Summary: Naruto and Sasuke aren't happy with their lives. They meet in forest and confess that to each other. How far would they go to make the other happy again? SasuNaru

I hope you will like this and… well read already!

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He could hear… nothing. And it was amazing. Living for so long in Konoha, one of the busiest towns in Fire Country, he had forgotten how it was when nights were calm and quiet. Usually people were yelling or singing at nights when they walked past his apartment, but here everything was so different. The air around was warm but not hot and it just felt right being here: outside his hotel room where he, Sai, Sakura and Kakashi had decided to spend the night. He didn't feel guilty that the sun was already rising and that the pink haired girl will be freaking out that he wasn't in his room. He didn't care right now, he simply wanted to enjoy this a while longer.

Currently he was in woods just walking around not too far from the little town. The team Kakashi had gotten a mission to go to Lake Country because there had been reported traces of Sasuke here. Of course Naruto didn't let the Hokage alone before she had given this mission to him. But upon arriving here he felt… at peace. There was no war, not even ninjas. The Lake Country didn't approving fighting with their enemies but talking. In fact they had one of the most skilled people who were professional negotiators. He liked here and couldn't even imagine why Sasuke would come here in the first place. Did he try to get this country involved in war? Or did he simply pass by and was already gone?

There were a lot of thing Naruto didn't understand right now and most of them being about Sasuke. He had killed Oruchimaru, Naruto knew. He had seen the corp or what was left of it. Shikamaru had asked him if he wanted to go along to check if the news about the old sanin's death were true and Naruto agreed without thinking. When Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji and Gai had gotten to the Orochimaru's secret layer everything they saw was blood and some limbs. It looked terrible and Naruto remembered how that room smelled of blood. It was simply so much and everywhere. But he tried to not think about it but focus on finding Sasuke. But he was gone. There was actually nothing that would give away that the Uchiha had been there at some point of his life.

The blond ninja also knew that Sasuke had killed his brother. It had been eight days since he found Itachi's dead body on his bed wrapped in sheets, with a note stuck to his chest. Sasuke had asked to bury him with the rest of his family. It had taken a lot of convincing but in the end, Naruto got Tsunade to approve with Sasuke's wish. He was the only one who attended the funeral. But it was okay. Iatchi was a traitor after all, just like Sasuke now. But Naruto didn't care. Even if all the villagers afterwards said that Naruto had helped the missing ninja he didn't care. Sasuke had asked him to do a favour and had trusted that he could do that. In other words, Sasuke had put a lot of hope in Naruto.

But since then there hadn't been any traces of the raven except the one that lead them here. Naruto would lie if he said that he wasn't disappointed. Somehow he had believed that Sasuke would visit him and thank for what he did to get Sasuke's older brother buried next to their parents. But even after those couple of nights awaken waiting for the raven, he never came. The blond wasn't angry with him. The raven hadn't promised anything but it would have been nice if Naruto met Sasuke. It had almost been six months since the last time they met in the blown up Oruchimaru's home where Sasuke tried to kill him. He was a little depressed and he knew it was slowly getting to him. After that he spent more and more time laying on his bed and watching the ceilings. He couldn't understand why would Sasuke want to kill him.

Okay, he knew about that close person killing thing that, he guessed, run in family. If you want to get stronger you have to kill the closest person to you. He knew that. Long ago he had found that out when he went to peek in Sasuke's house few months after he left. He had felt lonely and betrayed and had just wanted to… feel Sasuke again. That was how he explained it. So he often back then and even now went to Uchiha's little town in Konoha and just lied in the younger's raven's bed. That was a nice change after lying in his own bed for so long. Somehow, he didn't remember anymore how, he had found that secret scroll, but he read it not thinking about it much. It was meant just for Uchiha clan but all of them where dead or missing so he thought he could look. It wasn't like someone would get angry.

