A/N: Thanks for following along! Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

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Chapter II

"Readjusting"

…

+ UZUMAKI NARUTO +

…

A gentle autumn breeze floated along the cobbled streets and brightly colored rooftops before drifting through the open window of a seventeen yearlong residence. A stack of uncleaned plates filled the sink, while half-filled glasses were scattered randomly along the counter. Shinobi history books and clumsily scribbled notes lied haphazardly on the table, one particularly thick volume threatening to collapse onto the floor below. The sound of running water flowed behind the closed bathroom door, before the serene noise was disturbed by the harsh ringing of an alarm echoing around the walls of the small apartment.

"Ah!"

Naruto hastily spat the remnants of toothpaste into the sink and rinsed his mouth, his body already leaning toward the door. The Jinchuuriki bolted toward his bedroom, where his alarm clock rested on a side table. When his hand finally came in contact with the offending object, silence returned to the small space, and he released a relieved sigh. He never liked the annoying sound of alarm clocks, but his time management had improved since he started using it throughout the day. Well, somewhat. There was nothing even an alarm could help if he forgot to set it.

The blond shinobi shook his head as he laughed at that thought. He really had a problem, but this wasn't the time to worry about that. He was supposed to meet Sasuke at Ichiraku in a few minutes. If he didn't leave soon, he was going to be late and he didn't want to leave his friend waiting when it was their first time getting together like this since Sasuke's release.

Naruto's cerulean gaze lifted from the source of annoying sounds to the familiar picture resting over his bed. Team 7. Pain and suffering overwhelmed all four of them as the time changed and they moved further from those carefree days. The well-read book hidden fondly beneath his pillow, The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja, reminded him of only one of those pains, but it also served as a beautiful memory for him to carry of his sensei. For a long time, the photo of Team 7 held a similar sentiment. It was painful to recall those days and how far they had grown apart, but it was also a symbol of hope. Until the moment he fought Sasuke that final time, that's what that photo meant to him. Now, Team 7 was finally reunited, and they could make more memories. Together.

A wide grin spread across Naruto's face, then, as another laugh escaped him. Sasuke was back. Just the thought alone made him giddy with excitement. It took a lot of work, and he lost his right arm to do it, but everything he sacrificed was worth it in the end. He held true to his convictions and brought his best friend back home. He had honored the belief Neji had placed in him and the unspoken promise he had made to Itachi. He had proven to everyone who had ever believed in him that he was good for his word and he was worth believing in.

Neji, Itachi, Ero-Sennin, Nagato, Obito…Tou-chan and Kaa-chan…I hope you're all at peace now. I hope you all found the happiness you deserve. And I also hope you can continue watching over me as I write the next chapter of my life with my precious friends at my side.

With a final glance at the cherished photo, Naruto leapt out his window and onto the opposite roof, the cool breeze enveloping him as he ran beside it. As a habit, he focused his gaze toward the Hokage Monument and the faces of his childhood heroes. The idealistic and quirky First, the stern and quietly protective Second, the flawed and kind-hearted Third, the unparalleled and noble Fourth.

Tou-chan…

He used to dream of joining their ranks and surpassing every one of them, so the village would acknowledge him, but along the way he had redefined this ambition. His dream had become so much greater than himself. Now, he wanted to protect everyone in Konoha, everyone in the entire Shinobi World, and he wanted to prove that the peace they had achieved would last. He wanted to continue changing the world for the better, and he knew that it was possible with the unshakeable bonds they had all formed.

As the shinobi continued in his trek across Konoha's rooftops, he felt the lifeforce of every person in the village. They were all safe and alive, free to pursue their own forms of happiness. The lives he felt, from his closest friends to the newest baby, strengthened his desire to protect them. This village was his family, and he would do everything in his power to ensure they never had to suffer again.

