Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters, nor do I make any profit from this fanfic.

Warnings: Contains yaoi, sexual acts/situations, spoilers, possibly some violence, and some foul language. If you cannot handle that, then do not read.

Rated: M

Pairing: SasuNaru/NaruSasu

Beta: telracgomesu

Author's Note: Due to the fact that my style has changed over the last three years, especially within the last year and half, I edited much of the past chapters to my liking. Frankly, I'm updating this for the reviewers who weren't rude, for my friends on Tumblr, and more importantly, for me. Thanks to LauraNeatO, greatest-change, and telracgomesu, who listened to my squawking and for being such good friends to me. I'm happy to be able to get this out in time for Nardo's birthday and in the final weeks before the grand finale of the manga.

:

:

Chapter 16

:

:

Hinata closed the gate to the newly rebuilt cow pasture, waving goodbye to the matronly caretaker and her husband. It was a sunny afternoon. Currently staying in the village of Kanto, she, Kiba, and Shino were staying in a boarding house with several other nin who had been commissioned for aid, as the only hotel had been destroyed by the flood.

They had managed to find five herds of sheep, seven herds of cows, and numerous other miscellaneous livestock that had all fled. They'd also found innumerable dead animals along the way. After having found the livestock, they helped the villagers relocate them to new areas near the old farmland, and had helped the farmers build temporary enclosures.

Hinata walked down the short path, back towards the main road, hearing the familiar sounds of hammering and chatter from the busy villagers. Some hung out of soon-to-be-windows, others on top of half-built roofs, while others crossed wooden planks on the upper floors to get from one side to the other. It was a sight that very much reminded her of Konoha's reconstruction after the battle with Pein.

Spotting her teammates at a nearby udon noodle stand that had been one of the first structures to be rebuilt, she approached a smiling Kiba, already waving her over. The locale was small but was big enough to have a few built-in tables and a couple of booths. She scooted into the space Kiba made for her at their table, Shino sitting across from them.

"Is everything alright with the granny and her cattle?" Kiba asked, his mouth somewhat full with udon noodles.

Hinata nodded. "Yes. Both she and her husband are doing well. They said they only lost one cow, which isn't so bad considering some of the others who were not so fortunate."

Kiba shoved the menu near him, towards her. "Have a look. The lady said the udon and pork cutlet were especially good. Shino and I ordered the minced pork though."

Hinata hummed absently as she read the brief menu. Deciding on the pork cutlet, Kiba called the waitress over and she placed her order. They chatted for a few minutes until the waitress brought Hinata her food. She then tucked in heartily, unable to help but wonder if Naruto would've enjoyed this. For him, nothing was better than Ichiraku Ramen, she thought fondly. She continued to chew as she idly observed the busy scenery outside.

"Familiar sight, huh?" Kiba commented, indicating towards the construction activity.

"Oh, yes," she replied with a smile. "Everyone's working well together. Their spirit reminds me so much of our village, despite not being a shinobi village."

"When people are united for a cause, it can be just as potent as the force of shinobi," Shino said, before carefully eating a few pieces of the minced pork on his noodles.

She nodded. "Indeed. It'll take some time but Yamato-san's arrival helped." The ANBU captain had been dispatched by Tsunade as a useful back-up once it was decided that the shinobi rescue teams would stay to aid in the reconstruction for a few more weeks.

"Yeah. But good thing these villagers are so tough. Did you see Yamato yesterday evening? Poor man was exhausted. He may have that amazing wood ability, but he can only do so much at a time," Kiba added.

"Hinata, you said that Naruto had wanted to come?" Shino asked.

"Um, yes. He told me he'd gone to Tsunade-sama to ask her but she denied him. He felt he could've used his clones, but Tsunade-sama said that he needed to accustom himself to putting his village's needs first, which in this case would require him to stay in the village, and to learn to entrust this sort of work to capable subordinates when possible."

"That makes sense. Naruto is often obliging to a fault. Reigning in his impulses will be a difficult task for him," Shino replied thoughtfully.

She smiled fondly. "Yes. It still would've been nice to have had him along. I can't help but wonder how he's doing."

Kiba studied Hinata, slit eyes raking over her face, before shrugging. "Eh, I'm sure he's fine," he said with a dismissive wave. "That guy always finds something new to jump into."

Hinata grinned. "I think you're right, Kiba-kun," she replied amiably, before digging into her noodles once more.

