Convalescence, Chapter two

The meaning of a name

It wasn't a bad idea, per se, to start the day off with thinking, but it was a bad idea to start it off with thinking after a night spent awake and in the presence of people who didn't appreciate his dull, uncharacteristic and wrongly timed silence. As such, Sakura, being the person to embrace her violent, over-zealous side, was not happy with Naruto that particular morning.

"Naruto," she said, voice measured, leveled, but still cracking from suppressed anger. "I swear, this is the third time in the past ten minutes that you've zoned out on me. Do it again and I will crush you."

Around the room, an uncomfortable silence settled.

Kakashi, Sai, Tsunade and Shizune all faked interest in the window, perfectly oblivious to the demonic aura enveloping Sakura's figure and Naruto's bewildered face.

"Ah, Sakura-chan, there's no need-"

At once, she had him in her grasp, fingers curled around his clothing-"Naruto, I swear to god-"

Thinking.

There were good moments for thinking, bad moments for thinking. Right now, it was the latter. Yet as he was held firmly by Sakura, yet as her face neared, veins popping all around her forehead and her expression scrunching up beyond her recognition-

-he saw Him. And the-

Silence.

Sakura looked surprised. Shocked, even if that term pointed to an actual medical condition, exaggerated to a point where people easily related it to a strong feeling of surprise. Then she was letting him go, the corners of her lips tugged at by a strange force, hesitation in the way she drew back and discomfort on her features.

Naruto stared at her and relaxed.

Then, the whole room was staring at him and he – understood.

The news of his fight with Sasuke had spread throughout the whole of Konoha over night. The news of Sasuke appearing on the streets and assuming the given title of a citizen had spread within an hour.

Naruto, maybe fortunately or unfortunately, didn't know what to do with that. In the middle of Tsunade's office he stood, a part of him perplexed, the other in denial, and under their questioning, pallid stares, he felt – naked. Stripped, like that-

-he coughed.

"Sorry, Sakura-chan."

Sakura blinked, stunned, but quickly she regained her composure. "Che! Whatever."

The briefing continued. Next to him, Sai gave him a strange look but it was his lack of expertise in this area that forbade him from understanding and Kakashi was quick to consider this an aftereffect of his fight with Sasuke. All in all, they were happy to conclude his tendency to demolish things whenever in Sasuke's vicinity to be at fault for this. And the wounds they'd given each other had yet to heal as well.

Tsunade's tremendous, drawn out sigh echoed around the room. "As I was saying before Naruto zoned out on us…" There she took an opportunity to throw Naruto a pointed look, who stared right back, obstinate. "The reconstructions are going well. All nations have suffered greatly from the war, but there have been no signs of Madara's followers. It appears the man really did consider himself above all… It's almost troubling to think he was powerful enough to dismiss keeping anyone to continue his legacy, but it's his arrogance that led to his downfall." She heaved out another sigh, this time the idea of any second Madara-clone with as much power and knowledge parading around the cause behind it. Somehow, however, even with the gravity of the present times affecting all, Naruto couldn't find it in him to connect; it felt as though he were surveying this situation through magnifying glass, no relation whatsoever to the tiny human-bugs crawling around, trying to salvage their homeworld.

He felt… Out of this world. Since last night, the foreboding, desolate feeling in his chest had not disappeared; in the close proximity to these people, he felt as if he were soiling them.

Kakashi put away his favorite Icha-Icha Paradise book and shrugged. "There is only as much as we can do about it. The borders are secured. We're receiving help from other countries as well and there hasn't been a greater bidding for missions than now."

"Exactly," agreed Tsunade, voice grim and tired. "We can't spare more ninja, however, we have our own worries at the moment. We need to train new ninja as fast as possible."

"Surely," interjected Kakashi. "Not at the expense of quality, right?"

She grimaced. "Hopefully not. Naruto, a decision has been reached."

At once, all eyes turned to him again.

Naruto's lower lip curled over the upper. "What?"

Tsunade's lips turned into a half-smile, half-smirk and she reached for a document on the table which had received little to no attention so far, handing it to him. Suspicious, Naruto took it, opened it on the first page to see an old picture of him taken in his genin days; seeing the painted face and ridiculous puerile antics brought a smile to his face.

Sheepish he grinned. "Aw, man, good ol' times, baa-chan."

A tick went through her features. This time, however, she didn't fight the title. "Observant as per usual, I see. Naruto, maybe you should take a look at your rank."

"Rank?" He did so, finding the column detailing his missions, achievements and current status-

-his heart skipped a beat.

"Chuunin? I've been promoted to a chuunin?"

Tsunade smiled. "Well, I'd hoped for a jounin. Your powers exceed all our expectations of a chuunin anyway, but it was decided to wait at least a while and see you settle into your new duties. Now, I'm hoping you don't mind this new promotion. Sakura, as well."

Naruto and Sakura exchanged a look, pondering what his promotion had to do with her, before Sakura paled and she reached for another file placed on Tsunade's desk, opening it to reveal-

"I've been promoted to a jounin."

Naruto gawked at her, redness rising to his cheeks. "Sakura-chan, that's fantastic! We've both been promoted!"

Speechless, she could only smile, eyes wide and posture surprised. "Y-yes… Shishou, are you… Sure?"

Tsunade muttered something under her breath that sounded a lot like "as if you didn't deserve it" before leaning back, heartiness emanating from her in comforting, lulling waves. Next to her, Shizune was grinning.

"You both deserve it, Sakura, Naruto. You've proven yourselves deserving of the promotion and all the new responsibilities that come with it. Naruto, I'll have Shikamaru brief you on your new duties, or, maybe, Sakura would like to have the pleasure."

