Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to the wonderful Kishimoto-sama!

Warnings: Warnings are in the first chapter, please read if you haven't already.

Thank you and please enjoy!

The following morning, the sun was shining high in the sky as the villagers of Konoha bustled about their daily lives. Mothers could be seen down at the market, bargaining with merchants as young children laughed and ran about their legs.

"Henge!" a voice whispered.

A pink-haired girl stepped smoothly out from behind a dumpster and walked into the busy streets, smiling vibrantly.

Naruto happily skipped down the street under the guise of Sakura. He decided that being her was probably the easiest way to get into the hospital to see Sasuke, given that she was responsible for Sasuke's recovery and monitored his progress daily.

Several boys gave him appreciative looks as he passed, one even had the audacity to let out a low whistle. However, rather than feeling repulsed by the notion of other males eyeing him with interest, Naruto grinned at each and every one of them, enjoying this new attention. He found it profoundly exciting and it made his heart beat faster.

This was also the first time he could walk amongst everyone else and be completely at ease. There was no one throwing him dirty looks or behaving as though he shouldn't be there. No, they all just smiled pleasantly at him, but some girls did throw nasty glances his way.

For a moment, Naruto panicked, thinking that they had seen through his ruse, but he realised they were only angry because he was Sakura. He supposed they must have been jealous of her.

"Oi! Forehead! Forehead!" It was a girl's voice.

Naruto wasn't sure who the girl was speaking to, but it sounded awfully like Ino. He turned around to see the blonde walking towards him. Inwardly debating whether or not to make a run for it, Naruto decided to stay his ground as she approached.

"Yes, Ino?" Naruto said, his voice coming out in Sakura's sweet, feminie pitch.

Ino looked taken aback for a moment before she smirked. She flicked her long, blonde ponytail behind her shoulder. "Glad to see you've finally stopped calling me 'Pig'."

Crap! He wasn't sure how he was supposed to act like Sakura around others familiar with her. He should have taken more care in planning. It would have been wiser to transform into Sakura just outside the hospital rather than walk several blocks as her.

"Are you on break already?" Ino asked. "I thought lunch only lets out at one."

"No, I'm not on break. I just had to run a few errands for Tsunade-baa-er-sama. I'd better get back now. Bye!"

"Hey, hey, hey! Not so fast." Ino grabbed at Naruto's wrist. "I want details. I know Sasuke-kun is back in town. How is he? I want to see him."

You and me both, Naruto thought dryly.

"I'm sorry, Ino, but I'm in a hurry. I have to get back." Naruto tugged at his arm.

Ino's eyes narrowed slightly and a challenging smirk flitted across her face. "Well I guess the race is back on then. Whoever claims Sasuke-kun's heart first is the better of us. Agreed?"

"Uh…" said Naruto stupidly.

"Alrighty then, it's a deal." Ino clapped her hands together, business-like. And then she abruptly let out a girly squeal as though recalling something. The sound made Naruto jump back in fright. "Oooh, I heard an interesting bit of news today." Ino gave a few furtive glances about them and leant in to whisper in Naruto's ear as though planning to conspire against the Hokage.

Curious, Naruto bent his head in.

"Apparently," she giggled, "Sasuke doesn't wear any underwear."

Naruto stared at her.

Clearly not the response she had been hoping for, Ino said, "Come on! That's sexy as hell! I bet you could see it when he moves. Must be massive. Oh I so want to touch- Why are you red?!" she asked wildly once she caught sight of Naruto's blushing face. "That must have really turned you on, huh?"

"W-What?" Naruto choked.

A wide smile spread across Ino's face. "Yeah, it did. Don't worry, you're secret's safe with me! I fantasize about him all the time too, particularly in the sack," she said with a wink. "Catch ya later then. Remember our deal!"

Naruto could only gape openly after her. Girls! Why did they feel the need to discuss what lay beneath a boy's trousers? And Sasuke's no less!

"I was NOT turned on!" Naruto yelled at Ino's retreating back, scaring the nice family who happened to walk past him, but Ino only laughed and waved her hand.

Eager not to experience any more bizarre confrontations, Naruto began walking as quickly as he could towards the hospital. Sadly, that was not to be as a voice called to him. "Good morning, oh beautiful Sakura-chan!"

Dread flooded through Naruto and he felt himself being swept off his feet and a solid muscled chest pressed against him. A pair of extremely bushy, black eyebrows and a bowl-shaped haircut suddenly obscured his vision.

