Hello everyone,

So I think this story is really moving now. Sasuke is starting to want Naruto around a lot more and I think it shows in this chapter.

Empress Tatiana: Thank you so much. I love this story a lot. It is fun to write both characters and even the side characters that are showing up in this chapter.

Mkayemolina: Thank you so much. I agree with you completely. This chapter they dive into an awkward stage not because they like like each other but because they like being around the other and they both bring comfort to each other that the other never felt before. They both realize it in this chapter. But it does get deeper within a couple more chapters.

Chidori95: Thank you my friend. I am happy that you wait for this story to be posted. I love reading reviews from people on this one.

inuyasha16451: Thank you.

Enjoy the chapter.


Sasuke noticed the change within the month of Naruto being here. Naruto fixed the whole downstairs level including the basement. He had plumbers help him when he realized that he couldn't do it alone in the basement to fix the pipes. It was fixed within the month though and Sasuke couldn't feel any more relieved that the basement wasn't flooding anymore. That means he had to get all the appliances for the basement again but that was fine with him because Naruto said he would handle it.

"Naruto are you going to be okay here by yourself?" Sasuke asked.

"COME ON SASUKE WE HAVE TO TAKE ITASAI TO SCHOOL BEFORE HE'S LATE!" Sakura screamed.

"I'm coming," Sasuke said carelessly out the door then turned back to Naruto.

"I will be fine. I'm just going to do the porches today and the roof. You have nothing to worry about." Naruto said.

"I thought we talked about that. I don't want you to work on the roof while no one is here. What would you do if you get hurt?" Sasuke asked slightly annoyed.

"Sasuke I am talking about the garage roof. I won't start the roof and drain pipes until my gramps gets here." Naruto said.

Sasuke accepted the blonde's grandfather to come and help with the roof because he didn't want the blonde to do it by himself especially when the cold was coming. Sasuke found it odd by how much leeway he gave the blonde he even found himself trusting the blonde with things he wouldn't normally trust other people with. Naruto was just so trustworthy and unmistakably honest to a fault that it made Sasuke oddly comfortable.

"When will he get here?" Sasuke asked.

Before Naruto could respond Sakura beeped her horn.

"We will talk later Sasuke just get going." Naruto said pushing him out the door.

"Okay I will call you during my lunch break." Sasuke said walking out the door. "Oh, here are the keys for the house and the truck so be careful okay." Sasuke said turning back tossing them to Naruto.

"Thanks," Naruto said.

Naruto already got his own card for the things needed for the house from Sasuke last week when Sasuke knew work was starting soon. The only thing to do on the downstairs level was the porches painting and rebuilding them. Naruto got rid of the spiders a week ago. Naruto was going to have fun painting because painting was always his favorite part.

It was an hour of painting before his phone started ringing.

(Phone call)

"What up perv?" Naruto answered.

"Hey brat, send me the address so I can go there." Jiraiya said.

"I will come get you. Are you at the train station?" Naruto asked setting the paint down.

"Yeah, I am, how are you going to come get me?" Jiraiya asked.

"He let me use the truck so I am coming. Just wait outside the train station." Naruto said with a smile on his face.

Naruto covered the paint and put the paint brushes inside the water bucket he had. Then walked inside with the stuff setting it next to the door. Then locked the door and walked to the garage entrance that was inside the house.

"He is actually letting you drive that's amazing." Jiraiya said.

"He let me drive before." Naruto said laughing.

"Okay hurry your ass up." Jiraiya said hanging up.

(Phone call ended)

Naruto laughed as he got into the car and pressed a button to raise the door.


Sasuke couldn't help but be worried about how Naruto was doing in his house. He felt bad leaving the blonde there all by himself but Naruto continuously told him he would be fine because he was used to being alone. But that still didn't change the fact that he felt bad. He understood how the loneliness felt more than he liked to admit that's why he suffered by going to Sakura's house to be with his nephew the one person that could pull a smile to his face without even talking.

Naruto was an interesting character to him. Yes, Naruto reminded Sasuke of Itachi but there were things Naruto did that made Sasuke question his own sanity for letting the blonde in his house.

"So, are you sure you will be able to pick Itasai up today?" Sakura asked as she drove Sasuke to work.

"Yes, I told you already." Sasuke said annoyed.

"Don't give me an attitude Sasuke you can't blame me for asking considering you have been a little careless lately." Sakura said making Sasuke glare at her.

That's why he didn't like being around Sakura because she always talked stuff and it got on his nerves more than anything. He never liked that about her but he knew why he fell in love with her when they were young it was her intelligence and determination. She was strong headed and he can't deny that is what made him love her but now that strong headed stuff was getting on his nerves because she was directing it in the wrong places.

