Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Naruto -kun," Hinata started, as the two of them stood together outside his unit apartment, under the staircase outside. The snow was trickling down with gentle snowflakes, the two of them illuminated by the lamp post nearby.

“I’ve always…gazed at your back. But from now on, I want to always…” Hinata looked down, a soft blush on her face as a smile tugged at her lips, “…always stand by your side. So…I knitted this with all my heart.”

She then hugged the present she was holding closer to her chest, as she gazed up at him through her thick lashes as her smile turned shy yet earnest, “Please accept…my feelings!”

Naruto’s eyes slowly widened, as he stared at Hinata and her outstretched hands that were offering him the present. 

A lot of girls had been giving him presents lately. But somehow, he knew this was different. Hinata was not just a girl in the village who admired him. She was a kunoichi he respected and fought alongside many times before, with pride. She was a precious friend he held close to his heart.

For her to say all of this to him, it was not just admiration.  

It was…love.

“Hinata…”

Not knowing what else to do, he reached out and took the gift, pulling it from her hands gently. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t answer you right now.”

Hinata wilted at his words, and Naruto panicked, because even if he did not know if he loved her or not - she was still a dear friend. And he did not like seeing her upset. 

“Is it okay if I make you wait a little more?” he asked instead, which made her brighten up, as a light of hope returned to her eyes.

“Y-Yes!”

On the other side of Konoha, near a very familiar bench, Sasuke had been met with Sakura during one of his evening walks in Konoha. He was only back here for a short while, but he enjoyed seeing the city the most either during the early morning or late evening, since there were fewer people around and Sasuke could be at more peace with himself and his thoughts.

“No matter how many times it’s unrewarded, my love for you won’t change!” Sakura told him passionately, and Sasuke stayed silent as he listened to her,“Because it’s not completely unrewarded, is it? We’ve been getting closer bit by bit. Y-You promised to see me soon, and I-I’m here.”

"I visit Konoha for many reasons. You are one of them, Sakura, but you are not the only reason. As it is, I will be leaving again in a week or so anyway. I do not know when I will be back here, and I would hope you do not wait around and waste your time for my sake," Sasuke told her, in his usual cool and succinct tone. 

“I-I just thought,” Sakura paused, biting her lip and trying not to cry, “before you left on your journey, it was like we were closer. It felt like you were making me a promise. When you…”

Sakura trailed off, her hand drifting to her forehead and a blush filling her cheeks. 

It was then Sasuke realised the mistake he had made when he left last time. Sakura had completely misinterpreted his action and what it meant. Well, he only had himself to blame, and now he had to try and clean up the mess he had made.

“My brother used to do that to me when I was young,” he told her, and she looked up at him in surprise, “It was an action that pushed me away when I got too close. Later, I realised it was also a gesture of protection. To him, protecting me meant keeping his distance from me.”

Then, Sasuke looked her dead in the eyes as he told her, “Those are my feelings towards you.”

“So, it wasn’t a gesture of your love for me?” Sakura asked slowly, the gears shifting in her head as she absorbed Sasuke's words.

“It is a gesture of love. Familial love," Sasuke clarified, and then he saw Sakura's eyes narrow and some anger appear inside them.

“Because I wanted to go with you, that was your way of stopping me? Because you want to protect me from getting hurt?” she asked, then stepped forward, the frustration clear on her face, “I don’t need protection! I’m not the weak little girl you once knew! All these years, I’ve worked so hard to make myself strong. To catch up with you, and Naruto. And I feel like I finally have. Besides Tsunade- sama , there’s no woman who’s stronger than me!”

“I’ve built myself up with my own strength. And I made myself strong enough to love you, even though it hurts so much when you walk away and stay silent that I can’t stand it," Sakura's voice turned shaky, some of her anger trickling away, as desperation appeared instead, "I’ve endured this loneliness for so long, hoping and waiting for you to come back to me.”

“Sakura," Sasuke suppressed a sigh, as he met her pleading gaze with a steadfast one of his own, “My answer has not changed since we were here last time.”

“What am I supposed to do with my feelings for you?” she sobbed, “I love you, Sasuke -kun! I can’t love another man this much! I feel like my heart is going to burst!”

“I’m sorry.”

Then, Sasuke turned and walked the other way, away from Sakura.

“I’m not going to give up! I’ll tell you how I feel however many times it takes!” she called out after him, and that was when Sasuke jumped up into the trees and disappeared at a quicker pace. 

How many times would he be forced to reject Sakura? How many times would it take until she gave up on him?

Why couldn't she just be satisfied having him as a friend?

A week later, Naruto had gone to meet with Hinata, and had accepted her confession. He had pulled her into a hug, and she had held onto him so tightly, as she buried her face in his shoulder and breathed him in. He had worn the scarf when he went to see her, and she had positively beamed before fixing it and adjusting it so that no cold wind would penetrate through to him. Since then, they had been on a few dates to Ichiraku and having picnics around the village. Hinata was actually kind of fun and sweet to be with, and even though Naruto's heart didn't skip a beat or anything like that when he was with her, maybe this was how love was meant to feel.

