Where Fire Burns

by UchihanoChidori

After the war, Naruto and Sasuke understand that something deeper binds them, but moving forward isn't easy when love alone isn't enough. As they face a world still healing, society's expectations, and their own clashing ideals, they must find a way to create the future they want together.

3. The Threshold

This chapter should be called "Lord, Have Mercy" because it's all I thought about while writing it.

I was so eager to write it, too, and when I finally did, it kicked my ass.

Also, I'm a liar. I said this one was going to be shorter, but it isn't.

Prepare to be frustrated, because I know I am. I can't tell you how many times I wrote and rewrote the scenes, AGAIN.

Fuck me. And fuck Sasuke, too, who gave me such a hard time, stubborn MF (still love him, though, my sweet baby 333)

On a brighter note… I assure you things will pick up rather fast after this, and I honestly can't wait until the boys are out of the hospital to get the plot going.

Again, please forgive the typos and possible horrible things you might find in the text. I've edited this a thousand times, but I give up, and right now I just want to curl up in a ball and be a drama queen.

Thank you all for the WONDERFUL reception that this fic has received! I'm moved beyond words, and I can only hope that this story will continue to do justice to your expectations!

Also, please feel free to share headcanons for the story! I'm curious to know what you guys would like to see ;)

I will reply to comments as soon as possible!

On with the show!

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Where Fire Burns

Chapter Three: The Threshold

Naruto had always been affectionate by nature, but growing up without love, facing only hatred and anger, he had buried that side of him. The need for human warmth had never left, but for a long time, he struggled with intimacy, fearing rejection or reprimand for being too touchy.

Becoming a Shinobi had helped—contact was essential in combat and teamwork—but he remained hesitant. Slowly, as he made friends and built trust, he unconsciously let his guard down. Confidence came in small steps, until one day, proximity and casual touches no longer felt unnatural.

This shift intertwined with the persona he had created of the loud, obnoxious boy who masked his insecurities behind bravado. Yet, despite his hunger for love and validation, he instinctively kept a safe distance from others, always fearing rejection… unless, of course, he was deliberately trying to piss someone off.

That was until Sasuke came along and they became teammates.

While Naruto had an explanation for that now—knowing they were bonded by fate and reincarnations of brothers—back then he couldn't explain it if he tried.

Naruto and Sasuke had always been in each other's space—fighting, provoking, pushing boundaries without hesitation. As a kid, he never questioned it. From the start, being around Sasuke had felt easy, natural, and devoid of shame or self-consciousness. Even when Sasuke grumbled about him being too close, Naruto knew it was just a habit—not true rejection.

That effortless proximity, free of restrictions, was something he had with no one else. It was familiar, like home—safe, stable, just there.

But now, looking at where they stood, Naruto was a little baffled. The intimacy between them had deepened, yet it felt so seamless that had happened without them noticing.

Naruto no longer felt any real boundaries between them—not in their minds, not in their hearts. The only walls that remained were the ones built out of necessity because they were being watched, or to give them time to figure out what came next.

They had hurt each other enough for ten lifetimes already, so the last thing he wanted was to take the wrong step and ruin everything.

Granted, Naruto didn't expect heaven on earth every single day when it came to Sasuke. They had strong chances of clashing often—they always did—and Naruto knew that there would be a time when painful memories and moments would surface, that healing was a process that would take time, for both, and that there were sides of each other that they did not know.

It was easy to get along when they were stuck with each other, isolated from the troubles outside.

But they meant too much to each other to let this slip away, and Naruto only wanted them to work things through, together. However long it took, however hard it would be—if they could heal and mend things side by side, it would be worth it.

Because nothing had been worse than losing Sasuke. Nothing had been worse than watching him drown in the darkness, alone.

Naruto's loneliness, too, had been immeasurable and he had always felt like the void Sasuke left had been a bottomless pit that not even the whole population of the world would ever be able to fill.

Despite how good things felt between them, Naruto was afraid of taking things too far, too soon. Their feelings—whatever they truly were—were only now coming to light. There was a fine line between the purity of their bond and the something more simmering beneath it, waiting to be acknowledged and begging for release.

It felt like standing on the edge of a cliff—terrifying, exhilarating, and confusing all at once. He didn't know what to expect, so he didn't expect anything at all.

But Sasuke made that difficult. He was so calm, so accepting, that it only made Naruto greedier and more curious.

He wanted more. But what was 'more'? Was it just the warmth of having Sasuke beside him, or was it something deeper, something he didn't quite understand yet?

Barely seventeen, he knew he was naïve and inexperienced, and yet, he was learning many things, including how to understand better what his heart (and body) told him.

Dealing with Sasuke, their feelings for each other, and the many prospects of what was to come had forced him to wake up to things that had felt unknown to him, including the harsh—and a little shocking—reality that he was drawn to his friend in ways that went beyond admiration.

Well, a part of him had expected it after he had so impulsively moved to kiss him in his sleep.

He would never admit to a single soul that his final fight with Sasuke, painful and violent as it had been, had also been one of the most physically exhilarating moments of his life—not just because of the battle itself, but because of what it had forced them both to face.

Naruto would never forget the rush he had every single time his body had clashed with Sasuke's and of course, hadn't given it much thought then, but now things were becoming clearer for him.

Meaning that Naruto knew well what those butterflies in his stomach were. He knew why he got goosebumps when Sasuke touched him, why his heart started beating faster when they were too close, and why, through all these interactions, he always experienced the early flickers of arousal—and he knew Sasuke did, too.

Was it just teenage hormones? The tension of unspoken things? Or was it something more?

Would his relationship with Sasuke evolve into something physical, or was this just an overwhelming kind of intimacy—so deep it blurred the lines?

Everything felt both clear and ambiguous, obvious yet impossible to define.

Maybe, in the worst—or best—case scenario, it was something else entirely. Naruto wasn't sure. He just took it all in and adapted—like he always did.

Their thoughts and feelings for each other came from so many sources and had so many flavors that it was hard to understand where one thing began and another ended, and Naruto wished that they had it all, simply because he didn't know how he'd feel if they ended up with fragments of something that now seemed bigger than themselves.

Of course, this forced him to contemplate the fact that he might have romantic feelings for his best friend, but thinking about it in such simplistic, cliché terms made him cringe.
No, that wasn't nearly enough to describe what he felt, even if he could admit that it might be a part of it—but not the whole story.

There was no doubt in his mind that he and Sasuke would face many hurdles regardless of what became of them or their relationship, and yet, he felt at ease because he couldn't help but to.

For the past few years, that's all he did—face things head-on, one at a time, goal in mind and fear tightly locked away. If he'd done this for everything else, he would certainly do it now, for himself and Sasuke as well.

The afternoon sun streamed gently through the window, casting a warm, golden glow across the room.

Naruto sat cross-legged on his hospital bed, fingers idly picking at a loose thread on his pants, lost in his musings as he often did these days when it was quiet like this.

Across from him, Sasuke sat in the chair near the window, one leg stretched out, the other bent at the knee. He had his arm over it while his eyes were fixed on some distant point outside. His posture was relaxed, his focus distant, but there was a calmness about him that made Naruto's stomach twist in ways he wasn't sure how to handle.

They were both recovering quickly on the inside, thanks to Kurama's chakra, but their external bruises would still take a while to fade.

Sasuke was such a mysterious person, yet oddly simple, and all his contradictions and contrasts were fascinating and confusing.

As carefree as they were around each other, it still baffled Naruto how Sasuke could go about things so breezily and act like nothing had happened when they had almost kissed and even slept together—not as they had when they were kids during missions. No.

They had slept together for two nights already, and during the first one, Sasuke had spooned him, and they held hands and had been so pressed close together that he had felt his every little muscle and curve and edge and everything.

The previous night, though, while Naruto had been the one to call Sasuke to his bed, his friend had still indulged him. They had held each other again, this time facing each other, their noses touching, their hands roaming slightly over each other's sides. Naruto had known that their hearts were beating like crazy—known that all it would take was a small movement, and things would happen.

Only things didn't happen, and the limbo was very unsettling.

Naruto felt stupid for not knowing what to do with the tension between them—the longing gnawing at him—while Sasuke sat there looking completely unaffected.

Naruto knew otherwise, of course—he could feel Sasuke's internal turmoil and his helplessness towards everything—but, well, it still pissed him off that they reacted differently outwardly.

Exhaling slowly, he forced himself to relax. He was overthinking it because he had nothing better to do.

Or, well, because he was fidgety and couldn't stop thinking about them and all the possible what-ifs or whatnots. As cautious as his friend was, Naruto knew that something else would've happened already if they were in a different situation.

