A/N: This is a looooong and boring chapter. Trust me, it really is. Like, really. But I needed to write it anyway because I love Gaara and I needed Sasuke and Naruto to talk about their feelings and fears and whatever to someone else. So… I hope you can reach the end of the chapter without falling asleep.
Not betaed! Forgive the typos.
From Which We'll Rise
Part VI: To Love Him
Gaara tapped his pen on the surface of his desk, patiently waiting for the announced arrival of his two friends, for a while choosing to neglect the huge pile of papers beside him.
While he had – rather eagerly – been waiting for the usual visit from the Uchiha, when Sasuke had sent him a message letting him know he was on his way, he had not expected for him to bring company; least of all that said company was a certain blond Shinobi.
Not that he wasn't more than glad to see Naruto – he had missed him dearly and regretted not being able to visit Konoha more often, but the world was slowly but consistently entering a time of peacefulness that required few meetings between nations, and Hatake Kakashi kept his most precious underlings under his wing, sending more inexperienced Shinobi on small missions to Suna.
However, after Sasuke's first shocking visit on his own that Gaara had given up on expecting Naruto's presence by his side – something he had to admit to have surprised him immensely.
If there was one thing in the world that had always fascinated him was the relationship between those two.
For different reasons, he had distinct bonds with both Sasuke and Naruto. What connected him to Naruto was in no way similar to what had caused him to empathise with Sasuke, and yet, he had come to cherish them both.
He knew he had made mistakes when it came to Sasuke, just as Sasuke himself had, before, failed to see that Gaara was trying to reach out to him and make him see reason.
But who had Gaara been back then to talk to the Uchiha about anything at all? More importantly, what did he even know about either him or Naruto to meddle in the way he had?
When he had talked to Naruto about Sasuke and what would make him a good friend to him, he knew by Naruto's rejection that he had made a mistake that could've potentially ruined their friendship. No only this, but in that moment, he understood exactly who was Uchiha Sasuke in the eyes of Uzumaki Naruto.
In that moment, there were a lot of things that he had come to realize at the same time and that, no matter what, there was no way he or anybody else could ever come in between them. Whatever had to happen, would happen, and there was nothing he could possibly do about it.
So he relaxed and trusted that, in the end, everything between those two would be fixed.
That 'fixing' almost got the both of them killed.
Naruto had wanted to save Sasuke on his own, so Gaara had trusted that he would pull it off as he always did, but there was a part of himself that forced him to embrace the idea that they both might end up killing each other because…
In the end, he didn't understand them at all. He knew Naruto's longing well, but how far it went was a mystery to him. And this had scared him.
Sasuke had been a blank page to him until Gaara had seen him and Naruto fight together during the war.
Seeing them like that made him understand that there were things time could never erase. Just as if they had never been apart, they were like two halves of the same whole, coming together and fitting perfectly.
Some duos took years to reach that kind of physical and psychological coordination and yet, those two fought as comrades as if it was as easy as breathing. Gaara was sure it felt to them like a second nature.
There was no doubt that he had underestimated them.
Sighing, Gaara closed his eyes. To him, and maybe to a lot of people as well, after Sasuke had been forgiven, it had been clear what would become of those two, eventually.
Gaara had been shocked when he visited them at the Konoha hospital and saw what they had done to each other after fighting and completely devastating the Valley of the End, but the shock came solely from the fact that there was no cold hatred in Sasuke's eyes anymore and that Naruto seemed to be gleaming with joy.
Naruto had done it. He had saved the person he had chased after for so long. His precious person was, once again, by his side.
His journey, his efforts, his pain… it had all been worth it.
Still, when a few months later Sasuke had appeared at Gaara's door step, repentant but wrecked, he knew that things hadn't turned out as expected.
He and Sasuke had made peace and talked about many things. Sasuke wouldn't ask for many things and refrained from asking questions. He'd never ask about Naruto, but Gaara would tell him as much as he knew all the same and the other would listen. It would bring a smile to his lips and a pain to his eyes Gaara had comprehended far too well.
Gaara understood that, through it all, those two had felt the same way towards each other all along.
Silently, Sasuke acknowledged what Gaara knew, but they didn't openly talk about it.
I know he's too blind to see it, Sasuke had said, at one point. But I thought that, after all the things he said to me, that he'd at least want to keep reaching out for me like has always done. But he stayed behind this time. Just when I needed him the most, he stayed behind.
Sasuke was hurt, but his pride was still intact and he was still strong. Gaara knew better than to intervene or offer some kind of consolation, even if he felt for Sasuke – but he seemed to think that this was merely the universe working to punish him for all the sins he had committed.
But Naruto was the kind of person who defied even the laws of the universe. The Naruto he knew would never let go of the person he had longed for with everything he had.
Gaara didn't understand what went wrong between them this time, but it wasn't his place to give tips or make assumptions. It was clear that they lacked some serious normal communication skills, but who was he to talk about this when it was still hard for him to express his feelings and emotions freely? He was still as wrecked as Sasuke was. He wasn't like Naruto. Neither of them were.
A knock on the office's door woke him up from his thoughts. "Yes," he said, standing just as his older sister Temari was opening the door, a crooked smile on her lips.
"They're here," she said, trying to hide the fondness in here voice and stepping aside to let the two men behind her step inside the office.
Naruto came in first, a huge grin on his face, Sasuke behind him, as serious as always.
Raking his eyes quickly over the two of them, he was able to confirm that, indeed, they weren't on a mission together but merely traveling. By the poor state of their dusty, almost rustic clothes, he guessed they had spent a while at some undeveloped village. They didn't bring many possessions with them, just a large satchel each. Naruto was tall and looked a lot more mature, his features having become sharper and more pronounced but no less charming. His skin was considerably darker than he remembered, probably from traveling the desert for a few days, and Sasuke himself looked tanner than normal. Apart from the obvious dirt in them, they both looked exceptionally healthy. Sasuke still didn't have his arm back, which was something Gaara knew he should probably get used to but that his rational mind had yet to accept.
"Gaara!" the blond greeted loudly, eyes shining with genuine happiness, opening his arms wide just as Gaara was walking around his desk and making his way to him. With a small smile, the Kazekage opened his own arms and accepted the strong hug.
"It's wonderful to see you, my friend," Gaara said softly when they pulled away, placing both his hands over Naruto's shoulders and giving them a squeeze. "It's been far too long."
"Yeah, it feels like it's been forever since the last time I've seen you!" Naruto said, still beaming with that childish joy that, Gaara hoped, would never leave him. "You look great!"
