The expression 'I got your back' had always, would always, apply between them. No matter who was standing where.

Though Sasuke doubted Naruto understood that and Naruto doubted Sasuke's ego would allow that.

Hence the confusion and miscommunication that followed. Granted… the issue started out on a slightly different topic.

---

"Why do you get all the love and fucking attention?" Sasuke turned, not entirely certain he'd heard that correctly.

"What are you talking about idiot?" At this point in their relationship 'idiot' was basically the same as Naruto. Speaking of which, idiot was glaring at him.

"Don't act like you don't see it bastard. Sakura, Kakashi, everybody in the fucking village holds you up on some God like pedestal just because you're the tragic little hero boy who stays 'so strong'. And when you act like a dick it's never 'what an asshole' it's always 'Oh poor Sasuke, poor alone Sasuke.' You're not the only one who's special Sasuke." Said special one looked at the blonde with boredom but the curl of his smirk gave away what his eyes were hiding.

"Jealous idiot? It's not my fault if people don't have time for your stupidity. Grow up and stop getting mad at me over stupid things." That said he turned his back on Naruto as he had done so many times before and would do so many times in the future. Sasuke never saw the way the other boy's eyes shifted color. Sasuke never saw the way his whisker marks seemed to become temporarily shadowed. And Sasuke never saw the blood dripping from his palms where the claws dug in or the way his hands shook in determination. Maybe that was because Sasuke always had his back to Naruto, not only showing that he didn't care what the idiot said not only that he thought himself superior enough to be able to handle anything that came at him regardless of angle, but also that he trusted Naruto.

Trusted that Naruto would always have his back and not attack it. Trusted that if the idiot intended to attack him he'd always do it from the front or yell out some declaration so stupid, so crude, that Sasuke would be all but forced to turn around and face him.

Naruto, however, saw the turned back as a sign of 'holier-than-thou', a sign of 'not worthy'.

He saw red.

Which was odd because after the first attack; the first silent attack that Sasuke had thought was someone or thing other than Naruto, Sasuke saw red too. The Sharingan kicked on out of instinct,… reflex,… habit even,… as he spun around unsheathing a kunai and holding it in front of him in a defensive position. It was hard to tell the difference between the normal wash of red that came with the Sharingan and the unnatural shade that occupied Naruto's eyes. The pupil slits, however, were easy to see. The blonde boy held the position, his clawed hand crossed over the front of his body preserving the fact that it had been he who had slashed at Sasuke.

Neither boy moved.

For a moment. Then several.

Sasuke straightened, his hands falling to his sides and his eyes fading to black.

"Idiot." And he turned around, walking away. Not out of egotism nor a jab at Naruto but because; even if the idiot severed his spine on purpose, Sasuke's trust in Naruto was unwavering.

"Hey bastard! We're not done!" Rage faded –as did the physical anomalies- to exuberant anger and annoyance at the other boy whom he chased after until they were walking side by side.