Far Away For Far Too Long

[AN: This chapter and its title reflects both Naruto and Sasuke's current situations] Enjoy

NSNS

It had only been some months since Uchiha Sasuke returned willingly to Konohagakure. He was under strict ANBU watch by the Hokage's orders.

Hatake Kakashi was disappointed to see him again, that much was clear when the ANBU commander, who turned out to be his dobe, had to stop the copy-nin hokage from killing Sasuke with his Chidori.

Every member of the original team seven was there in that office when he returned that day. It was the worst reunion he ever had. Haruno Sakura, now the top medic ninja of the village, still looked at him dreamily.

Sasuke still looked at her blankly. She came over every day of the week to drop something off for him, but Naruto stood outside the Uchiha door and refused to let her in.

Kakashi was angry with him and he was surprised when the sixth hokage attempted to kill him. Naruto grabbed the man's arm just in time and the Chidori burned his hand a bit.

Kakashi made sure to come and examine the Uchiha and his Mangekyo Sharingan everyday.

Naruto chose not to speak to him much, only when it was absolutely necessary. The man still spoke though. Sasuke was grateful for that. Besides team seven, Sasuke interacted with no one.

Currently, the raven sat in the living room of the mansion. His fingers strumming over the piano, as he sung for he and Naruto.

"You know, you know

You knoooow

I love you

I've loved you all along

And I miss you

Been far away for far too long"

He could hear shuffling outside the door, a signal the Haruno-san had come again.

"I keep dreaming that you'll be with

And you'll never go

Stop breathing

If I don't see you anymore."

He let go of the music and the keys to hear the same argument unfold everyday. Each day, Sakura would get angry at Naruto.

"You're just keeping him from me because you're jealous. Why can't you just let me go?" The Pinkette demanded angrily.

Sasuke knew how Naruto reacted; he could see everything. Naruto would stare over the top of his former teammates head as his lips formed into a deep scowl. He never said anything.

This time, he did. "He chooses not to see anyone, Sakura-chan. He will come out when he is done healing."

Sasuke sighed and stood. I can't heal if you don't love me, Naruto. He heard the sound of flesh touching flesh. A signal that Haruno-san slapped Naruto's face for the 14th time this month.

He yanked the door wide open, only hearing Naruto state his name and missing Sakura say that she missed him.

Ignoring Sakura, he turned to the ANBU commander and gasped slightly. Sakura slapped Naruto's left side of his face so hard, that there was a slight tear in the scar and blood was pouring out.

Sakura frowned, seeing what she had done out of anger. "I'm sorry, Naruto." She pulled out a napkin and began dabbing the the bruise.

The commander forced a smile. "It's well alright. I got it." Sakura must not have cared that much because she let Naruto fix his own problem and waited for Sasuke to say something.

The raven forced a smile and said hello to his former teammate. Naruto wasn't even getting to the spot. "Baka, you aren't even getting it." After the chide, the napkin was grabbed and Sasuke spent a few moments rubbing the opened cut.

He moved into the door. "Both of you come in please." Sasuke mumbled. He went to the bathroom and pulled out his needle and thread. Sasuke looked in the mirror at himself. His hair had grown longer over the years and always sat in a high messy bun with strands falling over his eyes, neck, and ears.

He wore a black long sleeve turtleneck and black slacks. Unconsciously fixing his hair for Naruto, Sasuke ran out of the bathroom. Naruto was sitting on the couch holding the now bloody napkin to his face. Sakura sat on the couch sipping lemonade.

Naruto's outfit was his regular ANBU outfit except his vest was the armor of Jiraiya from his time in war. Sasuke blushed as he sat on the table before Naruto.

"I'm going to stitch it back up, so hold still." Naruto nodded and got comfortable.

While stichting his cheek, Sasuke was blushing because he could see Naruto staring into his face and annoyed that Sakura was trying to start a conversation with him.

"How do you know how to stitch, Sasuke-kun?" She asked.

No sound escaped the 18 year old's lips. That is until Naruto spoke up.

"Yeah, I think it's pretty cool that you can. I'll come here all the time after my lonely S-ranks."

Sasuke almost giggled and he probably would have if Sakura weren't in the room. "I got hurt when I played a lot. I used to watch my mother sew and stitch all the time."

"I think that's wonderful, Sasuke-kun." Sakura stated sweetly and Naruto only nodded, his face indifferent now.

"I would like to walk today" the rave stated tentatively after making sure Naruto's cheek was patched up. "I want to see how far everyone's gotten. All of our old friends." He mumbled.

He couldn't miss the surprised faces of his former teammates. He was never one to speak and wanting to 'catch up' was never allowed in his vocabulary.

"I think that's a great idea, Sasuke. Since Naruto's in ANBU, he can watch from a distance as I show you around."

