Chapter 6: Digging Up Dirt

Pairings: Naru/Sasu

Rating: M - NC17

Disclaimer: 'Naruto', don't own it; not mine; I just borrow Masashi's characters and replace them in naughty positions.

Summary: Sequel to "Summer Camp". Let me assure you, your days will be long and your nights will be bitter, you will be fucked with, run ragged, razed and broken; I can also assure you that there are going to be times when you feel like it's too much but trust me, power through it and it will be the most rewarding thing you will ever achieve." That was the greeting Sasuke got. Trying to adjust to new friends and even newer enemies while dealing with Naruto two thousand miles away, the only option is to survive.

A/N: And for all the novices reading this it will make no damn sense to you if you haven't read Summer Camp first

Note : The Karin Uzumaki in here is NOT the same Karin that Sasuke accused of sleeping with Neji.


Mt. Fuji, 12:48 pm. Break time..
...

Naruto hesitatingly walked up to the door of the teacher's lounge, raised his hand and after a few uncertain seconds, clenched his fist and knocked.

The words Asuma had said about "it's in his blood" had been sporadically running through his mind ever since the veteran had uttered them. Every time they turned over in his head he got even more confused. He wanted to know what they meant.

The door opened and the eyes of the American officer Rowan Williams met his. "May I help you?"

"Uh, yeah, " Naruto said respectively," may I speak to Asuma-sensei, please."

The man nodded, "Sure, I'll be back, just wait." turned inside and softly closed the door.

Naruto, hands in his pockets rocked slightly on his heels. It took a few minutes but when the door reopened Asuma stepped outside. "Naruto, what's up? Why do you want to talk to me? "

The tan teen looked up and hesitatingly said, "Remember when you told me... something...like... that ...I belong here and...like it's in my blood...well... what did you mean by that, especially the 'blood' part. "

The veteran soldier's eyebrows rose a bit. "You don-... Kyuubi didn't tell you?"

Blue eyes narrowed. "He didn't tell me what?"

Asuma sighed, stepped fully out and quietly closed the door behind him. "Naruto, let's take a walk."

"Okay." the Uzumaki agreed turning to follow the older man.

Asuma calmly made his way to the front quad face pensive. With every quiet step Naruto's level of apprehension rose.

Stopping under a flourishing Japanese cherry tree Asuma turned to the clearly worried teen and said with a somber tone, "Naruto...your parents...your birth patents were both in the army. They were both exemplary officers. I barely knew your father but I was slightly more familiar with your mother, Kushina."

Naruto went still. "My mother's name is... Kushina."

The older man frowned, "Kyuubi didn't even tell you your parents names?" He asked incredulously.

A shrug, "No."

"That son of a bitch." Asuma swore. After an derisive snort he added, "Yes, your mother was Kushina and your father's name was Minato."

Naruto's head titled to the left. "What...did he look like? " he asked wondering why his voice sounded like an unsure four year's old kid.

The older man smiled then."Just like you. Blue eyes, tan skin, the brightest blonde hair I've ever seen. Kushi would always say his hair could stop traffic."

Naruto's hands found their way shoved deeply into pockets. "You seem...very familiar with my mother...did you know her...you know... intimately?"

Brown eyes widened before resuming the normal size. "A... Are you asking me...if we had... sex?"

A shoe scuffed the ground, "Well, yeah."

The older man shook his head, "No. Absolutely not." he assured, "Force, I only met her when I was posted in Russia. Talking to her I learned that she was from Kohona and at sixteen she had this idea...well let me not say idea, she had this obsession with going into the military. After high school, she worked temporarily at an animal shelter and the very day after she turned eighteen, she enrolled herself in the local corps and got accepted immediately."

The veteran sighed, "She told me that she worked extremely hard, pushing herself night and day to excel, she moved from ensign to lieutenant under three years. "

Blonde eyebrow skyrocket, "Is that even possible?"

A grin, "If you only knew your mother son. Even though our meeting was short she proved to be the strongest person I've ever known, physically and mentally. Once she set her mind to something she never gives up."

Cobalt orbs dimmed, "What did she.."

"Look like? " The Shibito heir said," she had the most violent red hair in the world," he laughed, "and you know what they say about redheads... maybe that's why so many guys at the base there were scared of her."

A slight grin, "She had a temper."

