"Reisepass?"
Sasuke quickly showed his passport to the slender woman, who stamped it and sent Sasuke on his way. Sasuke walked forward with purpose toward his U-Bahn stop, which connected Berlin through a series of quickly moving trains. It was like New York's subway system, but cleaner.
A gentle snow was falling from the sky, Sasuke's thin scarf offering him mild protection from the cold. This was actually a respite from the weather in New York, which had dipped well into the negatives. It was an unseasonably cold February for Manhattan.
It had been three months since he'd last seen Naruto's face, but to Sasuke it felt much more distant. He returned to his old routine quite naturally, picking up his old hobbies and spending his time as he used to. Slowly but surely, the edge wore off. He slept even better than he usually had. Shikamaru's concern had been well-intentioned but unnecessary. If anything, he felt as though he was a happier person than he was before Naruto had come into his life.
Yet he felt a warmth in his chest every time he heard Naruto's voice. When Sasuke truly searched himself, during his particularly long and sleepless nights, he found that there was the faintest buzzing of anxiety under his surface that was hidden throughout the day. Sasuke knew that such trials left marks on minds as well as bodies. He worried for both.
Naruto could have been hiding things from Sasuke, but Sasuke still heard Naruto's innocence so clearly in his voice. Naruto's dogged insistence that he simply "knew" about who Sasuke was had begun to make sense to Sasuke. He somehow knew with confidence that Naruto had made it this far, for the most part, unscathed. Every time he heard Naruto's voice, he was reassured of this.
Sasuke had told Naruto about the tattoo convention several weeks ago. This had been an annual event for the last three years for Sasuke, and this would be the fourth he'd attended. There was one significant change, however: none other than Deidara had been the one to personally invite him.
Indubitably, Deidara was the most coveted tattooist at the entire convention, and for good reason. The man was talented, enough for Sasuke to allow him to tattoo his entire back. He had utmost respect for Deidara as an artist, and so with some reluctance, he agreed to sit on a panel with Deidara, hosted by one of the most well-respected trade publications in the industry.
At conventions, tattooists would put a day or two aside to work on clients from all around the world. Sasuke's appointments had filled up six months beforehand, with people traveling from anywhere from Kenya to Thailand to Peru. With each coming year, Sasuke sold out earlier. Deidara was booked not only for this year, but also for the next year's convention. It was insanity.
Deidara had monetized his image like none other in the industry. He had his own branded clothing, cologne, perfume, and tattoo and piercing care products. His picture constantly adorned the face of trade magazines, and he was even securing recognition from the general public through his merchandise.
This was the last thing Sasuke saw or wanted for himself. He believed fame to be one of the worst side effects of success. Deidara flocked to it, but Sasuke wanted only respect and recognition for his work. He didn't care if anyone knew his face. In fact, he preferred them not to; people tended to be enamored by his appearance, and it was not what he wanted to be known for. He was an artist, not a celebrity or a model.
Flying into the Tegel airport was always stressful. It had taken him over an hour just to clear customs and immigrations. His phone rang, and he knew it was Naruto. Now that he'd arrived in Germany, their time zones were a mere three hours apart. Sasuke quickly answered as he rolled his suitcase over to one of the few empty benches.
"Hey," Sasuke answered.
"Sasuke!" Naruto answered enthusiastically. "Did ya land?"
"Yeah, just got through customs and immigration."
"Phew!" Naruto answered.
Sasuke found it ironic, if not somewhat endearing, that Naruto had been so concerned about his arrival. Sasuke wasn't the one living in an active warzone.
"How was your flight?" Naruto added.
"Good. Boring."
"Ah, I suppose that's a good thing. I wish I had more time to talk!" Naruto lamented. "I only have five minutes."
Despite the fact that Naruto was keeping Sasuke from reaching his U-Bahn stop, he found this disappointing.
"You miss me too much?"
"Please," Naruto answered sarcastically. "I always miss you too much."
"How could you not?" Sasuke teased.
"Ugh, get over yourself," Naruto rebutted, but he was laughing.
Sasuke smirked in response.
"So, what're you doing?" Naruto asked. "The convention starts tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah," Sasuke answered. "The panel's tomorrow. For the next couple days, I'll be doing appointments."
"Daaamn," Naruto sighed. "That's so cool that you're doing that, with Deidara no less. Like, even some people in the battalion have heard of him."
"Not surprising."
"I said it before, but you're gonna be famous in no time!"
"Ugh," Sasuke groaned. "I'd rather clean toilets."
