Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Warnings: Sexual themes.

Author's Note: Welcome to my new story. This chapter was a blast to write, and I'm really looking forward to writing the rest. The story takes place two years after the war. It is a SasuNaru. There are a lot of sexual themes in this story. Lemons may arise, they may not. I'm undecided about that.


"I know what you're doing." Tsunade said.

Bottles of liquor lay empty on the table. Her cheeks, which while sober were tanned and unblemished, were now a tainted rose. Shizune pawed at the bottles of sake in a poor attempt to get the Hokage to stop drinking and get to work. But it was fruitless. Sasuke had been in this office many times during both work and probation. It had been weeks since he had gained clearance to walk about Konohagakure unattended. There had been no high-ranking missions trusted to him, but plenty of D-ranks which kept him within the inner walls of Konoha.

Naruto complained that while his punishment had officially ended, Tsunade still entrusted nothing and refused to back down from the probation thrust onto Sasuke

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sasuke said.

He'd walked around Konoha with hands thrust deep into pockets, listening to Naruto ramble nonstop all the way to Ichiraku's. The rage that burned through him while at Orochimaru's was nonexistent. And where he once desired destruction, he now wanted peace. Everyone he once held dear had been pushed away, however, and it was now only him and Naruto. Sasuke didn't mind. Naruto provided an excellent way to avoid talking to simply listen, and their walks through Konoha were some of the most exciting events in his life.

Things had taken an unexpected turn, however. Their walks started with singing birds and excited chatter. But as time passed, Sasuke's feelings had twisted from friendship into something…different.

It was on a day when chronic insomnia and petty D-ranks left him so exhausted that he swerved into Naruto. In an attempt to keep himself upright, he gripped at Naruto and leaned heavily against his body. It meant nothing to either of them at the time, because no feelings had been developed. But as they tumbled into the soft grass below, Sasuke accidentally groped Naruto ass, and Naruto had shrieked like Sakura when she was pining after Sasuke.

That was the first of many arousal's.

These days, Sasuke stared at Naruto's round ass more than he looked into those blue eyes.

He even started walking behind Naruto to get a better view.

And when Sasuke did look into Naruto's face, Sasuke's gaze turned down to those tantalizing lips.

No matter what though, Sasuke always felt the buzz of butterflies' flutter through his stomach. It was when those butterflies trailed down into his groin that a problem presented itself.

An incredibly visible problem that Naruto had taken notice to.

Fortunately, Naruto said nothing and moved on as if the bulge between Sasuke's legs had not grown bigger.

Sasuke too, moved on to pretend his groin did not need immediate attention on those walks.

But excluding forbidden feelings towards Naruto, Sasuke had done nothing to anger or gain mistrust through the village. Tsunade had called him to the office for a reason unknown, and expected Sasuke to understand the situation and know exactly why he was called. It was ridiculous. He worked on following direct orders and gaining allies throughout the village. But once a missing nin, there was little hope of regaining the trust and love the village once held. To be called and accused of something Sasuke was not aware of seemed a betrayal to the work he'd put into to love this village when all it did was hurt him.

Even if he deserved all that came to him for betraying Naruto.

"What do you hope to gain by pursuing Naruto?" Tsunade said.

Was Tsunade upset by Sasuke's feelings? Flirtations and flattery were sentences Sasuke had constructed and spoken. But he had been subtle about it, and only attempted his failed pursuit in private. Had someone taken notice? Or had Naruto grown from dense to genius and told someone Sasuke's feelings?

Although it didn't take a genius to know the physiological meaning behind Sasuke's growing dick.

Would Naruto actually tell someone about it?

Had Naruto figured him out?

Was this some sick form of rejection?

"I haven't exactly pursued him."

"Sakura stares at your dick, Sasuke. She saw and she told. I checked the situation out, and it's not a random reaction to seeing someone hot. You want Naruto, and I want to know why." Tsunade said.

Despite being highly disturbed that his bodily functions warranted a check in by the Hokage, Sasuke did understand her sentient. He betrayed Naruto once, and that made it incredibly difficult for anyone to believe that Sasuke would not do it again. Even after two years, the grudge held against him had yet to wean off. Tsunade often sent him on the most petty and unimportant missions. Kiba yelled atrociously when he walked by, and although Sakura did have a high interest in Sasuke's body, she was wary of getting too close.