"Hi Lee," Naruto said grumpily. He liked the guy, but at the moment, he did not appreciate being held in such a manner. He felt nothing short of awkward, especially after that talk about Sasuke's underwear.

Large, bulging, bug-like eyes were gazing adoringly at him. Had this been any other moment, Naruto would have been flattered to be looked at in such a way.

Putting his hands against Lee, Naruto tried to push him away. "Uh, Lee, I kinda have to be somewhere right now, so can you-"

"What are you two doing?" came a suspicious and displeased voice.

Taking advantage of the most welcome interruption from Tenten, Naruto jerked his way out of Lee's hold and streaked past the two of them. He didn't stop running until he reached the hospital and sighed with relief.

Panting slightly, Naruto strode through the double doors as they slid open for him. His eyes zeroed in on the same receptionist as the other day. Her hair was in a frizzy perm today. "Haruno-san?" she called. "Aren't you meant to be in surgery?"

"No," Naruto said quickly. "Tsunade-sama had some errands for me to run."

"Oh, alright then," and she said no more.

Naruto made his way up the stairwell, taking at leap up after every second step out of childish habit.

The hospital was extremely clean. Almost too clean. The white walls and tiles sparkled blindingly, like the faucets of a diamond and catching the sun's reflection. The strong smell of disinfectant hung heavily in the air. The corridor Naruto was in was completely bare, save for a couple of chairs pushed up against one side.

Naruto stopped just outside the room where Kakashi had said Sasuke was being kept and he suddenly felt extremely nervous. He peered through the glass window of the door first to check that Sasuke was indeed asleep, but a shock of pink hair obscured his vision.

He inwardly cursed. He had checked the day before and Sakura was scheduled to be in surgery right now, so why was she here? He wondered if he should come back another time.

Sakura moved aside to check on a machine by the side of Sasuke's bed and Naruto caught sight of the familiar head of dark blue hair.

Almost immediately, he felt a strange but welcome calmness exude through his body. He leant against the wall, feeling oddly content.

Deciding to stay just a few more minutes, Naruto watched as Sakura walked around the bed, alternating between looking at Sasuke's body and noting things down on the clipboard she held in hand. She took her time. Gently touching Sasuke and taking great care as she wrapped and unwrapped the bandages and gauze around him.

When she was done, Sakura set her clipboard on the bedside table and sat down on Sasuke's bed. She took hold of one of his hands in her own. She gently stroked his face with the back of her hand, her fingers roaming over his forehead, his cheekbones, his eyelids, nose, mouth…She brought his hand up to her own face so that it cupped her cheek. Closing her eyes, the ghost of a smile danced across Sakura's lips.

Naruto felt as though he was intruding on something extremely private, and he quickly looked away. He didn't want to remain there any longer.

Pushing himself away from the window, he began to head back home.

Naruto didn't know why, but he broke out into a run. He flew through the hallway, down the stairs, across another hallway, ignoring the receptionist as she called out to him. He didn't stop running until he reached his apartment, which had a smattering of grease and oil smeared across the windows. Another prank from the friendly neighbours of his village.

When he was inside, Naruto leant his head against the door and closed his eyes. He couldn't explain the dull throb in his chest or the painful twist in his gut, but he knew that he did not like the sight of Sasuke and Sakura together. Every cell in his body screamed in protest.

And that bothered him greatly.

Was it because Naruto, too, was hopeful for Sakura's affections?

He was their teammate. He should have been supportive of them. He did not want to wind up the bitter friend who spoilt the happiness of the two people he loved most in the world.

Sasuke and Sakura were well suited for each other. Sakura was obviously deeply in love with Sasuke and understood him more than any other girl in the village. She had seen sides of him not many had the privilege of witnessing, the vulnerability and softness in Sasuke's heart which he constantly tried to conceal under layers of arrogance and indifference. And if only Sasuke would give Sakura a chance, Naruto knew that even with his traumatising, damaging past and obsession with revenge, Sasuke could be content.

Naruto shook his head to clear his mind. He hated the fact that mere jealously was able to rip him asunder. None of it mattered anyway. He had already decided a long time ago: there would be no romantic partners for him. Even if someone like him managed to find a girlfriend and maybe even a wife, he didn't want to condemn her for being associated with him.

Despite how unappealing it was to lead a life of solitude to the end of his days, Naruto couldn't bring himself to curse another with the burden he carried.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late!" Naruto apologised as he sat down, his face slightly flushed from running.

