Disclaimer: While I own the story, the characters do not belong to me because Kishimoto-sensei is a greedy bastard j/k. Naruto belongs to Kishimoto-sensei, who I am not and never will be.

I want to heal I want to feel
What I thought was never real
I want to let go of the pain I felt so long
'Erase all the pain til' it's gone'
I want to heal I want to feel
Like I'm close to something real
I want to find something
I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

"Somewhere I Belong" by Linkin Park

Chapter 20

Naruto woke up suddenly, a knock on the door waking him up, he tried to stand to go open the door, but Sasuke tensed when he made to remove his hand from his forearm and those obsidian eyes opened and locked with his, pleadingly. Naruto sighed and gave Sasuke a smile then said in a sleepy voice, "Come in."

The door opened and Sakura poked her head in, saw the two of them and smiled before she came into the room and closed the door behind her. She was wearing a white coat with pockets Naruto knew were carry some of the many essentials for a medic nin. Sakura was the status of a doctor and the best medic nin out of all the countries.

She smiled warmly at them and fixed her gaze on Sasuke, "How are you feeling today Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke sighed, "Like shit, maybe better than yesterday."

She nodded, "Better than nothing I guess. Your hands are going to take a while to heal," she said as she moved to stand at the foot of his bed and grabbed the chart hanging off the end of it. She took the pen from behind her right ear and wrote down something then walked over to Sasuke's side, opposite Naruto. Sasuke took a deep breath to calm a rise of panic that overcame him suddenly which didn't go unseen by either of them.

Sakura looked at him with a serious expression, "Sasuke-kun, it will be a long process for you to no longer have the sudden feelings of panic. I noticed the amount of mental and emotional stress and anquish due to genjutsu. Even if I don't know what you saw, felt, or experienced, the amount of genjutsu and length of it's use we measured was extreme. You shouldn't feel that it has anything to do with a measure of your strength."

Sasuke glared at her, she met his glare evenly, she wasn't really effected by his glares anymore than Naruto was. She'd been through too much in the war and pregnant had only strengthened her resolve. She was due for maternity leave by the end of the week. Neither Sasuke or Naruto ever dared to comment on the bulging stomach she had, which Naruto knew was why she even wore the white coat. She had to of gained a good twenty-five pounds during her pregnancy. She was nearly seven months along as well, and to top it off, he had suffered more than his fair share of her mood swings and emotional outbursts being like a brother to her, and then named godfather and uncle as well.

Sakura noticed Naruto staring at her stomach and hissed, "Naruto, pay attention to me and not my stomach."

Naruto snapped his gaze back to her and noticed Sasuke smirking at him. Sakura sighed and looked at Sasuke again, "Anyway, as I was saying, I have seen many shinobi fall to less than what you went through. Don't argue with me, and don't scoff or glare either. You're an Uchiha, stubborn, and strong as hell, so don't tell yourself otherwise. However, while you are in this hospital you need to co-operate with the staff and anyone that comes by trying to help you."

Sasuke scowled, "On one condition."

Sakura looked at him and considered whether she wanted to hear what he had to say. She nodded, "Depends on what it is, go ahead."

"Naruto stays with me, I won't see any doctors, nurses, or co-operate with staff unless he's here."

Sakura smiled, "Fine, so you'll stop attacking the staff and fighting everyone if Naruto remains in the room with you then?"

Sasuke nodded, "Hai."

She nodded, "Good, then that should mean we will be able to send your ass back home soon." Sakura gritted her teeth suddenly and her hand went to her stomach. She set the clipboard down and made her way to the in room restroom quickly leaving Naruto to wonder how she could waddle that fast. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Naruto and asked, "How long?"

"Seven months."

"And she's still working?"

"Til' Friday. I argued, but she can be just as stubborn as you. The Hyuga's are going to care for her and everything, since it is Neji's kid and all. But Sakura was bound and determined to work as much as she could. Plus, when I brought you back, she threatened to mangle anyone that tried to keep her at home."

Sasuke nodded with a sigh, "Leave it to her."