"A temper.. " Asuma scoffed, "try a lightning storm, when riled up no one could contain her, she was like a bulldozer... But she was a prankster too, very mischievous and she loved to laugh."

Asuma's tone slipped to nostalgia. "She just loved life Naruto, and more than anything, I swear, she loved your father more than anything in the world. After my small stint in Russia I was moved to Syria. She would always send me letters and pictures of the two of them in some of the most outrageous situations, like riding a 'borrowed' Indian elephant..." he sobered even more "It broke my heart when I heard about the..."

"The accident." Naruto filled in for him neutrally. Rubbing the back of his neck Naruto managed to admit. "... I.. It's okay sensei, I got over it a long time ago."

The short silence that followed wasn't awkward, just somber. Naruto then literally shook himself, looked up and gave a small smile. "Like I said sensei, it's okay. I.. I was just...curious about... well everything actually."

The older man nodded, "Understandable... If I was in your position I'd be the same way."

Naruto shifted to walk away but then turned back," Sensei...are the military archives still up and running? "

Asuma's mouth twitched. " I think so, but the upper heads usually update the records with every change of government...from you were born that's about three or four changes of presidency and I think they applied some kind of statue of limitations.. I don't know Force if you can find anything there, but I don't think it's completely impossible."

A shrug of broad shoulders. "Well I got to try."

"Sure. " Asuma agreed, his emotions fluctuating. He really felt it for the damaged teen before him. He couldn't imagine going through what the young man had been made to suffer. Walking up to stand in front of the blond he placed a hand on a tense shoulder and said with deep sincerity. " Remember, if you need anything, anything at all, I'm here."

Naruto calmly removed the hand from his person, "I've got it sensei. Trust me."

"Tell me if you find anything, okay." The bearded man said. "I can probably corroborate it for you."

"Will do." he shifted, "I've got to go sensei, classes and shi- stuff."

Asuma let the near curse slide, "Okay then. See you at athletics."

"Yea." The blonde said voice sounded distracted and mind clearly occupied, not noticing the tender, sympathetic look aimed at his back.

..

Hokkaido keys.

Sasuke desperately wanted, no, needed a challenge. Especially physically. The overflow of energy that had swamped his entire being yesterday, even though slightly mitigated, was itching to get out in any way possible or chances are that he'd explode.

He could always work out himself but strangely he wanted a sparring opponent. Gaara was at the medical bay, Shikamaru didn't even know the first thing about physical activity, and there was no way in hell he'd sink to asking Neji to fight with him.

He briefly considered his cell mates, he'd learned that the only sport Bryce knew was soccer and even though Jason knew American kickboxing he was yearning for something oriental. Karate, Wing Chun, Kung Fu, anything in that arena.

Sighing he flopped on the bed. It was Friday, an open weekend where evening athletics was suspended and he, in a pique of discomfort, had skipped lunch. He'd tried to watch an episode of Burn Notice on his laptop but his mind kept slipping away from the show.

Pushing the closed console away from him he sat up and drew his knees up to his chin.

God he wished Naruto was here.

Even when he wasn't directly thinking about it, it felt like a hollow crater had been carved into the depths of his stomach and nothing was able to fill it.

It hurt, plain and simple.

"Sasuke?"

The raven barely turned his head to see Haku approaching him.

" Are you okay? " he was asked.

" No, " he mumble, running a hand through his hair."No, I'm not."

The orphan paused at the foot of his bed and quietly asked, "What's wrong?"

Sasuke debated within himself, could he really tell Haku what was really wrong with him.

His paranoia then kicked in like an agitated tiger. Hell no. He didn't even know the boy that well so there was no way, even under Chinese water torture, he'd confess any-goddamn-thing.

Looking at the concerned face of the orphan he carefully said, "I just want a sparring partner. I'm worried my training will go rusty."

Soft eyes cleared. "Oh. If that's the case, why not spar with me?"

The Uchiha looked up with slight incredulity. "... Spar with...you?"

A mysterious smile. "Yes, me. I'm stronger than I look."

Sasuke considered it for a moment then shrugged while getting up. "Yeah, sure. Why not. The gym, right?"

"Yes. Just give me a minute to change okay."

he gymnasium was, typically, empty. Sasuke and Haku walked into the cool, wide space and found a empty stretch of padded mats, just beside a row of ceiling to ground bay windows.

