Promise to Love Me, a naruto fanfic

Hi. Sorry I haven't written in such a long time. I've written a quick oneshot. Before you read it make sure you see the warnings.

But please give it a chance, I tried to create a somewhat original SasuNaruSasu story.

Warnings:

- This story is so full of angst, it's practically leaking.
- Character death. And I don't mean teeny weeny extras, I mean one of the big guys. I know, it pains me too.
- There is intentional OOCness at one point, but it is part of the story. You see the character in character later too.
- The story is written from the readers point of view in the first person.
- Kissing
- Swearing
- Spoilers from the manga (sorry)

I apologize for the angst and I don't own any of the characters nor the song that I mentioned.

Your eyes are the brightest of all the colors

I don't want to ever love another

You'll always be my thunder

So bring on the rain

And bring on the thunder

Thunder by Boys like Girls

Naruto stared out the great windows of the Hokage tower and sighed softly. His whole body still felt heavy, even after all those years. He pulled a tanned hand through his pale gold hair and frowned at the scene that lay before him. It was Konoha, in all its glittering glory. The trees that lined the streets shimmered in the gentle breeze and village people buzzed down the dusty roads and amongst the peaceful houses, safe and protected behind the high village walls, and comforted by the knowledge that their sixth Hokage would protect them, him and all Naruto's ninja's. These were the people that had shunned him throughout his childhood, chased him away and called him a monster. These were the people he had saved from Pein's wrath. These were the people that had welcomed him, loved him and made him their Hokage afterward.

He turned from the window and walked back to his desk, stacked with paperwork and let out another sigh. He was getting too old for such a great responsibility.

They fell to the grassy ground simultaneously, panting noisily.

"I could have beaten you if I wanted to teme!" Naruto said loudly, face red with exhaustion.

Sasuke smirked, eyes closed, "Yeah right dobe. You couldn't beat me even if you were trying to avenge all the ramen that I'd destroyed."

"You destroyed all the ramen?!" Naruto yelled, looking distraught and flailing his arms in a wild panic.

Sasuke opened his eyes and raised one eyebrow, "Hypothetically speaking, you moron."

"Oh…" said Naruto softly, not fully understanding what 'hypothetically' meant but pretending to all the same.

There was a short silence, something that came rarely when with Naruto. And Sasuke let out a long relaxed sigh, entranced by the beautiful noises of the pretty clearing.

They always sparred here, deep in the forests of Konoha, in this small clearing by a delicate stream, that lead to a bottomless plunging pond. Where the soft golden light flickered through the great trees, slightly tinted by the broad, fluttering leaves.

Sasuke looked over at Naruto who was laying peacefully beside him, blue eyes hidden under lash-lined lids. The light pooled in his bright yellow hair and in the hollow of his tanned neck, it stretched across his glistening skin and along his soft pink lips. They were parted slightly, and Sasuke watched Naruto's chest rise and fall rhythmically. He was so comfortable, lying in this beautiful clearing, surrounded by memories of previous spars and beside his favourite person.

Then the silence that he so cherished was broken, not unexpectedly.

"Hey Sasuke, all this talk of ramen has got me hungry."

Sasuke rolled his dark eyes, "Of course it would."

"You can buy me some then teme!" Naruto shouted excitedly.

Sasuke groaned, "That's what you think moron. But I won the spar, so you can buy."

"Nah Sasuke, it's the winner that buys. Anyway I could have won if I'd wanted to!"

They continued to argue as they began to make their way back to the village. But both of them knew Sasuke would buy the ramen in the end, and not just because Sasuke was the one with the money. It was just how it went.

Sakura ground the herbs together, her old lips pouted and pursed. I couldn't help but stare at her great wrinkled forehead that shone in the bright light. Her faded pink hair was pushed back with a red ribbon, making her forehead more pronounced and she muttered to herself as she worked, green eyes gleaming.

"Forehead girl?!" came a loud shrill voice from the doorway.

I turned around and saw an old blonde woman shuffling closer. Her thinning platinum hair was pulled into a high ponytail and her bright blue eyes peered out between her wizened skin.

"What do you want Ino-pig? I have company," Sakura wheezed.