If he showed obvious discomfort to the proposal, no one took notice. He had wanted to walk with Naruto, but Haruno-san would have to do.

"No. I will travel with you, but I must stop at my apartment for changing." Naruto always knew how to save him, the last Uchiha gave him that. "Let's go."

The apartment wasn't far from the Uchiha estate, but Naruto chose to teleport all three of them there at once. Sasuke felt flustered, and not because of the flight, but do to the sheer moment his blond's strong arm lay casually around his waist.

"I'll be out in 10." The man smiled happily and ran into his kind of palace.

The tension was high. Sasuke felt uncomfortable standing next to Sakura. He felt like a fool. But, most of all he felt like that 12 year old boy again. The one that would constantly ignore that pestering 12 year old girl.

He saw in his peripheral the pinkette interlock her hands behind her back as she cleared her throat. "Um..Sasuke-kun."

He turned slowly to his friend. "Haruno-san." The name must have felt like a slap to the face.

"You can call me Sakura, you know? We were former teammates. And now we're…" She put a hand to her chest, where the heart beat perpetually. "You know…"

Sasuke only said the girl's name because to be honest to himself, her, and Itachi's soul he didn't know what they were. If she thought lovers, she was totally beside herself. Never was, never will be.

"Anyway, now that we're older and more mature...I y'know...maybe we could go out sometime as….more than friends."

Without hesitation, Sasuke answered. "No, Sakura. The answer is no."

Pathetic tears brimmed her green eyes and she clenched her fist. And she says we're much more mature, Sasuke mocked. "Is there another woman? That girl Karen?"

"No. They will never be a woman." He drawled the last word out, hoping she got the hint.

Not. "Why are you so distant from women? So many girls love you and you just turn your back on them?"

Sasuke rubbed his temples. "Sakura. I. Am. Gay. Understand? That means I like men and will never like a woman."

A gasp. "But what about the rebuilding of your clan? Gay people don't have children." She hissed out.

"Before my brother died by my hands, he gave me every Uchiha scroll I needed to know. Let's just say Uchiha men can bear them."

Sakura wiped her tears, showing the strong woman Sasuke once knew. "And besides. I am in love with someone else. He is my light." Sasuke said smiling as he heard something crash in the Uzumaki's house and the loud curse that followed.

Naruto was everything to him. He knew it was dangerous to say the most obvious thing and smile at the sound of Naruto's voice. But, Sakura heard and saw nothing. She was oblivious to everything, but Sasuke turning her down for the millionth time.

Naruto came from the house wearing black ninja slacks and….just a net t-shirt. Sasuke admitted, for a man who had touched the tip of death's finger one too many times, Naruto's torso was flawless.

"Why don't you have on something warmer?" Sakura questioned, eying the blond thoroughly. Sasuke noticed the sickeningly sweet voice and the red tinted cheeks.

"I was hot." Naruto explained bristly. You got that right, Sasuke thought. He had no idea where these thoughts came from.

"It's the middle of september, dobe." Sasuke countered.

"Well, Kyuubi's chakra makes me hot, teme." Naruto smirked at him.

His stomach twisted, but his eyes rolled. "Che, makes sense."

The pinkette rolled her eyes at the two, like being rejected didn't happen, and lead them to the walking path. "So who do you want to see first?"

Naruto decided to answer for him. "Well, Ino's flower shop is closer than anything, so it'd be a shame not to catch her."

The suggestion was attacked by Sasuke. "Really funny. I'm not sure if I want to reunite with a fangirl for her to fawn all over me."

Sakura cringed and Naruto laughed….at Sasuke's statement. "You have it all wrong. Ino's changed a lot. She's awesome, kind of like an older sister to me now."

Sakura snorted at the praise of her rival and Naruto crossed his arms. "Well she is. You remember Sai, right? He and Ino are married. Teme, it was crazy. Most of our friend's got married in the same year."

Sasuke eyed Naruto. "I'll take your word for it. Lead the way."

The blond was ecstatic about everyone seeing Sasuke again as they entered the shop. Ino was standing to the side fixing a few lilies that seemed out of place.

"Ino, look. I brought Sasuke-teme." Naruto yelled. The blond woman turned her head casually and grinned sweetly.

"Cool. old on just a sec, have to fix these babies...almost got it…..done." She walked over to the front and sat on the counter, quickly changing the sign to closed.

"So what brings you here?"

"Sasuke wanted to see everyone and you were closest." Naruto spoke.

Ino smiled. "Well, it's good to see you back as a Konoha ninja, Sasuke. A friend of Naruto is always a friend of mine."

"Not a former friend?"

"Not all my former friends become friends again." Ino said hastily as Sakura rolled her eyes.

"So. What have you been up to?" Sasuke asked genuinely.

