Shippuuden – I'll Win My Enemy's Heart, It's My Way of the Ninja!
By Unborn
Fandom: Naruto
Pairings: Naruto/Sasuke
Rating: PG16
Spoilers Warning: Shippuuden Manga roughly up to date.

Introductory Notes: Special extra long chapter, slashy… and slightly Sasuke/Suigetsu-y. On other news, did anybody understand last Shippuuden chapter?! Proximately, watch out for drama.

CHAPTER 6: Back

That day was Naruto's birthday. Not that it mattered; to the villagers it meant only the day the Nine-Tails Fox was fought against and sealed by the Fourth, and the memory didn't praise Naruto's existence.

The cursed day, it wasn't like he was getting presents or thrown a party.

"Hey, Naruto, I heard you were back!" said Kiba upon meeting him outside the hospital doors with a growing crowd.

"So am I, so am I!" said a cheerful Naruto. Today was going to be the day; he was received by a multitude of fans like the true hero he was.

"So where is Sasuke?"

The minute of fantasizing was over, and welcome be heavy cold reality. Yeah, Sasuke. The mass chorused in different intervals, "Eh? And Sasuke?", "Where's Sasuke, Naruto?"

'Yeah, where's Sasuke, Naruto?' drawled Kyuubi.

"You girls are all the same!" Naruto ranted. He had just made it out of that place, away from the fangirls, and was throwing stones at the river in a moody fashion. "Won't a single one of you not drool for bleeding 'Sasuke-kun'?"

In his solitary spot at the bridge, Naruto watched the ripples in the water. Sasuke won't be appearing. He had the luxury to be an anti-social with that hugely proportioned deal of conceiting he got from just lifting a finger. It was already difficult to have Sasuke look at him from a distance with his fangirls on everycorner, soon he would have to cue to be– I mean, to have a match with him!

"Stupid Sasuke, only because everybody likes him…" Naruto started saying, then he pulled on his hairs– "What am I saying? I don't like Sasuke, at all! At all!"

The sound of Naruto's loud statement extended though Konoha.

When Kisame fled, it was with Naruto with only one good arm, a fainting Kakashi from effort, a dazed Sasuke whose sight was still blurry and an unconscious Sakura in Sai's arms. With the efforts of Sasuke and Naruto together, they carried Kakashi and traveled for two days straight without any sleep, back to the Leaf.

The name on everybody's lips was: Uchiha Sasuke.

The guards at the gates of Konoha held the intention of arresting Sasuke but they let them in as soon as they saw the two unconscious forms. The next group of ANBU left saying they would contact the hospital and have them a bed ready. When Naruto asked about Tsunade, they told them the Hokage already was informed of the situation. Escorted by various ANBUs, the growing group traveled though the Leaf leaving curious gazes at their wake.

That's how, after a preliminary inspection, the Godaime Hokage herself went to their meeting. Naruto leaped to his feet at once with the urgency of somebody whose butt was on fire.

"Tsunade-baba," he started.

Sai had stood as well, though his eagerness was shadowed by Naruto's. Sasuke, in great effort not to stumble like a drunk-man, clumsily knocked a base off its stand. The Godaime Hokage had a minute to take in loses and circumstances into consideration, much as they were concerned by a fast medical verdict. Her eyes rested in Naruto. 'The boy's arm… That foolish boy…'

"Old-lady Tsunade!" he urged her, "Kakashi-sensei and Sakura-chan –"

Something flashed in the Hokage's eyes which was gone the next instant; a feeble sign emotion which was replaced by the usual non-preoccupied, bossy attitude.

"Kakashi is fine, and as for Sakura," she nodded, a smug smile in place, "her life is not in danger."

"Alright!" said Naruto at once, punching the air with his good hand.

