Sorry for the long delay. I've actually got about three chapters for this fic---er, thing, lined up. I had a really hard time deciding which I wanted to use for the second chapter. I should be updating more regularly.
So. Even-numbered rules will deal with characters and such from the series, and how they're commonly interpreted in fanon. Odd-numbered rules will deal with the fandom itself. It's important to understand both, especially when you're dealing with a fandom that's reached such a degree of notoriety that they're called "narutards".
But before we begin, there is some thanks in order.
moonray9: Thanks for being the first reviewer! You get a cookie. XD Anyway, this thing was more borne out of my irritation of scouring pages and pages of fanfiction and finding nothing but crap. But I'm glad you find it helpful!
SkywardShadow: Thank you. I looked at your profile. You'd probably be interested in this chapter, which talks about NaruSasu. XD
Thanks for favoriting: Flair-of-fire
Rule 2: Naruto and Sasuke are the Yin-Yang Pair
Naruto and Sasuke are intended to serve as foils of each other. Inevitably, this makes them yaoi fodder.
In most stories, you have a main character, and then you have a person who serves as their foil. Sometimes this "opposite" becomes a main character in their own right. These two together are the yin-yang pair.
The yin-yang pair can be enemies, rivals, or allies (or any mixture of the three). They are a very commonly used device in storytelling, spanning across continents, time periods, and genres. A reason for this is because the use of contrast is an easy way to show the development of the character.
There are many yin-yang pairs in anime/manga/video games/any crap from Japan, and they have varying relationships with each other. Sometimes the same character can even be involved in more than one yin-yang pair.
The epitome of the yin-yang pair's purpose can be seen in the characters of Lucy and Nyuu from Elfen Lied. Anyone who's familiar with this story knows they are actually two different personalities of the same person. Nyuu is simple-minded and kind but harmless, while Lucy is a ruthless sociopath. These two opposites are different aspects of the same person. That is what the yin-yang pair does---it is meant to show the duality of human nature, with two different people. Being part of a yin-yang pair gives you a unique bond with your opposite.
So naturally, they have giant "yaoi fangirls, please target me" signs pointing to them. For proof of this, go to the archives of any title featuring a yin-yang pair and look them up. A great example is Naruto's yin-yang pair, Naruto and Sasuke.
A: Naruto and Sasuke as a Pair
A pair. Not a pairing.
Naruto and Sasuke are meant to contrast each other in every way, right down to physical appearances. Sasuke is black, Naruto is white, Sasuke is darkness, Naruto is light---you get the idea.
Here are some of Naruto's characteristics:
-Light-haired
-Blue-eyed
-Dresses in lighter colors
-Loud
-Hates Sasuke (but not really)
-Started out talentless but has taken about ten levels in badass since the series' start
-Powers were forced on him (Kyuubi)
-Originally, no one believed in him, but he gained trust and respect as time went on, from both allies and enemies
-Possesses great perseverance
-Very emotional
-Is willing to rely on others
And possibly the most stark and important difference…
-Forgiveness over vengeance
Now for Sasuke:
-Dark-haired
-Dark-eyed
-Dresses in darker colors (generally)
-Relatively quiet
-Hates Naruto (but not really, it's implied)
-Started out very talented and has continued to raise his levels of badassery, though not to nearly the same extent as Naruto
-Powers were naturally gifted to him (Sharingan)
-Originally, everyone believed in him, but he betrayed their trust and respect as time went on, switching allegiances about…I've lost count of how many times. Hell, I don't even know whose side he's on right now.
-If he's not thoroughly thrashing your ass in a fight, he seems to really struggle, and go through "Why am I so weak? Why can't I win? WHY?!" deliberation
-Stoic (generally)
-Relies, first and foremost, on himself
And of course…
-Vengeance over forgiveness
And so, they complement each other perfectly. To make something clear:
THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MAKE THEM A PERFECT MATCH. THEY ARE MERELY A CONTRAST.
