A/N: This is just another looong useless chapter, so don't expect much! Again, to make up for the long wait!
I wanted to focus a little on feelings and… well, TakaxSasukexNaruto interactions, I guess. Bear with me!
NOT BETAED. Let me know if you find serious typos, please!
From Which We'll Rise
Part VIII: Before the Storm
Sasuke supposed he shouldn't have felt surprised by the fact that Karin, Juugo and Suigetsu shared a king sized futon considering how little space they had in their small home. Even Naruto and Sasuke had been forced to push their sleeping bags together because they could barely fit in the room with the other three, but still, with two fewer people, Taka could've easily had an individual futon for each of them in their ordinary days. Only they didn't.
It wasn't like he hadn't noticed certain things about Taka, and Suigetsu's shameless hints weren't very concealing either, and yet, Sasuke had a hard time figuring the dynamics. Not that he tried very hard, anyway, since he had other things on his mind.
But this wasn't something that he was bent on openly questioning or wondering about simply because he didn't care as it was none of his business. He often found himself lacking in interest in being judgemental of such frivolous things, and this was no exception.
Also, after he and Naruto got inside the makeshift house, neither of his three former teammates had opened their mouths to talk about their obvious making out outside. Karin looked like she had swallowed something nasty, and Suigetsu sported a rather nasty, knowing grin on his face, but apart from that, no-one made a single comment about what they had seen.
Sasuke would lie if he said that he wasn't thankful for it. He didn't want to talk about his relationship with Naruto to people who wouldn't understand, and neither did he have any desire to talk about his sexuality, something that, surely, those three were wondering about.
He had been pretty much averse to the idea of intimacy for a long time, and even as a teenager, he couldn't say that he had been someone very prone to seeking his own personal pleasure since he hadn't felt the need to. Always the target of sexual interest, Sasuke could admit that he had used his looks and his rather self-recognized sex appeal to his advantage in Orochimaru's lair, but it wasn't like he was personally interested in sex. For a long time, it was as if his body had been shut down but his constant turmoil of conflicting and shifting emotions, and the only times where he did feel the need to masturbate were usually provoked by adrenaline after a particularly exciting training session. Even then, touching himself was a necessity that annoyed him, and something he wouldn't have done if his teenage body hadn't demanded it out of him.
There were no thoughts in his mind back then as he did it, but simple irritation of a weakness his body possessed sometimes that he couldn't control.
Still, during those years after the war and up until he and Naruto had been reunited in that journey, Sasuke's already low sex drive had been reduced to nothing.
It wasn't like he had ever been interested in romance, sex, or even intimacy. During his first journey he had come to realize many things about himself and his feelings for Naruto, and yet, not even once he had questioned his sexuality, nor did he feel the need to. How he felt for the blond wasn't of a sexual nature at all, and yet he acknowledged that it surpassed all those frivolous human needs.
It wasn't like he could explain it himself, and it wasn't like he felt the need to find a definition for it. It wouldn't matter either way.
He had a hard time falling asleep, unaccustomed to being so physically close to another person. Sleeping right beside Naruto was like sharing a bed with him, and while this wasn't exactly news to him, it wasn't like they shared such a close space all that often regardless of their intimate moments because Sasuke always found the need to create a certain distance between them. It was already enough that they kissed and got engaged in sexual activities. The open displays of affection outside of the impulsiveness of sex was already something that had slipped out of his control, so it wasn't like they needed to sleep together and cuddle to make things even worse. They weren't a couple. Next thing he knew, they'd be holding hands while taking strolls and going on dates, and that was a definite 'no' in his book. Sasuke hated things like that, and truth be told, he didn't imagine himself in what society would consider a 'normal' relationship. Even if Naruto, clearly, relished in it.
No matter what was said and done between them… he couldn't let himself be dragged away.
Although… sometimes it was very easy to go with the tide.
Loud snores echoed throughout the place that Sasuke recognized as being Karin's and Suigetsu's in the most abhorrent of duets. Juugo, as usual, slept soundly through it all, and while Naruto usually snored for his life, tonight he was oddly quiet.
The moon filtering through the glass doors cast shadows over the furniture and occupants of the room, and even in the semi-darkness it was possible to see contours of things around him rather clearly.
Turning on his left side, Sasuke noticed that Naruto was also turned to him, his bandaged hand resting next to his face. His lips were slightly parted but no sound came out, which made Sasuke wonder if he was either awake or having an abnormally light sleep.
Running his eyes over Naruto's features, Sasuke felt his breath catch, his heart beating just a little faster than normal. He felt the sudden urge to reach out and touch his cheek, but held himself back.
I'm crazy in love with you…
Hearing those words had hurt and Sasuke hadn't taken them seriously at all, not because he considered them lies – they weren't – but because, in the end, that was all they were, really. Nothing but words.
Loving someone had been painful for Sasuke. In fact, he didn't think he would ever come to know what it felt like to love so devotedly, simply and innocently like he had loved his family as a child. That kind of easy love seemed far and unreachable for him now. Loving someone these was painful. It brought him happiness, too, though, and was proof that he was alive and human, capable of loving in spite of how closed and stone hard he had thought his heart to have become.
Loving Naruto made him feel like he was normal again. It gave him a certain type of strength he knew no-one else could ever give him. It felt like breathing – natural, essential – and it gave him hope for the future, for himself. He wasn't sure how this came to be when there were currently so many things against them – even themselves – but he knew that this was something that wouldn't change no matter what happened or how much time passed.
Sasuke heaved a small sigh but his eyes never left Naruto's face.
Sometimes, he wondered if Naruto thought about them the way he did, or if things were just very intense for him, emotionally, but very superficially interpreted.
Sasuke often thought about how they had been confirmed by the Sage of the Six Paths to be descendants of his sons. Two souls strongly bonded, chasing each other through time, parting ways only to come together once more, over and over again.
He wondered if Naruto even knew about Madara and Hashirama's story and understood how much of that had been carried and passed on to their present selves.
Sasuke didn't like thinking that he was like Madara, even though, as an Uchiha that he himself had tried to beat and had almost been killed by, he was someone he admired greatly. Madara was a force of nature like Sasuke had never seen before, highly intelligent, goal driven and emotionally unstable thanks to the pain and anger in his heart. Sasuke could've been like him, he knew this, but he had, even if unconsciously so, clung to that little light that he had left that had Naruto's name on it.
Like Naruto, though, Hashirama was the same idealist, always protecting someone who others thought to have no hope, always craving for that overwhelming bond with that someone important without hesitation.
