Disclaimer: Yea, I don't own Naruto.

-The first part of this is Sasuke's perspective of the last chapter. You'll have to read the last chapter if you don't understand some of the ways I tied the dream together between Naruto and Sasuke. Chapter 5 and 6 were originally one long chapter but I decided to separate them into two chapters. It was too long for just one chapter. It also allows me to post half of my recent work and wait for more support or hits to come in. CHAPTER 6 is done however and can be posted once I see if anyone still likes the story. Thanks for all the recent support. Reviews are always helpful whether they are good or bad. (wink) But seriously, please let me know what you think about the story.

The Way Things Are

Chapter 5

Sasuke leapt swiftly from tree to tree. He had been wandering aimlessly in the outskirts of Konoha for hours now. The sun was beginning to go down, however Sasuke hardly noticed. He had been looming in and out of the shadows in the darkness of the forests for too long to keep track of time.

It had been just a bit ago when he untied an unconscious, poisoned Naruto and carried him stealthily back to his apartment. He had almost been caught by an ANBU member and a few other special jonins. He had snuck through the door on Naruto's balcony and laid the helpless boy comfortably on his bed. He had tucked Naruto into his bed and helped him swallow the antidote to the poison from the snake bite. Naruto had wiggled and tossed around in his sleep, Sasuke had stayed and watched him for a while. Sasuke could tell how uncomfortable Naruto was in his agony and had decided to help him out. Sasuke remembered stroking Naruto's face in his restless distress as his body countered the poison. He had done something foolish in that room with Naruto. Sasuke remembered the moment suddenly.

"He's in a lot of pain………..Maybe I can help him." Sasuke was able to use his sharingan to enter Naruto's mind before and he wanted to do it again. He watched a trembling, sweat covered Naruto writhe in pain. His chest heaved into the air and his exhales were replaced with sharp winces. How he stayed asleep through all this was unknown to Sasuke. Sasuke remembered everything he had put Naruto through that day. He regretted hurting his old friend. He thought about how angry Naruto had been, and some of the things Naruto had said to him. Naruto's painful words had once infuriated Sasuke, but now they only made him sad.

"He must really hate me." Sasuke sighed as he pondered his mistakes. "He'll never…………He'll never want me the way I want hi- He'll never lov……" Sasuke turned his head and looked at Naruto sadly. "I can take his mind off the pain, at least for a little bit." Sasuke thought to himself as he activated his sharingan. Sasuke placed his hand on Naruto's head and focused for a second.

"Hold on, Naruto." Sasuke felt himself drift gradually into Naruto's subconscious. It was quiet for a moment. Everything was dark. Sasuke was in the middle of a group of dying trees. He heard Naruto grumble and moan in the distance. "I've gotta find him." Sasuke ran through the trees. The branches tore and ripped at his clothing and skin. Snakes hung limply from the branches, as well as chains. They moved about freely, but, paid no mind to Sasuke. Naruto's sounds continued and Sasuke followed them persistently. His feet slid to a stop. There, not to far away, was an open space in the midst of all the gnarled, twisted black trees. Naruto was sprawled helplessly on a table there. Someone was on top of him, causing him pain.

"Naruto!" Sasuke went to yell, but no sound escaped from him. He moved his hand to his mouth in awe and felt his ears tingle. He heard the chains rattle and the snakes hiss as they moved swiftly towards him. They began to wrap themselves tightly around Sasuke's limbs, holding him in place. Sasuke grunted as he ripped at his restraints. His struggling was stopped by a sudden growl. Sasuke's eyes broke upon, he saw a large fox leap at him with a killing intent.

"The Kyuubi!" He wiggled his body in fear as the deadly beast approached.

Sasuke heard the ground crumble around him. The restraints loosened and the fox disappeared. The distorted trees deteriorated and turned to black ashes. The debris and black powder flung chaotically around Sasuke as a fierce wind blew angrily about. Sasuke felt himself fall downward into a dark void. "I'm not helping at all………….I've gotta get out!"

