Author's note: May conatin mature references. Read at your own discretion.


Time Game

-Happy Ending?-


When the sword struck the ground, Naruto opened one eye. The sword was prodding out from the earth beside him. He attempted to look up at Sasuke, who was still forcing him into the ground.

"Sasuke?" Naruto questioned coarsely.

Sasuke arm moved from across the top of Naruto's back. Naruto felt a soft hand touch his shoulder as he noticed Sasuke's weight shift. Sasuke snorted.

"I still can't kill you," he murmured irritably.

He awkwardly dragged Naruto up by the back of his jacket. Naruto was so weak that he could do nothing. Sasuke tightly wrapped one arm around him and Naruto winced. He looked over his shoulder at Sasuke. There was still no emotion in his face. Naruto bowed his head, ready to collapse. His head was titled up to look at Sasuke again. Tears welled in his eyes as Sasuke kissed him. Somehow, despites his fatigue, he found that he could still reach up to grab Sasuke. He was pulled firmly against him. How he had dearly missed this feeling. Naruto felt tears roll down his face, though would not release Sasuke as they parted. He stared in bewilderment at his ex-team-mate. The tears on his face were not his own. At that moment, Naruto allowed them to flow freely as he stared at Sasuke. The one he stared at was the Sasuke he once knew. The Sasuke he had constantly fought and loved during their time as a team.

Naruto frowned before he was pulled into another embrace. He could feel Sasuke shaking as they held each other. Both were bruised and greatly fatigued. Naruto was content on just holding Sasuke. To be able to do so was enough to fulfil his reason for pursuing his friend.

"I'm sorry," a soft murmur came.

Naruto smiled as fresh tears rolled down his face. He could not use his voice and hoped that his hug alone could show his forgiveness. Sasuke's warmth was all he felt before loosing consciousness.


Naruto slowly opened his eyes. His entire body was sore. As he stared at the roof, he attempted to recollect where he was or what he had last done. He could remember fighting with Sasuke, however, little more. All he knew now was that he had been returned to Konoha.

A gentle breeze was blowing in through the window, fluttering the curtains. There were birds singing in the tree. Under the sheets, he could feel bandages against his body. Everything felt so peaceful, yet his mind was racing. He was not sure who returned him, or what happened to Sasuke. Did he run away again? His head was pounding.

"You woke up."

Naruto turned his head. He was unable to sit up because of the agony his body was enduring. A small smile emerged on his face.

"Yeah," he replied hoarsely.

Sasuke was sitting on the seat beside his bed, his body covered in bandages. He had a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth. Naruto reached out his hand to him. Sasuke snorted a laugh before taking it. Naruto grinned stupidly before turning his head back towards the ceiling and closing his eyes. The Sasuke's chair creaked as he stood up. Naruto felt himself blush as Sasuke kissed his forehead. He opened his eyes again as he felt the bed move. Sasuke sat on the edge, leaning over him.

"You'll stay, right?" Naruto asked.

"We'll see."

A frown flickered across Naruto's brow. Sasuke smirked and lowered his face closer to Naruto's.

"You'll just need to give me a reason to hang around," Sasuke added quietly.

He kissed Naruto again. Naruto wrapped his arms around Sasuke's neck. He had yearned for this feeling ever since Sasuke left. His greatest fear was to never experience it again.

Somehow, Naruto had once again freed Sasuke of his emotional burden. Over the years, he had hardened his emotions against any feeling, all for the sake of defeating his brother. Despites this, his feelings for Naruto seemed to have never disappeared. On the contrary, having been apart from him for so long seemed to have cause those emotions to grow stronger. After two years apart, the sight of him had caused a ripple of emotion. He had believed it to be only those of irritation at Naruto for standing in his way. However, Sasuke now understood that this was not the case.

The door to the room opened and Sasuke sat up again. Naruto smiled and waved weakly. Kakashi was eyeing Sasuke somewhat suspiciously. Sakura and Sai filed in behind him. Naruto gingerly sat up.

