A/N: I do not own the rights to any of Britney Spears' songs, nor do I gain profit from mentioning them.

-Naruto-
Tsunade has a hangover. I fidget. I swear she just growled at me. I stop. "Uzumaki," she rubs her temples with long, elegant fingers. "Do you know Sasuke Uchiha?" OH SHIT. I'm sure my carotid artery is jumping. My hands shake. "I know of him," I respond carefully, beginning to sweat. My pupils are probably beginning to dilate. "In what sense?" She closes her eyes, and my breathing speeds up. "I can't believe you just asked me that," my voice rises in pitch. Don't give me that look. What is an FBI agent SUPPOSED to say when they're being informed they'll be investigated for homosexuality, or lose their job, or probably both?
"Uzumaki, it's the 2000s. I don't care who you're sleeping with unless it affects your work."
I barely stop myself from saying something that could get me fired.
"Uzumaki, do you know Sasuke Uchiha?" she repeats.
For some reason, the lyrics to Britney Spears' song Everytime start in my head.

"The sooner you answer the questions, the sooner we can leave," she sighs, exasperated.
"Yes."
"Are you sleeping with him?"
"Am I being fired?"
"I'm not firing you! If your Top Secret Security Clearance credentials are even poked at, I will fight for you. You're the best Special Agent Linguist the FBI has. I'm asking you these so I won't have to investigate you."
These questions are informal.
Tsunade hates having to investigate her own agents.

"Yes," I admit slowly, reluctantly.
"Do you live together?"
"Yeah."
"His apartment?"
"Yeah."
"Are you aware he's a detective for the Seattle Police Department for the Rainier Beach squad?"
"Yes, he works sex crimes. His closure rate is ninety-five percent." Pride embraces my voice. Tsunade nods in a way that makes me realize, oh shit, you people investigated my boyfriend.

"Do you two ever talk about work?"
"No. Neither of us can stand the thought of what the other one does," I admit honestly. I don't know how the hell he listens to accounts of rape at work and goes back the next day, and he doesn't know how the hell I watch people get—harshly interrogated—every day at work, and go back the next day.
"In which instance could your relationship with Detective Uchiha interfere with your work?"
"It wouldn't. I'd take myself off the case if he got involved."
"How long have you two been together?"
I squirm. My breathing has slowed to a little faster than normal, my heart isn't beating so hard, and I think my pupils are normal. I'm still uncomfortable.

Tsunade glares at me.
"I don't know!" I yell.
She crosses her arms over her ample bosom. "Does the name Soledad Reyes mean anything?"
"Loneliness (or Solitude) Kings. And it's not pronounced Soul-dad, it's S-oh-lay-dawd, only faster and sexier-sounding."
She stares at me. "Let me rephrase the question, Uzumaki. Do you know Soledad Reyes?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"She worked with Hinata and I on the MS-13 finishing touches case."
"Do you know who she is?"
"Sasuke's partner…her undercover alias in the operation was Rosario Septiembre de Jesus."
"Were you aware of this during the investigation?"
I stare at her blankly. "No."
"When did you become aware of this?"
"Three days after the investigation officially closed."

Tsunade's gaze is harsh and critical. "Did you tell Detective Reyes where Eusebio Suarez was being held?"
"Who?"
"One of the MS-13 members. He has a scar on his arm."
"Oh, him. Yes." I know better than to ask questions I have. She's asking me hers, and I am answering them in hopes I will keep my job and image. "An agent was at the bar, and he recorded the conversation. I wanted to hear it from you first. The FBI and SPD haven't handled this well." Her gaze is unwavering. I stay silent, resisting the urge to fidget. "But you, Hinata, and Soledad all did your jobs. Terrifically, I might add."
"Thank you."
Tsunade exhales heavily.

"Agent Uzumaki."
"Yes, Director."

"You're free to go."
"Thank you, Director."

"Naruto, you're not eating and you've spoken much more quietly than usual all night. What's wrong?"
"Uhmwasinterrogatednwork—"
"Speak so I can understand you," he huffs.
"I was interrogated at work."
"What?!" he shrieks in horror.
"Are you using again?" I shout.
"Pardon my shriek of horror at finding out you had your fingernails ripped out or some other horror, Naruto," he yells. I wave my hands in front of his face. "That didn't happen! Nothing happened! I answered questions is all." Sasuke finishes eating the food on his plate, staring expectantly at me the entire time. "I'm not going to repeat anything," I inform him stubbornly. To prove my point, I finish my food enthusiastically.

He raises an eyebrow, grunts softly, and helps me clear the table and load the dishwasher.
"I'm not using. I'm on the eleventh step in N.A."
"Congratulations."
I kiss him. "We'll celebrate when you finish the program." He smiles and drapes his arms around me. His smile is a rare treasure. I always smile back.

The bed sheets are fresh and clean. I love the feeling of fresh and clean sheets.
"Naruto."
"Oh, Sasuke, what?"
"Nothing," he whispers after too long.
I yank the pillow from underneath his head, holding tight to mine, and smack him in the face with it.

A wrestling match—scuffle, maybe—type-thing ensues. We mostly roll out of bed, onto the floor and trade punches and kicks. And insults. "It's been too long," my boyfriend's breath catches as I jam my fist into his solar plexus. "What?" I wait for him to catch his breath. "We spent too much time in this relationship being nice to each other."
"That almost sounded very effeminate."
"I'd knee you in the balls if I wasn't planning on doing something else with them tonight," he growls, biting my ear. "Ow! Okay, sorry," I respond quickly, rubbing my ear. He sits up suddenly and I cling to him so I won't fall over.

"Hey, Naruto."
"Hey Sasuke."
"I love you."
I tilt my head. "I love you, too."