Incredibly enough we have reached 30 chapters! It took a while but yeah... I've been busy falling in love with Oikawa Tooru. And work and uni and horses and stuff. You know. Spring is always busy and tiring haha... I did write that v-day fic though which I still haven't posted on here or which is terrible. And I started a haikyuu! fic!

Anyway the spa will have to wait for next chapter, but I don't think you'll be disappointed with the contents of this one:3

Chapter 30: Flames

xxx

Orochimaru sighed. Again. It had only been five minutes since Naruto and Sasuke left his office, but that wasn't nearly enough time to heave out all the sighs that had gathered up while he talked to them.

He clearly wasn't getting paid enough. Maybe Tsunade thought it was fine, but those two could easily wipe out the entire village with the flick of a hand if they felt like it, and he didn't like having that kind of pressure on him to figure out if there was a possibility of that happening. It certainly didn't help that they had no clue what sort of enemy they were facing, if there even was one. Maybe they really did come here by mistake...

No, Orochimaru didn't think so. There had to be a reason, and judging by their backgrounds it didn't look good. Still, most of the time they just felt like confused teenagers trying to handle their feelings for each other. It would have been cute if they hadn't been so dangerous.

Sighing again, he started gathering up his things to leave. What he needed was some quality time with his snakes, and to forget about the frustration of trying to gather information from two boys who were clearly too distracted thinking about the make-out session they'd been having a few minutes earlier.

There was a firm knock on his door, and before he had time to invite the person, Mikoto entered with a serious expression on her face. Great. Just the person he wanted to see.

His life would have been so much easier if it hadn't been an Uchiha showing up from a different dimension.

"Alright," Mikoto said, voice all business as she sat down in the visitor's chair. "Why don't you tell me what you found out so far."

Orochimaru sighed, but it was a different, more longsuffering one this time.

"Why should I?" he asked, but knew it was futile.

As head of the Uchiha clan and long-running council member, Mikoto had always found ways to gather the information she wanted without seeing the need for official clearance.

"Because," she replied with a sweet and oh so sinister smile, "you just had my son in for interrogation and I'd like to know what you've been talking about."

Honestly he was a little surprised she hadn't showed up after their first session, but he supposed he should be thankful for small mercies.

"He's only technically your son," he mumbled, but sat down again anyway. "Besides, the details are all classified and you know that."

"Of course I do, it was brought up at the council meeting this morning."

"I'm guessing Tsunade didn't let you in on the details."

Mikoto huffed, crossing her arms irritably.

"I don't see why she couldn't. It's no secret that we have visitors from another dimension. Anyone who believes they're only here by a teleportation mistake should get their head out of the sand."

Despite his initial reaction to Mikoto's arrival, Orochimaru smiled in amusement at that.

"Well, not everyone on the council has your world experience, you know. Tsunade probably thought it's better if even the council believes that."

"I'm not falling for it," she replied, giving him a demanding look. "So start talking."

Really, these Uchihas. No respect at all.

"Fine," he agreed, rubbing at his tired eyes. "But you could have just asked Itachi or Obito instead."

"I'd like to hear your version as well."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes. Had she already talked to Obito? Maybe that's why she hadn't come barging in two days ago.

"Anything you'd like me to start with?"

She hummed in thought, then flicked some of her hair behind her shoulder and bore her dark eyes into him.

"His eyes. I understand how he got his Sharingan and so on, but did he ever elaborate on why his eyesight isn't supposed to worsen? It really should be, considering how much he's used them."

"Hm, well." Orochimaru leaned his head in one hand, grabbing a pencil to play with as he spoke. "It's not easy to breach topics like that with him. I'm sure that admittance was a slip up, but it raises an interesting question. He was nearsighted to a certain degree after the first time he fainted, but he said it's not supposed to be worsening, right?"

Mikoto nodded, waiting patiently for him to continue.

"Which seems to indicate that before he attempted to use his Sharingan with the sage powers blocked, his eyes were fine. And then, after his sage powers came back, they were perfectly fine again. So I'm assuming the damage to them was the same as to Naruto's hand when he tried using those powers and failed."

He frowned at the pencil as he gathered his thoughts.

