Never Perfect

I know there hasn’t been much Sasu/Naru or Naru/Sasu but guys..he’s traumatized. It’s coming lol. Sneaky Fox I look up the people who review me to see if I’ve read anything of theirs or if they have anything I haven’t read. The art was great and very clear; I’m waiting to see what happens next. Morlana thank you for your review and yeah I did think of that but even if Danzo did think of blocking summoning in the chamber Naruto is outside it. But I doubt he would have bothered considering you need the summonee (lol is that a word?) to sign the contract. Bumblebee tyty, I tried to make this one quick too but a bit longer. It’s getting easier now. Animelover, if the last one had you shaking, your gonna love this, thanks for such an honest review. Blooshadowfox, unfortunately your gonna have to keep waiting, I know everyone wants to know about his eye but…that’s for later still.

Lastly before I shut the hell up, Waffles, if I wasn’t already engaged I’d marry you. Everybody, it’s a bit bloody but it’s true to form please go and look at this amazing picture that Waffles made of how I see Naruto http ://i44.tinypic.com/efh4j7.jpg%3Cbr
Just remove the space. She had captured what I was trying to convey in my story, how I see Naruto. Pls look at this amazing art work. ONWARDS!!!

Sasuke didn’t think he was anywhere near far enough from the Leaf Village, but he couldn’t stand the idea of Naruto having to wait alone any longer. He dropped from the tree he stood on and fell towards the ground, unfurling the scroll as he went so it danced around him before settling flat on the ground.

As soon as it settled, smoke puffed out and a wrenching keening howl assaulted the Uchiha’s ears for a few seconds before it was cut off. The smoke cleared and a very wary Naruto crouched naked, covered in old blood on the now blank scroll. Sasuke has hesitant to approach him until Naruto had his bearings but time was short. People would be after them, and Sasuke already knew Sakura had trailed not far behind, damn the woman. Slowly though, Naruto was beginning to come out of his crouch to stand tall, upright completely for the first time and Sasuke noticed more than the important facts.

Yes, Naruto had grown taller than himself, but he was thinner then Sasuke’s whipcord frame. What suited the raven was not a good thing for the blond. His shoulders were broad; they were meant to carry thicker muscles. It hurt Sasuke all over again to see what had been done to the fox. He could ignore Sakura. Naruto had needs that could not wait. Sasuke dug through one of his packs, pulling out clothes, all black, and some food bars. Naruto watched on, one slitted eye tracking his movements. Sasuke threw him one of the bars and was unsurprised when Naruto caught it easily. At least his depth perception had already adjusted.

“Eat, Dobe.”

Confusion reigned in the blond’s expression, and he brought the bar to his nose and took a sniff. Sasuke sighed and brought a bar to his own mouth and took a bite. Naruto copied his movements; his eye widened in remembrance and he promptly shoved the whole thing in. He had forgotten about food, but not about Sasuke. The Uchiha felt the flame in his icy heart expand a little. Easily he tossed bars while Naruto consumed them. When he slowed down to nibbling, Sasuke offered him another bar. Naruto ignored it, which Sasuke took to mean he’d had enough.

Any moment Sakura would be on them. Sasuke wanted Naruto dressed for that but also knew that there was no point until they cleaned off the dried blood. He turned towards where he knew a stream ran; he could hear it through the trees.

“Bath time. There’s a stream nearby.”

Naruto shoved the last bit of the bar in his mouth and followed the raven’s retreating back. When they reached the stream Naruto passed him and ran to kneel beside it, scooping great handfuls of water and gulping it down. Sasuke found himself mildly disgusted by the newly wetted old blood dripping down the blond’s chest and without thinking planted a foot on Naruto’s bare ass and shoved him in. Naruto came up snarling, but made no move to actually attack him.

“Well you stink, Dobe, and Sakura is going to see you in all your glory shortly.”

Naruto cocked his head to one side, blue eye thoughtful.

“Teme.”

His voice was gravely but clear.

“You’re talking now?”

Naruto just pointed one finger at him.