The "something else" was obvious to him at this point, but what he didn't know was what that would create in both and how they would react to it.

Maybe it would make no sense at all. Maybe they would find out that those feelings were indeed complicated and platonic, and the whole tension and chemistry would begin to fade and mutate towards something else entirely.

Naruto didn't know how he felt about the prospect at all, but not knowing what was happening ate at him.

But he was patient—he couldn't afford not to be.

"You and Uchiha sure got cozier," Kurama drawled unexpectedly, and Naruto nearly jumped out of his skin. "Who would've thought?"

"Fucking hell, don't just pop up like this when I'm lost in thought!" Naruto yelled inside his mind, hearing the fox demon rumble with laughter inside him.

"Not sorry. It was on purpose," Kurama purred.

Naruto frowned slightly because their friendship was new and he wasn't used to the beast casually starting a conversation, even if they had interacted quite a lot during the war. Kurama had already been whispering teasing things about Sasuke's body in his ear back at the rooftop.

"What are you even doing, spying on me?" he asked within his mind.

Kurama chuckled. "Oh, please, as if I needed to spy. I always knew."

Naruto hesitated. "Knew what?"

"That you had a thing for that Uchiha brat. Took you long enough to figure it out, but your sickening obsession should've been enough of a hint." Kurama sighed. "But, well, you were always slow."

Naruto stiffened, heat creeping up his neck. "What?!" he sputtered, his voice a harsh whisper in his mind.

"Please, spare me," Kurama scoffed. "I thought I would go insane because in your mind it was always Sasuke-Sasuke-Sasuke from dusk till dawn. So much sadness and despair, so many fond memories, such loneliness, so many heart skips… I started believing that there was nothing else in that brain of yours."

Naruto swallowed thickly, feeling exposed in a way he never had before. In all honesty, while he had suspected that Kurama could listen to his thoughts, he never expected him to listen to all of it, all the time.

"You… you could feel all of that? Hear every thought?"

"Where do you want me to start?" Kurama said, and his amusement only grew as Naruto visibly flailed internally. "I've known you since you were a baby. I'm not sleeping all the time, kid."

Naruto's stomach dropped. He'd always assumed Kurama could sense things, but… everything?

Naruto groaned, dragging his hand down his face. "Okay, okay, I get it! You don't have to spell it out! Just get out of my head, please!"

The sheer humiliation of it sent Naruto into an outright flustered panic, his hand gripping the fabric of his pants as he tried to steady himself. His mind reeled, searching for a way to deny everything, but Kurama's sudden knowing silence was worse than any taunt.

The last thing he needed was to be given sordid details of himself, and he didn't need anyone else to make him feel even more aware of Sasuke than he already was.

"Oi."

Naruto blinked up, heart still racing, only to find his roommate staring at him with an arched brow. "Why do you have that stupid look on your face?"

Face burning, Naruto nearly choked on his saliva. "I don't look stupid! You're stupid!" he countered defensively, a little too loudly because he was caught at such a vulnerable moment.

Sasuke gave him a long, unimpressed look before shaking his head, muttering something under his breath that Naruto was sure was an insult. Kurama, meanwhile, was still laughing in the back of his mind, entirely too pleased with himself.

Naruto groaned.

"Is it the Nine-Tails?" Sasuke still asked, tilting his head slightly to the side in genuine curiosity.

Pouting, Naruto cleared his throat, trying to keep his embarrassment away from his features because he didn't want to expose himself more than he had to. "Yeah."

"Can he hear what's on your mind?"

Damn, Sasuke and his perceptiveness.

"Apparently," Naruto confirmed, shifting a little uncomfortably because he had never thought about it before, and now that it settled in, he didn't know what to think about it.

"He's a constant watcher, then," Sasuke commented thoughtfully. "It must be frustrating."

"Well, we only became friends recently," Naruto explained with a dismissive shrug, trying to make light of the situation. "We didn't talk much before, but he seems happy to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. It takes a while to get used to."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at him then, his gaze evaluating and a little intimidating to the point where Naruto stiffened, almost ready to be faced with his Sharingan.

However, his friend simply hummed and turned his face away, contemplating the exterior once again. "By the way. It was your birthday during the war, wasn't it?"

Naruto instantly jolted at the unexpected question, but he nodded. "Yeah, it was! I turned seventeen!"

"I know that you dumbass," Sasuke hissed, looking at him with his eyebrows raised as if he couldn't believe the stuff that came out of his mouth.

"I was clarifying in case you didn't remember!" Naruto threw back before leaning backward, supporting his weight behind him with a hand. "Worst birthday ever. Hours on a battlefield only to end up getting my ass beaten by an asshole like you."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at him. "And here I was just going to wish you a happy belated birthday, but fuck you, then," he said plainly, flashing Naruto his middle finger proudly.

It was just their usual banter, but Naruto's chest still tightened. The fact that Sasuke had remembered—had cared enough to acknowledge it—sent warmth flooding through him.

It made him so happy he could only grin broadly. "Fuck you, too, but thanks!" he said with a lopsided smile. "I can't believe you remembered that, though."

Raising one eyebrow again, Sasuke cleared his throat. "Your father mentioned it back then, but I knew it because I memorized your personal information when we became Genin, just in case."

"Oh, wow, so you know my blood type and stuff?" Naruto asked, torn between disbelief and amazement.

"Yes, you're a type B," Sasuke said without missing a beat—Naruto himself wasn't exactly aware of that. As if that information wasn't impressive enough, his friend kept going. "Favorite colors: orange and green. You love plants but hate vegetables. Your favorite food is ramen, but you also like red bean soup. No known allergies, no significant childhood illnesses. Right-handed when it comes to writing, ambidextrous for weapon usage, which is astounding considering how you maneuver your chopsticks…"

"Okay-okay, time out!" Naruto interrupted, lifting his hand in mock surrender as his cheeks warmed up. "That's kind of freaky, you know?"

"I know more from observation alone since you're not very tactical in your overall demeanor," Sasuke said with a smug smile, lowering his leg from the chair and stretching his arms over his head. "Care to find out what?"

"Maybe some other day," Naruto refused, shaking his head quickly. Everyone seemed to know a lot about him that day, and, fascinating as it was to know that Sasuke had observed him, he wasn't ready to find out the extent of it yet.

Knowing the Uchiha, he probably knew which type of underwear was his favorite, too.

What an embarrassing and uncalled-for thought that was.

Inside his mind, Kurama's nasty sniggering echoed.

"Please, at least pretend you're not here!"

With an internal sigh of relief, Naruto heard the laughter slowly becoming more distant until he couldn't hear it at all.

"I don't know that much stuff about you, I guess, since I'm not that observant," Naruto commented, eager to shift the attention away from himself. "But I know you do like vegetables since you were always nagging me about it back then. Oh, and onigiri! And, um… you don't like sweets, right?"

"That's right," Sasuke confirmed casually, rolling his shoulders leisurely with a small hiss of pain—the action was so unintentionally elegant and alluring that Naruto didn't even blink. When Sasuke offered him a small, rather smug smile, he was able to refocus a bit. "I'm not expecting you to know a lot about me since I always kept mostly to myself. People thought they knew me, but most of it was just rumors."

"Like liking girls with long hair?" Naruto suggested, with a snort. "Every girl who liked you let their hair grow when that one came up."

Leaning back against the chair once more, Sasuke's brow furrowed slightly in thought as he looked up at the ceiling. "I don't remember ever talking about that with anyone," he mused. "Not true, either way. Or rather, I didn't care about that kind of stuff, and I still don't. I don't understand why girls think physical traits would ever have a defining factor for someone to like them, though."

Naruto adjusted himself again, straightening up his posture before staring at his friend.

When they were kids, Naruto had always seen Sasuke as smug and arrogant and imagined him thriving on the attention of girls. But looking back now, with everything he knew, he realized Sasuke had never sought it—it had simply followed him. His focus had always been elsewhere, on Itachi, on proving himself to his parents, and later, on revenge.

Naruto bit his lip, unexpectedly emotional, even though Sasuke hadn't said anything particularly profound.

"Now that I recall it, my mother had long hair." At this, Naruto's eyes widened, but Sasuke hadn't moved, his eyes were a little unfocused as his voice softened to a particularly nostalgic tone. "I liked her hair, I guess. She never styled it, but it was always soft and well taken care of. She was a simple woman who didn't wear fancy clothes or shoes, and I'd never seen any makeup on her, either. But she was very beautiful, or at least that's how she seemed to me."

It was unbelievable that Sasuke was talking about his mother. It didn't seem like much, but Naruto knew it was significant to them that he was opening up about this, and he couldn't stop the feelings of empathy and joy from squeezing his heart.

