[FANFICTION]

Title: Of painting and reminiscing

Summary: In which Naruto decides he hates his best friend, and Sasuke decides that he doesn't care. So long as the idiot finishes the job by sundown.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Prompt: The Smell of Fresh Paint

Rating: T

Comments: Yes, people, I'm still alive. I'm back for SSM 2014, and here's the first prompt! Hope you enjoy it!

He couldn't remember the last time he did this.

He couldn't remember the last time he took hold of the handle, and plunged it in without hesitation.

He couldn't remember the last time he smeared a horrid color on a pale face while it stared at him blankly.

What he could remember, however, was the last time he had been pissed off at his so-called best friend. Ha! A mere three hours ago, that's when!

Naruto scowled, and stabbed the wall with his paintbrush. This was all teme's fault! He shouldn't be the one doing this!

...Okay, so maybe he should be, seeing as he had to uphold his end of the deal, but still! It's not like it's his responsibility or something. Besides, if the bastard wanted him to paint so badly, why'd he have to be the one to dictate the color? Sasuke has no taste when it come to this kind of stuff! Seriously? Who'd paint a room blue? Orange was an infinitely better color!

Leaning down slightly to dip the brush in the paint can, the Kyuubi container wrinkled his nose at the stench. He didn't mind the annoying ("Damn, teme's rubbing off on me!") smell, but he'd rather be smelling more fragrant aroma, like the smell of ramen! ...Now he's hungry. But nooooo, bastard had to go like "Make sure it's finished by the time Sakura and I get back. She gets nauseated by the smell." What about him? Naruto? Their best friend? Didn't they think he'd mind the smell too? Seriously, how sadistic of a bastard was his best friend?

Stupid teme and his stupid task.

If it weren't for his promise to Hinata and little Mishita (his little bundle of joy whom he insisted be named after Minato, Kushina and Hinata, because he was entirely convinced that the next would be Naruto Jr.) that he'd be back before by sunset, he would have stubbornly sat by the half-painted wall.

At the thought of his family, the blond leapt up and continued the task with a whole new enthusiasm.

Around two hours later, Naruto already finished the wall, plus all the other walls in the room. A few bunshins appearing all over the room might have helped a bit too.

Just in time, he heard the front door open and muffled voices reached his ears. Huh, Sakura-chan wasn't screaming the bastard's head off? That's pretty unusual, he thought. Naruto opened the windows fully before making his way downstairs. After a few more twists and turns around the mansion, he found the two in the kitchen.

("Damn teme! You're kidding when you said house right? This is a freaking mansion!"

It's an Uchiha thing, Naruto. Besides, Sasuke-kun needs a huge house since he's restoring the Uchiha clan."

"Right, you're an Uchiha now, aren't you, Sakura-chan? But ugh! Don't talk about that with me! Ugh! Nasty! I don't wanna know what you two are doing with this house!")

Sakura was rummaging the refrigerator (for tomatoes, no doubt) while Sasuke was looking over a mission scroll. Funny, he would never have imagined seeing the two so... homely.

Four years ago, they were back to square one. Somewhat. The war was over and done with, but the bastard's inner turmoil wasn't. He was ready to leave Konoha forever, but a series of fist fights (since he was already out of chakra, dammit!) and a long-awaited shouting match persuaded him to stay. He was still the ice-cold bastard from long ago, but the Uchiha seemed tired, almost weary. Sakura-chan was happy he stayed, of course, but she was far from the fangirl she used to be. That doesn't mean she doesn't love him anymore though.

"Naruto. Sasuke-kun. Kakashi-sensei. Do you think when this is all over, we could go to Ichiraku's again? As a team?"

"Hell yeah! Of course we'd go! Didn't think you'd extend the invite though, since you were always complaining about me eating ramen ONLY so-"

"We get it, Naruto. Hai, Sakura, of course we could."

"Sasuke-kun?"

The Uchiha remained silent. The medic tried to hide her hurt, but it was painted as clear as day on her face.

It went on for a while, cold-hearted bastard that he is-was- Naruto corrected himself, glancing at the Uchiha seated in front of him. Sakura-chan never gave up though, and little by little, he began to consider her a friend.

"Ohayo, Sasuke-kun, Naruto."

They were at the bridge again, trying to relive old memories, heal broken bonds. This would be the second month of trying to heal wounds. But how can you heal something that's already scarred?

