disclaimer: nope.

notes: them -ber months are so... troublesome.

dedication: to mangafox. 'cause they upload so fast.

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3. The Truce

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The prison cell was stuffy and smells like urine and other unmentionable scents. There's a hay stack at the corner, supposedly to be used for sleeping purposes, that was way too wet with liquids they don't even want to think to know about.

Naruto grumbled, "I'm hungry and this is all your fault!"

His companion stayed silent opting to gather his strength for better uses than talking with the idiot.

The walls were made of huge boulders except for the front. Bamboo sticks surrounded the front side of the cell, only held up by flimsy wood strings. They would've easily slashed through the pathetic attempt to contain them if not for two things: one, their sword was not with them and two, their hands and feet were tied at their backs in one painful knot.

The moonlight hit them with a lethargic haze.

"Your friend," Sasuke spoke for the first time since their imprisonment, "ratted us out. She didn't warn us."

"Huh?" Naruto tried to turn his head to look at Sasuke but that would mean having to kiss the ground so he didn't. "Oh, she's not my friend."

"Hn." was all that Sasuke said.

Feeling the tension slacking Naruto ventured, hoping his cell mate would reply, "Why are you locked up too if you were just hired? I can understand Moleface trying to do me in but I thought you were on his side."

"I believe he doesn't want to to pay me. Killing us both through public execution would be killing two birds with one stone for him." Sasuke stated.

"That means he set you up to make this big fuss so that he could accuse us of disturbing the peace!" Naruto sputtered as he turned his head toward Sasuke, tasting dirt.

"Correct." Sasuke confirmed.

"He killed his enemy and he doesn't have to pay the assassin he hired because he's dead too!" Realization hit Naruto.

Sasuke kept silent again.

After a minute or so, Naruto spoke again, "But he really won't pay you either way because you didn't kill me" Naruto taunted, grinning and looking utterly stupid at the position and goofy smile he's in.

"Tch. I would've killed you if we weren't stopped." Sasuke finally showed a hint of emotion: annoyance.

"Whatever. I still think you can't kill me." Naruto fixed him a challenging stare, eyes glinting in the moon light.

Sasuke glared at him. Naruto held it steady. He would surely be dead if looks could kill. A few moments passed by. The crickets were singing their songs while an owl was hooting from somewhere.

"But, for what it's worth" Naruto suddenly blurted, "I thought the way you cut off that policeman's head was badass."

"Sasuke closed his eyes, relenting. "I liked your severing style too. I might use it when I kill you."

"Heh. Sure thing. After I cut your head." Naruto beamed a smile before turning back his head on the other side.

The rest of their night was uneventful.

The complete opposite of what will happen to them the next morning.

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notes: spare some words for the amateur writer?