A/N: Fifth day! I'm still on the boring, traveling days, and I really don't have much time left! Must... Write... Faster... EEP!

Thanks to everyone for the reviews! I've been responding to you individually, so If I missed yours, I'm really sorry! Actually, I'm surprised I haven't gotten flamed yet. It kind of feels like a small, moral victory for SasuNaru writers! YATA!

Onward ho

Day Five--

The sun was up and the clouds from the day before had cleared, leaving behind a beautiful winter day in the Snow Country, and a scowling Naruto hovering beside a sleeping bastard.

WHAM!

A tanned fist collided with the side of Sasuke's head, sending him flying ass-over-tea-kettle into the stone wall of the cave.

"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR!" Sasuke roared, getting slowly to his feet nursing his new injuries. Naruto was smiling sweetly at him, still sitting in his original position.

"Isn't that how you wanted to be woken up, teme?" He fluttered his eyelashes for effect. Sasuke groaned, remembering the conversation from yesterday.

"What the hell, dobe! Why were you shouting at me! You gave away our position!"

"You wouldn't wake up, you bastard! What the hell else was I going to do?"

"You could have hit me!"

"GLADLY!" Naruto shouted.

"I didn't mean under normal conditions..." He growled.

"Oh did you now?" The blonde was still smiling.

"Naruto?"

"Hmm?"

"Shut up." Naruto burst into laugher, no longer able to maintain a straight face.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, Sasuke-teme." Sasuke picked up his shirt and vest. "Hey, wait a minute! I need my healing tags!" He bounded over to his comrade. The other turned around in compliance while he removed the tags and examined the wounds.

"Lucky you! There won't even be a scar left."

"Wonderful..." Sasuke snarled, his statement dripping with sarcasm.

"Screw you." Naruto pouted, then smiled, running his fingers along his partners back. He allowed them to linger a moment longer then necessary before standing up and grabbing his bag. Sasuke pulled on his turtleneck and buttoned up his Jounin vest before following suit.

"Let's go, dobe." With that, the Uchiha sped off. Naruto fumed.

"TEME! Don't CALL ME THAT!"

------------

It was late in the afternoon when the Yukikage's office finally came into view. There had been no signs of bandits since the previous day, and they hadn't had any trouble getting into the snow country even though they had forgotten their passports.

"It's not MY fault we don't have them! YOU were the one who got briefed on the mission!"

"Shut up, dobe. Tsunade-sama didn't give me passports."

"Yeah, whatever, bastard."

A few minutes later, they stood in front of the Yukikage's office. Sasuke knocked three times on the wood, and the door swung open.

"Welcome, Konoha ninja's." A women with long black hair and a fur coat sat in the Yukikage's chair.

"Yukikage-sama..." Both Naruto and Sasuke nodded their heads in respect and acknowledgement. She smiled at them.

"I suppose you have come for the scroll." She pulled out a large scroll, equipped with straps for easy carrying. "Do tell Tsunade that I need this back by the end of Janurary."

"Hn." Sasuke nodded again in understanding.

"Ummm... Yukikage-sama?"

"Yes, Naruto?" They both jumped.

"HEEEEEHHHH? How did you know my name!" Naruto shouted, temporarily forgetting who he was talking to. The Yukikage smiled and chuckled softly.

"Your reputation precedes you, Naruto, Sasuke." They stared at her for a brief moment. Naruto was the one to break the silence.

"Can I use your bathroom?" She pointed to her right.

"In the hallway, it's the first door on your right."

"Thank you!" He tore out of the office. Sasuke tossed his departing figure an affectionate glance unknowingly.

"So you like him?" Sasuke froze, moving only his eyes to look at her.

"...hn..." She took that as a yes.

"I take it he doesn't know then." Another 'hn' was given as a reply.

"Why don't you tell him?" He glared at her. "You're a very popular bachelor in Konoha so I hear."

"I have many female suitors... yes."

"And males so I hear." He shrugged.

"Are you afraid that he may not like you back?" She took his silence as a yes.

"So you're not confident in your seduction skills then..." He gave her a wide-eyed glare.

"I have plenty of confidence in my seduction skills, thank you..." He hissed, trying not to lose his temper in the presence of someone of her stature.

"Then why haven't you made a move yet?" Sasuke was prepared to respond to her when Naruto reentered the room.

"Gomen ne, Yukikage-sama!" He grinned and scratched the back of his head in a gesture of apology. Sasuke looked at Naruto with a furrowed brow.

Why haven't I made a move yet? I've been called a prodegé and a sex-god, I can seduce anyone I want, and I have the largest fan base in the entire Fire Country! A sly smirk twitched upon his lips as he formulated a plan. Just try to resist, dobe...

"Here's the scroll, you two may go, and Sasuke," He shook himself from his thoughts and looked at her. "Good luck with that." Naruto shot them both confused looks before they left.

Perhaps I can give Naruto the gift I wanted to give him all along...

A low, perverted chuckle escaped Sasuke's throat. Naruto gulped.

Sasuke + Laughing NOT GOOD!

This was going to be a long trip back.

Vocab

Gomen goh-meh-nn Sorry

NOTE:

Putting a hand behind the neck, or scratching the back of the head is a sign of embarrassment in the Japanese culture. It's also used as a submissive or apologetic gesture.