"However, the fact that he doesn't want to voluntarily disclose the information about his eyes points at the procedure not being pleasant. Then again, considering the story he told us about himself, not much in his life seems to have been very pleasant."

"And you didn't try asking Naruto?"

He sighed, for the umpteenth time that night wishing he was at home already, and threw the pencil aside.

"Naruto is protective of Sasuke to the point that it's ridiculous. Sure, they've told us about their pasts, but they haven't told us about their past together. I don't think they trust us nearly enough yet to tell us those things."

"Yeah, Naruto said at dinner that they don't want to talk about it. I mean, I heard everything from Obito so I understand there are things they'd rather not bring up, but Naruto could at least tell us he's in line to be Hokage? I don't see why he wouldn't want to talk about that."

"Who knows," Orochimaru shrugged. "Maybe he wants to avoid the follow-up questions."

"Maybe."

Mikoto looked doubtful, but changed the subject anyway. Orochimaru just hoped she wouldn't keep him there the whole night.

xxx

They'd held hands the whole way back to the orphanage. Sasuke hadn't even protested or commented on it, though of course Naruto would have appreciated some enthusiasm. Considering the fact that it was Sasuke however meant that he should probably be happy he didn't throw him through a building or something. Sasuke always tended to overreact…

Whatever Sasuke thought about the recent development between them he kept quiet about it, making a beeline for Naruto's room without stopping to exchange pleasantries with Iruka. It took a while to wriggle out of the conversation, but once Naruto managed he hurried after Sasuke. He didn't like not being able to see him, even if he could clearly feel his presence through the walls separating them.

Sasuke was in the bathroom, and Naruto fiercely turned down Kurama's suggestion to join him. Not because he didn't want to – and he hated Kurama for acting all told you so about it – but because Sasuke was maybe naked in there and the closet still contained that half crushed pack of condoms and well…

Kissing was nice. Very nice. It made Naruto feel hot all over, just thinking about it. And while he knew that Sasuke liked him he wouldn't push his luck and suggest doing something more intimate, because sex involved being attracted to someone and what if Sasuke wasn't attracted to him?

Are you gonna be all annoying and angsty again? Kurama asked as he threw himself on the bed, rubbing at his face.

No, he sullenly replied, because that was a problem for a later time. There were more important things than that, anyway. Like the fact that Sasuke felt all those things for him, that Sasuke had held him close and thought of him, like he was his.

Sasuke wanted him close.

Sasuke wanted him safe.

He turned on his side, grabbing a pillow to squeeze against his chest. The sound of running water reached him from the bathroom, maybe Sasuke was brushing his teeth.

Sasuke wanted him covered in Uchiha clan symbols.

Letting out a sound that could have been anything between a squeal and a frustrated gurgle, Naruto curled in on himself and buried his burning face in the pillow. Seeing himself in Sasuke's mind had been so weird. All these memories had been rushing through Sasuke's thoughts, and everything had been warm and yellow and orange even though it hurt.

When Sasuke thought of him he hurt, just like Naruto did when thinking of Sasuke.

When Naruto confessed, he could feel his own longing and desperation and pain reflected perfectly, all exploding in a mess of colors.

Just remembering made him feel almost dizzy, and he reached underneath his shirt to rub against the spot where he could feel the beat connecting them. He could feel laughter bubbling up his throat, his lips already splitting open in a giddy grin. Suddenly he couldn't wait any longer, he needed to see Sasuke right now, before he got too much time on his own in the bathroom and did something awful like contemplate his life and stuff.

Hopping out of bed he took a few long strides towards the bathroom door, flinging it open to reveal Sasuke bent over the sink. It looked like he'd just spit out excess toothpaste, and his head tilted to show an unimpressed look.

"What," Sasuke sighed, causing Naruto's grin to grow.

"You like me," he said, mustering up as much confidence as he could behind the words.

Sasuke's stare was deadpan and slightly annoyed, but he could see the slight twitch to his fingers and the miniscule widening of pupils.

"Debatable."

Relief flooded Naruto. It seemed Sasuke had decided there was no point denying things, even though he could easily –too easily– recall the panic he'd felt once Sasuke's brain had caught up to the situation in Charasuke's room.

"You can't debate the truth," Naruto insisted, stepping closer as Sasuke straightened up.

