Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, the series, or any of the characters.

A/N: Hi guys! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update, I've just been busy with life of course. Here's the second day of the Novenario, technically the fourth chapter though. Once again, I tried my best editing it to the best of my ability, so I do hope there are no bothersome mistakes. If anyone would like to help me with editing don't hesitate in private messaging me. I really hope you guys are loving this story so far, I have all my ideas planned out already and the next chapter in the works so you can look forward to that much sooner. Of course reviews do give me motivation, so please don't hesitate in leaving some! I just became aware that I can actually reply to them so I'll definitely be doing so. I am however just eternally elated and grateful if you have taken time out to read this story so thank you so much! I do have another story on the works, so please look forward to that as well. Sorry for this long author's note, but I do hope you enjoy. Happy reading!

It was just before noon and Sasuke was out in the backyard enjoying the warm breeze while on a hammock. The trees holding up the hammock were providing just enough shade to cover him from the sun, but he still felt the gentle warmth throughout his whole body. His eyes were closed as the gentle rocking of the hammock lulled him.

He remembered the times when he and Itachi were younger and used to fight for a seat on the hammock. Eventually they would just end up sharing it as they talked about the random eccentricities of childhood. They continued this habit even up until they were much too big in size to share the hammock comfortably.

Before he realized it, there were tears streaming down his face. He still couldn't understand why his gentle and loving brother had to be taken away from him so suddenly. His chest ached, and he longed for comfort he knew only his beloved Itachi could fulfill.

He drifted off into a quick slumber, and when he came to he abruptly felt a shadow looming over him.

"AHH!" Sasuke screamed as he opened his eyes and registered that there was someone standing directly over his face.

"Whoa there, didn't mean t' spook ya." A familiar sounding gentle voice boomed.

"Naruto, oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean to scream." Sasuke said, feeling completely bashful at his outburst.

"Nah, s'okay, though ya did spook me a bit there. Seems like every time we meet I frighten ya." Naruto replied with a sheepish grin.

Simultaneously, they began chuckling possibly remembering how the same thing had happened the night before.

"Well anyways, I did say I'd be back didn't I?" Naruto said softly.

"Yeah."

"What are ya doing back out here by yerself anyways?"

"Nothing much." Sasuke muttered.

He couldn't help but feel embarrassed, not only was he crying not too long ago, but he also fell asleep and it seems Naruto had seen him asleep. However, he couldn't even speak much because he was inexplicably nervous. He could feel Naruto's intense gaze staring at him, and he couldn't help but look away.

"Haha, well I can see that. Did ya want me t' leave ya alone?"

"N-no!" Sasuke suddenly shouted and immediately regretted it as he could feel the burning of his cheeks, which were at this point completely crimson.

"That's good then, 'cause I did come here especially t' see you." Naruto gave Sasuke a warm smile.

Sasuke's cheeks burned even more crimson. He looked up at Naruto who looked relaxed, leaning nonchalantly on one of the trees supporting the hammock Sasuke was on. He was wearing a white v-neck t-shirt, with a plaid shirt tied up against his waist, with old looking torn jeans and sandals. Sasuke's gaze drifted back up to Naruto's chest area, which was noticeably defined even under his tee. He looked further up and his obsidian eyes immediately connected with Naruto's sparkling blue eyes. Sasuke quickly darted his eyes away, his embarrassment increasing tenfold.

"What were ya lookin' at? Did I have somethin' on me?" Naruto said, attempting to straighten himself out.

"N-no."

"Oh 'kay. Well anyways, ya still don't talk much do ya?"

Sasuke didn't reply, instead he was wondering why Naruto made him feel such discomfort, but yet there was a nagging feeling that he didn't want Naruto to leave.

"Eh, doesn't matter, I did say I'd do enough talkin' for the both'a us didn't I?" Naruto said scratching his head a bit.

Sasuke nodded.

"Um, did you want to sit?" Sasuke sat upright making space for Naruto to possibly sit next to him.

"If ya don't mind me, then sure." Naruto said taking a seat next to Sasuke on the hammock.

"This thing is pretty sturdy ain't it?"

"Yeah." Sasuke replied feeling his chest thumping wildly.

"Ya don't mind me layin' back do ya?"

Sasuke shook his head saying no.

"But yer gonna have t' lay back too y'know."

"Mhm." Sasuke replied and they both laid back.

Soon they were gently swinging, as Naruto was slowly pushing the hammock back and forth with his legs. Sasuke stared up at the vast blue sky above him. Time seemed to be moving slowly as the clouds above him floated away.

He turned his head and saw that Naruto had his eyes closed. Naruto's face looked serene and at peace. Sasuke's eyes wandered over the rest of his face, over his blonde eyebrows, his slender nose, his marked cheeks. Sasuke wondered where the marks came from. They looked as if they were whiskers and looked strange, but they seemed to suit Naruto and instead of ruining his features, Sasuke thought they accentuated them. Lastly, Sasuke's eyes floated down to Naruto's lips. They were thin and pink, they also seemed to look extremely soft, and Sasuke had the sudden urge of wanting to touch them.