"Thank you; so do you," Gaara said. He had missed Naruto and couldn't wait to spend a bit of time with him, but cordialities came first. He turned to Sasuke, whose sharp eyes looked at him with acknowledgement. They softened for a second, and he extended his right hand, which Gaara wasted to time in grabbing in a tight hold.
"Uchiha," he muttered gently, as they shook hands. "How have you been?"
"As well as I possibly can," Sasuke answered easily, with a tiny smirk that wasn't very genuine, letting Gaara know that something wasn't completely right with him. "We were nearby, so I thought we could drop by. I hope our visit isn't inconvenient."
"It's never inconvenient, you already should know that," Gaara dismissed, sharing a meaningful look with Sasuke to silently tell him that he had perceived his mood. Whatever was upsetting him, he wanted to know, even if all he could do for Sasuke, in the end, was to lend him his ear.
Sasuke's fingers tightened around his hand before releasing it. "Thank you, Kazekage-sama."
"I was so shocked when Sasuke told me he usually comes to visit you!" Naruto said happily, looking from one to the other curiously, completely missing the personal interaction between the two.
"Yes, he's already part of the furniture, as they say," Gaara explained calmly. "Still, considering the war and past issues, there's still hesitation towards him from a few people, so it's good that he announces his arrival so we can send someone to pick him up on my part to avoid unnecessary commotion."
"Yeah, that's kind of understandable," Naruto said, with a nod, looking sideways at his friend, who rolled his eyes. "Still sucks, though. I was just telling Temari that we've been waiting for hours at the entrance for her to pick us up!"
"You probably didn't even wait a full hour!" Temari retorted, offended.
"Well, we've been traveling in the sun for days, it's obvious that waiting even five minutes would feel like an eternity!" Naruto defended.
"Would you shut up already?" Sasuke hissed, elbowing his friend's side roughly, making him release a grunt.
"Hey!"
"We have arranged for two separate rooms here in the residence," Gaara interrupted smoothly, watching with interest the way Naruto snapped back to attention. "They are side by side and just a few rooms down the hall from mine. I hope this isn't inconvenient?"
"Ah, not at all!" Naruto assured him with a wave of his hand, but there was a strained twitch to his smile that gave away his displeasure.
"Well, I have a very busy schedule, but Temari will take you to your rooms so you can clean up and get some rest," Gaara said, thinking it best to ignore it. "If you're both up to it we can all have dinner together to catch up."
Naruto's smile grew radiant again. "Sounds like a plan!" he said in a far too loud voice that had Sasuke scowling.
Gaara smiled back. It seemed like things would be interesting around Suna for a while.
000
One of the watch guards had written in his report that he had seen Uzumaki Naruto sneaking inside Uchiha Sasuke's bedroom in the middle of the night and not leaving until early in the morning.
Holding the scroll in front of him, Gaara's eyes stared unblinkingly at the report. Then, he calmly tore it to pieces before throwing it to the garbage can. He'd have to burn it as soon as possible.
This could mean many things and nothing at all, but his intuition told him enough.
Things were definitely becoming interesting, the question was: ultimately, what would it lead to?
On the second night, reports said that Naruto had tried sneaking inside again but had found Sasuke's door locked and the same had happened for two more nights.
Gaara didn't know whether to be amused or just feel for both of them.
000
Naruto liked exploring the village while Sasuke enjoyed keeping to himself and spending hours on end in the library. Naruto would always complain that Sasuke wouldn't spend time with him, but considering for how many days or weeks they had already spent in each other's company, Gaara could certainly understand the Uchiha's need for some much needed distance. His mere face screamed for a bit of emotional peace, and in a way, Gaara, was glad that Suna could at least provide him something probably more important to him than the physical comfort.
Either Temari or Kankuro would often spend time with the blond so he wouldn't get bored, but unsurprisingly, he would make acquaintances easily and find something to entertain himself with quickly enough, either by helping old ladies carry their bags or stopping to play with children, among other things. The party was always his, and the fact that he was now a worldwide known hero made him quite the attraction, especially amongst the ladies and the younger population.
Gaara was happy for him. Naruto deserved every bit of love and recognition he was receiving after how much he had fought and struggled to achieve. He knew Naruto revelled in this kind of attention even though it was clear that it wore him out even almost three years later.
Gaara regretted not having nearly enough time as he wished he did to socialize more with him, but he guessed the fitting time would come.
He was more eager to talk to Sasuke first because he knew he'd get more answers with fewer words.
Sasuke was someone who wore an iron mask over his feelings. Sometimes, it was hard to understand what kind of mood he was in, but Gaara prided himself to have become intimate with him enough to be able to at least understand the subtle undertones.
And Sasuke was in pain, exhausted like he had never seen him and emotionally drained. From most people he succeeded in hiding this behind his cold, stoic demeanour, and there was always something in his nonchalant beauty that managed to infatuate the eye and block out any kind of deeper observation of him. He supposed Sasuke used it to his advantage.
But someone like Gaara saw through him easily. After all, he knew emotional pain well.
Just as he saw this in Sasuke, he saw it the strained way Naruto smiled more often than not.
Whenever Gaara caught glimpse of the blond on the streets below from the window of his office, there was always a strange loneliness in his eyes, which always seemed to unconsciously search for something – more specifically someone – in the crowds.
It had always been like this, Gaara considered. Naruto had always been surrounded by people, warming his way into their hearts, changing them, changing their lives, and yet, his mind had always been focused on his target, and it had always been said target that had fuelled his determination.
Even now, after everything, he still looked ahead, way past beyond the people around him, way past their love and recognition and automatically craved for that single gaze upon him, for that single nod of approval that came from just one individual.
And when Sasuke left the confines of his mind and decided to leave his studies and his solitude to go to Naruto so they could take walks around Suna, the blond's smile grew radiant. Gaara was sure he had never seen Naruto smile quite like that.
Having the two dine with him every night was a personal indulgence Gaara demanded and that neither refused. Naruto would do most of the talking while the other two intervened once in a while, and it was clear that this was when he felt the happiest during the day. He babbled on and on and on and was constantly seeking for Sasuke's input and for Gaara's attention.
Naruto would tell him about Konoha, about how the people he knew were doing and about Kakashi as Hokage. Then, he and Sasuke would talk about their journey, leaving the details of how and why, exactly, they had come to travel together after so long out of the way, meaning that the topic was a fragile one, so Gaara knew better than to ask questions.
