Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

The Reason Why	By : animegher Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1038 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Disclaimer: Naruto and other characters belong to Kishimoto Masashi. I blame the rest on EBay for providing too many doujinshi depicting these couplings.
Sasuke didn�t leave in the morning, like he said he would. In fact, Sasuke slept like the dead for two whole days and nights afterwards, leaving Naruto to get very comfortable with the floor. He couldn�t leave the other boy along in the place, not sure when Sasuke just might wake up, so Naruto stayed inside to study scrolls he�d been putting off, clean up the place since he never really had the time to do a good job, paint over the graffiti on the door, and other such small jobs he needed to do. Sasuke didn�t so much as twitch at the loudest noises Naruto made, never did anything other than breathe, which was turning into the only sign that he was still alive. Naruto had finally taken the time to roll Sasuke onto his side and adjust the blankets over the boy so he wouldn�t get bedsores. Naruto was half-afraid he should have left Sasuke at the hospital, but just remembering Sasuke�s miserable request to go home and knowing how much it must have took for Sasuke to ask for anything, made Naruto shake his head and go back cleaning up his apartment.

Kakashi didn�t come by to visit him, though Sakura knocked on his door just to tell him that Sasuke was missing from the hospital. He had pretended to be worried, swearing that he was going to find Sasuke just because she seemed so upset; and also knowing that Sakura would demand to come in, would try to take Sasuke back to the hospital, and would tell everyone where Sasuke was when Naruto tried to fight her. It was hard lying to the girl he liked, but the cynical side of him knew it was one-sided. Nobody would ever want to be friends, much less lovers, with a demon fox. Not even Sasuke, but the only reason the boy was using his bed was because Naruto was the only one available to help him.

"Don�t think like that!" Naruto snapped sharply at himself. He was the only one who was going to cheer himself up, after all. If he started doubting himself, gave into that depression just for a second, he would never be able to become Hokage. He was used to doing everything alone. Achieving his dream would be no different, and he knew better than to expect encouragement from anywhere else. Even Iruka, who was a teacher and had more people to look after than just Naruto. Kakashi taught him fairly and was probably the first adult to completely ignore the fact that the Nine-tailed Demon Fox was sealed inside of him, but he played clear favorites when it came time to train. Just because Sasuke was from some stupid, dead, genius clan. At least Naruto had hard work to back up everything he did, and didn�t use a family name to impress people. All Sasuke did was say his name in that sour, cold voice and enemies froze up, even if they were outside Konoha. One day Uzumaki Naruto would get the same response.

Naruto sighed, tossing down the scroll he was trying to memorize. Boredom. There was absolutely nothing to do. He had finally cleaned everything up; even found a television that still worked underneath a small mountain of trash. Now the floor was cleared and magazines stacked up, laundry actually folded up and put away in the dresser and closet. He�d taken all the garbage out and actually cleaned the kitchen, scrubbing the counters for the first time in years. He just didn�t have anything else to do while Sasuke slept away, and Naruto didn�t do anything half-assed once he set out on it. At least Sasuke would have nothing to say about the place when he woke up. That alone made it worth all the effort, even though Naruto hated cleaning.

He whistled, wondering when they might get a mission again. He didn�t know how long it took to heal from the wound Sasuke had taken. Naruto�s usually became light scars within three days or so, no matter how bad it was. He was getting bored just sitting around here, hoping that Sasuke would just wake up already, and another part of him kind of enjoying the boy�s company now that he was unconscious. Sasuke was pretty nice to deal with when his eyes were closed and he wasn�t saying anything. Naruto didn�t like admitting it, but after being stuck in the same room with Sasuke for so long, he was beginning to understand why all the girls though he was so cute. Now that Naruto got a good look, Sasuke�s face wasn�t entirely repugnant. Minus the attitude, of course.

There was a rustle behind him, causing Naruto to whistle in questioning tone as he turned around. He didn�t see anything but the faint, orange glow of sunset filling the room. It was barely recognizable as his place all neat and tidy like this, but imagine the look on Sasuke�s fa-Naruto stopped whistling as he noticed at his empty bed. No Sasuke. There was a blanket on the floor, probably what had alerted Naruto to the other boy finally moving; but he hadn�t expected Sasuke to be jumping out of bed immediately on waking. Naruto eyed the room suspiciously, pretty sure that Sasuke wouldn�t be able to get too far�the tablecloth fluttered slightly, barely enough to catch Naruto�s attention.

He walked over slowly to the table he had against the wall, moving around the single chair before reaching down with one hand to lift up a corner of the fabric. Sasuke was underneath the table, back shoved up against the wall and arms wrapped around his legs. The hospital robe wasn�t the best thing to wear if Sasuke was choosing to sit in this position, pale legs revealed almost entirely to the hip. Sasuke was almost indecent, if his ankles weren�t pressed into his butt and still trying to find purchase on the floor to push back further. Sasuke�s head was buried into his knees, and not a single sound was coming out as if he was scared to death of being found; making Naruto wonder just what happened. Sasuke had been sleeping only moments ago, but now he looked like he was doing his best to disappear into wall. He would have almost escaped Naruto�s notice hidden here, if Sasuke wasn�t shaking so badly that the table legs were rattling.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked carefully, but just his voice made Sasuke tense up and squeeze himself tighter, as if to make himself as small as possible. Naruto stopped talking after that, knew better than to try getting closer right now, but couldn�t just drop the tablecloth and pretend like he didn�t see the boy. He couldn�t let Sasuke sit alone when he was this frightened, regardless of if Sasuke would yell at him for it or not. Just what was he supposed to do; pretty sure that Sasuke didn�t realize where he was right now?

"Hey, are you okay?" Naruto tried to get the other boy�s attention, making his voice as gentle as possible. Sasuke mumbled something, but it was too soft for him to catch. Naruto tilted his head, wondered just what the hell he should do�He had nightmares before, sometimes of the Nine-tailed Demon Fox inside him whispering things, threatening such torture and pain that words didn�t describe what it would do if that evil ever was released. Naruto was terrified of the thought that the demon would get to take over, and he�d lose himself again just like with Haku�but what if the next time he never came back to himself? It was a chilling possibility that almost made Naruto want to break down and cry, but that didn�t seem to compare to whatever terror Sasuke was in the middle of.

"I�m gonna come in," Naruto said firmly, making up his mind. He couldn�t just stand there while Sasuke freaked out underneath his table. When Naruto had been really young, when nobody was around and he couldn�t understand why, all he had wanted was for someone to care. Anyone would have done, just to have someone actually look at him instead of turning those cold eyes down on him like everyone else did. He didn�t doubt that Sasuke felt the same way too. Wasn�t Sasuke alone too, without a family and such a sour attitude that there was no way he could be making friends?

"Don�t kill me," Sasuke whispered in a fevered rush when Naruto ducked his head underneath the table. That made Naruto stop and think twice about what he was doing. Sasuke probably didn�t know it was him yet, hadn�t lifted his head to see who was trying to talk to him. Well, Naruto just had to make Sasuke realize where he was and that everything was all right. They were in his apartment, for crying out loud, and Naruto wasn�t about to let anyone hurt one of his teammates.

"I�m not gonna kill you," Naruto was smarter than to joke right now, keeping his voice even. He didn�t think Sasuke would take well to anything above monotone right now. Naruto did have some sensitivity, despite what Sakura said about him. Sasuke was in obvious need of attention, and Naruto would do anything for his friends- even if Sasuke hated him or not. He got down on his knees, hunching underneath the table to join Sasuke.

"Please, don�t kill me," Sasuke made it a little more desperate when Naruto came closer. Naruto decided that he was pushing his luck hard enough and simply sat down, crossing his legs and sighing heavily. Sasuke glanced up at that, wide-open and terrified eyes almost completely hidden behind his bangs. Naruto had never seen Sasuke so scared before, pure fear wracking every part of the boy�s body. He forgot to keep talking, knowing there was nothing he could say to make Sasuke believe he was safe right now. He didn�t have the slightest clue to what had happened in Sasuke�s past, but the survivor of the Uchiha was scared out of his damn mind.

"Naruto?" Or maybe not. The paper-thin voice was barely recognizable as Sasuke�s, but he finally acknowledged him. Sasuke was no longer staring at Naruto in fear, but embarrassment. Even curled up like that, Naruto could see the blush was coming in and reaching all the way up to Sasuke�s ears. Sasuke obviously wasn�t happy that he was finding himself underneath a table with Naruto trying to comfort him. He could almost see the shame growing in Sasuke. Probably because the Demon Fox kid had caught him hiding under the table after a bad nightmare- at least, that was what Naruto was guessing this was freaking Sasuke out so badly.

"Is it okay if I touch you?" Naruto asked before he changed his mind. Sasuke just stared at him as if Naruto had sprouted a tail and ears. The silence stretched out as Sasuke didn�t even move, clenching thin, white hands into fists. Naruto wondered if he should just leave, figuring that Sasuke would prefer to be completely alone than have some loser try to help him. Naruto should have known better.

"I�guess?" Sasuke gave his permission slowly, obviously confused as Naruto moved and twisted around until he was shoulder to shoulder with him. He wasn�t about to hesitate, putting an arm around Sasuke and leaning into the boy�s body. It might have just been the lingering fever or the wound in his side, but Sasuke was warm and soft; just like Naruto had expected another person to be. He might be hugging Sasuke to help comfort him after whatever sort of nightmare that had been, but it also felt so good to be this close to someone. Naruto could feel Sasuke�s heartbeat through the skin on his arm touching the back of the boy�s neck, smelt the lingering disinfectants and medication left on Sasuke from the hospital, and the rigid muscles shifting as the other boy adjusted to the fact that Naruto had an arm around him.

Then, Sasuke pitched to the side, one hand catching on Naruto�s shoulder and keeping him from falling all the way into his lap. Naruto stared as Sasuke buried his face into the front of his shirt and started crying. It wasn�t out right sobbing- Sasuke had too much pride for that- but soft tears that were years old. Naruto just sat there, this time putting two arms around Sasuke instead of just one. He didn�t say anything, still not even sure what this was about, couldn�t bring himself to even make a noise right now since he figured Sasuke would only get insulted. He squeezed one shoulder, wishing that he could take away some of the pain. He was used to it. Sasuke was actually accepted by the village, was respected and probably had a future as a genius Shinobi ahead of him.