Naruto looked at Sasuke, he knew what Sasuke had really said with that was, Why in the hell is she so devoted, why does she care so much anyway?

Naruto sighed, "Sasuke . . . " He was cut off when Sakura walked back into the room, washing her hands and flushing the toilet first. She sighed as she rubbed her stomach, most likely unaware she was doing so. "This brat loves to attack my bladder."

Naruto smirked, he knew that much already, she had to go to the bathroom at least six times during the day. Watching her move across the room back to the bed conjured up a image of Sasuke being pregnant. He looked at Sasuke with a grin to which Sasuke growled, "Never going to happen dobe."

Naruto laughed, "Aww, come on, it would be a new experience."

"No."

"Teme!"

"No baka."

Naruto pouted and Sakura just shook her head at the two of them, then with a mischievous grin she looked at Naruto. "You know, if there was a way, Naruto has the better build for a mother."

Naruto blushed darkly and Sasuke actually laughed. Sakura was completely startled and blushed at the fact that Sasuke had laughed at something she'd said. Naruto just laughed at the look on Sakura's face. Then laughing ceased and he glared at Sakura, "That's not funny Sakura-chan, it's not even possible and you are claiming I would be the mother when I to-mmph . . . "

Sasuke had clamped his left hand over Naruto's mouth, injured or not, he'd have to kill the blond if he finished that sentence. Sakura shook her head, "I really don't want to hear about your sex lives, just behave, don't tear up the room and try to be nicer to the staff Sasuke-kun. I believe that Iruka-sensei and Kakashi sensei, along with Tsunade-sama will be stopping by at some point today."

Naruto nodded with a grin once Sasuke moved his hand from his mouth. Sasuke nodded, "Arigato, Sakura-chan."

She smiled warmly at him and looked at Naruto, "I am going home, I trust the rest of the staff will take care of everything."

"Oi, I thought you were going to finish out this week."

Sakura sighed, "Yes, well, half way through is enough for me, I'm exhausted already and I've only been here for four hours. I am going home and Hinata is waiting for me downstairs."

"We'll come by and visit later then," Naruto said as she walked over to the door. She waved over her shoulder, "Yeah, you better. As my son's uncle and godfather you have to take care of the mother."

Naruto grinned and watched her leave and close the door behind her. Sasuke tried to lean forward and grab his chart, but Naruto swiped it from his hands just as he picked it up. Sasuke glared at him and Naruto sat back in his chair and skimmed the first page, then the other ten following it. He read it quickly, spending too much time listening to Sakura go on and on about medical stuff and explaining it to him over and over again, and then teaching him some medical jutsu once he got better control of his chakra, he could understand most of it.

The chart said a lot of things he already knew; Sasuke had been tortured, was malnourished, abused, beaten, whipped, and sustained long term mental anguish from side effects of genjutsu extending in his mind for twenty days or more. Naruto sighed, Personally, Sasuke has always had mental anguish problems, and he seems fine right now. Well other than him being thin and all the physical stuff. And the rise of panic in him when someone else is around him.

Sasuke sighed, "Dobe, what does the damn thing say since you seem to be staring at it."

Naruto flipped the pages back and put the clipboard back on the end of the bed, "Stuff you already know."

"Hmph," was all Sasuke did to acknowledge what Naruto said. He closed his eyes, deciding going back to sleep was the best idea at the moment. He still felt more than drained. Naruto shifted and stood up, stepping away from the bed and Sasuke opened his eyes and forced himself to relax as Naruto walked over to the bathroom. Naruto didn't close the door, a normal habit obtained from living alone for twelve years.

Normally Sasuke would say something about the annoying habit, but he felt relieved by it, he could hardly keep it together as it was and didn't like to think what it would do to his mental unrest to have Naruto behind a closed door. He rolled his eyes at the sound of Naruto pissing, flushing and washing his hands. Naruto walked out of the bathroom turning off the light as he went and made to sit in the chair again.

