He was already standing at the window, fully dressed, at six in the morning. He had no mission today, no appointment, no reason to leave his warm bed. But here he was.

He smiled just slightly at the sky in front of him. The sun was just rising, birds waking. The air was filled with a crisp freshness and he leaned forward to breathe it in. There were tiny clouds scattered sparsely across the expanse of blue, shining with the light of the early sun behind them. A messenger hawk soared above them, quickly disappearing from sight in the direction of the forest.

A few doors opened in the street below, early-morning risers starting their days. Each person who walked out took a deep breath and smiled up at the sky, greeted the others. One person started on his way to one of the training grounds, another to the lake. Another few smiled upwards once more and walked back inside, having only emerged to greet the day.

He turned away from the window, walking through his room and out the door. He jumped down to the street, not bothering with the stairs, and continued to walk, smiling softly at the occasional passersby. All of them waved or smiled in return; they knew him.

The sun rose slowly and the clouds drifted past. He made his way to the mountain, almost lazily climbing the stairs cut out into them. He breathed deeply, taking in the air. There was dew gathered on the tiny leaves of the plants sprouted in cracks of the mountain. He spun out a little chakra, picking up a drop and throwing it into the air, watching it sparkle in the light of the sun. He smiled as he stepped up onto the top of the mountain.

The entire village spread out underneath him. He could see beyond it, the forests and plains and mountains that filled the land of the Fire country around the hidden village. He could see, even at his distance, treetops rustling in the forest by the training grounds. A large branch was thrown upwards, and a shadow snaked out, catching it. He smiled, getting the feeling he knew who that was training.

There was a step behind him, and Naruto didn't move as Sasuke joined him. The other stood next to him and looked out at the village as he had been doing. Abruptly, Sasuke sat, and with a tug of chakra pulled Naruto down next to him. Naruto smiled at him and laid back, folding his arms under his head and looking up at the sky. "Hey."

"Hey," Sasuke replied, turning his body to sit sideways, looking at Naruto. Before, Naruto could have expected his teammate to ask him why he was up so early. By now, there was no reason.

"It's a beautiful morning," Naruto said quietly. Sasuke showed his agreement with a soft "mm" and turned again, back to the front.

"Ne, Sasuke."

"Hm?"

"How many days?"

"What are you asking?"

"How many days…have we been here like this?"

"I haven't been counting."

"Really?" Sasuke turned to see Naruto sit up and smile at him. "I have."

"And?"

"It's been exactly three hundred and sixty four. Today's the sixty fifth."

"Is that so," was Sasuke's reply. "So what does that mean? To you."

"To me…it means we've been together a year. I don't know what it means to you, though."

Sasuke's eyes didn't move from Naruto's. "What would you want it to mean?"

"Whatever it does," said Naruto with another smile. "I may not like it, but at least it'll be the truth."

"To me, it means I can do this," Sasuke replied, leaning forward and kissing him, slowly, quietly. When they parted, he continued, "and not walk away afterwards. Not disappear until the next morning when we come here again and don't say a word."

"So you won't leave?"

Sasuke didn't answer, just kept looking at him. Naruto smiled.

"Then I'll return the favor."