"I'm sure she was beautiful. She was your and Itachi's mother, after all," Naruto muttered, and his voice faltered a little, unsure of how Sasuke would take the mention of his brother's name. "I wish I could've met her."

It caught the other's attention because he turned his head toward him, and his eyes were calm, oddly soft yet open, and he always looked so beautiful when he did that expression that Naruto didn't know what to do with himself.

"Yeah," Sasuke uttered, slowly. "I wish she had met you, too."

The words were simple, his tone careful and leveled, but Naruto felt his throat constrict at the sincerity.

He wet his lips and rubbed his neck just so he could have something to do with his hands.

"I… met my mother recently, too," he told Sasuke, a little sheepishly, because, even if the topic was sensitive for both, it had meaning to him, and he wanted Sasuke to know about it. "There were remnants of her chakra inside me, and… well, she also had long hair, super red! She was crazy beautiful, too, and I guess I took after her personality-wise because all my physical traits came from my dad's side. After all, he had blue eyes and was blond, too. Well, you met him, so…"

Minato had arrived at the battlefield with Sasuke, and even though Naruto didn't know much about what had happened to bring up that outcome, he was glad that his father had met Sasuke. He almost let out that he also wished his mother had met him, too, but he kept his mouth shut because the honesty of I all was getting a little too personal.

"How did it feel, meeting your mother?" Sasuke asked cautiously, and Naruto had to breathe in to calm himself because the memory still moved him.

"It was great," he said, smiling even though he felt his eyes sting a little. "I got to tell her what I needed to, and reassured her that I'm doing well, and I even hugged her, and just… it felt great to know she was watching over me."

Naruto let his words settle in the contemplative silence between them, recalling the tenderness of his mother's presence.

Looking at Sasuke just then, his heart skipped a beat, and he remembered his mother telling him to find a nice girl like her.

He bit down on his lower lip.

Surely, she would forgive him, right? Naruto wished that he could accomplish all the things his parents wanted for him, but he wanted to be happy while doing it, even if it was an unconventional happiness.

He had no idea what happiness truly was for him nor what kind of life he wanted to live but… no matter which shape it took, he was certain he would always want Sasuke there.

And Sasuke wasn't a nice girl but… it didn't matter, right?

The sun had dipped lower, the golden hue softening into something more subdued. Outside, a bird chirped faintly, and it was a strangely soothing sound.

Sasuke watched him in silence for a while, his expression oddly empathetic, as if he understood well what was going through Naruto's mind.

Then, he shifted, his chair creaking slightly as he stood up with an easy grace that always managed to make Naruto stare, even when he tried not to.

Instead of returning to his bed, Sasuke walked to Naruto's, stopping in front of him, and without a word, he dropped his hand on his head gently, making him stiff. He then ruffled Naruto's hair a bit in a gesture that tried to convey both affection and reassurance and, simple as it was, it had Naruto's eyes widening as he looked up at him.

"I'm glad you got to meet them," Sasuke said, his voice even, quieter than before, but there was something unmistakably genuine in the way he spoke. "It's a gift, knowing your family loves you, even after they're gone."

Swallowing, Naruto effectively forgot how to breathe as something inside him cracked unexpectedly.

He couldn't exactly explain why it moved him so much—perhaps because Sasuke himself had lost people he loved and who had loved him so unconditionally, or perhaps because this was something that, even for different reasons, connected them.

Tears welled in his eyes before he even realized it, blurring his vision. His throat ached, and before Sasuke removed his hand, Naruto reached out to grasp his wrist, gripping it tightly and stopping him from breaking the contact just yet.

"Sasuke…" Naruto's voice was raw, barely above a whisper as he lowered his head and closed his eyes.

What could he possibly say? Thank you? I'm sorry? None of it felt like enough, and yet he knew they didn't need any words between them.

He could tell his friend was a little at a loss, but Sasuke kept his composure, compassionately, not pulling away, and for several seconds, he just stood there, slowly caressing the top of his head. Naruto could feel a slight sense of unease and hesitation as if Sasuke didn't know what else to do.

To Naruto, it was more than enough.

Even as tears slid down his cheeks, Naruto didn't feel self-conscious. These weren't tears of sadness—he was simply emotional, and he knew that Sasuke understood him, so everything was alright.

After a long pause, Sasuke huffed. "Cheer up, idiot, you're going to make me feel guilty for making you cry," he said, and it sounded like he was forcing himself to sound moodier than he felt.

Naruto let out a wet, half-laugh as he released Sasuke's hand so he could wipe up his tears. "It's fine if it's this type of crying," Naruto inhaled, lifting his head to smile at him. "I just got emotional, but I'm fine."

Sasuke was looking down at him with the lightest frown, and because he didn't say anything for a while, Naruto noticed that he wasn't caressing his head—he was running his fingers through his hair, contemplatively, fingertips massaging his scalp as he was assessing how it felt.

More than feeling good, Naruto basked in the simple fact that Sasuke had, once again, initiated physical contact with him, aiming to reach out to him in a moment of vulnerability, and he couldn't be happier.

No one would believe him if he told them.

"You should think about what you want for a birthday gift," Sasuke hummed, aiming to break the ice, now pulling slightly at a strand of Naruto's hair, hard enough to get his attention, but not to hurt.

How many more things would Sasuke say and do until Naruto got over the sense of disbelief? "Wait, you're thinking about giving me something?"

"Within my possibilities," the other teen said casually, with a small nod. He then gestured vaguely to their surroundings. "We are in a hospital, after all, and I can't exactly go out to buy you anything, so be mindful of that."

Naruto perked up instantly, his previous melancholy momentarily forgotten. "Seriously?! You'll give me anything I want?"

"I already said yes, but I'm starting to regret it," Sasuke groaned, making a face. "Don't be insufferable about it, though."

Naruto snickered, but before he could push his luck, Sasuke pinched his nose—only to realize he'd caught some snot with his fingertips. His face twisted in disgust as he recoiled, fingers twitching.

It took Naruto a second to process, but once he did, embarrassment didn't even register—he was already laughing, clutching his stomach. "Ew! Holy shit, the look on your face!"

Scowling, Sasuke immediately reached out to wipe his fingers on Naruto's shirt.

"Oh, hell no!" Naruto yelped, scrambling back. "Get the hell away from me with your nasty fingers!"

Sasuke lunged, fingertips grazing Naruto's sleeve before he twisted away, still laughing. "You're seriously disgusting, bastard! Wipe that on your own damn shirt!"

"It's your snot!" Sasuke shot back, swiping at him again, his smirk betraying his faux annoyance.

Naruto flailed, half-tangled in his sheets. "You touched it! You keep it!"

They struggled, Naruto kicking out while Sasuke—annoyingly composed—kept trying to press his hand against Naruto's shirt. Finally, Sasuke huffed, flicking the remnants off his fingers before rubbing his hand on his pants.

Naruto, breathless, grinned triumphantly. "See? That's what you get for messing with me. I won!"

Sasuke deadpanned. "What are you, five? Blow your damn nose." His nose scrunched in distaste at Naruto's sniffle. "I'm going to the bathroom."

Naruto sniffed louder on purpose, grinning as Sasuke shot him a disgusted look before disappearing through the door.

As the click of the latch settled, Naruto's grin softened.

He fell back onto his messy bed, rubbing his nose. The room still carried Sasuke's presence, lingering against his skin like an echo. His scalp tingled where Sasuke had touched him, his body hyper-aware of every point of contact from their wrestling. It was a strange, wonderful feeling.

Sasuke was letting him in, and despite the constant shifts in energy between them, it never went downhill—because neither allowed it to.

Things hadn't changed all that much since when they were teammates, yet they were completely different now and constantly evolving.

Naruto swallowed, staring at the ceiling, his heart thrumming. It was nice to feel that Sasuke cared and to see him open up, tease, and smile more.

Sasuke had the most beautiful smile, and Naruto would chase after it as many times as he could, especially because he knew Sasuke was chasing after his, too.

He couldn't wait to see what other facets of his best friend he could unravel. Seeing Sasuke happy was his goal, and he would achieve it no matter what.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep, shaky breath.

There was still so much he didn't know, so many pieces of Sasuke and himself he had yet to uncover, so many layers he hadn't even begun to understand. But if there was one thing he had come to realize, it was that if he ever thought he'd reached the limit of how much he could like Sasuke, he'd been dead wrong.

000

The waiting area was quiet, bathed in the sterile glow of fluorescent lights. Cushioned benches lined the room, vending machines humming softly near a reception counter stacked with neatly folded linens. Everything was orderly and functional, but lifeless. The kind of place where time stretched endlessly.

