Sorry for the delay, this chapter is written for quite some time now, but everytime I did the proof-reading, something always felt wrong.
Regardless, on with the show...
It was early in the morning. Everyone in the house was still asleep. Everyone except one monosyllabic raven…
Sasuke was sitting on the kitchen, with his head laid on the table, while his brain worked a mile per hour. He was trying, for the umpteenth time, to find a way to stay with Naruto and have him nominated Hokage's successor. Nothing had occurred to him yet. And the main problem was that he was supposed to give his answer to the Council the following day. Even though Sasuke said he would explain everything, a week had passed by and they hadn't talk about it.
"Are you going to keep on sighing, S'suke, or are you going to tell me what's wrong?" – Naruto had appeared on the kitchen entrance, still in his pyjamas and with a sleepy face. Sasuke couldn't help but admire the blond that was his. For now.
"Hn."
"Sasuke! Gimme a proper answer!" – the blond warned. The avenger smirked and pulled Naruto to sit on his lap. Said blond encircled the other's neck and hugged back.
It was raining outside. It was the first rain of the season.
"It's Saturday, I asked Shizune to babysit Mikoto, so that we can talk freely. She came by earlier and took her." - Sasuke said, snuggling closer, not willing to face trouble just yet.
After a few minutes and seeing the expectant expression on the other's face, he sighed resignedly, and made the blond sit on the chair right in front of him. Naruto was looking at him intently. Sasuke looked at the ceiling and started his speech.
"Remember last week, when the Council called me?" – the blond nodded. – "They said that they wanted to make me the next Hokage." – Naruto sat up straight, but said nothing. Sasuke continued before the blond could process the information. – "The thing is, they are blackmailing me. They hinted that they would make you Tsunade's successor if I marry and have little Sharingan users."- Naruto felt as if the air was taken from him. – "They found out about Mikoto and are afraid that I don't revive my clan. Besides, if they break our relationship, they can control us better. "
"I see."
"I told Sakura, Sai and Tsunade. – 'I couldn't deal with it alone.' was left unsaid. – "And when I saw you with Gaara last week, I realised that I may not be chosen over the Hokage title. But it's fine by me, I made peace with it now. It's your choice and I will comply with whatever you choose." – Naruto leaned back and looked at the ceiling as well. Sasuke turned to face the blond. – "Please, say something."
"I don't know what to say, Sasuke."
"Please, my love, I'm so, so sorry! I don't know what to do. I don't want to, but I keep hurting you. I-I just…" – he ranted, a little panicked, while grabbing Naruto's hands and kissing them. The blond was apathetic. Sasuke was getting worried. He saw the other get up and reach the stairs.
"I'm going to take a bath. It's going to take some time…" – seeing that Sasuke was about to contest, Naruto interrupted him. – "I just need some time alone, okay?"
Once he got to the bathroom of their room, Naruto turned on the water. He then sat on the toilet seat and started to cry. Why did it have to be either one? Why couldn't he have both? He gave so much to this village, and never got anything in return. He cried until he felt everything was out of his chest.
He knew Sasuke wouldn't betray him and he knew the raven was hurting as well, but he couldn't help but to regret ever having getting close to the Uchihas. With their power, they brought nothing but pain to their loved ones…
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he stilled. Did he actually think that? He remembered their sparring fits, their built friendship, and the loneliness that had become less intense over the years and that was now almost inexistent; their nights in each other arms, suffering from a lost memory from childhood; their new life; Mikoto and their family. And then he remembered his childhood dream, being acknowledge by everyone by being Hokage…
Outside, Sasuke felt his heart clench every time Naruto sobbed thinking that his cry was being muffled by the running water. He sat on the floor, leaning against the door. If he could he would take the pain away and make the ones who hurt his love pay with their lives. But he wouldn't. It would only hurt the blond more.
The blond got himself on the filled bathtub and started to think. For good or worse he was well aware of what his choice was going to be. He didn't even admit any other. He was just hard to give up all that he had achieved recently. He had been so happy. But, he knew very well what weighted more on his life.