Naruto waved goodbye to Shikamaru as he turned to make his way down his corresponding street. The day had been a busy one, keeping updates on all of the mission logs and residual damage reports on flooding. He'd been introduced to working with the treasury department of the government. All of the countries of the Shinobi Alliance were currently donating what they could to the damaged villages for reconstruction. Tsunade had spent a good portion hammering proper protocol into him, and while he hadn't been too enthusiastic about that, he was interested in the procedure of actual negotiations. It was daunting, but there was satisfaction in knowing one was being proactive for the good of the people.

The sun had already sunk by the time he arrived to his apartment building a few minutes later. As he headed up the stairs, he decided he could certainly go for a warm meal first and then a hot shower. He was just grateful he'd had the foresight to have made enough rice and beef yesterday for leftovers tonight.

He unlocked the door with a sigh, shutting and locking it behind him. He quietly slipped off his sandals and put them in the shoe closet. Passing by the kitchen, he turned on the overhead light before heading towards his room, already unzipping his jōnin vest. Stepping into the darkness of his room, he shrugged off the vest and hastily threw it on the bed, followed by his sweater.

It was as he began tugging up the hem of his mesh shirt that he felt a tell-tale chill go up his spine, his senses tingling. He swiftly turned around, adopting a fighting stance, only to go still with surprise. "Sasuke?"

There was his friend, leaning comfortably against the wall in the corner of his room, arms crossed. His profile was a bit shadowy in the dark, but Naruto could see with what light filtered through his window that the other was dressed in pants and a dark shirt. He looked to be completely unperturbed and a bit smug. Sasuke was just about the only person in the world who could ever manage to sneak up on him these days.

"Don't stop on my account," Sasuke drawled.

Naruto scowled, straightening. "Bastard. Were you just gonna stay there all creepy and silent if I hadn't noticed you?"

"Hn. I could hardly be blamed for your lack of awareness."

"Shut up. The last thing I was expecting to come home to was someone creeping around in my room," Naruto growled. "As if finding you in the living room yesterday wasn't creepy enough."

"You're a ninja, aren't you? You should know better than to let your guard down, Hokage-in-training," Sasuke said with a smirk.

"Screw you," Naruto mumbled with a slight pout. A brief moment passed in which nothing was said, and whereas Sasuke seemed unaffected by the silence, the same could not be said for Naruto. He self-consciously shifted, switching his weight to his other foot.

He cleared his throat. "So what are you doing here, Sasuke?" he questioned quietly, despite having an idea. He sensed, rather than saw, Sasuke's eyes sweeping over him.

"You know what I'm doing here," came his reply, as if reading Naruto's mind.

The low, smooth tone of Sasuke's voice made Naruto's breath hitch. "Sasuke…" He watched warily as the other nin uncrossed his arms and eased off of the wall, approaching him with the panther-like grace he was known for. "Look, I really don't think this is—"

"You got out later than usual," Sasuke interjected, his face now partially visible as he came out of the shadows. Naruto expected him to stop in front of him, but instead, Sasuke slowly walked around him, his gaze lingering on him all the while. It made Naruto feel like prey.

The question catching him off-guard, Naruto licked his lips, fighting the urge to fidget. "Well, I was with baa-chan. She had me working with the treasury all afternoon today. A lot of financial… talk," he replied, hyper-aware of Sasuke's nearness.

"Hn. Must've been exhausting," Sasuke said in a deceptively casual tone from behind him. Naruto could just sense the heat emanating off of the other's body.

"Um, yeah, it was… a little," he managed to reply.

"Makes me wonder."

Naruto swallowed hard. "W-wonder what?" He turned his head slightly as Sasuke came to stop at his side. His breath caught as Sasuke lips were suddenly at his left ear, warm breath feathering along it.

"If you can get it up tonight," came the low murmur.

Before Naruto could react, he was abruptly pushed onto the bed. He just managed to twist onto his bottom before Sasuke stood before him, slipping into the space between Naruto's legs. The light streaming through the bedroom window played along Sasuke's pale face, revealing his haughty expression.

Under normal circumstances it would've infuriated Naruto, but instead he found that he couldn't control the tightening of his own body. Especially when Sasuke's eyes held a distinct predatory gleam in them that no longer had anything to do with fighting. Naruto's hands curled into the bed sheets.

It had been three days since the night he and Sasuke had begun this new "routine" of theirs. Three days since he'd followed his friend's lead, giving into his own desires, and three days since he decided to bear with the internal struggle he had with his own guilt, even as he continued to dive deeper into the sensual abyss with Sasuke.

He inhaled faintly when his friend's hand landed on his shoulder, warming the skin beneath his mesh shirt. Tapered fingers slid downward to slowly draw an invisible line down Naruto's chest. All the while, Sasuke's eyes remained on Naruto's, teasing, testing.

