A/N: The deeper you go, the more you know. (regarding relationships)
As for the title of this chap...a lot of you were given this spoiler weeks ago via some art I submitted on Deviantart. There were some pretty wild guesses as to what the spoiler meant, but no one actually guessed the true meaning. Speaking of Deviantart, someone there caught my 10k kiriban and will now be receiving a Drarry oneshot as their prize. I have other oneshots listed as prizes for upcoming kiribans. Check it out, if you want one.
13. The Room
Sasuke waited for questions, but Naruto only smiled. He wondered if he was supposed to just start from the beginning and tell everything, or if Naruto would tell him what he wanted to know. Naruto leaned in and kissed the tip of his nose. Then he threw the covers off him and Sasuke both, got out of bed, and said, "Come. You can talk while I work."
Work? Sasuke sat up slowly. He didn't want to leave the bed. He wanted to talk, and make love, and then maybe talk some more. With more lovemaking thrown in. Naruto went to his closet -an expansive allotment of space to a man who was no clothes horse, Sasuke thought in amazement- and selected a pair of jeans and an orange T-shirt from the hanging garments. Sasuke watched as the jeans were pulled up and zipped over bare genitals, then looked around for his own clothes. He spotted them laid out, clean, on the window seat and went to put them on.
Dressed, he followed Naruto through the kitchen and outside to the free-standing garage that housed the Windracer. It felt strange to be outside after being indoors for so long, and he abruptly welcomed the change. Maybe getting out of bed was a good idea. The wind felt good on his face, and it was nice to smell its freshness instead of the aroma of sex he'd been breathing in for days.
Sasuke looked around the garage. He'd been in here a few times. He knew there was a wide selection of tools, which Naruto used to perform repairs around his house with. He followed Naruto to the workshop at the back of the garage now, hugging himself for warmth, and watched as he set to work building something from lumber he had stacked against the far wall.
"Tsunade mentioned you're on the run from Madara," Naruto said as he penciled in measurements on the largest piece of wood. "I know the Uchiha clan was wiped out. How did you and your brother survive?" He stood back and selected an old-fashioned handsaw.
The fresh air had been nice, but Sasuke quickly wished he were back inside. He tried not to feel abandoned at the way Naruto was able to focus on woodworking. What happened to their wordless understanding of each other? Their bond and intent absorption with the way their bodies moved together? Didn't the man miss their closeness and cuddles under the sheets? They could speak in bed just as well as out here, couldn't they?
Hugging himself harder, Sasuke leaned against the Windracer's grill. He told what he knew of his parent's last moments, as told to him by Itachi, and of his birth. "Itachi just took me and started running. We've been running ever since."
"Do you remember any of it? The early years?" The sound of the saw on the wood wasn't loud enough to prevent them from speaking in normal tones.
"Yeah, pretty much." Sasuke enjoyed watching him work. For some reason he found it sexy.
"How far back?" Naruto turned the wood, knelt on it with one knee to steady it, and began sawing off another section.
Sasuke blew on his hands. "Mm… I have a few memories from when I was one or two. More from when I was three and onward."
"Start there."
Sasuke had to think. At first he could only talk about isolated things he'd seen or heard. Impressions. Fears he'd had. But as he moved on through his memories, slowly detailing his formative years, his narration was delivered more smoothly, and the memories became easier to recall.
-oOo-
He spoke for the entire morning. At first he just went over his memories of his upbringing, but when Naruto requested even more detail, such as his thoughts and feelings on his memories, Sasuke ended up speaking for a good portion of the afternoon too. While he did, Naruto built a new kitchen table, sanded it, carried it to the kitchen and bade Sasuke sit. He then proceeded to cook an early dinner, or a late lunch, however one chose to look at it. Sasuke paused gratefully to eat once the food was done.
Naruto watched him, while eating his own food. It had privately amused him to sense Sasuke's displeasure with leaving the bedroom, but he felt they could both do with a change of scenery. Seeing how the boy soon got over his upset to immerse himself in telling his life's story, Naruto knew he'd made the right decision. Whether Sasuke knew it or not, he'd needed to speak of these things, just as he himself could probably do with a bit of disclosure with the boy. "How did you come to be an artist?" he asked after awhile.
"Oh," Sasuke shifted a mouthful of food so that one cheek bulged. "That was my brother. More training."
Naruto waited until Sasuke had shoveled a few more mouthfuls into his face before saying, "How is art training?" He made a note to himself to feed the boy more.
