If this is too short for you, gomen, but it's what I got... This entire story, I think, is going to be a filler story between DoaD and the next one I do... //evil smirk// I've got ideas galore for that story. .
Enjoy.
Naruto snuggled closer to his source of warmth, taking in the deep scent of something similar to baby-powder. He opened his eyes when arms tightened around him, only to find Sasuke still asleep.
Very carefully, Naruto managed to get out of the bed without waking his partner, got dressed, and quickly made his way out of the house. He hadn't been able to eat Ichiraku ramen ever since he had become Full Moon Fox, and now that he was back, he wasn't going to let any of it go to waste.
"Oy, Ayame-chan!" The loud blonde called as he entered the stand.
The girl brightened. "Naruto-kun, welcome back. We have a special new ramen that you just have to try." She didn't even wait for Naruto to nod before she began preparing it for him.
"Hey, Old Man." The blonde smiled at Ayame's father as he came in from the back.
"You idiot!" Ichiraku yelled as he slammed his fist into the counter. "You gave up coming here for ramen every day just so you could get some fancy high-up position in ANBU? Does my ramen mean so little to you?"
Naruto held his hands up in defense. "No, that's not it!" He insisted. "When Tsunade-baa-chan told me that I couldn't come here like I use to, after I had already joined ANBU, I thought I really was going to die. I spent so many nights, just standing on the roof across the street, wishing I could come in a get some ramen, but Baa-chan said it would be suspicious."
The old man lightened up. "I guess she was right; nobody has an appetite for ramen like you."
"Here you go." Ayame smiled as she set the bowl down.
"(Idakamitshi)!" Naruto called out before he began sucking in as much noodles as he could.
Sasuke rolled over in bed, one arm flinging out into the empty space of the other side. Realizing this, Sasuke bolted up, looking around frantically for Naruto. As soon as he was fully awake, he settled down, and began to look around the house for the blonde.
Coming into the kitchen, Sasuke found a note, scribbled quickly, lying on the counter. The writing was so much of a mess that the Uchiha couldn't make out what it said, but with the excited-ness that it seemed to be written with, he assumed the blonde had gone to get ramen.
Sighing, Sasuke went back to the bedroom to get dressed, and meet the blonde at Ichiraku's.
Naruto began wondering around, trying to walk off the six bowls of ramen he had just finished. Ayame and her father had given him two bowls free, and now the shinobi felt like he would explode.
The blonde paused, mid-step, as his gaze fell on a familiar sight, and he turned quickly, trying to get away unnoticed. Unfortunately, Naruto wasn't so lucky, and was quickly stopped.
"Naruto-kun!" Lee called out as he rushed over to his newly returned friend.
"Hey, Bushy-brows." Naruto answered timidly.
Lee's smile broadened. "You had to have learned much from training in your own division of ANBU." He spoke quickly, seeming overly excited. "We should spar so you can show me how much your youthful spirit has grown."
"Don't waste your time, Lee; Naruto would probably just bail out as you were getting close to the end." Tenten said offhandedly as she brushed by. "You shouldn't waste you energy on someone who can throw his friends away so easily."
"But-" Lee was unable to respond, instead having to dodge quickly as Neji came shooting towards them.
Instantly, Neji had Naruto locked, and was beating into him with his 64 palm attack.
When he finished, Tenten grabbed a hold of Neji's arm. "You shouldn't attack a fellow leaf shinobi." She said in an extremely sarcastic voice.
Neji ignored the woman and attacked again. Naruto did nothing to dodge of defend, instead, allowing Neji to work out his anger.
Suddenly, Neji was thrown back by a hard, intercepting, punch. Lee moved to catch his teammate, and bring him down softly. When the Hyuuga rose, he glared at the one who had interrupted him; Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke just glared back, sharingan flaring, standing between Naruto and the group.
"Tuh." Neji smirked. "It's not worth the effort." He left, and was closely followed by his teammates.
Sasuke turned and punched Naruto hard across the face. "Why didn't you fight back?" He demanded harshly.
Naruto looked away. "Like it matters anyways? I didn't think that anyone would care if I went away, and if this is how I have to pay for being wrong, then so be it."
An instant of shock passed over the Uchiha, as he dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around his dobe. "They're the ones who are wrong; it was for a mission; it wasn't your fault."
The blonde remained distant. "No, it was my fault; I asked Tsunade to set it all up. That way, I would be free to look for you; I asked for it."
Sasuke froze for a moment, then squeezed Naruto tighter. "It's still not your fault then; it's mine. If I hadn't left you…" He trailed off, unable to continue. "Gomen."