Sasuke landed unexpectedly into warm sand. The sun was bright, and nearly blinded him as he looked up. The heat was blazing and unmercifully surrounded Sasuke. Sasuke stood up and his eyes reflexively began to squint. The desert was vast, a sea of sand lay in front of him. Sasuke centered his chakra, focusing all his power on leaving Naruto's surreal subconscious.

Something clasped itself around Sasuke's shoulder, interrupting his focus. Sasuke opened his eyes and turned his head. His dark eyes met an identical pair. Staring back at Sasuke was a raven. It had perched itself silently on his shoulder. Their stare off continued until the raven flung its head at an angle, indicating something in the distance. "Follow me." It spoke mysteriously.

The raven flapped its wings and lifted into the air, releasing its talons from Sasuke's shoulder. Its black wingspan contrasted greatly with the bright, blinding sun and the white sand. Sasuke stared at it suspiciously for a moment. His feet eventually shifted from beneath him and he followed the raven. Curiously and cautiously, Sasuke watched the bird and followed a few feet behind it.

The horizon was a complete blur. The air in the distance wiggled and weaved from the heat. The raven flew ahead suddenly with great speed, Sasuke couldn't keep up. He watched the bird's black, ghostly silhouette fly aimlessly in a circle high above the ground in the distance. Sasuke looked below the bird and saw that it was soaring around a figure. "Naruto!?"

Sasuke ran towards the ominous bird. He stopped when he saw it land out of nowhere in the sand below him.

"What are you running for?" It asked almost misheviously. Sasuke was in no mood for games.

"Naruto, how far away is he? How much farther? Is he hurt?" Sasuke's demanding tone was cut off.

"Ask him yourself." The bird spoke deviously and opened its dark wing slowly in a flourish toward Naruto's figure.

The blur on the horizon dissipated in the blink of an eye. Sasuke was closer to Naruto than he thought. He could see everything clearly now, the sun no longer blinded him or distorted the desert. Sasuke saw that Naruto was restrained and was approaching another figure slowly. Sasuke studied the unknown shape curiously. His eyes widened as he had a sudden revelation.

"That's me!" Sasuke looked at the image of himself and realized that the duplicate was crying. The alternate Sasuke was half naked just like Naruto, and seemed completely helpless. Sasuke tensed his legs and his feet shifted as he tried to approach the strange meeting between the replica of himself and Naruto.

"I wouldn't move if I were you, Uchiha. Interrupting would be very, very foolish." The bird calmly stated its warning.

"Why!?" Sasuke's jaw clenched and his fingers slowly formed into a fist.

"Relax, Uchiha. Just watch." The bird waved its wing back towards the meeting point in a similar fashion from before.

Sasuke sighed irritably. "Fine." Sasuke watched the two figures carefully. He was watching so closely that it almost hurt his eyes. Sasuke grunted heatedly. "I can't see anything!" He shot a glare towards the menacing bird.

"He he." The raven chirped cynically. "You can't see anything, eh?" The bird turned its head to meet Sasuke's and winked an eye. "That's too bad, because you're really missing out. In a couple of moments I'll feel like quite the voyeur." The bird added this remark teasingly. But I don't want to feel like the only pervert here so I will allow you to get closer. Make sure you're not seen." The raven's tone was stern.

Sasuke scoffed at the ridiculous creature and walked on ahead. Sasuke spoke silently to himself. "What is that thing? Why is it here? Is it part of the dream? Is it part of Naruto's subconscious? Is it an illusion that I can only see? I mean, my perception is a bit diluted here because it's during a dream. But is that thing a side-effect only I can see? Or is it a conscious part of Naruto like the kyuubi? Could it be a part of me?" Sasuke's pondering stopped when he looked up and realized how close he was to Naruto. His legs grew stiff and he crouched down slowly.

He saw every detail of the image of himself and Naruto. It looked like Naruto was comforting Sasuke. Sasuke felt his heart leap suddenly as he watched what Naruto did next. The blonde pushed his lips willingly against Sasuke's duplicate. Sasuke took in a deep breath as he watched the entire spectacle.