"Detail. Observation. Itachi says if I'm observant then people are less likely to get the drop on me."
"I suppose…" Naruto tried to translate such a concept into ninja training. "Can you give me an example?"
Sasuke thought. "Of…what?"
"How training and artwork connect."
"Oh." Sasuke snorted out a laugh. "The art was just Itachi's way of making sure I was observant. Training my mind, or my eyes, to see. Like…he'd take me to the park, and then when we got home, make me tell every person who'd been there, what they were wearing, how tall, hair color, eye color…like that. But he wouldn't tell me beforehand that he was going to test me later. Then he switched to showing me things. Like, he'd show me a plant, let me look at it for sixty seconds, then tell me to recreate the plant exactly in a drawing. If I couldn't, like if one leaf was missing, or the stem was slanted the wrong way, I wouldn't get dinner." Sasuke frowned down at his empty plate.
Naruto got up to bring the pots to the table. "That kind of attention to your surroundings would mean you'd have to be able to remember what you saw. All the time. Why not just train you to detect threats in your vicinity?"
"Well, he did that too, but I do remember what I see."
"Is that right." Naruto filled Sasuke's plate and got him a fresh Barbican. He paused with his hand on the door once he'd closed the fridge, and found Sasuke watching him. "Did you get a look in my fridge just now?"
"Yeah. And before while you were cooking."
"What's in there?"
Sasuke didn't even have to think. He ran down the items, shelf by shelf, and detailed each item's exact placement in relation to every other item. "You're running low on eggs, and the cheese is going bad."
Naruto verified Sasuke's account of his fridge for himself, noting that he was indeed running out of eggs. "Impressive. What else did your brother teach you?"
"Lots of things." And Sasuke launched into his training sessions with his brother.
Naruto led Sasuke to the living room after they'd eaten, and retired with him on the couch. Immediately Sasuke cuddled into him, throwing his legs over Naruto's and laying his head on Naruto's chest. Naruto hugged him close, while listening to the rest of Sasuke's life history.
The boy's stories painted a vivid picture of the life he'd led, but what interested Naruto most of all was Sasuke's brother. He was able to see him through Sasuke's eyes, yes, but more importantly he was able to see Itachi objectively, something Sasuke was incapable of. Itachi was not an abusive, overbearing asshole, as he'd originally thought, not if Sasuke's account of the Uchiha slaughter was true, and Itachi had witnessed it. Naruto soon came to the conclusion that Itachi was a fascinating, complex, and extremely cunning individual. And all of this was wrapped in the simple, uncomplicated love and devotion he had for his younger brother.
Naruto knew that Sasuke was unaware of how much he revealed about Itachi with his tales. He was sure as he'd never been of anything (with the exception of Sasuke) that the only reason Itachi had managed to stay ahead of capture was due to his shrewd intelligence. Naruto had never seen or heard the like. True, he'd been on a mountain for most of his life, but even so. Itachi reminded him of an old Academy friend, Nara Shikamaru. Times ten. He didn't think there was anything the man did that he didn't plan. Which was odd. Naruto opened his mouth to say something about this and was cut off by Sasuke.
"I don't think we've ever gone so long without having sex," he said. He turned his face into Naruto's chest and nipped him through his shirt.
Naruto had to laugh. "You could be right. Do you miss it?"
"Yeah."
"Already?" Naruto joked. His own body had been responding to contact with Sasuke's for some time now.
"It's been hours." Sasuke groaned. He was nuzzling under Naruto's arm.
Naruto let this go on awhile. He'd received a complete impression of Sasuke as well, and now knew that the boy was used to getting his way. His brother was strict about some things, utterly lax on others. Naruto gathered that as long as Sasuke didn't jeopardize his or his brother's safety, he was allowed to do as he wished. He also suspected that if he let him, Sasuke would eventually become aggressive all the time, in his way. That was an interesting thought, but not in keeping with how Naruto himself viewed their relationship.
He calmly, deliberately lifted Sasuke's hand off the fly of his jeans and put a stop to the nuzzling and nibbling going on through his shirt. Sasuke frowned up at him. "What?" he asked. "You don't want to?"
Instead of answering, Naruto gave him a gentle nudge. "Go stand over there." He tipped his head toward the middle of the living room floor.
Something about Naruto's tone, and the mild yet firm smile made Sasuke sit up completely. He was reminded of before they'd gotten close, when he would unconsciously obey Naruto's wishes. He studied the blue eyes. Wondering if he'd done something wrong, he slowly got up and went where he was told. He turned and faced Naruto when he was squarely in the middle of the room. "Are you mad at me?"