He also had found out about Sasuke and Sakura's failed confession, since someone had overheard them that night and well...news spread fast around Konoha these days.

So, Naruto had gone to see Sasuke, the two of them meeting on top of the stone Hokage cliff faces.

“Sakura -chan really, really loves you," Naruto explained, as the wind blew around them and stirred up the leaves, making the trees dance and sway, “She’s loved you ever since we were genin. For so long, she’s invested her feelings into you. Trying so hard to get you to acknowledge her.”

“So, because she has always loved me,” Sasuke began, his gaze directed out towards the city before them, “we should be together?”

Naruto thought back to Hinata's confession to him, how she had plucked up all her courage to face him and tell him her feelings, “When someone tells you they love you, that’s not something they say lightly. She means it, every single time.”

“I know that," Sasuke replied but he did not say much else.

“What about reviving your clan? Isn’t that something you’ve always wanted?” Naruto tried a different angle, and Sasuke scoffed. 

“That was the naïve ideal of a child. I am proud to be an Uchiha. I will always honour my name, and my clan," Sasuke explained, then, his gaze turned somewhat distant and wistful, as he continued, “However, I am the last Uchiha. In every sense of the word. Once I die, my bloodline will die with me. I should have perished with them long ago, so it will be a relief when I do. The tragedy of the Uchiha will finally come to an end.”

“I really hate it when you talk like that," Naruto muttered, as his own heart jostled painfully in his chest upon feeling Sasuke's pain, “I hate that you feel like that. Why don’t you do something about it? Why do you keep holding onto all the pain by yourself? Keeping it all inside?”

Sasuke shook his head, “The pain is precious to me. I don’t want to let it go.”

“How do you live like that!?” Naruto demanded, and Sasuke shrugged.

“I’m a shinobi. I live to endure.”

“If you and Sakura- chan tried dating, I’m sure she could make you happy. All she ever wants to do is help you.”

“I cherish Sakura," Sasuke admitted, and his expression was softer than before, “As my comrade, as my friend, and as part of Team 7. You are all like another family to me. But, I can never love her the way she loves me.”

“Why not!?” Naruto asked, and he did not know why he was so damn frustrated, “How can you say that after all this time!? Can’t you see that her feelings for you are real?”

“Should I love her out of pity?” Sasuke asked, and Naruto's mouth snapped shut.

“Should I love her because she has always loved me?” Sasuke asked again, then shook his own head, “I cannot love out of obligation. I will take responsibility for my actions, but I do not owe anyone my love.”

Then, Sasuke's onyx orbs stared straight through Naruto as he said his next words, “Sakura is not Hinata. And I am not you.”

Naruto’s eyes blew wide, the wind knocked out of him from those two sentences alone.

“These are my feelings. I can’t change them, nor can Sakura. Not even you can, Naruto," Sasuke told him, as the wind ruffled his dark, silky hair gently while he gazed out across the tree tops, “I respect Sakura’s feelings, and that is why I will not delude myself or her into an illusion of a happy ending together. I believe she will find happiness, but not with me.”

“What about you?” Naruto asked him, and clenched his hands into fists at his sides, “Where’s your happiness, Sasuke?”

“I’ve already found it," Sasuke said, his gaze now back on Naruto, “That is why I cannot stay. In order to protect it, I must keep my distance.”

“You mean Konoha, right?” Naruto frowned, slightly confused, because even if he thought that was the answer, somehow...it felt like it wasn't the complete answer.

But Sasuke nodded as he looked away again, “Yeah, that’s what I mean.”

So, it must have been right. Sasuke's happiness truly was Konoha, after all. 

Sasuke’s words about Sakura were messing with his head. Specifically, messing with how he viewed his relationship. 

Did he truly love Hinata? 

She had cared for him ever since they were kids, he finally saw that now. When every other girl at the academy preferred Sasuke, Hinata only ever had eyes for him. She had always been on his side, looking over him from afar. That kind of love was real, it couldn’t be anything less than real. 

Then, why did he feel uneasy? 

“Do you think I know what love is?”

Shikamaru stiffened, caught off guard by the seriousness of the question. The two of them were reading over paperwork of recent attacks near their village, of some villains who were after rare kekkei genkai. 

Then, Shikamaru nodded, “More than a lot of people do. Compared to a lot of kids who had parents growing up–”

“No. I mean, romantic love. Me and Hinata," Naruto interrupted, and Shikamaru frowned in confusion. 

“Well, yeah. Of course. You wouldn’t be with her if you didn’t love her.”

“Is it enough to love her? I don’t know,” Naruto muttered, his words trailing off as he gazed out the window. 

“What’s gotten into you?” Shikamaru asked, as he put the papers down and turned his attention to their conversation. 

“Sasuke told Sakura -chan he could never be in love with her. They’re never gonna be together.”

“Sounds like him," Shikamaru scoffed a laugh, then asked, "Do you think you’re still in love with Sakura, and you’re worried about being unfaithful?”