As it turned out, Sakura did not respond well to attempted murder by the man she loved.

"I like him," Sasuke said. "Will that be a problem?"

Tsunade interlocked her fingers and placed them under her chin. Her sigh whizzed through the office, and Shizune backed off to placing her hands behind her back. Was there something Sasuke should fear from that? Naruto did mean quite a bit to Tsunade. Was her grudge so big she'd object to any pursuit Sasuke may try?

"I only let you near him because Naruto would hate me if I didn't. If you try to get any closer than you already are, you will regret it."

"I mean no disrespect, Hokage-sama. But I'll only accept friendship if it's what Naruto wants. Other than that, my relationships are none of your concern."

She was his boss first and foremost. But relations between civilians and ninja were no Hokage's business. While Naruto did hold a special place in Tsunade's heart, she could not stop them from growing closer. Their friendship had developed in the two years Sasuke had been around, and he would stop at nothing to ensure they grew closer until there was no denying that feelings were involved.

Unless, of course, Naruto wanted to remain friends and nothing more.

That was the only scenario in which Sasuke saw no further development.

"And how will you explain that you used him to better your reputation?"

"Excuse me?"

"Everyone knows you've been trying to redeem your horrid rep. But using Naruto's fame as a means for that? There's a line, Sasuke. Stop this pursuit and move on."

Sasuke stood there, mouth agape and with nails biting into his palm. She had had it out for him since before he even left Konoha, and her grudge deepened into a great black hole until all that was left was hate. Day in and day out he took D-ranks, caught cats, babysat, and even helped with construction when needed. He served his time. He suffered his punishment. And after two long years, his probation had been lifted. But Tsunade was not done. Still he did D-ranks. Still he could not leave the village. Still he had no privacy.

And now she accused him of using the only person he had left as a means to an end.

"I'm not using him for anything, Hokage-sama. I just want to make the most of what I have left."

Disbelief. Horror. Fear. Doubt. He saw it in the way her lips creased and her eyes narrowed. The sins of the past were seared into the memory of all and she would see nothing but an enemy within him. If it weren't for Naruto, Tsunade would surely have had him killed. And this was something she would never forgive. Yet it was a feeling Sasuke had to pursue. If there was even the smallest chance that Naruto would reciprocate his feelings, Sasuke would take it even with a knife held to his throat.

"Your rampage did make you infamous, Sasuke. No one's blaming you for wanting to fix what you've done. But even you know there's a problem with using Naruto like that. I mean, what if he starts to like you that way? How will you explain that you wanted to use his reputation to better yours?"

"If Naruto starts to like me that way, then I've accomplished my goal. If he doesn't, then I'll leave him alone. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a dinner to get to."

"With Naruto?"

"There's nothing wrong with having dinner."

Sasuke turned around and stormed for the door, holding the handle so tight it bent in his grasp.

"If you do pursue Naruto, I will destroy you."

He'd already destroyed himself.

He stormed out the Hokage's tower, fire busting through his body. What gave her the right to decide his relations? They had spent no time learning the other's motives and Tsunade knew nothing of what Sasuke wanted. And did Naruto not get a say in this? Had she consulted him before deciding Naruto was not to dive into a deeper relationship?

Did Naruto ask her to stop him?

Had he rejected Sasuke without even speaking to him?

If Naruto had, then he was more of a coward than Sasuke realized.


"Thank you for agreeing to meet me." Sasuke said. He swiped a tongue over his lips, trembling hands gripping the table as he sat on the soft chair of one of the most romantic restaurants in Konoha. He had asked Naruto weeks ago if he had ever been to Avonlea's, and upon learning that Naruto had never heard of the place, had set reservations.

The lighting was a reddish hue, black chairs velvet for the customers comfort. Whispers of happy couples wisped through the air as servers spoke loud enough to overwhelm the quiet. Naruto sat a chair away from Sasuke, staring happily at the menu as they sifted through options. Sasuke had been avoiding the growing problem with their walks, and Naruto had kindly ignored it too. But tonight, Sasuke wanted to set everything straight.

Tonight, he was telling Naruto how he felt.

Perhaps that was why Tsunade chose today to lecture him.

"No problem, Sasuke. I have been wanting to ask you something about our walks. It's kind of embarrassing, though."

