I haven't written anything for this story in almost three years. Sorry? But I always planned to get back to my old stories, so I'll try to get this chapter done. I don't really like how the Point of View keeps switching in chapter one, but I have no other solution other than writing two whole chapters (one Naruto and one Sasuke), which is gross.

Also, as I fucking love NaruSasu, that's what this story is; however, there will most likely be no lemon whatsoever. Take that grain of salt as you will.

Anyway, on with the story (I say that as if you're still reading this):

~~~~~Hi~~~~~

- Neutral -

"Oh," Tsunade feigned, "isn't this just horrible? Whatever shall I do..."

"What kind of sick joke is this, Baa-chan? Did you switch our jobs by accident or something? I can't teach! I hate the academy! I- I can't do this!" Naruto was a hyperventilator, apparently.

"You can and will do this, Uzumaki," she sighed, looking over to her bottle of sake like there just wasn't enough of it in this world, "I decide the jobs and I have decided for you to become a teacher - it's one year, how bad can it be?"

'Pretty bad...' she thought, skirting back and forth between Sasuke's glassy, nervous eyes (his mask weakened over the years) and Naruto's seemingly endless string of complaints. "I'll let you discuss this amongst yourselves! Remember, all envelopes are final! Happy job day!" she couldn't have gotten them out of the office faster. Sitting down, she once again sighed. Today seemed like the beginning of a very, very bad year.

Once outside the door, the ranting began anew. "That baa-chan asshole! Giving me a job as an academy instructor! Who does she think I am? Is it too late to leave the village? Become hokage? Revoke my jounin rank?" Naruto pleaded, looking over to Sasuke with his eyes bright.

'I...I'm responsible for twelve year olds. I'm responsible for twelve year olds for years. I can't just leave them for their own after this year is up. What if they're a bad team? What if it's a team full of Naruto-clones? What if they wipe snot on me? Naruto, why did we do this? Why did I convince you to go to jounin rank', Sasuke ranted in silence, just as worried as Naruto was. Once it was obvious Sasuke had no outward advice to give, Naruto looked away, peering out onto the growing city of Konoha.

"What if these are our jobs forever? What if they like your leadership and they like my teaching style - which, of course, is just me jumping out of the window. What'll happen then?"

Sasuke, thoughts silenced by Naruto's question, stared at the life playing out below him. Naruto was right, these assignments could be the end all be all. He gazed at the playground and all of the children screaming and playing, as if their life would never get past such childish things. He looked at the people commuting on the ever-busy mainstreet. And, suddenly, he smiled against himself. "Well," he said, "I guess we'll just have to see where the wind blows us." As the two stood there, silently watching, they reached out for each other, almost unknowingly, their fingers millimeters apart. Indeed, wherever the wind went.

After several more (what were sure to be) dramatic encounters in Tsunade's office, the two finally broke out of their trance. "Well!" Naruto started as he stretched, "might as well find out what the damage is with the others!" Grinning, he took Sasuke arm in arm and walked towards the unknown, ready to face his doom... Or, maybe, just another day in Konoha.

- Later in the day, in a forest opening -

"So you guys got the worst of it, too?" Shikamaru said, lazily watching the clouds as dusk moved in.

"Yes! They want me to be an academy instructor! How dare that baa-chan, making me learn all over again!"

"Don't you mean 'learn for the first time', Naruto?" Sakura said offhandedly, reading a patient file. Naruto, if possible, grew redder than he already was.

"I think Naruto-kun will be an amazing teacher..." Hinata said, still not looking up from the ground. She, too, had gotten her assignment earlier, but she wasn't nearly as upset as the others.

"An amazing teacher if he was the only one around," a comment that would have earned a whopping if it wasn't from Neji.

"No one has faith, Hinata! No one!" Naruto cried, hugging Hinata like his life depended on it. Though Hinata had 'accepted' Naruto would never realize her feelings long ago, she felt a faint blush dust her checks. "Why don't we leave this group of non-instructors for bigger and better things? Iruka Sensei can get us in with his crowd!" a comment all of them knew was dreadfully wrong. If anything, Iruka needed help getting friends his age. Kakashi and a group of twenty year olds shouldn't have been his main "fangroup".

