A/N: I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, and I'm sorry for the very small delay. My darling has gone to Oxford today, and I also worked, so I had a few things to do. I'm also having two of my friends here for the weekend, so I won't be able to give you the next chapter until Monday night. I hope you won't hate me! Please tell me what you thought!

State of Shock

Filler

I didn't care anymore. I wouldn't nag about revenge or Itachi, because this – my life – was about something else now. Something so much more important than hatred and death. My life was about simple things like ANBU training and Naruto. And of course, my child.

It might not seem like it to Sakura, Kakashi or Sai, but I would love to have a role in my own child's life. Yet, I know all to well that it would only do the child harm – what good could I possibly do?

Therefore, I would instead become ANBU Captain to protect the village – to protect my child, my heir. I am selfish, but not selfish enough to ruin Sakura's life by marrying her. She would be miserable with me, since I don't harbour any kind of romantic feelings toward her.

The few romantic feelings I have – the few feelings that I actually understand – are directed to someone else. Someone that Sakura could never live up to. Naruto, my love.

With these romantic feelings, it was easy to get jealous – possessive even – whenever I saw Naruto with someone else. We couldn't tell anyone about us – Naruto didn't want me to. And with that, the silence, our secret was formed.

It became even harder not to get jealous when I saw how protective Kiba was over Naruto – as if he didn't think that our future Hokage could take care of himself. Foolish of the dog boy, yes, and I felt this angry, burning emotion in my stomach.

Jealousy.

It was mixed with something else, however. Something awfully close to gratitude. I knew that the life of shinobi weren't always too long even before I joined the ninja academia. Even before I turned genin, I knew. Therefore, I was relieved to see that someone would watch over Naruto for me if my time came earlier than anticipated.

They all found out about us, one after one. I'm not sure if Naruto knew, but he never once indicated that he did. Those who found out – our friends, fellow shinobi – didn't say anything to us about it.

They kept going, ignoring the fact that they had all walked in on Naruto and me. When Naruto and I fucked, both of us forgot everything. It wasn't too often that we fucked like that, anymore. In the beginning, it had been fun to see how fast I could make Naruto orgasm by rough pounding.

I enjoyed it.

Yet, we haven't had that kind of sex in a very long time. Instead, I think I tamed Naruto. He liked it rough as much as I did, and we all know that Naruto is kind of rough. He doesn't speak anymore; therefore he showed everything through his actions.

Sometimes, I find myself wanting more of that kind. However, I like making love to Naruto much more. It lasts longer, and even though it's not something I would usually consider, I like to be gentle. I surprise myself each time we have sex in that careful, loving way.

It gives me a thrill. Who would think that Uchiha Sasuke would get a thrill out of being gentle?

UAUAUA

Our first kiss was not what I expected. What I expected from happy, talkative Naruto was a sloppy, inexperienced – but whole-hearted – kiss. That was what I expected, but not what I got. I was very disappointed, because the kiss did not live up to the standards I had set up for my favourite friend.

While I knew that Naruto didn't have any experience, I hadn't expected it to be that bad.

Kissing Naruto was like kissing a wall. Granted, I took him in surprise, but as a ninja, he should have reacted sooner.

I tried to get him to open his mouth. I licked, nibbled, bit and pressed. Nothing seemed to work. His lips were soft, even though he was often worrying his lower lip. No matter how hard I tried to coax his mouth open, he just wouldn't.

What I did to get him to open his mouth was wrong, I'll admit that much. Yet, I don't regret it. I don't regret a thing. Even as shame creeps up on me while I think back, I don't regret it. It had been the only way to get Naruto to respond.

I curled my fingers around his throat, my grip tightening. While I could have simply pinched his nose to cut off his breathing supply, I instead opted for his throat. I strangled him harshly, waiting for him to react.

And he did.

He reacted like anyone would have – opening his mouth and trying to kick my shin. It wasn't what a shinobi should do – pathetically attempt to kick another ninja in the midst of panic. Stupid of him, really, but as I said... He panicked.

And so did I.

I panicked when he finally opened my mouth to swallow air that couldn't enter his lungs. I panicked when he tried to kick my shin. I panicked when I saw that shocked look in his oh-so-blue eyes.

I didn't realise what I was doing until Naruto tried to punch me. I let go of him, my hand still flaring blue, and I willed the chakra away from my fingers. He fell to the floor, his knees giving out. He spat on the ground, coughing and hiccupping.

I crouched in front of him, holding out a hand and cupping his chin, forcing him to look at me. His eyes were wide, a little watery from the tears that he didn't want to shed. I know I hurt him.

It must have been unbearably painful...

I destroyed his vocal cords, after all.

To Be Continued