First things first, though, he had to actually become Hokage. Studying with Iruka-sensei was a daily hell, but he had to constantly remind himself that it was all for his dream. He had persevered through everything else. Schoolwork was not going to be the obstacle that stopped him. Still, it was going to be a while before he was ready to fill those shoes, which is why he was happy that someone who cared just as much about their wellbeing carried on the legacy before him. Kakashi-sensei was an excellent Hokage, despite his self-doubts. He knew his dad and Obito must be beaming with pride. They would be just as proud of him as his own students, if not more so.

The unmistakable and mouth-watering scent of ramen instantly cut off Naruto's current train of thought. He exclaimed in delight, descending from the buildings and onto the street below, the familiar sight of his beloved Ichiraku Ramen filling him with a comforting warmth. This place was truly his first home. With a gleeful grin, the shinobi raised his arm and lifted the drape separating the stall from the sparsely populated street.

However, before placing his foot over the invisible threshold, he turned and waved toward the building lining the opposite street, where he felt Sai's distinct presence. He didn't know if the former Root member saw it, but there was a strong chance he was watching everything, as usual. He was similar to Kakashi-sensei in that way.

Naruto then faced forward and marched cheerily into the ramen shop, the scent all-at-once overpowering and enticing. Teuchi stood in his usual place behind the counter, while Ayame took orders with a pleasant smile. The scene was nostalgic and brought a warm smile to the young Jinchuuriki's face.

"Hey, Old Man!" the blond greeted with a wave, the smile instantly broadening.

As he sat in his favorite spot on the middle stool, memories of the past surfaced: days spent there as a treat from Iruka-sensei, as a celebration for a successful mission with Team 7, as the first place he was ever welcomed in his lonely childhood. Slowly, over time, the seats surrounding him filled with the faces of his comrades and reflected the light that continued to fill his heart. There were no words he could use to express the deep gratitude he felt toward the many people who eventually allowed him a place in their lives.

"Naruto, it's been a little while," Teuchi responded fondly, stepping away from the stove so he could observe his most-valued customer. "You haven't been getting into any trouble, have you?"

The shinobi chuckled, shamefully rubbing a hand along the back of his head. "I don't always get into trouble, dattebayo. And it hasn't been that long! I was here the other day with Iruka-sensei."

"He's just saying that 'cause he missed you so much during the war," Ayame cut in, directing a teasing wink at her father.

Naruto squinted his eyes playfully as he placed a hand on his cheek and puckered his lips, "Aww…is that true, Old Man? Did you miss me?"

Teuchi sputtered unintelligibly before quickly turning away from the pair and pouring a new batch of noodles into the boiling water. Naruto shared a knowing grin with Ayame as he patted his belly, the physical signs of his hunger coming out as muted gurgles. Teuchi knew exactly how his favorite customer enjoyed his ramen, and he never once failed to deliver.

Fortunately, the wait was rarely long at Ichiraku, as the talented ramen chef soon placed a steaming bowl of noodles in front of the Jinchuuriki. He pumped his fist eagerly before picking up his set of chopsticks. He was about to pull the wooden pieces apart with his hands when he remembered he only had his left now. The phantom sensation of his dominant arm was a difficult adjustment, but he was managing, and hopefully it wouldn't be long before the arm was replaced with the one Granny was creating. Until then, he would make do and most likely constantly forget.

Shrugging, Naruto instead used his left hand and teeth to break the chopsticks apart, and he was about to dig into the delectable meal when he felt Kakashi-sensei approaching. He wondered if he was going to join him for lunch, but then he felt Sasuke's presence coming around the corner, and it wasn't long before he spotted the familiar black spikes as his rival ducked under the shop's cloth sign and took the seat beside him. Naruto noticed that Kakashi had stopped abruptly, and the shinobi laughed to himself as he pieced the puzzle together. He was probably planning to take Sasuke's previously unoccupied seat.

Silly, Kakashi-sensei. You could still join us, but you probably don't want to impose. You're just going to watch from far away like a weirdo, aren't you?

