Restless Sleeping, Sleepless Nights

The next day, he, Naruto and Neji were assigned to a 24 hour mission. It was B-ranked, and they were required to transport a scroll to a feudal lord. The mission was a success, but it required 24 hour alertness and no sleep. They were ambushed a few times, but successfully annihilated any threat. But Naruto did notice Sasuke's movements were sluggish and that he had a slight limp to his walk, as if he had been kicked where the sun didn't shine. Naruto voiced his assumption.

"hey, teme! Why are you walking like that? Who kicked you in the balls?"

Sasuke grunted and turned away, feeling a slight blush crawling up his neck.

Now that the mission was completed, no thanks to Uchiha, everyone relaxed as they made their way home. And Neji would continually glare at Naruto. Sasuke paid little attention as he focused on not passing out on the way back to Konoha and humiliating himself because of his lack of sleep. After an hour of death glares, Naruto threw his hands up in frustration and turned to face Neji.

"What is you problem!" he exclaimed

"Stay away from my cousin"

"What?"

"Stay away from Hinata"

Naruto blushed furiously before turning away while muttering "I don't know what you are talking about."

The journey home was discomforting for all three. Sasuke limped and winced the miles back to Konoha. Naruto felt the death and icy glares from Neji. And Neji was tortured with the passing rumour of the idiot blonde 'courting' his little cousin.

* * * * *

When they returned home it was night. Each went to their respective homes, deciding to report to the hokage in the morning. Naruto's apartment was a few streets from Sasuke's, so they walked home in silence and then went their own ways.

When Sasuke arrived home, all was quiet, and his wife was sound asleep. He opted to sleeping on the couch, but remembered that their couch was no longer a couch, but broken down into several pieces, because he and Sakura had trouble controlling their love for one another during their first week of marriage.

He sighed heavily as he stripped down to just a pair of shorts, since the night was hot, and hopped into bed. He turned to face his sleeping wife, who looked far from barbaric and powerful. He couldn't control it when his eyes drooped or when he let his guard down and fell asleep. Nor could he control the fact that when his wife stirred, her right hand moved ahead of her, into his direction and landed on his face. Sasuke was jolted awake not only from the pain but a loud crack as his wife dislocated his nose. He stealthily jumped from the bed, angry and having had enough unexpected attacks, he walked out of the house, whilst readjusting his nose and healing it. He wandered the streets and cursed Naruto as it seemed this was all Naruto's fault; he did after all curse him to a life of broken noses. Sasuke stopped in his tracks as he recalled an offer made by his friend.

"Let me know if I can be of any help"

Sasuke picked up his pace and headed towards the blonde's flat. The raven haired ninja was not thinking clearly, his mind was asleep, his moves sluggish and his pride no longer a priority. Tonight he would get some sleep, regardless.

Sasuke climbed the building with his chakra and opened the window of the third floor. He picked the lock and entered his friend's bedroom. The dobe was still sound asleep, not having stirred. As he took a step he felt a dagger held against his throat.

"Sasuke? What the hell are you doing here?" said an alert yet groggy blonde. He dropped his weapon and scratched the back of his head, and of course, he yawned after getting rid of the shadow clone that was lying in his bed.

"I need a place to sleep"

"Sakura?"

"Yeah"

"Go sleep on my couch then"

"You don't have one; Sakura broke it on your head last week"

"Whatever" said Naruto, hopping back into the bed. "You stick to the left side, cross to my side and you're out" he said carelessly and with that he turned to face the wall and drifted off back to sleep.

Desperate times called for desperate measures, Sasuke thought to himself.

"Naruto"

"yeah?"

"If you value your life, not a word to anyone"

"Your secret is safe with me, teme"

With that, the 2 comrades, friends, rivals and all time best friends drifted off to sleep.

* * * * *

The next morning, Sasuke woke to an ear splitting roar.

He turned to the side and took note of his blond team mate's horrified expression. Naruto clenched a handful of blankets and held them against him in a shielding manner.

"What the hell are you doing here! In my bed! Topless!" yelled Naruto. The blonde at that moment felt violated and could feel oncoming hysteria at the thoughts that were running into his head.

Sasuke got up and groaned. He turned to the hysteric blonde and glared.

"Stop. Shut up. Think. Remember. And shut up" he commanded.

Naruto silently obeyed, and lost his hysteria as the night's event replayed in his mind.

"Oh, is that all" he said with a sheepish smile as he scratched his head.

Sasuke got up and headed towards the small bathroom, to relieve himself and also wash his face, to get rid of the grogginess. Truth be told, he hadn't slept that well in a long time, he felt refreshed.

When he exited the bathroom, Naruto sat on the bed, glaring.

Sasuke shot him a look, a 'what's your problem' look.

"I let you sleep in my bed, have one of my pillows and share my blanket, the least you could do was allow me to use MY bathroom first…and I think it would be best if you left, and got changed, then returned to report to the hokage. I do not want my reputation to be tainted because some old lady sees a half naked man exiting my apartment in the morning. Go home to your wife"

Sasuke glared at the blonde then raised his hands to form a jutsu and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

"You're welcome, teme" muttered Naruto grumpily. He never was a morning person

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