Wrapping his towel around a close bar he turned to the other teen and said, "I have a confession to make."

Haku squinted at him while stretching his arm out, "What?"

"Yesterday, I was here and I kind of saw you." he admitted. "Do you know acupuncture, cause the way you were striking that dummy you could have given a human a coronary attack."

Haku's smile was soft and somewhat nostalgic. "Actually, yes. I do know acupuncture but... not in the biblical sense."

"Oh, I see." Sasuke inferred, "It's for self defense, right?"

"Yes. " Haku replied shortly.

Even though it was said with apparent honesty, Sasuke seriously suspected there was another, underlying reason, most likely something extremely controversial. But with a neutral expression he just nodded. It wasn't his business so why get bothered?

He'd came here for one reason and one only. Getting the massive load of energy, (that could turn destructive) out of his system. Bending over backwards in the Ponte he focused on the stretch of muscles in his back.

Finishing that he braced his arms and then pulled off a smooth transition; lifted his legs up straight up into the air. It was cathartic. Performing capoeira made him feel a bit closer to the missing blond.

Releasing the pose he got up to see Haku's curious gaze and intuitively knew that the Momochi was wondering what he had just done.

"Long story." he said to prematurely cut off the inquiry. "So, sparring?"

Haku gave a sharp nod. "What's your usual style?"

"Karate." he replied slipping into a kata.

Haku flexed his shoulders and assumed a position Sasuke vaguely identified from Sanshou, an indigenous style of the Northern countries, especially China. .

"Ready? " Haku asked.

Sasuke didn't reply he just lunged, just to see Haku gracefully pivot and lash out with an almost invisible kick.

Sasuke reacted and avoided the blow by just inches. Pulling back he marveled. He hadn't, in any of his wildest imaginations, expected Haku to be that skilled.

He immediately reprogrammed his mind to not take the seemingly demure boy lightly.

Resetting his balance he turned sideways and raised a hand up to his chest level, remembering a move Itachi had done once.

Haku's eyebrows contracted for a moment before he slipped into a pose that was clearly defense.

'Smart.' Sasuke admired. Stepping back a little he centered himself, narrowed his focus on the target before him and attacked.

Yamanashi Prefecture. Honshu . Just outside Tokyo

...

"I'm sorry sir," the voice on the other end of the phone said, "I believe that you are uninformed. Father Yorumba, may he rest in peace, died about four years ago."

Inspector Makako grimaced, weathered fingers rose to massage his furrowed forehead. That news had just made his job even harder.

"Remind me of whom I'm speaking with, again."

"Father Gravis Hiromi of the St. Helen's Children's Home." The priest said, "I'm not entirely sure about your inquiry, pertaining to a Uzumaki Naruto, who by your knowledge, had been a member of the orphanage about fifteen years ago, correct?"

" Yes," the former officer said, "That's the information I was given. I was hoping to find any records of his birth certificate or of his parents."

"Well, " Father Gravis suggested, "to my knowledge, the majority of Father Yorumba's records are in stored in the local archdiocese earchives. You might have more luck finding them there."

Richard sighed. After the call from the CIA agent and the primary deposit of fifty thousand US dollars, he had gotten to work immediately. Agent Uzumaki had specifically requested he traced the boy's background, to his parents, grandparents and any other relatives he had.

The first place he had searched was the National CRC, Child Register Centre but that yielded nothing. Agent Uzumaki had told him that Naruto had been adopted by an Avilov Kyuubi, a Russian native and army officer but had become a naturalized Japanese citizen.

He hadn't started on that avenue yet. Maybe it was some kind of absurd hope that he'd wanted to find any prior records before the adoption, because most adoptions were sealed, private and out of public records. He'd sincerely hoped that the orphanage had a record of the boy's past, but now he was stonewalled.

He had other options though; he could search the diocesan archives and if that didn't yield anything he would have to do a hospital crawl. He grimaced. Local hospitals were notorious for having little or no organization system. Medical records were either not cared for or not done properly in the first place. It was even worse because over ten, nearly twenty years had passed.

"Sir, " came an inquiry," Are you still there? "

Richard snapped back. "Thank you. I'll try to find those documents, and if you do find any records of Naruto please notify me immediately."