Naruto scrunched his nose at the strange thought of being watched, but he quickly let it pass as he glanced at the Uchiha beside him. Sasuke's missing left arm was concealed beneath a dark cloak, but his emotional state wasn't as easy to cover up. Not from the blond beside him, at least. He looked tired. The emotional strain of staying in Konoha after walking the dark path was taking an obvious toll on his friend. Redemption was never easy, but it would be significantly harder if Sasuke was alone right now as he searched for his new path.

"How you holding up?" Naruto asked after another silent moment.

There was a pause, as Sasuke's eyes were focused unseeingly on the counter in front of them, and when he did answer, he said only, "Fine."

Naruto's brow furrowed as he watched his tormented friend with a worried gaze. He might have beaten Sasuke's cynical ambitions out of him, but his insistence on being alone remained an ongoing struggle. Naruto knew he was suffering from guilt and self-loathing, and the Uchiha's habit of isolating himself with his negative thoughts didn't help. Unfortunately, he couldn't force him to accept himself and his mistakes, but he could force him out of his lonely head to spend time with other people. There wasn't much else he could do for him at this point. He would make sure he knew he always had a friend to talk to, though.

"Good! Fine is a great start," Naruto stated with a decisive nod, before leaning on the counter with his eyes fixed on the shop owner. "Old Man, do you remember how Sasuke likes his ramen?"

Teuchi's attention was pulled from his work by the Uzumaki's question as he placed a hand against his chin, seemingly searching for the answer. "Hm…was it made with beef?"

Sasuke's gaze drifted up then, to rest on the older man, before he offered a slight inclination of his head in response. "Yeah."

"Then I think I remember the one!" the ramen chef declared confidently, returning to his noodles and the task at hand.

"Alright! You have the best memory!" Naruto cheered enthusiastically. Grinning, he swiveled to pat Sasuke on the back, "Look at that! He remembers! Just watch, he's going to make it perfectfor you."

Sasuke gave a single shake of his head, releasing a subtle scoff as he turned to rest his gaze on his friend. "Whatever he makes, I'm sure it'll be good. I'm not quite as particular about this as you are."

The blond shinobi rolled his eyes good-naturedly at the Uchiha before lifting his shoulders into a shrug, "Hey, I like what I like. It's as simple as that. You're particular about plenty of other things, teme."

"I guess that's a fair point," Sasuke allowed dryly.

At this point, Naruto sensed Kakashi's increasing proximity, most likely attempting to overhear their conversation. He shook his head fondly at his peculiar sensei and perked up when the female member of their team also arrived, suddenly excited at the prospect of eating lunch with the reunited Team Seven. However, that promising idea disappeared and was replaced with amusement when the pinkette dragged their sensei away from the ramen stand, most likely back to the Hokage Tower where dreaded paperwork was waiting for him. In moments like this, Naruto was grateful he wasn't the one behind the desk.

His attention was instantly pulled back to his companion when he heard a soft chuckle beside him. "Guess we can thank Sakura this time, that we won't have Kakashi hovering back there. I was half-convinced he'd stick around the whole time."

"Oh, he was definitely going to stick around," Naruto responded with a laugh of his own. "Kakashi-sensei would never miss an opportunity to eavesdrop."

"I wonder if it's even occurred to him that it's not as easy, anymore," Sasuke mused. His eyes returned to the counter, then, but as they did, he paused. A smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, he asked, "Have you even touched that yet?"

"Huh?" Naruto questioned absently.

He followed his friend's gaze to the still steaming bowl of ramen in front of him. He blinked.

"Ah!" Naruto exclaimed in frustration, running his hand rapidly across his face as his mind processed the uneaten food. "No! I'm so sorry, my love!"

Lifting his chopsticks, the Jinchuuriki hastily attempted to make amends to his favorite meal by devouring it. He barely registered the bowl of noodles that had been placed in front of Sasuke during his breakdown, but his attention was distracted from his food once again when he heard the sound of snapping wood.

With a generous portion of noodle in his mouth, Naruto turned to his friend and noticed that he used only his hand to separate the chopsticks. He must have utilized the counter as a support as he snapped them in half with the force of his thumb. In his mind, the blond applauded his creative method, but he was too focused on the meaning behind their similar chopstick conundrum to draw attention to the lighthearted aspect.

