Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The universe liked to remind the world how beautiful tragedies could be. It is what made the sun and moon fall in love. Two celestial beings that could only meet at the dawn of time. Yet their fate forever entwined in the writing of the sky.

Tragedy was a regular occurrence for people born to the Uchiha Clan. Their power was forged from the worst day of their lives. Strength built through blood and tears.

Uchiha Sasuke knew tragedy.

It was as familiar to him as the back of his hand. Guiding him through life like a friend. Long ago he accepted his own life would end in tragedy.

And then there was Naruto.

He was a violent whirlwind of stupidity. Constantly failing further downward with no self-preservation to stop standing back up. Bolstering that next time he would succeed, despite all the evidence to the contrary.

“Naruto! What are you doing here?” Sakura asked the same question that has been on Sasuke's mind since he sat down next to him, “This class is for people who passed.”

“What? Can’t you see the headband?” he pointed at it with his thumb, pink tongue sticking out. It was in fact a real standard issue ninja headband with the leaf insignia. How he earned it was a mystery.

“Tch. Whatever. Can you move?”

“You want to sit next to me?” Naruto got up, making room for the seat between them, “Yeah. Sure. Of course, Sakura. Whatever you want.”

She shimmed past him, with the fakest smile, sat down and said, “Good morning Sasuke, is this seat taken?”

Sasuke didn’t say anything, Sakura didn’t mind. Her eyes were too distracted by hearts to see what was going on. The crowd around them talked about nothing of significance. Each was too cheerful to become a great ninja. In the corner of Sasuke's eye, Naruto was grumbling about something.

“That's it!” Naruto got up, walked across the desk, and squatted in front of Sasuke, “What's so great about you?”

Nothing.
Everything.

Sasuke was going to be the last of the Uchiha. That was what made him worsebetter than everyone else. He was the end of the greatest dynasty of ninja Konoha had ever seen.

Naruto was nobody. His name meant nothing. His words meant nothing. His stupid smile meant nothing.

“Naruto you jerk!”
“Get lost.”
“Hit him, Sasuke!”

The girls around them swarmed like flies to a pile of rotting meat. Buzzing about, for their own piece of the destruction. They were just as sick of Naruto’s bullshit as Sasuke was.

Angry blue eyes mere inches away from his own, their noses practically touching. Electricity flew through the air between them, locking their future in place. Neither of them backed down from the challenge. They were going to fight.

Oppse.

Smooch.

The universe had different plans.

“Naruto you piece of shit! You're a dead man.” Sasuke coughed out.

Naruto tried to wipe the remains of their kiss on his sleeve, “Posin! My mouth is ruined!”

The moon met the sun.

Chapter Text

Atop one of the many rooftops of Konoha, the shadow of the trees above kept them out of the sun. The atrium was lined with six different types of trees all symbolizing one thing or another. The city sprawl below was a wild untamed beast in its own right. Buildings on top of buildings, lives on top of lives. The village was expanding more with each coming year.

Their new Jonin instructor sat before them. He was a mid-twenties man with silver hair. Standard issue Konoha Jounin Uniform, with standard issue headband, and unstandard mask covering half his face.

“So, tell me a bit about yourselves.”

“Like what?” Naruto wondered.

“The usual. Things you love. Things you hate. Dreams. Ambitions. Hobbies.” He leaned further against the railing, “Like me, My name is Hatake Kakashi, I don’t have many likes or dislikes. As for the future, none of your business, but I do have lots of hobbies.”

“He said a lot, but we didn’t learn anything.” Sakura whispered.

They really didn’t need to do this. Sasuke knew who his teammates were, they knew who he was. The three of them have gone to class together every day for the last seven years. Naruto was an annoying pain in his ass, and so was Sakura. She was right, though, they didn’t learn anything about Kakashi, besides his name.

Naruto, as he is one to do, spoke first, “My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I like Ramen. I like it even better when Iruka-sensei treats me to Ichirakus. What I hate, the three minute wait after pouring the water.” That explained their kiss earlier, “My dream is to one day be a better ninja than the Hokage!”

The last part piqued Kakashi-sensei’s interest. Everyone else here had heard him say that many times. It was all Naruto talked about in the academy. He wanted to be the best, but didn’t do anything to achieve that goal.

Naruto was still dead last.

Next.

“I am Haruno Sakura. My favorite thing, well it's not a thing, it's a person, well it's a boy.” She looked at Sasuke, “Let's move on, my dream,” Blush. “I hate Naruto.

None of that interested Kakashi-sensei.

Next.

“My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are plenty of things I hate, but it doesn't matter. As there's almost nothing I like. It's pointless to talk about dreams. That's just a word. What I do have is determination. I plan to restore my clan, and there's someone I’ve sworn to,” Sasuke went in for the, “kill.”

That is how you become interesting.

Naruto's stupid face twisted in fear. Sakura looked at him somehow with more idealization. Kakashi-sensei, well it was hard to figure out his emotions behind the mask, but looked bored.

“Well… Okay, then. I feel like I know everything I need to know about you three.” He handed out some papers, “We’ll meet there tomorrow for some survival training. The instructions are all right there. And remember, don't eat a thing.”

Poof.

This whole day was a waste of time.

Sasuke learned nothing about his sensei or teammates. Not that he was here to make friends or anything. He just hoped that if he had to work with them for the next part of his training this conversation would have been worth something.

Naruto and Sakura look like they are in the same boat.

Sakura asked, “Sasuke! Do you want to-

“No.”

Naruto perked up, “Sakura, I’ll go with-

“I’m busy.” She said.

“Right… of course.” Naruto didn’t let the rejection get to him, “Well, we’ll see eachother tomorrow.”

Team Seven split up into two groups once they got to ground level. Sakura lived close by with her family, so she went there. Naruto for some reason decided to follow Sasuke home.

He walked next to him at the weirdest distance possible to make it more apparent. Not far enough away to be hiding, and not close enough to look like they were in the same group. It was clear he had a conversation going on in his own head the whole way.

Naruto’s probably still upset from this morning's kiss.

It’s not like Sasuke wanted it either. Naruto's lips tasted like old miso. So, he either ate ramen for breakfast or didn’t brush his teeth after dinner. Both are gross options if he was being honest. His lips were also chapped, adding a scratchy texture to the horrible thing. Their teeth clunked together, something awful too. That was not how Sasuke imagined his first kiss.

Not that he imagined a first kiss.

But if Sasuke did imagine what his first kiss would have been like… it wouldn’t have been that. It wouldn’t be public. It wouldn’t be painful. And it definitely wouldn’t taste like miso.

Sasuke finally asked, “Why are you following me?”

“I’m not. We live in the same direction.” Naruto said annoyed.

“Oh.” Sasuke didn’t notice it all these years, he was too busy staying late training after school.

“Yep. So, what do you think of Kakashi-sensei's rules?” Naruto filled the void between them with words, “They sound stupid. He wants us to skip breakfast! How bad can it really be if we were to eat that morning?”

“I doubt he would lie to us.”

“I mean, he didn’t tell us the truth… that's like lying.”

“What are you on about now?”

“When he introduced himself to us. He was like, ‘blah blah blah,’ I’m not telling you anything, ‘blah blah blah.’”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, “that's not lying.”

“It's not telling the truth.”

“He probably has his reasons.”

“Ughh… Whatever.” he mumbled some things to himself for a bit.

They actually lived quite far from the school. There was a block of nin-apartments that collected on the edge of a lake. Its decent views, but a bitch to get anywhere. Sasuke often debated sleeping at the school sometimes.

“Why aren't you mad at me?” Naruto asked on their long journey home, made longer by the conversation.

“Why would I be?”

“I mean, I did kind of tie you up earlier…” When Naruto didn’t get a reaction he added, “Ya’ know, with my super cool ninja skills.”

“Tch.” Sasuke almost forgot about that. Sakura pissed him off so much that it must have slipped his mind.

Naruto used a genjutsu to pass as Sasuke. Which is strange for a few reasons. One, he could barely pull off this technique a few days prior with Iruka-sensei. Two, there was no logical reason for him to do any of that. He must have just wanted to humiliate Sasuke somehow. Whatever his plan was, it didn't work.

“Because I do have super cool ninja skills now, ya’ know?”

He rolled his eyes, “just forget about it. I already did.”

Naruto grumbled something under his breath. He then waved as he veered off the path to the less than good side of town. “Bye, teme.”

“Bye,” Sasuke smirked, “usuratonkachi.”

Knowing he was going to avoid breakfast, Sasuke bulked up for dinner. There was a large serving of meat and vegetables on top of a pile of rice. He wanted enough energy in his system to carry over to through the fast.

The views in his bedroom were some of the best in Konoha. The large windows were placed in such a fashion that he could see the lake, the Hokage monument, and the city skyline all from his bed. There was enough room on the adjoining balcony for nightly training sessions.

Across the lake just above the treeline Sasuke saw Naruto on a balcony with a bright orange watering can. He had a skill afterall, gardening.

Vining plants grew past its trellis onto the railing, spilling an overabundance of tomatoes. Terracotta pots stacked atop of each other each spilling more even greenery. Canvas bags filled with dirt, and either weeds or an intentional plant. With everything else it had to be intentional.

Sasuke wondered who taught him how to do all that. Earlier today Sakura mentioned he didn’t have a family. Something Sasuke knew, but never paid attention to before. He could have taught himself.

Naruto twisted off a few tomatoes, then collected some herbs. With a knife he trimmed down something else. He looked so domestic like that.

Had they always lived so close?

Bright blue eyes caught him watching, Naruto smiled and waved. Sasuke closed the curtains in embarrassment. He’d been caught.

The sun set painted the sky in many hues of orange and purple as Sasuke ate the rest of his meal alone.

Chapter Text

“I did it! I’m a ninja!” Naruto smiled kicking his feet in joy, still strapped to the target practice log in the middle of the training ground.

He was hopeless.

Sasuke stayed back to help free Naruto from the log. The guy would probably be stuck there all night if he didn’t. Naruto showed a lot of promise today, but Sasuke still had his doubts.

Sasuke didn’t know why he asked, “You want to get ramen together?” He was probably still hungry.

“Uh, no, sorry,” Naruto's stomach growled in objection to the rejection, “I can't.”

“Why not?” it's not like he had anywhere to be.

His face turned red in embarrassment, “I can't afford it.”

“Come on, it's just ramen.”

“Yeah, and now that I'm a ninja, the Third cut off my funding… You know how it is.” Naruto shrunk into himself, most of his face obscured by the tall caller

“I don't,” Sasuke admitted, “I have the Uchiha Fund.”

“Oh… Right. We'll, I don't, so I’ve got to wait to get paid from a mission.”

“I got you.”

“Really?”

“Just don't be annoying.”

Naruto hugged him, their cheeks pressed together, “Ya’ know, you aren't all that bad.”

Chapter Text

That is how Team Seven ended up on a Chunin Ranked mission. The Hokage seemed to have a certain liking for Naruto and indulged some of his whims from time to time. If Naruto wanted a more interesting mission, they got a more interesting mission.

The protection of a certain individual Tazuna, the Bridge Builder.

The old man smelled more like a bartender after a three day holiday weekend. His clothes disheveled, speech slurred, eyes half lidded with almost nothing alive behind them. Whatever renowned he once had, you couldn’t spot it by looking at him.