"He murdered�everyone," Sasuke hissed out, anger laced with fear that had yet to fade. Even Naruto could put two and two together, figuring that the �he� was the man Sasuke had sworn to kill. It was probably the most personal thing Sasuke had ever told him, beyond when he had been dying in Naruto�s arms and begged him to kill his brother for him.

"Mother. Father�Grandmother, Uncle�Meiko just gave birth to a baby girl," Sasuke�s voice cracked, even though it was muffled against the front of Naruto�s shirt. More names were listed, extended family members that Naruto had never even heard of before. He had always just been wondering what a mom and dad would be like, and Sasuke was talking about cousins, nephews, and aunts. Except each of those people had been killed in one night, a whole clan wiped out by a single person. Naruto couldn�t imagine what Sasuke must feel like, such a prideful and arrogant bastard being the only one to survive that sort of massacre. Sasuke was probably even stupid enough to think that it was his fault, or that he could have done something to prevent it.

"I�m sorry," Naruto offered lamely, feeling awful but not having anything better to say. The crying started all over again, Sasuke moaning his Mother and Father�s names over and over again. Naruto wished he could do more for Sasuke, didn�t like seeing his number one rival feeling this miserable. Then again, when Naruto felt the loneliness so badly that he started to cry, he always remembered wanting someone to hold him; like he had seen mothers do for their children hundreds of times before but never once actually experienced himself. He held onto Sasuke, darkly hoping inside that Sasuke would cry for a while so he could enjoy this hug himself. It was selfish and horrible, but Naruto liked to feel some alive, warm, and not throwing rocks or curses at him. Sasuke just needed someone to be there right now, and Naruto wanted to comfort someone-more for himself, in the end. Hopefully, Sasuke would forgive him for this when he came back to senses. Until then, Naruto was pathetically content underneath the table with Sasuke quickly starting to drench his clothes in tears.

* * *
Sasuke�s face still hurt, his eyes bruised red and purple from crying. Hell, he hadn�t done that since�since Itachi had left the village. He felt raw inside and out but at least his side didn�t hurt, more confused and mortified to find himself sobbing his life out on Naruto�s shoulder. Funny thing was, Sasuke couldn�t have stopped for the life of him. It was Naruto�s fault anyway, for whistling happily when he had finally started coming around, noticing the sunset in the window and connecting the two together before he was even fully coherent. His body still remembered it, his stomach turning into an ice-cold lump that was freezing up his organs and blood while his legs were already running. At least, trying to before Sasuke had found himself with tingling, numb feet. He had scrabbled for cover blindly, the whistling getting louder as if his brother was coming closer; that day all over again.

Naruto had found Sasuke underneath the table, but Sasuke didn�t exactly remember that in his panic. He came to with Naruto holding him, not saying a word. Sasuke had never expected him to be to understanding about it, not even once asking why he had chosen underneath the table or if there was anything he could �do.� That wasn�t the sort of help he needed, Sasuke�s wasn�t even sure himself what he had wanted until Naruto was hugging him silently. Just another person, someone who actually gave a fuck about him, not Uchiha Sasuke of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke wasn�t sure how long he had been crying, but he had never once shed a tear for his family�s death. To do so would be weak, would be why he would fail to kill Itachi. He had to defeat his brother- it was the only way to get rid of the horrible feeling he carried around all the time, why he woke up screaming and trying to hide in a safe, dark place. The need to avenge his clan, and the possibility that he wouldn�t be able to, made the tears come out fresh.

Sasuke finished crying days, years later�or only long enough for the sun to finally go down and darken Naruto�s apartment. He couldn�t bring himself to move, wasn�t brave enough to say anything. He didn�t want Naruto to know he was fine now, didn�t want to move from the comfortable spot he had found between the wall and curtain of the tablecloth, but most of all didn�t want to deal with Naruto�s teasing. Even if the boy was being silent and caring right now, Sasuke was sure that would change the moment he said he was all right. And he still wasn�t, not used to crying after so many years of holding back and becoming hard, because he had lost anyone that would have supported him. He had never once taken the time to feel sorry for himself, because it would have only made him weaker and keep him from beating Itachi when they finally met again.

Naruto had once again showed Sasuke an amazing amount of care and understanding, patting him on the shoulder before withdrawing his arms. Sasuke missed the comfort, not about ready to move yet- before he reminded himself he was a ninja and wasn�t allowed comforts like this. He had moved out from underneath the table before he lost his chance, angry with himself for getting swept up in the middle of the same old nightmare and Naruto for being so damn nice right now. Naruto didn�t even say a word, just gently directed Sasuke to the bathroom and closed the door.

It had to be a silent command to clean up. Naruto couldn�t possible want to see Sasuke falling to pieces like this; finally grieving for the family he had been robbed of. Sasuke had taken a hot shower, stood there underneath the water with silent tears joining the current as it all washed down the drain. When the warm water slowly became cold, Sasuke felt empty and slightly better, the numbness much more pleasant than that tear agony that had consumed him only moments ago. He had to open a few cabinets to find a clean towel, not about to use the one hanging on the rack, but only finding a first-aid kit, extra toilet paper, and a stuffed frog toy until Sasuke came across the right shelf. He had been about to put the robe back on before he caught wind of it, the fabric reeking of himself, an unwashed body, and dried, old sweat. How long had he been sleeping?!

But that only left Sasuke with another dilemma, which was where he was now. He needed different clothes, but he couldn�t ask Naruto, nor walk out there with only a towel. Nobody had even seen his shoulders bare before, not since Mother died. Itachi had left him with hypersensitive modesty, knowing that he had puckered red and purple lines on otherwise pale flesh. They just wouldn�t heal, probably never would, and Sasuke wasn�t about to use some lotion to make them go away. Then he would be caring about his looks, just like everyone assumed he did when they saw his pretty face, just like Itachi had accused him of. Sasuke wasn�t about let his brother be right, about anything.

Knock, knock.

"Sasuke, are you still in there? I need to take a shower too," Naruto hollered from the other side of the door, obviously not pleased with how long he was taking. He hadn�t expected the sudden noise, taking a moment to force the freezing stiffness out of his limbs. Sasuke could have sworn his heart had jumped up into his throat and was now stuck fast. Sasuke swallowed, taking a deep breath before trying to speak.

"Could I borrow some clothes?" Sasuke made sure his voice was loud enough for Naruto to hear, realizing this was his chance to solve the situation entirely. This way, Naruto wouldn�t even get the chance to see him or the scars.

"Oh�yeah, sure," Naruto called back, sounding a bit surprised. As if he was disappointed Sasuke wasn�t going to walk out naked. Sasuke just told himself to deal with it, not get angry, and just be thankful that Naruto was showing him this much hospitality. He hadn�t really expected it of the other boy, but then again, when had he ever taken the time to get to know Naruto? Sasuke sighed again, hating himself and the fate he�d been left with, but it had been far to long to do anything different now.

There was another knock and the door opened slightly. A hand poked its way through the crack with a set of folded clothes. Sasuke didn�t doubt that Naruto�s head was turned the other way as well. Why would the idiot want to be peeking at him, anyway? Sasuke was almost beginning to feel stupid for being scared in the first place, taking the bundle and letting Naruto close the door softly. Who would have thought the idiot could actually give a person a little privacy when they were changing? Even so, what was sadder was what a difference there was in their sizes. Naruto�s bright red shirt hung off his neck and dipped down around his chest, the sleeves just above his elbows. Just how could the boy had picked this out for him? Wasn�t he taller than Naruto? There was also a pair of regular white boxers, but Sasuke turned them inside out and grimaced as he pulled them on. It was Naruto after all, and he couldn�t wait to get back home to his own clean clothes. To top it all off, Sasuke was left with a pair of blue shorts, as if Naruto had been trying to mismatch�Well, it wasn�t like anyone was going to see him here in the end anyway. He hung up the towel and picked up the robe, checking himself one more time in the mirror to remind himself that he was an avenger, nothing more.

Sasuke gathered himself up and left the bathroom, stepping out int the single large room that served as Naruto�s apartment. The light was now turned one, illuminating the place in a bright yellow glow. Sasuke saw the blonde in the kitchen, standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open as he chugged down milk straight from the bottle. Naruto noticed him and put the milk back, wiping his mouth as he closed the door.

"Finally!" Naruto snapped, jumping past Sasuke to eagerly rush toward the bathroom. Sasuke couldn�t tell if he was relieved or irritated, and told himself fiercely that he didn�t care. It wasn�t as if a few minutes of close contact was going to change things between them. Naruto kept on screaming that Sasuke was his rival, and he just could never accept losing to the moron, so things had continued as such. There wasn�t room in Sasuke�s life for anything other than an enemy. Itachi, Naruto, even Kakashi was someone to compete with, because he was the last real Uchiha.

Sasuke sniffed, rubbing at his nose miserably. If he kept thinking about it, he was going to start crying again. Just when he thought he had already let it all out, too. Sasuke took a deep breath, deciding to investigate Naruto�s place for the time being instead. It was definitely cleaner than the little bits Sasuke could remember from earlier, and Sasuke wondered how much of it was for his benefit. There was a television, as he would expect from a mindless dolt like Naruto, as well as several dozen magazines stacked against the wall. Sasuke was half-surprised Naruto could even read. By the magazines were unused notebooks, probably from when they had been Genins. Sasuke and Sakura both had several notebooks full of writings from their classes, but they had both been excellent students. A good day for Naruto had been when he only fell asleep once during class. He absently picked one up as he heard the water start, flipping open the pages and only finding one with writing on it: Naruto�s name and a sloppy doodle of the Konoha mark underneath it.

There was a scream and sudden curses that Sasuke didn�t doubt were directed at the temperature of the water he had left Naruto with. He ignored the muffled complaining as he started to search the place for a pen, figuring that Naruto would be a while. He had to do something to keep himself busy, instead of thinking, and Sasuke didn�t think that he�d be able to keep walk around much longer. His side was beginning to ache, not as bad as before, but promising to become worse if he aggravated it. Not seeing anything out on the immediate countertops and the single table, Sasuke decided that the kitchen would probable be the place to find something to write with. He shuffled over carefully, using one arm braced against his side to keep from jostling healing flesh. Since Naruto wasn�t there to see just how feeble he was right now, Sasuke didn�t mind taking it slow. What would be even worse was if he tried to ignore it like usual and ended up falling down, disabled on the floor for Naruto to come and find. Sasuke wouldn�t be able to bear yet another humiliation in front of the idiot.