Sai nodded formally and took that as authorization for his dismissal. Sasuke left too looked, his hands constantly looked for support against walls; at this point, everybody thought it was a sign of exhaustion. Tsunade thought just how lucky Naruto was not to notice. But Sakura had walked though it, she had vital signs. The worse she had overcome, though she hadn't made it unscarred.

Well, there will be time for worry later.

--

'Orochimaru.'

Sasuke felt himself trip on a step. He closed his eyes; only then he could concentrate.

'Orochimaru,' he insisted. But his mind got no answer, and though forcefully working his Sharingan, he finally realized the obvious. He had lost Orochimaru in the battle.

Pity. He would have been useful to know more of these Sharingan effects. Sasuke had no choice but to turn off the Sharingan for now. Without further information, it was a risk. His eyes returned to a pit black color, but the world was stable again to his eyes.

They had been lucky. Kakashi was probably only exhausted from the use of Sharingan in his unprepared body, as per usual and, with the right medical attention and Naruto's rapid rate of healing, Naruto was going to be right. Sakura, though, was going to be a different story. She had been exposed to the Mangekyo – his Mangekyo no Sharingan, no matter for how little.

"U-Uchiha, Sasuke-kun."

A small group of ANBU had reunited with him at the roof. Ah, he knew this should happen soon.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you must—" the man hesitated and the other members with him, behind their masks. "No… nevermind."

Sasuke had stood and turned, in fact, ready to go with them. Now he realized his previous actions and wondered why was he so readily going to let himself be taken prisoner of.

The ANBU retired. He didn't expect it, but it seemed the village was torn between regarding him a friend or an enemy in a situation of crisis. Or was it just pity for his fallen comrades?

But Sakura would be sleeping for a couple of days more because of mental stress. Once they discovered the cause of Sakura's state, they would come very readily to try to arrest him. It just added to his reasons to leave the Leaf forever, so it made no difference.

But for some reason, Sasuke decided to postpone his decision of whether he should stay and take care of them clean-handed or leave before that time came.

--

"Ah! He told us to say something to you."

Half holding the weight of Kakashi, Naruto was working an expression of pensiveness in his face.

"His words were…" Naruto recounted, "'Bravo to the heroes that defeated my sensei Zabuza' and 'I enjoyed fighting alongside Sasuke.' "

"So that was Zabuza's man," noted Kakashi.

"Four men team, that's what I'm used to," Sasuke replied, his stare vacant.

"Just not your old four-men team, right?" Kakashi replied, inquisitive. "You held Orochimaru because you couldn't have Sakura and you teamed with Suigetsu, Kirin and Juugo because you couldn't have Naruto."

Sasuke did not acknowledge Kakashi's statement with an answer. He then changed the subject, "This is not what I came to talk about." He turned to look at Kakashi with a serious expression.

It was only an hour past midday at that moment.

"Sharingan effects?"

It was difficult to make apart the times when Kakashi was truly lost and when he was fooling around: at both times he had that dumb look on his face. "Um, as you describe the symptoms…Yes, I've a vague idea what it is," Kakashi finished, his expression growing suddenly solemn. "You better not use the Sharingan for a while."

Sasuke merely regarded his old sensei with frowning silence. 'Going blind at a time like that, what bad luck,' Kakashi thought.

"But what will you do now? You mission is over and a success, may I add," continued Kakashi. 'The Sharingan will die with me,' sounded much more rational while Itachi was alive.

"I told Karin and Juugo to wait for me on the North Gate, but I doubt they stayed." (You might be surprised, thought Kakashi.) "And I lost my fourth man as you know."

"That guy," said Kakashi nodding. "But it doesn't really answer my question. Oh, Sasuke!" Kakashi suddenly said, and his fooling-around overacted enthusiasm returned to his voice. "Have you changed your mind on starting your clan over at Konoha?"

"You seem to bring that subject an often lot lately," Sasuke retorted.

Kakashi plainly answered, "Back at the time, you cared about the resurrection of your clan."