Naruto gave one of his deep belly laughs.
"Then you better stop being so good at your job."
"Maybe I should come up with a pseudonym."
"Oh! I can help ya with that," Naruto said, and Sasuke so clearly imagined the impish grin he must be wearing. "How about I-Know-Everything Bastardface? The Ink-Quilled Porcupine?"
"You're fired."
More rolling laughter from Naruto.
"What's your schedule? I don't want to bug you while you're working."
"Don't worry about that. I'll put the phone on mute if I can't be disturbed."
"I can't wait to hear how the panel goes!"
"It won't be particularly interesting," Sasuke shrugged. "Just a bunch of Q&A."
He knew that his reputation was at stake here. But he was skilled, competent, and had great stage presence when he needed to. He was sure that this would come across during the panel, so he felt nothing but confidence.
He heard a male voice over somewhere in the distance, sounding a little impatient.
"Yeah, stuff it, Neji. I'm almost done," Naruto said. "I gotta go, Sasuke. I'll talk to you soon, okay? Good luck!"
"Yeah, later," Sasuke said, shutting off his phone.
Only now did Sasuke notice that he'd received a text. It must've been sent while he was still in the air.
"I'm assuming you've landed."
It was Deidara.
"Yeah. I'm going to the hotel," Sasuke answered.
"I'm going out to dinner with Sasori. Want to come?"
Sasuke tilted his head, a little surprised by Deidara's offer. They'd eaten together on multiple occasions, but Deidara only invited him after them working together at the convention. This was more direct.
Sasuke supposed he could do with getting his mind off of things. He accepted. Over the next three hours, he checked into his hotel and freshened up for dinner. Schneeweiß was a classy establishment, focusing on German cuisine but also venturing out into Eastern European dishes. Sasuke dressed his best, wearing a navy blazer with a tightly fitting black shirt underneath.
He navigated to the restaurant via U-Bahn, all of his German quickly coming back to him now. He was glad that almost everyone in Berlin spoke English, but it was convenient to easily understand intercom announcements and signs. He'd improved a great deal since last year's convention.
The restaurant was adorned with white walls and white tables, minimalistic and chic. Other than the whiteness being a little blinding for Sasuke, he adored the style. He found Deidara and Sasori sitting at a table on the other side of the restaurant. He began to walk for it, but a server took it upon themselves to lead Sasuke to the spot.
Deidara wore strong eyeliner, and his hair was every bit as long and blond as it had always been. It was an androgynous style, and Deidara pulled it off very well. He wore a long button-down top, but he'd rolled up the cuffs so that his inked forearms showed. He'd unbuttoned the top, Deidara's muscular chest showing through.
He'd wanted to show off, quite obviously. The guy had a fanbase now, and not only for his work. Sasori was dressed similarly, his bright red hair announcing him. They sat at a table in the corner with four chairs.
"Long time no see, Sasuke!" Deidara called out in his heavy German accent.
He moved forward to hug Sasuke, who remained as tense as a pole.
"I forgot how stiff you are," Deidara teased. "Such a large bubble you have around you."
Sasuke shrugged, taking a seat as Deidara followed suit.
"You have a short memory," Sasuke countered.
"Ah, you wouldn't be the first to say that."
"Welcome, Sasuke," Sasori added, reaching out his hand and shaking Sasuke's.
"Thanks."
"How was your flight?" Sasori asked.
"Fine. How was your drive?"
Sasori was coming in from Frankfurt, another German town which always reminded Sasuke of Manhattan and its financial district whenever he'd visit.
"There was some snow," Sasori said with a shrug. "I got in yesterday and took it easy today."
Soon enough, the waiter took their orders and provided them with plates full of schnitzel, sausages, sauerkraut, red cabbage, spaetzle, and Sasuke's personal favorite, sauerbraten. They'd make it a feast. And of course, Germany's unmatched beer was a staple at their table.
Sasuke tended to fill quickly, but after ten hours of flying, he was famished. They'd been idly chatting before the food arrived, though as they ate, the group became quieter. Sasuke wasn't a fan of small talk, but he knew that connections were valuable in any industry. Given enough motivation, he could tread those waters gracefully.
"Have you thought about what you're going to say at the panel?" Deidara asked.
The three of them would be making up the panel. Sasori and Deidara had both done this multiple times. He was the newcomer.
"Somewhat," Sasuke answered. "Considering panels from previous years, I already know what to say. It's best to speak naturally."
