I do not own these series, nor do I make any money off of this.

"talking"

'thinking'

Chapter 62: Bursting Feelings

Naruto felt the bed shift. He slowly opened his eyes to see Sasuke getting dressed. He stared at the pale back, the muscles moving as Sasuke moved. There was a small burn mark on Sasuke's back. Naruto couldn't help but press a hand against the scar. Sasuke flinched at the sudden contact. Knowing that it was just Naruto, he calmed down almost immediately. Naruto's fingers moves carefully over the scar. "It's from one of Itachi's attacks," Sasuke said. Naruto's hand froze. "He burned my wing off with Amaterasu. I had already lost the other during my fight with Deidara."

"I'm surprised that there isn't a wound on both sides to show where they use to come out from," Naruto said.

"The Curse Mark healed one while the burn mark covered up the other," Sasuke said. "Karin wanted to heal it, but I didn't let her."

"Why not?" Naruto asked.

"It's a reminder," Sasuke answered. Naruto nodded as he pulled his hand away. He didn't need to ask what the reminder was of for he knew it was of Itachi. "He also made sure to get rid of the bit of Orochimaru I had left in me after I killed him. Itachi sealed that part of Orochimaru. It will never come back."

"So that's why you haven't used it," Naruto said. "You don't have it anymore." He moved his hand to where the seal had once been. "I'm glad it's gone."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted. "You should be getting ready. We don't have much longer in this world."

"Right," Naruto said, smiling sadly. He got out of bed and grabbed a pair of jeans and a shirt he didn't really care about. He only had one thing left to fix. Yesterday, he had met the manager of MgRonald's. She had given him a list and he managed to plow through it, except for one thing. He glanced at his bracelet, hoping that he had enough time to fix it before they had to leave. Grabbing his stuff, he left the room first. Sasuke still had a few more minutes before he had to leave to meet up with the old man.

Sasuke really enjoyed these couple of days. He got to sit in silence and read, something he didn't get to do often. The book store didn't get a lot of people, but those that did come where easy to help. None of them caused any trouble though some of the girls did try to get Sasuke to leave the shop and go out for a drink. Sasuke had refused each offer by simply saying that he was too busy with work. The girls had been a bit mad at first, but they accepted that they didn't have a chance with Sasuke, especially when Naruto came by with lunch. Naruto had pushed his way through the few that had gathered and had handed over the container that had Sasuke's turkey sandwich with extra tomatoes inside. Naruto made a comment about the tomatoes that got Sasuke to yell at him and the girls suddenly walked away dejected. Naruto and Sasuke looked confused at their departure before finishing their argument and lunch.

"Thanks for the help again," the old man said when Sasuke met him at the entrance to the store.

"No problem," Sasuke said. He had opened up a little the older man. He reminded Sasuke a little bit about Itachi, just a lot more talkative. "But I'm afraid today is going to be the last day. I have to leave soon."

"That's a shame," the old man said. "Too bad I didn't have a daughter. You'd make a good husband."

Sasuke smiled. "Thanks, but I'm sure that's not true. I've only ever hurt people that have tried to get close to me."

"Like that blond kid?" the old man asked. Sasuke's neck cracked at the sudden movement as a surprised look appeared on his face. "It is a bit obvious. He looks at you with a mix of pain and love in his eyes. I don't know what happened between you two, but whatever it is, he's hiding how he feels. It isn't good to bottle up how you feel. You two should just get whatever it is off of your chests." Sasuke nodded. The old man smiled. "Now, help me out with some books. I found another good load." Sasuke shook his head as a smile appeared on his face. He was going to miss this old man.

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Naruto finished his job and headed for the book store. He saw a few girls and even a couple boys outside, all trying to get a glance of Sasuke through the window. He just shook his head as he entered the shop. "Sasuke!" He yelled. "I brought lunch!"

"Stop yelling Dobe," Sasuke said. He was standing behind the counter, giving a woman her change. The woman had a blush on her face. She looked at Naruto, bowed, then left the store, some giggles being heard when she opened the door.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm done with my job."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"Teme," Naruto glared. He tossed a bag at Sasuke's chest. The raven caught it. "Just shut up and eat. I know you didn't have breakfast." He plopped down in the chair Sasuke used when reading. Sasuke rolled his eyes as he took out the salad Naruto had brought him. There was also a bottle of water that Sasuke happily took a sip of. The two ate while the onlookers increased in number. "I don't think I'll ever understand why people just flock to you."