Naruto smiled. "You can speak when I say you can."
Sasuke shut his mouth, wide-eyed and attentive, and not a little afraid. Where was all this coming from?
Naruto had learned much today. Chief among them was that, while inclined to aggression sometimes, Sasuke was also used to being taken care of. Having someone else in charge. Boundaries. Previously, Itachi had filled that role for Sasuke. However, since Itachi had essentially disowned Sasuke, Naruto intended to set new boundaries. He didn't intend to be a tyrant, or subvert Sasuke's will in any way, but the fact was that, though united, they weren't equals. Naruto knew this, had known it when he'd first confessed his feelings to Sasuke all those weeks ago. He loved the boy terribly, would do anything for him, but they needed to be clear on a few things.
He let his eyes travel leisurely over Sasuke's body. "One of your stories dealt with a boy your age stripping for his lover. A particular favorite of mine. Do you know which story I'm talking about? Nod or shake your head."
Sasuke nodded.
Naruto rested one ankle on his knee and put one arm on the back of the couch. He smiled. "Strip for me. Slowly."
He could see the hesitation, the questions that weren't asked. But then Sasuke slowly lifted the hem of his shirt.
-oOo-
Sasuke felt a mixture shame, disgruntlement, and excitement at Naruto watching him take his clothes off. He felt shame because he wasn't used to shedding his clothes for anyone, or in front of anyone like this. Nevermind the fact that Naruto had seen him naked for days on end, this just wasn't the same; he was being put on display, and he was no exhibitionist. He was disgruntled because he wanted sex and he wanted it now. He was antsy with the need, hot with it. Truth be told, he'd been sort of on edge with his arousal all day, but had been distracted by talking and eating.
As for the excitement, well…he remembered that story. He remembered idly wondering what it would be like to have Naruto see him naked. The thoughts he'd entertained, and the resulting story, didn't come close to comparing to the reality of stripping for Naruto. Naruto's eyes were hooded, intent, unblinking. And they were full of a leashed and powerful desire for him. Knowing he would get fucked eventually, and that the stripping was a tease to them both, was more than exciting. He was so hard that he nearly caught the skin of his cock in his zipper as he lowered it. That's what he got for going commando like Naruto. It didn't help that his hands were now shaking.
There was something slutty about stripping, Sasuke decided. It was something only a complete and utter fag would do. The way he consistently let Naruto fuck him senseless was also faggotry, a voice whispered in his mind. And the way he'd sucked cock last night like it was going out of style, and swallowed to boot. Nude, he stood and waited.
-oOo-
Naruto took his time looking. He studied everything, from the way Sasuke distributed his weight, to the way he kept his hands loose, to how Sasuke in turn studied him. He now had a better idea of what went on behind those dark eyes. He beckoned with one hand.
When Sasuke reached him, he made the boy sit on his lap facing him. He kept his legs spread slightly apart. This forced Sasuke's thighs to remain apart in turn, and thus give Naruto access to certain parts of him. Naruto remained clothed. He lifted a hand now, and lightly brushed one of Sasuke's nipples with his thumb. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"
Sasuke shuddered at the touch. Shook his head…then after a moment nodded. He finally ended with a shrug.
"Enough to change. Not everything about myself, but some things. I love you more than I can put into words. Do you believe me when I say I would never hurt you?" His fingers ran down Sasuke stomach, to trail along his thigh.
A nod. Sasuke's eyes were closed now, his head slightly back.
"That all I want is to keep you, and love you, and bring you pleasure?"
Another jerky nod.
Naruto lowered his hand to cup the soft pink scrotum hanging between his legs, and Sasuke sighed harshly. "I don't think I could live without you. You're in me now, in my soul. And that's as it should be. I wouldn't change that for the world, would you?"
A head shake. Sasuke breathed rapidly as that hand kneaded gently, rubbed, and rolled his delicate orbs in one strong palm.
"Look at me."
Sasuke opened his eyes and looked down at him.
"Sometimes you like to assert yourself, and sometimes I like it, but I think you and I both prefer when I lead. Am I right?" When Naruto received Sasuke's hesitant nod, he continued. "Yes. I like doing things to you. And you like what I do to you. We're one. But…even so, I prefer when you to defer to me," he said slowly, carefully. "I will never take advantage of you, but…I need to be in charge. Do you understand?"