Eventually, Sasuke gave up waiting and went downstairs
It was mid-morning already, and they were going to have their friends over for a baby shower, Sakura's idea, obviously for cheering purposes, although she was not very into it now, because she knew that the blond had to choose and he could do well without the pressure. The gang didn't know that, though, and she couldn't tell them. The party was on then.
They should arrive shortly before lunch, so Sasuke decided to start preparing things. It was a good thing actually, because maybe that would cheer Naruto up. 'Not likely.' said a voice in his head.
Sasuke could hear the noises in his room saying that the blond had finally got out of the bathroom. He almost ran upstairs. Once he got near the bedroom door, he stopped, evening his breath out, and entered the room as if he had come there without thinking of the blond.
Naruto was dressing himself up for the party. Once he saw Sasuke get in by the mirror he averted his gaze. For Sasuke, that was not a good sign. He undressed himself and prepared for a shower. Trying to make this easy for the blond, Sasuke put his expressionless face in its place and addressed the blond.
"As I said before, it's your choice and you will choose whatever makes you happier. That way I will be happy too." – the blond didn't answer. He couldn't. Not yet. How could he face Sasuke after making the choice he did?
The raven knew he hadn't been the chosen one. He knew Naruto much too well. Sasuke got in the shower and he felt tears drop from his eyes, from frustration, sadness and fear, and he let them fall, deciding that once he got out of the bathtub, he would forget himself and be there for the blond as the best friend he was supposed to be. Once he got outside though he was already a man that would make his father proud: cold, objective and unattached.
Naruto was sitting on the bed, waiting for him. The blond knew, even though nothing in Sasuke's face gave it away, that the raven was suffering, feeling Naruto's antics as betrayal, which made it all worst. He approached Sasuke.
"This was the hardest thing I ever had to do. So give time to deal with it, okay?" – he hugged Sasuke, who ended up crying again, even though later he would definitely denied he did. Naruto kissed him on the cheek. – "Then we can go back to normal."
And then the bell rang. The blond was already dressed, so he went downstairs to welcome their guests. Sasuke dressed slowly, hoping that his face didn't show how much he had been crying earlier.
- Scenery change -
Half an hour later, he finally went downstairs.
Everyone was already mingling and having fun. The music was playing lowly in the background. All the heads snapped to him when he entered the living room. He acknowledge the with a shake of his head and went to the kitchen. All the people in the party could tell something was not quite right, even though they couldn't put their fingers on it. Sasuke was so cold. And the Naruto was so loud. They wore their masks again and Kakashi, Iruka and Sakura were the only ones that could tell that.
On the side, the pinkette was getting annoyed. Her teammates weren't talking to each other. Why? Naruto was by the couch, talking with Kiba, Lee and TenTen. Sasuke was on the kitchen arguing with Kakashi, Shikamaru and Neji. Hinata and Shino were talking quietly on the porch to the backyard. Ino, with Choji on her side, was saying something to the medic-nin, but she wasn't listening.
"What the hell do you think you are doing, Lee?!" – TenTen yelled suddenly, throwing a glass with sake from the spandex lover's hands. Naruto cringed seeing the red stain on the carpet. The girl kept yelling at Lee about how he was too irresponsible for mastering the Drunken Fist. Sasuke was going to kill them.
At the thought of the raven, Naruto sobered. He searched for the other and their gazes locked. Not felling in the mood for sappy emotions, Sasuke averted his gaze and focussed on Kakashi digression of the weaponry granted for the shinobi. Neji was drinking every word, looking at Kakashi mesmerized. Sasuke smirked.
"What, Neji? Fell in love with the pervert?" – Neji blushed bright red and averted his gaze. Kakashi was caught by surprise and his eyes widened, taking in the blushing Hyuuga in front of him. He was fighting the urge to laugh. Poor Gai, he lost to Kakashi even with his students.
"What can I say? I'm irresistible." – the scarecrow said, taking the Neji felling for what they were, just admiration. Iruka choose that moment to step in.
