Previously: Sasuke's disaster date with Sakura, but at least Sarada got to be coddled.

a question of love

"You two seem quite happy today."

Boruto stopped shoveling and looked over at Mitsuki. "What d'ya mean?" He brushed the back of his head, not at all aware of the mud he was getting all over his hair.

Mitsuki tilted his head, looking between Boruto and Sarada. "You're both…humming."

All three of them were knee-deep in dirt water, planting rice saplings as part of a mission, but Boruto did have to admit, the dullness of the task didn't necessarily bother him as much as it usually might have. He grinned. "It's just a good day today, that's all."

Sarada looked up at Boruto from where she'd been working, her nose wrinkling. "What's wrong with you?"

Boruto's grin melted. "What wrong with you? Can't stand me being happy?"

Sarada folded her arms, inclining her head. "Since when have you ever been happy just because the weather was nice?"

"Then what about you? Why have you been humming?"

"W-Well—um." Sarada turned a little pink. "I—I just had a nice time with Papa, that's all."

"Oh."

"What about you?" Sarada asked pointedly. "Why are you in such a good mood?"

After a moment of thought, Boruto gave them a conspiratorial grin, cupping his hand over his mouth as if he was about share a secret. "I saw Mom and Dad kissing the other night."

For a long moment, all Sarada and Mitsuki did was stare at Boruto.

Mitsuki was the first to react. "I didn't know you were that kind of a pervert."

"What?" Boruto blustered, turning a deep shade of red. "No, what are you even talking about? It was just nice seeing my parents get along, okay? Mom seemed so happy these past couple of days. And what do you mean by that kind of a pervert, anyways? What kind?"

Mitsuki shrugged, giving him an ambiguous smile. "I'm glad to hear that."

Boruto was about to complain more when he noticed Sarada giving him an odd look.

"You got something to say, too?"

Sarada shook her head quickly and went back to working the field. "Nothing."

Boruto frowned. Then he looked at Mitsuki, who simply smiled. Sniffing, he went back to work.

But even later that day, long after they were done with the mission, Sarada still had that odd look about her. So, as they walked home, Boruto took the opportunity to ask.

"You…uh…okay, Sarada?"

"Huh?" Sarada frowned slowly, as though disoriented. "Uh—yeah, I'm okay."

Boruto watched her for a moment before deciding to let it go. For now. Locking his hands behind his neck, he continued to walk beside his teammates in easy silence.

"Um…Boruto?"

Boruto hid a smirk. He knew she'd open up at some point. "Yeah?" he responded, totally nonchalant.

"Did your mom and dad go out on a date?"

"Yeah! They thought I was asleep, but I caught them kissing in the doorway." He snickered, remembering their faces. Seeing his mom so bubbly the next morning was a sight that made Boruto so happy he'd given his dad a hug (a brief one, of course). No, he won't admit that the way his dad had ruffled his hair felt good.

"Oh."

Boruto glanced at Sarada, who was staring at the ground they walked on. "Why do you ask?"

"Um. My parents went on a date, too."

"Oh yeah, Sasuke-san asked me about that."

Sarada looked over so quickly at Boruto that he was surprised she didn't get whiplash. "He asked you? About…dating?"

"He asked why you would ask him to go on a date with your mom."

Sarada bunched her eyebrows. "But why would he ask you that?"

"Beats me."

"So, what did you tell him?"

Hands still locked behind his head, Boruto looked up at the sky, thinking back to that odd little conversation. "I just told him why I would want my parents to go on a date. It would feel nice. It did feel nice. You were after the same thing, right?"

"Yeah." Sarada went back to staring at her feet.

Boruto had a feeling her plan didn't go as expected. "What happened?"

"Um…well," she mumbled, "I don't think their date went well. I saw Papa sitting outside, looking miserable. And Mama has been very spaced out lately. It's been so…awkward at home. It's like they don't know what to do around each other."