Also, Naruto never talked about her. But Gaara knew. Everybody did, even if the blond wasn't aware of it.
Sometimes, Sasuke and Naruto would look at each other from across the table for a few seconds in the middle of a conversation and the air would become heavy, charged with an energy Gaara didn't know how to interpret but that would always make him feel like this was something he wasn't supposed to witness.
In times like these, he would feel terribly lonely.
000
On his way from his office to his room in the middle of the night after working late, Gaara couldn't help but notice Naruto's voice coming from Sasuke's room. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, of course, but still found himself coming to a halt in front of the door. He wasn't a naturally curious person by nature, but there was something in the rustling of clothes and raged breathing coming from the inside of the room that kept him rooted to the spot.
When an obvious muffled moan echoed in the hallways he felt his throat run dry with the recognition of it coming from Sasuke.
"Fuck…" It was Naruto speaking this time, or better yet, he was clearly panting. "Fuck, I missed this so much… you're such a fucking bastard for doing this to me…"
As if the shock had made him apathetic, Gaara stared at the door, unable to move.
He had always expected that something like this would happen between them. Of course, he had suspected this outcome considering Naruto's travels to his friend's room, but to know it in your mind and to actually 'be witness' was something completely different.
"Shut up," Sasuke hissed with a grunt that sounded both pleasured and highly annoyed. "I'm close…"
"Me, too…" Naruto breathed. "Ah… faster… don't stop…"
Many feelings fell upon Gaara, then – longing, embarrassment, sadness, anger, happiness, loss – but he didn't know what to do with them or who to blame. He didn't even understand if these feelings were directed at Naruto, Sasuke or at himself, or if everything he was feeling wasn't directed at them but existed for them.
"You're so…" Naruto mumbled, sounding lost and helpless and just plain lost and it tore at Gaara's heart. "I want… fuck, just come here…"
"What do you want?" Sasuke breathed, demandingly but also with a hidden gentles unlike anything Gaara had ever heard from him. "Tell me, Naruto…"
Naruto whispered a breathless reply that Gaara couldn't make out.
There was no point in trying to figure things out, he concluded, composing himself quickly. This only proved that there were things he was far from understanding and that those two had finally (and unfortunately) entered a territory of their relationship that was very, very dangerous. Even he, who knew nothing, could see it.
The wet noises. The obvious kisses, the sounds, the moans… all of it fast, intense and desperate – Gaara could feel it in his body without even seeing it.
Unnecessarily fixing his clothes, he made his way to his room where a restless night awaited him.
000
In the middle of the following night, he found Sasuke on the rooftop of the Kazekage Residence near the rail, the sleeve of his dark blue sweater where his arm should be billowing gently in the nightly wind. Gaara had no doubt that he had sensed his approach, and yet, he didn't move as he got closer, only tensing up slightly as a blanket was placed over his shoulders.
He looked at him as Garra moved to his side and placed his hands on the rail – close but not enough to touch – muttering a soft "Thank you" and wrapping the fabric more around himself.
They both looked down at the sleeping streets of Suna in companionable silence. It wasn't cold outside, but the breeze wasn't exactly warm either, so Gaara was glad that he had brought his thicker robes with him.
Sasuke's distress was obvious, and yet, when Gaara eyed him, he was still looking at the scenery in front of him with an inscrutable expression.
"Can't sleep?" Gaara inquired carefully.
"No," Sasuke replied. To Gaara surprise, he added "He's just sprawled all over the bed anyway and I don't really feel like kicking him out."
Then, Sasuke released a small, bitter chuckle.
"You know," he started, sounding almost amused. "I am at a point where I have no idea what I'm doing anymore."
It was easy to understand that Sasuke was giving him an indirect hint that he was aware of Gaara's knowledge of what was going on between him and Naruto. Relief washed over him as well as gratitude. Before approaching Sasuke he hadn't realized how much he needed to be a part of this, but now he did, and on a personal level he wasn't very comfortable thinking about just yet. The fact that Sasuke was welcoming him, even if from a distance, made him feel strangely happy.
"You are simply doing what your heart tells you to," Gaara muttered, not bothering to deny his knowledge. "And so is he. Surely both of you have made mistakes and will continue to do so because you still have much to learn, but that doesn't mean either of you is wrong."
Sasuke sighed. "I wonder about that," he whispered, closing his eyes as the breeze caressed his face and ruffled his hair. "Sometimes, I wonder about why I allowed myself to let things go this far to be where we are now. I wonder why I'm always indulging the both of us when I know that, no matter what…"
He stopped himself, unspoken words that Gaara could only guess left hanging in the air between them. He didn't want to intrude too much, but he understood it all too well even without knowing the whole story. Sasuke's and Naruto's feelings for each other spoke to him loudly.
They wanted each other but didn't even know how to begin something together – something with a future. Sasuke still harboured a strong resentment towards Konoha and had no intentions of actually going back there for good while Naruto's dream was to protect it and become Hokage.
"It overwhelms me…" Sasuke whispered. "… how much the thought of him hurting and lacking what he wants scares me. I get mad at this, and yet, I can't turn away from this kind of thought. The closer he gets the more it haunts me."
Staring at him intently, Gaara could see the sadness behind those impassive, strong eyes and it tore at him. Things could be simple, yet they weren't because the two were just opposites. They complemented each other in the most fascinating of ways, but their ideals and the way they went about things was very different.
Gaara knew nothing, he was aware of that. But if there was one thing he knew was that, no matter how things had turned out, for Naruto, it had always been Sasuke. Obliviously, blindly, passionately, he had always reached out for him.
And, as Gaara had come to learn in these last few years, the other way around had been no different.
But they were still re-connecting after so many years apart, and after so long of only being able to communicate through violence, doing it differently was throwing them off balance.
Also, relating to each other in such a physical, intimate way when they already had exterior forces to make them hesitate didn't help.
"What he wants, what he needs and what he lacks…" Gaara muttered, choosing his words carefully. "You can't be the one to decide it."
Sasuke snorted. "If that's what you think…"
Gaara frowned at him. "Naruto has always acted with his goals in mind. He never made mistakes, he just kept moving onwards, taking with him the things that crossed his path. With the Hyuuga girl, it's the same thing. It's how he thinks and it's how he moves. One goal at the time, one step at the time. It's all an automatic response to what he has settled for himself and what he thinks others expected of him." Again, Sasuke looked away. "You're the only thing in his life that side tracks him right now. It's only natural that he's feeling lost. Everything he thought he knew and understood about himself and his relationship with you has taken a violent turn. He's panicking."