“Sakura- chan?” Naruto considered it carefully for a few moments, but then shook his head decidedly, “No, I don’t love her anymore. I mean, I’ll always love her. But, I already accepted that she loved Sasuke long ago. So, I did the only thing I could do for her, and let her go.”

“I just - I thought for sure they were gonna end up together. Sakura -chan loves Sasuke so much, she’s never given up on him. I just don’t get why he doesn’t love her back,” Naruto shook his head, and Shikamaru hummed as he leaned back in his chair.

“You know I’m not close to Sasuke. I still don’t like him that much. And I don’t claim to know him well either. But, he seems like the type of guy that won’t ever settle down and live a domestic lifestyle.”

“Some people just aren’t meant to fall in love. People like Kakashi, or Jiraiya,” Shikamaru paused then, and Naruto’s chest twinged at the mention of his master’s name, “can go through life unwed and childless, completely unattached with no regrets. In that sense, Sasuke is similar.”

It was true. Sasuke was resembling their sensei more and more. Kakashi had suffered great pain throughout his life yet continued living through it all. Enduring each day, serving his duty as a shinobi of Konoha. He never married, never had children, and was now the sixth Hokage. 

If Sasuke didn’t love Sakura, would he never get married? Would he live as Kakashi has done, devoting his life to that of being a shinobi? 

“Sakura wants what he can’t give her. Letting her go is the most he can do for her, I guess.”

“Sasuke doesn’t want to be alone. He never asked for loneliness. Sakura -chan could give him comfort…” Naruto's eyes saddened, as he imagined Sasuke continuing on in life with no one by his side, no one to come home to.

Why did it hurt so much? Why, after everything, was Sasuke by himself again? Naruto wanted to fix it, he wanted to take Sasuke's loneliness away...

“Their ideas of comfort are different. Even you can understand that.”

“You’re different, Naruto.”

“You realised Hinata loved you, and your feelings for her blossomed on their own. You’re building a life with her, and you’re happy together.”

"I don't think I'm that different, actually..."

“Hinata…”

She looked over at him with a sweet smile. She was so kind. When she looked at him, the love in her eyes was so clear now. How had he missed it for so long? 

“I have something to tell you.”

Naruto had called her out to the playground, where they had played together as chhildren. Or well, more like Naruto had played by himself, while other kids played together around him. He could not stop thinking about Sasuke's words, could not let them go. And he knew why they bothered him so much. He knew it was because he felt truth in Sasuke's words. He could not force himself to love Hinata, he could not make his own feelings for her change. They would not get bigger or deeper over time. Naruto loved her, he did...but only as a friend.

And now he would have to tell her that. 

“I was selfish before, back when I accepted your confession. I was in love with the idea of love, not seeing things clearly,” he explained, and then went on to talk about his feelings, what Sasuke had told him, and how he felt it was not the love that either of them deserved. 

“That’s why, I want to go back to being friends,” Naruto finished, and Hinata stared at him with tears building in her eyes. She had not said a word, but the way her smile had fallen away said more than enough.

“And because I didn’t think it through, now I’ve hurt you like this. I can’t forgive myself for that, but I still want to apologise to you," then, Naruto bowed towards her, and said in a sincere, meaningful tone, “I’m sorry, Hinata.”

“Y-You don’t love me anymore?” Hinata finally spoke, her voice wobbling as she looked at him with a heartbroken expression.

“I do love you. I just…I’m not in love with you,” Naruto told her, and that was when the realisation suddenly felt real between them.

Hinata was crying. Tears spilled over her eyes and streaked down her face, and Naruto felt his insides being shredded to pieces. He didn’t even have a tissue to offer her and could only watch as she wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. She nodded, accepted his words, and left. 

He did not return the scarf. That would be too cruel. Instead, he folded it up and placed it in the back of his cupboard. 

Naruto had come across Team 8 by accident, one day. Shino and Kiba looked to be consoling Hinata, whose head was bowed, and her slim shoulders were trembling. Naruto's face fell, but he didn't say anything or go over, and instead quietly left without anyone noticing him.

The villains that had been circling around near Konoha, trying to get their hands on kekkei genkai...had taken Sasuke.

The battle had been intense. Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru and Sakura were on the outskirts of Konoha, following up on a lead they had received about the case, when the villains struck. They had their sights set on Sasuke - holder of both the Mangekyou Sharingan and the Rinnegan. Naruto and Sasuke had done their best to coordinate their attacks and take them on, but when the villains started sapping Naruto's chakra, Sasuke had stopped working with him and went off on his own - to draw the villains out. And it had worked, until Sasuke had gotten knocked unconscious and captured. Naruto had chased after them, but the liitle remaining chakra he'd been holding onto was drained away by the villains, and Naruto would have fallen through the air to his death if not for Sakura nad Shikamaru catching him.

Now, the three of them had set up in a cave nearby, as Sakura performed medical treatment immediately on Naruto.

“Sasuke…” Naruto groaned in his sleep, eyelids flickering and his brows pinching together worriedly.

Sakura stilled, her emerald eyes growing wide. So many times, Sakura had seen Naruto torn apart because of Sasuke. His sadness was as great as her own in those years without their precious, missing member of Team 7. 