Sasuke looked out the window and glared. What Naruto failed to notice was that some of them were not here for Sasuke. "Hn." He took a forkful of lettuce and ate it.

"Seriously," Naruto said. "What is so special about you?" He crumbled up the empty wrapper that once held his fish sandwich. "I can guess why they did in our world since you're an Uchiha, but why here too?" He looked Sasuke up and down. "I mean, your decent looking but I don't see the big appeal. Your personality leaves much to be desired."

Sasuke turned his glare to Naruto. "It isn't like you're any better, Dobe."

"That's not what Hinata or Sakura think," Naruto said.

Sasuke's hand met with the counter. Silence filled the store as the two just stared at each other. "Hn." Sasuke didn't bother finishing his food before tossing it back into the bag. He then walked over to Naruto and grabbed the trash from him. Naruto stood up and followed Sasuke to the back and through a door. Behind the store was an ally that had two dumpsters. Sasuke tossed the bag into one of them.

"Look Sasuke I…" Naruto trailed off.

"It doesn't matter. I don't care who you are dating."

"Sasuke, if you like Sakura…"

"I don't. I have never liked her."

"Then if not Sakura, then who…" Naruto paused. "Hinata then?"

"No."

"Then who?"

"No one, Dobe."

"Like I'll believe that. There has to be someone. I mean you did want to rebuild the Uchiha Clan. You need a woman for that. If not Sakura or Hinata, then who were you planning to marry to have children?"

"The Uchiha Clan will die with me."

"You don't mean that! I know you've been hurt by the council, but there is no way that you'd give up your dreams."

"You don't understand. Any child of mine would be cursed with the Sharingan. They would be hunted for their eyes or worse."

"Just because something bad happened with you and Itachi doesn't mean it will happen again."

"Something bad? My entire clan was massacred because the Council feared them!"

"I know. But that doesn't mean it will happen again."

"But it will. I know it will. I won't have children, ever."

"That doesn't mean you can't find happiness with someone."

Sasuke sighed. "I won't. It would be better if I'm alone."

"That's not true. Picking loneliness above companionship will not make you feel better."

"At least it would be better than being surrounded by people that want me dead."

"Sakura wants you to come back. And so does Kakashi and Iruka and Ino…" Naruto silently counted off all of the Rookie Nine and their senseis. He paused as he thought about himself. "There are plenty of people that want you to come back."

"Just stop!" Sasuke punched the side of the building. His hand began to bleed. "You just won't shut up will you?" He cursed. "Dammit, why are you always like this? You call me selfish but you're the one that's truly selfish. All you think about is yourself. What you want isn't my happiness but to protect your pride. If you had realized this, you wouldn't have made that stupid promise in the first place."

"And if you hadn't left konoha, we wouldn't be here in the first place!" Naruto yelled.

"There it is. The Go Back to Konoha Lecture." Sasuke crossed his arms. "Did you ever think about what would happen if I did go back?" Naruto opened his mouth, but Sasuke wouldn't allow him to speak. "You believe that if I go back, all will be forgiven and we'll become a team again. But you're wrong. Rogue nin are traitors to the village they come from. Punishment for this is death. And even if you were to somehow convince the Hokage to lessen my punishment, then I'd be imprisoned for life. This is only if I'm not executed on the spot."

"I won't allow it." Sasuke nearly took a step back at the look in Naruto's red eyes. If he hadn't been an Uchiha, he would have peed himself. "No one will lay a finger on you!"

Sasuke glared. "Dobe, I don't need your protection. Besides, I'm not going back to Konoha."

"Then where are you going back to? If you don't want to go back to Konoha, then why not just stay here? You seem to like this world. Just take off the bracelet and you'll never have to leave."

"And why shouldn't I?" Sasuke took a step towards Naruto. "Why shouldn't I just take this off and stay here?" He put a hand on his bracelet. "Give me one reason why."