"Oh." Boruto felt for her, but he didn't know what to say.

Mitsuki, who'd been so quiet throughout the exchange that Boruto had nearly forgotten about him, spoke. "I've always wondered about Sasuke-san."

Sarada finally looked up from the ground. "Wondered what?"

Mitsuki smiled as if he was in on a secret that they weren't aware of. "If he's…you know."

Sarada narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Mitsuki was still wearing that ambiguous smile that curved his eyes into crescent moons. "You've noticed what he's like around Hokage-sama, haven't you?" He inclined his head at Boruto. "And vice versa?"

Bewildered, Boruto could only ask, "What the hell are you talking about?"

Mitsuki stopped walking. "Ah, looks like this is my stop." He turned toward the street they'd just reached. "Goodbye now."

Boruto stared after Mitsuki, unable to shake off the feeling that Mitsuki had planned that escape, somehow. If it could be called an escape.

"What was he talking about?" Sarada finally asked, looking just as confused as Boruto felt.

"No idea," he replied.

But as they started walking again, Boruto was beginning to wonder.

Because it did seem strange, the way Sasuke-san always seemed to see his dad more often than his own family. Or the way Sasuke always seemed so…relaxed around his dad, when around everyone else he seemed serious. Boruto simply assumed that would be the case with Sakura-san, too, that he just wasn't the type to show his affections in public.

Apparently, he didn't do so in private, either, according to Sarada.

It made his suspicions grow.

Because Boruto wasn't stupid. There was no way he wouldn't have noticed how Sasuke-san talked about his dad. Sasuke-san was always saying how Boruto should look up to Naruto instead, who sat at his desk all day like a loser, more than Sasuke himself, who actually fought villains and protected their village. Boruto never understood it, especially when Sasuke-san was way cooler than his old man. But Sasuke-san always talked about his dad like he was a hero or something. As if he saved Sasuke-san or something.

And Boruto did notice how Sasuke always had a wry sort of smile around Naruto, especially when he would do something dumb and embarrassing. The sort of smile that was both exasperated but…fond. The sort of smile his mom would often have when his dad would goof off. Boruto never understood it, but he figured that it was one of the many mysteries of love that he would never understand.

Love.

Boruto looked slowly over at Sarada, unable to believe what his mind had landed on. But the more he thought about it, the more…

"Uh…Sarada?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you…ever wondered if uh…sensei—I mean—your dad is…"

Boruto gulped.

It occurred to him then that Sarada might not like what he was going to say. "Uh—never mind."

Needless to say, it was too late.

"What? What about Papa?"

"It's—nothing—"

Sarada turned to direct her full gaze on him, and he quailed.

Praying to all the gods that might be up there to protect him, he said, "Um—so—this—this is just a theory, okay? I could be totally wrong, okay?"

"Uhuh?"

"Um…so…have you…ever noticed…how…uh…that—" Boruto licked his lips.

She is so gonna punch me.

Sarada twitched. "Just spit it out already."

"O-Okay!" he squeaked. "So, um, d-do you think…your dad might be…gayformydad?"

Naruto almost fell off the tree he was perched on.

Sasuke— what?

Gay? As in—two dudes—loving—each other? Like…Kakashi and Gai?

Naruto really did not have anything against gay people. Really. It was just…

The kids of Boruto's generation were definitely a lot more open about it, for sure. It was more…normal for them. Rather, more people were out these days than before, so it would be a normal thing for them.

But Naruto still couldn't wrap his mind around it. It was impossible.

Sasuke was married to Sakura. They've been married for over a decade. He had a freaking child with her. Naruto just saw them on a date the other day. He had been smiling as if Sakura was the first sunrise he'd witnessed after decades of staying inside. The bastard never smiled at Naruto like that.

Has Boruto lost his mind?

Naruto really didn't mean to eavesdrop on Boruto and his teammates. It was just—he was passing by, and heard them talking about Sasuke's date with Sakura and he—

Well, he was curious.

