Chapter 08 : Living Together
After the talk with Sasuke about him and Shirogane living together Tsunade made her way back to the medical room. Her mind was spinning while she marched toward the medical examination room. Her brows were furrowed in concentration and her lips were thinned in line. She opened the door with a serious look to her face. Sakura was sitting on the bed talking with the weakly smiling Naruto while Shizune was standing at the side, leaning against the wall. Tsunade quietly entered the room and cleared her throat to gain the attention from others. Sakura turned her head a bit to see who was the person and then upon seeing Tsunade she quickly jumped off the bed and stood beside the bed, Shizune straightened her back and Naruto sat straight too.
"Hokage sama.." Before Sakura could say anything Tsunade's voice boomed inside the room.
"I need to have a word with Shirogane san. Please leave and, Sakura pack Shirogane's belongings too." Tsunade ordered. Sakura opened her lips but then closed and gave a quick nod before leaving. Tsunade turned now toward Shizune, "Send the message to Kakashi Shizune." Shizune nodded and quickly left. Naruto sat there blinking surprised at Tsunade's outburst and before he could say anything Tsunade turned toward the door and placed a seal so they could talk in privacy and no one would be able to hear.
"OK.. So what's this all about?" Naruto's eyebrows frowned and he looked a bit tensed mostly because of the packing comment. Tsunade made her way closer to the bed.
"I'm sending you with Sasuke. You are going to live with him until..."
"Woah! Just hang on for a sec baa-chan. What the hell are you saying! Me and Sasuke ! Living together! Are you out of your mind!" Naruto gasped and flailed his arms trying to get his point through Tsunade with his limited vocabulary that how the whole idea was absolutely ridiculous but Tsunade just raised her hand and gestured to be silent which Naruto did with his lips still parted and eyes narrowed.
"You speak too much and too fast brat and I have a headache so shut up and listen to me." Tsunade tone was somber and it made Naruto serious too. Seriously it always did made Tsunade dull with a strained ache listening to being called by Naruto with that face and that voice.
"I'm listening." He said and Tsunade gave him a look but then just shook her head before speaking again.
"I'm sure by now Sakura would have already told you all about the chakra exchange today." She looked at Naruto expecting a reply which he did give.
"She told me how you guys weren't able to transfer the chakra and Bastard had to help." Naruto said tilting his head on side and his tone casual all he while but on slight mention of Sasuke, Naruto's eyes did softened and Tsunade tried to ignore it for now.
"It would've been a lot simpler if it was exactly the way she had said Naruto but the truth is that we failed to transfer chakra not because of our error but because your body or more like the damn seal wouldn't let our chakra transfered in your system and it was out of pure luck that Sasuke was here or..." Tsunade bit her lips and stopped talking to get her nerves together.
Now that every thing have passed and she had the time to muse over it. She had felt like the she was going to go insane when she had felt that the seal wasn't letting the chakra transfered in Naruto's body. She never wanted to feel that helplessness again. For her Sasuke was her only hope, even though she knew that not knowing the reasons behind all of seal's effects and then sending Naruto off with Sasuke wasn't an ideal solution but it was the only solution until she got the cure. She knew that she might be putting Sasuke under the danger too and she knew that it was selfish of her but she didn't think that she the will in her too see yet another loved one dying right before her eyes. Yes, she wouldn't let anything happen to Sasuke too but still he top priority was Naruto. She wanted him to be safe! Was that too much to ask?
"Naruto, after your chakra exchange with Sasuke it seems that something happened with your seal. It isn't accepting chakra from any person unless it's Sasuke. We don't the cause yet because the seal didn't show this effect before but now that it has turned out this way I think it's better if you stay with Sasuke. It would ensure your safety for the time being until we find some clue." Tsunade tried to subtly hide the fact that might be affecting Sasuke too but she really didn't wanted Naruto to reject her offer.
"Baa-chan If the seal is only accepting Sasuke's chakra than.. shit! Does it mean our transfer had affected Sasuke? The seal! Is it also transferring to Sasuke too? Baa-Chan tell me!" Naruto sounded exasperated. He looked completely baffled and his perceptiveness made Tsunade wince but she was determined too.
