I've been gone a week, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of its associated characters!

Summary: A series of letters between Naruto and Sasuke - after Sasuke leaves Konoha (again. And again. And again.) Written for snsmonth23's Day 3 prompt: Blank period! Canonverse, SNS.

A/N: And onto day 3 of snsmonth23! I've wanted to write a fic through a series of letters for ages and this is my excuse to finally do it, haha. The … ellipses represent a bit of a time skip, in case that isn't clear. I hope you like this little experiment!

I've been gone a week.

Naruto,

Please stop asking every ninja in the world where I am. I am fine. Do you need a tracking device? I've been gone a week.

Sasuke,

You asshole. Am I not allowed to be worried? You were awake like five minutes before you left! I didn't even have a way to write you! But I like this hawk. Keep sending her to me. She's eating my breakfast.

- Naruto

P.s. You never said where you were.

Naruto,

Please do not feed her your breakfast. Instant ramen is not a diet humans should subsist on, let alone birds.

I stayed for two months. That was plenty of time.

I am on the road. I am not anywhere in particular. Today, I sit at the top of a waterfall.

Sasuke,

It wasn't ramen! She only likes the meat, anyway. And Sakura would hit me if I made your hawk sick. She says she can't work on animals anyway. But I asked her and she would. Just in case. Do you think she minds carrying these letters? I asked, but she just looked at me.

The waterfall sounds nice. I'm tired today. Kakashi keeps making me do his paperwork. There's a lot of paperwork in being Hokage. I wonder why nobody told me that as a kid.

- Naruto

Naruto,

She is a messenger hawk. I imagine she looked at you much the same as I do.

I'm sure many people tried to tell you. You don't tend to be one to listen to people trying to tell you not to do something. Especially as a child.

I stopped at a village today. I was given this for free. I have no use for it. Throw it out if you don't want it.

Sasuke!

Thanks for the frog keychain! I love it! I hung it up by my bed but then I didn't see it all day, so I'm just carrying it around now.

Also don't think I didn't notice you calling me dumb, bastard. Your hawk respects me way more than you do. She lets me give her food. So there. Although I guess you did let me bring you breakfast that one time.

Do you think you'll ever come back to visit? You don't need to answer. Maybe I don't want to know.

- Naruto

Naruto,

Would you meet me halfway?

Yes. Where? I'm coming now.

- N

Naruto,

You idiot. I meant in the future. I'll head back now. Give me a few days.

Sasuke,

Hurry up!

- Naruto

…

Sasuke,

Kakashi isn't too mad, I think. He kind of expected me to stay longer than I said. And I didn't really say bye, so…yeah. Sakura's mad, too, but mostly she just seems happy about something. Kakashi does too, while I'm at it. They're weird, though. We're all weird. You're the weirdest one of us all.

I miss you already. Don't make fun of me for saying that or I'll come back to kick your ass.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I told you you should have sent a letter. Plan it better next time. You'll get kicked out of your own village.

You are a loser, and you couldn't kick my ass if you tried. Maybe try a better threat, too.

Sasuke,

You are a dick! Where is my frog keychain! Bastard!

- Naruto

Naruto,

Whoops.

Sasuke,

I'm gonna follow your hawk to you. I have to be back in the morning. Meet me halfway or I'll piss everybody off!

- Naruto

Naruto,

Idiot. Fine.

…

Sasuke,

Thanks for being so reasonable. Even though you're a bastard thief. The keychain is back in a different pocket now, so good luck stealing it next time. I think Kakashi knew that I left, but he didn't say anything, so that's good. Sakura didn't know. Do you think she still likes you? She said she liked me like that once, but she was lying. It was weird. I think we're a bad influence on her.

Also, people keep talking about your compound. Can I tell them to go to hell?

- Naruto

Naruto,

Two things. Elaborate on the compound. Elaborate on Sakura.

Thank you.

Sasuke,

Wow, bastard, I don't think you've ever said thank you before. Can I meet you somewhere? It's way too much to write and my hand hurts.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I'm in your apartment.