Sasuke pulled open one drawer and found it full of forks and unopened packets of chopsticks. The next was a mix of shuriken and kunai. What kind of idiot stored his weapons in the kitchen? Sasuke sighed, realizing his answer was currently taking a cold shower. In the third drawer, Sasuke found a yo-yo, a small rubber frog, a coupon book for Ichiraku Ramen, and finally, a pen. He grabbed it and made his way back to the table, this time actually sitting at chair. Sasuke frowned at that memory, opening up the notebook and switching the pen to his right hand. He was never going to act like that again in front of the other boy, couldn�t believe that of all people that had to be there for Sasuke when he to finally broke down, it was Naruto. People would laugh aloud at the irony if rumor of this ever spread. It wasn�t the first time he had escaped from the hospital, but this was the first for actually needing help to do it. Naruto wasn�t supposed to be dependable, or sympathetic, putting aside their rivalry and actually acting like a friend. It had been so damn long�

So, why the hell wasn�t leaving right now? Sasuke bitterly changed his thoughts. He could tell himself that it was because it was already nighttime, that he was smarter than to go walking around Naruto�s neighborhood at night, but it was no excuse. He should be leaving right now, sure that he had already imposed far too long. He had already said �thank you� last night�or whenever it had been. Sasuke should just leave- after he apologized for crying. It was galling, but he had better say something rather than leave it alone. Naruto might just run at the mouth next time they were in public, and Sasuke didn�t need anyone to know that he had gone soft. It had just been a momentary thing, the tears all dried up and gone now. He should probably feel sorry for Naruto having to sit there through it silently.

Maybe it wasn�t an apology that was owed, but a �thank you.� He couldn�t deny that it had been so nice to feel like someone else was watching him, wasn�t going to let Itachi kill him without a fight even though Sasuke�s brother was far away right now. He would have never thought of Naruto as safe, at least not before tonight; but that was exactly how Naruto had made him feel. It was dangerous, to admit that much. If he wasn�t careful, Naruto might end up meaning something to him, and Sasuke couldn�t have that. If he never made friends, than he never had to see anyone important die again. He had to leave, before he got to know Naruto any better and became-

"Damn it, Sasuke, did you have to use all the hot water?!" Naruto snapped, coming out in the same clothes and wet hair, looking chilled and pissed. Sasuke just shrugged, not about to explain that right now as he stared down blindly, keeping his hand moving so it looked like he was still doing something. Should he apologize for crying, just admit that it had been a breakdown, or should he say thank you for Naruto staying there? If he thanked Naruto, it would mean he liked it, and then the blonde would probably be disgusted. Who wouldn�t be?

"I�m�sorry. I�m not usually like this, just� with you whistling, and the sunset-�" Sasuke started slowly as Naruto crossed the room and went into the corner that served as the kitchen.

"You�re usually a jerk, so this apology thing doesn�t fit you. What flavor Ramen do you want?" Naruto cut him off in the middle of it, all that quiet understanding gone after his shower. Sasuke stared, speechless after being cut off in the middle of something that had been so hard in the first place. It was if Naruto didn�t even want to here the explanation, didn�t care, or was even trying to save Sasuke�s pride in a rough sort of way. Sasuke very much doubted the third, already so open and sore emotionally that Naruto�s flippant question actually managed to hurt. Naruto had never once been held so high in Sasuke�s esteem that the idiot could ever say anything that mattered.

"Naruto, I was trying to be serious!" Sasuke snapped back, furious that Naruto had belittled the apology he had tried to make. Was he going to be left with a single shred of pride once he left this apartment? Sasuke had to find a way out, getting desperate to avoid any further contact with Naruto. He wasn�t handling this well, would either soften up or cry again, and neither was an option.

"You think I�m not? I�ve got Beef, Shrimp, Chicken, Spicy Peppers and Beef- when the hell did I get that?" Naruto trailed off, picking up one cup and peering at the label curiously as he shifted through the selection. Sasuke could tell from his seat that there was nothing else in the cabinet but more prepackaged ramen. He wondered if Naruto had even tasted anything that wasn�t cooked in less than three minutes and didn�t have noodles.

"I don�t care!" Sasuke yelled out louder than he had intended. Naruto just managed to get under his skin and eat away at his patience faster than anyone else. It made his side ache, to use such a loud voice, but Sasuke wasn�t about to regret it. If Naruto didn�t want to even listen to his apology, than why did Sasuke have to bother playing nice anymore? It would be better to get Naruto away now, before the moron learned anything more about his life.

"My favorite is Shrimp right now, so I�ll make two," Naruto returned cheerfully, completely ignoring Sasuke�s bad mood. As if he was simply dealing with a child having a tantrum. Except Sasuke wasn�t, he was older now and far more skilled than Naruto could ever dream of being. Just because he had cried, Naruto was acting like he was the mature one between the two of them. Ridiculous!

"I�ll kill you," Sasuke promised, determined to have an �accident� on the next training session. Nobody would miss Naruto, and if the truth ever came out anyway, the whole village would probable praise him for it�That pessimistic truth sobered Sasuke up to horrible thoughtlessness of that desire. Nobody would miss Naruto. Nobody had ever once talked about the idiot unless it was to insult or curse him, and�Sasuke had never done anything. Hadn�t tried to get to his know his teammate beyond the bare minimum, hadn�t once told a person that they were wrong and Naruto was different. The incident in the hospital had been the only time he had corrected someone on calling Naruto a demon, because�because�how could a demon be the first person to ever wait at his bedside before? It wasn�t hero-worship, blind affection over his looks, or the glory of the Uchiha name, but simple worry about how badly Sasuke had been hurt. It had been Naruto�s fault, after all.

"Oh, did I get added to the list?" Naruto sneered as he started some water in a beat-up kettle on the stovetop, not impressed. Sasuke didn�t answer back, feeling guilty, ashamed, and too damn tired to do anything about it. He stared down at the notebook he had taken, realizing for the first time that his hand had been moving while his mind had wandered. It was a dull, uninspired sketch of a tree, leaves drawn over and over until he had finally started to do a background; a faint outline of a fence and mountains�Sasuke recognized it as a tree outside his house, the old mansion before it had burned down. He could never really let go of it, no matter what he did. There wasn�t a day that passed without that night coming up, grabbing him by the teeth, and shaking him hard to remind Sasuke just what had happened to his family.

He would kill Itachi-

"Hey, that�s pretty good. Didja ever think of being an artist?" Naruto asked at his elbow, too close for comfort. Sasuke jerked up, regretting the sharp movement as his side protested, but too startled to repress the instinctive reaction of his body. Naruto didn�t stop examining the picture Sasuke had made, forcing a bit of heat onto Sasuke�s cheeks. He had just done that to keep himself entertained until Naruto had gotten out of the shower, not as a lifetime career!

"No, I�m going to kill-�"

"Yeah, yeah, have you ever thought that might be a while? Do you even know when you�re going to meet your brother again?" Naruto cut him off for the second time. Sasuke hated being disregarded so carelessly, but he had to think on Naruto�s question. An answer didn�t come immediately, and Sasuke felt a coldness starting to form in the pit of his stomach. He didn�t know when he was going to see Itachi again, didn�t even know where his brother was right now. It had long since lost track of Itachi.

"I don�t know, but-�" Sasuke started yet again.

"And when you do, and you kill him, what then?" Since when did Naruto have a thing called insight?! Naruto was supposed to be the brainless idiot, the loser that couldn�t get a jitsu right to save his life, and now he was poking around in Sasuke�s business like he had any sort of justification. Even worse, his words had some weight behind them, punching holes in Sasuke�s lifetime ambition so easily. They were just on the same team, nothing more! Sasuke would have never talked to Naruto otherwise, would have ignored the idiot like the rest of the village and never would be here, listening to this drabble!

"I have to train to make sure that does happen," Sasuke growled, furiated that Naruto saw fit to stand so close, still staring down at the damn picture. It wasn�t even any good, and Sasuke didn�t need some dumb blonde consoling him and giving him fake compliments. It made him sick. Sasuke didn�t need this.

"So you can be a good killer? What are you gonna to be when the thing you do best in murder?" Naruto shot right back. There were plenty of jobs for a ninja; this was a Hidden Village, after all! It wasn�t as if Sasuke would be completely hopeless if all he could do were assassination techniques. He would be praised for it in a place like that. But, he still had yet to actually kill another person. It didn�t bother him, because he knew he wouldn�t hesitate. Simple enough to do it, but he didn�t know what would happen afterward. All the other older Shinobi had a look in their eyes, hardened and dead, and Sasuke didn�t doubt it was with guilt for all the lives they had taken. Even Kakashi looked like that sometimes, but it didn�t frighten Sasuke. He had a mission to fulfill.

"I�ll kill Ita�chi," Sasuke snapped back, faltering a bit at the end. Pathetic really, how he was proud that he actually got Itachi�s name out in the same breath. It was probably because he was in front of Naruto right now, and didn�t want to seem any delicate than he already had been. He couldn�t let Naruto know any more weak points, not after the boy had seen him cry. How much more pathetic would he be then?

"Okay, so you manage to do it. Are you going to continue being a murderer after that?" Sasuke had never once honestly thought that far ahead. He had no answer, and Naruto simply stared at him, waiting. Sasuke couldn�t understand how someone�s eyes could be so blue, still wide and bright despite everything he had been through. Sasuke had gotten hard, fast, after his clan had been massacred, but Naruto had been like this since day one. Naruto suddenly wasn�t so simple and idiotic as Sasuke had always passed him off as, confusing and sharp. Sasuke didn�t like being off balance in a conversation with Naruto.

He was saved by the whistle of the teapot, Naruto frowning before finally standing up straight and walking back to the stove. The idiot turned off the water, messing around in the kitchen as Sasuke embarrassedly closed the notebook and discretely tossed it to the side. He waited with his head bowed forward, hoping that the silence could just continue forever. Of course, it was a futile wish when he was in the same room as Naruto.

"Here you go, Ramen Uzumaki Style!" Naruto announced, setting down two cups with the labels half-open. Naruto put a fork down on top of his and shoved it in front of Sasuke. What part of this was �Uzumaki Style?� It still had yet to be cooked with the hot water just poured in. Sasuke frowned down at the poor excuse of a dinner, wondering how this could possibly be Naruto�s favorite food- and he managed to have more muscle than Sasuke. He had never seen a case such walking irony before, hating the fact that in the end, Naruto was his number one rival. It was probably because he just saw so much of the bastard.

