Do You Remember
Sasuke slipped on some shorts and a sweater. Today was Naruto's birthday and the blond decided to spend the night with him. They would go to the festival, where people would celebrate Naruto and the fox.
Someone came into the Uchiha manor. "Teme, you ready to go?"
Sasuke shook his head and slipped on his sandals. He walked into the room to see that the blond wore the same shorts as he but a dark blue shirt. "Yes, dobe. So, what are we doing?"
"We are hanging out." Sasuke already knew, but it still surprised him. To be honest, Naruto refused to be alone with him much. If they went anywhere, it was with their friends. Naruto was exactly like the singer of Far Away.
Well, Sasuke didn't know if he loved him all along, but he stayed away. And Sasuke couldn't take that. No one mattered but Naruto.
Not wanting to sound desperate, Sasuke let thoughts of defecting again for Naruto go as he noticed his friend eating his tomatoes.
"I've never been a fan of vegetables, but I see why you like these bad babies."
"It's a fruit." the pale man deadpanned. Sometimes he wondered what made him fall in love with an idiot like Naruto.
The Uzumaki just shrugged and went on about how it wasn't sweet so wasn't a fruit to him.
"Can we go?" Sasuke interrupted.
"Yeah. Yeah. Come on."
The October air felt brisk. Leaves were flying everywhere and Sasuke hitched up a conversation. "So, how do you feel on this particular night? Every year, I mean."
"At first I hate it. Believe me when I say, I didn't like getting beat by villagers. But, now I must say each time the leaves hit my face, I feel content with what I have. Can you believe, on this day years ago, I used to hide in my apartment as people banged on my door.
But now they celebrate me and the fox and treat me as their hero. Life changes, huh Sas?"
"I never said you could give me a nickname." The man says.
"I always thought we were close enough to be on a nickname basis."
"Hn."
"Tonight, my arrogant prissy and all the more bitchy friend, we are going to see the fireworks!" Naruto lifted Sasuke in the air and spun him around, pretending to be prince.
"I always knew you were cheesy, but geez, Usuratonkachi." Sasuke was having the most fun he had in years. He had nothing to counter that he was totally at ease when around Naruto, so much that he seemed like a different person.
"Damn you. We're actually seeing fireworks tonight. But, before we do, Let's spice up the night." The mischievous glint in the ocean eyes said all they needed to.
NSNS
"Can you explain why we're in the academy room?" Sasuke asked as Naruto put up a bucket of water between the door. It was night and no one ever came to the academy at such a time. Not to mention everyone was out in the middle of town.
"You remember the eraser prank, right?"
"Why the hell would Kakashi-san come in here at night?"
"Iruka-sensei was staying for a while to grade papers and Kakashi-sensei was coming to see him. You know their little relationship."
Sasuke looked around. Did Naruto ever know how idiot he could be sometimes? "Iruka-san isn't in here, dobe."
Naruto froze and jumped down. "I know. I knocked him out and put him in another room so he wouldn't ruin it all. We'll need this light off."
The room went dark and Sasuke, with his Sharingan, could see Naruto come and stand before him. "Hide your chakra, teme."
"If you think that hurting people to complete pranks is accep-" Sasuke never finished because the sound of feet walking toward them could have cut him off if Naruto's chest didn't first.
The Jinchuriki had chosen to hug Sasuke and pull his face into his chest to shut him up.
The light was clicked on before the cracked door was opened, giving Naruto and Sasuke a full display of the hokage being splashed with the bowl of water.
Before he could see the reaction, Naruto grabbed his hand and jumped out of the window yelling "Sorry sensei. Iruka's in the room next door. Love ya!"
Sasuke was laughing. Actually laughing. The world was silent for a moment until a loud scream could be heard.
"Naruto. You damn brat!" Kakashi's voice shook the trees.
They kept running and giggling until Naruto tripped. Sasuke couldn't hold it. He clutched his stomach and his mouth opened to a loud laugh. One that seemed so uncharacteristic to Naruto.
It was that moment that Sasuke realized he could come close to insane when with Naruto. He could laugh and cry at the same time. Be carefree and caring. It was something only Naruto could give him.
"I am done with everything." Sasuke laid his head on the ground, giggles still escaping his mouth. Naruto was leaning on one elbow just watching, always starstruck when Sasuke laughed like this.
Sasuke stopped laughing, wondering why the two of them were just smiling like idiots. After a moment, Naruto rested on his back too. "Hey, Sas?" the masculine voice asked.
"Hm?"
"Do you ever wonder if...if we've been wrong our whole lives? Believing the wrongs things because we were taught to?"
"What are you on about?"
"I don't know. And No..I'm not drunk. It's just growing up, Iruka-sensei would tell me how the tailed demons would travel from hell. But, in reality, the demons travelled to earth."
The Uchiha rolled to his side, an excuse to stare at the scarred ANBU commander when he was at peace with himself. "What's your assumption, Naruto?"
"I believe we should look toward the ground when we pray and think of the angels. Because I don't think bad things like demons come from hell. No. They come from the sky."
