Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, belongs to Kishimoto-sensei.


Chapter 9

Sasuke felt cold and numb, even with Naruto's hand holding his own as he led him down the street to Iruka's house. Madara is alive, after all this time, he's still alive . . . how? Memories flashed before his mind and he stopped making Naruto stop and stare at him, Sasuke didn't hear Naruto calling his name as his mind focused on the day Madara was supposed to have died.


***Flashback***

Sasuke raced through the mist covered forest in Kikigakure, he was closing in on Madara and alongside him, only a few feet away was Kuro. Kuro was at least six foot and four inches in height, he was well built, tan, he had short, spiked black hair and the Sharingan red eyes were activated to be able to see through the mist. Sasuke's were activated as well. Kuro had previously been a ninja for Iwagakure before Orochimaru had captured him and imprisoned him to guard his scrolls.

Kuro was also the half brother of Sasuke, he'd been born from a woman in Iwagakure and was his father's unknown son. He'd been born only a few months after Itachi and sworn loyalty to Sasuke for setting him free. In the past three years of the war, the two had gotten to know one another pretty well. Sasuke felt he could trust Kuro, he was reserved, quiet, and he had a troubled soul. Kuro's mother had been killed by members of the Uchiha clan when his existence had been discovered, her clan fell at their hands as well. He had narrowly escaped and then Orochimaru had captured him, he'd been thirteen at the time.

Kuro had helped Sasuke better understand the twisted and sinister ideals of his clan. He'd also helped Sasuke accept the truth about Itachi, having told him that it had been Itachi that had saved him from the other clan members. He'd discreetly led Kuro away from them and alluded the clansmen that had been tailing him leaving a false trail to thwart their efforts.

Sasuke could sense the Anbu tailing Madara, no doubt because of the information Sasuke had handed over to his old teammates only a few days ago. He felt their chakra disappear as Madara's became murderous, yet weakened by the battle. They were closing in on him.

They finally cornered him a few moments later and Kuro moved off to the left to hide in case Sasuke needed assistance. The battle ensued between the two powerful Uchiha, Sasuke matching Madara evenly with his speed, skills, and grace. The use of the sharigan on both their parts was wearing them down and Madara knelt before Sasuke as they panted in exhaustion. Sasuke raised the sword he still carried with him above his head and his sword fell when Madara activated Tsukiyomi. Long minutes passed in their minds as Madara tried to overpower Sasuke. Then Madara fell to his hands and knees when he was shoved back by the final activation of the Sharingan.

The dropped sword was picked up while Sasuke recovered and Madara tried to cut Sasuke down, who jumped away just in time. Then Kuro appeared in front of Sasuke when Madara tried to hit him with a mind shattering attack of the Sharingan. It seemed to take forever for Kuro to fall to his knees and then to the ground.

Sasuke reacted out of rage and landed a kunai in Madara's left eye and then a windmill shuriken attack cut him in half in his weakened and injured state. Sasuke knelt down next to Kuro just as Juugo joined them. Juugo had seen the last attack and had noticed the Sharingan flare just before the kunai and shuriken had hit Madara. He kept alert as Sasuke turned Kuro over and let out a shuttering breath as he closed his eyes. Sasuke bowed his head for a moment and then laid Kuro on the ground gently as he sensed the approaching leaf Anbu. He stood and turned to Juugo.

Juugo nodded, "Let us go Sasuke-san, I'm sorry about your brother."

Sasuke nodded but couldn't find his voice at the moment. He knew that once they stopped to rest Kuro's death would hit him hard, but he was relieved that Madara was gone, at least he'd thought he was.

***End of Flashback***

Sasuke shifted and ran his hands through his hair as he finally opened his eyes. Naruto's concerned, blue eyes met his and Naruto had both hands cupping his cheeks, his thumb ran across his cheek and Sasuke noticed he'd been crying. He stepped back and touch his hand to his cheek in utter shock. Had I been crying? How long was I crying for, how long have I been standing here?

Naruto stepped back up to him and pulled Sasuke into an embrace, an embrace that made Sasuke stiffen for a moment before he relaxed into the warmth surrounding him. Naruto rubbed a comforting circle on his back with the arm around his waist. He ran his fingers softly through Sasukes' raven, silk, hair and whispered softly, "Sasuke, are you alright?"

