Chapter Summary: Team seven reunites for a series of missions, and Sasuke and Naruto reassess their dreams.

AN: Hello! Thanks to all of you still reading along! I always find typos in previous chapters when I'm uploading a new one! Lol, so sorry for that. I also finally managed to figure out the chapter I was stuck on, so things are looking up. Sorry for the late posting of this one. The day I finished it I couldn't access my account here. On a side note, I've also come up with at least ten other SasuNaru story ideas while working on this one. I hope I get the chance to write some of them as well, because I'm really loving writing for this pairing.

A Crown of Peonies and Primrose
Chapter 6: Elderflower and Agrimony

Sasuke leaned back against the railing of the The Salty Stalker, looking out as the shoreline slowly disappeared while they started their journey across Amado Sea. It was a hefty ship, old, but sturdy, clearly having navigated open waters for many years. It looked as though it had once belonged to royalty of some kind. The etchings in the wooden frames that still remained spoke of wealth and decadence, though it was cracked and heavily damaged now. The sails were a drab brown, torn in several places and in need of repair. The shrouds sagged, several ropes falling free and thinning from endless days of water damage. Sasuke could see the remnants of other names and colours hidden beneath the layers of chipping paint on the hull and he wondered what the ship might have been used for in the past. How it had found itself in the possession of such a questionable name and equally questionable looking crew.

It was little more than a meagre lumber ship now.

Kakashi stood across from him, reading his book, his eye occasionally glancing out to sea in search of possible threats. He was a bit tense, and Sasuke wondered if it was the saltwater getting to him or if something else was on his mind. Naruto, in contrast, was bouncing around above deck, inspecting all of the items on board and already visibly wearing on several members of the crew. He was acting like he'd never been on a ship before, though perhaps it was just the sheer size of it that had him excited.

More than ever Sasuke wished he could have taken Naruto out on one of the tallships in Aomi. He would have loved that. If his reaction to the ship they were currently on was anything to go off of, he would have been completely over the moon. Sasuke could picture him leaning over the edge of the boat, wind in his hair, grin on his face, absolutely blinding Sasuke with his smile. Sadly, such a chance was unlikely to occur any time soon, with the constant threats Konoha and the surrounding villages faced.

There was a heavy sigh to his right, and Sasuke turned towards the sound. Sakura knelt at Sasuke's side intently focusing on their bags. She was sorting through their remaining supplies, trying to salvage what she could. Team seven had been sent out on a few consecutive missions in the Land of Earth, and this was their last before returning home. The first had gone incredibly smooth, better than planned, but the second had taken an unexpected turn, and they had been forced to sacrifice most of their resources in the midst of it. Thankfully, the current mission was an easy one, by all accounts. They would get by with what they had.

They were meant simply to stay on board and protect the ship from any unwanted attackers until it safely reached its destination. Their orders were quite clear. They were to stay above deck at all times, unless resting, and had specific rooms to use as sleeping quarters. The lower storage decks were private, the captain's quarters were private, and under no circumstances were they permitted to explore beyond the upper hull without permission. It was fairly typical for a mission of that nature. Most merchants didn't want to risk their merchandise disappearing in the hands of shinobi. Even shinobi from reliable nations.

It was a bit odd that this particular mission had been assigned such a high level team. Experienced Genin would have been more than capable of such an escort mission. Lumber, in theory, shouldn't attract anything more than the usual thieves and pirates. But it was on the way for them, and there was no sense sending out another team when they would be walking right by on their way back to Konoha.

For them, it would hopefully be an easy and relaxing end to several weeks of nonstop work.

The series of missions was almost like a reunion of team seven. They hadn't worked together just the four of them like this in quite some time. A few months at least. And they really did have a different sort of chemistry when it came to completing missions. The four of them trusted each other in a way that was hard to understand for an outsider. They could communicate without speaking, with simple hand gestures or shared gazes, and could rely on each other for cover when in need of rest or a quick break. It was for that reason Sasuke felt comfortable taking a moment to relax. He knew Kakashi would be sure to monitor everything carefully, no matter how distracted he seemed.

Like always, Sasuke's gaze was drawn towards Naruto's blond head of hair. He was at the stern, the Captain, whose name had not been shared, showing him the wheel and even seemingly letting him steer for a few minutes. Naruto grinned wildly as he twisted the wheel just slightly, gasping a bit when the rudder whirred as it shifted in the water. The captain leaned around him, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed when he smirked and edged in a bit too close for comfort.

He was a friendly man. A bit too friendly as far as Sasuke was concerned. He'd already made several passes at Sakura, all of which were hastily pushed aside as she slapped away his roaming hands. Eventually Sakura had whispered something in his ear, a terrifying glint in her eyes. He hadn't so much as looked her way since. However, now it seemed he'd found his next target.

Naruto was completely oblivious to it, chattering away while the man leered at him. The Captain had an air about him, looked like the sort of sleazebag one might find drinking and gambling in the taverns of whatever villages they passed through. Sasuke had difficulty picturing him doing any of the actual logging work required for preparing the wood for sale. It was more likely he had his crew do it all for him. He probably spent his evenings exclusively in brothels, or perhaps didn't need to, instead luring in men and women with his long wavy hair, dangling earring, and rugged looking tattoos. Sasuke sneered.

He wanted to storm over and push the guy aside, make sure he knew just who's hands Naruto wanted roaming all over his body. But Naruto looked happy, so Sasuke took in a few deep breaths and ignored it. It wasn't like Naruto couldn't defend himself if it came down to it. And it wasn't like Naruto was interested. The idiot probably didn't even realize what was happening.

It turned out he was silly to worry at all, as a few minutes later Naruto skipped over and sat down beside him, raving excitedly about how he'd steered the ship all on his own. Then he started talking about returning to Aomi one day, to see the big ships there, and maybe even taking a trip on one of them with Sasuke. He had a wistful look in his eyes, and he grinned so brightly as he leaned into Sasuke's side, tufts of his hair grazing Sasuke's neck. The tension in Sasuke's shoulders disappeared and he eyed Naruto fondly. He couldn't resist leaning over and pressing a discreet kiss to the top of his head. It was heart-warming to know Naruto longed for the same thing as he did.

The four of them stayed above deck all day, keeping a lookout and observing the crew, all of whom seemed fairly normal despite the gruffness and odd looks a few of the men directed at them here and there. The crew spoke amongst themselves sometimes, clearly trying to keep their conversations unheard, but the topics were dry, and relatively disinteresting. The men mostly seemed intent to reach their destination, their only concern the goods aboard the ship, and what they planned to do with their pay. Anytime Sasuke made eye contact with the Captain he waved at him with a wink, and Sasuke merely raised an eyebrow before looking away.

