A/N: This episode references Naruto Shippuden Episode 181, "Naruto's School of Revenge" and Naruto Shippuden Episode 194, "The Worst Three-Legged Race".

Catching the ostrich is surprisingly easy – it had just gotten farther than anything else they were sent to retrieve. Sasuke's a bit disgruntled by this. Well. That's a bit of a weak word.

When he's sent out on a multi-day mission with an easy to retrieve target, no fighting, and having to put up with his teammates straight for what has been 24 hours straight already, and promises to be more? When he could be training?

This is a nightmare.

At least he doesn't have to deal with the ostrich. That's Naruto's job, hah. Hopefully they can finish this up quickly and head back to Konoha before he loses his sanity.

It doesn't work like that. It never, ever does.

Sasuke stands in the doorway of the inn, watching Naruto run around with Tsukado, with this man who so desperately wants revenge and yet- yet can't do it. It's pathetic. What does Naruto know about revenge?

Kakashi steps up behind him. "Maa, anything interesting?"

He deliberately waits a moment before he replies. He's not interested in a conversation. "They're both idiots."

"Oh?"

Sasuke rolls his eyes. "We both know Naruto's an idiot, but that Tsukado…" He frowns. "You saw it too, didn't you?"

Kakashi nods. "He is more skilled than he lets on."

He considers for a moment. "Are we going to do anything?"

His teacher claps him on the shoulder, and it takes a lot of restraint to not pull away. "I'll let you know."

He doesn't let him know. No, Sasuke's long gone inside to read one of his jutsu scrolls (lending Sakura one, of course, to keep her entertained and quiet), and Kakashi is keeping watch outside.

No, Kakashi doesn't tell him. There's just an uproarious noise, an unholy squawking, and then Kakashi appears, balancing sheepishly on the windowsill. "Maa, maa, the ostrich ate through his rope."

Sasuke very deliberately doesn't swear and instead scrambles up, following Kakashi outside to chase after the bird, Sakura at his heels. Their teacher doesn't go his fastest – indeed, not even Sakura is hitting her top speed.

She frowns, glancing over at him. "Sasuke…?"

He shakes his head. "Explain later."

They chase the bird down to the river, arriving just in time to see Tsukado actually show off his swordsmanship skills. Why does he hide it? Why?

Because of the other man's eyes. His eyes.

Honestly, that makes no sense to Sasuke, unless the man is really gay. (He doesn't think he is.) It's the man who killed one of his relatives, who killed one of the people important to him-

Just. Just kill him. Just murder him.

Sasuke doesn't care about weaklings like that.

But-

But then it turns out all to be fake. Everything is a farce. Sasuke doesn't understand. Why would someone carry the weight of revenge on their shoulder for a brother? It sends shivers down his spine, it feels… wrong, so wrong.

He's quiet on their walk back to Konoha. It's a lot to process, a lot to think about, and then Naruto-

"Revenge is a hard thing, isn't it?"

He. Stops. Metaphorically, of course, he doesn't literally stop. "What would you know?"

Naruto turns to frown at him, confused. "What?"

Sasuke speeds up a little more, walking quickly past the others. "Sometimes, revenge must be carried out, no matter how hard it is."

There's a few minutes of quiet from everyone, and Sasuke can feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest, roaring in his ears, and he exhales shakily as Naruto runs up next to him. The ostrich is left behind, likely held onto by Kakashi. "Your brother?"

Sasuke says nothing. Naruto seems to take that as affirmation, and walks close enough so they brush shoulders. The Uchiha very carefully doesn't pull away, and they're quiet together, for just a moment. Walking side by side, teammates, and it's… it's nice. Comforting.

"You know… we'll help."

He turns to look at Naruto, a little confused. "What?"

Naruto shrugs, blinking at him with the bluest eyes Sasuke has ever seen. "We'll help. Me and Sakura and Kakashi-sensei. We can help take down your big brother. I said it before, and I still mean it."

For one long moment, Sasuke can't even breathe- and then he wrenches himself away, shoulders hunching as he walks faster, faster faster faster so Naruto won't catch up with him and-

No. No. He can't even contemplate that. Not again.

He's so glad to be home. He's so glad to be home and settle into the regular routine of training and simple missions and then avoiding the hell out of his teammates the moment they're all dismissed. He doesn't want to be by Kakashi or Sakura or Naruto any longer than he has to be.

They… strike a chord with something inside him, his heart aching, and he can't do it. He can't get attached, doesn't want to be attached, just wants to train and do missions and train and do missions and train himself into weariness at his home until he can finally pass out and sleep without nightmares on the floor.

Maybe Kakashi notices. Maybe it's just coincidence. Maybe Sasuke is just unlucky like that, but their next mission is out of Konoha.

Their next mission involves his hand glued to Naruto's hand.

They kiss again.

It's a clash of lips and teeth, bloody and messy as they tumble into each other, crashing bodily, genin-to-genin, as they fall down the waterfall.

Sasuke can taste Naruto's blood in his mouth. He can taste his teammate, and it's-

"Why is it always you!?" he asks, and doesn't get an answer.

They're stuck together for three days, and Sasuke doesn't look at Naruto once. It's half annoyance, half embarrassment. He can't- He can't deal with the fact that he is attached to the boy who has a crush on him, who has kissed him twice, whom he basically has to hold hands with to sleep.

But at the same time, Naruto is a perpetual bouncy ball of energy, yelling and screaming and bouncing off the walls and Sasuke will go mad if he has to hear another moment of him.

It's such a god damn relief when the glue finally falls away.

It's not even negated by the fact that Kakashi announces the chunin exams a few days later, which means he's going to be constantly with Sakura and Naruto soon enough (he's. Not sure how long the exams last?). Anything's better than being glued to Naruto or kissing Naruto or hearing about revenge from Naruto or Naruto Naruto Naruto Naruto-

Besides. He's the top genin. He's going to wipe the floor with all these losers.

How hard can the chunin exams be?