"Narut-"
"I know you're going to tell me to shut up, but I just can only confide in you."
Sasuke rolled his obsidian eyes. "I think your theory is correct."
"It's dumb I k- really?" The surprise was evident.
"Yes." Sasuke spoke as if this were a sacred conversion between the two of them. And maybe it was. "When it rains, the trees and plants blossom. Rain, from the sky, is what brought us the God Tree. It's what made it grow. And that god tree started everything evil in this world."
Naruto hummed to show his interest. Such a claim was true. Had that rain never given the God Tree its power, maybe Kaguya Ōtsutsuki would have eaten a regular fruit and much shit could have been avoided. Nothing would be wrong.
"Do you ever think about how different it would be if we, you and I, weren't ninja, if we weren't born to be the sons of ninja, if life were normal?" Sasuke questioned.
"All the time. But each time I do, I pray to the Gods that they don't restart my life and change it all."
"No way. You wouldn't want to give up all the pain for something regular? If you haven't noticed, lives like mine and yours aren't shown sympathy."
"Exactly, teme." By the blonds soft voice, Sasuke chose not to take it as a daily insult. "If I were never a ninja, I wouldn't know you ever. You were and still are…..my best friend. My first and only friend for a while. The one person I could confide in. All I'm saying is I really enjoy knowing you.
And if I were ever forced to choose between being 'normal' and dealing with you. I'd choose you and I'll keep choosing you over and over. Without pause, without a doubt. In a heartbeat, I'll keep choosing you."
Tears pricked at Sasuke's unopened eyes, so he chose to keep them shut as Naruto shifted his body and eyes toward him.
When the tears gave up, the raven opened one eye to see Naruto staring at him. The October moon made the rubbery scar through his eye glisten, but the scars hardened his image.
Closing his eyes again, which may have been the hardest decision of his life because Naruto was so beautiful, he reached out to rub the neck scar, eventually resting his fingers on the facial scar. "How?" He whispered.
"Kakashi sensei, as the hokage, was in Suna for a day, so the council was in charge. They sent me on a B-rank mission explaining your whereabouts."
If Sasuke did such a thing to Naruto, he didn't remember and to be honest he probably would have helped Naruto against whoever fought him. Which ebbed the question "How old were we?" from his pale mouth.
"Fifteen"
"I didn't see you that whole year, though."
"Exactly. It was a set up. They knew if you were involved….they'd get me good. Of course I didn't find you. What I did find though were two Akatsuki members telling me about how the initiators of the plan sold me out."
Now Sasuke opened his bleary eyes, not even caring that Naruto was still staring. "Oh my God." the whisper was faint.
Naruto, attempting to make light out of the situation, a bit. "I know. I'm one of the people who actuallylive to tell the tale. Kakuzu and Konan, the Akatsuki, nearly took my head off….literally." At that, he slid his finger across his own neck.
"That isn't funny, Naruto. You could have died." Sasuke expressed his concern through anger, but Naruto knew.
"But I didn't. And that's what we should focus on. Anyway, Konan held me down while Kakuzu gave me the scars with a kunai. It took everything in me to make a shadow clone at the last second. By the time ANBU arrived, Kakuzu was on the ground dead and Konan was unconscious."
There was a pause as now both 19 year old listened to Sasuke sniff. Naruto had no idea he would take it this hard.
"Kakashi sensei was so angry, Sasuke. More than we've ever seen him. He imprisoned some of the council members behind it and before the whole village, Konan and the council member who initiated it were executed."
"Who were the council members involved. Well, Danzo thought of it so he was executed. Trust me when I say I was genuinely surprised when they found out Hiashi Hyuuga and Koharu Utatane. I thought they liked me."
"Did it hurt you?"
Naruto grimaced. "It did, but not as much as Sakura-chan did."
"What she do?" Sasuke questioned angrily.
"She thought I was lying about the attack and said that I was being jealous and that I didn't want you coming back. It seems that I knew you guys would get together, and I refused to let it happen."
"I told her we would never."
"I know. I heard the whole conversation. I must say, the Uchiha is a very interesting clan. I had no idea men could become pregnant. Anyway, Sakura was so angry that she slapped my unhealed wounds and as the best medic nin in the village, she wouldn't take part in healing them."
"She's a bitch." Sasuke mumbled and leaned closer to Naruto.
"Sometimes. But, I felt completely better when Ino stepped in."
Sasuke became excited. The raven really looked up to the blond female for some odd reason. "What'd Ino have to say about that?"
"Say and do, Sas. She kicked Sakura's ass for hitting me and for yelling at me. Then she healed my scars, stitched them up, and taught me some medical jutsu. That's why she's so awesome, Sasuke."
Sasuke finally turned on his back. "I know. She helps me with a lot and I like working in the shop with her. I also watch how she interacts with kids. If I ever became a parent, I'd want to be just like Ino. She's as sweet as the flowers she plant."
"I'll be sure to tell her that."
"Hey, Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember your birthday when you turned twelve. When we were cleaning the market. Do you remember the necklace-"
"I still have it. Just thinking about it when you returned. In fact, I made something for you too."