So he already knew about that, but disagreed. He had tried to tell that to the Uchiha but he didn't listen but instead tried to kill him. Again. Naruto, on the other hand, thought that you could get stronger only if you let people who you care about close enough to become vulnerable. That meant you trust them and they trust you. Naruto thought that others make you stronger. The Uzumaki wasn't blaming Uchiha for thinking how he thought. He even understood that. He had lost all his family for nothing and everything that was connecting him to them was that scroll. The blond was sure that if Sasuke would think about it harder he would understand that what he was doing was wrong. Running around and trying to get revenge to the entire world for hurting him. Revenge didn't solve anything. It just made everything worse. He knew that too. After Jiraija's death… it felt like he had lost everything that was keeping him alive. And Sasuke again wasn't there. But even when Nagato died he still felt lost. Actually he hadn't get ride of those feeling till today.

That was why he found this quiet place so relaxing. There he could think and no one was mocking him with stupid questions. So he took step by step deeper in the woods. From time to time he touched a random tree to feel its texture and breathed deeply to smell the fresh air around the green plants. He enjoyed being alone. Then he didn't have to act like everything was alright. Like he still believed that he could bring Sasuke back. Of course he still believed that Sasuke will come back to him one day, but he wasn't sure that the village would accept him. He had done… stuffs over the years that the Hokage or the councillors didn't like. Naruto was aware of that. Jiraija often talked to him about giving up on Sasuke because he wasn't the same person anymore. But Naruto never, ever listened to the old man. He would never do that. Even if he was tortured and someone was holding kunai to his head making him choose-Sasuke or his life. He would always choose Sasuke, because his life without Sasuke wasn't… how he wanted his life.

He stopped and leaned back against a tree closing his eyes. He was trying to imagine Sasuke's face. It had been long time since he had seen it in real life, but that never stopped him from seeing it in front of his eyes perfectly. The smell of the raven hair and rough hands that had once been soft like his own. His voice that was always so emotionless and that smirk that only Sasuke could pull off. Those eyes… he loved everything about that man. Even if he was damaged inside or evil and everything he wanted from him was to kill the blond, he couldn't make himself to stop the feelings. It was exactly like Sakura's love toward Sasuke. Even if she said she didn't love him anymore, she still did, and everyone knew that. She just liked to be all though and hard. But inside… she was like a flower, which was waiting to be taken.

But Naruto wasn't like a flower. No, he was like Sasuke. He too was evil and selfish and killed people. Maybe not yet, but he knew one day the councillors will force him and he will have no other chose then to obey if he didn't want to be thrown out of the town and called monster.

The old guys had threatened him once. He had second thoughts about killing that Akatsuki guy named Kakuzun and the old fucks had came to him and said they would make everyone who he loved hate him. They said a lot of bad things and in the end he gave in. He killed that guy to save his own life. It was pathetic and he hated it. He still remembered the tears on his cheeks and the smell of his vomit, because he felt sick of himself. He woke up every night after that trying to convince himself that he had done the right thing. But he doubted that even a man like Kakuzun deserved that.

That was why he was out here. After all that time… no he still hadn't forgive himself. And he would probably never be able to. It just wasn't right. Ninjas should protect others who are weaker then them not kill those who are stronger so they could become stronger. It was all fucked up. Naruto sighted. He really hated his life. All the bad things he had done and the rest of the things he hadn't been able to do. He wasn't a good person. He couldn't be anymore.

But he was startled out of his thoughts by low chuckling and raised his head to meet with dark brown eyes. He stared for a long time listening to the chuckling sound that turned into a smirk until that too vanished. This wasn't real, right. His imagine was probably just playing tricks on him. There was no way that Sasuke was now standing in front to him, his hands in his dark pants pockets and that gayish white shirt changed to a simple dark blue one. Much like the one he used to wear when he was a kid.

Naruto wanted to call out, insult him but he couldn't. He was tired to act like that was something he enjoyed. He just did that to prove that his feeling toward the other hadn't changed. That they will always be friend but the truth was that Naruto didn't want that. He wanted to be something more.