This time, however, something was different. She knew it, could feel it. A brotherly relationship, that’s how she’d defined the bond between Naruto and Sasuke for years. How she defined it, still. They were tied together by a bond stronger than friendship. Yet, she was drawn back to a memory of something Sasuke had told her not very long ago. 

“Honestly, Naruto’s too old to be acting this excited,” Sakura chided, but she was smiling fondly over at their other teammate who was attempting to carry back all their food by himself, “he’s just like a fawning younger brother, following you everywhere and always wanting to show off when you’re around.”

“Naruto is not my brother,” Sasuke said, looking at her almost accusingly, “I have a brother, and I am in no need of another one.”

Sakura blushed and glanced down at the table embarrassedly, “O-Of course! I’m sorry, Sasuke-kun. I would never mean you are trying to replace Itachi-san.”

At the time, she thought Sasuke had taken offense at the idea of anyone else taking on a brotherly role in his life. Technically, Naruto and Sasuke were descendants of ancient brothers, although they weren’t related by blood. But, a new thought struck Sakura this time. The thought that Sasuke said Naruto wasn’t like a brother to him. If Sasuke didn’t see their bond as brotherly, how did he see it? The only other feeling that replicated familial love to such an extent that they cared for each other was… 

Sakura then remembered a lot of things. The way Sasuke had pushed, and kicked, and threw Naruto out of the way of danger first in that fight. When he took the hits meant for Naruto instead, even though Naruto could heal himself almost instantly with the Kyuubi. The brief relief she saw flicker in Sasuke’s eyes even as he was taken away, because they hadn’t been able to get to Naruto as well as him. How desperately Naruto had chased after him, relentless in his attacks and as reckless as he always was when it came to Sasuke. How Naruto hadn’t given up trying to reach him until the very end, at the cost of extreme chakra damage that even the Kyuubi was having trouble replenishing. And now, how Naruto called his name in his sleep, still trying to get to him…

“Sakura? What’s wrong?” Shikamaru asked, bringing her attention back to the present moment.

“Nothing.” Sakura replied, her tone clipped as she focused only on one thing: healing Naruto.  

Even when the tears stung her eyes and blurred her vision, she blinked them away and sent forth a stronger burst of chakra. Even as she could feel her heart breaking, she put everything she had into saving Naruto. 

Because, what she had said all those years ago was true. Naruto was the only one who could bring Sasuke back and save him. Sakura forever longed to be the one who could fulfil such a role. She so badly wished she was strong enough to exchange blows with Sasuke and see the truth in his heart, and for him to see the truth in hers. But, she was never strong enough when it came to Sasuke. Unlike Naruto, whose strength was fuelled by Sasuke’s mere existence alone. He kept his promise and did what everyone deemed impossible. He had brought Sasuke home. Naruto really is amazing , she couldn’t help but think as she gazed down at him. 

Sakura was resolved: she absolutely wouldn’t let them die like this. So, she needed to save Naruto first. And then, he could go to save Sasuke. Yet again, Sakura was putting her trust into Naruto. But this time, it would be different. Naruto would not be bringing Sasuke back for her, and she would not get in the way anymore. Her feelings would remain for him, for how long she didn’t know. But Sakura did know that she was holding onto barely nothing and needed to start trying to let go. 

“Sasuke!” Naruto called out his name, bolting upright with the blanket covering him pooling around his hips. Then, his memories came rushing back to him, and he looked around at Sakura and Shikamaru. 

“Where’s Sasuke?” he asked, desperate to hear anything but what he remembered. 

“Where is he!?”

Their faces were drawn, and they couldn’t look at him. That confirmed it, then. What he saw in his memories was true. So, Sasuke had sacrificed himself for Naruto. 

Damn it. 

Pressing his palm to the ground, Naruto used all the strength he had to hoist himself up into a crouched position. 

“Oi, don’t be rash!” Shikamaru admonished, concern bleeding through his strict tone. 

“I’m gonna go find him,” Naruto harshly murmured out the words, fiercely determined even as his body shook with the effort. 

“He’s gone, Naruto.”

“He’s out there! I-I can feel it!”

“Stop being so stubborn,” Sakura chided softly, making his eyes widen in shock, “You can’t save Sasuke- kun like this.”

“Sakura- chan?”

“I’m so sorry, Sakura- chan,” Naruto said, frantic at the sight of her so weak, “You saved me, thank you.”

“Someone had to. Since you don’t use your thick head, you got hurt this badly. I was so worried.”

Naruto looked down, breaking eye contact and feeling ashamed. 

“Just wait an hour more. Maybe two,” she said, then looked over at him with a small smile, “You need to be in full fighting form if we have any chance of saving Sasuke- kun.”

Something had taken Sasuke away. Again.

First, it had been Orochimaru. The snake had sunk his fangs into Sasuke and refused to let go until he was his. 

Then, Itachi. Knowing what he did now, though, Naruto realised Itachi was where it had all begun. He alone had guaranteed Sasuke’s defection from the start. Leaving him as the sole survivor of the Uchiha clan, he had written off Sasuke’s chances at lifelong happiness. 