"What do you think the Captain's quarters are like? You know, since we aren't allowed to see them," Naruto asked, and he pushed the simple black mask on his face firmly against his nose.

Sasuke eyed the man, who was now lounging atop a stool, a bottle of ale hanging from one of his hands as he napped away the afternoon. One of his deckhands was at the wheel instead. "Probably nothing special," Sasuke said. He imagined the sleeping quarters would reflect state of the rest of the ship. Worn down, unkempt, and reeking of sweat and booze. A shadow of their former glory.

"You're no fun Sasuke. I bet they're fancy. We should totally sneak a peek, don't you think?" Naruto egged him on, nudging his elbow into his side a few times, and Sasuke rolled his eyes and pushed it down.

"Private quarters are private quarters. We have to respect that, Naruto," Kakashi said wearily. He turned a page in his book before holding up a finger. "It's outlined in our mission guidelines anyway. Going against that will forfeit us any payment, and tarnish Konoha's reputation."

Naruto huffed loudly, pulling his knees up so he could wrap his arms around them. "You're no fun." He pouted and looked over at the stack of wood nearby. "I don't get why this mission is so important anyway. What's so special about wood? It's not even nice wood. Look! It's all mouldy, like it's been out in the rain for weeks," he complained, and he pointed at the pile with a glare. To be fair, the wood above deck did look pretty grungy. It was black in places, and much of it showed wear from both the saltwater and bugs that had found their homes inside the stacks. Considering they'd just started the journey, it was a bit odd that the quality looked so terrible. It definitely wouldn't sell for much.

"The lumber in the storage hull is probably of higher quality," Sakura commented, though she was also looking over at the pile curiously.

"Why bother storing any up here if it's just gonna get like that. Whatta waste," Naruto ranted. Sasuke reached out and touched his hair, running long fingers through the strands and Naruto sighed and leaned into the touch, letting his legs stretch out in front of him. Even he was starting to tire of everything, focusing on insignificant details, letting it get to him.

"I wanna shower," Naruto groaned. Sasuke could relate. They'd been bathing in rivers and lakes and the sea for too long now. He felt like there was a week's worth of grime coating his skin, despite having washed just that morning. His hair was getting a bit greasy, and his clothes, now that he was down to the single set, were dirty and thinning after days of wear and rough salt water scrubbing. Consecutive missions made for a great paycheque, but they really were incredibly draining.

Just a couple more weeks. That's all they had to get through. And he and Naruto would be back in Konoha, in bed together, wrapped around each other, clean and refreshed, no longer worrying about these missions, or pirates, or the state of shoddy lumber.

Just a couple more weeks.

Their first evening at sea was spent eating some dubious looking food and listening to a few of the deck hands tell ghost stories while they drank. The tales were unrealistic at best, and Sasuke mostly ignored them in favour of watching Naruto's enraptured eyes. He seemed to be equal parts entertained and terrified, eating up every slurred word as though they were factual.

The sun had long since disappeared beyond the horizon by the time Sasuke knelt behind him, tucking his arms under Naruto's and lifting him to stand.

"Time for bed," Sasuke whispered into his ear, and Naruto shivered but turned around and looked up into Sasuke's eyes imploringly.

"Eh? But it's just getting to the good part!" he exclaimed. He bounced a little, his eyes bright beneath the moonlight, and Sasuke smiled despite himself, but started pulling him away regardless.

"I'm sure we'll hear plenty more of them tomorrow night," he insisted. They waved at Sakura and Kakashi who had agreed to take first watch, and opened the trap door that lead down into the upper hull where the guest quarters were located. The boat rocked back and forth on the large waves mid sea, and Sasuke and Naruto both struggled to stay upright as they navigated through the dark and cramped hallway below deck.

The two of them stumbled up against their doorway, Naruto gasping as Sasuke fell against him, their heads nearly crashing together. They leaned against each other for a minute, noses brushing, staring at each other in the darkness. The hallway was silent, apart from the faint crashing of waves that could be heard at all times, the incessant groaning of the ship, and the occasional movement above deck. No one would see them, no one would hear him. And it had been so damn long…

Sasuke leaned in, his lips just grazing Naruto's when there was a strange creak, like the entire structure of the ship was shifting, followed by some very distinctive sounds beneath their feet.

Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap tap. Kshhhhh.

Naruto shivered against him, his gaze dropping to the ground as he swallowed. It had almost been like…footsteps, and the sound of metal dragging across the floor.

"S-Sasuke, did you hear that?" he whispered.

"Hn."

They waited, and then there it was again.

Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh.

More this time. The hair on Sasuke's arms rose, and he looked down as well. He didn't sense any sort of chakra presence, and when his sharingan activated, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. Only the old squeaky wood panelling that lined the floor. The crew quarters were on the other side of the ship, and the only thing below was the storage hull.

"Ghosts!" Naruto hissed, and Sasuke frowned at him.

"Idiot it's not ghosts."

Despite his statement Sasuke was unsure of what else it could be. Rats maybe? Though they were too small to make such a noise. It had sounded distinctly human. Like the pitter patter of feet moving slowly across floorboards. And…something else. But there shouldn't have been any other people so low on the ship. Sasuke shuddered. The storage hull was locked up by key, accessible only by the Captain and a few of his high ranking crew members. All of whom were either drunkenly singing away their woes above deck or sleeping. Perhaps it was their minds playing tricks on them.

They stood there in silence, waiting, but the soft tapping didn't happen again. Neither of them were quite willing to move, frozen as they waited. And then there was another loud groan, followed by a very distinctive creak as the heavy door at the end of the hallway slowly opened. Wasn't it supposed to be locked?

Sasuke and Naruto held their breaths, their bodies tensing as they clutched at each other's arms and stared into the darkness towards the door. Sasuke could just barely see the shadow of it opening, and his fingers clenched in the fabric of Naruto's shirt as the gap widened and a tall figure moved into the hallway. He could make out the silhouette, a bit stocky, longish hair, and then there was the faint glint of jewellery from the figure's ear. Sasuke let out a heavy breath of air, his body relaxing as he realized it was just the Captain.

The man blinked at them, then grinned wryly before locking the door and stepping down the creaky hallway towards them. "Ah, sorry to startle you boys, just checking over my inventory before bed," he said. He smirked at Sasuke's impassive face, and then leaned against the wall next to them, glancing towards Naruto curiously. "Ah, Naruto, wasn't it?" Without waiting for an answer the Captain reached out, grabbing a lock of Naruto's hair and curling it around his finger. Sasuke saw red. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in taking a look around my cabin tonight? I promise you won't regret it," the Captain asked, completely ignoring Sasuke's presence as he looked down at Naruto's shocked eyes.

