My not so Distant Memory

I'm one step closer to you

Naruto scratched his head thoughtfully and stared at the lake, as the shimmering waves lapped at his bare toes.

I'm almost positive that things will end the way we want it to. Sasuke-san is much closer to solving the riddle of those peculiar memories than when he first arrived here, so he must be going in the right direction.

He continued his walk along the rocks, as the afternoon breeze sifted through the trees, making them shiver along with the wind.

I just hope he will come back out and continue to go collecting and exploring again.

Naruto smiled at the fond memories he had made while Sasuke had been visiting. Although he had just barely met him, their connection was so strong he felt as if he had known the other for years.

After all, if he gets closure, or for any other reason, he may need to leave soon.

The prospect of his new friend leaving brought a frown to his lips. That was definitely not an idea he wanted to think about.

As he continued to walk along the tiny pebbles, he felt his toes hit something larger. As he looked down, he saw the same amethyst crystal he had found the first time he and Sasuke walked around the lake together. He smiled at the fond memory and bent down to pick it up. He couldn't wait to find a home for it on the shelf that he had recently dedicated to the items he found together with the other.

~

As the sun glared through the windows of the room, Sasuke moodily sat at the wooden desk, the necklace resting gingerly in the palm of his hand. He had been there for Kaguya knows how many days (he hadn't even made the effort to count in the first place), and was starting to lose faith that they would find something even slightly beneficial to his cause.

Maybe I should just go home. It's not like Orochimaru needs me for anything anyways. I just came to figure things out for myself.

Sasuke's self-pity was suddenly interrupted when the pound of rushed footsteps echoed down the hall. In a frenzy of crashes, the door slammed open, flaking off a layer of dust (Sasuke almost jumped out of his seat, but of course no one had to know that). Behind the dust revealed a very excited Orochimaru, who looked like he had just ran/slithered (seriously, how the fuck does this dude move?) an entire marathon.

"Sasuke!"

He was screaming at this point, with a face so bright Sasuke thought he would explode any second (the snake's sudden display of emotions this past week was starting to freak him out).

"Big news! We found something amazing! Our specific excavation site might actually mean something after all!"

Sasuke was starting to feel dizzy from the pasty hands that wouldn't stop waving themselves all over the place.

"Orochimaru, will you calm the fuck down? Tell me what happened, but without flinging your arms off this time."

Sasuke's words did little to change the snake's mood, but he was a little more tranquil after getting the biggest part off his chest.

"Ok, so you know how mine and Kabuto's specific team was working on the site that was allegedly home to one of the most powerful shinobi who ever lived? Well, we uncovered these very unique weapons that were supposedly his, in almost pristine condition! And what's even better, we took a quick DNA test on the weapon's handle in case there were any fingerprints, and the DNA we found matched the exact same sample we found from the headband that you first saw in the museum!"

Sasuke's eyes widened as large as saucers. As Orochimaru bent down to catch his breath, Sasuke stood out of his seat and made a beeline towards the already opened door.

"Sasuke-kun, wait!"

The pair quickly made their way down the stairs and to the mentioned site.

"Orochimaru, I want you to tell me everything you know about this item you found."

The snake lit up at the other's interest in his findings, even if it was for a completely different reason.

"Of course, Sasuke-kun. Well, like I said before, this object we uncovered was a weapon used by one of the most powerful shinobi from the civilization. Unlike the very common kunai, I think that's what they're called at least, this is the first we've seen of this specific type. Unlike the others, this one has three prongs instead of one, and instead of a white bandaged handle, this one is wrapped in some sort of special seal that we still have yet to decode. What's even stranger, is unlike the others that broke down over time, these are in mint condition, as if they're only thirty years old, instead of 800. And as I said before, the DNA sample came back identical as the one found on the first headband you saw, so it's very likely they have some sort of connection."

After digesting all of Orochimaru's new information, Sasuke's steps gained more determination. He was that much closer to uncovering his secret.

~

As Naruto plucked a golden wildflower that had been growing under the shade of the small forest by the lake, he heard the shuffle of two pairs of footsteps. Looking up, he saw a very rushed Sasuke trying to make his way to the excavation site, and a very winded Orochimaru, who was trying to keep up with the raven's fast pace and inform him in on all the details at the same time.

He knew that Orochimaru had probably found something related to Sasuke's visions, which would mean closure to his memories, which in turn would mean that Sasuke wouldn't have any more business in this remote area. In other words, he would be going home, leaving Naruto all alone again. Although he had been used to it for the majority of his life, the thought of going back to his solitary lifestyle made him desolate.

As he entered the room that held the shelf he had spent years trying to redecorate, his eyes drifted over to the necklace that had been the captor of Sasuke's attention for the past two weeks. He sat down in the chair facing the desk (it was still a little warm from when Sasuke had been inhabiting it) and set the purple stone down next to the pendant. As the amethyst glared from the rays of the sun, Naruto cast his gaze out the window and stared into the never-ending horizon.

~

Once Sasuke reached his destination, he leaned over to hurriedly catch his breath. He had set off in a hurry without taking into account how far he would be walking, and it took a gaping toll on his lungs.

He stood off to the side, as the clamor of investigators and machines worked to transport the kunai onto a different table, with the other items (they had to take extra precautions since it was such a special item). As the blade caught in the sun, a glare flashed and hit his eye. And in the bright light, Sasuke fell back into his dreams one last time.