Have you ever ch16
Have you ever loved somebody so much
It makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something so bad
You can't sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words
But they don't come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever?
Hi no Kuni = Land of Fire.
Yu no Kuni = Land of Hot Springs
Ojìsan = Grandfather
Henge no Jutsu = Transformation technique
Kaminari no Kuni = Land of Lightning
Taiyô = Sun
Hiryû = Fire Dragon
At the border of Yu no Kuni
Sasuke was the first to wake up, and it was due to nightmares that plagued him. His dreams had begun to change recently. Previously, he had relived the massacre of his clan and the death of his parents. Now they were talking about Naruto dying at his brother's hand, and Sasuke was alone again. There was nothing he could do to save the blonde, despite his strength and ninja skills. His lover would die in front of him. Sasuke felt Naruto's arm around him, his powerful body on his back and his calm breath on his neck. As soon as Uchiha realized that the jinchuriki was safe, he relaxed. Sasuke knew that the fear of losing his Naruto was the reason behind all his nightmares. Once and for all, Sasuke needs to go, turn his back, and disappear forever. When Sasuke realized that the love, he had repressed for so long was still alive inside him, he became terrified. He had tried everything he could to avoid suffering again, to avoid losing another loved one.
Sasuke, however, had forgotten how stubborn Naruto could be, and had forgotten that Naruto loved him so much. Eventually, Naruto would find him if he disappeared today. Sasuke didn't think he would ever be able to be alone again if he were honest with himself. His heart was slowly being warmed by the warmth, the love, and the tenderness Naruto was offering him at every turn. Naruto squeezed tighter when the Uchiha tried to escape his grasp. The Uchiha relaxed. Who was he fooling? Nothing could separate him from his kitsune. Anyone attempting to separate them, or even worse, attempting to attack Naruto, Sasuke would kill without remorse. As he slept, the jinchuriki's breath changed slightly. He knew he would soon awaken. Before the jinchuriki opened his eyes, he wanted to make something to eat. With all his flexibility and ninja skills, Sasuke finally broke free of his embrace, leaving the tent without making a sound.
The fire was almost out, and the sun was about to chase away the darkness around them. Leaving Naruto's warmth behind, Sasuke was lonely and cold. His hand reached into their bag as he grabbed his cloak and the few supplies they still had. In front of the dying fire, he blew on the embers, adding a few dead branches at the same time. Sasuke put the water to boil for tea once the fire was rekindled. He looked at the remaining food. Seeing only the rice, the Uchiha sighed. Naruto yawed in the tent as he stretched, the flap opening to let the blonde out. It was this image of Naruto that Uchiha wanted to see every day for the rest of his life. He would know that the world is a good place if he watched his sunrise every morning. This was proven by Sasuke, who would see it when he fell asleep at night, so it would be the first thing he would see in the morning. The blue eyes staring into the distance, the messed-up hair, and the smell of masculinity he emitted. Naruto had become Sasuke's drug; he could not live without him.
"Sas'ke?"
The hoarse voice of his kitsune sent a shiver down Sasuke's spine. His head was lowered to hide the red that had most likely risen to his cheeks.
"Hn."
The sleepy Naruto walked towards the fire with a lascivious smile on his face. After he kissed her on the cheek, he turned back toward the fire.
"Good morning."
"Hn."
He chuckled to himself. The fact that Sasuke wasn't a morning person didn't bother him. He sat on a stone near the fire. He watched the rice cooking and the tea boiling.
"Are we out of ramen?"
"Yes."
The blond man pouted for the sake of it, thinking the rice would do the trick. The farm wasn't far away. During his escape from the temple, he met the farmer. He hoped he would be willing to host them during this two-month period. Naruto planned to be straightforward with him. But how else could they explain their changes in appearance? It was his right to be informed. At least in part. After the rice and tea were cooked, Sasuke put their meal into bowls and poured their hot drinks into old travel mugs. While eating and talking, they were so happy to be together. The two ninjas were still struggling with the realization that all of this was true. They weren't dreaming, they were really together, sharing the same feelings. If they were lucky, they'd get two months to themselves. When their meal was done, they dismantled their camp and wiped their tracks.
I should cancel my henge to talk to the guy when we get to the house I'm looking for."
"Then I'll do the same."
