Log: Complete

[relimited.livejournal.com]

When; 1st January
Rating; PG-13
Characters; Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke
Summary; Sasuke has a little confession to make regarding a certain meeting he’s had. All hell eventually breaks loose, followed by a try at making up again. ...and a date? A trip to the fountain to cap things off~
Log;

Sasuke was sitting on the sofa, caught up in his thought, while Naruto was most likely in one of the other rooms. His unexpected run in with his brother a couple of days ago was still on his mind, there was just something about him that still left him feeling confused. He hated that, sure, he didn't believe his brother, but he couldn't just push it out of his mind. As much as he was trying to avoid it, he knew he had to tell him sooner or later.

It was his stomach that pulled him awake. Though, for the first time, it had nothing to do with being hungry. Instead, he awoke with a look of confusion on his face. Something was wrong. Pushing himself up, his feet slid off of the bed as he stood up. Moving on automatic, he headed out of his room, and toward the front room, where... "Sasuke?" Was this why he'd been woken up? "G'morning." A glance to the clock. "Or afternoon then."

"Hey. Did you just get up?" Sasuke looked towards Naruto, as heard him walk into the room. He inwardly sighed, he figured now was probably a good time as any, if he was going to tell him. The only problem was how...

"Yeah, kinda." After getting back from the New Years party, he'd found it hard to force himself to sleep. Only after a few hours of pacing, and various annoyed words uttered to him, had he managed to get himself tired enough to rest. "You have fun last night?"

"Yeah, I guess, though I was kind of distracted" Sasuke nodded, before letting out a sigh. "Speaking of that...there's something I need to tell you"

So maybe this was why. Nodding his head lightly, Naruto made his way over to the sofa, dropping down into the open seat. "Sure, go ahead." What was the worst he could say?

"A couple of days ago, I met my brother again..." Sasuke trailed off, unsure how to explain what did exactly happen.

"........" He didn't know what to say in response. Oh, there were a million and one questions he could ask, but he had no clue where to begin. Turning away, he frowned, not wanting to barrage the other with questions right away. Just the one and Sasuke could say as much or as little as he wanted. "...what happened."

"Nothing happened, that's why I didn't tell you before" Sasuke paused, before continuing, "I kind of ran into him. I...he didn't do anything. We just talked, I asked him a few things and that was it, really..."

It was clear he didn't fully believe Sasuke, but for now, he'd give him the benefit of the doubt. Why else would he have brought it up if nothing had happened. Not unless...did that mean he actually wanted him to know what was going on? "...did it help?"

"I have no idea. It was just confusing,...the more he talked the less I believed him anyway" Sasuke looked down, honestly, even he didn't get why he wanted Naruto to know, but here he was doing just that "I...just figured you'd want to know"

And so the most important question he could ask finally came out. Turning to face Sasuke properly, Naruto shifted nervously. "...are you alright?"

"Yeah...I'm alright. Stop worrying, already" Sasuke laughed slightly, "As much as my brother was annoying me. I couldn't -- I mean...I told you, I'd keep my promise to you, didn't I?"

"That isn't what I meant." Nonetheless, a smile made its way onto his face. At least he hadn't been physically hurt. But... "Are you alright though?" A step backwards after everything that'd happened was the last thing he wanted.

"Yeah, of course I am" Sasuke nodded. Except for being confused at what his brother told him, right now, he somehow felt better just by telling Naruto, but he didn't mention that part, because even he didn't understand it.

A sigh of relief escaped him as he collapsed back into the seat. "Good." That was all that mattered to him. Sasuke had been safe despite Itachi having been close enough to talk. Well, it meant that both deals were holding up. Sasuke wasn't going to attack Itachi, and Itachi wasn't going to touch Sasuke. At least one thing was going right.

"Yeah, I told you it was nothing, but I guess I just wanted to tell you what happened, anyway" Sasuke couldn't help but laugh, "You worry too much, Naruto"

"Can ya blame me?" he asked, grinning haphazardly at Sasuke. In the entire city, there were only two people he could honestly say he'd do whatever he had to, to protect. 'Had', as opposed to 'could'. To have one of them hurt by something as simple as speaking to another person... "You're okay though, so it don't matter."

"Sure, I can when you're worrying over nothing" Sasuke smirked, "But I'm glad I'm okay too"

Looking back over at Sasuke, an eyebrow raised in response. "Nothin' eh?" A hand reached out, ruffling his hair as he stood up. "Someone has to look out for you, don't they?" And off he went toward the kitchen.

