The Way We Are

I'm literally predicting about six more chapters, people. This chapter is going to be pretty short, only because I'd like to focus it on one thing. Well, I hope you guys enjoy. Please review. :)

Naruto inhaled and exhaled sharply before his mirror. He'd been through hell.

He once looked into his brothers' dead eyes.

He once witnessed his mother strawn in half. Once had nightmares about them.

Once he made friends with his demons. Once one of them tried to kill him.

Once before, Naruto had killed his demon and the dreams that came with it.

Once before, Naruto thought he was a fucking God.

But tonight was different.

The blond felt uneasy tonight. It had been nearly two years since he and Sasuke were dating; and with the age of nineteen came the hopes of maturing with it.

But Sasuke made Naruto weak in the knees. He made Naruto feel like less of a God...in a good way. He was so fucking handsome and beautiful at once.

High cheekbones, dark eyes and aura. He wasn't very masculine, but Naruto loved how he could never forget the Uchiha was a man.

Sasuke was perfect and worth every moment of the Namikaze's time. And realizing that scared the blond to death.

Realizing this would change everything between the two and Naruto felt so. Fucking. Nervous.

"Are you really this scared?"

The man jumped slightly as he turned around, facing his lover's brother. Itachi had grown wiser in their years after the war, easily becoming the 'Chi' of Naruto's current world.

"Not scared." he mumbled. "But I have a knack for shitting my pants right now."

Itachi gasped as he walked in to sit upon the bed. "You better not. You paid a fortune for that tuxedo. And no one wants to smell a cheap hooker."

Itachi made a face. "Or is that just you?"

Naruto smirked and turned back to the mirror, fixing his suit. "I don't know. Give me ten ryo and you'll find out."

They laughed silently with one another.

When the older man settled, he sighed. "But seriously….you can't worry. You've been doing well and I'll be damned if you fuck yourself over."

Naruto laughed lightly and fixed his tie for the thousandth time that night. "Where is he?"

"Mother says he's nearly ready. I don't know why you two are going crazy. This isn't a first date."

Naruto chuckled. "When I told him to dress formally, you can say we both feel a bit out of our zone."

His pant leg was yanked softly and the blond looked down, staring into the shallow eyes of his niece. Her rinne sharingan eyes casting a warming spell on him as he lifted her.

"Hello, little Pein. How are you?" He questioned soothingly.

As she grew older and was now three, Naruto and the others could tell Nekoda had a low attention span. But, she was a perfect child. The perfect heir, Fugaku stated. Just like Itachi and just like Pein.

Just was said and she focused on the bottle in her hand. "Unca Nawudo."

"Yes, my little reincarnation?"

Neko's powerful eyes darted from Naruto's face to the bottle, her lips going from a smile to frustration. "Can oben bott for me, pwease?"

He smiled and she smiled too, patting his face as if she were proud he understood and not the other way around.

"Yes I can. But, only if you help Uncle Naruto remain in good spirits for his date. Tonight is different and he doesn't feel strong anymore."

She stopped examining the contents within the bottle and he her bounced toward him. Her eyes wide as the gap between her lips. "Afwai?"

Naruto shrugged. "Maybe. It feels different and odd. Maybe I am afraid."

Neko shook her head and soft murmurs of "no" filled the room.

The nineteen year old smiled and kissed her head. She puckered her lips for her uncle's cheek and he offered it.

Just as the girl wiggled from his arms, Kakashi walked in, wearing both the hokage cloak and his child strapped to his chest.

Being only a year, the infant was sound asleep, grey and black hair moving as soft as her breathes. Kakashi once said that nothing could wake Gima from her lazy sleep.

Seeing Kakashi's face, Naruto burned in shame and turned back toward the mirror. And turning away did not help much, since Kakashi pointed out what he'd tried to hide.

"Naruto….why is there makeup on your face?"

The ANBU hunter-nin raised a brow. "What do you mean?"

Kakashi glared softly. "You had a mission this morning and came back with light bruises on your face. Now, I know you believe yourself to be handsome, but you never cover your battle scars."

Naruto deflated slightly. "I..just…"

"You've been on plenty of dates before. Why is this s-"

"Neko hol baby?"

The hokage looked down at Nekoda's face. Carefully, he watched as Itachi's child sat upon the bed. It was only then he quietly unstrapped Gima and placed her softly in Neko's waiting arms.

When that was finished, Kakashi stood next to his blond student in the mirror. "You've never done this before. So what's going on?"