"I know that."
"He chased you for years," Gaara couldn't help but press on, realizing that he was being persistent. "Yes, he made other friends and other bonds. But he never forgot about you. If he is where he is today, and if he's as strong as he is it's because of you. He was willing to die for you and with you. He lost his arm. You can't underestimate that."
"Gaara, please." Sighing, Sasuke rubbed at his eyes tiredly. "I know, better than anyone else, how he feels about me. There are things no-one in this world or the other will ever understand. How I feel for him or how he feels for me… why, and how… no-one knows but us."
"I can see that clearly."
"I know he knows it, too," Sasuke retorted with a scowl. "But he's not selfish like me. He may be acting selfish now, away from everything he knows, naively reaching out for me in this bubble he's been living in. But when the bubble bursts, he'll be Naruto of Konoha and I will be Uchiha Sasuke, the criminal."
Blinking up at him, the Kazekage was speechless for a few seconds, unable to process Sasuke's train of thought.
"Why can't you two just be Naruto and Sasuke, fighting together for the same ideals?" he asked simply. "It doesn't always have to be either black or white."
"But it does," the other male insisted irritably. "We have the same dreams but different visions on how to achieve them. We are like night and day after all. We are not similar in any way, Gaara."
Oh, so that's what he meant.
"But you complement each other perfectly," Gaara pointed out. "You can't run away from who you are and neither can he. You can't run away from something you have both been wanting for so long."
"What we wanted…" Sasuke repeated, narrowing his eyes in annoyance.
"Love," Gaara said, exasperated. "Do you know how many people crave for that? Do you know how many people would kill to have that?"
The wind blew harder around them as they stared intently at each other. Dark eyes watched Gaara's features for a while, either assessing him or his words, he didn't know.
When he spoke, he sounded sarcastic and gently condescending. "Surely you don't know what 'love' means to someone like me, an Uchiha."
In spite of himself, Gaara sighed. Sasuke was a bright man, yet far too difficult for his own good.
"You're right, I don't," he acknowledged. "I can't give you any kind of advice, nor can I tell you what's best for either of you." He took a step closer to the other man, glad when he didn't budge. "But I've seen Naruto's struggle to get to you. I see you hurting right now. I know nothing of love or even of the relationship between you two, but I can see clearly that what you two have is not something seen often."
Finding himself standing in front of Sasuke, Gaara reached out to absently arrange the blanket over the other's shoulders that had fallen a bit loose. "Don't find chains where there are none. Just grab for what's rightfully yours because if you don't… I know you'll both regret it."
For a few seconds, they were both silent as Gaara's hands worked slowly. Once the blanket was safely wrapped around Sasuke's form again, Gaara looked up into dark eyes that had softened but gleamed with some sort of realization.
"You are interesting person, Kazekage-sama," he said quietly. When Gaara's hands lingered a bit more than necessary on the fabric, the corner of his mouth quirked upwards slightly. "So strangely selfless."
"I don't know what you mean," Gaara said, as he tilted his chin up proudly and took a step back to establish a decent distance between them once more. "It's not a secret that I deeply care about the both of you."
"I suppose it's not," Sasuke conceded, nodding his head once.
They stared at each other for a while, silent comprehension passing between them. Sasuke's gaze was simple but firm and it made Gaara think about things he knew he shouldn't be thinking about, but it wasn't like he was submitted to this kind of emotional conflict every day. In fact, he never exposed this much of himself, but he supposed he could afford it once in a while if it was with someone who truly understood him without being judgemental or acting differently towards him.
And Sasuke understood and accepted it. They probably would never talk about it, though, but it was better this way.
"You know, I have a bottle of a very high-class sake in my quarters." Gaara's suggestion came with a tone of nonchalance that didn't reflect his heart at all. "I don't drink alone, but I think we both could use the unwinding."
Thankfully for him, Sasuke had also become rather good at reading him because he smilled, and this time, it was an open one.
"Sure."
000
On a sunny afternoon, Gaara took the liberty to invite Naruto for lunch at a local restaurant. Sasuke had preferred to stay in the quiet of his room, stating that he needed to organize his most recently acquired information before hitting the road again. Gaara didn't know what Sasuke studied and researched during his travels, but he was thankful for the amount of information he provided whenever he found something that could either be of interest for Suna or even if he was aware of some kind of threat, small as it may be.
Knowing that the restaurant served ramen had Naruto salivating. It had been far too long since he had last had ramen, he had said, so he was eager to have some. Still, when he first tasted it, he complained that it was nothing like Ichiraku's.
The two talked about mainly mundane things, and while Gaara enjoyed the casual, easy-going conversation, there were many things that were currently upsetting him, especially because his friend didn't approach them on his own free will.
So, Gaara decided to do that himself. "How come you haven't told me about your girlfriend yet?"
The question had left his mouth with polite casualty, but apparently it had caused enough of an impact on Naruto for him to almost choke in the process of slurping his noodles.
"H-Hinata?" he blurted out hoarsely, punching his chest and coughing. Awkwardly, he tried to regain his composure, but Gaara could see how uncomfortable the topic was for him. "Well, huh… you already know about her? Sasuke told you?"
"He didn't have to, news travel fast," Gaara stated, poking at the meat in his plate with his chopsticks in a way that could almost look bored.
At this, his friend blushed, scratching his temple with a finger and looking to the side. "Oh… really?"
"She's the Hyuuga heiress, right?" Gaara offered. "I remember her vaguely from the war."
"Yeah…" Naruto mumbled. For a while, he rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to avoid Gaara's eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I guess I just…"
"Didn't want to?"
"What? No!" Naruto denied, waving his hands in front of him. "I just… that's kind of a sensible topic right now… Sasuke… well…"
Gaara woud've smiled if he didn't feel terribly sorry for his friend. "I'm not stupid, Naruto, I know about you and Uchiha."
Well, he didn't feel sorry enough to not poke him.
As expected, Naruto's eyes became huge, and he blushed even more, panic and embarrassment obvious in his features.
"I… Holy shit…" he sputtered, looking at anywhere about him, suddenly unsure of what to do with himself. "Fuck… I… Gaara, I…"
"Don't worry, I'm not upset about it," Garra replied, highly amused. Naruto actually buried his eyes in the palm of his hand.
"I can't believe this…" he said under his breath.
Putting down his chopsticks, Gaara intertwined his fingers in front of his face and placed his elbows over the table. He watched Naruto mumble to himself for a while, wondering about whether it would be a good idea or not to speak his mind. The decision wasn't hard to make.