Revenge had taken Sasuke away for the longest time. When Itachi died, Obito under the guise of Madara had snatched Sasuke away in his most vulnerable state. He had told him the truth of his brother, building Sasuke’s hatred anew and tearing him apart from the inside out. 

And now, this. All because Sasuke had protected him first, instead of himself. His hands curled into fists at his sides, shaking as he replayed that scene in his mind.  

All Naruto had ever wanted was for Sasuke to come home. For Sasuke to be by his side, the two of them taking on the world together. Those old memories of their genin days surfaced to his mind, and it had been so long since he had done something simple like share a meal with Sasuke. Train with Sasuke, go on missions with Sasuke. 

Sasuke’s happiness…is me. 

Because, Naruto loved the village more than anything. He was the up and coming candidate to be the next Hokage, and Konoha would truly become his village someday. He and Konoha were one and the same. 

By keeping his distance, Sasuke was protecting him. Not in the same way he was protecting Sakura. With her, Sasuke was protecting Sakura from sadness. With him, Sasuke was protecting Naruto and his happiness. By staying away, Sasuke was allowing him to pursue all the things he wanted to. Advancing up in the shinobi ranks, having a romantic relationship for the first time, building a new life for himself…

Is this what life without Sasuke looked like? 

It felt surprisingly empty. 

They had reported back to Konoha, and were sent out reinforcements so they could go after the villains, save Sasuke and defeat them once and for all. So, after Kiba and Hinata had tracked down their location, Naruto went full pelt ahead once he picked up on where Sasuke was being held. It seemed like he was now awake and fighting with resistance against the villains mid-air. It was an intense battle, then something green and shimmery exploded, some type of gas? And then, Sasuke-

Sasuke was… he’s falling . Zeroing in on him, Naruto shot off the ground lightning quick and leapt into the air. He caught Sasuke’s body side-on, his arm scooping underneath his knees and the other supporting his back, bridal-style. Sasuke was weightier than any of the girls he had carried like this, but he was lighter than Naruto imagined. Or, maybe, it was proof of how much stronger he had become. 

Landing on the top of a roof, Naruto steadied his stance for half a second before he leapt off again. As soon as his feet left the surface, it exploded in a series of fiery sparks. Gritting his teeth, Naruto jumped from roof to roof, explosions hot on his heels. He didn’t stop until he reached the edge of the forest. Now amongst the trees, he climbed the branches high and fast, not stopping and trusting his instinct as a shinobi to guide him forward. Sasuke was still and silent in his arms, which only spurred him on further. 

Once he was far enough away he couldn’t hear the chaos so clearly anymore, Naruto scaled the highest tree he could see all the way to the top. 

“What…happened?” Sasuke’s hoarse voice drifted up to him, and Naruto immediately looked down. 

“Sasuke,” he uttered, relieved to see him fully conscious again, “are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Sasuke said, trying to straighten up and then realising what position he was in, “Why are we here? And, why am I…?”

“Your chakra’s seriously low, you had me real worried there for a second,” Naruto said, a scolding undertone in his voice, “even Kurama was getting concerned.”

‘I was not, damned brat. That was you.’ Kurama rumbled argumentatively, and Naruto didn’t even bother rolling his eyes at that. It’s way too easing reading that bastard, now.

“Everything’s exploding over there, so I moved us outta the way.”

“We need to go back.”

“There’s no point goin’ back if your chakra is all messed up. Much as I hate to admit it, I can’t face him alone. I need you, Sasuke.”

“Then stop treating me like some delicate flower and let’s go.”

“Just be patient, alright? I’m helping you out as fast as I can.”

Sasuke glanced over himself, as if just now noticing the cloak of red chakra enveloping him. In the dark of the night, Naruto’s golden glow was surely visible from distances away. Naruto was surveying the area around them, deciding from which direction they should attack next. He didn’t notice the way Sasuke looked at him under the light of the moon. If he did, Naruto would have seen the way his eyes grew wide and then softened. 

Setting him down, Naruto kept one arm around Sasuke’s back as he found his footing. His legs were quivering minutely, and it was probably not as much chakra as Sasuke really needed, but right now it had to be enough. Suddenly, Sasuke was looking at him and Naruto realised just how close they were to each other.

“You sure you’re ready for this?” Naruto asked, staring into those entrancing eyes. He didn’t want to see them close like that again. 

Sasuke stared back, then murmurs, “I’m always ready, usuratonkachi.”  

A smile came forth at the nickname, as it always did. It was a strange thing, really. Naruto had detested the nickname when he was a kid, had burst out in anger every time Sasuke called him by such a degrading name. Now, after all these years, that irritated feeling had changed to one of fondness and warmth. And Naruto would always remember the morning after their final battle, when Sasuke had said that single word to him for the first time in…in years. Naruto would never forget. 

“Then, let’s go teach him a lesson!”

The villains were defeated, and everything had gone back to normal. Sasuke was preparing to leave the village again, and just as he approached the gates, he was met with Naruto - who carried a backpack with him. And Sasuke immediately knew what his intentions were.

