The Call

It started out as a feeling,
which then grew into a hope,
which then turned into a quiet thought,
which then turned into a quiet word,
and then that word grew louder and louder
'til it was a battle cry:
I'll come back when you call me,
no need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
doesn't mean it's never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
as you head off to the war.
Pick a star on the dark horizon
and follow the light.

You'll come back when it's over,
no need to say goodbye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet,
but just because they can't feel it too
doesn't mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'til they're before your eyes

You'll come back when they call you,
no need to say goodbye

Regina Spektor

SasuNaru

Warning: shounen ai

Reading: Naruto's point of view - Sasuke's point of view.

Part VIII

It was late afternoon and the streets were crowded because of the trade.

Along the years, Konoha had grown immensely. There were all kind of stores, for babies, kids, adults, lovers, elderly, happy or sad occasions. Sometimes I think all emotions were sold in those stores.

I stopped in front of a jeweler. Across the glass among tons of crystals and stones, stood a pair of rings with an ad 'The true love holds in simple things. Show her your love. Ask her. We have the key to your happiness'

I laughed to myself thinking 'As if a metallic circle could hold this kind of meaning, as if only this was able to bind two people forever. Women seem to care about it.'

I left the store and went on with so many things in my head. I sat in the quietest place I found, fortunately, it was also one of my favorite places in Konoha.

The lake always helped me think. It was a peaceful place, full of memories. I looked at the water asking why I was so afraid, it was pathetic. I believed in my skills as shinobi, besides, me and Naruto were the perfect combination, nobody could defeat us together.

I believed in all that, so why was I still afraid? Why was my chest aching as if advising me something really bad would happen?

I knew Naruto felt the same, but unlike me, he was fighting this feeling, he was willing to try. Was I willing to risk everything I took so long to get?

For me no, but for Naruto, maybe.

We needed a plan, but there was no information about Kabuto. Of course I knew some of his tricks, but it had been over 10 years, he must be even better. He was dangerous, maybe much more than Orochimaru, than Akatsuki, even than the masked man.

If you ask me if I was afraid of him, absolutely not, but I repeat, it was cause of that pain in my chest.

Fuck, I couldn't think how to be prepared, I had no idea what was waiting for us.

Think Sasuke, think.

Tsunade-sama said he expected me to be willing to return to him, what could he want? My eyes? Maybe he thought I would help him destroy Konoha, maybe he expected me to betray Naruto and the village once more?

It made sense at all, yet something was telling me it was nothing like this.

I thought about the possibility of him wanting revenge against me for killing his beloved master but he could have done this earlier, he sure had some chances, so why now?

I kept thinking but nothing really came.

Tsunade should have more details, why didn't she tell us? Maybe she's really too old and forgot or she knew it was useless to tell us. Even if we had a plan, a mission with Naruto was unnecessary having one since he almost never followed it.

I looked at the sky "Fuck." It was already night, how was that possible?

I sighed and went back home.

Sasuke was taking forever to come back. I had made dinner, cleaned the mess in the hall, taken a shower and I was waiting for him in the couch.

The door finally opened "Teme! You took forever. What the fuck were you doing?"

I looked at him but he was lost in his own thoughts, great. I hated when he didn't pay attention to me.

"SASUKE!" He blinked coming out of his own hypnosis.

He pressed his finger between his closed eyes "Tsch... I can't get it" he sounded frustrated.

"What can't you get?"

He was really frustrated as he punched the wall and shouted "Anything! I can't get anything... I thought the whole fucking day and nothing... absolutely nothing!"

I stood up and went closer to him, he was still freaking out. I did what I had to do to calm him down...

I punched his jaw... really hard.

At least he stopped... for a moment...

"Dobe! What the fuck?"

I said nothing, just went to the kitchen and he followed me "Why the fuck did you do that?"

I looked at him reprehensibly making him stop, I put the heated plate of food on the table "Sit down and eat."

He looked pissed but did as I said. I loved to have control over him. It was extremely rare though, only when he decided to freak out completely that I had this chance.

