Quothe the Pineapple, "Naruto does not belong to me... and, uh... nevermore."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
At exactly seven the next morning, Sasuke arrived at complex number six, the one
designated for Naruto and his photo op. Along the way he stopped by the main office to pick up
his schedule, finding only two jobs had been assigned to him. The first one was, of course, the
one Naruto had told him about; the other a jewelry advertisement.
Nestled between the two was a schedule for a group shot to update the old Team Seven
portfolio. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would take to restore Konoha to its former
status. A week or two? A couple of months, years, maybe?
He was doing Konoha a great service by allowing them to manage his account again,
which made him all the more pissed when Naruto showed up half an hour late.
"Ah- Ah!" Naruto barged into the dressing room, nearly bowling a makeup artist off her
feet. "I'm sorry, everyone, I had an unplanned meeting today and the other guy droned on and on
and-"
"Like you're one to talk, dead-last." Sasuke gritted through his clenched teeth. Naruto
responded by sticking out his tongue and quickly slipping off his shirt.
"What're you doing?!" The Uchiha mouthed, internally blushing. Naruto gave him an
exasperated, what-do-you-think-I'm-doing, look.
"It's an underwear shot, duh."
"Oh." Uh-oh.
"I- I knew that." He griped, desperately trying to save face. But Naruto smiled seeing
through him.
"It's okay, jerk. We all have our stupid days." Naruto grinned impishly before heading
to a curtained-off section to change into his designated outfit. Which happened to be a
tightfitting pair of orange designer briefs.
Hiding his blush and quashing traitorous thoughts that suddenly sprang from Gawd-
knows where, Sasuke shook his head angrily to dispel the weird emotions that had been plaguing
him as of late. Frowning, he headed to his curtained off area, dreading the very near future.
A good fifteen minutes later, Sasuke was finally prepared for the cameras. Having gotten
dressed (undressed) faster than black-haired wonder, Naruto was already waiting for him, already
seated with a robe loosely tied on himself.
"Oi, bastard! What makes you think you can hold up production?"
"Who are you to say that." Sasuke snapped.
"Hey! I have an excuse! It ain't easy having my schedule, what with being Ho-" Naruto
slapped his hands over his mouth, almost letting the cat out of the bag. The camera crew and
staff stopped for a moment, staring at the duo.
"What?" Sasuke growled, whipping his head about and glaring. "This ain't a comedy
act, GET BACK TO WORK!" Jumping, the gawkers scurried back to work.
"Yeesh. Someone's turned into a prima donna..." Naruto winked, leaning back on the
raised platform they were to pose on. The fact that the robe easily revealed his pecs and he was
arching his back did not help the situation, and Sasuke's face flushed as seething anger turned
into that weird feeling that had been plaguing him as of late.
The cameras were ready, and both men allowed themselves to be positioned to the
photographer's bidding. Unfortunately, most of the poses required either Naruto to drape his
arms from behind around Sasuke's shoulders in a chummy fashion, but the extreme closeness
and skin-on-skin contact was anything but friendly in Sasuke's mind. Was it just him, or did
Naruto press himself a little more than necessary against Sasuke? No way, no way. Naruto
would never do that.
An assistant repositioned Naruto's head to rest his cheek on Sasuke's shoulder, and a
warm breath steadily inhaled and exhaled into his ear. The hair on the back of his neck stood up,
his blood rushing, but Sasuke fought it all the way.
"Sasuke-" Naruto whispered. Oh no, a Gawd- Did he see-? Could he possibly know-?
Working so hard to keep himself from blushing, had Sasuke let the blood pool somewhere else,
possibly somewhere LOWER?!!
"Sasuke." Oh, sweet lord, here it comes- "Have you ever noticed your nipples aren't the
same colour?" Naruto quietly giggled.
...
...
WHAT?
Sasuke's eyes bulged in relief and absolute mortification. Luckily, the head photographer
finished the session, and slipping on a robe, Sasuke was allowed to leave until it was time for the
next shoot. Naruto burst with laughter, clutching his sides while everyone else went out of their
way to stay out of his path. Naruto was known to be extremely clumsy when he was in one of
THOSE moods.
