PURPOSE by Kiraya
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I probably would've skipped the Kakashi gaiden and gone straight to this. Just think of how lovely our boys will be all grown up…
Warnings: Oodles of spoilerific fun for those who aren't up-to-date on the manga; slightly AU (hey, I can't predict what Kishimoto-sensei's going to do with 'em when they're all grown up). Some blink-and-you'll-miss-it SasuNaru here and there (take it platonically or not… it's up to you).
For this installment specifically, a Slashy Moment (gasp!). Don't worry, kiddies — it's just a PG one.
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Sasuke growled. "You're not trying hard enough, Naruto."
The blond didn't say anything. He was crouched and ready, a kunai in hand, but he seemed more than a little distracted today.
"Fight me with your all, dammit!" And he hurled one of the signature Uchiha fire jutsu at his opponent.
Naruto barely dodged it.
Grinding his teeth, Sasuke leapt smoothly down from the tree in which he'd been perched, approaching the other man. "What the hell's wrong with you today?"
"They're going to officially name me Hokage tomorrow," the blond said quietly, his blue eyes serious. "I don't really want to show up at the ceremony all banged up, and I'd prefer if you were also in decent health."
"Why?" his rival asked bluntly.
"Maybe I want you to be there in person instead of watching it on TV from a hospital bed, moron," the kyuubi's vessel snapped. "Ever think of that?"
The black-haired man was a little surprised, but his annoyance quickly overcame that. Their fighting had become addicting to him; he always wanted more, and if it didn't end in a horrifically violent manner, with one or both of them in need of stitches or splints, the former missing-nin was a very dangerous fellow — something Konohagakure had long since learned the hard way.
"Damn you!" he snarled, grabbing his former teammate by the shoulders and slamming him into a tree. He had to think of something to really rouse the other's anger…
Their faces were close, and hard blue eyes stared coldly into the crimson of the Sharingan. A deeply buried memory rose in his brain…
Sasuke awkwardly crushed his lips to Naruto's, slamming his head back against the tree trunk.
The blond froze.
Frustrated at the lack of response, Sasuke tried to force his way into the other man's mouth.
That jolted the future Hokage out of his reverie.
Uzumaki Naruto bit down hard on the black-haired man's tongue, tore away violently, and, with a howl of rage, brought his fist up to connect solidly with the last Uchiha's pale, pretty cheek.
Staggering back and spitting out the blood in his mouth, Sasuke smirked as the blond flew at him, slit-pupiled eyes filled with fury. It would be all brawling this time, but…
Mission accomplished.
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On the day Uzumaki Naruto was named Rokudaime Hokage, he had a rather pronounced limp. Uchiha Sasuke, standing alone some distance away, squinted at him through a black eye, favouring his swollen ankle. Perhaps breaking the other man's leg had been a bad idea, because as good as the kyuubi's healing ability was, it took a little longer with bones.
This he knew from prior experience.
He also knew from prior experience that payback was going to be a bitch.
As long as Naruto's new status didn't change things, though, it was fine with him.
In a way, he was actually looking forward to it.
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End Act IV. 5 December 2004.