Small Conversations

Sequel to "Things unsaid" "She was in Love", and "Losing an apartment, Gaining a House key"

Sometimes the big conversations happen in small parts.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em, I'm just a spoony bard

Chapter 3

In which there is more bleeding

A/N: it was pointed out to me that I have been spelling Sasuke's name completely wrong. Thank you to TeamChaotix, for pointing it out to me. (And yes, I hate him. He's such a DOUCHE!) Also to Razyx for correcting my on the spelling of jutsu. I'm going to try and go through and fix it from this point on. Also, the reason this is getting released as chapters is because in one document, it is already like 32 pages long. I'm not really picking the best spots for chapter change; I'm trying to keep each one about 5 pages long. So I apologize if the point of change isn't the perfect one.

A voice from behind them made Sakura jump. "Don't I get a turn?"

"No. Besides, you left, what do you even now about anyone anymore?" Sakura said. She glanced over at him and picked up a bowel, filling it with the leftovers from their dinner. "But we'll let you have dinner." Naruto took the bowl from her and walked over to where Sasuke sat, bound and leaning against the tree.

Sasuke watched him warily, but Naruto made no aggressive moves. Instead, he lifted chopsticks full of rice to Sasuke's mouth. Sasuke ate, watching and waiting for the blonde to strike. The expected blow never came. Naruto read the confusion on his face. Setting the now empty bowl with Kakashi's he went back to the fire, poured a cup of water, added tea, and handed it to his old rival. Sasuke took it, glowering at him.

"You should be able to drink this without help." He said flatly. "Throw it at anyone and you won't get anything else until we get back to Konoha." He went back to sit at Sakura's side. She was digging in her pack again, producing a bag of huge white marshmallows.

"Sakura, what's with the marshmallows?" Kakashi asked.

"Well I figured we'd need something to bribe that fat dumb toad of Naruto's. He's always asking for snacks. I thought we could use him to watch over him tonight." Sakura jerked her thumb at Sasuke.

"So I am allowed in the tent tonight?" Kakashi smiled. "Just don't go getting frisky. Unless you want me to join. I admit it's been awhile since I've had a three-"

Sakura punched his shoulder. "Pervert." She muttered. "Like hell we'd invite you."

"Mah, well since I'm not getting any action, and I slept like shit last night. I'll turn in now. Goodnight. And I think Sakura won." Kakashi waved them off, climbing into the tent and zipping it shut.

Naruto summoned Gamatatsu while Sakura stuck a few marshmallows on a stick and began to roast them. The sugary treat puffed as it warmed and began to turn a golden brown. The yellow toad immediately asked for a snack, as Sakura predicted.

"I got a job for you first." Naruto told him. "See him?" He pointed at Sasuke. Gamatatsu nodded. "We need you to make sure he doesn't try to go anywhere. If he runs, or tries anything, eat him."

"Sure boss, but what kind of snacks do I get?"

Sakura pulled a marshmallow from the stick and tossed it to the toad. His long tongue snatched it from the air and he made a noise of enjoyment. "Look, I'll roast you ten now, and tomorrow night, I'll roast you ten more."

"Boss, is the pretty lady serious? I never had something so good!"

"Yeah, she is. You'll do it?" The toad nodded and Naruto sat back to help Sakura roast the promised treats.

When Gamatatsu had eaten his marshmallows, Sakura roasted a few more. She ate one herself and offered one to Naruto who took it, wincing as he reached. "You're injured?" She asked.

"It's nothing major. I'll be fine." He shrugged. Sakura rolled her eyes.

"You idiot. I know your definition of fine. Let me see." She unzipped his jacket, revealing the blood soaked shirt underneath. "Naruto! You're bleeding everywhere! This is not fine!" she peeled the jacket from his shoulders, noting how he tried not to grimace in pain. She pulled a kunai form her pouch, splitting the ruined shirt down the front and peeled that from his skin as well.

Blood smeared across his chest coming from a deep gash on his collarbone that had been made by Sasuke's sword. She shook her head and using the rest of the hot water, wet a non-bloody area of Naruto's shirt, using it to wipe away the blood. Once the wound was clean she summoned her healing chakra and pushed the glow into him. Muscle knotted back together and skin sealed itself as she worked. Sasuke watched in silence form where he sat. His quiet made it hard to remember he was there.

"Thanks." Naruto said.

Sakura ran her fingers over the newly formed skin. It would have left a scar on anyone else, but Naruto's connection with the Kyuubi enhanced his healing and the skin was smooth. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the spot.