Madara and Hashirama had had a bond that transcended anything he and Naruto had, he knew this. Even though they became enemies in the end, the respect they had for each other and the sheer longing had been something Sasuke had been able to see very well. Neither Madara nor Hashirama had bothered to hide it.
He and Naruto had had tough lives in different ways, but nothing compared to what those two had gone through. And still, they had cared for each other and acknowledged each other above everyone else. No-one was worthy enough in each other's eyes regardless of how bad things turned out for them.
Sasuke wondered if these feelings had been passed through them to him and Naruto – if these things that they had never been able to say and all those unsettled issues were now left for him and the blond to fix so the cycle of hatred would end.
Would it ever end?
Hashirama had gotten married and had kids, while Madara never seemed to take interest in people in general. Sasuke doubted that they had been lovers, but there was definitely 'love' between the two.
Sasuke understood that 'love' didn't mean that two people who felt for each other deeply had to become lovers. He had never personally felt inclination towards romance in general, and his feelings for Naruto had always been greater than himself, so he knew that such 'love' could never be erased. Wanting Naruto to understand what they both felt had been important to him and he had felt that, if they both could come to a consensus, and that what they felt for each other was something nothing or anybody could ever compete against, he'd be happy.
Knowing that Naruto 'loved' him like that made him happy. He wouldn't have felt the need for sex or intimacy if Naruto hadn't pushed him down that road, and while he didn't complain about the outcome, he did know that it made things unnecessarily complicated and more serious between them. It created a need for closeness and intimacy that was addictive and that was sure to destroy them both at some point.
If they had just acknowledged each other without the need for certain things, Sasuke would've never felt like he was about to lose something. If they had stayed the way they were before… he wouldn't be scared of losing something he had never had.
This was where Madara had been smarter than him, he considered, biting on his lower lip as Naruto shifted a little. Madara had stayed faithful to his feelings but hadn't allowed them to weaken him. By not getting sexually/romantically involved with Hashirama he didn't allow those feelings to consume and weaken him. This allowed him to act with the intent to crush and damage – to kill – because he had nothing to lose.
One can't lose something that was never theirs, could they? Neither could they miss something they never had. Sasuke understood the need to not have attachments and useless feelings in order to become stronger all too well.
But Sasuke had already made a mistake, and he just knew he would come to regret it. But it was too late, now. He had hurt too much, and he just knew that it wouldn't stop. But that didn't mean he couldn't allow himself to bask in whatever happiness crossed his path in the time being.
And Naruto gave him that. That loud, idiotic fool that had both built them and ruined them. That person who still loved and desired him in spite of everything he had done.
The complimentary other half of his being. He had never believed in soul mates, and it wasn't like he saw it in some kind of amorous context, but it wasn't something to be under rated at all.
Wasn't fate a hilarious bitch?
In spite of himself, Sasuke moved his body silently so he was dragging himself and his sleeping bag closer enough to Naruto's so his body was almost pressed to the other male's but still distanced enough so they weren't touching.
During the process, Naruto's eyes cracked open sensing the approach. Laying his head down on the pillow again, Sasuke noted that the eyes staring back at his were attentive and lucid, meaning that Naruto hadn't been sleeping, maybe aware of Sasuke's intense gaze all along. This didn't upset him, though.
Naruto didn't say anything, unbothered by Sasuke's stare, simply staring back in silence, his features calm, yet serious. There were things in those eyes that Sasuke felt compelled to explore and he did so openly, watching every flicker of emotion there, reading easily every single word that was presented to him and for once allowing himself to relax and for his feelings to be reflected in his own eyes, as well. He noticed Naruto watching him just as attentively, and as the seconds ticked by as they looked at each other, the more the air seemed to become thicker. Naruto's lips parted slightly, his breath coming out a little uneven and brushing against Sasuke's face. He could feel his friend's energy becoming queasy, anxious even, the pull between them alluring and creating an ungodly wave of heat around them.
Sasuke hated how quick his body could go from controlled to a desperate mass of lustful yearning, but he was far too enamoured by the familiar tension already to claim that it bothered him. There was something about 'power' that he valued and craved for regardless of the way it manifested itself, and there was no denying that there was something very powerful happening whenever their eyes met like this and their very souls spoke to each other. It was something he relished in and felt compelled to respect and act upon. His body tingled and burnt and the physical pull was almost unbearable.
If they had been alone right then he was sure they would've been lost in some wild animalistic wrestle that would've brought them both release. Or maybe they'd be fucking since it was settled that they both wanted to.
He ached to touch the other, and could tell by the way Naruto's muscles tensed and his hand itched that he was feeling the same way. Still, neither moved, knowing that it would be a terrible idea to engage in such things while the others were asleep and pretty much prone to wake up.
So they just stared at each other in the dark, close but not daring to come into contact.
Lost in the millions of words Naruto's eyes spoke to him, Sasuke thought that such things between them shouldn't feel as natural as they did.
000
The next morning found the five on their way to Shack. They were supposed to visit the city's council to see if they had any missions for the day, and then they'd split to get stuff done.
Naruto was feeling pretty excited about exploring the city and actually being back to an active working life once more, and even though Suigetsu had already warned him not to keep his hopes up for exciting adventures, he couldn't neutralize his giddiness if he tried.
His time in Suna with Sasuke seemed very distant, and it was during times like these, when he felt the thumping energy of the cities and their occupants, that he realized how much he absolutely loved that kind of environment – it gave him life. This was where he and Sasuke contrasted the most, he would often think, not without a bit of sadness.
There was a large red and gold temple close to the seaside where all political affairs of Shack were taken care of. The council was composed of three stern looking elderly men that looked at both Sasuke and Naruto with suspicion. Juugo told them that they were old comrades that would be helping them for a while and that could definitely be trusted. Juugo made up some last minute names for the both of them that Naruto didn't even catch, but the council didn't seem to care either way as long as they didn't demand to be paid extra just because Taka now had two more members.
There were several 'missions' assigned to them for the day, Naruto noticed, but all of them were very simple and mundane.
Naruto suddenly remembered that he should write to Konoha, and in spite of Sasuke's protests Naruto insisted that he wanted him to approve the letter's contents. After they managed to come up with something acceptable to Sasuke's standards, the Uchiha summoned a large hawk and tied the piece of scroll to its leg with a string. Together, they watched the proud animal take flight and head towards fire country. Then, their group divided tasks among them to get everything done as fast and as effectively as possible. Sasuke would be going with Karin and Juugo while Naruto would go with Suigetsu.