Sasuke moved over on the bed and looked at Naruto expectantly when Naruto looked at him. Naruto smiled and got onto the bed next to Sasuke without asking why Sasuke suddenly wanted him to sit with him on the bed. After a few minutes Naruto heard the even breathing of Sasuke falling asleep again and then Sasuke's head fell to rest on his shoulder. Naruto shifted carefully and put his arm around Sasuke's shoulders. It was reassuring to both of them that they were there. It was comforting, calming, to have Sasuke sleeping soundly with his head resting on Naruto's shoulder, his expression relaxed even, though he could chalk that up to the strong sedatives they constantly fed him through the I.V.

Naruto smiled at the raven haired man and closed his eyes, taking in that scent he knew so well, a scent he couldn't find any one word to describe. Fresh, a slight spice and musk, but like fire as well, a natural fire, not one from a candle, firewood, or even a torch. This fire was alluring, intoxicating, a mix of heat, smoke, and cloves he guessed. All in all, it was a scent unique to Sasuke alone, only he carried the scent that was mixed with so many others, a scent that calmed Naruto, made him feel like he truly belonged, as though he was needed, loved, and appreciated.

His breathing evened out and he fell into a light slumber, content to just have Sasuke there, in his arms, alive. Nothing else mattered at the moment, that was until only two hours later . . .

That was when the next checkup was due, Tsunade walked into the room, Iruka and Kakashi behind her. Naruto was wide awake when they walked into the room. It wasn't until he had moved his arm from around Sasuke's shoulder that the raven woke up. Naruto moved from the bed, sitting in the chair and keeping his hand on Sasuke's forearm as Tsunade walked over to the side of Sasuke's bed.

Iruka and Kakashi stood close to the door, Iruka being kind enough to close the door behind all of them. Tsunade assisted Sasuke in sitting up on the bed and she quickly checked his pulse, blood pressure, his lungs, and made short work of re-bandaging his legs and left hand. She then looked at Naruto with a serious expression, "Gaki, I need to speak with you."

Naruto looked at her, "Then go ahead."

"Alone, gaki."

Naruto shook his head and met her eyes with a determined look in his eyes, Sasuke had tensed and Naruto squeezed his arm, "Whatever you have to say you can say right here."

She sighed and glanced over at Kakashi, he walked over to stand next to Naruto and Naruto turned his attention to the silver haired ninja. Kakashi's expression was unreadable and Iruka looked unsettled. Sasuke glanced from Tsunade to Kakashi then back to Naruto.

"Naruto-kun," came Kakashi's calm tone, a tone that Sasuke knew to be something serious. Naruto's expression became unreadable at the tone, something that startled Sasuke, he wasn't accustomed to Naruto hiding his emotions. He remained silent, waiting to hear what was going on.

"You defected against the councils' wishes, they are pushing for you to pay for your crime."

Naruto scoffed, his tone of voice indifferent and cold, another startling change that caught Sasuke off guard. Naruto tightened his hold on Sasuke's forearm, but it helped more than it bothered him.

Naruto stood up and met Kakashi eye to eye, "I don't give a damn what the council has to say. They were the ones that kept me from getting to Sasuke sooner. They should pay for the state he is in since they hindered my attempts to go after him. Madara Uchiha was listed as an S-Class criminal with confirmation that he planned to attack the village and had made previous threats on Sasuke's life as well as the lives of some of our best shinobi."

Kakashi nodded, "I am aware of that, however they wish to speak with you."

Naruto sighed, "Then they can wait until Sasuke is released from the hospital. I want him present even if he cannot attend the meeting personally."

Kakashi nodded and looked to Tsunade, Tsunade sighed, "Naruto, Sasuke-kun is set to be able to leave in four days. The moment you walk out of this hospital, the council will surely try to force you to meet with them."

Naruto sat back down, "Fine, but I am not bending to their will."

Kakashi, Iruka, Sasuke, and Tsunade all knew what that meant. Just as much as they knew what the possible outcome of the meeting with the council could mean. Sasuke, especially knew what the council might try to enforce due to Naruto leaving against their wishes. They could strip him of his rank, imprison him, or they could make him pay the penalty any rogue ninja would suffer for defecting, the death sentence. It turned his stomach at the thought, but he knew the council would likely push for the most severe punishment, seeing as the majority still saw Naruto only as a jinchuriki.

