Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of it's characters. (Disclaimers are a pain in the -bleep-)
Summary: Sasuke and Naruto had been constantly bickering before they reached the bridge. But what if their real feelings were finally shared in Sasuke's last moments?
I'm Not Stupid, I'm Yours
Naruto, roused from his unconsciousness, stared at the needles protruding from Sasuke's body and immediately knew what had happened. "Sasuke, you fool! I don't need you to protect me!"
The dark-haired boy stared forward at Haku's crystal mirror, not listening to his blonde comrade. "You're the fool, Naruto. If you weren't so weak, you wouldn't need to be protected."
Naruto pushed himself onto his elbow, now glaring at Sasuke's back. "You didn't need to do that, Sasuke!"
Sasuke glanced backwards at Naruto, smiling faintly. "Naruto, can't you shut up for just a moment? Maybe if you weren't so loud, people would be able to actually talk to you."
The blonde's eyes went wide. "W-what did you say?"
Sasuke looked forward again, staring straight at Haku's mask. "You talk too much, Naruto." He laughed quietly to himself. "How different you are from me. I guess that's why I was so glad to have you for a teammate."
Naruto sat up, his eyes still glued to Sasuke's back. "But that's not how you feel! You always call me loser, and say I'm weak!"
"There's no denying those things, Naruto. There's also no denying..." Sasuke coughed loudly, falling backwards. Naruto gasped and caught the raven-haired boy before he hit the ground.
"Sasuke! Are you still okay? There's also no denying what?"
Sasuke blinked twice before focusing on Naruto's blue eyes. "There's no denying the fact that...I love you, Naruto."
Naruto's eyes began to water.. "You didn't have to do that then, Sasuke! You didn't have give up your own life for me! Your dream!" A tear fell from his eye onto Sasuke's cheek. "You're so stupid!"
Sasuke reached his hand up to wipe some tears from Naruto's cheek. "I'm not stupid, Naruto. I'm yours."
When Sasuke's limp hand fell from Naruto's cheek, he burst into more tears. "Sasuke!" He set Sasuke's body carefully onto the ground and huddled over him. "Sasuke... I always thought you hated me... But now...now that I know how you really felt, it's too late to say it back. I love you too, Sasuke."