Naruto gave her a wolfish grin, excitement rocking through his body. All thoughts of bad and wrong and misplaced had gone and mirthful his eyes were, twinkling at Tsunade, laugh lines on his face. "Man, I'm finally a chuunin, and I didn't even have to take the stupid exams."

Granted, he'd had to defeat Madara and Sas-him to earn it. Damn straight he deserved it then.

He felt eyes on him.

Kakashi was looking at him with pride.

That, more than anything else, was the goalpost he'd wished to reach.

Warmth spread across his chest. With determination, he looked back at Tsunade, almost jumping where he stood. "Ne, ne, baa-chan, you won't regret it, totally! I won't ever disappoint you, believe it!"

She grimaced, finding humor in his words. "Of course. Now, with this news out of the way, there are other things to discuss." Struck by a thought, her features darkened, burdened. "There is still the issue of Sasuke."

It was said too calmly, too easily, too everything that didn't bode with him, and the words Naruto had been reading with anticipation blurred and the image of him, his innocent, twelve-year-old counterpart wearing white and red face-paint, distorted.

No-one noticed.

Uninterrupted, Tsunade continued. "I'm not sure how you managed it, Naruto, but you got him acting remotely human again. He's been seen in and out of the Uchiha district, no longer acting as suspicious as before. That is good, even if we don't know yet what to make of it. Re-installing him as a Konoha nin will take time. Of course, I have his promotion on my table as well and even if I do consider it premature, with his current power level… It's only unfortunate, hm."

"Hokage-sama, are you sure it's a good idea to make Sasuke a chuunin?" Kakashi's voice lacked all glee from before, turned solemn.

"It's not but there isn't much to do. I'm going to wait, of course, with this; I just wanted to inform you. You, Kakashi… Along with Team 7 will be my eyes and ears."

All watched her intently. Naruto couldn't tear his eyes from her lips.

"I can't watch him myself, that's unthinkable. It only makes sense, I hope you understand, to trouble you with this particular task. Along with the council, I've reached a decision that's the most sensible, rational of all. I'm going to re-install Uchiha Sasuke as a member of-"

"No."

Tsunade's lips remained parted, the last sinister words left to linger on the tip of her tongue, all muscles readied to finish the sentence, but instead she stopped to stare at him-

-at Naruto, whose eyes had gone wide and blood icy.

Sakura and Sai were giving him weird looks and Kakashi was frowning in confusion.

"No?" repeated Tsunade, closing her mouth at once, possibly realizing she resembled a fish that way. "Did you just say no?"

Naruto blinked, heart jotting down an unfamiliar melody in his chest; he closed the file, placed it back on Tsunade's desk. "No-ye-no! I mean, well, you know? Isn't it a bit too soon? I mean, Sa-he might need more time."

Gravely, she frowned and leaned forward to prop herself up on her elbows, chin resting on her jointed hands. "Naruto, how long would you have us wait? Sasuke is still a potential threat and will be for a long time; his betrayal, siding with Orochimaru for power and Akatsuki for revenge won't be forgotten easily. We're all aware of the fight you had with Sasuke last night – after all, he showed in the hospital today with gaping wounds that needed healing, which makes me want to ask how exactly did you manage to do that to him but…" She didn't want to know, not really, as he could tell, or it was his wishful thinking deluding him into believing that because no-one SHOULD want to know, no-one should WISH to bear the burden of that reality, that, that-monstrosity, atrocity, that-

"At either regard, Naruto, whereas I understand your worries, the longer the wait, the closer to the inevitable we get. We can't afford Sasuke betraying Konoha again. The situation with him is currently very frail and you know that as well. Now-"

-interrupted by the door opening and someone speaking-"He's arrived."

Tsunade nodded. "Let him in."

Naruto stepped forward-all protest dying in his throat. The irrefutable, disgusting truth was – that he felt Him. He felt Him with every cell in his body that shrank away, with every particle he was composed of that trembled weakly, with the muscles that tensed and a part of him that just tingled, roused out of its reverie by Him.

Hope was drained out of him. Already, all eyes safe for his had turned to rest on the newcomer. It was inevitable.

Slowly, he turned, torso angled, head to side, eyes peeled on Him and out of the six people in the room, Sasuke watched him and him only.

Naruto's heart sank below the sea level.

Now, he couldn't turn away. The will to tear his eyes from him and pretend this man didn't exist was as tempting as it was impossible, sufficiently eliciting many twisted emotions that continued to swirl unabashedly in the pit of his stomach, and making all levels in him rise; anger and disgust, spurred to join them in this world of living by this and that, by the memories of-of-

He gulped.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, two cold exquisite gems embedded into his skull to exude exhilarated hate.

He was to walk forward, but the way they stood left him with only the free space on Naruto's left to occupy. And only that. As such, this man did not move.

Tsunade grumbled. "Sasuke."

As such, this man did not even look at her. Not once did the eye contact break as with calculated step he strutted to stand right by Naruto, and when he reached him, the odd warmth he radiated forced Naruto to first break contact. Heart skipping madly in his ribcage, he looked everywhere but at him, pointedly ignoring the tension that hung in the air.

Tsunade followed his example seamlessly. "Again, as I was saying, Uchiha Sasuke is to rejoin Team 7. Sai, you were Sasuke's replacement, but despite that you are to remain a part of the Team; your contribution to the teamwork and development is indisputable. You seem to work the best with Naruto and Sakura and as such you are to remain with the team as well. Kakashi, you're re-installed as their jounin. Any complaints?"