"I have not been careless." Sasuke argued.

"You have been pretty careless since the blonde came." Sakura declared.

"Shut up Sakura," Sasuke growled out.

He was lucky when Itasai was in the car but now that he wasn't he was going to hear the bitching and complaining he didn't care or want to hear. Sasuke was relieved when his job came into sight because then he wouldn't have to ride with her anymore.

'I am definitely driving myself tomorrow.' Sasuke thought.

"Are you going to come around for dinner or is Ita eating at your house?" Sakura asked.

"My house," Sasuke said as he got out the car.

Sasuke walked to his building and was immediately met by Shikamaru and Suigetsu.

"Hello you two." Sasuke said as they all walked in the building.

"You're riding with Sakura?" Shikamaru asked with an odd look.

Shikamaru and Suigetsu were the two friends he had since he was in diapers. Shikamaru knew him more than anyone about what he was going through and practically kicked him out the building for the month to get his shit together. He appreciated that his friend cared enough about him to control his business while he was gone.

"Yes, because she wanted to ride Itasai to school as a family." Sasuke said making Suigetsu chuckle.

"Even though everyone knows you're never going to go back out with her again." Suigetsu said.

"She seems to be the only one that thinks she still has a chance." Shikamaru mumbled.

"KIBA hold the elevator." Suigetsu screamed out.

"Suigetsu don't scream." Sasuke reprimanded.

"My bad," Suigetsu said holding his hand up as an apology as they caught up to the elevator.

"I am shocked you're here on time." Sasuke said looking at Kiba.

"I have been on time since you threatened to fire me." Kiba huffed out.

"Well I am glad because I wasn't playing." Sasuke said completely serious.

"How can you be so willing to fire a friend?" Kiba questioned.

"If you don't do your work then you don't belong here. I thought you wanted to be a vet anyway." Sasuke said tilting his head back to look at Kiba.

"I am still going to night classes for that thanks." Kiba said with a smile.

"It's your last semester, right?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yeah are you guys going to come to my graduation?" Kiba asked.

"As long as it's not on a weekday." Sasuke said knowing how important it was to his friend.

"Selfish Sasuke." Kiba huffed.

"Well I am the boss so I won't be able to leave but these two can." Sasuke said shaking his head.

"So how is your house coming along?" Kiba asked.

"I got pictures." Sasuke said excited and everyone in the elevator could tell as he started pulling his phone out.

Sasuke never told Naruto that he took pictures before and after Naruto was finished. He thought Naruto's work was beautiful and a part of him felt that he should apologize for the way he was the month previous. The problem is that Naruto seemed a little too happy in proving him wrong and that kept him from ever telling Naruto anything about his work. He will tell Naruto how good he did when it was over.

"Damn the kid can work." Kiba muttered looking through the pictures.

"How did your house get full of spiders?" Suigetsu asked.

"Because no one lived there for years." Sasuke said forgetting he had pictures of Naruto in there as he worked.

Shikamaru and Kiba chuckled and raised eyebrows as they came to some pictures.

"This was his first work on my house." Sasuke said taking his phone away. "This was the bathroom before he finished it and this was after." Sasuke said showing all three and then sliding it so they could see the other picture.

"Damn Sasuke how did it get that bad?" Suigetsu asked.

"What is in the toilet?" Kiba questioned.

"Did he do the whole job on his own?" Shikamaru asked.

"I never went into that bathroom, yes he did it on his own, and I don't know what was in the toilet. I am pretty sure that is exactly what Naruto said when he looked in the toilet." Sasuke said laughing everyone was happy to see Sasuke laughing but they were shocked too.

They knew the blonde was changing their friend and it was definitely for the better too.

"Do you think he would be able to fix up the baby room for my house?" Shikamaru asked.

"Oh, for you and Temari?" Sasuke asked.

Shikamaru nodded his head.

"That's nice, I will see if he will do it." Sasuke said.

"Thanks," Shikamaru said as the elevator opened.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Sasuke asked as Suigetsu and Kiba left to their levels.

"Six meetings, four before lunch and two afterwards. Plus, the financier that your brother spoke to needs to go over something with you." Shikamaru said.

"I don't want to deal with that today but I don't have a choice, do I?" Sasuke asked.

"No sorry, he waited for a month already because he wasn't willing to deal with anyone else aside from you." Shikamaru said.

Before Sasuke could talk his phone beeped off telling him he had a text messages. It was from Naruto and it made him curious.

Sasuke,

My gramps just got here so I'm picking him up from the train stations. We're going to start the roof after doing the back porch hopefully it's dry by the time you get home so it can tell me how long the front will take.