Naruto had been a little hesitant about leaving Sasuke. It wasn't as if he feared the other might flee or anything, and it wasn't like they had always been together every single day of the journey, but it had been a few days since they had last parted ways and somehow, it didn't sit well with him.
"You can go and kiss your boyfriend goodbye if you're that sad that you're going to be without him for a few hours," Suigetsu teased perceptively at Naruto's crestfallen expression while looking at Sasuke's retrieving back as he walked away between Karin and Juugo.
In spite of himself, he blushed at the man's choice of words. Sasuke wasn't his boyfriend. Even thinking about him in such terms made him feel annoyed and… slightly offended. He had no idea when things had gotten so clear for him in regards to his feelings for Sasuke, but 'boyfriend' was an insulting term to describe what they had, Naruto knew that now.
But… Hinata was his 'girlfriend' wasn't she? And he wasn't offended by it when it came to her. Because… that was what she was, plain and simple.
Plain. And. Simple.
He didn't know what to think of it, though, and didn't feel like killing himself over it either.
"Let's just go," he mumbled irritably, slapping Suigetsu's arm lightly. "Lead the way."
Suigetsu all but threw him a knowing smirk and pushed him forwards playfully. "Lighten up, princess, your prince charming isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
000
'Dear Kakashi-sensei (or should I say 'Hokage-sama'?),
I'm sorry it took me so long to write, but it's been quite an eventful journey so far, and to be very honest, I didn't even think about it before yesterday. Heh.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know Sasuke and I are alive and well. We've been sorting things out between us, and of course, we have our ups and downs, but I'm really happy right now and things are good.
Mainly, we've been doing a lot of travelling. Sasuke studies a lot and loves researching. We spent a couple of amazing weeks at a really great village and dropped by Suna where we also spent a few days. It was fun seeing Gaara.
We're close to Bear Country, now. Sasuke said something about seeing their political interests, so we might go there soon.
I'm not sure when we'll be back yet. Tell Hinata and Sakura-chan that we're doing great. Also, tell Baa-chan and Iruka-sensei that everything is alright.
We'll write again when we're on our way home. Or if we end up in some deep shit.
Love,
Naruto
P.S.: Sasuke says hi.'
Kakashi folded the piece of scroll neatly in four and placed it over his desk. His visible eye was smiling, but Sakura didn't really share the mood. Beside her, Hinata seemed to have the same thoughts.
"Well, they're alive, at least, and apparently having fun," Kakashi stated, well humouredly. "If they haven't killed each other yet, I don't think they will. I hope this was useful in putting your minds at ease."
"We didn't think they'd kill each other," Sakura mumbled, a little crestfallen that Naruto and Sasuke still didn't have a date to return. But then again, Sasuke left for months at the time. "But thank you. I will speak to Tsunade-sama."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," Hinata said, bowing down in gratitude. "I just hope they come home soon."
"So do I," Kakashi said, linking his fingers in front of his face. "After all, Naruto is a Shinobi of Konoha who is currently off duty. He needs to be back on the field soon."
With a few parting words, the two girls left the Hokage's office side by side, a strained silence having settled in between them.
"What's bothering you, Hinata-chan?" Sakura couldn't help but ask gently as they walked down the hall, unconsciously fishing out for a sense of empathy since, surely, Hinata was feeling the same restlessness she was feeling, if the sad look on her face was any indication.
"I'm glad Naruto's okay," the Hyuuga heiress said, tucking a strand of her long hair behind her ear. "I guess I just… I thought that he'd write to me as well. But he didn't even say that he was feeling homesick, or that he missed me."
In spite of herself, the same sentiment brought a pang of hurt to Sakura's chest.
"Don't think about it too hard!" she said, patting Hinata's shoulder with a forced smile. "Naruto is terribly dense, and besides, he wouldn't write mushy things in a letter for Kakashi-sensei, it would be embarrassing! I'm sure he misses you. He didn't want to get sentimental so he didn't write to you because he's just playing strong."
Nodding, Hinata looked at her curiously. "Does Uchiha-san ever write to you?"
Sakura's smile faltered, but she kept her voice steady. "He never writes," she admitted, with a natural shrug. "But that's just him. He's a man of few words, so knowing he's okay is enough for me."
It was Hinata's turn to force a smile. "Do you really think they're getting along?" she asked, her dispassionate tone not matching the curve in her lips.
Sakura bit on her lower lip and looked at the floor, to her walking feet. She was positive they were getting along. If Naruto hadn't claimed to be homesick, that meant that he wasn't, and that said a lot about how things were going with Sasuke.
But it wasn't like she could be that blunt to Hinata, because the girl loved Naruto and that love only allowed her to understand a small part of his relationship with the Uchiha. She wasn't stupid, she knew a few things, but it was best to keep them in the dark and pretend neither of them were aware of what those two were probably doing.
Pretending was easier. Denial made it easier to bear, and in a way, Sakura kept convincing herself that she was wrong and that, indeed, those two didn't mean to each other as much as they did. She had always pretended, even to herself, even though she had seen it from the very beginning.
She just couldn't have it. She couldn't accept the pain of being second next to them, and of being easily discarded. She knew she was loved, though, but… it just wasn't the same.
And Hinata… well, Sakura never wanted her to feel with Naruto the same way she felt with Sasuke – she didn't deserve it, and she was too pure and gentle to comprehend certain things. She and Naruto would be together and have a family and be happy, and that was how it was supposed to be. Sakura and Sasuke… well, if Naruto and Hinata were together, it was easier to work her relationship with Sasuke. And that was all she focused on.
"Of course they are," Sakura reassured her. "They care about each other. They're best friends! When they come home, things will be different and everything will be better, you'll see! They needed this, so and so did we."
Sakura felt proud of herself for being able to smile wider this time. "We'll be able to be a proper family, which was something Naruto has always wanted. Team 7 will be alright again, and you'll be a part of it, too!"
Thankfully, this seemed to cheer the shy girl up considerably, because she returned the smile, more honestly this time. "I really hope so!"
But as they parted ways, Sakura couldn't help but doubt her own words.
Would it really be like that? Would those two ever even allow it?
Please, just come home…
000
They had basically spent the day doing pretty simple and mundane stuff for the city, mainly running errands for the nobles that required a lot of moving, delivering messages, fetching up important documents for them and escorting young maidens on their strolls around Shack. While it was an easy way to make money that kept them busy, Naruto found that it was also excruciatingly boring. Suigetsu explained to him that Shack was a rather peaceful city and that there wasn't a lot of crime going on, especially since Bear Country usually took care of the more serious threats, not to protect the city, but usually to protect themselves from a greater evil. Sometimes random trouble makers invaded Shack and tried to steal and fuck things up, but it wasn't exactly an everyday occurrence, and really, the nobles, both native and passers-by from other countries were so snobbish they enjoyed immensely relying on real Shinobi to get their shit done and having their backs covered. Some even wanted to hire Taka as personal body guards, but they were enjoying a bit of peace and quiet in a steady home for a while, and no-one was really interested in licking anyone's boots anyway.