"Like hell you are! Pervert!"
"My love! How can you say that? When I do everything for you…"
"More like you do everything to me!"
"Iruka-sensei!" – Neji exclaimed, shocked. Sasuke smirked, proud of his jounin teacher. Iruka on another hand was still angry with Kakashi's creative mind which had made him unable to sit for the last couple of days. At Neji's shocked gaze, he blushed a little, and got straight to the point.
"I need to talk to you, Sasuke. If you please."
"Of course, Iruka-sensei." – the Byakugan user left them alone. Kakashi stayed though.
"Is everything alright with you and Naruto?" – the raven's heart missed a bit. Why the hell did the world want to see him lost and crying?! He kept his composure on the outside, but Kakashi saw the darkness in his eyes.
"I'm sorry but that is my own business." – Iruka felt a vein pop in his forehead. He breathed deeply. – "You should ask Naruto though." – he was a little afraid of what the raven could do to the blond, but he liked Sasuke. So he felt his heart clench at the return of the cold Sasuke.
"Is this about the Hokage title?" – Kakashi asked, his smart mind almost figuring the truth. Sasuke's cheeks became a little pink from self control.
"Please, go talk with Naruto. He is the one who needs it." – and with that, he left, reaching Shikamaru, Sai and Neji.
The older couple did as they were told and went to find Naruto.
"Naruto!" – Kakashi flinched. Iruka could be as loud as the blond. They literally dragged the jinchiruuki to the porch. The Chunnin pushed him against a wall.
"What's wrong between you and the Uchiha?" - Naruto blushed.
"Nothing." – Kakashi sighed at the typically teenage response. When the hell did sign up for parenting? At least the blond was manageable, not like some emotionally handicapped raven.
"Iruka, love, please let me talk with Naruto alone, yes?" – Iruka looked between them, but nodded nonetheless. Maybe it was time for Kakashi to do his job and deal with his former charges. 'At least Naruto is manageable.', he thought. As soon as his dolphin was out of earshot, Kakashi put an arm on the blond's shoulder. Taking the hint, Naruto gazed straight into mismatched eyes.
"What has happened is between you two, but I know that this is because the Hokage title." – Naruto said nothing, his eyes answering for him. – "I don't care how you two deal with it, just do it." – Naruto glanced away. – "And he says you're the one hurting, but you're not as half as bad as he is, so be careful, okay, Naruto? He already lost too much." – the blond nodded. He gave a quick hug to the jounin and left inside. Apparently everyone was more worried about the raven than with the blond, and subconsciously he couldn't help but see that as a good thing.
'Never again I'm going to take a Genin team!', the scarecrow thought bitterly, even though now was to late to complain.
A few minutes later he got inside and sweat-dropped.
Naruto was trying to launch himself at Sai, who was smirking and hiding behind Shikamaru, taunting the blond more. Kiba and Choji were pulling the blond back, preventing him to achieve his objective of tearing Sai to pieces.
"Ho, ho, dickless, aren't going to do something about it?"
"Argh! Bastard! Just wait until I put my hand on you!"
"Is that an offering?!" – it was just innocent bickering, but Sasuke cringed unintentionally. Sakura saw and decided to put an end to it even though it was being funny.
"OWW! What was that for, Sakura-can? You have to stop hitting me in the head or else I'm going to loose all my smartness and coolness and awesomeness and..." – she it him again. He pouted.
"Isn't that to late for a warning? You are already stupid!" – Kiba put in.
"Shut up, dog-face or I'm feeding your balls to your dog." – the dog lover boy shuddered.
"Naruto, language!" – Iruka lectured. They all laughed, except Sasuke, who was brooding.
"P-please, l-l-leave N-Naruto-kun alone." – Hinata said, blushing brightly.
"Yes, I agree with Hinata-san." – Neji said. – "Blonds are always going to be dumb, it's t… Ngnh!" – he almost swore. – "Ino! A girl shouldn't be that violent. Take Hinata's example!" – he lectured. Hinata blushed slightly at the indirect compliment made be Neji. Ino just scoffed.