Naruto lowered his eyes, his cerulean gaze fixed solemnly on the steam spiraling around his meat and vegetable mixture. After swallowing his current bite, he muttered, "Granny says it shouldn't be much longer before those new arms are ready."

Silence.

The Uzumaki looked up, and his gaze softened as it fell on Sasuke. His hand had gone still. The chopsticks were resting in his loose clutch on the brim of his bowl, an untouched bite hovering over the broth. His expression had gone blank, it had adopted a somber edge, as the Rinnegan in his left eye stared distantly past the meal in front of him.

After Sasuke's prison release was secured, he had been adamant about leaving Konoha immediately so that he could atone for his sins. Naruto understood his desire to get away, and he wasn't going to stop him from finding redemption for himself, but he knew the man beside him was his own worst enemy. He had refused the new arm when it was first mentioned to him, thinking himself unworthy of it. However, Naruto insisted, and Granny Tsunade was preparing it anyway, so Sasuke begrudgingly agreed, but he hadn't said anything else about it or his current emotional state since then.

Don't shut me out, you idiot.

"Sasuke," Naruto stated simply, an underlying suggestion in his voice for his friend to look at him.

With what seemed to take a great deal of effort, Sasuke managed to lift his eyes, and he rested his strained vision on Naruto.

"Where are you right now?" he asked him calmly, willing his genuine concern to be apparent to his friend. "What are you thinking?"

The Jinchuuriki caught the slightest furrow of his brow, before Sasuke turned his face away, allowing his hair to fall in front of his eyes to hide his expression. When he did speak, his words came out in a low tone, one that was barely able to contain the emotion lying beneath.

"You know what I'm thinking. I already…told you. I don't…," his voice trailed off momentarily, as his grip tightened around the chopsticks in his hand. "I don't need it. I don't…deserve it. She shouldn't be wasting her energy. I'm sure she'd be able to have it done faster if she just put all her focus into making yours."

"I think you're underestimating her skill, but even if it is taking longer because there are two, I don't mind waiting," Naruto raised his left arm and curled it into a fist in front of him as a wide grin suddenly spread across his face. "We can't have a proper rematch if I'm the only one with two arms. When I beat you again, you would just use your handicap as an excuse!"

"It's not an excuse, it's…," but the rest of the sentence was left hanging, and Sasuke fell silent once more.

"It's you trying to torture yourself," Naruto finished for him, entirely aware that it wasn't what the Uchiha was about to say, but it was still the truth. "You're suffering enough from the guilt you're carrying around. Don't add this on top of all that, Sasuke. You don't need a physical reminder of your mistakes to keep you on the right path."

"…No. But I might need…," Sasuke hesitated, and his hand tightened into a trembling fist, before he finally admitted, "a physical hindrance."

Because you don't trust yourself…

Releasing an exasperated sigh, Naruto pivoted and placed his hand on the sullen Uchiha's shoulder, turning his rival to face him. "I already told you that won't happen, Sasuke. You won't go back to that place. I won't let you, and I know you won't either. You're too stubborn."

"I can't know that," Sasuke insisted. A deep crease contorted his brow, but his eyes were now staring determinedly back into his friend's gaze. "I don't know what I might do, or what I…will or won't let myself do. This isn't something I should have. Even without it, we both know I'm still stronger than everyone else. At least this way…I'll know for sure that you'll always be able to stop me."

"I stopped you even when you had both arms," Naruto reminded his friend, before hardening his own gaze to reflect his resolve. "I believe in you, Sasuke. I always have. Even when everyone, including you, gave up, I still believed. I knew you were going to come back to us one day, and I wasn't wrong. Not then…and not now. I don't believe you're capable of falling to that place again."

Before Sasuke could respond, the Hokage-in-training returned his attention to his meal and picked up his chopsticks once more. After securing a bite from the bowl, he added firmly, "I want you to trust yourself one day, Sasuke, but until then, why don't you try trusting me a little?"