Naruto stood and leaned into his pocket. "I hope you don't mind that I did this." The necklace was tied around Sasuke's neck. When he looked down he gasped. He had the yang side now. The side with the Uzumaki swirl. "Look on the back."
On the back, engraved in the gold, was his and Naruto's name. "I have the same, except I have the Uchiha fan on mine." Naruto walked closer and pulled his necklace from his shirt. "See?"
Before Sasuke could just kiss him, and he briefly wondered if he had the courage to do so, a loud booming sound frightened them. "Oh shit, the festival is starting and Kakashi-sensei is going to give his speech. Come on, Sasuke."
Before the Uchiha could answer, Naruto lifted him bridal style and began running. They ended up on a roof near the festival. Most of the town stood below cheering the fireworks on. "Why we stay up here?" Sasuke asked as Naruto let him down.
"It's the best seat, but everyone looks up at me when the fireworks end. Here come the big finale."
They sat there watching the fireworks until finally Naruto's face showed up in the sky and all the villagers turned to the roof. Chants of the Uzumaki's name became very loud.
"Told ya. Look! there goes our friends." The two boys jumped down to everyone. Sakura threw her hands around Naruto's neck. Sasuke resisted the urge to throw his fist in her face.
"I'm so proud of you. Look how far we've come." She then proceeded to kiss the man's cheek. The group went quiet. Sasuke missed the part when his face became angry. He also missed the cautious looks sent by Neji, Ino, and Temari.
"Back off, Billboard brow. You're completely high off rocks if you think Naruto likes you."
Naruto would have laughed at Ino's statement if Kakashi did not stand up on stage and clear his throat.
"Good evening everyone. I'd like to take a moment and remember. 19 years ago on this day at this hour, the infamous nine tailed fox fell under the influence of someone evil and attacked our village. Many of us fell before my sensei, the fourth Hokage, sealed the beast away.
Our hero fell that day, but it brought us another hero. For 19 years this kid has been unpredictable and fabulous, earning his wisdom and strength through various sensei, but more so through believing himself. So that brings me to something else. Tonight, we celebrate him. I am announcing that in two months, I will be resigning from four good years as the sixth hokage.
My Successor is a hero to this village, he was a hero to the war. And I wouldn't want anyone else following me. I know that he will protect this village with his life."
Kakashi looked to Naruto's group of friends. Kiba grabbed the blond's shoulders from behind and began jumping up and down. Neji was silently clapping while he and Lee talked about how they knew Naruto could do it all along.
Ino put her hands on the side of her face. "I cannot believe it. I knew it'd happen, but it's so sudden. Naruto, you finally did it."
Everyone else kept grabbing the ANBU commander's shoulder and shaking him. The only not cheering was Naruto. The man was in a clear state of shock.
Kakashi continued. "My successor will be…."
Everyone began to chant Naruto's name. That is Until Kakashi finished his sentence.
"Hyuuga Neji!"
The world went silent. Neji was the
"What the fuck?"
If Naruto weren't so shocked, he would have laughed at the foxes statement. Neji became angry and screamed "No!"
They were all angry. But no one, and Naruto would later express such as absolutely no one was as angry a one Uchiha Sasuke.
The raven walked right up to the stage. "Who do you think you are, Kakashi-san. Naruto worked his ass off to get where he was. Yo give him that title or so help me God, there will be another Uchiha unleashing the Kyuubi. Sure Neji is a great ninja, but no one deserves it more than Naruto-kun! What do have to say for yourself?"
Kakashi only laughed and pointed at Naruto. "That was a better prank than yours, you have to admit." Everyone began murmuring in confusion until it dawned on them and the sixth explained.
"My real successor is Uzumaki Naruto, has been for all my years as hokage. However, Naruto got me with a bucket of water and I wanted to get him back. This was the best way."
"So I am the real successor?" Naruto asked still starstruck.
At the same time, Neji and Ino yelled He better be!"
"Yes you are. Believe it." Kakashi tipped his hokage hat and laughed again.
"You got me good, sensei. You also go Sasuke good too."
"Haha." The Uchiha looked around and everyone stared amused at him. Those were the most words any villager has ever heard from him. He probably looked insane.
And maybe that was what he was when he was with Naruto. High off a poison. In instead of on cloud nine. Trying to jump off a cliff that wouldn't let him go. Taking a dive into the ocean with bricks tied to his body. And for a good reason, he didn't give a shit.
Suddenly, he started in a long sprint back to Naruto. Everyone was looking at him, wondering if the Uchiha would attack. However he jumped on Naruto and threw his arms around the taller man's neck. "Congrats, dobe." He whispered.
"Thanks, teme." Burying his head in Naruto's neck, Sasuke let the world drown out. This was by far the best night of his life.
Because Uchiha Sasuke realized he was in love with his best friend, Uzumaki Naruto.
I have to say, I very much liked the metaphor of demons coming from the sky. It sounded so cool when Lex Luthor said it in Batman V. Superman. I really liked the movie. Oh yeah. Uh comment review. Don't forget to PM me if you want a LeeNeji fic.