Sakura and Sai shook their heads and Kakashi looked at her, lazy and idle.

Naruto couldn't force anything out of himself. Like a statue, he stood there, not even blinking.

Still, Tsunade opted for ignorance.

Someone, however, did not; shy, Sai lifted his hand like they used to in elementary, polite in how they yearned to ask a question, and Naruto managed to look at him from the corner of his eyes.

As Tsunade gave him a curt nod, Sai stepped forward, contemplative and concerned in that special way only he could pull off. "I was thinking – well, there is considerable tension between Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun. Surely, the fight from the previous night is still troubling them. Given their pasts and Hokage-sama's order, that could grow into a potential liability. I read somewhere that in these situations, reconciliation is required. Maybe, Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun should like to make peace by shaking their hands-"

Naruto's blood turned into poison. He didn't think.

"No way in hell am I touching this bastard!"

Sharply, all eyes landed on him, all with the exception of Sasuke that burned hotly like coal. "I don't want you touching me."

It was the first time he'd spoken.

Naruto turned to him, livid and possessed. "I was stating my opinion. Bugger off."

"Ah, you finally realized your opportunity to have an opinion of your own. How sweet of you."

The air between them frizzled. Hot blood pumped through Naruto's veins. "What's that supposed to mean? I have my own opinions."

"Really, I'd think it becoming of you to just bend over-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence."

Too far. He'd gone too far.

Now, they were staring each other down and Naruto wasn't sure if only his heart resonated firmly with the belief that was a low blow, or just a bad comeback or just the wrong time for a wording like that, or, well, anything, anyone, that – well, just.

Just.

Sasuke's brows knitted together, a dim shine in his eyes. "Or what, Naruto. Tell me, or what? Remember to say my name."

Naruto's hand twitched. He wanted to punch a hole in the bastard's pretty face, to maim him but – but he was too close and his body tingled and-and-

-he knew when the fright came, when it laced his eyes for Sasuke's reflected it and, as if stung, the dark-haired man backed away in a weak, giving up, uncharacteristic gesture.

"… Does this mean you won't be shaking hands?" piped in Sai, brows furrowed and expression nervous, uncertain, earning himself just a dirty look from Naruto as the blond put his hands in his pockets and refused to admit to himself any such obscure exchange had happened.

Or that they were all watching him. Not Sasuke, but him, prying him open with their eyes and openly wondering what the hell was this all about.

Naruto brooded. "What? Fine. He is Team 7 again. Whatever." Pretending to sulk, he crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring the relentless beating of his heart. "Anything else?"

Confused about this display, Tsunade failed to chastise him for this petulance, rather leaning back to direct her eyes on the other, more composed and easily understood members of the team. "We can't allow you to leave Konoha at the moment," she spoke slowly. "There is lot to be done in Konoha, so that shouldn't be a problem. Before I assign you on any missions I request that you work on your teamwork. Sasuke, it's obvious that your teamwork is greatly lacking, which is why I'm going to suggest to Kakashi and the others to spend some time working on that. The training grounds are yours for the next several days."

"Can I request at least a week or two?" asked Kakashi.

"Certainly, but a two weeks' time is quite enough, any more and people would think someone is getting special treatment, even if I understand that even a month might be too little. Anyway, you are to start as soon as possible. Consider this a mission; you get to work on your teamwork, build something again…"

She looked at Naruto this time, maybe thinking he'd appreciate the opportunity to bond the most, but as it dawned on him who he'd be spending his time with – after all, Kakashi couldn't look at Him, Sai, with his socially awkward antics, best not be allowed near Him, and with Sakura's mixed feelings for Him, who else would spend majority of the time around Him if not he? –, he could only sink further; around his feet, the cement had melted, creating quicksand that inch by inch swallowed him up, and his entire chest lapped for a chance to breath out.

He couldn't, no matter how much he knew he should, award Tsunade with gratitude. He could not.

The only thing he could was fight the temptation to flee.

Tsunade dismissed them. Kakashi said to meet at the entrance to the grounds tomorrow morning, for apparently he had things to finish and all one by one dispersed like flies to all different directions, thinking and mulling things over-

Naruto paused in mid-step, standing just a few feet from Tsunade's office; the door had closed and Sasuke's hand unfurled from the door handle, falling by his side. With nonchalant grace, Sasuke looked at him, lifting his head by a fraction and resting his burning eyes on him.

At that moment, an unsettling force grew between them, for they remembered the happenings of the last night.

Yes, Sasuke was a terrifying menace, love and hate and any other emotion indistinguishable from dispassion, and yes, Naruto was a formidable force of the nature, expressive to a point of deliberate penance imposed on people.

Still… Both could only stare, a part of them, as Naruto liked to think, just genuinely frightened.

Eventually, Sasuke drifted away like a wraith haunting these corridors, moving in the opposite direction, and in the fear of encountering him again, Naruto found the nearest window and used it as the exit, surging through Konoha the speed of thoughts of a cornered, caged animal.

On his lower lip, a thin, faint crescent-shaped line was formed, created by the teeth grating hard into it.

Goddamn it… Goddamn it.

DAMN IT.


Again, people weren't pleased with him. Not Naruto's mistake, really… Okay, it was. He was late, as simple as that, and for what he considered the first time ever, Kakashi was on time. Which meant HE had made everyone wait three hours, three hours they'd all spent in a safe distance from Sasuke in utter silence, three hours they were going to punish him for, and as he entered the clearing with only some residual signs of uncertainty, Sakura rounded on him with a flaming fist.

The next moment, he was nursing a bruise and pouting. "Sakura-chaaaaaan… That hurt."

