disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Masashi Kishimoto. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A Feeling Worth Killing For

Sasuke gave a wry grin and crouched down beside the corpse. He coughed up some blood, wincing as his throat burned, and spat it out before bending down to pick up the severed head of the missing-nin. Wiping his mouth with the other hand, he nodded at the other shinobi waiting in the trees.

He wrapped the head into a sheet of scented linen and followed them quickly. He wasn't thinking about the man he had just killed, he wasn't thinking about the life he'd just taken – he only thought about returning home with the head, ready for another mission. He was the last Uchiha, the current most elite ninja in the village – they expected him to take care of them.

And he fulfilled their wishes, as he'd always done. His father had told him "be perfect", and he'd done everything in his powers to make the Uchiha clan proud. Itachi had said "hate me", and he had hated. Orochimaru had said "come to me", and he had followed. Konoha had said "save us", and he'd done his best to protect his village.

So when Naruto had said "come back and kill for me", Sasuke had complied with unveiled eagerness.

Naruto didn't even have to do much. There was no great convincing, no great speeches of how much Konoha wanted and needed him. The demands haunting him from his childhood had been dealt with, and Sasuke Uchiha was ready for the next challenge.

Naruto had just come at the right time, it was as simple as that. The other man had never asked what would have happened if there had been another challenge first, but Sasuke guessed it was because Naruto knew he wouldn't be able to answer. Faced with choices, Sasuke became confused; and that was – as they were all painfully aware of – not a good state for him to be in.

The kill still fresh in his memory, the smell of blood permeating the air around him, Sasuke was happy. He'd done what had been demanded, and he'd excelled. He'd made his clan proud, and he'd saved his village.

Taking a deep breath, Sasuke reveled in the feeling of success. He knew he wasn't supposed to feel proud, but rather humble and still demand more of himself, but he'd steadily discovered over the past few years, that making Naruto happy made him feel content.

Sasuke liked seeing the smile on Naruto's face, the praise he was given in form of a few well chosen words. He lived for those moments in the Hokage's office, when the blonde man would tell him how he could make him happy.

Naruto glanced up at Sasuke, taking in the worn face and winced internally before giving his assassin a fake smile. The other man was watching him intently, the bloodied face as stern as ever, the unreadable mind most likely already on the next mission. Naruto wondered if anything could make his friend content at all. He held the sigh back that wanted to escape his lips, and glanced at the severed head on his desk before looking back up.

"Well done, Sasuke. Please continue the good work."

end