Naruto

Naruto always let him know when he did something and that always made him feel ten times better.

"Is that the guy doing your house?" Shikamaru asked as they walked to his office.

"Yeah telling me that his grandpa is there and that they are going to start my roof." Sasuke said.

"He is working diligently." Shikamaru said.

"You have no idea." Sasuke said as they entered Sasuke's office.


"Are you kidding me gramps?" Naruto asked laughing as they continued to do the back porch.

"I kid you not brat. Tsunade told me that if we didn't come back home by at least Thanksgiving that she will punish both of us and you know she can punish us in different ways." Jiraiya said.

"I know, why though?" Naruto asked.

"I don't know maybe because she hasn't seen neither of us in about four years." Jiraiya said shrugging his shoulders.

"I was there last year; you weren't because of your research." Naruto declared.

"Oh yeah and then I got in trouble for that because you told her what I was doing." Jiraiya said whacking Naruto with the paintbrush get paint in Naruto's hair.

It has been at least six hours since the Uchiha left. He called at lunch like he said he would he even asked Naruto to take a picture of the porch and agreed to what Naruto was planning. It was about to be three o clock when Naruto started to get another phone call from the Uchiha.

(Phone call)

"Hello Sasuke," Naruto said flinging paint at Jiraiya.

"Naruto, I can't get out of work until seven and Sakura has a late shift at the hospital so I was wondering if I can burden you with going to pick up my nephew from school." Sasuke said.

"When do they let out?" Naruto asked as he tried to get the dry paint out his hair, with Jiraiya chuckling on the side.

"He gets out at three fifteen so will you do it?" Sasuke asked making Naruto look at his grandpa for the time.

"Sure, I don't mind." Naruto said standing up to get a piece of paper and the keys to the truck and house. "Where is the school at?" Naruto asked.

"Thanks, at Willow Street it's on the whole block so it won't be hard to find." Sasuke said.

"Okay I will go now. Will they know I am coming?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, I will call the school right now. I will tell Itasai to point you out to them. He gets let out in front of the school." Sasuke said.

"Okay," Naruto said.

"Thanks Naruto, umm... call me when you got him. As for your grandfather he can stay in an extra room downstairs that isn't Itasai's room." Sasuke said.

"Thanks, Sasuke I will let him know. Okay got to go now I am about to start driving." Naruto said and Sasuke said okay and hung up.

"Where you going brat?" Jiraiya asked.

"I will be right back. I am going to do something for Sasuke really quick." Naruto said.


"He said yes?" Shikamaru asked.

Sasuke nodded his head he was talking to the school at the moment about Naruto getting his nephew because he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of the building. If he absolutely had to he would tell Suigetsu or Choji to get his nephew. It took him fifteen minutes to talk to someone that could get Naruto to get his nephew.

"Hello Mr. Uchiha yeah I see the man he is playing with your nephew right now. He has blonde hair, right?" The woman asked over the phone.

"Yeah that is correct. Is his name Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"What is your name sir?" The woman asked professionally.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto said sure of himself.

"That's him he should be picking him up once in a while when I can't so please can you put him on the list." Sasuke said.

"Yes sir," the woman said hanging up.

"Is everything settled then?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yes, let me just wait till Naruto calls me." Sasuke said making Shikamaru leave his office.

The phone rang at that moment.

(Phone call)

"Hello Uchiha speaking." Sasuke answered.

"I got him we're going to the house. Would it be okay if he helps with painting?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah that would be fine. Just don't let him get to dirty." Sasuke said with a smile.

"Sasuke we're painting. How is he not supposed to get dirty? Should I wrap him up in something?" Naruto asked with a look of dead seriousness.

"Just try to be minimal on the painting on his clothes I don't want to hear Sakura complain about it." Sasuke said.

"Understood, you want to talk to him?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah really quick." Sasuke said.

"Hello uncle Sasuke." Itasai said.

"Hey little man, try not to get to dirty because then you know what Sakura is going to say." Sasuke said.

"Yeah I know thanks uncle." Itasai said and handed the phone to Naruto.

"Hello..." Naruto said.

"Okay I will call you when I'm on my way back home." Sasuke said.

"Yes sir," Naruto said.

"Bye Naruto and for real thank you, you really helped me out on this one." Sasuke said.

"It was no problem Sasuke." Naruto said.

"Okay well I got to go. I will talk to you later." Sasuke said.

"Okay later." Naruto said and hung up after he got the grunt he knew as bye.


Naruto got off the phone immediately looking at the little boy in the seat with a smile on his face.

"We're going to have fun, aren't we?" Naruto asked.

"Of course, you're weird." Itasai said.