"I do trust you, Naruto," the Uchiha's frustration was seeping into his tone. "I trust you…more than anyone. That doesn't mean it's not possible, and even you have to admit, it was a close call, that entire fight. Any moment, it could have gone one way or the other, and I…can't…I don't want to leave that as an option. The fact that I'm…here at all means I trust you."

Naruto sighed, twirling his chopsticks aimlessly through the broth as he mulled over Sasuke's argument. Their fight was close. They were practically unmatched, except with each other, and many could argue that it was mostly due to their newly acquired Sage abilities, but everything tied back to how they pushed each other to become stronger. It's what they always did, they were rivals. Sasuke was the most stubborn person he had ever met, and he needed a hard punch in the face to knock him back to his senses. Or to at least get him to listen to someone other than his torturous mind. He refused to leave the Uchiha behind in his self-loathing and misery…that would be no better than abandoning him.

"Sasuke…if you refuse to accept that arm…then I won't accept mine either."

After his determined statement, a silence fell between them. It was only broken when Sasuke released an exasperated exhale.

"Damnit, Naruto."

The Jinchuuriki simply stared back at him, waiting for, what he hoped would be, his friend finally conceding.

"That's ridiculous," Sasuke pressed his eyes shut as he shook his head at him. "It's different, with you. You deserve to have your arm. You earned it. This is…completely stupid. This shouldn't be up for debate."

"Maybe it is stupid," Naruto shrugged before a wide grin overtook his expression. "But I don't care about that if it means helping my best friend. Whatever hardships you face, I'll be right there beside you, sharing in your pain. If that includes being without my dominant arm forever, then so be it."

"Damnit…," Sasuke lifted his right arm then, his elbow propped up on the counter beside his long since abandoned bowl of ramen, and he rested his face in his palm. After another moment passed between them, he heaved a long, weighted sigh. "You're not…going to let this go."

"Never, dattebayo!"

Another pause. But this time, it was followed by the subtle motion of the Uchiha nodding his head.

He had conceded.

"Alright!" Naruto beamed at his friend, an excited laugh escaping him as he nodded vigorously. "Now I can prove your mean little mind wrong! Just you watch, teme!"

"You're not giving me much of a choice," Sasuke drawled.

"Nonsense," the blond waved away his comment with an animated flourish of his hand. "You could have chosen to let us both remain one-armed shinobi."

"That's the same problem," the Uchiha lowered his hand, just in time for Naruto to catch his eyeroll. "Then we're both stuck with this handicap, instead of neither of us having it. It makes no difference, either way. This isn't even a choice, anymore."

Naruto pursed his lips at that. He felt somewhat guilty for putting Sasuke in that position. He basically forced him to choose between his friend and his concerns about the future. He knew it was manipulative since he had a feeling the Uchiha would choose him, but that didn't mean he wasn't serious. To ensure Sasuke was never alone again, he would sacrifice his arm in a heartbeat. It was a small price to pay for the great reward of helping his friend believe in himself again. It was for that reason that he didn't regret forcing his hand about this particular issue. It was exactly the push Sasuke needed.

"If I let you choose...you would only end up isolating yourself more," Naruto finally stated, his tone adopting a somber edge as he once again rested his gaze on his half-eaten lunch. "I barely convinced you to stay in the village after Kakashi-sensei secured your release…you would have gone off on your own otherwise, trying to atone, but feeling like nothing you did was enough. I didn't stop you so you could wallow in your guilt for the rest of your life. You deserve a second chance…and part of that is seeing for yourself that you deserve it. If I have to force you to give yourself those chances sometimes, then that's exactly what I'll do."

Sasuke only sighed. "I'll never understand why you have so much faith in me."

"Because…," Naruto trailed off, closing his eyes briefly as he recalled every reason he did have faith in the Uchiha.