Same routine, everyday Sakura would greet them at the bridge. He'd shout for all the world his reply, but Sasuke would remain quiet. He'd get pissed at the asshole for ignoring the medic, and they'd end up talking with their fists, until Sakura or Kaka-sensei would break them apart. He was readying his fists when the ice uttered a small, barely heard word.

"Ohayo."

For once, the sky was painted a light blue, clear of any clouds.

"Please tell me you're done painting the room Naruto. I'd seriously consider painting it with your blood if you weren't." Sakura glared at him, while munching on her beloved tomatoes. Of all the things to crave, she'd taken a liking to the bastard's favorite food. Yuck.

"Don't worry Sakura-chan! It's all done!" He smiled boyishly, and Sakura turned from a scary, murderous woman to a giddy, squealing little girl.

"I can't wait to decorate! Sasuke-kun, do you think maybe we should fill up the entire room with toys? Oh, and we have to baby-proof the whole house too! But that's gonna be a real challenge here. Anyway, it'll be fun! And have you seen the paitings from that shop down the road? I think-"

Blah blah blah. He tuned her down. Naruto tended to do that sometimes, since (he hates to say this, but he kinda sorta maybe agrees with the teme on this one) she gets so loud and rant-y. which made him think back to when her getting all talkative around Sasuke started.

"Sakura, just get him ramen."

The pinkette raised an eyebrow at him. A year through their friendship and they were already talking. Really talking, not just "Hn.", "Ohayo" and "Bye."

He was spying on them, because it will be his birthday soon, and they were going around town on their own more often than not. Little did he know, they were off to buy a gift for him (clearly Sakura's idea).

"He has that everyday Sasuke-kun."

"So? He'd like it anyway."

True. Bastard really knows him, after all.

"Wha-Sasuke-kun! It's his birthday! You can't just-"

He tuned it out. Sakura-chan was being really loud, and he was glad he did because her tirade lasted from the training grounds to the Uchiha mansion. They went inside, and he followed.

"Fine. Here. Give him this."

"A kunai, Sasuke-kun? I'm pretty sure he has one of those."

Sasuke turned to look somewhere else. "Itachi gave it to me. My first kunai."

"Oh. Are you sure?"

Sigh. "Just do it, Sakura."

"Okay, but what do I get him?"

Shrug. "Find a case for it. It'll be from the both of us."

Smile. "Okay, Sasuke-kun."

When they gave it to him on his birthday celebration, he was still shocked (which led to him becoming emotional and crying all over poor Sasuke-teme's shirt).

His face was painted with joy and pride then.

Then they went and hid their relationship from him. For one whole year! Some best friends there! He only found out when they were engaged. And ready to be married (as much as he couldn't believe that Teme's getting married before him, it really happened!).

They talked over a bowl of ramen.

Sakura talked anyway. Sasuke just sat there, eating his own ramen.

"Ne, Naruto. How do you feel about being best man?"

"Best man? who's getting married?"

"We are, dobe. In a few weeks time."

Poor Ayame watched as noodles flew all over the counter. Did I mention from Naruto's mouth?

"WHAT?"

The questions started pouring and soon enough, they were at the training grounds, talking with their fists again.

It was the first time (and last, Sasuke saw to that) that he beat the Uchiha prodigy in a serious match.

He was happy for them, but he let the beautiful sunset he shared with them speak his mind.

The sky was painted with the most beautiful scarlet he's seen in a while. The color of joy.

Whatever. He'd had his first child first! And she's waaay more beautiful than any of Teme's offspring could ever be!

"Oi, dobe. Catch."

A bag was thrown toward his face. Peeking in its contents, he decided that he doesn't hate Teme as much as he did earlier. Instant ramen. The best kind.

"It was Sakura's idea. To thank you for taking care of the nursery."

"No problem, Teme."

"Did the smell bother you too, Naruto?" Sakura seemed pretty worried (Oh so now, she worries about that?)

"Nah, I'm fine Sakura-chan. Thanks!"

Looking over at the two lovebirds both eating tomatoes, he decided he didn't mind the smell at all.

Because, looking over at Sakura-chan five-month big belly (and yeah, it's a boy!), the fresh paint was kinda like their fresh start.

And the start of a new life.

A/N: Okay, I'm so excited! SSM is finally here! Hope you enjoyed it, even though it's a little rushed! :))