A/N: It has been a while since I last used my account here, and I'd like to believe my writing style has improved since that first ASOIF story, even if I'm returning with a different fandom.

I shared this work in AO3 last year but decided to post it here, too, because I want to receive more feedback and continue improving the story and writing style. Reviews are infinitely helpful.

On a mission. Return next week.

Sasuke felt his eye twitch as he read the short note. Only six words written on it and not a single one was related to what had happened the previous night.

He had known his declaration, if it could be considered as such, would be difficult to assimilate, and he had known the blonde would probably need time, a lot of time considering it was Naruto, to decide what he wanted to do about it. What Sasuke had not expected was for Naruto to freeze, mutter a ridiculous excuse, and run away. Definitely, he had not expected the idiot to go on a suspiciously timed mission the next day either.

Sasuke crumpled the annoying note and considered his options. If the idiot was purposefully avoiding him, there was not much he could do. For the time being, the best he could do was asking Kakashi whether Naruto's mission was real. Then, he would be able to avoid the shame of waiting for a response that would not come.

On his way to the Hokage Tower, he found himself face to face with Shikamaru.

"Kakashi is not here yet," Shikamaru provided as soon as he spotted Sasuke.

Sasuke frowned, promptly searching for Kakashi's chakra signature. Nothing. "It's almost noon."

"It's Kakashi," Shikamaru scoffed.

Sasuke sighed; he should have known better.

"I was heading out to eat something, wanna come?" Shikamaru offered, then, when Sasuke hesitated, he added, "he usually finds his way on the road of life after lunchtime."

Sasuke rolled his eyes before agreeing. He was not in the mood for food, but he was too old to waste another minute waiting for Kakashi. Besides, Shikamaru was one of the few persons, aside from Team 7 members, he managed to tolerate.

They entered a teishoku and sat in the most hidden corner of the establishment. Still, Sasuke could feel on him the stares of the people eating there. It had been three years, and they continued staring at him as if they were expecting him to go mad and kill them all. Sasuke understood their wariness, though, so whenever he visited Konoha, he tried to keep to his or Naruto's apartment as much as possible. The less the people saw of him, the better.

"It is not what you are thinking," Shikamaru said, regaining his attention; he was resting his chin on his hand and staring at Sasuke with his usual bored stare.

"I doubt it isn't." He didn't understand why Shikamaru, of all people, would try to deny it.

"If you want to know, it is about the fuss you caused yesterday." The dishes arrived, and Shikamaru fell silent until the waiter left. "Did you have to do it in such a public place?"

Sasuke blinked, immediately catching where Shikamaru was going. "You know?"

"All of Konoha knows."

"We were practically alone," Sasuke mumbled, not quite complaining, but still frustrated.

Shikamaru shrugged. "Every single bit of Naruto-related information spreads like wildfire since the war ended."

Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek, trying to contain his irritation. "That was just between the two of us."

"And that's why you should have chosen a private place."

Sasuke didn't answer immediately. Indeed, he had not planned to do it in the middle of the street, deserted as it had appeared back then. But, as usual, it had been Naruto's fault. The moron had kept blabbering about his latest date with the Hyuuga girl. Sasuke had grown more irritated by the moment until he suddenly found himself blurting: 'She shouldn't be the one standing by your side.'

Of course, Naruto had not believed him immediately, had even laughed. But once reality had sunk in, he had run away. Sasuke repressed a grimace at the memory.

"Things never go as planned when Naruto is involved," he said, trying to maintain his usual detached tone.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Has he not given you a reply?"

Sasuke glared at Shikamaru. "That is not-"

"It is the Hokage's business." Shikamaru's tone had abruptly turned serious.

Sasuke remained silent, observing the man in front of him. He cursed himself for believing his encounter with Shikamaru had been a coincidence or that Kakashi was not in the Hokage Tower, and even more for imagining Naruto would be capable of avoiding him in such a way.

"Is Naruto's mission authentic?" Sasuke countered with a question of his own.

"Naruto's activities are classified."

Sasuke barely contained himself from reacting to the hypocrisy of that statement because punching the Hokage's assistant in the face would only bring him trouble.

"He left before giving a reply."

Shikamaru just nodded, his expression unreadable.

"I answered your question, Nara. Now you answer mine."

Shikamaru didn't even flinch at the unspoken threat. "It is; we made him exchange places with Kiba after we heard of yesterday."

Sasuke's fist clenched slightly. "I'll talk to him sooner or later," he declared.

"We are not trying to stop you from doing that." Shikamaru raised a hand at Sasuke's impending retaliation. "We just needed time to prepare for Konoha's reaction."

"What reaction?"

Shikamaru stared at their untouched, cooling lunch and sighed tiredly, tilting his head back. "When it became known that Naruto and Hinata were dating, some of Naruto's fangirls camped outside the Hyuuga Estate, demanding their relationship to end."

Sasuke snorted, remembering Naruto had mentioned something like that in one of his letters. "I have enough common sense to avoid picking up a fight with Naruto's fangirls."

Shikamaru returned his attention to Sasuke. "We are expecting a more aggressive response towards you, and not just from fangirls." Shikamaru looked around before leaning closer to him. "Crazy teenagers aside, people approved of Hinata; she is practically a princess, just right for the Hero of Konoha."

It was needless to add Sasuke was not just a man, but a former missing ninja, heir of a cursed clan or that he had almost caused Naruto's death. Sasuke understood all the same.

"I know where I stand, Nara. I swear I won't answer to their provocations." He never did.

"Naruto will."

That, however, was something Sasuke would not even try to deny. He had heard and witnessed several times how Naruto had reacted every time someone had spoken ill of him, even if Sasuke had deserved each one of the insults.

"I'm not asking you to back off," Shikamaru continued, "but to make sure Naruto won't throw away his accomplishments because of some intrusive villagers."

"I think I can keep the dobe under control," he stated, stood up and turned towards the exit.

"I talked with some of the guys," Shikamaru said from behind. "If things get truly ugly, we will make Naruto our priority."

"Hn," he muttered as he exited the restaurant.

When the Konoha 11 had forgiven him, they had made clear that, if the time came, they would always choose Naruto over him.

Sasuke wouldn't have it any other way.