"Can't an old woman visit an old, and I mean really old, friend?" Ino chuckled.

"You shut your mouth pig; I'm no older than you. Besides, I look twenty years younger apparently."

Ino rolled her eyes as Sakura continued to fumble with various pots and jars, her smudged glasses teetering off her crooked nose.

"Is that for Naruto?" Ino said.

Sakura nodded, "New student's going to take it to him."

"What?" Ino shouted.

"The new student," Sakura yelled, pointing at in my direction, "is going to take it to him."

Then the blonde woman rounded on me, I suppressed the urge to cower.

"You the new delivery boy?" she said roughly.

"What did you say?" shouted Sakura.

Ino frowned, "I wasn't talking to you forehead!"

Then she turned back to me. I shook my head nervously, "No I'm training to be a medicnin. And anyways, I'm a girl."

Ino narrowed her eyes, "I'm old, kid, not blind. It's a figure of speech you moron."

I blushed.

"Here," Sakura suddenly yelled.

I started and then took the paper bag she was holding out for me.

"He'll be at the Hokage tower right about now, but hurry because he'll be leaving soon."

I nodded and began to leave.

"You're just too lazy to take it yourself," Ino sneered.

"You pig! I'm too old to be chasing after Naruto. That idiot doesn't look like he'd aged a day since he was 29. It's ridiculous," Sakura scoffed.

"What did you say?" shouted Ino.

I shut the door with a careful click, a little relieved to be rid of the two squabbling women, then made my way to the Hokage tower.

I stood outside Uzumaki Naruto's office.

The great Uzumaki Naruto. My stomach squirmed in anticipation, and then I knocked on the door.

"Naruto?" Sasuke said suddenly.

"Hmm?" Naruto hummed.

"How do you stand it?"

"Stand what?" he asked, focusing his attention on his ramen instead of the old woman who was glaring at him from across the room.

"The way the villagers treat you. Why do you still want to become Hokage and protect them?" Sasuke muttered, turning to glare at the elderly woman, who looked away a little sheepishly.

"People change Sasuke. The villagers will soon respect me for being such a great ninja!" Naruto shouted, giving Sasuke and thumbs up.

Sasuke rolled his eyes and with a smirk said, "They might change, but you won't ever dobe."

Naruto started at the gentle knock and shook his head slightly to stop himself floating down memory lane once more.

"Come in," he said.

I opened the door. There he was, standing behind his Hokage desk slowly tidying up his papers. His skin, unlike Sakura's and Ino's was smooth and tanned. He looked so young. And his hair had a silvery glow to it, like white gold. His body looked still young and strong and he stood proud and tall. In fact the only thing that could suggest that this man was in fact the same age as Ino and Sakura were his eyes. A deep mournful blue, they stared at me, wise and lonely. My heart ached painfully.

"Uzumaki Naruto?" I said softly.

He nodded, but there really wasn't much need. Anyone could recognize the handsome face and whiskered cheeks of their Hokage.

"It's an honor to meet you. I mean seriously," I said, coming forward to shake his hand, "really, really. I-I…You're my hero."

Naruto chuckled, "Thank you very much. Now what can I do for you?"

I pulled out the little paper bag, "Haruno Sakura sent me to give you this."

"Ah…" said the man, blue eyes darkening, "well, I was just leaving and I can't take it here. Why don't you come back to my house and I'll take it then."

I nodded and waited for him to gather his things.

"So how is Sakura-chan then?" he said brightly.

"Oh she's fine," I replied.

He smiled, "Still complaining about me looking younger than her?"

"Yeah," I said with a little smile.

"Tell her to eat more ramen. It keeps you young."

"What like the key to immortality?" I said laughing.

Naruto turned away with a quick smile then muttered something I didn't quite catch.

"Sasuke always said it was bad for me."

"And this is where I live," he whispered quietly.

It seemed wrong to break the silence of the Uchiha compound, so they tried to be as quiet as possible; which was extremely hard for Naruto who'd already knocked over a bucket which clattered loudly and fallen over twice.

They were right outside Sasuke house. It was dark and intimidating but somehow Naruto didn't feel unwanted with Sasuke beside him.