Sasuke's demeanor, if barely, changed from his silent mood. It was not his tone or expression but the subject he decided to board that shifted his character, "You mentioned Naruto the other time, why?"

Kakashi blinked. "Oh? This subject is unlike you, Sasuke."

"Just answer my question," Sasuke said curtly. But his expression revealed nothing of what he was thinking at the time.

'You will regret it.'

Sasuke had to admit to having an inner conflict. He had underestimated the effects of Naruto's death to his mind. The death of Itachi left him… feeling relief but, unsatisfied. Instead of closing a chapter, it appeared to open a whole book which he had denied to acquaint with slight desperation.

And if he was blunt honest with himself and stopped getting distracted from the matter with whatever, like Sakura's state or Sharingan's effects, then he would have to board that subject: Naruto. In fact, he would have to face that bubbling sensation in his stomach that was erupting by the name alone.

Kakashi mh-ed and replied truthfully, "Just joking. It just so happen to be the person you care the most about, right?"

Sasuke did not answer but mechanically went to the window, opening it wide. A healthy breeze reached them.

"I hear footsteps coming," were Sasuke's only explanation.

"Ah, yes, I believe Gai has come to pay me a visit," responded Kakashi, his visible eye making it clear it wasn't a prospect he was looking forwards to. Wordlessly, Sasuke jumped at the window and though it.

Absent-minded, Sasuke by-passed the hospital grounds where he settled for a moment. He spotted the window which he knew to be of Sakura's room. Maybe it was out of the responsibility he felt, that he stayed. He felt naked without his Sharingan, and he felt weak without a purpose. He felt, in all true honesty, still shook and unsettled.

The wind blew the scent of dry leaves in early autumn. A murmur of voices sounded faint at the distance. The village of Konoha had never been quieter, except for the flowing breeze and rustle of tree leaves.

It became clear now. Try as he may to deny it, he would be made a fool once more if he let facts slap him in the face like before.

"Naruto."

He muttered.

"Naruto," he said this time more resolutely. He'd not be beating around a bush for long or he would risk trying his own patience. He could test out waters but, at some point or another, the real thing should emerge and how should it be put? How could he make his intentions known, clear for Naruto to understand and… what were his intentions?

He supposed he could say he wanted to stay at Konoha, become an ANBU, and Naruto might try to kick his ass, and that he wouldn't mind staying his rival to keep him on shape. He could tell him he will be there as his right hand, before and after he became Hokage, saving his ass from his own mistakes, and be by his side fore—

What's wrong with him and these corny thoughts?!

"Naruto…" Sasuke murmured.

"What, teme?!" Naruto responded.

"Since when have you been standing there?" Sasuke replied without shredding sweat.

Maybe if shinobis weren't supposed to silently creep over behind people's backs, Sasuke would have indulged himself on requesting Naruto not to bleeding sneak up on him like that. Naruto was standing there, looking irritated… and, somewhere beneath that, puzzled.

"What have you come to do over here?" Sasuke asked, looking at him coldly.

What little other feeling was reflected in Naruto before was swarmed up by the growing predominance of his annoyance.

"What, what!? You called me!" Naruto complained. "You were repeating 'Naruto! Naruto! Naruto!' You'd think you'd have something interesting to say."

There was a prolonged pause in Sasuke's thoughts. (As a strange sidenote, flashing somewhere in Sasuke's mind, he thought Naruto was rambling about 'smell of ramen' and by chance was looking up, left and right as if expecting ramen to rain on top of him any minute.)

"Yes," Sasuke said finally. This situation was as good as any other. "Naruto –"

"What now!"

Naruto had turned to him faster than you could say miso-ramen. "Why hasn't it recovered?" Sasuke was gesturing Naruto's limp arm and felt hot around the cheeks in spite of himself.

"Only overworked it, overworked it!" Naruto said quickly and grinning, "Nothing to worry about."