"Yes, we will." was the parting repartee.

Hanging up the phone the sixty odd year old shuffled through the sheaf of papers before him. Every clue he'd tried had resulted in a dead end. The Uzumaki vaults hadn't been updated in decades. It had no mention of a baby named Naruto born at any time. The last record of a child born of that line was a Menma Uzumaki, who lived forty years ago and had a child who wasn't registered on the archives.

He shifted to the family tree of Nagato Uzumaki. The man's parents, now currently in their fifties, had migrated to Britain before he was born. His parents, Fusō and Ise had lived on the outskirts of Amegakure before making the decision to migrate to the UK.

Apparently, the father Fusō was indirectly related to the Senju clan by his uncle who had married one of the maidens, a Tōka Senju.

Tsunade was the granddaughter of
Hashirama Senju and Mito Uzumaki, so clearly she was related, somehow, to Naruto. That was another aspect he needed to investigate.

He sighed. Multi level cases like this one were, inordinately, convoluted. In his experience, the deficit of reliable records, was either a complete lack of interest to preserve the family's heritage or someone just wanted to cover up something nefarious. But convoluted or not he had a job to do. Getting up he grabbed the closest phone directory and searched for the archive the priest was talking about.

Getting the contact he dialed and waited. It connected.

"Ohayo, my name is Richard Makoko. I'm seeking the official records of Father Yorumba of the St. H-"

….

Hokkaido keys. 6: 49 pm

If his aim was to obliterate the accumulated extra energy in his system, by all accounts, he had certainly accomplished it... and, maybe...slightly...most likely had completely overdone it.

Sasuke was euphorically exhausted; a small satisfied smile was on his face even though he was in pain. His body was literally throbbing. Who would have thought that Haku would have proved to be such a challenge.

Leaning his head back on the cold stone wall behind him Sasuke faced the other boy and said, "How long have you trained?"

Haku didn't even look at him, head also back against the wall and eyes closed while regulating his breathing. "From I was thirteen." he answered tiredly, "Some benevolent charity decided to provide the orphanage with a martial arts teacher. I took the opportunity immediately." Haku shifted, "Coincidentally, the teacher was an expert in acupuncture too so I learned a double threat."

Sasuke groaned managing his numb arm. "Haku, do me a favor, for the love of god, never again agree to spar with me unless I admit to be suicidal."

Haku threw his head back and laughed. "Come on. It's not that bad is it?"

"Let me tell you something." Sasuke said feeling absurdly comfortable talking with the older boy while massaging his left arm. "I know pressure points and I know the damage that they can do but, motherfuck, this is a whole new level."

Haku snorted, reaching over he silently demanded Sasuke's arm. Tentatively the raven stretched out the aching limb and hissed when Haku's cold hands skimmed over the length of it.

Titling the pale wrist towards him Haku gently pushed on a spot at the base of his wrist. In a microsecond Sasuke felt like a flood of trapped water had just drained from him.

"Whoa." Sasuke murmured, flexing his wrist and arm. "You can do some serious damage if you want to."

The svelte nineteen year old heaved himself up from the floor to grab his bottle of water and promptly sunk back unto the floor. "You're not so bad yourself."

Sasuke snorted while grabbing his towel. After wiping off the dripping sweat he slung the material over his shoulders and faced the gentle eyes of the teen.

"Thank you." he paused, debating with himself before cautiously proposed. "Haku...do you want to...I mean would you lik-"

A smile, "Be your friend in this madhouse circus?"

Sasuke nodded mutely.

"Sure. Absolutely." The Momochi agreed lips twisting into a small smile. "What are you going to do now?"

Good question.

Taking the time to think about it, Sasuke plucked at the sweat soaked shirt and, after a second, just ripped the itching material off. The cool air wafting over his body calmed the tense muscles a bit. Leaning back on his elbows he tilted his head backwards allowing the air to caress his body.

He didn't want to shift when he heard footsteps approaching the outside of the gym, but he did. Barely lifting his head he, with soporific eyes saw the tall form of Ryu, accompanied by his usual posse, passing the large bay window and chatting.

The Namikaze heir took one glance into the room and for a second, that to Sasuke seemed indefinitely extensive, his blue eyes skimmed over Sasuke's adroit body.

And then something happened. Ryu's face went flinty, his jaw locked and his eyes were lit with...