It is this writer's respectful hope that Kishimoto-sensei will exploit the yin-yang pair to the utmost. Not to resort to fangirl speculation, but it is implied that there will be at least one more battle between Naruto and Sasuke. On that note, they will eventually become allies, do some Danzo ass-kicking, and then skip into the sunset holding hands, while Ino strews flowers in their path. Sakura might help too, since she's secretly a yaoi fangirl. Of course, this will never happen, because nothing I predict ever happens. Ever. On anything. About the only manga I've been speculating on somewhat accurately recently is Bleach, and that's because very little is accomplished from chapter to chapter, and even that hasn't been true in recent weeks.
However, since yaoi has already been brought up, it's best not to go into Bleach territory. And on that note, if that sort of thing offends, don't go anywhere near Kingdom Hearts fanfiction. Or Final Fantasy (particularly VII). Or…oh, scew it. Yaoi is everywhere. Even if there was a story with no male characters, fanfic writers would probably still find a way to make it happen.
Anyway, the situation gets much more interesting if a yin-yang pair is composed of a male and a female (it's that whole "one can't exist without the other" thing going on). However, this very rarely happens. They're almost always the same gender. On that note, they're overwhelmingly male (at least, from what I've seen in anime/manga). And on an even further note, they tend to be bishounen (bishie for short).
For people who might be relatively new to the anime/manga mediums, bishounens are, essentially, pretty boys. Bishoujo applies to the other gender. They can both be called "bishies", but usually I've seen this term applied to bishounens by adoring fangirls. I'll be using these terms a lot in regards to Naruto characters, since there is a surprisingly high number of bishie characters in this series. Sasuke, for example, is most certainly bishie. Naruto, not so much (although there are plenty of fans who would disagree).
So, since we're on the subject of bishies, it's best to move on to subsection B.
B: Naruto and Sasuke as a Pairing
Yeah. I went there.
Because this pairing is so prominent in Naruto fanfiction, it most certainly is worth telling (or warning) you about. However, my personal experience with it is limited. If you're that interested in this pairing, go look it up in the archives and sift through pages and pages of crappy fics in the hopes of finding a decent one.
Undeniably, canon evidence indicates that Naruto and Sasuke are intertwined. Throughout the story, the actions of one have been connected with the actions of the other. The connection stands on multiple levels. A fairly sizable portion of the fanbase decided that it wasn't implausible for the connection to exist on all levels, including a romantic one. Or a sexual one. They usually go together in fanfiction. Even Yuri Lowenthal, Sasuke's English-voice actor, made a shoutout to this pairing.
Naruto's stalker-ish obsession with Sasuke doesn't help. Neither does the fact that Sasuke has shown no interest in females (although Sasuke/Sakura shippers will argue otherwise).
Even if you hate yaoi, the fact remains that you are going to encounter this pairing in the fandom, no matter what. This is "the big one" in terms of Naruto yaoi, and I regard it as one of "the big three" in terms of pairings overall (this is in terms of how many fics you can find with this pairing and how much support it has in the fandom). I consider the other two to be SasuSaku and NaruHina.
So then…
Final Word:
It's difficult to find a fic regarding Sasuke and Naruto that isn't yaoi, and, in fact, most people will come to a fic starring these two expecting it to be yaoi.
In canon, there is no relationship of a romantic nature shown between Naruto and Sasuke. They serve strictly as foils. In fanon, on the other hand…
Like I said, just look up fics with Naruto and Sasuke in the archives. The result should tell you everything you need to know. And if you really want to make things interesting, throw in M-rated fics. Don't click on them, though, if yaoi, fairly graphic sex secenes (or even worse, badly written fairly graphic sex scenes) bother you. You'll be scarred for life.
I don't read Naruto and Sasuke as a pairing, so my knowledge in terms of fics regarding them is rather scant. Sorry.