A/N: Once gain, UNBETA'D and subject to change. Smut is CUT for ff guidelines and can be read in full at one of the links under my profile. Happy reading!
Conviction
Chapter 11: Collision Course
"I didn't send for you." A cool glare accompanied Tsunade-sama's brusque greeting.
Sasuke chose to ignore the fact that he was being insubordinate. "You gave me your word that you would let him rest until we leave for Sand."
The Hokage leaned back in her seat, the old leather cushions groaning, and crossed her arms. Her ample breasts threatened to spill from her insufficient top. Sasuke had gotten used to focusing directly at the spot between her eyes to keep his gaze from wandering—not because he had any particular desire to see her cleavage (quite the opposite) but because it was impossible to ignore.
"I'm as galled by this development as you are. But the request was made by the Lord of the Earth Country. I can't refuse it."
"So send someone else."
"Don't order me about. Compared to me, you're still just a brat."
Sasuke stiffened and bit back his retort. Regardless of his displeasure, she had every right to do as she pleased.
"Naruto was specifically requested," she said.
Sasuke wasn't convinced. "Specifically requested?"
"You need me to repeat myself?"
His lips tightened. Unlike the Sandaime, Tsunade-sama liked to lord her superiority over several of her ninjas in general, and Sasuke in particular. He was always getting the impression that she was either humoring him or making fun of him. He suspected his demeanor amused her.
Naruto being specifically requested wasn't completely implausible. Their identities were, of course, highly confidential. But Naruto had just completed a successful S-rank mission in Earth Country—it was possible the Earth Lord had requested the same ninja be assigned the new mission.
He was saved from the urge to argue further when a loud knock filled the stiff silence.
"Come in," Tsunade-sama said.
The door opened and Naruto marched in, eyes muted into a vapid blue that echoed the stillness of deep winter. Sasuke was reminded of the tiny frost flowers that blossomed across glass windowpanes after a freeze, infinitely beautiful but ultimately chilling.
Already, Naruto was mentally preparing himself for the work that needed to be done. He didn't register a reaction to Sasuke's presence. Sasuke had never been able to stand that kind of apathy in Naruto.
Neji entered closely behind. He spared Sasuke a glance before focusing on the Hokage.
"We need to discuss a matter with you," he said without preamble.
"If you'll excuse us, Sasuke." It wasn't a request.
A small muscle ticked in his cheek as his jaw tightened. He bowed stiffly to the Hokage before exiting. The door shut with a soft click. Naruto resisted the urge to look back.
"There may be an intruder in the village," Neji said. The Hokage immediately straightened in her seat. "I sensed a presence and we pursued him, but he disappeared from my range of vision. Likely a teleportation jutsu."
She fixed Neji with a stern look. "What makes you think it was an enemy?"
"He was wearing an Akatsuki cloak."
Naruto abruptly turned to him, looking startled. "You didn't tell me that," he said.
"Shit." Tsunade dragged a stack of papers to her and began scribbling something furiously across the top. "I will make the necessary adjustments to the patrol units and send a team out to scout the area." She turned to Naruto. "And I will decline your mission for you."
Naruto squared his shoulders and said calmly, "That isn't necessary. I can handle myself."
"It's not safe for you to leave the village alone if the Akatsuki are on the move again. You're not taking the mission."
"I can handle it," Naruto repeated. It had been years since he'd run into the Akatsuki—he wasn't about to let a mere sighting deter him from doing his job.
"You're not going alone," Tsunade countered, unyielding.
"Then let me take my team. Either way, I want the mission." Naruto crossed his arms and glared. He appreciated her concern, but he was a ninja for a reason. Danger wasn't just an occupational hazard in their line of work.
"Listen, you little brat—"
"Stop worrying about me, Tsunade-sama. I'm not as useless as I used to be."
Naruto knew he'd used the appropriate tactic when Tsunade's reprimand caught in her throat. It wasn't often he called her by anything more deferential than 'ba-chan' despite that he did hold a great deal of respect for the old woman. Of course, that didn't mean he was above taking advantage of her affection for him to get his way.