Sasuke might have made all the wrong choices and hurt countless people doing it, but he was never a bad person. Even when he raised a blade to his former comrades, it was not because he was evil. He was just lost, trying to find his own way, which was almost impossible when he was constantly forced to walk a certain path. Naruto greatly respected Itachi and Obito as people, but they had both manipulated Sasuke for their own means. However, at the heart of it, his friend had only ever wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to kill the brother he knew as a criminal to bring justice to his clan, he killed Danzou for the same reason and to put a stop to his cruel ideology, and after their fight with Kaguya, he targeted the Bijuu and Kage because he wanted to destroy the darkness of the villages. His ambitions may have been misguided and twisted by his negative perspective, but they were always rooted in good intentions.

Sasuke was one of the good guys. He truly wanted to make the world a better place. He cared deeply about the wellbeing of others, even when he was giving them the cold shoulder, but that was only because he had a hard time expressing his emotions. Sasuke showed he cared through his actions, through that impulsive protectiveness that never really disappeared. Sometimes, his body just moved on its own, and he would risk his life to save someone. That's just who he was. He was cynical, rude, unapproachable, and even arrogant at times, but he was also compassionate, determined, courageous, and genuine. There were moments when the bad overshadowed the good, but Naruto had faith because he knew those exceptional qualities ran deeper than all the rest. He had seen it even when they were young.

"Because you're my friend!" Naruto finally declared, turning to Sasuke with a wide grin.

His words hit their mark. He could see it in the Uchiha's eyes. All the pain and astonishment it caused him, just hearing it—but the image was fleeting. Sasuke turned his face away from him once more, and he took care to maintain composure over the rest of his countenance, but it didn't matter. Naruto didn't need to see it to know how he felt. When he spoke again, his voice revealed that he had finally relented.

"…Alright," he said quietly. The slightest trace of humor lined his tone as he added, "Are you going to use that same reason for everything, now?"

Naruto chuckled in response, before shrugging, "It makes my point every time, dattebayo."

"Hn."

The blond shinobi turned his gaze back to his ramen, as his mouth curved into a soft smile. Even though they were older and had changed from those bickering kids, some things had remained the same. That stupid, condescending grunt that was so often used to antagonize him was yet another reminder that his friend was back.

A long silence followed as both shinobi focused on their meals, and for once, Naruto didn't feel compelled to break it. He simply reveled in the comfortable and nostalgic feeling of enjoying a warm meal with his best friend. Besides, Sasuke's food had remained untouched during their conversation, and he didn't want the Uchiha to go hungry because they were talking so much.

After slurping the last remnants of the delicious broth, the Jinchuuriki gratefully patted his stomach. He usually had room for seconds or even thirds, but he had mindlessly snacked on a bunch of crackers earlier while he was studying, and they were surprisingly filling. Glancing at Sasuke, he noted that he had finished his own portion of ramen as well, and he was now absently gazing ahead of him, most likely replaying their most recent conversation in his mind. It was the perfect opportunity to start a new one.

Placing his hand behind his head, Naruto leaned back as he rested his eyes on the familiar ceiling of Ichiraku. The faint outline of smoke stains and chipped paint represented the Old Man's dedication and hard work. He had been the face of Ichiraku Ramen for as long as the Uzumaki could remember. When he was three, Teuchi offered him a free bowl of ramen, his kindness warming him more than the food on that rainy day, and that had been the start of their relationship. Now, he was seventeen, and Ichiraku had remained the same. That was just how it was in Konoha. The village had changed in many important ways, but it was still the same beloved home he had always known.

With a fond smile, he mused, "You know…it's amazing how nothing has really changed about this place. Konoha is still Konoha, no matter how much time passes."

"…Yeah."

Returning his cerulean gaze to his companion, Naruto lowered his arm to his side and offered a small smile, "Does that help you readjust at all?"

"It does," Sasuke replied, before his eyes narrowed slightly. "And it doesn't."

Naruto's shoulders sagged, "Yeah…I guess that makes sense."

Familiar surroundings were always a comfort, but they probably made Sasuke feel more out of place than ever. Konoha was the home he had discarded so long ago, after all.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked, a hopeful glint lighting up his expression.

