Until
They always fought, whether it was over the last piece of meat over the griller, or over the simple truth of what they wanted and needed to do - they fought. Kakashi-sensei had complimented them once, saying that the arguments were what made them them, but the older man had turned around to complain to Iruka-sensei about the noise the children were making the very next second, so they hadn't been too sure if he had meant it back then -
Naruto could make a small, passing comment on something as plain as the weather, Sasuke would pick up on it, twist it and smirk as he did so - Naruto would start to shout loud enough for the neighbours ten streets away to hear, and Sasuke would just sit there, listening as he smiled.Sasuke could make a small remark on how Naruto had improved, or really, deteriorated, Naruto would leap on it as he often did to many of Sasuke's insults and announce that Sasuke-teme was no better than he was - Sasuke would raise an eyebrow, make a noncommittal sound, reply easily that Naruto-dobe was never going to get ahead of him, ever, and Naruto would watch, thinking about his retort.
And when the noise died down, and they were tired of fighting, Sasuke would lead, and Naruto would follow along - until they reached the hill that they called their hill, because it belonged solely to them, and only them; Sasuke would sit down, and Naruto would lean against his back, and they would remain quiet until the small doki-doki reached their ears -
Doki-doki.
Until the sound of their heartbeats merged into one, until the sound of their breathing became nothing more than a small, light, passing breeze -
Then they would hold each other, and promise never to let the other go.
owari.