-I thought I sensed your chakra, -Sasuke said slowly not receiving the reaction he had expected from his younger team mate.

Naruto frown. He hadn't sense Sasuke's chakra, then could it be that Sasuke wasn't even here? That this was his mind again. It had happened once before, but then he had been sick. Or is this reality? And Sasuke had learned how to control his chakra really good or using some kind of jutsu? Okay, this was confusing.

-Sasuke? –Naruto asked carefully and that made the Uchiha chuckle again. In his option the dobe hadn't changed at all.

The blond man pushed off the tree and took a step closer to the other. He wanted to touch him to make sure, but wasn't brave enough. He had wanted to touch the raven for years now but he had never been given a chance like that. But the closer he came the bigger his hopes grew because Sasuke didn't step back. He didn't even glare. That was enough for Naruto to jump the taller guy, wrapping his hands around those perfect shoulders and burying his face in that strong chest.

The hug wasn't turned back, but that was fine too. Sasuke at last hadn't run away.

Naruto deep down felt like crying. Maybe Sasuke was ready to come back to him. Maybe he still had some chance to spend the rest of his life with that teme even if not the way he wanted to. His hands grabbed Sasuke's shirt tighter when he felt the raven move back a bit. He wanted to cry out "Don't leave me, I need you" but that sounded like something Sakura would do, so he just tightened his hold again.

Sasuke's hands came up to somehow save his shirt but the blond was grabbing it too harshly.

-Let go, dobe,

-Don't call me that, -The blond answered weakly but let go anyway. He took a step back so he wasn't in Sasuke's personal space not listening to that little voice inside him, that yell that he would like that. He still didn't know what Sasuke felt toward him, because he hadn't had time to ask or the courage. When it came to the raven he often didn't have enough courage.

Naruto's blue eyes look straight into the black one's and sighted happily. Sasuke defiantly had the best timing ever. Right when he felt sad and forgotten he shows his lazy ass and makes Naruto feel all better. Only the raven could do that to Naruto.

-Why are you here, -Naruto chose his words carefully, to not make the other think that he wasn't happy about this.

-Walking, -Was Sasuke's short answer but truthful. Thought about Sasuke trusting him enough to say that made him smile. God, how he had missed the older man. –You?

-The same. I like… this place, -Naruto didn't meant to hesitate, but he had meant to say something else. He wanted to say that he liked that they had bumped into each other and that Sasuke wasn't trying to kill him. But in the last second he changed his mind. That wouldn't be the right thing to say.

-Why's that, -Sasuke liked to talk short. But Naruto had always thought that he wasn't as antisocial as he acted. That he liked talking when he didn't have to talk. Naruto had spend a lot of missions with Sasuke by his side talking about everything that came to his head and not once Sasuke had said him to shut up. Maybe he didn't look like he was listening either but Naruto felt like that wasn't the truth. The raven liked if someone was talking to him.

Naruto breathed slowly. Sasuke was the old he. –Everything here is calm. No war, no fighting, no ninjas. It's like these people don't know what that means, you know. I thought Konoha was a peaceful place, but… this is so much better. –It didn't go unnoticed how Sasuke's face shrinked a little by the name of the town he grew up.

But other then that his face stayed emotionless. Like always. They stood there, Naruto looking at the man he loved but the said man looking past him in space. Yeah, old Sasuke did that often too. The silence wasn't uncomfortable or awkward. Just a silence. It was fine with Naruto as long as Sasuke was here and didn't try to leave.

There were things he wanted to ask, but didn't know how to say them. And plus he didn't want to scare Sasuke away. But he wanted to know…

-So… -Naruto started but was cut off by the raven.

-Did you bury Itachi next to my parents? –And those black eyes were back on blue orbs.