- - - - - - - - - - -
For the most part, Sasuke spent the rest of the day avoiding EVERYONE, from staff to
assistants to even the students, in case word had spread over what Naruto had said. In truth,
Naruto had whispered loud enough for Sasuke's ears only, but Sasuke's normally dormant
imagination had been especially fueled as of late, and had distorted it to being loud enough for
astronauts in orbit to hear.
By the time the Team Seven portfolio shoot came around, Sasuke had successfully
managed to convince himself that Naruto had meant nothing by it and all (if there were any)
witnesses had forgotten. Still a bit zoned out, Sasuke walked trance-like to the refreshment table
where Naruto and Sakura waited. Naruto said something to him, but Sasuke caught only bits and
pieces.
"Pink...brown...Sasuke-" Naruto smiled, looking at him.
"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT MY NIPPLES?!" Sasuke exploded, snatching Naruto's
collar. Time seemed to stop, once again everyone froze and watched.
The blonde blinked blankly at him. "I ASKED if you would like a PINK snowball snack
or a BROWNie." He annunciated clearly, talking slowly so Sasuke could follow him. Sakura
whipped her head from one to the other, plainly confused.
Sasuke was seriously beginning to think he would be his own undoing. Turning around,
he swept away, hoping to put as much distance as possible between him and Naruto.
A few seconds later, an unmistakable rapping filled the air.
"-. .. .- -. .- -. .-.. . / - - - -. - -..- - / .... ..- -.."
(NIPPLE OBSESSION, HUH?) Translated Sasuke's mind.
"Bastard!" Naruto laughed it off, Sakura still in the dark.
- - - - - -
For the first half of the photo op, Sasuke felt like he had gone back in time. He had been
decked out in an all black outfit, similar to the one he had worn for his first portfolio pic, and
posed in front of the same red screen that someone had dug out of a storage shed. Faded and
frayed in some spots, it had aged poorly, unlike him.
Someone mentioned that Naruto had wanted the portfolio theme to be "Changing Time,"
which Sasuke personally thought was highly appropriate. He could only assume Naruto and
Sakura were also re-shooting their old pictures.
Sure enough, as soon as he was done, Naruto and Sakura were waiting in the wings, along
with their old mentor, Kakashi.
"Hey- Hey! Sasuke, what took you so long? We still have to do our group photo! Look!
Shikamaru already developed mine, check it out!" Naruto rambled gleefully. Glossy once again
shoved in his face, Sasuke stared at the many Naruto's. The only difference being the mirrors
weren't all matching maze mirrors, but a jumbled assortment of antiques, full-lengths, and
decorative pieces strategically placed. A few hand-held mirrors hung on wires. In it, Naruto
looked just as wild and energetic as the original, but older. He held himself with explosive pride,
magnified a hundredfold by the mirrors.
Had little Naruto really become this strong man?
Team seven was ushered to yet another studio, where Shikamaru waited lazily for them.
They were arranged in a group with Kakashi in the back, standing on a chair to compensate for
Naruto's and Sasuke's height difference. Sakura stood in front, wearing a girlish dress.
Unknown to her, Naruto and Kakashi had personally chosen the dress, wanting something
tasteful and innocent to show off her new image.
Shikamaru crouched low, snapping quickly at a worm's-eye view.
"The extreme angle," He drawled, "is useful to make you seem large than life, and makes
people look up to you. Hitler used it a lot in his propaganda films." Sasuke nodded, unsure why
Hitler had anything to do with it.
"That Shikamaru is a genius, but he fills his head with useless junk." Naruto muttered
afterward.
Sasuke smirked. "Kinda reminds me of you." Sakura and Kakashi stifled their laughter
for fear of inciting the Hokage's wrath (tantrum). Naruto muttered and hissed under his breath,
showing more restraint than Sasuke had known him to. After a while, he calmed down enough
to speak properly.
"Hey, Jerkwad. Meet me in my office after your jewelry job. I need to talk business with
you."
"Do you need me for anything, Naruto?" Sakura asked, sugar-coating it just like she used
to for Sasuke, when they were younger. That weird alarm rang in Sasuke's head again, but
Kakashi distracted him with something or other.
"Naw. I'm getting some grief with his former manager. Your contract came through
with no problems." Naruto left the rest unsaid. Sakura hadn't currently been under any contract.
Outside agents considered her poison, and Konoha practically had her paperwork thrust at them.