Sasuke wondered if Naruto was aware of being manipulative, or if the guy had been alone for so long that he simply didn't know any way but his own. Sasuke was inclined to believe the latter. Naruto was used to controlling every aspect of his life and his surroundings. For this reason and this alone, Sasuke gave a small nod. He understood. It wasn't like Naruto would hurt him, as he'd said, or in any way be cruel to him. But the man wanted complete control, at all times, and would only relinquish it on rare occasions, when it suited him to.
Naruto was watching him, his brow furrowed with worry. To reassure him that things were still all right between them, Sasuke smiled. Naruto smiled in relief as well, and said, "You can speak."
He would give Naruto control, but Sasuke wanted what he wanted too. "I'm horny."
Naruto laughed and pulled him closer. "You don't say. As it happens, so am I. What should we do about that?"
Sasuke feigned nonchalance, looking out the window behind Naruto's head. "You're in charge," he shrugged.
True, Naruto thought. And Sasuke was going to make him work tonight, he could see. Headstrong boy. Wonderful, fascinating, headstrong boy.
They'd never made love anywhere but in the bedroom. The living room couch was new territory; a thick tendril of desire uncoiled in Naruto's belly, setting the low-grade arousal he'd been experiencing since Sasuke had disrobed aflame. A bonfire of sudden need had him pulling Sasuke close, and pressing his face hard into the boy's slender chest.
"Uuuuuhhhh…huuuhhh," Sasuke moaned to the ceiling. The feel of Naruto's hot tongue dragging up his chest to the hollow of his throat had him forgetting his mild unease about Naruto's need to be in control. He wrapped both arms around the blond head, and cried out again when that mouth fastened around his nipple and the surrounding flesh tightly.
"I love the sounds you make," Naruto rasped. "Tell me what you want me to do to you."
"Kiss me…everywhere…"
Sasuke barely felt himself lifted and laid on the couch, or heard Naruto hastily shedding his own clothes. He was blind, eyes closed, focused entirely on the mouth and tongue, and rough hands that roamed his body and robbed him of breath. He wanted it so badly, needed it. He felt as if he would combust and burn to ash now if Naruto didn't fuck him soon.
However. He would give in on his terms. He managed a breathless smile in the dark. He was glad of the lack of light; he didn't know if he could make his requests otherwise. They'd never vocalized their lovemaking before. "Harder," he whispered when Naruto left hickies on his back. He had to cover his mouth to keep from screaming when Naruto complied, and the pleasure nearly had him coming.
He heard a wet sucking sound then, before he felt his lower cheeks spread and the moistened tips of Naruto's blunt fingers pressing against his entrance. "Is this all right?" he heard Naruto ask somewhere above him. He nodded. Then he bit his hand at the faint burn and sting.
-oOo-
Naruto went slowly, watching what he could of Sasuke's face. He listened to the erratic breathing, monitored each tension of muscles or twist of hips. The boy was drier and tighter than he'd been at any time since they'd become intimate; they'd gone the entire day without sex.
He saw Sasuke catch his lip between his teeth on a soft grunt as his fingers pressed deeper. Touching Sasuke like this, more personally than he'd ever done, set his own face ablaze with embarrassment and excitement. The soft inner folds, the tightness, the way Sasuke clamped down on his fingers, all had Naruto struggling not to impale him right then and there. He concentrated on restraining himself, making himself wait until he received the signal from Sasuke.
His fingers slid in and out slowly; moisture was scarce. He withdrew his hand and hesitated before bringing it to his mouth, but only for a moment. Sasuke was scrupulously clean, and the thought of tasting this most private part of him had Naruto close to losing his control entirely. He sucked his fingers greedily, wetting them heavily. The faint musky flavor had him growling. He quickly pushed his fingers into that hot, grasping hole again. He held Sasuke spread, squeezing one white ass cheek hard in his eagerness. He twisted his hand, corkscrewing and rotating his wrist for maximum effect.
Sasuke dug his teeth into his lip, grunting and squealing, before finally roaring and shaking his head hard from side to side. His ass pushed upward against Naruto's hand, and Naruto knew the boy would cave soon. He curved the fingers inside him downward and was rewarded when Sasuke reacted by lashing out with his feet and clawing at the couch cushions. Surprised, Naruto played with this spot off and on, stopping whenever Sasuke screamed into the couch pillows, or when he kicked too hard, until he finally withdrew his hand. Sasuke turned over immediately and reached for him, ready at last. Naruto fell on him gratefully.