"I was merely asking out of curiosity, it doesn't mean I care," said Sasuke a tad bit petulantly. Why did everybody think he held Naruto dearest to him? And why had he been agreeing with that train of thought again? For what we could gather Sasuke may have been brainwashed by all these opinions of him and his misinterpreted feelings.

Under the acknowledgment, of course, that there were "feelings" in the first place…

"Of course I forget you are an unfeeling prick," Naruto started, his expression quite suddenly suffering a regression to his annoyed state, "but I know you are a cold, heartless bastard!"

So maybe he had not been brainwashed after all…

"And they are looking for you," Naruto added, bad-tempered and pouting. "Lee, Kiba, Ino, some others..." EVERYBODY! "They heard you were at Konoha. I 'pose they'll want to hear of your exciting quest for Itachi..."

Sasuke regarded the whining Naruto with a raised eyebrow. "You have been following my movements," it was not a question.

"'Sasuke killed Orochimaru and is here to save the word' or something like that," Naruto grunted. "Even outside Konoha you steal the spotlight."

Naruto was not half as annoyed as he pretended to sound. Sasuke merely watched him, oddly at peace. He would have to thank him for that.

--FLASHBACK--
"Suigetsu," Sasuke started, "Stop making up rumors on me. They have no purpose."

The Snake Company was stopping by the woods back at that time while on journey.

"Really, I just want to know what the killer of my old sensei Zabuza is like," Suigetsu retaliated. "And the hero of the village in the Country of Water."

"Is it okay for a demon to be so corny?" Sasuke had asked.

"Is it okay for a hero to be this cold?" Suigetsu had replied.
--END OF FLASHBACK--

--

Naruto had returned home by the evening with his face dirty where Sasuke had pushed it to the ground in that small sparring session. They had been talking all normally until Naruto asked him if he was going to meet with Sakura. Sasuke avoided the issue by unwittingly noting Naruto's popularity (as in friends) which Naruto took as a sarcastic remark. Somehow that led to whom was closest to Sakura now and how Sai was better fitted to become Naruto's "girlfriend."

But now Sasuke found himself in his doorsteps in Uchiha ceremonial (that is to say fancy) robes and a pot of ramen in his hand (that is to say, Naruto's way for a bouquet of flowers). He was repeating himself mantras to justify what he was doing which appeared only to increase the sweat forming on his face and the steam coming from his neck, which was practically as blinding as any Sharingan effects.

He thought to have heard noise from the other side of the door upon reaching it, a mechanical motion followed by knocking. Then, a thought occurred to him— What if there was somebody over at Naruto's?

"Oy, someone here?" asked Naruto, peering down the corridor from the door... Uchiha Sasuke was walking at an unnatural fast speed out of the premises.

Having been recognized and without a route of escape, Sasuke had no choice but to turn around. Doing otherwise would add to his defeat as the mission was not completed. He started to walk back, but upon sight of Naruto's confused expression, his mind raced for some kind of excuse. Mutely, he threw the pot at Naruto, who eyed it puzzled.

"T-this is, you," Naruto stammered, "you bought me ramen?"

And Naruto's eyes filled with tears. It made it difficult for Sasuke to be concerned with this situation with Naruto making his break out of here this easy. "Baka, don't get too excited about it," said Sasuke.

He hesitated. He was about to ask Naruto to invite him in. It seemed like the subsequent course of action… He didn't like the idea of a treating Naruto ramen outside. In fact, the consideration was left to die when he noted the disadvantages with the distraction and lack of privacy. But now, before his doorsteps, and altogether new consideration opened to his eyes. And he was –do we dare say it?– terrified.

Naruto stepped into the kitchen. That left Sasuke standing at the apartment corridor on his own. What should he do then? Maybe it was better if he were his way now–

"Hey, Sasuke! Didn't you bring something for yourself?" Naruto poked his head from the kitchen door. "What are you doing standing on the doorway?"