"It's the third time I've pushed you onto the bed," Sasuke said, his voice even lower than Naruto recalled it being a minute earlier.

"Nothing new there. All you do is harass me," Naruto said somewhat breathlessly. He fought not to make a sound when Sasuke's fingers reached the hem of Naruto's shirt, the tips just feathering across the skin of his abdomen.

Sasuke smirked. "I don't see you stopping me."

Naruto let out a soft growl. "Arrogant bastard."

Before he knew what he was doing, Naruto reached upward and pulled Sasuke's face down, crushing their lips together. Naruto's fingers tangled in the other's soft, dark hair, as Sasuke's mouth instantly opened under his. He slid his tongue inside, rubbing it against Sasuke's, before teasing it into flicking against his. Sasuke responded eagerly, readily thrusting his tongue into Naruto's mouth. The dark-haired nin had become wickedly adept at kissing, using his tongue to slip beneath the soft underside of Naruto's and lavishly caressing it.

The blond nin moaned quietly. He could feel Sasuke's other hand now gripping the back of his neck, warm and steady. The sensation was too damn good, and they had only just begun.

Sasuke suddenly broke away from the kiss. "So can you?" he asked, his breathing ragged and his eyes revealing unabashed desire.

Naruto blinked slowly, his mind feeling like mush. "C-can I what?"

"Get it up?"

In a bold move, Naruto reached down to grab the hand Sasuke's had kept on his abdomen and placed it on his crotch, where his considerable bulge could be felt. "What do you think?" he breathed against Sasuke's lips.

He could feel Sasuke's lips curl into a smirk against his.

Sasuke's lips quickly claimed his once more. Their tongues tangled, Sasuke's hand threading through Naruto's hair. Under the overwhelming power of Sasuke's lust, Naruto let him command the kiss, strong, warm hands now cupping the sides of Naruto's head to angle it to his liking. A minute later, the nin was pulling back and reaching down to yank Naruto's shirt up over his head, and Naruto followed suit, quickly doing the same to Sasuke. As soon as they were fully divested of their clothing, Sasuke was on him again, mouths fusing once more.

Naruto moaned as their naked bodies met, letting Sasuke lead him until he was resting flat against the bed, Sasuke now on top of him. As new as the heady sensation of having Sasuke pressed against him still was, Naruto was already becoming accustomed to it. He could feel his own body respond keenly to his friend's sculpted physique on his, hard, hot, and potent between his thighs. Sasuke's skin was like corded silk all over, and Naruto found that once he touched him, it was too damned hard to stop. He zealously ran his hands down the length of the other's back, feeling the muscles shift beneath his questing fingers as he absently took note of Sasuke's length, resting warm and stiff against his thigh.

Meanwhile, Sasuke's hand glided down Naruto's side, fingers aimlessly digging into the tight muscles along the way until they reached Naruto's cock. The blond nin gasped into Sasuke's mouth, the other swallowing the moan that Naruto emitted right after. Any hesitation that had sprung up during their initial encounter had quickly disappeared by the second one, two days earlier. Both were more assertive now, and whether Sasuke was motivated by desire or pride in being better—and Naruto definitely felt it was both—Naruto didn't really mind. Not as long as Sasuke continued to make him feel this way.

His hips rocked forward as Sasuke's fingers wrapped around him, and Naruto's hand slid down to tighten on a firm ass cheek in response. Sasuke released Naruto's mouth, his dark head dipping down to suck at the juncture of Naruto's neck and shoulder. As Sasuke's mouth continued its assault on Naruto's neck, he intently gave his cock a few tugs.

"Sasuke..." Naruto's eyes slid closed, biting his lip, as the arousing, dual sensations assailed him, causing the ache in his groin to intensify all the more.

Suddenly, Sasuke's head lifted, and he was abruptly pulling away.

Naruto's eyes opened in surprise. "What is it?" he rasped, rising up on an elbow as he blearily watched the other dig around the strewn pile of their clothes on the edge of the bed. Sasuke was then against him a moment later, kneeling over him, and holding what looked like a bottle in one hand. Naruto eyed it curiously. "What is that?"

Sasuke scowled, shoving the object in his hand. "You might like having your dick rubbed raw, but I certainly don't," he muttered with no small degree of irritation.

Naruto blinked cluelessly until he looked back down at his hand. He opened his fingers, seeing the label on the front. "Oh," he said dumbly.

He eyed Sasuke then. The other had seemed to find a spot on his forehead much more interesting to look at. The knowledge that Sasuke had willingly gotten such a thing for their… usage, was a strange thing to wrap his mind around.

"You actually went out and bought this?" he couldn't help but say incredulously.