For Naruto to say that he wouldn't bend to their will, that meant something Sasuke still found it hard to believe Naruto would go through with. Refusing to bend to their will, refusing to take their punishment could lead to them naming him as a rogue, and Naruto would most likely leave. That Naruto would give up everything, leave behind everyone he cared for, everyone that cared for him, for him, it meant more to him than he could express. But he sincerely didn't want it to come to that, he didn't want Naruto to have to make such a sacrifice for him, he really wasn't worth it and would kill him knowing how much that would deeply hurt Naruto.

But as his thoughts raced Kakashi and Tsunade seemed to be sharing a knowing look and Iruka was trying not to smile. Sasuke looked at them and then back to Naruto. Naruto raised an eyebrow at his questioning look and then looked at Kakashi and Tsunade. He smirked, "Hey, what the hell is with those smug expressions?"

Kakashi smiled behind his mask and Tsunade smiled at Naruto as well.

"Gaki, I hope your meeting goes well with the council come Saturday. They should prove to get a kick out of you."

She then looked at Sasuke, "I will address the details you need to know to get yourself back in good health then. For now, focus on resting, make sure you eat as much as you can, and don't push yourself or you'll make your injuries worse."

Sasuke sighed, "Hn."

Naruto looked sharply at him, "Hn, the hell with that," he grinned at Tsunade, "Don't worry Baa-chan, I'll make sure he gains all that weight back, and tie his stubborn ass to the bed if he tries to push himself."

Tsunade sighed, "Gaki, he doesn't need you to aggravate his injuries. Don't get carried away."

She shook her head at him and walked over to the door, Iruka holding it open for her. Then Kakashi and Iruka pulled up a chair at the end of Sasuke's bed. Sasuke rolled his eyes at the inquisitive looks he got from everyone. Naruto growled, "Oi, teme, I've been meaning to ask you . . . "

Sasuke cut him off, "No."

Naruto huffed, "You don't even know what I was going to ask."

"Doesn't matter, answer is still no."

Naruto sighed and Iruka cut him off, "Sasuke-kun, many will want to know if you wish to continue as a shinobi."

Sasuke looked down at his lap, "I don't really know right now."

Iruka nodded, "That's understandable, just thought I would ask before someone else did so in a less tactful way." Iruka looked sharply at Naruto who rolled his eyes at him. Naruto turned back to Sasuke, "Well, only four days."

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, I know. Do we have anywhere to stay by the way? Last I saw, the apartment was reduced to a pile of rubble."

Naruto grinned, "Yeah, I got a different place. But there wasn't that much left of anything."

Sasuke looked sharply at Naruto who scratched the back of his neck, "The scrolls are alright. They were a little torn and singed, but intact."

Sasuke sighed, "Good."

"Are you feeling better today Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke looked at Iruka, "Hai."

Iruka grinned, "Good, I think I will go and see if they have anything good for lunch. Do either of you want anything?" Iruka stood up with a smile and Naruto grinned enthusiastically at him, that boyish excitement and the energy in his voice making Sasuke's lip twitch in a smile, that was quickly gone. This was the Naruto he was used to seeing.

"Hai, ramen Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka laughed, "Hai, hai, as you wish Naruto-kun. Sasuke?"

Sasuke remained silent, there wasn't much that sounded good to him, his still felt sick at the idea of food. Kakashi looked at Iruka, "Get him something easy, it will be a while before he can handle solid food."

Iruka nodded and walked over to the door, he stopped at the door and said over his shoulder, "Oi, Naruto-kun, why don't you come with me to make sure I get the right ramen."
Naruto looked at Sasuke questioningly, Sasuke smirked, "Go dobe, I think I can manage with Kakashi-sensei here."

Naruto jumped up from the chair, kissed Sasuke chastely on the lips and ran to the door. He looked over his shoulder at Sasuke, "Be back teme."