"I get that a lot." Naruto said as he started driving away from the school. "Okay so my gramps is here helping me with some of the parts of house so don't mind him. You might want to ignore and never repeat the things he says." Naruto said.

"Is he a bad guy?" Itasai asked.

"Oh no, just a different type of person that shouldn't be around kids." Naruto said with a smile.

"Is he a pedophile?" Itasai asked.

"Haha no, where'd you learn that word? Most kids your age don't know words like that." Naruto said laughing.

"Aunty Sakura told me to stay away from them because they are bad people that touch little kids." Itasai said.

"That's right but no my grandpa isn't a pedophile and he has a wife. He just doesn't talk properly that's why I am saying don't repeat the things he says." Naruto said as they pulled up to the house.

"FINALLY, BRAT!" Jiraiya screamed.

"There he is." Naruto said laughing as he got out the car with Itasai. "Gramps Jiraiya this is Itasai Sasuke's nephew. Itasai this is my grandpa Jiraiya." Naruto said.

"Nice to meet you squirt." Jiraiya said making Itasai laugh.

"We should finish the painting." Naruto said patting Itasai on the back.

Itasai couldn't explain why but he liked Naruto. As they all painted in the back they talked about Naruto's studies and where he traveled growing up. Itasai was completely interested he even spoke about his father and how much he loved being around his uncle Sasuke.

"We should clean up and then make dinner." Naruto said as they finished the porch.

"Can I help you cook? I love cooking." Itasai said.

"Naruto loves cooking too. I don't know who taught him considering I never cooked." Jiraiya said.

"It's called reading and finding recipes online because you were no help at all." Naruto said laughing as he washed his hands.

"Uncle Naruto, where am I sleeping tonight?" Itasai asked.

"Oh, that's exciting I get to show you your room." Naruto said hopping out the kitchen then ran back when the two weren't following him. "Come on," Naruto said and ran back.

"He's weird," Itasai said.

"Yeah he's been like that since he was a kid." Jiraiya said as they went to the hallway.

"COME ON YOU TWO!" Naruto screamed.

They just followed his voice to the hallway and spotted one door open. The moment Itasai walked in the room he couldn't believe Naruto did it by himself. He saw the house before his uncle started getting it fixed and couldn't believe Naruto did it all by himself.

"Wow... it's amazing." Itasai said.

"You did good brat." Jiraiya said.

"So which room do you want?" Naruto asked biting his lip holding his hand on the other door. "These two rooms are the only ones done at the moment. I was planning on making these two rooms into a little library and game slash movie room for you. But until I get the top rooms done I can't do that. Sasuke said he wants you here soon and doesn't want to rush me so here it is for now." Naruto said.

"I will sleep in whichever." Itasai said.

"Okay well whichever one you pick my gramps has the other one while he is here that's if you don't mind." Naruto said with a smile.

"No, I don't mind." Itasai said with a smile. "This is really amazing." Itasai said as he walked around the room.

"You can help me design it when I am done setting up your room upstairs." Naruto said.

"That would be awesome." Itasai said.

"Okay well get some other clothes on and wash up then come to the kitchen and you can help me cook." Naruto said.

"Okay," Itasai said running off to go and get clean.

Sasuke didn't know that Itasai brought clothes with him because he knew ahead of time that Sakura was on late shift and wouldn't be picking him up.

"That is one collected kid." Jiraiya said as he watched the young one run to the bathroom.

"Yeah," Naruto said walking to the kitchen to get all the supplies out.

"What are you cooking?" Jiraiya asked pulling out a bottle of water.

"Rice, fish, tomato salad, and beans." Naruto said with a smile.

"You weirdly fit into this perfect family you know that?" Jiraiya asked.

"No, they just welcome me." Naruto said.

"Naruto, I have to leave in a week back to my own assignments so we have to do the roofs fast." Jiraiya said.

"So soon?" Naruto asked and Jiraiya nodded.

"Yeah sorry brat but at least we will be together on Thanksgiving." Jiraiya said.

"Yeah at least," Naruto said a little bit down.

"NARUTO! I'm back," Itasai said running into the kitchen in comfortable pajamas.

"Did you set your clothes in the basket in the bathroom?" Naruto asked.

"Yes," Itasai said nodding his head.

"Okay so I will wash your school uniform so Uncle Sasuke won't notice and return it back to you." Naruto said with a smile on his face.

"Okay," Itasai said smile. "What are we making?" Itasai asked.

"We're making white rice, baked fish, tomato salad, and beans." Naruto said as he took on the rest of what he needed.

"That sounds like a lot." Itasai said.

"It's not much and everything can be cooked easily." Naruto said.