A swift slap to the side of his head was immediately delivered. "Are you going to open it or not?" Sasuke snapped.

"Fine," Naruto mumbled, sitting up.

Sasuke scooted back on Naruto's thighs a bit to give him room. Naruto opened the cap, squeezing a small dot onto the tip of his finger. He curiously rubbed the clear, silky substance between two fingers.

"It isn't hand lotion, you know."

Naruto glared at him. "I know that, bastard. It's just that Ero-sennin used to have this stuff lying around sometimes. He wrote about it too," he said, finally squeezing a liberal amount into the palm of his hand.

Naruto could see Sasuke lift a dark brow. "Not really something I care to discuss at the moment."

Naruto snorted absently. Sasuke's expression did nothing to hide his impatience, and judging by the other's jutting erection only a mere few inches away from his own, Naruto could understand why. His own current state was hardly any different.

Once Naruto tossed the bottle aside, Sasuke shifted closer until their flushed erections met. Sasuke's tip was already damp, much like his own, and Naruto gripped the warm bases with his clean hand as he began to smear the lube onto their cocks. Sasuke's hand rose to grip Naruto's shoulder as Naruto worked the substance in good until the majority of their lengths were slick. Naruto then wiped what residue remained onto Sasuke's side.

Catching the annoyed glance the other sent him, Naruto smirked before giving the other a long stroke that had his friend inhaling sharply. Sasuke's hand soon joined his, and the both of them began to stroke themselves in their joined grip. Feeling the pleasure build in gratifying increments, Naruto decided it didn't feel too bad at all. A little messy perhaps, but the sensation was definitely better than chaffing each other raw.

"How does it feel?" Sasuke breathed, his mouth hovering close to his own. He was breathing harshly against Naruto, and the aroused, concentrated look on his face alone was enough to jolt the already sweet ache pulsing through the blond-haired nin's cock.

Naruto panted. "G-good. Really good." He tipped his face up a bit, and Sasuke's mouth immediately caught his, tongues wet and hot against each other. Naruto wrapped his free arm around Sasuke's middle, pulling him close against him. Sasuke's hips were gradually undulating under their ministrations, and Naruto longed to be able to do the same, but found it difficult in his current position.

In a decided move, Naruto released his grip and moved both hands to clutch the backs of Sasuke's thighs. He released Sasuke's mouth before flipping them so that he had Sasuke on his back. Maneuvering himself between the other's legs, Naruto quickly recaptured Sasuke's lips again before he could protest and began to rock earnestly into Sasuke's erection. Hearing his undeniable moan, Naruto answered with a satisfied one of his own when he felt one of Sasuke's legs wrap around him. The other's arms came around him, hands rising to grip his blond hair tightly.

"Fuck…" Sasuke whispered against his lips. "Hurry up."

Naruto continued to grind against him for another torturous minute until finally heading Sasuke's demand. Trembling from need, he raised himself slightly, before reaching down with his other hand to take their wet cocks in his grip once more. Not a moment later, he felt Sasuke's hand join his, and together they desperately stroked each other, both shinobi gasping and straining against each other. His eyes connected with Sasuke's, the other's appearance being one of utter debauchery, from the dark eyes scrunched in pleasure, to his wet mouth, open and panting. The knowledge that Naruto was the one making him react in such a way continued to floor the blond shinobi, and he could feel himself leaking in response.

The tightening in Naruto's groin became unbearable, and he arched at the sudden feel of blunt nails scratching down his back. That and the tightening of Sasuke's other hand sent him into a lustful tailspin, and before he knew it, his body was jerking on top of the other's as he came with a moan. He was only vaguely aware of Sasuke speeding up the motion of his hand, as Naruto's own had gone slack, and only a few moments later Sasuke was surging beneath him as he reached his own peak with a quiet gasp.

Naruto collapsed on top of Sasuke. Their breathing was the only audible sound as they caught their breath for a few slow minutes. As Naruto came to, he became conscious of the sensation of their lightly damp skin against one another. He could feel the wetness between their groins, as well as the softening of Sasuke's cock against his. He also felt the hand Sasuke had used to clutch Naruto's back slide away.

"You're heavy," he suddenly heard Sasuke mumble beneath him.

Understanding that it was most likely the other's way of telling him to move, Naruto shifted to Sasuke's side, turning onto his back as he woozily ran his clean hand through his hair. He looked over to see Sasuke glance down at the puddle of their release on his stomach and grimace. Knowing it would only be another few seconds before his friend would say something about it, Naruto carefully sat up.