She glared at him and stomped her foot on the ground. "Good. Naruto, you're three hours late! We're supposed to work on our teamwork and…" She hesitated, before sending a furtive look in someone's direction and leaning in, as inconspicuous as an elephant in a china room. "Seriously, it wasn't right. You know you're the only person who can talk to him and, gods, he's just been so, uhhhh… Naruto, why were you even late?"

Pouting the whole time, Naruto sent a questioning look at Sasuke leaning against a nearby tree trunk, body obscured by its shadow. "I was… Um."

"Um?"

"… I over-slept."

Sakura's brows twitched. "Over-slept. Over-slept… I should smack you, you tool-"

"Ah, Sakura-chan!" Pleadingly, he clasped his hands together, puppy eyes and all that the only weapon he had on her.

She blanched, hesitating and Kakashi finally decided to step in, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder, concerned and mildly annoyed himself. "Naruto, this is your first official day as a chuunin and at the moment, you're not acting a shining example. Please, remember now that your responsibilities are greater than before." Despite the severity of his words, his voice sounded gentle and soothing, immediately eliciting a pang of guilt from Naruto's chest that swirled coolly underneath the surface of his face and eagerly nibbled on his thoughts.

Properly ashamed, Naruto scratched the back of his neck, eyes downcast. "Sorry, really. I couldn't sleep last night. Won't happen again?"

Kakashi sighed. "Better not."

A fuming Sakura in tow, he walked back to a confused-looking Sai, and Naruto trudged unwillingly behind them, the memory of Sakura's punch still fresh on his memory. It was quite a beautiful morning, with the birds chirping, sun shining down on them and the world looking ready to be completely rejuvenated. Only… Naruto assumed a position between Sai and Sakura and all eyes rested on Kakashi. In the air, no scent of new and better future lingered, for now the moment to launch into reality had returned full force, meant to strike them down with the irrevocable fact that – Sasuke who had yet to move from the tree, Sasuke who had yet to look at them, Sasuke with his sullied history – was not going to be easily coaxed into cooperating.

"Naruto," spoke Kakashi, eyes idly on Sasuke's somber figure, weariness invading his demeanor. "I know this is unfair, but I'm going to have to ask you to speak to Sasuke. He won't listen to me, won't even look at me…"

Naruto tried not to feel the bitterness in the man's voice, but it was as true as the grass underneath his feet; he knew without asking that one moment Sasuke had appeared, astute in his hate for them, leaned against the tree and from there on commenced in believing all to be beneath him. All not to deserve a measly little "morning."

Unbeknownst to him, his blue eyes had traveled on the man's deceptively willowy figure, his heart drumming unpleasantly in his ribcage and the jugular clogged.

"Right," he croaked out, hoarse. "Someone's gotta talk to the guy. Yeah, I know that. Do I have to?"

Whether someone noted the disdain in his voice was unknown, as Kakashi looked at him, pleading subtly, asking for this one favor.

Right. Of course… Naruto grimaced.

"Fine, what do I tell him."

"For now, just getting him to join us will suffice."

Naruto's grimace hardened and he waddled towards the man, a pathetic "whatever" passing by his lips. Sasuke had strategically positioned himself at the tallest, sturdiest looking tree, the forest looming behind his back and all means of escape available to him. From the rest of the team, many terrifying feet representing the years of separation separated him and each one was overtook with a growing sense of discomfort. Naruto neared him and the closer he got, the more aware he was.

Aware of Sasuke's exact posture, aware of the hair adorning his cheekbones, of the simple top revealing his clavicle and the thin line shyly poking out from underneath the black material, the high collar casting a shade on his nape and of the clenching of his jawline so very prominent and sound, signalizing that, just twenty feet apart, Sasuke acknowledged him.

Ten feet away, the tree shade stopped, creating a figurative barrier around him, being the manifestation of his immense distaste for the whole crescendo of bullshit and hypocrisy he was forced to partake in and Naruto hovered over the line for a split second – before stepping inside the shade and breaching the territory claimed as Sasuke's.

At once, Sasuke looked at him, sharp, resentful, tense and chivalrous in how he waited for the first mistake instead of conjuring one out of nowhere and starting a fight.

Naruto lifted his chin up, eyes narrowed and peering down at him and in vain he calmed himself down, in vain did he try to – forget.

For many long seconds, nothing but silence between them. In the void that separated them, the ifs, buts, ands and ends lingered, and the ends were the most startling, for Naruto – somehow, just ANYHOW – suspected this wasn't the end. The discovery of an uncharted territory awaiting the first expedition to take its flower was the skin off his nose, the blade to his wrists and the noose around his neck.

Sasuke seemed to twitch-

Naruto stepped forward, put his foot down and refused to budge. "Kakashi-sensei says to come. So, come."

Ever so slightly, the pitch black, lifeless eyes narrowed, exhibiting greater life than the entirety of the forest around.

He started to bristle. "Kakashi-sensei says-"

"What is my name?"

"-to-what?" In utter confusion – because, really, was this some kind of a kinky game Sasuke had on his mind? – he stared at Sasuke. "What?"

Without further ado, Sasuke's form abandoned the safety of the trunk, but – no. It was HE who'd offered the object safety, it was he who had given it sanctity, for he was greater than life and the true enigma ensuring all life sped towards the same goal.

Sasuke stopped, maybe not daring to step further, maybe those three feet too small, too mocking, too crucifying. "Naruto…"

And the name alone was the element necessary to prompt a small wince from Naruto, who still didn't know, didn't WANT to know, actually, but-

"What is my name?"