"Hey! Look out for me?" Sasuke glared, half pouting as Naruto reached out to ruffle his hair, before getting up to go to the kitchen "It's bad enough when my brother was doing it when I met him, but I'm not a kid, you know"

Pulling the fridge open, Naruto dug around for a moment, before pulling out a carton of milk. As Sasuke followed him in, he turned back round, cocking his head to the side in confusion. "You're only, what?" He took a moment to try and think back. "13, right?"

"I'm 14" Sasuke shook his head, "I'm not that much younger than you"

Shrugging his shoulders slightly, he turned back, pulling out a glass to pour a drink. "You're still a kid though." And he already regretted saying those few words. "Not that it means you can't take care of yourself though!"

"That doesn't make me a kid, you idiot" Sasuke said angrily. He expected this from his brother, but from Naruto too, that annoyed him. He tried to keep his frustration in, but that completely failed as he hit Naruto.

Shock...and then anger. "What the hell?" Ignoring the dropped glass, Naruto brought a hand up to his face, rubbing painfully at his jaw. That he hadn't expected. But at the same time, he knew he should've. Not that that mattered just then. "You're younger then me. That makes you a kid." Okay, his annoyance was taking over for his brain now.

"So now you're concerned about the age thing, huh?" Sasuke said sarcastically, "You were totally asking for it anyway. You're the one who was telling me it didn't matter, and now all a sudden you're the one making such a big deal of it"

"You're tellin' me that you don't notice it?" He really wished he'd stop talking some time about...now. "You're still Sasuke. The same Sasuke I care about. No matter how old or young you are." It seemed he'd just have to keep wishing though. "But it's still not the same."

"Of course I notice it, sure it got to me at first, seeing as everyone is older than me, and the fact they knew what I do in your time and everything, but...it doesn't change who anybody is" Sasuke shook his head, "...You keep saying that, but it doesn't make me a kid either. You know, if it's not the same, you know, I could do exactly as the Sasuke in your time does?"

His eyes narrowed, all sense of the situation leaving him. For the first time since seeing the other, it wasn't the younger Sasuke he was yelling at. Instead... "Do you think I'd let you?" He re-closed the gap between them in seconds, a hand grabbing the neck of Sasuke's shirt, closing tightly as he forced the boy to his level. "I wont let you give up everything just for your revenge crap. He's not taking your body."

He was taken by surprise as the other grabbed him shirt as he pulled up to Naruto's height.

"Let me? Idiot. You don't own me. I can do whatever I want" Sasuke scowled, and kicked that other hard "I told you I wouldn't. I even promised you I wouldn't go after my brother, all so that you don't get hurt. You were saying it wasn't the same, so to make it the same for you maybe I should"

His grip dropped as he skidded backward, crouching down to stop himself from crashing into the counter. "You're not going to him." Bounding forward, Naruto's arm pressed across Sasuke's throat, pinning the boy against the wall. Narrowed eyes glared into the others, unable to shake his own anger. "I'm not loosing you to him again."

The moment Naruto released his grip, it was only moments later moved closer, and pinned him against the wall. "I didn't say I was going to, or didn't you hear what I just said? You're the one who said it wasn't the same..." Sasuke said, avoiding eye contact with the other.

"How am I meant to trust that." His free hand moved, hitting into the wall alongside Sasuke's head to try and get his attention. "No matter what I say to him. To you. Until Itachi's gone, I can't just believe that you'll leave him alone." And finally, he moved away. "No matter how much I want to."

Sasuke only sighed, as Naruto moved away. Sure, he was annoyed that Naruto didn't believe him, especially since he was actually trying really hard not to yet - why? Even he still understand it but... "I guess you wouldn't. But things are different here...I told you I care about you, as much as I want Itachi to be gone, I don't want anything to happen to you either, Naruto. You...mean too much to me"

He couldn't keep it up. Not just then. Not after Sasuke's admission in particular. The anger drainned from him as he looked away. "...things'll be different when we both get back home. You'll...things will still end up the same way."

"You...why are you so sure thing will be the same?" Sasuke asked, looking towards Naruto.

"...'cause I know you." A sigh, shoulders slumping. "I know that you still want revenge on Itachi and you'll end up seeing the snake as your best choice." But that wasn't the main problem he had. "And I know that, no matter how much I care about you or want to help, it's never going to be enough. You'll still end up turning your back on us."

"Naruto...the fact you care about me and want to help me is enough" Sasuke said, slowly "That's why I'm doing everything I can to keep my promise to you, even though i do still want revenge on brother for what he did...I just can't"

He bit back what would've been his immediate response of 'enough for you maybe', in favour of forcing himself to at least look at the other. "Things will change once we go back to our own times."

"Well, you never know..." Sasuke shrugged, "Maybe things will be different when we do find a way back"

Remaining silent, Naruto merely looked at Sasuke, wanting to be able to believe his words. If only things were really that simple. If only things really could be changed...for both of them.