"I'll, um, go get you a damp towel," he said, not waiting for a reply. He walked, reaching the linen closet by the connected bathroom. Mindful of his soiled hand, he flipped on the bathroom light and retrieved the towel from the closet.

He was turning back into the bathroom when a nude Sasuke approached, the sight of him beneath the revealing light, rendering Naruto speechless. There was no doubt as to what the other had been up to, as his cheeks and chest were still somewhat flushed, and his stomach… well, that was beyond obvious.

Sasuke took the towel from him, his look as impassive as ever, although Naruto didn't miss the quick flicker of those dark eyes over his form. "I'd rather shower," Sasuke merely offered by way of explanation, and turned, hanging the towel on the rack and dutifully stepping inside the nearby tub.

The entrancing view of Sasuke's toned ass, flexing with his movement, was cut off when the other drew the curtain shut behind him. A second later the sound of the handle being turned was heard, and the sound of running water snapped Naruto out of his stupor.

Deciding to give the other some measure of privacy, Naruto quickly washed his soiled hand in the bathroom sink, and turned with every intention of going back into the room.

"Where are you going?" he suddenly heard Sasuke say.

He stopped, glancing at the shower curtain. "Um… leaving so you can shower?"

"And soil the sheets while you sit and wait?"

"I won't soil it. I'll just… be careful. Or I can stand," Naruto reasoned.

"Come inside. You might as well get the shower over with now."

Naruto gaped for a second before finding his voice. "Look, don't worry. I'll just wait for you outside the door."

"Don't be an idiot, Naruto. Get in," the other snap.

"Sasuke…" Naruto stared at the shower curtain, feeling a wave of uncertainty claw at him. It was bad enough what they'd already done. He shouldn't shower with Sasuke too, as if it was a perfectly normal and acceptable thing for them to do.

Which was why he couldn't explain how he found himself slowly approaching the tub anyway.

He hesitantly stepped inside, drawing the curtain shut. His mouth immediately went dry as he stood stock-still, faced with Sasuke's back. The other was calmly lathering soap onto his shoulders, a mix of water and sudsy lather dripping down the other's muscular back, as the water beat down in front of him. He watched as the suds languidly ran down the other's backside, and slid down the backs of hard thighs.

It was a surprisingly arousing sight, and Naruto realized rather quickly that if he wasn't careful, he was soon going to show proof of where his thoughts were straying. He looked down at the tub floor, watching the water swirl around his feet, unsure of what to do as he tried to fight off the sudden surge of shyness.

"You act as if I've never seen you before."

Naruto glanced up at the sound of the other's voice. Sasuke was giving him a slightly annoyed look over his shoulder as he rinsed off his side. His wet bangs were plastered against his face, giving him an almost cherubic look.

Naruto scowled. "That's not the issue… completely."

Sasuke scowled, turning. "Quit acting like a blushing schoolgirl. Here," he said, handing him the soap.

Naruto sputtered, indignantly snatching it from him. "I am not a schoolgirl!"

Sasuke suddenly smirked. "But you are blushing."

Naruto felt his face heat up further, stubbornly averting his gaze. "Shut up, bastard. I am not."

He made his way around Sasuke, trying not to react as their sides grazed against each other. Naruto quickly worked up a lather and briskly scrubbed his body, refusing to crack as he cleaned his more intimate areas. He then quickly washed his hair and rinsed off, all the while trying not to picture the other's eyes on him.

When he turned around, Sasuke was already stepping out of the tub. After wrapping themselves in their respective towels, they made their way back into the room and dried off—Naruto a bit more hastily than Sasuke. The dark-haired nin settled for wearing his boxers and a plain black t-shirt Naruto offered him, while Naruto threw on his nighttime boxers and a soft blue shirt.

Upon asking Sasuke if he'd eaten, the other replied no, and Naruto decided to heat up yesterday's leftovers for the both of them. Sasuke sat quietly at the table, looking somewhere off to the side, while he trudged around the kitchen, retrieving the food from the fridge. As Naruto did this, he desperately tried to gather his wits.

Being aware that the continuation of this was precarious was an understatement. He'd thought of innumerable ways to tell Sasuke how he felt, and equally thought of how to ask him where this was all leading to, but every time he opened his mouth to say it, the words wouldn't come forth properly. It was an unusual dilemma for him. It was just all too… new. It was unfamiliar territory he had to tread through.