"Well. I decided to leave ANBU and run this shop. Best desicion of my life. I married Sai a year ago and have lived well ever since."

"That's good. I'm glad you're happy."

Before anyone else spoke, a little boy knocked politely on the glass. Ino said she could refuse him since he was so cute and Sakura got up to look for flowers of her own.

"Why is there so much tension between those two?" Sasuke asked when they were out of earshot.

"Ino and Sakura? Long story short, they got into the worst fight of their lives when they were 14. Haven't spoken since."

Sasuke believed the two girl's bond must have been weak. He and Naruto had been close to killing each other, but they had never been close to hating each other. Their bond was unbreakable, formed by the pains and loneliness and glued by understanding and possibly love.

"Must have been some fight" he finally said.

"Hell yeah teme. You know I'm never one to favor, but I was on Ino's side one hundred percent."

"Why?" Sasuke pegged. Naruto and Ino seemed like that had a good sibling sort of bond.

"They were fighting over you." Sasuke rolled his eyes until what was said next. "Ino wanted Sakura to give up on you and find someone else. Sakura refused, stating that she was only loyal to you."

Sasuke was angry. "You wanted the team to just forget me?" he seethed out. As much as that angered him, it didn't compare to how hurt he felt.

Naruto shook his head. "It was nothing like that. I just don't think Sakura or anyone else was strong enough to worry about you. I wanted to be the only one thinking of and looking for you. I was being selfish. Only I was strong enough to worry about you. Not Sakura or anyone else."

Sasuke turned his attention on Ino and the boy in the front. Ino was crouched down speaking to him.

"You want a flower for whom?"

The little boy giggled a little. "My big brother."

Ino smiled and rubbed the boy's cheek and he leaned into it. "That's very sweet of you. What's your brother like?"

"He's strong and he takes care of everyone."

"I know just the plant. Come here." She stood and let the boy follow her to a row of various carnation." Sasuke almost giggled at how the boy's small legs took many steps and Ino's only took five.

"These are all carnations. Can you say that, sweety?"

"Ca-na-shuns." Sasuke actually giggled and smiled sweetly, unaware of Sakura's, who came back already, surprised look and Naruto's besotted look.

"Ah. You'll get the hang of it all."

At his giggle, Ino and the boy looked over to them. "You know Naruto and Sakura, but the one with the dark hair is Sasuke. He may know a lot about flowers. Ask him."

The boy walked over tentatively as Naruto looked on nervously and Sakura glared at Ino. She thought Sasuke was just going to yell at the boy.

"Excuse, sir. Do you know what flower I should get?"

" mother used to plant flowers all the time. Carnations are lovely, but be careful because only the white ones symbolize strength. It is primarily the strength of a caring mother or someone who takes care of you. Does your brother take care of you?"

"Yes!"

"Then get many white carnations to show him how strong and caring he is." Sasuke concluded. The boy thanked him and went to collect the flowers that were already in Ino's hand. "These are on the house, kid." She rubbed his hair.

The boy hugged her leg and thanked her and Sasuke. When he was gone, she turned to him and smirked.

"You're excellent with the flowers. I might just hook you up with a part time job before you become a ninja."

Sasuke smiled a bit. "Thanks. I'm looking forward to getting out of the house anyway." Sasuke wondered for a brief moment if he had went up to Ino directly and told her he was gay, if they would have been friends earlier.

He missed much. And as they left Ino's shop, Sasuke decided that if he ever had a child, he would want to be just like Ino.

Him looking up to a former fangirl. Wow. Where have they gone?

NSNS

"So do you feel refreshed?" Naruto asked, bursting his hands for affect.

"I find that I like Ino's company more than yours." Sasuke teased. The former dead-last frowned sadly. However, he and Sasuke knew the sadness was fake. Naruto was the only sole person that Sasuke could stand for years and that made Sasuke laugh and feel happy.

Sakura didn't get that as she rubbed Naruto's arm, and Sasuke noted it was too friendly, and stated "I enjoy your company the most because you're sweet and funny."

"Thanks Sakura-chan." The blond man's grin almost sliced his face and that made Sasuke angry.

"Where to next?" He asked harshly.

Naruto squinted his eyes at the change of attitude and bumped shoulders with his now shorter teammate. "What's up with you?"

"I'm fine, dobe." He refused to let Naruto see him blush or laugh….when he was angry.

However, the ANBU commander was persistent. He bumped Sasuke again. The raven's lip quivered slightly. Naruto bumped him again. And again. And again.

Sasuke began to laugh uncontrollably and pushed Naruto away. "I said stop, baka."

Naruto was only laughing with him. "No you didn't." He laughed again and looked at his teammates. "Hey, Sasuke?"

"Hm, baka?"

"Now you're fine."

"Hn."

