Iruka listened as Naruto spilled it all: everything that had bothered him lately, everything he'd been thinking about recently, everything that had happened to him over the past few days. He wasn't at all surprised to learn about Naruto's true feelings toward his black-haired teammate—he supposed he'd at least suspected when Naruto disappeared for nearly three years to train in the attempt of bringing Uchiha Sasuke back home—but the thing that had set the blond over the edge had been the news of his true family.
"She wants to tell me," Naruto concluded. "She said Ero-senin had been debating it for a while before he…" It had been almost two years, but the death of Sanin Jiraiya had hit Konoha hard, and Tsunande and Naruto most of all.
Iruka quickly moved the conversation along before Naruto could dwell. "And did she tell you?"
He shook his head, looking grateful. "No, she said I had to decide if I wanted to know or not."
Iruka studied his former student across the table. He had barely eaten his fill of dinner, and now held the untouched teacup in his hands, more for warmth than access, he assumed. No wonder Naruto was so troubled. After being told for a lifetime that he was a cursed container without a family or a home, here came the knowledge he had longed for all his young existence. But he was afraid of the knowledge, and Iruka couldn't blame him. He had an idea who Naruto's father might be, but to actually know… What would the people of the village think?
"You shouldn't care what anyone else may say," he spoke softly, slowly, hoping he sounded comforting enough. "The knowledge is for you, and only you. If you choose to share it with anyone else, then that is for you to decide. But Jiraiya-san and Tsunande-sama," he smiled helpfully, "they just wanted what was best for you. The Sandaime, too. I'm sure they were all just waiting for the right moment." His soft smile turned into a beaming one. "And this is definitely it! Congratulations, Naruto! You're finally on your way to what you've always wanted."
"I know…" he half-laughed. "I should be happier, huh?"
"You should tell Sasuke," Iruka said firmly.
"You sound like Gaara," Naruto grinned humorlessly. "But I can't. What would it change? He wants to revive his clan, so let him. I'm actually a little comforted that he's not marrying for love." His eyes looked away from Iruka's. "It would hurt more if he was."
"It's not fair to him," his former teacher admonished. "Sasuke should know how you feel, even if he doesn't return it."
"Not fair to him?" Naruto scoffed.
The older man shrugged. "Again, it's your decision. I can't force you. But I am here for you, Naruto, and whatever you think is best, I'll agree to. I just want you to be happy."
"…I don't think I'll ever truly be happy," the blond whispered. "Even with my life's dream fulfilled, I still have nothing. No family… and no Sasuke…"
Iruka watched his back until the darkness of the late-night street swallowed him. He turned to go inside and came face to face with Hatake Kakashi. He let out a startled little yelp.
"Kakashi-san, what are you—"
"So, you could have dinner with Naruto, but not with me?"
A stab of guilt made Iruka wince. "I'm sorry, I didn't forget, but he needed someone to talk to…"
"It's okay, Iruka-sensei," Kakashi waved it off, going into the house with Iruka following in tow. "I know how important Naruto is to you. He's important to me, too."
"I can heat up something if you're still interested in eating my cooking," Iruka blushed slightly. Blushed? Why on earth was he blushing?
Kakashi looked him over with his one exposed eye. "Id like that, very much," he smiled faintly. Iruka's face reddened even more and the other jounin chuckled. "Thanks for remembering."
He pulled out his key and fumbled it into the lock.
"Naruto."
And he almost fell into the apartment if it hadn't been for his hand's sudden convulsion on the doorknob. Uchiha Sasuke stepped out of the darkness beside him.
"I heard you came back today," he looked nervous.
"Yeah," Naruto felt nervous. "Come in." He couldn't trust himself to say much else. The two friends shuffled in and Naruto locked the door behind them and flipped on the lights. He moved farther into the one bedroom apartment, tossing his keys onto the kitchen counter and his travel pack on the floor of his living room while Sasuke stood in the almost-foyer, looking uncomfortable and out of place. Sorry it's too small for your refined taste, Uchiha. Naruto found he was a lot nastier in his current mood. He flopped down on the worn-out couch, almost not hearing the too-familiar squeak-creak of old, abused springs beneath his weight. Sighing, trying to avoid the unavoidable, he gestured to the other man. "Sit down, Sasuke. Have something from the fridge, if you want it."
The black-haired Uchiha fidgeted for a moment and then came over to the couch, sitting gingerly beside Naruto and seemingly wincing at the pained sound coming from the couch. "I just, you know, wanted to talk about…"
"I think we did enough talking before I left, don't you?" Naruto waved the other man off. He didn't want to hear Sasuke's excuses—there was simply no excuse for him.