"R-really?"

Naruto's eyes lit up at the prospect of actually getting to see inside the captain's quarters and Sasuke started to fume. He knew it was borne from innocence. That Naruto truly had no idea he was being lured into another man's bed, but it still pissed Sasuke off to no end. He wrapped an arm around Naruto's neck, tugging him away from the Captain, and whispered into his ear, "He means sex, you idiot. He wants to fuck you."

Naruto's face reddened, the grin faltering and morphing into an expression of disbelief. Then he twisted away, tucking his face against Sasuke, and stumbled over an apology. "A-ah, actually I have to be getting to bed so n-no thank you."

"Oh? That's a shame. Perhaps another time," the Captain drawled. He didn't look all that bothered by the rejection. He stayed right where he was, watching them with the same leering eyes as always, and Sasuke couldn't resist snorting as he directed a meaningful glare at the Captain before kissing the side of Naruto's head pointedly.

"I'm afraid he'll be otherwise occupied, good night Captain," Sasuke said, and he opened the door to their room and tugged Naruto inside before slamming it loudly behind them. They listened at the door for a moment as the Captain shuffled away, his heavy steps leisurely walking the rest of the way down the hallway.

Sasuke let out an annoyed sigh. He'd let his emotions get the better of him. It was one thing to display such affection in front of the people he trusted. But it wasn't particularly smart to reveal romantic relationships like that to strangers. Feelings like that could be so easily exploited, used to manipulate, especially while on a mission. If the Captain had been an enemy nin, they could have been in a lot of trouble. Sasuke knew better. He did. And yet he just couldn't stop himself when it came to Naruto.

He couldn't wait to finish this stupid mission.

Sasuke pushed away from the door and squinted around them. The room they'd been provided with was almost completely dark inside, the small port side window offering hardly any light at night other than a small sliver from the moon. It was just as cramped as the hallway, and Sasuke stumbled over towards the bunk bed and started rummaging around the blankets, taking off his shirt and shoes before sliding beneath them. Naruto hovered at the edge of the bed, staring at the tiny ladder that led up towards the upper bunk before his gaze drifted back down.

"Can I…can I share with you?" he asked, arms wrapped around himself nervously.

Sasuke eyed him for a second and shifted backwards against the wall. "Dobe, what do you think. Of course you can, come here."

Naruto grinned and slid his shoes off before practically diving beneath the covers next to him. Naruto cuddled into his side, giggling a bit as their feet and knees got tangled up, and then, his fingers pressed against Sasuke's chest hesitantly. "You know I…I wouldn't…," he started. "I mean…I didn't realize…"

Sasuke rolled on top of him, and Naruto squeaked, swallowing when Sasuke looked down at his face in the dark.

"Don't be stupid," Sasuke muttered, before he leaned down and kissed him. Of course he knew. Naruto was definitely not the sort to play around. He was loyal to a fault. Sasuke would never doubt him in that way, no matter how much it had annoyed him watching the Captain fawn all over him. Naruto wouldn't see someone flirting with him if they were two inches from his face. Even if you told him he'd still doubt it. He was so oblivious.

In fact, it pissed Sasuke off. He had no business being so completely unaware of how gorgeous he was. With his innocent wide blue eyes, and pouty lips. It made Sasuke want to ravage him.

Sasuke's mouth moved over Naruto's eagerly, and he ground down into his body a bit and swallowed his moans. It had been weeks since they'd been able to do this with any kind of privacy. And now, after a full day watching that man touch him, stare at him, Sasuke just couldn't wait any longer. His fingers tangled in the soft strands of Naruto's hair, then worked the ribbon of his mask loose before sliding it from his face. He was happy to finally see those whisker marks again, even if they were barely visible in such low lighting. Sasuke could feel the slight indentations beneath his fingertips as he ran them across Naruto's face, and he leaned down and kissed his cheeks before starting to peel away his clothes.

Having Naruto naked beneath him was quickly becoming one of Sasuke's favourite things. He wondered if Naruto knew. If he had any idea just how often Sasuke's mind was preoccupied with thoughts of touching him, being with him like this. His hands ran up and down Naruto's body, just feeling, before he parted his legs and knelt in between them. It was a cramped space, and Sasuke's shoulders rubbed against the underside of the upper bunk bed as he looked down into Naruto's dazed eyes.

He needed to be inside of him. Now.

Sasuke touched his rim hesitantly, frowning as he realized he didn't have anything to slick him with. He stuck a finger just inside, and Naruto gasped and squirmed a bit, reaching up to grab hold of Sasuke's arm.

"I don't want to hurt you," Sasuke said. He stared at Naruto's hole, watching it twitch around the end of his finger before scooting down the bed and leaning closer to lick at him instead.

"What…ah!" Naruto bucked up, his hands flying down against Sasuke's shoulders. "Sasuke that's…I'm…I haven't bathed since this morn-," he gasped. Sasuke didn't bother responding, his tongue easing inside of him, slowly getting him wet. He used a finger to push his saliva in a bit deeper, and lapped at Naruto's rim teasingly, taking pride in the way Naruto's thighs trembled.

"Sasuke!"

"Shh…keep your voice down," Sasuke whispered. It was doubtful anyone would hear him, unless the Captain decided to linger in the hallway outside. But they didn't need to risk Kakashi or Sakura checking on them because Naruto let out a particularly loud scream. Sasuke licked and fingered Naruto until his hole was fairly wet, and then he sat back, running his fingers up and down his length. Naruto was covering his face, trying to hide even in the dark of their cabin. But he was hard as a rock, cock leaking all over his stomach. Sasuke stroked himself a few more times, spreading precome down over himself before he lined himself up. "Tell me if it hurts," Sasuke said before sliding inside of him.

Fuck. It was so tight. Just a few thrusts had him on the verge of finishing. He moved agonizingly slow, watching Naruto carefully for any sign of pain. He didn't appear to be hurting at all. Sasuke grazed the side of Naruto's face with his palm, brushing back a few stray hairs. His hands had moved down to cover his mouth, holding in little moans and gasps as Sasuke thrust inside of him gently. He clenched around him every so often, whenever Sasuke hit a spot inside him that was particularly sensitive, and Sasuke winced as he struggled not to release. They had to start doing this more often if Sasuke ever wanted to last longer than five minutes.