He stared at the engaging passion between Naruto and the image of Sasuke that Naruto saw in his dream. He watched their hands stroke at each other and rub each others' bodies. Sasuke licked his lips when he saw Naruto freely allowing himself to be groped and showing an equal amount of passion back. Sasuke had to admit that the manifestation of himself and Naruto tenderly kissing each other was incredibly sexy. It turned him on but it also created some relief in Sasuke's troubled mind.

"Does this mean………..Does it mean that maybe……….Maybe Naruto cares about me. Maybe he doesn't hate me entirely………….It has got to mean something……" Sasuke's eyes widened as he watched the replica of himself slap Naruto's tight ass pleasurably. Naruto's orgasmic moan sent a shiver through Sasuke's body and almost made him blow his load right then and there. "I can see what that bird meant by voyeuristic intention."

Just as the scene was reaching its climax, the pesky bird appeared next to Sasuke. "You should leave now, Uchiha." The bird nodded its head as though it were dismissing Sasuke.

"No way, why would I want to stop watching this?" Sasuke sounded a bit amused and also kept his tone stern.

"Leave now. This sight may be enjoyable for you; however, I assure you that you do not want to see what comes next. Naruto will awaken soon anyway. I'm sure you probably don't want him to see you when he awakens. You probably aren't ready to explain yourself to him." A ridiculing scoff came from the bird as it glanced towards Sasuke. "Leave."

Sasuke's mind raced. "Why should I listen to this thing? What if it's right? What if Naruto is gonna wake up soon? Then I have to go. But what is so terrible that I can't see?" Sasuke heard a sudden growl and turned his head. He heard Naruto yell in pain. However, before he could see what had happened, he appeared back in Naruto's room.

Sasuke shook his dizzy body realizing he had been forced out of Naruto's mind. It took a lot of effort to stay inside one's subconscious, and Sasuke had just stayed long past his limits. He was weak from chakra exertion. Although he had stayed inside Naruto's mind for a while, it seemed so short for him. Sasuke heard a sudden slap and felt Naruto's hand tighten around his wrist.

"Sasuke……….I-it hurts………Don't…..don't l-leave." Naruto spoke in his sleep.

Sasuke stared in shock. "Shit he's waking up." Naruto stirred in his sleep. "What's happening in that dream?" Sasuke pulled his wrist free and ran out of the room onto Naruto's porch. He leapt from Naruto's balcony and moved swiftly from rooftop to rooftop.

Sasuke's mind returned to the present. He shook his mind of the memory for a second. "I can't stay too much longer. Orochimaru will grow suspicious of me. He could even send a spy. And if he finds out what I've been doing with Naruto…………" Sasuke sighed softly to himself and continued his aimless wandering.

-----------------------------BACK TO NARUTO AND SAKURA--------------------------------

A FEW HOURS EARLIER

"HENTAI!" Naruto's room shook as Sakura stood up and pointed a finger towards Naruto. "Hentai! Hentai! Hentai! Hentai!" Sakura chanted obnoxiously as she removed Naruto's hand from his neck.

"Sakura, it isn't what it looks li-I-I don't know how I got-" Naruto shook pathetically as Sakura continued.

"Naruto! You pervert! What were you up to? No wonder you were poisoned! You were probably groping some lady that was out of your league! She probably poisoned you so you'd learn a lesson! You're becoming just like that pervert of a master of your's! If you could just hear some of the stories Tsunade-sama has told me about that creep-" Sakura shuddered. "Trust me you don't want to turn out like Jira-" Sakura stopped her rant when she saw Naruto hold his chest in pain.

"Sakura, I really need help." Naruto admitted to weakness for one of the first times. "I really don't remember what happened." Naruto lied right to Sakura's face.

