Author's Note: Thank you very much to everyone who has read, reviewed, favourited or followed this fanfiction. It's taken five years to finish, and even the Naruto manga has managed to finish before it *sweatdrops*. But here we are at the finale, finally! Again, thanks for reading this and hope you have enjoyed it :)

Switched Chapter 12

The icy winter winds were howling through the bare branches of the trees, and the ground was covered in a thin layer of frost and snow. It was December and one of the most eventful years of Sasuke's life so far was finally coming to an end. It seemed so strange to think that a year ago, Team Seven didn't exist, he wasn't on civil terms with Naruto or Sakura at all, the Chūnin Exams hadn't happened… he couldn't believe that it was only a couple of months ago that he gotten stuck in Naruto's body…

"Oi jerk, stop ignoring me! No wonder you're so gloomy if you keep getting caught up in your own thoughts like that!"

Naruto's voice blasted through Sasuke's eardrum and he barely restrained himself from throwing a punch at his teammate's face, which was far too close to his. "Naruto, can you not yell in my ear like that?! I've got good hearing and I don't want to lose it thanks to your idiocy," he growled, glaring at the orange-clad Genin.

"Well, if you'd replied the first time I wouldn't have had to," Naruto retorted, "but I had to do something when you ignored me for the fifth time, dattebayo!"

"Hmph," grunted Sasuke in response. The two Genin had been resting against a couple of trees for the last few minutes after completing their new daily running routine (designed by Might Guy). Naruto had learned it from Rock Lee two weeks ago and Sasuke had joined him after Kakashi had commented that both of them needed to improve their physical stamina as they undertook longer and more strenuous missions. Sakura was participating too, but that morning she was studying with Tsunade instead.

"I was considering pulling your scarf to get your attention," Naruto began, "but-"

"-fortunately decided strangling me was a terrible idea," Sasuke finished for him.

Naruto gave him a sheepish grin before beginning to stretch his limbs. "Anyway, I guess I can't really have a go at you for getting lost in your own thoughts, since I was too," he said. "I was thinking that I can't believe that only a couple of months ago we switched bodies! Man, now I look back that was one hell of a weird time. Like, how did we even get caught up in that mess and then somehow get through a joint mission with Team Eight? Crazy."

Sasuke nodded his head in agreement. "Actually… I was thinking about that too. And everything else that happened this year…"

As Sasuke's voice started to trail off, Naruto gave him a light smack on the back. "Hey, you're going back to your own little world again! You always focus too much on the past Sasuke, why not try focusing on the future for once? Think of all the exciting things that are gonna happen to us next year instead!" he grinned. "Or how about thinking about what's happening right now? I was gonna go find Kakashi-sensei and see if he had some more advice about improving stamina, wanna come?"

"Not today, I… planned to go train with Hinata," Sasuke replied, feeling a little embarrassed as he saw the evil grin stretch over Naruto's face as it did every time he mentioned the Hyūga heiress. Despite the dobe's general obliviousness, he had noticed that Sasuke and Hinata had been training together over the last three months, and unfortunately for Sasuke been teasing him mercilessly about it since. "Awwww, going to train with your girlfriend?" he snickered.

"For the last time dobe, she's NOT my girlfriend!" Sasuke snapped back, wishing there was some jutsu he could learn to stop his face heating up every time the topic was brought up. "She's merely a sparring partner who happens to be female. We're just friends, nothing more, nothing less."

"Bet you wish you were more than friends."

"Shut up Naruto! I've told you before, I don't have any sort of stupid crush for her, or anyone else for that matter." Sasuke scowled at him.

"Then why do you go bright red and get so wound up about it?" Naruto cackled. "If it annoys you so much that she isn't your girlfriend, why don't you ask her out?"

"Because I don't want a girlfriend, moron. I've got more important things to focus on, like getting stronger and completing higher ranked missions," retorted Sasuke, folding his arms and looking away.