Sasuke paused, unable to look at Naruto as he spoke "You...still don't believe me, do you?"

"...even if things are better here, when we go back..." He paused, closing the gap once again. Only this time, the anger was lost as he carefully placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Heh, at least things can be different for you guys."

"Yeah, maybe..." Sasuke nodded, though just thinking of going back, it made him wonder if he'd even remember everything that happened here, seeing as he forgot everything when he came back to the city just months ago, which made him think Naruto was right about not believing what he says, but he didn't say that.

"They have to." It was said for both of them. From his point of view, Sasuke had to make sure things didn't happen the same way. But for him, he had to believe that things could be changed. Even if his own time stayed the same, knowing that at least one of them would be happy was more than worth it.

And now to possibly destroy it all. "...why did you get so pissed at me callin' you a kid?"

"Because, you're two years older than me, and that doesn't give you the right to call me a kid" Sasuke frowned

"I didn't mean that you were a child or anything. I just..." had to keep reminding himself that this was in fact a Sasuke from his own past? "...I don't mean anything by it."

"Hm. Well it sounded like you did..." Sasuke shrugged it off, "I get enough of that from my brother, I didn't expect it from you of all people, but it's okay..."

"But yo-" He cut himself off. No point in making things worse than they already were. Especially considering it seemed that maybe things were getting back to normal. "...it's just...gettin' kind of weird..." he finally admitted, an apologetic smile appearing in response.

"...Weird?" Sasuke asked. "You mean our age difference?"

"...kind of." Turning away, Naruto moved over to the broken glass from earlier, using it as a way to keep himself from having to turn back. Picking up the pieces carefully, he continued. "You're from...before."

"Yeah...I know, and you're from another time after just like all the others" Sasuke said, quietly "I guess it would be weird, it's still weird for me too..."

He shook his head slightly, a little amused at the fact that Sasuke still didn't seem to get it. "...yeah." Picking up the last of the glass, and actually managing to do it cut free, he tossed it into the bin, then going on a search for a cloth.

Sasuke just stood there, silently as Naruto picked up the broken glass and threw it away, unsure what else to say to the other.

Finding a cloth, he continued cleaning the mess in silence. Only once he'd actually finished did Naruto turn back to look at Sasuke again, finally plucking up the courage to speak properly again. "You're still Sasuke. That's never going to change. But it's just...difficult, knowing that you're not the same one from my time." Something he was reminded of each time he saw the other. "I guess it just...got to me." The cloth was tossed into the sink as he laughed nervously. "I shouldn't have acted like that though. M'sorry."

"Yeah,...but should you be happy I'm not the one from your time?" Sasuke spoke up, looking at Naruto curiously, "...It's okay. I'm sorry too"

"I am, kinda. I mean...it's hard to explain." Not even he really understood it either. "A lot happened with the other Sasuke that I'm glad hasn't happened with you. But there's...stuff I kinda..." A shake of his head. "It wasn't all as bad as it sounds." But a weak smile managed to escape him. "I guess I kinda...keep forgetting."

"...A lot happened? You mean, after the Sasuke in your time left Konoha?" Sasuke paused momentarily, "Never mind. I probably shouldn't ask if you want to forget what happened"

"Even before that." Everything that'd happened in between their two times had added to their friendship. Even with its outcome, he hadn't regretted a moment of it. Except the whole leaving part, of course. "What do you think of the Naruto from your time?" A sigh. "There's a reason I now consider you my best friend."

"There is? I don't get it, what does what I think of you from my time have to do with it?" Sasuke said, now completely confused by the others words.

This was getting difficult now. He obviously couldn't talk for Sasuke, but at least he could try to explain himself. "When I was your age, I still thought you were just my rival. But then things happened. Now I can call you my best friend."

"I considered you my rival too, but...though I wouldn't have actually said it to you at all back home, it doesn't mean I didn't consider you my best friend despite all the thing I probably said to you otherwise" Sasuke smiled slightly, "...What things happened?"

Now that came as a surprise to him. He hadn't had much of a chance to talk things over with the Sasuke from his time. The fact he was also trying to kill him at the point he'd realised he wasn't hated may've had something to do with it.

At Sasuke's question, Naruto could only smile. There weren't any set moments he could explain. It was really a combination of things that had led to one specific moment that had been the biggest surprise he could've gotten. "You know, you were the one who first said we were best friends."

"Really? I was the first one who said it?" Sasuke said surprised by the fact, he actually said it to begin with.

"Yeah. I said it was like we were brothers, and you said it was that we were best friends." A grin. "I prefer it your way though."