"Speak from the heart, huh, Sasuke?" Deidara asked. "That's how it's done!"
Sasuke didn't know if he'd put it that way. He just preferred to be genuine, and he'd always been an articulate person who thought quickly on his feet. He'd never had any qualms about speaking in front of people, though it wasn't exactly his idea of a good time.
"You don't seem nervous," Sasori said.
"That's because I'm not."
"Bullshit," Deidara countered. "You have to be a little nervous."
Clearly, those two had been nervous their first times, Sasuke realized. Sasuke had actually searched for nervousness in himself, and he found none. He knew his material and had mounds of experience to speak from. He also was not one to cave under pressure. He'd been in far, far more unsettling situations than this one.
"Say that to me again once the panel's over," Sasuke said simply.
Deidara formed an O with his mouth, laughing at Sasuke's attitude. Sasori snickered.
"Damn, you are bold," Deidara said. "I love it."
They went through several rounds of beer as they talked into the night.
"You know," Deidara said to Sasuke, leaning on his elbow at the table. "Your art has been impeccable from the start, Sasuke. But I can see that you are really branching into new styles. You've gotten so much depth over the past couple years."
In normal conversation, Deidara would never be able to fluster Sasuke. But for Deidara to compliment Sasuke's work so strongly… Given how much Sasuke respected Deidara as an artist, it meant something to him.
"Thank you."
"I'd thought about bringing you on the panel before, but the new feudal work you've been coming out with pushed me over the edge. You could be big."
Sasuke shrugged.
"I don't care about getting big. I want to hone my craft, and one of the best ways to do that is to connect with others in the community."
Deidara scrunched up his face, as if he'd just eaten something sour.
"Mah, you're always so serious, Sasuke," Deidara answered, his voice slurring slightly from the alcohol. "Have some fun! Being famous can be a pain in the ass, but it's a pretty sweet deal."
"I have mixed feelings on fame," Sasori intercepted. "I don't like people managing my personal affairs. But the money is great, and your name opens so many doors."
Sasori did have his own name. He'd taken the front page of one of the largest trade magazines before and had his own aftercare products, but he didn't appeal to the general masses like Deidara did.
"I enjoy my privacy," Sasuke said simply. "I'm appreciative that I've found a place in the artist community."
Sasuke did want to keep his connections with the global tattooist community open. It was pivotal in staying abreast in his field, and honestly, in running his business.
They'd been sitting together for almost two hours now. They'd waltzed around a dozen topics, and the alcohol had helped Sasuke look more like he actually enjoyed being there. It wasn't that he didn't; people just tended to interpret his stoicism as indifference. He liked talking to Deidara and Sasori about different inks and irons models on the market, different body art trends that were spreading the world.
Sasori at last looked at his watch.
"I have to be leaving," he said. "I'll see you two tomorrow, yes?"
"Auf Wiedersehen!" Deidara said, waving.
"Later," Sasuke added.
Sasori quickly made his way out of the restaurant. Now it was just Sasuke and Deidara, sitting directly in front of each other. He'd gotten beers with Deidara and fellow artists before, and Deidara and he had had plenty of private conversations. Yet this was the most intimate setting that they had ever been in together since Deidara had tattooed his back.
"Well, Sasuke, it's been a year. And you are just as sober of a drunk as ever."
Deidara was notably buzzed, his pale face flushed with a bit of red. He was laughing more loudly than he normally did, though he certainly wasn't smashed.
Last convention, a running joke has been established around Sasuke's ability to appear perfectly sober no matter how much alcohol was involved. They'd dubbed him "the sober drunk."
"Please, you can't tell me that you're still sober."
Truth be told, he was plenty buzzed, though not quite drunk.
"I'd be lying if I said I felt no different."
Deidara laughed.
"I knew it! See, you can loosen up when you really want to."
Sasuke shrugged.
"I'm perfectly relaxed. I just don't express it the way that you do."
"Ya know, a lot of people get nervous around me, considering my status," Deidara started. "But never you. Not even when you were a rookie."
Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"It'd take one hell of a lot more than this to make me nervous."
"Oh?" Deidara asked, grinning. "And what does make you nervous?"
"Nothing that you're capable of," Sasuke countered.
Deidara rested his palm on the table as he continued to laugh.
"You really are a live wire! But I wonder about that."
"Is that a threat?" Sasuke asked in an easygoing tone, arching his brow.
"Oh, it doesn't have to be. I just think it'd be fun to make you nervous."