"Sasuke, it's beautiful!" Naruto exclaimed, running into the house and examining all the walls and windows, completely forgetting about the quiet rule.
But it was nice for Sasuke. It was wonderful to finally have some noise in the old abandoned house.

"Hey hey teme! Maybe when we're older I could live here with you! Instead of my tiny little apartment."

Sasuke smirked and turned his back to the excitable boy, "What like gay lovers?"

There was a pause and he missed the blush that rushed across Naruto's face.

"N-no bastard! I mean as friends!" he shouted with a nervous laugh.

Sasuke chuckled and turned around, eyes bright and sparkling.

"Friends? Why would two friends live together? When we're older won't we be married?" Won't you be with Sakura?"

"Yeah I guess." Naruto laughed

"That is if she agrees to marry you. She won't even date you." Sasuke sneered.

Naruto gave the brunet a playful smack on the arm, "Teme! Of course she'll marry me."

He was standing a little close for Naruto's comfort, their faces inches from each other. Every word he spoke he seemed to get closer.

"So if you're so confident that she'll marry you, why did you ask to live with me?" Sasuke said softly.

Naruto squirmed uncomfortably, "I don't know…I forgot about her for a moment I guess."

"Forgot?"

"Forgot."

Sasuke lips grazed his, they were so close. He could almost feel the Uchiha's heart beating against his. A mad voice in his head suddenly said it,

Kiss me. Do it teme.

But then Sasuke pulled away, eyes bright, and said a little breathlessly, "Come on, the Chunnin exams are tomorrow. We need our sleep."
--

"But then you left," Naruto whispered.

"Sorry?" I asked.

He turned around with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, "Oh nothing."

And he continued up the marble path to the main Uchiha house. I followed close behind, feeling particularly unwanted. It was a lonely place, sadness was carved deep within the walls of every house and death silently loomed over the compound, patient, inducing an eerie unease to the air that I breathed. A delicate breezed licked across the back of my neck, causing my tiny hairs to stand to attention. I shivered.

The main house was grand and impressive, but by far the most heartbreakingly woeful I stood tall above us, intimating and imposing. The irony of the house made me shudder, for though it was the loneliest house, the one that seemed to reverberate with pain, it was also the only house in the compound that was occupied.

Clutching the little paper bag in my hands tighter I waited for Naruto to open the door. It creaked open as if unwilling to let us in, it cried out mournfully; ear-wrenchingly loud in this silent place.

I looked at the back of Naruto's gold dusted hair. He was so bright. He just seemed so misplaced in the depths of the dark loneliness of the Uchiha compound.

He led me into a long poorly light corridor, thick with dust. The carpet at my feet was grey and worn and intricate spider weds lined the ceiling like delicate chandeliers.

"You live here?" I asked incredulously. I couldn't get my head around it, the idea of such a magnificent sun-bright person, whose smiles are contagious and eyes light up like the sky, living in such a dark dank place.

"Who else?" he replied with an odd lonely grimace, which may have been an attempt to smile and then he began to ascend the stairs at the end of the hall. They seemed to go on forever.

When we'd finally reached the top soft footsteps approached us and I looked up to come face to face with Uchiha Sasuke.

His reputation, like Naruto's, had preceded him. Everyone in Konoha knew about the horror of the Uchiha Massacre. People knew that when Sasuke was younger he left Konoha in search of power to kill Uchiha Itachi, the man responsible for so many deaths. Naruto had fought long and hard to get Sasuke back and finally, after killing Itachi, Sasuke returned. Supposedly Naruto and Sasuke were in love, but Sasuke never left the Uchiha compound.

He and Naruto were the strongest ninja's in Konoha that have ever lived, and by far the handsomest. Uchiha Sasuke was truly beautiful. Apparently in his youth Sasuke could make a girl faint just with a single dazzling smile. Though it was said he'd only ever smile for Naruto. His hair was moulded into his famous cut and, despite his age, was thick and black. His skin was smooth and pale, like cool marble and his thin pink lips seemed soft and formed a loose smile. Like Naruto, not one wrinkle marred his handsome face. But unlike the Hokage, Sasuke's eyes did not seem old and wise, they were somewhat blank. And his hair did not have a silvery sheen. In fact, to my eyes, this man seemed to be in his early twenties.