Naruto didn’t care, “All right, a road trip!”

“What are you talking about?” It was a mission.

“This is my first time outside of the village.” Naruto bounced around in excitement. If it wasn’t so annoying it would kind of be cute. Luckily, it was very annoying.

“I’m really expected to put my life in the hands of an idiot?” Tazuna took a swig of his opened container, doubting his decision to hire the Leaf.

Kakashi-sensei sighed, “Don’t worry. I am a Jonin, and I am also on this mission.”

“Listen you jerk. Don’t you mess with me.” Naruto puffed out his chest, “I’m going to be the Hokage one day.”

“A pip-squeak like you? Ain’t you an omega.”

“So?” Naruto was an omega. That was news. Sasuke always assumed he would turn out to be a beta.

“So, I dont think someone like you has it in you.”

“Well you're old and stupid and mean. And one day you're going to wish you treated me with more respect.”

He eyed Naruto up and down, took another sip of his drink, shook his head, “I don’t think so.”

The mumbling went well on into their travels. They were at least half a day's journey from the village, and Naruto was still upset about a problem he caused for himself. Typical.

Sasuke had spent several years with the idiot, and hadn’t noticed his dynamic presented itself. Sakura presented as an omega last spring. She announced it to her friend group loud enough for Sasuke to hear. Once presented, she didn’t spend much time with them any more, instead focused more on annoying him.

His own dynamic presented itself at the age of eleven. The ruts were more annoying than the added strength boost was worth. They knocked him out of commission for an entire week. It also increased his fan club to a few people, to the whole school.

It was hard to tell if Naruto wore scent blockers with how high up the collar of his jacket went. Maybe he just said, ‘fuck it,’ and decided to opt for a real collar instead. He wouldn’t have to worry about reapplying it if he got too sweaty, like Sakura did.

When they locked eyes, Naruto glared at Sasuke.

Naruto was so focused on his disdain for Sasuke, he almost stumbled into a puddle. He quickly saved himself last second, avoiding having to walk the rest of the mission in wet shoes. It was kind of comical.

They had gotten close in the past few weeks. After Sasuke shared the meal with Naruto, and the subsequent Ramen, their relationship could be called amicable. They fought less at least. Still Naruto’s emotions seemed to change with the breeze.

“Don’t worry,” Kakashi-sensei comforted Sakura, “It's a low ranked Chunin mission.”

“So we don’t have to worry about other ninjas?” She questioned.

“Of course not.” he laughed.

The bridge builder was eerily quiet.

Bladed chains ripped through the air between them. Each ring on the loop looked like its own mini-shuriken. In a second it wrapped around Kakashi-sensei. In another second it tore him to shreds. Blood soaked through the pathway they were traveling.

“One down.” The foreign nin said, looking at the rest of their team.

“Two to go,” their focus now was on Naruto.

Chains and blades spun in the air. The omega was the next on the chopping block. Soon it would be his entrails on the ground below them, mixing with their sensei.

Except, Sasuke flung into action. A kunai and shuriken thrown from his pouch pined the chains to a nearby tree. They weren't going anywhere. He landed on their heads, snapping their chain free from their claws.

While the other kept focus on Naruto, one of them moved to attack the bridge builder. Sakura moved to defend their mission, but she didn't have a clue what to do. So, Saskue moved to defend her, the plan was to take the ninja’s blow with his body.

Kakashi-sensei spoiled that plan.

His death was a diversion. The two foreign-nin were taken out in a matter of seconds. He laid their bodies onto the ground beneath them.

“Are you okay,” Sasuke smirked in the safety of their victory, “usuratonkachi?”

Naruto’s cheeks dusted in a bright red, he was clearly embarrassed.

“Naruto! There’s no time for infighting. Their claws are poisoned, we have to clean the wound as soon as possible. Keep it still, we’ll have to cut it open to extract the infected blood.” their sensei said.

Sasuke went to save the wrong person during the attack.

The wound on Naruto’s hand bled profusely. Beads of infected blood trailed down his arm onto the sleeve of his orange jacket. Poison was no joke. If the people who attacked them didn’t have an antidote on them, they would have to bleed it out of Naruto.

Instead of getting to that right away, Kakashi sensei said, “Mr. Tazuna, I need to speak with you.”

“What is it?”

“These appear to be Jonin from Kirigakure.” Though his voice was lowered, it was easy to understand, “They are renowned for their willingness to fight until their mission is complete. Why are they after you?”

“I don’t know what-

“Your mission report mentioned nothing like this could happen. This is far beyond the boundaries of the job we were assigned.” Kakashi sensei added, “You should never lie on the request forms.”

“If we're not good enough to handle something like this, can we quit?” Sakura interrupted, then brought up concerns for their teammate, “We need anesthetic for Naruto's wound, before we can drain it. We don’t have that kind of pain medicine here.”

There was a good chance Naruto was going to die on their way back to the village. Sasuke’s chest tightened, as pain blossomed in its wake. He should have stopped it.

“This is complicated… We should go back now and make sure Naruto receives medical attention. Naruto-

Naruto already sliced open the wound on his hand by himself. Sharp canines bit down on his pouty bottom lip in pain and determination. He wasn’t going to be the reason they were sent home. It would be admirable if it wasn’t so stupid.

“No! Stop that!”

“With my blood, I promise I will protect this old man.” He smiled, the sun shining on him, “I’m fit for duty, sensei.”

“Naruto, why would you do that!? You're going to bleed to death.” Sakura shouted.

“Let me look at it,” Kakashi sensei took Naruto's bloody hand in his own, cleaning off the wound for bandaging, “It looked worse than it is. He’ll be fine.”

That didn’t sound right. A hand injury like that should affect his ability to be a ninja. He won’t be able to throw anything with it all bandaged up like that. Let alone the poison that was in his system. Yet, Kakashi seems to be okay with clearing him for duty already.

Naruto was already effortlessly flexing his bandaged hand. The road of recovery was a fast one for him it seemed. He whispered to himself, “I’m not going to drag them down.”

“Before we go any further, there's something I need to tell you…” Tazuna said, “You're right. This job is more dangerous than I made you believe. There's a really scary man who wants me dead.”

“And that would be?”

By night time they were on a small boat heading towards the village. Mist obscured their vision beyond a few feet, they had to rely on the ferryman to get them there safely. His movements were swift and firm, they were in good hands. The humm of an engine mixed with soft waves played in the background.

Naruto carelessly leaned over the boat's side in hopes that he would get a better view. Sasuke craned his eyesight to peek further beneath Naruto’s jacket. Confirming that the young pup's glands are not touched by a collar or scent patch.

Sasuke sniffed the air hoping to catch a whiff of an omegas scent. Only to be hit in the face with Sakura’s sweet cherry blossoms. Her patches wore down after the last fight, the edge of them lifted up ever so slightly. He couldn’t determine Naruto’s scent over Sakuras and the smell of gasoline and ocean water.

The bridge builder must have been wrong.

But Naruto did confirm it, so there must be some sort of sign that Sasuke missed. The blonde never acted like an omega, he was loud and obnoxious… So was Sakura. And almost every other omega that tried to get his attention. Maybe every omega was just like that, and Naruto happened to be the most obnoxious of them all.

He was oddly domestic. Effortlessly caring for a garden that grew in so many different ways. He seemed almost at home in the kitchen, the few times their missions took them there. Even though every time he wanted food, it was always ramen. That seemed to be a money thing more than anything else.

Children and babies liked him, at least on the few babysitting missions they've been on. Sasuke always chopped that up to Naruto being childish himself. However they might just be sensing Naruto's natural omegan caretaking abilities.

Even more curious, Naruto’s wound seemed to be completely healed at this point. He moves his hand around like it doesn't even hurt.

Naruto was an enigma.

Sakura complained, “I can hardly see a thing!”

“We’ll be able to see the bridge in a minute,” the man in the paddy hat at the rutter said, before turning off his engine, “Stay quiet.”

In the distance the fog broke. Forms made way of shapes that eventually made objects. A half finished bridge that would change this town appeared before them. One of its legs was wider than their ship. The captain made a point to row from this point onward.

They glided through another bridge with a long tunnel intersected the larger one. Continuing inland hiding beneath the leaves of a canal of mangroves. Branches of budded seedlings ready to travel to their new home on another shore line. Roots peeking out from the water's surface to take in more oxygen. A pleasant place for young fish to get their bearings before making their way to the sea.

The brackish water was a muddy mix of browns, as they finally landed on an abandoned dock slightly inland.

“This is as far as I go.”

Chapter Text

They got into another fight on the road.

They successfully saved the bridge builder from one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Zabuza Momochi. Well, they prolonged the fight long enough for an ANBU Black Ops from the Mist to take him out. Though it appeared that might end up being a ruse to lull them into a false sense of security.

Sasuke learned two things from this fight:

One.
He shouldn't discredit his teammates… Especially not Naruto.

Two.
Kakashi-sensei had a sharingan.

Something Sasuke didn’t even possess, despite it being from his own clan. However their sensei happened upon it, it wasn’t by birth. It seemed gifted by violence if the scar had anything to say about it.

Either way their sensei was out of commission, he exhausted too much chakra in the fight. They were stuck in Tazuna’s daughter's house for the time being. They would go back to Konoha after Kakashi-sensei recovered.

Chapter Text

Sakura was the first to learn the technique. She made it to the branch with her tongue sticking out in success. Carelessly kicking her feet in the air beneath her. Kakashi-sensei put her in charge of Tazuna’s protection for the time being.

That left Sasuke and Naruto to train in the forest alone.

The scratches up Naruto’s tree barely made it above the height he could have reached if he just stood on his tiptoes and craved the tree that way. Still his determination didn’t end. Each scratch went an inch further than the last.

Sasuke's progress was intermittent. He would do great one time, and fail terribly the next. He couldn't give up because he didn’t want to show weakness to Naruto. It didn’t matter, because his tallest strike was leagues higher than anything Naruto could do.

His current grip slipped as he struck the tree with his blade. Then he bounced his way from tree to tree to the forest floor. Landing next to the blonde omega, with a firm thunk.

“Naruto!” Sasuke called out.

“What the hell!?” Naruto clunkily fell to the ground, “You're breaking my concentration, jerk!”

“Well,” Sasuke looked away as he asked for help, “What did Sakura say to you?”

Smugly Naruto said, “None of your business.”

Then ran up the tree on his own, before making it mid-way to Sasuke’s tallest mark. Even though it wasn’t as far as his own, Naruto’s movement felt more intentional. If he continued on this path he would quickly surpass Sasuke's own abilities.

Sasuke broke Naruto's fall and said, “Come on, dobe, just tell me.”

“Ugh… Fine.” And Naruto went on to explain what Sakura told him hours before. Things started to make more sense. Chakra was a powerful tool.

Sasuke’s next attempt was significantly better than any of the ones that came before it. Naruto's next attempted closer matched Sasukes. They were finally playing on the same field. As he fell, Naruto ditched the Kunai in his hand. It planted itself in the dirt between them.

“Why’s your blade so dull?” Sasuke wondered as he picked it up.

“Huh?” Naruto said, “Well we’ve been using it a lot today, obviously.”

“Mine isn't this dull.”