Iruka sat on one of the benches, hands resting on his lap, watching steam curl lazily from two paper cups of tea on the table before him. He had been waiting a while, but he didn't mind. The boys were still with the doctor, but a nurse had assured him that Naruto would be told he had a visitor once they were done.

The early hours left the area blissfully empty. This floor, while busy, was quieter than the chaotic ones below, where many were being treated in the aftermath of the war. In a way, Iruka was relieved Naruto was being kept here, away from the stress of everything happening downstairs and outside.

It had been years since Iruka had spoken to Sasuke. Most of what he knew about him came from secondhand accounts—few of them good. The thought of Naruto sharing a room with him, even after everything, unsettled him. While he knew Sasuke's return meant the world to Naruto, that didn't soothe the apprehension in his heart.

He could have waited in their room, but he felt more at ease here, hoping to see Naruto alone.

The rustle of movement caught his attention, and Iruka turned just as Naruto entered, shuffling forward with his hospital slippers scuffing softly against the tiled floor. Dressed in a white t-shirt and loose hospital pants, he was missing his right arm, the remains tightly bandaged—just as Kakashi had described. Yet, aside from a few bruises and a patch on his cheekbone, he seemed healthy and energetic because he was smiling.

Still, as Iruka quickly stood, relief and sorrow washed through him, and tears pricked his eyes.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto called, his voice cracking with emotion as soon as his blue eyes met his teacher's. But before he could say more, Iruka rushed forward, pulling him into a tight hug.

Naruto froze in surprise, then melted into it, wrapping his good arm around Iruka's shoulders. "It's great to see you, sensei."

"It's good to see you too!" Iruka sniffed, pulling back slightly to grip Naruto's shoulders, scanning him over. "You seem well."

Naruto grinned, hurriedly wiping his eyes. "Yeah, I'm doing great! Can't wait to start training to get my mojo back. How about you?"

Iruka chuckled, his expression softening. "Better now that I've seen you with my own eyes." He glanced around, ensuring Sasuke was nowhere in sight before smiling again and gesturing toward the table. "Shall we sit? I got us some tea."

"Sounds good!"

Naruto followed him, and they settled on the benches across from each other.

Iruka handed him a cup, and Naruto accepted it with a grateful nod, his beam unwavering. It moved Iruka to see that, despite everything, Naruto hadn't lost his shine. If anything, his smile seemed even brighter.

"Aw, man, this is perfectly sweetened," Naruto said after taking a sip of the warm drink. "Thanks!"

Iruka sipped his own, unsweetened tea before lowering it to his lap. "Look at you, all hyped up after everything that happened," He muttered proudly, shaking his head in admiration. "You're amazing, Naruto. I'm proud of you."

A small blush painted Naruto's cheeks, but he scoffed. "I didn't fight the war alone, Iruka-sensei, geez."

"I know that," Iruka confirmed, gently. "But you still played an important part… as did Sasuke, I'm told."

Naruto's smile softened visibly at the name. "Yeah… He gave me a hard time, but I wouldn't have done it without him."

Iruka's gaze flicked to Naruto's bandaged arm, his expression growing serious. "How is he?"

"Oh, he's showering now, but he's recovering well," Naruto said casually, unconcerned.

Iruka hesitated, fingers tightening around his cup. "That's good to hear. And how are things between you two?" There was only a moment of hesitation before he added, "Kakashi-san told me you fought."

At this, Naruto's smile finally faltered as he looked down at his tea. "Yeah, we did."

"Why fight after stopping the war together?" Iruka asked carefully but was genuinely intrigued. He knew how quickly Naruto could shut down when the topic was Sasuke.

"It was unavoidable," Naruto replied simply, with a shrug. "He's been through a lot and had all these stupid ideas, so I had to beat some sense into him."

Iruka's brow furrowed. "You could've died," he pointed out, in a mutter.

"I was ready for that," Naruto said so matter-of-factly that Iruka's eyes widened in shock. Probably realizing he had come across too straightforwardly, he quickly tried to explain himself. "It's not what you think, Iruka-sensei! It was the only way for us to find common ground. I showed him clarity, he acknowledged me, and that's it. All's good!"

Iruka stared at him, lost for words. The casual way Naruto spoke about being ready to die for Sasuke made his stomach churn. "Is it?" he asked, unable to stop himself from glancing at Naruto's missing arm.

Naruto's jaw tightened. "Oh no; this wasn't his fault!" he denied, waving the limb emphatically. "He lost an arm too! It just happened while we were fighting, so it's both our fault. It's fine! He's home now, and that's what matters."

To you…

Iruka's gaze softened, though worry still weighed on him. "Did you bring him back willingly?"

"Yes," Naruto confirmed with a proud nod. Perhaps for him, it was his biggest achievement.

Iruka could only sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, I just don't understand how you can deal with all of this so easily."

Huffing a little, his former student smiled again. "I don't expect you to. No matter what people think, Sasuke is my best friend, and we know each other better than anyone else," he said, in a gentle but self-secure way. "I don't blame him for what he did, even though I know he'll have to make amends. But I can live with that. We'll help each other from now on."

"How can you be so sure?" Iruka asked, frowning.

Naruto grinned sincerely. "Because no one knows him better than I do."

Despite his concerns, Iruka chuckled softly. Naruto's confidence was baffling but oddly reassuring. At least it meant Sasuke was stable—or that Naruto had him under control. "I guess things haven't been difficult for you here, then."

"Not at all, it's been great!" Naruto's voice brightened so much it took Iruka off guard. "I'm a mess with my left hand, so Sasuke's been feeding me, and we talk, and he nags me all the time, the asshole. But it's nice; kind of like old times, even if it's different now."

"Old times…" Iruka echoed wistfully.

Naruto nodded; fondness clear in his expression. "We spent a lot of time together in Team 7, just the two of us. We trained, sparred, and sometimes even had lunch together. So, it's not unfamiliar for us to be around each other."

Iruka was surprised. Naruto had always complained about Sasuke back in Team 7, perhaps hiding feelings he was now much more open about.

Iruka had never fully understood the depth of Naruto and Sasuke's connection. When he'd been their teacher, their interactions had mostly consisted of fights and insults—always troublesome.

Sasuke had been a good student, smart and well-behaved despite his tragic past, so hearing about his descent into darkness had left Iruka deeply unsettled. The things Sasuke had done, the destruction he had caused… it was hard to reconcile with the boy he once knew.

Even now, Iruka struggled to process it all. His opinions of Sasuke were tainted and yet, everything Naruto was saying, the sheer sentiment written across his face, painted a different picture.

What had Sasuke done to deserve this kind of unwavering devotion? How could Naruto still stand by him, after everything?

Sasuke had always been trouble, and he would continue to be trouble for Naruto.

But Iruka knew that wasn't the point. Naruto wasn't running after an ideal or an obligation—he was running after Sasuke himself. It had never been about duty, redemption, or even proving a point.

Sasuke had always been Naruto's fuel.

"You do… care a lot about him, don't you?" Iruka asked carefully, despite already knowing the answer.

Naruto didn't hesitate. "It goes both ways, even if it doesn't look like it."

Oh.

Iruka felt something settle in his chest, heavy and inescapable.

He's in love with him.

The realization settled over him like a foreign concept, and yet, the way Naruto spoke so openly—the quiet certainty, the absolute devotion, and trust toward their future—wasn't just loyalty or friendship. It was something deeper. Something that had already shaped Naruto's entire life.

It felt like being hit with frozen water, and Iruka felt the impulse to dismiss it, to brush it off as something simpler, or even try to take such ideas from Naruto's head.

Because Iruka knew firsthand how difficult it was to live with the loneliness of being different, and he didn't want that for someone he thought of as his child.

But Naruto wasn't blushing like he had with Sakura. There were no jokes, no silly notions of love, no pranks, no idealistic blabbering. Just unwavering conviction.

Iruka wished it had been Sakura.

Goes both ways? It seemed impossible.

Did Naruto even understand his feelings? Did Sasuke know?

Iruka had so many questions, but he knew Naruto wouldn't answer them—at least, not yet.

He didn't think Naruto was delusional. If he believed Sasuke was worth saving, then Iruka trusted him to handle it, he deserved so much more than to dedicate his life to someone so complicated, especially now, when the world was finally opening up to him.

And yet, for Sasuke, he might throw everything away.

It was terrifying.

"Naruto," Iruka began carefully, his voice firm. "You need to understand that Sasuke will be held accountable for his actions. The council, the other villages… they won't let him walk away without consequences."

Naruto's expression hardened, and he set his cup down. "I know that, Iruka-sensei. But I won't let them throw him away like some common criminal. He's not who they think he is, and I'll make sure everyone knows it."