"Sounds good brat now start your cooking." Jiraiya said sitting down.

Naruto started cooking talking to Itasai about his travels and how he started construction. It was a completely different and Itasai enjoyed talking to someone that wasn't family.

"Did you always travel?" Itasai asked.

"Yeah, it was fun though so I didn't mind." Naruto said as they set the table.

Itasai stopped moving and looked at Naruto with a serious face.

"What is it?" Naruto asked.

"Do you think that would help my uncle Sasuke?" Itasai asked.

"Do I think what would help him?" Naruto asked setting the last cup down.

"Getting a vacation, away from everything he is familiar with." Itasai said.

"It's possible, but I don't know for sure everyone heals from their pain in their own way. I'm not sure if it will help him or worry him being away from everything." Naruto said honestly.

He never liked to lie and he knew it was bothering the young boy.

"I think he just wants to get away from everyone but he hasn't been able to leave because of me." Itasai said putting his head down so Naruto couldn't see his face.

"I don't think so." Naruto said making Itasai look up to him quickly. "If he didn't want you or to even be around you he wouldn't have started to work on this house so you could live with him. Yeah he doesn't open up and is a bit of an asshole but I think he is very open when he doesn't like or want something." Naruto said.

"I just don't want to be a burden on him." Itasai said.

"You're not," Naruto said with a smile walking to the boy.

Naruto instinctively ruffled the younger boy's hair and smiled down at him.

"Thank you, I feel better now." Itasai said hugging Naruto.

"I'm glad." Naruto said hugging the boy back but had to step away because the stove went off.

Itasai watched as Naruto moved around the room comfortably.

"You are really comfortable here." Itasai said.

"This is my first time being in a house for longer than a month so it actually feels like home." Naruto said pulling out the fish turning everything off.

"You feel like you belong here brat?" Jiraiya asked as he walked into the kitchen.

Naruto froze because that is something he didn't want to his grandfather to hear.

"It's okay, you found somewhere you belong. You can't be a traveler forever. Maybe Sasuke can help you get a place here." Jiraiya said.

"You really don't mind if I want to stay here?" Naruto asked slowly turning to his grandfather.

"No but you'll be telling your granny." Jiraiya said and Naruto paled.

"Is she really that scary?" Itasai asked.

"Yes," was all Naruto said as he served everyone's plates including Sasuke putting his in the microwave.

Dinner was shockingly quiet. Itasai felt like he listened to a conversation between the two that he wasn't supposed to hear.

'I have to talk to uncle Sasuke tomorrow.' Itasai thought to himself as he looked at Naruto.

Dinner left as quickly as it came.

"Dinner was really good Naruto. I think it was even better than Aunty Sakura's." Itasai said slipping the last part out his hand going to his mouth quickly. "Don't tell her I said that." Itasai said.

"I won't say anything as long as you don't tell your uncle about me wanting to stay. I'm not really ready to say anything to him about it." Naruto pleaded in a sense.

"I will try not to say anything." Itasai said.

"I will take that." Naruto said.

"Do you think we can watch a movie?" Itasai asked.

"Sure," Naruto said before checking on Jiraiya who was already lying in the bed he was lying in for the night.

Naruto could tell his grandpa was tired from all the travels so he was going to fall asleep easily. Naruto started setting up an area so they could get comfortable on the couches. Itasai ran back out his room with a blanket and pillow and they were both watching a movie. It didn't last very long though because they both fell asleep.


"Yeah Shika thanks for bringing me home." Sasuke said as he got out the car.

"No problem, it was good to have you back. Just remember you have a kid now." Shikamaru said.

"Yeah, I know," Sasuke said with a smile.

"Isn't your house a bit darker than usual?" Shikamaru asked.

"Who knows what those two are doing." Sasuke said as he seen a flash of light coming from the living room.

"You like him huh?" Shikamaru asked.

"I will see you tomorrow Shika." Sasuke said closing the door only for Shikamaru to open the window.

"Make sure you ask him if he can work on my house too." Shikamaru said getting a nod.

Sasuke walked into his dark house taking his shoes quietly as he set his stuff down. When he was done he went into his living room to find Naruto and Itasai sleeping and he couldn't prevent the smile coming onto his face. Itasai was curled into Naruto and they seem like they knew each other forever. Sasuke couldn't help but sneak a picture. Itasai was normally a solitude child like himself so seeing him warm up to someone he only met twice in the past month made him smile. Sasuke walked to the couch and gently nudged his nephew up.

"Uncle Sasuke," Itasai said rubbing his eyes getting off Naruto.

"Yeah kiddo, come to your bed." Sasuke said with a small smile.