She leaned her elbow on the lacquered wood of her desk and propped her chin in her palm. She regarded Naruto for a long while and he did his best to look earnest.
"All right. You want the mission; you got it. But take someone you work well with, like Sasuke or Shikamaru. Or both, as long as you're not alone."
"I can accompany him," Neji said, stepping forward.
"That'll do," Tsunade agreed.
"There's something I should probably tell you," Naruto said. He didn't like being coddled and so had kept it to himself, but with the security of the village at stake—and guilt for taking advantage of her affection for him—he supposed she would have to know.
Tsunade arched her eyebrow expectantly.
"The last couple days there have been times when I felt like I was being followed."
"And you didn't tell anyone?" she shouted. Anger and concern amplified her voice so that Naruto, and even Neji, flinched.
"I didn't think it was serious, seeing as I was never attacked. I didn't sense any unusual chakra when it happened and I certainly didn't suspect Akatsuki—could have just been some curious kids. I just thought I'd let you know."
"How thoughtful of you. Next time it happens, you better haul your ass straight here and tell me."
"Sure," Naruto said in a noncommittal way. Tsunade scowled at his deliberate ambiguity.
"I mean it, Naruto."
"Sure," Naruto repeated.
Tsunade's nostrils flared. She looked at Neji. "Is Uchiha still out there?"
Neji smirked and nodded. Naruto frowned. What the hell was she doing?
"Tell him to get his ass in here. He's going with you."
Naruto's hands fisted at his sides and Neji turned to open the door. Sasuke had become too much of a distraction lately. "Neji and I can handle it."
"He's going with you or you don't go at all." Their gazes clashed, Tsunade's glare almost as intimidating as her monstrous strength.
Naruto didn't flinch, knowing she was demonstrating her authority over him as a reminder that her word was final.
Sasuke lifted a black eyebrow as he reentered the office with Neji and was immediately assaulted by Naruto's pulsing chakra. The Hokage, meanwhile, was trying to incinerate Naruto with a murderous scowl, which meant the two were butting wills again. He dimly wondered if Naruto would ever stop challenging the Hokage.
"Sit down," she snapped.
Both Neji and Sasuke sat. Naruto took his time, but eventually obeyed.
"Listen closely," the Hokage said. "Your objective is a former jounin of Hidden Stone Village." She reached into her desk and withdrew a large scroll. She unraveled it across the length of her desk to reveal a detailed map of the Earth Country.
"He's been rumored to be hiding here." She pointed to a dot on the map near the border labeled Chiisai in small neat script. "The train runs through the city so it's likely he'll hitch a box out of there the second he thinks he's been found."
Naruto nodded. Basically, they were to ensure no opportunities for the missing nin to escape. Easy enough.
"Why doesn't the Earth Country's Lord send Hidden Stone ninjas?"
"Because the objective knows how they operate and it's suspected he still has allies within their ranks. He'd be gone without a trace before they even got close to him."
She closed the scroll and tossed it at Naruto.
"The rest of the details are in there. All three of you, memorize it before you leave. Tomorrow morning you will travel by foot to Tokkan and take a train to Chiisai. I will have someone meet you at the North Gate in the morning with passports and train tickets. Disguise yourself as civilians before you reach Tokkan to avoid any immediate attention."
They knew all this, of course. Tsunade just liked to reiterate safety points every time Naruto left for these types of missions.
She stood and indicated they could do the same. Naruto pushed to his feet, eager to leave.
"Finish it quickly. Try to be back in four days. If it takes any longer, then don't bother returning here. Just catch up to us in Sand."
Naruto threw back his shoulders and crossed his arms. "Alone, it may take me a few days, if that. But there are three of us. We'd be back in a day if it wasn't for travel time."
Neji and Sasuke exchanged amused glances at Naruto's arrogant assertion.
"He's a Stone jounin. Don't underestimate him."
"We're Leaf ANBU. We'll be back by the end of the week."
Tsunade smirked and crossed her arms, mirroring his stance. "Then make sure I see all of you back in here Saturday."