Sasuke swallowed down the empty feeling that had settled in him and let the warmth of Naruto so close and holding him, comforting him bring him back from his memories fully. He took a deep shuddering breath and eased out of Naruto's embrace.

"I'm fine, I just . . . it's my fault he's alive. I didn't notice it at all, but Kuro, he was still alive . . ."

"Kuro?"

Sasuke sighed and started back down the street, Naruto taking his hand and walked along side him. "He was my half brother . . . that damn snake captured him after my father and other members of my clan tried to kill him. They killed his mother and her entire clan and he told me Itachi . . . that he'd saved him . . . he was imprisoned to watch over the scrolls that snake had."

Naruto nodded and was silent for a moment before asking quietly, "You two were close?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, we got along like brothers, it was during the war so the comradeship helped . . . thanks to my experience when we were all genin, I ended up developing this team work and comradely notion."

Naruto chuckled at the lighthearted tone Sasuke used as he talked about when they were genin. "Well, at least you didn't forget about us while you were gone."

Sasuke looked at Naruto then back down the street, "How in the hell was I supposed to with you making such an impression?"

Naruto laughed and turned with his shit-eating grin to Sasuke then back to the street, "Good to hear. So what happened? I mean, how did he die, Kuro I mean?"

Sasuke took a deep breath, "He died protecting me, his mind was shattered. Madara was one of the first Uchiha, so there really wasn't anything he didn't know about the Sharingan."

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, I know that much, you and Itachi said as much in your journals. I never did get to read all the other ones. But I know Sakura-chan went through all the ones Kabuto wrote, since he was a medic nin and all."

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, it would be fitting, especially with her being Tsunade-sama's protege."

They finally came up to Iruka's apartment. Naruto hesitated and took a deep breaths exhaling with a sigh before knocking firmly on the door. In a few minutes Iruka opened the door beaming at them.

"Oh! What a pleasant surprise. Come in, come in!" He stepped to the side and held the door open for them to enter the house. It was a pleasant home and they removed their shoes after stepping through the threshold. Iruka closed the door and looked to Naruto as he turned to him with a cheeky grin.

"What's going on?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head, "Uh . . . well."

Sasuke sighed and said to Iruka, "Iruka-sensei, Naruto's apartment was trashed and we need a place to stay until he can get everything back in order. Do you mind letting us stay with you?"

An expression of shock passed over Iruka's face, "What? Again?" Then he smiled forcefully with a nod, "Yes, of course you can stay here. But I am telling Kakashi when he gets home. I was just about to make dinner."

Sasuke bowed his head, "Arigato Iruka-sensei."

Iruka waved it off with a cheerful smile, "Not at all, please make yourselves at home."

Iruka walked past them and down the narrow, though well lit hallway. It was only around five or so. Close to five paces down the hall were stairs leading up to the second floor. Then two paces and to the left was the living room. Further down the hall, five paces on the left was a small dining area and across from that was a well sized kitchen. Naruto led Sasuke to the living room after setting his pack down on the floor in the left corner at the end of the step onto the regular floor. Every home in the village had a floor mat sized space in front of the door where shoes were kept and then a single step up was where the normal floorboards of the house, mostly polished wood, was at that ran throughout the whole house.

The living room was comfortably space and kept up with well. The couch was a pace to the left from the doorway and then three paces into the room. It faced the large, curtained window in the middle of the wall at the front of the house. On either side of it was a small, polished, wooden inn table with two small white lamps sitting on it. There was a coffee table in front of the couch spaced for enough room to rest your legs comfortably on it. The couch was a neutral tan color and the walls were painted a simple brown. There was a bookshelf against the far wall on the left of the couch if you face the window. The curtains were a tan color.

There was a twenty-two inch t.v. sitting on a nice, wooden entertainment center in the corner to Sasuke's right, to the right of the window. There was a generous selection of movies and books on the shelves. The bookshelf had two pieces to it. Both were from the ceiling to the floor. One shelf had books and more movies. The other had pictures and photo albums on the first three shelves, the top three had organized shelves. There was a small desk with a lamp and comfortable desk chair in the left corner along the far wall from the doorway. The desk was wooden and had countless storage space.