"Hm, yeah. I guess that probably had something to do with the fact I had to kill you,..." Sasuke shook his head, "Or at least though I did..."

"...yeah." He shook himself out of the heavy feeling that'd started crawling its way back over him. Instead opting to shrug it off. "Things are different now though, so it doesn't matter." Even if things went back to normal once they got home, that didn't change how things were now.

"Yeah. You know, when I first met up with my brother a couple of weeks back...he said I obtained the mangekyo sharingan without killing you, since you're still alive in his time" Sasuke sighed "Don't know whether to believe that either, but you're right - things are different now, and I'm going to make sure it stays that way"

With that, though it probably seemed way out of character for him, he reached over and hugged Naruto.

He'd managed to gain the mangekyo without killing him? So did that mean he'd gotten closer to someone else instead? He had a new best friend now? ...Orochi-- His thoughts were cut off at the feel of arms wrapping round him. Eye wide with surprise, he froze only for the briefest of seconds, before drawing his arms up around Sasuke as he returned the hug. He could only smile at that, relishing the fact that the other not only wasn't shying away from it, but he'd actually been the one to start it. "S'what best friends are for."

The fact he was the one who started to hug Naruto, it was a mystery to him, but he smiled slightly as the other hugged him back. He didn't know why or what changed, but he didn't seem to mind, it felt nice for some strange reason, unknown to him. "Yeah, I know..."

At least another problem had been taken care of now. Or at least he hoped so. Even if he knew he couldn't honestly consider them the same person, they were still close enough. The only difference he'd allow through now was that one he could still stay with, the other, he was hunting for. A glance sideways at Sasuke and he nodded to himself. He could very easily get used to this. "...you know I trust you, right? If...if you want to talk to him, you don't have to feel guilty or anything. I'll listen to whatever you want to tell me, not what you think I should know."

"Yeah, I know. I trust you too...that's why I told you a lot of stuff I don't think I've ever mentioned to anybody else..." Sasuke nodded, "You mean about talking to my brother? It's not that I feel guilty,...I don't know. He just ends up confusing me more than helping, with what he does say, especially since I don't know if he's telling the truth or not"

Pulling back a little, Naruto grinned, his arms still wrapped loosely around the other. Why? He wasn't sure. But if Sasuke was okay with him hugging him, then Naruto wasn't going to bypass the opportunity. "...I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me all that though." But the Itachi part... "I don't know how much I can help. You know him better then I do after all. But it's easiest to just ignore most of what he says anyway. If it's important, he'll get the message across somehow." That's how it'd been during each of their meetings so far.

After a few moments, he couldn't help but notice that he still had his arms around the other, pushing his thoughts about why aside so that he wouldn't think too much into it. "Yeah...I guess you're right, I'll just keep trying to ignore him"

A grin, followed by a brief tightening of his arms. "There's only one brother who makes any sense anyway." Of course, the fact that Sasuke seemed to be one of the few he ever really listened to wasn't factored into it.

Sasuke couldn't help but laugh, and smiled Naruto "Right...if you say so"

Finally pulling his arms back, Naruto shifted nervously, a little embarrassed at his previous actions. Well, their previous actions. "...and I promise, I wont call you a kid anymore, okay?"

"yeah, okay then" Sasuke said, as he pulling away from the hug too.

A moment of consideration and Naruto was reaching out once more. Only this time, he was grabbing ahold of Sasuke's hand in an effort to tug him out of the kitchen. "Come on. We're gonna go get something to eat." He tossed a grin back over his shoulder. "It's about time you eat something proper!"

With the sudden tug on his hand and Naruto pulled him out of the kitchen, Sasuke sighed. "Something to eat?...Do we really have to?"

"Uhuh!" He only let go of Sasuke's hand once they had reached the door. Turning back, he pulled off the best pout he could manage. "Don't ya want to eat with me?"

"Alright, already~ I'll come, just stop pouting" Sasuke shook his head, as much as he wanted to say no, he just couldn't "Where do you want to go?"

His response was immediate. Grinning happily, he dropped down to the floor, pulling on his shoes. "I dunno. Anywhere!" And he reached out to grab his coat. "We could go get something and walk round if you'd like?"

"Geez. And you were the one calling me a kid either" Sasuke laughed, "Sure, that sounds good though"

Turning back, he stuck his tongue out in response, pulling on his coat. A moment later, his glove and scarf were added and the door was almost torn off its hinges in the rust to get out. He couldn't help it. He was looking forward to spending time with the other, outside the house. "Come on!" And he was off down the hall without looking back.

Sasuke quickly put on his coat as well, and locked up behind them. He shook his head, muttering something about Naruto only proving his point yet then, before following the Naruto just who took off down the hall. "I'm coming. What's all the rush, huh?" Sasuke said, as he soon caught up with the other.