"Anyway, what did everyone get? I got here late, remember?" Ino was completely lost. She, too, was a medic and didn't understand why everyone was so upset about getting a little change every once in a while.

They went around the circle:

"Sensei" said Chouji,

"Something with the hokage..." Shikamaru trailed off, dazing already,

"Helping out with new-age weaponry!" Ten-ten blazed,

"Vet and animal trainer, of course" Kiba smirked,

" Instructor..." Hinata said, still blushing from the thoughts of her and Naruto going away together.

"Gate guard.." Shino murmered,

"Gate guard, but the power of youth cannot be stopped!" Lee said, eyes ablaze,

"I will be handing out missions," Neji's posture was rigged but his eyes were dark, as if he'd given up.

"Instructor!" Naruto was obviously still angry

"Sensei.." the fire in Sasuke's eyes was dead

"Medic, obviously... it seems like a lot of your jobs suit you!" Sakura smiled, trying to brighten their spirits. The group darkened.

"Well, we'll be rooting for all of you!" Sakura and Ino snickered, enjoying their choices
thus far in life.

As the conversation weaned into other things and the night grew darker, the group began to break up. "Same time next week?" someone asked, followed by a chorus of agreements.

Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto were walking down the main street in silence, considering their day and what happened. They walked in step, already used to each other and their habits. Naruto moved his arms occasionally, which meant you needed to account for extra room if you were walking next to him (which, Sasuke was) or else you would get hit. Sakura would space out and needed to be addressed several times before you could ask her anything. Sasuke would close down and either look at the sky or his feet, never straight forward. The group had it down to a science. That is, until tonight.

Sasuke was walking a little too close to Naruto, absently staring at him. Naruto was walking, hands in pockets, angrily calculating some kind of excuse to get out of instructing. And Sakura, of all days, was actually paying attention to her best friends whole heartedly. Which is why she was the first to notice that Naruto was going to put his arms up in a yawn, but not before Sasuke would trip on that crack (seriously, she thought, what was going on with his concentration lately).

The scene played out like it was in slow motion. Sasuke tripped and, in an attempt to right himself, grabbed for Naruto. Naruto, however, was in the middle of moving and was surprised, stepping to the side and, somehow or another, both of them wound up on the ground. Face to face. Right on top of each other. Sakura noted at this exact moment that Sasuke was capable of having a color of skin besides "Casper the Friendly Ghost".

- Sasuke -

*thump*

Was that his heart or the sound of bodies? Was his face red from embarrassment because he tripped or because he was on top of Naruto? Was he really just... laying here?

His heart sounded again, reminding him he was alive and this was real. He hoped the blush would subside. He was staring at Naruto. He wasn't looking away. He was staring at Naruto and blushing at him. Good move, Sasuke...

- Naruto -

What just happened? Why is Sasuke on top of him? Wow, that sounded suggestive. Nevermind. How long have we been laying here? Too long, right? Sasuke is staring. What do I do!?

- Neutral -

Naruto laughed nervously, a short, broken thing. Sasuke broke his gaze and immediately stood up. "I'm sorry I... didn't see the crack and..."

"It's fine!" Naruto laughed, this time genuinely. The laugh turned into a hysteric and soon all three of them were outright crying from a little fall in the middle of the night. "For a second there, Sasuke, it looked like you were going to kiss him!" Sakura said breathlessly, still trying to calm down her laughter. A blush threatened to climb Sasuke's face as he remembered the window early in the day, but he kept it unknown. Soon they had calmed down enough to start walking again.

"So," Sakura said, making sure to pay attention, "when do your jobs start?" Both replied at the end of the month, when the academy ended it's graduating semester and began enrolling new students. "One more month of freedom, then."

"Yeah, one more month of freedom..." Sasuke trailed, as Naruto smiled grimly.

"One more month..."

~~~~~End~~~~~

Okay, so, I'm probably going to write another chapter tonight, so expect two uploads very close together. I don't really like the way this is turning out, but I'm gonna keep writing it anyway because I feel obligated to like, the single person following this story. Love you.

I tried to keep the point of view shifts to a minimum. Next chapter might not have any at all but eventually (like, chapter 4) some will be required, as Naruto and Sasuke are pretty much separated in jobs. Or maybe not. We'll see.

Anyway, good night! Hope you enjoyed it!