Neji and Sasuke were dismissed first. Naruto sighed and slumped back into his seat.
"Don't do anything brash, you hear me? You're going as a team so work as one. If I hear you tried anything on your own, I'll suspend you."
"You're sending three ANBU captains who are accustomed to leading their own teams. There might be some individual work."
"Don't get smart with me, brat. You know what I mean."
"Yeah, so can I go now?"
Tsunade rounded her desk and glowered down at him. Predictably, he felt the rush of guilt for challenging her when her protectiveness conflicted with her role as Hokage. The old woman was almost like a parent to him.
He lowered his eyes as the weight of her hand settled over his hair.
"Be careful, Naruto."
His lips curled into what could have been a smile. "Thanks, Tsunade-bachan. I'll see you in a few days."
oOo
"I'm going home. Get some sleep. We'll meet at the North Gate at 7," Neji said. He nodded to the both of them before tucking his hands into his pockets and turning down the street.
Naruto kicked a rock by his foot. "Well, see ya." He headed down a separate road toward his apartment. Sasuke fell into step beside him.
"It's been a while since we've had a mission together," Sasuke said.
"That's expected. We lead our own teams."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his lip curling in disgust. He turned to Naruto and grasped two handfuls of Naruto's shirt.
"What are you—?" Naruto wasn't given the chance to finish as Sasuke shoved him into the nearest building and covered his mouth with his own.
"Don't pretend with me," Sasuke hissed against Naruto's lips.
Naruto shoved at Sasuke's shoulders, using the wall at his back to brace himself. "What, you think you're special?" He bit down on Sasuke's lip, feeling perversely satisfied when he tasted blood.
Sasuke growled but didn't push away. His cupped his hands at the back of Naruto's head and sucked viciously at Naruto's lips in retaliation.
"Sa—Sasu—" It was no use trying to twist away; Sasuke held his face immobile.
Naruto squeezed his eyes shut, begging his body to remain immune. Sasuke rolled his hips, pressing Naruto into the cool coarse wall. He knew, of course, what Sasuke was doing. Sasuke had never made it a secret that he hated how Naruto shut himself away before an S-rank mission. Before their split, Sasuke had made it a personal mission of his to remind Naruto of warm touches and heated skin before he left for an assassination. Naruto had always found it hilariously ironic—in a humorless sort of way.
Nearby, something fluttered out of the branches of a tree.
Sasuke pulled back to look Naruto in the eye. He licked the residual blood off his bottom lip and smirked at Naruto's quick, thin breaths.
"In here," he said. He clamped a hand around Naruto's wrist and tugged him into the darkened alley.
Naruto was beginning to hate alleys.
"Sasuke, we can't—"
"Shut up." Sasuke pressed him again into the dirty wall of the building. His hands settled briefly at Naruto's hips before they pushed up beneath his shirt.
Naruto started at the feel of Sasuke's cool fingers against his sides. "Sasuke," he said. He sounded tired even to himself.
He didn't want to play this game with Sasuke—not now, not when he needed to prepare himself for the mission.
A convenient excuse, he thought bitterly. If he was honest with himself, he didn't want the distraction because Neji's words were still too fresh in his mind. Neji had planted doubts into his already thinning resolve and with Sasuke pressed against him, it was difficult to think of anything other than the fact that it felt so right.
He watched his neck muscles shift as Sasuke swallowed. Then Sasuke dipped his head and pressed their lips together.
Naruto wasn't sure anymore if he'd made the right decision, if Sasuke would ever get over himself and settle down, if he should have refused the mission and stayed put, if Sakura would ever forgive them for hurting her, if anything would ever be right again the way it was when Sasuke kissed him.
Sasuke's mouth was pressed gently to his, undemanding in its tenderness. Naruto moaned softly and listened to the only certainty he had left. He wanted Sasuke.
His lips parted, tongue pushing tentatively into Sasuke's mouth. Sasuke fell against him, hands clenching around his waist. Naruto's hands slid up the curve of Sasuke's shoulders to cup the strong line of Sasuke's jaw. He licked at the split in Sasuke's lip where he'd bitten him, small soothing strokes, a silent apology.