"It's warm over here." Itasai whined grabbing at Naruto.

"I'm sure it is but he has to sleep upstairs too. If grandpa was around and saw someone sleeping on the couch they would get reprimanded." Sasuke said.

"Fine," Itasai said sighing grabbing his blanket that fell to the floor and followed Sasuke to the back room. "Uncle that's not the room I'm in. I'm in the other one." Itasai said before Sasuke could open the door grabbing his hand and pulling him to the other room.

When Sasuke got Itasai settled in he sat next to the boy and just stared at him for a little bit. As he was about to get up Itasai grabbed his hand.

"Don't let Naruto leave. I like him." Itasai all but whispered.

Sasuke was shocked and he knew it showed on his usually stoic face.

"What makes you say that?" Sasuke asked.

"I just don't want him to leave even after he is done with the house." Itasai said not knowing Jiraiya was listening to the conversation through the room door that connected the rooms.

"It's up to him if he wants to leave the village when he's done. I can't force him to stay." Sasuke said.

"But you can give him a home." Itasai said shocking Sasuke again. "I'm going to sleep now. I will see you in the morning love you uncle." Itasai said turning his body away from Sasuke so he would prove he didn't want to talk anymore.

Sasuke stood from the bed still shocked but walked out the room to where Naruto was only to find the blonde already awake. In a daze but still awake.

"Hey, sorry about being so late." Sasuke said walking closer to Naruto.

"Nah it was fine I had fun." Naruto said with a warm smile.

"That's what Ita said too." Sasuke said sitting next to Naruto.

"He's a cool kid." Naruto said.

"You didn't mind being a babysitter?" Sasuke asked giving him a side eye as Naruto shook his head and rubbed at his hair.

"Not at all, I wasn't sure how he was going to feel but I didn't mind at all." Naruto said as he rubbed his face trying to get the sleep out his eyes.

"Why don't you show me how the porch looks?" Sasuke asked.

"Okay," Naruto said brightening up the moment Sasuke asked.

Sasuke got up after Naruto as he followed him to the back. He couldn't help but think about what his nephew said to him and was tempted to ask him why he reacted that way. Itasai was crazily similar to himself so he was slightly shocked that Itasai reacted that way toward a stranger. He wasn't going to deny that he liked the blonde being around but Itasai was asking him something that he wasn't even sure, was possible. He didn't mind the blonde and if anything, he enjoyed the blonde's presence more than even his friends that he knew for years.

"Sasuke," Naruto called out to him as the back door was opened.

Sasuke was shocked by how much work was done and felt pride for Naruto himself.

"Wow you shockingly didn't do a bad job." Sasuke said being an ass just to get a reaction out of Naruto as he walked out when he realized the paint wasn't wet anymore.

"Shockingly? Whatever do you mean sir?" Naruto asked with an appalled look and humor gleaming in his eyes.

"Are you starting the roof tomorrow?" Sasuke asked as he sat on the steps.

Naruto approached him without talking and looked at the dark sky loving the look of all the stars.

"Well yeah I am going to because my gramps has to be gone by the end of next week." Naruto said.

"Where is he?" Sasuke asked.

"Sleeping, he hasn't slept in a bed for months now so I am sure he will be knocked out for a long time. Or at least till the morning." Naruto said with a chuckle.

"You are like a jack of all trades huh?" Sasuke said making Naruto chuckle.

"I guess you can say that." Naruto said with a small smile.

"Do you like it here?" Sasuke asked.

"Why do you ask?" Naruto asked a little scared about the response he was about to get.

"Because you seem to be getting adjusted." Sasuke said shrugging his shoulders. "It seems like you really like it here." Sasuke said.

"I do, it actually feels like a home." Naruto said.

Sasuke smiled at that he didn't really get why but he liked that Naruto felt like this was home.

"You know you don't have to leave if you want. I know a lot of people that would love for your expertise here to work on their houses." Sasuke said.

"Really?" Naruto asked looking at Sasuke shocked.

Sasuke turned his head with a smile on his face. He couldn't help but feel happy and sort of relieved over the fact that Naruto wanted to stay in the area.

"You know you can stay here if you want to at least until you get settled with everything." Sasuke said with a smile.

"I really appreciate that." Naruto said.

Sasuke saw the look in Naruto's eyes the tears that swelled up but Naruto blocked his eyes from view. It went silent between the two but for some reason the two didn't want to break the silence.

"You know it's going to suck telling my grandma that I want to stay here." Naruto said chuckling.

Sasuke stood up holding his hand out for Naruto to help him up. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's hand helping him up. They walked inside the house before Sasuke decided to ask what Naruto meant about what he said out there.