“Teme,” he repeated, before he turned away and began scrubbing at himself, while ignoring the thoroughly irritated man on the bank. Sasuke just hoped he would soon start communicating more than that.

“Figures that would be the first thing out of YOUR mouth.”

Sakura joined them then, quietly coming to stand beside the Uchiha.

“He spoke?”

Naruto kept his back turned but one ear turned towards them, showing he was listening.

“I, personally, wouldn’t call it speaking. Now what are you doing here, Sakura?”

Her eyes were downcast but her voice was firm. Sasuke’s gaze never wavered from Naruto.

“I won’t abandon him again. I couldn’t.”

Sasuke sighed. He didn’t want to have to deal with this. However, there was no use arguing anyway. He had no idea what Naruto was capable of in his current state, so an extra person may come in handy. Although, if she slowed them down she would be left behind.

“He’s so thin.”

Sasuke didn’t need his own previous observations thrown back at him. The pain of being reminded about the state of the once robust man made Sasuke want to lash out again.

“He’s been surviving on Charka alone for months on end and not moving an inch so as to stay away from the walls in that room. He’s atrophied and starved. What did you expect?”

Shame, regret and pain all flashed over her features, and the emotions were stark in her eyes. Naruto cut in before Sasuke could inflict anymore verbal wounds. He walked out of the stream, seeming completely ignorant of his bare state. Sakura turned bright pink as he passed her by.

“Dobe, put some clothes on.”

Sasuke chucked the black shirt and pants at him. Naruto caught them and proceeded to sniff at them, like he had the food and Sasuke was afraid he’d have to show him that, too.

“Teme.”

“What?”

Naruto shook his entire body to rid it of water before ignoring Sasuke and pulling the clothes on, without confusion or struggle. Sasuke realised he’d just been making a statement about the scent on the clothes.

“That’s what he said before?”

Sasuke nodded, feeling a little peeved. “That’s all. I shoved him in the stream and told him he stank.”

Naruto’s growl was muffled from inside the high neck of the shirt as first his ears then his head popped out.

“So Naruto, you understand us?” Sakura seemed hopeful.

One ear swivelled but the blond’s face remained blank.

“I think it’s more my tone he’s responding to, although he seems to understand somewhat. Now that he’s eaten and clean, we need to get moving.”

Sakura nodded. “I’ll take point. Where are we going?”

Even before he’d gotten the fox man out of Konoha, Sasuke had been thinking about where they would go. He’d even tired to think about what Naruto would want. Naruto wouldn’t have wanted to start a war by going to Sand, even though Gaara would take them, well at least Naruto. However, Sasuke would not be separated from him again. Naruto would want nothing but peace, so Sand was off the list. Sasuke had settled on sound, or at least what flimsy remnants were left. He knew the abandoned hideouts. Even if it was an obvious choice for him, perhaps their pursuers would take that into account and overcomplicate things by trying to ‘see underneath the underneath’. Not being with Gaara was a good start and stated that the obvious would be ruled out. That may buy them some precious time.

“Sound, Sakura,” he finally answered.

Her eyes were troubled, but she kept her opinions to herself and took off in the correct direction. Naruto watched her go, his face giving away nothing before he turned to regard the other man.

“I can still send her away,” Sasuke offered, meeting Naruto’s questioning eye. It had almost been a question, but he hadn’t wanted to be seen taking Naruto’s wants into account in front of the woman. The blond Nin turned back to where Sakura had taken to the trees and then took off after her. For all of his visible breakdown, it was clear Naruto’s muscles and body still worked. He was quick and agile. His bare feet made no sound, and his charka stayed masked as cleanly as Sasuke and Sakura. The Uchiha brought up the rear, just wishing that Naruto would communicate. Teme did not count, but it warmed him. Perhaps it was more like a toddler addressing a parent for the first time. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth. That wasn’t what he wanted from the man. Shaking off his thoughts, Sasuke made sure to keep up his sweep for pursuers

Night came, but they pushed on until Naruto stumbled. Sasuke was there to catch him before he hit the ground. Sakura had stopped and returned, keeping her distance as a minor scuffle broke out between the two as Naruto tried to strain out of Sasuke’s grasp and keep moving.