"Call the blondes dumb again and you'll se what violent means!" – he looked shocked.
"Girls are meant to be feminine, graceful and virtuous! Which you are obviously not…"
"It isn't only Ino, I mean, look at Sakura!" – Naruto said. – "She probably could kick anyone's ass and still look hot as hell." – inconvenient blond. Still Sakura blushed, while Sai and Sasuke sneered. Glaring at them, she hit Naruto in the head, although lighter than usual.
"I appreciate the compliment, but…"
"It wasn't a compliment. You are too mean!" – the blond whined. Her eyebrow twitched. She decided to ignore the comment and everyone's muffled chuckles. She grinned evilly.
"You won't be saying that soon…" – she sing-songed. She made a sign to the all group and the teenagers went to the office in a bee-line. Iruka pulled the curtains, making the room dark.
"They have a surprise for you." – he explained the blond, now free from Kiba's grasp. He sat on the couch. Sasuke was by the window, but their eyes hadn't cross yet.
He heard muffled sound and people getting back in the room. TenTen swore when she fell. Choji yelled at Lee for stepping on his foot. Sakura hit Kiba for groping her. And Lee tried to hit Kiba for the same reason. Hinata shook her fist at him and Lee ended up on the floor. Shikamaru sighed loudly at his friends antics.
"So troublesome."
Finally everything was set. Iruka and Kakashi were by the door, beside Sasuke, and it was them who put the curtains in place again.
Naruto gasped with the sight presented to him. In front of the couch, all his friends were holding beautiful flowers, all different and with different colours, and with different meanings, but deep down they all meant the same: love. The blond was visibly touched. Sakura decided to go first.
"You are loud and obnoxious…" - she handed him the pink sakuras she was holding. – "…but you are my brother and for you, everything." – she smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Hinata then came forth.
"Naruto-kun." – she called sweetly, putting her flowers, white amaryllis, in the tea table beside Sakura's. – "You always b-believed in me, so I believe in you as well. You've made me very proud to be called your friend." – she gave him her hand, but he got up and gave her a bone-crushing hug. Suddenly from the corner where Sasuke sat, dark clouds started to form themselves, making everyone shudder at the killer aura that hung in the air.
Naruto was getting more moved as his friends spring forth to show him how appreciated he was, but he lived up to the occasion and stayed silent receiving their best wishes.
Ino was next. She smiled brightly and handed him a beautiful bouquet of yellow dandelions. The small flowers were so well arranged that he couldn't help but think that she was handing him the rarest flowers in the world.
"Here, blondie. They'll make your wishes come true. You'll obfuscate them all with your awesomeness, I just know it!"
"That's right!" – TenTen intervened, reaching for the table. She was carrying buttercups, and as soon as the blond took the flowers from her, she shook her fist in front of his face. – "And if they don't see it by themselves, you'll have to show them." – the threat was clear in her voice, which made Naruto smile. He always loved TenTen. Neji didn't think so though.
"Please, TenTen! Behave! I swear I don't get girls nowadays." – the Byakugan user said, shaking his head disapprovingly. She hit him in the head.
"You are just brooding because I beat you today."
"You didn't!" – the brunette laughed evilly and got back to the side of Hinata.
Neji looked at Naruto, and blushing slightly, he handed him a garland of lilac irises, the same colour of his eyes. Sasuke lost it again. Maybe he should go all Itachi on the Hyuuga clan. That way his blond will be safe from their grasp.
"I think no one could fulfil the Hokage position better than you. You have my loyalty when the time comes."
"Yosh, Neji-san." – said the youngest spandex love, while he jumped the table and lifted Naruto in is arms for a bear hug. He then grabbed the angelicas he was carrying and handed them to the blond. – "Don't worry Naruto-kun, I can assure you will be Hokage. You said it yourself. You don't go back in your word, that's your ninja way." – Naruto smiled and nodded his appreciation in a gesture very Sasuke-ish.
"Thank you, bushy eyebrows."
