The Burning Mines

III. Long Time No See

It was well into the night when the loud roar of a truck woke him out from his position on the dusty couch. He coughed once when particles somehow found a way into his throat and sneezed when dust went into his nose. The roar of the truck outside came to a halt, and Sasuke froze.

He recognized the hacking sound of that old pick-up from anywhere. As if on cue, footsteps sounded up the stairs, and there was fumbling on the other side of the door before it was opened then slammed shut.

Heavy footsteps came into the living room, in front of the couch, then stopped.

Sasuke didn't have to look above the intruder's knees to know exactly what he had to say. "Dobe." The label came naturally. More natural than he would have expected, considering how long it had been. It would seem even time apart wouldn't allow Sasuke to ease into a formal way of speaking to the blonde, as time away from someone usually did.

When the brunette received no answer, he took a chance and looked up at the man he hadn't seen in six years. It was too dark to tell if time had been good to Naruto or not, but he'd gained a little height from what he could see from his position on the couch, and his hair was slightly longer. He was still clean shaven as he always was, and his slowly blinking eyes revealed a newer, mature blue.

Sasuke narrowed his own. Naruto's eyes were very different, now that he stared into them. They were aged with pain. Trial and error. The oldness of them was only emphasized by the baggy stained t-shirt the blonde wore, and the mess his hair was in.

"You look like shit, Naruto."

There was a small twitch on the blonde's end. Or a wince. Or a flinch. It was too delicate for the businessman to decipher. But after a few moments Naruto surprised him and let out a breath of a laugh. The words that came after seemed to barely leave his mouth. "City didn't teach you manners, Sasuke?"

Naruto's face was one of neutrality, and his blinks were slow as his left hand twitched and the other enclosed into a fist. Sasuke wondered if he would use that hand to punch and tensed in anticipation. He expected a fight because Naruto had always been the brash type. Sasuke was prepared for it. Naruto would be damned if he thought he'd lost his hand combating skills after spending a few years in the city.

But no fists came. Sasuke almost saw the moment when Naruto's decision was made, and instead of lunging at him, Naruto moved from the living room went into the kitchen. He turned on the faucet, took a cup, and poured himself a glass of water.

Sasuke frowned as he craned his neck to watch his ex. He didn't want to leave the couch just yet, just in case he would need a preliminary boundary line after all, to prepare for the blonde's attack.

When several moments passed and the other man didn't suddenly attack him, Sasuke clenched the material of the couch. "I suppose you're wondering why I'm here..." he began slowly.

"Sarutobi's funeral."

Sasuke paused. What was with the utter listlessness in the blonde's voice? "Yes..."

He waited for Naruto to ask questions about why he was so early. He waited for Naruto to ask where he'd been. But nothing. All he got was more moments of silence, with nothing but the sound of Naruto's shuffling in the kitchen.

Sasuke stood up with a small grunt and turned to fully face his ex. "Dobe," he started, almost angrily.

"Name's Naruto." the blonde said, not raising his voice. "Unless you want me to start callin' you a whole bunch of nasty names I suggest you call me that." He'd paused to say that, and when he was done he went back to whatever he was doing in the kitchen.

Sasuke closed his hands into fists. There was a threat in there that wasn't playful. It was as if Naruto didn't even consider them friends enough to execute the warning delicately.

Good, Sasuke thought. Everything about this would be easier if the two of them understood that they had to completely sever the relationship they had before. But Sasuke could see the way Naruto shook slightly. Naruto still had feelings for him.

And Sasuke still didn't take to threats well. "I think I can call you whatever I want...Dobe."

And again that breathy laugh came from Naruto. A laugh that wasn't a laugh at all really. Just a shaky exhale.

From where he was Sasuke thought the blonde was arranging plates or something—possibly trying to contain the emotions he was feeling right now. But for some reason that wasn't enough for Sasuke. He wanted to see the emotions, so he could throw them down, and have Naruto stop loving him forever. That's what he came for. To make the blonde stop loving him forever. Because he knew the blonde did. There was no way he didn't still love Sasuke.

"Do you have anything to say at all?" the brunette asked.

"Not really." His ex murmured. "Just thinkin' is all."

Sasuke sneered a bit. Now that Naruto was speaking in almost-full sentences he could hear that infuriating accent it took him months to get rid of.

"Thinking about what?"

"Nothin'." There was a clang, and Naruto was suddenly downing a gold liquid from the glass he drank water from.

The smell carried across the room and Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Whiskey at this hour?"