"What did you mean about your grandma?" Sasuke asked.

"I haven't been around her for a while and she is quite upset over the fact that I never settled down. She is probably going to be upset over the fact that I would rather stay here than there with her." Naruto said as they walked up the stairs.

"She worries a lot about you huh?" Sasuke asked as they stood outside of Naruto's door for some reason he didn't want to let this go.

Naruto smiled it wasn't his usual smile though it was a nervous one and then put his hand behind his head rubbing the back of his neck that Sasuke noticed he does whenever he gets nervous or embarrassed about something.

"Yeah, she is scared I'm a little too much like my gramps." Naruto said not going into detail about what those words meant.

"Do... you like being here?" Sasuke asked catching the shocked face Naruto made before he smiled.

"I enjoy being here more than all the other places I traveled to." Naruto said opening his door. "Good night Sasuke," Naruto whispered as he went into his room.

Sasuke stood there for a second before walking into his own room taking off his work suit and getting into the shower. His brain was on autopilot at the moment he couldn't stop thinking about what Naruto said to him tonight but then his brain went back to the conversation they had once before.

(Flashback)

"Naruto why did you decide to keep traveling with your grandpa?" Sasuke asked as he helped carry out the old furniture.

"I never really found my place in the world." Naruto answered.

"You don't think being with your grandma is your place?" Sasuke asked.

"It's not really that. I... how do I explain this? I guess I would say it like this that they were both travelers before I was born but my grandma decided to settle in one place when she found where she wanted to live and started to own a hospital she stayed there. As for my gramps he loves to travel and write along with construction. I don't think my grandpa will ever find his place but I do hope I find my place." Naruto said but whispered the last part.

(End Flashback)

'He must really like it here.' Sasuke said as he climbed out the shower getting pajamas on.

Sasuke walked out his bathroom and saw the light on his phone flashing showing he had a text message and walked up to his phone to see Naruto texted him telling him he had a plate of food in the microwave. Good he was getting food too now that wasn't Sakura's cooking. No offense to Sakura but she wasn't the best in the kitchen.

He walked to his closet getting in his night clothes quickly so he could eat and then go to sleep. He had a long day and was going to have another one tomorrow. Naruto told him he was going to start the roof tomorrow so he should really prepare himself for that.

As Sasuke ate his food quietly in the kitchen he felt oddly happy for some reason the thought of Naruto wanting to stay here made him smile. He enjoyed the thought of Naruto being around more. When he was done eating he washed his plate and went straight upstairs instead of getting a book like he usually did or some scotch to drown out the pain of Itachi being gone and went straight to sleep.


The next day as Sasuke woke up from his alarm he noticed it was louder than usual in his house. It was lively which it hasn't been in so long that it felt oddly warm. As he walked downstairs he saw Naruto laughing with Itasai as they talked about a random topic he wasn't sure of. He also noticed the big man watching Naruto with a smile on his face.

'That must be his grandpa.' Sasuke said straightening himself out and walked into the kitchen.

"Uncle Sasuke," Itasai screamed running up to him.

Naruto and Jiraiya only glanced to the door.

"You must be Jiraiya Naruto talks a lot about you." Sasuke said offering his hand to the older man.

"You talk about me sport." Jiraiya said shaking Sasuke's hand only to let go quickly to pull Naruto into a hug.

"Stop it, I'm cooking." Naruto said swatting him but Sasuke could see the blush on his face and he couldn't help but find it cute.

It made Naruto look rather young for someone who was supposed to be a man.

"What are you making?" Sasuke asked as he sat down.

Naruto gave him a cup of coffee plain black and told him French toast with eggs. Sasuke nodded then just watched all the interactions from everyone in the kitchen until he heard his door open. He got up in time to spot strawberry pink hair in the hallway approaching the kitchen.

"Sasuke you weren't answering your phone when I was calling you." Sakura said.

"When did you call me?" Sasuke asked.

"Last night at one on my break." Sakura said.

"I was sleeping Sakura." Sasuke said slightly annoyed to hear complaining this early in the morning he just wanted to watch Naruto was that too hard.

'Wait what?' Sasuke thought.

"Are you staying for breakfast?" Naruto asked politely.

"Yeah Aunty Sakura are you staying?" Itasai asked jumping up to her.

"I have to get home Ita. I worked a late shift sorry." Sakura said.

"We're fine Sakura. You can go home you have nothing to worry about." Sasuke said.

"I can pick up Itasai today so you don't need to rush. I was thinking that we could eat dinner together." Sakura offered hoping Sasuke would take it but before he could say anything Itasai spoke up.

"Aunty Sakura I promised to bake with Naruto today. So, can I go another day?" Itasai asked hope in his eyes.