-oOo-
Between the hot, bruising kisses Naruto rained on his throat Sasuke said, "Now. Please. I want it, I can't take it anymore. I want you in me." He'd meant to prolong their love play until Naruto was the one begging, but he was going out of his mind. "I want you now."
"Yes, love. Soon," Naruto hissed. He was moving down Sasuke's body. "Let me taste you first, let me…" The voice was a hoarse promise in the dark, one that whipped Sasuke's lust to a fever pitch.
He clutched at Naruto, pulled him, pinched at his arms and bit the hand Naruto splayed against his face. He sucked the broad thumb when it dipped past his lips, then bit it hard at feeling Naruto's sensual mouth brush the tip of his cock. "Oh…God…" Naruto licked the clear fluid drizzling from him, hummed at swallowing it, licked again, then took him whole. The rough surface of his tongue had made him squeak, but at being swallowed so completely, he bit the knuckles of one hands and nearly yanked out a handful of Naruto's hair. "Mmmmffggghff!"
Another rumbling hum. Sasuke thought he'd lose his fucking mind at how delicious that felt. Then Naruto began sucking him, sucking hard, as if he were drinking Sasuke's essence, and Sasuke let loose a scream for mercy. He pushed at Naruto's head.
Naruto didn't budge. He restrained the kicking legs and held them down. Forced to endure the wicked pleasure, Sasuke didn't last long. He came with a sharp yelp, and Naruto made sure to swallow it all, gluttonously, until Sasuke struggled weakly in his grasp. He pulled off the softened white cock reluctantly, only to turn his face aside to plant soft kisses on the sensitive flesh of Sasuke's inner thighs. He lifted his head only when Sasuke began moaning in need again, and found the boy hard once more. He crawled over him until he was settled firmly between his wet and trembling thighs. "Sasuke."
Sasuke opened his eyes with difficulty.
"You want it?"
"Yesssss, please, I need it." He reached for Naruto, but Naruto resisted.
He stared down into Sasuke's eyes for several seconds, feeling Sasuke's need keenly. He could see it in the glazed sheen of his eyes, in his parted lips, and in his throbbing pulse. He let it built a moment more, making his point, before positioning himself quickly and driving forward.
Sasuke arched hard on a sob of Naruto's name. Naruto gave in to the hands tugging on him and sank into a deep, hot kiss of shared passion.
-oOo-
He never grew tired of the beauty they were able to create with their harmonious movements. They fit together so well, in so many ways, that he didn't know how he'd lived before Sasuke had come into his life. It had been nice today, to do something other than make love, to reacquaint himself with the fact that there were other rooms in the house, but he'd missed this. Quite as much as Sasuke had, it seemed. He braced his weight on his forearms, and thrust harder, trying to touch the boy's hammering heart with his cock, trying to reach all of him, to have all of him, as he kissed him endlessly.
Sasuke sucked the taste of himself hungrily from Naruto's mouth. Naruto let him, kissing him long and hard and deep, the way he liked, and fucking him slow and hard and deep the way he liked, and he was gone, gone, gone, in the sea of pure sensation that always swept over them. He was drowning in its depths, filled to bursting with it, oozing it in the sweat and cum that poured from him, and wanting more, always more.
And Naruto gave it to him. Always. He never held back. Sasuke squeezed his arms around Naruto's neck, hanging on as he was carried over the edge of the sea, the edge of the world, to fall and drown in the same sea all over again.
They lay without speaking, listening to the faint nighttime sounds of the forest beyond the clearing outside the window. The living room was downright cold, Sasuke realized. He was glad of Naruto's heat.
Naruto watched thin clouds backlit by a full moon being harried by the wind. The clouds were torn and shredded until stars shone through, and the moon's light hit him and Sasuke directly. He looked at the moon for a long time, aware of how tenuous the world's safety was. It wasn't something he'd thought about in a long time, but he thought of it now, and held Sasuke closer still.
The boy was his responsibility now. Naruto was reminded achingly of the team he'd lost, lost to Madara. For the first time in years he had something precious again, something that someone could take from him. That Madara wanted to take from him. Madara, Madara, Madara. How was it that wanting the Vessel, and wanting the Uchiha had driven the two things Madara wanted most together?
Fate. Destiny.
Naruto breathed deeply, accepting the responsibility, and the shift in his life from solitude to relationship. He'd fought it long enough, and would fight it no more. He stroked the thick dark hair beneath his chin thoughtfully. "Are you all right?"
"Yuh-hm."
