He'd never noticed it before
how naruto's demeanor always seemed to light up
as did sasuke's
whenever they fought
how they referred to each other as dobe and teme
not as insults
but as acknowledgement to the other
to let the other know that they saw him
how whenever they had a spar
naruto would seem sharper
sasuke would slack off
as if sasuke was letting naruto slip from his mask a little
as if naruto was giving sasuke a break from perfection
how they seemed to understand each other
whenever the other needed space
or when the other needed company
They knew each other like only your best friend could
While being the worst of rivals
Kinda like him and Obito.