Sasuke arched a brow at Deidara, leaning back in his seat and carrying a devilish smile.
"How do you intend to do that?"
"I'll wait until the moment's right," Deidara said, adopting the same smile Sasuke had donned.
"In other words, you have no idea," Sasuke smirked.
Deidara chuckled, shaking his head.
"It's not wise to tempt me. You're too proud."
Deidara was leaning onto the tabletop, now smirking at Sasuke.
Tempt him to do what? Was it possible that Deidara was flirting with him? Sasuke had been flirted with more times than he ever could or wanted to remember, but he wasn't expecting it from Deidara.
"I'm not following you," Sasuke answered.
"You don't need to."
Sasuke gave Deidara a strange look.
"You're not going to try anything at the panel, are you?"
Deidara simply laughed.
"Of course not. I separate work and play."
Sasuke leaned farther in, his eyes searching Deidara's for some hint of his intent. Deidara's wicked little smile intrigued him. Deidara had always loved messing with him, though something about this felt different. Strange…
Giving up, Sasuke sighed and looked down at his watch.
"I should go back to my room and rest up for the panel."
Deidara followed suit, glancing at this cell phone.
"Shit. I totally lost track of time."
They both stood, putting the napkins on their laps back on the seat of their chairs. Deidara moved in for a hug, but quickly reconsidered, patting Sasuke's back with his hand.
"See you tomorrow morning," said Deidara. "Don't fuck up."
"You're too kind," Sasuke answered wryly. "See you."
Without further ado, Sasuke took the U-Bahn back to his hotel and passed out the instant his head hit the pillow. The trip had truly exhausted him, and with his travel factored in, it had been over thirty hours since he'd slept last. By all means, being sleep deprived was never a guaranteed remedy for Sasuke's insomnia. Though in this case, it definitely helped.
He groaned when he heard his phone buzz. As Sasuke's eyes were already adjusted to the dark, it didn't take Sasuke more than a few seconds to find his phone.
Sasuke squinted as the brightness of the phone's display assaulted his eyes.
A text from Tsunade? That could not be good.
As Naruto had told Sasuke, Naruto had designated Tsunade, or "Granny" as he called her, as his first of kin. Naruto's well-meaning yet irresponsible past foster parent was the conduit through which all of Naruto's loved ones would receive information regarding Naruto.
Despite his exhaustion, Sasuke felt his heart pick up the pace. His palms sweating ever so slightly, he opened the text as quickly as he could.
"River City, 8 pm PST."
Sasuke sat bolt upright in bed, the phone still in front of his face. He read those two short words over again, hoping vainly that he had been mistaken.
Finally, the infamous "River City." Naruto was off the grid.
Naruto had warned him about this. A variety of things could have happened. Maybe there was an impromptu mission. Maybe they were moving. Maybe someone was hurt. Maybe someone was dead.
Maybe Naruto was dead.
There was absolutely no way of knowing. Sasuke bit his lip hard, swearing under his breath. He knew that he was completely powerless at this point. He'd solve nothing by worrying. Yet he couldn't shake the nausea in his gut, the raw restlessness making his hands feel empty and bored.
Sasuke was quickly realizing that River City was a horrible thing. When his father fought in Vietnam, Sasuke hadn't been old enough to understand what was happening. Was this what his mother had gone through? Everyone who ever had a loved one fight in a war had gone through something like this. Parents, siblings, spouses… The concept was staggering to Sasuke, now that was actually experiencing it himself.
This happens, Sasuke told himself, taking a deep breath in. Having River City called at some point during Naruto's deployment was almost inevitable. The chances that Naruto had been injured were slim, but this wasn't all that Sasuke had been concerned about.
Those blue eyes of his were so hopeful and pure. Maybe Naruto was hurt not physically, but emotionally. Naruto was strong, but there was an innocence in him that was delicate. It reminded him of pure white silk, soft and susceptible to staining. He didn't want Naruto to see things that would haunt him. He didn't want Naruto to end up like him.
It was five in the morning now. He'd have to leave his room by eight. Now that he'd had some rest, it would take him quite a while to fall back to sleep. Sasuke was never any good at that, even during normal circumstances. He grabbed his pack of cigarettes and sat down at the table in his room. He was glad that he'd allowed the staff to place him in a smoking room. It would have been inconvenient to dress for the frigid outdoor weather.
As one of the panel members, a subset of Sasuke's portfolio had been printed in a small book of its own. It was similar to a magazine, with the logo and year of the convention taking the top left corner of the cover. With another hit of his cigarette, he pieced through his own works. He'd hardly given the book a second glance when it had been given to him.
