He couldn't believe his eyes. As the blonde stood, his feet filling with concrete as he came to a halt, his eyes wide as he stared at the familiar face before him. What had initially been a search for Sakura's missing cat, had quickly turned into an unwanted reunion. Leaning up against a tree, a cocky smirk shined back at him as the familiar voice filled the air.

"Hn.. I see you've perfected that stupid look on your face… Dobe."

"Tsk."

"What? After all this time, that's all I get, usuratonkachi? A tongue click?"

As Naruto gritted his teeth, his upper lip beginning to snarl, he stared down the Uchiha, growling as he failed to recognize the person he once was. That stupid hair… That hideous cloak… I can't stand it! This guy pisses me off! I want the real Sasuke back, I miss him. Don't you know who these people are, Sasuke? They killed Asuma-sensei… Gaara… and now, you look just like them.

Having about as much as he could tolerate, Naruto stomped over to the Uchiha in a flash, ripping the cloak off in one snatch, throwing it down on the ground with added emphasis, his brow furrowing as he eyed the offending hair. Ruffling the raven-colored locks, Naruto pushed Sasuke's hair back and out of his face as he watched the Uchiha struggle to assess the situation.

"Naruto! What are you..? Hey-knock it off!"

Sans the akatsuki cloak, and with his face now visible, Naruto's eyes softened as he caught a glimpse of his long-lost friend. For just a brief moment, the Uchiha's surprise at the Uzumaki's actions had allowed Naruto to see raw emotion, not a guise, not a rouse, nothing preconceived or planned… just pure shock, the blonde had rattled him. Even as the Uchiha fidgeted with his bangs, mumbling obscenities under his breath, Naruto could still see him inside, the real Sasuke… his Sasuke.

With that one look, it had flooded Naruto's mind of all the pain and loneliness he had tried to shirk since Sasuke's disappearance. He could now admit it freely that when the Uchiha had left, it had burned him deeply. He thought they had a connection.. he thought they were friends.. he thought they understood each other, but Sasuke had left him. No goodbye, no letter, no explanation… he just evaporated. All at once the too familiar pain of abandonment seized Naruto's chest as he felt his eyes begin to water.

He had pretended to be fine without his best friend, acting the cool guy part as to not draw any unwanted questions for fear of breaking down completely, but in this moment, as the Uchiha stood before him, Naruto pushed it all aside… the anger, the resentment, it all made room for a fleeting moment, one that he would not miss again.

"Sasuke…" Naruto whispered, his voice cracking as he leaned into a kiss, his hands grabbing the sides of the other's face as he pulled their lips down against each other. As he kissed Sasuke with the pent up longing he had held onto all these years, Naruto found himself a little embarrassed as he pulled away and noted the surprised look on the Uchiha's face.

"I've missed you, Teme."