Iruka sighed. "I understand your feelings, Naruto, honestly. But you need to think carefully. The road ahead… it won't be easy. Are you ready for that?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed. He leaned in slightly, his voice low but steady. "I didn't go through hell to bring Sasuke home just to give up on him now, or ever. I will protect him."

A chill ran down Iruka's spine. "Does… does Sasuke know about this conviction of yours?"

If Naruto caught the implication, he didn't show it. "You're not listening, Iruka-sensei," he said, shaking his head. "I'm not alone in this. Sasuke and I will face whatever comes together. That's all that matters. That's enough."

Something was unsettling about the intensity in Naruto's voice. Iruka wanted to understand, but Naruto was both open and guarded—speaking freely, yet revealing nothing.

And that, more than anything, was disturbing.

Iruka wanted to remind Naruto that Sasuke was dangerous—that he had hurt him before and could do it again. Even if he didn't, everything about his future, his reputation, would only bring trouble.

But Iruka didn't argue. He knew better than to try changing Naruto's mind—it would only make him more determined. All he could do was hope the teen truly understood what he was setting himself up for.

"Just be careful, Naruto. You've already sacrificed so much," Iruka said, worriedly. "Don't throw away everything you've worked for by acting recklessly." He leaned in, resting a firm hand on Naruto's knee, a grounding touch meant to offer both comfort and understanding. "You're still so young. I was your age once too, and I remember how everything felt bigger, more intense than it was. You've come so far, and you're doing so well. I just don't want you to lose yourself."

Naruto looked away, jaw tightening. "I know, Iruka-sensei. But I can't just sit back and do nothing, not when it comes to Sasuke."

His fingers curled into his pant leg, knuckles whitening. He swallowed hard, breath coming a little sharper than before.

Then, in a quieter, rawer tone, he murmured, "I need you to understand that I can't afford to lose him again."

The weight of his words settled between them, and for a moment, Naruto seemed to process just how much this meant to him, as well.

"I know it's worth it," he eventually said, eyes finding Iruka's again, softer now, but certain. "But you need to trust me, okay?"

Iruka grunted in resignation before nodding. Then, a quiet, understanding smile formed on his lips.

There was nothing he could do now except accept Naruto's choice and support him the best way he knew how. If he pushed too hard, he risked breaking the fragile trust Naruto had placed in him when it came to Sasuke.

"Alright, as long as you don't make me worry too much," he agreed, adding a bit of playfulness to lighten up the mood. "Just know that whatever happens, I'll always be here for you, Naruto."

Naruto's expression eased, warmth flickering in his eyes before he grinned. "I know, Iruka-sensei. Thanks."

Iruka watched as Naruto exhaled, shoulders relaxing ever so slightly. The words still hung between them, but for now, there was nothing else to say.

So, he too let out a breath and tempered his posture. "Alright, tell me, what's the food like here? Not too terrible, I hope?"

Naruto blinked at him before a small grin crept onto his face. "Oh, man, you have no idea. It's a nightmare."

And just like that, the tension lifted.

They drifted into easier topics—stories of the village, complaints about hospital food, and whatever ridiculous rumors Iruka had heard lately just to make Naruto laugh. And for a little while, they simply enjoyed each other's company.

Life and maturity were suddenly happening for him, and he was ready to face it all with the same relentless passion he poured into everything he did.

As much as it pained Iruka to admit, this was Sasuke's effect.

Maybe Naruto was right. Maybe Iruka had nothing to worry about.

But if Sasuke ever hurt him… Iruka wouldn't forgive him.

000

It was already dinner time when Sakura pushed open the hospital room door, balancing a small plate in her hand. The scent of warm broth and fresh rice still lingered in the air, and the soft murmur of voices greeted her. Inside, Naruto and Sasuke sat on the Uchiha's bed, their tray holders in front of them as they ate.

It was an oddly domestic sight—natural and unguarded—that something in Sakura's chest clenched unexpectedly.

Sakura stood frozen at the doorway for a second, the warmth of the moment settling deep in her bones.

The boys sat close, their shoulders nearly touching, and she watched as Naruto, clumsily maneuvering his chopsticks, struggled to pick up a sliver of vegetable. He frowned in frustration, his left hand trembling slightly, but before he could drop the piece for the third time, Sasuke hissed a curse and impatiently snatched it up with his own chopsticks, guiding it to Naruto's mouth and viciously shoving it inside without a word.

Naruto was caught off guard, so he coughed a little, and yet he laughed, quite amused at Sasuke's temper.

"You should just feed me all the time if you're going to get upset when I can't do it myself," he grinned as he chewed, nudging Sasuke with his elbow.

Sasuke gave him an unimpressed glance. "You're getting too used to it," he snapped, but the tone and the frown on his forehead didn't match the look in his eyes at all. "If you worked harder on training your fingers, I wouldn't have to treat you like a damn baby."

"Blah-blah, you're always nagging…"

Regardless of the words, Sasuke still reached out for another piece of veggie to feed Naruto.

It was so natural between them, so effortless, Sakura thought. It wasn't just that Sasuke was feeding him—it was the way Naruto accepted it without hesitation, the way Sasuke didn't seem to think twice about helping him, the way they existed in each other's space as if it had always been this way.

A lump formed in her throat. Well, she had to admit that it had always been this way.

She had fought so hard, alongside both of them, had nearly lost them both, and yet—standing there now, she couldn't ignore the feeling that something had shifted beyond her reach.

Sakura forced a smile, pushing the feelings down as she stepped forward—she couldn't believe that they hadn't sensed her arrival, or if they had, they had ignored it.

"Naruto, someone planned a little something for you," she announced, cheerfully. She extended the plate towards Naruto, showing him a beautiful slice of screamy strawberry cake with a small candle perched up in the middle.

Blue eyes perked up, looking between her and the cake resting on the plate. "Huh? What do you mean?"

Sasuke sighed, sounding exaggeratedly tired, so Sakura chuckled. "Yesterday, Sasuke-kun asked me to get you something so we could celebrate your birthday," she explained. "I had a lot of work, so I only managed to bring it in today."

"That's fine, Sakura," Sasuke said plainly, with a nod. "Thank you for your effort."

Naruto's mouth fell open. He turned to Sasuke, eyes wide, and for a moment, he looked sincerely overwhelmed and touched. "Wait, you…seriously?"

Sakura herself had been completely shocked when Sasuke asked a nurse to speak to her. For a split moment, she had been ecstatic, excited as her mind reeled with all the reasons as to why the Uchiha might want to speak to her privately.

She had not been expecting Sasuke to humbly ask her if she could go out of her way to get some cake so Naruto could celebrate his birthday since he didn't have the chance to because of the events of the day. It broke her heart, yet also filled her with relief because it was wonderful to see that Sasuke's kindness (the one she knew when they'd been younger) was still present.

Naruto's eyes watered, and he stared at Sasuke so astonished, that Sakura herself had a hard time understanding everything that crossed his expressive features.

When he spoke, his voice quivered. "Thank you…"

Sasuke faked an entire lack of interest in Naruto's reaction as he reached out to pull his ear, hard enough to be impactful, but not enough to hurt. "Don't make a big deal out of it," he said.

Naruto made a complaining sound but pouted, and the way he simply couldn't look away from Sasuke made Sakura feel uncomfortable.

Still, she reminded herself that this was to be expected. She had been witnessing their interactions for days now, and it was obvious that Naruto was over the moon for having Sasuke back. She understood why because he had wanted him back so much, and now they had gotten back to their usual dynamics seamlessly as if they hadn't been apart and at each other's throats at all.

"Well, you can eat it later, but let's at least do it properly now!" Sakura said cheerfully. "Move your plate out of the way, Naruto, geez."

Naruto quickly did as he was told, pushing his dinner to the side so Sakura could set the smaller plate on the tray in front of him. She rummaged through the pockets of her medical gown and finally found the lighter she had borrowed from a colleague.

"Let me do it," Sasuke asked, reaching out his hand, palm up, and Sakura nodded, passing him the lighter.

Nonchalantly, Sasuke flicked it on, touching the flame to the candle's wick.

Clapping her hands together, Sakura smiled. "Shall we sing, then!"

The dancing flame of the candle cast a warm glow between them, and for a brief second, Sakura allowed herself to just be here, to enjoy this moment. She had seen them every day, and yet she was so busy and everything was always so focused on taking care of their health that they didn't have the opportunity to simply hang out as friends—as team 7.

It hurt her that she didn't have enough time to be around them, because it could take a long time before things felt as normal and mundane again as they did now.