Sasuke,

What the hell?! Don't touch my keychain!

- Naruto

…

Sasuke,

I know that you took it again. I know that you took it. Dickhead. Give it back.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I have no idea what you're talking about.

You've been authorized to take over the compound. I signed the papers this morning.

Sasuke,

You signed them? With Kakashi? I didn't know you were going over there. You want me to do the whole thing? That doesn't feel right. It's your family's stuff. This doesn't seem right, Sasuke.

- Naruto

Naruto,

It's what I want. Write me if you're unsure.

Sasuke,

Okay. I dunno about it, but okay.

Is there anything you want me to look for? To save?

- Naruto

Naruto,

No.

Sasuke,

I'm gonna look anyway. Bastard.

- Naruto

Sasuke,

You know it's weird when you don't send a letter, but you send your hawk. It's kind of a dick move. Or did she drop your letter? She seems too good for that.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I do not tend to speak when I have nothing to say. You, on the other hand, quite enjoy it.

I thought I'd lend her to your strengths.

Sasuke,

You worded that like a compliment and it still feels like an insult. You suck. Can I have my frog keychain back?

- Naruto

Naruto,

No.

Sasuke,

Bastard.

- Naruto

Sasuke,

Sorry, I have to write another one. I hope your hawk doesn't mind. Kakashi's sending me on a mission soon, so I'll be quiet for a while. So maybe don't send her? I don't know. Or have her look for me in Konoha!

I'll be back once I kick some ass!

- Naruto

Naruto,

Let me know when you're back.

Naruto,

An actual time frame would have been appreciated.

Naruto,

Kakashi says you aren't back yet. He won't tell me where you were sent. Tell me next time.

Naruto,

This is getting ridiculous. Where are you?

Naruto,

I'm on my way.

…

Sasuke,

Sorry for worrying you. Thanks for coming. You know I'd be okay, though, right?

- Naruto (sorry)

Naruto,

No. I did not. You did not look particularly okay.

Idiot.

Sasuke,

I've healed worse than that! Come on.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I am aware.

Sasuke,

Sorry, I didn't think when I wrote that. You're gonna say that I never think. So there, I said it before you could.

Where are you? Kakashi said you were sending letters to him all the time and that I can't share confidential info with you and whatever. But what does it matter when I'm Hokage? Can't I just make you my advisor or something?

- Naruto

Naruto,

I'm at the valley. Kakashi is correct. I have no desire to be an advisor of anything.

Sasuke,

Why the valley? What're you doing there? You're not being all mopey, are you?

Obviously I know that. I was just saying. 'Cause then I could get your opinion on stuff, even if you weren't actually an advisor or whatever. Whatever.

- Naruto

Naruto,

Wanting me to give advice does, in fact, merit me the title of advisor. Which I do not want. Idiot.

Sasuke,

You are being all mopey, aren't you? You're being more assholey than usual. You still at the valley?

- Naruto

Naruto,

I am not. Do not come here.

Sasuke,

Too late!

- Naruto

…

Naruto,

Fine. I've thought about it, and fine. But only as long as you're Hokage. And only to make things right.

Sasuke,

I knew it! Thanks Sasuke! You're the best!

- Naruto

Naruto,

I am not.

Sasuke,

Would you come to stay here, then? For a bit? 'Cause technically it's good for you to be outside of Konoha, I think I could swing it as research, right? On everybody else, so you can give me advice on that. But if you wanted to stay here sometimes, I was gonna build a house in the compound. Right?

- Naruto

Naruto,

I do not understand. Is that a question or a statement?

Sasuke,

You do understand, you just don't wanna say! Bastard. I'm gonna build it anyway.

- Naruto

Naruto,

An empty house would serve no use if I'm gone for months of a year.

Sasuke,

I'd live in it. Jackass.

- Naruto

Naruto,

Most people ask before they move in with someone.