"Also debatable," Sasuke frowned, gaze flickering towards Naruto's mouth.

Ooh you should kiss him, Kurama urged him on, and Naruto almost tripped on his own feet.

Surprisingly Sasuke had reached a hand out to steady him, and when he looked up at his face he wondered if his heart had always lurched like this whenever Sasuke touched him.

It has, Kurama informed him, but Naruto pushed his comments out of his mind and grabbed Sasuke's waist in a bold move.

"You like me," he repeated, and this time Sasuke swallowed and averted his eyes. "Don't even think about running away."

"I wasn't," Sasuke shot back, irritated but not resisting when Naruto pushed him backwards until his back connected with the wall between the toilet and shower.

"Good," Naruto breathed against his lips, fingers curling around his shirt as he pressed close to his warmth.

"Dobe, what do you think you're-"

Sasuke had attempted to struggle but stilled once their lips connected, staring at him accusingly. Naruto raised his eyebrows, daring Sasuke to pull away, pressing even closer to him. Kissing while standing was much better, he concluded, because this way he could feel Sasuke's chest and legs and hips against his own, hot and hard and trembling just slightly.

He could taste toothpaste, parting his lips to lick along the seam of Sasuke's. It made them both shiver, dark eyelashes fluttering before Sasuke grabbed his hair and pulled him off.

"No," Sasuke told him, but his voice sounded raspy and his pupils were still blown wide.

"But why not," he whined, burying his face in Sasuke's neck despite the pull on his hair.

He could feel Sasuke's chest expand against him as he took a deep breath, tightening his grip.

"Because you're an idiot."

Naruto hit him on the shoulder.

"That's not a reason," he argued.

"So you're not denying you're an idiot?"

This time Naruto stepped on his foot.

"Don't change the subject. Coward."

Sasuke sucked in a sharp breath and Naruto knew he'd hit a nerve. Maybe it was a little backhanded, but what the hell. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Please kiss me?" he asked, lifting his head to give Sasuke his best set of puppy eyes.

Oh, he could see Sasuke's defenses crumbling to dust, his fist slackening its grip and falling to Naruto's shoulder instead.

"We already kissed," he muttered, slumping against the wall and staring stubbornly at a point above Naruto's head.

"So?" Naruto prompted, running his fingers experimentally up and down Sasuke's sides. "It's not like we're gonna run out."

A lesser man might have run for cover at the glare Sasuke directed at him, but Naruto merely pouted impatiently. Sasuke, for all his love for logic, really wasn't making any sense. Not that he usually made any sense but right now it was as if he didn't even try. He blinked. Maybe Sasuke wanted to kiss but was just embarrassed? Brows knitting in contemplation he placed his palms flat against Sasuke's stomach, moving them upwards slowly so that he could feel every dip and ridge of muscle underneath the thin material of his shirt.

Sasuke still wasn't looking at him, but Naruto was much too close to not notice the small hitch to his breath or the way his jaw clenched when Naruto's thumbs ran along his collarbones before continuing up to cradle his cheeks. Tilting Sasuke's head down by light force, he gave a hesitant smile.

"Please?"

A very annoyed sound made itself known in Sasuke's throat and his glare was as strong as ever, but his hands found the small of Naruto's back and his lips parted just enough to be an invitation. Needless to say, Naruto pounced on it.

To think that only hours ago he'd agonized over whether or not Sasuke would ever let him be as close to him as he needed to be, and here they stood with bodies pressed tight and hands gripping hard and hearts beating like drums in their chests.

He felt amazing. If he could just do this for the rest of his life he was pretty certain he'd die happy, because Sasuke was hugging him confidently to his chest, mouth slanted to fit his like they'd practiced for years already.

Breathing was difficult. He kept sighing and gasping and humming into the kiss, hands holding Sasuke's face in a vice-like grip to crush their mouths even harder together. His body felt so hot, like it was melting into Sasuke's, being swallowed whole. Standing on his toes he rubbed his body against Sasuke's, pushing him into the wall as if he really did want to mesh them together.

The result was Sasuke's fingers digging into his back, a choked moan entering Naruto's mouth, and it felt like he exploded with heat.