Oh, dear god. Was he going to ask about Sasuke's arousal? Sasuke wasn't fooling himself. He knew Naruto knew. Hell, even Tsunade saw it. How many people did Sakura tell? Had there been a gossip whirlwind and word got out that Sasuke's dick bulged on their walks?

Or had Naruto simply looked down at Sasuke's crotch?

Naruto's cheeks flushed, gaze going from Sasuke's eyes to the menu. Sasuke followed his lead, seeing no need to make this conversation less awkward than it already was. "You're going to ask anyways, right?" Sasuke said. Naruto nodded, the blush trailing over his ears and down that suckable neck.

"Sakura often watches us go by at the park. And lately she's noticed that you…uh… that your..." Naruto's eyes trailed down to Sasuke's side of the table, as if seeing through it to look at the dangling appendage that chose the wrong time to stand. He closed his eyes, cheeks tinting red as Naruto stumbled over his words. "Well, she's seen your… she's seen… seen… that you like someone, and she wants to know who it is. She told me to ask you. You know, in case it's her you like."

Sasuke took a deep breath. Why was Naruto talking about this? Wasn't another man's arousal a forbidden topic? No one wanted to speak of it, and no one wanted to hear about it.

Except Sakura, apparently. Though it sounded as if Naruto was using her as an excuse to ask why Sasuke's dick twitched as they walked together.

Had it made Naruto so uncomfortable that he dared to ask?

"I'm only asking for Sakura." Naruto said, "she wants to know if it's her."

The more Naruto talked, the more Sasuke doubted it was on Sakura's behalf.

He should have done this sooner. If not to relieve himself the pressure of not knowing if there was a chance, then to ensure that Naruto was comfortable with being around a guy with an obvious bulge.

"It's true that I like someone." Sasuke said. "But it's not Sakura."

Sasuke was normally blunt with his words. But as his chest constricted in unfamiliar nervousness, he suddenly felt unsure if this was wise. The thump of his heartbeat pounded through his head as Naruto's interest peeked. Was he interested in knowing Sasuke's love interest? Or was he interested because Naruto wanted Sasuke?

Was this what all the girls felt like every time Sasuke rejected them?

He suddenly wanted to apologize to all of them for being so cold.

Then again, if he hadn't been cold, they would have kept coming over and over and over again.

"Well, that's disappointing. I really wanted to give her good news, you know? She's been giving you space lately, but has gotten fed up with no answer."

"I didn't realize she was still interested."

He took a sip of the wine before him, hoping to grow tipsy and have an easier go at this. Naruto's tanned skin had grown darker over the years, the result of training outdoors. Sasuke, for one, preferred indoor training. It kept his skin as soft as a babe's. Naruto's skin however, was as leathery as a shoe. But that was what happened after hours of training to become the best. It had to have been some hard-ass work to spend so long in the sun fighting to become stronger for his skin to turn leathery.

Hard worker was certainly on the list of qualities Sasuke loved.

"Yeah. Neither did I. She seemed kind of afraid of you after… well, everything. A lot of people were."

"You weren't."

"That's because you're my best friend."

Sasuke kicked at Naruto's foot, wishing to intertwine his body between those firm legs. He wanted a title stronger than best friend, one that would grant him access to all of Naruto. From the darkest and deepest of Naruto's feelings to the sweaty heat of making love anywhere at any time. He swallowed, watching as the server poured more wine for him to drink.

"Any chance we could be more than that?" He said. Naruto's crystal eyes widened, back leaning far against the chair. Was it really that surprising? Naruto had noticed Sasuke's arousal these few weeks, and it was no coincidence that it only happened around Naruto.

"What?

"I like you, Naruto." Ease seemed to come to Naruto's tense shoulders. A sigh breathed through plush lips. Sasuke leaned forward, tasting the lingering wine on his tongue as he took Naruto's hand in his own.

"I like you, too." Naruto said. "Where'd you hear about this place? It's really nice."

Sasuke frowned. That was not the expected or proper response. Naruto had always been dense, but so dense he didn't understand a confession when that was all there was? Even if the term like was used instead of love, there was no reason Naruto shouldn't understand the meaning behind Sasuke's words.

Unless the word love was needed. But Sasuke thought it too strong of a word for this conversation.