The bed frame creaked as they moved, the thin mattress shifting beneath their weight atop the supporting wooden flats. Sasuke knocked his head a few times against the upper bunk as he adjusted his position, lifting Naruto's hips slightly for an angle that allowed him to go a bit deeper. Naruto cried out, unable to hide his voice at the sudden change, but he quickly slapped his palms over his mouth again to stifle any further moans.

Sasuke definitely needed to make quick work of things because he wasn't going to last.

He reached in between their bodies and wrapped a hand around Naruto's cock, pumping him slowly in time with his thrusts. Naruto groaned, and he shivered and kicked upwards, his foot slamming into the wooden bedframe with a loud thwack.

"Fuck, ow, ah, Sasu-,"

Sasuke kissed him, and then dragged his fingers across Naruto's chest, pausing to pinch a nipple gently. Naruto's legs clenched around his body best they could, and he wiggled his hips and jerked with each tweak of his sensitive skin. Sasuke took a moment to lick his fingers before playing with the small bud again. If they'd had more time, and more space, he would have spent an hour alone licking at each one, drawing Naruto to the edge over and over again.

He could make him come just by playing with him like that if he wanted to. He didn't even have to touch him anywhere else on his body he was so sensitive. It didn't take long for Naruto to buck up against him as his orgasm tore through his body almost violently. He clenched so tightly around Sasuke that he let out a surprised groan, reaching around Naruto's body to hold him tight as he came inside of him. The two of them held fast to each other, grinding together for several long moments, eventually slumping against one another as they finished. Naruto's body trembled as Sasuke eased his legs down towards the mattress. He seemed almost in shock, so surprised by the suddenness of his release that he couldn't quite fathom what had happened, and Sasuke watched him carefully as his gaze became focused again.

He pulled out as slow as he could manage, but Naruto still flinched a bit at the drag of their skin. Sasuke kissed him apologetically. He hadn't meant to be so rough. Thankfully any tenderness would heal by morning, but he still mentally swore to be more careful next time. Sasuke wiped them both off with the worn blankets while Naruto blinked up at him dazedly. He gently padded at Naruto's rear, checking him a bit more carefully, before kicking the blankets from the bed. They'd be a crusty mess in the morning but had probably seen much worse.

The two of them lay next to each other after that, sharing lazy open mouthed kisses. Sasuke fiddled with the chain around Naruto's neck, and Naruto pulled away slightly, staring at him as he reached out to touch Sasuke's hair. He smiled softly and Sasuke couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about.

"Sasuke…," Naruto started, his gaze shifting lower as he nibbled at his lower lip. "You know…you know I'm yours right?"

Sasuke's heart jumped, and he clutched the chain between his fingers just a bit tighter than before. Only Naruto could say something so impactful in such a seemingly innocent way. "I…I know." Naruto grinned and shimmied closer, tucking his face against Sasuke's chest and Sasuke kissed the top of his head. He wanted to say more, but again, was at a loss for words. Everything felt too contrived. Like he couldn't properly convey just how he felt with only words. He wished he could say what was on his mind as easily as Naruto.

He felt fingers fiddling against his sides, tapping and drawing patterns in a lazy, distracted sort of way. It was already very late, and they had just a few hours to sleep before someone would be knocking at their door. "Get some rest, it'll be our watch soon," Sasuke said, yawning as he struggled to relax himself. He was uncomfortably sweaty and overly hot packed in against Naruto in such a confined space. He definitely needed that shower.

Naruto wiggled around, trying to find a comfortable position with little success. Sasuke felt even the slightest movement, his eyes wide open as he stared at Naruto's hair. Now that they were actually trying to sleep, every sound around them seemed impossibly loud. The wood of the ship creaked and groaned as it rocked over the water, and the wind howled, rattling against their tiny cabin window. A loud guffaw from above deck followed by a series of hoots and hollers echoed down, and Sasuke wondered what stupid story the crew was sharing now.

Naruto shifted for the hundredth time, kicking away at the single sheet still crumpled near the bottom of their mattress. He turned around in Sasuke's arms, sighing as he gazed wearily out into the darkness of their room, and Sasuke peered at the back of his head. From that angle, he could just see the side of Naruto's face, the way his whisker marks were twitching along with the skin as he puffed out his cheeks.

"Sasuke…," Naruto started, and Sasuke acknowledged him with a soft hum. "Do you think those stories, you know, the ghost stories. Do you think they're true?"

Sasuke snorted, but pulled him in closer, cuddling against his back. "No, there's no such thing as ghosts you idiot."

"What about…you know…the weird sounds and stuff?"

"It's just the wind, the structure of the ship settling," Sasuke muttered. His brow furrowed as he struggled to come up with any other reasonable explanation. "Probably," he added.

The boat rocked back and forth, and they both tensed at the strange groaning the wood made along with the motion. Naruto's fingers tightened against the mattress and Sasuke looked around their room, spotting nothing out of place.

Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh.

They both stiffened, eyes widening, and then Naruto shot up, hitting his head on the upper bunk.

"Ow damn it!" Naruto cursed, and then he shivered and turned towards Sasuke frantically. "You heard it didn't you? You totally heard it!"

Sasuke gulped, sitting up slightly as he peered warily at the floorboards.

"Teme, it's gotta be a ghost!"

They didn't get a wink of sleep.

Sasuke and Naruto stared unenthusiastically out at the water. Their eyes were bloodshot, eyebrows scrunched together as they struggled to stay awake and aware. The strange sounds and creaks and groans had persisted throughout the entire night. Once their watch had started it hadn't improved. They had both practically gone into shock when the rapping came at their door to wake them, and then they spent the rest of the night alone above deck, the ship anchored for a few hours while the rest of the crew slept. Beneath the dark cloudy sky, every single sound had set off their nerves.

They were definitely taking an extended holiday when they returned.

By the time afternoon arrived Sasuke's head was drooping. The motion of the boat was even starting to get to him and he startled upright when a loud horn blared not far off. His eyes widened, his sharingan activating as he tensed and hurried to look out to sea. He was already reaching for a kunai when Kakashi touched his shoulder lightly to settle him down.

"Relax, it's just a goods inspection ship," Kakashi explained, and Sasuke took a few deep breaths in an attempt to settle his nerves. He would have been pretty useless in a fight, and he kicked himself for getting so worked up. Naruto plopped his chin down over the railing beside him, eyeing the approaching ship blearily. They watched as a few men boarded, the Captain immediately greeting them with his usual smarmy smile. The crew was met with judgemental looks, the inspector peering at several of them from head to toe with narrowed eyes.

"You're a lumber tradesman?" The inspector asked, gesturing towards the wood piled up on deck as he wrote a few things down on his clipboard.

