A/N: … It's all Chas' fault! If this is bad, it's all her fault! Her and her evil threatening stick of DOOM! (coughcough)

---

Sasuke had woken up a long time ago. He had time to brush his teeth, wash his face, change… three times, make breakfast, eat breakfast, sit on the bed watching Naruto sleep for an hour… and then some, and he was still watching. Five times, he tried waking Naruto up but stopped before the blonde actually awoke.

Finally, he leaned over to the blonde again.

Ah… that sleeping face looked so calm and serene. His mouth was still slightly parted. The Uchiha hesitated and lifted his hand to Naruto's chin. He pulled down so that the blonde's mouth was opened wider.

Closing his eyes, he leaned down and kissed Naruto. How long has he wanted to do this? His eyes opened slightly in hesitation before he continued.

This is wrong… But… I don't care…

Hm… What's this taste in my mouth? Naruto was still half asleep when he thought that. He could feel the warmth of the blankets around him, but his thoughts were still muddled. He felt someone shake his shoulder.

"Naruto… Wake up… You'll be late to get over to Sai's house… Breakfast is ready…Naruto…"

Such a gentle voice… I don't want to wake up yet… The boy furrowed his eyebrows and attempted to turn away from the coaxing voice.

"Naruto… Dobe… WAKE UP, DOBE!"

"Gack!" He bolted upright and blinked a few times. He looked around and saw Sasuke standing by the edge of the bed staring at him with dark, emotionless eyes. His arms were crossed as he frowned at the disheveled boy.

"Hurry up," he said, his voice completely different from the one he had used just a while ago. Sasuke began to saunter away from the bed and exited the room.

"Huh?" Naruto scratched his head and pulled off his night cap. He ran his tongue over his mouth. He smacked his lips a few times. They were wet.

What is this taste?

---

"Good morning, Sai!" Naruto ran over to the boy, who was waiting for them at the bridge where Team Seven usually waited at. The stream ran steadily under them, paying no heed to the trials of time.

"Oh, Naruto! Good morning! Good morning, Sasuke-san," he smiled at them and waved a bit.

A wind tousled their hair. Spring was gentle this year, as it usually is.

Sasuke nodded at them and left quietly without saying goodbye. He took a long look at Naruto before leaving though. His eyes caught with Sai's for a moment before he looked away and walked away.

"So how was your day over at Sasuke's?" Sai asked the blonde cheerfully. He pretended not to notice Sasuke's knowing gaze.

"Eh…" Naruto's eyes narrowed into slits and he waved his hand around as if trying to wave someone off. "Him? He… Where'd he go?" he turned around and discovered that Sasuke was no longer there.

"Hm… I wonder…" Sai turned around with a small smile. "Come one, Naruto, I think today would be a good day to meet up with some of the people you remember again." He changed the topic abruptly and started to walk.

"Oh! Ah, wait for me! Who are we going to see first, Sai?" he bounded right next to him, his pack bouncing along.

"Hm… Let's see… How about…"

---

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto crashed into the empty classroom, causing the surprised teacher to nearly fall off his chair. A paper fell from his hand.

"Ah, Naruto! Sai," he nodded at them after straightening out quickly. He rapidly retrieved his escaped paper.

"Iruka-sensei, Iruka-sensei!" he chanted, perching on the desk somehow. The blonde grinned at his former teacher. His head was tilted as he smiled.

I thought bringing him here would cheer him up. After all, he did go to the Academy when he was seven… Still, I wish there were more people he remembers… This will be hard…

"Ah, Naruto, what are you doing here for? Just to leech off me and get me to bring you to Ichiraku or something, hm?" Iruka laughed and ruffled up his hair playfully.

"Mm… Iruka-sensei?" Sai walked over to the desk where the two were chatting at.

The teacher looked up inquiringly. "Yes, Sai?"

"Do you think you could watch Naruto for me just for a while? There's something I have to take care of and I don't think Naruto would appreciate sitting still for a long time. It's just for a bit, I'll come back later to pick him up," the boy asked.

"Hm, well I don't have any more classes for today, so I believe that's okay, Sai," Iruka nodded at the boy.

"Aw, Sai, where are you going?" Naruto jumped off the desk and began clinging onto his sleeve.