"I like you as more than a friend, Naruto."

He waited for anything. But all Naruto did was hand over one of those shining smiles he gave everyone. "That's funny, Sasuke. But who is it really?"

Here he was, pouring his heart out to the man he loved, and Naruto thought he was joking. Friend zoned. Complete and utterly friend zoned. The bindings connecting his ribs from his heart seemed to have broken as Sasuke worked through the pounding of his pulse. Was that truly all Naruto felt? Best friends. As if it were enough?

Perhaps it was enough for Naruto. But Sasuke wanted more.

"I'm serious. You're the guy I like."

He'd imagined all sorts of possibilities. Naruto could have given a polite rejection. A simple "I'm sorry, but I don't feel that way about you" would have sent him spiraling into a world unknown. That rejection would have been so kind that the words would have seeped into the pores holding the worlds heaviest hatred. Sasuke would have grown into a flaming fire before watering down into simmering acceptance.

It would have been perfect if Naruto had rejected him so kindly. But instead, Sasuke was not taken seriously, and his emotions had been toyed with.

"I'm not sure what you mean," Naruto said. "If you don't want to tell me who it is, you don't have to. But stop talking crazy. You wanted to tell me something, right? That's what you said weeks ago. So, out with it, already. I've been dying to know what's so important you had to wait for the perfect moment…" Naruto's eyes grew into disc's so wide they might burst as his jaw broke and mouth hung. Comprehension seared itself into a surprised expression so foolish Sasuke normally would have laughed.

But this was not a laughing moment.

"Oh." Naruto said. "I'm sorry. I-I didn't realize…"

Sasuke smiled, standing from his seat as Naruto's horrified face looked up at him. He knew now that there was nothing more between them. Friendship now and forever. Perhaps Tsunade was right. Pursuing Naruto was a mistake, but not for the reasons she thought.

"It's okay. No need to apologize," Sasuke said. "I was expecting this."

Years of suffering pain and sorrow had taught Sasuke to numb down his emotions into a mask so dark only emptiness was felt. It had been a while since he brought that mask up, but after feeling his rib cage break in the most glass-shattering way, he numbed any sorrow longing to break through.

He straightened his back and looked ahead with all the confidence he trained his body to express, and walked forward.

And being the most perfect yet horrible friend he was, Naruto chased after him.

But Sasuke wanted Naruto's face erased from memory.

Sasuke stormed passed restaurant employees, mind racing as he was chased out. Naruto met Sasuke's speed match for match, as expected considering they were near equal in strength. Never before had he wanted to be alone more than he did now. And Naruto was not helping. Seeing the target of his affection chase him after a nightmare rejection was the last thing he needed now.

Naruto was by Sasuke's side the whole time, rushing to keep Sasuke's pace and opening and closing his mouth like a fish. But it was only after they had left the glass doors and entered the streets of Konoha that Naruto finally found his voice.

"I'm sorry, okay? You surprised me, is all. I've never thought of you that way before."

"That's pretty obvious, don't you think?" Sasuke said, "I mean, you did laugh."

If there were laughter, Sasuke would have sunk into the deep sound and hated it all the same. But despite taking Sasuke's words as a joke, there was no laugh from Naruto.

"Can we just start over? I didn't mean it."

"You didn't do anything wrong."

Besides not taking me seriously.

Naruto's feelings were his feelings. Even before he'd known how far up the friend zone he was, Sasuke knew that if Naruto wanted nothing more than friendship, then that was what he would give. It was easy to accept before the rejection. But now he simply wanted an hour to process his place. So, why, when all he wanted as some isolation, was Naruto trying to make Sasuke feel better?

It wasn't like Naruto could help any.

"Please stop running, Sasuke. Let's talk about this."

And Sasuke did stop. Not because he wanted to talk emotion to the guy who had rejected him, but because Naruto needed to know there was nothing to be done to help. But as he whipped around with sharingan whirling, he saw tears pooling in Naruto's eyes as devastation crawled through his trembling body. Why was Naruto upset? The rejection was tough, but Sasuke took it like he would anything else; silent and moody. Isolation was the best cure for any pain caused by any situation, and yet Naruto seemed more upset than Sasuke did.

Perhaps it was because Sasuke blocked all the emotion he might have felt and replaced it with anger.