"What would you do if you didn�t become Hokage, Naruto?" Sasuke asked slowly while they both waited for the ramen to warm up. He wanted to see how the idiot would act when someone verbally tore apart his dream. Just who would be the weak one then? Naruto blinked up from cracking his knuckles, seeming to give it a moment of serious thought before answering.

"Keep trying. Did that fall mess up your hearing too? I�m gonna be Hokage," Naruto answered back, getting more energetic by the minute. Sasuke regretted asking the first place, his plan backfiring perfectly. Naruto believed in himself, completely and without question. There was nothing anyone could say to make him doubt himself. It irritated Sasuke, and yet at the same time impressed him. Such an idiot, and yet Naruto never once admitted to the cold reality of the fact that he just didn�t have what it took to be Hokage. As if hard work really would get him somewhere in life. Naruto didn�t give up, and Sasuke doubted if the idiot even knew the meaning of the word �futile.�

"Why don�t you just heal, already? I can�t fucking wait to go on a mission again," Naruto demanded excitedly, practically sparkling with the thought of a new mission for them all. Even though they were usually botched by Naruto, in the end. Sasuke frowned at the blonde for making it sound like this was his fault, when he hadn�t been the one walking into a damn hole in the middle of a forest. He shouldn�t have even bothered and just let Naruto fall, the ungrateful idiot.

"I�ll leave after this meal," Sasuke snapped right back, making sure that Naruto knew just how lame he thought a cup of noodles was. It didn�t even stand as a dinner, at least not without something actually solid and baked to the side. Did Naruto even have bread, or was it simply ramen day after day? Sasuke knew that the idiot loved it, but that much?! Sasuke was already feeling sick and he hadn�t even touched his portion yet.

"Hey, I didn�t say that. Geez, you�re touchy," Naruto grumbled as he peeled back the label and poked inside with a fork. The blonde used his fingers to pick out a noodle from the utensil, testing the softness and frowned before he pulled the paper top back into place and waited for it to warm up some more. Sasuke was going to go crazy, stuck here staring at Naruto and the despicable way he conducted himself.

"I�m leaving now," Sasuke snapped, knowing he was a burden, sickly and unconscious most of the time, a crybaby for the other part, and didn�t want Naruto to waste a beloved cup of noodles on someone who didn�t even want any. He was sick of this, and wanted to go back home to be alone as soon as possible. At least he was used to that, and didn�t have to feel so uncomfortable sitting there while Naruto stood. For the first time, Naruto felt taller than him, and Sasuke didn�t like it one bit.

"You better not, it�s already dark and you�re�" Naruto trailed off, suddenly finding the surface of the table much more interesting than completing a sentence. Sasuke waited for it, not about to interrupt another person in midspeech, unlike a certain idiot. The blonde didn�t continue, pursing his lips and squinting his eyes, but not saying another word.

"What?" Sasuke demanded finally, his patience already gone a long time ago. Naruto shrugged and barked out a few short, nervous laughs, looking guilty and embarrassed. It only confused Sasuke further, wondering just why Naruto was the uncomfortable one right now; not that he didn�t appreciate the switch. Sasuke didn�t think he could stand being the ass of Naruto�s jokes one second longer.

"Well, I mean, come on. In this part of town, with your�" Naruto scoffed like this was common knowledge, and yet couldn�t tell Sasuke just what the reason was. He trailed off and started to stare at the wall above Sasuke�s head, as if he wouldn�t notice that Naruto was doing his best to avoid eye contact. The blonde was a horrible liar, not able to even act calm when they were in the middle of a tense situation. Sasuke still couldn�t tell if Naruto was ignoring them on purpose, or if he really was that stupid.

"With my what?" Sasuke barely managed not to yell, irritated that he had to draw every single answer out of Naruto. The idiot had to be led by the hand to do anything at all! How did the dumbass even manage to get himself out of bed, dressed, and to their usual meeting spot in the morning? Naruto�s lower lip jutted out, a sure sign that he was starting to get angry and stubborn as well at Sasuke�s irritation�Naruto didn�t even understand why he was annoyed! Sasuke�s wasn�t the one overreacting here; he had a damn hole that was healing, itching, and burning in side while Naruto badgered him about his entire life.

"You�re good looking, okay? Aren�t you sick of hearing it yet? You�re pretty, there�s some bad guys out there, and they happen to live on this block," Naruto admitted hotly, obviously not pleased that he had been forced to share this opinion. Sasuke blinked at the other boy, struck silent by the bitter compliment and the knowledge that Naruto cared enough to have to say something. It was misplaced and doubtful, since Sasuke could more than take care of himself- even though the headache and heat coming from the current wound in his torso begged to differ.

"Thanks, idiot," Sasuke answered shortly, feeling a smile coming across his face despite best intentions. Naruto�s face only scrunched up further, the three whiskers on either side of his face giving Naruto the impression of a perturbed cat trying to figure out if he was edible or not. He didn�t know how Naruto did it, but for some reason Sasuke felt relaxed, at complete ease for the first time�in a long time, he realized as Sasuke couldn�t remember when he had last actually felt calm enough let down his shields, just a little bit. He didn�t even question it now, sure that if he tried to fight this any more, he�d either end up embarrassing himself further or doing something he�d regret.

"I just don�t wanna get blamed if they found your corpse two doors down," Naruto grumbled as he tore the label off all the way and began to stir his ramen carelessly. Sasuke frowned at that cold comment, before he caught Naruto opening up one eye slightly to check him up and down for the reaction. As if hoping Sasuke would start to argue, because that would mean he actually gave a damn about what Naruto thought about him. Sasuke supposed any sort of attention was good enough for Naruto, and Sasuke had always been dependable for a decent fight. Still, it was strange to think about someone feeling sorry over his death; Sasuke hadn�t pondered on the end of his life that much. He knew that Sakura would cry, along with the rest of the female population in the entire village, but it would be for his pretty face. Sasuke wondered if Naruto would miss him, them being rivals and all.

"As if anyone in this village could kill me, idiot," Sasuke returned, even though he wasn�t making any moves to get out of the chair and prove Naruto wrong. What reason did he have to tempt fate now, when things seemed to be actually going well, for once? His side had certainly not healed yet, no matter how many days and/or nights he had wasted unconscious at Naruto�s place. It would probably be even longer still until the stitches would be able to come out and he could get back to missions and training.

"Man, when you heal, I�m going to beat you so bad you won�t even remember saying that," Naruto snapped out, pointing his fork at Sasuke threateningly before he started to noisily slurp down the noodles. Sasuke couldn�t help a short chuckle at the utter ridiculousness of that thought. The last person to teach him a lesson would be Naruto. He looked forward to Naruto attempting to beat him, yet again, because it would give Sasuke an opportunity to show Naruto who was the best and most skilled on their team.

"I�d like to see you try. I�ve lost count of out fights, but you haven�t right? It�s got to be easy to remember your number of wins�Zero," Sasuke grinned, feeling vicious and delighted in it. He hadn�t been this worked up or openly engaged in this verbal bout of fighting in years. It was just Naruto�s stubbornness and unshakable confidence was like running headfirst into a wall, which only made Sasuke want to break it down more. Especially when that wall seemed to think it was better than him, being a full four foot five, maybe taller with all that blonde hair.

"Just you wait, Uchiha, I�ll kick your ass so hard you�ll be begging me to stop," Naruto made another wide sweep with his fork, splattering some hot, salty water on Sasuke�s face and hand. He cursed, wiping it off on Naruto�s shirt before he caught stupidity from the blonde�s saliva.

"Oh, please, Naruto. You were the one who needed saving last," Sasuke shot back, pointing out that if it hadn�t been for him, Naruto would be skewered at the bottom of a pit right now. He was completely grossed out now, what little appetite he�d been left with when he had a major wound gone now. He couldn�t understand how Naruto could live like this, so sloppy in everything he did. How was he going to become Hokage when he didn�t even have table manners?

"I was the one who carried you to the hospital!" Naruto roared immediately, not about to let Sasuke make his task seem small. Oh, yes, Sasuke could remember a bit of that dash out of the Forbidden Area; lashed to Naruto�s back like luggage because the idiot was too rough to manage a simple piggyback ride for long. Moron.

"It was your fault in the first place!" Why was he still even trying to explain this to Naruto? The idiot just couldn�t seem to fit the fact that he had messed up into his small, little brain. What self-respecting Genin would simply walk over a pit? He could expect such from Sakura, who was rarely paying attention to things like that in the first place, but Naruto kept insisting that he was the better ninja. It was totally infuriating to deal with this sort of idiot, who didn�t listen to one second of common sense.

"Well, sorry for trying to help, you depressing jerk," Naruto grumbled out sourly, more than loud enough for Sasuke to hear. And, it was like a string that had been stretched out to its very limits finally snapped.

"I told you I�m not DEPRESSING!" Sasuke screamed it out, so frustrated that tears came out of the corner of his eyes, which only made him angrier. He fought them back while Naruto stared at him, his mouth stuck in a little �o� and eyes very, very wide with fear-confusion? Sasuke didn�t know, panting with the effort of yelling around the pain in his side while Naruto stood frozen next to him. He was so inexplicably cute, too. It was like yelling at a baby kitten as Naruto simply blinked at Sasuke after his outburst, not comprehending what could have upset him so badly, and so quickly. As if crying underneath the table wasn�t bad enough, now Sasuke was completely losing his temper too. No words made up for this, and Sasuke didn�t have anything left inside for an apology. Naruto wasn�t speaking either, looking stunned and bit wary as he wavered on two feet, crab stepping closer. Sasuke glanced up in a daze, once again enraptured by eyes that could be so impossibly clear and confident.

It might have been that Naruto leaned in closer than necessary. It could have been Sasuke sitting upright in his awkwardness. Either way, their lips met again and this time, Sasuke didn�t think it was entirely an accident. After years of not touching anyone, and now kissing someone that Sasuke had to admit he respected; it was overwhelming. He was trembling, unable to stop it, too scared to deepen this or move away. Naruto just sucked a bit, gently urging Sasuke to relax just a bit-when did the idiot get to take the lead? He was about to complain when Naruto slid his tongue into his mouth, soft and foreign against Sasuke�s teeth. What was he supposed to do, when whatever Naruto was making him feel warm and alive inside? It was like what Itachi had done, yet not, because Sasuke wasn�t scared, just bewildered and unsure if either of them knew what they were doing. Naruto seemed to sense the change that took place whenever Sasuke thought of his brother, easing back and ending the kiss so slowly that Sasuke had enough time to start regretting it. He didn�t say anything though, hoping that Naruto would just explain this before he had to think too hard and start realizing what the hell had just happened.