They do say curiosity killed the cat for a reason.

Naruto leaned forward as far as he could so he could listen more.

"Wha—what on earth gave you that idea?" Sarada was saying, her voice growing a note higher with each word.

Naruto had to stifle his laughter at her expression.

Boruto flailed his hands, a drop of sweat rolling down his face. "L-Listen—y-you've noticed how Sasuke-san only has a nickname for my dad—"

"Naruto-san also only has a nickname for Papa—"

"Ok, then—what about the fact that Sasuke-san is always visiting Dad first, before you or your mom?"

"'Cause he's shadow-Hokage?" Sarada folded her arms, cocking her head. "And every shinobi should be reporting to the Hokage anyway once they're done with a mission. And what about the fact that your dad always lights up like a literal lightbulb every time my dad is mentioned?"

Naruto did not light up like a literal lightbulb whenever Sasuke was mentioned. What the hell were these kids on?

Boruto's jaw dropped. "No, he does . Dad considers him his best friend. Plus, it's your dad who smiles like my mom does whenever Dad does something stupid."

"Oh yeah?" Sarada puts her hands on her hips. "My mom said that your dad used to be super obsessed with my dad! And…"

Their voices were fading as they walked further away, and Naruto was just about to follow them when—

"Usuratonkachi."

"Eek!" Naruto almost fell off the tree again. This time, Sasuke caught him and pulled him back.

"Th-Thanks."

"Clumsy as always, aren't you?"

"Uh…yeah. I guess." Naruto glanced down in a panic, but the kids were already walking away, bickering amongst themselves.

Damn. He really wanted to hear more. Would it be weird to ask Boruto about it later tonight?

"Were you spying on our kids, dobe?"

Naruto grimaced. "Uh—n-not really. I was just—wondering how Boruto was doing."

He glanced at Sasuke from the corner of his eyes, but he looked…just as unreadable as usual. What the hell made them think that Sasuke—

Naruto gulped.

The very idea in and of itself sounded outlandish. Naruto shook his head, as if that might do something to help him forget, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you. I didn't know you liked to spy on children."

Oh, come on!

"You don't have to make me sound like a creep," Naruto muttered.

Wait a second. What if Sasuke heard—

"Uh…did you happen to hear what they were talking about?"

"No. I'm not a creep like you."

Though relieved, Naruto twitched. "Whatever. What did you want?"

Sasuke tilted his head. "…Nothing."

"So…what are you doing here?"

Sasuke only looked at him.

Naruto looked back, feeling more freaked out by the second.

Because, unfortunately, shaking one's head did not necessarily make one forget what one just heard.

But—Boruto and his team were still just kids. Kids' imaginations run wild.

Yeah. That had to be it.

Because the bastard didn't look anything close to being—gay—for Naruto. And—Sarada—what the hell was she talking about?

Just because—just because Naruto apparently lit up whenever Sasuke was mentioned didn't have to mean that he was fucking—gay —

Plus, he loved Hinata. He married Hinata. He loved her. So, he couldn't be gay. No. Way.

And Sasuke was his best friend after all. And Naruto rarely got to see him. It was normal to feel happy to see Sasuke, right? What the hell was so—gay—about that? Wasn't that simply friendship?

What the hell did being gay for someone look like, anyway?

"Hey, Naruto."

"Huh?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Were you even listening to me?"

"Ah—sorry, what were you saying?"

Sasuke studied Naruto. "Are you…okay?"

"I—I'm fine." Naruto leaned away slightly, feeling as though Sasuke could read what was going on inside his head. Really hoping that the Rinnegan didn't have hidden mind-reading abilities, Naruto changed the subject. "H-How was your date?"

Sasuke blinked. "What?"

"I…um…saw you…the other day. With…Sakura…I mean. Did you guys have a good time?"

Sasuke opened his mouth slightly. His lips were so pink. They were cracked, dry, but Naruto wondered how they might feel—

What the fuck?

