Chapter Text
Naruto had been lonely.
It was always him against the world, but that was okay! He was going to be Hokage one day and maybe then he wouldn’t be lonely anymore. Maybe then people would like him and he’d have friends and maybe then his parents would come back—if they were alive.
He’d been fine with that, really! But it did get too lonely sometimes. Coming home to an empty house, eating dinners alone, and walking to the academy when his classmates had their parents or siblings or somebody to walk with. It was too much sometimes.
But then things changed. He’d met Sasuke one day after wandering around the village.
Stopping by a lake, he looked down at him in amazement as he saw him trying to perform a jutsu. And how cool was that?! They had just started practicing how to use their chakra at the academy and Sasuke was already learning jutsus!
He had hesitated before ultimately walking down toward the boy who was now panting and sweating. He’d introduced himself and Sasuke had done the same, although reluctantly.
“Your jutsu’s so cool y’know!” He’d yelled and Sasuke had puffed up at the compliment. Bragging about how his father had shown him the jutsu, that it was a rite of passage in his clan, and that he was going to successfully perform the jutsu, just like his big brother.
And Naruto hadn’t disagreed. He’d yelled that Sasuke was totally going to get the jutsu down, and slowly, the two started to talk. They talked until the sun started setting and Sasuke’s brother had came looking for him. He had waved goodbye, sad that his maybe friend was leaving, but Sasuke had turned around to yell,
“See you tomorrow!”
Naruto had smiled, the widest he’d smiled in like ever, and had yelled back, “See you tomorrow!”
From that day forward he had a friend. Sasuke was his friend, his best friend and the two became inseparable. They’d eat and play and practice and everything together. Because in the same way he was lonely, so was Sasuke.
Maybe not the exact same way, but in a way. Naruto didn’t have anyone, he never had. Sure, he had jiji, but he was the Hokage which meant he was always busy and almost never had time for him. Sasuke on the other hand had a family, a family that focused on the oldest son, the clan heir, the prodigy. Sasuke was loved but he didn’t receive the same attention his brother did. So yes, he too was lonely in a way.
They understood each other. The desire for attention, of any kind of acknowledgment.
So it had been Naruto and Sasuke and Sasuke and Naruto. The two friends who always caused a ruckus when out and about and the two friends who always had to outdo the other. The two friends who quickly became the best in their class and the two friends others didn’t approve of.
Sasuke had told him about it one time. About the time a random clan member had told him to stay away, to break the friendship. But he hadn’t, he’d said that Kenji-san was old and dumb and other insults he didn’t remember because he’d been too happy. Happy that Sasuke had decided to ignore what others said—what a clan member had said—and continue being his friend because no one had done that before. They’d all listened to what others said and left him, but Sasuke hadn’t.
So Sasuke was promoted, from best friend to something else. Not a brother but something similar. Sasuke had smiled when he’d told him. To celebrate the promotion, the two went to Ichiraku’s. They had the best ramen after all, and they were always nice to him so it automatically gave them extra points.
The two had stuffed themselves. Too full to move, they stayed at the booth and talked. Truly talked. Talked about their dreams and goals and deepest desires. To be acknowledged and to get out of his brother’s shadow. Two different dreams yet both were so alike. But then the sun started setting and their time together had run out for the day, so they said their goodbyes and walked to their homes, already anticipating their meeting the next day.
It never came.
Sasuke missed class that day, the day after that, and the day after that. Slowly, the days started passing with no sign of Sasuke or any Uchiha really. It was strange.
Iruka-sensei had said that an Uchiha had unknowingly brought a virus from a mission in the Land of Noodles. That the entire clan was being quarantined to prevent the virus from spreading further. To stay away from their compound unless you too wanted to be infected.
Naruto stayed away. He didn’t want to get in the way of the doctors that were trying to cure those infected. He didn’t know if Sasuke had been infected but he desperately hoped not.
Days turned into weeks which turned into a month.
Growing tired of waiting, Naruto decided to take action. He ran to the Uchiha compound where he knew Sasuke lived, where he had to be. He ran and ran and ran, the closer he got, the faster he ran.