Perhaps Naruto felt this was the end to their friendship.

Perhaps Naruto truly felt the emotions of others and desperately wanted to help.

"Why are you upset?" Sasuke said. "Why do you even get to be upset?"

"I'm really sorry, Sasuke."

"Stop apologizing and leave me alone."

"Calm down, please. I've never thought of you like that. But I can try. So please, just calm down and talk to me."

"There's nothing to say."

Even when Sasuke spat the words in Naruto's face, he still didn't listen. Why couldn't he see Naruto was only making matters worse? There was nothing to be done. Feelings were fickle things. Once taken down and torn apart it was difficult to piece together. Sasuke knew this from years of hatred for a brother who had done no wrong, and it was with a heavy heart that he let the mask of numbness slip to understand why Naruto was so upset right now.

"At least tell me if you're leaving again." Naruto said. Naruto stepped forward until their bodies were pressed close. Not enough to touch, but enough to send shivers down his spine. Leave again? Like what Sasuke had done as genin? He would never make that mistake even if the Hokage brought her most wrathful rage and took it out on Sasuke.

"I'm going home." Sasuke said, "I want to be alone right now."

Naruto nodded, mouth pressed tightly shut. Sasuke brushed his hand over Naruto's cheek, fingers trailing over dry skin as he leaned in until their noses touched. He wrung his hands through the tangles in Naruto's hair, tilting his head up until their lips nearly touched.

He could kiss Naruto now and nothing would stop him.

Naruto would let the kiss happen out of fear of Sasuke rampaging again.

Years had gone by since Sasuke made the mistake of betraying Naruto, and although mending had been easier than it should have been, Naruto got terrified when Sasuke got angry. Not because Naruto was scared of Sasuke, but because he was scared of Sasuke leaving.

Naruto, the only person to still trust Sasuke completely, was doubting like all of Konoha doubted.

Had he truly gotten that mad?

"You just haven't been this angry since before." Naruto said. "Are you okay?"

He wanted to close the distance and shove his tongue into Naruto's mouth.

Naruto wouldn't stop him with so much uncertainty lying in their wake.

"I'm fine."

Kissing Naruto would be using him for Sasuke's twisted pleasure.

He leaned in anyways, wrapping his hand around Naruto's waist and pulling heated bodies close. Naruto's skin was rough with calluses. And Sasuke ran his hands over Naruto's clothed back, feeling the muscles shift to Sasuke's touch as Naruto arched in. Desire coiled in his gut, slowly traveling lower and lower as he shifted his lips against Naruto. His stomach felt as if the smoke of a fire were inside him.

He had longed for this moment too long not to take advantage. They were so close yet so far, and Sasuke wanted more than he was ever allowed.

He pressed a knee to Naruto's groin, expecting a moan of pleasure but found that Naruto wasn't the slightest bit hard.

I shouldn't be doing this. But even so, he remembered all the times in the past where he took everything he wanted, and while that situation was filled with blood and death, this was no different in the fact that Sasuke had control. Naruto was not fighting him, but all the same, there was no tenderness in the hungry desperation crawling through Sasuke's veins. He wanted Naruto like he wanted to kill Itachi all those years ago.

And that was why, when Naruto yanked out of Sasuke's hold, Sasuke stumbled back with the wit of a toddler. I shouldn't have done that. Naruto had expressed openly only minutes ago that there were no thoughts of anything deeper than friendship. But Sasuke had kissed him anyways.

Sasuke kissed him.

"What were you thinking just now?" Sasuke said.

And Naruto did not stop Sasuke until it was much too late.

"I didn't want you to leave." Naruto said.

So that was it then. Naruto would conform to Sasuke's wishes if it kept him rooted in Konoha, and that alone told him just how little Naruto truly trusted him. Even after years of friendship, the crimes Sasuke had done to Naruto were still so fresh in both their minds, yet neither spoke a word about it.

"I'm staying in Konoha whether you like me the same way or not." Sasuke said, "so you don't need to worry about that."

Naruto's crystal blue eyes shone with relief. He smiled wanly, as if tired from the nights events.

"I'm really sorry." Naruto said.

Not wanting to give into the lingering monster created from Orochimaru's reign, Sasuke stood there, not knowing what to do and staring at Naruto like an idiot. Neither said a word, and neither moved.


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