A/N: Hello! This fic was just a thought that came to me. It starts about chapter 228. I want it to continue after Naruto and Sasuke's battle started. There are probably some OOC parts, but it's my fic there fore they do my bidding! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ahem, anyway I hope you enjoy it.

"What are you!? Every time I have you cornered and I think I have you beat, your chakura explodes and I'm the one struggling! How do you get that kind of power!?"

Sasuke was breathless from the fight and resent outburst. Naruto had been breathing heavily but Sasuke's frustrated questions stilled his breath. Naruto looked at Sasuke with sadness and a hint of fear in his eyes. He was afraid of how Sasuke would act if he found out what was sealed inside of him.

" . . .Everything comes with a price," Naruto said resolutely.

Sasuke knew this was true, but what made him curious was how this applied to Naruto.

" . . .What price did you pay?"

" . . .If you come back to the village with me I'll tell you."

" . . ." Sasuke weighed the pros and cons of the situation. The con's won, but Sasuke's curiosity was greater. "All right . . .I'll go back."

Naruto genuinely smiled at Sasuke. He was glad he didn't have to hurt him in order to get him to go back. It took a couple days to get back to the village, but they didn't mind it. The track back was peaceful. Naruto was unusually quieted yet happy. Sasuke was in a good mood since Naruto wasn't getting on his nerves. Sasuke noticed things about Naruto he hadn't seen before. He was quite handsome when his mouth wasn't hanging open spewing insults at him. Just looking at Naruto seemed to make him feel at ease and warm inside. Of course Naruto was completely unaware of all this and Sasuke liked it that way.

Once they got to the village Kakashi and Sakura were there to greet them along with some other people. Once everything calmed down they continued to Naruto's apartment. Sasuke followed Naruto in to the living room and sat down on the couch as Naruto continued on to the kitchen.

" . . .You want some ramen?" Naruto asked as he got a package of it down for himself.

"Sure."

Naruto was getting nervous now and kept his mind busy by focusing on making the ramen. The silence that fell was deafening. Both wanted to fill it but hardly knew what to say. Sasuke didn't know how to approach Naruto about their conversation at the river. He'd never seen Naruto afraid since the Zabuzan incident. Naruto didn't want to tell Sasuke about the Kyuubi, but he said he would and he didn't want Sasuke running off again if he didn't tell him. Naruto entered the living room and put the bowls of ramen on the coffee table and sat down beside Sasuke. Naruto picked up his bowl and Sasuke followed suit. Sasuke was really starting to get worried though because Naruto wasn't eating his ramen the way he usually did. He was actually using his chopsticks and he was eating at a normal human pace.

"You don't want it?" Naruto said noticing Sasuke hadn't started eating yet.

Sasuke looked at his bowl and it's contents and looked back to Naruto. "Is it really that serious?"

Naruto looked at him a bit perplexed before the light bulb came on. "Well, yes, but I'm more worried how you'll react . . .I don't want to you to look at me with same eyes as everyone else."

" . . .What eyes?" Sasuke had been alone like Naruto but he wasn't shunned and looked down upon by every one as Naruto has been, so he doesn't understand.

Naruto was looking at his ramen all traces of his usual sunny self absent. A new forlorn disposition was present. Sasuke had never seen this side of Naruto before and he found he didn't like it and it didn't fit Naruto.

" . . .They look at me as if I'm a monster, something below dirt. Their eyes are so cold and heartless that I feel like running and hiding. When they look at me like that . . .I don't even feel human."

Naruto tilted his head a bit to look at Sasuke. He was looking back at him with shock and disbelief evident in his eyes and face. How could the villagers be so cruel? Sasuke knew people avoided Naruto unless it was to pick on him, but he never thought he was truly hated by the village. Then it hit him.

" . . .Naruto? Is the reason why everyone hates you and how you got your power related?" Naruto shook his head yes. "Will you tell me?"

Naruto shook his head again looking at his bowl. "You remember the Kyuubi that attacked the village twelve years ago?" Sasuke shook his head. "They told us that it was sealed, but what they didn't mention is where or in what it was sealed. It turns out the fourth Hokage sealed it into the bellybutton of an infant . . ."

". . . Well? Who was the child?"

" . . .Me," Naruto lifted up his jacket and shirt to reveal his bellybutton and the seal surrounding it.

It all came together. The reason why the adults and kids despised Naruto, why he was always alone, and why he pulled the stunts he did. He was alone and hated. Sasuke knew what it was to be alone, but not to be hated be everyone you knew. Sasuke was still looking at the seal when Naruto lowered his shirt and jacket. He wasn't sure how to act anymore. He looked Naruto in the eyes. His azure eyes anxious for some sort of response be it good or bad. Sasuke put his untouched bowl on the coffee table, grabbed Naruto's and did the same. Sasuke moved closer to Naruto and wrapped his arms around his neck and held him tight. Naruto was completely at a loss. Sasuke had never shown any kind of feelings or compassion towards him, but Naruto felt at ease in his arms. Naruto hugged Sasuke back and put his chin on Sasuke's shoulder and heaved a sight of relief and contentment. When Sasuke moved to let go Naruto went with him. Sasuke was a bit confused. Naruto's body was completely slack. Sasuke moved to look at his face. Naruto had fallen asleep.