He occupied himself with their selections, featuring twenty-five of his pieces. Over half of them were his feudal work. As Deidara had pointed out earlier, Sasuke was more and more becoming known for his feudal style. Still, they'd also included some of his minimalist designs and full color work.
Sasuke took a deep drag off of his cigarette, lying back in his chair and exhaling the smoke. He didn't want to limit himself to one style. Being unique was important to Sasuke, but that didn't mean he had to stick to a single theme. He'd express this at the panel.
He replayed the past years' panels in his mind. He already knew what he wanted to say. He didn't even need to think about this, but thinking about it was a lot more comfortable than thinking about the news he'd just received. Sasuke swore when he finished his cigarette, distastefully shoving his book aside.
Maybe some exercise would fix him up. He frequently jogged in the mornings, so this was nothing new to him. This was a nice hotel with a top-notch fitness center. Without wasting time, Sasuke dressed himself and ran for a solid hour at the gym. He could see the sun rise with each stride he took.
He stretched out his trip, using the free weights and doing several sets of floor exercises. He felt the mild euphoria rush through his body as he exerted himself. He only needed to think of the next step, the next push up, the next pullup...
By the time he'd had his fill, it was time to get ready for the panel. Oddly enough, he'd thought more about this panel over the past few hours than he ever had the months leading up to it. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, Sasuke was fully dressed in the convention center.
He wore a black, ripped tank top, boots, and dark jeans. He rested his maroon leather jacket over his shoulder. He'd muttered some small talk with Deidara and Sasori as they waited behind the curtain. For the first fifteen minutes, the CEO of The Artful Body, the trade magazine hosting the event, would give his speech. Truthfully, Sasuke wasn't even paying attention to the guy; he hardly even remembered his name.
Sasuke tried to focus on the moment, but his thoughts were wandering.
"Nervous after all, hm?" Deidara asked with a grin.
"I was thinking of something else," Sasuke replied.
Deidara tilted his head, taking in Sasuke's confidence. Deidara seemed skeptical, but he didn't press it.
"Now, enough of my talk!" Sasuke heard the speaker say to the crowd. "Time for the panelists!"
"Show time," Deidara muttered, just loudly enough for Sasori and Sasuke to hear.
The three of them walked out on the stage, thousands of people applauding. The lights were blindingly bright, but Sasuke looked out into the crowd regardless. To Sasuke's astonishment, he could feel his heartbeat. Outside of the bedroom, he hadn't felt this in years. Something about it was actually quite invigorating.
Sasuke had never been in front of this many people in his life, but as the glare of the stage lights obscured his view of the crowd, there was something surprisingly intimate about it. He sat at the table, the farthest to the left. Deidara sat beside him, and Sasori was on the opposite side. A glass of water and a microphone sat directly in front of each one of them.
Sasuke took a breath in through his nostrils and exhaled, his lips still loosely shut. He had to admit that he felt a thrill as he took the stage. Yet before the applause had even stopped, Sasuke had relaxed completely.
"So, I'll start with the obvious question," the moderator began. "Where do you work, and what do you specialize in?"
Sasuke was up first. He wondered if Deidara arranged that specifically to fuck with him.
"My shop's right in the middle of New York City. It's called The Satin Grip."
The cheers that left the crowd told Sasuke that some fans were among the audience. More than he'd expected, honestly. A display toward the front broadcasted Sasuke's image to the back of the room, with German subtitles appearing after he spoke. He'd never seen a five-meter-tall image of himself before.
"Recently, I've specialized in feudal designs, but I'm pretty versatile. Honing skills with a wide variety of styles has helped me create a style that is unique to only myself."
Sasuke's voice was projected by his microphone, so that even the people hidden at the back of the throng could hear him.
"And what about you, Deidara?"
"Well, you all know at this point, hm?" Deidara answered with a smug grin. "I've lived in Berlin from birth, and I finally set up Bläckfisk about ten years back. I specialize in deep, vibrant color work and conveying depth."
Sasuke already knew this from panels the years before, of course.
Since this convention was the world's largest, as well as the most international, they'd all been instructed to speak in English. Given the high English proficiency in this part of Germany, this was not an issue for the majority of local guests.
"Yet another German," Sasori picked up. "I work in Frankfurt. CraftZ has been going strong for twelve years now. I'm known for my white ink tattoos."
"Alright, good! Now, how did you get your start?"