The Captain leaned casually against the nearest mast. "You bet, all kinds. This outlines everything currently on board," he said, and he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper.

"You keep some of it stored below deck?"

"The bulk of it," The Captain said. "Well protected too," he added, nodding towards where their team was currently lounging.

"Oh, you have a shinobi guard?" The inspector asked, the surprise evident in his tone. He brightened a bit, nodding their way, and Kakashi ducked his head and offered a small wave.

"Never can be too careful against bandits these days, always trying to take advantage of an honest businessman. We've got the best of the best from Konoha they say," The Captain said. He winked at Naruto, who flushed slightly and turned away. The inspector followed his gaze, nodding to himself briefly. He adjusted his jacket, standing up a bit straighter.

"From Konoha?"

"I've lost too many shipments to thieves and the like to risk going alone." The Captain chatted with him for just a few minutes, about the weather, and the nearby struggling fishing villages, as the inspector skimmed the list half-heartedly. He stamped it with approval before handing it back. They didn't hang around much longer than that, making their way off the boat and towards their next destination.

"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura spoke quietly. She was staring after the departing inspection ship with a puzzled expression. "They didn't even look."

Kakashi's visible eye narrowed, and he tilted his head to the side in thought. "Hmm…so they didn't."

Sasuke blinked his tired eyes. He looked between his teammates and the Captain, who was sitting atop the railing as he watched the inspection ship disappear in the distance. His hands were twirling the rolled up paper in his hand. He sported his usual smirk when he finally turned around to face them, offering a single salute before heading back towards the stern. Sasuke didn't like the smug look on his face one bit.

Two more days at sea and they reached their destination, and Sasuke was beyond relieved. The strange noises had persisted, and even Kakashi and Sakura admitted to hearing unusual sounds while trying to get rest in the evenings. To be honest Sasuke had been hoping to get at least a single night's rest ashore before setting out again, but unfortunately the port lacked any kind of hospitality. It wasn't a town or village, but rather a small isolated storage camp of some kind, with just a couple buildings not far from the shore. He saw only a few men roaming the grounds, walking around the perimeter and guarding the doors. Had he been sailing by, Sasuke might not have even spotted it, so hidden it was along the shoreline. The entire place was surrounded by forestry, and Sasuke wondered why anyone felt the need to purchase wood from overseas with such an ample supply so close at hand. He wasn't an arborist, but it seemed like a waste of both time and money.

They docked and team seven disembarked quickly, eager to finally have a moment on dry land, however short-lived it was. The four of them stretched out their legs and prepared to board a tiny rowboat to make the trip back on their own. Naruto was catching fish, trying to get them a small supply of food for their journey home, and Sakura was filling up several canisters with fresh water from a nearby pump. The trip back shouldn't take as long, if they could use jutsu to enhance their speed, but they wanted to be ready just in case.

"There is something really suspicious about this," Sakura muttered under her breath. She peered out of the corner of her eyes towards the crew that was still lazing about around the ship. They didn't seem in a hurry, even the Captain was chatting idly with one of the men from the encampment, glancing over towards them every so often. Sasuke felt the same, but he wasn't quite sure why. They'd escorted hundreds of similar ships before, for a wide variety of merchandise, often for even more questionable characters. But there was just something off about this one. A terrible feeling he couldn't shake.

Eventually the Captain treaded over their way and signed their scroll to confirm the mission had been completed.

"You didn't really need us, I'm afraid you wasted quite a bit of money by hiring a shinobi guard," Kakashi said. He rolled up the scroll and tucked it in his pack. He looked relaxed, but Sasuke could see the slight tension in his form. It wouldn't be noticeable to someone who wasn't familiar with him.

The Captain grinned and crossed his arms. "You never can be too careful. Afterall, this is my livelihood."

"I can't imagine lumber fetches you enough to cover the cost," Kakashi commented.

There was an uncomfortable pause, and the man smiled, staring into Kakashi's eye. "Oh you'd be surprised what my goods will sell for." The Captain lowered his arms, his posture relaxing as he let out a bit of a hollow laugh. "Thanks for the escort. I'll keep you guys in mind if I'm ever travelling these waters again."

Sasuke frowned as he walked away, his gaze boring into the man's back with each step he took. His fingers tightened around the ropes he was twisting together into a net, but he kept working at it while observing the ship's crew carefully. He didn't bat an eye when the Captain greeted the man clearly in charge of the small trade port, only watching as they had a brief conversation and then began their transaction. Sasuke was tired. More tired than he had been in a long time. But not too tired to miss that the Captain was paying the tradesman instead of the other way around. Odd.

Sakura had seen it too, and Kakashi paused ever so slightly which meant he had as well.

"What is it?" Naruto asked, looking up from the water he'd been stabbing a pointed stick into. Sasuke gestured at him silently, urging him to keep catching fish. He did so, but his expression hardened in suspicion, and he glanced over at Sasuke several times as he continued to work.

They boarded their boat soon after, piling the fish in one corner and their limited supplies in the other.

"I don't like this, we're missing something," Sakura whispered. She was right. It didn't make any sense. What could the Captain possibly be buying from a trade port like this. A lot of money had exchanged hands. Way too much money for mere lumber. Even if it was made out of gold. And the crew hadn't started unloading anything. In fact it seemed like every single person ashore aside from them was simply waiting. Almost like they needed them to leave before they could take action.

"It's not our business," Kakashi said. "Our mission here is complete."

"But you agree," Sasuke stated. There was no response, but he didn't need one to know.

Sasuke frowned and looked out towards the horizon. The sun had just started to set, and they wanted to get at least a bit of travel in before nightfall, so he loosened the ropes holding them ashore before pushing them off. The four of them sat in silence, watching the shoreline get smaller as they rowed out to sea. It was nearly dark by the time The Salty Stalker was barely visible in the distance, and Sasuke knew they would be little more than a dot on the horizon to those ashore. Naruto unfastened his mask, rubbing at his face as he stared back towards the port. He looked pensive, his expression clearly displaying his hesitancy to leave. A hesitancy they all shared.

Kakashi sighed.

"Throw down the anchor. We're shinobi after all, the least we can do is check."

They walked underwater, on the ocean floor, using chakra to pool air around their heads to allow them to breathe. It was dark by the time they reached the lumber ship, well after midnight, and the four of them climbed up the side of the boat facing away from the dock. Water dripped from their clothes and hair as they clung to the side of the ship, shimmying up the paneling as quietly as possible. It looked like there were still people aboard, and that they were getting ready to leave soon. It was a very odd time of day to start a journey. The lumber too, was still strapped across the deck, having never been unloaded at all. Sasuke knew something wasn't right. They held themselves against the hull silently, listening in on the conversations above deck, waiting for a signal from Kakashi.