There was a rumble of greetings. Neji, Lee, Tenten, Kiba, Hinata, Shino and Sai were already seated at the round table. The dango restaurant they were in was bustling with boisterous noise and chatter as waiters and waitresses weaved between tables serving food to hungry patrons.

Over the years, it had become a weekly custom for the Rookie Nine (excluding Sasuke obviously) and Sai, along with Team Gai, to meet up on weekends for a relaxing night out. Mostly it was just to catch up and spend a pleasant evening amongst close friends and comrades. Whenever someone didn't have missions or errands to run, they would come to meet up with the others.

"Hello, Naruto-kun," Hinata said shyly, pressing the tips of her forefingers together.

"Hi Hinata!" He smiled.

"Where are Shikamaru and his team?" Lee wondered aloud, his black, bowl-cut hair flapping as he looked around.

"I believe they are currently on a mission in Kirigakure." Shino spoke from behind his covered hood and mysterious, dark glasses.

"Yeah, something about protecting a feudal lord's wife," said Kiba with a yawn. "Lucky bums. So who else are we waiting for?"

"Ugly," said Sai.

Everyone at the table rolled their eyes, half in amusement and half in exasperation, at Sakura's nickname. Of course, Sai never said this to her face. Naruto could remember the one time when Sai had called her that and gotten quite a beating. Sai had learned his lesson after that.

"Oh, and I believe congrats are in order!" Kiba regarded Naruto with a Cheshire grin and gave him a hearty slap on the back. "You did it! You brought his sorry ass back! After all those times I heard you say it, I never doubted you for a second dude."

Everyone else added their own congratulatory remark and Naruto gave them all a big smile. Thankfully no one noticed the forced quality to it.

When Sakura arrived, she pulled Naruto to the side urgently. "Listen, I want to thank you. You fulfilled your promise. You brought Sasuke back to me, so thank you." Sakura's face radiated happiness that Naruto had not seen for years. For a moment, she looked like the old Sakura from their childhood. Her gratitude was so heartfelt that Naruto accepted it with as much grace as he could muster.

But he had never wanted this.

When Naruto had declared he would bring Sasuke back, he had never meant like this, with Sasuke broken and bleeding and against his will. This was no accomplishment. And he wished his friends would stop treating it as such.

Sakura looked at Naruto and hesitated. "Also, I'm sorry for how I acted the other day," she muttered. "You know, just before we heard about Sasuke fighting with Itachi. I-I don't know what I was thinking. I know that I said we should… You're a good guy, Naruto, and I-" She stumbled through her words.

"It's alright, Sakura-chan," said Naruto, catching on quickly. "I understand. I hope you find happiness with Sasuke."

Sakura smiled weakly. "You're a really good friend."

-OOO-

Later that night, Naruto stole through village under the cover of darkness.

He moved quickly and silently in his expertise, dashing behind walls and into narrow alleyways at the sounds of passing voices or footsteps. Invisible to those who were not looking, he scaled along the walls of the building of Konoha Hospital and fluidly slid into a window on the second floor with a skilful flourish.

Naruto landed noiselessly into the room and unfastened the silver clasp of his transformed cloak. He threw the garment aside carelessly, where it fell in a heap on the floor.

The lights had been turned off, but the moonlight shining brightly through the large window was enough to illuminate the dark-haired boy sleeping on the bed.

Naruto exhaled a sigh of relief at the sight, grateful that his intrusion hadn't aroused Sasuke.

With the stealth second nature to a ninja, Naruto tiptoed to the bed. He knew from experience that Sasuke was an extremely light sleeper. In the past, when they had been on missions, Naruto had lost count of the amount of times Sasuke had kicked him out of their tent, because Naruto had a tendency to move a lot in his sleep and on occasions, even talked aloud unknowingly, mostly about ramen, as Sasuke afterwards would mock him about.

Naruto had once again, transformed himself into Sakura. He thought it would be easier to come up with an acceptable explanation as to why he was visiting Sasuke in the dead hours of the night. Sakura saying that she just came to check up on Sasuke's vitals was harmless enough.

But Naruto's real reason for coming at such a late hour was entirely different.