- - - -
The jewelry ad went quickly enough, his female partner being a young upstart and a
complete bore. Then again, after Naruto's antics, an old man break dancing to attract patrons to a
theme park would even be considered boring.
Brushing off her suggestions of going out for a cup of coffee, Sasuke made his way to the
main building that held the Hokage's office.
When he arrived, Naruto's desk was engulfed by carnivorous stacks of documents, forms,
letters, and generally everything a Hokage has to deal with. Sasuke never realized before just
how much work goes into the figure head position.
Peering over the piles of paper, Sasuke expected a hunched over Naruto poring over
records. However, only an empty chair graced his presence. Where was he?
As if to answer his unasked question, the was a squeaky noise and a soft mumbling
emanated from an unnoticed door left ajar off to the side. Hesitating for only a moment, Sasuke
turned and quietly opened the door further, poking his head inside.
A small parlor, that's all. A large French window faced a courtyard fountain several
floors below, and a few knickknacks were tastefully arranged here and there. The only things
prevalent in the room were the overabundance of plants and squooshy furniture. He'd never been
in the Hokage's private chambers, so he wasn't sure what to expect.
The same odd noise turned his attention to the sofa in front of him. A squeak of vinyl
upholstery, soft murmuring, the view hidden. Mind blank, Sasuke sidestepped to the front of the
couch.
"...damn forms.... why do they have to be signed in triplicate..." Grumbled a sleeping
Naruto. As though he was conveying the annoyance of the dream, he shifted on the faded plastic,
producing the squeal that had caught Sasuke's attention.
His hair was astray; shirt mostly unbuttoned; limbs tossed carelessly; skin tanned and
smooth... lips pursed... loosened... tongue peeking out, unconsciously licking them... lids closed,
hiding the all-seeing, all-knowing blue that was the same as the sky...
Unknowingly, Sasuke had moved closer to sit beside the other. Leaning in, his face was
directly above his rival...team mate... confidant... friend... unnameable others that swallowed his
mind and cropped short his ability to think...
"What're you doing...?" A groggy voice whispered.
The sky stared up at him; paralyzing him; making him too aware of the silence inside the
room and the heavy drone of insects and life outside.
But the feeling from before still ran through his veins.
"...I don't know... dumbass..." He breathed; leaning down and tasting the nothing and
everything that was his Naruto. The blonde went rigid for a moment, before relaxing and
responding. The quietness of the room was broken once in the while by the harsh breathing of
Sasuke, then Naruto, then both.
The kiss was chaste for a few minutes, both men pecking and gnawing innocently. Naruto
made the first move, slowly reaching up and running his long fingers through the silky black
strands of hair. His fingers meeting on the back of Sasuke's head, he pulled him down and
deepened the kiss, tongue meeting tongue in a curious "How do?".
Sasuke's hands twitched with unknown anticipation, finding their way to Naruto's sides
and claiming their territory. Naruto responded in kind by gently but insistently pulling at
Sasuke's head until he successfully dragged the other on top of him.
From his new angle he stared down at Naruto, slightly flushed and eyes closed, but not
out of sleep. Ragged and unsteady breaths issued from him, threatening to knock Sasuke off.
Vaguely, Sasuke realized that his breath was just as erratic, his lungs threatening to collapse.
Ignoring that, he planted kisses on Naruto's forehead... cheeks... neck... collarbone...
working his way down, intentionally dragging his body across Naruto's. The blonde shivered
from the friction and moving heat. Using teeth and tongue, he blindly unbuttoned the rest of
Naruto's shirt and cast it open. Nuzzling his head into the flat plain of Naruto's stomach, Sasuke
couldn't help but smile at the soft giggle and slight squirm that was his reply. Opening his eyes,
he found himself staring at a red spiral burn scar that hadn't faded in time, as he had hoped it
would.
Feeling Sasuke's smile drop, Naruto sat up, pushing the unresponsive Sasuke off. Sasuke
glanced up, face frozen but black orbs saying something else, yet he found himself unable to
even look Naruto eye-to-eye.
"You still haven't been able to forgive yourself." Naruto didn't ask, but stated. Silently,
he buttoned his top, stood, and walked to the door. He paused, his hand on the knob.
"I never blamed you, y'know."
A while later, when Sasuke felt able, he left through the same door. Stopping some
distance from the paper-entombed desk, unsure whether Naruto was even there or not, he said the
only thing he could.
