Naruto arrives at the bridge and scowls. Sasuke is already there, grinning like a madman. Well, he isn't actually grinning, it's a small smile, but everyone who knows Sasuke knows that if Sasuke smiles, he's going crazy inside. A smirk is always welcomed because he's an Uchiha and thinks he's above everyone else but a happy smile, no that isn't right. Naruto walks over nonchalantly and stretches his arms.

"What time is it?" Naruto groans. Sasuke smiles and lifts his head in a proud manor.

"About eight." Sasuke says with pride hidden in his tone. It's making Naruto feel uneasy. Naruto leans against the cold railing and stares up at the sky, last night's conversation with the Sound Five fluttering back into his mind. Naruto lets out a sigh.

"When's Kakashi and Sakura gonna be here?" Naruto groans again. Sasuke chuckles.

"You mean, When are Kakashi and Sakura gonna get here?" Sasuke corrects, pissing Naruto off. He isn't in the mood today. He has so much to think about and the pressure's getting intense. Can he leave the village? The chances are fifty-fifty. No one in the village actually respects him. But maybe if he went with the Sound Five and killed a certain person, they would see how strong he was and let him have the title of Hokage.

"Yeah, whatever. Just answer my question." Naruto rolls his eyes. Sasuke shifts his weight onto his other leg and crosses his arms over his chest.

"Why does it matter? You know Kakashi is always late and Sakura has no discipline." Sasuke snaps. Naruto's pondering about how bi-polar Sasuke is being. Naruto is feeling extremely apathetic. He sits up straight and scratches the back of his head.

"Well, I wasn't asking if Sakura had discipline or if Kakashi would be on time. I just wanna know when they'll be here. Can't your Sharingan thing tell when they'll be here?" Naruto asks and Sasuke gives him an icy Uchiha glare.

"Dobe, my Sharingan can't see into the future." Sasuke snarls. Naruto shrugs.

"It slows down time or something so you know what's gonna happen before it does, right?" Naruto cocks his head to one side and holds his hands up in a questioning manor. Sasuke rolls his eyes impatiently.

"It slows down time so I can have more time to dodge and attack. If it slows stuff down, why the hell would I be able to see into the future?" Sasuke asks, giving Naruto a look that says See, it's fun when you think about things before you say them. Sakura comes into vision and Naruto cheers up. He likes Sakura as well as he likes Sasuke, if you can say he likes that teme.

"Hey, Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouts, waving stupidly at the pinkette. Sasuke scowls and goes quiet. She runs past Naruto and straight to Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun!" she shrieks and clings to Sasuke's arm. He sighs impatiently as she goes on and on about how she's dieting and how much cooler she is than Ino. Sasuke keeps his eyes fixed on Naruto, who seems a little distracted. Naruto grits his teeth.

Can he really leave the village? It's where he grew up. It's where he formed his first bond. It's where he got his first crush. He doesn't want to betray the Leaf Village. But he absoloutely has to destroy him! He's the whole reason Naruto's outcasted! And no one respects him in the village anyway! At the rate he's going, he'll never be hokage! He needs to get stronger! He has to! And then he'll return and prove to everyone that he's the strongest, without the demon's power!

But can he leave Sasuke? That is the one thing he's thinking about. He has the strongest bond with Sasuke. He'll do anything to keep Sasuke safe, even if it means he has to give up his life. He wonders what it means when you'll do anything for a person. even the ultimate sacrifice. He sighs and scratches the back of his head. Sasuke cocks a brow.

"Dobe, let's sparr." Sasuke says with his careless tone. Naruto doesn't seem to hear him. "Dobe."

"Huh?" Naruto finally arouses from his thought and looks at Sasuke.

"I'm gonna sparr. Come with." It wasn't so much a question as it was a command. Nevertheless, Naruto follows Sasuke to the end of the bridge. Sakura clutches onto Sasuke's shirt, making him turn to look at her. Naruto notices Sasuke isn't beside him and turns back.

"Sasuke-kun, why can't we sparr," Sakura has a stern look on her face. Naruto turns completely around to hear what she has to say. Sasuke looks questioningly at her. "Why! Why do you only sparr with Naruto! Why is he the only one you talk to! Why is he the only one you hang out with! Why is he the only one you acknowledge! Why Naruto!" Sakura shouts. Sasuke's utterly stunned. A light blush comes over his features. Naruto's frozen. He wants to know the answer as well. "I've protected you! I'm always nice to you! I always try to be your friend! Yet, he insults you! He doesn't respect you! So why do you like him better-"

"That's enough!" Sasuke bellows. His expression is hard and his eyes were like ice. His glare fades into frown. "Do you know what it's like to be alone? That feeling of abandonment? Of course, you don't. But Naruto understands how I feel. He was alone as was I. You treat me like royalty because you think I'll eventually fall in love with you and give you a title. Naruto treats me like a person, not because he'll gain anything from it...But because we know the same pain. He doesn't treat me like I'm something special. He treats me like a normal person." Sasuke's voice is a low whisper.