It was unusual. The closer he got, the fewer people he saw. Where were the doctors? Where were the ninja that were supposed to guard the compound’s entrance to prevent anyone from entering and potentially getting infected? Yellow tape with ‘caution’, ‘do not cross,’ and ‘crime scene’ written over and over was the only thing at the compound’s entrance. Naruto’s heart sank.
Ignoring the tape, he entered the compound. Whatever feeling he had been feeling quickly intensified.
Blood.
There was blood everywhere. On the streets, the windows, the walls, the doors, everywhere. He didn't even finished processing the scene in front of him before running to Sasuke’s house.
He’d only visited his home once. When the two had practiced taijutsu too close to the lake and accidentally fell in. Sasuke’s brother having witnessed the scene had quickly taken them home to get a new set of clothes before the two got sick. It was a fond memory he held close. The first time someone had felt so worried about his health even though he’d known that Naruto never got sick.
Arriving at Sasuke's house, Naruto opened the door with no hesitation. He’d already seen all the dried blood, the body outlines, and scratched and burned wood throughout the compound. It was obvious what had happened, still, Naruto didn’t want to believe it. There was no way Sasuke could be a victim of such a massacre.
Running through the living room and kitchen he found nothing, but as soon as he stepped into the hallway he saw it. A body’s outline, tall and muscular, Sasuke’s dad. He felt it immediately. The nauseating fear and disgust and grief. It couldn’t be! There was no way it was true! Running even faster he saw Sasuke’s mother further into the hallway before he saw the door. It was Sasuke’s door, but it was different. Now it was covered in kunai marks and scorch marks and blood. So he threw the door open and there it was. Two body outlines in the middle of the room surrounded by dried blood. So much blood.
He broke down. He screamed and cried and mourned because this was his friend. His brother of sorts, the person he adored the most. But here laid his body’s outline. The place his dead body had been, where he’d died. Wasn’t that horrible? So many people dead and he hadn’t had a clue. It was gross, he felt gross.
He’d been told Sasuke was sick. That his whole clan had been quarantined to protect both the village and the Uchiha. What happened? Why had this happened? Who could possibly do something so despicable? Question after question plagued Naruto’s mind.
Had it been an enemy ninja? No, it couldn’t have. The village would have been in a panic if that was true. They would be ready to go to war.
Maybe it had been a powerful ninja, someone so strong the village couldn’t do anything about it. Frankly, he didn’t care. It didn’t matter who did it, what mattered to him was what they’d done.
They’d killed Sasuke and Itachi and the entire clan. What had all these innocent people done for someone to commit such a heinous crime?
He didn’t know. But he was tired, exhausted after his discovery, so he slept near Sasuke’s outline and hoped. Hoped that it had all been a dream, a nightmare, or some type of delusion after eating expired ramen.
When he woke up it was dark outside, the only sound he could hear was the chirps of crickets. His mind was still blank after discovering the truth behind the Uchiha’s sudden disappearance.
A massacre.
The who’s and what’s and why’s whirled inside his head once again. He didn’t know much, but what he did know was that he had to be careful. Someone had killed one of Konoha’s founding clans and not one person knew about it. Well, aside from the one who had committed the crime.
How was that possible? How had no one grown suspicious of the clan’s unusually long absence? Something was wrong, very very wrong and Naruto was going to find out what.
The next morning, he’d woken up bright and early and gotten ready to go to the academy. He still felt like absolute shit, but he was going to push through and solve this, whatever it was. His feelings could be processed another day.
As he ran down the streets of Konoha, he started to notice something different. The streets were less crowded, quieter, and gloomy. He kept this information in the back of his head as he headed towards the academy. He was going to find out what was happening, but he’d be able to do it later.
He didn’t have to wait much to get his answers. The Uchiha’s massacre was finally being talked about. Iruka-sensei had walked into the class that morning and given his classmates the news, or the village’s side of the news.
That the Uchiha had died from the virus, that the virus had been new to the village, maybe even the Land of Fire entirely, and that there wasn’t much they could do but delay their ultimate death as much as possible.
“He’s lying.” He tried to suppress the flinch that coursed through his body at the sound of that voice. Sasuke.
Ever so slowly, his eyes turned to his right, to the seat that had once belonged to Sasuke. And there he was, sitting in his seat. Appearing as if nothing had ever happened, as if he wasn’t dead.