"I know."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
At exactly seven the next morning, Sasuke arrived at complex number six, the one
designated for Naruto and his photo op. Along the way he stopped by the main office to pick up
his schedule, finding only two jobs had been assigned to him. The first one was, of course, the
one Naruto had told him about; the other a jewelry advertisement.
Nestled between the two was a schedule for a group shot to update the old Team Seven
portfolio. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would take to restore Konoha to its former
status. A week or two? A couple of months, years, maybe?
He was doing Konoha a great service by allowing them to manage his account again,
which made him all the more pissed when Naruto showed up half an hour late.
"Ah- Ah!" Naruto barged into the dressing room, nearly bowling a makeup artist off her
feet. "I'm sorry, everyone, I had an unplanned meeting today and the other guy droned on and on
and-"
"Like you're one to talk, dead-last." Sasuke gritted through his clenched teeth. Naruto
responded by sticking out his tongue and quickly slipping off his shirt.
"What're you doing?!" The Uchiha mouthed, internally blushing. Naruto gave him an
exasperated, what-do-you-think-I'm-doing, look.
"It's an underwear shot, duh."
"Oh." Uh-oh.
"I- I knew that." He griped, desperately trying to save face. But Naruto smiled seeing
through him.
"It's okay, jerk. We all have our stupid days." Naruto grinned impishly before heading
to a curtained-off section to change into his designated outfit. Which happened to be a
tightfitting pair of orange designer briefs.
Hiding his blush and quashing traitorous thoughts that suddenly sprang from Gawd-
knows where, Sasuke shook his head angrily to dispel the weird emotions that had been plaguing
him as of late. Frowning, he headed to his curtained off area, dreading the very near future.
A good fifteen minutes later, Sasuke was finally prepared for the cameras. Having gotten
dressed (undressed) faster than black-haired wonder, Naruto was already waiting for him, already
seated with a robe loosely tied on himself.
"Oi, bastard! What makes you think you can hold up production?"
"Who are you to say that." Sasuke snapped.
"Hey! I have an excuse! It ain't easy having my schedule, what with being Ho-" Naruto
slapped his hands over his mouth, almost letting the cat out of the bag. The camera crew and
staff stopped for a moment, staring at the duo.
"What?" Sasuke growled, whipping his head about and glaring. "This ain't a comedy
act, GET BACK TO WORK!" Jumping, the gawkers scurried back to work.
"Yeesh. Someone's turned into a prima donna..." Naruto winked, leaning back on the
raised platform they were to pose on. The fact that the robe easily revealed his pecs and he was
arching his back did not help the situation, and Sasuke's face flushed as seething anger turned
into that weird feeling that had been plaguing him as of late.
The cameras were ready, and both men allowed themselves to be positioned to the
photographer's bidding. Unfortunately, most of the poses required either Naruto to drape his
arms from behind around Sasuke's shoulders in a chummy fashion, but the extreme closeness
and skin-on-skin contact was anything but friendly in Sasuke's mind. Was it just him, or did
Naruto press himself a little more than necessary against Sasuke? No way, no way. Naruto
would never do that.
An assistant repositioned Naruto's head to rest his cheek on Sasuke's shoulder, and a
warm breath steadily inhaled and exhaled into his ear. The hair on the back of his neck stood up,
his blood rushing, but Sasuke fought it all the way.
"Sasuke-" Naruto whispered. Oh no, a Gawd- Did he see-? Could he possibly know-?
Working so hard to keep himself from blushing, had Sasuke let the blood pool somewhere else,
possibly somewhere LOWER?!!
"Sasuke." Oh, sweet lord, here it comes- "Have you ever noticed your nipples aren't the
same colour?" Naruto quietly giggled.
...
...
WHAT?
Sasuke's eyes bulged in relief and absolute mortification. Luckily, the head photographer
finished the session, and slipping on a robe, Sasuke was allowed to leave until it was time for the
next shoot. Naruto burst with laughter, clutching his sides while everyone else went out of their
way to stay out of his path. Naruto was known to be extremely clumsy when he was in one of
THOSE moods.
- - - - - - - - - - -
For the most part, Sasuke spent the rest of the day avoiding EVERYONE, from staff to
assistants to even the students, in case word had spread over what Naruto had said. In truth,
Naruto had whispered loud enough for Sasuke's ears only, but Sasuke's normally dormant
imagination had been especially fueled as of late, and had distorted it to being loud enough for
astronauts in orbit to hear.
