Naruto shows up at Sasuke's apartment door within minutes of the first light of dawn.

As strange as it is to see Naruto before noon without a mission or training being involved, it doesn't exactly bother Sasuke. As a habitual early riser, he's been awake for over an hour already.

And yet Sasuke feels the world tilt slightly askew on it axis when he swings the door open— wondering if he's actually still dreaming. He wouldn't have forgotten if they had plans to meet this morning— and yet Naruto's here and Sasuke forcefully ignores the way his heart rate picks up despite no indication of a threat.

Before Sasuke can ask, Naruto grins brightly.

"C'mon," Naruto says brightly, "We're getting breakfast."

A little too dazed to argue, Sasuke takes only a moment to slip on his sandals before following him out into the still waking village.

"Where are we going?" Sasuke manages to ask, once he realizes they aren't headed toward Ichiraku's.

"Ino told me about this new place in the Hokage district," Naruto says, "It sounded like something you'd like, y'know."

"… Is it ramen?" Sasuke asks, already suspicious.

"You hate it when I make you eat ramen for breakfast," Naruto says in a tone that makes it clear he thinks Sasuke is the moron here.

"That's never stopped you," Sasuke notes distantly.

Too bewildered to actually protest, he allows Naruto to lead him through the winding streets as Naruto hums a discordant tune Sasuke doesn't recognize.

When they arrive at their destination, Sasuke can do little more than blink in the closest thing to shock he's felt in a long while.

It's a… tea house?

"They have stuff here from all over the continent," Naruto tells him as he hold the door open for Sasuke to enter first, "Even that weird flowery shit from Iron Country you're always looking for."

"… Jasmine," Sasuke corrects absently, staring up at the finely painted sign that reads White Lotus Tea Emporium.

"Right, that," Naruto huffs, following Sasuke to a tea table near a window, overlooking a pristine little pond next to the engawa that encircles the establishment. The place is completely empty— not even a single staff person in sight.

No sooner have they taken their seats on the plush floor cushions when a server practically materializes next to their table, dipping into a low bow.

"Welcome to the White Lotus," they say, "How can I be of service today?"

When they rise, Sasuke notes the burnt orange of a thick soulmark curving over the right side of their jaw from chin to ear. Their face is otherwise the picture of pleasant placidity— with not a hint of the thinly veiled disdain Sasuke has grown accustomed to receiving from anyone in the service industry since his return— the proprietor of the ramen stand being the one notable exception.

"He'll get the, erm, jasmine," Naruto says, "I'll take whatever— I don't know shit about tea, y'know."

"We have a wide variety of jasmine blends," they say, eyebrow cocked in mild derision— a look Sasuke isn't used to seeing directed at the Hero of Konoha these days. They turn to Sasuke, "Our green jasmine blend from Three Wolves Mountain is our most popular, but I also have a new white jasmine leaf that I recently sourced from eastern Sand near Lake Bunpaku that is said to be uncommonly fragrant. I can get you a list if you'd like to see our other options."

"… The white jasmine will be fine, thank you," Sasuke answers, "And he'll have whatever oolong is the most popular."

"Of course," they say with another bow before vanishing again so quickly Sasuke is sure they must have used a sushin technique to manage it.

"… Oolong?" Naruto asks once they're gone.

"The kind you had when we trained a few weeks ago," Sasuke reminds him, "When you drank my entire canteen of it, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Naruto scratches at his jaw, "That was tea? I thought you just got some dirt in your water bottle or… something."

"Hn," Sasuke acknowledges, turning to observe the well groomed landscaping to cover up how much he feels at a loss currently.

This… isn't something they do.

Which isn't to say they don't spend any time together— training or missions mostly, once Sasuke had cleared his probation a few months ago. Even eating together isn't unusual— but even that tended to be a prelude or a conclusion to some other plans on their part. Training or missions. Missions or training. Sasuke understands it, mostly. There aren't many other ninja in the village who can match Naruto for raw power these days— if either of them want to stretch their abilities to the limit, they're best bet is with each other. But it's been months since they did anything as simple as… hanging out. And even then, that had been when Sasuke was practically under house arrest, leaving their historical social staples of sparring and training as non-options.