Naruto glowered at him, only with difficulty biting on his tongue to prevent himself from jumping into a fight or leaving a scathing, sarcastic reply. "What, did you forget your own name? Not my business. Kakashi-se-"

"I heard you. Answer me."

"I said-"

"My name, Naruto." Sasuke was now standing close, too close, stressing each word and syllable and turning them into a hex. "Say-my-name."

What it all boiled to – was admission. Naruto faltered but kept his poker face. Sasuke had not conveniently forgotten his name, wasn't hoping to be reminded so again they could laugh together, arms around shoulders, and all the glory of their horrific pasts behind them. No, Sasuke was demanding acceptance.

Acceptance of what happened between them, that filthy, horrendous act, that- that thing, and Naruto knew that'd not thought it once, that name, had not said it once in his mind or out loud, could not utter it even now, lips drawn into a thin line and the idea of doing it sending a sickening lurch to his stomach.

Cautious. Be cautious. "I know your name."

Sasuke would disregard it. "Then say it."

Expectations. Sakura, Sai and Kakashi had those. Tis why they were boring holes into his back, waiting for a signal to pounce like predators on their prey, send in reinforcements and call him out on his cowardice. Or Sasuke would have the pleasure of the latter, not relenting, staring him down, but even in the man's stone-like façade was a crack of emotion, sensible in its pursuit of turning him real and human. Sasuke was not oblivious to their wretched reality, was not an avid fan of it, but nonetheless – he was too strong a man to deny it.

Naruto took a deep breath; the air clattered against his lungs, bumping severely into them and wreaking a dull ache in his chest threatening to spread across the body.

Fine.

Fine.

"You're to join us in training." A pause. A twitch, reconsideration-"Sasuke."

Even He took a deep breath and closed his eyes like a weak criminal giving his testimony, approving their right to judge him for all his sins, and he pushed past him and their shoulders collided and Naruto's hand shot out like an arrow shot at the black center, landing on Sasuke's shoulder for reasons he just didn't understand.

Sasuke's muscles turned into a marble sculpted and chiseled fine and like a tornado he whipped around to curl his fingers around Naruto's hand and push him off-

-instead, they had a direct skin to skin contact and a moment when their instincts acted and didn't allow the rationality to prevail.

Their faces neared, heats mingled and minds gone assuredly stark insane, batshit insane, just plain insane, moronic and inane and inept at dealing with things, situation and this world and suddenly there were hands on Naruto's shoulders and hands on Sasuke's and those hands were prying them off each other and Naruto became aware of the chakra that enveloped his hands and the scared killing intent in the air.

"Naruto!"

"Sasuke, Naruto, no!"

Sai held Sasuke back, Kakashi held Naruto.

Naruto's eyes widened.

Were we about to fight… Or? OR?... Or what? What? What… What? Were we about to do…?

Primal fear choked him. He didn't s struggle against the hold, Kakashi's arms holding his in a firm lock and making him back away from Sasuke who'd shaken Sai off and was the epitome of a different kind of struggle, mask cracking ominously and loud enough for Sakura and Sai to back away.

"That's ENOUGH." Kakashi let go of him, stepping between them, furious. "Sasuke, Naruto… This is enough. You will not fight. You will NEVER fight again. I'd have expected more from you, Naruto…" It was a hushed whisper not meant to judge, but how DARE Kakashi assume when he didn't know what happened or was to-transpire… Okay. Calm down. Calm down. Calm…

…He breathed out. Down. Relaxed against his mind's protective hold on him and looked away. Kakashi's stern gaze loosened, eventually altogether disappeared.

"Naruto, what did I tell you before?"

Naruto's lips resembled a thin line quickly jotted down. "Responsibilities, duties," he let out through gritted teeth. "I know…" Ego. Pride. Swallow them down… Hide everything. A shaky breath was taken. "I'm sorry… Sasuke." His eyes found the man's. "I will never try to do this again… Sasuke."

The blinkered lot interpreted that is a promise for a peaceful future. While they might have doubted it, knowing any encounter between Sasuke and Naruto had only one possible road to walk down and make its own, Naruto realized it was their ignorance that granted them this much bliss; he knew the truth and Sasuke depicted that by the bitter resentment on his face because whatever they'd almost committed – was the scenery of their fight from two days ago.

And Naruto wasn't admitting it had happened. He was daring Sasuke to bring it up again.

The situation was "solved" and moments later they all stood in the middle of the clearing. This time, however, they'd learned from their past mistake and Naruto was on one end, Sasuke on the other.

Kakashi had a look of constipation on his face for once, obviously cursing his own suggestion of taking two weeks to patch things up and either he'd reached a conclusion no less than two years would be required or that nothing, no-one in this world could sew together the halves of one page Sasuke had with an allure of a madman ripped.

Again, the sun prodded at them with its warmth and a breeze blew by, kissing their cheeks and ruffling the hair. Naruto squinted his eyes, lens flare enrapturing his attention as it poked from behind Kakashi's broad shoulders and tall, purposefully stoic frame, and a portion of the tension was switched off, tucked under the sheets to nap.

Fine.

Fight. Naruto's finger itched for something to grab onto. Preferably a face. Nose. Lips. Crush it. Violent urges. A bemused smile tugged at his lips.

All composed and relatively mellowed, Kakashi finally assessed them all like adults and pocketed his worries.

"As Hokage-sama said, we are to work on our teamwork. Sakura, Naruto and Sai have progressed greatly in the past months, forming a comprehensive and unquestionably strong camaraderie. No-one is stoked about this sudden, hm, let's call it intrusion, but as it is, re-installing you, Sasuke, as a Konoha nin and re-establishing trust in you is our goal. I'm sure you understand this perfectly."