Naruto smirked and gave an exaggerated sigh, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, sure. I'm gonna head off now," he replied, walking back towards central Konohagakure. "Have fun on your date!"

"It's NOT a D- gah, forget it," fumed Sasuke, resisting the urge to lose his cool and play straight into his teammate's hands. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he sighed while beginning to make tracks towards the usual spot he trained with Hinata at.

Naruto's childish teasing had hit a sore spot. It had taken a few weeks for Sasuke to admit to himself that maybe he did consider Hinata as a little more than just a friend. It had taken even longer for him to acknowledge that spending time with Hinata outside of training wouldn't be detrimental to his progress as a shinobi, and that he secretly liked the idea quite a lot. And every so often, in the moments between sleeping and waking, he had dreamt of holding hands and moving closer…

'But that's all they are, dreams. Hinata only has eyes for Naruto,' thought Sasuke, clenching his fists. 'Get over it. There's no point in asking her out if she doesn't feel the same way.'

'Are you sure about that?' another part of his mind considered. 'Maybe if you ask her and she says no, you can move on…and if she does…'

'Like hell she does. Hinata's gotten better at talking to Naruto recently. And over the last few weeks, she keeps getting awkward with me at weird moments, so she's probably recognised how I feel and doesn't know what to do about it,' thought Sasuke, until an idea hit him.

'Hey… if Hinata does already know, then maybe getting everything out in the open could be for the best. Clear the air and move on. Maybe she won't want to train together anymore'-his stomach lurched at the thought-'but I can always find a new sparring partner. And maybe Hinata won't mind.' That last thought was likely wishful thinking, Sasuke acknowledged.

Winter had transformed the 53rd training ground into a bleak, frozen wasteland. Frost-covered posts and targets with fresh kunai marks were dotted around the field, and the branches of the empty cherry blossom tree stretched menacingly into the sky. The only warmth to be found was the two teenagers, red-faced from cold and exercise, huddled together on a bench.

"Are you sure you don't want any help opening it?" Hinata asked gently as she watched Sasuke struggling to open a lunch box with his shivering fingers.

"I'm good," he grunted in return as he managed to break open the box to reveal a stash of rice balls and cherry tomatoes. Hinata's eyes narrowed as they flickered between her companion's lunch and her more balanced bento box. "Sasuke-kun, you always make the same lunch, it can't be healthy," she scolded him quietly.

"Hey, there's a good mix of carbs, vitamins and minerals so it's fine," Sasuke replied, preparing to argue back before seeing Hinata's look of concern and changing his mind.

Hinata then spoke up again. "Um, you said you had to talk to me about something important after we finished training today. What was it?"

At being reminded of the decision he had made earlier, Sasuke choked on a large mouthful of rice. "Er," he hesitated, sweat starting to pour out of his hands. Coming up with the idea had been simple and easy, but coming up with the nerve to carry it out was another matter. "I'll tell you after we finished eating," he replied, inwardly cursing himself as Naruto's old taunt of 'Scaredy-cat!' echoed in his mind. "Anyway, you mentioned earlier that Kurenai isn't planning to send your team in for the Chūnin Exams in Iwagakure in February?"

"No, Kurenai-sensei says our team needs to develop more from the last time, as Shino-kun was the only one of us to get through to the finals. Sh-She says we could consider entering the exams next summer, but she would prefer for us to spend at least a year focusing on completing higher-level missions. Kiba-kun w-was angry, as you can probably imagine, but me and Shino-kun think that she was right," Hinata commented. "How about your team?"

"We're definitely not going in for Iwagakure. Actually, I'm not sure what's going to happen to our team," Sasuke replied, his voice getting quieter. "Sakura's studying under Tsunade has intensified as of late, and Naruto told me recently that Jiraiya wants to take him on personally as a student to tutor him at some point. So... it may be possible Team Seven will split up at some point soon."

"Oh," Hinata whispered, her face serious. "What… what will happen if you do? Will Naruto-kun stay in the village?"

