Just a little drabble I thought up while on my morning jog. Sasuke ponders his relationship with Naruto. Takes place after the timeskip. It's short, sweet, and a little sad. Enjoy.

When Uchiha Sasuke returned to Konoha at age 16, he wasn't at all surprised by his treatment. Though Orochimaru and the Sound were gone, the villagers still remembered Sasuke's betrayal. Everyone refused to forgive him, even Sakura. Everyone that is, except for Naruto. The blonde dobe had accepted Sasuke back as his friend immediately, despite their differences in the past. Sasuke didn't ask why; he didn't think it was important.

At age 19 when Sasuke was finally able to defeat his older brother, things did not end happily. Sasuke's reward for avenging his family was a poison-tipped kunai to the knee, courtesy of Itachi's dying malice. It was Naruto who found him; unconscious, bleeding, and on death's doorstep. He managed to get the last Uchiha back to the village in time for Tsunade to save both him and his leg, but not without a heavy price; Sasuke's shinobi days were over. After he had retired to a peaceful life in his family's compound, Sasuke wondered how Naruto had found him and why he was even searching for him in the first place. He didn't ask why; he decided that he didn't need to know.

Four years later, when Sasuke's old wound began acting up again, Naruto moved in with his former teammate to help him with his daily activities and take care of him. Sasuke had at first refused, too proud to have anyone help him with such simple things, but it soon became apparent that he couldn't live alone. He reluctantly accepted Naruto's offer. Sasuke didn't ask why the blonde had inconvenienced himself so much on his account; he didn't want to face the guilt and humiliation of always needing his only friend's help.

A year later on Naruto's 24th birthday, the two became lovers. Sasuke didn't understand why Naruto had chosen him of all people; especially when the blonde could have easily had someone nicer, more caring, and most importantly not disabled for his partner. But once again Sasuke didn't ask why; it was nice to have someone warm to hold at night and he didn't want to lose it. He didn't want to be alone.

Many years later when Naruto finally died, Sasuke didn't ask why; he already knew. The stress of keeping a powerful demon like Kyuubi imprisoned had slowly eroded Naruto's body, until at last he just couldn't keep going. Sakura tried her best, but was unable to save him and he faded away into memory along with the great demon. Naruto had given up so much for the Uchiha, even his dream of becoming Hokage, and Sasuke had never bothered to find out why. But now that he was gone, Sasuke realized that he wanted to know the reason. He wished that he had asked Naruto before his death and bitterly regretted his decision. After thinking about it for awhile, Sasuke found the answer reflected in his own emotions. It was so simple, yet so complicated. He knew what he had to do.

When Sakura arrived the next day to check on him, she wasn't surprised to find Sasuke dead in bed. She didn't have to ask why he had chosen to end it; she already knew.

If you didn't figure it out, the reason why is because they loved each other. Please review and tell me what you thought.