By lunch time, Naruto could at least understand that this kind of job had a few perks. They both found themselves in a large kitchen of some noble's mansion, sitting at a large table as the (far too many) servants finished some extravagant meal after running an errand and reporting to the lord the success of their errand. They had been invited to stay and 'have something to eat', and while they hadn't been welcomed to the main hall, the absurd amount of food presented to them in the kitchen didn't make Naruto feel offended at all. Not to mention that they had received quite a large tip for having just delivered a gift wrapped box of high value to a damsel staying at an Inn across the city (a lover, Naruto supposed, since the lord was married).
There was all sorts of fruits, freshly baked bread, cheese, exquisite meat, three different types of juice, and wine. Suigetsu wasn't shy in digging in, so Naruto didn't feel the need to hold back either.
They ate until they were stuffed, and Suigetsu even had a few glasses of wine, and while Naruto had been tempted to try some as well, he decided that it was best if he didn't in case he had to drag the guy's drunken ass back home since he didn't listen to Naruto's warning that he shouldn't get himself drunk.
To Naruto's surprise, Suigetsu was no light weight and even finished the pitcher of wine as Naruto decided to clean up the table from the mess they had made. The cook (a chubby woman in her mid-fifties) was nice enough to give them a bag full of bread, cookies, some tea leaves and vegetables for them to take with them that Naruto was very thankful for.
He wondered if that tea was good and whether Sasuke would like it. Sasuke liked tea, maybe this would please him. He'd make sure to brew some for him later.
"This is the life, heh, Naruto-chan?" Suigetsu said, elbowing him playfully as they made their way through the crowd towards their last appointment of the day, surprisingly lucid and steady even though his speech was a bit slurred. "This beats a lot of jobs, I'd say. We get free stuff all the time and make money every day. It's not a lot but it's enough to save a bit and not worry about our next meal. It's rather nice."
"Yeah…" Naruto agreed absently.
This was definitely not a bad way to live at all, and Naruto couldn't help but wonder if this would be the kind of life he and Sasuke would lead if they were to stay together. There were so many possibilities for them, so many outcomes, and yet, Naruto couldn't find one that would be perfect for the both of them.
This was fine, for now, and Naruto was enjoying the peace and being more in touch with Sasuke's past, but they would have to move on eventually; this was just a temporary thing so they could make some money to get back on the road.
He wondered what Sasuke wanted to do? They couldn't stay with Taka forever and Naruto had made it clear that he wanted to return to Konoha; maybe not right now, but definitely sometime soon. Sasuke had no interest in the village still, and Naruto...
He couldn't help but huff. Why did they have to be so different? And now that things were becoming clear for them, now that they had grown closer…
"I like you," Suigetsu said, with a twisted grin, eyeing him appreciatively. "Saviour of the Shinobi world and all that, and yet you're travelling like a hobo next to Sasuke. You must really like him a lot, I guess. I mean, the guy's an ass, but he's a natural leader; can lure you in like a fly to light. Plus, you have a piece of that pristine Uchiha ass, you can consider yourself privileged."
Naruto made a face but didn't comment. It wasn't like he disliked Suigetsu, but he had an open way of speaking that was able to either make him feel at ease or very uncomfortable. Besides, he didn't know him enough to trust him with personal things, so it wasn't like he was going to tell him that Sasuke was dating a girl and that his 'pristine Uchiha ass' wasn't exactly exclusive.
"Hey, hold on," Suigetsu said, grabbing his arm to stop him. With an inquisitive look, Naruto watched him rummage inside the small pouch around his waist before taking something out of it and shoving it towards Naruto's chest, who clumsily grabbed it with the hand that wasn't carrying the bag they had been given. Suigetsu winked at him before resuming walking with his hands linked behind his head.
Looking down, Naruto found a small plastic bottle that contained a transparent substance inside and three small square silvery packages. He blinked at the items in his hand confusedly for a while until his eyes managed to read the label of the bottle, and everything clicked instantly.
In panicked embarrassment, he quickly shoved the bottle of lube and the three condoms inside the pocket of his pants, afraid that the people around him might see them.
"Suigetsu!" He called out outraged after the other man, running to fall into step beside him, who merely eyed him with amusement. "What the hell! Why did you give me this?! More importantly, why are you carrying stuff like this around?!"
"Well, a guy needs to be prepared at all times," Suigetsu replied, shrugging with his grin still in place. "And I thought you might need them. You and Sasuke haven't done the deed yet, right?"
"That's none of your business!" Naruto yelled, and noticing that he was being way too loud, he felt himself blushing heavily. He was seriously annoyed that Suigetsu, someone he didn't know at all, would meddle in between his and Sasuke's affairs and just… shove such things his way as if he knew anything.
"Please, man, spare me the useless excuses, there's no way you two have fucked with the way you interact," Suigetsu dismissed easily. "You guys want to fuck each other so bad you can smell it, it's kind of gross. And here I was thinking Sasuke was frigid."
"That's not…" Naruto stammered, keeping his voice low but unable to keep the horror from his voice. "We don't… We don't really… and he's not… I mean, we did… but that's…!"
Frigid wasn't something he could say Sasuke had ever been, at least where it concerned him, but he could get that he was likely to give off that vibe in spite of his looks and imposing demeanour.
Still, he didn't like how easily Sasuke's ex-teammate talked about him or their sex life, and definitely didn't like how he was meddling in.
Nevertheless, even if he wanted to be angry, he was too embarrassed for words.
"Yeah, yeah, I don't care." Suigetsu seemed highly entertained by Naruto's reaction. "I just thought you might need a little help. You can't fuck a guy like you fuck a girl, you know. Make sure you make use of both the lube and the condoms, though. Or make sure Sasuke does, whatever floats your boat."
If Naruto wasn't so mortified – and completely taken off guard by the situation – he would've said something smart and probably offensive, but as it was, he simply gapped and stuttered, unable to form a single coherent sentence. To his credit, Suigetsu was still looking smug, but he didn't seem to want to press the issue further or tease him more, so Naruto gave up on trying to feel offended by his perceptiveness and making a fool out of himself. So he kept his mouth shut.
