Chapter 21

While running through the Sand's territory, they didn't encounter any problems until Karin warned them.

"We're not far, let's go, this way!"

Sasuke and Neji followed her lead. When Sasuke was close enough himself to see a group of people fighting, Naruto in its center, he passed Neji and ran faster.

Naruto was not using his full strength, because he didn't want to hurt these people. They were just a group of shinobi that were against the Kazekage's leadership, and they were causing a lot of trouble. But the blond just wanted to arrest them, not kill them. It was indeed a little bit too much for one person, even for him. He was tired and his reflexes weren't as sharp anymore.

One of them attacked him on a point blank behind his back, and he fell to the ground. Just as he was about to be stabbed by one of his enemies, he received unexpected help.

"Chidori!" Sasuke attacked just in time, and stole the enemy's sword.

Sasuke turned around, ready to help Naruto again if needed. But he was too late; one of the others was already attacking him. Sasuke's heart sank, but then his emotions turned into confusion as Naruto's body just disappeared in smoke.

"Forgot my trademark jutsu?"

Sasuke turned around again only to see a very exhausted, but smirking Naruto. He couldn't repress a smile, but there was no time for him to reply anything, they were right in the middle of a fight after all.

Sasuke attacked with his new found sword, Neji and Karin now fighting beside him. Soon a lot of the enemies had fallen and the rest of them ran away. With no more signs of possible threat, Naruto gave in his exhaustion and fell to the ground, breathing hard. He had made some shadow clones before, but the original did take on almost all of the injuries received after they disappeared.

Sasuke fell on his knees beside Naruto. He checked his injuries; they didn't seem fatal but he needed medical assistance nonetheless. He put his hand on Naruto's cheek and the blond leaned in the touch and opened his blue eyes.

"Are you crazy?" he shouted. "You could have been killed!"

"No, I was fine..." Naruto protested weakly.

"Yeah, of course you were! Because I saved your ass! Usuratonkachi..."

Naruto smirked and put his hand on Sasuke's. "I told you... you would have done the same for me. See, I was right after all."

"Reinforcements from the Sand are coming." Karin announced. "Shikamaru and Temari are there."

Sasuke nodded, he didn't say anything, he just kept Naruto's hand in his. As Karin had said, a few sand shinobi arrived soon after. Shikamaru immediately ordered the medical ninja to heal Naruto, but he told them he was fine and to keep their strength to heal the remaining rebels. Temari organized the tracking of the ones that had escaped.

Shikamaru wanted to know what had happened, so Neji explained as best as he could. Sasuke helped Naruto sitting up, putting an arm around his shoulders, but he was listening at the same time.

"Naruto went on this mission alone, but Sasuke thought it would be too dangerous and wanted to help, so I followed him."

The raven noticed Neji had used his first name.

"Gaara is currently visitting a little village nearby, that's probably why these guys were around here." Shikamaru explained.

"We received a message from the Hokage, telling us someone would come to help us deal with them as we requested" Temari added. "So my brother sent the reinforcements as soon as possible. Looks like you guys beat us to it though."

"We can offer you shelter so you can have some rest. It's not too far from here." Shikamaru suggested.

Neji smiled. "Thank you. Hey Shikamaru, you say, we, like you are part of the Sand now."

Temari laughed. "Well... let's just say he's gonna be here even more often now."

"Gaara offered me a permanent job as part of his personal elite shinobi." Shikamaru explained.

"That's great!" Neji exclaimed.

"Isn't it!" Temari smiled and put her arm around Shikamaru's waist.

"You shouldn't... your body's still weak..." one of the medics suddenly said.

Naruto had tried to get up on his own a little bit too quickly, but he almost fell, and Sasuke caught him.

"I'll help you," he said, sliding his arm around his waist to hold him and Naruto put his arm around his shoulders for support.

"All right, let's go." Shikamaru ordered.

Sasuke and Naruto followed the others. They led them to a little hospital where they found a room for Naruto, so he could have some rest. As soon as Sasuke left the hospital, though, the sand shinobi under Temari and Shikamaru's orders took him by the arms roughly and tied his wrists together behind his back.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" he sighed.

"Sorry but, those are the orders." Temari said. "If you were to leave Konoha and come here, our orders are to put you in jail."

The men took him at the same place as the other criminals he had just fought before. This was ridiculous... They wanted him to visit every jail in this world or what...?