"Every hour's whiskey hour 'round these parts. Or did you forget that?" For the first time, Naruto turned to really look at him. He had the edge of a smile on his face, and the dirt that covered it a second ago was gone.

"How could I forget…" Sasuke whispered. Naruto was still handsome. Maybe more so than before. He was even more golden than the last time Sasuke'd seen him, the constant sun probably darkening his skin. And his eyes, despite their age, was still bright behind those long uncharacteristically dark lashes. A tongue licked full lips, and Naruto began to speak again.

"I'm surprised you found your way back here by yourself." Naruto said, changing the subject. He was holding a refilled cup of Whiskey. Sasuke didn't even realize when he poured himself a new one.

"I didn't." Sasuke went behind the couch and leaned against it, crossing his arms. "I called Kakashi. He drove me back."

Naruto put his head down, and laughed softly. "Of course he did…" Sasuke wasn't sure why he thought he heard bitterness in the blonde's voice.

"What was that?"

Naruto shook his head. "Nothin'. Just wonderin'."

Sasuke could see through Naruto's façade. The blonde was trying to be blasé about everything. Trying to separate himself from the situation. Acting as if he didn't really mind that Sasuke was here, when Sasuke damn well knew that the other man did. The Naruto he knew would have blown up in his face by now though—would have fought him to the ground by now. "Wondering about what?"

"Wonder-ing about wh-at." Naruto repeated, letting out another small infuriating laugh. "You got rid of it completely didn't you? The accent, dialect—whatever." He took a big gulp of the liquid at hand.

Sasuke scoffed. "Of course I—"

"What you doin' here, Sasuke?" Naruto asked suddenly. He held the cup at his palm, while his free fingers drummed the glass. He had a strange look of inquiry—not quite intrusive, just a general interest.

Sasuke stared at the blonde for a few moments before he answered. "I'm staying here. Until the funeral's over."

Naruto paused in his drumming to look at the raven-haired man. "In here? Like, here here? In my house?"

Sasuke straightened himself. "Yes, Naruto. Here here. I'm not paying to live in some rathole hotel—"

"No, of course not." Naruto interrupted with mock-understanding. "Not when you can just come here and mooch off me." it was said sarcastically—but the sarcasm was humorless, almost painful. The falsity in the brightness Sasuke saw in Naruto's eyes made him really see how much the blonde had grown.

"It's my house too." Sasuke whispered, going there, when he knew he shouldn't. "In fact it's my house alone, if you want to get technical."

Naruto gave him one of those smiles. One of those unnerving non-smiles he liked to pull off whenever something upset him and he wanted no one to know that it did. Sasuke couldn't believe the blonde still wore it after all these years.

The smile was gone after a moment, replaced with a thin line of non-committing emotion. He turned around to wash his glass—when had he finished the Whiskey?—and put it away.

"I suppose then we'll have to talk about your rent." Naruto said causally, over the sound of running water.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about, dobe?"

"Your rent. The money you'll owe me for the days you spend here."

Sasuke laughed aloud. "You expect me to pay to live in this dump?" he said, he gestured with his hand, trying to encompass the small house. "First off, no matter what you say, I am still the legal owner of this place. I was the one who signed those property forms, and secondly—who would pay—"

"What's that?" Naruto asked, cutting the man off.

Sasuke paused in his rant and blinked. Naruto wasn't looking at his face, he was looking somewhere in front of him...When he followed the blonde's eyes, he saw him staring at the hand he had raised to express his disbelief.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, putting the hand down. But before he could put it behind him, Naruto was walking forwards, hand outstretched. When he reached him he took Sasuke's hand, eyed the ring on his ring finger and touched it with his tan index.

Sasuke snatched his hand away, and put it behind his back. "It's a wedding ring, Naruto."

When he offered no more explanation, Naruto looked up at him with a small raise of his eyebrows.

Sasuke frowned down at him. "I'm married, Naruto. Or at least, for the time being. We're getting a divorce." Sasuke didn't expect the topic of his soon to be ex-wife to ever come up in this little trip of his but he didn't mind telling the blonde.

Naruto, closer than he'd ever been to Sasuke in six years, blinked at him. "You're married." It wasn't a question. He blinked again, owlishly, and Sasuke had to squirm under the stare.

"Yes, dobe. Married. But we're getting a divorce." he added quickly, but he honestly didn't know why he was giving Naruto this information. "The only reason we aren't already," Sasuke continued with a tired sigh as he remembered the troublesome complications, "...is because of our son. But eventually Sakur—"

"You have a son."