Those dumbass kids were getting to him.

Plus, it was fucking weird. Sasuke was a fucking—dude.

Not that Naruto thought gays were weird, of course. His own sensei was gay.

Naruto just never thought it ever applied to himself. It was weird because it was him and the bastard. And it was cheating. It wasn't just weird, it was downright wrong.

"It was…fine," Sasuke said bracingly.

Wait—what were they talking about again?

Oh—Sasuke's date. And…it sounded like it didn't go that well.

Naruto crushed the small part of him that felt somewhat…glad.

What the hell was wrong with him?

"Why do you sound like you didn't have a good time?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke's face hardened. "That's none of your business."

"Right." It was what Naruto expected. He reached about for something else to talk about.

They were surrounded by leaves and branches that seemed to close in on them, separating them from the world. It made the air between them way too tense, and Naruto's mind blanked. He itched to run.

When did it get so hard to talk to him?

Why the hell was Sasuke even here on this tree with him? What did he want? Why was he just standing there, apparently for no reason?

"What about…you?" Sasuke asked after a long silence.

Surprised that Sasuke broke the silence, his mind blanked again. "Huh?"

Sasuke made an annoyed sound. "Your…date. With Hinata. How did it go?"

"Oh."

It was…weird…talking to Sasuke about personal stuff like this. It was especially weird that Sasuke was asking him about it in the first place.

"I think it went alright," Naruto answered anyway.

Talking about it with him did feel rather…nice…at the same time.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Just alright?"

"I mean—it was great. Hinata seemed like she enjoyed the whole evening."

"And what about you?"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke. "What about me?"

"Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course, I…enjoyed it."

He had been more focused on making sure Hinata was having a good time that he didn't really think about whether he enjoyed it or not. She enjoyed it. That was what mattered.

Sasuke's gaze weighed heavily on him.

Naruto resisted the urge to shift when the silence became too long. "What?"

"Nothing."

Naruto squinted at Sasuke, unsure if he wanted to press him or leave it be. In the end, he decided to let it go. His mind wandered back to Sasuke's initial question.

The answer felt obvious. He was taking his wife, who he loved, on a date. Of course, he should have enjoyed it.

So why did his answer feel so…fake?

Did he really not enjoy his date with her? He remembered feeling…strange about it, sure, but…did that really have to mean anything? Maybe that day he was just feeling off. It was just one date, after all.

Naruto glanced back at Sasuke. His features, dappled by the sun filtering through the leaves, were rather…mesmerizing—

Naruto quickly looked away. Sarada's words were getting to him, that was why he was paying more attention than normal. But it was nothing more than a kid's imagination running wild.

Yet.

Naruto was starting to feel…unnerved.

Not at the idea that Sasuke had feelings for him—gods no—there was no way.

No. Because there was another thought that was slowly taking shape in his mind.

He…liked being around Sasuke, as much as the bastard might annoy the hell out of him. He always liked it when Sasuke was home.

But that couldn't possibly mean that I have…feelings for…

Just as the thought started to form, Naruto felt his stomach drop. As if he was suddenly pushed off a high cliff and he was falling, falling, with nothing to break it.

That wasn't possible.

There was no way—

My mom said that your dad used to be super obsessed with my dad! Sarada's words echoed back to him, resounding within him a hundred times louder.

Had he…really been…that obsessed with Sasuke?

Well—he'd been obsessed with bringing him back, that much he could admit. But that couldn't mean that he—that he…liked…Sasuke…in that sense, did it?

What the hell did he even feel for Sasuke? It had to be different from how he loved Hinata, right?

Yeah. Definitely. His feelings for Hinata were definitely different. With Hinata he felt…stable. She was home. He cared deeply for her. He loved her. Sasuke, on the other hand…

Shit, he could hardly come up with the words needed. Sasuke was beyond words—words were never needed with him. They were best friends who understood everything about each other, teammates who hardly needed to say anything to one another to know what the other was thinking. It had always been like that, ever since the Land of Waves.