Naruto sighed. "I wanted this to be a surprise, Kakashi-sensei, but…." He trailed off and dug into his pocket.

Itachi gasped and walked over, smacking Naruto's arm and staring in awe at the gold ring wrapped in beauty. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

Kakashi shook his head. "While I'm not so surprised, I still don't understand why you and Sasuke have to dress so formally. You know that boy will come see you in sweatpants and a t-shirt if he has to."

Itachi nodded. "Yeah, Naruto. You've probably made Sasuke a nervous wreck because of this."

Naruto inhaled an exhaled deeply. "I just want everything to be perfect. I don't want to be rejected because I wasn't prepared."

Kakashi and Itachi glanced at one another and began to laugh slightly, making the Namikaze glare.

"What's so funny, guys? This is what I get for spilling my heart out?"

Kakashi shook his head. "You deserve. When since you two were younger has Sasuke rejected you?"

"That's what makes me nervous. Sasuke is so fucking perfect and I can't mess this up. I've already asked Fugaku for his blessing and he agreed-"

Itachi gaped. "You asked? When?"

Naruto smiled. "Gaara and I visited your parents yesterday. Fugaku believed that no one else would make Sasuke as happy, so he and Mikoto agreed."

"So if Sasuke says yes…" Itachi trailed off, waiting for someone to finish."

Kakashi spoke. "Then Sasuke will be married into the Namikaze clan. He will help Naruto produce and Heir and they would run both the Uzumaki and Namikaze clan together."

Naruto nodded. A soft knock on the door and Gai walked in with Gaara following suit close behind.

Naruto raised a brow, his tension easing. "Who invited everyone?"

Upon seeing his sleeping daughter, Gai lowered his voice. "Not everyone, my youthful soon to be groom. Karin-chan and Sakura-chan and Shisui-san are with Sasuke getting him ready. You are proposing tonight after all."

Naruto's mismatched eyes widened and unconsciously entered his Kurama link mode. His eyes darted to Gaara's cheeky grin. "Gai-sensei, I can handle. But why'd you go and tell Sakura and Karin. They can't keep their mouths shut for shit." He whisper-yelled.

The fourteen year old chunin smirked. "Sakura knows how to keep Karin in check."

Gai snickered. "Gaara-kun. Your perversive nature is unappealing. Let Sakura and Karin be in their youthful relationship."

A fractious cry cut them off and Kakashi sighed, although the sound had been filled with a tender edge. Kakashi was happy that she was awake. "There she is. Hearing the awful loud voice of her father."

Gai sheepishly grinned as Neko handed the screaming Gima to Kakashi.

To everyone, even Neko, Gima was a beautiful child. Kakashi's soft face had been embedded to her. Her eye shape was his as well as her pouty lips. Other than such, Gima had brought with her Gai's broad nose. Her eyebrows were a mixture. Not too large, nor too thin. They were naturally arched like some sort of goddess.' While her eyes were the almond shaped like Kakashi's, Gima held her boisterous father's voidless black eye color as well as the thick eyelashes that structured her face well. That ones that wet her cheeks further when she cried.

Her features were exotic alone, but when placed together all in one cup, the child was a natural beauty and everyone loved seeing the hokage's pretty daughter.

Even her whines were sent from the God Chi. Although she was loud and boisterous like Gai when crying, her calm personality had remained on Kakashi's side more.

Kakashi held her close. "It's alright. Daddy's just naturally loud."

The girl wouldn't stop crying until Gai came up behind Kakashi and smiled. "Hi, Gima. I'm sorry."

Gima finally opened her pretty obsidian eyes and ceased crying. Still however, her soft whines filled the air. Again Naruto's pant leg was pulled and he looked to see his niece covering her ears. She must been watching Gaara because the chunin was doing the same thing.

Turning around, Naruto softly glared at Gima. "Hey, pretty girl. Could you stop crying? This is my night."

And oddly enough, Gima's soft whines ceased and she tried moving her head in attempt to find him.

Kakashi laughed softly. "Kids love you. When I visit the academy, they ask about you. When I see them on the street. In the orphanage. Even when I visit other villages."

Naruto stepped away from the mirror, satisfied now. "I think I've been making very large statements about throning the children. They're the kings and queens."

The blond breathed deeply. "This is it, guys. Kami, I'm so scared."