The blond shrugged as his tone of voice left no room for argument.
"We should mask our chakra and walk to our destination, so nobody notices us. I can turn into a woman easier than you, so we'll look like a couple of tourists."
Seeing Naruto's plan, the Uchiha raised an eyebrow. Naruto had planned a logical plan. He smirked. He was proud but mocking at the same time. The blond guessed what he was thinking, he hit the shoulder of his lover with his fist.
"Teme!"
The two ninjas then made the necessary hand signs.
"Henge no Jutsu!"
Sasuke had opted for a slightly more subtle modification. He appeared to be taller, his hair was cut in a brush, and it was brown. His eyes were forest green in color, he had slightly modified the shape of them to be a little rounder. His skin was dark brown, almost as dark as the people of Kaminari no Kuni. An open sky-blue jacket sat directly on his bare chest beneath his wide white pants.
Naruto, desperately trying to hold back his laughter at the sudden change in his lover, burst into a muffled laugh. Yet his laughter shook him, and he lost the battle against himself. The jinchuriki tried to regain control, but as soon as he looked up at Sasuke, he began laughing again. It wasn't funny, but the man before him was the opposite of his lover.
'Baka! Stop laughing! It's time to get back on the road, just so you know...'
Slowly, Sasuke approached his lover.
You're very sexy and attractive like that."
Naruto's laughter died in his throat, and he pushed Sasuke away hard. His eyes were filled with pain, so he looked away so Sasuke wouldn't see it. It should have been obvious that his plan wouldn't work. In particular, his stupid idea of adding a woman to the equation by claiming to be his wife. They may have traveled together as brothers or perhaps as master and student. The jinchuriki had to go with the idea of a normal couple with a woman. This would make sense to Sasuke. For him to be able to have children and to rebuild what he had lost, he had to be with a woman. He chose to appear as a small woman dressed in a simple kimono; white with small flowers embroidered everywhere. On each of his shoulders he had placed two braids of black hair, and he had chosen to make his eyes brown. In addition to curling his black lashes, the blond boy had also modified the shape of his eyes. He began walking quickly with his backpack in tow. He avoided eye contact or physical contact with Sasuke.
"Naruto?"
The Uchiha noticed immediately that his lover's mood had changed. But he couldn't understand why. Did he feel nervous or uncomfortable? In response to the kitsune's silence, he shrugged his shoulders, gathered his bag, and silently followed his lover. He thought the pace was terribly slow. If they had used their chakra, he would have arrived at the farmer's house long ago. He should inform Naruto that he had also spoken to the man earlier. The problem was that since they left camp, every time he tried to talk to Naruto, he was ignored. It wasn't like him at all. Naruto is usually talkative, laughing and smiling, talking about anything and everything. In the moment, Sasuke felt the weight of his man's silence, so he had to figure out the reason for it. If he had done something wrong, the Uchiha would have apologized. Sasuke decided to leave him be, so Naruto would calm down before he arrived at his destination. A few hours passed in silence until Sasuke had had enough. Grabbing Naruto's shoulder, he made him stop walking and turn on himself. The Uzumaki refused to look at Sasuke, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the ground. Uchiha grabbed his chin and made him look at him.
"Please tell me what has been going on with you since this morning. This silence is torturous!"
Naruto quickly escaped Sasuke's grasp.
"Let's move, Teme, everything is fine. Let's keep moving, I'd like to get there before dinner."
His blonde companion walked around him.
No way! That's not how it works.
"Usuratonkachi, stop acting stupid! Talk to me, dammit!"
Sasuke grabbed his shoulder again, but Naruto pulled away just as quickly as before. While pushing the other ninja.
"Leave me alone!"
It wasn't over for Sasuke, he tried one more time. Sasuke put his arm around Naruto and waited for an answer.
"Speak. Tell me what's going on."
"You! You said you liked me. Looking like this! You said I was attractive and sexy!"
His lips trembled as he pointed to his female body and made a big gesture with his arms. He had tears in his eyes. He knew Sasuke had realized what he had done. Sasuke's strong arms caught him without him knowing what was happening. His neck was kissed in thousands of butterfly kisses by Uchiha.
"Baka! I didn't notice your henge. All I see is you, your smile, and your infectious happiness. I love you for who you are, not just for your appearance."