"Does this mean we�re friends now?" Naruto asked softly, and Sasuke didn�t have the answer for the life of him.

* * *

When Sasuke finally showed back up again for their meetings, healed enough for missions and obviously ready to go, Kakashi noticed the change immediately. There was nothing out of the usual for Sakura to jump up and hug Sasuke to welcome him back; asking him how he had managed to get out of the hospital- which was something their teacher would still like to know as well. Kakashi wasn�t about to do anything without any hard evidence, but he knew that Naruto had played more than his part. It wasn�t just the fact that when Naruto said something, he was actually getting a nod or a grunt, or that Naruto was allowed to pat Sasuke on the shoulder when Sakura finally let the dark-haired boy go. It was that Sasuke was actually looking at his fellow teammates right now, not just observing with jaded, hard eyes.

The three continued with their reunion as Kakashi watched his main protégé even crack the faintest of smiles as Sakura told the two boys a story that had Naruto laughing aloud. Something was very, very different about Sasuke, and yet it was so subtle he almost might have missed it if it wasn�t Kakashi job to know his students inside and out. For once, the three of them actually seemed like a team instead of the constant bickering. Naruto always yelled at Sasuke, even though the boy only threw back cold comments that Naruto should really have learned to expect by now. In turn, it only made Sakura take out punishment on the short blonde, since she was so infatuated by Sasuke, and never once noticed that Naruto was completely smitten by her. It had always been a strange triangle without a single member ever getting the affection they wanted in turn, which had been the main source of unrest in Kakashi�s team.

Except today, Naruto and Sasuke were getting along, and the effect was immediate. Sakura was speaking to them both equally, as she usually did, but today it wasn�t to make sure that both boys played nice and didn�t fight today. Since Naruto and Sasuke weren�t provoking each other, the calm interchange almost seemed like a bizarre nightmare. He wasn�t used to his students all getting along, and almost didn�t know how to start the meeting if it wasn�t to first put a stop to Naruto and Sasuke fighting or keep Sakura from killing Naruto.

"Okay, then, since we�re all here on time-�" Kakashi started, putting a thumb on the page he was reading before letting the book close for once so he could look at his students. He might be a little bit late, but his students were finally all present and accounted for as they stood by one of the large bridges leading out of the village. It was another perfect day, blue sky with a few clouds pushed along by a nice breeze, which was half the reason why it had taken him a little bit longer than usual to get here.

"You were fifteen minutes late!" Sakura snapped out before Kakashi could even start, pointing a finger in accusation. Naruto nodded, crossing his arms and standing by Sakura as if he hadn�t come at just the same time Kakashi had. Sasuke had come even later, but Sakura wasn�t about to give a lecture to the object of her affection. Kakashi wondered if there was any other teacher that had to deal with this kind of abuse from his students. Kakashi wasn�t even going to bother giving Sasuke a lecture, knowing that it wouldn�t be listened to in the first place, and Sakura would probably start to get angry with him for daring to teach some snot-nosed, wet behind the ears brat from a established clan. At least Naruto, for all of his problems and down fallings, was willing to learn.

"There was a house burning and-�" Kakashi started as usual, not about to tell them the truth: he just didn�t wake up early enough to get there on time. He had to make coffee, had to smoke one lonely cigarette to accompany the cup, and try to remember exactly why he had to live through this day. It was pretty hard to do when he woke up alone. Now his little daily tradition was the only thing that kept him company when Iruka had to leave to go teach or get a set of his own clothes, whatever the excuse was at the time. Just a few days with Iruka, spotted here and there throughout their relationship, and Kakashi could barely start without it. He couldn�t let go of it, no matter what. Kakashi had developed it into perfection over the years, which was why he was actually standing in front of his three, adorable students right now, trying to think of the best way to turn them all into excellent ninjas.

"Are you even trying any more?! That�s such a lie! I could lie better," Naruto pointed out, which only made Kakashi frown further. To be called a bad lie by the worst Genin in the whole village was a little much, even if it had been pretty farfetched in the first place. Sasuke and Sakura only nodded on either side of Naruto, as if the three of them had come into complete agreement. Kakashi sighed, seeing that they had already forgotten the few days spent in the Forbidden Area. It looked like he was going to have to train them all over again, with something even more dangerous�

�he was going to have to do a little more research for this one. As much as he�d like to, this wasn�t the sort of thing he could have ready in a few minutes. Kakashi was nothing if not lazy at heart, and he would need a few days to get everything arranged in order to properly punis-train his students. Perfectionism was also a handy trait to have, though it meant he was constantly disappointed by this ragtag assemble of kids in front of him. Naruto couldn�t listen to instructions at all, Sakura did the bare minimum just to keep herself in the same team as Sasuke, and the boy genius had an attitude much bigger than his thin stature.

"Now, don�t be so angry. I have good news for you all today," Kakashi encouraged them to listen. Naruto was immediately all ears at �good news,� likely thinking that they were about to receive a B-rank mission or such. Sakura turned to him excitedly as well, obviously hoping for an early end today since Sasuke had just come back from the last mission. And Sasuke was just staring off at the tree line, disinterested as usual. Nothing ever seemed to be �good,� �bad,� or anything with the youngest Uchiha, just as cold and emotionless as his brother had been. Thank God there wasn�t the same bloodlust underneath that dark front inside Sasuke, or Kakashi would have had his hands full. As it was, Sasuke was already starting to surpass what he could teach them all as a group, and was going to need individual attention soon if Kakashi was going to keep the boy from running off to the slaughter, all in the name of revenge.

"Today, we�re simply having a little endurance race to make sure you�re all in shape after our break! Hooray," Kakashi called it out as if they had won a prize on a game show, clapping his hands together to rouse them. Sakura and Naruto�s faces fell immediately, the blonde making a loud noise of disappointment. Sasuke had yet to even turn his head toward their meeting, though he had clearly heard what Kakashi had just announced. Sakura was already making small whimpering and crying noises to the side- until Naruto tried to comfort her and was immediately followed by the sound a fist connecting solidly. Kakashi checked out of the corner of his eye to see Naruto flat on his back in the middle of the road, a rather nasty looking lump coming in on the side of his face. Sometimes Kakashi couldn�t understand how the girl had so much strength in her thin arms.

"That�s it! Where�s this damn race?!" Sakura snarled, turning around on Kakashi with her eyes unfocused. Maybe he was pushing her a little too far right after the girl�s incident in the Forbidden Area, since she had been separated from the boys and managed to fall into every mud pit along the way. Well, Sakura could always make do with a little toughening up and Naruto and Sasuke had so much stamina it was ridiculous, but they did still need a few hard lessons in humility.

"Right here," Kakashi stomped one foot on the bridge and jerked a thumb back at the old trail going into the forest. It was one path that went the whole way around the village; through the woods surrounding one side and up the mountains above the monumental carvings of the previous Hokages. It was still early morning, so if they set out a good, moderate pace the whole way through, Kakashi could expect them to finish sometime in the late evening. That would be plenty of time to finish up the latest volume of Love Love Paradise without Naruto demanding his attention or Sasuke giving him more lip.

"Geh. I�m gonna die," Naruto moaned when he looked down the small dirt path. Kakashi doubted any of them knew where it would lead, but Naruto was already complaining. Sakura was showing the most determination today, already blowing past Kakashi to storm off down the path. His clothes ruffled with the wind of her passing before Naruto and Sasuke blasted forward as well, insults shooting back and forth long after they were out of sight. They could scare off a ninja team with the noise alone. Kakashi shook his head at his students before trodding over to the grass on the side of the road, a nice shady place next to the small stream running through the village to lay down a take a nap before he started to read. He had plenty of time to wait for his students to come back.

* * *
Sakura heard Naruto and Sasuke coming up behind her before Sasuke fell in beside her, obviously slowing down to match. He nodded to her before looking straight ahead, concentrating on his breathing and where they were going. It was a race, but Kakashi had said it would be about endurance, so there was no need to rush yet. Even now, Sasuke managed to look so handsome, eyes narrowed down dangerous to see the path ahead. And to think that she almost had missed this! She hadn�t heard anything about this being a team effort, so she was off and running before Kakashi could keep her any longer. She didn�t have a day to waste running when she could be at home, working on her cooking. She had heard a rumor from her friends that had only been confirmed by Ino; Sasuke liked a girl who could cook. It made complete sense with one glance, Sasuke just as thin as her at the waist, though broader in the shoulders. Even worse, Sakura was a horrible cook at anything that wasn�t a sweet or candy. She didn�t know how to make a full meal, and Mother had promised to teach her once she got back from class today. And now they had an endurance race? Just how much worse could things get?

"Damn it, wait up!" Naruto yelled out as he finally caught up to them. Oh, yes, she forget for a moment just who was her other teammate. Having Naruto with them was some sort of karma for being so lucky to be paired up with Sasuke. With a little concentration and experience, she had learned to ignore Naruto for the most part. The large bruise on the side of his face was just another mark for when he had tried to hug her when she had started crying. She only wanted Sasuke to do that, but he was too busy looking forward, not at her.

"Naruto, this is your fault," she snapped back, not so much out of breath from running that she couldn�t yell at the boy. How was she ever supposed to get in a good situation for love to blossom when Naruto insisted on getting in the way every time! No early breaks from missions, blundering and taking Sasuke down with him, just being plain annoying, and more were all counts against the short blonde. Naruto peered over at her, pumping his arms as they all traveled down the path.

"Huh, why is it my fault? She sounds just like you, Sasuke!" Naruto called back at the dark-haired boy who was slightly closer to Sakura now. She glanced over at the other boy, wondering just when Naruto had become so familiar with Sasuke�s name. It was strange to hear the two talking like decent human beings for once, and don�t think for a second that she didn�t notice something was up. What was with this closeness between Naruto and Sasuke? Sure, they had shown a few signs of good teamwork before, but that was only because they were in life and death situations! She wasn�t about to lose Sasuke to Naruto, was she?

