naruto stood up with a fighting spirit so suddenly. Sasuke eyebrows twitched, not understanding what's wrong with this guy's brain that shifted so suddenly. But a small smile creeped up on his face subconsciously seeing Naruto gaining his spirit. Naruto is a tough guy inside and would always stand up no matter how difficult it is.
"Come on, our spar is not over yet!". Naruto felt fired up. Recalling that day he got beaten up, he wanted to make a comeback with Sasuke as a substitute.
"Hmph. It takes you so long to get serious". Sasuke took a stance with a slight smirk. His single tomoe sharingan flashed ready for any attacks.
***
After a long day under ROOT HQ, Tsuyu returned to home. Apart from seeing the development and movement of enemy villages with Danzo, she had special training with the remaining Jonin of ROOT - trying to improve her combat level on par with Jonin. Her body was covered with bruises and cuts under her clothes; and these were the norms these days.
Taking off her shoes and seeing Naruto's and Sasuke's sandals at the entrance, those boys had already returned home it seems.
2 Shadow clones are summoned and the kitchen gets busy for some time making some food as per routine. Even if she felt fatigue and slight pain all over, it was nothing for her.
"Brats. Dinner's ready".
She turned around and headed to the dining room, waiting for the kids to come.
Soon enough the two appear, with Sasuke leading taking a seat first.
…
The room was silent, only the sound of chopsticks and chewing were audible.
Tsuyu frowned, feeling something was missing as she looked over at Naruto. Was it just her imagination that Naruto seemed a little withdrawn today? Or maybe Naruto is still affected from being beaten that day?
"Nii-san, what training did you do today".
Tsuyu tried to ask an usual question, trying to see through his emotions.
"Just some taijutsu".
Naruto said shortly, his eyes barely stayed on Tsuyu before focusing on eating his food.
She looked at Sasuke, and Sasuke looked at her.
"...".
Then, as if making an impulsive decision, Tsuyu stood.
"Stop eating you two".
Sasuke frowned, putting his chopsticks down. Naruto too did the same.
"Come on, let's go to Ichiraku. It's been awhile hasn't it". Tsuyu said calmly, but internally only she knew what kind of emotions she had.
Sasuke seemed to get it, and agreed immediately. Naruto said a simple "Okay". Tsuyu didn't talk much and quickly took away and wrapped all the food and stuffed them into the fridge.
Seeing Naruto still sitting there dazing at the empty table, she reached out to pat his back, just to bring his attention to her.
But her heart skipped a beat seeing Naruto seemed stiff when her hand patted his shoulder. It's as if…
Naruto felt distanced towards her? She's not dumb enough to not see it. Tsuyu felt a pang of irritation. Is he sulking over that day?
Maybe it wasn't appropriate, but Tsuyu can't help but feel annoyed and irritated seeing Naruto like this. In Tsuyu's precognition of Naruto should have said excitedly like-
"Yatta! Let's go!" with some giddy posture as usual. She can't explain what she's feeling. Seeing Naruto silently standing next to Sasuke, it felt like Naruto was even avoiding her.
Naruto acting like this triggered her for some reason. Maybe it's because she had never put this much concern over someone. Or that she's under a lot of pressure and tired right now. She even goes out of her way to suggest going to Ichiraku for him - to be honest she doesn't even like Ichiraku that much. And when her effort was taken so lightly it felt infuriating. Add to the fact that Naruto had disappointed her and failed her expectations a lot. If there's anyone that should give airs, it's her, not you!
If I don't give a damn they can send you off to die for all I care you little piece of s***.
"...".
"You two should go. I remembered I had something to do…". She turned around and just left to her room, closing her door.
Sasuke gulped a mouthful of saliva looking at Tsuyu's back as she back off, then at Naruto then at the door of Tsuyu's room again.
Then his eyes glanced back at Naruto. What's with this atmosphere? Sibling fight? But there's no direct confrontation.
"Come on Sasuke! Let's get ramen!". Naruto's mood seemed to turn 180 degrees once Tsuyu's no longer in his view. Naruto even seemed oblivious to what just happened. At least for Sasuke it's clear Tsuyu also had some dissatisfaction over Naruto. Naruto didn't seem to notice it and took Tsuyu's word as it is.
Sasuke could feel that Naruto wasn't depressed or anything anymore. It's just how he treats or views Tsuyu that has changed?
At the end of the day, Naruto too had expectations on Tsuyu. And there are some lines that simply can't go along with Naruto's own view - and Naruto cannot accept it, at least for now. Naruto had always been a person who acted on his feelings most and didn't think much about it. Even his cold acting towards Tsuyu had zero thoughts or intention in it. It was purely instinct even if he never meant it.
Sasuke wanted to say something, but it's not like they are 'fighting'. Maybe with time it will be alright again.
***
Sigh…
Tsuyu lay on her bed, thinking over a lot of things. She heard Naruto's usual voice when he dragged Sasuke out of the door. She can't say he's depressed hearing that. But at the table just now he is silent.
So Naruto's behavior is directed towards her specifically.
Thinking back… even if she wasn't particularly fond of Naruto's over-excitement and chatter, it had become a norm. Her norm. She doesn't know what she's feeling right now. It's unreasonable.
With few deep breaths, these unnecessary thoughts disappear one by one.
It didn't matter.
What she wanted was for Naruto to ultimately survive. It could be said Naruto is already a part of her most important responsibility. She put everything else aside, knowing her own goals.
***