Sasuke couldn't believe it. He sat up the immediate second Ryu turned away but Sasuke was damn sure he knew what he'd saw in the other teens eyes.

Lust.

'Motherfuck,' Sasuke realized.

"Sasuke?"

Haku was looking at him with a intense curiosity. "Are you okay, you didn't answer me. "

Sasuke, eyes not leaving the spot where Ryu had left absently replied, "I'm heading for the showers, you going?"

Haku differed for a moment, then shook his head. "You go ahead. I'll catch up."

Shrugging Sasuke turned and walked back to the dorm. With each step a sinister part of the raven's mind was curling in cruel satisfaction. One massive doorway had just been blasted open. Absently he wondered if anyone knew Ryu's secret.

All that aside, he had one more mission to accomplish tonight though. It was about time that he talked to Naruto.

….

Under the stream of water Sasuke tilted his head up to allow the warm liquid to caress his body. The look Ryu had in his blue eyes made Sasuke reflect on what had happened not so long ago with another pair of azure eyes.

Under a second his mind went back to the shared shower he and Naruto had before the graduation ceremony.

Every second of that encounter, in the spacious tub, was permanently cemented in his mind. He vividly remembered the way the water had clung to his skin when Naruto had pushed him against the wall, the prickly feel of short golden hairs on Naruto's belly when his legs had wrapped around the blondes hips, the way his teeth had bitten into his bottom lip almost drawing blood when Naruto bit down on the tender junction if his neck.

The way all his nerve endings had sang when even a ghostly touch from calloused tan fingers ran over his heated back. The deep, intense look the blue eyes had while pinning the raven and slowly entering him.

Sasuke felt his cock strain further at just the thought.

Capitulating to his body's urges Sasuke grabbed the bottle of body wash. He braced his legs slightly further apart and leaned forward against the tiles as his hand closed over his erection. Eyes closed he ran his palm over the pulsing shaft.

His face met the junction of his elbow as his fist worked up, over and down his turgid cock. Images of Naruto running rampart before his inner eyes. His teeth bit into the tender skin just as he started to feel the beginnings of his orgasm. Heat was centered under his palm and the dripping purpled cock head was dripping copiously.

Tightly gripping his dick Sasuke felt his balls tighten and the muscles under his hand tense hard.

"Fffuuccckkk." he groaned.

After a second where he had to regain his breath he dimly took in the splatter of white against the pale tiles. Cupping his hand under the stream he calmly washed away the spunk from the ceramic.

Dunking his head completely under the shower he reveled in the relaxation in his muscles. The tension was completely gone from him.

He oddly felt at peace.

But it will only lasted for a moment. Pushing back up he shut off the spray and grabbed his towel. One step outside he knew that he. had just reentered the battlefield.

….

Hokkaido keys, 9:49 pm. Free time

...
Finally.

Sasuke found himself a quiet, secluded spot in the empty library. He immediately found one of those comfortable, soft body enveloping armchairs that serial bookworms coveted. Settled in, he booted up his laptop, signed into Skype and typed in Naruto's address, sent the request, all in accordance with the time Naruto said he'd be free

The account name that Naruto had texted him (most probably from Renée's cell phone,) 'Azraq_Uz' was definitely abnormal. It wasn't Japanese, English or from any other language he knew offhand . He shrugged it off, maybe it was just something the blonde had came up with.

Beep.

His fingers drummed on the desk in tandem with the connection beeps. He'd just reached forty seven when:

"Sasuke? "

The Uchiha smiled slightly. Naruto seemed relaxed, not entirely comfortable, but relaxed.

"Happy birthday dobe." he smiled.

The look that Naruto graced him with was...total shock. "Wha'?"

Sasuke couldn't believe this. His eyebrow skyrocketed.

"You mean to tell me that you've forgotten your own birthday?" He asked, a tone of astounding wonder colouring his voice. "Like...seriously?"

Blue eyes crinkled at the corners with embarrassment while a long fingered hand massaged the back of his neck. "Well, yea... I guess."

Sasuke snorted, "How could anyone forget that they're turning nineteen?"

A shrug. "Birthdays are just not... umm...they were just never special to me. I just counted it as just another day in the year."

Against his incredulity Sasuke shook his head, propped it on a clenched fist and casually asked, "So how's the freezing mountain air?"