“Clearly I’ve been training harder than you.”

It wasn’t just that, the trees in front of them showed roughly the same amount of marks, “Do you not sharpen your kunai?”

“I do.” Naruto scoffed, “I’ll just get another one since Prince Sasuke doesn’t approve.”

Peaking into Naruto’s pack, his sharpener stone was a cheap model that couldn’t last longer than a week. Parts of the grit had already long worn down. There was no way he could sharpen anything. Naruto took out another dull blade.

Sasuke couldn’t take it, “here,” he threw another one of his own kunai right in front of the omega.

Naruto rolled his eyes, but he took it anyway. The blade carved through the flesh of the tree’s bark like butter. Naruto’s next decent wasn’t nearly as harsh. The worst tool a ninja could have is a dull blade.

The two watched each other go further with each attempt. Learning from the others' pitfalls and successes. Causing more of the latter and less of the former. It was invigorating.

They were both gross by the time they emptied out their chakra. Dirt and grass caked onto their clothes. A slick sweat sat on their skin.

“I need a bath!” Naruto complained.

Sasuke agreed, “That sounds nice.”

A little further down the road there was an abandoned natural hot spring. Sasuke saw pieces of it when he was at the height of his abilities. It seemed like a good place to end their night.

Naruto followed closely behind Sasuke without question, “are we going the right way?”

Okay, with one question.

“I saw a place when we were training.” Sasuke veered off the path to the one overgrown with weeds.

A faded sign of a now nameless hot spring was pitched right in front of this body of water. The building next to it was long abandoned, with heaps of mushrooms that grew out of the wood paneling peeling off the paint. The building wreaked of mold and mildew. Whatever care was given to this inn no longer existed. Places like this were hoping to get new life with the bridge.

“How did you even see this place?”

“A ninja must be aware of his surroundings,” Sasuke poked fun.

“Bastard,” Naruto reacted just like he thought. He huffed and rolled his eyes, with a slight flush to the face. The omega was too predictable.

Carelessly Naruto peeled off his clothes, tossing them one by one at the water's edge. Heat boiled the water deep beneath the surface, creating the perfect temperature for their bath. While humans let their creation rot, nature still took care of its own. The water was beautifully crystal clear. Sasuke carefully folded his clothes onto an old stone bench, as Naruto splashed into the water.

Naruto didn’t look like an omega. He didn’t have any breasts or a single hint at curves. His tan body was lean and muscular, barely a spot of body fat on it. Though it was quite dirty, that was its only flaw.

“What are you looking at?”

Sasuke finally gathered the courage to ask, “You're an omega?”

“Duh.” His carefree attitude now stripped away.

“When did you present?”

“Why?” Naruto folded his arms defensively over his chest, “You want to track cycles together or something, weirdo?”

“No. I just didn’t notice that you presented.”

“That’s because I didn’t.”

“What?! You can’t possibly know then.”

“Really? I couldn’t possibly know? I looked down at my junk and it was pretty obvious.”

Right.

Naruto would have different parts down there as a male omega. A vaginal opening and a cocklette is a pretty hard thing to miss. In hindsight it was probably much easier for Naruto to know, than it was for Sasuke to know he was an alpha. Male betas and male alphas have the same parts until secondary puberty.

Sasuke glanced down to check, but the water was already in the way. Obscuring any evidence of Naruto’s true form. He quickly glanced away before he was caught staring.

“If you don’t know your cycle, aren't you worried you’ll present on the job?”

“Nope. I have emergency suppressants. I’m not stupid… despite what you might think.”

“Where are they?”

“I’m not telling you!”

“I’m your teammate, I need to know in case it happens so I can deliver it to you.”

“Then ask Sakura for hers… She’s gotta have some, too.”

That's true.

The Third Hokage really put two omegas on a team with at least one alpha. Kakashi sensei was probably an alpha too, but like everything else about himself, he hid his dynamic. That couldn’t be safe.

“You don’t have to be snippy about this. I was worried about you.”

“Yeah, that’s why you were talking about my heat, alpha.” Naruto said the word ‘alpha’ the way he once said the word ‘bastard.’

“Its standard safety protocol.”

“Sure it is,” Naruto sunk under the water and swam away like a little frog.

When he breached the surface across the way, his pelvis tilted slightly out of the water. Revealing a patch of blonde hair, slightly darker than what's on his head. It didn’t go far enough to reveal anything of importance, but enough to keep Sasuke's interest. He’s never seen what male omegas looked like down there. Naruto still hasn’t noticed.

The omega stretched his muscles out with the aid of the hot water. Rinsing out as much dirt and grime from his hair. Before gently rubbing his body with his hand, tracing every muscle so gingerly. Sasuke remembered he had some soap with his things, he should probably offer to share. Water splashed around him as he exited to the surface. He fished the soap out of his bag, before returning to the water.

Naruto never looked more relaxed than when he was leaning against the rocks at the hot spring. His eyes closed with the softest smile beneath them. One eye opened when he picked up on the nosies Sasuke made while cleaning himself.

The alpha decided to show off, flexing slightly when he washed his back and shoulders. He stood tall in the water that bent around him. Sasuke was already taller than Naruto, if only by a few inches. Those few inches afforded him more muscular strength. And of course the few extra inches on his dick, even flaccid it was sight to behold.

Saskue took his time washing that part off, soap soaking through the dark curls above it. Stroking down the shaft, twisting back up to his heavy balls. He lathered it all up nicely, before dunking down into the water. He was sure Naruto saw it all.

“Naruto…”

“Ah!” the omega’s voice wavered in shock, “What? I wasn’t-

“Do you need soap?” He held it out.

He dunked into the water, stayed for a second, and reemerged with a, “Sure. Thanks or whatever.”

Sasuke held eye contact as Naruto waded through the water to take it from him. Their hands grazed each other in an intimate fashion. Finger tips gliding over the palm cupping the slippery rounded object. Pops of little bubbles exploding between them as it separated. The exchange ended too soon.

“Ya’ just gonna stare?” Naruto turned around for some privacy.

Due to the angle Sasuke couldn't see anything.

The orange sun set around them, bathing Naruto in a ray of bright light. Silhouetting his body even further. Shadows bent and folded over the rise and fall of the omegas form. Soap bubbled over his body, making everything he touched turned into sparkling gold.

Splash.

All of the serene calmness disappeared in a matter of seconds. Naruto wasted the last bit of sun by playing like a small child. Splashing water in different places, swimming, floating, everything. Only when the sun finally set did he return the soap.

Seeing the carefree attitude return, Sasuke wondered, “Since you seem to be so against your dynamic… Why are you so quick to get naked around an alpha?”

“You're not the first alpha who's seen me naked.” Naruto shrugged it off.

“You sleep around?” Sasuke shouldn’t be shocked. It made sense with his carefree attitude, and speed of removing clothes. Naruto must have thought that they would fuck here.

“Gross! No.” Naruto pulled back again, “I go to a lot of hot springs. I love the water.”

“Why don’t you just use the omega side.”

“They don't let me.”

“Tch.”

“I’m serious. They think I’m a beta or something trying to peak at the girls. So I tried to be a girl… and I think that made it worse, ya’ know?”

“Oh.”

“It's not that bad, I go late at night right before they close. Almost no one in them at that time. Sometimes I get the whole place all to myself!” Naruto smiled, he couldn’t see it, but he knew Naruto smiled, “It's the best, ya’ know?”

“I’m not that into hot springs… But yeah, the way you say it, it sounds nice.”

“I don’t get you sometimes. You're such an asshole, but then you can be nice… like really nice. Why aren't you really nice all the time?” he grumbled mostly to himself.

“Why do I have to be?” Being nice seemed like a waste of time.

Naruto thought for a second, “I guess you don’t.”

They got closer after that.

Physically closer, Naruto didn’t stay on the opposite side of the hotsprings. They sat next to each other in a certain kind of harmony. The competition from before created a respect between them, a bond that wouldn’t break. They were eternally trapped in the constant push and pull of each other. Something Sasuke felt like they both understood.

When Naruto got dressed, Sasuke ignored any instinct to look at him. Focusing on his own garments instead. The grass stained his white shorts a light green. His once crisp collared shirt folded into itself. Cotton striped underwear kept a thick musky scent.

“Ughhh… Why didn’t I think that we were going to have to get back in these clothes!” Naruto complained, putting back on his dirty clothes from before.

“We’ll be back at the house in no time. We can change and bathe again there.” Sasuke said this to comfort Naruto, but also remind himself this state of half clean half dirty was only temporary.

“But I’m already so pruny!”

The light of the full moon guided their way back home. They weaved in and out of the trees back to the path of least resistance. Each step met a crunch over calcified shells. The sand path glowed almost an iridescent white.

It was Naruto’s turn to say something stupid, “So, are, like, you and Kakashi-sensei related?”

“No.”

“He has the sharingan,” Naruto babbled on, almost as if he was processing the idea through speech, “I thought that technique was only something that Uchiha’s know… or, like, am I wrong?”

“You're not wrong.”

“Then why does he have the sharingan?”

“I don’t know.” Sasuke couldn’t stop thinking about it either. He hadn’t seen those red eyes on anyone in over 7 years. There Kakashi-sensei was with the sharingan, and apparently famously known for the Uchiha Clan's Keke Genkai. He effortlessly wielded the weapon like it was his own.

“Do you think he’ll tell us?”

“He hasn’t told us anything else.”

“Yeah! Right? He’s supposed to be our sensei but he doesn't tell us anything… It's almost like he doesn't even want this job. It's so lame.”

“I think I’m the reason he’s our teacher.”

“Right! That makes sense… Do you have those,” Naruto stopped in the middle of the path to pause, he must have forgotten the word, “eyes?”

Unfortunately, “No.”

“Oh? I thought you were like the Main Branch or something… doesn’t the Main Branch always have them?”

“Usually…” Sasuke didn’t like to admit, “but not me.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know…” In truth, Sasuke didn’t remember a lot about his family outside of his brother. After the massacre all he could focus on was revenge. Sometimes he tried to remember what his mother looked like, or the sound of his fathers voice, but he couldn’t. Nothing came to mind outside of the color red.

“Well, maybe it just takes time! I’m sure Kakashi-sensei probably knows something. He'll help you!”

The porch light was finally in view, “Hopefully.”

Chapter Text

Despite the hot summer weather, and no ac, Naruo wore a long sleeved pale blue striped button up pajama top with matching pant bottom. He made a point to change in the bathroom after their second bath of the day. Privacy finally seemed to mean something to him.

Omegas usually throw themselves at Sasuke, yet here this one was trying to avoid him. The omega even set up his futon all the way across the room, like the alpha had the plague. Naruto would rather spend the night with Sakura.

“You like omegas or something?” it had to be that.

“What?”

“You'd rather share a room with Sakura.”

“Maybe I just don't like skeevy alphas.”

“What are you talking about?” Sasuke was nothing but a gentleman to Naruto.

“You don’t think I saw what you did in the bath?”

“Oh, you saw that?”

“‘Oh, you saw that?’” the omega mocked, “Yes, I saw that! You would never do something like that in front of Sakura!”

“You’re right… I would never do that infront of Sakura.” Sasuke said with a smirk.

Naruto must have understood what he ment, because the omega blushed and looked away, “Shut up.”

