A/N: So here's the last chapter and it finally includes Naruto. This is not the end of the whole story I'm writing, but it is the place where I want to finish this specific work.

I'd love to read your opinions regarding the ending and what you consider should be included in the subsequent works. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 6:

The (Un)predictable Answer

Sasuke had not planned to be standing where he was. The plan had been to get as far away from Konoha as fast as possible, but his subconscious mind had brought him to the Valley of End. He had been there for a long time already, stare lost into the landscape he and Naruto had created years ago. The waterfall had practically disappeared, the lake had turned into a lazy stream, and the vegetation had started to recover some ground. Even the remains of Madara's and Hashirama's statues were starting to get covered in moss. Though, for some reason, the place where he a Naruto had laid, waiting for death to claim them, had remained untouched.

It was the place where Sasuke had finally let go of his hatred and allowed Naruto to save him. Perhaps, he thought, that was why he had come here because he had not been able to see Naruto in person. This place was the closest thing there was to it.

He looked up into the sky and sighed, realizing it was well past noon, and he had been standing at the same spot for hours. His sentimentalism annoyed him to no end. Whatever he was doing, it was nonsensical.

Sasuke turned his back to the severed stone hands, decided to leave for good, when a chakra signature appeared suddenly, followed by a heavy thud and a whispered curse. He turned in disbelief because he recognized the voice and chakra signature immediately, knew them better than his own.

"Naruto?" Sasuke breathed out the name. He could feel the other's presence clear as day, could see him brushing dirt off of the back of his pants, but couldn't believe what was in front of him.

Naruto chose that moment to look up from his clothes and notice Sasuke. The blonde's eyes widened in surprise during an instant before a severe frown overtook his face. Sasuke braced himself for the shouts and punches to come his way, except that never happened. Naruto remained standing silently on the exact same spot where their blood, sweat and tears had mixed over the course of the night at the end of the war.

Neither of them had moved, and the silence stretched to the point in which Sasuke couldn't stand it anymore.

"What are you doing here, Naruto?"

Naruto recoiled at his words, and Sasuke instantly regretted what he had said, realizing way too late how it must have sounded. He searched desperately for the words to fix what he had just done, but Naruto didn't give him the chance.

"I didn't come here to stop you," he muttered and turned away as if he couldn't stand the sight of Sasuke.

And this was why Sasuke had tried so hard to avoid Naruto in the first place. He had not wanted to witness the disappointment in the other's face, had not wanted his resolution to crumble. He had not wanted to explain why he was choosing to hurt Naruto again. It was easier to leave some things unsaid. However, the way Naruto looked…

"When you hurt, I hurt." He remembered Naruto's declaration. His guilt and insecurities didn't matter when he had dragged Naruto into such a state of hurt.

"Naruto," he started, trying to inject his voice with a stoicism he didn't feel.

"I get it," Naruto interrupted him curtly. "I-" the blonde paused, barely managing to contain a shiver. "Just," he released a shuddering breath, "just leave already."

Sasuke went rigid after hearing that. Naruto urging him to leave was most definitely not a good sign.

"Will you be okay?" The question left his mouth unexpectedly and received a humourless laugh as a reply.

"I'm used to you leaving," he said plainly. "I'll think I'll manage."

In the past, Sasuke would have taken that as his cue to leave, convinced that Naruto would overcome this too. However, this time, he found himself unable to move. It was as if acknowledging the true nature of his feelings for Naruto had opened the door for things he wouldn't normally do. He needed Naruto to understand his actions.

"This is different."

Naruto snorted, but still refused to face him. "Aren't you running away from something you think will make you weak?"

"I'm not running away," Sasuke replied defensively. "You know I have a mission."

Naruto was in front of him in an instant, holding Sasuke's cloak with a deathly grip. "What's wrong with you?" The blonde sneered at him. "I know you're shit at dealing with emotions, but you've never been a coward." Naruto shook him a bit harder when Sasuke offered no reply, and then lowered his hands slowly, looking more than a little ashamed. "I know you freaked yourself out, but you can't pretend it never happened," he had softened his tone during that last part.

"I can, and you should do the same."

"What!" Sasuke could feel Naruto's rage flare once more, might have even noticed a hint of the Kyuubi's chakra in between. "How dare you, bastard? You can't throw a bomb like that into my life and tell me to forget it."

At this point, Sasuke would have given anything for one of them to throw the first punch at the other. They had, after all, always understood each other better through violence. Words only came easily after they were bloody and close to death.

"I'm doing this for your sake, you idiot." Sasuke finally said.

The blonde stared at him in disbelief, even giving a step back. "How in the fucking hell is any of this for my sake?"