"It's cool..." he paused then just to slap a hand over his eyes, "...that's so lame... I mean it's okay... " Naruto reasoned. "... It is though, it's like the air up here has some kind of, I dunno, some kind of therapy about it. It has this kind of weird, light energy..." a beat, "... How's Hokkaido, I bet it's sweltering down there."

Sasuke snorted to himself. Were they really talking about the goddamn weather?

Time to definitely change the topic. He cut in: "Made any friends yet?"

A pause.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly with the look he was receiving from the other. The blue eyes looked troubled but a second later it disappeared. "Yep, a couple... especially Daya."

Sasuke tilted his head. "Who?"

"This Israeli chick. " Naruto grinned, "She's a army brat like me and she knows seven martial arts, S'uke. Can you believe that? Seven. And she's agreed to teach me one. We've been training every day for the la-"

"Back up." Sasuke ordered, something strange twinging in his gut. "Who's she again?"

"Daya Da'Vid," was the reply, "she has like six older brothers who are all Mossad officers and taught her to fight from she was like ten years old."

Sasuke felt his head spin. The blonde then launched into a spiel of animatedly babbling, eyes blazing with radiant energy about this new girl not noticing that Sasuke was starting to feel the pangs of crippling jealously.

"-nd she says that if I keep i-"

"Dobe." Sasuke tried to cut in.

More babbling. "-she did this thing with her fists, it's li-"

"Baka." He tried harder.

"-nd then she did this thing called retz-" More talking, this time paired with wild hand gesturing.

"NARUTO! " he shouted left eye twitching hard.

The blonde teen shut up immediately, cobalt orbs dimming in confusion but then lightened into realization and then evolved to humor.

"Teme, relax." he murmured leaning in towards the screen, lips twitching, "...put away the serial killer voice... it's nothing serious, I swear. I just like her As. A. Friend."
Sasuke grunted. Pale fingertips reaching up to massage his tense forehead. "And you're sure she thinks the same thing?"

Naruto smiled, eyes brimming. "Yes teme... you know, you really need to control those jealously tendencies."

A grunt. He should have expected the fact that Naruto could still see right through him. Bastard.

"Sasuke, look at me." a soft request.

Slowly dull dark eyes met steady blue ones. "Listen to me S'uke, don't even think that I will mess around up here... It's only you, it will always be you."

The stark honesty he saw in those eyes made him calm down.

A tight smile. "Naruto...what are we?"

A beat.

"We are ...just...us." was the simple answer.

"Just us. " Sasuke concurred softly. Somehow, those simple words settled the turbulent emotions he'd been having."So no titles, no possessive claims, no pet names... Just us. It's that simple? "

"Uh huh... " Naruto said a mischievous smile crossing his face. "...unless secretly you do want me to call you honey, sweetie pie, lover boy, darli-"

"Okay," Sasuke groaned, "you've more than made your point."

That smile turned smug. "If I wasn't sure you'd cuss me out I'd call you bab-"

Sasuke glared. Naruto grinned, "See what I mean," he then sobered, "but that's how I think of you."

Sasuke relented. "That's...fine.. Just keep it to yourself okay baka."

"Sure..." Naruto leaned back. "So what's really bothering you? "

The raven's head snapped up." What the hell are you talking about? "

Naruto sighed, "Haven't you realized by now that I just know when something is wrong with you."

Damn it. He was right.

"And don't even try telling me that it's just stress." Naruto just stared at him, blue eyes level and absurdly calm. "It's clearly more than that. Tell me."

A sigh, "What's the point?" he asked lowly, "It's not like you can do anything about it." The 'over there' was silently added in his mind.

"I guess you're right." Naruto conceded, "But maybe I can help you figure it out."

Sasuke was on the horns of a dilemma, he could spill everything about the Inzei, he could tell Naruto about the edge of the precipice he was carefully treading on, about the fact that if one mistake was made the people he loved would be in serious danger. He could even tell Naruto everything about Madara... but he refrained.

Now was just not the time.

"Thanks, but no thanks. Just not right now okay. To be honest I'm still trying to work it out myself."

Peach lips quirked at the evasive answer, "Okay, but if it gets out of hand You. Will. Tell. Me. No matter what. Deal?"