“I didn’t know it would offend your fragile omegan senses like that. I was just washing myself.”

“It didn’t!” Naruto was quick to defend himself.

“Then what's the problem?”

“There is no problem.”

“Come on, you're halfway across the room. I’m not stupid.” Sasuke doesn't know why Naruto’s obvious rejection offended him so much.

“There’s no problem.”

“Then move your futon closer.”

“I just wanted to be closer to the window. It has nothing to do with you.” He scoffed, keeping it where it was, if anything he got into it, “You’re so self absorbed.”

“Then I guess you won't mind if I move mine closer to yours? It is pretty hot here.”

Naruto turned to face the wall, “Be my guest.”

A soft breeze of orange blossoms wafted through the open window. It mixed into the air with the salt from the ocean. The silhouette of mangroves danced back and forth in the wind. This place could be a tropical paradise.

Sasuke wanted to say ‘I’m sorry about earlier,’ but he didn’t. He didn’t know what he’d be apologizing for. All he wanted was for the animosity between them to go away. The alpha would say anything to make that happen.

But instead of apologizing he just provoked him more. As long as Naruto’s attention was on Sasuke, it didn’t matter the reason. They would sort it out one day.

Naruto slept like he did everything else, erratically. The blanket twisted all around his body as if he and the object were having their own wrestling match. That the omega was losing.

Saskue never remembered his dreams. In his heart he knew they were a bloody mess of emotions stacked on top of each other. Screams. Tears. Blood. All blocked behind the thin veil of the night. Nothing was new, and everything was the same. He always woke up restless and well before the sunrise.

Naruto was still dead asleep, but at least he stopped fighting with an inanimate object. Instead of waking up the idiot, he decided to enjoy the few moments of peace and quiet he was going to get from the day.

In the dark, he got dressed in a fresh pair of navy blue knee length cargo shorts and standard Uchiha top. He grabbed his weapon pouch, paused, then grabbed Naruto’s as well. A quick pitstop to the bathroom, before he made his way to the dock on the edge of the house.

Starting with his own kunai, he sharpened each side of the blade until it could slice fine hair in half. It didn’t take long to finish his own, Naruto’s was a different story. The last time they were sharpened must have been before the Third Ninja War. Dents and dings littered the side of each one, it would almost be better to buy them new. Since there wasn’t a store that sold them within a hundred miles, Sasuke continued to do the best he could.

“Sasuke.” Kakashi-sensei mused, “You're up pretty early.”

“I’m always up at this time.”

“Mind if I join?” Without getting an answer, Kakashi-sensei leaned his crutches on the side of the building, before sitting down next to him. He reached into the bag between them for a weapon and the tool to fix it. Barely inspecting either, he went at it. The movement was second nature to him.

“Don’t bother,” Sasuke warned, “Naruto’s sharpening stone is shit.”

“Is that why you're doing this for him?”

“I just had nothing better to do. We can’t start training until after breakfast.”

“Ah, of course.” Kakashi-sensei managed to find the one working spot left on the stone, and carefully grazed the kunai atop it.

Sasuke set up the pitch, to see if his sensei would follow it, “So the sharingan…”

“What about it?” He said in a far away standoffish tone.

“You have it.” Saskue was too afraid to be too accusatory in this conversation. His sensei might shut down and not say a thing.

“I do.” Kakashi-sensei turned it back on him, “Do you?”

“I don’t.”

“Ah.”

“How did you get yours?”

“The same way everyone else does… I lost someone important to me.”

“Who?”

“You wouldn’t know them. They left before you were born.”

“Oh.” So, it wasn't the massacre.

But if losing someone important meant you got the sharingan, Sasuke should also have it. He should have a hundred sharingan’s for all the souls who had left this plane of existence. Except, he didn't have anything to show for that loss. There was no consolation prize for the last of the Uchiha.

If it never manifested within him, not only did his clan die out, so did their abilities. Itachi was five when he got the sharingan. Sasuke knew this because his father would tell him all the time. The man always compared his two children like one was the milestone for the other. In their fathers eyes, Itachi was a goal Sasuke could never reach.

“Your father was a good man,” Kakashi-sensei revealed, “He could have taken it back at any time, but he didn’t.”

“He was?” Everyone was too afraid to talk to Sasuke about his family. He put back the kunai, and replaced it with another one from Naruto’s pouch. Repeating the same motions again and again.

“I mean, at least to me. Can’t speak on anyone else's experience of the guy.” Kakashi’s face was hidden behind the mask, but he was probably smiling.

“Sasuke!” Sakura’s voice rang from the doorway. She seemed to notice he wasn't alone, because she added, “Kakashi-sensei! Breakfast is almost done.”

The sun over took the moon in the sky, shining bright light onto the water below. Small schools of fish nibbled on things that found themselves caught on the poles of the dock. The waves melodically rocked back and forth over the rocks.

“I guess we should get going,” Kakashi-sensei placed the items into Naruto’s bag before standing back up. He hopped over to his crutches and tucked them under his armpits. The walk must have felt longer for him.

“I’m almost done here.” motioning to the blade that has almost returned to its original glory.

Putting the last kunai back in, Sasuke noticed a hand sewn pocket. That must be where Naruto hid his emergency suppressants. He traced his finger around the fabric and felt what must have been a blister packet for a pill in the lining. So, Naruto was smart about it.

The first thing he heard when he entered the dining room was Naruto complaining, “Why does training have to start so early!”

“It's eight o’ clock.” Sakura said.

“I have to make it to the bridge at the same time as everyone else.” Tazuna added.

“Ugh…” Naruto complained, eyes still not fully open, “I just want to go back to bed.”

“I guess I’ll just have to train without you then. I think I’ll probably get it by this afternoon.” Sasuke nonchalantly tossed Naruto’s leg bag in front of him.

“I wondered where that went!” Naruto's eyes opened wide, finally awake, “And no! I’m going to master the technique way before you!”

Chapter Text

Training Day 2.

The day's training went much smoother than the last. Having Naruto around was a lot better than he’d ever thought it would be. If he ever got bored, Sasuke would rile the omega up for some extra energy. He was always so easily excitable.

At the end of their session Naruto asked a question that seemed to be on his mind all day, “Why did you sharpen my kunai?”

“They were dull.” In truth, Sasuke didn’t really know what compelled him to do that.

“Oh…” Naruto rubbed his hand through his blonde hair, with a soft chuckle he said, “Well, thanks, I guess.”

“Don’t mention it,” Without saying another word, Sasuke made his way to the hotsprings from the night before.

Naruto followed.

Sasuke refrained from doing anything that might upset him this time. They bathed in a uniquely peaceful atmosphere. All of the chaotic energy from the day melting off into the water beneath them. As time went on their bodies drifted closer together.

Sasuke glanced over to their clothes on the bench, shiny metal glinted in the waning moon, “How’d you get your headband anyway?”

“Tch. Because I’m a super cool ninja. Duh.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Sasuke stopped himself from calling Naruto an idiot, “It's just I saw you fail.”

“Oh. Well, it's a funny story…”

It was not a funny story.
It was a pretty sad story.

In an alternate universe the two of them wouldn’t have been teammates. Naruto would have failed the Genin Exam. Fully flunked out of the Academy all together with no hopes of ever becoming a ninja. With the way the villagers treated him, there weren't any other jobs he could do. The funding seemed to stop when he became a ninja, so he’d have to turn to something else. Being an omega in a tight spot, that usually only leads to one thing.

Except, the universe was strangely favorable to the omega, wrapping him up into one of its sick schemes for its own entertainment. Naruto was tricked into committing treason against Konoha, because their former teacher wanted access to Forbidden Justus. Sasuke always got a bad feeling from that guy. The man tried too hard to be likable, and it always rubbed him the wrong way.

There were parts of the story that definitely were exaggerated, like Naruto taking out the Third Hokage. Probably also the part where he beat up their previous sensei. Iruka-sensei saving Naruto from all the trouble, was a bit surprising, but not fully out of the question.

“... and that’s how I learned how to do the Shadow Clone Jutsu.” Naruto gushed, “Iruka-sensei was so proud of me he got me ramen and the headband!”

“You learned that all in a few hours?” Sasuke asked about the most obvious lie in the story.

“Yeah… It's surprisingly easy, ya’ know?”

“You could barely pull off a normal clone jutsu.”

“That’s because the text books make it so hard! It's all blahblahblah chakra blahblahblah theory blahblahblah math. The scroll made it so easy. It was like: You do this, then that, then this other thing, then poof!” Naruto then went on about his own crazy conspiracy theory, “I think they intentionally make the text books hard so we don’t learn anything.”

Sasuke wanted to say, ‘Then why did no one else have a problem with it,’ but he didn’t, “The text books aren’t intentionally bad. They break it down that way so when you see jutsu later on you can better understand them.”

“You sound like you work for Big Textbook.”

“Do you intently say stupid things or is that just your attempt at a joke?” In Sasuke's defense, he couldn't stop himself from being mean after that last comment dropped his IQ by a couple of points.

Naruto just laughed.

His laugh was something else. It was always something else. The sound was otherworldly, as if it came from the gods themselves. Demanding the whole world listen to its gospel. Joy rang through the air to all those who dreamed to hear it.

But right now Naruto’s laugh was fucking annoying.

“That’s not an answer.” Sasuke splashed the omega.

Who splashed right back, with a laugh, “I guess you’ll never know.”

Sasuke cupped his hand collecting as much water in it as he could, before he returned the serve. They went back and forth playfully attacking each other with water. Naruto always knew how to push Sasuke's buttons.

Training Day 3.

They lay together on the field of grass below the many trees bearing many cuts. Too tired to make another move, they just enjoyed their successes. It wouldn’t be much longer for both of them to master this technique.

Naruto still couldn't handle silence, so he filled the air with as much nonsense as his brain could come up with, this time it was “So when you said rebuild your Clan… what did you mean by that?”

“What do you think it means?” Sasuke turned his head to face him, “I plan on having a family, dobe.”

“Well duh… but like how?”

“Wow. you really didn’t pay attention in class. When an alpha and omega like eachother very much, the alpha sticks his fat dic-

“No! Not that.” Naruto blushed heavily in embarrassment, “I mean, you could have a whole harem with the way everyone flock to you. So, you gonna’ do that or just, like, one wife and kids.”

“The harem would be more efficient.” Sasuke joked around with that idea, “But I don’t think I could handle all that attention.”

Naruto relaxed with that, “Yeah, I think you’d be so overwhelmed, you wouldn't even know what to do.”

“What about you… You ever think about having kids?”

“I want a big family.”

“You know you're going to have to be the one that has them, right?”

“Ya’ know you're going to have to be the one that has them,” Naruto mocked his voice, “Oh, really? I never thought of that before… I guess now I have changed my mind. Thank you so much for enlightening me, Sasuke.”

“Tch.”

“Yes, I know. I still want them. I want the whole sha-bang. A doting alpha and a hoard of little brats I can call my own.”

“I thought you wanted to be Hokage.” It seemed to conflict with his domestic dream life.

Naruto was sure, “I can do both.”

“It's going to be hard.”

“I thought you figured it out by now, I’m not the type of person to give up just because things are hard.”

Yeah.

Sasuke was learning that alright.

Training Day 4.