The brunette loosened his tie and tried to take a step back, only to find that he was inches from the couch. Sasuke didn't know why he hadn't thought this part through. He was so wound up on the idea that Naruto would simply be upset about him leaving that he'd forgotten the part about his starting a family in the city while he was at it. He wondered if it would be wise to choose his words carefully. "Yes, Naruto." He settled for. "A son. But besides that—"

"What's his name?"

Sasuke blinked. "What?"

"Your son don't got a name, Sasuke?"

"Of course he does. His name is Seichi."

Naruto's eyes softened. "That's what you said you would name your son iffen you ever had one..."

The blonde suddenly stepped back and went into the kitchen again. He took out the same glass, and from this angle Sasuke couldn't really see but he was guessing the blonde was getting more Whiskey.

"So it didn't matter that you were already married to somebody else? You still just up and married someone despite that?"

Sasuke barked out a laugh, gathering himself again. "We were never married, Naruto. There were no documents signed. Nothing to erase. We were engaged at best and even then, there was no plan, no real future in it."

"Nothing to erase…" Naruto repeated softly. "Guess you're straight now too." He tilted his head back, and Sasuke could see him downing another glass of alcohol.

"You were always a light weight, Naruto. You sure you should be doing that?" He would berate himself later for the concern he heard in his voice.

Naruto chuckled. "Not a lightweight no more…" he murmured.

When he turned around again his glass was refilled.

How did he do that so quickly? Sasuke asked himself.

"Was she pretty?" Naruto asked suddenly.

Sasuke blinked. "What?"

"Your wife. Was she pretty? Is she, rather…"

Sasuke frowned slightly. That wasn't the question he was expecting the blonde to ask. He hesitated before he pulled out his wallet from his back pocket, flipped it open and threw it to the blonde. Naruto caught it with one hand, surprising Sasuke with his reflexes and stared at the picture.

Sasuke hadn't looked at the photograph for a long time, but he knew what was there. His wife in a chair, with their son sitting on her lap, and himself standing behind that chair with his hands on his wife's shoulders. Classic family portrait.

"Wow." Again, it was whispered.

Sasuke watched the expression on Naruto's face. Again, no committed emotion. He didn't seem awed or saddened by what he saw. He was cold, like the platinum on Sasuke's wedding ring.

Which reminded him…

"Look into the first pocket, under that picture."

Naruto did as he was told. When he shuffled for a bit, he pulled out a plain, stainless steel ring. From a far angle one wouldn't be able to tell the material from silver.

"I didn't mean to take it with me when I left," Sasuke explained. "So I thought I would give it to you now…" when the raven-haired man looked up again, Naruto was eyeing the ring, again with those calm eyes. He turned the ring around with his finger and seemed to study it, and Sasuke couldn't tell what he was thinking.

Finally the blonde put the ring—his engagement ring to Sasuke six years ago—on the kitchen counter and threw Sasuke's wallet back at him.

"Three thousand a night." He said suddenly.

Sasuke blinked. "Excuse me?"

Naruto smiled at him. "You heard me. Three thousand a night. That's how much it'll cost you to stay here."

"Bull shit," Sasuke said, laughing aloud. "I would never pay that much for—"

"You sayin' you don't got the money?"

"Of course I have the money! But I'm not going to waste it away on this shithole."

"Then you can go find somewhere else t'live." Naruto said, putting it simply. He shrugged his shoulders and began walking into the living room, past Sasuke. "You know where the door is."

"Damn right, I know where the door is. I own this house, Naruto. I should make you leave."

Naruto stopped walking and turned to look at his ex. "And you'd know all about leavin' now wouldn't you, Sasuke?" he asked, his voice scathing.

Sasuke only allowed himself to be taken aback for one moment, but the guilt he felt in that moment stung him from all sides. And why, why, why would he feel guilty? he thought angrily. It was unacceptable, and he would strangle that guilt to death before he left this county.

Anger overcame him then. He walked around the living room table so he was directly in front of the blonde. "I know this is just some petty attempt to get back at me for what I did to you." he hissed into the man's face. He tried not to mind the onslaught of memories that came with the strong smell of Whiskey on his ex's breath. "And I understand you're angry, and upset," he continued. "But let's just make this easier for the both of us, and let me live here in peace, all right?"

For the first time, there was genuine emotion in the blonde's face. Anger darkened in his narrowed blue eyes, and he completed the distance between him and his ex with a harsh finger to the man's chest. "You think I'm just gonna roll over and let you do whatever the fuck you want-?" he demanded in disbelief.