Naruto refused to look at Sasuke and see the disdain, but he didn't have to for the master was a chatty squirrel today, murmuring a mocking-"Of course, Kakashi."-that smelled from a great distance of challenge. The absence of the pre-required honorific was a jab at Kakashi's authority, Sasuke's natural dislike for those presented in a blaring and obvious way that made Sakura look towards the ground uncomfortably, Sai's features mingle with confusion and Kakashi, maybe, purse his lips into a thin line to turn into an upside-down smile.

In Naruto's center, anger rose.

Kakashi was a strong man, though, resilient. "I've thought this through, of course, and reached a conclusion it'd be best to pose a challenge for you all. I'm dividing you into two teams. Sakura with Naruto, Sai with Sasuke. Each team will be given a bell, and each team a mission to take the other team's bell while protecting own. I'll give both teams a map with a marked place where they will start, which is to give both teams sufficient time to adjust to each other, formulate a plan and eventually do their best to win. I hope I don't need to tell you… I want you to fight seriously, but I will not stand to seeing anyone gravely injured. You're to test your teamwork, not solve any disputes. Any qualms with that?"

Naruto thought – and the thought showed. Kakashi read it well and a wordless conversation commenced.

Are you sure it's alright to put me against the bastard?

At the current state, do you think you two could fight alongside each other?

Sai might not fare against him well.

You and Sakura have a wonderful teamwork, Naruto, it's something I'm hoping will inspire Sasuke. On that note, Sai happens to dote on you immensely, which is a thing I believe could aid him as well.

Sai's devotion to my ideology and Sakura's compatibility with me are those exact things that could set Him off.

At this moment, you and I both know that putting you with Sasuke would be a mistake. But agreed, all that might contribute to worse… If worse comes to worst, I will switch you with Sai, but until then…

Whatever, thought Naruto, hiding his irritation as Sai grasped by the edges the map and the bell Kakashi handed to him before meeting Sasuke and as Sakura took theirs with a worried look cast at the black-haired duo. Naruto couldn't blame her for that. After a command from Kakashi, both teams set off to different directions. Somehow, as Naruto gingerly followed Sakura, he couldn't help but think that soon, soon he'd be switching places with a distraught, wrecked Sai pushed beyond his emotional limits.

"You have five hours to prepare. On my sign, the test will start. Go."


Sakura was seated at the tree trunk, legs folded under her figure, nibbling on a chocolate bar idly, preserving her energy and keeping her cool.

Naruto was fidgeting. Less than a few minutes left and his hair had curled in all wayward directions with the precision of someone coming home from war. Soon, Kakashi would give them a sign and then… then what?

He frowned, deep in thought, until Sakura tucked the leftover chocolate into her bag and threw a sage look into his direction. "It's almost time. Naruto, do you remember our plan?"

"Sure," he replied, sullen and pouting. "I don't think it's going to work, though."

"It is. Sasuke used to work with us, but over time his teamwork skills had degraded. You remember how he treated his teammate, don't you?"

Karin… Naruto averted his eyes and huffed. "Sure I do. You think he's going to do the same to Sai."

She sighed and gathered herself to her feet. "Of course, there's no doubting that. Right, there is a possibility of him working with Sai… However small. Should that happen, we'll switch to plan B. Remember to keep guard over the bell." She looked at her watch. "One minute left."

He nodded.

Clasping his hands together in a seal and gathering utmost bout of concentration, he focused until a familiar stroke of force entered his body just a second or two later. Next, his irises became golden, redness invading his eyelids and the Sage mode was initiated.

Less than a minute later, a red flare was shot towards the sky.

Start.

They flew towards the skies as well, the wispy, reddish, orange clouds like wings sprouting from their shoulder blades, and both sped towards, Naruto in the front, Sakura in the back.

And it was freedom.

The whole world was his and his alone, vast and large, a tremendous and beckoning force offered to him in the form of speed torrents of thoughts and sensations coming from all different directions; here he sensed a lamb, there a boar, there a bear with its little ones, there a small fly buzzing by, and all colors sharpened, intense and bright. The green that surrounded them became radiant. Through gapes in the tree crowns, light streamed. He heard the trickling of the distanced stream, felt the rustling of the leaves like they were his own, sensed the emotion in color and color in emotion.

He became one with the forest.

"NARUTO!"

His eyes opened, golden.

Two chakra signatures coming their way, the first Sasuke's – as only Sasuke's could be an insignia of vengeance integrated into every cell in his body – and the sentient fear-laden chakra of Sai chasing after him, both several miles away, but so fast that Naruto instinctively sped up, all turning into a slur of a blur and becoming forgotten.

"Don't forget about our plan!" Sakura was screaming at him and sure, sure, he heard her well, but at this state – intoxicated on the belief all was right, he forgot completely about the plan… Not the engage Sasuke. He had to engage Sasuke. Sasuke had to engage him. There was no other way.

"One mile away now," he shouted over to her, jumping to left just as Sakura went right in a circle and soon afterwards the other two separated as well, one after Naruto, the other after Sakura and it was funny how they'd thought this over when in reality – it would always come down to this.

To this moment when Sasuke's figure didn't stop, appearing from the distance and hunting him down.

A rueful, mad Cheshire grin danced on Naruto's features for he noted the bell on a string attached to Sasuke's waist, and he knew Sasuke had not cooperated. Sakura and Sai clashed, exchanging blows but already knowledgeable of the situation and maybe fearing that he and Sasuke had anticipated this, wishing for this poetic meeting again but there went Sasuke's compatibility with people, down the drain.