She started singing, and Naruto, flustered but laughing, quickly joined in. Sasuke, of course, stayed quiet. But Sakura didn't miss the way his gaze lingered on Naruto, the way his lips parted slightly—like he had considered joining in, only to hold himself back.

Grinning, Naruto took a deep breath, ready to blow out the candle, but then suddenly paused. He turned to Sasuke, eyebrows shooting upward. "Wait. Did you celebrate yours?"

Sasuke made a face "What?"

"Your birthday," Naruto pressed. "Did you celebrate?"

There was a beat of silence before Sasuke looked away. "I didn't have time to think about it."

Naruto scowled. "Ugh, typical. Okay then, we're doing this for both of us!"

Before Sasuke could protest, Naruto started singing again—this time with exaggerated enthusiasm, his voice louder and even more off-key, and Sakura had covered her mouth to stifle a laugh as Naruto all but shouted Sasuke's name in the song.

Sasuke rolled his eyes but there a soft, exasperated smirk formed at the corner of his mouth.

And when Naruto finally leaned in to blow out the candle, he nudged Sasuke, jerking his chin toward the cake. "Let's do it together!"

Throwing him a flat look, Sasuke still leaned forward nonetheless, and he didn't see Naruto beaming in sheer happiness before leaning in as well so they could blow the candle at the same time.

Sakura smiled. It was such a small, insignificant thing—and yet, it wasn't, least of all for them.

It felt surreal, how nothing seemed to have changed at all. It was as if years of desperate worry and search for that beautiful, dark-haired young man hadn't happened at all. As if they hadn't been apart, nor fought until they almost died.

How did they do it? How did Naruto know that Sasuke had cared about him all along? How did he know that they'd fight side-by-side in the war, perfectly synced, strong enough to take on anything that stood in their path?

No matter how many times she tried to rationalize it, it still brought a chill to Sakura's spine thinking about it.

Sakura clapped again, politely. "Did you guys make a wish?" she asked sweetly.

Naruto smirked, leaning back. "Mine's a secret."

Sasuke, predictably, only shrugged. "I don't believe in that kind of stuff."

Sakura hummed in amusement but didn't insist. Surely, Sasuke had hopes and dreams, too—he had to, so he could face what was coming.

Whatever those two had wished for, she had a feeling they weren't things she was meant to know.

She glanced at the watch on her wrist and sighed. "I have to get going. My shift's over, and my parents are expecting me for dinner."

Naruto pouted. "Aw, man. Well, thanks for coming! And thanks for, y'know…" He gestured at the cake. "Helping this grumpy ass pull this off."

Sakura chuckled. "Anytime."

She walked over, stepping toward Naruto first, brushing his unruly hair back before pressing a quick, affectionate kiss to his forehead. "Happy birthday, Naruto," she murmured, and he all but smiled at her, genuinely, gratefully, and yet, there was no surprise and no blush on his cheeks like it used to be whenever she expressed affection towards him.

That was probably her fault—after all, she had crushed his heart and his trust the moment she offered him a false love confession.

Well, it hadn't been exactly false, but… not entirely true either.

But how could she explain it to him in a way that he could understand? That she cared, that a part of her loved him as he wanted to, but another part was still hopeful, still clinging to something else?

When she turned to Sasuke, she found his gaze already on her—calm, steady, unreadable, but he seemed to be observing her.

For a second, she hesitated. Then, acting on instinct, she reached out and let her fingertips brush against the back of his hand that was resting on his knee, just to break the physical barrier that always seemed to exist between them.

It wasn't much. Just a fleeting touch, a silent acknowledgment that everything was alright.

However, in that moment, the space between them felt heavier for some reason, because Sasuke didn't pull away, and yet she saw the way his hand twitched and his fingers curled to form a fist.

She didn't understand what it meant at all, so she carefully broke the contract.

Sakura forced herself to smile. "See you tomorrow, boys!" she said with a lively wave as she turned to leave. "Enjoy the cake!"

"Bye, Sakura-chan!" Naruto said happily, yet he was already turning to Sasuke. "This looks so good!"

Still, when Sakura stepped into the hallway and the door clicked shut behind her, an uneasy feeling settled in her chest.

Why did she feel so misplaced all of a sudden? Had it been the atmosphere, the way they looked at each other? Was it jealousy over how easily they interacted, touched, and bickered?

How did they seem to know each other so well, even without words?

Like something unspoken had finally settled between them, something quietly understood—but not by her.

And for all the love she had for them both, for all the years they had spent together, Sakura suddenly felt like an outsider, even next to Naruto, her best friend.

And wasn't sure she wanted to know what it meant.

000

Naruto woke up feeling cold.

Blinking groggily in the dim light, he reached out instinctively to the space beside him, finding it empty and cool. A strange unease ran through him, but he forced himself to calm down, feeling Sasuke's chakra still lingering somewhere in the hospital.

Rubbing his eyes, he stood and padded silently toward the door, the cool floor soothing against his bare feet as he allowed himself to be guided by the energetic pull.

The hospital corridors were dimly lit, bathed in the soft glow of night lights lining the walls. The usual hum of activity was absent, replaced by the occasional distant sound of footsteps or the muffled rustling of sheets behind closed doors.

It felt strangely peaceful, but Naruto's senses remained alert, as he made his way forward. As he turned a corner, the faint glow of the floor's reception desk came into view. A night nurse sat there, flipping idly through some paperwork. At the sight of him, she smiled knowingly, her eyes flickering past him toward the waiting room before she wordlessly motioned in that direction. Naruto blinked, then nodded in thanks before continuing, already certain of what—or rather, who—he would find there.

The waiting area was quiet and just as dark as the rest of the floor, the only source of light was the soft glow of a television screen flashing against the walls. And there, on one of the cushioned benches, sat Sasuke.

He had a thick brown blanket draped loosely around his shoulders, the fabric pooling at his sides. His posture was relaxed, and his eyes were fixed on the screen but distant, so he didn't seem to be watching the thing at all.

For a moment, Naruto just stood by the entrance, watching his precious person's profile and finding him breathtaking, yet somewhat misplaced, as if he somehow belonged to a different time or place and didn't fit in with the scenario at all.

Something about the sight made Naruto's breath catch. Sasuke was only human, and yet, despite how much he had claimed otherwise, Naruto had always thought of him as special, superior in every way, and that was why he had tried so hard to be at his level, to be acknowledged by him.

He had wanted to be like him so badly, but now…

Now that Naruto was comfortable in his skin, he didn't want to be in Sasuke's shoes anymore, no.

He just wanted to…

"I can feel you standing there like an idiot," Sasuke whispered, making Naruto jump slightly. He turned his head to the side to watch Naruto chuckle awkwardly and step closer, stopping just beside the bench.

"What are you doing out here?" Naruto asked in the same low voice.

"Couldn't sleep," Sasuke replied, shrugging to emphasize the blanket. "One of the nurses gave me this and turned on the TV. Thought it might help."

Naruto's gaze drifted to the screen where some late-night movie was showing, and it seemed to be some romantic drama because the actors (a couple, it seemed) were murmuring in hushed voices in a slow, drawn-out scene of a confession.

"You're watching this?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

"I'm not paying much attention," Sasuke confessed, shrugging again, but still looking away from Naruto and at the screen. "I haven't watched TV in years, but I can't say I missed it."

That struck something in Naruto. Sasuke hadn't been home in years—hadn't had stupid, normal moments like this in years, perhaps not even accessing TV, or even if he had, he probably had other priorities.

Sasuke said nothing, just shifted slightly and lifted the edge of the blanket. It wasn't an invitation so much as an inevitability—Naruto was already sinking into the space beside him before he even realized it. The warmth of the blanket settled around his shoulders, a quiet cocoon around both.

Without thinking, Naruto brought his knees up to his chest and leaned onto Sasuke's side, happy when the other teen didn't complain.

The world outside seemed to be shrinking down to just this quiet, hazy moment, and Naruto let out a small, satisfied sigh before dropping his head on Sasuke's shoulder.

This seemed like such a natural thing for them now that Naruto didn't exactly feel hesitant about it anymore. They'd been closer than this already, and while there were things that they hadn't spoken about or even resolved, this established intimacy was genuine and theirs for the time being.

Sasuke didn't say anything, but Naruto could feel how content he was, yet it was clear that something was on his mind, unsettling him.

But why?

Sasuke took care of him, held him, and did things for him—things no one else would believe. They both knew how they felt for each other, but still, Naruto could sense it—Sasuke was always thinking, always hesitating.

Was it his self-worth? Cautiousness about going too far when they had no idea what tomorrow would look like?

Concern over Naruto's well-being?

