Gaara's car had barely taken off when Sasuke had caught up to Naruto, eyes so furious he could almost swear they were red. "How the hell do you know him?" his voice was icy, sending a small shudder down the blond's spine.

"He's a friend," he tried to sound calm, but he knew it was no use. As soon as their eyes locked he could feel the fine cracks etching deeper, spreading wide to further shatter his resolve.

Sasuke's demeanor was faltering. No matter how coolly he'd reacted to other situations, there was nothing that could've stopped that scowl from twisting its way onto his face which overwhelmed Naruto with a sense of déjà vu. In that moment, incredibly brief with almost went unseen, their dark surroundings melted away and became Konoha, and the young man before him was back in high school.

"Is there anyone on this goddamn planet that you're not attracted to?" the Uchiha asked bitterly.

"FUCK YOU!" Naruto's shout carried into the night air as his fist came across Sasuke's jaw, making pain surge through his already bruised knuckles.

Without hesitation the other boy recovered from his stagger and tackled the blond to the hard ground. Naruto shielded himself, grabbing Sasuke's arms and hurling him to the side to regain control. Before he could get up, Naruto sat on top of him, grabbed a fistful of his hair and slammed his head back into the ground, earning a grunt from Sasuke.

They both remained where they were, panting breathlessly in anger and mingled pain.

"I'm going back to Konoha," Naruto breathed out a sigh. "I can't do this anymore. I don't want to."

Sasuke remained still, his eyes barely visible through his hair tangled over his face, but they seemed to be staring at something far away.

"You should marry Hinata," he almost couldn't believe what he had uttered. "Maybe that's what the play was telling me."

"It's too obvious," the Uchiha muttered irritably at the suggestion. "Anyone can tell that they end up together."

"But—"

"I'm not going to say it hasn't been on our minds." That hurt worse when he heard it from Sasuke. He didn't want it to be true. "I was going to do it, you know," he continued, propping himself up on his elbows to better look into his eyes. "When Itachi told me that I was going to marry her I had immediately resigned myself to that fate."

"I don't want to hear this."

"I would never say so, but I thought about it all the time," Sasuke persisted though he looked as if he was dreading something. "How could I not with time running out so fast. I was going to marry her, have sex with her," Naruto flinched, "have kids and provide for her. I was going to spend the rest of my life making up for the fact that I would never love her."

"Stop," Naruto croaked, shaking his head. "You don't have to do that to yourself anymore."

"And you have the audacity," the other cut in sharply, "the fucking balls to suggest I do it again?"

"I don't know how to help you! Either of you!" he pleaded. "You're such a—"

Sasuke pushed himself up, taking hold of his blond hair and pulling him to meet his forceful kiss, tugging at the younger boy's chin to grant his tongue entrance. Taken aback, Naruto squirmed, unable to kick off of the ground with his legs still straddling Sasuke's waist. His nails dug into the Uchiha's shoulders, the feeling of his tongue against his was so electrifying he didn't know what to do.

He arched his back with Sasuke's other hand clawing at him hungrily, devouring him as if he hadn't eaten in years. Their tongues fought furiously, fingers scratching and tangling themselves for control. Finally, he did it. He successfully pushed Sasuke onto his back again, panting for air. The sight of him was breathtaking and he could not remember a time when he didn't look beautiful. Underneath a starlit night between the haze of fire on their skin, the way Sasuke looked up at him, hands up by his head in surrender, skin flushed and chest heaving slightly labored breath, he was the most stunning person Naruto had ever seen.

"Now what?" Sasuke asked with a raise of his brow.

Naruto shook his head. "I don't know."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "You don't know what you want, do you?"

"And you do?" he couldn't help but sound spiteful. He pursed his lips together, gathering his thoughts when the raven haired boy offered no answer. For the first time since he could remember, he was looking Sasuke in the eyes without feeling weighed down by secrets or guilt. He was much lovelier that way. For once, he was without fear and the realization was oddly soothing. He exhaled deeply through his nose before stating, "You were right. Marianne and I get together in the end."

"Is that your corny way of telling me you're dating your scene partner?" Sasuke grumbled.

He shook his head. "I read past the argument."

The Uchiha sighed with a bored stare. "You're so transparent."

"I love you, Sasuke," he blurted out before he could stop himself. "And I know you love me, too."

He could see the boy beneath him inhale sharply before swallowing hard. Sasuke wouldn't deny it, not when it had become so obvious. "That may be," he started slowly, almost cautiously, "but if it was you, what would you do? All anyone ever talks about it you and Itachi. I was told by everyone around me to deface you on that interview."

"Ignoring my existence didn't make me feel much better."

Sasuke sat up again, clearly frustrated. "You don't get it, do you? The representative who was supposed to speak for us was going to shift the attention away from Itachi by attacking you. You were about to be labeled a whore in front of the entire country, maybe the world!"

He felt a tight pull in his stomach. Sasuke had to stand alone and deny him, regardless of what he felt, in order to protect him. "I'm sorry... That must have been really hard."

"Not nearly as hard as seeing that cover everywhere I go. I'm constantly being reminded of you so..."

It suddenly clicked. "Hinata was the only person you could talk to."

Sasuke didn't answer, dropping his gaze to the ground.

Naruto frowned, knowing that there was no easy answer. "If I were you, I wouldn't do anything if I wasn't ready yet, especially if that means trusting me again." He pushed off the ground, offering a hand to help the Uchiha up. "We could start as friends?"