But he was. His clothes may not have been bloody, but there were wounds littered around his body. A long, deep slash across his neck being the most prevalent. Not that it seemed to bother him. Sasuke only smiled as Naruto gaped at him.
“Close your mouth idiot, unless you want a fly to land inside.” Naruto quickly closed his mouth, still astonished at what he was seeing. His friend, the friend who was dead, was right next to him. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t believe it.
Roaming his eyes across the class, he saw all his classmates looking at Iruka-sensei. None paying Sasuke any attention.
Had Naruto gone crazy? Had yesterday caused him to lose his mind? “I’m crazy.” He whispered. “Like really crazy.”
Sasuke only frowned before slouching in his seat. “And stupid. Really stupid.” He was mocking Naruto. That confirmed it, Naruto had lost it. Was imagining his dead friend a way of coping? Probably.
His self diagnosis came to a stop when Sasuke swiped at his paper, causing it to fall off his desk. Eyes widening, he turned to Sasuke and whispered in both amazment and horror, “You’re real.”
Sasuke only smirked.
The moment the academy ended, Naruto ran home. He ignored the looks and shouts of outrage as he bumped into people, mind solely focused on getting home.
He made it in record time. Chest rapidly heaving as he tried to catch his breath, he struggled to open his door. The keys fumbling in his hands before finally entering the keys and turning the knob.
His door creaked as it opened, walking in he made sure Sasuke followed behind with a quick glance to his right. He only received a judgmental look from his friend, clearly not amused. But could you judge him? He’d learned his friend had been killed yesterday, yet here he was now. Standing infront of him not entirely alive but it was still something.
He closed the door before locking it and going around his small apartment to close his window curtains. Him knowing about Sasuke was one thing, but the secret shinobi outside couldn’t. They absolutely wouldn’t if Naruto had any say on the matter.
Once he was certain no one would be able to see inside his apartment, he turned to face Sasuke. “If you’re real…move the mug!” Pointing at the small green mug on the kitchen table, Naruto held his breath.
Sasuke only rolled his eyes before walking to the table. He smacked the mug off the table, making sure to keep eye contact with Naruto while doing so. The mug shattered. Naruto’s heart fell to his ass.
Sasuke was real. Like actually really real and Naruto wasn’t experiencing some sort of psychosis. “What are you?” He asked, voice shaky, still struggling to understand that Sasuke wasn’t completely dead.
Sasuke only shrugged, “A ghost, spirit, whatever you want to call it.”
A ghost.
A freaking ghost. His best friend had been turned into a ghost! “But how?” He asked once again, desperate to just understand.
Sasuke was quiet as he lowered his eyes to the ground. Eyebrows furrowed and a slight frown on his face he whispered confused, “I don’t know.”
Now that he was looking at Sasuke carefully, he was able to notice small details he’d missed—the hunched shoulders, his hands fisted and the way he was carrying himself. Putting himself as he always did when he’d tried to act okay whenever others tried comparing him to Itachi. Trying to put on an act of confidence he wasn’t feeling.
“I…” Sasuke trailed off, trying to put his thoughts into words. Walking toward Sasuke, Naruto gently took his hand in his, leading him to his small green couch. Sasuke walked behind him slowly, still trying to grasp his situation. As the two sat down, Sasuke spoke, voice soft yet accompanied with a tremble underneath,“I died.”
Naruto wrapped his arms around him tightly as Sasuke’s shoulders shook. “I died. They killed me. They killed my mom and dad and Itachi had tried fighting them, I tried fighting them but then more came and then they ripped Itachi’s eyes out and there was blood everywhere and then they killed him. They killed Itachi and then they took my eyes and killed me.” Sasuke was breathing heavily by then, having spoken rapidly as he retold what had happened.
He felt his shoulder grow wetter. Soaked with Sasuke's tears the same way Sasuke’s would have had he been alive. They cried in silence, both holding onto each other as they came to terms with the facts.
A couple minutes later when both crying stopped, the two sat shoulder to shoulder, knees tucked underneath their chin. Sasuke was quiet, with red-rimmed eyes that matched his. He hugged himself tighter as he looked down to the worn out rug in front of them.