Sasuke,

Yeah, but you'd just be a dick about it, so you don't get a choice. You don't have to live here if you do come back, anyway. I'm putting all your stuff here, though.

- Naruto

Naruto,

What stuff?

Sasuke,

Come and see.

- Naruto

…

Sasuke,

I didn't realize how long you'd stayed until Sakura said something. Isn't that funny? When did you come again? Like a month ago?

I miss you. Come stay like that again.

- Naruto

Naruto.

Two months ago.

In a while. You missed your birthday. Let me know if the gift makes it safe.

Sasuke!

I didn't even think you were listening when I was talking about the stupid garden! You went all the way to the Land of Earth?! That's so far! How did you get all this stuff! How was it not too heavy for your hawk!

I keep giving her snacks. I feel bad that she went all this way.

Thanks, Sasuke.

- Naruto

Naruto,

She is well-trained and well-rested. Please do not change that.

Sasuke,

I'm not gonna spoil her, bastard. She deserves it, though. Just wait until you're back again. The garden's gonna look so good.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I'll believe it when I see it.

Sasuke,

Yeah, you will. Which is gonna be when, huh?

- Naruto

Naruto,

It'll take me another week to travel back down.

Sasuke,

I'll meet you on the way. Kakashi says I can.

- Naruto

Naruto,

That seems pointless. See you soon.

Sasuke,

Race ya!

- Naruto

…

Naruto,

I'm sorry. Let me think for a while.

Naruto,

That didn't mean ignore me.

Sasuke,

Sorry. I figured I said too much anyway.

- Naruto

Naruto,

That isn't it at all. I just don't think you realize what you're saying.

Sasuke,

That's stupid. I always know what I'm saying. I talk too much, but it's not like I don't mean it.

And anyway, I said it's fine. I said it right at the start. I don't need anything from you. I just wanted you to know, because I kept wanting to act weird and I knew it would freak you out.

But I guess you're freaked out now, anyway. So that's good.

- Naruto

Naruto,

I'm not freaked out. I just need to think.

Sasuke,

Yeah. That's bastard for "I'm freaked the hell out."

- Naruto

Naruto,

You're being an idiot. Meet me at the valley.

Sasuke,

It's 2 AM. Fine.

- Naruto

…

Naruto,

I'm surprised you haven't sent a courier ninja after me. Is the house still intact?

Sasuke,

Bastard! I miss you! The house is fine and empty and cold. I made the garden bigger again. You're gonna think I'm nuts, but it's looking really good.

I keep thinking about how dumb you were. And how dumb I was. I can't believe I didn't realize you were doing some stupid "I'm Sasuke and I'm not allowed to be happy" thing again.

Come home so I can tell you how dumb you are.

- Naruto

Naruto,

It's always nice to read declarations of affection in the form of insults. Thank you ever so much.

Sasuke,

Don't act like that's not how you talk to me every damn day. You still haven't said when you're coming home!

- Naruto

Naruto,

I will tell you when I know.

Sasuke,

What the hell does that mean?! Are you even on a mission?

- Naruto

Sasuke,

Bastard! Tell me!

- Naruto

Sasuke,

Stop sending your hawk without replying! You dick!

- Naruto

SASUKE,

KAKASHI SAYS YOU'RE BUYING RINGS!

- NARUTO

Naruto,

I never should have trusted him.

Sasuke!

What do you mean! What the hell! What're you doing all the way out there—you can get rings here! Or can you not get the ones you're looking for? Are you looking for specific ones? Where are you right now? What're you doing to them? Can I see them?!

- Naruto

Naruto,

You are remarkable at spoiling your own surprises. I had all sorts of plans to do this properly. Yes, they are special. No, you can't see them until they're done.

I'll be home tonight. Wait for me.

Sasuke,

Bastard!

I'm always waiting! I love you!

- Naruto

Naruto,

I love you too.

Sasuke.

A/N: And that's it for today! Something fun and cute as a palate cleanser from the angst of day 1, haha. Next is day 5! I'll try to keep it going as best I can.

See you soon!

- Kinomi