He cared very deeply for him.

Was that…also love?

What…exactly…is…love?

What did it mean to…love…someone?

Naruto let out a heavy breath. Thinking had never been his strong suit.

"Sasuke, what the hell is love supposed to feel like?"

It was supposed to be a rhetorical question, really. A question Naruto just threw out there, thought out loud. He wasn't expecting an answer, least of all from Sasuke.

Except.

"Love is…intense," Sasuke answered, cocking his head slightly, looking at Naruto as if he was mulling something over. "It's…inspiring."

Naruto found himself unable to move, desperately wishing Sasuke would look away.

"When you…love someone…they're your whole world. They're…" Sasuke's voice seemed to crack, and he finally tore his gaze from Naruto.

Finally.

Still, Sasuke continued, looking steadily at the trees ahead. "They're…what gives you strength. When they're happy, you're…happy. When they hurt…you hurt. It goes beyond empathy, it's…all-encompassing. You…feel…so much for the person you love, they might as well be a part of you." Sasuke's eyes darted to Naruto's and then away again, but Naruto hardly noticed. All he could notice was an uncomfortable tightening in his chest.

"They're…always your priority." Sasuke clenched his jaw. "When you're—with them, everything feels—right. Everything feels…possible. When you're away from them, you're always wondering about them, wondering if they're doing okay, if they're happy. All you want is for them to be happy, even if—Naruto?"

Naruto's thoughts were racing much too fast for him to decipher any of it, much less say anything.

"Naruto, what's wrong?" Sasuke peered at Naruto and stepped closer, but stopped when Naruto recoiled, backing away until his back hit the tree trunk.

"Dobe. You okay?"

Naruto nodded jerkily. "Y-Yeah. I—I—uh—yeah. I'm fine." He brushed a harried hand through his hair. "Damn. Y-You feel…all that…f-for Sakura?"

For a moment, Sasuke looked like he didn't understand Naruto. Then he opened his mouth. "O-Oh. Uh—yeah. I—love her. A lot."

Naruto's heart felt like a wet dishrag being wrung mercilessly, squeezing every single drop of blood out of it.

He had to leave.

"Naruto, are you really okay?"

"Uhuh! Y-Yeah! Of course!"

He had to get away.

"Uh—I—I need—to leave—w-workandstuffyaknow?"

"Naru—" Sasuke reached for him, but Naruto jumped off and ran.

Sasuke stared after Naruto's retreating back as it flitted from tree to tree. He was out of sight in no time.

What have I done?

He wanted to crush himself. What was he thinking—no. He wasn't thinking. And now…

Now, Naruto…knew.

He had looked so pale. Sasuke didn't think he'd ever seen Naruto look so—frightened.

Frightened.

Sasuke had…scared Naruto.

He scared him.

The way Naruto had flinched when Sasuke tried to come closer. Naruto might as well have clawed Sasuke's heart out.

I ruined everything.

Sasuke had been fine with keeping Naruto at a distance. He was content with just being there for Naruto as a friend. He was being genuine when he said all he wanted was for the object of his love—Naruto—to be happy. Even if that meant Naruto would be with Hinata, then, yes, that was what Sasuke had accepted. Because he knew that he was much too broken for Naruto, he'd never be happy with Sasuke. Naruto deserved someone—whole, someone who never filled his life with pain. Someone just as pure as he, just as open-hearted as he, someone who'd give him everything he deserved and more. Someone like Hinata. Sweet, kind, gentle Hinata.

Everything Sasuke wasn't.

But Sasuke had been happy enough to be there for Naruto from the sidelines. Help him however he could, pay him back however he could.

Now he'd lost even that.

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nosimphere0, I'm glad I'm able to provide that break for you :) (But also take a peek at your inbox, I've sent you a pm.)