"That is the reason you two have to be together Naruto! It's safer that way, for both of you!" Tsunade said annoyed and felt powerless on the fact that how things were turning out. She really didn't wanted Naruto to refuse to go with Sasuke.
"NO! If it just happened because of Sasuke transferring his chakra into me then it's better if I stay away from him! There is no need for me to pull Sasuke in this shit too." Naruto's tone was serious with no room for more discussion but Tsunade wasn't having it.
"There is nothing you can do Naruto. We didn't know that seal could affect like that but now that it has happened you have to understand that being with him is better for both of you! The seal isn't acting on him the same way it is acting on you. The seal is giving Sasuke a rush of too much chakra and Sasuke can't have that much chakra in his system so it's best if you are with him. It will benefit you both. He needs to get that chakra out of his system and you need his chakra to stay alive! Don't you get it! Or do you want me to watch you die!" Tsunade snapped rather harshly, her chest heaving and sweat tickling down her forehead. Her voice was shaking at the end and Naruto was completely on loss.
"Baa-Chan I won't die. I know you'll.." Naruto tried to calm her but Tsunade was way too riled up. She wanted him to understand and she wasn't going to back away until he did.
"How do you know that you won't! Naruto I have read each and every scroll and Kakashi and Jiraya both are searching but even they haven't brought any news. And we don't even know when we will get any so please Naruto try to understand." Tsunade felt tired and a bit panicked too but she was determined.
"I don't want to drag anyone in this mess!" Naruto's lips thinned and his eyebrows narrowed. His hands in his lap were clenched in fists.
"You are not dragging him! The seal has manifested it self in Sasuke already! Nothing you do now will change that fact! Being with you will at least make his life easier by giving him an outlet to release the excess chakra!" Tsunade almost shouted out and Naruto glared at the wall.
"Fuck.." The word silently left Naruto's lips. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "If something happened to Sasuke I.."
"Nothing will happen to any of you! I won't let it but we need time Naruto so please cut this out and just do as I say! Please Naruto." Naruto who was going to argue more may be shut his mouth on Tsunade's weak tone.
"I'll go but Baa-Chan don't take too much time." Naruto's tone was resigned. He had seen the sadness in Tsunade's eyes. The fear to lose someone else closer to her again. He was tired of all the talking and most importantly, he didn't wanted to see Tsunade so broken and tired anymore.
"Don't be silly. Do you really think I'll delay it purposely? But I do need time Naruto. We don't know what kind of seal this is and this is the most dangerous thing. What happened with you and Sasuke is the proof of how little we know about the seal. I've been monitoring you too but there was nothing unusual other than your chakra drain but then this happened." Tsunade sighed,"That's why it would be better if you two are together. Other's would be safe and you two will be safe together too." Naruto wanted to say that in him and Sasuke, he was the one who would have the benefit. There was nothing for Sasuke but he kept quite. He felt weak and tired and also he had already said yes so there was no need to say anything any more."Take rest for now. And when you feel better, I'll send you with Sasuke." Tsunade said with a warm expression on her face and Naruto gave a small smile of his own too.
"OK Baa-Chan but Sasuke?" Naruto's mind ran in other direction,"I never asked you that but have you talked to Sasuke. I mean you are here convincing me but what about him Baa-Chan. I don't really think you should be convincing me when it's Sasuke.."
"I talked to him before coming here so don't worry about that. I'll leave now. I've to check again now some more scrolls." Tsunade turned to leave and Naruto's eyebrows narrowed, a crease formed between his elegant slightly darker platinum eyebrows.
"But.." He wanted to talk more. He wanted to ask how the hell did Sasuke even said yes to this weird arrangement because he knew for a fact that Sasuke didn't know the whole truth. Well obviously he didn't know but Naruto had a guess that Sasuke didn't even knew about the current situation.
"No have some rest before you leave. It's not a long distance but your condition might worsen. We can't risk it. Sleep for a while." Tsunade cut him before he could even start. Naruto huffed out, irritated on the situation and more on being cut like this.
