Summary: Naruto brings some breakfast and some ground-rules for Sasuke to follow


Naruto had said 7AM, but he showed up at 6AM with breakfast.

"I figured you hadn't eaten yet." He had let himself into the apartment with his spare key and he was walking around the kitchen as if it was his own.

Sasuke was still in the pajama bottoms from yesterday, he had put on aloe vera on most of his body, but just as Sakura had predicted he was already peeling.

"Why are you here this early?" Sasuke wasn't happy about the idiot showing up whenever he felt like it.

Personally, he'd never have given someone like Naruto a spare key. "And why do you look so bad?"

"You'd look bad too if you only had 3 hours of sleep!" Naruto huffed. "Pfft. Anyways, I thought it over and realized you'd run away." He was eating the sandwich in front of him and sipping his coffee. "I figured I'd tell you 7AM, but that I'd get here way before."

He actually had thought of rushing out without Naruto to explore the city, but this time, with clothes.

He scoffed. "If I wanted to be gone, I'd be gone already."

"Oh? Then go." Naruto had his mouth full. He pointed at his peeled shoulders. "Obviously you're really great at managing city expeditions on your own."

Sasuke felt his face blush. "I need to find clues."

"You need me." Naruto retorted in the same tone as him. "There's no one that knows the Sasuke that took your place better than me." He continued eating and pushed the sandwich he had brought for him over.

"I also thought it through, you're not possessing Sasuke so I don't think I can exorcise you."

"I already said that."

"You also mentioned the clinic to Sakura."

"What about that?"

"That's something only the Sasuke I know would know." He shrugged. "It made me realize that what you said was true. You're not the Sasuke I know, you're merely collecting his memories. The Sasuke I know is out there somewhere and you're my only clue to finding him."

"I told you that already."

"Yeah, but do you expect me to just trust you blindly, demon?" He smiled from ear to ear.

"I told you already that I don't care what you think at all."

"You say that, but here you are, awake with a suit picked out." His grin grew more condescending. "You'd have left if you didn't need me."

"I'll take any help I can get, but that doesn't mean I need you."

Naruto continued as if Sasuke hadn't just spoken. "I've decided to help you but I have my conditions. First, guarantee me that Sasuke will live—"

"I can't guar—"

"Shut up and listen!"

Sasuke was startled by the loud outburst. Naruto's expression frightened him, he looked manic.

"First, guarantee me that Sasuke will live." Naruto repeated, the broad smile was back on his face as he held up a finger.

"Second, no one else can get hurt—not a soul." He held up two fingers.

"And finally," three fingers now "I need you to do as I say to keep his life in order while you're here. I've helped him fuck up his whole life before, so it's only right I help maintain what he's built so far."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow and sat down to eat with Naruto. "And you think I can do all that?"

"You have demon magic and you're a shinobi tasked with protecting your whole world, so this should be nothing for you."

Naruto grinned at Sasuke's amused expression. "And besides, you said it yourself, you two probably switched places so if he comes back—you go back."

Sasuke found himself smiling fully now. "I'll do what I can, but I have my own condition too."

"Oh?" Naruto was laughing brightly.

"Do as I say and don't get in my way."

"Ah c'mon buddy, that's two conditions!" There was a smile on his face but there wasn't a trace of laughter left. "I told you I'd help. Didn't I?" He resumed eating. "And besides with your superpowers it's not like I got much of a choice than to listen to what you said. You should see my shoulder man, absolutely mangled." He grinned again and shrugged. "It was a given that I'd do what you say. Now eat."

"Then I'm glad we got this settled." He opened the sandwich and frowned at the grease.

"What? It's your favorite."

"This pile of grease is my favorite?" Sasuke almost puked.

"Take a bite out of it, demon."

He did.

It was good.

But he would never admit it.

He ate in silence.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "You're not that different from the Sasuke I know." He paused. "I also realized you knew about the other Sasuke's nightmares." He took a sip of his coffee and cleared his throat. "You're the one that's been living his nightmares, huh?"

Sasuke continued to eat the sandwich in silence.

"I don't know what he's dreamt about." Sasuke finally answered. "I don't know what he's seen or what kind of life he's lived."

Naruto nodded and then, trying to change the subject, he looked at his peeled shoulders. "Want me to help you with your back?"

Sasuke shook his head. "I just need to put on the suit. It doesn't hurt." He stood up and walked towards his bedroom. Naruto had been right, he had already picked out what to wear.

Naruto followed after him and stood by the doorway as Sasuke changed. Sasuke quickly put on the suit, but he was struggling with the tie.

"We got a huge day at the office." Naruto mused from the door.

"What do we even do?"

"We got a meeting with the Hyugas. We're finishing up a charitable trust for them. I handled all the work last night, but it'll look suspicious if you're not there today."

Sasuke's smile freaked Naruto out.

"Demon, stop smiling. Please."