Sasuke took the bitter tone without flinching. "You didn't let me defend myself very much," he said.
"Why? Should I have?" Naruto looked away from him, knowing it would be easier to be angry when he couldn't see the other man.
"You were pretty angry," Sasuke agreed. "And I think I know why."
Naruto felt his stomach drop and all his muscles loosen. Oh. Oh, shit. "Really?" he managed to sound normal enough, if not a little angry. "Tell me why, since you seem to know everything."
Sasuke's slightly hurt and confused look was lost on Naruto's averted gaze. "You and Sakura think I'm going too fast, right? And you said it was unfair for the daughter I chose." His voice softened. "You still like Hinata, don't you?"
Naruto was shocked into numbness. He turned wide, blinking eyes to Sasuke's pale, serious face and just stared at the Uchiha incredulously, bewilderedly, and humorously all at the same time. His lips twitched once and then he burst into a fit of roaring laughter, the force of it making him double over and clutch his arms across his stomach. Sasuke watched, confused, as Naruto fell off the couch in the grip of his wild laughter and as tears sprang into his eyes and his cheeks became redder and redder with each gasping breath. Eventually, the laughter tapered off, and Naruto hoisted himself up with one arm on the couch, breathing hard and giggling slightly, but otherwise back to normal.
"Man, Sasuke," he laughed, sitting back down next to the Uchiha, "you don't know how much I needed to laugh like that." He chuckled some more and Sasuke only grew more confused. "No, I'm not in love with Hinata," he continued, "that's Kiba's department."
"So, then why are you so upset over my decision?" Sasuke asked, a little put-off by the laughing fit.
"Like I told you," he was still grinning, "I don't think it's fair. Hinata and Hanabi might like other people, right? And besides, what about you?" he gestured. "I don't think you love them, so isn't it unfair to yourself as well? You're letting the past dictate your future, and it shouldn't be that way. You should marry the person you love." The laughter had completely ebbed but his smile remained. "I realized that while I was away: I shouldn't be mad at you, because it's your decision. I just want you to know that I don't agree with it, that's all." Naruto himself was surprised by his abrupt mood-change. I guess if I'm not going to tell him, I can't hold him back from what he wants. He glanced at the other man from the corner of his eye. After all, isn't that what love's about? Being happy that the one you love is happy? If this is what he wants, then…I'm happy for him. "By the way, I heard you were going to try out for the Anbu."
Sasuke, who looked as if he'd been pondering something, shook his head slightly and shrugged. "Yeah. I remember what you said before, about doing something with myself," his lips slipped into the curve of a slight smile. "I decided to go for it. I also kind of thought that I wasn't ready for the whole marriage thing just yet."
"Oh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow and his heart thumped in betrayal.
"I figured I'd let the test decide," Sasuke nodded. "If I pass and become an Anbu, then I'm ready. If I fail, then I'll put it off for a year or two. Maybe," he glanced at Naruto, "I'll find someone by then."
"Yeah, maybe." And he hoped against everything he believed that Sasuke would miraculously fail the examination. But knowing Sasuke, it wouldn't happen. It was just an extension of a deadline he knew would come.
"Hey, Naruto?"
"Hmm?"
"If I pass," he frowned to himself, "and even though you don't agree… Will you be my best man?"
Naruto was briefly torn in two: loyalty to either his friend or his heart. You can't hold him back if you don't tell him why. "Sure," he nodded. "Of course I will."
"And just in case," Sasuke added, "I've already decided who it'll be."
"Who?" It would hurt, and he believed he already knew, but he gave Sasuke the benefit of the doubt.
"Hinata," came the answer.
He'd been right. How would he break the news to Kiba? "…she's a sweet girl, Sasuke. Don't hurt her, okay?"
"It's not like I'll do it intentionally, dobe," Sasuke snorted.
"Mm… Sasuke?"
"Yeah?"
"When's your exam?"
"Tomorrow afternoon," he answered. "Why?"
"Do you think…" Naruto took a deep breath. "Do you think you could come see Tsunande baa-chan with me in the morning?"
"What's wrong?" Sasuke frowned. "I thought you reported in already."
"Please?"
Sasuke glanced at his friend. Naruto looked like hell frozen over and thawed out again, at least that's what he'd believed when he'd seen him walking toward his door. He wondered what it was, and thought that perhaps he could understand why tomorrow if he went. He didn't say it aloud, but he was a little worried about Naruto.
"Yeah, I'll come," he nodded.
"Thanks, Sasuke."