Tsunade eyed sulking Naruto and exhaled deeply. She shook her head and made her way out. She knew she was being selfish. That she was in wrong a bit. And now that she was dragging Sasuke into this mess, she should at least explain things to him rather than just ordering him but she had no other options. Telling a half truth wasn't an option because Sasuke wasn't an idiot,and telling the full blown truth was out of question. She bit her lips. She will find the cure. She will undo the seal. Yes! Nothing will to Naruto neither to Sasuke. She just needed time. Tsunade clenched her fist and marched down the hallway with even more hardened resolve than before.
Naruto's eyes were still staring at the door Tsunade had just gone out and his frown that Tsunade was gone and he was left alone, so many thoughts invaded his mind. He had no say in the matter but living with Sasuke? Naruto took a deep breath. He had an idea that Sasuke wasn't going to be happy living together and he knew that for some reason Sasuke was being even more of a bastard with Shirogane. So this was going to be nerve wrecking and then there was this thing of Naruto's own feelings for Sasuke too. He had been bottling them up for far too long and in his current condition when he was a bit too emotionally exhausted, he didn't knew what he would do with Sasuke on being just on an arm length. It will be even more difficult to act as someone else and not let any loose string out. But he had to do it and he had no idea what he was going to do but it was going to be hard.A bit too hard for Naruto's liking.
It was almost noon when they left Hokage's tower for Uchiha compounds. Sakura has asked to help but Tsunade gave her another assignment, leaving Sasuke and Naruto alone to go ahead with Naruto's moving. Of course Sasuke had gone ahead before when he was resting. Naruto was sure that being the way Sasuke was, he must've already settled the room for his stay. Because Sasuke was that way, So cold yet doing things with an elegance. If his presence was a bother for him, you would only see it in Sasuke's eyes or the clipped, short sentences but his manners were proper somehow. Such a gentleman. Naruto smiled a bit bitterly.
"This would be your room. My room is across the hallway and you've already seen the kitchen and living room." Sasuke said politely but his tone was cold.
Naruto looked around the room. There was a single wooden bed in the middle of the room, a wooden dresser and two side tables. A rug was placed over the tatami floor and cushions were placed nicely. The room was simple but it had a very relaxed and comfy aura to it and more than that it had the distinct smell of Sasuke in it. The smell was which made Naruto inhale sharply. His senses tingled with the smell and he felt giddy being entrapped in Sasuke's smell. It was a frustrating yet a very welcoming feeling.
"Thank you for this. And I'm really sorry for all of this." Naruto kept his voice polite and stood still with a straight back and a very formal stance.
"It was Hokage's order so don't thank me. You can have rest while I prepare dinner." Sasuke's words were said formally and without an ounce of anything else but Naruto understood still it stung a bit to be so close to Sasuke and yet to be so distant.
"I can help you with dinner. I'm not that tired any more." Naruto offered. He was tired but now being with Sasuke, alone after such a long time. He wanted the time to be spent talking, being close to Sasuke. He didn't know how long he was here. But he selfishly wished that it would take Tsunade at least some days in getting the seal or the cure to undo the seal.
"You are a guest Shirogane san. I can't possibly let you things like that." Sasuke pressed his lips in a thin line and looked at Naruto with a stoic face. He even looked alert with a sharp gaze.
"No it's not a problem at all and please I've been traveling for a long time so siting around and doing nothing is tiring me more." Naruto said with a small formal smile. His amethyst eyes shone brightly under the light in the room. Giving Naruto's form an alluring glow. Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly with a dangerous note to it and Naruto didn't know why but a shiver ran down his spine. "I'm good at cooking too so you don't have to make such a worried face."
"If you really want to and you are feeling well too then I have no problem with it. You can help me with the cooking.I'll go and prepare ingredients." Sasuke stated simply and got out of the room leaving Naruto alone.