By the time the Team Seven portfolio shoot came around, Sasuke had successfully
managed to convince himself that Naruto had meant nothing by it and all (if there were any)
witnesses had forgotten. Still a bit zoned out, Sasuke walked trance-like to the refreshment table
where Naruto and Sakura waited. Naruto said something to him, but Sasuke caught only bits and
pieces.
"Pink...brown...Sasuke-" Naruto smiled, looking at him.
"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT MY NIPPLES?!" Sasuke exploded, snatching Naruto's
collar. Time seemed to stop, once again everyone froze and watched.
The blonde blinked blankly at him. "I ASKED if you would like a PINK snowball snack
or a BROWNie." He annunciated clearly, talking slowly so Sasuke could follow him. Sakura
whipped her head from one to the other, plainly confused.
Sasuke was seriously beginning to think he would be his own undoing. Turning around,
he swept away, hoping to put as much distance as possible between him and Naruto.
A few seconds later, an unmistakable rapping filled the air.
"-. .. .- -. .- -. .-.. . / - - - -. - -..- - / .... ..- -.."
(NIPPLE OBSESSION, HUH?) Translated Sasuke's mind.
"Bastard!" Naruto laughed it off, Sakura still in the dark.
- - - - - -
For the first half of the photo op, Sasuke felt like he had gone back in time. He had been
decked out in an all black outfit, similar to the one he had worn for his first portfolio pic, and
posed in front of the same red screen that someone had dug out of a storage shed. Faded and
frayed in some spots, it had aged poorly, unlike him.
Someone mentioned that Naruto had wanted the portfolio theme to be "Changing Time,"
which Sasuke personally thought was highly appropriate. He could only assume Naruto and
Sakura were also re-shooting their old pictures.
Sure enough, as soon as he was done, Naruto and Sakura were waiting in the wings, along
with their old mentor, Kakashi.
"Hey- Hey! Sasuke, what took you so long? We still have to do our group photo! Look!
Shikamaru already developed mine, check it out!" Naruto rambled gleefully. Glossy once again
shoved in his face, Sasuke stared at the many Naruto's. The only difference being the mirrors
weren't all matching maze mirrors, but a jumbled assortment of antiques, full-lengths, and
decorative pieces strategically placed. A few hand-held mirrors hung on wires. In it, Naruto
looked just as wild and energetic as the original, but older. He held himself with explosive pride,
magnified a hundredfold by the mirrors.
Had little Naruto really become this strong man?
Team seven was ushered to yet another studio, where Shikamaru waited lazily for them.
They were arranged in a group with Kakashi in the back, standing on a chair to compensate for
Naruto's and Sasuke's height difference. Sakura stood in front, wearing a girlish dress.
Unknown to her, Naruto and Kakashi had personally chosen the dress, wanting something
tasteful and innocent to show off her new image.
Shikamaru crouched low, snapping quickly at a worm's-eye view.
"The extreme angle," He drawled, "is useful to make you seem large than life, and makes
people look up to you. Hitler used it a lot in his propaganda films." Sasuke nodded, unsure why
Hitler had anything to do with it.
"That Shikamaru is a genius, but he fills his head with useless junk." Naruto muttered
afterward.
Sasuke smirked. "Kinda reminds me of you." Sakura and Kakashi stifled their laughter
for fear of inciting the Hokage's wrath (tantrum). Naruto muttered and hissed under his breath,
showing more restraint than Sasuke had known him to. After a while, he calmed down enough
to speak properly.
"Hey, Jerkwad. Meet me in my office after your jewelry job. I need to talk business with
you."
"Do you need me for anything, Naruto?" Sakura asked, sugar-coating it just like she used
to for Sasuke, when they were younger. That weird alarm rang in Sasuke's head again, but
Kakashi distracted him with something or other.
"Naw. I'm getting some grief with his former manager. Your contract came through
with no problems." Naruto left the rest unsaid. Sakura hadn't currently been under any contract.
Outside agents considered her poison, and Konoha practically had her paperwork thrust at them.
- - - -
The jewelry ad went quickly enough, his female partner being a young upstart and a
complete bore. Then again, after Naruto's antics, an old man break dancing to attract patrons to a
theme park would even be considered boring.
