Naruto's
POV
It still felt like it was yesterday that he had passed away, the vivid memories refusing to fade away. His absence was still felt everywhere in the family, a void that no one could fill.
Tears had become a part of their daily life, a reminder of the loss they had suffered. Naruto awoke that morning in silence this was his normal routine. He would wake every morning for a year now in silence no words spoken.
He would stare at his ceiling mentally giving himself words of encouragement, before he exited his room he forced a smile pushing all those hurt feeling to the back of his mind.
He had breakfast to make. His toddler Menma Uchiha would be coming home today he had been staying with a family friend giving Naruto time.
Today would be the first anniversary of his husband Sasuke's death. Just then he heard a noise that sounded like someone was trying to break down his door.
Startled, he stopped in his tracks and quickly realized that it was not a part of his imagination. The pounding grew more intense, and he could feel the vibrations throughout the house.
He cautiously approached the front door, his heart racing with anticipation. Did something happen to Menma?
"Hey, Naruto wake up!?" A familiar yet eager voice called.
"Bushy brows?" His voice was twinged with confusion, while he stalked over into his living room.
The knocking continued.
When he opened the front door he was attacked by a shell shock Lee. He was sweating profusely and was breathing heavily.
"You gotta come with me!" He said this while taking hold of Naruto's wheat-colored wrist.
"What going on?" though confused he followed his friend.
Naruto's eyes widened as he heard the words, "Sasuke," Through all of Lee's babbling, that was the only thing Naruto could recognize.
Lee's steps halted he needed to catch his breath and fill Naruto in on the situation at hand. His intense charcoal orbs locked with Naruto's.
"He's alive." The seriousness in Lee's tone left no room for protest.
He couldn't believe it. It was impossible to comprehend. He wanted to scream, to cry, to laugh, but he couldn't do anything.
All he could do was stand there and stare, unable to process the reality of the situation. He felt his heart swell with a mixture of emotions and relief as he allowed himself to accept the truth. He was alive.
Lee just nodded gaining Naruto's gaze. "Where?"
"Sakura's," Lee answered.
"Okay."
He ran through the streets, dodging people and leaping over obstacles. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest and his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.
He felt a surge of adrenaline as he pushed himself harder and faster, his feet pounding against the pavement. He had to know the truth, and he had to know it now.
As Sakura's home came into view the eyes instantly landed on the silhouette standing near the doorway of Sakura's home, and he knew.
He knew that figure down to the most intimate of details even before the raven's head jerked in Naruto's direction. He leaped at him. His arms were circular around that lean frame. He partly expected him to fade away.
He held the raven close to him, feeling the warmth of his body against his own. Tears began to stream down his face as he realized the truth that his beloved raven had returned to him.
He never thought he would see him again, but here he was, safe and sound in his arms. He buried his face in the raven's chest and let the tears of joy flow.
Sasuke's
POV
He knew that he should say something to break the silence, but he couldn't find the words. He felt an odd mix of emotions, wanting to push Naruto away but also wanting to stay in his embrace.
He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to try and calm his racing heart as he retreated deep into the depths of his mind. All the touching and kissing were starting to create a conflict from within.
"What am I going to tell Menma?" Naruto said as pilled himself off the raven to make eye contact.
Sasuke had been lost in thought, his gaze drifting out the doorway as his mind wandered.
He slowly turned his head back to Naruto, the eyes of his peers were fixated on him also. They patiently waited for his response.
He felt a sudden rush of blood going to his ears. His heart was racing as he realized the attention was on him. He cleared his throat, trying to buy himself some time to think of a response, instead, he just said the first thing to come to mind.
"Who's Menma?" He replied this was his first time hearing that name. This person did not exist in his world, so he had no clue of knowing.
He watched as Naruto's blonde brows came together on his forehead.
"You don't remember?" Naruto's head tilted curiously at him.
Now would be a perfect time, to tell the truth, that he was not part of this world and he had no clue how he got here but instead, he told a half-truth.
Sasuke said, struggling to recall the missing pieces of the moments before he winded up here. "It's like something is blocking my memory, and I can't seem to get it back. I just want to know what happened and why I'm here."
"Do you remember us?" Instantly, Sasuke picked up on the curiosity in Naruto's tone. The blonde finally released him from his clutches creating a small gap between them.
He nodded, his expression gentle. "Yes, I remember. We're friends." He reached out and brushed a strand of hair from Naruto's face.
His feathers immediately went cold. Why did he just do that? Why did he not tell this Naruto the truth? He didn't belong here remember?
Naruto glanced up at him with a hopeful expression, his blue eyes brimming with emotion. "We were...we are more than just friends…" His whisker cheeks twinge a soft pink.
"Oh really." He couldn't help but let out a smirk as he spoke, playfully teasing the blonde. But as soon as he realized what he was doing, he quickly shut his mouth and tried to look serious.