“You have to protect the village.” Sasuke argued, ever his opposite in everything.

“The village is in a pretty good place right now,” he said, and it was true, “Kakashi -sensei has got a handle on things now. Konoha hasn’t been this peaceful since the end of the war," Naruto said breezily, then his gaze turned determined as he added, “I’m coming, Sasuke. Already got approved for it anyway, so you can’t say anything to stop me.”

“How long?”

“Two months.”

It was the most Kakashi could give him, because Sasuke was right. The village needed him, would always need him the most. Thank goodness I passed that jounin exam the first go , Naruto thought, pleased with himself. Having “officially” achieved the highest-ranking level of shinobi had earned him a well-deserved break. Naruto hadn’t thought twice when he’d slammed a request of leave from the village for an initial three months on Kakashi’s desk. It had taken a hell of a lot of negotiating and sacrificing on Naruto’s behalf, but he’d secured two full months of leave to travel wherever he wished to. 

“Naruto,” Sasuke sighed, saying his name in that exasperating way that told him Sasuke was close to giving in.

“Man, do you know how quickly two months is gonna go by?”

“Before you know it, I’ll be gone again, and you’ll be begging me to come back.”

“More like you’ll be the one whining for me to come and visit you every week.”

“Ha! Full of yourself, aren’t ya?”

“I’m a busy guy, these days. I’ve got a lot of responsibilities now, so you should be grateful Uzumaki Naruto is joining you for two whole months!”

“I’m leaving now.”

“I’m ready!” Jabbing his thumb at his shoulders, he brought Sasuke’s attention to the mission backpack he had strapped on. 

“Try to keep the whole ‘making a scene’ thing to a minimum.”

“Yeah, right. You’re actually glad I’m coming along.”

Sasuke glanced at him sideways, and Naruto half-expected a sharp barb to greet him in retaliation. However, he was surprised at the way Sasuke’s lips quirked softly. Then, still dazed by seeing him smile, Naruto blinked at the sudden empty space beside him. Leaping up into the trees, Sasuke was bounding ahead as fast as he could, leaving Naruto in the dust. 

Blue eyes widened, then narrowed determinedly as a smirk formed on his face. Speeding off after him, Naruto caught up in seconds. But, they didn’t stop. No, in fact they raced even faster in the treetops. The wind was rushing past his ears and blowing through his hair, the scenery before them wide and never-ending as they leapt from one branch to another.

Two months. It was both so much time, and hardly a dent over the duration of their lives. Still, it was time all the same, and time was so precious. I won’t waste a single second, he vowed it to himself then and there. 

Time skip - 2 years later

"I have searched everyone, and still no sign of Naruto!"

"This is bad! We can't seem to find him anywhere!"

"What's going on!?"

“This can only mean one thing,” Shikamaru said, drawing everyone’s attention immediately.

“Sasuke’s back.”

“Eh? Sasuke- kun?” Ino asked, her eyes widening in surprise. 

“They’re probably not even in the village right now,” Shikamaru sighed, mussing up the back of his head tiredly. Without Naruto to help him, there was no way he was getting through all these scrolls tonight. 

“This is ridiculous! Just because he’s Konoha’s Hero doesn’t mean he can do whatever he pleases!” Kiba grumbled under his breath. 

Naruto disappeared randomly all the time. Whether he was sneaking away to eat some ramen at Ichiraku’s, or stopping to teach some kids a few moves, Naruto always got side-tracked somehow. But, someone could always track him down in the end.

When he vanished like this though – in such a manner that absolutely no one could find him anywhere – Shikamaru had come to learn he did so with a purpose. And nobody gave him as much purpose as Sasuke did. If Naruto didn’t want to be found, he knew how to go about it for sure. Shikamaru didn’t bother saying anything, though, as the others charged off in search of him. 

Selfish was not a term that fit with Naruto. He was a person who gave all he had and never stopped giving, even if he received nothing in return. That was why Shikamaru couldn’t resent him for having a one-track mind at times like this. Sasuke was his weakness and his strength, but most importantly: he was Naruto’s driving force. Even reconciled, they rarely saw each other in person. Instances like this were few and far between, but Shikamaru knew how important they were to Naruto. 

He would let Naruto off, this time. But, when he comes back he better be prepared for a whole lot more work. Shikamaru smirked at the thought of Naruto’s panicked expression upon returning. He hoped for Naruto’s sake he was making the most of his little break. 

He would officially be the youngest Hokage ever instituted. And, he would be the fourth in a line of seven that was unmarried. Would remain unmarried, with no woman ever to take on the title of the seventh Hokage’s wife.

He was unmarried, yes. But, he was not unattached. His bond with Sasuke had never been stronger, even when they were so far apart. Naruto could feel it, the thread connecting them through whatever distance was between them. 

The red thread of fate. 

His mother had told him once about the one that tied her and his father together. It was a beautiful story, one he had never told another living soul. Maybe one day, he could tell it to Sasuke. He wanted to tell Sasuke about his parents, he…well, he wanted to tell Sasuke about a lot of things. 