"Couldn't you have waited?" Kakashi sighed, staring directly at Sasuke, who did not respond.

"Naruto, how are you feeling?" Sakura asked

"Fine," Naruto grinned. "A little sore is all, you know."

Sai smiled from behind Sakura, although received a dark look from Sasuke. They spoke for a few minutes before Kakashi asked the other two to leave the room for a moment. Even though Sakura objected, she and Sai left. Kakashi sat down in Sasuke's chair with a sigh.

"Now, Sasuke. You know that there's no more running away, don't you? Or Naruto will cry again."

"I didn't cry!" Naruto snapped loudly, before realising just how injured he was.

Sasuke sighed as he helped Naruto steady himself from the sudden pain; "I'm not going anyway at the moment."

"And no fighting with Sai."

"Huh?" Naruto frowned.

He looked at Sasuke who was staring at Kakashi with a dark, yet disappointed frown. Naruto raised an eyebrow and scratched his head. He looked back at Kakashi, hoping to be enlightened.

"Sasuke just looked a little jealous," Kakashi smiled.

"Jealous of that loser?" Sasuke snorted.

"Maybe you should reassure him, Naruto?" Kakashi laughed as he stood up. "Play nice, Sasuke."

Sasuke glared, however turned back to Naruto, who had taken hold of his arm.

"I don't get it."

"You never get it, Naruto," Sasuke smirked, flicking Naruto's nose.

"Owh!" Naruto wined, rubbing his new injury.

He blushed again when Sasuke pulled him against him again. Naruto looked up nervously at Kakashi, who was standing at the door. Sasuke was expressing a possesive and defensive look. All Naruto could do was raise an eyebrow.

"No making out in the middle of the street, you two," Kakashi laughed.

Sasuke released Naruto and crossed his arms again as Kakashi opened the door. Sakura gave him a confused look as he left before she entered the room again with Sai. There was still a polite smile on his face, which seemed to anger Sasuke again.

"What was that about?" Sakura asked.

"I don't really know," Naruto admitted.


Naruto yawned and looked out the window. The sun had gone down and he could hear the familiar noises of Konoha's nightlife. He sat up when he smelt food, though did so stiffly. There was a sound beside him.

"Hungry?"

Naruto grinned. The light turned on and Naruto could now see the bowl sitting beside his bed. Sasuke had changed into new clothes. He sat down on the bed beside Naruto.

Naruto chuckled happily, "Thanks, Sasuke."

"Whatever, moron," he smiled, picking the bowl up and handing it to Naruto, watching him eat in silence.

When he was finished, Naruto asked, "So, what was Kakashi on about earlier? I don't get it."

Sasuke sighed, "You're still going on about that?"

"Well, I wanna know, of course."

"It's not something to worry about," Sasuke chuckled.

"But I wanna know."

"Fine, fine. He was talking about that loser."

"Huh? You mean Sai?"

"Yeah." Sasuke leaned forward, pressing his forehead against Naruto's, "And I don't like him. So I don't want you spending time with him."

"But, he's kinda part of Team Kakashi now," Naruto frowned.

Sasuke sighed, "I don't like other guys spending time with you, Naruto."

"Oh, I think I get it. So, that's what he meant by jealous."

Sasuke smiled and tightly embraced Naruto, "You're mine, Naruto. And I'd prefer it to stay that way."

Naruto grinned and laughed, his face flushed. Sasuke smiled and leaned his head against Naruto's. He lay Naruto back down and kissed him. Naruto wrapped his arms around his neck and held him as close as he could. Sasuke moved under the sheet beside Naruto. Although blushing, Naruto allowed Sasuke, despites his injuries. The two remained together for the night. Everything else no longer mattered, even if just for those moments. So long as he had Naruto, Sasuke still had a reason to stay in Konoha. That was enough.


Author's note II: I just can't write my evil endings!! Not for Fanfics anyway. I do all these horrible things to my characters in my normal stories, so I like to come out with the happy endings for my fanfics. Hope you enjoyed it!!