Sasuke was the only being in the world that made Naruto feel the way he did. The way he flaunted everything he did made Naruto feel inferior. When he looked at Naruto, he wanted to blush and his words got idiotic. When Sasuke hugged him, the blond wanted to fall to his knees. When Sasuke said soft things in their more intimate moments, Naruto stopped functioning. He'd freeze in his motions and sputter some words. And Sasuke would make it worse.

He'd give Naruto that look. The one he gave him anyplace and anytime. His eyes would become glossy and he'd rest his chin in his palm. Then he'd smile softly as if he knew the effect he had on his boyfriend.

"Before you go, I have to tell you something."

"What is it, Kakashi-sensei?"

The hokage smiled. "There will be a ceremony in two months. And since I'm handing this to you, I expect the seventh hokage to be ready and able when the time comes."

He stared as if Kakashi had just produced something extraordinary from his pocket. He could tell from their stares that they could probably just imagine the sparks in his brain, desperately trying to connect the dots and instead just causing a short circuit.

"Wha?" He questioned, feeling even more nervous within his stomach.

Gaara laughed. "Stop gaping like a fish, Aniki. You're going to be hokage. Isn't this what you anticipated."

Naruto shook his head. "Not this soon."

He had to propose to Sasuke, so now the knots in his stomach had expanded. The villagers wanted him to be hokage.

At the moment, he found himself not chewing his nails or lips, but gnawing on the inside of his tan cheek. Soon the taste of blood filled his mouth.

He inhaled even more. If he kept doing so, he'd die before proposing. "I'm going to faint."

Gai shook his head. "Oh no you don't. Propose first, faint last. Now go on, Naruto. Let your flames burn-"

Gima's sharp cries cut her father off and he deflated. Naruto smiled softly at his friends and family. "Wish me luck" was his final whisper as he left the room.

Getting to the Uchiha compound was no trouble at all. It was the heaviness of his steps that frightened him. The closer he got to Sasuke's home, the slower he grew. He dimly smiled as he passed Uchiha on the street and his lips formed a serious line when he knocked.

Sakura opened the door, and while they had grown older and matured as well as Sakura and Karin being a thing now, the blond could not stop the childish pang in his chest. He felt like a child all over again and he wanted to flee.

But as Sasuke's face appeared behind Sakura's, the blond's feet stuck to the ground, now heavy with water. He couldn't run from reality now. But how in the hell could he face it?

Sasuke's lips were straight and his eyes were down as Karin excitedly pushed him forward. Just as he growled, Naruto opened his mouth. "Hi." The sound was hoarse and embarrassing, like an animal once stuck in his throat as it jumped out.

Sasuke's head shot up and his dark eyes filled with some sort of petlike adoration, the same face he always made when he spotted Naruto. His thin lips quivered, but Naruto knew he would not give his smile away until they were alone.

"Hi" He spoke quietly.

Naruto casually placed his hands in his pocket and glanced over Sasuke's outfit. The same tux as his, but slightly tighter. It looked nice on him.

Then he began sweating and removed his hands, wondering if Sasuke noticed the childish act. "Are you ready to go, Sasuke?"

The Uchiha squeezed past their female friends and nodded. "I'm right here, aren't I?"

Naruto nodded and grabbed the Uchiha's hand. He looked to Sakura. "Thanks Sakura-chan and Karin. It means a lot that you helped him."

Sakura smiled proudly. "No problem. You two be safe." And with that she closed the door.

Sasuke raised a brow. "Did she just close me out of my home?"

Naruto grabbed Sasuke closer and kissed his forehead. "They're probably going to stay and gossip with Mikoto-san."

Sasuke smiled. "About what? I wouldn't know."

Naruto smiled nervously. "You look beautiful, Sasuke."

Sasuke smiled brighter. "You look pretty dashing yourself. But, I have to say. Something's different about you tonight."

Naruto feigned confusion, attempting to look as cool as possible. "What? I don't feel any different."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Why are you acting nervous?"

"I'm not, Sasuke."

"You haven't said 'teme' or 'bastard' since two weeks ago. Even when I call you dobe."

Naruto sighed. "Sasuke, please. Can we just get to the restaurant?"

The raven regarded him for a moment and then began walking, waiting for Naruto to walk in stride with him.

When the blond did, he bumped shoulder with him. "Dobe. That's what you get for putting me through this. In all our dates, when did wearing something formal come into play?"