By the time Sasuke had reached him, Naruto was already adding yet more snow to the snowmen that currently 'guarded' the entrance. "I like it out here. That's all!" Being out in the crisp fresh air, in a place where he could actually feel...relaxed? Well, Aizen had been taken care of. Akatsuki weren't going to make a move. And Sasuke was with him. What did he have to worry about? ...other than the mass-murdering psychopath and the various other nasties that had decided to appear.

Sasuke couldn't help but find all of this a bit funny. He just smiled at Naruto though, "Yeah...I guess so"

Standing back up, he brushed the snow off his gloves, before reaching out once more to grab ahold of Sasuke's hand. "Come on. I know a place you can get these weird flat things. You can have all these different things inside them too." And thus he proceeded to lead the way, oblivious to the fact he wouldn't let go.

Sasuke just followed Naruto as the other grabbed his hand, "Huh? What are you talking about?"

"I've never seen them before I got here. They're like...uh...squished bread that's really sweet. And they smell great! And you can have fruit or icecream or stuff in them." He continued leading the way until a crepe stand loomed into view. "There!"

"Ah...so that's what you were talking about?" Sasuke said, as he saw the stand Naruto was pointing at. He wasn't really fond of sweet things, but he didn't say that, since Naruto seemed so excited about it.

Bounding over to the front of the cart, Naruto was quick to order himself a strange concoction of ice-cream, fruit, and some kind of sauce. Quite what it was once it was made up, no one could tell. Glancing back to Sasuke, he grinned, taking his food from the vendor. "Whatcha gettin'?"


Sasuke looked from the food which was at the cart, then back to Naruto, and he shook his head in response to Naruto's question. "I told you I was coming with you, that didn't mean I was going to eat anything"

Frowning at Sasuke's apparent lack of enthusiasm, Naruto paid the vendor before stepping away. "You've gotta eat something though. That's why we came out in the first place."

"I don't have to..." Sasuke said "I just agreed to come with you, I didn't agree to the eating part"

Aaaand, cue the pout once again. "But you haven't eaten properly in ages. Can't you just try at least? I'll find whatever you want to have."

"Yeah, but I don't w-"Sasuke sighed, unable to finish his sentence. He hated when Naruto did that, pouted like that. "Fine...I guess I could, I don't know though, just as long as it's nothing sweet"

Forcing back his grin of triumph, instead he began looking round for something that Sasuke might want. Sure, his idea of having crepes as opposed to a real meal wasn't the best of ideas. But hey, who was there to stop him. The only reason he was currently looking for somewhere more...normal...was because he knew he was pushing his luck as it was. To try and make him eat some kind of sugar-filled monstrosity would probably be impossible. "How about that?" He pointed over toward another stand, seemingly cooking some kind of meat.

Sasuke shrugged, "Sure, I guess I could eat that"

eading over toward the burger stand, Naruto began eating his own concoction, grinning happily. "What d'ya want?" he asked, doing his best to not make a mess.

Sasuke looked thoughtful for a moment, and quickly picked out some of what he wanted in his burger, which the vendor soon handed over to him, as he paid. He turned to look at Naruto, before he slowly took a bite. "Okay. There...I got something to eat. Happy now?"

His expression told it all. Waiting until Sasuke had tried some of his food, Naruto finally turned his attention back to his melting creation, continuing to eat. Knowing him, they'd probably end up stopping by another vendor at some point, but for now, he was content. Though soon, he was going to be filled with sugar. ...ah.

Sasuke continued to eat the burger in his hand, while they walked. "So, what else did you want to do?" he asked, as he looked toward Naruto.

Turning one ice-cream covered face to Sasuke, he shrugged. "I just wanna stay outside for a while. It's too stuffy in there and there's nothin' to do." A smirk. "Other then tryin' to bug you."

'Yeah, that's true...it was getting pretty boring" Sasuke paused, before taking another bite"...Like that's ever stopped you from bugging me at all"

"Hey, what's that meant to mean?" It felt...good...to be this comfortable around Sasuke again. It'd been a long time since he could've been in a position like this without having to worry about being attacked. "If I didn't, you'd probably end up sittin' around and doing nothing anyway~"

"Nothing. I was just kidding" Sasuke laughed, his expression soon replaced by a sullen look on his face "...Hey. And just what that supposed to mean?"

"What d'ya think it means?" Before he'd moved in with Sasuke, he'd barely even known that the boy had been there. Even talking to the others hadn't yielded much information.

Sasuke finished off the burger, and just shrugged, "I don't know. How the heck am I supposed to know that?"