"Not still horny?"
"Mmm…a little." There was a smile in the sleepy voice.
"You're insatiable."
"Look who's talking. I can barely keep up."
Naruto felt an inordinate amount of pride at hearing this. Then his smile faded. "Sasuke?"
"Hm?"
"I worry about you."
"Why?"
"Just…I worry about you living life while looking over your shoulder."
"Oh. Well…Itachi trained me pretty well. And he always manages to stay ahead of anyone looking for us."
It bothered Naruto that Sasuke associated his safety solely with his brother. "You're not with Itachi now."
"No, but-"
"What if you were alone?"
"But I'm not-"
"Just what if you were, though?"
"He trained me. Itachi. I've been able to handle myself in the past."
"You didn't in the store. I know that was deliberate, but it goes to my point that you can't always handle things on your own. And your brother has kicked you out."
Sasuke tilted his head up to look at Naruto and found the blue eyes on him. "He didn't mean that."
"He hasn't come looking for you."
"He's mad. He-"
"Sasuke. You're with me now. And I worry."
"I'm careful…" He was touched.
"I know." Naruto rubbed Sasuke's arm, up and down. "I know. It's just…what if Madara caught you?"
Sasuke was hurt by the question; why wasn't Naruto saying that he would protect him? Weren't they together now, as Naruto had said? "Itachi always knows when Madara's people are getting close, so that probably won't happen. And like I said, we're really careful here. Plus the Hokage said she'd keep us safe too, so-"
Naruto couldn't bear the boy's reliance on others anymore. He cut him off. "I want to show you something."
He didn't say anything else, but got up and held his hand out to Sasuke, who took it and followed him down the hall to his room. He raised a brow when Naruto stopped at his closet. Naruto hesitated, looked back at him, then went ahead and pushed the door open. He indicated that Sasuke should follow him, and Sasuke dubiously went in after him.
Naruto flicked a light switch to his left inside the closet and pushed all the clothes hanging on that side to the far wall. Sasuke gaped at the door that was hidden there, looked at Naruto, looked back at the door. Naruto reached a hand up to the shelf running the length of the closet on that side and retrieved a key. The mysterious door was unlocked, and Sasuke couldn't keep himself from crowding close behind Naruto's shoulder, eager to see what was inside.
-oOo-
A room. Sasuke took in the dimensions in a fast sweep of his eyes. Plain walls, dark area rug, desk, chair, wide screen computer. His eyes stayed on the computer, on the display there, as Naruto closed the door behind them.
He saw separate views of a multitude of cameras that switched at precisely 5 second intervals to images from other cameras. All displayed sections of the road leading up from the barricade, the clearing, and other parts of Naruto's mountain. Staring at it, Sasuke was able to work out the programming. He saw how the motion detectors would send a signal to this desktop. Unless the detectors were triggered by someone whose face was programmed to be allowed through the barricade, like Naruto's, Moegi's, or the Hokage's, he bet those detectors went off loud and clear in this room. He himself had programmed his face into the facial recognition, so he'd gotten through. He bent and checked the make and model of the computer, confirming that it was the latest Soundwave Pro(1). Otogakure made superior electronics, that much he knew. His own Spectrum(2) wouldn't hold a candle to this, and he'd upgraded his computer personally with the newest Oto software. He was envious.
His attention was diverted when Naruto bent to fold the small dark rug covering the middle of the floor out of the way. There was a square steel door recessed into the floor. Sasuke stared as Naruto placed his palm against a small, rectangular plate. It was so cleverly meshed with the steel as to nearly be invisible. The door slid sideways into the floor with a whoosh of compressed air after Naruto's palm was scanned. Sasuke jumped back, startled, and squinted in the wide shaft of light that shot up from the opening in the floor. He stared at Naruto in shock.
Naruto bent and began climbing down a ladder that Sasuke hadn't seen. He crept forward now, lowering his hand from where it had flown to his chest. He peered down and saw Naruto's head fifty yards below, and descending what seemed to be a shaft that ended in bright light. Recessed lights lined the shaft, the source of the illumination that sprang up into the room.
Sasuke stared around. This high-tech machinery did not fit the rustic quality of Naruto's home. On the computer screen, he saw a small light flashing, signaling that 'The Room' was open. Swallowing, intensely curious, he moved to follow Naruto down.
(1) Soundwave: Top line of computers produced by Otogakure
(2) Spectrum: another line of computers produced and manufactured in Otogakure, but not as high-end as the Soundwave.