Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and its characters.
Summary: "Don't worry, 'Ruto. I won't leave. Ever."
"What do ya think will happen when one of us leaves, 'Suke?"
Said raven-haired boy glanced at his best friend out of the corner of his eyes, then shrugged and turned back to examining the other kids of the orphanage playing on the winter-white grounds below. Uzumaki Naruto had stayed in because from young he had had a sickness, and Sasuke had stayed in simply because Naruto had.
"That's no answer! Come on, give it some thought and a real answer!" Naruto said, turning and fixing his best friend with an intent gaze.
Sasuke sighed and turned too. "Why are we even talking about this? You never had a problem."
Naruto bit his lip, then walked to his cot and plopped down on it. He shrugged, looking lost and hopeless. "I dunno... I guess I'm just worried we'll lost contact and - " he waved a hand between them. " - this thing we have between each other."
Sasuke smirked and settled himself next to the blonde. "So you're worried I'll leave you alone and forget you."
The blue-eyed blonde shrugged. "Yeah, I guess."
Sasuke blinked. He hadn't been expecting that answer. He was just kidding. The dark-haired youth hesitated, then put an arm around his friend. "Don't worry, 'Ruto. I won't leave. Ever."
"P...Promise?" Naruto asked, yawning.
"Yeah," Sasuke said, just as his best friend's head went limp on his shoulder and his breathing deepened.
"I promise," he whispered, his vow echoing throughout the entire room.
And in the background, the laughter and happy voices of the other orphans floated by, giving the place a soothing atmosphere.
An hour later found the warden shaking his head and smiling at the sweet sight of the two boys snuggled against each other.