Tranquilly, untouched by the happenings of this world, Naruto avoided clashing with Sasuke, coming to a halt on a branch and jumping upwards, higher and higher into the thick branches and leaves and Sasuke went after him, until both appeared at the very tree top, jumping as high from the ground as possible. This was the plan. Lure Sasuke out, distract him, wait for Sakura to appear and, and-

Sasuke wasn't attacking, wasn't acting, merely running to him.

Naruto's resolve wavered.

Two chakra signatures neared him, one Sakura, the other Sai, and it was hard to notice their labored breathing in a strange unison, as if they'd reached a conclusion that needed to share. But what was it-

-Sasuke in a quick motion unclasped the bell and threw it behind his head. With fascination, Naruto's eyes followed the bell as it disappeared into the trees below, concentration all lost.

What?

And there was Sai on his sketched beast, holding the bell, the new appointed bearer.

Divide and conquer.

How smart, asshole, how smart, he thought, darkly amused, body falling towards the trees again. A toothy grin was flashed and his feet touched the frail tree trunk, the chakra keeping them glued to it but not strong enough to defy gravity. Like on a roller-coaster with speed greater than he'd ever felt in his face he skidded down the tree, too fast and hard a bullet for any branch to stand in his way, all splitting in half and buckling away. Mid-way through, he twisted around, still falling, still only barely seeing that Sasuke had followed and made seals for his clan's signature jutsu. Heat neared him, parallel with the Sun's coat, and at the last moment he jumped backwards, losing ground under his feet and seeing the fireball miss him by an inch that still scorched his feet. A hiss slipped through his lips, followed by a curse as Sasuke disappeared from his line of sight, hidden between the branches, but you can't run from the Sage mode and all it took was just one brief thought before he knew-

-Sasuke was behind him and Naruto was falling down without nothing to hold onto, only the body a miserable distance behind him and the ground getting too close. But Sasuke wasn't taking the bell, Sasuke wasn't in a possession of it, just playing him like a fool and Naruto gritted his teeth, forming a hand seal-"KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!"

Seven Narutos appeared, neatly lined up next to each other, joined by hands, the furthest Naruto holding onto a branch and the closest one saving him from the imminent fall, but as Sasuke impacted with the ground, he dispersed into smoke and Naruto bristled, realizing he'd been had, quickly releasing the clone and evading just in time the real Sasuke that pierced his way through all seven clones, their POOFS resounding in Naruto's ear. Sasuke landed on the ground, just briefly all in slow motion to portray with mockery his ever-so-graceful touch with own power, and the Sharingan eyes flashed at him, before Sasuke was on him.

Literally on him.

"What the-"

He was pressed against the ground, a body on top of his and the impact mixing his thoughts together like the ingredients in a milkshake shaker, making it hard to tell one from another, until automatically his hand reached for the bell-but suddenly was stopped an inch away from it by Sasuke's, and a bit too late did Naruto realize that this had been the plan all along; use this current weakness against him and secure their victory.

That… Bastard.

Enraged, Naruto gritted his teeth and reached out with the other free hand to grab Sasuke but the Sharingan gave Sasuke an advantage in this situation as well and the other hand was slapped away, then grasped firmly in long, elfin fingers and held against the ground.

A bit later Naruto blinked and he was effectively… Paralyzed. Sasuke was pinning him down. Just pinning him down, holding him in a snare and still rubbing the weakness Naruto suffered from into his tanned, cute face.

"Teme…"

"You failed... Naruto."

Wolfishly, Naruto smirked, lungs clenched, body protesting against the startling suggestion that presented itself to him-but it was worth the victory, no, worth the risks and unnecessary recollection of memories-"Yeah… Sasuke. We failed. And you have all of me again."

Sasuke tensed, lips drawn back into a primitive snarl that threatened to erupt from his chest, and Naruto did, perhaps, a foolish thing, thrusting his hips forward and getting a bewildered widening of eyes in turn and it was enough; using the momentum, Naruto planted one foot against the ground, sending too much chakra in it until around it the air crackled and dust rose and he applied force to the foot, his entire weight focused on the limb and he sent them both in air, flipping them over-

-with Naruto landing on top of Sasuke, the situation sweetly reserved.

Sakura came from the back, panting heavily but rushing without a break and Naruto let go of Sasuke, jumping back and landing a safe distance away where Sakura stood, a defensive stance assumed, fists raised, her gloves tinted with a few droplets of blood and a glimmer of sweat on her cheekbones.

"I have the other bell," she whispered heatedly, prompting a puzzled look from Naruto.

"What? What did you do to Sai?"

Her eyes wouldn't leave Sasuke. "I beat the crap out of him and he told me of Sasuke's plan." A huff. Uh-oh…

Naruto coughed. "Okay, so we won?"

Sakura's features were set into a tight mask of concentration. "Kakashi-sensei never said when the test was over."

"What?"

"Naruto… He never said a word about us stopping upon claiming both bells…"

Shoulders shaking, Sasuke rose to his feet, behind him the disheveled, battered Sai nursing his split lips appearing.

"Read underneath the underneath," reminded him Sakura, voice a dangerous whisper and Naruto wiped the sweat on his forehead into his sleeve, thinking hard for a moment and letting the thoughts distract him-

"Oh… We're to continue this until Kakashi-sensei appears and says it's over and whoever has both bells will be the winner."

"To improve our teamwork," nodded Sakura. "Or, at least, until we've improved enough, fighting nonstop over the bells… We have the bells now. Now, we are the sitting ducks…"

"How long do you think this is going to take?"