Their two initial encounters had taken place at Sasuke's house, with Naruto going over both times with noble intentions. Yesterday was the first time Sasuke had approached him at home, catching him off-guard as he had tonight. With each encounter, Naruto had made feeble attempts at serious conversation, but once Sasuke's proximity overwhelmed him, the other seemed to realize this and take full advantage. Although, Naruto had garbled out a few half-hearted protests in between, it had fallen by the wayside in favor of assuaging the sheer physical need he was fast falling victim to, just as it had tonight. Naruto found that aspect of it all to be particularly devastating. This level of intimacy had undeniably brought him closer to Sasuke, and he realized rather quickly that it was frighteningly tempting in its own way. The connection now was so much more intense, and to his dismay, Naruto found that he was weak towards it—towards Sasuke.

When the microwave dinged, Naruto snapped out of his reverie and took out the containers, serving himself and Sasuke on separate plates. A minute later, both men were sitting quietly at the table as they ate their beef and rice along with a glass of water. The food must've been to the other's liking if he hadn't complained up until now, and so Naruto focused on eating. A few minutes passed before the silence was broken.

"You said you were working with the treasury today," Sasuke said, casting him a glance.

Naruto blinked. "Yeah."

"What about?" he casually asked, before taking another bite of his food.

Naruto shrugged. "Well, all of the flood damage caused by the rain has the Alliance donating money to the reconstruction reserve. All of the Kage decided to split funds evenly alongside with donations from private citizens. We had to figure out how much the village itself could give, and then come to a suitable agreement with the daimyō."

"What was the process like? The Fire daimyō's a bit of a hard ass."

Naruto snorted in amusement. "Yeah, he is." For the next several minutes, Naruto explained everything to him, all the while inwardly appreciating the other's interest in his activities. It was an oddly natural exchange, and if Naruto tried hard enough, he could almost imagine that all was normal.

Shortly after, silence had befallen them again. Naruto was finished eating, and he noticed that Sasuke was on his last bite as well. Unsure of how to ask, but knowing he had to, he plunged ahead.

"So, um… are you going home?"

Sasuke set down his chop sticks and returned his gaze with a measuring one of his own. It was a moment before he finally replied. "Do you want me to go home?"

Naruto hunched slightly, his eyes sliding down to watch his fingers fiddle with his chopsticks. He would've preferred a flat out no. Instead, the other was leaving it up to him to make up his mind, making him utterly accountable for the outcome. He took a breath, steeling himself to tell the other to go because it would be undoubtedly best for the both of them.

Instead, when he once again caught the other's enigmatic gaze, he felt himself stall. The temptation of having Sasuke stay the night again, made his heart beat unconsciously speed up. As he stared into those dark eyes, Naruto could steadily feel his resolve threatening to fade away into nothing, making him feel both pathetic and needy at the same time.

Dammit, he couldn't keep letting this happen. He had to say something.

He let out a breath, meeting Sasuke's gaze. "Honestly? I don't know. I… Sasuke, what are we doing?" he asked quietly.

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Nothing we didn't knowingly start together," he replied, his gaze sharp on Naruto's.

Naruto sent him a dry look. "I know that. It's just… this is wild, Sasuke. This is beyond anything that's ever happened between us. I'm still surprised you seem so calm about the situation, meanwhile I'm still trying to wrap my mind around it, around this," he said almost helplessly.

Sasuke's expression didn't give away an inch. "I'm fairly certain we already discussed something similar on the training grounds."

Naruto held up a hand. "I'm not finished. Look, I know you told me that it didn't have to be a bigger deal if I didn't make it into one but…"He shook his head, his face displaying his consternation. "Dammit, Sasuke, that's impossible. How can't I? I'm still in a relationship with Hinata!" he said with a touch of anger.

Sasuke's face tightened fleetingly at the last statement. "Then that should have you considering a few things, shouldn't it?"

Naruto's brows creased in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"As you said, you are in this other relationship," he began, saying the last word as if it were poisonous. "Yet, you are here with me."

Naruto opened his mouth, only to shut it. "It wasn't like I invited you," he eventually mumbled.

"And yet I'd say you still received me relatively well," Sasuke said with a trace of self-satisfaction, his lips turning up slightly at one corner.

The innuendo wasn't lost on Naruto, who could feel his face flush in reaction. "Stop being such an asshole about it, Sasuke. This isn't a game!" Naruto retorted resentfully. He jerked his chair back and stood, grabbing his plate and chopsticks, and headed over to the kitchen in angry strides.

It was either get up or punch Sasuke, and he'd be damned if he'd have to clean the apartment again due to another scuffle. Naruto huffed, setting the plate down a little too hard into the sink and turning on the faucet. He didn't need to be reminded of such things. It was already difficult enough that his mind constantly relived his unforgivable behavior on a daily basis since this all started, and for one reason or another, Sasuke seemed to take some sadistic delight in pointing it out. He washed his plate, thinking furiously of how to resume the conversation effectively while retaining his cool.