Sasuke hadn't even realized how much he'd appreciated that brief span of time, until Kakashi was suddenly putting him to work and Naruto's time was swept up in other, more important obligations.

With all those factors in play, Sasuke is acutely aware that he hasn't even seen Naruto weeks. It's not like he'd ever seek Naruto out, just to keep him company. Naruto is the village darling, while Sasuke remains practically a pariah. With everything Naruto has sacrificed for Sasuke over the years, it would be ridiculous to shift the burden of Sasuke's loneliness— of all things— onto his friend on top of all that.

That doesn't mean the urge isn't there, however. If Sasuke had even an inkling, any indication Naruto desired their companionship as much as Sasuke found himself craving it, he might be able to bridge that gap… but as it stands. Sasuke knows nothing would crush him more than to become just another responsibility to Naruto at this point. Another duty for Naruto to fulfill— Sasuke has had enough of that for one lifetime, let alone the three they've apparently weathered together throughout history.

So Sasuke lets them drift apart, feeling powerless to do anything else. If this distance is the consequence he's earned for all the hurt in their past, then he will accept that with as much grace as humanly possible.

"So…" Naruto says, drawing Sasuke's attention back to him, where he's fidgeting with the cuff of his jacket across the table surface, "How's the new job going?"

Sasuke raises an eyebrow— he hadn't known Naruto was aware of his recent re-assignment. There'd never been a chance to discuss it.

"… Fine," Sasuke says— which is true.

Working as a junior record keeper in the intelligence offices isn't terribly thrilling. Sasuke knows he isn't yet trusted enough to work on any highly classified projects. But it's been something to do, and far less mentally taxing than working the mission desk, as Kakashi had him doing a few months ago. At least this way he interacts with only the few other analysts on his team, rather than the broad swath of ninja reporting in for assignments— an experience which had always been a mixed bag as far as his reception went. A few had been cordial enough, but most hadn't been able to resist some measure of casual derision when forced to interact with him.

All in all, there's little to complain about these days. He only needs to keep his head down and do his part until he's built enough professional capital to be worked back into the regular mission rotation again. For now, he's able to wait for the rare missions with the former Team Seven— the only actual missions Kakashi can get away with throwing his way. Sasuke appreciates the effort— just grateful he's somehow earned even that level of consideration from the man at all.

"Just… fine?" Naruto asks, frown twisting his features, "What department do they have you working in?"

Sasuke feels himself grimace before he thinks to hide it, "The soulmark registry."

"… Huh," Naruto's eyebrows climb toward his hairline, "That's… something you're interested in then?"

"Not even remotely," Sasuke admits easily, "But the others I work with keep to themselves as much as I do so it could be worse, even if it's dull."

"Oh," Naruto says, "I thought maybe… you were hoping to find your match or something, y'know."

Sasuke's fist clenches reflexively, despite his mark being hidden by the thin glove he's taken to wearing to conceal it.

"… No," Sasuke says, "And my mark is considered classified intelligence, so I couldn't access those records even if I wanted to."

They're quiet for a moment as their server abruptly breezes in, distributing their drinks with silent efficiency before vanishing again without so much as a word.

As Sasuke takes his first sip, he watches Naruto stare down his own steaming cup with a constipated look on his face.

"What's with that look?" Sasuke asks.

Twitching as if startled by Sasuke's words, Naruto's gaze snaps to Sasuke's for a moment before skittering off again.

"Uh, nothing. Sorry," he says with distinct discomfort, "Just… I didn't know marks could be considered classified."

"Typically they're considered public record," Sasuke says, recalling his briefing on the subject, "But for ANBU and other ninja with Bingo Book entries, they're considered sensitive identifying information— like dental records, or something."