"Yeah, yeah, don't monopolize him, Lee." – Kiba said, shoving the taijutsu master. Lee was shocked for a moment, but then grinned, when he saw that Kiba was just teasing him. – "Here, moron." – and he gave him pink thymes. – "I guess I was wrong after all. You have what it takes to be Hokage. Even though you still can't beat me…" – he joked with a lopsided grin. Naruto knew what he was talking about. Kiba once said to him that he wouldn't be Hokage because he didn't have it in him. Pretty stupid considering who his father was.
"Oh, please, dog face, I can make you cry every day of the week."
"You wish."
"Just stop it you two." – Sakura intervened. – "It's Choji turn."
"Good luck Naruto." – the chubby nin said simply while handing the blond yellow coreopsis.
Shino stepped forward next and handed him a bouquet of camellias. Nothing more masculine and plain. He said nothing but nodded to Naruto and stepped back. The blond, specialist in bastard-nese, understood the gesture. Shino was wishing him the best and offering his support.
"Sheesh, Shino, don't overwhelm us with such a blatant display of emotion." – Kiba said imitating his way of speaking.
"Are you still mad because I didn't recognise you that day?" – Naruto asked rolling his eyes.
"Do you think I haven't a reason for being hurt, you dense creature?" – Kiba, Choji, Shikamaru and Ino were snickering being Shino's back. – "But I can not say that I'm still bearing a grudge."
"Yeah, right." – Kiba interrupted. – "I bet you still have that picture of him, where you train your aim with the kunai."
"Still? You had one?" – Naruto yelled, pointing a finger at him. Shino got a little flushed, but didn't answer that.
"You guys are so bothersome." – the lazy nin handed a nosegay of white chrysanthemums. – "Here. Just fight harder and we've got your back." – and that was the sentence that resumed their gesture today. No matter what, they got Naruto's back.
The blond looked down. When he felt in control again, he looked up to his friends, his blue orbs clearly displaying his friendship and appreciation for them all. Sai, Kakashi and Iruka were watching the scene with a smile. Sasuke was leaning on the doorway, watching them coldly. But now was not the time to think about the bastard. His friends deserve his full attention after showing him how truly appreciated he was.
"Thank you, guys!" – Naruto said visibly touched by their gesture.
By the entrance, Sasuke leaned against a wall and was looking down, trying to ignore the happy blond. Even if he wanted to happy for the jinchiruuki he couldn't. Sakura approached the raven, while Naruto kept on rambling about how 'cool-and-awesome-and-cool-and-sweet-and-the-absolutely-best-and-did-he-mention-cool?' they were.
"He chose the Hokage position." – Sasuke only nodded, apparently like he couldn't care less, but the lump in his throat preventing him from actually talking. – "I'm sorry, Sasuke." – and she put a hand on his shoulder. Even if she didn't want to, she was feeling hopeful of finally having Sasuke for her.
In that moment Naruto cleared his throat to hint at the change of subject, bringing Sakura back from her dream land.
"I know you want me not to give up so, as it is, there is something I have to tell you. I hope you'll understand my choice."
Sasuke prepared for leaving the room. He would accept the other's choice, but he didn't have to be there to listen Naruto inform people who had nothing to do with it about the choice he made of destroying the raven's life.
And that's it. It was kind of those filler chapters, but I wanted to show how the group interacted with each other. What do you think? Too sappy, annoying, shallow?
C'mon, guys, I've seen how many readers I have and so little reviews. Even if you don't like it, I can't improve if you don't send me some feedback. Please, review? *does puppy eyes* It would make me happy...
And just to improve your general knowlegde: sakuras stand for life and valorous warriors; amaryllis show pride and timidity; dandelions are for a wish come true; buttercups mean cheerfulness; angelicas mean inspiration; iris stand for faith, hope, value and wisdom; thyme are for strengh and courage; while cammelias are a man's good luck gift, but also mean admiration; coreopsis are for hapiness; and finally, chrysanthemums say 'you are a wonderful friend'. Aproppriate isn't it?