"Shut up, moron," Sasuke called back just loudly enough to be heard, always cool and composed. Sakura couldn�t help sighing in relief. That was more like it, an insult instead of a name. She could always depend on her Sasuke to be so aloof and stylish about it too. She couldn�t wait to know Sasuke even more, to find out more about him other than the fact he wanted to kill someone- depressing-and that he didn�t like cowards that screwed up all the time, like Naruto. She was sure that if they got to know each other, she could get Sasuke to smile and brighten right up. The first step would be cooking.

"Oh, yeah? Well, can you beat this moron at a race?" Naruto snapped right back, tuning his nose up proudly as he boasted.

And, just like that, Sasuke was gone.

"Damn it!" Naruto cursed, a sudden explosion of speed as he took off after the other. Once again, Sakura was left behind, simply jogging and staring at the boys� energy. They couldn�t possible be trying to maintain that speed for an endurance race. Just when had Sasuke ever let Naruto�s insults get him so much? Sakura simply panted in time to her footsteps, too involved in her thoughts to concentrate on anything else for a moment.

"Crap, I�m going to be last!" Sakura realized. She couldn�t do that, not in front of Sasuke! She had to do her best, not just because this was tedious training that she wanted to be done with as soon as possible, but because if Naruto beat her she wouldn�t know where she stood with Sasuke any more. She had to try this time, at least not come in last by too much time, since she knew in her hear that she could never be as fast as Naruto and Sasuke. Even still�

"Kakashi-sensei, I�m going to kill you!" Sakura yelled out in frustration, sick of their teacher always coming up with these horrible missions and training sessions clearly designed for the boys, who were practically feral animals when it came to endurance and stamina. It was if he was trying to make her look bad in front of Sasuke! Well, not this time, Sakura thought to herself as she put more energy into running than thinking.

* * *

Sasuke�s knees shook with every step he took, everything from his ankle to hip begging for him to stop, but he knew the second he did he�d never be able to get back up. It was only a little bit further; he had seen the bridge out of the corner of his eye before the path had swooped back into the trees. At least it was shady here, instead of the burning agony the run up bare mountainside had been. A noontime sun and not a single bush in sight had not been a particularly inspiring run, draining Sasuke of most of his energy. Thankfully, it had been downhill and flatland from there, or else Sasuke didn�t think he would make it. Still, at this rate, he would beat Naruto. That was most important of all, the only thing he cared about right now. Even if it had taken two whole weeks to heal, his side was only aching a bit after the heavy exertion. He could barely breathe right now, his shirt soaked through with his own sweat, dripping down his arms and into his eyes, but at least he would win.

Sasuke had originally meant to slip out in the morning after the �event,� unnoticed, successfully avoiding any further conversation following that kiss by pretending to be tired and going back to sleep. He thought it would be fine and they could never speak of it again�except, Naruto had followed him when Sasuke had tried to leave, following behind and talking his head off like nothing had happened. If Sasuke had thought Naruto was a loudmouth before, he had been sorely mistaken. It was nothing compared to the babble he�d been stuck with, since Naruto refused to leave him alone for a single moment. Naruto suddenly thought that Sasuke wanted to hear every little detail about his personal life, whither he gave a response or not. The moron had even come up into his apartment, announcing his disappointment in Sasuke�s plain, dark apartment rather loudly. Sasuke didn�t even know that it had hurt his feelings until the shorter boy had given him a hug.

From then on, Sasuke decided to just give in since he couldn�t shake Naruto off. It was strange to understand the blonde, since their new relationship consisted of a little more heated arguing than usual, followed up by a few kisses that had been interrupted each time by memories Itachi had left him with. Naruto didn�t seemed put off by screaming or sudden acts of blind violence, understanding that something very bad had happened and that he didn�t want to talk about it. Sasuke wasn�t good with people, nor love, or whatever it was that Naruto wanted, since the idiot wasn�t telling him and damned if Sasuke was going to ask. He was already feeling so out of place in the middle of this. All he knew is that a part of him really, really liked it when Naruto hugged him.

Sasuke finally turned the corner, coming to the painted red bridge with wobbling legs. He spotted a small, silver bush on the bank by the wooden bridge, barely managing to make the last few steps to hang over Kakashi�s head. Immediately his sweat fell down to dot the cover of Love Love Paradise thrown over Kakashi�s eyes. Sasuke had been planning to say something particularly cruel, but his vision was blurring and his head spinning. He swayed, barely managing to keep his feet as he realized it was a mistake to come to a stop so suddenly. Kakashi lifted up the book, cursing when his bare eye and facemask started to become wet with Sasuke�s perspiration before cursing anew when Sasuke fell forward across Kakashi, not even conscious for when he landed.

A memory of when he had been very young, finally able to walk unfalteringly but still too small to reach the top of the counter. He didn�t know why it had happened, but he was sitting on one of Itachi�s crossed legs as his brother sat on the floor, staring up at his much older and skilled brother. He watched Itachi practice in the mornings, struck with hopeless hero-worship at a brother who was so good at everything he did. He liked Itachi best, not caring to play with his cousins his own age, but to simply watch his brother. Itachi was nice to him, despite everyone else saying that he was bad.

"You�re getting handsome, Sasuke. One day, the girls won�t leave you alone," Itachi teased, pinching two chubby cheeks. Sasuke slapped his brother�s hands away with small arms of his own, realizing now that it had only happened because Itachi had let him. He had forgotten how gentle Itachi had been, back when Sasuke had been very young and Itachi had just been promoted to captain. Before he had to start killing on a daily basis. When he remembered now, he had been the only family member Itachi had ever spoken to at length, or had ever been affectionate with.

"Eh? But I just wanna play with you, big brother!" If only Sasuke had known how bad that had sounded, but he�d been so young. Itachi smiled warmly and nodded, obviously complimented by Sasuke�s innocent answer. He had admired Itachi with everything, idolizing his older brother, the ANBU squad leader. All he had wanted was his brother�s undivided attention, even more so than Mother or Father. Sasuke hugged Itachi with arms that only reached around his brother�s chest; never once suspecting that this man would be the one to murder their entire clan.

"You�re going to make someone very happy, Sasuke," Itachi complimented him before putting his hands underneath Sasuke�s arms and lifting him back onto his feet. Sasuke had ran off then, distracted by something else as a child would be, not really understanding what his brother�s words had meant at the time.

"Sasuke!" It was a sharp command, a different voice from his dream. Sasuke opened his eyes to find Kakashi sitting next to him while he was lying on what felt like�grass? Sasuke looked up at the sky, and endless blue that was like Naruto�s eyes- he coughed, his throat feeling like it was on fire after all that running, and sat up slowly next to his teacher. His skin was dry and sticky, evidence that he had been out long enough for his sweat to cool. Sasuke winced when he tried to draw his legs up, staring down at the limbs as they twitched and shuddered out of his control. He had overworked them, unable to even get his feet to respond as his legs tingled and burned.

"Was I unconscious long?" Sasuke asked Kakashi, deciding to cover it up with worthless talk. It was a small trick he had learned from Naruto after hanging out with the moron so much. It still looked like the afternoon, and there was no sign of either of his teammates. Sasuke couldn�t help sighing in relief, half-afraid that Naruto might have actually managed to beat him and that he would have to deal with the blonde afterwards. Anything less than first would have been unacceptable for his return from recuperation of his injury.

"Not much. I was about to mark you down points for having such a crappy finish," Kakashi added, with a smile that Sasuke could practically see through the facemask. He frowned at his teacher, and then more at himself for being so weak as to faint on completion of the race. The best he could do was sit up straight right now, wondering how much longer it would be until Naruto and Sakura finally finished as well. He stole a glimpse over at Kakashi, the man�s book for once closed and set on the ground between them. It was as good of chance as any, Sasuke supposed, and he couldn�t live with things they were any more.

"Kakashi, you know, Naruto and I�" It was one thing to think it, but entirely another to actually say it aloud as Kakashi�s single, unreadable eye fixed on him. There was no way to tell if the man had any expression on or not, if he was going to think any less of Sasuke after he told his teacher what was going on. But, he needed somebody to help him understand this, and Kakashi was someone who just might know a little bit more about him than even Naruto did.

"I figured you two were starting to get together. You don�t have to say anything you don�t want to, Sasuke," Kakashi answered back, being an adult like he should be, instead of that lazy liar he showed to them most of the time. Still, someone didn�t get a name like Copy Ninja just sitting around reading erotic novels. Kakashi was strong, and had defeated many expert adversaries before while swearing to protect his students. Maybe that extended out to giving his students some advice as well.

"Kakashi, they told me� at the hospital, when I woke up. That you had been the one that found me the night I-It� my brother left," Sasuke stammered it out, not about to give up now even though he regretted speaking the moment he started his sentence. He couldn�t look at his teacher, focused on his clenched hands in his lap instead of his legs still jerking around with strain. He waited in apprehensive silence after having held this secret in for so long, since the very first time he had seen Kakashi as the man introduced himself as their new teacher. He didn�t remember too much about what had happened the night Itachi left, desperately doing his best to forget it for the most part, but the nurses had been more than ready to gossip and Sasuke had months to recover in the hospital.

"Yes," as a very cool answer, not dismissive, but not entirely helpful either. Sasuke couldn�t look over at Kakashi, and knew that it wouldn�t be that helpful anyway. Kakashi was unreadable, just as incomprehensible as Naruto was. The only noise was the water flowing in front of them and a bird chirping, the village always peaceful and quiet. Sasuke swallowed, knowing that he wouldn�t get any answers this way and that it wouldn�t be long before Naruto showed up and he�d be back to square one.

"Then, you already know what he did to me," Sasuke chanced a peek over at Kakashi, finding himself stuck when his teacher was already looking right back at him, had probably been staring the whole time. He felt his ears heat up from the blush spreading over his cheeks, but didn�t dare look away. He wanted to see if Kakashi knew he wasn�t talking about Itachi had beaten him close to death, or murdered everyone right in front him, but that his brother had raped him. Funny how he could accept such a thing perfectly in his mind when his body still reacted in a panic. Naruto didn�t deserve someone freaking out on him every time he offered mild to medium companionship. Naruto hadn�t even pushed the issue with Sasuke yet, seeming to sense that it cause him much more grief than he could know.