"Uchiha Sasuke?" I asked quietly.

Sasuke just laughed and I saw Naruto stiffen beside me. Then the blond disappeared into a nearby room and seated himself in an old armchair, its red velvet old and worn.

"Are you here to give Naruto his medicine?" Sasuke asked politely.

I smiled and nodded.

"Well why don't you take a seat in there and I'll go get you something to drink."

I watched the handsome man stroll away, clad in loose fitted white trousers and a grey top, in the direction, I assumed, of the kitchen. I frowned a little. There was something odd about the man. It was as though he'd learnt what to say and how to smile. It reminded me of a ninja I'd met once that went under the name of Sai. He was a nice man, but so…fake. Shaking this off as mere paranoia from being in the Uchiha compound in such an intense atmosphere, I turned to face the Hokage.

"Your medicine," I said, offering the bag. He did not take it.

"I don't want it," he said slowly, "I'm sorry I had to bring you all the way over here, but I didn't want you to have brought Sakura and then get her to make me take it. It's just easier to deny people in my own home."
I shifted uncomfortably on the spot, "Well…you see…Sakura told me I was not to leave until you'd taken it."

Naruto chuckled, "She tells everyone she sends to me the same thing, and so do I. I'm not taking it. It's just some crazy attempt of hers to keep me alive and sane. But I'm done. You can leave now."

I paused, glancing around for an excuse to stay longer. The curtain's that hung across the open window fluttered in the gentle wind and light seeped through into the dusty room. Behind Naruto was a mantle piece topped with an assortment of random objects, including a Konoha headband with a strike through it, like a missing nin and two photographs. One of them was the famous portrait of the great Team 7. Copy-cat Ninja Kakashi standing happily behind a cute smiling Sakura, a scowling Naruto and an annoyed looking Sasuke. They looked so young and innocent. The next photograph was of just Sasuke and Naruto. Naruto was grinning a lopsided dazzling smile, his white teeth blindingly bright. His whiskers stretched across tanned skin and his blue eyes were light with thousands of different shades of blue. It really was a sight to behold. Sasuke looked a little stiff, his stance slightly closed off and leaning towards Naruto, but his eyes were softened and his lips formed a perfect smile. They looked…in love.

Sasuke stared at his hands. He had killed his brother; the man who had desperately tried to protect him and had been forced to murder his own clan. He wanted to rip his own hands off. Ugly little things. Dull pale white and smeared with the blood of everything he'd killed, everything he'd walked away from. He had nothing. No brother, no teacher, no ambition, no village, no love…no Naruto.

But today was the day.

Today he was going to escape. He stepped closer to the clearing where he and Naruto used to spar in so many years ago. So many memories flooded through his head, like a tidal wave. His heart ached.

And then, there it was. That beautiful familiar chakra.

Naruto.

I frowned and scratched the back of my neck, "Can I at least wait for something to drink before I leave?"

Naruto shrugged.

"You're husband," I continued, trying to loosen the tension with mindless chatter, "is extremely friendly and polite."

Naruto laughed darkly, "He's not my husband. He likes to pretend he is. I've never touched so much as a single hair on his head. But you're right it's been fifty-two years and they still haven't got it right."

"Sasuke!" called Naruto, "You're back."

Sasuke sneered maliciously, the Uchiha's have a talent for acting, "I have come to avenge my brother. It is because of your village that my whole clan is dead."

Naruto frowned.

"They forced him to kill my clan, his OWN clan! He pleaded to spare my life and then he fooled me into thinking it was all him," Sasuke said, voice threateningly low, every word cutting deep.

There was a long silence, and they stared at each other.

Naruto had grown. He was taller, handsomer. His tanned skin glistened and his eyes sparkled with excitement. And Sasuke too could not control the manic beating of his heart or his quick breathing.

"Konoha has its flaws," Naruto said slowly, "I am fully aware of that Sasuke. But if you wish to destroy it, you have to destroy me, because I am Konoha. I was raised there, it is my home. The villagers have grown to love me and respect me and I will protect them with my life."

Sasuke smirked, "So be it. But remember this, how many times have we fought? Name how many times you have beaten me."

