A/N: There might be some OOCness from now on given the different things Naruto and Sasuke have gone through. Hope it makes sense.

Chapter 2:

Patterns & Changes (Sasuke)

"What's with the glare, Sasuke? This is supposed to be a celebration," Kakashi teased, hiding behind the menu he was inspecting when Sasuke directed his glare at him.

"Stop it, sensei! Sasuke-kun got upset the moment he noticed Naruto wasn't there to receive him." Sakura didn't even try to hide her giggle.

"Maa, Sasuke, don't be angry. To be fair, no one has seen dear Naruto since yesterday." Kakashi tilted his head as if the idea had just occurred to him.

Sasuke felt his eye twitch; this looked too much like a setup. "This better doesn't turn into a damn party."

"As the Hokage, I wouldn't risk the safety of multiple shinobi and civilians by allowing Naruto to plan a party for you," Kakashi replied gravely.

"He must be helping with the children." Sakura seemed to finally take pity on him. "I think Konohamaru was taking them to the movies."

Sasuke rolled his eyes before concentrating on his own menu. He had taken the Tutoring Program into consideration and was okay with it. The teasing was a different story, though.

"I don't remember asking for the dobe's whereabouts."

"Could have fooled me." Sakura snorted. "Can we please enjoy the fact that Kakashi-sensei finally treated us somewhere fancy? I always knew you were his favourite," she added under her breath, then turned to Kakashi. "I can have Naruto's share, right?"

Kakashi graced them with a smile. "Just restrain the sake consumption, Sakura-chan. This is one of my favourite places, and I'd like to be allowed to return."

"Hah! What that's supposed to mean?"

It was Sasuke's turn to snort. "As if you don't know. I've lost count of how many walls had to be repaired due to your drinking rages."

"Do you have any idea of how stressful my job is?"

"Sakura-chan, I'm the Hokage."

"That doesn't count when you have Nara as your assistant."

Sasuke couldn't resist chuckling alongside Sakura at the affronted expression Kakashi made at his remark.

The rest of the afternoon went by among delicious food, expensive bottles of sake and playful banter —mostly from Sakura and Kakashi. For a fleeting moment, Sasuke was able to pretend it had always been like this. He had never left the village, and he had never hurt these people who were now celebrating Sasuke had been granted a second chance.

The sun was starting to set by the time Kakashi managed to squeeze a discount from the restaurant's manager —the man truly knew no shame.

"I can't believe Naruto didn't show up," Sakura commented as they exited the establishment. "Are you sure he knew about Sasuke, sensei?"

Any other day Sasuke would have tried harder to convince Sakura that Naruto's absence didn't affect him as much as they seemed to believe. However, he allowed himself to enjoy their concern in exchange for all the previous teasing. As if they all weren't used to Naruto's ridiculous unpredictability by now.

"Pakkun said the smell of miso left on the document was unmistakable."

"What the hell is he doing then?" Sakura asked no one in particular before blushing fiercely. "Sensei," she cleared her throat, "perhaps we should let Sasuke-kun go already."

There was an instant in which Sakura and Kakashi exchanged a glance, then turned to Sasuke but didn't make eye contact. Sakura was murmuring something about an image she wouldn't be able to get out of her head.

"Right," Kakashi smiled at him. "Don't have too much fun, Sasuke. Naruto has a meeting on Monday first thing in the morning."

They both disappeared, confirming what Sasuke already knew: His team was full of idiots.

...

Sasuke groaned when he felt the presence of a civilian in front of Naruto's place. Please don't be one of the fans. He didn't want to deal with something like that at the moment. More importantly: Wasn't Naruto at home?

His annoyance turned into confusion when he identified his former landlady. Was the old woman still trying to convince the idiot to move into one of her buildings? Sasuke thought that matter had been settled months ago, but perhaps that was why Naruto had not even turned on the lights despite the hour. She had proved to be stubborn enough to rival the blonde after all.

You are the worst ninja ever, usuratonkachi.

The world was doomed if an old lady had prevented the strongest shinobi alive from exiting his home. Sasuke shook his head and walked forward, hoping to be able to scare the woman off. He thought it was damn time he got to see the idiot.

"May I help you?" He asked as he approached the door and fished for the keys inside his cloak.

Sasuke reminded himself to be polite and harmless, lest he would end up imprisoned during the first day of his pardon. And he had to contain a snort at the thought because that would be Naruto's level of stupid. It might be rubbing off on him.

"Uchiha," the old lady acknowledged his presence, not surprised to see him but not pleased either." She clearly didn't like him, and Sasuke knew she had only accepted him inside her property because he practically didn't live there.

"I was looking for Naruto-sama."

"I don't know the details, but it might take some time for him to come home," he said cryptically, enjoying the woman's irritation a bit too much. "Would you like to leave him a message?"