Sasuke sighed, then took a deep breath as Naruto closed the door behind him, a feeling of panic rising up in him. He steeled himself, Naruto will be back, I'm not in the caves anymore damn it, I'm in the hospital, back in the village where I'm safe. Another voice in his head decided to chime in, You were taken from this village, and within the presence of Kakashi, what makes you think Madara is really dead? He could be alive, watching, waiting for a chance to strike at you again. And you won't be able to stop him, to even defend yourself.

Kakashi broke into Sasuke's thoughts, for once Sasuke was grateful someone had interrupted his thoughts.

"Sasuke-kun, he'd dead."

Sasuke looked sharply at Kakashi, he knew who he was referring, but he still needed confirmation. Kakashi seemed to know as much, Sasuke was as inventive and intelligent as himself and so he continued; "I sent Pakun to follow Naruto without his knowledge. Pakun confirmed Madara's death and brought back proof upon his return. He is dead."

Sasuke felt a wave of relief pass through him, the relief coming into his black eyes. But there was still a shadow in those black eyes, a shadow that Kakashi could see. Kakashi had been through a lot within his shinobi career, had seen those who suffered torture, capture, abuse, he knew the signs, the looks, the after effects. In some cases, he himself had experienced such hardships. He had scars from battle, scars from being held captive, and emotional and mental scars that he kept locked away.

He knew what it felt like to lose those you cared for, how it felt to lose your entire family, and could truly understand Sasuke because they were a lot alike. That was why they communicated in a different way, could read one another's looks and see the emotions hidden away from unknowing eyes. Kakashi had noticed such control take place with Naruto during and after the war. Naruto and Sasuke could allude him when they really wanted to, but right now Sasuke was too unstable to be able to allude anyone.

Kakashi decided that talking would be the best thing to keep Sasuke's mind from wandering, he wasn't all that stable without Naruto's presence. That was understandable as well, ever since he and Iruka had gotten together he found that he relied on the younger chunin more than he realized and when he was shaken or hurting in ways he could never and would never admit to, just having Iruka there had helped a great deal.

"Sasuke-kun, you do know that you can't be penalized this time around. If you do decide to continue being a shinobi there may be a way to press a means for you to advance if you wish to do so."

Sasuke nodded, "Hn."

Kakashi smirked, Back to answering in monosyllables. "The council can't really get away with making Naruto-kun suffer extreme punishments, he was only gone five days longer than the set time. He came back and that is something they have to take into consideration."

"They shouldn't be making a big deal out of it anyway."

Kakashi nodded, his line of thought most likely the same as Sasuke's. The council were just trying to press for extreme punishment because Naruto is a jinchuriki. But Kakashi also knew that by saturday the council members and representatives of each clan would be changing. There had been a uproar from the current clan representatives pressing that the council was being unjust and stuck in outdated views.

So they had been voted to change the council members and Tsunade, as acting Hokage at the time, had agreed with the need for change. She had made it clear to them that their generation was past and the new generation was already capable of taking over the future for the village.

Kakashi had returned to the position of Hokage requesting to resign, he didn't feel fit as Hokage and hated politics. So another hearing that would take place was the possibility of Naruto going up for consideration as Hokage. But that was something he would keep to himself, he didn't want to get anyone's hopes up, the new and old council members would have say so as well as the clan representatives.

Of course the Jonin played a large part in who was chosen to be Hokage, but the Jonin were not what was worrying him. The meeting would only be to discuss the possibility, if Naruto was considered then he would have to go through all the formal and diplomatic training and preparations first.

The Hokage was more than just the strongest ninja in the village, they handled the entire fire country and had to be the best at everything to get the position. Kakashi smirked, "Sasuke-kun, will you be up to representing your clan come the meeting?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow, Kakashi smirked even more at the thoughtful look in Sasuke's eyes. He knew just by asking Sasuke that one question he was telling Sasuke many different things at once. Sure enough Sasuke didn't disappoint him, "Are they finally making a change with the council members?"