"Naruto…," his friend's eyes fell closed with a sigh. "I already owe you more than I can ever hope to repay. You don't need to help with this, too. I'll figure it out."

The Jinchuuriki frowned. If he left figuring it out to Sasuke, that would mean him eventually becoming complacent, but not happy. He wanted to help his brooding friend find happiness. Obviously, pushing him to be okay with himself was an important step, but strengthening his bonds with people might help Sasuke feel like he belonged here. Naruto already had an unbreakable bond with his teammate, but there was a limit to how much happiness he could bring him. He could only fill the role of a friend and a rival. Maybe another sort of relationship was necessary for his friend to feel connected to Konoha.

As he was mulling over it, a sudden idea came to him. His intentions were genuinely for the sake of his friend's happiness, but he couldn't help the sudden excitement he felt at the prospect. As an impish grin formed, he nudged the Uchiha with his shoulder, lowering his voice to a whisper, "What if you went on a date with Sakura-chan?"

Sasuke's eyes flew open with a sudden start, and a single brow shot up in his surprise. He stared at the blond incredulously. "What?"

"Oh, come on, teme, you know she never stopped liking you," Naruto continued, ignoring the Uchiha's confusion. "Why not give her a chance?"

"Where…is this even coming from?" Sasuke questioned.

The blond's eyes widened as he realized that it did look like he was bringing this up out of nowhere. His friend couldn't read his mind and see the thoughts that led to his ingenious idea.

He rubbed his hand behind his head, releasing an embarrassed chuckle as he explained, "Well, I was thinking it might help you feel more at home if you had stronger connections. Friendship is one thing, but romantic relationships are completely different. I don't really know much about romance myself, but I do know it can fill a hole in your life." With a shrug, he added, "You never know what could come of it, so why not go on one date?"

"You think romance is the answer?" Sasuke deadpanned. His expression had taken a drastic shift, his eyelids now lowered in an annoyed glaze. "First Kakashi, now you. Why are you so convinced this will change anything? It…has nothing to do with her."

"She cares about you, Sasuke, so it already has something to do with her," Naruto returned, shaking his head at his friend. "I'm not saying this is the answer, but I think it has the potential to be a good thing. Why are you so against it?"

"It's never been high on my list of priorities," the Uchiha stated dryly, before releasing a frustrated sigh. "And anyway, she has no reason to have feelings like that for someone like me."

The blond narrowed his eyes as he met his friend's gaze, "Whether you like it or not, she does have those feelings for you. After all these years, she never stopped loving you."

"That's not…," Sasuke trailed off, his mouth falling into a frown as he lowered his eyes to the counter. "I don't think…I've ever been suited for that kind of thing. Let alone…the way everything is now."

Naruto let out an exasperated sigh, "You're just making assumptions based on how you view yourself and that possibility."

The Jinchuuriki noticed the slightest widening of his friend's eyes, before Sasuke seemed to slip away. He stared distantly at the countertop, no longer seeing it, and a silence once again fell between them. It was several moments before he spoke, and when he did, it was clear that he had still not entirely returned.

"…I am…still making assumptions," he stated, in a low tone. He paused another moment, before muttering, as he pressed his eyes shut, "Fine."

Naruto's brow furrowed with worry. He had gotten Sasuke to agree, but it didn't feel like a victory. He had unintentionally triggered something, some memory, in his friend. When he spoke about assumptions, it was as if he was talking to someone else. He pursed his lips into a frown, guilt coursing through him for making the Uchiha experience that. He tapped a finger uncertainly on his knee as he continued observing the weary individual beside him. Maybe Sasuke was right and it wasn't the right time to be forcing romance on him, but Naruto just wanted him to be happy. Maybe that was a selfish desire. Even if it was, he wasn't going to give up. He was determined to give every opportunity a fair shot.

"Good," he said after a moment, smiling briefly at Sasuke before lowering his gaze once more.

This was the right choice. It had to be. After being deprived of love for so long, he deserved to have more of it in his life.