Unlike his parents, their red thread had never been visible. It was embedded in their flesh. In every wound they had landed on each other. In the very core of their souls. 

Until he reformed Konoha into the village it needed to be, Naruto accepted Sasuke would not return indefinitely. If he was younger, he would have kicked up a fuss and yabbered on about dragging Sasuke back to the village by any means necessary. He was older now, and Naruto knew that was not the way. He knew how painful it still was for Sasuke. Even if he masked it well, his masks never worked on Naruto. 

Naruto dreams of the two of them living together in the village, one day. It wasn’t a spectacular dream, not particularly exciting or unachievable by ordinary standards. But, to Naruto, it was his driving force. It picked him up when he stumbled, encouraging him to take one step – even if it was only small – further, coming closer bit by bit to making it come true. 

Sasuke could end his nomadic ways, because he would finally have a place he could come home to and feel at ease in. Naruto worried for him out on his own. Even equally matched as his rival, Naruto couldn’t stop the discord in his heart when he thought of Sasuke alone. He protected the village, even when he wasn’t living in it. Everyone knew of his reformed ways since the war’s end–Naruto had made sure of that. People were still wary of him, people still spat on him and looked at him with those hateful eyes. They knew nothing of what Sasuke had been through, so it shouldn’t make Naruto as angry as it does. But, it does. And that is something else he vows to change. Because if Sasuke ever does return to the village, Naruto will not allow anyone to lay a hand on him. Sasuke would always come first for him, something he was both proud and terrified of. The lengths he would go to for Sasuke was something undefined to him. 

He hadn’t told Sasuke his dream, yet. It was still so far away, and he didn’t want to get ahead of himself. Sometimes, Naruto secretly imagined what it would be like. Being able to see Sasuke before he went to sleep and when he woke up in the morning. Going grocery shopping together in the market and fighting about what and what not to buy. Coming home at the end of a long day just to hear Sasuke say, ‘Okaeri’ , and know that he would always be waiting for him in their home…

Slapping both hands on his ruddy cheeks, Naruto shook his head, “Ahhh! Get a grip!”  

His coronation day arrived. It was the day Naruto had imagined for a long, long time. It was somehow not as amazing or grand as he envisioned, but a lot more meaningful and important all the same. It was a huge turn out, of course, and the day had been filled with food, laughs, speeches, and many greetings with the citizens. Finally having found some time to himself, Naruto had retreated to the old training grounds, the same one Team 7 had done the bell test with Kakashi, and leaned against one of those standing logs with a sigh.

“Congratulations, Hokage- sama.”

"Sasuke!" Naruto looked up to see Sasuke standing on top of one of the other logs, then blushed as he looked away, “D-Don’t call me that again, okay?”

“Why not?” Sasuke quirked a brow, as he dropped down onto the grass next to Naruto.

“It’s just weird. Makes me sound too big and important. We’re equals, y’know.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes at him, “You rule over the Fire Country. You are big and important, idiot.”

“Just don’t do it again!”

“I refuse.”

“What!? Why?”

“You just said we’re equals. If that’s true, then you have no right telling me what to do," Sasuke quipped back at him, all snarky and full of sass. Then, he smirked and added, “Hokage -sama.”

“SH-SHUT UP! Bastard!” Naruto yelled at him, and when he heard the quiet sound of Sasuke snickering, found he wasn't even all that annoyed. Just happy to see Sasuke and... be with him.

“You gonna catch up with Sakura- chan and Kakashi- sensei , too?”

“Not this time.”

I’m here for you, Sasuke’s eyes said to him. This visit is for you.

“Alright! Race you to the edge of the forest?”

“Another contest?”

“You bring out my competitive side, y’know.”

“Hn.”

His first act as Hokage was to put forward all the names of the council he wanted for dismissal. Naruto was making waves, and he knew it. He should have gone for something small first, like Shikamaru had said. Like more funding into the academy. But, no. He was Hokage now, and he needed to be working alongside people he could rely on to give him the right guidance. 

He didn’t trust any of those council members. Especially those two Elders. Esteemed and knowledgeable as they may be, he knew even Tsunade -baa-chan had trouble handling them. Kakashi had only been a temporary fix and did what he could here and there. But, he was not capable of reforming the village the way Naruto was. Something his sensei openly admitted to him when he had first been appointed. 

So, now that Naruto was here to stay, he had a game plan. First, get rid of all the people that were associated with the Uchiha massacre. The next step from that would be to dissolve Root entirely because there would be no need for such an organisation anymore. 

The next step after that would be to create a law that no child under the age of at least 12 years and 6 months old would become any rank of ninja. No child soldiers. The children of his village would get to enjoy their childhood and spend time training and honing their skills if they wanted to become a genin. Then, rather than relying on the judgement of the team’s sensei, a period of 3 years of training as a genin would be compulsory to pass before moving onto chuunin. The same rules would then apply when advancing to jounin. That way, the youngest age at which a person could attempt to advance to jounin level would be 18 years old. 

“There’s so much more I want to do, though.”