Naruto's eyes widened. His eyes shifted back to blue, but they lacked the spark that Sasuke usually saw in them. "I…" He looked down. Words were escaping Naruto, leaving him silent. He wanted to give Sasuke a reason, one that not only made him want to move on, but one that would also convince him to return to Konoha. The problem was that he couldn't really give one. He blushed as one reason surfaced. His heart began to pound against his chest as courage seemed to run through his veins. His eyes met Sasuke's. "Because I…" Sasuke didn't hear what Naruto was saying for a strange noise filled the air. The two looked around and saw a fire truck go pass them. Naruto frowned and was about to repeat what he had said when he saw the green flash from his bracelet. He looked up to see Sasuke walking back into the book store.

Sasuke quickly locked the doors before grabbing his things. Just like Naruto, he had packed everything just in case. Taking a piece of paper from the printer, Sasuke wrote a quick note to the old man and left the key on top of the note. He made his way to Naruto who was hiding behind a bookcase from the people still lingering outside. Without looking at each other, they let the green light surround them to bring them to the next world.

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"It has been over a week," Sakura said. She was sitting with Sai on top of the Fourth's Head on Hokage Mountain, watching the sun set.

"You're worried," Sai said, closing the book he was reading. It was on the human emotions a person felt during the loss of a loved one. Where he found it, no one knew, but Sai also had a knack for finding strange books.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Sakura said.

"Are you worried about just Naruto?" Sai asked. "Or are you worried about both of them?"

"I don't know," Sakura said. She pulled her legs towards her chest and wrapped her arms around them. "I still love Sasuke. Even after everything he has done, I still love him. What is wrong with me? Why can't I love someone else? Why can't I love Naruto?"

"Because Naruto isn't the one for you," Sai said. "But neither is Sasuke."

"I started to believe that when Sasuke came back, we'd get together, get married, have kids, and be happy," Sakura said. "And since Hinata loves Naruto, I pictured them two getting together the same way. I sometimes dream of a future where Naruto is Hokage and his children are running around causing trouble for Iruka-sensei. But in these dreams, neither Hinata nor I are by his side. I always see Sasuke there, smiling. When I dream of just Sasuke, he never had a smile on his face no matter what I picture around him. Not until Naruto appears."

"It seems you are beginning to see what I have," Kakashi said. Sai and Sakura turned to see him standing with Tsunade and Iruka beside him. "Those two have always had something special."

"I know," Sakura said. "I'm sure you heard it too, what Naruto said after Sasuke killed Danzo."

"If you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you. So save up your hatred and take it all on me, I'm the only one who can take it! It's the only thing I can do! I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"

"Yes," Kakashi said. "It was a promise that if one should die, then so would the other. If he has to kill Sasuke, then he will make sure that Sasuke kills him as well."

"Suicide?" Iruka asked.

"No," Kakashi said, shaking his head. "It more than that."

"He loves him," Sai said. All eyes turned to him. His hand moved along the cover of the book he had been reading. "Naruto may not know it but he is in love with Sasuke." He looked down. "I'm not sure how Sasuke feels though."

"I don't think any of us know," Kakashi said. "But if I had to guess, I'd say he does. Naruto has always been the one person that Sasuke saw as just that, a human. The same could be said about Naruto. He only saw Sasuke as Sasuke and nothing else. Many of us saw Sasuke as the last remaining Uchiha, the survivor of the Uchiha Massacre, but Naruto saw none of that. He never put Sasuke on a pedestal."

Sakura flinched at that. She knew that she had been one of those people that had. Just like all the other girls, Sakura fell for Sasuke mostly for his looks and his pedigree. Slowly, this had changed when they became a team. She began to see Sasuke as just another person, one she cared for above all others. Naruto was in a similar position in her heart, but she loved Sasuke even more. If she had to give words to how she felt she'd say that she loved Naruto like a brother while she loved Sasuke as a possible future husband. She knew these feelings were foolish since Sasuke will never love her back, but she couldn't help how she felt. "I guess I really need to give up then."

Tsunade put a hand on Sakura's shoulder. "Don't think of it as giving up but as moving on."

"Yeah," Sai said. "There is even someone out there for you, Ugly."

Kakashi, Iruka, and Tsunade just shook their heads as Sakura stomped away from a bleeding Sai. Sakura had punched him in the head, something Sai should have saw coming. Sai held his bleeding head with a smile and Tsunade couldn't help but laugh as Kakashi helped him to his feet. She heeled his wounds since what he had said had given Sakura the last push out of her depression.

Kakashi looked at the sky. 'I really do hope you are safe. Both of you. Naruto. Sasuke.'