“Calm down idiot! You’re tired, we’re all tired. We’ll take a rest, nobody’s following us yet.”

Naruto calmed at his words and finally stilled his attempts to free himself. Sasuke took that as his cue and released him.

Sakura couldn’t help but marvel at the communication between the two. The normally silent Uchiha was using words to reach the silently responding Naruto. Even in his withdrawn state, Naruto took it on and Sasuke filled in the blanks.

“Teme.”

Sasuke sighed and rubbed one hand over his face.

“Yeah I get it, Dobe. Everyone gets it. I’m a bastard.”

The one blue eye took on a twinkle even in the darkness. That was enough to stir up the Uchiha’s emotions, and others parts of him. It was a sign of life. Of levity. God how he wanted the fool, he had for so long. All of that had been secondary to his goals, especially since Naruto had been safe. But now, Naruto’s life had been entangled with those goals. The very people Sasuke wanted dead had tried to kill him, destroy him. As Sasuke lost himself in his thoughts, Naruto’s head cocked to one side and he sniffed the air. His body shifted and silently he began to stalk the black haired Nin, circling.

“Sasuke, what is he doing?” Sakura’s voice was concerned.

Sasuke himself wasn’t sure so he stayed very still. “I don’t know, Sakura, although it seems like a typical predator and prey movement. I’m not sure what set him off and why he’s stalking me. No matter what happens, whatever he does next, stay out of it.”

The fox Nin had completed one full circle about Sasuke and was beginning another. He was behind Sasuke when he struck. Fighting his natural instincts, Sasuke didn’t fight as Naruto’s slim body plastered firmly over his back. One arm snaked around his waist to lay one hand, fingers splayed, firmly across his lower hips and belly. The other reached up under his arm to grasp his chin and turn his face away, tilted to the side to leave his neck unprotected. Sasuke flinched at his vulnerable position but then froze again as the gold head lowered; one fox ear slid across his cheek before burning lips touched the exposed skin.

“He’s not attacking. What IS he doing?” Sasuke couldn’t see Sakura but the edge on her voice made him wish to cringe. He both cursed and blessed Sakura’s presence as he felt those lips and tongue begin to work at his neck, sending shudders through him. She distracted him.

“I think..Ahhhh. He’s trying to establish dominance.”

His small gasp had been a result of sharp teeth biting down on his shoulder after being used to pull his shirt away. Sasuke didn’t want to stop what was happening. This was the first time Naruto had willingly reached out to him, touched him. For it to be in this manner, Naruto must have smelt the Uchiha’s arousal. That must have been what set him off.

“Naruto I’m not fighting you but you have to stop.”

Sakura’s eyes remained wide, her breathing uneven. Naruto nuzzled the other man in reaction to his statement, the hand on his stomach tightening, strong fingers burning the other man as his hips were pushed back so Sasuke could feel Naruto’s own arousal against him.

“Why are you letting him do that? You should fight him.”

Sasuke’s body continued to shudder under the onslaught; he was helpless to control his body even with Sakura right there. Judging by her uneven breathing and dilated pupils, she was enjoying the show more then she wished. Sasuke could just see her out of the corner of his eye.

“If he needs this to feel safe then so be it. He’ll stop once he’s satisfied. I won’t stop him.”

At least, Sasuke hoped so. He wasn’t really interested in giving Sakura a show if things were heading where he thought they were heading. However, he hadn’t lied. If that’s what Naruto needed then to hell with the green eyes that were locked on them, because he needed this too. He would try words one more time. He wanted Naruto to be fully conscious of what was happening if Sasuke was to surrender to him. Gently, he slid one hand over the possessive grip on his abdomen, then the other threaded up into Naruto’s hair.

“But it’s so …….. sexual.” Sakura’s voice remained a little shaky.

Sasuke ignored her and gently turned his chin loose from the grip Naruto had on it. “I’m not running away and I’m not fighting, but we need to keep moving a bit longer, Naruto.”