"And why not?!" Sasuke spat, stepping back and waving his hands in the air. "That's what you've done your whole life. Rolled over like a damned whipped puppy and did whatever the fuck I wanted, so why stop now?!" he screamed into the man's face.

...

...

Sasuke felt his face heat up.

Shit.

He didn't think he was going to be the first one to raise his voice.

Naruto had choked somewhere along the lines of Sasuke's speech and took a step back with eyes that didn't stop widening. "That's about the cruelest thing you ever done said to me, Sasuke." he breathed out in disbelief.

Sasuke looked at his ex for long moments before he let out an angry sigh. "I know that what I did was wrong." he began, stepping further away from the blonde. "But we can never be together again. If you throw a punch at me I'll accept that - I'll fight back, but I'll accept it - and if you want to reduce me to giving you a few pity-goodbye fucks then I'll do that too - but damn it if I let you take my hard earned money just to make a point."

Something like surprise ripped a shocked burst of laughter from the blonde. "I stand corrected." he said in wonder, as he stared at the man he hadn't seen in six years.

Sasuke frowned back at him. He didn't care what Naruto thought of him. He had always been this caustic and practical, and he knew going in that there was a possibility that the blonde would fall privy to some type of emotion and want to have sex with Sasuke a few more times before he was out of his life forever. Naruto had always been emotional that way. Sasuke didn't care. As long as the blonde knew that it was a purely physical thing, meant to consumate the severing of the ties. And Sakura would not mind even though they were still technically married.

Naruto took a step back from Sasuke, not looking shocked or even at Sasuke anymore. His voice came out casual, despite what had just been said. "Konoha County Law states that ownership of any private property can be overturned if the party resposnible for that ownership is persistently unavailable in said property for more than three years, and if a plea is given and signed by the current mayor over a written document signed by the pleader and two witness parties to overturn said property." he looked up at Sasuke with dark eyes and said in a hushed tone, "What that means is that this house don't belong to you no more, Sasuke Uchiha. And the rent to live here is three thousand dollars. If you don't wanna pay up then get the fuck off my property." he seethed with a flourish, before turning around and heading towards the stairs of the house.

Sasuke blinked at Naruto's retreating back, losing a bit of the fire he'd felt a moment before. "W-wait!"

When Naruto actually paused at the stairs, Sasuke realized he didn't expect Naruto to wait. He didn't even know what to say. He knew he wanted...

Sasuke scowled. He knew he wanted to stay here. And it would be a damned hassle to find some place else to stay. He could take Kakashi up on his offer but...

He growled aloud and gave in. "Five hundred." He said.

"Two thousand."

"Damn, it Naruto—"

"Two thousand five-hun'ed—"

"Fine!" Sasuke spat, waving his hands in the air. "You wanna take my money, fine! God knows you fucking need it." he snarled, looking around the place.

Naruto said nothing and continued up the stairs.

"Wait!" Sasuke shouted, coming after him. "Where will I sleep?"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders, turning to look at him. "As far as I'm concerned, you already made your sleepin' arrangements—" He nodded at the messy couch where Sasuke had placed all his suitcases.

"I am not sleeping on the couch for two thousand dollars a night, Naruto—"

"No, you're not." Naruto agreed. "You're sleeping on the couch for two thousand five hun-dred dollars a night." Naruto corrected, mockingly. " And there ain't any room up here, anyway." he said, pointing up the stairs.

"I built this house with you, Naruto. I know there's a guest room."

"But that room is reserved for welcomed guests." Naruto clarified slowly, as if explaining it to a child.

Sasuke shouted something else back at him, but the blonde only continued up the stairs. "I'll be seeing you in the morning…" he murmured back, paying no mind to Sasuke's anger.

"Naruto!"

His only response was footsteps calmly walking away.

"Dobe."

"Sasuke."

There were several moments of silence, and Sasuke sat up on the couch to see the blonde better. He'd seen him walk down the stairs, with a small frown on his face, but the way Naruto said his name made Sasuke feel like there was more to that frown than he was ever meant to know.

"Sleep well?" Naruto's voice surprised him.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Was the blonde going to pretend like nothing happened last night? "I did." he began cautiously. "Surprisingly. But I can think of someone who didn't."

Naruto didn't even pause in whatever he was doing in the kitchen. "Is that so?"

