Disclaimers: Naruto is someone else's, this is purely a fanfic using someone else's characters.

Warnings: This story includes strong language, violence, angst, hopefully some decent jokes, and (of course) beautiful SasuNaru love.

Chapter 19: Side Effects

"Make me immortal with a kiss."

-Christopher Marlowe

--

They walked past loud whisperers, judgmental eyes, and jealous bitches on their way to the Hokage's office. Sasuke could really care a less. It had been his intention to slaughter every single person in this village not too long ago. Their opinions truly meant nothing to him. Naruto, on the other hand, could not seem to ignore it. He had been under the village's scrutiny his entire life, but he had escaped it when he was off playing hero. Just long enough to see what it's like to not be the town pariah. Now it was as if all of that was gone, and he was back to square one.

He wasn't handling it well.

"Cool. Well, everyone hates me again."

"Not everyone." Sasuke deadpanned. "Just most of them."

"Great. Thank you, Sasuke. I feel so much better."

The Uchiha wrapped an arm around the blonde's shoulder, earning really just the blonde more glares- weirdly enough. He assumed the village was still too nervous around him to get on his bad side, but Naruto knew it was because pretty people always got special treatment. "Damn, beautiful-faced bastard" he muttered under his breath.

"You say something?" Sasuke asked.

"Nope."

Naruto continued to fail at ignoring the dirty looks, and Sasuke continued to give them, until they were standing on the other side of the Hokage's office door. "She got a new one." Naruto pointed out, thinking back to the day he was thrown through it.

"Looks good." Sasuke remarked. "Think you'll have pieces of it in your hair by the end of this?"

"Oh, it's like a 90% chance."

The two smirked at each other as they knocked on the door in unison, ready to face whatever's on the other side. Together.

"Are we sure we want to trust this guy? I mean.. did we all forget about the first ceremony he did with us?" Naruto reminded the group.

Tsunade had called together some of their top tier jonin to help make sure everything ran smoothly. Naruto recognized some of the team, like Shikamaru, which was a relief, because they had always been close, and Shino who- while quiet and mysterious, and let's be honest, kind of creepy- was a powerful ally. Kakashi-sensei was also there, and so was Pervy-sage- which was reassuring, but also horrifying. Jiraiya was like a father to Naruto- and he didn't know about Sasuke. The blonde glanced over at the raven. And since Sasuke was definitely not subtle about anything, Jiraiya was going to find out before Naruto would have the chance to.. I don't know, have a personal conversation with him. Something! He deserves at least that.

"It'll be alright, kid." Jiraiya ruffled his hair, a large grin plastered on his face. "This asshole wouldn't double-cross all these Sages. Now, would you?"

The man was in the center of the room, chained, gagged, and terrified. He shook his head frantically, eyes wide with fear.

"I'm a freaking Sage!" Naruto argued. "And he cursed me!"

Before Jiraiya could come up with a solid response, Tsunade stepped into the large chamber with an armful of weapons and scrolls. Which, shockingly enough, was not all that reassuring. Naruto balked. "Ummm.. why" he stated simply.

The Hokage looked at the alarmed blonde and then back down at the supplies she had tossed half hazardously across the table. "Just a precaution."

Naruto swiveled his head to stare at Sasuke. "I don't know if this is such a good idea."

"Don't worry, Dobe. I'll still kiss you when the curse is gone."

The entire room froze, and then thawed just enough for all eyes to turn and stare at Naruto.

"Dammit, Sasuke! What is your problem?!" Naruto shrieked, blushing a deep rosy pink.

Jiraiya looked between the two boys, his grinning growing by the second. "Don't tell me you actually scored Uchiha?" He clapped a hand on Naruto's back. "Nicely done, kid. You've been pining after that one for a while now."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Really..."

"Oh my god, kill me." Naruto looked up and made eye contact with the man who cursed him. "Not you."

"Maybe we should just get this process started. I'm sure Naruto would prefer not to be cursed," Shikamaru cut in. He cleared his throat. "No matter the.. circumstances."

Naruto huffed. "Ok, can everyone just calm down?"

"Yes, let's not drag this out", Kakashi chimed in. "I'm sure they have other things they'd like to.. do today."

"That's not helping!"

"It's alright Naruto" Shino patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not going to.. bug you about it."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched.

"Alright- enough talk." Tsunade walked up to the chained man in the middle of the room and removed his gag. "I expect for you to follow through on your word."

The man nodded.

Tsunade unfurled a large scroll and placed it in front of him. "Sasuke, Naruto-" she looked over her shoulder at them, "I need you to come kneel on this." They nodded. "Oh, and take your shirts off."

They exchanged a look, but did as they were told. As they dropped down to their knees in front of the Hokage and her prisoner, Tsunade pulled out a knife.