"It sounds like he has amnesia. He's been deceased for a year now." Sakura offered. She watched the entire exchange quietly.
Her background training as a medic-nin. She had seen similar cases during her training, both glanced over at her as if acknowledging her existence for the first time.
His head jerked over to the blonde. "He die-erm I died?"
"Yes… I remember the shock when I found out. It felt like the rug had been pulled out from underneath me. I had no idea how sick you had become, and it felt like I had failed you somehow. I still regret not being there for you."
"Just what am I to you."
Before Naruto had time to get a word out Sakura scoffed revealing the answer before the blonde even had a chance, "You're his husband." There was this rawness to her tone. As soon as the words left her mouth she realized her mistake her eyes widening, shocked by her outburst.
She offered a meek apology.
He locked eyes with her green ones. His gaze lingered longer than it should but he bore into those pools. What the hell is that about? She broke eye contact.
"We should tell the Hokage," Naruto said his demeanor cold as he create an even large gap between them.
Did he notice?
"Can I get dressed first?" The last thing he wanted was to visit his old sensei barefoot in just a robe, but for all he knew the Hokage could be a giant lizard clad in Hokage robes.
"Oy," just then he watched as Naruto's eyes drifted down before snapping back up to his face. His lips pressed.
"Where do you stay?" He pried.
"Your place…" The blonde turned away from him. The behavior change did not go unnoticed and he wanted to know why? He watched as Naruto left before thanking his friends and exiting the same doorway he came bounding through.
"Well, you coming or not?" His tone showed he was pouting.
It was odd standing in his childhood home with Naruto there rummaging through the closet for his old clothes.
He handed him his long sleeve romper and high-collar cape. So, the other him had similar taste in clothing. He could feel a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. "You did no get rid of his-my things. It's been a year, right."
He watched as Naruto's head lowered slowly he shook it.
Though irrational Sasuke felt genuinely touched by this. His curiosity was piqued, but quickly shook that feeling off he knew he was an outsider here, an intruder in a world he had no right to be in.
He had no place here, no purpose to fulfill. He was a stranger in a strange world, and he had no choice but to accept it.
However, those thoughts did not deter his actions he pulled the drawstrings apart letting the silk robe fall at his feet.
His charcoal pool glanced up to see Naruto watching him. His eyes were wide and there was a blush starting to form across his nose.
As the blonde started to walk away, he paused and looked back. He forced a smile and said, "I'll let you have some privacy."
"Why? I'm pretty sure you've seen me naked plenty of times before. We are married, aren't we?" He spoke slowly, deliberately, making sure every word was heard.
His deep baritone reverberated through the air, and his throat moved visibly as he spoke, his Adam's Apple bobbing up and down.
He stood there, arms crossed and a smirk on his face, as the blonde nervously shifted from foot to foot, Naruto's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
He seemed to be enjoying the blonde's discomfort, making no effort to start dressing and seemingly content to stand there and watch him squirm...
"How old were we when we-'' Just then there was a knock on the front door.
"Shit! He's back already!" Naruto's blue pools snapped up to him panic was written all over his face.
"Who?"
"Menma." He forgot through all this chaos.
"Who is Menma!" Was that his boyfriend or something?
Naruto looked at him, "Menma Uchiha, he's our son."
Those words hit him like a ton of bricks. They had adopted a kid too?
"Could you stay here? I don't want him to see you, not before I talk with him." As he scurried away closing the door behind him Sasuke choose then to get dressed as quickly as possible.
Menma Uchiha… He eyed the bedroom door in disbelief, so Naruto was okay with the child having his sir name.
He studied the room more closely, admiring the details. The walls were a dark gray, the curtains black, and the bedspread a charcoal color. The furniture was minimalistic and modern, yet still comfortable. He could tell that the room was a reflection of his style and taste.
That's when he heard a familiar smooth bravado coming from the other side of the door. Sasuke swiftly exited. He was surprised and taken aback when he entered the living room and saw his former sensei Kakashi Hatake standing there.
The silver-haired man was no longer a Jonin but instead was wearing his Hokage robes, signifying his new rank and power. Back in his world, Kakashi was chosen to be Hokage as well.
He was the one to pardon his indiscretions back home and he was forever grateful. The parallels of this world were uncanny, but the differences were too great to miss also.
"So, it wasn't just idle chit-chat," His former sensei stared at him in a state of shock, before turning his almonds shape pools in Naruto's direction as if checking in on Naruto.
"Sakura suspects he has amnesia." He offered.
"Hm," He was deep in thought, his brow furrowed and his finger curled over his pursed lips. He was considering the various possibilities, trying to determine the best course of action.
"Do you mind going to the Konoha Infirmary to be sure?" Though asked Sasuke knew better. He also knew it was more than just amnesia they were checking for.
"I don't." He replied. This caused Kakashi's facial feathers to soften. The Hokage had crossed the threshold to the other Sasuke's home expecting his former student to follow.