Sasuke didn't understand Naruto's sudden willingness, but he wasn't about to question it. He slipped a hand out from beneath Naruto's shirt and pulled away. He laced his fingers with Naruto's at his jaw and brought it to his lips to whisper a kiss across his knuckles. Naruto made a small sound of urgency before capturing his mouth again.
Sasuke nipped at the corner of Naruto's lips before sliding his mouth wetly down Naruto's jaw, tongue flicking out to moisten the smooth skin. He tugged at Naruto's shirt, shoving the fabric up and indicating without words his request. Naruto obligingly lifted his arms and the shirt slipped over his head, immediately forgotten in the dust at their feet.
"Sasuke, I don't think..." He paused to swallow, his breath shallow with excitement and uncertainty.
"Don't think," Sasuke said. He pressed his mouth to the skin at Naruto's neck and sucked gently.
Not thinking was the only reason he was still standing there.
Sasuke lowered his head, tongue sliding across the shallow dip between Naruto's collarbones. His lips moved lower, until they found a taut flat nipple. He caught it between his teeth, tugging gently before swirling his tongue over it. Naruto's fingers trembed as they gripped his hair and tugged impatiently.
Sasuke smoothed his hand down Naruto's side and filled his palm with a firm buttock. His other hand tugged at the front of Naruto's pants, catching against the bulge there. Naruto stiffened as Sasuke pulled the thin cloth down, taking his boxers with it. He shuddered as a moment of clarity gripped his hazy mind. They were hardly concealed, especially given that they were in a ninja village and virtually anyone could be watching and what the hell was Naruto thinking letting Sasuke—all thoughts outside of 'oh god' slid away as a strong hand wrapped around his erection. His knees threatened to give as Sasuke sank to his knees, dark head bowed.
(...)He slowly straightened, just enough to tug Naruto's head down in a kiss. His fingers he left where they were. Naruto lowered his head to catch Sasuke's slightly swollen lips, grunting as he tasted himself on Sasuke's tongue. Sasuke wiggled his fingers inside him and he hissed as tremors of pleasure shot up his spine.
"Holy shit, Sasuke," he mumbled. He rested his forehead against the other's shoulder, a light sheen of perspiration dampening his skin.
"Are you okay?" Sasuke whispered into Naruto's ear.
Naruto took a moment to investigate that question. His body still hummed with the aftershocks of his orgasm and Sasuke's fingers were still firmly thrust into his ass. It was bizarre, to be sure, but he was definitely okay.
"Yeah," he said, his voice slightly muffled by his position. "You always did give the best head."
He lifted his head as Sasuke's shoulder shook with silent laughter. "You're not going to give me crap about this tomorrow, are you?"
Naruto smiled, his hand combing back Sasuke's dark hair. "Maybe," he said. Frankly, he was grateful they were leaving in the morning. The mission would keep him from having to think too critically about what he'd just let Sasuke do—what he was still doing seeing as Sasuke's fingers had yet to budge.
Sasuke thrust the two digits in a little further. "God, I want you," he whispered against Naruto's cheek.
Naruto swallowed, trembling from the thought of having Sasuke inside him again but terrified of everything it would mean. His eyes widened when a rat darted out of the shadows and into the street. He slapped a hand over his mouth. "Shit! What if someone heard us?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes and withdrew his fingers. Naruto slumped against him at the loss before jerking upright. Fortunately, the dark night hid the blush creeping up his neck.
Chucking softly, Sasuke adjusted Naruto's pants before bending down to pluck Naruto's shirt out of the dirt. "Let's get out of here."
Naruto lifted a blond eyebrow, staring pointedly at the bulge in Sasuke's pants. Sasuke was anything but selfless.
Sasuke shrugged. "Don't worry about it. You just owe me." He grinned in that way that always made Naruto nervous and led him back into the lantern lit road. Naruto didn't relish what the consequences of his actions would bring, but he was at least relieved to be spared of it for the time being.