"Why are you afraid to be left alone?"

Naruto looked over at him quizzically. Sasuke elaborated, "If you're not with Iruka or Sakura or Kakashi, you're with me."

The look in Naruto's eyes made Sasuke wish he never asked that question. He was about to tell Naruto to forget what he said, when Naruto answered.

"Because...I've never had anyone in my life. No one to love. No one to protect me. No one to hate or be annoyed with."

Sasuke was shocked that Naruto was confiding in him such a well guarded secret.

"What about the villagers? Don't you hate them? How they act toward you is horrendous. They treat you like a monster, like it's your fault that you have a demon inside you."

Naruto laughed a little, how he found humor in the memories of his lonely childhood is amazing...and disconcerting.

"Because, I understand how they feel. They're scared of me, of what I hold, of my power that one day might destroy them all."

He said it all with a sad smile on his face.

"I know why they hate me so much, even though without me the entire village would have been destroyed by Kyuubi 18 years ago. I understand why no one will ever love me, ever care for me."

"Naruto, I'll care for you. I'll watch over you┘that is, if you want me to."

Naruto looked over at Sasuke sitting next to him on the branch. And he smiled a truly blissful smile. It left his face so unguardedly happy it almost hurt to look upon.

"I would like that a lot."

Sasuke leaned over and hugged Naruto, letting him cry against his shoulder.

"I will always be here for you Naruto. Don't ever forget that."

"Th-Thank you, Sasuke."