He kissed him all over his neck and nibbled at his ear. Sasuke stepped back a little to look his lover in the eye. As tears silently rolled down his cheeks, Naruto's eyes were filled with tears. His face was lit up with a smile of pure joy. The moment he realized that he had doubted his lover, he felt really silly. For a while, they kissed tenderly before Naruto broke the contact.
"If we hope to make it to dinner time, we need to get back on track."
Sasuke gave his lover a quick last kiss as he nodded. Taking his hand, the Uchiha led him to the end of the path. Having walked for two hours, they came to a fork in the road. To the left was a small farm. Naruto ascended to the fence-enclosed entrance of the farm. Having cancelled his henge, he invited Sasuke to do the same. The Uchiha also canceled his henge after inspecting his surroundings.
"Ojìsan!"
The meadow surrounding the house echoed with Naruto's loud voice. Nearby chickens protested at the disturbance. On the right hand side of the property, the farmer appeared a few seconds later.
"What?"
At first, he looked irritated at being disturbed, but as soon as he recognized the blond boy, his expression changed.
"I thought I would never see you again, but here you are again, Naruto."
Grabbing the blonde's hand, the farmer enthusiastically shook it. Sasuke stood back as his gaze fell on him.
"I see your friend managed to locate you."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke in confusion, and he shrugged.
The day after we met, this young man came to me. He said he had been looking for you. I am glad to see that he found you, and that you seem happy. Is he able to help you in any way?"
"Follow me to the back of the house," he said, without waiting for their reply. He then led them into the barn.
"You have arrived just in time to milk my goats, and I can't hold out for very long."
As the farmer stepped forward, a goat, lazily chewing hay, was tied to a post. They watched the man in silence. It was obvious he was very skilled.
"What can I do to help you two?"
In turn, Sasuke turned his head towards his lover, indicating that it was time for him to speak. With a discreet smile on his face, Naruto turned back to the farmer and shrugged.
"Ojìsan"
"I'm Tsuchi. Call me Tsuchi."
'Okay, Tsuchi-san. Sasuke and I are wondering if you need help for a couple of months?'
After looking at them in turn, the farmer got up from his bench and put the goats back in their pasture. Then he waved his hand at the two ninjas to follow him inside the cottage. The old man made some tea and placed some small crackers on the table once inside. In silence, he invited the two young men to sit at the table. In front of the young men, Tsuchi placed a cup of tea on the table.
"Naruto, I know you are no ordinary young man. I have seen you fight those thugs, and I assume that your friend is a ninja, too. Why would two shinobi of your caliber waste time on a small farm?"
Sasuke discussed this with his lover the night before. They had argued because the kitsune didn't want to lie to this benevolent man. Of course, Naruto won. Naruto's beautiful blue eyes were a soft spot for the Uchiha, so he could not refuse him anything. Also, he wasn't sure if he wanted to.
To be honest, Tsuchi-san. I asked my Hokage for permission to take two months off. The last time we met, I was lost and needed time to figure out what I was going to do with my life. But now that Sasuke is back, I don't need time to think. My life belongs to him."
The gaze of Naruto was fixed on Tsuchi-san throughout his explanation. As he took Sasuke's hand, he also kept his gaze on the man. At this point, Uchiha becomes tense. He didn't want to expose their relationship to a stranger. Naruto didn't want to have to hide if he just wanted to hug or kiss him. The farmer stared at the bound hands of the two ninjas with round eyes. He thought one represented the sun and one reminded him of the moon. They're polar opposites that can't live without each other. It would take a blind man not to see their complicity and the pure love that emanated from them as they gazed at each other. Being a pragmatic man like Tsuchi, he realized that having two more strong arms during harvest would save him a lot of time and money. He wouldn't have to hire neighborhood kids. The gaze of Naruto was as frank as ever, free of any malice or deceit. Though it was tinged with nostalgia. Sasuke's was much darker; it's obvious the ninja has been through some terrible things in the past.
"You won't get much ryo for your work, and harvest will begin soon, so there will be plenty of work to do."
"Money doesn't matter to us, and work doesn't scare us."
Sasuke's deep voice was heard by Tsuchi for the first time since the duo had arrived. Tsuchi appreciated the way Sasuke looked right into his eyes. He continued.