The pink haired Kunoichi joined the conversation with he proposals. "I think Chouji and team eight are at the buffet. It's nearing twelve and we could use some lunch. After that we could go see team Gai."

Sasuke nodded and they made their way. Chouji was eating tremendously, no surprise. To his side, Hinata was snuggled against a bandaged Shino and Kiba feeding a now huge Akamaru.

"Why's Hinata snuggled against Shino?" Sasuke asked.

"They're married." Sakura stated.

"She finally gave up on Naruto?" The Uchiha was genuinely surprised.

"There are too many fangirls for her to battle."

"Oh." the man mumbled.

"Konnichiwa." Naruto yelled.

Chouji turned around. "Reunited team seven, come join us for a second."

Everyone sat in their seats and Kiba spoke up. "Sasuke, glad that you're back. The rookie nine if finally together again."

Sasuke smiled at that. They spoke and ate for a short time until it was time to go see Tenten.

NSNS

"Who's last?"

They had caught Temari and Shikamaru, who were married and expecting a child, in Tenten's weapons shop. Sasuke felt good on this particular day.

"Lee and Neji. They're in the hospital."

"What? Why?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto just chuckled. "You remember Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon. Well, Lee's their jounin sensei. They went on their first C-rank and it turned out wrong.

Unfortunately, they weren't the infamous team seven. Only Lee was prepared to fight off the S-rank ninja alone. Their client got to his destination though."

"Why is Neji there? Are they co-senseis?"

Sakura explained this time. "No, Neji is an academy teacher now. He's married to Lee."

"What!?" How had Lee and Neji married each other. Lee was so….eh. Neji was so uptight."

"I know right?" Naruto was excited for some reason. "It just happened. The guys and I were all out drinking and Lee was complaining about Sakura not loving him.

Lee was being stupid. He'd liked Neji since they were in the academy together, he just tried to avoid it with any girl he saw. Neji told him to shut up and go out with someone he really liked. It went from there."

"Can we teleport there?" Sakura questioned. "My legs are killing me."

"Alright, hold onto me, guys." They appeared in front of Lee's hospital room and gave Naruto a questioning look.

"Sometimes Lee is lonely when Neji is at the academy teaching all day, so me and Ino come in here all the time. Hide your signatures. Sasuke, you first."

The raven nodded and opened up the door quietly. Neji was by the counter stirring two cups of tea as Lee stared at his backside. Neither noticed the three people who walked in.

Lee licked his lips and rested his weight on both his elbows. "Neji I have something in my eye and it's burning, could you come check it out?"

The Hyuuga turned directly to his husband and walking closer. "Which eye?"

"The right, Nej. you have to get super close."

Neji stuck his face near Lee's, but the injured man grabbed him by the waist and yanked him into bed. Neji's squeal was muffled by Lee's kiss.

"Lee. You're wounded. You need to rest." Pupiless chided softly.

Lee only smiled and kissed Neji's forehead. "I love you. Did I ever tell you that?" He asked.

"More than enough times. And I love you."

Naruto couldn't help it. He cleared his throat and Neji, instead of jumping off his husband to pretend they were doing nothing, turned his glaring eyes slowly to Naruto. "You ruined our moment."

"I'm sorry, Nej. I thought you were done."

Neji rolled his eyes and snuggled up against Lee's chest. Sasuke briefly wondered if he and Naruto would ever be like that. He could only hope.

"Hello." Sasuke finally said. Neji and Lee expressed their happiness about him being back, stating that Naruto acted less happy and more avoidable when he was absent.

Naruto dismissed such claims. After a while, Neji had fallen asleep on Lee and the latter chose to just stroke his hair.

"The academy makes him tired." Lee explained.

"I think it's sweet….that you and Neji found each other. You both had rough childhoods and I think it's beautiful that you found strength, peace, and love through that. In each other." Sasuke concluded.

If any children had the worst childhoods, it'd definitely be his and Naruto's. Naruto never had a family, he lost his. Both were misunderstood. If anyone deserved each other, it was Sasuke and Naruto.

They had fought face to face a number of times. But that didn't compare to how many times they fought the world side by side, back to back.

While he was on such a subject, Sasuke had to admit that he missed a lot. But, so did Naruto. Lee was right when he stated that Naruto was less happy. Neji was right when he said Naruto only wanted to avoid things like moving on and love.

How were they so different, yet so alike? For a moment, Sasuke mourned for he and Naruto's troubled lives.

He missed the everything as the world passed by because he turned his head too late.

Naruto missed everything by choice, turning the other way when the world stood directly before him.

Second Chapter was awesome. Next Chapter we see some intense Narusasu and two oblivious characters. We also see how Naruto gets by in the village. Festival time! Also, anyone who wants a LeeNeji fic, can you guys like vote or something and PM me. I don't know how many people like me LeeNeji