"Yes," Kakashi echoed his last answer, and Sasuke dropped his gaze in a mix disappoint that Kakashi wasn�t more forthcoming, and the old humiliation as he had to visit what Itachi had done to him, and just how bad he must have looked when Kakashi found him. Still, it was all the more reason to get this out in the open. If he was afraid of Naruto because the blonde did things that vaguely reminded him of his brother, what would he do when he actually met up with Itachi again? He couldn�t afford to run away and hide like he had done several times with Naruto already. Sasuke couldn�t help it, but he had to stop it. He wouldn�t be able to bare Naruto finding him huddled in the closet or a cabinet big enough to fit him; terrified out of his mind that Itachi was coming to get him. Sasuke had always had this problem, but it was different now that Naruto was hanging around and another person was there to see him freak out. As much as Sasuke didn�t want to admit it, he needed help, and Kakashi was the only other person he trusted enough to talk to without them sharing his secrets afterward. Naruto had already almost given them away to Sakura many times, despite Sasuke insisting that he didn�t want anyone to know.

"Naruto and I�" Sasuke stopped, having to rethink his words carefully. Kakashi waited silently; obviously ready to give Sasuke however much time he needed to compose himself. He grinded his teeth for a moment, wishing he hadn�t begun this conversation but knowing it was already too late to stop. He stared at the sun glinting off the surface of the moving water in front of them, letting it blind him for a moment.

"He wants to do things- I can�t really�do," Sasuke stammered even though he had been concentrating on keeping his voice steady. He frowned, hoping that Kakashi would be able to understand what he meant. Sasuke didn�t think he could explain it any further, not without completely humiliating himself. Like this wasn�t bad enough already! He waited, hoping that Kakashi would give him something other than a monosyllable answer this time, like advice. Sasuke was already totally lost, and he couldn�t stand to have Naruto leading all the time�even if he was too scared to do anything on his own.

A hand landed on his shoulder, and Sasuke found himself dragged against Kakashi�s side. He couldn�t have fought it, regardless of if his legs had been working or not, because he was frozen at the mere contact. Naruto was shorter than he was, and Sasuke never once doubted for a moment that he would be able to beat the blonde in hand-to-hand, jitsu, or whatever. Kakashi was much taller, bigger, and had yet to be pushed far enough to show them his real strength. Sasuke had managed to dig up some horrible rumors about the Copy Ninja, but nothing as to why Kakashi had a Sharigan as well. He was a mystery, and Sasuke was never more aware of that then now when the man had a thick, large arm draped over his shoulders.

Kakashi reached around his side and Sasuke couldn�t help tensing in fear, unable to think of any moves or escapes or even fighting back. The man managed to lift him up and drop Sasuke down in his lap, his back pressed against Kakashi�s chest and an uncomfortable feeling against his ass. He turned around to protest only to see Kakashi lift up his forehead protector to reveal his single Sharigan. The facemask stayed in place, but Sasuke already felt like he was being shown something too private when Kakashi wasn�t using his eye for combat. The scar was horrible, but that was nothing compared to the red Sharigan, black swirls other than pupils starting to move- no, that was a bit of memory overlapping. Sasuke was suddenly sick, imagery twisting and doubling as he couldn�t tell which was real, Itachi�s cold pair and Kakashi�s concerned single.

"Does this eye scare you?" Kakashi asked, as if it wasn�t already painfully obvious. Sasuke couldn�t move, fearing the second he did that Kakashi would turn into his brother and try to kill him. It was so silly, but Sasuke didn�t doubt that it was a possibility. He didn�t know what could happen with those Sharingan, every instinct and memory screaming as he recalled the one time Itachi had used it on him. Just for a few seconds, and it had been burned into every vein and cell of his body.

"No," Sasuke lied, because to tell the truth right now would be foolish. He was frightened at the lack of answers, at his helplessness as he shuddered in Kakashi�s lap. He didn�t know why Kakashi had one eye that had been known as his clan�s legacy, the scar leading Sasuke to believe that Kakashi hadn�t been born with it. He hated to think on the possibilities, the only reason he felt slightly safe right now was because Kakashi�s Sharigan was merely surgical addition without any of the Bloodline Techniques. Not like Itachi�s.

"It should. Your brother has two of them," Kakashi warned him softly, as if Sasuke didn�t already know what his brother was capable of. He knew it was foolish to think he would be able to avenge his clan when he could barely handle being so close to Kakashi right now. It was just the same as with Naruto, because Sasuke had cut himself off from the world after his clan�s death, effectively leaving Itachi as his last human contact in years. And, it had never been the sort of memory that would fade fast in the first place. Sasuke started tensing all over again, just thinking of it, and Kakashi sighed before his chin landed on top of Sasuke�s head. White panic- than Sasuke reminded himself it was his teacher who was resting on his back, like a father would do with a son.

Sasuke stopped trembling after a while though it was more due to exhaustion than anything else, and once he had relaxed, it wasn�t so bad. It was late afternoon, and Sasuke had a smug feeling that he had set a new record now that his head was finally clear. Naruto would be a long time in coming, and Sakura was bound to be even later than the idiot was. He wanted to stay like this for a while, remembering when Mother used to hold him in her lap with long black hair glistening, Father�s chin as he looked down at the paper while reading it aloud to Sasuke, and Itachi smiling gently before the madness had taken over. It had been so long from the time when he had been cheerful and affectionate, like any child, before Sasuke had sealed himself off from ever being close to another person since. He missed it, hadn�t even realized by how much until Naruto had showed him, and with Kakashi there wasn�t the incessant talking that came along with the blonde. Sasuke appreciated this silence much more, feeling like he didn�t have to explain every little detail, like he did with Naruto. Stupid idiot. Sasuke couldn�t fight a small smile.

"So, what exactly are you and Naruto doing together?" Kakashi�s voice hummed against the back of Sasuke�s head, making him tense up at the unexpected inquiry. Sasuke swallowed, starting to sweat again despite having already run himself into the ground earlier. He should have expected Kakashi to ask that sort of question now that Sasuke had revealed Naruto and he had now moved beyond their usual rivalry. He could understand, since both Naruto and he were young, but Sasuke had already had so much happen to him�and Naruto was never one for restraint. Sasuke didn�t doubt that even if he weren�t so tentative and worried, Naruto would have definitely taken their relationship to the next level on his own. Sasuke was determined to shake the grip Itachi had on him before then, not about to lose to his brother or Naruto.

"This, and other things." It was still another thing to admit to being intimate and personally with biggest troublemaker and idiot in the entire village. Kakashi only made a small, questioning noise as the older man seemed to contemplate this new information. Sasuke felt himself starting to blush, yet again, cursing his sudden vulnerability to them. It seemed like his face had been on fire since the first time he and Naruto had kissed for real, and now even Kakashi could make him feel stupid and naïve. The man could probably guess what he and Naruto had been up to and likely thought it was hilarious that the blonde idiot was the only person Sasuke could end up getting along with. He could hardly believe it himself.

"Like what?" Kakashi asked for further divulgences of details when Sasuke could barely keep a straight face. He stared straight forward again; glad he was in front of Kakashi where the older man wouldn�t be able to see the expressions he was making. Sasuke certainly couldn�t hold the unemotional mask in place like usual when they were talking about this, when Kakashi was a warm, solid mass against his back.

"Does he do this?" Kakashi asked, emphasizing what he meant by lifting up arms that had simply been at Sasuke�s side to embrace him, a hug from behind. They were closer then, exactly what Sasuke had been trying to avoid. He had to close his eyes, to keep the memories at bay and also to avoid seeing Kakashi�s Sharingan. He wouldn�t be able to hold it together if he saw that deadly red eye while a bigger person was pressing up along his backside. Sasuke didn�t trust his voice, just nodding and telling himself to calm the-hell-down! He had set this up on his own, of his own will, because he couldn�t live another day with Itachi�s words still echoing inside his brain whenever Naruto tried to pounce on him. Sasuke didn�t take well to being jumped on for a surprise hug, and the bruise Sakura had given the boy this morning was nothing compared to the few Sasuke had created. That still didn�t mean that he didn�t want to do his best to change this. Sasuke would always rise to the challenge, and getting used to being touched again was yet another one. He had known there would be a problem from the first day Sakura had tried to hold his hand and he had shoved her away. He�d been avoiding the issue ever since, just leaving it at being moody and not liking other people touching him, even if Naruto and Sakura thought he was an arrogant bastard for that. Better that than reverted back to a whiny little twelve year old stuck crying in the closet when he was about to be taking the Jounin exam.

"Yeah," Sasuke admitted, too tired to really care anymore, dizzy and preferring to think about his favorite idiot. Naruto was overly affectionate, like a dog that didn�t even care as it sniffed around parts it shouldn�t in a friendly greeting, and he had already made up for years of isolation in a matter of days. Sasuke would think he would have been used it now, since Naruto did like to hang off him no matter how much he threatened or tried to avoid it. He was still terrified to go any further than this sort of snuggling, because Itachi had shown him just how much it hurt. The muscles in his behind clenched up despite everything below the waist being dead tired.

"What about this?" Kakashi asked, a big hand directing Sasuke�s chin up and backward. Sasuke had half expected a kiss to follow, but what surprised him the most was how natural Kakashi made it seem. He would have never suspected that his teacher�s lips would be soft, not once, but gentle pressure on his mouth was indeed Kakashi when Sasuke looked up to check. He clenched his eyes closed immediately, unable to take in the sight of the Sharingan a moment longer, not when they were doing this. It was so much different from how Naruto kissed him, no jostling or unintended roughness. Kakashi was good, probably a hundred, a thousand times more experienced than he and Naruto were. He almost slipped a tongue inside Sasuke�s mouth before he even realized it was there, one hand smacking down on Kakashi�s knee and tightening as he held himself there. He couldn�t afford to start feeling scared now, even though it felt like his throat had gone dry. It was like Kakashi�s tongue was the only wet thing in his mouth, and Sasuke couldn�t help but admit that somehow it felt good.

He missed it entirely when Kakashi slipped his hand underneath Sasuke�s shirt, but when rough, calloused thumb brushed over his chest, Sasuke was glad they were kissing so he could hide his gasp. He had never thought of his nipples as being sensitive before, but it was so strange to have someone else touching him like this. Kakashi was smooth and slow, unlike Naruto, and was very good at keeping Sasuke from thinking about anything else. Just when he thought had had gotten used to being held and kissed, Kakashi added something new that wasn�t entirely disagreeable. In fact, Sasuke felt an unfamiliar, shameful rush of heat below his bellybutton and toward his groin. He was definitely glad that he was facing away from Kakashi now, the fabric of his boxers underneath his pants starting to strain against sensitive skin. He just hoped Kakashi had his eyes closed too and didn�t see how he was reacting. Kakashi obviously didn�t feel a thing from the stationary and relaxed body behind him, no sign of an erection coming to life like it was on Sasuke. He was the only one who was starting to completely lose it. Damn it.