"Right— that makes sense," Naruto frowns, "I guess mine's probably classified too then, huh?"

Sasuke nearly spits out his tea, "… You have your soulmark?"

How had Sasuke not been aware of this?

"Uh, yeah?" Naruto says, "You didn't know?"

"How would I know that— you never told me."

"I dunno— I thought Sakura would've… or something."

"Well, she didn't," Sasuke sits back, processing, "So… you've met your soulmate then?"

"I guess? Naruto says, "I mean— I don't know who they are or anything. Baa-chan says she's looking into it, but it happened sometime during the war, and with all the— uh— clones and the chakra transfers going on… apparently it's a bit complicated."

"… I see," Sasuke says, thinking about it and privately agreeing that Naruto's situation sounded like a mess.

He'd probably come into contact with hundreds, if not thousands, of shinobi for the first time in the span of the fighting. People originating from every corner of the five great nations. The idea of finding a needle in that haystack was truly daunting.

"I'm sure if anyone can figure it out, it will be the Godaime," Sasuke says, because it feels like the right thing to say, even if it feels like shoving splinters under his fingernails to get the words out.

"Right, yeah," Naruto mumbles, bringing his tea up as if to drink it— only to abruptly set it down again, "But I mean— would it be so bad if she, um. Didn't?"

Sasuke frowns, "What do you mean?"

"Like if she didn't, you know— find my match or whatever," Naruto says, "I don't even know this person, whoever they are. What's the big deal if we never find each other? How can I miss someone I never had, y'know?"

"Everyone wants to find their soulmate," Sasuke reminds him, "That's the whole point."

"Maybe," Naruto looks away, drumming his fingers against his cup, "But you don't."

"… What?"

"You don't want to find them," Naruto insists, still not looking at Sasuke.

"How would you know?"

"I dunno— I thought it was obvious?" Naruto's says, shrugging awkwardly, "You hide your mark, you haven't even looked them up in the registry—"

"It doesn't— that's not how it works. And I told you I couldn't—"

"—Even if you wanted to, yeah. Which is kinda like saying you don't want to, right?"

"… Regardless. Just because I don't care about something like that doesn't mean you shouldn't."

Naruto puffs up, "Oi, I can not care about whatever I want, y'know. I don't need your permission."

"Then why are you even telling me?"

Just like that, Naruto's righteous indignation fades away once more, "Why wouldn't I?"

"You didn't even tell me you'd gotten your soulmark."

"Because I thought you knew!"

"What are we even doing here, Naruto?" Sasuke asks tiredly, "We don't do this. Drink tea and chat. What's really going on?"

"I thought it'd be nice, y'know. You like this sort of thing."

"But you don't."

"I might!"

"… Really."

"Yeah," Naruto says, taking a defiant sip of his tea, "I know I've been— that I haven't been around a lot. And you've got your own stuff going on. But— listen. It won't be like this forever, right?"

"I don't know what dream world you're living in here, but too much has happened for us to go back now. If you're thinking things are going to be like they were before, you're actually delusional."

"It that what you think I want?" Naruto says, gesturing wildly at their surroundings, "Does this seem like the way it was before?"

"Then what do you want?" Sasuke asks, frustrated, "What even is all this then?"

"You know— I think I should be asking you that? What do you want, asshole?"

"I want you to answer my question."

"You can't— that's cheating!"

"Tough shit," Sasuke says, finally taking a gulp of his own drink— it was criminal to let a quality brew like this get cold, even for Naruto's shenanigans, "Why are we here, Naruto?"

"Stop saying my name— it's weird," Naruto huffs, "And you— you really don't know? I thought you were just being, like, difficult— or whatever."

Sasuke merely cocks an eyebrow, going in for another sip.

"I mean, c'mon," Naruto continues, "I got them to close down the tea place so you don't have to deal with people being jerks while your drinking your fancy leaf water. I brought your team of assholes to come visit—"

"Taka's here?" Sasuke asks, bewildered, glancing around the shop Naruto had apparently cleared out for Sasuke's benefit— which he would definitely not be thinking more about later.