“Consider everything you have changed already.”

“It’s more than any of the other Hokages did,” Sasuke paused, then added, “or had a chance to do.”

The corner of Naruto’s mouth tugged up at that. Sasuke respected his father, more than the other Hokages of the past. He was neutral about Tsunade and Kakashi. And of course, he supported Naruto as the current Hokage. 

“I’ve heard rumours other villages are starting to follow your example.”

“Yeah. Gaara’s been seriously trying his hardest to pass as many of these newer age laws as he can.”

“You changed all of that.” Sasuke told him, and it never sounded as wonderful hearing those words as it did coming from him. 

“Give yourself some credit, usuratonkachi. Since when were you the modest type?”

“What?”

“Nothing, I just missed this.”

“Just, y’know…talking with you.” Being with you, went by unsaid but understood all the same. 

Letters weren’t the same, could never be the same as having Sasuke right in front of him like he was now. 

“Me, too.”

Naruto was scared, sometimes. He feared he would never be able to make the village into a place Sasuke could be proud to call his home, and birthplace. That Konoha would never be good enough, and Naruto’s dream would never come true. 

“Do you know what my dream is, Sasuke?”

“Of course. You’re living it.” Sasuke replied, confidently. 

Naruto smiled in the dark. Call him an oblivious idiot, but Sasuke could be just as dense as he was. It was another reason they fit so well together.

“I have a new dream. Can I tell you about it?”

“Sure.”

“My dream is about you, and me. We’re together, and we’re happy. We live together in the village, in a house we built just for us. I’m still Hokage, and you’re a respected shinobi of the village. ‘Cause honestly, I can’t imagine either of us giving up a life of missions and training and sparring. It’s in our blood, y’know.”

“You have a place you can call home, and I have you by my side. At the end of every day, we come home to each other. The world is finally at peace. And so are you, Sasuke.”

“I’m there?”

“Always,” Naruto murmured, his voice lowering fondly, “There’s no dream for me without you in it.”

You are my dream, Naruto wanted to whisper to him.

“Naruto…”

“It’s okay,” Naruto soothed him. This wasn’t something Sasuke had to answer to. It was just that he needed Sasuke to know, couldn’t go a second longer without telling him, “they’re called dreams for a reason, teme.”

“I know it’s gonna take more than some pretty words and a promise to make it come true.”

“I’ve just gotta work even harder. And even if it never comes true, I’m glad you let me tell you. You’ve got no idea how many times I’ve gone over it. Feels good finally saying it out loud.” Naruto laughed, rubbing the back of his head as his cheeks flushed red. 

"That dream will come true."

Naruto looked up, and Sasuke was suddenly very close. He was close enough to see his stupid blush, and close enough that Naruto could count his dark eyelashes one by one . Sasuke’s eyes had always been his most striking feature to Naruto. Even with the Rinnegan now, his eye was still the same shape and size. 

Kissing Sasuke. He’d done it before. Granted, back then it had been more like his lips crashing on top of Sasuke’s lips, smashing into each other messily. This time, their mouths touched softly, and moved against each other. This is weird, Naruto couldn’t help but think, because he and Sasuke had never treated each other like this before. They understood themselves through their fists, with every punch, kick and clash of their jutsu. Rough and crude though it may have been, it worked. Only he and Sasuke seemed to get it, that through exchanging blows they could basically speak without words. So, this kind of approach was uncharted waters. With gentle touches like this, and it was so quiet around them. For once, Naruto didn’t feel the need to stop that silence. It was peaceful. 

Living with Sasuke came with a whole new slew of things that Naruto learnt about him. Like, for one thing, Sasuke would get cold but forget to put anything extra on. Naruto was always trying to make sure he was warm enough during the winter. Sasuke said in his years with Orochimaru, he trained in all sorts of conditions. So even if his mind was telling him it wasn’t cold, his body was frozen to the touch and unlike Naruto, Sasuke could get sick very easily. 

Like now, for instance. Sasuke was sitting on their front porch, snow was falling delicately and coating the ground slowly in crystal white. Basically, it was freezing and Sasuke was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and three-quarter loose pants. 

“Bastard, how many times do I have to tell you?” Naruto drapes a large, fluffy blanket around him, wrapping him in it snugly. He noted the way Sasuke’s body subconsciously shivered in the new warmth surrounding him. 

“Wear thicker clothes! Can’t you see it’s snowing?”

“I got distracted watching the snow. Sorry.”

Naruto sighs, unable to stay mad at Sasuke when he’s like this. All quiet and content, like he’s feeling a little bit of peace in his heart, if only for a little while.

“It’s okay, since I’m here. Mind if I join you?”

Sasuke nods and Naruto scoots closer, wrapping an arm around Sasuke and rubbing at his back to stimulate more warmth. It didn’t feel as strange hugging Sasuke’s left side anymore, even if it did still make Naruto sad sometimes. Sasuke still felt the need to punish himself, and that was something Naruto could never totally fix. He’d come to accept that, and resolved to just fill Sasuke up with as much love as he could. 

For the rest of his life, they would love each other like this.