Wow, was he that obvious? Were they that obvious? Sure, Taka had seen them kissing already, but from that to their sexual tension being obvious went a long way, or so he thought.
But… well, he and Sasuke had talked about wanting to have sex with each other but they hadn't exactly thought about a specific date or anything like that, and while Naruto didn't know how sex with a girl went, from the experience he had with Hinata, he had an idea how things would go between a man and a woman.
But it wasn't like a certain part of male's body would self-lubricate like a vagina did, and surely that particular hole wasn't the most hygienic so… even if neither he nor Sasuke had a chance of getting pregnant, the items Suigetsu provided were obviously essential for safe sex. Safe… male on male sex.
So… should he feel thankful that Sasuke's friend had actually been kind enough to help them by providing something essential? They had established the eagerness, but everything else was still unknown. What would happen, when, how, who did what and who put what where… those were things Naruto had thought about in fantasies that probably had nothing to do with how things would be in real life. But this to say that he hadn't thought that far ahead in terms of what they'd need to get it done.
Why hadn't he thought of it before? What if they were to have the impulse and found themselves empty handed? How awkward would it be? Sasuke would definitely be mad at him, but then again, it was also Sasuke's duty to think about such things, wasn't it?
"Thanks," Naruto ended up mumbling shyly.
"No problem," Suigetsu said, winking at him. "If getting Sasuke laid will remove the stick that's lodged up his ass, I'm all for it."
In spite of everything, Naruto couldn't help but laugh.
000
It was the middle of the day when the five of them reunited outside the temple to meet with the council to deliver their reports. Unsurprisingly, Naruto's and Suigetsu's reports didn't have more than a couple of lines written for each of the missions, which exasperated Sasuke and made Karin angry, who started yelling at them before promptly forcing them to re-write the whole thing.
Sasuke was rather surprised by the amount of money he and Naruto were given by Juugo for their part. It was no fortune, but he had definitely not expected it to be such a comfortable amount either. Or maybe he just wasn't used to money anymore. After all, Suigetsu was complaining that the payments were getting worse.
Sasuke was more than used to living without money by now, and when he did need it to buy clothes or other essential goods, he just worked for it, but it wasn't a main priority. He thought that he and Naruto could definitely leave Shack in only a few days and proceed on their journey soon.
All the way down to the forest towards their place, Karin kept complaining about how she was sweating like a pig and wanted to go to the beach to chill out, and Sasuke was more than tired of listening to her incessant yammering, not to mention they hadn't eaten lunch yet and he was starving. Thankfully, Naruto and Suigetsu were given free food and tea.
Karin had been in a foul mood since the previous night, and while she hadn't pushed the issue, Sasuke knew she was dying to ask him about his relationship with Naruto and torturing her female overemotional brain with questions of why and how that she wanted answers to but knew he wouldn't provide them.
Suigetsu, though, was in high spirits (Sasuke could tell he had been drinking even though he was pretty stable), so he suggested they had a pic-nic down at the beach, an idea no-one disagreed with.
Naruto, for his part, was abnormally quiet. He kept avoiding Sasuke's gaze, but he looked more uncomfortable than anything else, so Sasuke had no idea what was going through his mind. They had barely spoken to each other the whole day, but Naruto wasn't exactly trying to avoid him since he talked to him and had even looked excited that they had gotten free tea since it was something Sasuke enjoyed. He guessed that Suigetsu had probably said something to him that had upset him, but Naruto wasn't the kind of person to keep things in, so surely he'd talk about it, soon.
The path down to the beach was very rocky, the foliage around them dense. They were carrying a lot of things with them - food, towels and an extra set of clothes since they'd be making a detour to the waterfalls to wash up later on their way back home – so the ten minute journey was a bit bumpy, but as soon as they sighted the beach, Sasuke realized that, indeed, it was worth it.
The beach was nothing more than a very small corner surrounded by rocks. They were lucky the sea was calm and that the tide wasn't high, otherwise they'd barely have enough space to stretch their towels without something being carried away by the waves, but today they did have enough space to be comfortable, and Sasuke found that he enjoyed the beach immensely.
The sand was clean and soft under his feet and the water was clear as glass, glittering beautifully under the late afternoon sun. The scents of the sea relaxed him.
Juugo had offered earlier in the day to cut Sasuke's hair, so the two of them stretched a towel and knelt over it, Sasuke in front of Juugo.
Naruto seemed to have brightened up at the prospect of swimming in the ocean, so he didn't hold himself back from taking off his clothes and running to the water in his ridiculous vibrant yellow boxers since he didn't have swimming trunks. Karin was more than happy to undress as well but keeping her black plain panties and bra. Naruto actually blushed when he saw her and tried to look away as he randomly swam to his own content. Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at Naruto's still so childish innocence. Karin was a good looking woman, it was only natural that he, who was usually interested in women, would find her attractive. For some reason, this didn't upset him.
Suigetsu, on the other hand, had stripped until he was stark naked and gloriously showing off his assets as he calmly walked towards the water.
"You fucking disgusting pig, put some clothes on!" Karin yelled irritably, her cheeks rather red at seeing him so carelessly flashing what no-one was interested to see. "No one wants to see that!"
"Don't pretend to be such a prude, four eyes," the other dismissed teasingly, kicking the water in her direction. "Be quiet and take a good look while I pretend you're not enjoying yourself."
A very angry Karin then threw herself at him and the two proceeded to engage in a rather ridiculous fight that at least one of them was clearly enjoying while Naruto looked at them, unsure if it was okay to stay in the water on not. The whole scene amused Sasuke immensely.
With a kunai, Juugo trimmed Sasuke's hair carefully, and with a gentleness that was probably unnecessary. Sasuke enjoyed the quiet companionship. He had to admit that he had missed it, too. Juugo had always been faithful to him, a gentle soul in spite of his cursed nature, never asking for anything in return. If this was because of Kimimaro or not, Sasuke couldn't tell, but he thought that, somehow, he had never been a substitute in Juugo's eyes. What had kept Juugo and Kimimaro together was very different from what had made him join Sasuke, and even though they hadn't spoken for years, Sasuke could feel Juugo's obvious fondness for him. Still, he didn't ask questions or make demands. He seemed content enough that he had the chance to have him around.
He had definitely liked Juugo. He couldn't pinpoint exactly how their bond had been formed or when, but it had been there. It still was.
If Sasuke had to be honest with himself… he had missed Taka, weird and crazy as they all were. He was no better. He had no idea what he'd do in the future, depending on what happened between him and Naruto, but he thought that it wouldn't be so bad if he could stay with them once in a while.