A few small drawers and a place for storing scrolls on the shelf built above the work area. There was a middle drawer under the work area and two drawers on the right side. It was packed with papers, scrolls, quills, pens, and a few books scattered across the work area. Naruto walked around the couch and sat down propping his feet on the coffee table after picking up the remote control from the clean coffee table. He turned on the t.v. and surfed through the channels for a while.

Sasuke sighed and sat down next to him, "Don't put your feet on the table dobe."

Naruto raised and eyebrow at him, "Why? Kakashi-sensei does it all the time."

Sasuke huffed and was about to say something when Iruka looked in on them and yelled over at Naruto.

"Naruto! Get your feet off my table!"

Naruto jumped and removed his feet from the table. Sasuke smirked and suppressed a snicker at him. Naruto looked at him with a glare and stuck out his tongue. Sasuke leaned towards him and sucked on his tongue teasingly before pulling away and smirking at the shocked expression on Naruto's face.

"Teme, so you want to play it that way huh?"
Sasuke couldn't react before Naruto pounced and had his hands pinned to the couch, as well as him, and he was on his back. Sasuke grunted and tried to get out of Naruto's hold. Naruto just grinned mischievously at him and leaned down licking the shell of his ear and chuckling darkly at the shudder that passed through Sasuke.

Sasuke heard clanging in the kitchen that reminded him of where they were. He met Naruto's eyes squarely and said firmly, "Get off."

Sasuke mentally slapped himself at his choice of words and frowned when Naruto's eyes took on a mischievous glint as he grinned wider, "Well that was the plan teme."

Sasuke's frown deepened and then he had to bite his bottom lip when Naruto bit harshly into his neck, still sensitive from before. He felt heat rush through him as Naruto licked at the spot and bucked when Naruto's knee pressed into his groin. Sasuke turned his head to the side and clenched his hands in Naruto's.

Licked the shell of his other ear before kissing and nipping lightly at Sasuke's exposed neck. Sasuke turned his head again and Naruto captured his lips in a bruising kiss as his knee moved Sasuke's legs apart. Sasuke's back arched off the couch when Naruto moved his leg up against his length and he moaned into Naruto's mouth.

Naruto shifted and moved his hands to hold both of Sasuke's wrists in one hand while the other trailed down his arm, his fingers brushing light down the length of Sasuke's right arm and down his side to rest on his hip. He deepened the kiss, sucking on Sasuke's bottom lip and making him gasp. Naruto then thrust his tongue in between those parted lips and Sasuke groaned low in his throat.

Naruto smoothed his hand down Sasuke's thigh and around to cup his ass, squeezing it and making Sasuke buck up into him again. Naruto smirked into their kiss and pulled away when Iruka called from the kitchen.

"Dinner is ready you two!"

Naruto growled as he sat up and released Sasuke, both of them flushed and panting. When Sasuke finally calmed down, he was still hard and glared at Naruto haughtily as he stood up, once again grateful for the baggy shorts.

Naruto smirked and before Sasuke could step away from the couch he snaked his arms around Sasuke's waist and pressed his erection against Sasuke's ass making Sasuke bring a fist to muffle the moan threatening to leave his mouth.

Naruto then huskily whispered in his ear, "Don't worry teme, we'll continue later."

Sasuke felt heat rush through him and straight to his cheeks and his groin. He growled, "Let go dobe."

Naruto released him and Sasuke stepped forward jolting when Naruto brushed past him while grabbing his ass. Naruto turned to him with another playful grin before walking down the hallway.

Sasuke growled and had to take a few moments to calm himself and get his blush to go away. He noticed the small bathroom under the stairs as he walked out of the living room after turning off the t.v. He walked over to it and entered it turning on the light and closing the door behind him. It had a toilet and sink, white, white tile and a mirror above the sink.

He looked at his reflection, other than the exhausted look, he could see the hickeys on his neck. He blushed scarlet, No wonder everyone said something, I am going to kill that dobe. He washed his face and hands and and grabbed the white hand towel sitting on the sink to dry his face and hands, turned off the light and opened the door to see Naruto standing there.