-Yes. I had to fight for that a bit but everything is how you asked. It looks nice… I even afforded to plant some flowers and bushes so it wouldn't look… lonely. –Naruto finished with eyes on the ground. He didn't know if he should have done that or not, but the graves had looked so alone. No one was coming to put flowers by them anymore so Naruto thought he could plant some. Then at last it would look like Sasuke cared about his family till he gets back to left flowers by their graves in person.

Sasuke hn'd. Naruto wanted to ask why did he want to bury them next to his parents. He thought Sasuke hated Itachi and would never allow that. But other words made their way out of his mouth when he opened it.

-Are you happy now?

Sasuke blinked and Naruto opened his mouth to say sorry but he couldn't. He wasn't sorry about asking that. He wanted to know if the revenge had helped Sasuke. If he was coming back home now. But the Uchiha just stared, the only way how Uchihas knew to do it. His face didn't show any traces or irritation but his eyes were furious. And before Naruto could register any movement Sasuke was having him pressed against a tree, fingers digging in his shirt. Naruto couldn't reach the ground, Sasuke was so angry that he had lifted him up, but the younger blond didn't felt scared.

Sasuke sneered from anger and his fingers slowly made their way over to his troth and pressed it hard. Naruto felt the air leave him and his eyes widen a bit, but still Sasuke wasn't using enough strength to strangle him. It was uncomfortable and hurtful but not a treat to his life.

-Well… -He choke out breathlessly making Sasuke's black eyes turn into sharingan and glare at him harder. –Are you! –He yelled at the top of his lungs what wasn't a lot. It still sounded like someone talking only a bit lauder. He accidentally spat at Sasuke that made the said raven wipe the saliva away from his face and letting Naruto breath easier for a moment.

The air around them was heavy. Sweat dropped from the back of Naruto's neck because of Sasuke's hot hands. And the raven's face was so close to his that their noses were touching. He was positive that the other was hot too from his warm breath on his face.

After the intense silence in which Sasuke's hands twiched couple of times hardly leaving Naruto alive, Sasuke softened his hold but didn't take his pale hands away. Still glaring he sighted and shook his head. Naruto's eyes slowly widened. He had never thought that the other would actually answer.

-I'm not… I don't know, -He let go of Naruto's neck and turned around looking up at the skies. A tan hand came up to just as tan neck to rubbed it. He had a wish to caught but didn't. He didn't want to draw Sasuke's attention back to him.

There was no surprise that Sasuke now wasn't happier then before killing Itachi. Revenge hadn't help, wow what a turn of action. Seriously, what had the raven thought? That killing someone was going to help him. Even in Naruto's condition, when he had killed a bad man to be happy, he wasn't. Death isn't something you can brought upon others and then forget. Death was a serious deal and no one should have been forced to kill others. Yes, Sasuke was forced. Somehow. The pride of the family asked that. If he wouldn't be an Uchiha maybe Itachi wouldn't be dead right now, maybe Sasuke hadn't left Konoha and maybe… they would be together. But that again was what would be if…

Naruto took one unsure step closer to the dark haired guy and put a hand on his shoulder. No one moved. The sun was rising now and making everything in the forest look red and orange. Everything around them two looked warm and welcoming but them. The time had done its part of the job and now both of them were cold, lonely and unhappy.

-Why don't you let yourself be happy? –Naruto asked in a small voice. His hand on the other's shoulder tightening. –Why don't you come back to Konoha and have a normal life and marry- Naruto swallowed and then continued, -Marry Sakura and have little Uchihas with her? Why don't' you… why do you keep… anger won't help you. –It looked like Naruto couldn't finish one thought when another pop in his head.

But his chaotic rambling went unnoticed when the raven turned round facing Naruto again and putting his own hands on the blonde's shoulders, making him jump a bit. –And you? Are you happy? –The Uchiha asked in rough, low voice. He looked angry again but his hands didn't grab the blonde's shoulders hard.

They weren't standing close to each other and Naruto mentally coursed himself for that. He felt like kissing the other. Maybe to avoided answering the question? But he knew that the older didn't feel the same way he did. He had given up on earning the raven's love, but he would never give up those feeling completely.