Naruto left the water just as Juugo was finishing up with Sasuke's hair – Sasuke had requested that he left his fringe long to cover his rinnegan when it showed. As expected of Juugo, he quietly cleaned things up and stood to move away so as to give Naruto and Sasuke some privacy. Why he would think they needed privacy in such a situation, Sasuke couldn't tell.
Naruto landed on his rear heavily beside Sasuke just as he was watching the large, man stretching a kitchen towel over the sand not too far from them, getting things ready for them to eat.
Naruto hadn't sat too close to him so as to not get him wet. Sasuke turned his head to him and was momentarily fascinated but the way droplets of water ran down his body and how strangely blue his eyes were under the hot sun. He could smell the ocean on him, too.
"You hair looks good," Naruto said casually, reaching out a wet hand to run it through Ssuke's hair before brushing his still rather long fringe to the side to reveal the eye it was covering. "But this should totally go."
"No," Sasuke retorted, grabbing for Naruto's wrist and pushing it down. "I want it this way."
Naruto smiled slightly and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay," he said softly. "You're not going to take a swim?"
"No."
They looked at each other for a while, but Naruto's expression was still confusing to Sasuke. When his friend dragged himself closer so he could lean on him, Sasuke frowned.
"You're wet, and you're soaking up my clothes," he complained, feeling the cold water in Naruto's body pass through to his t-shirt and shorts. However, he didn't push him away.
"Just let me be, Sasuke, don't be prissy," Naruto retorted, leaning his head on his shoulder and pulling his knees to his chest. "I'm not used to being away from you for so long."
"You were away from me for almost eight years, I fail to see how that's an issue now," Sasuke replied, a little annoyed that Naruto's hair was wetting his face and dripping water all the way down his neck.
"Shut up."
"What is it," Sasuke asked, sensing the abnormal behaviour. "You're acting weird."
Naruto huffed and hugged his knees tighter. "I think it's kind of stupid but… well, I have to tell you," he mumbled sheepishly, lowering his voice in fear that Juugo might listen. "Suigetsu kind of… he gave me condoms and… lube."
Sasuke looked down at the top of Naruto's wet hair with his eyebrows quirked upwards in surprise.
"Why would he do that?"
Naruto shrugged. "I guess he thought we needed it? I didn't tell him anything about us, but they saw us kissing yesterday and I guess we're not exactly very discreet, but…" Naruto looked up at him, hesitance in his eyes. "I mean, he's not wrong. We do need them… don't we? It's not like we can just… do it."
"I know that," Sasuke said plainly. For some reason, Naruto's awkwardness was very entertaining. "It doesn't mean it's any of his business."
"Well, it's not like we could've afforded it anyway," Naruto pointed out with a sigh, clearly relieved that Sasuke hadn't reacted badly to it. "Now we have money, but… I don't know about you, but I'd be embarrassed to death of buying something like that in front of any of them." He touched Sasuke's thigh carefully and gave it a small squeeze. "You're not mad, are you?"
"No," Sasuke muttered, looking at Suigetsu with his eyes narrowed, because, really, that guy was just absurd. But perceptive. And useful. Sasuke was a little dumbfounded at himself for not having considered that they would need such things for sex. It wasn't like he didn't know they would – it was pure common sense – it just hadn't crossed his mind. "I just hope he doesn't plan on meddling in our sex lives."
"I don't think so. Or rather, I hope not. Still… he only gave me three condoms."
Eyes moving towards Naruto again, Sasuke gave him a small smirk. "We haven't even done it yet and you're already planning on fucking like bunnies?"
And there it was, Naruto's outraged expression, completely worth the teasing.
"No!" he sputtered, shaking his head from side to side vigorously, his cheeks so red his eyes seemed even bluer. "That's… totally not what I meant, damn it!"
"You don't need to get flushed, idiot," Sasuke said, pinching the hand on his thigh playfully. After so many years, he had definitely forgotten how much he had loved teasing the idiot when they were kids. Naruto had matured a lot since then, but the childish way that he still got easily riled up was the same.
Naruto rolled his eyes and bit on his lower lip in frustration. "Never mind," he mumbled, removing his hand from Sasuke's thigh and burying his face in his folded arms.
Sasuke watched him for a few seconds, an undefinable feeling filling his chest that was a mixture of something amazing with something terribly bitter. Nevertheless, when he felt the impulse to touch his best friend, he didn't stop himself from putting his hand over the other's head and caressing it carefully.
"You worry too much," Sasuke muttered softly. "Usuratonkachi."
Naruto lifted his head up and made a pouting face at him before blushing again, a small smile tugging at his lips. Sometimes, Sasuke couldn't really understand how a twenty year old could still keep such a youthful innocence, especially after everything he had gone through.
Sasuke's hand slid down to the back of Naruto's neck, massaging it gently.
"Don't you worry about it?" Naruto asked, eyeing his features intensely, clearly pleased by the willing way Sasuke kept touching him. Sasuke knew it made him happy, especially when he was the one to initiate it. Somehow, more and more Sasuke felt himself wanting to, especially since he had officially opened himself into allowing his soul to just… go with everything that involved Naruto, for as long as he could.
Even if every single brush of skin burned him from the inside out.
"Should I?" Sasuke said, with a small snort. "Isn't this something we both agreed on? I don't think it's of use to make assumptions or plans. We'll just go through the motions as we've always done, and if somehow we do end up needing to fuck like dogs in heat, I will get everything we need if you're so embarrassed. Without Suigetsu's help."
"You're an ass," Naruto stated, even though he did release a good-natured chuckle.
"So you keep saying."
Naruto sighed, leaning on him, again. "I just kind of… now that it's out there that we both want it and we can do it… I wonder when we'll…"
"Let's fucking eat!" Suigetsu's loud yell shook them both out of their own private world. "Aw, man, I'm fucking starving!"
"Please put some clothes on," Juugo said in a polite but exasperated way as the white haired man ran towards the impeccable arrangement of food he had made. Sasuke found his waving private parts rather disturbing to look at.
"Shove it, Juugo." Suigetsu landed on the sand next to the larger man, dripping water everywhere just as Karin was making her way to the pic-nic spot as well, twisting her hair to remove the excess of water in it. "This is my property and I can walk naked if I want to."
"Why do I have to put up with you?" Juugo lamented, but it wasn't heartfelt at all.
"Your life would be boooooring without me," Suigetsu pointed out, conceitedly.
"As if," Karin hissed, making a face.
Sasuke and Naruto shared a final look between them before the blond got up and extended his hand to Sasuke, who took it and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet. They made their way to the other three already comfortably settled.