Naruto sighed and slowly made his way to the bed and slumped down on it. He smiled a bit giddily. He had always thought that being closer to Sasuke would be hard on him but surprisingly all of this was a lot more pleasing. Being close to Sasuke, being in the same home, being able to inhale in the same air as of Sasuke. He knew he was being sappy but years of unrequited love would that to you. You become way to sappy and just a little thing moves your heart. He should have expected this. He should have after what his extent of infatuation with said man was. But still the fluttering in his stomach on just talking to Sasuke while no one would interrupt them. And cooking with Sasuke? A silly smile was making it's way on his lips and he has to bite his lips from full on grinning. He took a deep breath to steady himself. and then got up to change. He didn't wanted to make Sasuke wait. Naruto quickly got up and opened the wardrobe and he was surprised to see the kimonos Tsunade had bought for him already there. Naruto took out a mustard color Kimono and sighed. He was getting a bit tired with wearing Kimono, not practicing and the acting as someone he wasn't. It was tiring. But it was no time dwelling on this. He quickly wore the Kimono and huffed on his long hairs. Shizune was the one handling them for him. Seriously he didn't knew how the hell he was going to handle them if Shizune wasn't kind enough to tell him.
Naruto took a deep breath and untied the ribbon from his wrist. He roughly combed the long silky strands a bit irritated but kept on taking deep breaths to not rile up too much. After all no matter how much he liked the contact. he didn't wanted to make it difficult for Sasuke. He tied his hairs with the ribbon in a pony tail which looked quite difficult considering that it was being done with a ribbon but Naruto knew better. The ribbon wasn't a normal ribbon, It had a simple jutsu on it which allowed the ribbon to be tied rather strongly. The jutsu was mainly used in expensive jewelry to give it a mysterious and elegant aura and in Naruto's case a pony tail with a ribbon was both elegant and easily looked more formal. Naruto took a deep breath after he was done with it. Two rather smaller strands which adorned Naruto face were hanging on the sides of face. Naruto looked at his image and sighed. He really didn't like looking like this. He already wanted to just go back to his former self. He shook his head. There was nothing he could do. Other than to trust Tsunade, Kakashi and Jiraya. Naruto relaxed his tensing muscles and made his way out of the guest room.
He strode slowly and elegantly with a fluid flow toward the kitchen. Once he came inside the kitchen he saw Sasuke cutting vegetables and he was almost done with it too. Sasuke looked up when Naruto stood by his side, holding the knife to cut the sliced of meat. He gave a small nod and kept on cutting the vegetables. They worked in a perfect silence and even though Naruto wanted to break the silence and talk to Sasuke. Somehow Sasuke cold aura and his own reservedness being as Shirogane made him bit his words. He just kept his lips tightly pressed in a thin line and tried not to think so much on how Sasuke's presence was affecting him and how he was itching to ask so many things to him. He wanted to know so much, He wanted to ask so much and so many questions were on the tip of his tongue but he couldn't. And it frustrated him to no extent.
For so many years he has tried to ignore his feelings for the Sasuke. He trained hard pushing his limits. He even tried to fall in love but it didn't work. No matter how many woman he took on dates while they stayed for a week or two in the passing by towns. It never worked. He didn't felt attracted toward woman. No matter how curvy they were, how hot or beautiful they were, it just never worked so Naruto begrudgingly tried to look at other males. He thought that may be his pinning after Sasuke had made him swing the other way but Naruto was horrified and beyond frustrated when he couldn't feel attracted toward any male. Even if they were to look close to Sasuke, and even momentarily he felt attracted toward them, soon his interest would vanish into thin air when he would notice how they were too different from Sasuke. No body clicked his heart the way Sasuke did. No body made his body rage with desire the way Sasuke did. Even the mere thought of Sasuke was enough to make him hot and bother. It was strange how his body worked. The few times he had done the deed were completely awkward for Naruto. Even though the whores would pant and moan loud, Naruto didn't felt anything. It was the time when he was in denial. When he wanted to just forget about Sasuke desperately. When he wanted to go back to the time, where his heart wasn't tinted with this sinful desire.