"The others barely even knew you existed before." Something he didn't fully blame on Sasuke alone though. They were equally as guilty for leaving him alone all that time. "It doesn't matter now though 'cause I'm not gonna let you stay on your own." Well, not unless he needed a break of course.

Sasuke knew that knew that he'd been on his own, even before Naruto came. It was ever since his brother killed their clan and left, he had to learn to be on his own, and after all that time, it just became a habit to him, that most of the time he didn't even realize he was even doing it.

"It's not like it was any different back home, I didn't talk to them that much either" Sasuke said, "...Yeah, I know that"

"...I know," he muttered, a little upset at that fact. And it wasn't for lack of trying on his and Sakura's parts. They did all they could to try and get Sasuke to relax around them over the time, but it'd been a hard task. "But you've got no reason to have to here. Everyone wants you to just be happy." And a pause. "But if that makes you happy, then we can stop."

"Yeah...I guess I don't" Sasuke nodded, though strangely enough, the only person he seemed to be comfortable around was Naruto while he was here "...stop what?"

Smiling gently, a feeling of relief passed over him. Though it was short lived as Sasuke's question reached him. "If you're not happy, or you're annoyed with the way we're all actin', we can stop. If you just want to be left alone."

"I..."Sasuke shook his head "...no, it's okay, I would have told you already if I did want to be left alone."

"Good. 'cause you know you can talk to me about anything, right?" Even if it wasn't something he particularly wanted to hear, he was willing to, if it would help.

Sasuke nodded and smiled at Naruto, "Yeah, I know that"

"You better not forget either!" Eating the last of his food, Naruto did his best to wipe his hands clean, using his trousers as a makeshift napkin. "Is there anywhere in particular you wanna go?"

"As if I could" Sasuke smirked, then shrugged at Naruto's question "Nowhere in particular. What'd you have in mind?"

Well considering his current forms of entertainment revovled around either hanging out with Sasuke, going to see his dad, working on his jutsu, or bugging the others, his choices didn't seem very 'Sasuke-friendly'. "I'm not really sure." And a nervous laugh. Considering he was the one who asked to go out, he was pretty sure he should've been the one coming up with the ideas.

"...You're not sure?" Sasuke said, surprised, seeing as it was Naruto who insisted they go outside, rather than stay back at the apartment.

"Uhuh. I just didn't want to be stuck in the house anymore." And by default, he wouldn't leave Sasuke to stay inside alone either. "Unless you wanna meet up with the others again, everything involves going inside again." Which was the one thing he didn't want to do.

"We have to head back sooner or later you know..." Sasuke didn't want to head back yet though or see the others. "Hm. I don't want to do that, we can just walk around a bit more, until one of us comes up with something else, I guess"

"I know. But it don't mean we have to rush or anything. S'not like there's anything important going on." Heading onward, Naruto walked alongside Sasuke, not really paying attention to where they were headed. Instead, he found himself watching the scenery they passed. "...it feels nice, not having so much going on at once."

"Yeah, I know..." Sasuke nodded, as they walked further into the city, not really paying much attention to what was around him "Hm. Yeah, it is nice, especially after all that's happened previously..."

The fact that there was only one major problem now was an added bonus. Even if the one left also happened to be the same problem that they were both suffering from. There was of course, on other problem on his mind, but that sat with him alone. Well, him and his father. "This is kinda way I don't want to go back."

"Huh? Go back where?" Sasuke asked as he looked over at Naruto.

"I...want to stay here. With dad...and you." He glanced back briefly, smiling apologetically. "It's selfish, I know. But..." A shrug.

"Hm. If you think you're selfish for thinking that, I guess I must be too, because I don't want to go back either..." Sasuke looked up, smiling slightly.

Now that came as a surprise. "Really?" Now if only things could be that simple.

"Yeah, I don't know..." Sasuke shrugged, "It'll just be different going back..."

"...I know." An arm was slung around Sasuke's shoulders as Naruto grinned down at him. "It just means we hafta enjoy it while we can though, right?"

Sasuke nodded, he was surprised as Naruto put his arm around his shoulder, but he didn't mind, like a lot of things when it came to Naruto lately - what it all meant, he wasn't sure, but he'd rather not dwell on it "Yeah, I guess we do..."

Turning silent for a moment, Naruto looked back ahead of them, a trace of recognition passing over him. This was the same fountain that he and his father had met Aizen at a few days previously. It was also the place he'd had his late night meet with Hotaru. So that was two things that'd had good outcomes there. Why not a third?

Sasuke remained silent, and looked around at the scenery around them, along with a fountain being up ahead. It was weird how he was in the city for some time now, and this was his first time being here at all.