Kakashi gave nothing away, but the moment of silence answered Sasuke's question. "Hn," Sasuke said after a while. Then leaned back against the bed once more, "The dobe is taking forever."

"Ne, do you not enjoy my company that much Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke scoffed, "Hn."

Kakashi sighed, "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke looked at him, "Hm?"

"I apologize for not being able to stop . . ."

Sasuke cut him off sharply, "Don't say that. You of all people know the risks that come with being a shinobi so don't feel guilty about something that was unavoidable."

Kakashi sighed, "Sasuke . . . "

Sasuke shook his head, "I mean it. He's dead, I'm alive, leave it at that."

Kakashi nodded and decided to change the subject, he wasn't good at conversations and the topic he was about to start up left him feeling unsettled, he didn't know what Sasuke's reaction would be. But he couldn't think of anything else and it had been something he and Iruka had often wished to know.

"How do you plan to revive your clan, if you plan to still pursue that goal Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke took a deep breath and his voice came out calm and collected, "Hn, that isn't something I have really thought on lately."

Kakashi smirked, Probably too distracted with Naruto and everything that has happened since.

He was caught by surprise when Sasuke continued, "But now that I think about it, I will have to come up with something."

Kakashi remained silent, waiting to see if Sasuke would continue. They had an understanding, being so much alike, but most of the time they would talk about less serious things. This was the first time they were talking about anything remotely personal for either of them. But it was something Kakashi did appreciate, he'd always wanted Sasuke to look to him for advice, to have someone he could come to after growing up so alone.

He held a lot of respect for Sasuke even though he didn't know exactly what Sasuke had been through in his time away from the village, he could see that reserved strength, a strength he didn't see in many others, a strength gained only by experience. He felt a certain amount of guilt from not being able to protect the young man from having to go through such experiences. He felt guilt as well for not protecting Sakura and Naruto, for not being able to protect the genin that had lost their lives in the war.

Sasuke sighed and brought Kakashi out of his thoughts as he continued softly, "There have been a lot of things I have considered."

Kakashi nodded, "Most likely you will go with the only option available to you. But if you do, have you decided on who the mother will be. You know the women in this village will go insane if you ask one of them to mother a child for you."

Sasuke sighed, "Not as of right now, I still haven't discussed it with the dobe yet."

Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, but Sasuke saw the smile and glared at him. Kakashi chuckled, "It's a change, you actually considering how another feels about the choices you make. I'm sure Naruto-kun will be grateful you want his opinion on it."

Sasuke sighed, "Hai, Sakura-chan, she will be giving birth to a child of the Hyuga clan."

"Hai, in a little more than two months from now. She's being taken care of well within the clan, Naruto-kun had an effect on them that stuck since the first time he took the chunnin exams."

Sasuke smirked, he remembered the exams, but he really hadn't been there for most of the fights, something he wanted to kick Kakashi in the head for. Training came first though and he needed all the training he could get to fight Gaara back then.

Kakashi let his mind drift to the discussion he'd had with the representatives of the Hyuga clan. They had made a big deal out of ensuring that the Hyuga bloodline would continue on and that Sakura was a fit mother. Sakura was fit, but they wanted the opinion of Tsunade since Sakura was the one in question.

It was a topic he had to deal with as Hokage and Tsunade had to be involved both as Sakura's sensei and as the standing second best medic nin, Sakura had surpassed her in many different ways. It made him proud to have had the opportunity to teach the three most likely in line to be the next Sannin's. Sakura had excelled in developing new and valuable ways to use medical jutsu to the advantage and progression of medicine.

She was a powerful kunoichi, both in strength and in mind. She was a natural leader, and she was highly respected in the village by both the older and younger generation, those within her own generation had come to respect her as such when she was fifteen.

Naruto had obtained the same level of respect among the younger and his generation, if not in Konoha then in the surrounding countries. Enemies and allies alike had been forced to recognize his strength in the war and after wards he only continued to progress. He had gone back and fully earned the ranks he was given for the war, he had the potential to become a Anbu, and it was only the citizens that had never seen Naruto in a battle that continued to judge him as only a vessel for the demon fox.

