So this is a big SasuNaru chapter, nothing fancy happens here but it gets the ball rolling. This story is beginning to wind down! Maybe five or six chapters left?

It was raining when Sasuke woke up. The drizzle sounding dully outside the window and the sky grey and cloudy. Sasuke felt fuzzy when he finally came to. He tried opening his eyes, but was only met with darkness. His eyes were bandaged and the teen instinctively reached to touch his face and at his movement, he felt Naruto's chakra fluctuate. A chair screeched slightly against the linoleum floor.

"Sasuke, you're awake." Naruto stated as he walked over to the other boy. Sasuke's fingers rested against his covered temple and he offered a weak nod.

"Help me sit up, would you?' He managed to ask, voice gravelly. He felt familiar hands support him and he pushed against the mattress into a seated position.

"How are you feeling?" Naruto asked, taking a seat next to Sasuke's bed. The Uchiha did not answer for a long moment, hand slipping away from his bandaged head. He didn't even know how he felt.

"How long have I been out?" He asked. He could hear Naruto moving and fought the urge to reach for him and hold him still.

"Almost two days. You woke up awhile ago but were too drugged to move much and you passed out again." Naruto explained, scooting closer. Sasuke nodded in understanding. He leaned against the pillow.

"Is Itachi awake yet?" Sasuke quickly asked, realizing that he had been unable to keep the worry out of his tone. Naruto offered Sasuke a smile, even if he couldn't see it.

"I don't know, I haven't left your room since-"

"You've been in here two days?" Sasuke's head moved to the sound of Naruto's voice and the blonde let out a weak laugh.

"Yeah. Where else would I be?" He replied. Sasuke shook his head slowly, lips tilting into a thin smile. He should have known Naruto would not leave his side.

"Dobe, you didn't have to do that." He stated in amusement.

"I wanted to." The boy quickly argued and Sasuke offered him a genuine smile.

"Thank you." He replied, he leaned back against his pillows and Naruto glanced towards the door. He stood and looked back to Sasuke.

"Hold on one sec, I'll have someone let the granny know you're awake now." He reluctantly walked away from the bed and opened the door, peering down the hall. There were people everywhere.

"Oi!" Naruto called to a passing nurse. "Get the Hokage for me, okay?" The nurse turned to Naruto, nodding before rushing off to alert another nurse. The other nurse waved his hand, continuing to write and Naruto scowled.

"Take your time, no rush!" He sarcastically called out and the nurse shot the blonde and exasperated look before putting down his report and walking out of sight.

As Naruto continued to harass the hospital staff, Sasuke's fingers began to slowly feel the gauze around his face. His fingers tingled from the after effects of the drugs he had been giving. He could already feel the change inside him. These eyes felt different…

There was a power within him now. Itachi's power was coursing through him. Even with his eyes covered, he had never felt more powerful. Like a dam had been released, the chakra flowing through Sasuke was nearly tangible.

"Baa-chan's on her way." Naruto chirped as he plopped back into his seat. "You feeling okay?"

"I feel fine." Sasuke hummed, hands dropping to his lap. Naruto studied the other teen closely, trying to figure out of he was telling the truth.

"You think Kakashi's with Itachi?" Sasuke muttered and the blonde grinned widely.

"No doubt." He teased and the other boy scowled at the thought.

Minutes later Sasuke heard Tsunade stride through the door.

"Good, you're awake." Tsunade stated, walking around Naruto to reach the Uchiha. "You feeling alright?" She asked, taking Sasuke's face and tilting his head up.

"I'm fine. Is my brother awake?"

"Not yet. I'm going to remove your bandages now, okay? So hold still." She reached for the gauze.

"No, I want to be with Itachi when I remove them." Sasuke began to argue and Tsunade clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing slightly.

"There's no telling when he will wake up and I want to be sure it worked. You can be with Itachi when his bandages come off." She assured and felt the boy nod reluctantly. Once she was sure he would let her continue, she removed a clip from the gauze. Sasuke didn't move as she began to slowly unravel the bandages.

Naruto watched Sasuke over the woman's shoulder, face scrunched up in curiosity. Tsunade reached the last layer and gently pulled it away from the Uchiha's face. Sasuke's eyes remained closed as the Hokage set down the bandages.

"Okay, you can open them now."

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, eyelashes twitching against the room's light. Naruto cocked his head at the teen, biting his bottom lip.

Dark eyes opened and Sasuke blinked. The light overhead buzzed dully overhead. His brows narrowed as if deep in thought.

"So, does it feel any different?" Naruto peered closely at Sasuke who looked around the hospital room. He couldn't describe it. There was a sharpness to his sight. As if everything he was looking at was magnified.

He looked over to Naruto, noting how blue his eyes were. Sasuke could see every detail of the dobe's eyes. He caught himself staring and unable to look away. Naruto stared back, blinking once.

"Sasuke?"

"I-"

Tsunade cleared her throat. Both boys blinked and tore their eyes away from each other to stare at the Hokage who was smirking at the pair in amusement, arms crossed.

"How's it feel?" She drawled and Sasuke blinked again.

"Weird. Like everything is sharp." He looked out the window, transfixed by the rainfall. The Hokage took a compact mirror and held it out to Sasuke who took it.

He opened the mirror and stared at himself. He and his brother had nearly identical eyes. It wasn't like his eyes were suddenly green or something, but it still felt weird.