Sasuke sighed in resignation, but then offered a smile with softened eyes, "Absolutely."

Naruto leaned back, eyes pensive for a second, looking into the black eyes before him. "...I seriously miss you."

Sasuke smirked. "Anything specific?" he teased.

"Christ, " Naruto mused, "and here I thought Neji was the attention slut. Couldn't you just say 'me too'? "

Black eyes rolled, "Fine, me too. But I still want to know."

A minute stretched until the pensive blond spoke up.

"It's so fucked up, isn't it." Naruto sighed. "One damn night. That's all we had... Just one."

Sasuke couldn't do anything but close his eyes for a second in sad agreement.

Naruto leaned into the camera so close Sasuke could see the faint dots of golden brown freckles splattered across his face and the multi-hued ceil eyes that swiftly pinned Sasuke's own. Then the blue orbs morphed. The pupils enlarged into dark abysses with a bare rim of blue surrounding then. Naruto's voice came out with a low animalistic growl. "Just know that, when I get out of here, I plan on repeating that night a fucking lot."

Sasuke shivered. Unbidden his lips slipped open a little just to release a deep desire filled breath. Almost tactile visions of the only night they had together was running rampart through his mind. His head fell forward, invisible shivers running under his skin. Opening his eyes that he knew were filled with want he whispered, "Naruto, please don't do this to me. Not now... I can't..."

Eyes closed again as Sasuke took a series of of deep breath to control himself. And by the silence he noticed coming from the computer it seemed like Naruto was doing the same.

He didn't know how much time had passed until he opened his eyes to see Naruto, head down in his arms, shoulders looking extremely tense.

"Naruto," he called lowly, "Baka, it's okay.. I'm fine."

"But I'm not." Naruto mumbled face still in his arms. A clenched fist met the table, rattling the laptop. "Just...give me a minute."

Pale fingertips rose up to massage throbbing temples. This was so fucking hard. For the first time in a long time Sasuke felt like screaming.

Patiently he waited until Naruto's head rose up, his expression neutral but his eyes shadowed. Dragging a hand through his hair he said; "Sasuke, no matter what, we can do this...and whatever is messing with you, I know you can handle it."

Alabaster eyelids lowered over dark eyes, "I sincerely hope so."

They both knew the unsaid words were the three little ones that could do serious damage if uttered carelessly, but the unsaid but understood hung heavily in the air.

Shaking off the melancholy he faced the other and softly asked , "So what's with the account name...where's it from?"

"Oh, that." Naruto said, clearly appreciating the topic shift. "It's Arabic, Daya translated it for me, it means 'blue'. "

That girl again.

"One of these days, I'm going to have to meet her." Sasuke said noncommittally.

"And what, do what you did with Lee about Sakura? " The blonde inquired a tone of insufferable mischief slipping into his voice.

Damn it.

"He told you that? " Sasuke asked lowly, mind instantly conjuring no less than fifteen ways to neuter Gai's freakish lookalike son.

"Yep," Naruto teased, cobalt eyes dancing. "I've gotta say 'sasquatch eyebrow' isn't something that you generally hear banded about."

"Remind me to kill him the next time we meet. " Sasuke added blandly.

Hands flew up,"Hell no. I'm not up for being an accessory in a murder. I've escaped prison once I'm not up for it again."

The stiff tension had bled out. Sasuke mentally relaxed. Time for some bantering.

"I'm kidding idiot...relax. So is there anyone up there wh-"

10:36pm. Library.

The call had just ended. Sasuke leaned back in the chair, eyes closed, spirit at some kind of ease. The conversation with Naruto had pushed some strength and resolve into him. He was right, he could deal with this

Black eyes opened with pure determination. If Ryu thought he'd had gotten to him the sorry bastard was in for a hard reality check. And in light of the new revelations, he was going to fuck with the Namikaze so hard he'd be lucky to know left from right when he was done with him.

Rolling his shoulders he stood, gathered his laptop and mechanically wrapping up his power cord, mind shifting through his next move.

'The weakest link ' Sasuke reasoned. Maybe he had it wrong in the first place, thinking about Konohamaru; Ryu himself was the weakest link and Sasuke, damn sure, was going to break it.

After all, he wasn't descended from samurai for any other reason.


AND , AS USUAL, REVIEW DAMNIT