"Tonight is special, Sas. Just for me and you." Naruto looked up to the snow clouds in the sky. It was odd for him to actually want to propose to Sasuke when winter was brewing. They were walking in the winds of fall with no coats….just suits.

"Your birthday was three weeks ago."

The Namikaze chuckled. "It's not about that anymore. Please be patient and I will tell you."

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the restaurant. Sasuke remained slightly indifferent until they reached the restaurant where he gaped.

A waiter came outside and bowed. "Namikaze-sama. You have requested full property of the restaurant for a few hours and we have kindly accepted that. Please follow me."

They followed the waiter quietly and Sasuke whispered. "No ramen. No games. I'm a bit surprised."

It slightly hurt Naruto that Sasuke thought of him as a kid. "Of course not, Sas. I had us dress formally for a reason. You should know that with the age of nineteen came my maturity. I'm way past that stuff now."

If he'd been paying closer attention, the Namikaze would have noticed the look of sadness that crossed the Uchiha's face.

But they were already being seated. Naruto breathed deeply as they ordered drinks. Sasuke sat across the table, his head rested against his chin, his eyes focused on the left wall.

"Are you angry with me?" Naruto timidly asked. He knew that his voice sounded odd when Sasuke raised a brow and stared at him in confusion. But, it'd be harder to propose if Sasuke were angry with him.

He shook his head and leaned his hand across the table, grabbing Naruto's. "No. This just feels weird. I mean, of course I've been in fancy places before because of my father, but with you….it feels…"

He didn't finish and Naruto burned in shame. "It doesn't feel right. Because fancy isn't the way you see me."

Sasuke frowned. "No it doesn't feel right. And oddly enough, that isn't bad."

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but the waiter had come out with trays of food already.

Sasuke raised a brow at the pasta that was placed before him, filled with plump tomato slices. The side dish included onigiri with seaweed and his mouth watered.

Almost.

Had it not been for Naruto's plate looking identically like his. "You hate this dish. Because the cheese is so bitter." he mumbled.

Naruto shrugged and began eating, Sasuke following suit. He kept his face straight and swallowed the food. "I don't hate it. I like it now that you like it."

Sasuke's anger must have been masked the whole night because he threw down his chopsticks and glared at his boyfriend. "What the hell is going on, dobe?"

Naruto froze. The unmistakable fear that set through him coursed through his body and his own theory appeared. He may as well have did it now. The blond leaned onto the table quickly to kneel upon the ground.

However, his strength had pushed the table too much. Sasuke yelped as the pasta splattered over his boyfriend.

Naruto looked like a kicked puppy as he stared at Sasuke with a pout. And unmistakably, the mismatched eyes began to water. It was an odd thing because Naruto never cried. Before Sasuke, of course, but sparingly. When glanced upon Naruto looked like a macho man, someone who would never cry.

But when something hurt him, it hurt him deep.

The blond let out a sob and looked down in shame. "I'm so sorry. This is a disaster."

Sasuke leaned up and grabbed him softly, feeling like a mother. "Hey, it's alright. Let's just go home, Naruto. I'm sure Gaara's isn't at home now."

The blond bit his quivering lip and formed a single movement portal, avoiding Sasuke's eyes.

He felt like a failure. He'd gone through all the steps, taken the greatest advice, and pre-planned dinner. Not only did Sasuke get annoyed by him, but he'd been attacked by pasta. There was no way he could propose to him now.

When they reached the vacant Namikaze mansion, Sasuke told Naruto to go take a shower while he fixed them food.

Naruto trudged to the bathroom, his heart heavy heavy heavy with the unmistakable embarrassment. He felt like a fucking failure and the water dripping down his body wasn't soothing.

Sasuke was still gone when he returned. And he wondered if it were better that the Uchiha fled after those fuck ups and the way his boyfriend cried. Naruto slipped into lowriding sweatpants and sat on the edge of the bed.

To his own astonishment, the beautiful ring was still clutched in his hand, giving Naruto hope when it didn't mean a thing.

Not tonight, he proposed. He wouldn't propose tonight, but he would explain why he acted the way he did. Why he messed up.

When he felt Sasuke's heart, the blond swiftly placed the ring into his pocket. The shame that washed over him was heavy, so he forced a smile and tried not to cry when the Uchiha walked in.

He'd changed from his tux and slipped into one of Naruto's t-shirts. Within his hand were two steaming cups of ramen. Naruto smiled sadly when the Uchiha sat next to him and curled his pretty pale legs on the blond's lap.