Naruto bit his lip when he sensed the hard look toward him. Sasuke was waiting for an answer that he didn't want to give. He swallowed. –I… I'm… not, -He finally got out. –I haven't been since you left me. I… I'm tired of this, you know. Of fighting for… I don't even know why we are fighting. A-And I don't me us-you and me. I mean all the ninjas. Why are we doing this? Following other orders. I want… peace. I-I am tired of being someone I'm not… I just want to live simple life and be happy.

After that they both were quiet, looking in each other's eyes. Naruto could see the understanding in those black orbs. He had been waiting to be understood for all his life and Sasuke did. He had always knew that Sasuke would understand him if he told how he felt, but he had never been strong enough to say something. Instead he had acted like an idiot that doesn't understand pain when all he felt was that.

When they were fighting in the Valley of the End Sasuke had said that he didn't understand how he felt because he had never had anyone to lose. But that was stupid. Naruto had lost everything he could and it didn't matter that he didn't know them. He still wanted parents and family but he will never have them, just like Sasuke. Maybe the raven was right that he didn't understand the pain he felt but he was hurt too. If only had Sasuke get that Naruto missed them too and wanted them too and would do anything to get them back too; that practically they felt the same way.

And now they shared the same feeling. They both were unhappy and the only way out of that was… be together. At last that was what Naruto thought. He felt happier with Sasuke around or when he thought of him. Why didn't the raven just get that it was better to stay in each other present? From the beginning it had been like that. Always together, fighting or insulting the other but always side by side.

Suddenly Sasuke pulled away and his hands fell limply from Naruto's shoulders. He glanced one more time at the blond and turned away ready to leave when Naruto stopped him.

-No, wait! –He wanted to say that he could make him happy but that sounded weird even in his brains. –You can come back to Konoha with us, find a job, restore your clan. Come on! Don't leave me again… -The smaller man hopped the other hadn't heard how desperate he had sounded when he said, "Don't leave me again".

-It's not about going back or my clan, Naruto, -The other answered without facing him. –It's… you wouldn't understand that anyway. You're just… You don't get it! –The wind took the last words and made them vanish along with the one who spoke them.

Naruto blinked and he was alone in the forest with sun now up in the skies but still low. Sasuke had left him again. Which time this was? The young blond stopped counting long time again. He wiped his eyes that had started to water but there weren't tears on his cheek yet, and turned around ready to leave. Sakura was probably worried sick about him by now.

Hopping from one tree to another he soon arrived at the small hotel they had spend the night. Or his team had. Sakura was standing outside the hotel talking fast with Sai but Kakashi just stood future away from them looking around with bored expression.

-Good morning! –Naruto yelled when he came closer. As soon as those words passed his lips he was greeted with a furious glare from Sakura. She didn't even let him breath one last breath before her hands had grabbed his orange jacket just like Sasuke's had done half an hour ago.

-Where the hell where you? –She yelled in his face making him close his eyes from the laud sound.

Naruto's tan hand came up to his head burying itself in blond locks and scratching it innocently. –Well, you know me Sakura! I was looking for Sasuke. I didn't meant to worry you… or make you angry, -He quickly added hoping that won't make the pink haired girl even more angrier. He breathed a sight of relieve when she let go of his jacket and step back a little. At last she won't yell at him anymore. He hated that.

-And what did you found? –Sai asked from behind Sakura, leaning closer to the blond. Kakashe's eyes too fall on him like only just now noticing his present. Naruto felt uneasy to have all of their eyes on him but he was already used of that uneasiness.

He used his good skills in acting to make other believe he was kind of sad. He lowered his eyes and buried his hand in his pants pockets deep, like he was looking for something in them. –He's already gone. I asked around… and an old man said he had seen someone matching the description leave in the direction of South couple of days ago. He's probably now long gone.