"Can I just say one thing?" he requested politely.
With a sigh, Naruto lowered his hand, picking up his cup of green tea. "Sure…"
"Don't take this the wrong way, I just feel the need to express my opinion now that I have the chance," Gaara muttered slowly, thinking about how to phrase what he wanted in a way that was straightforward but not agreesive. Truth be told, he had been feeling uneasy about things between Naruto and Sasuke for a while, so it wasn't like he didn't feel a little bit of exasperation bubbling up inside of him. "When Sasuke first came to visit I thought, for sure, that you'd be with him. I have to admit that I was rather… surprised, but also disappointed."
Naruto took a few gulps in his tea and pursed his lips together with a serious expression. "I don't understand what you mean."
"You went through so much trouble for him for over three years," Gaara stated, quirking his non-existent eyebrows up. "You trained, you fought, you suffered, and you humiliated yourself. You put your own life at risk. Was I wrong in assuming that he'd mean a little more to you than just letting him go once you got him back?"
Naruto placed his cup down and bit on his lower lip, completely ignoring his ramen now as if he had lost his appetite.
He placed his hands underneath the table, seeming to shrink in on himself. "You don't understand…"
He had said it almost inaudibly, but Gaara could hear him since the restaurant was rather quiet. "Enlighten me, then," he encouraged.
It wasn't surprising when Naruto's face scrunched up in frustration.
"I don't know, okay?" he snapped. "We fought and then he returned to Konoha and I was really happy. But I could tell he wasn't comfortable and then he said he was going on a journey to become a better person and it didn't please me, but I thought… I thought he'd… need the time for himself."
Somehow, Gaara was sure that, in spite of his reluctant demeanor, Naruto had needed to speak about this with someone, just like Sasuke had.
"You genuinely thought that someone who had felt nothing but hatred, pain and loneliness for a long time would want to be alone?" Gaara said softly, not really wanting to upset his friend but feeling genuinely surprised by Naruto's logic – or lack of it thereof. "You're supposed to know him better than anyone else."
"It wasn't just that!" the other male grunted with a huff of impatience. "The village was still grieving and recovering from the damage of the war and I just wanted to do everything I could for it. I lost a lot of people dear to me, and so did my friends…"
In spite of himself, something inside Gaara snapped.
"Your friends, Naruto, have other friends and families to support them, just as the village has many people to keep it on its feet. Unlike Sasuke. Right about now, you're all he has left." He didn't regret the firm accusation in his voice. "I fail to see your reasoning."
Naruto, for his part, seemed slightly taken aback by the blatant reproach, if not even a little hurt. If at Gaara or at himself, it was unclear.
"Look, Gaara, you don't understand, okay?" the blond repeated. "I wanted to go with him, I really did, but I couldn't! As you said, I almost died for him and that… that was something I only thought about when everything was over and I had him by my side."
Gaara merely eyed him, silently asking him to explain.
"I used to watch him sleep when we were recovering in the hospital," Naruto emphasised. Gaara could see that this kind of exposure made him anxious. "I did it for hours. I was so happy that he was back. I just… I felt so many things for him that I had no idea what they were or what to do about it and it was just… too much. It scared me. I didn't know what it was. So when he said he was leaving I didn't have the strength to go with him. And then, when we met in Rice Country he wanted me to travel with him and I just…"
"You let him go instead of working out your feelings for him?" Gaara interrupted, astonished. "And instead of traveling with him like he specifically told you he wanted to, you refused him and got yourself a girlfriend instead?"
"Don't put it like that, it's not how it happened!" the other defended.
"One would almost think you got together with that girl to run away from how you felt for him."
"That's not how it was!" Naruto hissed heatedly. He was quickly becoming angry but Gaara couldn't care less, especially because he could see the blatant denial of actual facts. "You're being a real jerk right now, Gaara, and I really have enough shit to deal with as it is to listen to you making assumptions on stuff you know nothing about!"
"He loves you," Gaara snapped, throwing his card unforgivingly. "That's what I know, and it's all I need to know, as it should be for you."
To his simultaneous pleasure and anguish – because it pained him to have to be like this towards his best friend – Gaara watched as Naruto looked at him as if he had just punched him.
Could Naruto really be this oblivious or was he simply willingly neglecting what was right in front of him?
"He told you this?" Naruto whispered, something in his eyes changing, and the fear, hope and happiness reflected there actually helped Gaara regain his calm.
"Naruto…" he sighed softly, lowering his hands and placing them over his thighs. "You saved me, and you saved him. In our hearts, you will always be one of a kind. But what you did for him, who you are in his eyes... How anyone could possibly misunderstand that is beyond my comprehension."
Naruto cringed visibly, looking away once more. He didn't say anything for a while, almost as if he was lost in his own rampant thoughts and he didn't know what to do about them.
Several times, he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. Gaara wondered if he should say anything else to encourage him, something more to give him the light he needed, but he honestly didn't think he could be any more honest than this. He understood that this was difficult for Naruto, just like it was for Sasuke, maybe for the same reasons, maybe for reasons that didn't match, but either way, it wasn't fair that they made things so difficult for themselves.
"I… love him, too." Naruto whispered as if his own voice scared him, throwing him a pleading look that made Gaara's heart skip a painful beat. "I understand that. And I love Hinata, too, but it's different. I don't know how, or why, but it just is. It's nothing like how I feel for him." He took a deep breath before adding, longingly "I love him so much I don't even want to think about it because it makes me feel like I could do anything, go anywhere and that, as long as I have him nothing matters. He makes me feel like I don't need anybody else. And that's… that's terrifying. That's just… not right."
Gaara's throat ran dry. That had not been what he was expecting at all, but he allowed Naruto to keep talking.
"I can't tell him this because… I thought it was different. Loving someone… it's not how it's supposed to be, you know?" Naruto fidgeted awkwardly. "Love… how it happens between him and me… that's not how it's supposed to work, I'm sure…"
"You don't know anything about this kind of love, my friend," Gaara commented, shaking his head from side to side, unable to comprehend what Naruto was getting at. "And neither do I. But I don't assume that there's a way that love is 'supposed to be'. There isn't."
Unconsciously, Gaara was sure, Naruto rubbed at his bandaged right warm for a while before gripping it in a possessive way.
"I don't know… what to do…" he breathed out. "It's so… good but so painful. Lately I've been happy like I don't think I've ever been in my life, but it's so painful, Gaara. We hurt each other and now it's like we don't know how to heal each other. It's not like this with her. It doesn't hurt like this."