Brushing off her suggestions of going out for a cup of coffee, Sasuke made his way to the
main building that held the Hokage's office.
When he arrived, Naruto's desk was engulfed by carnivorous stacks of documents, forms,
letters, and generally everything a Hokage has to deal with. Sasuke never realized before just
how much work goes into the figure head position.
Peering over the piles of paper, Sasuke expected a hunched over Naruto poring over
records. However, only an empty chair graced his presence. Where was he?
As if to answer his unasked question, the was a squeaky noise and a soft mumbling
emanated from an unnoticed door left ajar off to the side. Hesitating for only a moment, Sasuke
turned and quietly opened the door further, poking his head inside.
A small parlor, that's all. A large French window faced a courtyard fountain several
floors below, and a few knickknacks were tastefully arranged here and there. The only things
prevalent in the room were the overabundance of plants and squooshy furniture. He'd never been
in the Hokage's private chambers, so he wasn't sure what to expect.
The same odd noise turned his attention to the sofa in front of him. A squeak of vinyl
upholstery, soft murmuring, the view hidden. Mind blank, Sasuke sidestepped to the front of the
couch.
"...damn forms.... why do they have to be signed in triplicate..." Grumbled a sleeping
Naruto. As though he was conveying the annoyance of the dream, he shifted on the faded plastic,
producing the squeal that had caught Sasuke's attention.
His hair was astray; shirt mostly unbuttoned; limbs tossed carelessly; skin tanned and
smooth... lips pursed... loosened... tongue peeking out, unconsciously licking them... lids closed,
hiding the all-seeing, all-knowing blue that was the same as the sky...
Unknowingly, Sasuke had moved closer to sit beside the other. Leaning in, his face was
directly above his rival...team mate... confidant... friend... unnameable others that swallowed his
mind and cropped short his ability to think...
"What're you doing...?" A groggy voice whispered.
The sky stared up at him; paralyzing him; making him too aware of the silence inside the
room and the heavy drone of insects and life outside.
But the feeling from before still ran through his veins.
"...I don't know... dumbass..." He breathed; leaning down and tasting the nothing and
everything that was his Naruto. The blonde went rigid for a moment, before relaxing and
responding. The quietness of the room was broken once in the while by the harsh breathing of
Sasuke, then Naruto, then both.
The kiss was chaste for a few minutes, both men pecking and gnawing innocently. Naruto
made the first move, slowly reaching up and running his long fingers through the silky black
strands of hair. His fingers meeting on the back of Sasuke's head, he pulled him down and
deepened the kiss, tongue meeting tongue in a curious "How do?".
Sasuke's hands twitched with unknown anticipation, finding their way to Naruto's sides
and claiming their territory. Naruto responded in kind by gently but insistently pulling at
Sasuke's head until he successfully dragged the other on top of him.
From his new angle he stared down at Naruto, slightly flushed and eyes closed, but not
out of sleep. Ragged and unsteady breaths issued from him, threatening to knock Sasuke off.
Vaguely, Sasuke realized that his breath was just as erratic, his lungs threatening to collapse.
Ignoring that, he planted kisses on Naruto's forehead... cheeks... neck... collarbone...
working his way down, intentionally dragging his body across Naruto's. The blonde shivered
from the friction and moving heat. Using teeth and tongue, he blindly unbuttoned the rest of
Naruto's shirt and cast it open. Nuzzling his head into the flat plain of Naruto's stomach, Sasuke
couldn't help but smile at the soft giggle and slight squirm that was his reply. Opening his eyes,
he found himself staring at a red spiral burn scar that hadn't faded in time, as he had hoped it
would.
Feeling Sasuke's smile drop, Naruto sat up, pushing the unresponsive Sasuke off. Sasuke
glanced up, face frozen but black orbs saying something else, yet he found himself unable to
even look Naruto eye-to-eye.
"You still haven't been able to forgive yourself." Naruto didn't ask, but stated. Silently,
he buttoned his top, stood, and walked to the door. He paused, his hand on the knob.
"I never blamed you, y'know."
A while later, when Sasuke felt able, he left through the same door. Stopping some
distance from the paper-entombed desk, unsure whether Naruto was even there or not, he said the
only thing he could.
"I know."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.