"Not here here— we're meeting them for lunch, stupid."

"How was I possibly supposed to know that?"

"They got here last night— I thought they'd have stopped by to see you already."

"That's… None of that explains what's going on here."

"For crying out loud," Naruto groans, "It's your birthday, you idiot!"

"My… what? No," Sasuke says— because it can't be. There's no way he would have forgotten something like that.

Sure, he'd been working long hours in the bowels of the records building. And when he wasn't there, it wasn't like he got out much. And he hadn't gotten around to buying a calendar— or much else for his apartment, honestly.

So then again…

"Huh," Sasuke mutters, taking another disconcerted sip of his tea.

"Yeah, well—" Naruto says, taking his own swig, "We got kinda off track with all that stuff about soulmarks and all those stupid questions— but yeah. Happy dumb birthday, bastard."

"So all this… you did that for me. Because it's my birthday."

"Duh," Naruto sneers, "It's been like a whole thing. I got this whole ass day planned. Shika was super annoyed when I took the time off, but he can get over it— It's not even like I'm an official assistant or anything, y'know."

"… Thank you," Sasuke says, unsure of how else to respond to such… earnestness.

He goes to take another drink of his tea only to find his cup empty.

"Man, I should have just told you earlier," Naruto sighs, summoning a clone with a quick gesture— it runs off without a word, "You're such a pain in the ass sometimes."

"… Sorry."

"Ugh, don't apologize— you're making it worse!"

The rest of the morning is… difficult. For Sasuke. Not because it isn't nice. It's perfectly adequate in a way Sasuke hates. Because it's exactly how he would have wanted to spend his birthday— with excellent tea, with a picturesque view of gorgeous scenery in a well designed, empty shop with easily mapped sight lines and exit routes. Their cups hardly ever running dry because Naruto sends his clones to summon their server rather than having to be checked on and interrupted every few minutes. The conversation turns away from the tense topics from earlier— and Sasuke finds himself enjoying even that. Talking about the changes Kakashi is working on, now that he's assumed the Hokage mantle. Even Naruto's own work is interesting— offering his support to the Hokage and liaising between the leaders of the other villages as the Alliance continues to find its footing, after the war.

But at the same time, its miserable. Thus the difficulty.

Because Naruto has a soulmate, somewhere out there. A person who is guaranteed to make him happy in a way no one else, even — especially— Sasuke never could. Why Naruto is so insistent he has no interest in finding them, Sasuke cannot fathom. Whoever they are, they would love Naruto— the idiot is all too easy to grow inordinately attached to, in Sasuke's experience.

And so, the misery.

Because Sasuke knows he's being hypocritical— considering his own lack of interest in finding his match. It's just so hard to imagine any soulmate being able to compare to this— a quiet, perfect moment, suspended in time. Sitting across from Naruto as he makes faces at the increasing outlandish teas he insists on trying at random. It should surprise Sasuke, that something so simple and ridiculous could be enough, but it is.

Naruto deserves to find something like this— a person who can make him as happy as he looks right now. Haloed in the late morning sunlight and grinning at Sasuke like there's no where else he'd rather be in that moment. But that isn't the world they live in. And Sasuke's foolish, baseless hope that things could have been different was for naught. A possibility as dreamlike and ephemeral as the sun and moon seals decorating hands that no longer existed.

It's impossible not to want the morning to last forever. But all too soon Naruto is herding them out the door for the rest of his day of whole ass plans. Fondness wars with disappointment for a moment, as they leave the White Lotus behind. But then Naruto smiles at him around his excited babbling— reaching out for Sasuke—

Sasuke turns eighteen years old when Naruto takes his hand, and he realizes just how much trouble he's actually in. That his heart has made a choice against the universe's ultimate designs.

And Sasuke decides he has no choice but to leave before things get even worse.