Sasuke wanted to start squirming when Kakashi started to pinch one nipple lightly, twisting and rolling it around in an extraordinary kind of way. Instead, he dug his thumb and fingers into the flesh around Kakashi�s kneecap, the only solid thing he had a grip on right now. For the first time in his life, he was getting aroused, and couldn�t even think beyond the moment. He should be telling Kakashi to stop right now, that they were in public and Naruto or Sakura or anyone else could come along at any instant and let their hand glide down his side and underneath the waistband of his pants.

"Kakashi- ah." It was a mistake to open his mouth, because then Sasuke couldn�t hold back an incredulous gasp. Just when had this ever involved not taking off your clothes, bare skin, and rough domination? Sasuke didn�t even have the rational thought to protest what Kakashi�s fingers were brushing against, shaking all the way down to the core as tried to hold himself in one piece. Kakashi used his other hand to unzip Sasuke�s pants, freeing a pink, engorged shaft. He clenched his eyes, mouth, hands, and feet all closed in merely attempt to keep from screaming aloud. He was not this responsive, this easy to seduce; falling apart at the seams from a pleasure he had no idea existed.

The only reason Sasuke managed to keep himself from going blind with that quivering, consuming sensation threatening to explode was because he heard Kakashi�s soft, even breath behind him. It wasn�t like Itachi�s breathless panting or Naruto�s annoying whine, just strangely soothing and reminded him just why he respected Kakashi, who always managed to stay so frustrating cool despite the situations they were thrown into. Sasuke couldn�t handle it, lost as Kakashi put a large hand around his length, slowly stroking him with his pinky lightly teasing the thin skin on his balls.

Sasuke wasn�t sure if he screamed when he came, losing consciousness for just a moment. He was staring at semen-splattered grass though, Kakashi cleaning him up with a handkerchief. Sasuke wished he had the strength to frown or yell at Kakashi for mistreating him like this, but a wonderful apathy had taken over. It wasn�t the usual numbness, but a relative contentment and peace. He allowed Kakashi to zip his pants up and pull clothes back into place without complaint, mainly because he didn�t think he could manage it on his own. Sasuke wasn�t quite dizzy, but he certainly didn�t have all of his usual faculties right now, weary and lightheaded.

"Now, was that so scary?" Kakashi was making fun of him right now, probably because he knew that Sasuke couldn�t very well fight back at the moment. He wanted to kill Kakashi for making him feel so calm and at ease, tired after that race and Kakashi�s ministrations. The silver-haired man pulled his mask and forehead protector back into place, clearly giving Sasuke time to recover on his own. In the end, Kakashi looped an arm under his and hauled Sasuke up to his feet. Surprisingly enough, they seemed to work right now, even though it was unsteady and Sasuke didn�t doubt he would have fallen if Kakashi weren�t holding him up. At least Kakashi was allowing him the dignity of stumbling along instead of picking Sasuke up and carrying him�wherever. Sasuke suddenly thought to wonder why they were moving when Kakashi had already given him a hand job by the riverbank. Well, it wasn�t as if they had been in any real danger of discovery in a lazy town like Konoha.

"Heeeeey!" Called out a familiar, energetic voice. Kakashi and Sasuke both looked to the side to see Naruto charging up the dirt path to the bridge. Sasuke�s mouth dropped, partly in how close the blonde had been to coming across them in a very compromising position, and that the idiot didn�t even look tired. The shorter boy came to a screeching halt in front of them, sweating a bit but smiling a lot. Sasuke hated the twinge of jealousy that ripped through him when Naruto flashed a victory sign, obviously ready to celebrate his completion of the race. Sasuke hadn�t even been able to stay on his feet.

"Oh, Naruto, good timing," Kakashi greeted him, Sasuke frowning as he wondered if it was really �good timing� at all. "Why don�t you take Sasuke home?" Kakashi suggested, even though both of them looked up sharply at the idea. Kakashi had better not make a big deal of this, or Sasuke didn�t know what he would do. He suddenly couldn�t wait to get away from Kakashi�s side as Naruto scratched his hair, no doubt confused that they weren�t making a bigger fuss over him finishing the race.

"Huh? Okay�" Naruto shuffled over and Sasuke was silently transferred from an arm around Kakashi�s waist to Naruto�s shoulders. The blonde held onto his wrist and side to get a better hold on Sasuke while Kakashi just watched. Sasuke glared at the man, wishing that he could read Kakashi better instead of feeling like he was being observed, judged, and found lacking. Naruto was just grumbling beside him, hauling Sasuke up and eyeing him as well.

"�What�s wrong with you?" Naruto asked, obviously not seeing the reason why Sasuke needed help just to walk. Kakashi just smiled and started humming as he pulled out his book and began reading. Sasuke wasn�t fooled, sure that the teacher was ready to listen to every word between them. Maybe he shouldn�t have said anything to Kakashi after all�except, he had never felt like this before, closest he had to having no worries at all in his whole life.

"Nothing," Sasuke returned, hoping it could all be blamed on that stupid race and Naruto would leave things at that, but he knew that the idiot was curious as a cat. He just wanted the moron to start walking faster and get them away from Kakashi before the blonde said anything embarrassing. Sasuke would need some time to sort everything out in his head, still reeling from what had just happened. He wanted to go home, but for once, he didn�t want to be alone either. Sasuke was glad that Kakashi had seen fit to order Naruto to take him home, leaning on the shorter blonde a bit more than necessary.

"Wait, don�t tell me it�s because you were afraid I�d win," Naruto deduced aloud, forcing a rush of heat to Sasuke�s cheeks. He glanced over and sure enough, the blonde was already grinning like a shark, chuckling as he waiting for the answer. Sasuke didn�t know what kind of idiocy had gotten into Naruto�s head, but he didn�t like it one bit.

"You wish, moron!" Sasuke yelled right back, hanging even more of his weight off of Naruto. The boy staggered, almost losing his footing and making them both stumble before he recovered. It was followed by curses and several comments about Sasuke�s physique that just weren�t true at all. Of course, he started telling Naruto so in a very loud voice, forgetting that he should try to walk off with some dignity in front of his teacher. He wasn�t afraid anymore, and the euphoria following was all-consuming.

Kakashi shook his head as the two walked off, still yelling at each other. Naruto�s stamina was unbelievable, the boy still ready to carry a friend home even after running around the village. What was even more amazing was Sasuke�s time, but Kakashi didn�t doubt it was because the young Uchiha didn�t want to lose to Naruto. Those two could be rather good together, the dynamic teamwork they had shown before proof, but Kakashi had suspected from that very night when he came across a child beaten to death and sadistically raped that the survivor of the Uchiha clan wouldn�t have an easy love life. He was glad that Sasuke had come to him; sure that Naruto would have probably pressed too hard and too soon, not having any sort of detachment or patience. And, those two attributes were needed in abundance when dealing with Sasuke. Kakashi wasn�t exactly-�

"Kakashi-sensei!" yelled the last voice he had expected to hear. Kakashi turned around, his thumb poised to open to his marked page in Love Love Paradise, and saw Sakura running up to meet him. Well, running wasn�t exactly the right word for it, but she was certainly going above a jog. Her hair was a mess, soaked through and stringy with sweat, and Sakura�s face was bright red as she finally crossed the bridge and came to stand in front of him. Kakashi had never thought that Sakura would be able to finish this course before nightfall, but he supposed it was what he deserved for underestimating his student. Perhaps Sakura had been training a bit extra as well.

"Kakashi-sensei, where�s�Sasuke and�Naruto?" Sakura panted out, hands braced on both knees as she dropped her head below her shoulders and heaved for air. Kakashi smiled sympathetically at her behind his mask, pretty sure that Sakura didn�t have a clue yet. He had been pretty sure from the start that Sasuke had never been interested in girls just from the way the boy reacted to the constant praise and compliments the fairer sex gave him; but even Kakashi still thought it was strange that Sasuke would actually come around to liking Naruto so soon.

"They already left together," Kakashi informed her, waving his book dismissively. Sakura was a smart girl, but too emotional. He would hate to see her reaction if she found out the two other boys in their group were becoming very, very friendly. All the girls did admire Sasuke and would be crushed to hear where the Uchiha�s sexual preferences lay, with Sakura no different. Her head shot up at that, her hard breathing stopping immediately as she stared at him. Kakashi gazed back at her, unable to tell if she was upset at the news or the fact she had finished last- like that hadn�t been expected.

"Damn it!" Sakura screamed out at Kakashi, down the road, the whole village, as birds took flight in the forest.
AUTHOR�S NOTES: Thank you to cdk, duenna, GinTsuki, hentaiyaou, Iceheart19, iie nome, Lexy, Navi, pink bunny1, Sasuke 89, sophy. What a fast, fabulous response in the reviews! Warm fuzzy feeling, all around, and it inspired me to write before ff.net catches wind of this last Bastille of smut! I think this is a record for how fast I wrote something, this is a perfect example of reviews really making a difference. In turn though, forgive the grievous grammatical/spelling errors (unless you want to beta, then email me NOW).

Ha ha ha�sweat as I catch yet more errors.

Did I trick any of you on what the pairing was going to be? �considering you didn�t cheat and read the summary! ^_^;; What a spin (sex with minors is what I call a plot device!...gawd; I�m only furthering the argument that I�m a complete pervert, huh? I don�t condone it in real life!) Well, Naruto+Sasuke is still the main theme to hold this boat together, but everyone else deserves a good time too. Especially my love, Kakashi. I blame this all on the new batch of Naruto episodes coming out that have effectively placed Sasuke and Kakashi on the side burner�though I wouldn�t have minded staring at Naruto�s ass in Lee�s old uniform. (On a side note, Gai and Lee are so gay together; I just might have to cook something up for them too).

Sorry about the shortness, but I ended up either rushed or manic creative, still can�t decide which. (Also, apologize for the seizure-inducing laughter that might have taken over anyone at me calling this �short�)

Go see Fahrenheit 9/11! Meow!

(Super Troopers if you haven�t already, too)
*mucho gracias to the Yaoi Fairie for reporting that the chapters got messed up. I don�t check my own work, so if the chapter suddenly cuts off, you�ve got to tell me so~! I can fix it, I swear!!!
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