"Where's the next pickup?" someone asked.

"Makko Port, then on to Andori with the lot of them."

Sasuke met Naruto's puzzled expression with one of his own. There had been no information regarding further travel in their mission report, which didn't necessarily mean anything, but the rhetoric was still unusual. They waited as the voices distanced a bit, moving to the other side of the ship, and Sasuke lifted himself up enough to peer over the railing. He nodded towards Kakashi, who gestured for Sakura to follow him around the other side of the boat. She tossed Sasuke one of her summoning stones before moving, and Naruto climbed into place behind him. If there was nothing amiss, they wouldn't need to use it, instead sneaking back off the ship like they had never returned at all. But if he and Naruto found something…that would let her know.

They pulled themselves over the railing, ducking into the shadows and taking a quick count. There were roughly ten people above deck, the Captain nowhere in sight. If they timed it correctly they should be able to sneak through the trapdoors leading down into the hull without being seen.

He caught sight of Kakashi and Sakura moving into place across from them. They would stand guard, making sure to take care of any threat headed their way. At the signal Sasuke and Naruto hurried along the floorboards, making not a single sound as they opened the doors and jumped down into hallway where their cabin had been. It was empty, but they didn't lower their guard, treading lightly down the hallway to the door at the end. Sasuke twisted the doorknob, finding it locked, unsurprisingly. Naruto formed a few hand signs, and then pressed his palm against the door, and several markings shot out from his fingers creating a silencing seal. He grinned and Sasuke smirked and snapped the knob from its place, pulling the door open without a single sound.

He peered around the edge carefully, but beyond the door there was nothing but a gaping hole in the floor. There was a pulley system hanging into the gap, likely for offloading goods in large quantities, and a single sturdy ladder was propped up leading down to the next level. Sasuke slowly lowered himself, testing each rung for creaks before stepping down on the next. Once at the bottom he peered around himself quickly and then lifted his arms up, easing Naruto down beside him. Right behind them was another door, clearly leading into the storage area of the ship. They held fast to each other for a moment, listening carefully, but not hearing much beyond the usual creaking of wood…and…

Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh. Tap, tap. Kshhhhh.

The strange sounds were louder, much more obvious, and clearly coming from the storage bay. Not a figment of their imagination after all. Sasuke and Naruto glanced at each other before staring hesitantly at the door. It had a handle much the same as the one up above, decorative, old and rusty, but with one small difference. The lock was on the outside of the door.

Naruto reached out, his fingers pausing for a second before he twisted the latch to the side and turned the handle. The door opened just a crack, and there was nothing but darkness. Naruto's fingers clenched around Sasuke's forearm, and then he pushed it open, wincing as it creaked. He'd forgotten to seal it this time.

Nothing greeted them but silence. Sasuke couldn't see anything in the dark shadows, even with his sharingan, so he created a small circular flame, and Naruto surrounded it with a wind jutsu, blowing it out to hover in the centre of the room. There was a rush of movement as clothing shuffled and several figures inched away from the light. Multiple pairs of eyes peered back at them, and he startled, Naruto's fingers grasping at his chest and tightening in his shirt. There were children, fifteen, twenty maybe, all chained up and sitting on the ground, staring at them with fearful, exhausted gazes. Their feet were bare, their clothes ragged and dirty, and they clutched at their knees and scrunched up against the walls of the room.

Was this…was this the trade?

"Oh…fuck."

It was Sakura who cornered the Captain, blowing a hole in his cabin before dragging him off of the ship. She held his head beneath the water, not even flinching as he struggled in her hold. In the end, he was no match for her sheer strength, and she held fast until his body stopped moving and he eventually succumbed to death. Her face was stony as she threw his limp form onto the deck along with the rest of the crew, and Sasuke eyed her with concern.

He wasn't sure what made her react quite so violently, but he could imagine. After summoning her with the stone, she had looked over the children in stunned silence, using her medical jutsu to scan each one of them for anything urgent. She had been oddly quiet. If she'd found something, she did not speak on it. Her stilted silence and steely gaze was evidence enough that there was more than met the eye, and Sasuke was fairly certain he didn't want to know.

"Sakura?" Naruto had asked, his hand reaching out to touch her shoulder. She didn't respond. She simply stood and climbed back above deck, knocking her fist into the first crew member she came across and threatening the next for the Captain's location.

It didn't take them long to overpower the rest of the crew, as well as the men in the encampment on shore. Sasuke and Kakashi checked every inch of the buildings, but found no more children. It seemed all of them had been sold to the Captain and his crew. They'd been quiet, quick, and merciless. They killed them all, stacked them on the ship, cleaned up the mess left behind, and then escorted the children off and into a couple lifeboats.

When they were a safe distance away Sasuke activated his mangekyo and directed his gaze back towards The Salty Stalker one final time.

"Amaterasu!" he hissed, watching as it went up in black flames, collapsing into dust in the water along with its crew. There wouldn't be a single scrap left behind.

Going against mission parameters was dangerous. Without Hokage approval they risked losing their ranks, perhaps even facing arrest. Sudden decisions could impact potentially hundreds of people in ways no one could predict. Ultimately Kakashi would take the brunt of the fall as their team leader. But under the circumstances even he didn't care. Those men didn't deserve to live. And they couldn't just leave the children to suffer. None of them were willing to let a single child get sold into slavery for the sake of a stamp of approval from the Hokage.

It took them longer than predicted to get back, with the twenty some odd children in tow. Konoha wasn't a port town, so once they reached the shore, they'd had to make the rest of the journey on foot at a much slower pace. And with the extra mouths to feed, they'd needed frequent stops just to have enough time to gather and prep meals. They avoided cities, and veered off the paths whenever travellers approached. It was best to stay hidden to avoid any further complications.

Naruto had done his part to keep the kids entertained on the trip, though his eyes betrayed the hurt he was feeling inside. Sasuke carried their supplies while Naruto made a couple clones to play and chat with as many children at a time as possible, even carrying them on his back when necessary. And while he was able to get the occasional smile out of the children, for the most part, they were lost, scared, and confused.

It was impossible to sneak so many into the village, and so they were watched and followed as they ushered the group between them through the gate and pathways that lead to the Hokage Tower. They were pulled away almost immediately to receive medical care and questioning. Tsunade's reaction was one of absolute silence. It was highly unusual for her, and none of them were quite sure what to make of it. If she'd been drunk, she sobered quickly, spending three hours looking over several of the kids herself, not a single word uttered the entire time.