He looked at a spot of discoloration, no longer was it a pistachio green, instead it looked like puke. He saw the tears and fraying on the edge. What had once been a beautiful rug that brought compliments whenever the Hokage visited, had now turned into an eyesore. One drowned in memories he’d learned to suppress in hopes of forgetting.
It was Sasuke who’d spoken first and broken the silence. “They’re all dead. My clan.” It was spoken softly, voice shaky as much as Sasuke tried to keep it strong. Naruto understood the underlying question in his statement. “Yeah. I found out yesterday but I think it’s been weeks. If it happened the day we last saw each other it's been a month.”
He felt Sasuke tense beside him, “A month. And nobody thought that something might’ve happened to us?” Anger, sadness, disbelief, and just why. He could hear them all in his voice. He couldn’t give him a complete answer, just a sad excuse of an explanation. “Our class was told your clan had gotten sick and that your clan was supposed to stay in your compound to not spread it. But then they started taking too long and I got suspicious so I went to see how bad things were but there was no one. Just blood everywhere so I got scared and went to your house and found outlines and thought there was no way someone didn’t know.” He turned his eyes to look at Sasuke’s. “I’m sorry for not looking for you sooner.”
Sasuke only looked at his eyes as if searching for something. He turned his eyes back to the kitchen in front of them. Following his line of sight, he saw a lone blue mug. The one he’d bought for Sasuke after they’d gone back to his apartment after school. That day had been the coldest day of the year so far. With Sasuke’s parents busy and his brother out on a mission, he’d gotten permission to go over to Naruto's. There, the two had decided to make hot chocolate to warm themselves up after realizing his heater wasn’t working. At the time he had only owned one mug which led to him having to drink out of an old ramen cup he had after washing it. He bought the blue mug the following day, just in case Sasuke came over another time.
It seemed they’d both been reminded of that cold winter day because Sasuke only scooted closer to him. Any trace of doubt he might’ve had was gone from his face. “There wasn’t a virus. I’m not sure what happened, just that they took our eyes before killing us. But,” He paused, eyebrows scrunching as he tried to recall what had occurred.
“Something was wrong. My dad was acting weird. So was Itachi. They were–I don’t know, just off. They were talking to each other again and they hadn’t for a while, not since Shisui’s death. They kept whispering and painting symbols around the house. And when mom had come back, it was to tell us about a clan meeting, but she kept looking around. Nothing made sense, even I was supposed to go and no one’s allowed to unless they unlock their Sharigan. I think that’s when the masked men came and started attacking us. Itachi had taken me upstairs when more came and we tried fighting them.”
He shook his head as if to forget the memory. “Nothing makes sense.” He whispered, fists clenched and shaking. The furrow of his brows only deepened. “Why. Why us?”
Naruto didn’t have an answer. Sasuke wasn’t expecting one.
Instead he was startled by Naruto’s sudden stiffening. He saw the way his face snapped to stare down the hallway to their right. He noticed the way Naruto tensed before he whispered, “No one can see you but me, right?”
The question trembled out of his lips as his eyes remained sharply focused on something he couldn’t see.
He nodded, “You’re the only one so far.” His answer only caused Naruto to impossibly tense even further. “Try to hide a bit, okay.” With that small instruction, Naruto quickly got off the couch and made his way to the kitchen.
He saw the way Naruto tried to appear relaxed, even as his movement slowed and became stiff. He was only able to see Naruto grab the broom nearby before hiding himself in the small space between the couch and a tall bookshelf.
Minutes passed in the cramped space. His vision was obscured, but he could still hear the sound of glass being swept away.
Just as he started to grow agitated, he heard a weird knock on the window a few feet away from him.
The sweeping Naruto had been doing stopped. Instead, he heard his footsteps as he made his way to the window. The knock was weird yet oddly familiar. He was reminded of his older brother yet again.
All he heard were the flutter of curtains as they were opened. From his hiding spot, all he could see was the sunlight being reflected into the room, blocked by a figure.
“Squirrel!” Naruto’s childishly shouted, very clearly happy about their presence. “What’d ya need.”
There was no answer to his question. Instead he heard even more shuffling before Naruto's legs came into view.
“The mug? Oh, I dropped it. Yeah it was an accident.”