Naruto couldn't read his thoughts. It wasn't even fear that moved Sasuke, and yet, calm and accepting of everything as he was, it felt as if he always hesitated to allow himself to be happy or hopeful.

But Naruto knew he wanted to. It was an unspoken promise, but one they had made to each other nonetheless, felt through every touch and every gaze they exchanged.

So why was Sasuke feeling so conflicted all the damn time?

Carefully, Naruto searched for Sasuke's hand under the blanket and held it, trying to offer some kind of reassurance. The other didn't respond for a second but then closed his fingers around Naruto's, squeezing them as if saying he understood his intent and that it was fine.

They watched the scenes on the screen in silence, not paying attention. The hum of the hospital, the soft murmur of the movie, their closeness—it felt so safe and idyllic that it felt surreal, and all Naruto could focus on was the warmth radiating from Sasuke's body, the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed and the steady, yet quick throbbing of his heart that seemed to make his entire body pulse.

Being so aware of these things was a very addictive feeling that filled his heart with so many things he didn't know what to do with himself.

"You know… I take back what I said before," Naruto whispered, rubbing his cheek against Sasuke's shoulder.

Sasuke made a soft questioning noise.

"About my birthday being the worst," Naruto clarified. He tilted his head slightly, peering up at Sasuke's profile. "It wasn't true."

At this, Sasuke's face turned to look at him with a gently inquisitive look, so Naruto continued, voice quieter now. "Even back then, in the middle of the war, and right now… I was and am exactly where I should be."

Sasuke's expression didn't change but something in his energy did as fingers curled more tightly around Naruto's, his thumb tracing slow circles against the back of his hand. His eyes softened, something flickering behind them—something Naruto wasn't sure he could name.

Then, carefully, Sasuke leaned in and pressed his lips to Naruto's forehead.

Naruto's eyes fluttered shut as he took a sharp intake of breath because the action was so simple, so chaste, yet it managed to speak volumes.

Sasuke's gentleness and the occasional kisses he always offered during nighttime always made his heart skip and goosebumps run through him.

Naruto didn't know what this feeling was called but he didn't get enough of it, always yearning for more.

This type of care, of silent devotion, this tenderness that he knew he wouldn't get anywhere else—anything and everything that Sasuke wanted to give him, he would take it.

No one would believe him. No one else had been there, had fought through this war with him, had bled and broken and come back just to find him again. No one else could understand what Sasuke meant to him, or what Naruto meant to Sasuke. It didn't matter. Because this version of Sasuke was his alone.

The thought came suddenly, fully formed, and before Naruto could stop himself, the words were already leaving his lips. "I… figured out what I want for my birthday present."

Sasuke broke the kiss, leaning away smoothly and glancing down at him. "Is that so? I thought you had forgotten about it."

Shaking his head, Naruto felt his whole body catch fire, and yet he held Sasuke's gaze.

"I want you to kiss me."

At least his voice hadn't faltered, and he sounded as convincing as he felt resolute, so there was no space for Sasuke to walk away from it or pretend he didn't hear it.

Besides, Naruto knew that he did, because his friend's breath hitched, his lips parted in surprise and everything about his energy became erratic, even if demeanor-wise he looked simply too stunned to react.

Despite himself, Naruto realized that he'd probably been too blunt, so he hurried to clarify, suddenly nervous. "Not now! I mean, I just woke up, and my breath probably stinks…" He laughed, feeling a little stupid his fingers shaking a little as they held Sasuke's. "But, huh, yeah. I said what I said."

Sasuke didn't respond immediately. His beautiful eyes moved over Naruto's face, taking him in and carefully gauging him, and it was clear that his mind was processing what had just been said to him and analyzing how to react to it.

On a different occasion, Naruto would've found it hilarious that Sasuke's meticulous calculating assessment was being used outside of battle and for such a small thing, but right now, he only felt helplessly endeared because it was good to see that they weren't that different when it came to stuff like this.

They were both hopeless.

After a while, Sasuke wet his lips and swallowed. "What kind of kiss?" he asked at last, lowly but still very composed.

Naruto blinked at him, the question not registering. "Huh?"

"What. Kind?" Sasuke repeated with a small frown, enunciating the words on purpose.

Naruto cleared his throat, heart hammering inside his chest because he'd been taken off guard when he thought he had the upper hand in the conversation. "I don't know, just… whatever feels natural, I guess," he replied, with a small shrug, before snorting nervously. "Come on, what kind of question is that, even?"

Shaking his head, Sasuke frowned deeper and looked away for a moment, and the way he bit down on his lower lip, clearly frustrated at himself, did things to Naruto's brain chemistry that he was still trying to handle.

"I don't know anything about this type of thing," Sasuke eventually confessed, a little moodily "I don't know what expectations you have for something like this, that's why."

For someone as intense and ruthless as Sasuke, he sure seemed strangely defenseless just then, and yet, he wasn't exactly embarrassed nor recoiling, simply expressing himself openly.

Naruto felt warm all over, something inside his stomach bubbling.

A small, shaky smile broke across Naruto's lips. "You're thinking too much," he said quietly. "I only want it if you want it, too. It doesn't make sense otherwise, and I… I don't know anything about it either, so I'm not expecting anything. I just want to know what it feels like to do it properly… with you."

A thick, charged silence settled between them and Naruto gulped, suddenly all too aware of his own words—of how deeply personal they had been, how raw and open and impossible to take back. His heart pounded against his ribs when Sasuke's intense eyes met him again, his breathing shallow.

There was no hesitance in Sasuke's regard now as he searched Naruto's face again as if he was trying to figure him out all over again, trying to understand how they had gotten here after all.

Then, Sasuke released a small breath and pulled his hand away from Naruto's grasp, and before the blond teen could feel the sting of disappointment, Sasuke's fingers came up and brushed against the side of his neck instead, instantly sending a shiver down his spine, every hair in his body standing on edge. The touch was light and gentle, yet it burned like fire, making him tense.

"Shouldn't you know what I want?" Sasuke asked, his voice was quiet, rough in a way that made Naruto's stomach tighten and he almost forgot how to breathe entirely.

Because the answer was right there—in the way Sasuke's lashes lowered ever so slightly, in the way his eyes flickered down to Naruto's mouth before snapping back up—how many times had they done this already? It was getting worse going through the motions—in the way, his fingers curled just slightly against the base of his neck, blunt nails scratching the skin just enough to put some emphasis on an action that seemed unmistakably possessive.

Naruto loved it. He loved the adrenaline rushing through his veins, the way they were always on each other's faces, so naturally yet defyingly in this new reality that was becoming rather impossible to endure.

And it was a ridiculous question because yes, Naruto knew it well.

But he also realized that Sasuke had so many idealistic thoughts, so many things messing with his mind, holding him back that it was maddening.

What did he think Naruto expected, anyway? Why did he feel so stupidly obligated to go that extra mile, to protect them, to make it all so damn special?

Naruto's fingers twitched before they found the fabric of Sasuke's sweater over his chest, gripping it tightly. "If you want it, don't overthink it."

He didn't say it challengingly because he knew Sasuke well enough to know how stubborn he could be.

Yes, Naruto could admit to himself that he was dying to be kissed, to know what would happen and how it would feel for them, but he didn't want it to be a burden for Sasuke, which he knew that, unfortunately, it was.

But he had to remove it, to unlock whatever self-imposed chains Sasuke had.

There was something raw in Sasuke's expression, then. His hesitation, his restraint—it was all there, laid bare between them, but so was the undeniable pull, the quiet hunger, the way Sasuke's fingers still brushed the curve of his neck, warm and steady.

Naruto wasn't afraid of this—of what it meant or what it could become. He knew Sasuke wasn't either, and yet he was overwhelmed.

Naruto was, too, but he felt too anxious, he wanted everything too much to let second guesses stop him.

He needed Sasuke to understand that all he wanted was him, innocent and unhinged, with every quirk and flaw, every dirty word and dangerous intent.

So, Naruto bit down on his lower lip, heart pounding against his ribs, and then, without thinking, he leaned in—closer this time—his nose lightly brushing against Sasuke's jaw before trailing lower.

He felt Sasuke instantly tense beneath him and heard the sharp intake of breath as Naruto took a small whiff of the unforgettable scent he had longed for.

Naruto's lips parted slightly as he pressed them to the warm skin just below his ear and wasn't thinking—he was only feeling.

Pressing a kiss to the spot, Naruto's lips then slid down along the column of Sasuke's neck, reveling as he felt his pulse—throbbing erratically—as he mouthed it teasingly, testing, lingering in a way that was instinctive, uncalculated.