"We want to be able to help you, as well as have a quiet, trouble-free place to stay for a few weeks."
"What Sasuke means is that we only ask for room and board in exchange for the work."
After watching the two ninjas in front of him exchange glances, Tsuchi advanced.
"Are you going to tell me there is a but?"
Sasuke let go of Naruto's hand to lean forward a little more on the table before answering the man in front of him.
"I have to answer some charges in my village... And I..."
With his right arm, Naruto surrounded the shoulders of his lover before cutting him off.
"Sasuke means that when we return home, we won't have time to find each other. We've been separated for a long time. I have... We need your support and understanding."
The older man got up and walked to a window on the side of his house that overlooked the fields. Two ninjas stared at each other anxiously, their hands joining again. Perhaps honesty isn't the answer to all problems, the jinchuriki thought. But he could never lie or take advantage of anyone. He wanted people to be kind, to have goodness in them. If Tsuchi refused to take them in, he would find another solution. For Naruto, the most important thing was to cement their love. They also enjoyed spending time together without outside influences. His love for Sasuke was endless, and he didn't want to leave any doubt between them. Harmony is key, otherwise Konoha might get the upper hand. There was still a lot of anger in Sasuke, on top of his bitterness toward the village. Hopefully, he'd be enough for the Uchiha to accept Tsunade's help to find the culprit. Then he could be judged properly.
Eventually, Tsuchi turned back to them, walked over to the table, and sat down again.
"Naruto, I am willing to help you. You saved my life, and the man next to you seems very important to you. You seem to mean a lot to him too. However, how are you going to hide your identity?"
The jinchuriki's smile lit up the room. Sasuke even smiled a little. They looked at each other and spoke in unison.
"Henge no Jutsu!"
They resumed their appearance from earlier. As the farmer got up from his chair, he almost fell over in surprise.
"Oh my gosh, Ninja art is amazing!"
Tsuchi's voice expressed his surprise in front of two people. There was no resemblance between the two ninjas who were sitting there a moment ago. The girl laughed coquettishly, while the man simply shook his head. When he spoke to her, he used his delicate young lady's voice.
Greetings, Tsuchi-san, my name is Taiyo, and this is my husband Hiryû."
The farmer stared at them with round eyes full of amazement. Tsuchi had evidently noticed Naruto's smile - not Taiyô's - when he had accepted. He was touched. He had nothing to lose by helping these two young men. He could not comprehend the attraction between them. It was not his place to judge. Tsuchi felt in his heart that Kami wasn't making a mistake.
"Nice to meet you, Taiyô, and you too, Hiryû. Come with me, I'll show you where to sleep. Then we'll work in the fields for the rest of the day. I have a lot of work to do, and your help is much appreciated."
They followed Tsuchi to the back of the house, where a narrow staircase led to the second floor. In the hallway, there were two doors facing each other and one at the end.
"You can take the room on the left. My room is on the other side, and the bathroom is at the end of the hall. Drop your bags and meet me downstairs immediately."
One last time, the man looked at the ninjas and thought that they were crazy and probably all weird. He shook his head slightly as he said this.
Inviting his lover inside, Sasuke opened the door. It was a small, square room with a sloping ceiling and a window that framed the forest behind the farm. In the room, there was only a single bed, a closet, a chair, and a desk. Sasuke was wrapped tightly in Naruto's arms as he breathed in the familiar scent. His hands went down to caress the Uchiha's buttocks as he kissed him on the neck. The black-haired man grabbed Naruto's backside with his hands. Naruto moaned into his mouth, but Sasuke swallowed it. As they were running out of oxygen, they had no choice but to separate.
"I think we should go join Tsuchi-san."
Sasuke reluctantly separated himself from his kitsune. Despite his henge, his lover was still beautiful in his eyes, and waiting to devour him was a real torture for him.
"Yes, of course."
Naruto's arm was grabbed by Uchiha before he left the room.
"I... I..."
"I know Sasuke, so do I."
As the two men walked down the stairs to join Tsuchi outside, Naruto kissed him again tenderly. Here they would spend time together, strengthening their bond even further and enjoying each other's company as much as possible. When it was time to return to Konoha, they would be stronger than ever. They would be ready to face anything together.