"We can always bake another day Itasai." Naruto said.

"No, a man never breaks his promises." Itasai said glaring at Naruto.

"That is correct." Naruto said ruffling his hair.

"Are you really okay with that Naruto?" Sasuke asked turning toward Naruto again ignoring Sakura's shocked expression.

"Yeah, it's fine with me. You two can go out and talk right Itasai?" Naruto said gesturing between the two.

Sasuke didn't miss the brightness in Sakura's eyes appear but he also didn't miss the slight frown Naruto made along with Itasai.

"Yeah you two really need to talk." Itasai said nodding his head.

Jiraiya just sat back as he watched his grandson at work.

"I guess I can go with you Sakura if Naruto really doesn't mind watching Itasai?" Sasuke asked looking directly at Naruto.

"I don't mind at all he is a delightful kid. Okay everyone time to eat." Naruto said changing the subject quickly.

Itasai sat next to Naruto and Sasuke while Jiraiya sat at the other end of the table.

"I guess I can eat breakfast it won't hurt right?" Sakura asked getting a head nod and gesture to sit down from Naruto.


Sasuke didn't really get it he knew Naruto wasn't fond of Sakura so why was he doing this? When breakfast was over it was time for Sasuke and Itasai to get ready to leave. Sakura left a while back after she finished her breakfast she had the biggest pout on her face.

"Uncle Sasuke can Naruto take me to school?" Itasai asked.

"I don't see why not if he doesn't mind doing it." Sasuke said.

"YAY! Naruto, he said its okay!" Itasai said running away from Sasuke only to come back shortly after giving Sasuke a hug and telling him to have a good day at work.

"I don't know what you did to my nephew for him to like you that much but thank you." Sasuke said with a small smile.

"I don't mind helping you Sasuke..." Naruto said shrugging his shoulders. "And I like the kid he's nice." Naruto said and walked to the door.

Naruto didn't bother asking if he could use the truck because he knew he could and he was happy for that. When Sasuke was sure they were gone he walked back to where he knew Naruto's grandpa was and sat down since he didn't have to be at work for another half hour.

"How was the trip here?" Sasuke asked.

"Long, but that's not really what you wanted to ask is it?" Jiraiya deducted.

"No, how does he do that?" Sasuke asked.

"What?" Jiraiya asked slightly confused.

"How does he read people like that? It's like he's in someone else's head?" Sasuke asked.

"I think it's from his lack of contact with people in general. The kid read a lot of books about human psychology. I guess that was my fault on that one but still. He just notices how you tense up when the young woman is around or how you watch your nephew. He also noticed the girl wants to know what's going on with your relationship with her and he feels it would be a good day to tell her how you feel." Jiraiya explained. "Oh, but I'm just assuming that's what the brat is thinking." Jiraiya said like it was an afterthought.

The room went silent. Sasuke knew he needed to talk to Sakura but he genuinely didn't know how it was going to go and he didn't want to deal with more problems.

"Treat my grandson well while he's here. The kid doesn't have many people in his life that impact him so hearing him say he would like to stay here is a shocker to be honest. So please take care of him while you're in his life." Jiraiya said breaking Sasuke out of his musing.

"Why? Why has he never settled down?" Sasuke asked leaning on the table stretching his arms.

"The kid doesn't get very close to people because he is used to not being around people and they are too easy for him to read. Maybe he's just looking for his place in the world." Jiraiya said unsure.

"What did he mean when he said his grandma wasn't going to be okay with him staying here?" Sasuke asked.

"That one you would have to see in order to believe it." Jiraiya said laughing. "See the kid sees this as home as much as I want to take him with me to travel like we used to him likes it here and you seem to really like him around so I can't tell him to come with me. Trust me I can tell him right now to up and come with me because I want him to be with me and he will... but I would never do that to the kid especially if he found where he wants to be. Just take care of the squirt." Jiraiya said standing up. "I am going to the back before he comes to get ready for the roof. Let him know please." Jiraiya said getting a nod from Sasuke then walked to the backyard.

Sasuke was sure of it now. He wants Naruto to stay in Konoha. He wants to be around the blonde more than anything. He just had to figure out a way to keep the blonde here in his house. He might have to inquire some help from his nephew on this one. But first things first he needs to talk to Sakura and get that situation straightened out. But before that though he needs to get his ass to work.


Reviews..

This chapter just didn't feel done no matter what I did. The second part of this chapter will be coming soon.

Sooooo... What does everyone think? I enjoyed writing the interactions and the showing of the awkwardness Naruto feels about not being with his family the people he is initially used too. But I see love coming over the horizon. And what comes with love? Problems...