Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns…Both literally and figuratively. I own nothing, except for maybe my delusions, and I'm not even sure about those.
Warnings: Angst, probably. Team 7-style brooding.
Naruto has always thought Sasuke was too pretty to be real, too delicate to be strong. He still thinks it, even as he knows that should it come to a life or death battle, he will pull his attacks first. It's a little depressing to realize, but Naruto isn't ever one to mope about something. Besides, why would Sasuke ever fight to kill him?
Sakura has always known, ever since Haku nearly killed Sasuke, that given the choice between Naruto and her, Sasuke would choose the other boy. It made sense, really. Naruto was stronger, tougher, and clearly meant the world to Sasuke. She wonders; even if she grew stronger, would Sasuke see her as anything more than useless?
Kakashi has always been disturbed by the similarities between his taciturn student and himself. He knows that no matter how dedicated Naruto is, Sasuke won't listen until it is far too late. Kakashi made that mistake himself, and he knows that Sasuke is far more messed up than the Copy-nin ever was; after all, Kakashi had his sensei to look after him, but he knows that he isn't doing as good of a job with his own students, no matter how hard he tries. And so Kakashi waits, and hopes, but if the best case scenario involves only one death instead of four, instead of hundreds, there isn't much to hope for. Kakashi has never been an optimist.
Sasuke goes home alone each night. He thinks that Naruto is stupid and slow, but maybe he's determined enough to be considered a brother. He thinks that Sakura is shallow and confusing, but maybe she's kind enough to be considered a sister. He thinks that Kakashi is just plain weird, but if the genius ninja was any kinder, he'd probably have to call him a father. And then Sasuke thinks of little mini-Kakashis, and blanches even paler than his usual snowy complexion.
Oh dear god, no.
Still, they are his team, but Sasuke can't help but wondering. Wondering why sometimes he catches Naruto looking at him, scared of what the future holds. Wondering why sometimes he sees Sakura watching Naruto with nothing but anger and hate in her eyes. Wondering why lately, every time Kakashi sees his team, the older man sighs and his eye loses just a little bit of its sparkle.