"If it doesn't hurt with her, then I'm sure you're not feeling that love right," Gaara muttered sadly. "That should tell you enough."
Naruto didn't reply, frowning at him but not commenting.
"You've always wanted him by your side," Gaara pressed on. "Don't give up on that if he wants it as much as you do. You've been spending too much time thinking about others, maybe it's time to think about yourself."
"You think I'm not doing that?" Naruto laughed bitterly. "Every time I touch him I'm thinking about myself and I can't stop, regardless of other people back in Konoha or of how it makes him feel. I know it destroys him, and yet I keep taking because I need it. But I know it makes me a bad person on so many levels…"
Again, Gaara was left wondering about the other man's logic, but in the end, that was Naruto, always thinking that being completely selfless was the right path.
"How are you a bad person for wanting someone you love?" Gaara inquired.
"I don't know…"
"Naruto…"
"Look, I appreciate what you're doing, Gaara, I really do. And it makes me really happy that Sasuke talks to you and that you guys are friends," Naruto mumbled, with a dismissive but rather weak shrug of his shoulders. "But I'm just really tired right now. I can't think about this, it weights me down. And Sasuke and I… we don't need these kinds of depressive thoughts. We just need what we have, for now. I'm with him and I'm really happy. In spite of everything… I really am. And I want him to feel the same way."
"You can't will the depressive thoughts away, Naruto," Gaara offered reasonably.
"I know that," Naruto acknowledged, resigned, looking down at his bowl of ramen. "But we still haven't figured things out, Gaara. We still haven't reached the balance needed for… whatever this is to make sense out there, not just when we're together but in our lives. Do you know what I mean?"
It seemed like Naruto wasn't as foolish as Gaara thought. He knew what he was saying, what he was doing and why.
But that didn't make it any less unnecessary, Gaara concluded. He had told Sasuke that he and Naruto needed to grow up, and Naruto understood it, too. Still, it annoyed him how, all of a sudden, the number one surprising ninja had become so thoughtful and contemplative of such trivial things when he used to always follow his heart regardless of the obstacles.
Maybe this had something to do with the Hyuuga girl and him not wanting to hurt her. Maybe it was something else.
Or maybe Naruto really was scared (for the first time in his life) of his feelings for Sasuke and really didn't know how to handle them.
Or maybe… they were just thinking about each other far too much.
And that couldn't possibly be good.
"You should embrace what you two have instead of worrying about the way things are unbalanced," Gaara couldn't help but advice. "Then you'll both have a reason to make it work." Leaning forward, he let his voice drop to a meaningful whisper. "I can't tell the future, but I don't think that the two of you ruining this is what's supposed to happen."
At this, Naruto smiled sadly. "Supposed to happen?" he said, with a bitter chuckle. So you're saying Sasuke and I are 'supposed' to be together in spite of everything?"
"I'm not saying anything," Gaara denied. "It's what you feel in your heart that can give you a proper answer, Naruto."
When Naruto laughed, it echoed throughout the restaurant and it was filled with irony. When he kept laughing, Gaara all but watched him with interest and confusion, unable to identify the source of such a reaction but realizing that maybe he had found something terribly funny in what had been said to him. Or maybe he just needed the laugh because the conversation was undeniably heavy.
Gaara decided to give up. There was only so much he could do or say to someone as stubborn as Naruto and with such consistent ideas already.
But he had just admitted to loving Sasuke, so that had to be good for something. Maybe he would feel the relief later on and be able to express himself as he should.
Naruto laughed for about five minutes, stopping only because it gave him hiccups. Gaara ordered more tea. They didn't talk about Sasuke anymore and barely touched their food.
When Naruto changed the subject to talk about his job as a teacher, the Kazekage indulged him.
He had never felt as tired in his life as he did talking to Naruto and Sasuke.
000
They had booked one of the Residence's Dojos to do some sparring. According to what Naruto had confessed to Temari, he and Sasuke hadn't sparred since they were kids, so he was looking forward to it. Also, it had been a while since either worked out like regular Shinobi do.
Gaara didn't know who had suggested it first, but he had been wondering about when the day would come.
Word spread like wildfire all through the Residence and everybody seemed to be excited about the prospect of watching the Shinobi World's hero Uzumaki Naruto and the infamous Uchiha Sasuke sparring, especially considering that they had chosen the biggest dojo and that the last remaining Uchiha currently lacked an arm.
Gaara could empathise with the collective feeling of curiosity and amazement but somehow, just thinking about dozens of eyes watching them fight made him feel uneasy. This was, for them, a moment of reunion and utmost intimacy and Gaara could understand why they'd choose to share it now – they needed this from each other considering all the emotional turmoil they were going through.
Which was why he explicitly stated that no-one was allowed to watch the sparring session so as to not disturb them. Of course, the disappointment from all of the Residence's staff was evident, but Gaara paid them no mind. The last thing he, or Naruto and Sasuke needed was for people to see what they weren't supposed to.
The two had headed for the dojo in the middle of the afternoon. As soon as he got word of it, Gaara's heart skipped an awkward beat. Throughout the two hour long meeting he had with the daimyo, he struggled to stay focused but his mind kept traveling towards to where the two males were, wondering about how things were doing, wondering if they were alright. He had no idea if the individual conversation he had had with the both of them had even managed to offer something good to them or not, but they had been strangely distanced from each other ever since they arrived in Suna, yet, close as well, but with obvious walls surrounding them. If they had decided to do this, maybe they just wanted so find another form of closeness again.
Somehow, from what he could tell, the two of them having become lovers wasn't something that deeply shook them for the physical part of it, but it did bring out many sorts of conflicting feelings for them that left them both helpless.
Gaara didn't understand his own reasoning, and sometimes, thinking about how they worked became terribly exhausting, especially because he had no way of knowing if his assumptions were correct or not.
Just thinking about what kind of feelings sparring could unleash in them made him feel uncomfortable.
Still, as soon as he was done with the meeting he couldn't help but want to go and see them.
"You kept everybody out of the way, and yet you're going to take a peak?" Temari had teased him.
"I need to ease my mind," Gaara had merely said.
"They're clearly not going to kill each other, you know?" she had pointed out reasonably. "At least the building is still intact."
That didn't make him feel reassured in the slightest. "That's the least of my concerns."
His sister, Gaara knew, understood his heart very well, which was why she refrained from commenting any further. There were things they didn't need to talk about, and his feelings regarding Sasuke and Naruto as individuals and as a duo was one of them. For this, Gaara was thankful to her because certain things were better left untouched.