Sasuke frowned as Naruto continued talking to ‘Squirrel’, never hearing the others' voices. Not that Naruto seemed to mind, he was able to continue the conversation without any trouble. “Mhm, I got enough for the week. Like a lot. Might even be able to eat Ichirakus twice!”
Naruto’s chatter continued as he made his way deeper into the apartment. That’s where he saw it. The bone white porcelain mask, painted in red to resemble a squirrel. Sasuke froze, his body trembling and eyes widening as he was met with the same masked man as before.
As if sensing his stare, the man turned to him, ultimately turning back to Naruto when he saw nothing. Yet even with him invisible to them, Sasuke still felt fear taking over his body while rage bubbled within.
Crawling out of his hiding spot, he stood, making his way toward the two. The man was tall, taller than Itachi, taller than his father. His build resembled that of his uncle Ryougo. A man known for his physical prowess, someone who’d been blessed with bulky muscle. Uncle Ryougo had been an intimidating figure to him when he was younger, often being described as one of the village's best by those within the clan. Yet even with such strength and power, he'd been one of the kindest people he'd ever met. A gentle giant as most called him.
The man before him was anything but. While his uncle had nurtured the clan’s hawks, raising them in place of the children he never had, Squirrel had slashed them down without mercy. Sasuke could still recall the fallen birds outside his brother’s window before the sword had ultimately been turned toward them.
The masked man’s gaze began to wander around the apartment. Moving from the kitchen cabinets in front of him, to his right staring down into the hallway. Even with his mask, Sasuke was able to see through to him. The way his eyes continued to look around and the minuscule way his body leaned onto his left leg, only confirmed his suspicions. That man was his killer. That man was tho one who’d killed Itachi and him. The one his brother had trusted and been betrayed with a sword to his chest.
He turned to look at Naruto—scared, hopeful—searching for something. Naruto looked calm as he dug through one of the cabinets, careful not to accidentally drop a specific mug. The first one he’d made, full of pumps and weirdly tilted to the right. The one he’d painted orange with his fingers after forgetting to buy a brush. The one he treasured most because it’d been something he’d created with his own set of hands. Created and not destroyed, because he wasn’t anything like the monster everybody hoped he’d be.
It was a beautiful mug that Naruto eventually pulled out. One glazed a deep red that resembled the color of roses, like ones that once bloomed in the Uchiha compound. Now, the color could only be compared to the blood he’d seen his family shed.
The sound of tea being poured filled the room, gently followed by a soft clink as the mug was set down on the kitchen table. “So,” Naruto began, his usual childish voice tightly controlled into something more formal. “What’re you doing here?” Of course, his usual mannerism still seeped through. “Not that I mind! It’s just that it’s still February y’know.”
Squirrel didn’t respond for a moment, opting for a small sip of tea. “I’ve been sent to check on your wellbeing on the behalf of Lord Third.” Quick and to the point, in the same monotone voice that had spoken and accused his family of treason.
“Oh.” Disappointment dripped from Naruto’s voice, his movements pausing for a mere moment before taking a sip of tea.
“Is that all?” He asked, voice cracking as he set down the mug. “Like, the only reason you came?” Sasuke could see the way he played with his hands under the table from where he stood. He could see the way Naruto tried his very best to look unaffected by the man’s coldness; from what he’d believed was a visit from someone who’d done it voluntarily. From someone who’d come to see him because they cared.
Silence filled the room as Squirrel drank his tea, seemingly ignoring Naruto’s question. Naruto’s mood only dampened as he shrunk more into himself—self conscious for even asking such a question. The cold atmosphere only intensified as the seconds passed by with neither Naruto or Squirrel speaking.
Finally—setting down the empty mug—Squirrel spoke, “Yes. My only order was to check on your wellbeing.”
Naruto’s expression crumpled. The tiny bit of hope he’d foolishly been holding onto utterly destroyed by Squirrel's cold demeanor. He'd never been so cold before. Why? What had changed for Squirrel to suddenly treat him in such a way. Had he really on been only an order to the man? Nothing he’d grown to care for—just a mission given to him by the Hokage. The hole in his chest only grew as he stood, no concern in his voice as he gave him a simple “Goodbye Naruto.”
