The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was the sound of birds. For a few seconds, I simply stared at the pale morning sky between the branches above me. We were still in the forest. The fire from last night had already burned down to nothing but a few pieces of blackened wood and gray ash. The others were still asleep. I slowly sat up and stretched my arms above my head.
"Morning." I froze. That voice came from beside me. Sasuke was sitting a few feet away, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. I blinked. "You're awake already?"
He opened one eye and looks at me "You were making noise." I stared at him. I just literally woke up how am I making noises?
"I was stretching."
"You were making noise while stretching." I narrowed my eyes. What the heck is wrong with this guy?
"You're just looking for an excuse to complain."
"Hn." I couldn't help but laugh. There was something different about the way Sasuke acted around me now. I stood and walked toward the small cooking area we had prepared the night before. I decided to make breakfast anyways. Any minute the other two will wakes up too. So better prepare breakfast now.
"Are you hungry?"
"No."
He's answer are not the same by how he's stomach growls. I slowly turned around. Sasuke's expression remained completely blank. But he's face is surely getting red. I raised an eyebrow. "Really?" I tease him.
"That wasn't me."
I just stared at him and he stared back. I burst out laughing. I clearly hear he's stomach psshh'
"Then who's stomach, was that? From that bird in that three?" I said while laughing.
"Shut up."
I grabbed a small pot and started preparing something simple for breakfast. Sasuke eventually walked over and sat beside me. For a while, neither of us said anything. It wasn't awkward. It was actually comfortable.
"Naru-nii?"
"Hm?"
"How strong are you?" He suddenly asks. My hands stopped. This is the first time he asked me about my true abilities. I know that somehow, he notices me but he didn't know the full extent of my power. I glanced at him.
"Why'd you ask?" He shrugged at first then continue.
"Because you're hiding something." I smiled at him and shrugged. "Maybe."
Sasuke frowned. "That's all you're going to say?"
"Yep."
"You're annoying." I just laughed at him. He rolled his eyes. But I could see the smallest hint of amusement on his face. I turned back to the food.
"You know, Sasuke..." After a few minutes pause I decided to talk again. "You don't have to know everything about me." He became quiet.
"I know, you wouldn't hide it if you want everyone to know." That answer surprised me. I looked at him. He wasn't looking at me, he was just staring at the food I gave him.
"I know you're stronger than you pretend to be," he continued quietly. "But I won't tell anyone. I'm just curious about it. Also rest assured that I'm not going to tell anyone about it."
I smiled by what he says "Thanks, little brother." Sasuke immediately glared at me.
"I told you to stop calling me that."
"Too late. You just said last night that you don't mind."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can call me that every time"
"You'll have to catch me first, before you can make me stop calling you that."
I jolted up when he stood up and tried to catch me. Keyword Tried. I was laughing while keeping him to catch me. "And besides you like it too when I call you that" He stops at he's tracks. That's when I saw Kakashi ang Sakura woken up. Seeing him froze there I walk back to the pot of food I made, and wave at Kakashi.
Kakashi looked at me and stared for a while. I grab the empty bowl and serves him breakfast. Kakashi thanked me and start eating what I serve him. Then Sakura serves herself. Well, she has two hands though she can do it herself.
"Breakfast?" I ask Sasuke when I notice that he still standing there and watching me. He then stared at me for a few seconds. "...Fine."
"Figures. Your hungry anyways little brother!"
"Argghh Nii-san " There's a hint of threat in he's voice. I just laugh at him and decided to stop teasing him for now. "Okay, okay! You didn't want me calling you little brother but you keep calling me Nii-san?" I stated, he looked at me and pouted.
There you go. That cute little pout again...
From somewhere deep inside me, I heard a familiar voice.
You're enjoying this too much.
'Is that bad Kura-nii?'
Idiot.
'What?' I could almost imagine him shaking his head.
You know that all I want is for you to be happy right?
I smiled and mentally hugged Kurama. But then his tone changed.
After you eat, come see me. My smile disappeared slightly.
'Why?'
Because there is something you need to learn.
I became quiet. Something about his voice told me this wasn't going to be another casual lesson.
'What is it?'
You'll find out when you get here. I sighed in resignation. Of course. Kurama loved being mysterious. After breakfast, I waited until everyone was still occupied before closing my eyes. The world around me faded.
When I opened them again, I was standing inside the familiar sewer-like space. The massive gates stood before me. And behind them sat Kurama. His enormous eyes opened.
"You're here." I crossed my arms.
'You told me to come.'
"Good. At least you can still follow instructions."
'Hey!' Kurama ignored me. Instead, he stared directly into my eyes.
"Tell me what you sensed last night." I frowned.
'Nothing unusual.' I replied shortly. "Wrong."
I blinked. Kurama leaned closer.
"You sensed something. You simply didn't understand what you were sensing."
I thought about it. The forest. The silence. The faint disturbance in the air. Then I remembered.
'There was something.' Kurama's ears twitched. Theres something in he's eyes that I can't explain.
"Explain."
'I felt... someone.' I'm getting really scared by how Kurama's talking to me right now.
"Chakra?"
'Not exactly.'
"Good."
I looked at him. Now I'm confuse of what the hell he's talking about
'Good?'
"You're finally beginning to understand." Kurama stood. His enormous body moved closer to the bars.
"Until now, you've been relying mostly on your chakra perception. You feel someone's presence because you recognize their chakra." I nodded still waiting for he's explanation "But that's not enough." Kurama's eyes narrowed. "A shinobi can suppress their chakra. They can disguise it. They can even hide it completely." I listened carefully with matching nodding.
