Prologue

Wink is a Sign of Trust

I was leaning over a shipment of Caribbean rum when she sought me out again. "No Sakura." I cut off curtly. The ship rocked gently and she paused and she flicked her hair back frivolously. Naruto picked up on this, he seemed relieved but he had long overcome his jealously to go by her defence and he glared at me.

15 times I've rejected Sakura

3 times Sakura's rejected Naruto

5 times I've said something hazardously suggestive Naruto's been oblivious to

30+ on dejection. Though maybe it releases tension that i can say some of those things to his face.

She appeared wounded, then she pulled herself together to ask again. "Sure? Are you too busy or..,?" she tried again. He was scowling at me enviously from the other side of the ship.

10 times Naruto complained about an element that I rejected Sakura on

2 times I warned Sakura not to intimidate Naruto

4 times I caught Kakashi looking between me and Naruto imploringly, yet disdainfully

20+ it's unsatisfactory

I saw Kakashi-sensei in the distance, holding a crate he looked itching to relocate on me and Naruto. "I guess an I am." I compromised. If I flat out refused Naruto would seek me out, if I gave an excuse she'd be disillusioned wrongly. And it was a compromise in more ways than one, Kakashi was still headed my direction my his crate, Naruto still had his eyes on me.

"Why...?" She asked, in a way more direct, in a way more vague.

6 times Sakura expressed anger when I rejected her

7 times Naruto commented scathingly on my ability to attract females

me?

50+ on wrath. And that's just today's progress. 100, 100 usually meant something concerning me and Naruto would happen, not necessarily good, just concerning.

"I... hate ..you." 'for it.' I hissed, inaudibly. She was still waiting.

"Sasuke. Find Naruto and give these to the barman in the cabin below. Be careful, they're overly friendly and they're a lecherous bunch." Kakashi gleefully dumped the load on me and looked dully over to Sakura, see she couldn't go there under the circumstances. He winked at me before I moved to get Naruto, Sakura didn't see.

Naruto was mucking around shirtless on deck, shirtless was more befitting to his wildness. I envied it too, i knew i couldn't roam around shirtless. To me it was intimidating, tempting. A time I remember him shirtless would be in the chuunin exams, I was fully clothed. I've seen his torso bare more times, we dress, we undress in missions. But that memory was prominent because I didn't know why I found it attractive, alluring by that time even.

Another time I saw it and with more innocent thoughts would be the our first high ranked class mission in the house. I looked at him critically and for comparison.

At that time I threw my life away in front of Haku's hunter needles to save him. God knows why, but thank god I'm still alive. I would feel stupid for getting sentimental, but he expressed more emotion. Flattering he got that angry over me. Maybe it's because I'm a Uchiha that the power was alluring to me, after all, I was arrogant and that power could do more than level mine.

Another element of it. 'I didn't see my entire life flash before my eyes, struck by lethal poisoned needles. No, what I saw was Naruto alongside myself and still conscious enough to see actual images, mainly the time our mouths acquainted themselves before we did. Apparently I craved more of those moments. I could explain I saw only saw him at time because he was just next to me, and in danger, hence who I'd think about. I'd be lying. And I never did explain that, even when Sakura asked what I saw then.

His mind, his body, his soul.... His friendship, his status, his power, his eyes, his smile, his laugh, himself, his heart.

I shifted with the crate to enable Naruto get round to open the door. I could smell the tobacco and alcohol leaking from the door and hear the talk, I sighed, as did he. It was in a sense random but I winked at him when he was unlocking the door. He reacted curiously, but he winked back before he opened the door. I smiled.

Maybe it seems more like a possessive attraction towards Naruto over love. No love's that pure and I am possessive over him. But that's also not true, I want his company too. I see him often but I'd like to see him without a longing or visualizing to kill Sakura for being in the way or frustration that being categorized as a brother is not exactly what I want. Though I am proud that I get that much, Kiba can 'what up bro' him all he wants but I'm closer.

-

I was leaning over the rail and looking at the sea, at sunset. The blue of the sea and the blue of the sky together, Naruto's eyes are that vivid. It confuses my senses. Then the sunset, all warm colours reminding me of him and confusing me further.

Kakashi-sensei approached and appreciated the view too. "There are 2 monks standing under a cherry blossom. And one monk says; I'm very thirsty. And the other monk replies; Yes, but I'm quite tall."

"Did I miss something?" I asked bemused. He shook his head.

"Our home can be just as beautiful, but for a honey moon the Caribbean has some spectacular aspects to it. If you wanted to confess to someone," I looked over to him cynically. "him, Naruto." Kakashi detailed. I nodded slowly. "Not shocked I know Sasuke?" He inquired, expecting me to elaborate.

"I thought about all the people I know and what their reactions might be. You never said anything about it this directly but you were hinting at it." I answered. "A lot."

"And Naruto's too? His reaction?" He questioned.

"All the time. You might have guessed I didn't balance it out to be positive enough one. But that's me and my opinion."

"Naruto might be infamous for being oblivious. He doesn't pick up on those looks you give off. But he also has the Kyuubi, who's a great deal more perceptive, perhaps even susceptible to identifying them. Granted, they don't exactly communicate much. But don't think he'll stay clueless to it forever if you don't tell him yourself." Kakashi advised. He gave another furtive look between me and Naruto, more visible than the others. Then winked, for the second time that day. It was harder to interpret from the copy nin as he only had one eye showing.

"Why do you do that? wink, i mean." Kakashi shrugged then decided he'd answer.

"Maybe I'm just wishing you good luck. Why would you wink at Naruto?" He said speculatively.

The prologue on their way to the Caribbean is VERY DIFFERENT from the one in the rest of the story, which is developing to be crack'ish at points. But I wanted to give it some emotional depth because I deemed it important. Oh, and the numbers were intended to be random so that's not some supremely shit calculating there.

R&R.