Sasuke gave a small scoff as he brushed Naruto's hand away and stood. "Friends that suck face and are in love with each other?"

They both laughed and Naruto reveled in the sound of it. "I guess that wouldn't work."

"Afraid not," Sasuke mused.

The blond took another breath. "I still think the best place for me is Konoha. I need to get away from this. I'm nowhere near ready to cope."

"I agree," he said with a reluctant nod.

"I'm sorry for everything," he added, feeling a painful twist in his stomach. "If you'll let me, I'd like to make it up to you for as long as it takes."

Sasuke looked apprehensive for a split second. "I'd like that."

He smiled, taking a step toward him and planting a soft hiss on his lips. "For starters, as awkward as this will sound, I need you to take me to Neji."

The way the Uchiha gaped at him made him feel that he had just turned into an alien before his eyes. "Well, you were right to assume the awkwardness. May I ask why?"

"Would it be going too far to ask you to trust me?"

"It would, but I'll allow it," Sasuke conceded with a more relaxed expression.

It seemed Hinata had joined the others not too far from where he had run off from. They may have been waiting for Sasuke to return with him but Neji and Hinata looked too absorbed in a heated argument to notice him walking up.

"It doesn't matter how many times you repeat it to me," Hinata huffed, "I'm not going to present your proposal."

"You're not doing anyone any favors by being this way," Neji groaned. "Your father wants to hear it from you."

In the year that he had known them, Naruto had never seen them so animated especially when talking to each other.

"Then you do it!" she squeaked. "I don't have that kind of charisma."

"You're just being difficult."

"Both of you shut up!" Naruto yelled over them as he knocked their heads together.

"Naruto!" Hinata gasped, clutching her head as her cheeks turned scarlet.

"What is your problem?" Neji questioned, looking personally affronted.

"Get your head out of your ass!"

"Excuse you?"

"You heard me. Stop rolling over just because they keep looking to Hinata. She is not the answer."

"What are you talking about?"

"How can you not see it?" Naruto laughed as if it had been the obvious solution the whole time. "It's you. It was always you." Neji curled his lip, staring warily.

"You've known all along how to help ITATech, haven't you?" At that, Sasuke turned to look at the Hyuuga incredulously.

"I have some proposals."

"They're not listening to him," Hinata cut in. "They want to hear mine, but I have none."

"Well, you could."

"Neji—"

"Stop!" Naruto shouted over them before the bickering could start. "You're both wrong so get your heads out of your asses!"

There was a loud cackle from behind them where Shikamaru had previously listened silently. Before he knew it, the entire group erupted into an unstoppable fit of laughter that almost brought the blond to tears. After everything they had gone through, especially him, they all at once decided to let it go, echoing into the night and reclaiming their youth.

The smell of pine was so rich it was almost paralyzing. He had stood at the entrance gate to Konoha Academy with a grin plastered on his face. The returning students were gathering there, some already walking towards the dorms, but he wanted to stand a moment longer, remembering how it had all started where he was standing.

Shikamaru's yawn sounded from behind him and he finally turned around. "Well, too bad we're not roomies this year."

"Better luck next time, loser!" Kiba taunted as he gave Naruto an especially hearty slap on the back. "I hope you don't mind but I'm a bit of a slob!" With that he took off down the path to the dorm.

Naruto chuckled. "Something tells me I'm going to mind an awful lot."

"Nah," Shikamaru said as he started down the path as well, "Something tells me you'll just find a way to cope with the smell."

He couldn't help but feel warm at the way his friend smiled at him, only reassuring him that this was most definitely for the best. He turned around, feeling a slight weight on his chest as he looked at Sasuke who was looking at the campus with a forlorn gaze. He had already cut his ties by graduating, but something told him that Sasuke was remembering the exact moment when Naruto took a wrong step in his direction.

"This is for the best," Sasuke murmured as if to himself, "but that doesn't mean you get to skip out on your boyfriend duties or get yourself in detention like last time."

"Why? Are you going to be one of those boyfriends who calls me every night just to hear me breathe?" Naruto jeered, enjoying the uncomfortable face the Uchiha made.

"You're not funny."

"Deny it all you want, you know I'm hilarious," Naruto mocked as he pulled Sasuke to him by the tie. "And you know the only person I could ever go to detention for is you, so I'll behave."

A smile played on Sasuke's lips as he leaned in for a quick kiss before anyone could stare for too long. Without needed to say anything else he turned back toward the car that waited in line with all the others. He had seen this boy walk away from him before plenty of times, but it was different. With each step he felt closer, more assured as he watched him disappear into the black car before deciding to pick up his things and follow his friends. The earth crunched beneath his feet as he marched with determination.

He looked up at the clouds overhead, still blinded by the cracks of shimmering silver that divided the sky. In the end he was going to be stronger for what the world had done. What he had done. And he would be damned if anyone was going to get in his way.

A/N: Why yes, I am a terrible person. I have a slight explanation on the updates section of my page, but don't expect much.

Thus ends the saga of TNWIC and TSL. I had always wanted it to be a simple ending so there you have it, lol. I have actually gone through every single chapter of both stories and edited and added scenes just to clean it up and add to a story that still maintains popularity somehow XD. Yarr!

I would like to thank everyone who left their words of support, kindness, and criticism as it has all meant the world to me, even when I was away and still receiving faves and reviews. You guys are beyond amazing!

I am making a slow return with some stories in the works but I am going to wait until my other unfinished story BTDYK is done.

Thank you all, you've been a lovely audience~

The End