“You were so intense today, Sasuke! You just didn’t turn it off.” Naruto bounced around with his nonstop excitable energy.

“I don’t have a choice, I have to get stronger to achieve my goal.”

“What do you think you’ll do?” Naruto trailed off, as if he was debating on asking this, and then trailed back to add, “When you see your brother.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“I figured.”

“Tch.”

“Do you know why he did it?”

“Why? You think there's a good reason to kill all those people.”

“No! Nothing like that,” Naruto backtracked, “just, it all seemed so random. One day, there were Uchiha everywhere, the next there wasn’t. I just kinda always wondered why, ya’ know?”

Sasuke wondered the same thing.

Every time he thought of the massacre there seemed to be a block. Not that he minded much. He had to focus on the future, not the past. He had a goal driving him forward, not an anchor keeping him back.

“You can keep wondering, because I don’t know.”

“Do you think you’ll ask him? Ya’ know, before you kill him.”

“I don’t see the point in that…”

It's not like Itachi was ever forthright with him before. At best he’d get a lie. At worst he’d see Itachi's smug face one last time before he rejected sharing the one thing that would give him a peaceful sleep. Sasuke convinced himself that the truth was irrelevant.

“I wouldn’t mind joining you. If you wanted any help,” Naruto offered, “What your brother did was unspeakable.”

It was a tempting offer, but “It wouldn’t mean anything that way.”

“Well, If you ever change your mind, ya’ know, I’m right here.” He had such an endearing smile for such a harsh promise.

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

The clouds above obscured the moon, blanketing the night in the safety of shadow. It looked like it was threatening to rain at a moment's notice. The air was still, trees barely moving, as if a calm before the storm.

“Do you want to do the hot springs again tonight?”

“Sure.”

The entire area was filled with the scent of orange blossoms. For as much as Sasuke was smelling them recently, he hadn’t seen a single orange tree. There must have been a farm or something a ways off in the distance.

Like the other night, the atmosphere between them was relaxed. The magic of the hotsprings brought them closer together. Sasuke didn’t bother performing any more, there was no need. He wanted to be himself in front of Naruto.

There was something about Naruto that comforted him to his core. Sasuke used to think it was because the blonde was such a loser it didn’t matter what he did in front of him. Now, he knew it was something else. Naruto in a strange way felt like home.

But a home he never had. A home full of life and love, the one he’d always imagine when times were tough. It felt almost possible with the omega. Like he was only seconds away from making it a reality, if he knew the right words to say or the right hand signs to weave. He could make a jutsu that would bind them together forever.

Sasuke always said that his revenge took precedence over everything. Even over rebuilding his clan. However, maybe he could have both… maybe Naruto was -

“Do you think bees know what they’re doing?” - a fucking idiot.

“What?”

“Ya’ know, bees? Do you think they know that they are working for humans when they make honey… or like do you think they are surprised when a big monster comes and takes all their hard work?” Naruto waved back and forth in the water, “like, they are all like, ‘not this again!’”

“How do you even come up with these questions?”

Naruto pointed off to the distance, “There. There’s a beehive over there. So I was thinking, ‘well they obviously make honey for themselves,’ but then I thought about the ones that make honey for us, and that had me -

“Naruto,” Sasuke put an end to it, “I don’t know.”

“But you usually know everything.” Naruto had a type of confidence in Sasuke that he couldn’t always meet.

But he wanted to, “I guess that they have to be okay with it. Otherwise they’d just leave.”

“Yeah, that’s what I was thinking!” It was hard to see his smile.

They talked about more bullshit for a while. Naruto went on and on about rabbits, toads, snakes, and slugs, oh my. He had a fascination with wildlife and how everything fit into this world. Naruto liked the idea that they all had their own balanced place in the ecosystem. That humans were unique, being able to fight against the mold they were put into.

“You know there are talking cats…” Sasuke said, “And other animals as well with human level intellect.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah. Ninja often make contracts with them.”

“Wow! I wonder what their lives must be like.”

Sasuke knew from experience, “A lot like ours.”

“That’s so cool! I wonder what else is out there.” Naruto looked lovingly at the sky as if the moon had the answers.

“Who knows…” Sasuke let the conversation drift off.

Sasuke would have to be an idiot not to notice how close they physically got in that conversation. Naruto was barely an inch away from sitting on Sasuke’s lap. His head on the alphas shoulder, looking up at the cloud covered stars.

Blue met black, and they didn’t break eye contact. It felt like an eternity existed between them. Electricity flew in the air, keeping them connected as before. Constantly in a never ending struggle for connection.

Sasuke only found Naruto's lips by using his nose as a guide. They brushed against each other, closer. All at once they let the moment take over their bodies. Lips clashed in a second competition for the day.

Each of them wanted to be on top. Water splashed around them as Sasuke flipped Naruto’s back against the rocks. Pressing their bodies together as close as he could. Hands traveling up the omegas torso to his neck and hair, forcing Naruto in place.

The second Sasuke closed his eyes, Naruto flipped the position. The alphas' back crashed against the rocks, as the omega violently kissed back. His fingers tangled themselves in dark hair, as he pressed their lips closer together. Barely letting go long enough to give either of them enough time for air.

Naruto’s legs wrapped around Sasuke’s waist as their kiss intensified. The magnetism between them was impossible to ignore. The omega’s arms slipped around his neck. Holding on to dear life as if he never wanted to let the other one go. The alpha returned the fervor as his hands snaked around his ass to keep him up. Sasuke's cock hardened up against Naruto’s bare pussy.

The rain that had been threatening them the whole night finally poured down on them. Heavy droplets attacked the warm water, splashing an icy cold layer on top. It shattered the illusion of their hide away.

Naruto blinked, breaking himself from the spell that tied their lips together, and looked up to the sky, “I think we better go.”

Training Day 5.

Sasuke made great strides this time. He could make it up the tree, but standing upside down on it was still a struggle for him. It wouldn’t be long until he got that down.

Naruto was still struggling to get to the branch. All the progress the omega had made seemed to vanish in a day. Constantly complained about being too hot, his muscles aching, or whatever else he could say to get out of doing his best. It seemed like he just couldn't focus at all.

He was probably distracted by their kiss.

“I think I’m going to keep on training tonight.” Naruto said looking up at the difference in the notches on the tree, “You go on ahead.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m so close I can taste it.”

“Just don't overdo yourself… I don’t want to be carrying your useless body through a battle, dobe.”

“Yeah-yeah, I won't.” Naruto waved him off with a playful, “teme.”

“I’ll be at the hotsprings if you change your mind.”

Sasuke wished the omega would join him again. He wanted a repeat of the night before. Another kiss that didn’t taste of miso, but of Naruto. After waiting an extra hour, Sasuke had to come to terms that Naruto would not change his mind.

Training Day 6.

Naruto decided to ruin Sasuke's day by starting their training session off with, “I saw the most prettiest boy this morning.”

“You did?”

“Yeah! He was almost as pretty as Sakura.” Naruto’s words gave Sasuke some hope, despite being said with a slight blush.

“Is he an omega?”

“I don’t know… probably.” Naruto shrugged.

They trained in an awkward fashion next to each other for the rest of the day. Sasuke focused more on getting stronger, he didn’t need to let himself be held back any more. The only thing on his mind now was his chakra connecting to the tree.

Sasuke definitely wasn't jealous of another person who got Naruto’s attention. He wasn’t wondering how pretty this other person was that Naruto just had to mention it like that. His mind didn’t wander over to the blush Naruto had when describing the boy. Nor did he care if Naruto was currently still thinking about this mystery boy.

They didn’t say anything about the kiss.

They returned home without a single comment about the previous night's events. Naruto got into his futon and faced the window, as if it would provide him an escape plan from what they did. The rain must have washed away any of their actions in his mind.

Taking the hint Sasuke made his bed across the room. He didn’t need to give into Naruto’s childishness. Nearing the edge of sleep, Saskue let his mind wonder.

Naruto popped his head out from under his newly made blanket fort, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“I know somethings wrong… you’ve been ignoring me all day.”

“I was busy training.”

“Sure you were…” he rolled his eyes, “Ya’ know I thought we were getting closer, but I guess I was wrong.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“I was just training.” Instead of admitting the truth, Sasuke ignored it all together.

“Okay.” Naruto hid within the covers.

Training Day 7.

“Naruto is pushing himself beyond his limit, sneaking out like that,” Kakashi-sensei said.

Sakura added to it, “And at breakfast time, the second Naruto leaves Sasuke joins too.”

Thonk.

The area between the two was split with a kunai, prompting Sakura and Kakashi-sensei to look up. The first tree had Naruto loosely laying on top of a branch. He had exhausted the remaining bits of his chakra to get there.

“Look at how I got!” Naruto smiled. When they recognized him he flipped back onto his feet… Except, he caught the edge of the branch, slipping to his demise.

“You’ll die from that height!”
“You idiot!”

He twirled and caught himself, hanging upside down by his chakra tethered feet, “Haha, I got you!”

“You almost gave me a heart attack, you jerk!”

The chakra teather snapped.

Luckily, Sauke was there to stop the fall. His hand around the omega’s ankle was the only thing keeping him from pain. Naruto was surprisingly light.

Naruto smiled up at him, “I did it.”

“Usuratonkachi.”

Chapter Text

In front of Sasuke was the omega that Naruto said was pretty. Naruto should get his eyes checked. He was lanky, plain faced, with mousy brown hair, there was nothing interesting about him in the looks department. He was a skilled fighter though… That was something.

“That one's mine.” Sasuke told his team.

Their blades clanked together over and over again. Each perfect strike met a perfect counter strike. They were evenly matched in that regard.

In a delicate voice the young boy said, “I don't want to have to kill you...”

“Don’t worry about that.”

Sasuke wouldn’t be able to match the omegas speed for long. He expertly laid the groundwork for two attacks. The water splashed around them, and Sasuke's hand was currently locked with a parrying move. Haku waved one handed hand signs for his next attack.

Thousand Needles of Death.

The water beneath them morphed into sonbon needles. Before they could strike, Sasuke focused all his chakra to his feet. Doding each one in a flash. His speed was much faster than it was even a week ago. Now the omega was the one who had to worry about defending himself from attacks. In double speed Sasuke flung hit after hit onto his enemy. Who slid across the bridge with a harsh splash.

“What a pity,” The omega stood up, his two fingers interwoven into a new sign.

Ice Crystal Magic Mirror Technique.

The enemy absorbed himself into the ice. Each mirror holding its own clone of the boy. They all attacked with needles from every direction. Slicing through Sasuke mixing his blood with the salt water beneath them. His flesh cut to ribbons, but each of these wounds were all superficial. He was toying with Sasuke.

Outside the icy prison Sakura flung a kunai between the sheets. The omega stopped and grabbed it before it landed in front of Sasuke. He froze for half a second to examine it. Leaving him open for another attack with a shuriken this time.

“Uzumaki Naruto,” He appeared, “at your service!”

The use of the mirrors for the doppelganger technique was hard to figure out. They must be the key to this jutsu. Each of the clones attacked him at the same time. The only way he could stop this jutsu was if Naruto attacked on the outside and Sasuke attacked from within.

“Hi! I’m here to rescue you.” Naruto smiled next to to him.