They put the rebel ninjas behind bars, and Sasuke in a separate cell.

The raven was wondering if he should break the door just by kicking it or hitting it, or if he should use Chidori on it, when Neji arrived, panting.

"Sasuke I'm so sorry about this. I tried to talk to Shikamaru and Temari, and explain them what happened, but they won't hear it. They say it's the orders."

Sasuke raised a brow. "So you're on my side now? I thought you were more than eager to put me back in jail."

Neji sighed. "I misjudged you after all. You just wanted to save Naruto, and you did the right thing. Sometimes it's not all about respecting rules and orders. The same man we saved today taught me that a long time ago."

Sasuke smirked. "All right, well Neji, if you would just step aside, please, I'm going to get out now."

"No, Sasuke, wait! Maybe if I just go talk to Gaara..."

But Sasuke didn't want to spend one more second in a stupid cell. He gathered lightning energy in his fists and hit the door where the lock was. It broke and opened right away.

Neji's eyes widened "Well... I guess you can come with me then."

Sasuke smirked, "Sure."

They asked for an immediate audience with the Kazekage, and they were told he was waiting for them anyway. There were some protests because Sasuke was there, but murderous glares from both the raven and Neji shut them up. They entered the room and the young Kazekage turned his attention on them.

"Hyuga Neji and Uchiha Sasuke. This is more than unexpected. Could you please explain to me what happened, and why you are here?" Gaara asked addressing Sasuke.

Neji knew diplomacy wasn't Sasuke's strength, so he explained everything by himself again.

"See, there was no time for an authorisation and we're sorry about that, but I made it my responsibility when I chose to follow him here. Turns out he was right and Naruto did need our assistance after all, so I'm glad I chose to trust him." Neji said, finishing his explanations.

Gaara nodded slowly. "Then I guess I have to thank you both. If anything happened to Naruto, it would sadden me greatly. I will write a message to the Hokage. You can both stay here and be free as long as you wish."

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama." Neji bowed politely.

Sasuke bowed and then they both left the room.

"Where are you going?" Neji asked.

"The hospital."

Neji nodded. "I'll go with you."

Naruto was alone in his hospital room now, and he already looked much better. He had some bandages but as usual they weren't really necessary; the Kyubi's chakra healing his skin at an incredible speed. Sasuke sat on the bed beside him and Neji sat on a chair.

"Sasuke! Temari said they put you in jail!" Naruto exclaimed.

The raven smirked. "Let's just say I'm done with jails now."

Naruto laughed. "What happened?"

"He destroyed the door of his cell and broke free." Neji explained.

Naruto grinned. "Awesome."

Neji rolled his eyes. "You're both so immature."

"What did Gaara say? He's okay with you being here?" the blond asked.

"Yeah, it was all thanks to Neji, actually." Sasuke said.

Neji smiled. "I just figured it wouldn't be a good idea to let you talk."

Naruto raised a brow. "What, you two are bonding now?"

All three of them laughed - well Sasuke just smiled - and after a moment Neji decided to leave, to give them some privacy.

Naruto sat up and took Sasuke's hand.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I... it will probably sound crazy but, I had a dream... that this would happen." Sasuke said slowly.

Naruto frowned. "A dream?"

"Yeah..."

"So you're a psychic now?"

"I guess."

"Stop messing with me, Sasuke, this is getting creepy."

The raven shrugged. "I'm not lying."

"It could have been a coincidence, though." Naruto suggested.

"Maybe..."

"Anyway, we'll have to make those dreams of yours disappear, okay?"

"Well actually..." Sasuke started, but he stopped and he felt warmth on his face.

"What?" Naruto asked. "Oh my God Sasuke... you're blushing." The blond smiled fondly, "you are so cute."

"What? No, I'm not. You're crazy."

"Come here," Naruto leaned forward and kissed him softly, then wrapped his arms around him and held him tight.

Sasuke wrapped his arms around the blond as well, careful not to hurt him though.

"What did you want to tell me?" Naruto whispered in his ear.

"The dreams..."

"Yeah?"

"Well, I don't have them when I sleep with you."

Damn that sounded sappy…

But Naruto smiled. "You'll just have to sleep with me every night then."

"Yeah," Sasuke said, half-teasing.

"I got no problem with that, do you?"

"Absolutely not," Sasuke said before pulling away and kissing Naruto again.