These eyes had been Itachi's for twenty two years. These eyes had seen things Sasuke could never even imagine. He turned his head this way and that, staring into his eyes with open curiosity.

He didn't look any different but he felt it. These eyes had been brutally torn from their original owner and delivered to Sasuke to mock him. Three days ago these eyes had been floating in some jar.

Now they were his. As his brother had originally wanted for him…but not how he had expected they would be delivered…

He help out the mirror to Tsunade, hands shaking and the woman took it and tucked it away. Tsunade snorted, glancing towards Naruto and nodding.

"I'm going to check on your brother and see how he's doing; you two stay here, alright?" Naruto nodded and Sasuke didn't offer a reply. He was lost in thought and his pale hands pulled into light fists. Neither boy seemed to hear her as she left the room, lightly closing the door behind her.

This power…he could face Madara and Obito. He could kill them for what they had done…it was too bad Danzo was dead. Sasuke would have enjoyed using these eyes against him.

"Sasuke?" Naruto's voice carried forward and the raven tore his gaze away from the raindrops clinging to the window to look at the other boy.

"Hn?" Naruto sat on the edge of the bed, looking Sasuke over.

"You sure you're okay?" He questioned. Sasuke offered a nod, eyes darting to look at Naruto's bright hair.

"Your hair looks weird." He muttered and Naruto's hands darted to the top of his head.

"It does?" He squeaked ], trying to brush it down and the other teen offered him a crooked smile, reaching and pulling his hand away from his hair.

"Usuratonkachi." He teased, fingers entwining with Naruto's. Naruto gulped, looking down to their hands. Sasuke's nails were clean and nicely trimmed and short. His pale hand flawless compared to Naruto's. There was dirt under his thumb nail and his knuckle was scuffed up. He felt like a child compared to Sasuke.

"You know," Sasuke slowly began, studying Naruto's hand. "My brother gave me a hard time about avoiding you." His eyes traveled up Naruto's arm to meet his eyes. Naruto's blonde brows narrowed and his lips pursed in confusion.

"Avoiding me?"

"Yeah. He thinks we need to play nice again. You know how he is…I've been sort of distant these last few months, huh?" Naruto scooted closer.

"You were brooding." He argued. Sasuke snorted, looking away from the jinchuuriki.

"Yeah…after Itachi and I are released from you…you and I should…"

"Are you asking me on a date, Teme?" Naruto grinned widely. Sasuke looked over at his teammate, one brow raining high into the air.

"I wouldn't go that far…"

"I would." Naruto teased. "I suppose I'll go on a date with you…but I have to schedule you in. I'm very popular you see." He battled his eyelashes and Sasuke lightly pushed on his shoulder, shooting him an amused smile.

"Idiot…" He breathed. He pushed over on the bed, and pulled on Naruto's arm. The blonde got the hint and scooted next to him on the bed.

Their noses brushed and Sasuke actually smiled at him. Naruto grinned back, happily. They lay curled together, using the same pillow and listening to the rain pound against the window.

"Remember the time we kissed?" Naruto whispered, his nose nearly brushing Sasuke's. "The first time?"

"When you 'allegedly' fell?" Sasuke snorted, his lips pulling into a tired smile.

"Yeah." Naruto replied. "That one." Lighting flashed and Sasuke profile was highlighted in white and black.

"What about it?" Sasuke asked, eyes closing.

"Just saying it didn't suck." Naruto shrugged. Sasuke snorted again, eyes remaining closed. He pressed closer to Naruto. Their foreheads brushing.

"Obviously. It's why we did it again." He answered. Naruto laughed slightly at this. His laugh was cut off as Sasuke moved forward and captured him mouth into a simple, but somehow meaningful kiss.

"I'm tired." Sasuke stated as he pulled away from the kiss. He closed his eyes, at ease as if he hadn't just kissed the other teenager. "Go to sleep, Naruto." Naruto blinked, still in shock from the kiss.

"…Kay…" Was all he could manage. Sasuke smiled, slightly.

Sasuke's shoulders relaxed and his breathing evened out as he fell back asleep. Naruto watched him for a long moment, a tired smile on his face. Sasuke's form began to turn fuzzy as Naruto's own eyes drooped. The two days inside the hospital room had swiftly caught up with him and Naruto fell asleep soon afterwards. Both boys remaining pressed close together on the small hospital bed.

Just outside the room, the door silently closed. Tsunade smiled as she released the handle. Shizune stood at her side, clipboard in hand. The Hokage brushed her hair from her face, honey eyes moving to the woman who was still smiling from the sight she had seen.

"Let them sleep." Tsunade murmured. She began to stride down the hall, Shizune following at her side. They passed by a few nurses who offered the Hokage a bow. Shizune moved her papers, catching Tsunade's eyes.

"What did Kakashi say?" She asked, looking at the older woman who looked utterly pleased with herself. Tsunade smirked once, taking the clipboard from Shizune. She casually flipped through it.

"The kid's still asleep, but Kakashi thinks he'll probably be awake by tonight." Tsunade explained. They headed for the staircase, descending down the steps. Shizune hummed, holding onto the railing.

"You're not going to mention you saw Naruto and Sasuke cuddling are you?" Shizune questioned and the Hoakge laughed. They walked out of the hospital, watching as the rain began to let up. The smell of fresh damp earth was amazing and Shizune inhaled happily.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Tsuande teased lightly.

For some reason, Shizune didn't believe her.

So, no Itachi in this chapter. Don't worry, he's in good hands ;)