Respectfully, she didn't follow him on his way the dojo.
Even that particular corridor was left empty, but the sliding door o the dojo they were using was slightly open, a wonderful treat for anyone who dared to defy the Kazekage's orders and watch. Still, there was no-one there, and this pleased Gaara.
It wasn't like he felt like he needed to conceal his chakra signature from them – he was sure that they wouldn't mind knowing he was there either way – but still, Gaara wanted nothing to disrupt their focus, so he did it anyway. On the outside, he sat on his heels on the polished floor, calmly watching the two through the gap the door had provided.
Their feet were bare, both wearing dark blue sweatpants (that they had probably burrowed from the uniform room), Naruto wearing a plain white t-shirt, Sasuke wearing a grey one. Much like it always happened, Gaara felt a sudden dryness in his throat at not finding Sasuke's right arm, but he quickly swallowed the unwanted emotion down.
Apparently, the two had chosen hand-to-hand combat with no weapons or the use of justu. They had been sparring for about three hours now, so they were both sweating heavily, their clothes clinging to their bodies, their cheeks rosy and skins glistening with the effort. It was clear that they were both getting tired but refused to be the first one to drop the towel.
With his heart racing a bit, Gaara watched quietly from his position as the two moved. Their fighting styles were very different. Sasuke had a natural grace to him that was very poised, precise and calculated, his dark eyes alive and intelligent as he watched his opponent with an almost intimidating attention. His attacks were aggressive and merciless and always seemed to have a bit of a show off flare to them that was breath-taking to watch. He attacked more than he defended, his speed impressive, and even though he only had one arm, that only made him all the more persistent and ten times more focused on his opponent. He had trained himself well, Gaara concluded, to not be in any way inferior in spite of his disability.
Naruto, on the other hand, was always the impulsive one. The way he fought was nothing but an automatic response to Sasuke's attacks, and yet, even this was impressive in its own way because following Sasuke's moves was difficult enough as it was.
It was like watching leaves dancing in the wind. Prediction, followed by action. Attack, followed by defence, followed by attack. Punch, eviction, kick, jump backwards, strike.
The easy but powerful way they came together and drew apart was sinfully beautiful to watch, as if they had done it for years on end – as if they knew each other's fighting styles better than they knew their own. It was almost like watching something very private, very intimate. Their eyes were trained on each other with an almost animalistic intensity that spoke of words Gaara was sure only they could hear, and when their bodies came into contact, even without any sort of sexual interaction or intention, the raw energy that came from them was palpable.
Sometimes, Sasuke would openly offer Naruto an opening so he could attack back and things became less coordinated, which, Gaara could see, was what he was looking for. When Naruto attacked, it stopped being that automatic response to become something feral, fast and harsh where they actually managed give it their all to land a punch.
For about half an hour Gaara watched them in interested fascination, listening to the sounds of their grunts and heavy breathings. Once in a while, one of them would release a curse, but apart from that, they didn't speak at all.
And then, there came the time where Sasuke managed to land a rather brutal kick to Naruto's chest that sent him flying across the place, but instead of doing something to get back on his feet, Naruto just landed on his back on the floor in a graceless heap, letting out a pained noise. Still, instead of getting up, he remained lying there, arms and legs spread out as he panted.
Sasuke straightened his stance with fluidity, impassively watching his friend while also breathing hard.
Leaning forward a bit, Gaara could see Naruto placing his bandaged arm over his eyes and biting on his lower lip. And then, he started sobbing.
Eyes wide, Gaara turned them to Sasuke, whose expression changed completely to one of soft exasperation. Inhaling sharply through his nose – something he did to calm himself down in that moment – Sasuke slowly made his way to his friend until he was standing with his feet on either side of Naruto's body. He looked down, his hair concealing his features.
"You said you saw Hinata's heart," he said in a low voice that still echoed clearly throughout the large dojo. "What about mine, huh? Did you see what was in it?"
Naruto sobbed harder this time, but he nodded. "Yes…"
"Was it any different from what you saw when we last fought at the Valley of the End?"
Naruto hiccupped. "N-No…" he mumbled, sniffing. "But I… this time, I…"
When he stopped himself, Sasuke seemed to contemplate him for a while. "I'm not your girlfriend," he whispered. "My feelings are nothing like hers. I may have little left that I can call my own, but I'm still an Uchiha and I bow to no-one, not even you. You don't get to fuck around with me just because you're scared."
"I-I know…"
"To be honest, Naruto, there's only so much shit I can take before it drives me crazy." Carefully, Sasuke bended his legs until he was straddling Naruto's waist. Gaara held his breath as he watched Sasuke's hand land on Naruto's chest, just above his heart. "What are we doing?"
If anything, Naruto cried harder at this, his sobs shaking his body as he shook his head from side to side several times. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but all he could do was cry in that helpless, heart-breaking way, unwilling to reveal his face.
Sasuke sighed tiredly. "Don't cry, you fucking dumbass."
Neither moved for a long while, Naruto's sobs incessant as if he had held all his tears in for far too long, which, Gaara guessed, he probably had.
Then, Sasuke rolled to the side until he was also lying down on the floor on Naruto's left side, his head turned so he was looking at the blond.
Blindly, Naruto's left hand felt the floor between them. Noticing it, Sasuke's right one reached out for it and grabbed it before he slowly intertwined their fingers together in a tight hold.
A single tear rolled down Gaara's cheek when he blinked, and feeling it, he wiped at it quickly, both surprised and annoyed at himself.
He didn't even understand why that tear had escaped him or why his heart was beating so fast inside his chest. It wasn't like he was personally damaged by what he was witnessing, he simply… empathised. It was ugly on so many ways, but also unique. He couldn't even understand if the scene made him happy or just shattered on the inside, but maybe it was a bit of both.
A hand landed on his shoulder, startling him for a moment and he turned around to find his brother, Kankuro, looking down at him with a slightly reproachful look, silently shaking his head from side to side, as if asking him 'don't you think it's enough?'.
Gaara shouldn't be intruding like this, he knew, but it was all he could do for them to try and read what was between the lines. He felt like he knew more now, but that, at the same time, not much had changed and the thought unsettled him as much as it calmed him down.
Still, taking one last peak at the two men who were still resting on the floor, he cautiously got to his feet and followed his brother down the hall without making a sound.
"You shouldn't do this to yourself," Kankuro admonished once they were out of ear range. "You already know how things are for those two, Gaara."