"All better." She smiled at him. Naruto popped the marshmallow he'd still been holding into his mouth, leaving sticky white sugar on his fingers. He stuck the end of his thumb in his mouth, sucking off the mess form the digit, but before he could clean his forefinger, Sakura took his hand and placed it in her mouth. She licked the goo from his finger, her tongue swirling around it to remove the last bits of the treat.

Still watching them, Sasuke made a disgusted noise. They turned to him, Naruto's finger slipping form between Sakura's lips. "Here I thought Kakashi had finally gone insane. You really are fucking him aren't you Sakura." Her face flamed, having forgotten their audience, and Naruto glared at him. "I thought you had better taste. Wasn't it me you were chasing after before? Do you pretend it still is? Do you scream my name when you're with him?" Sakura's expression hardened and she put a hand on Naruto's arm to prevent him from jumping up and ripping Sasuke to shreds.

"Let me handle this." She whispered, keeping her volume low enough that only Naruto could hear. She stood, making her way past the toad guarding Sasuke, and delivered a kick to his jaw. She hadn't done it hard enough to break bone, but his face swelled instantly and his head snapped to the side.

"Well you see Sasuke, it would have never been you. You're not man enough." She growled. "You ran like a coward. You left us, left Konoha, and turned your back on everything that's important. Naruto is smarter," she punctuated with a punch. "Stronger." Another punch. "Braver" punch. "More determined" punch "more devoted" punch "and better than you in every way." She stopped hitting him, glaring down at him instead. "He's also the only man I want. I'm glad you left. It let me see him for who he is. Out of your shadow, he shines. All you are is a coward and a traitor. I hope the Hokage throws the book at you." She turned away, then looking over her shoulder she added. "And it's his name I scream, no one else's." She kicked him in the ribs again for good measure.

Sasuke spat blood, along with a tooth, and glared at her. "You really think he'll stay like that? He's a monster, a murderer, and a demon. I can't believe you let him touch you."

Sakura caught the brief look of pain on Naruto's face at the utterance of those words. She wondered how often he'd heard them. It angered her that people had never distinguished between Naruto, and Kyuubi. She knew the difference. She walked back to Naruto to stand directly in front of him.

"No Sasuke, you are the monster, the murderer. As for the demon? Yes, the demon is inside." She ran her fingers down Naruto's chest, looking up into his eyes. "It's not him. And I love it when he touches me." She leaned up and captured his lips fiercely with her own. "Don't you forget that." She whispered to him. She stepped away and turned to the tent. Unzipping the flap, she saw Kakashi was already asleep. She grabbed one of the sleeping rolls and stalked back over to where Sasuke sat and draped it around him. "I don't want you to freeze to death before justice is served." She said icily. Then taking Naruto's hand, she pulled him into the tent behind her and zipped it shut, leaving Sasuke bleeding, bruised and bound where he lay.

She woke in the morning spooned against Naruto in their shared bedroll. Kakashi was already up and out of the tent and she could smell something cooking. Naruto stirred behind her, pulling her closer and nuzzling her hair, he murmured her name against the pink strands.

"Naruto, wake up." She said, shifting in his grasp. He murmured again, something unintelligible, tightening his hold further. She wriggled out of his arms and pushed his shoulder. "Wake up or I'll steal your clothes and you'll have to walk back naked."

He cracked one eye open. "I'm awake." He groaned. Sitting up, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Kakashi making food?" He sniffed that air. "Smells like bacon."

"Well it's either him or Sasuke got loose and is cooking your toad." She answered. She helped him roll the beds, and as soon as they exited the tent Naruto took it down. Kakashi was indeed cooking bacon over the fire. Sasuke was unconscious and once again, bleeding.

"What did you do to him?" Sakura asked.

Kakashi lowered his Icha Icha book that he was reading while he cooked. "Oh we had a nice conversation, an exchange of insults. I'm apparently a perverted, over the hill, has-been and a lousy sensei." He was smiling but his tone of voice suggested he was rather angry. "Bacon?" He pulled the pan from the fire and offered it to them.

Naruto took the pan and held it between him and Sakura. "You ate already? And which one made you knock him out?"

"I ate earlier yes. And I punched his lights out for calling me a has-been. I'm still at the top of my game you know. Tsunade's even begged me to return to ANBU."

"So you don't deny the rest? Sakura asked jokingly. "Because I definitively know you're a pervert."

"Mah, I can agree with pervert and over the hill. I'm old for shinobi you know. Most don't make it to their thirties."

"You're not a lousy sensei." Naruto said. "We learned loads form you. He's an idiot and I hope you broke his jaw."

"Dislocated. It should keep him quiet."