"Nowhere, Naruto. I don't want you to get bored with me, so stay with Iruka-sensei for now, okay? He'll watch you for a bit. Sorry for not playing with you!" Sai waved at them and exited the room.

---

"Hm, Sai, you're finally here," Tsunade looked up from her desk.

"Sorry, I had to leave Naruto with Iruka-sensei first…" he rubbed the back of his head and apologized.

"That's alright, as long as you're here. Take a seat, please," she gestured at the empty seats.

Sakura and Sasuke watched him silently as he sat down.

"… Well, I'm sure that everyone here knows why I've called you up here, correct?" the Hokage laced her fingers together and leaned on the desk.

All three of them nodded.

"As perfect as your plan of shuttling Naruto back and forth between your houses, there is a flaw to it," she sighed and sat back into her seat. Her dry sarcasm made Sasuke's eyebrows twitch.

"As we all know, there's no way that all three of you can support him throughout your life, if that is how long it takes for him to regain his memory. I've thought of several different options that you three can choose…" Tsunade looked at the three of them in turn. "My best bet is to send him to an adopted family… Although sending him to a care center is not such a bad thing either…" she paused and tapped her chin with her index finger.

"No."

"Hm?" the Hokage looked up and saw that Sasuke had half risen from his seat. The other two were looking at him as well.

"No. He won't be thrown away like that…"

"Then is there any other option? No one can take care of him forever. You three have your own lives to get through. You'll all grow and find a family as well…"

"Then I will take care of him."

"Sasuke-kun, you can't do that! As a ninja you can't be taking care of him! He'll burden you, no matter what!" Sakura furrowed her eyebrows together. She looked remorseful. "If I had a choice…"

"Then I'll make that choice for you, Sakura," Sasuke sat back down.

"Tsunade-sama, can't we just take care of him longer? He still might be able to remember!" Sai pleaded.

She couldn't possibly make Sasuke take care of Naruto for so long, could she? That would ruin his job as a ninja…

"If you three continue stalling, there's no use. Eventually… You'll have to make a choice. And though Sasuke is willing to sacrifice his time… It still isn't a reasonable one. I can't just let him take on the full responsibility of taking care of Naruto… None of you are of legal age to become a guardian…"

They sat there in silence for a while. Sakura began to shake her head slowly. Sai's hands became fists in his lap. Only Sasuke continued gazing at Tsunade calmly.

"Sasuke… Are you sure? If…" she trailed off, not quite sure how to continue.

He blinked, his gaze still unwavering. "Yes… I'm sure."

Once again, Tsunade sighed. Her hands spread across the desk as she sat there with her eyes closed. "The paperwork will take at least another week… You guys will have to take care of him for that long."

Sasuke licked his lips and brushed back his bangs. He looked outside of the windows and watched the sky grow orange and red. A few stray clouds hung suspended in time.

"There's no turning back, Sasuke… Remember that."

---

"Naruto!" Sai poked his head back into Iruka's classroom. He looked around before he found Naruto draped across a desk, apparently asleep. "Oh…"

"He became tired after pestering me for an hour or two," Iruka explained as he straightened out a stack of papers. A pen was tucked behind his ear as he stood up. "It's time for me to go home now."

"Thank you for watching him," he thanked, smiling at the man.

"It's no problem. It was actually quite nice to have him over… Rather nostalgic… Don't you think?" he smiled back and strode past him silently. The door slid open and closed again.

Sai stood there and watched as Naruto slept.

What will happen now, Naruto?

---

"Hm?" Naruto woke up after a while. He found that he was being carried by someone. The streets were dark as shadows followed them. It took him a second to realize who was carrying him. "Sai…"

"You're awake. That's good," the boy said as he walked slowly.

"You took so long, Sai," Naruto pouted and complained.

"I know. I'm sorry for making you wait."

"It's okay," the blonde yawned.

"You're still tired?" Sai laughed at him.

Naruto frowned deeply at the joke. "Hmph…"

"Sorry Naruto, I'm too tired to make dinner tonight. Do you mind have ramen again?"

The triumphant yell that followed after that statement nearly made Sai go deaf.

"I'll take that as a 'No, Sai, I do not mind having ramen tonight,'" he chuckled.