Naruto let out a feral growl, "I've grown since then."

And Sasuke's smirk widened, "Me too," before they rushed forward, one with kunai in hand and the other with sword draw, point glinting.

I coughed nervously, "Sorry, I don't understand."

"That man that you met is another of Sakura's crazy ideas to keep me sane and happy," Naruto stated shortly, as if I'd understand now.

I frowned a little, "So that's not Uchiha Sasuke."

"No child, Uchiha Sasuke was murdered when he was twenty-two."

There weapons clashed together and they were forced close to each other, every muscle tensed under each others strength, faces inches apart.

"I've missed you," Naruto growled.

Sasuke smirked and parried to one side. Naruto followed completely in time, knowing every move he was going to make. They had fought this fight so many times before. It was like performing a familiar well-rehearsed dance, leaping and swerving between each other.

Suddenly Naruto flung round and pressed the kunai up to the Uchiha's neck and crushed his lips to Sasuke's. Sasuke's sword dropped to the lush grass with a thud as both men fell backwards, the kunai still pressing into Sasuke's throat.

And so here they were, Naruto straddling Sasuke's hips, pressing a knife to his throat, still kissing him.

As soon as Sasuke had hit the floor, Naruto had deepened their kiss. Running his tongue down the inside of Sasuke's mouth and spreading his unoccupied fingers through his soft dark hair. As if the taste of each other was addictive, both men pressed hard into each other. Sasuke had grasped Naruto's body and pulled him closer. Till their bodies pressed against each other. Both were breathing heavily through their noses and running their hands over each others bodies quickly, in their hair, down their chests, up the inside of their legs, their backs.

Then the kunai was discarded and Sasuke threw himself up over Naruto, so that he was straddling the blond instead. They broke apart and stared into each others eyes.

"I've missed you too."

Then he kissed the blond again, with a softer, tender kiss. Slowly he eased his tongue inside the blond's mouth and gently ran it along the other. Naruto moaned and pulled himself up a little, to reach Sasuke better.

Sasuke trailed his lily white hands down either side of Naruto's honey face, and pulled his lips round to kiss Naruto's neck. Naruto gave another soft moan and clutched at Sasuke's shirt.

"You don't have to do this Sasuke. You can just come home."

"Make me." Sasuke mumbled through kisses.

Naruto threw himself up, tugging desperately at Sasuke's hair, so they were both sitting facing each other.

"I'll fucking kill you, teme." Naruto muttered, lips colliding once more, before he flung Sasuke off him and pulled his kunai off the floor.

Sasuke let out a low chuckle and said softly, "Let the fight recommence."

They went back to dancing their familiar routine, but this time Naruto couldn't help but grin and Sasuke couldn't stop his smirk forming a small smile.

There was something about Naruto that could always make Sasuke smile. But he knew he couldn't return to his normal life in Konoha, not after what the village had done to his clan or to Itachi, and he couldn't expect Naruto to forgive him after all he'd done to him either. Throughout their fight they would lean over their tensed weapons and pressed their lips together before aiming a punch at the others gut. And then, Sasuke decided, it was time to end it, before he changed his mind.

He leapt back and aimed his sword with a flourish, "The final blow dobe. It's time for one of us to fall."

Naruto grinned and aimed his kunai and began to charge at full speed, "It's not going to be me teme!"

Sasuke smiled and let the sword slip from his fingers just as Naruto was too close to change course, and spread his arms wide. As the kunai sank deep into his chest, he wrapped his strong arms round Naruto and they fell back onto the ground.

"Sasuke?!" Naruto shouted, "Fuck! What the fuck are you doing?! You could have blocked it! It was so easy to block! Fuck fuck fuck!"

Tanned hands pulled of his shirt and began to wrap it round Sasuke's wound. Sasuke couldn't stop smiling as he watched the supple muscles tense and flex under the beautiful skin.

"You know what my favourite colour is Naruto?" he said softly.

Naruto's head snapped up and he glared, a finger pointed, "Don't you start that now you bastard! You will not die. I won't let you," he let out an uncontrolled dry sob, "I...I-I love you too fucking much."