After his little fake speech he heard Sakura gasp and Kakashi hn'd sounding a lot like Sasuke's. He still didn't face them like he was embarrassed to do that, but he wasn't. He just wanted Sakura and everyone else to think that he was sad that he had disappointed them.

-Then… what are we suppose to do now, -Sai asked after a pause, bringing others out of their thoughts. Naruto already knew answer to that question. He wasn't allowed to go far away from the village so they weren't allowed to go future then Lake Country. They will be forced to go back to Konoha and Sasuke will have time to vanish completely from here.

Naruto knew what he was saying was wrong, that he shouldn't have lied, but right now he cared about Sasuke more then about Sakura. Honestly he had always cared about him more.

More then a month after their return to Konoha Naruto had gotten another mission. Spite Hokage's anger about giving Naruto it the blond took it nonetheless. He hadn't had a mission for more then two weeks and the ones he had had was so simple. And he was tired of guarding the West gates of Konoha with Yamato. That man wasn't a friend of Naruto and he wasn't fun either.

But the mission he had got was too easy and he was forced to go with Kakashi's substitute sansei anyway so most of the time it was boring. It had taken him four days to complete it because of Yamato's worries that something might happen if they hurry. They often relaxed and every night on the mission they spend in hotels, not even being allowed to go outside. When they finally had gotten back Naruto was sick and tired of the man's talks and voice in general, so everything he wanted was to get home, take a long shower and maybe eat ramen. And never see the woodman again.

The night they had returned back was calm. There were a lot of clouds in the skies so Naruto couldn't see stars that always relaxed him but the moon was bright above the Hokage tower. He hadn't missed Konoha much. He was happy to get away from it. With the Akatsuki and Madara running around and treating everyone with another war no one in the mine Fire Country's city could breath easily. All the ninjas were jumpy and villagers were worried about receiving news that the evil man had accomplished his wish. But outside of the village people weren't that annoyed and angry. They were open to new people and calmer.

But noon less Naruto wanted to get faster home. He missed his bed and his small apartment and his friends. He didn't even know how much he missed the routine he had live in before he left for the mission, but now it was like his skin was scratching with excitement of being home.

He was standing in front of his apartment doors and fishing his key out of his bag. After a while of looking for it, he finally pulled it out and put it in the locker, turning it and opening the doors. His apartment hadn't changed much. Well, it hadn't changed at all. Everything was how he left it and after locking the doors again he dropped his green bag on floor next to doors and keys on the small table near. Then he get out of his sandals that had become uncomfortable from all the walking, making his feet hurt. But nothing he couldn't deal with.

When that was done Naruto opened the doors that connected his living room with the small hall where his front doors was, and his eyes widened a bit. Across from the small living space with couch against one wall and a table, fridge and counters to the other was his bedroom. But what shocked him was the light that was on. He could swear that he had turned the light off. He even doubled checked that cause sometimes when he was younger he left it on and then got big electricity bill. That was shity. So why the light was on puzzled the young boy.

He carefully walked through the living room to his bedroom doors that were half closed. With steady hand he pulled out a kunai from his little bag that was attached to his hip and held it high, ready to attack. Then he peered into his bedroom but didn't see anyone. Maybe if someone was in his home their were sitting on his bed that was behind the doors so Naruto couldn't see them. With the other hand that didn't hold kunai he pushed the wooden object open revealing body lying on his back on blonde's orange blanket.

Naruto's breath hitched and he dropped the kunai he heal and rushed by the body. He already knew who was the intruder. He wouldn't mistake that gay shirt with chest revealing, dark blue pants and raven hair anywhere.

-Sasuke? –He gasped when he saw that Sasuke's eyes were closed and something red was socking his white shirt near his shoulder. He reached out a trembling hand to look at the wound but someone else's hand stopped him by grabbing tan wrist roughly. That made the younger in the room jump but relax when his eyes looked straight into black. –Sasuke. –He repeated.

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So… I think there will be two more chapters or maybe one. Then I'll see. If I won't be lazy then two. So see ye next time… hopefully. :)