A/N: To the guest who commented and gave me encouragement, thank you. Whether you are new to this story or have been waiting for a long time, I appreciate you cheering me on.

[Sasuke's POV]

I closed the door silently before making my way home; or what's left of home.

My estate was dark and lonely, the opposite of Naruto's apartment.
Entering my own house I threw my clothes off onto the floor and showered quickly; I may have left his place early but we still have training today.
Changing into some fresh clothes I couldn't help but think about at night and what we did. This time it didn't send me into a spiral of self loathing and embarrassment; something that surprised me. Was I beginning to think this was normal, or was it just because it was Naruto. I sighed, unsure about where my mind was going. I wasn't going to go into my feelings, that would be ridiculous.

I left the house as quickly as I had arrived, still deep into my thoughts. In the distance I could see the tell tale orange jumpsuit that Naruto always wore and Sakura's pink vest beside him. I walked a little faster to catch up. From the corner of my eye I thought I saw a movement in the shadows but there seemed to be nothing there.

[Naruto's POV]

I woke up alone, the place where Sasuke should have been was empty. The clothes I had lent him were folded and placed on the chair in the corner. I guess I couldn't blame him for leaving; it would have been too awkward.

I got ready for the day; taking a glass of milk and a cup ramen to my table I was ready to eat but a knock pierced the early morning silence. Opening the door I was greeted by Sakura's angry voice chastising me.

"Did you sleep in again? Naruto, why aren't you ready?" She was yelling at me

"Sakura, what are you doing here, isn't it too early for you to be screaming?"

"If I don't come and get you, you're always late. What would you even do without me?"

"Give me a minute, geez". Sakura followed me back into my house so I could finish my food; I tried to eat fast because her glare was on me the entire time and honestly was unnerving. We left after I was done changing; as we walked along the road I looked around at how empty it was. We didn't talk, just walking in silence and taking in the cool morning air. After a while I couldn't help but feel like I still needed to explain myself, it was like something we both wanted to acknowledge, but couldn't seem to muster up the voice to do so.

"Hey Sakura," I piped up while we walked towards our usual training grounds,

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." Looking over I could see the flash of surprise and then a faint smile work its way over her face, I continued, "I know you really like Sasuke and I guess seeing two guys, uh, like that probably was, shocking. Everything kind of just… happened. You know?"

Sakura nodded in understanding and took her time before saying something of her own,

"It's true. I was surprised and I was hurt, but more because I finally realised how stupid I was to throw myself at someone who never liked me." Suddenly her demeanour changed and a dark, scary look consumed her face
"but let me tell you this, if you ever do anything stupid and you screw up Naruto I won't forgive you. You will regret ever taking Sasuke from me." She smiled as if she hadn't just threatened my very life, and that was the scariest thing of all.

"Of course. I won't" I stumbled over the words.

"I can't understand what he would ever see in you, Naruto." Sakura shot another arrow into my ego,

"What do you mean!? I'm going to be Hokage! Who wouldn't want to be with me?"

"Literally, any one with eyes; Sasuke is so much better looking!" Sakura said it as if she was the judge and jury on attractiveness in Konoha.

"That's all anyone ever says." I mimicked Sakura in a high pitched voice. Sakura looked heated at my impression but I continued,

"Sasuke is good looking my ass! Sasuke has nothing on me. Compared to me Sasuke is -"

"Sasuke is what?" The voice came from behind us, Sakura and I turned to face the devil we just conjured. Sasuke crossed his arms and I could feel the blood leave my face as he stared at me,

"I was saying that compared to me Sasuke is so cool" Sakura put her hand over her eyes and stifled laughter and Sasuke walked up to me silently. He raised his hand up to my face and flicked me as hard as he could on my forehead.

"Idiot"

"What did you do that for!?" I cradled the welt forming under my skin as the other walked ahead of me.

"Hey jerk don't walk away from me!"

"How am I the jerk? You just said I wasn't good looking. What kind of boyfriend are you?"

Sasuke realised he had slipped that out too casually and looked around in case someone had heard him. He was still concerned people would find out but the only one that mattered was already cool with it.

"There's no one there, it's way to early" Sasuke still looked back, but shrugged when he still couldn't see anyone.

"Yeah I guess"

[Unknown POV]

It was a close call when Sasuke had almost found me out, but I had managed to keep myself hidden. Watching as the trio ran away towards the training grounds I clicked my tongue in excitement. If what I had heard was correct this may have made things a little more interesting. I adjusted my glasses and begun to write down my observations in my pocket-sized note book.

"I'm sure he would love to know about these…Developments."
I faded back into the shadows and disappeared from the village; there were things that needed to be done.