"Not a message, thank you," she replied with equally feigned courtesy. "I came to return something Naruto-sama forgot at my office." She gestured at her feet. "I assume I can trust you with this. Good evening." She didn't wait for him to respond before walking away.

Sasuke didn't deem her worthy of an eye roll, so he just ignored her and moved forward to pick up the black plastic bag. Another plant, he observed as he made his way through the genkan; at this rate, the apartment would turn into a jungle. They would need to start considering looking for another place soon.

It was just after he unpacked the tomato plant and bento box that the oddness of the situation became evident to him. When he opened the bento box and saw the onigiri, all the pieces fell into place. He breathed several times and pinched the bridge of his nose, making an effort to contain the wave of irritation invading him. How did they keep falling into these situations? Sasuke breathed again. This was just another stupid misunderstanding. It would be fine. They could fix this with minimum damage.

...

Sasuke knew it was wrong to use the Rinnegan for personal purposes —and a waste of chakra, but he was in a hurry. Besides, Naruto used the Fourth's technique for similar situations on a regular basis. As far as Sasuke knew, the only place Naruto had marked was the Valley of End. The sentimental fool.

When he emerged from the darkness of the portal, a dozen of feet away from where the blonde was sitting, he stopped for a second to observe Naruto's hunched figure. This routine they had created had to end because he was done with the image in front of him.

There were several ways he could start this conversation, but none seemed accurate for the magnitude of the situation. In the end, he walked to sit to Naruto's left. Sometimes a bit of silence had turned out a better option than anything else.

"I know-" Naruto started and interrupted himself with one of those pained laughs Sasuke had come to hate so much. "Like, I'm being a bit dramatic, right?" He finally turned to look Sasuke with a contained expression.

"I think you've earned the right to be more than a little bit dramatic, Naruto."

"No," he shook his head energetically. "I shouldn't have assumed you would stay just because-" Naruto tried to hide it, but Sasuke caught the moment his voice broke. "Is not as if something important has changed. I have not-"

Sasuke tapped the idiot's forehead, perhaps with a little more strength than necessary. "Dobe, could you please grant me a second to organise my thoughts?"

One of the things he had come to understand about Naruto since they allowed themselves to be more open was how vulnerable the other was. The Dobe was strong and relentless when it came to the matters of the shinobi, but when it came to things he needed from those around him, he became hesitant and insecure. Sasuke, of course, had contributed to making things worse over the years.

"I want a change for the better, but that doesn't mean I'm conditioning my return to those circumstances," he started cautiously. "I think I've seen everything I was meant to see." He paused and breathed to gather his courage. "I'm ready to stay."

"You hate Konoha!" Naruto's disbelief was almost palpable.

"I hate certain aspects of Konoha." Sasuke shook his head softly; this was something he should have made clear sooner. "Extending the sentiment towards the whole of Konoha was not fair."

"But-"

"I'm not leaving like that again." He poured all his sincerity into those words. "It's a promise."

Naruto's trembling jaw and watery eyes were not a surprise. Neither was it when he started to sob. His stretched hand pulling Naruto's head to rest on his shoulder, though. That was unexpected.

As Naruto clung to him with all his might, Sasuke was impressed by how natural it was to hold Naruto. He had been dreading this kind of contact because an eternity had passed since he had been this close to someone else. Had it been Itachi or his mother? He was sure Sakura had hugged him at some point during their genin days, but he had been too numb to care. He was sure nothing had ever felt quite as right as holding Naruto. It was conforting and safe, and he didn't want let go.

For the first time in four and a half years, he missed his left arm.

...

Eventually, they had to let go. Naruto rushed to wipe the tears and snot from his face, and Sasuke waited until he was done to continue speaking.

"I was serious when I said you didn't have to do everything on your own." He searched Naruto's eyes. "I plan on doing my part too."

Naruto's smile was soft but genuine. "Thanks, Sasuke."

"Do you think we can go home now, Dobe? I really need some sleep." The exhaustion of the day had finally caught up with him.

Naruto blinked at him. "You mean to my apartment?"

"Where else, idiot?" He retorted, realising too late he had never asked Naruto's permission, just like he had never told him about the cancelled lease. Sasuke had just assumed- he felt his face growing hot due to the embarrassment. "I mean- I could crash at Sakura's or-"

"No! It's- I mean, are you sure I won't drive you insane or something?" Naruto asked bashfully.

Sasuke snorted. "Dobe, we've been essentially living together for months now." Granted, he had been away most of the time, but practically every item he didn't carry with him was at Naruto's apartment already. "If you had not noticed, it's because you are a moron."

Naruto stood laughing, then pulled Sasuke to his feet. "Let's go home, bastard."

Sasuke paused at the word home , stared at their joined hands and smiled lightly. Naruto might have a hard time noticing, but they were living proof. Everything in Konoha could change for the better.

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