Sasuke scowled. "What was going on up there, Naruto?" he asked, not wanting to beat around the bush anymore. "I heard noises last night. Crashes. A lot of crashes. Were you upset?"

"The wood's getting old." Naruto said easily, not missing a bit. "A few things fell, is all."

"A lot of things fell, Naruto."

Naruto turned around quickly then, and instead of seeing a defensive frown or scowl, Sasuke saw a calm face. "You're not the one who had to clean it up." He said. "So stop complaining." Then he smiled and headed for the door.

"W-wait," Sasuke called after him, standing up from the couch. "Where the hell are you going?"

"Goin' to the mines." Naruto called out, not stopping.

"Wait!" the raven-haired man shouted, going after the blonde. "You're going to just leave me here?"

Naruto paused for a moment, and turned around to look patiently at Sasuke. "You got a problem with bein' left behind, Sasuke?"

Sasuke opened his mouth to say something, but realization hit him as he began to understand the reference. "Damn it." He cursed, resigned.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at him, before he tipped the oddly large hat he had on, nodded to the man, and made his way to the large blue pick-up truck in front of the house.

"What the hell am I supposed to do here until you come back?!" Sasuke shouted at him.

Naruto waved at him, disregarding. "Visit your friends!" he shouted over the roaring sound of his truck's engine.

"I don't have any friends!" Sasuke shouted back.

The only response he got was Naruto's laughter as he drove away.

"What's wrong with you, Naruto?"

The blonde was leaning against the first wall of the mine entrance, behind all the warning signs that said to keep out, and had an expression that Shikamaru knew all too well.

"Are you hung over?"

Naruto laughed a little. "Now Shika," he started slowly. "If that were the case, it would mean that I went out drinking yesterday, and I assure you, I did not go out drinking."

"That don't mean you can't drink in your own home, what the hell were you thinking?" The man hissed, lifting a warning tape and crossing under it so he could take the blonde's face.

Naruto tried to move away, but Shikamaru pinned him down on one shoulder with his hand and tore his hat off. "You said you hated this hat." He growled before taking Naruto's jaw and tilting it up harshly.

"Guugh—" Naruto grunted, closing his eyes tightly.

"Sensitivity to light." Shikamaru smacked the wall behind Naruto's head and the blonde jumped. "What the hell, Naruto! " he hissed. "What the hell. What in God's name were you thinking—"

"Sasuke's back."

Shikamaru paused, and looked at Naruto. "What did you say?"

Naruto looked back it him, and smiled one of his special non-smiles. "He came yesterday. Says he's stayin' at my place 'till the funeral."

Shikamaru stared at Naruto for the longest time, before he swore under his breath. "God damn it."

"No, no, no." Naruto said tiredly. "Consider all our money problems solved. He's more of a bastard than ever but at least I'll milk him dry before he leaves these parts."

Shikamaru shook his head, not really understanding. When he turned around to take a quick look behind him, he was faced with the crowd of men who'd arrived for mining. It was still a few minutes before everything got started, so he didn't have to worry about them right then.

Shikamaru shook his head and swore again. He let some more silence pass between the before he asked, "You think you can handle it?"

"'Course I can." Naruto assured. "Ain't nothin' gonna stop me from doin' my job. I'll just drink a lot of water and—"

Shikamaru sighed and turned to face Naruto again. "No, I mean can you handle it." He aked softly. "I know you'll do your job. Ain't no doubt in my mind. But I wanna know that you ain't gonna cave in and rot your soul with all those emotions you like to keep hidden again."

Naruto raised a tired eyebrow, before he shook his head. "I'm fine, Shikamaru."

Another moment of silence passed between them. "Why you lyin' to me, Naruto?" Shikamaru demanded softly.

Naruto frowned, looked away, and said nothing.

The older of the two sighed. "Leave it to Sasuke to bring you back to this damn state. And at a time like this." He whispered harshly. "But I woulda thought…that if he came…you would be stronger than this, Naruto." He said, turning to look back at the blonde.

"I am stronger." Naruto assured. "Didn't let him see me upset. Didn't even cry."

"That ain't strength, Naruto." The older man cried out, exasperated. "Emotions are good—I don't know who told you otherwise. But besides all that, you still went to the bottle. After all of us have been beggin' you to stop, you still went to the damn bottle and now you comin' into the mines with a damn hangover—"

"It ain't gonna be as bad as it was before—" Naruto started defensively before he was interrupted.