In normal circumstances, if I punched his face, he wouldn't only shouts at me, we would me rolling on the floor destroying ourselves and the apartment, but when he freaked out I had to take the lead in order to keep his sanity.

I went to the bathroom to prepare a warm shower to him. I opened the water, checked the perfect temperature, tossed some products on the bathtub to make bubbles, I loved bubbles, and went back to the kitchen.

Sasuke had finished his dinner and washed the dishes, his face was still pissed off.

I was back to my reprehensive character "Go shower now."

My inner self was laughing; it was kind of easy to act like that. It was just mimic Sasuke.

He passed through me glaring and I waited until I heard him entering in the bathtub to go after him.

I leaned on the door frame. He was looking at the other side and I asked "Better?"

He looked at me with his face still closed "Hn."

I smiled "Yeah, you're back to normal"

His face relaxed and he sighed.

I liked watching him showering, no I'm not being perverted, I mean, really, he looks calm showering; he gives me that serene feeling. It's beautiful.

I was back to my low tone "Sasu, we'll talk in bed 'kay?"

He wasn't looking at me, only enjoying his bath, he simply nodded and I left to our room.

I lay on bed and waited for him looking at the ceiling. He soon opened the door only in his towel. My voice was somehow tired but I still teased him "Hey, are you inviting me for a second round?"

He smirked opening the wardrobe "You want it?"

I closed my eyes "No... My ass still hurts"

I felt him lying next to me and whispering "Dobe"

I opened my eyes "So, what was that when you came back home?"

He didn't answer me, instead made a question himself "Naruto, you're not afraid anymore?"

I breathed in deeply "The hell I am Sasuke... I'm fucking scared"

He came closer leaning his head on my chest "Why?"

I rested my hand on his arm, half holding him "I don't know... it's not like I think we're weak, quite the opposite, we're so fucking strong, especially together... but I'm not gonna lie to you, I have this weird feeling like this mission will resume the rest of our lives and then, I don't know, I believe we can do it but I'm fucking afraid. I never felt like this before…"

We enjoyed the silence for a bit "...and you Sasu?"

His arm moved to hold my waist "Hn... the same."

I was feeling sleepy "Sasu, you think we can do it?"

He rolled himself over me and kissed me passionately. He whispered into my mouth "Of course we can"

I smiled and he broke the kiss rolling back to his side of bed.

"Naru, come here."

I went closer and held his waist, we adjusted our bodies to the comfortable position we were used to sleep together. I could hear him breathing slowly, his heart beating in a quiet pace under my ear, "Good night Sasu"

He breathed out deeply "Night Naru"

"...to"..."...ruto"..."Naruto" who is calling me? Is it Sasuke? Sasuke? No, it's not his voice. Whose voice is this?

"Naruto!"

I know this voice "Dad?"

I open my eyes and he smiles "Yes Naruto, it's me".

"Wait, where am I?"

"Naruto, it's a dream".

"Ah, that explains"

He laughs "Yeah" but becomes serious again "Son, I don't have much time...it's about your mission"

I'm in shock "Wh-What is it?"

He puts his hand on my shoulder "Naruto, pay attention...the mission will be hard, but have faith, son..." I nod "...and don't forget: it's not what it looks like" he smiles and fades away.

"No! Wait! I don't understand! Dad!"

I woke up sweating. I sat up to think about it. Shit, what did it mean?

I looked beside me, Sasuke was still sleeping, it was around midnight already. I locked my gaze on my raven to calm my racing heart but got worried when he began shuddering in his sleep.

I was going to call him but he suddenly opened his Sharingan eyes widely making me jump because of the fright. He blinked returning his eyes to black ones.

"Fuck Sasuke! Don't scare me like that!"

He sat up running his hand through his hair, he looked worried. I landed my hand on his shoulder making him look at me.

I smiled tenderly "Bad dream?" he gave me a weak smile and nodded.