Now, she sat behind her desk, listening to their statement with a blank expression on her face. When Kakashi finished, Tsunade lifted her chin and sighed. She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, sitting in silence for nearly ten minutes before speaking.

"How many witnesses," she asked. Her eyebrows were scrunched together and her eyes remained tightly shut.

"None, apart from those who saw us walking within Konoha's gates," Kakashi confirmed. "Sasuke's genjutsu ensured we remained unseen the few times civilians came too close.

"And you left no evidence," she added.

"None. Everything and everyone was burned to dust in the sea. The ship included."

Tsunade nodded. She ran a hand through her hair, and then sat up a bit straighter, opening her eyes as she clasped her fingers together atop the desk. "As far as all of you are concerned, this mission never happened," she said. She stared at them for a few seconds and then held up the mission scroll, gesturing for Sasuke to burn it. He did so without question.

"This will be the last I hear of your version of events. The mission report is as follows. Upon returning home you spotted a shipwreck off the Northern coast of Steam. As many children as possible were evacuated into lifeboats, the remaining passengers unfortunately drowned with the ship before you could reach them. You managed to recover the lifeboats, and rescue the children." She pulled out a new scroll, writing out the description quickly and stamped it as though it were the one they'd just completed.

"But that's not-," Naruto began, but Sakura nudged him in the ribs with her elbow and he quickly shut up.

Tsunade looked up at him, her eyes steely, her teeth tightly ground together. "I do not wish to hear a single word that suggests otherwise."

"You seem to be forgetting that there were several other sets of eyes as witness as well. Young ones, that won't easily forget all that has happened to them," Kakashi mentioned.

"That will be dealt with."

Sasuke swallowed as he directed his gaze towards the floor. He knew they had ways of course, of manipulating memories to fit their narrative. It was cruel, but necessary. And though he didn't like the idea of meddling around in the minds of innocent children, perhaps it was for the best in this case. Naruto's fists clenched at his sides, and Sasuke wanted to reach out and grab him, but he refrained from doing so.

"What'll happen to them all?" Naruto asked, his voice deceptively calm. Sasuke could see the way he was shaking, using every ounce of his remaining energy to keep himself in check.

"We will integrate them into Konoha society best we can."

Naruto jolted, his eyes widening and his arms flew out to his sides. "But what if they have family still!"

"Naruto, their families are dead, it says so in our mission report." Tsunade stared him down, holding up the scroll as if daring him to disagree with her. He didn't. "We have no idea how wide this operation spans. Someone out there is waiting for a delivery that will never arrive. A very expensive delivery. They will be angry when they realize it has gone missing. We have no idea who else may be involved. We cannot risk the threat searching for them might otherwise bring upon our village." She sighed wearily, her expression softening slightly as she looked Naruto in the eyes. "This is not your mission any longer, you will not speak of it again. This is for your safety, as well as the safety of these children. Understood?"

Sasuke could see the instant Naruto fully grasped the gravity of the situation at hand. His body slumped, the days of exhaustion finally taking their toll. His face crumpled with his anguish, and Sasuke reached out to rest his palm against his lower back, unable to resist offering him comfort any longer. They left the room in silence.

Sasuke and Naruto spent the afternoon together wandering town. They were both in desperate need of sleep, but after an emotional shower, in which Naruto cried softly against Sasuke's shoulder, clutching at him like a lifeline, they couldn't bring themselves to do so.

Instead they found their way to Ichiraku, but the ramen that so often brought Naruto comfort was unable to lift his spirits. In fact, for the first time maybe ever, Naruto did little more than stare at the noodles floating in the broth, hardly touching it at all. He poked at the egg nestled to the side, and Sasuke eyed him worriedly, sipping at his own bowl unenthusiastically.

Sasuke could tell that Naruto needed to talk, but he wasn't sure how to broach the subject. Instead he just stayed at his side, waiting. Naruto bit the inside of his lip and shoved his chopsticks aggressively into the egg before he sat back on his stool. "Do you think…they'll be okay?" he finally asked. Sasuke didn't have an answer. Thankfully Naruto wasn't really looking for one. "I just…I don't want them to be alone like we were."

Sasuke paused, a clump of noodles just a few inches from his face. He put them back in his bowl and closed his mouth, lowering his gaze towards the counter. Konoha didn't have a proper orphanage, most of the hidden villages didn't. There were simply too many children left behind from wars and missions to accommodate in that way. Instead they were thrown into an adult life at a young age. Expected to fend for themselves. Naruto and Sasuke had both been victims of a broken system.

Naruto was an example of the best possible outcome from such a situation. He was positive, hardworking, determined, kind. Though he still had many confidence issues that could have been prevented with a better support system, with a family. But Sasuke…

Sasuke had been everything Naruto wasn't. Cold, calculating, incapable of forming bonds with those around him. Though he was in a much better place now, largely because of Naruto, there had been a time where he was little more than a lost cause. An enemy of Konoha, a missing nin. The majority of fugitives came from broken families or war-torn countries. The hidden villages cultivated almost all of the threats posed against them themselves, purely by throwing children into war and adult life at far too young an age. Before they were able to make decisions with a fully developed mind. Konoha was lucky Naruto had turned out so unerringly good. A jinchuuriki with a mind set on revenge would have been a terrifying prospect.

"I wish I could do more to help. Like find their families. And there could be other children out there, being sold as we speak-,"

"Naruto," Sasuke hurried to stop him there. "You've done so much already. We were lucky to have found them at all." Sasuke let go of his bowl, turning on his stool to face Naruto directly. "I'm sure Tsunade will do the best she can to find homes here for them."

"And the ones she can't? What about them? Will they just be thrown into the streets to fend for themselves? Left to grow up alone without anyone to…to care for them?" Naruto pushed his bowl away irritably, ducking his head as he stared down at his feet hanging below. "It's not right. It's not fair."

Sasuke blinked at him, at a loss for what to say. He was right. It wasn't fair. Sasuke knew that better than most. But he also understood Tsunade's decision to keep the children confined within the village. "Sometimes…a leader has to make difficult choices, in an effort to protect the village, and all those within it."

They sat in silence for a while, Naruto kicking at his stool while Sasuke tried to come up with anything that might comfort him. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He wished there was an easy fix, but Naruto's mind would be stuck on this for days, possibly years. Any time he saw one of those children in the streets it would rekindle the memories. And he'd find a way to blame himself, to convince himself he hadn't done enough to help.

"If being Hokage means making decisions like that, I don't think I want to do it."