"Sasuke," he groaned, sucking on Sasuke's lower lip and somehow there were tongues involved and oh god he felt so good, he needed more, he needed-

Sasuke tore his mouth away, tilting his head back to gasp for air, and Naruto wasted no time in latching onto his neck.

"Naruto, fuck, stop," Sasuke gritted out, making feeble attempts at pushing him away.

"Don't think so," Naruto mumbled, dragging his hands through Sasuke's hair, feeling it almost crackle underneath his touch.

Wait… crackle?!

Eyes flying open he realized he was emanating a massive amount of chakra, flames of yellow licking up Sasuke's body.

…oops?

"Goddammit," Sasuke swore as soon as he stopped, rubbing at his face and arms as if getting rid of an invisible itch. "From now on, you're only allowed two kisses a day. Idiot!"

Naruto gaped at him.

"What?!" he yelled, spinning around on his heels when Sasuke pushed past him and exited the bathroom, wiping furiously at his mouth.

It was just some chakra! Sasuke didn't need to be so rude and stop!

He liked it, sheesh.

Snapping his mouth shut at Kurama's comment, Naruto put two and two together. Then he grinned. Oh, he was never going to let Sasuke live this down.

Skipping after Sasuke into the bedroom he tried his best not to start cackling out loud.

"You like my chakra," he told Sasuke smugly, grin widening as Sasuke's shoulders stiffened.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sasuke said, his back towards him and fists clenching and unclenching.

"I saw what you were thinking, remember?"

If possible, Sasuke's shoulders became even stiffer, to the point where Naruto almost wondered if he should take cover just in case another chidori was coming his way.

"Like I said," Sasuke forced out through clenched teeth, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Naruto recalled the image of himself he'd seen in Sasuke's mind, all glowing chakra and bright eyes and words like comfort and relief connected to it. Though, maybe he shouldn't push too far. At least Sasuke had agreed to two kisses a day, which was more than enough proof that this was going to happen again. Not that Naruto would have been able to quit anyway.

Staying quiet for now he inched closer to Sasuke, sneaking his arms around his back and leaning his cheek against the base of his neck.

"Only two kisses a day?" he asked instead, playing with the hem of Sasuke's shirt.

"We're not talking about this. Brush your teeth and go to bed."

Naruto snickered into Sasuke's neck, then forgot to think about the consequences and bit lightly into the tempting pale skin.

An elbow to the stomach sent him flying into the wall, and barely two seconds after impact there was a knock on the door before a very concerned Iruka popped his head inside.

"Everything alright?" he asked, eyes darting between a red-faced Sasuke and Naruto in a heap on the floor.

"Just peachy!" Naruto exclaimed, reaching an arm out to make a thumbs up. "Never better!"

Iruka didn't seem to fully believe him, turning to Sasuke for confirmation.

"This idiot is being his usual idiot self," Sasuke said, sending a scowl Naruto's way.

"Oi!"

"Hm, alright then. Try to be a little more quiet if you can? The kids are sleeping already."

"Of course," Sasuke replied, Naruto nodding vigorously.

"And maybe tone down the chakra signatures, too."

"Sorry!" Naruto told him, untangling himself and sitting up.

With a nod and a smile Iruka was out the door again, and as soon as the click from the lock sounded, Sasuke stalked over to grab the front of Naruto's shirt.

"I changed my mind," he hissed, but somehow Naruto couldn't really find his anger anything other than strangely attractive. "No kissing at all."

Naruto blinked up at him, momentarily distracted by how soft his lips looked.

"Um, what?"

"You heard me."

"Ah, yeah, it's just that, I mean it sounded like you said no kissing at all, but-"

Sasuke dropped him to the floor, crossing his arms with a positively murderous glare.

"-like, I mean you can't mean that because you liked it and you totally kissed back and also I-"

Heaving a deep sigh, Sasuke combed a hand through his hair and walked backwards to sit down on the bed.

"- really really liked it so I'm definitely gonna kiss you again just so you know!"

"Who the hell would want to kiss a dumbass like you?"

"Hey! I'm great at kissing! I'll prove it right now!"

He shot up to tackle Sasuke on the bed, forgetting that the other man was unfortunately also a ninja. Instead of on top of Sasuke he found himself on his stomach, arms locked behind his back and a knee pressing him down.