However, just as he set the plate to dry, Sasuke's presence was at his back. He swiftly turned around just as Sasuke's arms shot out to grip the edges of the sink at his sides, effectively entrapping him. Naruto tried maintaining his ground at the nearness of the other's body. Their faces were only inches apart and Naruto could smell his soap on the other's skin.

"You are so obtuse. Listen closely," Sasuke said, his gaze unflinching and demanding his attention. "There is nothing for me to be hesitant about, because I know what I want and I've been fairly straightforward with my intentions. You know what you want, but as always, your moral compass has spun into overdrive, influencing you, just as it always does."

Naruto shot him a glare. "How could you even know what I want," he ground out.

"Because in this case, your actions speak louder than your words, Naruto," Sasuke replied, his voice lowering to a smooth murmur.

It had an instant effect on the blond nin, who anxiously licked his lips. His blue eyes didn't miss the other's dark ones darting downwards to watch the action. Their gazes met once more.

"You react to me and you can't help it, but it's always been that way, hasn't it, Naruto?" he said, his face slowly nearing the other's until the tips of their noses grazed each other.

"Sasuke…" Naruto repeatedly swallowed hard, acknowledging with only half a mind the utter truth in the other's words. The familiar tingling of desire in the pit of his gut inexorably flared to life. He could already feel his defenses crumbling beneath the other's allure, leaving him weak with gripping need.

Sasuke tilted his face until their lips just brushed across each other. "Whatever I did or said, you always had a response for it… and now, even in this."

Naruto nearly whimpered at the sensation of the other's warm breath fanning across his mouth. When he felt the sudden gentle swipe of Sasuke's tongue on his lower lip, it was the final straw for him.

Naruto parted his lips and sucked the other's tongue into his mouth. Desperate hands rose to cup the back of Sasuke's head, fingers sinking into the drying strands of his hair. Sasuke's response was immediate, stepping forward so that they were chest to chest. The suction between their mouths was slick and fierce with Sasuke as determined as he was to devour him.

Naruto moaned when Sasuke's hard thigh shoved its way between Naruto's, bringing their straining, clothed erections together. Sasuke's hands lowered from the edge of the sink, one settling in the center of Naruto's back, and the other's rising to grip Naruto's hair. He gave a measured tug on the strands, forcing their mouths to separate with a wet smack.

The hand on Naruto's back slid around until it lowered, coming into contact with the blond nin's bulge. Then in a slow, deliberate move, Sasuke held Naruto's heavy-lidded gaze with his own, and openly palmed him through his boxers.

Naruto panted, his eyes closing, as the sheer eroticism of that moment overcame him. His hands lowered to grip the other's sturdy shoulders. However, a sharp tug on his hair had them opening again. Smoldering dark eyes stared into dazed blue ones.

"Do you want me to go home?" Sasuke repeated once more against Naruto's lips.

Naruto bit his lip, torn between indecision and desire. He was practically trembling against Sasuke, feeling hot and aroused as he'd never been before. The moral compass that Sasuke spoke of was on the verge of coming to a full stop, and it was now pointing in Sasuke's direction.

"Naruto," Sasuke insisted, giving him a purposeful squeeze.

"Fuck," Naruto gasped. "No, dammit! No. Just…" Before he could even finish his sentence, his hands clenched in Sasuke's hair and dragged him into another fiery kiss.

Pleased with the other's answer, Sasuke stepped back, pulling Naruto to him until his hands could properly run down Naruto's back. Sasuke's searching fingers slipped down into the other's boxers, greedily grabbing the other's ass cheeks and giving them a hard squeeze.

Between mutual moans, Sasuke guided Naruto backwards amid a few stumbles, all the while frantically groping each other. When they reached the living room couch, still attached at the mouth, Naruto broke away and jerked Sasuke's shirt up before the other could utter a word. Any lick of good sense he'd had left had vanished like smoke into the air, as he was seized by the carnal spell Sasuke seemed to have cast on him. The need was so strong, he felt as if he'd combust if he didn't assuage it now.

Panting harshly, Sasuke did the same to Naruto with the intention of running his hands over the broad expanse of the other's chest. But before he knew it, Naruto was on him again, his large hands firm on Sasuke's ass and lips attached to his neck.

Sasuke could feel himself grow weak with pleasure. He held Naruto to him, eyes closing and head tilting to the side as Naruto wreaked havoc on the sensitive skin of his neck. One particularly hard suck forced an almost embarrassing moan out of him, the sharp suction sending a piercing ache to his now leaking cock, which strained to be released from the confinement of his boxers. When Naruto's mouth finally lifted, Sasuke recaptured his lips, his hands already gripping at the elastic of the other's boxers.

