The first time he realized that he was in love with Sasuke was when Sasuke almost died during their first real mission.

Naruto sat in his room right next to the room that Sasuke was recovering in. He hadn't left since they got back from the fight with Haku. Every time they wanted him to eat they had to bring him food. He didn't want to leave because this was the only place in the house that he could listen and make sure that Sasuke was still okay. He knew that Kakashi and Sakura were in Sasuke's room practically 24/7 but he didn't care. He just wanted to make sure. Kakashi came to check up on him as well sometimes, but Sakura pretty much left him alone. This was the one reason that he was glad that Sasuke was out cold was because he didn't have to take the attention away from Sasuke. He really wanted to be left alone at that moment.

He had a lot to think about. The moment that Sasuke fell unconscious his heart hit his throuat and he almost couldn't breathe. He wanted more than anything to kill the man that hurt his love, and at that moment he realized Sasuke was the man that he loved. I guess it made sense to him. He had practically been obsessed with Sasuke ever sense he first met him. Though obsessed might not be the right word for it.

There was a moan from the room next to his and he immediately recognized it as Sasuke's voice. By the lack of reaction he could tell that this was one of the rare moments that Sasuke was alone in his room. He quietly moved to go into the room next to his to find Sasuke's eyes open. "How are you feeling?"

"What are you doing here?" growled Sasuke before he winced from the pain in his throat.

"You died in front of my eyes," answered Naruto shrugging.

The only answer Sasuke gave was to glare as he stared back. "Well now that you've figured out that I'm alive will you leave me alone?"

"Haku died," Naruto muttered.

"Who cares?" Sasuke growled.

"I do." He looked closely at his hand as he remembered what he did to the poor man who only tried to protect the man that saved his life.

"You shouldn't care about weaklings like that," came a voice in his head, "They were trying to kill the man you love. They deserved to die. You should have been the one to kill them. Don't you want to protect the man you love, or maybe you're too weak to do such a thing. You have to be stronger to protect him. I can help you. I can give you power. I can give you the strength to win. The strength to protect him. The strength to protect the man you love."

"Leave me alone!" That was also the first time he ever talked to the Kyuubi.

this is 3/4