"I heard some weird rumours about this place." Though how much of it was true, he didn't know. Of course, now he was there to just relax, there was the perfect opportunity to find out. "You're mean to see things in the fountain~"

"Really?" Sasuke said, curiously, "What kind of things?"

"I'm not exactly sure. I haven't looked yet, and no one has said exactly." Admittedly, he hadn't purposly gone out to ask either. "I guess we'll know if we look."

"Yeah, I guess that's probably the only way we'll find out it is true or not" Sasuke said as they walked closer to the fountain.

"Come on then!" Glancing round at the few people scattered in the area, Naruto made his way over toward the fountain. He hadn't seen anything like it before. An expanse of water, shooting fountains, and lights. Making his way over to the path that seemed to float across the surface, Naruto gave an uneasy smile. Something felt...strange.

"Yeah, I'm coming" Sasuke said, as he neared the fountain and walked across the path just behind Naruto "Do you see anything?"

Leaning on the barrier, Naruto stared down into the water, trying to see...something. He remained as he was for a good few minutes, before shaking his head slightly. "Only my own reflection."

Sasuke remained silent for a few moments as he looked down into the water, shortly after, trying to see if he could see something, but he had no such luck. "Same here. Maybe it was just a rumour after all"

"Yeah, maybe..." But for some reason, he just didn't believe it. Perhaps he was just stubborn, but he wouldn't admit to being wrong about this. He continued looking down at the water, looking between their two reflections, a gentle smile appearing. Even if things were so different between the two Sasuke's, Naruto was determined to not let things remain as they were back in his own time. "I wonder if things'll be different when we go back." ...and a moment later, he found himself staring at an image of Konoha rippling with the water.

Sasuke leaned forward and just continued to stare down into the water along with Naruto, in silence. He blinked, as he saw an image of Konoha staring back at him from the water just as Naruto spoke.

He blinked, rubbing his eyes harshly before staring back again. "Sasuke? Do you..." His sentence died in his throat as the image began to change, showing various different shots of home. ...a home where it seemed that neither he or his friends seemed to be. "What's going on?"

"Yeah. I see it too..." Sasuke said, trying to make sense of the various images being shown in the water as he continued to looked down "Not sure. Maybe the thing you were saying about seeing stuff in the water is true then"

His eyes widened as the scene changed to another familiar view. This time however, it wasn't something he wasn’t happy to be able to recognise. "...Orochimaru's base..." Leaning further over the rail, Naruto watched in silence as a bright blast of chakra lit up the scene. There was a fight taking place, and amidst it all... "...things were meant to be different now." And yet still, it seemed to be the same scene as before. Konoha against Orochimaru, his newer 'minions' ...and Sasuke.

Sasuke watched as the scene changed to something he didn't recognize and hearing Naruto say it was Orochimaru's base meant he was looking at things in Naruto's time. He watched quietly, there was a fight going on,...then he shifted his gaze slightly, finding himself looking an older version of himself. "...It should. I don't know...maybe it's not real"

"But..." That was all he managed to get out before a blur of white moved toward a blur of orange, each preparing attacks to use on each other. It felt almost like deja-vu. A repeat of a certain fight ontop of the hospital a while ago. Only now, their attack were much more advanced, their moves were much more focused. They were there to kill each other. "Stop it." His voice was low as Naruto tried as well as he could to pull his gaze away from the water. Tried, but failed. "Sasuke?"

The scene rapidly changed, all of them still unfamiliar to him as he watched. Both of them were actually trying to kill each other. Sure, back before he came here, that's what he would have done, but things were different. He was different now, and of all things, that was one thing he knew he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do. He heard Naruto say his name, and he reached over to hold the others hand, to reassure him, in a way. "Naruto..."

They were really trying to kill each other. Even after all that they'd been through. What could've possibly happened that would make him even think of using an attack like that against-- His thoughts were cut short at the feel of Sasuke's hand holding his. His own fingers slowly tightened around his hand as he eventually managed to pull his gaze away, a weak smile on his face. "You...you're right. It isn't real. It can't be." Not now especially.

Sasuke looked away as well, and smiling back slightly, while holding the Naruto's hand "Yeah. I wouldn't do that to you, especially after all that's happened here..."

"I guess it must show you things that could've happened if you hadn't come here." Which in that case, Naruto had even more reason to be glad they'd turned up here. Glancing briefly back at the water again, he noted the image fading with each ripple. It was disappearing, so there was no reason to think about it. That was the theory at least. "Things will be better this time round." A nod to himself. "I'm sure of it."

"Maybe that's what it was then" Sasuke said, "Yeah, they will. I won't going to let it turn out like that"

He had to believe that. There was no way that things could turn out the same way they had. Not after everything that'd happened since arriving in the City. Squeezing Sasuke's hand gently, Naruto moved away from the barrier, making sure to not look back. "I know you wont."

