Two whole weeks passed, Sasuke was standing back at the entrance of Sunagakure, with a bag full of food and water, Gaara standing in front of him.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay a big longer?" he chuckled. "The villagers sure have gotten use to have you around. And I appreciate the help."

Sasuke sighed. "No offense but, I had enough of the heat"

Gaara laughed. "I imagine"

"Thanks for everything, though" Sasuke added.

"No problem. A friend of Naruto is a friend of mine" he said with a small nod. "Can I ask you a question, though?" he asked suddenly, his smile faded.

"What?"

"Have you thought about what I said?" he asked.

Naruto's smiling face appeared on Sasuke's head again, as it had none-stop since they talked that first day he had arrived.

"I have. And I think I found it" he replied.

Gaara's short smile came back. "Good" he nodded. "Are you okay with rations?"

"I am, thanks to everyone" he nodded as well.

"Have safe travels, Sasuke" he made a short bow, Sasuke returned it.

"Thanks."

He turned his back at him and started walking away. Naruto's face was still in his mind, he tried his best to take it out, to not think of it so often. But it had proven, many times, to be useless. It didn't matter what he did, the blond's face would always come back.

He had spent all his nights thinking about it, every time he'd just stare at that piece of the last letter that read "I guess I just miss you" for hours until he fell asleep.

Each time he'd ask himself what did it all meant. This was not something strange to him. Back in the day he'd think about Naruto a lot, and it'd be just like this, picturing his face in his mind over and over. Especially the first months after he left that first time all those years ago. Back then he'd only get angry every time that happened, it was a reminder of something he had failed at, and it used to be very frustrating.

But now, it was different. Each time Naruto's face came to mind he'd feel at peace, and warm. His heart rate would feel a bit faster, and his breathing would become deeper. And a part of him, bigger than he'd like to admit, missed him too. He'd try to make sense of it, the feeling was too strong to not mean something more, but what?

Except maybe, that was the key, something more.

He stopped in his tracks.

"Something more…" he whispered to himself.

This was the first time his mind was contemplating this. For almost his whole life, his mind had only been busy with one thing: his revenge, his hatred. And even though there was a time when he almost let go of it, thanks to Team 7, and Naruto especially, it was brief and fate didn't allow for it to last too long. But now, his mind was free to just imagine the thought of actually being attracted or interested in someone else.

Naruto's face came up again. His blue eyes were staring at him, and a soft smile slowly turned in that big and amazing smile that's so characteristic of him.

His heartbeat went up. His hand squeezed the right side of the neck of his jacket, where the piece of paper was hidden.

He had always thought of Naruto as a friend, or at least he thought that was what a close friendship was supposed to be like. But a part of him had doubts about it. He felt this when they were younger. That the way he felt about him was too strong to be just of friendship. And now those thoughts were back.

Maybe now that he was older, and wiser, those thoughts would make sense. Or at least they looked like they were starting to. What he felt for Naruto was definitely something stronger, something more. The way his heart longed, because there was no other word for it, for his smile every time it appeared in his mind. And his heart warmed when he read the words "I just miss you". How he was the only answer to what he wanted to be better for. It was something more.

The heat started to get to him, he had been standing there far too long. He shook his head and continue walking. He needed to find a place where to rest for the day.

But Naruto didn't leave his mind. And as he kept walking, he started wondering what would Naruto feel. He wondered if he'd feel the same. But those were odds he was not willing to go into at the moment. After all, Naruto used to like Sakura, and hell, for all he knew he still did.

I just miss you

Those words hunted him, it gave him warmth and comfort, but at the same time it made him wonder even more. Could Naruto feel the same way?

He gently squeezed the neck of his jacket again, took a deep breath and continued walking.

After a few hours he finally found a small tea house by the road, he thanked the Gods for a good cup of cold tea and onigiri.

An old lady attended the house, she gave him ice tea and some rice crackers. He let a big sigh as he sat down in one of their tables by the entrance, looking out the window. Water sprayers on the roof, to help with the heat. He let his body slide a bit on the chair, he was exhausted.

Suddenly, at the other end of the table, a small purple head popped up.

"Finally" he whispered as he sat properly and took the letter, as he gave the snake a meat treat from his ration bag.

"I told you Gaara would be happy to see you.

The heat of Sungakaru doesn't agree with everyone, that's for sure. I should've guessed you'd hate it.

I'm glad you gotta have that talk with Gaara, if someone has good advice is him. I remember the first time I heard he had become Kazekage, I almost shit my pants. But I was proud of him.

More importantly. What is it? Tell me! Is it something I don't know?"

He smiled and chuckled. Of course Naruto was going to want to know.

"I demand that you tell me."

He chuckled some more.

"But anyway,. I deserved the scold. And it made me laugh. I knew you'd do it.