The words were whispered, but Sasuke heard them clear as day. His mouth fell open a bit and he stared at Naruto with wide eyes. They were words he never thought he'd hear from him. How often had he spouted nonsense while growing up about becoming Hokage. It was his singular goal, for so long. And though Naruto mentioned it less now that they were older and more preoccupied with missions, Sasuke knew without a doubt it was still his greatest ambition in life.

"You'd…give up on your dream?"

Naruto shrugged, his eyes flittering about as he grasped the stool between his legs. "I…I don't know." He looked so torn. "I already like what we do. Helping people more actively, you know? Is that…wrong?" The guilt in his expression was heart wrenching.

Sasuke shook his head, reaching out to brush back some of his hair. "Dreams can change. Wanting to help people is…a good dream to have," he said softly. "What does it matter if you're a Kage or a Jounin in the end?"

Naruto looked at him for a moment before smiling faintly. It was such a relief. The first real smile Sasuke had seen on his face in ages. Even if it was a shadow of the usual Naruto cheer. Naruto turned away, facing his food as he mulled over his thoughts. His fingers fiddled with the bowl, tapping at the chopsticks and twirling them around the rim. Finally, he picked them up and actually scooped a few noodles into his mouth. He didn't eat with the same vigour as normal, but it was something.

"What's your dream now Sasuke?"

The question caught him off guard. He tapped his fingers against his thigh and tilted his head to the side as his thoughts drifted away. "Hmm…"

Sasuke's greatest ambition had always been to kill Itachi. And he'd accomplished that, and felt nothing but a hollow emptiness in his heart afterwards. Achieving his dream had brought him little peace. It was bittersweet, discovering the truth behind Itachi's actions, the truth behind all that had happened to his clan. The goal he'd worked so hard to attain had turned into one of his biggest regrets.

His other dream, to revive his clan, seemed almost futile now. What reason was there to do so? Would it just create more problems in the future? Would the clan in fifty or sixty years give in to the darkness in their hearts like he had so easily? Would Konoha attempt to strip the sharingan from them, to use them for gain on a political playground he wanted no part of? Sasuke didn't like the idea of the Uchiha name dying out with him, but perhaps carrying on its legacy was too great a risk.

But on a more personal level, the idea of having a family was…intriguing to him. He didn't think he'd hate it. Raising children. If such a thing was even possible for him now. But he was afraid he wouldn't be good at it. That he'd be too much like his father. Too strict, too distant. But a part of him also desperately wanted to do better. And well, if Naruto wanted that as well…

He turned to look at him, welcoming the sense of calm that came with having Naruto so close to his side. He might not have had all of the answers about his dreams anymore, but there was one thing he was sure of.

"The only thing…I really want, is to make you happy," Sasuke said. He looked away almost immediately, embarrassed that he'd said something so completely stupid. But when Naruto startled, practically choking on the ramen he was scooping into his mouth, Sasuke glanced back at him in concern. He coughed a few times and turned to look at Sasuke incredulously.

"T-That's not a dream."

Naruto looked so completely shocked. Like he couldn't fathom the idea of someone caring for him in such a way, and it tore at Sasuke's heart. Hadn't he promised to fix this? To make sure Naruto knew he was special? That he was worthy of love? He frowned and gritted his teeth. "Isn't it?" Sasuke asked. He reached out to clasp Naruto's hand, running his thumb gently over his fingertips. "It's what gives me the greatest joy." He didn't even care that his words were ridiculously sappy anymore. Because clearly Naruto needed to hear them.

"S-Sasuke…"

Naruto gaped at him, his fingers tightening in Sasuke's grip. His eyes watered, and he blinked them rapidly but had to turn away to wipe at his face with a sleeve. Sasuke sat up a bit straighter and leaned around, looking at him worriedly.

"And now I've made you sad."

Naruto laughed and punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Teme, tears aren't always sad." He sniffled and wiped at his face aggressively while Sasuke stared at him. It had been a long day, after several even longer ones. They were both teetering on the edge. It was only a matter of time before one of them let it out again.

Sasuke shimmied his stool nearer so that he could hold him close. He tucked his nose into Naruto's hair, smelling the familiar citrus fragrance that clung to him after a shower, and Naruto pressed his face into him, giving up on wiping away his tears. Sasuke was grateful it was a bit of a grey day, that the villagers out and about were few in number. It allowed them some privacy while they leaned on each other for support, their ramen left unfinished on the counter top. Even Teuchi left them alone, thankfully, only occasionally peering their way with sad eyes.

As Naruto settled down, Sasuke took some time to think about the future. He'd been so stuck in the present and past for so long, he'd hardly even considered what life might be like in the years ahead. For some time, he didn't think he'd even make it that long. But now, he wanted to make a difference in Konoha. If not for himself, then for Naruto. It was time for things to change. He and Hinata had already taken the first step towards that change, but there was so much more that could be done to improve Konoha's politics, and in return the safety of all those within the village.

"I have a lot of money," Sasuke muttered, and Naruto twisted his head, peering up at him curiously. It was no secret that the Uchiha clan was wealthy. And though much of that wealth had been taken by Konoha when he'd defected, Tsunade had gracefully returned a hefty chunk of it upon his return. "I couldn't possibly use it all. Perhaps some of it could be put towards sponsoring the construction of an orphanage. A proper one. It might be the start to a better Konoha."

Naruto jolted upright, staring at Sasuke intently, his hands pressed against the tops of Sasuke's thighs as he looked into his eyes. He opened and closed his mouth several times, and then his eyebrows scrunched together. The tears fell almost immediately, and he didn't even try to stop them this time. Sasuke looked at him, completely baffled. He hadn't meant to make him cry like this. It was the complete opposite of his intentions.

Sasuke reached out, framing Naruto's face with his hands. He brushed away his hair, now wet from tears, and held his chin up as he wiped away the tears himself. "Idiot, stop crying," Sasuke pleaded, but if anything the tears only came harder. Sasuke was on the verge of panic, completely unprepared for this kind of reaction.

"Sas-suke," Naruto snivelled in between his sobs. He hiccupped a few times and smiled through his tears. "You make me so happy. So happy."

Sasuke froze, staring at him in disbelief. His shoulders relaxed slightly and he exhaled, relieved that Naruto wasn't really upset, but rather…overwhelmed. Sasuke smiled at him a bit sadly, and rubbed his fingers across his whisker marks before leaning forward to press a quick kiss against his lips. He pulled him back against his chest, wrapping his arms around his body and cradling Naruto's head against his shoulder.

"I'm glad."

AN: Being a shinobi certainly has its ups and downs. But I think they're going to be okay, don't you? If Sasuke could just learn to use his words more often! Hope you liked it and as always, thanks for reading!

Elderflower: Compassion
Agrimony: Thankfulness