Unexpectedly, he felt Naruto's face turn towards his, until their faces were almost touching. They were too close, and Sasuke could feel himself burning up.

Naruto cracked a giant smile and said, "my face must be a masterpiece huh," while letting out a small chuckle. He seemed to notice Sasuke's discomfort and he inched his face away.

"Were ya wonderin' about the marks on my cheeks?"

"Maybe." Sasuke said sheepishly as he turned his face away. He was too embarrassed to even look Naruto's way, as he always got caught staring.

"It's no big deal really, I was actually born with 'em. I was told it must'a been 'cause I was a fox in my past life. Who really knows, I like 'em though. Don't ya think they suit me?" Naruto chuckled.

"Yeah." Sasuke answered complimenting Naruto.

"Eheh, you didn't have t' answer, now I'm kinda embarrassed." Naruto said as he sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck with his hand.

"Like you said earlier, it's no big deal really." Sasuke said turning his head to face Naruto.

This seemed to catch Naruto off guard as he quickly sat up once again rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

"Heh, yeah, yer right."

Sasuke realized his own outburst or at least what he considered it to be, and became withdrawn. He remembered exactly why he couldn't bring himself to interact with people, it always left him feeling awkward. He scorned himself for thinking he could interact well even with someone as easygoing as Naruto.

"I'm going back inside." Sasuke said without warning.

"Oh, that's alright, I actually had t' get goin' myself, well I guess I'll see ya then." Naruto said awkwardly as he stood up making a motion to leave.

"See you." Sasuke said, looking down as he couldn't bring himself to look into Naruto's face.

"Don't think ya can get rid of me so easily, I'll be back later tonight, 'kay!" Naruto said, his back turned as he was walking away, waving goodbye with his arm slightly raised up.

Sasuke didn't want to admit it, but it did make him feel a bit happy to hear Naruto say that.

It was evening, and the Uchiha estate was crowded with people once more. Sasuke was sitting on a swinging chair located on the porch of the house. Sasuke was okay with being around large groups of people, he had to deal with it at school of course, but it was uncomfortable in this case because the people surrounding him oftentimes wanted to interact with him.

There was still no sight of Naruto. Sasuke kept telling himself that it wasn't like he was especially looking forward to seeing him once more, but he wanted a distraction from the current situation.

Sasuke wasn't exactly the most religious or spiritual person ever, so he didn't find a place with those partaking in the prayers. He also couldn't quite stand the fact of being near people claiming to love Itachi so much, when he knew their pain and suffering was not at all in comparison to the one he felt. He didn't want to make himself seem pompous or even that he was disregarding the feelings of others, but he was more than positive he couldn't relate with at least more than half of the people there.

Almost all of everyone who was there started making their way inside to partake in the prayers. With nothing to do, he decided walk around and possibly gaze at the stars while he was at it.

He figured the best place to go was to where he was at earlier on the hammock. He was making his way there when he heard a noise that made him stop almost dead on his tracks.

He listened silently to see if he could more clearly understand what is was that he heard. After listening for a bit, he was almost positive that what he was hearing was the sound of someone crying.

Inching his way closer, he stuck close to the side of the house, to make sure he wouldn't reveal himself. He finally made it to the edge and the backyard area was close enough in sight so that he could see who it was.

There was a tall figure leaning against one of the gates that separated the backyard from yet another section belonging to the Uchiha estate. The light from the moon illuminated the person's hair, which was unmistakably blond.

"Naruto? What's he doing there?" Sasuke asked himself completely shocked by the scene he was seeing right before his eyes.

As shocked as he was, there was absolutely no mistake that the person there was Naruto, and that that very same Naruto was sobbing in quite an audible tone.

However, Sasuke couldn't quite bring himself to leave just yet. He didn't want to get caught seeing Naruto in such a state, but he just couldn't peel his eyes away.

Suddenly, he heard Naruto's voice and he quickly tried to conceal himself more.

"Why?" Sasuke heard Naruto say in between soft sobbing.

After what seemed like a long time, he saw that Naruto's sobbing had calmed down quite a bit. He could see Naruto wiping his eyes with the back of his arm.

"Why'd ya have t' leave me?" Sasuke heard Naruto say.

Sasuke realized Naruto was talking about Itachi. He still couldn't understand why Naruto was acting the way he was.

"Ya know I loved ya Itachi, I always did." Sasuke heard Naruto say softly.

"What?" Sasuke thought to himself.

What exactly was going on? Naruto loved Itachi?

"What am I supposed t' do now?" Naruto's voice broke a little as he said it.

Sasuke felt bewildered. Did this mean Naruto was in love with Itachi? He suddenly felt himself bolting away. He couldn't believe what he had witnessed, nevertheless what he had heard.

"What did that mean?" Sasuke thought to himself.

He was completely shocked, and he felt hot tears rushing to his eyes. Most importantly, he felt an anger he couldn't quite explain.

Naruto briskly turned around at the sound of footsteps running away. He became aware of the fact that someone had seen him, and he couldn't help but feel that he knew who that someone was. But he had noticed far too late, as by now, he was the only one around who remained.