"I'm sorry, Naruto. I was just kidding." Sakura touched Naruto's shoulder comfortingly. "I'll go get you something to wear and then I'll take you to Tsunade-sama." Sakura stood up and headed for Naruto's room. She tripped over a ramen cup and fell headfirst into a pile of Naruto's boxers. Naruto saw it happen and plugged his ears in fear.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The walls shook violently. "EW! Ew, ew,ew ew, ew!" Sakura ran around like a chicken with its head cut off. "Naruto! You have got to clean this place up! I am not taking another step into that room! You'll have to go the way you are!"

Naruto's mouth widened in shock. He yelled with volume that rivaled Sakura's "BUT SAKURA! I'M IN MY BOXE-"

"NO BUTS NARUTO! CHA!" Sakura crushed one of Naruto's chairs with her finger.

"STOP WRECKING MY HOUSE!" Naruto was silenced when Sakura's fist appeared before his face. Naruto scoffed and mumbled under his breath. Sakura scooped Naruto off his bed and jumped outside.

"AHHHHHHHHH! Sakura cover me up or something!" Naruto screamed, flailing his arms about trying to cover his exposed body. Countless villagers looked up, raising Naruto's embarrassment. Sakura giggled at Naruto's humiliation as they leapt from rooftop to rooftop. "Even though it seems like he was up to no good, it's obvious he wasn't. He was missing for most of the day. This poison is even a bit mysterious to me. His muscles are a bit damaged as well. But what is with those hickeys?!"

Sasuke's ears perked up as he heard footsteps below him. He stopped abruptly on the tree he was on and watched what was happening underneath him. There, in a small grove, was Hinata and Shino. They looked as though they had been training. The footsteps came from somewhere in the distance. Kiba was running towards them.

"Hey!" Kiba's voice was obnoxiously loud. "Did you guys hear? Naruto's in the hospital." Hinata gasped at this.

"Why? Is he alright?" Hinata sounded concerned. Shino sat silently and listened.

"He was supposedly attacked when he snuck out into the woods. There is some kind of poison in his system that even Sakura couldn't fully identify." Kiba explained the situation. He laughed out loud abrubtly before he continued.

"What's wrong? What's so funny?" Hinata was confused and listened to Kiba speak between his grunting laughter.

"His neck………..haha…..It's hehehe!" Kiba's laughing was uncontrollable. "His neck is covered with hickeys!" Kiba rolled around on the ground laughing. Sasuke almost fell out of the tree at this last remark.

Hinata covered her mouth as her eyes widened; she let out a small giggle. Shino's cheeks turned slightly red, but were only noticeable if one stared closely at him.

"Is he ok? Stop laughing, Kiba. How did he get the……t-the hickeys?" Hinata asked nervously. Kiba stood up slowly and regained some of his composure.

"He'll be there for the rest of the night. The Hokage and Sakura used some kind of poison extraction technique on him. It looked really painful. He should be ok." Kiba stopped for a moment. "I don't know about the hickeys. But, whoever attacked him tried to give him an antidote. It was very poorly made from what the Hokage said." Kiba and the others started walking away.

Sasuke stared in awe at what he had just heard. "What does she mean "poorly made?" Sasuke grimaced and hit the tree with his fist. The sound echoed through the grove. "Shit."

Hinata turned her head in time to see something move suddenly out of the corner of her eye. She gasped and took a step towards the forest. Her eyes scanned back and forth suspiciously.

"What is it Hinata?" Shino asked calmly.

"N-nothing, I thought I saw something. Let's keep moving." Hinata sounded unsure, but turned back around and continued walking with Kiba and Shino.

"That was close." Sasuke thought to himself as he continued to vault from tree to tree. "So, Naruto's in the hospital, huh?" A smile formed in Sasuke's mind. "I'll just stop in and pay him a visit. He'd probably feel bad if I just dashed off." Sasuke contently bounded for Konoha's hospital.

Chapter 6 is DONE. It can be posted as soon as I see how this one does. I'd like to post it tomorrow the 24th of July. But I would love to post it tonight, the 23rd, at Midnight. All I need is one review before then and I WILL post it at midnight.