“You call yourself a ninja! You’re a fucking idiot.”

“If I knew that was the thanks for helping me I would have just stayed out there.” he quickly quipped back.

The omega returned to the mirrors as the boys were fighting amongst themselves. Dancing around each one taunting the two of them. Over here, over there, over under everywhere.

Fire Style, Blaze of Glory.

It didn’t even make a dent, the ice was untouched by the fire. Whatever it was made of was more than just ice. He continued taunting them knowing their jutsu wouldn’t work against his keke genki.

Shadow Clone Jutsu.

As soon as they were made they were torn down. Each pop, pop, popping around them. The omega left the real Naruto untouched. He tried again, meeting the same result. He tried another time, again meeting the same result. Once more, nothing changed.

After a while, an exhausted Naruto said, “It can’t end like this, I have a dream to fulfill.”

Hokage.

Naruto's dream was becoming Hokage. His dream was much more nobel than any Sasuke had. He wanted to be seen. He wanted to be heard. He wanted to be somebody. His desire was to build something of himself in their great village.

The omega also wanted a family. He wanted to love and care for other people, and be loved in return. He nurtured the world around him, allowing everything he touched to turn a lush green.

Sasuke just wanted to destroy. His life's goal was to kill a man. Inflicting more violence onto the world they lived in. It wasn’t a nobel dream by any means, but it was a righteous one.

Their enemy probably had their own dreams. He could dream a dream so pretty, but Sasuke wouldn’t care about those. Whatever their dream was, it was in direct opposition to their lives.

This bridge was the nexus of their destinies. They all balanced on the edge of a kunai. However it may fall would end one of their dreams.

Sasuke had to do something, he promised, “My next strike will take him down.”

Their enemy showed amazing reflexes and training, but he must be past his limit by now. Sasuke had to stay forced on the space between the ice. He needed to see past the illusion of speed the other boy was showing him.

Time slowed down, Sasuke could see everything.

Colors were brighter. Naruto’s orange was stained a blood red from the needle holes. There was so much blood, it flooded the streets of his mind. The sight of the red took everything from him, and gave him a gift.

Sasuke could now see past the illusion their enemy was casting. He was transporting himself at hyperspeed from ice block to ice block. Probably using the cold to temper the energy it took to do so. It was a lot simpler than he originally assumed.

Naruto's chest moved, he was still alive. Both him and their opponent noticed this at the same time. He went in for the final strike. In a flash Sasuke moved Naruto out of the way of the attack. Taking the hit for himself.

“Sasuke you -

“Get that stupid expression off your face,” Sasuke used to hate Naruto, now he was sacrificing everything for him.

“Why would you do that?!”

Chapter Text

The universe slowed down when one was dying. A second ago Sasuke was cold as ice, now he was warmer than the sun. Things seemed to magically fall into place. The things that were once important didn’t seem to matter much any more.

Sasuke didn’t care about revenge.
He just wanted Naruto to live.

Chapter Text

The world was a brilliant white. Light so strong it blinded Sasuke from his surroundings. His limbs felt lighter than air. He was floating in the heavens on the softest cloud.

“Where am I?”

“The prodigal son awakens,” Naruto couldn’t be dead, too.

“Naruto!?”

“Oww! You don’t have to scream. I’m right next to you, bastard!” Naruto screamed.

Sasuke's eyes adjusted to the world that surrounded them. It was familiar, yet still new. He was back in the bedroom they shared at the bridge builders house. Naruto was bandaged up, and he assumed he was as well. They both survived.

“We’re alive.”

“Duh.” Naruto smiled, it was a sight for sore eyes, “I saved you with my super cool ninja skills.”

“Hmph.”

“Oh, don't act so cool! I -

“Thank you, Naruto.”

The omega blushed a bright red, “It was nothing… I just couldn’t let that jerk take you out like that.”

“Sakura and Kakashi?”

“They’re fine.” Naruto paused, “Well, Kakashi got hurt pretty bad, but don’t worry, he's not dead. We’re probably going to stay here for a couple of weeks to recover, though.”

“Sasuke!” Sakura shouted, barging into their room, “You're awake!”

“Ugh.”

“Are you okay?” She looked him over very tentatively to see if any of his wounds opened up. Sasuke tried to pull them out of her grasp. Sakura kept reaching for them.

“Don’t be a jerk. Sakura was the one who bandaged us up.” Naruto lectured.

Oh. “I’m fine, Sakura.”

“Thank goodness! You had me so worried.” She fussed over the both of them now. Her attention now shifted to Naruto’s wounds. “You heal so fast, it's crazy.”

“Yeah. I’ve always been like that.” Naruto laughed.

“You picked the right profession then.” She joined in, her laugh wasn’t as annoying as it used to be. There was a newfound kindness between the two omegas. Whatever happened when he passed out must have changed everything. Sakura started slicing up an apple on the edge of their futons.

Everything was calm.

The moon had disappeared from the sky, it was darker than usual. Still Sasuke could see Naruto’s arm outstretched towards him. He assumed it must have been a fluke, an accidental mishap when he lost to the blanket. Except it stayed there. Just a few inches away from touching him, like he was hesitating to reach out.

“Naruto.”

“What?! Nothing! Sorry.” Naruto quickly rolled his back to Sasuke.

“What are you doing?”

“Sleeping.”

“Naruto.” Sasuke said more firmly this time.

“I just wanted to make sure you were still alive. That's all.”

“I’m alive.”

“Well, good then. Now I know. I can go to sleep.”

Sasuke reached out this time, pulling the omega closer to him. He felt the warmth of the other against his chest. It was more comforting than he could have ever imagined. Naruto’s once intense breathing steadied back to a calm routine.

Naruto was truly alive.
Sasuke had saved him.

“You're alive, too.”

“Yeah. I -

Naruto didn’t say anything else.

Sasuke wondered what he planned on staying. What was so terrifying that would shut up the most loud mouth person he knew. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Naruto didn’t know what to say.

Less than twenty four hours ago the two of them almost died. They were granted a whole new life together. Sasuke didn’t want to fuck this one up. So he too said nothing.

Orange blossoms bloomed in the air around them. It wasn’t something his half asleep mind made up. It was real. This must be Naruto’s scent. Sasuke let himself enjoy it, nuzzling into the source, Naruto didn’t stop him.

They fell asleep like that.

Chapter Text

For the first time in a long time, Sasuke didn’t have a nightmare. He dreamed of a never ending summer, full of citrus fruit and the ocean waves. Golden sun warming his soul.

Naruto was already removing some of his bandages across the room. He did heal abnormally fast, walking off some injuries like they were nothing. Sasuke wondered if it was some sort of Keke Genkai he inherited, but it's not like Naruto would know the answer to that question either. If Naruto ever thought about it, it didn’t show. From the surface it seemed like he just accepted it as a fact of life.

“You're up!” Naruto smiled, “The brat said he wanted to learn some stuff so I’m going to teach him today.”

“You’re going to teach?”

“Yeah… I’m a great teacher. Just ask Konohamaru.”

“Lord Third’s grandson?”

“Yep, the same one, but he’d be really upset if he heard you’d called him that.”

If Naruto was friends with the Third Hokage's grandson, that explained why he got preference. Sasuke couldn’t imagine what Naruto could teach the kid. Pranks was the only thing he excelled at, but that wouldn’t impress the Third Hokage. So, Naruto must have just babysat the brat from time to time.

Instead of dealing with that, he asked, “Aren't you still recovering?”

“I feel fine. And I’ll go absolutely crazy if I’m stuck inside all day.” He stretched out all of his limbs.

Sasuke would take the full two weeks to recover, he already knew that. He examined each of his wounds, and referred to past injuries. There was no doubt in his mind, their enemy was telling the truth when he said he didn’t want to kill either of them. He was hoping to just exhaust them until they passed out due to injury. It took a lot of skill to pull off a feat like that.

As Naruto left the room Sakura entered. She didn’t say too much just letting the somber quiet exist where it wanted. They had been through a lot during this mission. This was her first experience with death. While Naruto wasn’t one to sit with uncomfort, Sakura was.

Sasuke watched from the window as Naruto taught the kid tai jutsu. He never truly appreciated how much Naruto understood about the human body. He was slightly adjusting the little boy's form to achieve maximum output. Keeping the weight firmly settled in the middle of the body. A twist exaggerated the force of the punch. The kid would be prepared to defend himself if anything came up in the future.

Naruto looked so comfortable doing that. As if his place in the world was to educate children. The omega even found a way to make combat training look domestic.

“Naruto’s crazy isn’t he?” Sakura complimented.

“Yeah…”

“I can’t believe he has all that energy after yesterday,” she tended to his wounds, “I thought he’d be bedridden for weeks.”

“He said he couldn’t stand to be stuck in the house.”

“That sounds like our Naruto.”

Sasuke wondered, “You know he’s an omega?”

“I’ve heard that, but I can’t see it. I mean look at him… Plus it's super rare to be a male omega.” She said, despite them just fighting a ‘rare’ male omega.

“He is.” Sasuke felt Naruto’s omegan nature himself.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

This time they seemed to sit in a different type of uncomfortable silence. Sakura must have understood what he meant when he brought up Naruto's destination. She’s not stupid. The girl saw first hand what they would do for eachother.

Dinner came fast. Sasuke spent most of the day in bed on pain meds, so time didn’t really make itself known. Sakura would come in from time to time to check on him. He thought he saw Kakashi sensei do it once, but he wasn’t sure. Naruto spent the whole day outside and it showed.

Like their first night he was covered in dirt and grime. Scuffs all up and down his clothes. The omega must be itching for a bath. He never could stay like that for too long.

The brat also matched his appearance. Covered in different grass stains from falling back. It didn’t matter because he had a huge smile plastered across his face. A much different demeanor than their first night there.

“Naruto-sensei taught me how to defend myself! That way next time I don’t have to hide.” the bridge builder's child said, scraping around his food on the plate.

“Naruto-sensei?” Kakashi-sensei said with an amused smirk.

He blushed, “I was just teaching the kid a few things. It's not a big deal.”

“You should be careful what you teach people.”

“It's just the basics… Like how not to hurt your hand when you throw a punch, ya’ know.”

“Yeah next time I’m going to be able to actually do something!”

“Hopefully, there won't be a next time,” His mother said.

Sasuke understood the boy better than most. It was awful to be at the hands of tragedy without any ability to fight back. It must be nice to have someone take such care of teaching you how to defend yourself after it happened.

“Naruto,” Sakura said, “Do you want to bunk with me tonight?”

He looked over to Sasuke for a second, “umm… Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I mean Sasuke probably wants to be alone to recover and you already are mostly healed up. Plus, we omegas really should stick together.”

“Well, yeah, sure. I mean, if you put it that way. That sounds great!” Naruto said each thing more hesitantly than the last.

Sasuke ignored them for the rest of the meal. Taking his time to scrape small bits of food into each bite. His entire attention was on the rice, vegetables, and fish in front of him. The way the seasoning played with the texture. How the fish was perfectly prepared, clearly fresh, as it flaked off into his mouth.

As Naruto was packing up his stuff to bunk with Sakura, Sasuke asked, “Are we going to talk about the kiss?”

“I’m not going to tell anyone if that’s what you’re worried about,” Naruto fidgeted a bit with the biggest blush on his cheeks, “It was just a weird moment. I know that.”