He stared blankly at the empty mug in front of him. A mug he’d specifically created for the man—one colored red to match the mask’s markings. Something he’d poured so much thought and time into for it to come out perfect. A gift he’d made to show him just how much he meant to him. That he was the brother, or maybe uncle? Squirrel was obviously an older man. But he was still someone special to him. The only other person aside from the Hokage who was always there for him before he’d ever met Sasuke.
Now the harsh reality had hit him. While Squirrel had been someone who’d meant so much to him, he was nothing more than a mission. A chore on some list the Hokage gave him to complete. He hated it.
But he couldn’t cry. He wouldn’t.
Raising his gaze, he was met with Sasuke who only stared at the spot Squirrel had once been in. Staring in sadness? His eyebrows crunched in confusion at the sight. Squirrel was an ANBU agent, someone who defended the village in secret. There shouldn’t be any reason for Sasuke to know who he was.
Then a memory hit. One from months ago, before he’d even befriended Sasuke. A memory where he’d overheard a rumor about his older brother while he ate his ramen. Something about Itachi being really strong. Someone who specialized in making pots? Or maybe it had been porridge? He didn’t remember the exact word, however he’d understood the gist of it. Itachi was someone talented and was being recruited by the elite shinobi in the village.
Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe Sasuke was just remembering what could’ve been had his family lived. But that couldn’t be it. Lowering his gaze just a tad bit, he was able to see Sasuke’s hands balled into fists—white knuckled and shaking. No, Sasuke was someone who openly showed his emotions so blatantly. Not after his father had scolded him for letting his temper get the best of him.
Looking closer, he saw it. The fear mixed in his gaze. He wasn’t sad. Sasuke was scared. Of what? He didn’t know, but he was going to find out. Learn what exactly was causing his friend such distress that he seemed lost to the world.
Slowly, he lifted himself out of his seat and made his way toward Sasuke. He only hesitated a moment before reaching for his arm. His hand softly made contact before Sasuke ripped it out of his grasp. The fear in his eyes only intensified as they moved back and forth between Naruto and the empty space he’d been staring at.
Worry slammed into his body as Sasuke’s breathing quickened. He was scared. They were both scared. Naruto didn’t know what to do. What could he do? Sasuke wasn’t seeing him—that much was obvious. His eyes seemed cloudy as if he wasn’t there, his mind somewhere else.
“Sasuke. Sasuke!” He could hear his own voice trembling in fear. Sasuke seemed to ignore him, or maybe he couldn’t hear. His skin was paling and his began trembling.
Oh, he thought. Taking in his friends appearance. This is what he mustve looked like before he died. Before he was murdered.
That’s when it clicked. The little puzzle piece that he’d been given at the beginning of the whole mess. Sasuke had been killed. His whole can had been murdered by masked men. Masked men like…
He stepped closer and closer to Sasuke before enveloping him into a hug. Sasuke didn’t take kindly to the gesture, trashing and turning trying to get out.
“It’s me Sasuke,” he whispered as he held onto him tighter. “It’s just me. Squirrel's gone. It’s okay.”
The harsh movements continued for a few short seconds before coming to a stop. Then, instead of trying to escape his grasp, Sasuke held onto him as if he were his lifeline. Shaky hands took hold of his forearms, gripping them tightly—Naruto could feel bruises forming.
Not that touch lasted long, Sasuke’s grasp began to soften before he fell onto him, almost as if whatever had been holding him up, up until that moment was gone.
Surprisingly, Sasuke was much lighter than what he remembered—keeping him up wasn’t as difficult. He pushed away the reminder of why, instead he kept his focus on Sasuke. They stayed standing as they embraced one another—the room grew quiet with only their breathing as sound.
The silence dragged on for a few agonizing seconds before Naruto spoke up. “The masked men, the ones you saw. What did they look like?”
“They looked like him.” It was whispered, almost in a way where His heart clenched. He’d figured as much, but hearing confirmation hurt. What he’d believed to have been some unfortunate event was now something much more.
Closing his eyes, he hugged him tighter. Hoping to give Sasuke a sense of comfort, a sense of safety. Something that would make him feel and know that he was there and would continue to be by his side. Because he would, he’d stay by his side forever and ever.