He laid back and took me with him, his fingers playing with my locks "I dreamed about Itachi"

I felt his racing heart beat even louder to his brother's name and my heart raced once more. I dreamed about my father and he dreamed about his brother, it was no coincidence.

"What did he tell you about the mission?" I sounded as desperate as I was.

"Ho-How do you know about it?" he was nervous. I could feel it in his voice so I spoke bluntly

"I dreamed about my father, he told me something about the mission, something like it wasn't what it looked like"

His heart raced even more, his fingers stopped for a single moment. He froze but bluntly said "Itachi said more or less the same thing, he told me it wasn't genjutsu but I couldn't trust my eyes".

We stood, no speaking, no blinking, no breathing. We stood till our hearts were back to normal.

I almost didn't dare to break the silence, almost. "What does it mean Sas?"

The answer came long after "I don't know...but we will find out soon."

We could do nothing "You're right, we can't worry now... we need to sleep"

There was no need for answers, his arms holding me meant it. I tried to stop thinking, what was kind of easy for me.

I breathed in Sasuke's scent to calm down and fell asleep sometime along the night.

I woke up with the sun in my eyes.

Who opened the curtains. "Sasuke?"

He was not there and it was too early to get up so I stayed in bed for a while deciding on what to do, my brain didn't seem to work in the morning.

The door opened revealing a wet and topless raven, the sun hitting his pale chest, oh gosh, I was dazed. Was he doing that on purpose? I guess.

I just knew that, in the next moment, he was over me, his hands holding mine in place, water drops falling on my face from his hair, his mouth in my ear, licking, biting, whispering...

"Naruto!"

I blinked "What?"

"You were daydreaming, come on, get up"

I hate my brain in the morning. It could only think of a naked Sasuke touching me, touching my- no, no, no, focus Naruto, get up.

I was on auto pilot, my brain not working for not breaking apart from too much thinking. I showered, changed to my mission's clothes and went to kitchen, fully awake by now.

Sasuke was eating an apple "Morning dobe."

I blinked several times when my eyes landed on the table "Sasuke! What is this?"

He didn't bother to look "It's breakfast dobe!"

"No! It's something like our last meal?"

I didn't remember having all this food at home, anyway

"Just eat, Naru"

I was unable to speak, so I ate to my heart's content.

"Ah, thanks for the meal."

We cleaned the house quickly as it was almost time to meet Sai and Neji.

There we were, in front of the door's house, hesitating on opening it.

There was a possibility that we didn't come back, that we never more entered our home.

Sasuke sighed "Naruto, come here."

He hugged me tight, smelled my hair and whispered to my ear "Naruto...I love you"

My heart ached and skipped a beat. 'Don't say it like it's our last time.'

I could only hold him back tightly

"Naruto, I love you. I love you so much"

He kissed my ear

"I love you"

My cheek

"I love you"

He looked into my eyes "I lo-"

I kissed him in the lips to stop him from saying that, it felt wrong, was not our last time together. It was not!

I pulled apart, his hands moved from my waist to my face, we held our locked gazes for less than seconds, but more than forever.

I closed my eyes in anticipation, feeling him closer and closer.

Our lips connected, our tongues moved together trying to make it longer and longer.

"I love you" he said again into my mouth and I let myself smile

"I love you too."

We pulled out and left in silence.

The kiss, bittersweet.

I so much needed to say that, to say it when he's listening, to say it as much as possible while I have a chance. It could be the last time I tell him. It could be the last time we kiss, we could be the last chance to-

"Uchiha."

Neji and Sai were already there, a smirk covering their faces. They'd love doing that.

Neji, who had called me, explained the instructions

"Naruto, eat this, it's a chakra's neutralizer, it'll keep you out of any chakra detector and also keep you from doing...ahm...unnecessary moves..." he said it cautiously meaning doing something stupid, of course, some things seemed to never change.

"...Uchiha, we will keep you in chains till Kabuto's arrival and we will pretend to hate you..."

I sarcastically chuckled "pretend huh"

His smirk only grew larger, damn Hyuuga.