"Don't even think about it" Sasuke growled.

"Do you think I would if I had a choice?" the Hokage glared at the Uchiha. "The curse required Naruto's blood. Breaking it requires the same thing."

Anger flashed as Sasuke's gaze darkened. He looked like he wanted to say something, a lot of something, but Naruto jumped in first. "It's ok, Sasuke." He turned to look at the Hokage. "Does it matter where I cut?"

The man spoke up this time. "It has to be from the same spot where you were.. cut for the curse."

Sasuke gritted his teeth.

Naruto nodded, took the knife, and shoved it into his abdomen. He groaned, but bit his lip to cut off the sound. Tsunade unbound the man's hands, and he reached out towards Naruto.

Sasuke grabbed his wrist before he could touch him. "If you fucking hurt him, I will break every bone in your body." He tightened his grip on the man's wrist, watching pain fill his terrified eyes, before releasing him.

The man swallowed thickly, then reached out and ran his fingers through the blood pulsing from Naruto's wound. He started chanting as he drew a symbol on Naruto's stomach with his blood, and then did the same on Sasuke's. It looked like the other marking he had drawn on them, but backwards- a mirror reflection of the original. He chanted faster, louder, and Sasuke could feel warmth radiating throughout his entire body. He looked over at Naruto and saw him wince. Then he dropped forward, catching himself with his hands, and Sasuke immediately saw red. He ripped a kunai out, grabbed a fistful of the man's hair, and shoved the blade against his throat. "What the fuck did I just say?!!"

The man made a gurgling sound, eyes wide with terror. "Wa-wait! This-this is part of it! I swear!!"

"Sasuke, enough."

He turned his glare on the Hokage. "You believe him?"

"Sa-Sasuke," Naruto gasped, "it's ok- nnn.. I'm ok."

The Uchiha studied his blonde for a moment before turning his attention back to the man on the other side of his blade. He pressed its edge closer, just enough to pierce the skin. Sasuke watched with satisfaction as blood trickled down his neck. He pulled his kunai away and released his hold on him, watching as the man's shaky hands fluttered to his throat.

Sasuke helped him up so they were once again kneeling in front of the man. He looked pale. "Naruto.."

"Let's just- let's just get this over with.."

The man ran his fingers across Naruto's bloody abdomen again, redrew the symbols and continued chanting. Once again, Sasuke could feel a warmth rush through him. He looked over at Naruto, and saw that his knees were shaking. A pained groan escaped his lips, but he bit down to hold back the rest.

He'll be ok, Sasuke reassured himself, this is still better than what the curse was doing to him.

"Ok, I need you to face each other."

The two did as the man said, still on their knees. He ran his fingers across Naruto's stomach again, using his blood to write something on the scroll between them. He whispered something under his breath, and then looked up. "To seal it, you have to.. do what you did before" he muttered.

Kiss. Just fucking say kiss.

Sasuke reached out and tangled his hand in Naruto golden locks, bringing his face near, obsidian eyes watching him closely. Huge cerulean eyes stared back at him. He looks.. scared. "It's going to be ok, Naruto" Sasuke whispered, his lips brushing against Naruto's. The blonde closed his eyes, and then Sasuke kissed him.

The moment their mouths touched something flashed through them. Naruto's eyes shot open, and they exchanged a look of surprise before their eyes rolled back. They dropped to the floor, lips not parting until their bodies slammed into the rough surface. Sasuke fought to stay awake, to make sure Naruto really was ok, but he could feel his consciousness slipping. And then darkness took him.

When they woke up, they were still on the floor. Tsunade had healed Naruto's wound, and wiped the blood from their stomachs. Sasuke turned his head and saw that the man was bound and gagged once more, surrounded by most of the shinobi that had attended the ceremony. Jiraiya sat nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the blonde. Kakashi walked over when he saw that they had regained consciousness. "Welcome back."

Sasuke sat up and slid over to Naruto. He brushed his hair back and studied his face. "Are you ok?" he whispered. Naruto nodded, and moved to sit up, but a sharp pain rushed through him and he fell back. Sasuke's eyes shot over to the Hokage. "I thought you healed him" he snapped.

"I did" she replied. "But a curse like this leaves a mark when it's broken. It will fade as his natural energy is restored, but it takes time."

"How much time?" he grated out.

Shikamaru pulled down the man's gag. "Answer him."

The man cleared his throat, then nervously looked over at the enraged Uchiha. "It usually takes a few days, but with the nine tail's chakra-" anger flared in the man's eyes for a moment, but it cooled under Sasuke's icy stare, "it shouldn't take more than a day."

"For your sake, that better be true."