Sasuke was making the ginger rice when Naruto started to make stir fry vegetables the way he learn in the rice country. Making dinner with Sasuke suddenly felt so intimate to Naruto. It was strange but a warm and welcoming feeling. Yes they were particularly strangers right now but still at least they were together right now and this was good. More than enough for now. Naruto peeked from the side and looked at Sasuke. Who was now taking the rice out of the pot. Naruto bit his lips and tried not to feel to giddy because he really didn't wanted to burn the vegetable while ogling on Sasuke's illegal hotness. That would be bad. Sasuke took the contents to make the miso soup while Naruto took the sliced pork to make shogayaki. He learned this recipe while they were in rock country and Naruto really wanted Sasuke to eat it. The thought was exhilarating to feed Sasuke something he had made. He didn't want to sound too sappy or girlie but he did felt good. He always felt good when Jiraya ate what he made but Sasuke was totally another story. Naruto rolled his eyes. Now she was definitely acting like a girl.
Naruto bit his lips and focused on the sizzling meat in the pan but it was hard. He wanted to look at Sasuke. He wanted to talk to him. And he could right? Fine he couldn't act too familiar with Sasuke but there was no harm in simple talking and trying to get to know right. Naruto took a deep breath. Of course what harm could simple talking would do? And he was going to live with Sasuke so it was normal right? Sasuke was placing the dishes on the table so Naruto quickly took the food to place it on the table. Naruto eyed Sasuke and could feel the heat creeping into his body. What was wrong with him? Yes he loved Sasuke. But was it suppose to feel like this? Was it suppose to make his heart tremble like that whenever he saw Sasuke face? Looking at Sasuke while he placed water on the table and his bangs moved so slightly in a wavy movement very softly brushing over Sasuke pale cheek was something strange. He seriously wanted to brush those hairs away. He wanted to softly caress that skin and feel that was it really that soft and milky how it looked.
"Shirogane san. Please have a seat." Sasuke's polite yet impassive tone brought Naruto out of his musing. He looked at Sasuke who was looking at him with an air of indifference with his head titled, exposing the pale column of his neck to Naruto's eyes.
Naruto didn't said anything in response, flashing a small strained smile before talking a seat. They took the food out in the dishes. Naruto peeked at Sasuke's face to see his expressions when he tasted the stir fry vegetables and Shogayaki. Naruto saw the slight surprise on Sasuke stoic expressions and then a small nod of approval with a pleased face. That simple thing was enough to make the butterflies in his stomach go wild. Naruto wanted to grin so badly and ask Sasuke how it tasted? It is good if the great Uchiha was pleased and he knew that Sasuke would quirk his eyebrow and call him idiot with a barely visible smile and mirthful eyes.
They were eating silently and it was becoming a bit too much for Naruto. Years did made him mature and the unrequited love did made him a bit somber but being here with Sasuke, sitting with him, eating dinner in perfect silence made Naruto itch to say something or to do something crazy. It was strange how Sasuke's mere presence brought out all of that weird craziness inside him. He wanted to act like before, free and ruthless. He wanted to get into Sasuke's personal space and annoy him, because that was the only way to get Sasuke's full attention on him. Naruto snickered on his stupid train of thoughts, making Sasuke quirk his eyebrow at him. Naruto suddenly felt embarrassed and shy but he wasn't going to show it so he just cleared his throat before speaking up casually.
"Uh So Uchiha san. You live here alone?" Naruto knew that he shouldn't ask this but he also knew that this was the most natural and expected question to ask.
"Yes." OKKKK... So Sasuke was being quite now, giving him cold shoulder and focusing on his food again. Naruto forced him self not to huff in annoyance and call Sasuke an anti-social bastard. he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Where were Sasuke's manners. Naruto wanted to snort. Yes manners! Weren't they still talking about Sasuke? "My brother is away and my parents died when I was young." Naruto's eyes widened on the unexpected explanation after the long pause.
"And what about your lover?" Naruto wanted to punch himself when the words casually left his lips. He swallowed thickly when Sasuke ceased eating and stared at him with unreadable look. Naruto felt nervousness bubbling in the pit of his stomach. He had blurted out something which was bothering him without thinking and now he wanted to just to be buried alive before Sasuke could react. Why the hell he asked Sasuke this. Shit! When Sasuke opened his lips and his turned cold. Naruto was so sure that he was going to be blown off from the face of earth by Sasuke's oh-so-famous Chidori. Naruto inhaled and his palms felt sweaty all of a sudden.