Sasuke's fingers trembled and moved to the nape of his neck, his fingers pressing against the skin as he tilted his head to the side, willingly baring more of the skin for Naruto to explore.

Naruto could hear the drawn-out hiss that slipped past Sasuke's lips as he allowed his tongue to slowly trace a path upwards, reaching the back of Sasuke's ear again.

Sasuke's skin tasted unique and clean, and realizing Naruto enjoyed it, his head spun.

Gently, he sucked Sasuke's lobe softly into his mouth, loving the small, pleasurable grunt that rumbled inside his friend's chest that made Naruto himself shiver involuntarily because it was one of the sexiest sounds he had ever heard.

He moved his hand to Sasuke's shoulder, clenching the muscles there for dear life.

When Sasuke tilted his head to the side, their cheeks coming into contact, the sound of their shaky breathing echoed in Naruto's ears like a symphony, and he knew he was being given free access, that Sasuke was being unbelievably pliant—more than he could've hoped for.

So, Naruto afforded to go further, now pressing a trail of wet kisses just beneath Sasuke's jaw before directing them upwards, to Sasuke's cheek, and the side. Suddenly he stopped himself, his mouth hovering just over Sasuke's.

Sasuke tensed, as he had expected, but didn't push him away.

Naruto could feel the heat radiating between them, the way their breaths mingled, how easy it would be to close that last inch of space. His own heart was an uncoordinated mess, and he could feel Sasuke's heartbeat too, erratic beneath his skin.

Still, Naruto realized that, while he was aroused, excited, and expectant, he wasn't nervous at all.

He was testing himself—his self-confidence, his feelings— and Sasuke's boundaries, and what he realized was that this only served to further solidify his certainty that this was something he was ready for and wanted with everything he had.

And he knew Sasuke wanted it, too.

Their eyes locked, Naruto's gentle, wanting, and observant, Sasuke's intense, a little awed, not exactly uncertain but hesitant. Naruto could feel in his veins the way their chakra intertwined, how much this affected the other teen, too.

And yet, Sasuke was barely breathing, barely moving, his lips parted as if he was on the verge of giving in.

Sasuke's fingers twitched against Naruto's nape—like he was about to pull him in, to cross that last boundary between them. His grip tightened for just a second… then eased. He turned his face away, exhaling softly, something unspoken hanging in the air.

Naruto huffed softly, pulse still racing, and yet he wasn't upset because he knew it would happen.

Oddly enough, he felt more confident than ever now that he had set his intentions.

Neither moved, the space between them thick with unspoken things. Naruto all but leaned away a bit, just enough to give Sasuke some space, which had the desired effect because he felt the tension in his friend's body subsiding.

"Your nerve is impressive, Usuratonkachi," Sasuke said, finding it safe to look at Naruto again.

"Yeah, you make it kind of easy," Naruto countered with a smirk.

For a second, Sasuke paused, remaining very still while contemplating him, trying to regain some semblance of dignity, and yet he didn't seem at all embarrassed or uncomfortable with their small interaction.

"Aren't you scared of what might happen afterward?" he eventually asked.

Naruto blinked at him, then let out a chuckle. "We both know where this is headed. I'm not scared of it. I'm only scared of losing you. Everything else… we'll figure it out."

Sasuke's eyes watched him as if processing every word. And yet, he wasn't denying it—he couldn't anymore.

"I'm not running away from it," Naruto added. "You said you wouldn't either."

Sasuke's fingers flexed slightly at the back of Naruto's neck, gripping just for a second before releasing. His silence was heavy, but when he finally spoke, it was resolute. "I haven't changed my mind about that."

Naruto nodded. "Good."

Sasuke studied him again, his expression an interesting and confusing mess of thoughts and emotions he was struggling to process.

"You know, I don't care if your breath smells or if you're wearing a clown suit, and I'm not running away or overthinking," Sasuke explained, his voice steady, a little edgy as he seemed to be searching for the right words. "It's not that I don't want to. I just think this kind of stuff should be done properly, privately. I don't want it to be ruined by things outside our control." His tone dropped lower, filled with frustration. "The circumstances are far from ideal, and it honestly pisses me off."

Naruto searched his face in return. "It doesn't matter if things aren't ideal," he said softly. "This is all we have right now, Sasuke. I respect your feelings, and I want you to feel comfortable, but…" He took a breath. "I don't need anything else, and I don't care about who's watching. I just need you."

Naruto found that Sasuke's little dissociative moments when Naruto was blunt were both hilarious and appealing. The way he blinked slowly, and his lips parted, how blatant unease and simultaneous yearning were so evident in his handsome features, how he apparently ceased to know how to get some air into his lungs.

And yet…

"I understand," Sasuke said, with a nod, so serious it almost sounded professional. "I promise I'll think of something."

Despite himself, Naruto couldn't help but laugh. "Rather promise me not to think at all," he teased. "I heard that's usually the best way to go about it."

Sasuke snorted. "Yes, you'd know all about that."

Naruto exhaled, shaking his head, and let out a small, breathless laugh. "You're such a bastard," he muttered, allowing his hand to gently trail down Sasuke's arms and to his side, where he rested it on his waist. He wanted to say more, wanted to put into words everything buzzing under his skin—but he didn't even realize he had spoken until the words were already out. "But I can't help it that I like you."

He felt Sasuke's gentle gasp stutter against his face, felt the way his fingers twitched, how his whole body seemed to be stiff and relaxed at the same time.

The shift in the atmosphere—in Sasuke's very energy—was instant at Naruto's words, a surge of warmth and levity suddenly throbbing between them.

Naruto barely had time to react before he was pulled into an embrace, drawn against Sasuke's chest in a way that felt both urgent and grounding all at once.

Naruto released a small groan, torn between pain and absolute blissfulness, his hand fisting in the fabric of Sasuke's shirt, gripping tight as he buried his face against his shoulder and his arm wound tighter around him.

Sasuke's grip was firm, his arm wrapping around Naruto's neck, fingers curling lightly into the strands of his hair at the back of his head to keep him firmly against him.

There was so much need there that it hit Naruto like a punch and drew out all of his desperation in return.

Sasuke's body was firm and burning.

For a moment it felt as if they were trying to sink into each other, the hug so tight it hurt Naruto's still recovering bones and muscles, but he didn't care. The position was even more awkward than before—half-leaning, half-sitting—but it didn't matter because the feeling of belonging was unmatched.

Sasuke's lips pressed hotly against Naruto's temple in another chaste, lingering kiss, his breath warm, and Naruto's throat tightened, his heart thrumming wildly against his ribs.

How could someone be so gentle and ruthless at the same time? So innocent and yet desirable?

More than anything else, it pulled at Naruto's very soul, the tightness in his chest the only thing preventing him from releasing a helpless sob.

If it was possible, he wished that they would never let go.

He let his hand roam slowly over Sasuke's back, tracing the line of his spine, feeling the way his body responded beneath his touch, the slow, appreciative hum that left his throat.

They were here, they were real, they were holding onto each other like they weren't sure how else to exist without it.

Naruto at least didn't anymore. Now that he knew what it felt like to be this way with his precious person—and now that he knew it would always come down to it because there was no escape—he would not let go of it for the world.

There were a thousand things they still needed to say, but so many others were instantly understood by them.

It was unmistakable.

Sasuke released a small breath, and Naruto felt the words before he even heard them.

"We… really need to talk."

Naruto swallowed, nodding slightly against Sasuke's shoulder. "Tomorrow, yeah."

Not quite ready to let go, Naruto's fingers pressed against Sasuke's back. Naruto closed his eyes, holding onto him for just a moment longer.

They stayed like that for a long while, simply holding on, neither saying a word, nor willing to be the first to let go. But eventually, Sasuke exhaled softly and pulled away just enough to place another kiss on Naruto's cheek.

"Let's go back to bed," he murmured.

Naruto nodded, but as they stood, as Sasuke adjusted the blanket around both their shoulders and led them back through the quiet corridors, warmth pressed to his side, Naruto realized that it didn't matter if this turned his world upside down or if it changed everything, he thought he knew.

It didn't matter if he had to wait days, weeks, months, or years.

Because if he and Sasuke wanted it, then nothing—not time, not fear, not even themselves—would keep him from fighting for it with everything he had.

TBC…

---

Sasuke is very stubborn. Very, very stubborn. I struggle with him so much.

I swear I had planned for them to kiss, but it wasn't meant to happen yet. Instead, we have Naruto being rather feisty and Sasuke being very willing but deciding to be some sort of prince charming instead. It's kind of funny.

However, I'm sure we all know how it will go once Sasuke stops worrying about propriety.

Anyway, the next chapter will be intense. That's all I can say.

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