Naruto’s face finally lifted from his neck. That one heated eye locked on Sakura.

“Is he …. Going to do that to me next?”

Sasuke suppressed the derisive sound that wanted to escape from between his lips as Naruto dropped his hands and moved away. He brought one hand up, feeling his shoulder and finding the imprint of teeth. He locked eyes with a satisfied looking Naruto.

“You’ll pay for that another time, Dobe.”

Naruto melted back into the forest but the Uchiha was not concerned. The break was good for them and he’d be back.

“He bit you? Hey! Where’s he going? Stop him, Sasuke.”

Wordlessly he pulled his shirt back up over the marks before turning a frown towards the woman.

“It’s dominance Sakura. He was marking me. It’s better than pissing on my leg.”

She made a face at his crude remark.

“He hasn’t gone far. Give him a few minutes, and then we’ll go. When one of us stumbles again we’ll stop.”

Kneeling to relieve the pressure of his pants restraining his aching cock, Sasuke took the time to tune Sakura out and focus on his thoughts. God he wished he knew what was going on in Naruto’s head. He could still feel the burning pressure where Naruto had deliberately made the raven feel the hard press of his rigid length against Sasuke’s ass. Was it all dominance as the black haired man had suggested to Sakura? One male animal making sure another male knew his place?

A long time ago, Sasuke had come to terms with how Naruto made him feel. He wasn’t an idiot, even if he had spent a lot of time with one. He’d acknowledged how he felt drawn to Naruto even when they were boys. Before he had even left the village he’d settled into a young boy’s fantasy: masturbating when he was alone to blond hair, blue eyes and a cheeky grin. Finding better uses for that babbling mouth.

When the curse seal had driven him to hurt Naruto, he’d managed not to kill him. He dreamt about him while they were apart for so long. Sasuke had not been chaste either, but the bodies under him had not matched fantasies of Naruto rising strong over him, feeling his back muscles flex under Sasuke’s own hands. Nor the dreams of holding those slim hips still as he claimed the blond. Maybe Sasuke had hoped that in Naruto’s obsession with coming after him, there was a sign of some of his own feelings being reciprocated.

Right now, Sasuke didn’t know what was what until Naruto started acting more human or until he spoke. Sakura chose that moment to sit next to him, interrupting his thoughts and making his continued ignorance of her presence impossible.

“Um … it looked … it …”

She stopped to lick her lips in a nervous gesture.

“It didn’t … look that bad. He seemed to make you enjoy it. Maybe if he wanted to do that to me, I could do what he needs, without fighting it.”

Inside Sasuke, parts of him were dying to cut her to shreds and leave her for the scavengers. So she was hoping Naruto would do it to her, was she? The arousal in her eyes had been true, then. She must have seen herself in his place. Well, when Naruto came back and if he tried because of her scent, Sasuke would stop him. He would use force if necessary; he would keep that glorious heat for himself.

“How very brave of you, Sakura.”

Her face went pink at the sarcasm in his voice and she stood to move away.

“You may not like me very much, Uchiha, but I’ve stayed by his side. I … care very deeply for him. For the sake of his recovery I would give him anything he needs from me.”

Sasuke arched an eyebrow. “I would do the same.”

Her flush deepened. “I don’t think we’re talking about the same thing here.”

Sasuke was spared from a few choice words about sex between two men by Naruto’s return. He looked calmer. As he came closer he sniffed the air and Sasuke tensed, ready to pin Naruto, but the one eyed man merely eyed Sakura for no longer than necessary.

“I think for now Sakura, you’re safe from making such a sacrifice of yourself.”

Her blush had calmed as she watched Naruto move slowly around. Her voice was soft and almost tender. “It would not be a hard sacrifice to make. For him.”

Sasuke ruthlessly stomped down his rage, remembering how she had treated Naruto as a kid. Maybe she had something for ‘tormented’ men.

“Let’s get moving again.” Sasuke suggested, his tone somewhat harsh. All further conversation on the matter was cut off as the trio once again took to the trees