"...Anyway, Naruto will transform into something that Sasuke can keep with him without anyone notice"

The blonde nodded and turned to the last man.

"By the way, Sai, how was it?"

Sai was quiet, but nothing weird about it, what really surprised me and even Neji was that he was...blushing

"Erhm, yeah...it was fine...she said...yes"

Only Naruto seemed to understand and I wouldn't admit it, but I was curious. Neji was as well because he didn't hesitate to ask "What are you talking about?"

Naruto smiled "I think Sai should say it"

It made the ex-ANBU blushes even more "I...ehrm...me and Sakura...got engaged."

I looked at Naruto kind of surprised and he nodded, then I realized the ring on his finger.

"Yeah, yeah..." Naruto patted Sai's shoulder "...See, I told you it would be okay. Congratulations man"

The former emotionless guy was grinning happily, not forcefully "Thanks Naruto, thanks."

Neji and I politely congratulated him as Naruto was grinning "Then, when me and Sasuke come back, we will celebrate right?"

Sai teased him a little "No way, I'm not gonna wait for you, besides you'd ended up drunk and louder than normal... definitely not".

Naruto didn't like it and made a little drama "Oh Sai! You're sooo mean. After all the trouble I went in to help you! And if I get drunk, Sasuke will take care of me, right teme? Please, please, wait for us!" He seemed a little kid if not for his size

The black haired man laughed "Of course we will wait for you. Don't be such a kid."

The dobe humphed and crossed his arms, so mature.

We laughed from his childish behavior and to relieve the tension and his face softened.

Sai got serious making us suddenly stop and look at him "We'll be waiting for you, so make sure to come back as fast as you can"

Naruto smiled and I nodded.

We all stood quiet thinking, nobody else, aside Tsunade and the council, knew about the mission.

The wind blew coldly against us as Neji broke the silence "It's time, we have to go."

The tension was almost unbearable. I didn't feel I was going on a mission, I felt I was going to death, and the worst part was that I was taking Naruto along with me.

"Uchiha, come here so I can lock you up"

Neji's smirk was back on his face and he had chakra's handcuffs with him. There was no need for a real one, but whatever.

Definitely, Neji was a guy who thought alike me, so we could talk not having to worry about morals and you could say we were friends.

His tone was low enough so only I was able to hear "What's the matter, Sasuke?"

I looked at him seriously before reply on same tone "Neji, promise me that if only Naruto comes back, you'll take care of him"

His eyes widened for a second before he teasingly smirked "Sure you want me to take care of him? You know how I want to do it"

I only glared, not the first time he insinuated that. He did have feelings for him but was locked to an arrangement marriage cause of his clan, not counting Naruto was mine.

"Sasuke, I won't promise that..." he sighed "I won't promise that cause you'll both come back, understood Uchiha?"

I smirked "Hn".

We were interrupted by Naruto's shout "Oi! What are you doing there? Come on! Sasuke! Come here!"

I did that forgetting I had to put the handcuffs "What is it dobe?"

I froze when he hugged me "Nar-Naruto! What are you hugging me for?"

"Shut up teme, I'm not hugging you. See." he made some sealings behind my back and transformed himself into a…

"Yeah dobe, I have to admit you're not that dumb"

He had transformed into a black jacket with the Uchiha symbol on its back. He was lighter somehow, the jacket was discrete and something I'd wear. Perfect.

Soon we were heading to my execution, I mean, mission. Neji on my right and Sai on my left, the local of the exchange was middle of the Forest next to Konoha's frontiers.

There he was, the snake man, a mixture of what once were Kabuto and Orochimaru with the snake thing. He hadn't changed in 10 years, nothing at all, that was expected, kind of.

It was not hard to pretend feeling hatred, I felt it, I hated him, it reminded me of what I had done, who I had been, and I hated the former me in so many ways.

There you are, one more chapter because the last one was really short.

That's one of my favorites chapters of the story. Really, I love this chapter and I hope you do too.

Review :D