Sasuke raised and eyebrow and then glared and brushed past him. Naruto chuckled, "Teme, Iruka-sensei told me to wash up first."

Sasuke gave a curt nod, "Hn."

Naruto looked at him quizzically and shrugged before going in the bathroom. He quickly washed his hands and face noticed the scent of Sasuke on the towel as he dried his face. That scent alone sent blood rushing to his groin and he hastily dried his hands and cut off the light. He walked out and closed the door after putting the towel carelessly on the sink again.

He walked into the dining room and knelt at the low set table next to Sasuke, who was pointedly ignoring him. Naruto raised an eyebrow at him, but shrugged and looked at Iruka.

"We will wait for Kakashi to arrive."

Naruto sighed and looked at the table. There was rice balls, sushi, miso ramen, and white rice. They sat there waiting for Kakashi to arrive for five minutes. Kakashi was heard coming through the front door and he came into the dining room with a wave, "Yo."

Naruto and Sasuke nodded in greeting, they could see Kakashi smiling behind his mask, his eye made that weird upside down 'U' it always did when he was smiling.

Iruka beamed at him, "Kakashi, it seems we have guest for the night."

Kakashi continued to smile and nodded as he walked over to Iruka. He gave Iruka a quick kiss, which made Sasuke smirk and Naruto frown.

He glared at Kakashi, "Neh, don't do that in front of me pervert."

Iruka blushed and then scolded Naruto, "Naruto! Don't talk to him like that."

Naruto huffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "Just telling it as it is."

Sasuke smirked, "As though you're any better Naruto-kun."

Naruto looked at Sasuke with a pout at the suffix, "Neh, Sasuke, what's up with you?"

Sasuke looked at Kakashi who was sitting down across from him next to Iruka. "Hn."

Naruto pouted, "Teme . . . "

Iruka cut him off, "Shall we eat?"

Naruto's stomach growled and Iruka and Kakashi chuckled. They ate silently and quickly and Sasuke helped Iruka with cleaning the dishes while Naruto and Kakashi set off to the living room. Kakashi sank into the couch while Naruto tried to find something on t.v. Naruto sighed and settled on some old movie, but after only ten minutes he turned to Kakashi, "Ne, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi looked at him questioningly, "What is it Naruto-kun?"

Naruto scratched the back of his neck nervously, "Ahh, well it's . . . you see . . . umm, it's about Sasuke and me . . . he . . . well something's up with him and I can't get him to tell me what it is . . . I mean recently he's opened up to me and now he seems mad at me about something . . . "

Kakashi nodded, "Well, maybe that's something you should take up with him."

Naruto sighed heavily, "Thanks, that's loads of help Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi smiled, "Your welcome."

Naruto cupped his face in his hands and stood up handing the remote over to Kakashi as he walked out of the living room. Sasuke was just exiting the kitchen when he stepped into the hallway. Sasuke walked up to the stairs and then into the room in the back to the left, the quest room Naruto knew. It had been his old room for that brief time he had stayed here when he was looking for a new apartment.

Iruka walked out of the kitchen turning off the light and then the dining room light. He saw Naruto standing at the bottom of the stairs and smiled, "You and Sasuke can sleep in the guest room."

Naruto nodded and turned with a bright smile at Iruka, a smile Iruka knew was forced. But considering what Sasuke had told him, he wasn't all that concerned. He continued cheerfully, "Don't forget that you have a mission report to give tomorrow, get some sleep."

Naruto nodded, "Arigato Iruka-sensei, dinner was wonderful and thanks for letting us stay here tonight."

Naruto ran up the stairs and Iruka called out to him, "You're welcome, goodnight."

He then walked over to the living room and joined Kakashi on the couch. Kakashi pulled Iruka to sit in his lap.

"Kakashi, you must be exhausted."

Kakashi nuzzled his neck affectionately, "Hmm," Iruka smiled and leaned into Kakashi. "I'm worried about those two, Sasuke-kun does seem troubled, as does Naruto."

Kakashi nodded, "Hai, they can take care of themselves Iruka."

Iruka sighed, "I know, but I still worry."