"I was leaving," Sasuke said.

Part number one of his urged: 'Yay! Go go go go go go!'
Inner part number two called: 'What are you doing, you coward! Turn around and face Naruto like a man!'

"Eh? You came by just to buy me dinner?" Naruto asked.

Now, Naruto was no unintelligent boy. Rough, hasty, ungracious, yeah... the point being? Yes, he definitely smelled something on the air, and it wasn't the ramen alone. The blond was smirking. "Sasuke, could it be you're saying sorry?"

Like with everything else, Sasuke stayed silent.

"Baaaka! You don't need to do that… Ah? What am I saying? Yes you do! After all those years of abusing of my good intentions! I had to drag my ass all around the world looking for you!" He pointed at Sasuke. "You'll have to buy me loads and loads of ramen to earn my forgiveness. Maybe, if you treat me ramen every day for the rest of your life, only maybe…"

He didn't finish the idea; drool was coming from his mouth. Sasuke tsked.

"Moron, who's want that desperate your forgiveness?" Naruto glared with anger, Sasuke smirked. "When I want to buy you dinner, it'll be because I feel like it."

Naruto's seemly lost expression suddenly brightened with a beaming smile.

"Thanks, Sasuke!" he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I take back that I said about you being a cold, unfeeling bastard. You are actually quite a nice guy!"

If Sasuke had got the time or will to do it, he would have tilted his head.

"I thought nobody knew about it," Naruto continued, the grin not leaving his face and a slight blush creeping to his cheeks. "But you even got me a birthday present!"

Sasuke stared – good thing he had such control of his facial expressions he barely showed his surprise. Naruto was still laughing feebly, rubbing the back of his head. So Sasuke lowered his face, tsking. Little did Naruto realize who he was tsking to.

Now Sasuke felt he should have gotten him something better for a present than ramen. "Happy Birthday, Naruto."

Naruto simply beamed at him.

--

"So, when are you planning to check on Sakura?"

If Jiraya couldn't pop his nose into a bathroom, it had to be somebody else's business. The Godaime Hokage Tsunade was a busy woman, couldn't he tell from the large pile of papers sitting on her desk?

OK, so, said Godaime Hokage Tsunade was half-heatedly looking for an excuse out of the subject. Even Jiraya would nag her today, it appeared. Jiraya wasn't easy to fool (not unless you distracted him with a harem of young ladies) and she was well-aware what the priorities were.

"Actually, I don't need a second check-up," she finally said, the pen in her hand wobbling between her fingers. Jiraya propped an elbow over his knee, sitting over the window stool.

"So you have kept the complete diagnosis from Naruto." It was a statement and an obvious one at that. He was almost solemn as he said this, weird as it was for the word to even exist in his dictionary.

"If I had destroyed his friend on the same day I failed to help her, Sakura'd have hated me," Tsunade answered.

There was a moment when only the chirping of birds sounded.

"She hasn't woken up?" Jiraya finally asked.

"My bet is tomorrow."

At that moment, Jiraya thought that he probably shouldn't remind Tsunade she was bad at betting.

O-MAKE-CHIBIS Presents-- Love Confession

Author's Notes: Sasuke was a step away from revealing his true feelings to Naruto! Naruto is gay? What will happen now?

GAARA: Naruto was that person that taught me a life of love. Naruto, I want you to love me...

NAR: G-Gaara...?!

NEJI: I'm not tied to an unevitable fate anymore, thank to him. That's why, Naruto, marry me!

NAR: N-N-Neji?!

SAI: Ah, I'm learning new things about people every day. Naruto, let me satisfy my homo-sexual curiosity with you

NAR: SAI--!!!

KABUTO: Go out with me, Naruto-kuuuuuun!

I know, lame pun. Meanwhile, somewhere else, neglected...

SAK: rampage state Easy already on the Naruto-Lovers Not-So-Anonymous introductions! SHANNAROOOOOO!