"Naruto said that if he becomes Jiraiya's student, Jiraiya intends to train him outside of the village," Sasuke answered, avoiding eye contact with Hinata. When he dared to glance at her face, her expression was one of sadness as he expected but not the one of despair that he had imagined.

After a moment's silence, Hinata spoke. "I-I see. I suppose Sakura-chan would continue as Tsunade-sama's pupil… but what will happen to you?"

"Kakashi says that if Naruto leaves to train with Jiraiya, and Sakura decides to become Tsunade's pupil full-time, he will take me on as a student to continue my development, until Naruto returns," Sasuke informed her. "I'll be assigned to missions with other shinobi, of course, but I'll remain training under Kakashi."

"So… you won't be leaving the village?"

"No, not unless Kakashi changes his mind and I doubt he will."

At this, Hinata breathed a sigh of relief, surprising Sasuke a little. "I'm glad you won't be leaving the village," she said, a bashful smile gracing her face. Sasuke nodded, turning his face away to hide the grin he could feel on it.

"Thanks. I'm sorry about Naruto though. That must really hurt for you." The apology wasn't necessary, but the words tumbled suddenly out of his mouth. The Hyūga heiress just exhaled slightly and continued smiling, although now not as brightly.

"Well… if he does go away it will be sad but it won't hurt as much as it would have a few months ago," she admitted softly, her cheeks starting to darken. "It… It would hurt a lot more if you left, now."

"Huh?" Sasuke jumped, crushing the rest of his rice ball in surprise. "But I thought you really liked Naruto!"

"I-I-I do still like Naruto-kun, it's just that my f-feelings for him aren't romantic anymore," Hinata stammered, blushing fiercely and twiddling her fingers.

Sasuke stared at her, taken aback by this unexpected confession. "But you've always liked Naruto," he blurted out. "What happened? Did you tell him? Did he say something horrible to you?"

"It's tr-true I did like Naruto in that way for a long time. And I do still like him very much. But the nature of my feelings for h-him has changed recently. I didn't say anything and neither did he. I… just don't see him that way anymore… if that makes sense…" Hinata trailed off, eyes focused on the ground.

"…Okay," murmured Sasuke. Having shunned any form of romance for the first thirteen years of life, the Uchiha had had no understanding until recently of how someone might hold unrequited feelings for another person, and even less of how they might change with time. But, he mused, Hinata had spent years longing for a guy with no sign of her affection being returned, so maybe she had decided to finally let go of him.

The air was quiet for a while, before Hinata spoke again. "A-actually, I like somebody else now," she said with a small smile, eyes still fixed on the ground. "So, I-"

"Who?" interrupted Sasuke. The idea of Hinata giving up on Naruto because she had found a new crush made sense, but in an irritating way. 'One of her teammates, most likely. Since he's the most like Naruto…'

"Is it Kiba?"

"N-no, I only see Kiba-kun as a friend," Hinata replied in a surprised tone.

"Then who is it?" Sasuke pushed.

"Um, uh…" stumbled Hinata, as she began to twiddle her fingers. "Ah, you said you had something you wanted to talk about after we finished eating, a-and I'm sure that's much more important and interesting anyway."

"Never mind about that, just give me an answer," retorted Sasuke, his words coming out more harshly than he intended.

Hinata's eyes narrowed. "Sasuke-kun, I don't have to tell you if I don't want to," she said sternly. "It's none of your business."

"Actually, since I like you, I think it is," Sasuke retorted, then froze when he realised what he had just said.

The Hyūga heiress blinked. "S-sorry, what did you just say?"

Sasuke immediately opened his mouth to deny everything that had just spilled out of it, then stopped. "I like you, Hinata. As more than a sparring partner and a friend. So, yeah, I'm interested in who you like," he answered truthfully.

"Oh."