000
"Naruto, did you know that Karin is also an Uzumaki?" Sasuke decided to comment, once they had finished eating the simple meal that would also serve as their dinner.
Sasuke didn't know what had made him throw that fact out there. It wasn't like it would make a difference in Karin's or Naruto's lives, but somehow, since neither Juugo nor Suigetsu seemed to have talked about it with her, Sasuke felt like it was something Naruto should know since he and Karin had actually crossed paths.
The sun was already setting, but it was still nice out there, the cry of seagulls loud above them.
"Whaaaaaat?" Both Karin and Naruto yelled in surprise, looking at each other since they were sitting right across each other.
"No way! Seriously?!" Naruto asked, looking from Sasuke to Karin quickly, his eyes very wide.
"You're an Uzumaki?!" Karin asked back, just as surprised. "I thought there was something familiar about your chakra, so that's it!"
"Why didn't you tell me before, Sasuke you ass!" Naruto complained loudly, punching Sasuke's shoulder with unnecessary force, only to receive an equally strong punch to his knee in return.
"I only remembered it now," Sasuke grunted in annoyance, throwing a warning look his way. "It's not like that fact has exactly been terribly important to me. I had other things on my mind after I heard of it."
"Ah, yeah, we heard about it before leaving for the battlefield during the war!" Suigetsu remembered, thoughtfully scratching his stomach.
"And you didn't fucking tell me?" Karin protested beside him.
"But… how did you know?" Naruto asked Sasuke, excitedly. "Why was it brought up?"
"That's a long story," Juugo intervened seriously.
"Well, never mind that!" Naruto all but dismissed, easily distracted in his excitement, his focus turning to Karin as if, all of a sudden, she had become the most interesting and fascinating thing in the world. "Now that I think about it, my mom had hair as red as yours and…" He jumped a little in his seating spot, clapping his hands together "Holy shit! This is so awesome! We're family, right? Are there any more Uzumaki out there? Where are they? Where's your family? How come I didn't know of this before?!"
"Calm down, pipsqueak, I can't answer all your questions at the same time," Karin interrupted with a lopsided grin, pushing her glasses up her nose with her middle finger. "Not to mention that I don't think there's much I can tell you."
"I don't know anything about my family or the Uzumaki clan, so I'd be glad to hear anything about them, really!" Naruto insisted, to which Karin nodded.
For the next few minutes, Karin seemed happy to tell Naruto about her, but there was also a graveness to her features that Sasuke wasn't used to seeing. But, as he came to understand from listening to the tale, it was justifiable.
Like Sasuke himself, Karin had once had a home and a family, a village, but it was all destroyed during a local war, leaving her with nothing. She had been the only one who had managed to survive thanks to her extraordinary sensory skills. She had known a lot of people were coming to attack the village, but it had all happened so fast that she had only had time to hide, thus not being able to warn anyone about the attack. Then, she told them about how she managed to escape to another town, where two guys had noticed her bloodline and planned on kidnapping her to sell her to the black market. She had been very weak, malnourished and ill after so many days of traveling in her grief, wounded and lost. Luckily, Orochimaru rescued her and offered her a home.
Sasuke had heard about her past with Orochimaru vaguely from Kabuto, but hearing more details of her life from Karin's mouth somehow made him empathise with her in ways he didn't think he ever would.
Karin was the same as he and Naruto, and he hadn't been fully aware.
Chancing a glance at his companion, he could see Naruto looking at her with compassion, clearly thinking the same thing.
"I'm not sure if anyone has survived the massacre, to be honest, or even if someone managed to run away," Karin was saying, adjusting the strap of her bra and looking at the ocean with a distant look in her eyes. "If they did, they're probably hiding. I left with Orochimaru-sama and never looked for another trace of my family or my clan again. I honestly think they're all dead, otherwise, for sure, Orochimaru-sama would've known."
"I guess," Naruto muttered, sadly. "But, you know, there are probably more members of the Uzumaki clan out there. After all, many decades ago when the Shinobi world was at open war, they were seen as threat, so those who weren't killed surely fled. It's impossible that there are no Uzumaki descendants."
Sasuke had to admit that he was impressed by Naruto's knowledge on the subject, or rather, he'd never thought that Naruto had even considered his lineage before.
Karin turned her face to him and gave him a small smile. Sasuke watched the interaction as anxiety filled him. Even Juugo and Suigetsu seemed to be listening attentively. "I suppose that's a probability," she agreed, with a shrug. "Still, I… I have my own life now, and I think it's useless to look for people who probably don't even exist anymore. I don't think I could tell you about the village and the Uzumaki customs if I tried. I honestly can't remember much anymore."
"That's okay, at least we found each other!" The smile Naruto flashed at her clearly took her a bit off guard. "I'm half Uzumaki, but we're still blood related, even if distant. I never thought I'd ever find family, and surely neither did you! So, yeah, I think that it's pretty awesome that we've come across each other, don't you think? I mean, what are the odds?"
"Yeah, you're right," Karin replied, with a nod. "Although, you and I lead very different lives, Naruto. We don't belong in the same world, that's for sure."
"It doesn't mean we aren't still family," Naruto contradicted cheerfully, crossing his arms over his chest as if it made him look more certain of himself. "Aren't we family right now? We have each other's backs, even if only for a little while during my stay here with Sasuke. I'll definitely want to see more of you in the future, so I'll make sure we keep in touch!"
"I suppose that would be nice," Karin conceded, with a genuine smile at him. Then, that distant, dreamy expression took over her features once more, and she looked from Sasuke to Naruto in a way that seemed either sad or endeared. Sasuke couldn't really understand it, but it made him feel uncomfortable.
"It's… nice knowing I still have family out there, definitely."
Not knowing why, exactly, he felt suddenly upset, Sasuke looked away from her.
The only thing he knew about that look in her eyes was the same longing and loneliness he had seen in his own reflection many times. Naruto had looked at him with those same eyes, too. He didn't understand why he had never noticed before, or maybe Karin was just dropping her mask now.
It was as if she didn't know how to react to knowing there was family out there. Naruto was the saviour of the world, well-known and respected, always there for everybody, and a Good Samaritan to the bone. If Karin was his blood, he'd definitely turn the world around for her if she would ever need it.
By his chakra, Karin had been able to tell this since the very beginning, and still she was moved.
People like her and Sasuke… they never expected kindness from others. But Sasuke had Naruto, and because of him, he had opened up his heart to allow himself to see that, indeed, there was love and kindness out there, and that the world as it was had good people in it that were worth fighting for.