"How the hell do you know that, huh? You're a damn alcoholic—"

"What?" Naruto mouthed, looking bewildered. "I'm—I'm not." He assured in a harsh whisper, looking around to see if anyone was near enough to hear. "M-maybe I was before, but now—"

"No one ever stops bein' an alcoholic, damn it." Shikamaru growled. "You just get better at holdin' your liquor—"

Naruto looked away and brushed his hair back angrily. He was breathing harshly now. "Shikamaru just leave me be—"

"How can I?" Shikamaru asked, almost desperately, showing more emotion than he would show his wife on most occasions. He took Naruto's shoulder harshly pushed him back. "You're going to kill yourself one of these days—"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Naruto suddenly shouted, and Shikamaru felt the conversations of the men waiting behind them subside. He knew that they were all probably staring at the two. There was now silence for the most part, and only Naruto's harsh breathing could be heard, along with the light winds. He was looking at Shikamaru with wide, bright, and desperate eyes, and showing the older man a window to the emotions Shikamaru knew the blonde kept hidden inside. "Why don't you just leave it alone—" he whispered desperately.

"Why don't you get help—"

"Why don't you just get off my back?!" Naruto threw his hands in the air. "Ain't nothin' wrong with havin' a drink after a hard day of work—"

"Bullshit, Naruto! You and I both know that work's got nothin' to do with your problem—"

"Can you stop? Just let it go—!" Naruto exclaimed, looking at the sky with disbelief as if he couldn't believe why the gods were letting this happen to him.

"The hell I'll let this go, Naruto! You're gonna be stuck with me 'til you kick this damn habit—"

"STOP!" Naruto screamed and he pushed Shikamaru so hard the older man crashed into the warning tape and ripped it off. Naruto put a hand to his mouth, and wiped away the spittle that had formed there, and let out an exhale that was long overdue.

A few moments passed, with the two of them just standing there, and Naruto looking away.

Finally the blonde growled, "I'm leaving." under his breath. He walked over the fallen warning tape and stalked away.

"Where the hell you going—"

"To teach these damn fools how to mine!" Naruto called back angrily. "Or do you think I'm gonna fuck that up too?!" he added, angrily, before turning around and heading towards the crowd of awaiting men.

"Damn, it, Naruto," Shikamaru began, following after the blonde, but he had to stop when Naruto called attention to the crowd with a shout.

"All right fellas! It's about time we get started!"

And even with his back facing him, Shikamaru knew that Naruto would have a renewed smile plastered on his face, as if nothing had ever happened.

"Now we're gonna get started with roll call; make sure everyone's here—and iffen someone comes late just tell em' to come to me or my pal Shikamaru here so we can tell em' they're fired for being late on the first day!" he ended the sentence with a grin so wide a few men actually chuckled. "Now—" he paused and turned around to face Shikamaru who was still a way behind him. "Shika, buddy, what you doin' back there, these men won't bite!" he finished that with another dazzling grin, and again a few of the crowd chuckled.

Shikamaru frowned deeply at the blonde, showing him exactly what he thought of his act, but Naruto continued to smile, waving him towards the crowd.

Shikamaru had no choice but to join him.

End of Chapter

Author's Notes:

Never hurts to throw a little alcoholism in the mix. I wrote this chapter like forty times - I just couldn't get the Sasuke/Naruto Scene, right! I hope you guys enjoyed what I settled with =/

Uhm, QUESTIONS to help me for rewrites and the next chapter:

1. I'm trying to make Sasuke seem like the Jerk who cares about people but refuses to admit it and hides behind insults. Did I pull it off?

2. Was Naruto's reaction to someone he hadn't seen in SIX YEARS believable? I had a huge problem with that, because I didn't want them to get physcial (fighting-wise) too soon, but I didn't want Naruto to be too passive about the whole thing. Be assured everything is going to BLOW OUT OF CONTROL between these two guys sooner rather than later. I'm just not sure if it'll; end in hasty, desperate, longing sex/ or the fist fight of the century...or both ._.

3. Okay, the accents. Are they bothering anyone (in terms of me pulling it off) and Are the differences between the way Sasuke/Kakashi talks from Naruto and the rest of the gang apparent? I'm trying to use the American southern/midwestern accent as minimally as possible since I don't know much about it except from television and some books but I still want there to be a difference.

4. OH, OH!, and someone emailed me and told me they were from Mississippi - Where is everyone from?! - You don't have to answer, I'm just wondering from where people are reading my stories.

Uhm okay! Next chapter we get a nice view of Gaara, and I think it will be posted Next Sunday, the 23rd.