"But, Sasuke..." Sakura starts. But Sasuke isn't finished.

"Naruto treats me as his equal. He talks to me like I'm no better than anyone else. I'd give my life to save him...and I know that he'd give his for me..." Naruto's heart stopps beating, as not to disturb Sasuke. Tears well up in Sasuke's onyx eyes. "That's what it means...to have a bond with someone...To be able to count on them...To want to protect them with every fiber in your being...To love them...more than you love yourself...That is why I sparr with Naruto, rather than you." Sasuke says. He then turns on his heels and walks away.

Shadows hide Naruto's face. He clenches his fist. Both Naruto and Sakura are silent. He and Sasuke have a bond. Naruto suddenly feels drawn to the thought of finding Sasuke and comforting him. He knows Sasuke was hurt. It takes alot to make Sasuke shout. He's only done it a few times before in life and death situations. Sakura's heartbroken. She can't compete with Naruto. Naruto is just too much for her. He can't stand the tense silence.

"Uh...I'll be back in a little bit, Sakura-chan." Naruto brakes the silence and walks over to Sakura. He smiles at her. "And don't let Sasuke get you too down. There're plenty of guys who like you." Naruto says and walks off in the direction in which Sasuke went.

"Thanks...Naruto..." He made Sakura feel a little better.

Naruto can see Sasuke silently crying on a tree branch in the forest. He's kicking his legs with his head in his hands. Naruto has never seen him like that. It makes his stomach churn uncomfortably. He watches Sasuke for a moment. He doesn't know what to do. He quietly makes his way over to the tree. He looks up and wonders why Sasuke hasn't noticed his presence yet.

"Yo, Teme," Naruto gulps, hoping that the nickname won't piss Sasuke off. Sasuke's so surprised to hear Naruto's voice, he almost falls outta the tree. He frantically wipes away him tears and clears his throat. "What...What exactly did you mean back there?" Naruto asks, obliviously. Sasuke looks up and rolls his eyes.

"I meant exactly what I said, Dobe." Sasuke snaps. Naruto gapes for a minute and then grits his teeth. How dare Sasuke be such an ass!

"Teme! And just say it a little simpler!" Naruto retorts, making Sasuke chuckle a bit. Naruto's expression softens at the sound. "And why were you crying?"

"Uchihas don't cry." Sasuke narrows his eyes down at Naruto. Naruto puts his hands on his hips and glares up at Sasuke.

"Yeah, but Sasuke's do." Naruto smirks when he sees a blush overcome Sasuke. The raven looks away, trying not to give Naruto the satisfaction of making the Great Sasuke Uchiha blush. Naruto sighs and walks up the tree. He takes a seat next to Sasuke. "Teme, what really did you mean back there?" Naruto rephrases his question. Sasuke groans.

"Ugh, please tell me I don't have to repeat the last part."

"That's the part I don't understand! What did you mean when you said you love me more than you love yourself!" Naruto yells.

"Exactly what it sounds like, idiot." Sasuke hisses angrily. Naruto's density is getting on his last nerve. "What else does it mean when someone says 'I love you'?" Naruto pales. Jirayia was right. Sasuke loves him. But Naruto just can't comprehend it.

"W-We're rivals! You-You can't love me!"

"Dobe, believe it!" Naruto looks down at his feet. He doesn't know what to say. He clenches his fist and swiftly punches Sasuke in the arm. Sasuke scoffs.

"First off, don't use my catch phrase, Teme! And second, why didn't you ever tell me you loved me?" Naruto scolds. Sasuke scowls and rubs his arm.

"What do you think people would say if they found out that The Great Uchiha Survivor was gay?" Sasuke pinches the bridge of his nose. Naruto looks over at Sasuke.

"Well...You're not all that great..." Naruto bursts into laughter and Sasuke just shakes his head, smiling.

"Why can't I be like you?" The question stuns Naruto. He gives a questionable look to the raven. "You don't care what anyone thinks. Everyone hated you and you didn't care." Sasuke says. Naruto's heart sinks.

"Actually...I wanted to be like you. No one really even cares about me besides Kakashi sensei and Iruka. No one ever thinks about me. And I do care what they think. That's why I want to be hokage. Everyone hates me. I don't ignore them, I'm just used to it. but I need to get stronger to be hokage. Then, everyone will look up to me and respect me. You were born with that respect." Naruto says softly. Sasuke looks shocked. He really wants to hug Naruto and never let him go but Uchihas don't do that. "And...ditto, bastard." Sasuke cocks his head to one side.

"Ditto?"

"You said you love me, didn't you?" Narutp then presses his lips against Sasuke's. Sasuke's eyes widen but the close as they caress eachother.

"Uh...Am I interrupting something here?"

HAHA! A cliffy! Sorry this is so short but I just had to get to this part! If I don't get ten reviews on this story, I'm not posting the next chapter! R&R!