Sasuke raised a shaking pale hand, "It's the colour of your eyes when you see something you love; they go so bright and beautiful. Oh lord, I've missed you so much. But I couldn't live with myself anymore Naruto…I had to die…"

Naruto's eyes were welling up like an ocean and he shook his head, vision blurred, "No no no…Sasuke don't go. Don't leave me…please. I can't live without you."

"Of course you can, and now you can forget about me. Marry Sakura or something," but as Sasuke said that, his dying heart beat painfully. He didn't want Naruto to move on. He wanted Naruto to promise love him forever. He was always a possessive little bastard.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you teme, I swear, I'm yours forever. I don't want to ever love another," Naruto whispered with such intensity that it shook ever nerve in Sasuke body.

A single tear slipped from his dark dull eyes as he felt Naruto's lips on his.

"Thank you dobe. Thank you so much."

"The man you met is a shadow replication. Sakura found a way to manipulate the cellular structure and she managed to alter the structure of one of my shadow replications. Then she found a way of allowing it access to its own source of chakra, so I can't control it. I guess you could say it's another man. Another Sasuke."

I gaped before stammering, "B-but if he's a-a clone of Uchiha Sasuke then how come he's slightly different. I mean I've never met him before but he'd notoriously well-known for being a brooder and rude…"

Naruto smiled sweetly and his eyes brightened a little, "You're right. Teme was like that. The thing is you could create as many clones of Sasuke as you like, and believe me Sakura has, but they are never going to be the real Uchiha Sasuke unless they have a brother that kills his entire clan and a friend like me and all that. The truth is that man is so unlike Uchiha Sasuke it makes me cringe."

"Then where is the real Sasuke?…buried I mean…" I blushed a little, hoping my question wouldn't offend him.

But Naruto stared at me, eyes stony cold, and said coolly, "In our favorite place."

I sat in silence, ashamed to look into his desperate eyes.

"I try to tell Sakura that I want him gone but she insists it does me good. What she doesn't understand is I don't see that man as Sasuke, my Sasuke, and I don't want to ever love anyone but him." Naruto let out a manic laugh, "I hate it. I hate him. He reminds me of what I did. He reminds me of what I could have had. The whole village thinks he's really Sasuke. The fifth thought it would be better for him, more honorable, if no-one knew. I guess he'd appreciate it. No-one ever thought he acts nothing like the real Sasuke. But I'm sick of it. And I've told him to stop, to stop pretending to be Sasuke, but still he puts up his stupid charade. He even answers to Sasuke's name!" and Naruto leapt to his feet with mad abandon and cried, "Sasuke!"

His eyes were leaking with tears, trickling down his cheeks, as Sasuke entered the room carrying a tray with three tea cups and a pot of steaming tea in his hands.

"Yes Naruto-kun? What's the matter?"

Naruto stood up and strolled to the window by the room. Gazing back at the shadow replication of Uchiha Sasuke with such heart-wrenching pain pouring from his glistening blue eyes, he said softly, "That's not what you call me teme."

And then he slipped between the thin white curtains and out the open window. I screamed, Sasuke and I rushed to the window but there was no-one in sight and no body hit the ground. In fact that was the last time anyone ever saw Uzumaki Naruto, Konoha's greatest and most loved Hokage.

He just seemed to disappear.

"Sasuke?" Naruto whispered softly through the dark night as they lay together under the stars. Sasuke stirred and opened his eyes, casting a quick glance to check if Kakashi and Sakura were still sound asleep.

"What is it Naruto?"

"I just…I really like this."

Sasuke frowned, "Like what?"

Naruto shrugged in the dark, "You know…doing missions and stuff with the team. Kakashi pretty cool, and Sakura is beautiful, and…"

"And?" Sasuke said impatiently.

"I like you too Sasuke."

Sasuke let out a soft, "Hn…you woke me up just for that, geez you're such a dobe."

"Teme," Naruto hissed back.

But as they settled back down to go to sleep, Sasuke couldn't stop the smile spreading across his pale face.

Please leave a review if you liked it. I would really appreciate it.

Oh and if you like my writing and have a little time, would you mind voting in the poll I created to decide what story I should write next. The summaries are on my profile page. Thank you so much :D