"I don't have a lover." Sasuke's words were cold and his tone had an edge to it but still he looked stoic.
"Oh." OK.. So may be he shouldn't feel as relieved and happy he was feeling but he couldn't help it. And that was when Naruto subtly noticed another thing. Sasuke's body language wasn't relax and looked on edge all the time since he came home with Sasuke. But this made him fully realize that he was indeed a stranger to Sasuke. Sasuke wasn't relaxed with him around because he didn't knew who he was and what he could do but this possibility also opened quite an amount of windows in his mind. It made Naruto elevated with the possible things he could do. He bit his lips and his eyes lightened up.
"What about you Shirogane san?" Sasuke had regained his cool and indifferent air and looked at Naruto with narrowed and calculated gaze. It made Naruto smirk a bit. Typical Sasuke.
"I don't have any family left just like you." Naruto softly replied and he saw a small flicker of emotions in Sasuke's eyes before they turned impassive again but he remained quite. Still Naruto could feel that Sasuke was interested so he kept on talking, "During an attack my parents were killed. I was young at that time and there was my chakra conditions so I was never close to any one." Naruto finished and he could feel Sasuke's eyes on him so he looked up to see Sasuke's fathomless black orbs solely focused on him. There was something in Sasuke's gaze which made Naruto's heart thump loudly in his chest. A lost and pained expression flashed in Sasuke's eyes even though his face was stoic, Naruto could see it so clearly. "Uchiha san. Are you OK?" He gently called Sasuke to snap him out of his own painful memories.
"I'm. It's just that I know someone who.." Sasuke who was going to say something in flow suddenly pressed his lips tightly in a thin line and stopped himself before he could say anything anymore.
"Someone who?" Naruto bit the inside of his cheeks impatiently. He didn't know why but he wanted Sasuke to complete this sentence. Somehow it seemed important.
"Nothing.. I'll do the dishes in the morning. Now please excuse me." Sasuke said with a strange coldness to his demeanor and sudden distant expressions on his face. Naruto opened his lips to whine but remembered quickly that he was Shirogane and not Naruto.
"Oyasumi Uchiha san." Naruto said with a formal small smile to his face. Sasuke eyed him with his eyebrows furrowed and nodded before quickly leaving.
Naruto didn't know he was holding his breath until Sasuke left. A small smile curved on his lips. It was strange so strange. Why was he feeling happy? Sasuke was talking about Itachi or him but most chances were that he was thinking about Naruto and that gave Sasuke those pained expressions. Naruto couldn't help but grin foolishly while finishing his dinner. He had a huge problem on his hands. He was slowly being killed by the damn seal and he was gushing over being with Sasuke and talking with him. He had it bad. Very bad. Naruto pursed his lips and then got up to clean up. He snorted over Sasuke's absolute rudeness and then shook his head. That was Sasuke no?
Later that night when Naruto tossed and turned in his sheets his thoughts were scattered all over the place but all of them were only about Sasuke. Seeing Sasuke so close and being alone with him with no interruptions was so precious. But for Sasuke he was merely a stranger. Naruto sighed feeling a bit sad on the prospect but then a thought occurred to him which made him grin madly. He was a stranger right? So he could do so many things which he couldn't if he was Naruto. If as Naruto he were to approach Sasuke and if things went down the drain then he would lose too much and it would be permanent but... Being as Shirogane he could do so many things and even if it were to back lash on him it wouldn't affect his relationship with Sasuke. And if it worked he would have his chance with Sasuke too. The thought was exciting and it made Naruto's heart thump loudly in his chest with nervousness.
Naruto bit his lips and shuffled under the sheets. It was kinda strange to think this way. Thinking about making a move on Sasuke but Naruto had came back with this resolve in his mind. He was going to confess to Sasuke but all of this happened. May be the fates had given him a chance. The seal had caused him enough problems so now he would use this opportunity to get some of his answers and to sort out his chances with Sasuke. Naruto sighed and smiled, At least Sasuke didn't have a lover, yet. This was a good sign, No?
TBC...
A/N: So what do you think about this? Do you think that Naruto is making a smart move and what about Sasuke? Comment please.
ENJOY
~Adios