Sasuke returned his attention back to Naruto. He ran his thumb along the side of his face, eyes filled with concern. "Don't..nnn- worry so much, Teme" Naruto gave a small strained smile. "I'm fine."

"You're a terrible liar."

Tsunade stepped over to them. "Naruto, we will need to bring you to the infirmary. I want to keep you under close observation until these symptoms are gone."

"I'm coming with him" Sasuke said, his gaze not leaving Naruto's face.

"I expected as much."

She ordered a few of the shinobi to go and grab a stretcher and to prepare a room for him. When they returned, Sasuke insisted that he be the one to put him on it and, as promised, he stayed by his side as Naruto was brought to a room in the hospital.

Naruto tried to insist that he was fine, that all of this attention was unnecessary, but no one was buying it. And since he couldn't get up, he was forced to go along with it. Which was overwhelming the fuck out of him.

"I don't want to be here."

"I know."

"I'm serious, Sasuke."

The Uchiha locked onto sad blue eyes. "I know, Naruto." He's had to spend a lot of time in the hospital, and it was clear that it was getting to him. Sasuke tucked a blonde hair behind his ear. "They just want to make sure you're ok."

Naruto threw his head back. "Ughhh! I just want to get the fuck out of here!!" His eyes slid over to Sasuke again. "Can't you just tell them I'm fine? I'll.. stay with you until this is done. That's all that's happening here anyways."

Sasuke studied him. He hadn't missed the "until this is done" comment, and it irritated him.

Why would it have to change when it's done?

He had kind of just assumed that Naruto would live with him now. I mean why not? I live in a huge place. Alone. He doesn't have to go back to that little piece if shit apartment. He can stay- with me. If he wants his own bedroom, that's fine. He already fucking has it.

He clenched his jaw. I'm not letting him leave. He's just going to have to fucking deal with it.

"I'll.. see what I can do."

When a nurse stopped in to check on him, Sasuke asked her to get Tsunade for them. He had zero intention of leaving Naruto alone to go talk to the hag, but he would try to convince her to let him leave if she came to him. When she finally joined them, and Sasuke made his argument- well, Naruto's argument- her immediate response was a solid no. It took a lot of convincing, but she eventually, begrudgingly agreed. "As long as he stays in your care. And that care better be around the clock." She narrowed her eyes on him. "I mean it."

"I'm fucking aware of what Naruto needs" he snapped.

"Don't piss me off, Uchiha."

"So, can I go now?" Naruto cut in.

Tsunade pinched the bridge of her nose. "Fine. But if anything seems off, anything, you come back here immediately."

"Yeah, yeah- I got it Granny."

The two found that the best way to transport Naruto to Sasuke's place was if Sasuke held him bridal-style. Which embarrassed the fuck out of the blonde, but he knew he had no choice but to go along with it if he wanted to get out of that godforsaken hospital.

"This is humiliating" he grumbled.

"Feels right to me." Sasuke smirked down at him.

"Stop enjoying this."

After a long walk past surprised, curious, and disgusted villagers, they finally made it the Uchiha manor. Sasuke awkwardly navigated their way through the front door, and brought his blonde past the main room, down the hall, and into his bedroom. He gently laid Naruto down on his bed, and looked down at his exasperated face. "What?"

"I can stay in my own room, Sasuke."

"There is absolutely no chance of that happening."

Naruto sighed. "Stubborn Teme."

"Impossible Dobe."

He rolled his eyes.

"I'm going to grab a few things" Sasuke walked over to the door, then paused and looked over his shoulder, "don't go anywhere".

Naruto rolled his eyes again. He knows full well that I can't move. Smug bastard.

Sasuke padded down the hall to the kitchen when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He groaned and dropped to his knees. "What the fuck..?" He gasped, and heard Naruto make a similar sound. Struggling to his feet, he dragged himself back down the hall. As Sasuke got closer to the bedroom he noticed that the pain lessened, and when he made it back to Naruto it was completely gone.

"What the hell was that?!" Naruto stared at Sasuke. "Did you feel that too?" The Uchiha nodded.

"Sasuke- what is this? What's going on?"

"I'm not sure.. let me just try something." He backed away from Naruto, crossing the room, but nothing happened. He continued to move away from him until he was in the living room, and then- pain. It drove him to his knees again. He doubled over, trying to catch his breath. He could hear Naruto make a pained sound too, and half walked-half crawled his way back to him. And just like before, the closer he got, the less pain he felt, until finally it was gone.

Sasuke and Naruto stared at each other, eyes wide.

"..fuck."

Author Note:

Definitely not my best writing. I'm sorry if this chapter sucked. I could feel it as I wrote it. I tried to revise it like a million times, but couldn't seem to fix it. So.. hopefully the next chapter is better. Thanks for bearing through it. I promise to keep working on it! :)