"No fair," he whined, "I'll drool on your pillow if you don't let me go!"

"You'll do that anyway."

Naruto wriggled, both of them knowing he could easily escape if he wanted to. At least Sasuke was touching him…

"Just go to bed," Sasuke sighed, releasing him to dig around for the t-shirt and shorts he slept in.

Huffing and making faces, Naruto started crawling towards the edge of the bed, slipping over it only to sit on his knees and stare at Sasuke half hidden. Sasuke had found his clothes from the messy bed, gripping the back of his shirt to pull it over his head. Naruto bit the inside of his cheek, fingertips digging into the edge of the mattress. How clever of him, to find such a good position for ogling Sasuke!

Soon enough strong abs were revealed, bunching a little as Sasuke stretched his arms above his head to remove the shirt. His eyes traced the muscle upwards, between defined pecs and alluring collarbones, and maybe he was actually kind of very gay now that he thought about it. He continued up Sasuke's throat, finding a faint red mark to one side from when they kissed that did funny things to his lower regions.

"Are you done?"

Sasuke's unimpressed voice shocked him out of dreamland, dark eyes narrowed into slits.

"Uh, well, I mean if you want to take off your pants…"

Sasuke cracked his knuckles, a sinister smile on his face, and wow brushing his teeth seemed very appealing suddenly. Maybe he could take the time alone to work on that brain to mouth filter.

He got ready for bed in record time, throwing his clothes haphazardly on the floor as he switched to pajama pants that of course had been lent to him by Iruka, deciding to forego the t-shirt. It was usually plenty of warm underneath the covers when he and Sasuke shared, and he sort of wanted to have as little separating them as possible. Sasuke was already in bed, back turned towards him.

Naruto didn't mind. It was good for his cuddle plans, anyway, and as soon as he got underneath the covers he sidled up to Sasuke and threw an arm around his waist. His nose pressed into the back of Sasuke's neck again, the small hairs tickling him as he breathed in his scent. He didn't really know what to do with his other arm though, struggling a little before awkwardly positioning it between their bodies.

"You're too warm," Sasuke grunted, shifting away from him.

Considering he was up against the wall he didn't have much luck getting away.

"I'm not feeling too warm," he retorted, pulling Sasuke back against him.

He discovered that if he bent his knees he could fit them into Sasuke's, ankles tangling together. Satisfied with the result he sighed happily, feeling his eyelids droop. Sleeping sounded like a great idea right now. At least it would be great if Sasuke stopped squirming every two seconds.

"Stay still," he complained, holding him tighter.

"It's uncomfortable. And I already told you you're too warm."

"Well suck it up because I'm not moving."

"You either move or I'll go sleep in Charasuke's bed."

"You wouldn't."

Sasuke grumbled underneath his breath, shifting a few more times before apparently giving up.

"See? It's not so bad," Naruto told him triumphantly, earning himself an elbow to the ribs and no comment.

He took that as agreement. Pleased with the day, he took a deep breath and relaxed, ready to sleep. His thoughts strayed to the red mark above Sasuke's shoulder, and the noise Sasuke had made earlier in the afternoon when Naruto gripped his hips. Cheeks flushing hotly, he pressed his face harder into Sasuke's skin, ignoring the slight stickiness from the heat. His heart picked up speed, not listening to his angry attempts at calming it down. He couldn't get the memory of Sasuke's lips on his out of his head, swallowing against the sudden thickness in his throat.

"Go to sleep, idiot," Sasuke muttered, lifting a hand to knock him over the head. "Thinking is only going to hurt your brain."

Naruto opened his mouth to talk back, but he didn't want to give Sasuke an excuse to kick him away. Instead he huffed a breath against Sasuke's skin, rubbed his nose against it for good measure, and promptly forced all indecent thoughts out of his head and fell asleep.

Or, at least he made a very valiant effort.

It seems Naruto accidentally discovered Sasuke's chakra kink? And poor Orochimaru, he doesn't have it easy lol. At least he's the only one looking pretty in the new generation crap. But yeah I hope you're not too mad at me for being slow with updates haha... Oh and in just ten days I'm turning 25! Who knows, maybe I'll actually finish this fic before I'm 30 lol.

I hope you've all had a nice weekend:3