Thanks for the reassurance, though. Kinda needed it.

Something funny happened yesterday, by the way. Hinata gave me a love letter"

His smile faded.

"I ran into her on my way to eat ramen with Iruka, she gave it to me and just ran. It was weird.

But even weirder and more awkward was having to read that letter. I knew how she felt about me, but reading it in that paper was horrible. I felt like a million kunai had just been stabbed in my back.

I just don't like her back. I know that now."

Sasuke let out a sigh he didn't realize he was holding in.

"It was horrible to go and tell her the truth. I can't imagine how hard it was to do it with Sakura. At least Hinata is sweet and calm. I know how scary Sakura can be. Knowing she can punch you into oblivion and all."

His smile came back.

"Later I talked to Sakura, said that Hinata was okay, or that she'll be okay at least. I won't be able to look her in the face for a while, though.

Why does love have to so complicated?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

"So, where to next?

You know? Konoha wouldn't be a bad choice, I mean, we're almost at fall. I mean, a nice break from the heat, am I right?"

He could perfectly see that stupid smile he had while writing this. That made him smile wider.

"Kidding.

Kinda."

He wasn't going to deny it, his persistence made him curious. How the hell does he feel?

"Anyway, I sent an extra thing with Saki. I thought you could use a copy.

Bye, bakasuke.

Naruto"

An eyebrow raised, both for that "extra thing" issue, and for that "bakasuke", which he hadn't seen in years, and now didn't bothered him that much. It was even nostalgic.

The snake was out again on the table, with a second roll he definitely had not seen the first time. He took it in his hand and unrolled it. His eyes widened with what he saw. It was the picture Sakura insisted on taking at the hospital. The new Team 7 picture. And of course, Naruto was wearing that huge smile of his. That alone returned the short smile to his face. But that's when he noticed, he had looked towards Naruto right when the photo was taken, he didn't even remember he had smiled.

That picture just helped confirm that the feelings for Naruto were there before for sure. He would've never make that face so unconsciously otherwise.

Sasuke hummed, smiling. He could definitely get discovered with that picture. And for some reason, he didn't mind much. In fact, should he say anything? he wondered suddenly. Or should he let Naruto discovered it on his own.

No, scratch that. That would never happen. Naruto was not that perceptive. But Sakura could discover him, for sure, maybe she had already.

He kept his eyes on Naruto. He couldn't take his eyes off that smile. His heartbeat went up and his breath deppened. Something in him wanted Naruto to find out, wanted him to know what he felt, even if Naruto didn't feel the same. It wouldn't change anything, or it shouldn't. If Naruto didn't stop chasing him after he tried to kill him, this should be a piece of cake to overlook. But at the same time, his heart told him that Naruto could actually feel the same thing, or at least, it really wanted to believe that. To believe that he belonged where he wanted to belong.

He squeezed the neck of his jacket again. And just like that, for the first time in three months, he wanted to go back, he wanted to see that smile again, and to know what Naruto felt.

I can't go back yet, he thought in defeat.

He had to continue, he had to mend the damage he had done, help with all the destruction and chaos he helped build. That he started. And perhaps that way he'd feel worthy enough to go back, worthy enough of forgiveness, and love.

He sighed and pulled a piece of paper to write his reply to Naruto.

I am not telling you. You'll have to wait for me to come back. And maybe there I will.

Something in him wanted to erase that bit, but Naruto would spot that miles away, so he figured, what the hell, he'd just leave it.

He finished the letter, rolled it and put it back on the snake. Leaning back on the chair as he watched it disappear he took the picture back in his hand. His thumb tracing one side of Naruto's face, his eyes frozen on his smile. His heartbeat went up again, faster than ever.

What the hell, he thought suddenly as his felt his heart at his throat. The thought of wanting to go back wasn't leaving any time soon. And suddenly he even found himself wanting to kiss him, wondering how would it be like. It was the first time he felt anything similar. And it was almost scary.

"I guess I'm fucked" he sighed as he put the picture in the inside pocket of his jacket. Covering his face with his whole hands.

No, I can't go back yet, get that into your head, idiot, he repeated to himself as he laid down in the chair.

He removed his hands from his face and slowly opened his eyes, looking at the ceiling for a while. Then one deep breath. Another one. Then a smile appeared on his face, which became a light chuckle.

"So fucked" he sighed with the same smile.

The feeling was so alien to him. He didn't know what to do with it. But that wouldn't make the feeling go away. If anything, he feared it'd grow stronger. Forcing him back.

Asshole, he thought, he'll be there when you're ready to go back.

He let out a big sigh and sat up, took his map out and started tracing his next route, he figured he could go through Amegakure and Kusagakure. Yes, that wasn't a bad idea.

He paid and started his journey again. Still with the blond's face in his mind. Guessing it would be there forever until he went back.

And that was okay with him.