Sasuke took that as his cue.
"I started at fifteen. I was an apprentice in Brooklyn," Sasuke spoke. "I stayed in Brooklyn for about seven years, doing piercings and tattoos. I then opened up Satin Grip in Manhattan, and the rest followed."
There was a pause.
"I'm sorry, but you started the Satin Grip, one of the most renowned shops in the community, at twenty-two?" the man asked, shocked.
"Something like that," Sasuke answered.
Technically, he'd been twenty-one.
"How'd you decide to do that?" the moderator asked, in awe. "And how did you even do it?"
Some mumbling came from the crowd, their eyes attached to Sasuke.
"The parlor I worked at in Brooklyn, Lucky Seven, was outstanding. I enjoyed working as an artist there, but my goal from the start was to run my own business and bring other people into my fold. I prefer to be my own boss."
He noticed some members of the crowd nodding, probably relating to that statement.
"I'm a very competitive person, so I used that for my hiring decisions. If their work didn't make me feel a little threatened, they weren't good enough. I took the time I needed to hire the best - honest and immensely talented people. Everything followed from there."
"Impressive. That's some good advice," the speaker agreed. "Deidara?"
"I don't have an interesting story like Sasuke. I'm homegrown, so I worked at a few of the city's larger shops. I rotated to get some experience, then started my own place."
Aside from the first few seconds, Sasuke felt completely relaxed sitting in front of all of those people. As time passed, he simply focused on the questions and the responses, just as he would've had he been an observer. The flow was predictable, and even the more controversial topics felt like a breeze to Sasuke. It wasn't as though he cared if someone disagreed.
Before he knew it, they'd finished. The audience applauded them, and they walked off of the stage.
"Damn, Sasuke!" Deidara said almost immediately, giving Sasuke a hard pat on the back. "You didn't even seem slightly nervous."
"That's because I wasn't," Sasuke replied.
"Have you done public speaking before?" Sasori asked.
"No. I'm just a confident person."
"I wish my first time speaking publicly had gone so smoothly," Sasori mumbled.
"You've got it down now, at the least," Sasuke said.
"Mn," Sasori acknowledged.
"Well, my first appointment is in a half hour. I need to set up," Deidara said.
With that, the three of them scattered. Sasuke had hours of appointments ahead of him. The only breaks he took as he worked were used to check his texts. Nothing.
Even Sasuke's own anxiety unnerved him. Over the past months, he believed he had adapted to Naruto's absence as he had predicted. Yes, he missed Naruto, but he had always been an independent person by nature. At a point, he doubted himself, but his quick turnaround only made him more confident that he had complete control over the situation.
Yet this was something else entirely. All of the control that Sasuke had gathered was being threatened. Sasuke had no clue what would happen to their romantic relationship, and he was honestly still pessimistic. He wouldn't deny, however, that Naruto had quickly become a friend. Sasuke knew that he cared, but he hadn't expected such anxiety at something as rudimentary as River City.
At the day's end, Sasuke hoped that his exhaustion would guide him into sleep, though he knew that this was wishful thinking. As he lay in bed, he held his phone in front of his face.
"Have you heard anything yet?" he texted back.
Yes, Tsunade had said that she'd let them all know immediately. But what if she'd forgotten? Sasuke put his phone down, sighting as he pondered making another gym trip. He didn't see himself sleeping soon.
Sasuke's heart jumped up into his throat when he heard his phone vibrate.
"Again, I will let you know as soon as I have more information."
Sasuke supposed that he might not have been the first person to text Tsunade.
"Shit…" Sasuke muttered to himself, shaking his head.
He knew another sleepless night awaited him. He knew he'd have to just hope that his foundation hid the circles under his eyes the next day.
How could he care so much about someone he'd known for less than half of a year? This wasn't like him. He only had two people he cared for to this extent, but he'd known them both for over a decade. This was...weird.
He supposed that he shouldn't overthink it. He just hoped that he'd be hearing Naruto's voice again soon.
Author's Note:
I hope you all enjoyed this!
Just wanted to let you all know that something has come up in my personal life; it looks like my best friend of 14 years might be dying in the nearish future. Meanwhile, I'm trying to find a new job while holding down my current full-time job. I really didn't see this coming and am... Yeah. It's a lot.
I'll strive to make the next chapter timely but can't promise anything (though I don't foresee the lag being too bad). Obviously, it's a little tied to my friend's prognosis. However, I CAN promise that this story will never be abandoned, so take that worry out of your mind. :)