The next morning, in Sasuke's house-Sasuke is lying in bed, and is jolted awake by a loud, sharp clatter. He also smells a weird mixture of something appetizing but burning at the same time.
"D-don't tell me…"
Sasuke steps out of his room and into his kitchen.
"Aah! Sasuke! Um, er, good morning?"
"What are you doing in my kitchen, Naruto?"
"Um, I'm in my boxers, I just dropped a pan, I'm freaking out because there's red everywhere, and I'm very nervous right now?"
"What are you actually doing in my kitchen, Naruto?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, alright?! I was going to surprise you with a breakfast in bed-in his imagination is Sasuke praising him for his great culinary skills-but when I opened your fridge, I remembered all you had were plants!"
"Yeah, and?"
"And most of them were tomatoes!"
"That's because I like tomatoes!"
"Well, I figured that much out, so I took a bunch out and tried heating them up with sake… I thought fancy chefs usually put alcohol in their food, y'know!"
Sasuke facepalms. "The pan lit on fire, right?"
"Yeah, now help me clean up this mess, Sasuke!"
"It's my kitchen, so I'm obliged to."
Sasuke and Naruto dump the tomatoes into the garbage and wipe the kitchen clean.
"Wait… you didn't burn the tomatoes. What's that smell, then?"
"Oh, haha! I tried making toast…"
Sasuke glances at his toaster, which is smoking. He goes over to turn it off, pulls two charred squares out, and tosses it into the garbage.
"Heheh, uhm, so about breakfast."
"I don't think I'm in the mood to eat breakfast now…"
"R-right, sorry. Sorry to bother you, so maybe I'll be going now…?"
Naruto heads toward the door.
"No, hold on a second. Naruto stops. I'd like to take a walk outside. You can join me if you want."
"Sure, Sasuke... You don't seem to be mad. What's up with that?"
Naruto waits for Sasuke to catch up with him toward the door, and they both walk around the paved roads in town, empty because the day has barely touched dawn.
"Your sustenance is ramen, you refer to vegetables as plants, and you said yourself that you don't cook. It's only logical that you're terrible at preparing food."
"Yeah, but what about breaking into your house?"
"Naruto, you're a hero to Konoha for defeating the Ten-Tails. I don't think picking locks would be that difficult for you."
"Haha! But cooking's hard for me."
"That is unfortunately true."
"You're not mad that I tried to make breakfast for you?"
"No, but I'll admit I don't know why you would do that."
"Doesn't not knowing make you kinda mad already?"
"No… I'm just vexed."
"Sasuke, do you live in a world where people don't pay back their friends for doing them favors?"
"What? I don't know what you mean."
"I'm saying, you made me breakfast, so I, er, tried to make you breakfast! Simple as that."
"… you make it sound like you owe me something, as if I did something for you against my will."
"Huh?"
Sasuke turns his head away so that Naruto can't see his face well.
"There's a lot of things I dislike, but one of them isn't cooking for you."
"Uhh… I'm not sure if I heard you right. Did you say-"
"Forget about it." He turns his head straight again. "Since I just got back, I should probably catch up with what's happening with Team Seven."
"Oh, yeah! Umm, I'll start with Kakashi-sensei! … You know, I don't think he's changed all that much… Except he got really good at using his Sharingan, I guess."
"I noted that."
"Hmm… and he's found a new pervy book to read! It looks like this one's more pervy than the last because he doesn't let anybody even see the title!"
"Odd he doesn't use a book cover, then."
"Right? He even covers his half his face. And you've seen Yamato and Sai, too. They're both good guys. Yamato taught me how to add wind to my Rasengan. And Sai's really trying to make friends now… though I can't stand him sometimes. He keeps commenting on… err…"
"And Sakura?"
"… Well, Sakura's her usual self, you know. Always hitting me and stuff. Ahah.."
"…"
"What?"
"There's more, isn't there? She even looks at you differently, compared to when I first saw you again."
"I-I might as well spill it. She's still in love with you, y'know that?"
"…"
"But she lied to me, saying that she fell in love with me. I knew it was fake; it just felt wrong when she confessed to me."
"I thought you liked her, Naruto."