"I understood- they reminded me that my presence is detrimental to your aspirations." And I don't want to be the reason you don't become Hokage.

"They reminded you…" Naruto mumbled. "You mean the Old Geezers? They've been a pain in my ass all- wait, wait, wait." He stopped his own rambling to look at Sasuke. "Did they threaten you or something? Because I swear-"

"They didn't." Sasuke clarified before Naruto ran to do something incredibly stupid. "I don't think they would willingly come close to me." He smirked, trying to dismiss Naruto's worries in vain.

"Who did?"

"What does it matter?"

"Sasuke…" Naruto growled.

Sasuke sighed exhaustedly; he should have left immediately after stepping out of Konoha. "Nara and Tsunade."

"Baa-chan? Why would Baa-chan threaten you? You think those Geezers made her?" Naruto asked, still frowning.

Sasuke, for his part, was concerned at Naruto's lack of understanding. It was pretty clear why Tsunade had talked to him. Yet, Naruto looked as confused as he was whenever Iruka had tried to explain to them something particularly difficult during their days at the Academy.

"Stop being a moron, Naruto. Tsunade didn't threaten me; she just reminded me to stay at a safe distance from you."

"Why?" Naruto's frustration seemed to have only increased, matching Sasuke's at the blonde's obliviousness.

"She wants to protect you and your future, idiot." Honestly, Sasuke couldn't understand why that was so difficult to comprehend.

"Well, fuck her and everyone else," hissed Naruto suddenly, his eyes contained more anger than before.

Sasuke was left speechless. He had seen Naruto getting mad many times, most of them caused by him, but never like this. Naruto's expression had never looked that bitter.

"Naruto?" If he hadn't been so concerned, he might have been able to hide said concern from his voice.

Naruto clenched his fists and stared past Sasuke as he muttered: "For years, no one cared about me, not even Baa-chan or the Ero-sennin. Now everyone wants to tell me what's better, give me advice. Why should I listen?"

Sasuke remained silent. He had not known Naruto felt like that. When he wrote about the newfound attention and gifts from the villagers, it had always been in a cheerful tone. Sasuke's cynical Nature, of course, had taken the news with a pinch of salt but had chosen to say nothing for Naruto's sake. He had thought the Dobe simply didn't register the unapologetic behaviour. After all, if Naruto didn't care, why should he?

Something Naruto saw in Sasuke's expression made him stiffen. Clearly, he had not planned to reveal such thoughts. "I'm gonna take a seat," he declared after a brief moment and flopped right where he was. Sasuke followed him slowly; carefully sitting to Naruto's left, fixing his stare on the growing stream in front of them.

"When I was a child," he started barely audible while he fidgeted with the bandages of his right hand, "and lonely, and scared, and angry, and everyone hated me, I used to think the worst that could happen to me was to never become Hokage." There was a pause during which Sasuke's words caught inside his throat. Then Naruto chuckled before speaking again: "Then the worst possible thing truly happened. You left with Orochimaru, and I had to watch as you sank into the darkness, and nothing I did was enough to bring you back."

Sasuke fought against the lump in his throat. "You can't give up being Hokage for me, idiot. Didn't you say you would change the Ninja World?" He asked, hoping he had managed to keep his emotions at bay.

"I'm not giving up being Hokage, bastard. Just planning on ignoring some shit advice." The glint of mischievousness on Naruto's face that Sasuke caught from the corner of his eye, almost made him smile.

"What if despite everything, they don't allow you to become Hokage?" Sasuke had to be sure Naruto understood what he was risking.

Naruto huffed indignantly. "Then I'll find another way, bastard. Even if I have to punch every Kage in the face to make them see reason."

This time, Sasuke did smile.

They remained seated, side by side a while longer; sharing the rare moment of peace between the two. They had mainly kept their eyes staring to the front, but from time to time Sasuke side-glanced their hands, not touching but close. If he concentrated, he could feel Naruto's warmth radiating from his hand, making Sasuke's own hand twitch. He refrained himself, though. They would get there eventually.

"I'm leaving now," Sasuke announced as he got to his feet, still a bit unsure of where they were standing.

Naruto waved dismissively at him without turning. "Yes, yes, bastard, took you long enough." A meaningful pause. "Just make sure to hand in your next report personally instead of sending one of your temperamental birds."

That would make Sasuke return sooner than usual. A month away instead of four.

"Tch, don't get bossy yet, usuratonkachi. Given your poor life choices, you definitely won't make it to Hokage."

Naruto was practically pouting when he turned to face Sasuke. "I mean it, bastard. If you send another one of your annoying flying rats, I'll chase you wherever you are, believe it!"

Sasuke disappeared with a body flicker right after that. He could never doubt Naruto's words.