Home
Title: Home
Series: Naruto
Rating: G
Genre: General/Drabble
Sasuke and Sakura are beginning to get exasperated with him. Sasuke understands that it was necessary to the mission, though admits it is regrettable. Sakura takes a minute, but then she too understands, although it doesn't stop her very occasional inability, usually after they have seen him kill, to look Kakashi in the eye. They are waiting for him to show that he understands too. And he does. More than they do.
He understands it was necessary, really he does. But then - then he remembers. He puts on his hitai-ate and remembers. He goes to Ichiaku's for Ramen and the waitress, Ayame-san, still gets out two bowls and he remembers. And Kakashi pats him on the head and he remembers. And with this remembrance he understands something else; he has lost something of his home and will never be able to get it back, or replace it. And it is with this understanding that his anger comes. Pulling away from Kakashi's pat on the head, throwing loathing glances at the jounin when he thinks he isn't looking. He stills learns from him, still has respect for him as a teacher (his teacher) and as a ninja.
He realizes that this must be how so many of the ninja and the villagers view him; the wrecker of their home, the murderer of their family. It humbles his anger a little, but then he remembers that he looked past that and he’s gone and the anger returns, more stubborn than before.
Sasuke has given up on him. Sakura keeps trying though, pointing out even if Iruka had been in Konoha, even if he'd been outside the Hokage's office when it happened, nothing would have been able to save him, and if Kakashi hadn't done it Iruka would have died a long, undoubtedly painful death. This way Iruka didn't suffer.
And every time Sakura gives this talk Naruto wants to shake her, hard, and make her understand. But, from Kakashi's slightly weary eye and the smile that is becoming more forced when directed at him he knows Kakashi understands, and though he's sympathetic, isn't sorry. Which, from what he understands of the ninja code, is right.
These days Naruto feels older, though not in the way he'd like, than his teammates and whenever Sasuke drawls an insult or Sakura hits him over the head he bites his tongue, rubs the lump forming and tries to remember the days he was so blissfully ignorant of things.
A/N: "Any thoughts?"