'So how do I find them?'
Kurama smiled. Not a comforting smile. A fox's smile. There we go again. I'm sensing an intense training again.
"You don't search for their chakra." I tilted my head. Confuse
'Then what?'
"Their intent." He simply said. I stared at him.
'Intent?'
"Chakra tells you that someone is there." He paused a bit.
"Intent tells you what they're about to do." My eyes widened slightly. Kurama continued.
"Fear. Anger. Killing intent. Suspicion. Bloodlust. Even simple curiosity." He pointed a claw toward me.
"Those things affect the way a person moves their chakra."
'So, I can sense their emotions?'
"No."
Kurama's voice became firm.
"Don't confuse the two." I hummed and nodded.
'Then what exactly am I sensing?'
"Direction."
I remained silent.
"Not thoughts," he continued. "Not emotions. The direction of their will."
That sentence stayed in my mind. Kurama closed his eyes.
"Now try." I took a breath and closed my eyes. At first, there was nothing. Only darkness. Then, the sound of the forest disappeared.
Then I felt it. A tiny disturbance. Not chakra but something else. My eyes opened wide shock is understatement. Kurama smiled.
"There." I stared at him. Still shock that I did it the first time.
'I felt someone.'
"Yes, you definitely did."
'Where?' Kurama's smile widened.
"Now you're asking the right question." The next moment, I was back in my body. My eyes opened. The forest looked exactly the same. Everyone was preparing to leave. Sakura was packing her things. Kakashi was reading his book still beside me.
Sasuke was checking his equipment. Nothing seemed wrong. But then—
I felt it.
Someone was watching us. I didn't move. I didn't look around. I simply listened.
"Good" Kurama said inside my head. "Don't react." I kept my expression relaxed. I'm still not sure of what I felt. I don't really want to make a wrong expression here.
'Are they close?' I ask Kurama.
"Not close enough to attack."
I subtly glanced toward the trees. Nothing.
No movement.
No chakra signature.
But there was something.
A presence.
Watching.
I smiled faintly.
'I see.'
"No." Kurama replied. "You sense." I almost laughed.
"You're really enjoying this lesson, aren't you? Kit."
'More than you know, Kura-nii'
"Naruto?" I turned. Kakashi was looking at me. "You've been staring at the trees for a while." I shrugged.
"I like trees." He stared at me. For a while and dropped the question. He knows why though.
"You're weird Naru-nii." Sasuke butted in.
"Thanks." He narrowed his eyes.
"You sensed something." My smile disappeared for half a second. Then I shrugged again.
"Maybe." Sasuke sighed, defeated by my antics.
"You really like saying that." "It works though."
Before he could answer, Sakura approached us. "Are you two finished?" Sasuke looked away.
"We're leaving." Sakura nodded. Then she looked at me.
"Naruto."
"Hm?" She hesitated. But still I waited for what about she's saying. "Yesterday... when we were training.... You said I was relying too much on my knowledge." Oh right. "Yeah."
"I've been thinking about it." That surprised me. That's why she just listens to me yesterday. Sakura looked down at her hands.
"I know a lot about techniques and chakra theory. But when we were actually fighting..."
Her voice became quieter. "I couldn't do much." I didn't tease her or mocked her. Instead, I smiled.
"Realizing that is already a good start." She looked at me.
"You're not going to make fun of me?" '
"No, why would I? Because knowing what you're missing is better than pretending you don't have anything to improve."
She stayed silent. Then she nodded.
"I want to get stronger." I smiled and nodded. At last, some improvement from her
"I can finally breath" Kura-nii said, hearing all of that from inside me.
"Then we'll work on it." Her eyes widened. "We?"
"Yeah." Sakura looked confused. "You're going to teach me?"
I shrugged were teammates dummy! Of course we'll both learn under Kakashi-Sensei's guidance. Hearing all the conversation Kakashi gave us an eye smile and turns to he's book again.
Her expression immediately changed. "Excuse me, why do you look dejected?" I asked her. She didn't know anything still, right? Sasuke sighed. Hearing that I laughed a bit. Then a look of determination adorned Sakura's face.
And for the first time, I could see something changing in her eyes. She wasn't simply trying to impress Sasuke anymore. She wanted to improve. That was enough for now.
"Alright," Kakashi suddenly said from behind us. We all turned. He closed his book.
"Let's go." We started walking. The forest slowly began to thin as we followed the road toward Konoha.
Sakura walked beside Sasuke. I stayed slightly behind them. Kakashi walked near the back. Everything seemed normal. But I could still feel it. That presence watching us, following us.
Waiting. I didn't tell the others. Not yet. Then Kurama spoke again.
"Naruto."
'Yeah?'
"Don't underestimate what you're sensing." My expression hardened. 'You know who it is?'
"No." That answer surprised me.
'Then why are you worried?'
Kurama was silent for a moment.
"Because whatever it is..." His voice became low. "...it knows how to hide." I looked toward the trees. For a brief moment, I thought I saw something move. I stopped, then Kakashi noticed me. "What is it Naru?" I just smiled at him and answered.
"Nothing." He stared at me clearly didn't believe me. But he didn't ask again. He simply walked beside me somehow, that made me smile. We continued toward Konoha. Home was getting closer.
But for some reason... I had a feeling that whatever awaited us there had already begun moving.
And this time—
I wasn't even sure what was coming.