“Naruto, I almost died for you… you don’t have to bullshit me.”

“...” he didn’t know how to respond to that.

“We kissed.”

“Did you like it?”

Instead of answering the question, Sasuke just kissed him. Talking was stupid. Naruto liked him, and he liked Naruto. There was no need to fill the air with more conversation about a fact of the universe.

Naruto, not one to ignore a challenge, kissed back. Arms threaded around Sasuke's neck, pulling him closer. Each kiss met another until it was hard to tell who initiated the last one. Lungs emptied of air as both fought to win an act of love.

Sasuke pulled away, “You really going to bunk with Sakura tonight?”

Naruto bit at his slightly swollen bottom lip.

Chapter Text

The urge to shove his hand under Naruto’s briefs was borderline compulsive. Sasuke's mind took many long roads, but they all lead down the same path, the same deep desire branded in his DNA. He was an alpha, and there was an omega in his bed.

It wasn’t Sasuke's fault that Naruto’s scent was intoxicating. He had just become acutely aware of what it was, orange blossoms. Such a delicate little flower for the powerful omega. The way his lips landed on the blonde's scent gland could only be from the desire they both shared. Rich citrus oils slid over his tongue calling to his alpha. Naruto’s soul blossomed open for Sasuke to take.

Lips consumed one another. There was no battle of dominance. No struggle to see who would end up on top. They didn’t need to fight any more, they had each other.

Hands gripped into thick thighs, pulling the omega closer to him. His hardened cock resting between Naruto’s covered folds. He imagined going further phasing through their clothing to become one, when a sharp pain shocked its way down his spine.

“I can’t.” Sasuke motioned to his injuries, pulled Naruto's face to his own, “You're going to have to do it.”

“Uh, yeah, let me…” Naruto repositioned himself between Sasuke's legs, seductively asked, “What do you want to do?”

Sasuke didn’t know. He didn’t think they would get this far, but he should have known with the ultimate knuckle-headed ninja they’d rush head first through any artificial barriers that separated them. They were really going to do this. Pulling down his sleep pants, “You know what to do.”

He didn’t. Naruto fumbled the cock in front of him like it was his first day on earth. It was too embarrassing to continue to watch him struggle to do it.

“Just take off your clothes.” he couldn’t handle it any more.

With a rushed carelessness he threw the heart stamped briefs aside. In the dim light, Sasuke saw everything. The way he couldn't at the hot springs. He wanted to activate his sharingan to commit it all to memory. Naruto was perfect.

His dark skin was carved out from the crescent moon light. Sweet sumer wind rushed through golden hair, covering his crystal blue eyes. Naruto opened up his legs, running fingers around his bobbing cocklette. Slick coated his thighs as he increased the pressure of his fingers in rhythmic tugs.

“Well aren't you going to say something?” Naruto demanded, fingers not leaving his sex.

“Naruto. Everything about you is amazing. Such a good omega."

Naruto laughed.
He fucking-lauhghed at him.

Holding his hands to cover his mouth as he said, “I never thought The Uchiha Sasuke would ever say something like that.”

“Stop laughing, dobe.” Sasuke wanted to push him off.

“I’m sorry.” He didn't stop laughing. Soft chuckles shook his whole body. Naruto's going to tell everyone Sasuke sucked in bed. That he was something to laugh at. Sasuke feared the gaggle of omegas would even believe him. Despite having no desire to be with any of his fans, he liked the air of mystery they gave him.

He had to be better. Fuck so good, like how everyone imagined he’d fuck. He was the great Uchiha prodigy, the last of his name, he had to prove something to everyone.

“What do you want me to say?” Sasuke said what he’s seen in porn, “How I’m going to fuck your tight little pussy so good.”

“Huh?”

With one hand Sasuke held both of Naruto’s wrists, and pulled them from his cocklette. With the other, he took his space. He did exactly what he saw the omega do to himself earlier. Pride rose in his chest as the omegas moans transformed to breathy and desperate. Naruto gasped out, “fuck me,” as he bucked his hips forward.

“Really?” Sasuke didn’t expect for this to move so quickly, “Present.” He pointed to the injuries littering his body, “It will be easier on me.”

Naruto did it. His round ass bounced as he twisted his waist into position. Chest against his thighs, arms rested at his side, exposing his slicked-up pink entrance.

“Damn it…” Sasuke was in awe as he lined up the tip of his dick to rest in the warmth of Naruto’s -

“Wait.”

“What? Do you want candles and rose petals or something?” he held his dick in his hand, rubbing at Naruto’s soaked entrance. Sasuke probably should have done something nicer for their first time than a stranger's spare bedroom. It was too late to back out now.

“No it's just,” Naruto looked off at something in the distance, his bags, he was thinking of leaving, “I-”

“I can’t believe you’d do this to me.” Sasuke muttered under his breath.

He was hoping Naruto didn’t hear, but “Do what?”

“You’re teasing me.”

Naruto gulped, “I’m not… I just-

“Want to spend your time with Sakura?”

“No. I just… This is my first time, that’s all, I promise.”

“I’ll be gentle.” Sasuke couldn’t handle the increasing friction as cock was rubbing against the elastic of his pants. He was bound to cum soon. Revealing he’s also an inexperienced virgin.

Sasuke pushed in, past any of the resistance. The pop of Naruto’s cherry spilled a triumphant red over his shaft. The omega squeezed him like a vice grip, convulsing wildly once he hit base. He made a garbled nose of contentment.

“Fuck, your so tight.” A mess of blood and slick aided in his thrust.

Naruto wasn’t conscious enough to respond, already lost to his pleasure. Despite all his public posturing, was an omega through and through. Sasuke held a hand lovingly to Naruto’s whisker scared cheek, whispering into his neck, “you’re doing great.”

He started to move. Slowly at first, Naruto was too tight to go fast. The warm velvety walls around him felt so good. If only it could last forever, but Sasuke only had a few minutes in him. He couldn't cum just yet, he had to prove himself.

Sasuke distracted himself by grabbing at Naruto, kissing Naruto, biting Naruto. Boyish hands pawing at everything they could get to. Anything he could do to keep his mind off how good Naruto felt around him.

Naruto thrust back, meeting Sasuke where he was. He lost himself to the pleasure, forgetting he should be in pain.

Someone was walking down the hall, Sakura by how light the footsteps were, “Na-

She stopped. Clearly hearing Naruto’s excitement and rough slapping of skin. Sakura’s a smart girl, she should have known this would happen. Maybe she just wanted to break her own heart. It would help her finally get over the childish crush she had on Sasuke.

“Damn it, Naruto,” Sasuke groaned, and slapped Naruto’s ass playfully, “You’re so fucking tight.”

“Sasuke!” Naruto’s wet velvety walls clenched around his alpha.

The previous footsteps got softer and softer until there was nothing left, “Quite, dobe. You don’t want to wake the others up.”

Naruto covered his mouth with his hands, biting at his knuckles to try to silent himself. There was a side of Sasuke that wanted to see how far he could push it. How much he could make Naruto repress his moans. Instead of slowing down, he quickened his pace.

Slamming into Naruto at break neck speed. Holding his leg up to get deep within the warmth of Naruto’s body. Carving a name for himself in Naruto’s walls.

“I’m so close.” Everything was so good that, even though he was outside of rut, he popped a knot. He thought of burying it deep inside Naruto, but given it was both their first time, decided against it. They would have many more to come. Still, “Feel what you do to me,” he pressed it against Naruto’s entrance, threatening to pop it inside.

It worked, Naruto slicked up even more. His omegan body craved the knot. Wanting nothing more than to be full. Truly full in a way that only Sasuke could fulfill.

He slammed in one last time, fisting his knot, unloading all he had inside him. Naruto didn’t cum like him, it was a long series of little orgasmic pleasures throughout the whole thing. Sasuke quickly slipped out, leaving a mess of Naruto. A puffy pink, almost red, pussy slathered in fertile alphen cum and virgin blood. Marking him forever Sasukes.

They fell asleep together, tangled into each other's limbs. His dreams were sweet nectar dreams again. It didn’t matter because he still awoke in the dead of the night due Naruto rummaging around their room. The zipping and unzipping of bags, the crinkled tear of paper, and footsteps louder than anything should be this at this late hour. This was Naruto’s pathetic attempt to be sneaky.

“Go to sleep, dobe.” Sasuke mumbled out.

“I’ll join you in a second.” He loudly whispered, before loudly taking water in from the sink.

“What is that?” he asked about the noses.

“Nothing.”

He didn’t say anything, but there was a clear attitude around him.

“Fine. They are suppressants.” he trailed off at the end.

Sasuke bolted awake, and sniffed the air, “You're in heat?”

“No. They’re maintenance suppressants… Not emergency.”

“You haven’t presented yet.” That didn’t make sense.

“Ugh. I lied.”

“Why?”

“Because an alpha I barely knew, and had to share a room with, asked me about my heat.” Naruto huffed out.

Instead of dealing with all of that he just asked his most curious question, “When did you present?”

“None of your business.”

“Naruto.” Sasuke just wanted to know.

“Ugh. Ya’ know last spring when you were out… Well, so was I. That, and your desire to be a loner is why you didn’t find out. Happy?”

“You could have told me.” He tried to analyze what he must have missed within that time frame.

“When would I have told you? Did you want me to march in front of you in homeroom, like, ‘I’m an omega now?’”

Sasuke half laughed, imagining Naruto act like all their other classmates, “How about when I asked you.”

“Ya’ know…” Naruto didn’t have anything to say about that.

“Just come to bed.”

Without another word, Naruto joined him in bed. The warmth reemerged at his side providing its comfort. Naruto was alive and well.

What Sasuke should have learned from this interaction was that Naruto was smarter than he gave him credit for. What he actually learned was that Naruto had the capability of lying to him. It didn’t phase the omega at all to keep such a big secret. He told falsities as if he were talking about the weather. Uninterested and uninspired.

If he would have known the truth, he probably wouldn't have done what he did earlier. Sasuke wanted to rebuild his clan, but he had to do it after Itachi was dead. If his brother had any suspicions that there were more Uchiha out in the world, there was no telling what he would do. It wasn’t safe.

The next morning, Sakura hesitantly asked, “why didn’t you join me last night?” despite knowing the answer already.

“Umm… I fell asleep. I guess all that training I did with the brat really knocked me out.” Naruto awkwardly laughed.

“Of course.”

“If you don’t mind, Sakura, I think I’m going to stay with Sasuke. Ya know, just in case he needs help in the middle of the night. He’s still recovering after all.”

“Yeah… sure.” She knew.

Weeks later they left the mist over The Great Naruto Bridge.

Chapter Text

Walking through the many streets to their apartment district, a villager whispered under their breath, “Why is he hanging out with the demon?”

“I mean, he is an Uchiha.” The one next to them covered their mouth as they said.

“They are all so obsessed with the beast.”

“I thought he was a good one.”

Here there were people who knew both of them, judging them. Their eyes watched the demon child and Uchiha walking together conjuring up the most evil of intentions. The things they would say if they knew that the two of them were romantically involved.

That revelation terrified him.

The prodigal son has fallen. He had spent time with the demon of their village. Conspiratorial thinking had clouded everyone's mind. He felt their thoughts burning away his flesh. Sasuke was branded Uchiha.