Karin had always been strong, Sasuke knew. So strong that no one dared to step on her and she did keep people at arms' length. But, for some reason, Sasuke hoped that Karin was able to understand that there were definitely people out there that wouldn't abandon her and leave her behind.
But then again, despite their conflicts, maybe she already knew that both Juugo and Suigetsu would give their lives for her just as they had once put them on the line for Sasuke.
Taka was no group of traitors. They looked after each other, and that was why Sasuke had chosen them. They were all incredible people he could relate to, flawed as they might be.
The emotional conflict inside of him made him feel burdened and irritated. He didn't need this at this point of his life. His longing and distress towards Naruto were already draining enough.
Next to him, Naruto was shifting and his body was shaking. Sasuke almost released a growl of annoyance because he sincerely didn't need the drama.
"Please tell me you're not going to cry…" he begged, but Naruto was already sobbing violently and throwing himself at Karin's neck, and basically smashing the food still on the towel between them with his clumsy knees.
"Karin-chan!" he hiccupped in Karin's neck, and even though she was usually a very affectionate, touchy feely person, she hadn't been expecting the blond's hug at all. Still, she smiled and hugged him back a little awkwardly before trying to push him away, throwing a few insults at him and calling him a pervert.
If the scene had been any different, Sasuke would've felt bothered by the fact that both Naruto and Karin were practically naked and indecently close.
"Well, this is definitely some hilarious shit," Suigetsu commented, leaning back on his hands and watching the two Uzumaki struggling next to him with a visible sparkle in his eyes. "I wonder if finding incest hot turns me into a psychopath."
And by the very obvious way certain parts of his body were reacting to those two, he wasn't even joking.
Juugo could only groan. Sasuke, instead, grabbed for a random piece of clothing lying nearby and viciously threw it at Suigetsu's face, sand flying everywhere. "You better cover that thing up before I lose my temper," he threatened smoothly, ignoring the other's protests while spitting out sand.
Fortunately, Suigetsu caved in and got up to look for his own clothes and put them on. All the while, Naruto and Karin seemed to be talking over each other about something Sasuke didn't feel like listening to.
Suddenly, he felt terribly tired and lonely, and he couldn't really tell why. All he knew was that… maybe it was finally time to let Naruto in on what he was really doing during his travels.
All that talk about family and blood relatives… those were issues that still messed with him and that he and Naruto had yet to talk about in a more serious note.
Naruto still had family, and Sasuke was happy for both him and Karin. They deserved such a simple knowledge of themselves, just that little piece of something better in their lives, even if wouldn't make any difference in the end. They would never feel like they were completely individualized ever again, if that made sense.
But Naruto wanted to work with Sasuke in the future. Regardless of what would happen to them, they wouldn't abandon each other, and if Sasuke finally told him what he needed, what he wanted and exactly why he couldn't be in Konoha…
Maybe Naruto would understand. Maybe they could work together for both their sakes, equal ideals and even individual ideals.
Maybe… just maybe Naruto would come to understand him for good and think twice about all the hopes and dreams he still had.
TBC…
Guest: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like the story and my characterization! I don't think this last chapter had many feels, I thought I should let the readers take a rest, but the winds will change once more, because I can't help myself ;)
Helena de Troya: Don't worry, your English is perfectly understandable, and also, English is not my mother language either, so I've got your back! I do think that many people are relying on post 699 or alternative ending fics to cope with that awful ending. I know I'm one of them, but for me it's easier to write than read because when writing, it's my feelings and my own interpretation. It's hard to read other authors' fics of genre because I always get so conflicted, and seriously, it's hard for me to see character bashing or emotions depicted in a way that's so very different from mine. This is MY way of coping with the ending, and in spite of the drama, it makes me feel better, but reading the POVs of others is painful because I end up noticing other things that are terribly wrong with the ending and it saddens me even more. So I stick to AU fics or fics where the story has nothing to do with events of the manga during the ending :) but my goal, and other authors as well, is to help fans cope with this shitty ending and give them happiness through Sasuke's and Naruto's wonderful bond. So I'm happy I can provide that emotional relief :) I think Kishi was very capable of doing it himself (he was the one who developed it, after all) he just chose not to, which is, indeed, devastating. Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Besos!
Sasunaru8: Thank you so much, my darling! Your words fill my heart with joy! I hope you have enjoyed the chapter!
Shane: As I have said many times before, and as its stated in summary of the fic, the events of chapter 700 will still happen, just with a few twists and turns. And… I'm kind of in love with armless Sasuke, to be honest. I love it that he doesn't have it even in GAIDEN as a token of what he went through with Naruto. That's meaningful. He didn't get his arm back, not even for his daughter, so… I don't think I'll give him his arm back, sorry. But I hope this doesn't dissuade you from still reading the fic, though :)
Burr: As I just said to Shane, yes, the events from the 700 chapter will still take place (as it's written in the summary of the fic) , which means that, yes, Hinata and Naruto will be together and Sasuke and Sakura will hook up or whatever the hell it is they are doing in Gaiden that looks terribly fake and no-one understands. But it's canon. The thing is, I wanted to work on Sasuke's and Naruto's relationship, because in Gaiden, I sense a strange resentment coming from Sasuke towards Naruto that I knew would exist. I started writing this fic way before Gaiden was released and I was already predicting that tension. So I want to explore everything that might've lead to it, thus the purpose of this fic. Not only that, but I WILL give the fic my own definite ending to 'NARUTO', so regardless of SasuSaku and NaruHina, Sasuke and Naruto will have their shit resolved by the end of the fic. So, please don't let it discourage you from reading to the end!
I hope you liked it? *Hides in a corner*
Now that Taka is kind of out of my system (or should I say, Suigetsu? I don't know why he's everywhere being a fabulous ass during the entire chapter?) I can focus on what's really important.
Which is, of course, Naruto and Sasuke. Next chapter will be kind of emotional and intense. Heavy, too. It's a chapter I've been slowly working on and something I need to make them go through, definitely. These two have been strengthening their bond and their longing for each other has grown, and yet, there are many things working against them and those things need to be approached. I feel like Sasuke's reaching a certain… state of mind. He looks and acts like he's in control and accepting but… I think that, when he cracks, things will be complicated. And I think it doesn't take much for him to crack.
However, Taka will still have a relevant role throughout the story, and I plan to approach more of Naruto's relationship with Karin!
Anyway, thank you all for reading! To the new readers of FWWR, welcome, and I hope you enjoy the ride!
See ya next time!
REVIEW? I'm willing to be bribed into updating faster if you do ;)