Upstairs

Sasuke was showering in the bathroom attached to the quest room and had locked the door. So Naruto sat on the bed, he was glad he'd left some clothes at Iruka's in case of emergencies. He noticed that Sasuke had gone through the drawers and taken a pair of boxers, shorts, and a t-shirt. Naruto had his clean clothes sitting next to him on the bed while he rested his elbows on his knees and his chin in his hands watching the door with a pout on his face.

What could Sasuke be mad about? Is he upset because of remembering Kuro and Madara? Is he just stressed about Madara, though I wouldn't blame him. I would be stressed if there was some crazy, legendary ninja out for my life too. But that doesn't seem to be it. Sasuke usually would come out and say that, I think, plus he hadn't been mad before. Was he mad because of my teasing in the living room?

Naruto shook his head, No, that can't be it, he was enjoying it as much as I was. What the hell is he pissed off about?

"Damn it!"

Sasuke opened the door and came out of the bathroom still towel drying his hair. Naruto stood up and glared at him, "Teme! What the hell is your problem?"

Sasuke quirked and eyebrow at him, "Hn. What was that?"

Naruto fumed, "I said, what's your problem? What in the hell are you so pissy about?"

Sasuke smirked, "Hn. Nothing."

Naruto growled, "Nothing, then what was with the cold shoulder earlier?"

Sasuke walked over to him and Naruto sat down on the bed as Sasuke stood closed and leaned over him. He was a breath away from Naruto and his voice was low, "Dobe, you didn't tell me you left marks where others could see them."

Naruto blinked then he fell back and laughed, "Neh, that's what you're pissed about? Don't be such a girl Sasuke . . . Ow!" Sasuke kicked him in the shin and threw the towel on his head.

Naruto sat up and glared as he removed the towel, "Teme, what the hell?"

Sasuke was giving him a death glare, which Naruto met unwaveringly.

"Don't call me a girl dobe."

Naruto smirked, "Well don't act like one."

Sasuke hissed and made to punch Naruto. Naruto tackled him and pinned him to the bed with his hands held firmly on either side of his head, "It will take more than that teme, you're still rusty remember?"
Sasuke scowled, "Go shower dobe, you smell like shit."

Naruto scrunched up his nose and then kissed Sasuke on the lips hastily before letting him go and jumping back. Sasuke glared at him as he sat up and Naruto walked over to the bathroom. Naruto turned to smirk at him, "We will continue what we had going later. Sasuke-chaan," Naruto sing-songed Sasuke's name and closed the door as the towel came flying at him.

Sasuke sighed as he laid back on the bed. He looked up at the ceiling of the white, plain room, "Baka," he never even noticed that he'd closed his eyes.

Naruto walked out of the bathroom and turned off the light while he towel dried his hair. He cocked his head to the side as he saw Sasuke sleeping with his legs dangling over the edge of the bed and his hand resting on his stomach while his other arm was shading his eyes. Naruto smirked and then picked up the towel and put them in the laundry hamper to the left of the door with the clothes he'd gathered from the bathroom. He placed their satchels and hiate-ate's on the small table next to the bed lightly.

He walked to the other side of the bed and pulled the blanket and sheet back and then walked over to Sasuke and picked him up. Sasuke grunted and his arms wrapped around Naruto's neck as he turned his head into Naruto's neck. Naruto smiled down at him and carried him over to the other side of the bed and laid him down gently.

He pulled the sheet and blanket over him and then walked over to the door and flipped off the light. He then peeled off his shirt and tossed it on the inn table and climbed into bed. He pulled the sheet and blanket over himself and snuggle close to Sasuke, pulling Sasuke up against his chest as he turned on his side and snaked an arm around his waist. Sasuke leaned into him and mumbled, "Dobe . . . "

Naruto smirked and kissed Sasuke lightly on the neck, "Goodnight teme," he said softly and closed his eyes. He was completely warn out, it had been a long day. By the time Iruka opened the door to check on them close to nine they were both deep asleep.

Iruka smiled affectionately at them and closed the door silently. Kakashi came up to him and kissed him on the cheek, "Come to bed Iruka."

Iruka nodded and said softly as they walked across the hall to their room, "I think they'll be okay Kakashi, now that they are finally together."