Smiling a bit, Gaara heaved a small sigh. "I can't explain it myself, but I'm grateful for what I've seen," he said quietly. "It brought me a certain sense of peace and hope I suppose I needed."
Kankuro seemed far from convinced, but just as Temari herself, he refrained from meddling inside Gaara's thoughts too much.
But that was exactly that. Watching those two people who were so precious to him on such different levels gave him peace of mind, and no matter how restless he felt about them right now, what they had was bigger and stronger than themselves and they both knew it. Maybe they wouldn't be able to settle things right now, or even in the next couple of months or even years, and while this made him ache for them (he always would), he was sure that those mistakes they were constantly making wouldn't be fixed as easily as they probably should. But there was nothing he could do about it more than he already had.
Still, he couldn't help but hope that, one day, everything would be as it was supposed to.
000
They stayed for ten days before deciding it was time to keep travelling. Their need for the privacy of each other's company on the road again was all over their faces and this made Gaara happy. Maybe they'd be able to communicate better and hopefully find the answers they needed.
Gaara made sure they had enough provisions for a few days and new clothes that would be suitable for both the desert and other climates. Sasuke would usually refuse the few offered comforts, but this time he had accepted it with nothing but a few thankful words – on Naruto's behalf, the Kazekage mused.
"I hope the two of you return soon," Gaara had said as a means of farewell, grabbing for Naruto's shoulders after they had hugged and giving them a meaningful squeeze. By Naruto's pouting blush, he had understood the obvious implications of his words. "I apologize we didn't get to spend as much time together as I wanted to."
"Don't be stupid, your hospitality was awesome and I'm glad I got to see you," Naruto mumbled, offering him a genuine smile. "Thank you for everything, Gaara, seriously."
Sasuke, as per usual, moved to shake Gaara's hand, a tiny smirk lifting the corners of his mouth that looked almost fond. "See you next time, Kazekage-sama."
"Of course."
Gaara, Kankuro, Temari and the four other elements of their escort watched them leave for a while before returning to the village.
Gaara wondered about where they'd be going this time and what they'd talk about. He wondered if they'd still be lovers or if they would create a whole new distance now that certain things had come to light – but somehow, it didn't seem like they'd be able to.
Sasuke and Naruto both had dreams that they wanted to see fulfilled, and genuinely, Gaara hoped they could find a way to do it together, whether it involved politics or love.
Maybe they didn't know how to deal with each other yet. Maybe they'd find a way, or maybe they didn't, but it was okay as long as they both understood exactly where they belonged.
They had something Gaara could only wish to ever achieve. The thought made him feel an amused bitterness he couldn't quite place. It was ironic, to say the least.
He had longed for love for so long, and yet, his love slipped away from his grasp. But it didn't bother him. He knew the type of love he wanted wasn't directed at him, and he was fine with it. Slowly but consistently, he was winning the love of his village and that was enough.
He had no idea if someone in this world would ever feel for him the same things Sasuke and Naruto did because the three shared something not many was able to understand – rejection, pain, loneliness, hunger for love… then empathy, acceptance, friendship, understanding and complicity.
Gaara doubted he'd ever be able to truly give himself to someone who wouldn't understand such things, but only time would tell.
Right now, he felt devoted to another love that would never be his, and he was fine with it. Seeing that love come to life was one of his greatest desires.
In the end, he supposed that Sasuke was right.
After all… wasn't being selfless what true love was all about?
TBC...
Loveit: Well, this story currently takes place during the time between chapter 699 and 700 (as stated in the summary), so yes, Naruto will end up with Hinata and Sasuke with Sakura in his own twisted way. BUT, I am planning on extending the fic to a time beyond the 700th chapter so I can give the boys a proper ending, so don't worry yourself too much about it ;) And thank you! I'm glad you like the way things are going! It's not like I plan on bashing characters or anything, so no, I don't want Hinata or Sakura to be villains. I do believe that Naruto loves Hinata in his own way.
Shane: As I said in the previous reply, this story follows the events of the manga so Sasuke and Naruto won't be together for good yet, regardless of what happens between them during this time. I do understand what you're trying to tell me about Sasuke having the right to be happy and I agree, but his way of thinking is merely based on what the manga gave us – a Sasuke bent on repenting for his sins. But Sasuke's and Naruto's logic at this point will be explained better in the future, when they can truly find some kind of mutual comprehension. Which doesn't mean that their decisions won't make them regret them in the future. Know what I mean?
Burr: You are very welcome! And thank you! I do hope you can enjoy the story to the very end in spite of everything ;)
HB: Thank you so much! It makes me happy that you like the story! And yeah, you got everything right. Not thinking of others is a struggle for Naruto, but, as you have probably seen from this chapter, thinking of Naruto is also becoming a struggle to Sasuke as well. Which only means that they are… growing closer and maturing together in order to see that it's not just about them and that there are other factors. In comes Sakura's theory of Selfish/Selfless love. I think Naruto already has a good understanding of what he's feeling at this point, as stated in the chapter. He's understanding the dimension of his feelings and yet, it's because of that that he's a bit intimidated. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!
TraeLi: Aw, thank you so much! *hugs* You have no idea how happy it makes me when people tell me they are moved by my writing. Not only that, I'm very happy that this story is helping a lot of people to stay focused on SasuNaruSasu's story instead of feeling down about that crappy ending. I know I still feel down about it once in a while, and this story helps me a lot, too. It's like… when I'm writing it, I forget that this isn't what really happened and I can pretend that Sasuke and Naruto had things going this way for them, somehow. Because they needed it. They deserved to explore their bond in a deeper way. As you said, little details mean a lot to us fans and it's sad that what we have loved and respected for so long has been ruined. But thank you a million times, and thank you for reading!
This chapter was, as I loooove saying, a 'necessary evil'. Some of you were wondering if Gaara was going to come between Naruto and Sasuke and, as you could see, it was the opposite, regardless of his feelings.
Anyway, the dynamics between Naruto and Sasuke will change from here on for many reasons, so you can expect a lot of… understanding and intensity in the next chapters, but always with a bit of drama in the middle. You know you love it!
I don't feel like spoiling the next chapter, but… I'm really excited about it!
If there's anything you guys want to talk to me about, don't hesitate in PMing me :)
Oh, and don't worry, I will reply to all you guys' comments as soon as I can, both for this fic and for the others, you know I always do! It just takes a bit more of time once in a while, especially if I want to get something written before.
And thank you for the constant support! I love you all from the bottom of my dramatic heart.
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