He had woken up sweating and panting from a nightmare. He and Sasuke had been in a field of tall wheat and endless rivers that twisted over a sea of rolling hills. It had been a pleasant dream, until his vision began to blur red. His hands transformed into lethal-looking claws, his nails growing longer, the tips ending in sharp, deadly points. Naruto had pierced Sasuke with his hand, which easily slid through the raven's torso like a knife through butter. Sasuke's anguished cries of pain and agony had been music to Naruto's ears. Just the simple joy and exhilaration he felt from watching crimson liquid seep from that pale, wounded flesh was worth it. And those dark, dark eyes, full of betrayal and resentment, looking at him as he ripped Sasuke's body to shreds.

Naruto had awoken gasping for air, a sinister laugh still ringing in his ears. Unable to fall asleep again, he had thrown himself out of bed and headed to the hospital.

And now, watching Sasuke sleep, the rhythmic rising and falling of his pale chest, Naruto felt his worries slip away.

He had truly missed him.

Growing unexpectedly tired, Naruto clambered up onto the foot of Sasuke's bed, trying not to let it sag too much under his weight. He brought his knees up to his chest and curled his arms around his legs.

Due to the disturbance caused by Naruto's movements, Sasuke shifted slightly in his sleep, rolling over so that he was bathed in moonlight. His skin glowed softly in the semi-darkness.

Naruto understood why all the girls in Konoha were so taken with Sasuke's good looks. The young Uchiha was truly breathtaking. His long, dark hair looked as though it were woven from the finest silk, fanning across the feather pillow beneath his head. His thick, black eyelashes framed the equally dark, piercing eyes that Naruto knew hid just behind those pale lids. His fair skin, much to Naruto's relief, was still just as flawless and smooth as it always had been. Naruto doubted that he would have survived a day from Sasuke's fangirls if he had somehow managed to permanently mar that perfect skin. But they probably would have to dig up his body first, because Sakura and Ino would have already killed him.

Recalling Sakura's earlier behaviour, which had been most peculiar, Naruto wondered why she had done it. Wouldn't it be more effective if she had done it while Sasuke was awake? At least then Sasuke could have responded to her…

There must have been something more to it.

Without giving it much thought, Naruto crawled carefully up the bed so he was hovering over Sasuke. He couldn't deny that a part of him had always wanted to touch Sasuke and feel him beneath his fingertips. The urge was now too great to resist. He raised his arm and allowed the very tips of his fingers to lightly skim the surface of Sasuke's arm, just as Sakura had done earlier.

An electric tingle shot through him and he quickly retracted his hand as though burnt.

He stared with wide eyes at Sasuke, who had begun to stir in his sleep.

Scared that he may have woken him up, Naruto hurriedly jumped off the bed and hid in the shadows of the room, his heart pounding loudly in his ears.

But Sasuke merely shifted in his sleep, a soft sigh escaping his lips.

His heart rate calmed down slightly and Naruto stepped out of the shadows to resume his spot on the bed. Hesitantly, he reached over, his hand hovering just above Sasuke's face before he ran a finger over the length of Sasuke's cheek.

Sasuke twitched again, but he remained asleep.

Strangely but completely hypnotised, Naruto touched Sasuke again. And again. A fire was beginning to kindle in his body and his heart started beating faster.

Abruptly, a strong, vice-like grip encircled his wrist, halting his movement.

Nearly falling off the bed, Naruto gasped aloud in shock.

Dark eyes, blacker than the starless night sky outside, were looking at him, wide and alert.

"What do you think you are doing?"

Sasuke's voice was low and rough from the several days of not being used. But the very sound of it made shivers run down Naruto's spine.

"N-Nothing," he squeaked in Sakura's high voice.

Did Sasuke know it was him? He couldn't have! Naruto's transformations were flawless. He had even suppressed his own chakra completely, so there was no way Sasuke could have picked up on his chakra signal.

But the way Sasuke's eyes were boring into his was awfully familiar…

Naruto inwardly begged that Sasuke wouldn't recognize him. He had no idea how he would explain what he had just been doing. He couldn't even explain it to himself.

The hand holding Naruto's wrist felt like a ring of fire against his skin. He struggled to free himself from its clutches. But those long, pale fingers only tightened. He was losing the feeling in his hand and Naruto began to seriously fear that it would drop off.

"Please let me go, Sasuke!" Naruto said.

Those dark, scorching eyes narrowed, but Sasuke let him go, his eyes never leaving Naruto's face.

And that was when Naruto knew he had screwed up. Sakura always called the raven, 'Sasuke-kun'.

He quickly backed away from the bed, picked up his black cloak on the floor, and bolted out of the room.

Sasuke's eyes were on him the entire time.

End of Part 1: Chapter 4

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