Naruto looked so tranquil as he slept. His skin looked to smooth and his light even breaths were gently lapping at his neck. Sasuke wasn't sure what he was feeling, but he knew he liked this warmth that seemed to envelope his whole being. Sasuke leaned back more on the couch until he was prostrate on the couch with Naruto lying on top of him. Sasuke gently wrapped his arms around Naruto and locked his fingers together behind Naruto's back and let his consciousness fade as sleep overtook his body and mind.

Naruto shifted a little, but stopped all movement when he heard a slight moan come from beneath him. Naruto shifted his gaze up and to the right a bit and noticed he was lying on Sasuke of all people. Naruto started to get nervous and tried to lift himself off, but he found Sasuke was holding him still. He looked back at Sasuke and noticed he was starting to wake up. Sasuke let go of Naruto to rub the sleep from his eyes. Naruto took his chance and got up. Naruto's cheeks were tinted pink as he backed up a bit still looking at Sasuke who was now sitting up blearily looking back at Naruto.

"Wow he's so cute in the morning . . .! What the hell am I thinking??"

Naruto went even redder and backed up a few more steps. Sasuke was now waking up fully and looked at Naruto confusedly.

"What's up with him? Why's his face so red? Whatever, it's none of my business, but he does look kind of cute."

"Naruto."

"What!"

"Can I use your shower?"

" . . .Sure"

Sasuke stood up and walked into the bathroom and closed the door. Naruto released his breath he didn't even knew he was holding. Feeling a little overwhelmed he slumped back down on the couch to think.

"What the hell is going on? I came home and told Sasuke about the Kyuubi and then I woke up on top of him! Okay I must have fallen asleep on him, but why didn't he just push me off or go home. That was a good nights sleep though. I feel very refreshed from that long hike back. I should get in after . . ."

Naruto's thoughts were cut off when Sasuke, dripping wet wrapped in only a towel, walked out of the bathroom. Naruto couldn't look away. Sasuke's gleaming tone muscles and every dip and curve was mesmerizing. It took a bit for Naruto to realize he had been staring so intently at his body that his face turned the deepest shade of red Sasuke had ever seen on a human face. In fact it even made Sasuke turn pink at the amount that Naruto was looking at him.

"Uh, um, Naruto. Do you have some clothes I can borrow until I can get back to my place?"

Naruto nodded dumbly before getting up and slipping past Sasuke into his bedroom to retrieve the clothes. When Sasuke was done and dressed he left only saying that he'd return the clothes later. Naruto let out a sigh of relief when he was gone. It was all around a tense morning, but now Naruto was hungry so he made a bowl of ramen and sat down to eat. Meanwhile across town at Sasuke's apartment he had just finished changing into his regular clothes and sat down on the couch.

"That . . .that was not right. Naruto's eyes were roaming all over and I didn't even mind! I . . .I liked it. I liked it? That's creepy. I guess that makes me gay. What about Naruto? No one goes around him so how do I know what he prefers? Wait, he's always trying to go out with Sakura. Then why was he looking at me like that? Is he Bi? I shouldn't focus on this I should be training."

And with that Sasuke got up and left to go train. A week passes and noting really happens and Sasuke and Naruto forget about the incident and things go on as usual. Sasuke had woken up as usual at sunrise and went through his morning routines and was first to arrive at team sevens meeting spot on the bridge. Sakura soon joined him. As Sasuke was trying to fend off Sakura he noticed Naruto was late. When he finally wandered onto the bridge his usual sunny personality seemed dimmed. Sakura had stopped talking to Sasuke when she noticed he was staring at something. She turned her head to gaze in the direction Sasuke was looking. Naruto was walking onto the bridge and stopped and looked at the two.

" . . .What?"

Sakura shrugged her shoulders, "Nothing."

" . . .What's wrong?" Sasuke inquired.

"What do you mean? Nothing's wrong."

Sasuke looked hard at Naruto. Something was wrong. The way he carried himself today was different, like he was some how defeated. Naruto wasn't smiling and jumping around and being loud like always. Something was definitely wrong.

"You're later than usual," Sasuke pointed out.

"So. I woke up late."

"Why are your eyes puffy then?"

"Lack of sleep."

"Uh-huh," Sasuke said not believing much of what Naruto said.

"What business is it of yours?! Just leave me alone!"

Naruto walked over to the opposite railing that Sasuke and Sakura were leaning on, hoped up on it, and sat down facing the river and morning sun. Sasuke was used to Naruto's outbursts, but not ones of that nature.