As Naruto gently squeezed his hand and told him that, Sasuke didn't say anything and just smiled at the other.

Casting one last brief look over the surrounding expanse of water, Naruto nodded to himself. Even if things didn't change in his own time, at least Sasuke could stop his own from following the same course. "...come on. Let's get out of here."

"Yeah, I'm coming" Sasuke said as turned and walked back along the path behind Naruto.

Heading away from the fountain, and the new bad memories the place contained, Naruto began to make his way back toward the apartment. It wasn't long before his hand was moving back out once again to grab ahold of Sasuke's. "I...uh...I know I asked you about it before, but..." A nervous laugh. "...I wanna...move in with dad still. But I don't wanna move unless you'll come too. But I only want you to move when you're ready. But..." He cut himself off with another nervous laugh. "Sorry. I don't mean that we have to right now, but I...I wanna go as soon as I can too."

As they walked back to the apartment, he didn't even notice Naruto had reached out to hold his hand again, it was like he'd become so used to it now, that it didn't even bother him as much as it would have previously. The more Naruto continued to go on about whole moving in thing he agreed with earlier, the less he liked the idea or kept pushing it aside, mostly because there'd be one more person around, and he didn't like that. However, despite how much he hated the idea, he figured he should just get it over with, since Naruto wanted to.

Sasuke shook his head "No, it's okay. I have been feeling a better, compared to how I was a couple of weeks ago. I guess we can move in a few days then..."

His response was immediate as a huge grin covered his face. In a few days he'd be able to share a house with the two most important people (to him) in the entire city. The trouble was, beyond the previous night, he didn't even know... "Have you met him properly yet?"

Sasuke paused as he thought about the question "...Actually, no I haven't"

And that was something that needed to be remedied first. "You should go talk to him sometime. I'm sure he's gonna like you!"

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah...I guess I should do that at some point"

"It means a lot to me." Especially if they both really did get on as well as he hoped they would. Not only that, but it meant that things would be easier in the long run. Sasuke would know that there was at least one other person he could trust. Of course, that didn't mean he wouldn't be there to help whenever he was needed.

"Yeah, I know it does" Sasuke smiled slightly.

Continuing forward, Naruto turned silent, his thoughts revolving around the upcoming changes that'd take place. Once Sasuke had met Arashi, then hopefully it'd be sooner before they moved in. He didn't want to miss time with either of them, and as much as he enjoyed spending all the time with Sasuke, it currently meant he had less time around his father.

As they kept walking, Sasuke looked forward silently. He still disliked the idea of moving in, he really didn't know how else to feel about that, or why he felt like that to be more specific, but he figured he'd find out sooner or later if he talked to the Yondaime like Naruto wanted him to.

As the apartment building came back into view, Naruto finally looked back to Sasuke. "...uh..." His words failed him for a moment, not sure exactly how much to say to the other. "D'ya mind if I head off to the forest for a bit?" It wasn't that he didn't trust Sasuke. Not at all. But if he mentioned why he was going... He just didn't want to worry him. "I'll be back in time for dinner though!"

Sasuke paused, looking as Naruto suspiciously "No, I don't mind...but why do you want to go there, anyway?"

He simply grinned in response. "I'm just gonna do some trainin'." And other things. It wasn't lying at least. Just...withholding certain facts.

Sasuke shrugged, "Hm. Okay, I'll see you later then"

Glancing over his shoulder to the treetops in the distance, Naruto nodded. "Should only be a few hours, I think." Looking back, he smiled calmly, another tug on Sasuke's hand. "If you need me..." Well, he doubted that would happened, but still.

Sasuke smiled back as Naruto tugged on his hand "Yeah, I know. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine Naruto."

"Even if you tell me not to, I'm gonna." Reluctantly letting go of Sasuke's hand, Naruto stepped back. "S'not gonna change."

Sasuke laughed then let out a sigh, and strangely enough part of him didn't even want Naruto to let go of his hand just then "...Yeah, I know that"

He stepped back to leave, focusing on a certain tag that'd been put in place a few short weeks ago. "I'll be back later then~" His hands moved quickly through a series of seals, the same jutsu he'd been practicing since the moment his father had taught him it. Pausing before his final sign, he ducked forward, placing a brief kiss on Sasuke's cheek. "...thank you...for everything." And, with a bright red face, and a feeling of confusion at his own actions, the final seal was made before he flickered out of sight.

Before he even realized it, he felt Naruto kiss his cheek. He blushed slightly, feeling confused by how he felt and by Naruto's actions, just before he could ask Naruto why he did that, the other disappeared.