They ate in silence for a moment, Naruto dreading it, Sasuke curious.

"I don't understand your love for ramen. Like you and your father were the only two that went out and binged on ramen. It's not so good."

The Uchiha had successfully broke Naruto away from whatever fear he harbored. His mouth gaped.

"If I didn't love you so much, I'd kick your ass, Uchiha."

Sasuke smirked faintly. "I'm telling you that ramen is not a good habit for you." His dark eyes trailed his boyfriend's body. "No matter how good you look on the outside, you'll never be healthy within."

Naruto slurped his ramen more. "Ramen is the mother of all my bad habits. But, ultimately she is a mother and I have to respect her."

The two looked at one another and laughed quietly amongst themselves. Although they weren't in public, their conversations were sacred to each other.

Naruto reached his hand forward and caressed Sasuke's face. "I'm sorry about tonight. I had tried to make everything perfect because I…."

Naruto inhaled and exhaled sharply. "I thought you wanted me to be more mature. And if you saw that I was, you'd say yes."

Sasuke grabbed Naruto's food and placed it on the floor, along with his. "Say yes to what?"

Naruto looked down and pulled the ring from his pocket. He waited on a hitch of breath, but it never came. "I was going to ask if you could marry me. I tried being mature and not playing around because I thought that you wanted someone more mature."

There was a soft snort and the blond looked up. Sasuke was crying, but attempting to laugh at the same time.

"You idiot? Did you really think...I mean...even I felt uncomfortable going to that place? Of all people, I'd never be able to tell you no."

Naruto felt ashamed. He felt like Sasuke was laughing at him. As if he'd even say yes in that restaurant.

Unmistakably, tears filled his eyes, but remained unmoved.

"Did you seriously think I would say no to you, dobe?"

"Hey, teme. I'm pouring my heart and fears out."

Sasuke wiped his eyes and gave Naruto the look. Where his eyes glossed over and he rested his chin in his palm. "There it is." he called softly.

"Sasuke?"

"Honestly, Naruto? You could show up on my doorstep wearing a dress and I'd still say yes. Think you crazy, sure, but still say yes. I didn't fall in love with you because you decided to wear a tux...or you stopped goofing around for five minutes. I fell in love with you because of the way you were….the way you are."

"I don't want to marry some pansy who feels the need to dress up for a date. I want my Naruto. He's strong and handsome." Sasuke leaned forward and wiped Naruto's face, revealing the scar he'd obtained that morning on their mission. "And he doesn't cover up his scars."

Naruto smiled softly as Sasuke grabbed both sides of his face and leaned closer. "You could have came and said 'baby, let's get married' and I would have asked when. Because I've been waiting for it."

"What do I say now?" Naruto murmured, ring clutched in his palm.

"You say 'Sasuke, will you marry me?"

Naruto closed his eyes. "Sasuke Uchiha, will you marry? I love you and that's all I know. I want to grow with you and see you smile faintly everyday. The way you smile is precious to me. Your anger excites me and you're so extraordinary. I want to be with you and restore my family with you and spend the rest of my life seeing you….inside and out."

Sasuke blushed deeply with a smile. "And I would say yes because I want to be forever yours too."

Naruto blinked his tears away and slowly placed the ring on Sasuke's slender ring finger.

He watched the other man, waiting for his words. Sasuke stared and stared. "It's…"

"Gorgeous." the blond finished, his eye trailing all over the other's face.

Sasuke nodded and looked up. Tears filled his eyes and he sat fully upon Naruto's lap. "I love you. I don't care who you are and what you do. I've loved you through your dark days and I'll love you forever."

He poked the blond's forehead and let his hand trail the broad jaw.

"I love you too. Next time, I'll try to reserve us a spot at Ichiraku and we can spar afterward."

Sasuke giggled. "Yes. And we can have an ANBU themed wedding."

"Did Kakashi tell you that I was going to be hokage?"

The Uchiha nodded. "He said that I can be ranked to ANU commander. That I can recruit people who will be good hunter-nins."

Naruto nodded. "Or you can do whatever you'd like."

"I've always wanted to be a jounin sensei."

Naruto nodded. "Anything. You can fly if you want, baby. I'll catch you. Fly and I'll catch you."

I hope you guys like that chapter. Meh, It took me days to write this. I was on writer's block for some time. So I was happy that I already had three prior chapters ready. But, not I have to hurry with the next chapter. Don't hesitate to tell me what you liked.