He heard a dark chuckle that didn't fit Sakura's personality and saw her give him an amused, lop-sided grin. "Well, he did ask for two weeks, didn't he?"

Naruto's shoulders dropped and his eyes widened into a size of saucers. "Two… Two weeks stuck in this stupid place, fighting these two… buffoons… Hysterical, Kakashi-sensei, just hysterical," he chirped in cheerfully but the brows twitched and muscles tensed. "I swear, when I get my hands on him…"

Survive for two weeks in the forest caught in a time-space continuum fighting over the bells… With Sakura who had yet to accept Sasuke. With Sai, who was stuck between them like that innocent onlooker dragged into a fight between a man and his spouse… And then Sasuke, who had, without second thought, reminded him of that… Of that.

Naruto pocketed both bells, formed a seal, two Narutos appearing by his side.

"If Kakashi-sensei thinks… Che. We'll see what he says if we destroy half the forest."

Sakura almost fell over, gripped by shock. "What? Naruto, you can't be-oh, come on, it's ridiculing his teachings and-are you mental, you are-?"

In familiar motions, the two clones started to put together Rasenshuriken and around them, the course of wind altered, switching to follow the concentrated chakra gathering on his palm. Even if anyone wanted to stop him, they couldn't do it, not now.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. Again, Sasuke was staring him down, the only person not to back away at the size of the Rasengan spiraling atop of Naruto's upturned palm, and it occurred to him that Sasuke had realized what this was about, that in that simple and cowardly reality…

I refuse to be stuck together with you for two weeks, bastard… I'll do my best to make that man stop this training. Anything.

In front of him, Sasuke lowered his head, his long bangs whipping at his cheeks and further pronouncing the challenge presented to him.

I am not going to just stand here and watch you play me, bastard… I would rather destroy this whole forest than be stuck you for the next two weeks.

The clones poofed, the spinning wheel rose and for one brief moment shorter than a split second, Naruto glanced the exact expression on Sasuke's face.

Lust.

Bloodlust.

He's not going to let me go.


A loud explosion resonated throughout the forest.

Kakashi sat on top of a branch, the shockwave dispersing a few feet in front of him.

"Overkill." He stood up and remembered a warning he'd received early in the morning. "Tsunade-sama was right… Naruto seems scared of being around Sasuke."

His heart let out a few irregular beats – halted. Kakashi stared ahead, watching the destruction of Naruto's jutsu, just unwillingly, even unwittingly worried. "Just what did Sasuke say to you, Naruto?"


Disclaimer: The characters, story and other elements belong to their rightful owner, Kishimoto Masashi. I gain no profit from writing and publishing this on the Internet.

Full summary: See first chapter.

Rating: M as mature for sexual themes, violence, blood. Heavy shounen-ai, slash, eventual… We'll see if eventual SasuNaru or corpse-slash-corpse-in-mass-grave-because-they-killed-each-other.

Warning: Don't read if easily squeamish or if you're not mature yet to handle mature topics such as sex and… That strange sex they had. I'm saying it now – no rape. Just sex. Which makes what they had even worse. There will be swearing, HEAVY shounen-ai and much twisted stuff not suitable for children or those weak of mind. You have been warned.

A/N: Oh, god, I'm so tired Dx But I updated this, YOSH! Now, here's the thing, I would LOVE to continue this story, but I do need your input, guys, I do need to know if there's any point in continuing this, you know? Of course, I did get reviews for the first chapter and x)) They brightened up my day and made me decide to post this. So- thank you to all those that reviewed It's a pity I can't reply to anonymous reviews, since I like to reply to all reviews, but I still have this way of saying thank-you, so, again THANK-YOU!

Onto this story…

One reviewer pointed out – or maybe asked – an interesting thing; did Naruto fall to Sasuke's desperation, or did Sasuke fall to Naruto's devotion? What surprised me about that question was how scarily concise it was, so succinct yet speaking of many things at once. Thankfully, I do have the answer already, although I'd prefer it if I made it obvious in my chapters rather than simply give it to you.

Sasuke and Naruto had sex. There it is, they had sex. Premature sex. Wrong kind of sex. And wrong time for it as well. I was struck by an idea, see, and asked myself – what if they just did it? Not consciously, not knowingly, but did it and the sex was the manifestation of all their pent-up emotions, feelings, thoughts and their history? Would they work their way from that point or try to forever avoid the topic? Would it ruin them or, maybe, create something else? Wish things were simple with them, but, ah, Sasuke and Naruto… Together, damaged and fixed.

This is a standalone story, having only little to nothing to do with Sole. On that note, shameless self promotion, but if you're interested generally in what I write, maybe like how I write and etc, etc, check out my other story, Sole, which is still in progress.

Also, on the same note, in Sole, Sasuke and Naruto have established a strong connection – too strong for anyone's understanding. Their devotion to one another is self-destructive but also pure and strong.

In Convalescence, I will be dealing with darker, more twisted themes and sex will pop in frequently, actually. Doesn't mean you will get sex in, let's say, the next chapter (or ever in general?), but the topic of it will be brought up often and will play an active role in this story; after all, I didn't start the whole story with sex just for the lulz and to cater to my whimsical needs.

Anyway, this story might be exclusively written from Naruto's POV, we'll see; as all sub-plots branch out, a need for another input might arise. And anyway…

Should I get a good, positive response all for this story, updates will be weekly, or bi-weekly, depending on my schedule and etc. But I think it's been settled already I work the best under pressure so x) See you, hopefully, in a week! Thank you for reading, remember to review!