An extremely awkward silence ensued between them. Sasuke glared at the ground, cursing himself for thinking that admitting to Hinata he had a crush on her was going to be anything other than completely stupid. His insides were churning horribly ('Mental note: don't confess anything important after eating') and he decided he was definitely going to research a no-blushing jutsu after he escaped the situation. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, let alone in the eye, until she suddenly spoke.

"S-Sasuke-kun… you're the person I like."

Sasuke's head shot up. "I'm what?"

"Y-you're the person I like," Hinata repeated gently, flushing bright red but finding the courage to meet Sasuke's gaze.

Sasuke gaped at her. "What? Me?"

Hinata looked confused. "I thought y-you'd be used to this kind of confession, Sasuke-kun. I feel a bit embarrassed… that I'm probably just another girl saying the same things you've heard before."

"Not exactly," muttered Sasuke, feeling his cheeks heat up. He'd never gotten accustomed to the onslaught of female attention at the academy, nor understood why he seemed to be the only guy who suffered from it, and Hinata was the first person for whom he'd ever felt some semblance of returning the affection. "I don't really get what people see in me."

"I-I don't really understand why you like me either," Hinata replied quietly. "I'm not a talented kunoichi, I stammer a lot, my hobbies are boring, and I'm not… pretty…" she trailed off, blushing as Sasuke's face shifted closer to hers.

This was the point where Sasuke knew he was supposed to tell Hinata she was completely wrong about herself, that he thought she was wonderful and that he liked her for just the way she was.

But Sasuke had always preferred actions to words, so he kissed her.

As before, Hinata hesitated before beginning to respond, placing her hands on Sasuke's shoulders to draw herself closer. Her lips were as soft and gentle as he remembered, and as he tried to mimic her, he clumsily pushed her shoulders down- and toppled onto her again.

"Crap, I'm really sorry, didn't mean to do that, damn it," Sasuke spluttered as Hinata yelped and broke away from him. 'Fantastic, she must think I'm a complete pervert now,' he chastised himself, wondering whether to make a run for it again before a soft pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders.

"It's okay," whispered the heiress, as she squeezed him lightly. Suppressing a grin, he carefully returned the gesture. Hinata's pink lips stretched into a smile, before opening in surprise when Sasuke took her hands and pulled them both up from the bench.

"So, what do we do now?" he asked once the two of them were standing.

"What do you mean?"

"Uh, are we dating now, going out, that kind of thing?" Sasuke cringed instinctively at the words, embarrassed at what he was suggesting yet hoping Hinata would agree.

"Ah, I suppose so. Although," she continued shyly, "I don't really know what 'going out' is meant to be."

"Neither do I," shrugged the Uchiha. Shunning every possible opportunity to date so had hindered his knowledge of what it consisted of, so he chose to fall back on what he knew best. "Hey, maybe we should go train at a different ground for a ch-"

"Sasuke-kun, training doesn't count!" interrupted Hinata in exasperation, before starting to giggle at her companion's obsession with jutsu. She quickly stopped herself as she saw him grimace and redden in embarrassment. "Um, maybe we could go back to Ichiraku? If y-you are okay with that. And we can split the bill."

"Sounds good and yeah, I'd really appreciate splitting," Sasuke agreed gladly, thinking back to how much their previous outing had cost him. His piggy bank had taken a not-insignificant amount of time to recover afterwards.

"Thank you Sasuke-kun," Hinata nodded, squeezing his hands softly and making Sasuke jump again- he hadn't realised he was still holding them. Releasing them immediately, he registered a peculiar look of determination on Hinata's face, and as he opened his mouth to ask about it, Hinata clutched his hands again and kissed him.

Her lips brushed against his briefly, and it was over as soon as it had started. He gawked at her, stunned by her actions, but then she gave a timid smile and he couldn't stop himself returning it this time.

"Right," he began when he had regained his composure, "wanna start practising the Manipulated Shuriken Technique now? My turn since you've been helping me with elemental chakra control this morning."

"Yes please," she replied happily.

They exchanged a glance, smiles briefly flickering on their faces, and ran off together into the snow.

END