"Heh… yeah, I thought I did too, until she tried to pull one over me. She was trying to get me to stop going after you."
"What, did you make a promise that you'd bring me back to Konoha?"
"Yeah, when we were genin."
The two walk in silence for a moment.
"You're still a genin, aren't you?"
Naruto laughs. "You are, too."
"Ha, shut up, dobe. But in all seriousness, why don't you like Sakura anymore?"
"Maybe I shoulda been more clear… I still love Sakura, but just not like like. You know? She's a sister who I can turn to."
"Okay, fine. Why don't you like Sakura… in that way… anymore?"
"(heavy sigh) I... haven't really thought about it… I'm not sure why I liked her in the first place, t'be honest. She was really cute, I guess. But I don't think that's what I really want in my life. She doesn't understand me."
"I see."
Sasuke thinks about the time Sakura complained about Naruto's annoying behavior, saying that he's lucky to not have parents to discipline him. He then told her how awful it is to be alone and parentless, a feeling worse than being yelled at. "You're... annoying," he spat out.
"I mean, I'm super glad she's not so mean to me anymore and usually it looks like she understands me. But… when she wanted to stop me from getting you back…"
Naruto looks down to the ground, distraught.
"I knew she didn't. I knew at that moment I realized it, she wasn't someone with… who I could be... completely me. 'Cause she didn't understand me."
Sasuke can't help but look at Naruto with a softer expression, but Naruto's head hasn't lifted to be able to see it.
"She didn't know that if you got killed, that I would never look at her the same way ever again! That if you were gone, half of me would be gone! She just thought that I was so set on getting you back because of her sake… and I can't even begin to describe how crazy that is."
Sasuke simply absorbs Naruto's words.
"And now everything's back to normal, and you're here, and Sakura's a lot happier lately. I am, too, but I feel like I won't be able to find somebody to love. She obviously likes you, so..."
"I'm not an expert on love, Naruto-"
"Me neither."
"-but there's a lot of people in this world. You'll probably find someone.
Naruto gives a half-hearted laugh. "You know, my mom told me to find someone who's like her. Spunky, loud, talks too much like me. I'm beginning to think that it doesn't make that good of a… what's that word?"
"Chemistry?"
"Yeah. Sakura and I combined have too much of one thing. I think that's the problem between Sakura and me. Maybe she's better with you."
"Oh… I guess that explains a lot. I don't feel that way about her, though, Naruto."
"It takes time for feelings to develop, doncha think? We hated each other when we were young, and look at us now!"
"You could be right, though I really don't think she'll understand me if she can't understand you."
From afar the messenger ninja spots the two walking together, and runs up to them.
"Fortunate to have found you two so quickly. Hokage Tsunade-sama wishes to invite you to a War Victory celebration. It will take place in the Banquet Hall tomorrow night."
"Wow, aren't we so popular lately, Sasuke!"
"It's only to be expected."
"Who else is going? The Banquet Hall is huge, so there better be a lot of people!"
"Hokage Tsunade-sama welcomes all Konoha citizens to partake in this joyous event. Please spread the word, and bring along friends and family."
"Sounds like you're right, Naruto."
"Yes! Free food! What else, what else?"
"Because you two have played such key roles in the war, you may be subject to public display and speaking. Please be forewarned, and do not be surprised; it's a wonderful celebration so speak boldly. That is all."
"This sounds like the perfect event for you."
"Yeah, I can't wait for tomorrow! I gotta prepare my speech!"
"Hol-hold on a moment, idiot-"
"Didn't you hear 'im? I gotta talk to a bunch of people!"
"Shouldn't you find something nice to wear first?"
"Hm… nah. I think what I'm wearing now is perfect. Everybody'll know exactly who I am!"
Whoo hoo! This chapter was much easier to write than the last. I love writing deep, serious stuff. The last couple of chapters have been nearly genfic, but I think in this chapter there's a sliver of SasuNaru… if you squint. Please give feedback if I'm staying in-character… of course, some room should be allowed for the fact that the two are slowly falling in love for each other XD Oh yes, and Sasuke has canonly felt separating from Naruto was like "ripping off half of his own body." I figured Naruto would feel the same.
As always, please fave, follow, + review!