Naruto didn’t seem to notice, “Ya know…” he turned his back to the villages, “This is kind of exciting! I haven’t spent the night with anyone since the orphanage.”

“What are you talking about? You spent the night with me every night on the mission.” Sasuke tried to do the same.

“That’s not the same!”

“It is.”

Naruto tried to explain, “Cause this time I’m going to your house, ya’ know? Before we were just at someone else's house. So it's different.”

A house was a house. A room was a room. A bed was a bed. There was nothing particularly different about any of these things. Naruto just had a weird sentimentality attached to inanimate objects.

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“Oh! Sorry. I won't. Ummm… but I have to get something from my house first. You’ll wait for me right?”

“No.” Sasuke was starting to regret his decision, “Just meet me at my place.”

“Yeah! You probably want to clean up first before you have guests over. I promise I won't take too long.” Naruto sped off to his apartment.

They split up and his mind wondered to what the people were saying before. Naruto was always seen as a demon child. Sure he acted up, but he wasn’t demonic. He just couldn’t focus on anything long enough to think of its consequences. That wasn’t demonic, that was being a child. The omega just wasn’t forced to grow up the way Sasuke was.

Shit.

Sasuke didn’t even think of the state of his apartment. It was clean, but probably a bit musky. He’d cleaned it before he’d left on the long mission. Airing it out now, would give it a fresh feeling to set the mood. Everything was so perfect in the Mist, he didn’t want it to change here.

The first thing he did when he went to his place was open up all the windows. Across the tree tops Naruto was beautiful. He held the watering can with a serene maternal energy feeding the earth to make plants bloom. Like the first time, and he assumed every time, Sasuke was in awe watching it. He could spend all day watching Naruto take care of his garden.

Sasuke imagined Naruto tending to the garden in the Uchiha Compound with a bunch of little ‘brats’ running around him. The garden there could be so much bigger than the one on the balcony. He’d be able to spread out as far as his heart desired.

That’s what Naruto wanted, too. In the Mist the omega said he wanted a big family. He must be comfortable retiring from being a ninja for a while if that's the case. It was a strange dream to want that and be Hokage. The two roles clashed so strongly with one another. Sasuke wondered which dream he wanted more.

Blue eyes caught his, then he waved. Sasuke waved back.

If Naruto was watering his plants, it must mean he was almost done over there. A light sprinkle of dust had collected on the corners of his things. So that was the next task. Then it was scenting his bed to make sure Naruto knew whose den this was. It was the first time he’d have anyone over like this.

The door knocked, “Took you long enough,” was the first stupid thing Sasuke said when Naruto entered his house.

“You like tomatoes, right?” Naruto ignored it and held out the largest juiciest red tomato he’d ever seen.

“How do you know that?”

“Good!” Naruto revealed a bunch more from his garden, “They didn’t die when we went on the mission. It must have rained a lot. Isn’t that great?” He placed fruit after vegetable onto his kitchen countertops.

“That’s a lot.” There was a large bounty, which was nice, because Sasuke realized he didn’t have anything fresh in his house. He didn’t have time to stop by the store so all that was left was dry storage.

“There’s a lot of weeds… I’m going to have to clean it up later this week. It's going to be easier if it's already harvested.” He finished placing them down, before looking for a cutting board, “Besides, I thought we’d make something with them tonight.”

“You cook?”

Naruto bit his lower lip, exposing his smaller omegan fangs, before the corners of his mouth twitched up into a playful smile, “Not well.”

“You’re expecting me to cook for you?”

“I figured you’d be good at it. You’re good at everything else.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes and took over the meal prep for them. He should have known he was going to be relegated to this task. With the rice cooker filled, he started prep on the vegetables. It was a random assortment of whatever could survive neglect.

“Wow… I didn’t realize anyone could see my apartment so well,” Naruto looked out his bedroom window for a thoughtful amount of time.

“I didn’t know it was yours.”

“Liar.”

“I mean until recently.” This was embarrassing. Sasuke felt like a peeping tom.

Naruto walked around the room, stopping at the group picture they took on their first week as a team. Then he picked up the small dino plush that Sasuke had ever since he was a kid, smiled, then put it right down. Blue eyes scanned over his entire apartment as if assessing it to its tiniest details. “Your place is really nice.”

“It’s alright.” he felt exposed.

“No, like it's much nicer than mine… How do you afford all this?” Naruto reasoned, “The Uchiha Fund?”

“Yep.” Sasuke forgot he told Naruto about that, the rice cooker dinged, “It’s for omegas and pups-”

“You’re still considered a pup?!”

“-who’s alphas disappeared in battle.”

Naruto wouldn't let it go, laughing he asked, “You’re still a pup?”

“Kinda… Until I become a Chunin I get supplemental income to make sure I’m taken care of.” Sasuke shouldn’t be taking money from the fund. It just felt safer to not touch everything else associated with Uchiha property and accounts until he was older. He was only seven when he was defaulted to head of the clan.

“Are you not an adult until you're a Chunin or something?”

“That’s how all Ninja Society works, dobe.”

“Oh right! I forgot about that…” Naruto looked down to his feet “The Chunin exams are coming up soon, ya’ know? Do you think Kakashi-sensei will let us sign up?”

“Hopefully.”

The rest of the night was just as awkward as the start of it.

“Sasuke!” Naruto waved his hands to get his attention, “Sasuke!” When he couldn't ignore him, “You should train with us.”

“Since when were you two close?” Shikamaru asked.

“I’m busy.” Sasuke tried to slip away from whatever training Naruto tricked Shikamaru into doing with him.

The forest trees were lined with a wall of straw dummies with bright red targets on them. Their bodies were littered with sharp weapons. Straw spilled on the earth like blood. Sasuke hasn’t trained since he got home, he probably should join them. Show Naruto what someone with talent can really do with a kunai.

“I told you he wouldn’t want to join us.” the beta yawned.

Naruto threw a kunai right at one of the dummies' hearts, “We’ll be here all day if you change your mind. Oh! Do you want to get ramen afterwards?”

Shikamaru eyed him, but didn’t say anything this time. His former classmate was a genus and saw right through them. He knew they were together from that one interaction. Sasuke had to do something. Say something.

He didn’t.

Sasuke continued his own journey across the village alone. He liked to think like this. There wasn’t anyone around to influence his thoughts. He could just focus on what he wanted.

A familiar laugh made its way across the street, with a ‘cha.’ Of course he’d run into Sakura. She wasn’t alone, it was her and a few girls from their class. They sat outside a cafe cooling down with some iced beverages.

“Yeah,” Sakura whispered, using the sloshing of her drink as cover for her mouth, “Sasuke fucked Naruto on our last mission… Can you believe it?”

With an exasperated sigh, “Does that mean you're finally giving up on him?” Ino had given up on him when she presented as an alpha.

“No! He just did it because Naruto’s easy.”

“Naruto and Sasuke?” Hinata stuttered out.

“Hinata, you know he’s an omega.” Ino felt the need to remind her, “It’s only natural for them to get together.”

“Ino!” Sakura shouted disprovingly at her friend.

“It’s true. Especially for us. We have a clan to continue. Sasuke most of all. Which is why I don’t think he’s serious about Naruto.” she continued, “He’d be better off mating someone like you.” Ino pointed at Hinata with her drink, “Someone with a clan and a compatible Keke Genaki.”

“What about me?”

“You’d make a good mate, too.” Ino wouldn’t say ‘for Sasuke,’ even though that’s how Saura will take it.

“You’re just saying that.”

“Youre not affiliated with any clan. So, whoever mates with you wouldn’t have to worry about stepping on anyone's toes.” Ino noticed him, she must have noticed him for a while, because she bravely asked, “Is it true?”

Sasuke didn’t answer in any meaningful way, he huffed and rolled his eyes disinterested. He should have defended Naruto. For some reason he cared about what they thought about his relationship. He could feel his social status slipping the closer he was to Naruto.

As proud as he is of his family name, he knew what it meant to be an Uchiha before the Massacre. Everything changed after it. He’d been revered as a type of holy son, cleansed in blood from all their sin. Becoming reborn better than the rest. Sasuke carried that chip on his shoulder wherever he went. Always one wrong move from turning back into one of them.

“I knew you were lying.” She turned her head to Sakura.

Instead of addressing it, Sasuke confronted the betrayal, “Why are you talking behind my back?”

“Sorry Sasuke, I didn’t mean to.”

“Tch. Whatever.”

Ino, though crass, was right. Sasuke wasn’t thinking long term about Naruto when he invited him into his life. He was too focused on his obsession with the omega. The way he smiled and made things feel okay. His determination to make his own mark on the world. Sasuke had to wonder if Naruto would actually make a good fit for his future family.

Sasuke was technically the head of the Uchiha Clan. Yet being a child, and Uchiha, meant he had no connections to the other Clan Leaders of the village. Taking in a wife like Hinata would probably be his best bet for the Uchiha Clans longevity.

She was an omega, and the former heir to the Hyuga clan. Their dōjutsu was similar enough to the sharingan, that it would produce strong heirs. Hiashi Hyuga would have a vested interest in keeping her safe and in an elevated position. The Uchiha Clan could probably quickly rise to its former glory, before the dark days, with the older man's guidance.

“Sasuke!” had to confront the reality of being with Naruto, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, dobe.” Maybe he didn’t.

“Really? ‘Cause something felt off earlier.”

“I’m fine.”

“We’ll if you wern’t-”

“I’m fine.”

“-You could always tell me.”

“I told you I’m fine.” His shoulders hunched up in annoyance, Sasuke had to distract him, “Do you want to get ramen?”

“If I ever say no to that question, kill me.” Naruto reached for his hand.

There were too many people around to be comfortable with that, "You're still sweaty from training.”

“Oh.” he whipped his hand on his dirty orange jacket.

Sasuke cringed.

Weeks had gone by, and nothing had changed. They never said the words ‘boyfriends.’ Maybe that was for the best. It felt different now that they were back home. It wasn’t as effortless as it once was in the Mist.

In his dreams Sasuke held the moon in his hands. Haunted by the celestial being. The cold desolate rock would bleed red, squishing into bloody nothingness.

Naruto would hold the sun. The burning ball of gaseous flames would engulf him whole… but he wouldn't be hurt by them. The fire would be a protective coat he’d wear. The omega would smile, and the moon would come back, shining a bright white.

Sasuke never understood what those dreams meant.

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this.”

Naruto paused, for half a second, then pulled up his pants and underwear, “What are you talking about?”

“This. Us.” Sasuke gestured to the space between them, “It’s distracting.”

“Oh… Yeah. I guess you're right.” with tears in his eyes Naruto looked over the tops of trees, to his dead plants rotting on his balcony. He’d been coming over every night this week, and had no time for them.

“It’s not a bad thing. We just both have different goals we're trying to achieve. I don’t think we’ll-

“I’m not fighting you on it. I get it. I hear what they say about us.” He kinda wished Naruto would fight him on it. That the omega would tell Sasuke that he was being stupid, their relationship was more important than their combined dreams. Or even that they could have both, each other and their dreams. But he didn’t say that, what Naruto did say was, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, Team Mate.”

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Sasuke didn’t dream that night.