Sasuke, once it had been announced and proven that he was not only loyal to Konoha but that he had been part of the reason so many shinobi had survived the war from Suna and Konoha, he was respected in his own right. He had already been expected to be among the great shinobi because of him being an Uchiha, much like Neji had been.

But Sasuke had made a name for himself, he had excelled in skill, strength, and stealth during the war, had provided their village with information on the most dangerous S-Class criminals at risk to his own life, and had even sacrificed his own freedom and nearly lost his life trying to defend the village of Konoha. Sasuke had always been regarded as a genius and had been compared to his brother and the other names in his clan that had made their marks, but he stood out in the fact that he cared, that he had compassion for others.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi pulled himself out of his thoughts with a smirk, "Hai Sasuke-kun?"

"I have a few in mind, but only kunoichi."

Kakashi grinned, "Well of course, you're talking about the future generation of the Uchiha clan. They would have to be kunoichi."

The topic was left where it was when Iruka and Naruto came back into the room.

Iruka sat down and handed Kakashi a bowl of instant ramen, chopsticks, and a hot cup of tea in a Styrofoam cup. Naruto closed the door with his foot and then walked over to the chair next to Sasuke's bed with a grin. He set his tea, chopsticks, and ramen down on the bedside table and then set down a cup of tea for Sasuke on the table as well. He put the tray he'd used to carry everything under the chair and moved to sit on the bed next to Sasuke, managing to balance the hot bowl of soup in his hands as he did so.

Sasuke scowled hating the fact that he'd have to let Naruto feed him soup since the fingers of his left hand were still too injured to move much and his right hand was in a cast. Naruto sighed at the scowl on his face, "Oi, teme, it won't be for that long. But you have to eat you know."

Sasuke scoffed, "Hn."

Kakashi ate too quickly for anyone other than Iruka to see the face behind his mask. Sasuke and Naruto were trying to get used to their new situation with Naruto feeding Sasuke, who was being grouchy and stubborn about it. Iruka ate his ramen while watching the two with a serene expression. By the time they had all finished eating in silence and enjoying their tea Sasuke was starting to feel tired again. Naruto had eaten his cold ramen without complaints and was about to get up to get rid of the trash from their lunch when he felt Sasuke lean against him, his head falling to rest on Naruto's shoulder again.

Iruka got to his feet and said softly to Naruto, "Stay, I'll get it."

Naruto smiled at Iruka, "Thanks Iruka-sensei," he said in a whisper. He shifted on the bed to get more comfortable and adjusted Sasuke into a more comfortable position, pulling the blanket up to wrap around Sasuke's shoulders as well. Kakashi helped Iruka dispose of the remains of their lunch and walked quietly to the door holding it slightly open as Iruka smiled at Naruto.

"Make sure he gets plenty of rest, you as well. I'm sure you pushed yourself too hard looking for him. We'll come by tomorrow to see how he's doing."

Naruto nodded with a warm smile, "Arigato Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei."

Iruka nodded with a smile and followed Kakashi out of the room silently closing the door behind him. Naruto turned his gaze to Sasuke and again moved his arm to wrap around Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke shifted, his injured left hand coming in between them to fist in Naruto's shirt while he turned on his side and curled into Naruto. His right arm rested on his side, his hand over his stomach. Naruto smiled affectionately at Sasuke's sleeping form, he looked so peaceful and cute really, curling into him, clinging to his shirt, steady breaths tickling Naruto's colar bone and chest even with his shirt in the way.

Naruto adjusted his arm around Sasuke's shoulder to rest at an angle around his back so that his hands could thread through Sasuke's soft hair. Naruto closed his eyes, taking in Sasuke's familiar fiery, fresh, and musky scent as he lazily threaded his fingers through Sasuke's hair. The calm he felt along with the reassurance of having Sasuke in his arms was enough to coax him into yet another nap. Sasuke's pressence combined with his own exhaustion from anxiety and stress over Sasuke was making him sleep more than he usually did, but as long as he was with Sasuke he truly didn't mind sleeping more than usual.