Sensing the other's intention, Naruto smacked Sasuke's hands away from him and unceremoniously pushed Sasuke onto the couch. Sasuke landed with a soft grunt onto the cushions, his expression somewhat bewildered and annoyed. Naruto couldn't help but smirk a little as he settled on top of him, strong thighs coming to rest on either side of Sasuke's.

"Now who's being pushed around?"

Sasuke offered him a glare as he adjusted his position, hands rising to clutch Naruto's hips to the point of bruising. "Blow me," he snapped, although he could just barely hide his satisfaction in Naruto's quick turnabout.

Naruto cocked his head. "You wish, don't you?" he murmured, his voice deepened by arousal.

A predatory gleam seemed to flash in Sasuke's eyes then. "Is that an offer?"

Naruto huffed. "The day I blow you is the day you blow me, Uchiha," he replied in a rush, sliding a hand into Sasuke's hair and gripping tightly.

"As if you would," Sasuke countered.

Naruto's heated blue eyes seemed to deepen in color then. "Are you challenging me?"

Sasuke's face neared until their noses brushed again. "Actions speak louder than words," he goaded. One hand slipped free from Naruto's hip to squeeze the erection tenting his boxers. "Usuratonkachi."

A hint of red seemed to glow in Naruto's eyes then. Swiftly, he reached down to yank both of Sasuke's hands off of him, his grip firm around Sasuke's wrists as he pressed them into the cushion at their sides. His mouth landed hotly on Sasuke's, lips and teeth clashing briefly, before Naruto pulled back just as suddenly.

"I'll shut you up," Naruto growled, before dipping his head down to reclaim the spot on Sasuke's neck that seemed to drive him crazy.

Sasuke grit his teeth, the ache in his groin doubling as the other bit and licked fervently. As Naruto's face lowered to drift across his chest, briefly licking his nipples in the process, Sasuke struggled to dislodge Naruto's grip on his wrists. His fingers curled with the itch to touch Naruto, the desire increasing with every single caress.

Naruto licked and nipped across the other's chest until he slipped between Sasuke's spread legs, knees settling on the floor. He finally released Sasuke's left wrist, merely grunting once the freed hand shot out to grip his shoulder. Naruto's right hand then gripped the elastic of Sasuke's boxers, his other hand still pinning Sasuke's right. In a decisive movement, he pulled down the material, and Sasuke's erection sprung forth, bobbing up to slap back against his abdomen. Sasuke had barely lifted his hips before Naruto was yanking his boxers down his legs, tossing it somewhere behind him.

With that obstruction taken care of, Naruto now readily gripped the warm base of Sasuke's cock. Giving it a reverent pump, the thin layer of skin over it slid back easily, and Naruto absently heard the other's sharp intake of breath. Absurdly, he couldn't help but think that the other's length was almost pretty, just like the rest of him. It was neither too big, nor too small, and bright pink with arousal. Both men watched, transfixed, as a trickle of pre-cum dribbled from the head.

Naruto then glanced up at Sasuke, catching the barely-contained anxious look on his face. Urged by the lustful gleam in the other's dark eyes, Naruto leaned forward and gave a tentative lick to the side. The taste wasn't too bad, considering, but it was worth trying just to see the way Sasuke's eyes widened slightly before nearly sliding shut in pleasure.

Led by his natural curiosity, Naruto began to lap at the head as he stole glances at Sasuke's face. He felt Sasuke's hand slide from his shoulder to grip the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the hair at his nape. Growing even more confident, Naruto then carefully engulfed the head with his mouth. He watched as Sasuke let out a quiet gasp, his neck arching and eyes sliding shut. The grip on Naruto's nape tightened.

The image was inspiring, making his own aching length pulse in his boxers. Right then, Naruto was hit once more with that primitive desire to claim Sasuke however possible. He had Sasuke naked and trembling, responding to his actions, and the knowledge ignited some intrinsic necessity within him that he couldn't control. He explored relentlessly with his tongue, flattening it against the side of Sasuke's cock, and moving it across the slick length as he massaged it with his mouth, unmindful of the bit of saliva that dripped from the corner of his mouth.

Sasuke's eyelids felt as if weights had been placed upon them. He struggled to keep them open as steady pangs of pleasure washed over him. The moist heat of Naruto's mouth was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before, but the sight of Naruto on his knees, blue eyes gazing up at him as he sucked him down, amplified his arousal in a way he hadn't thought possible. He bit his lip hard, abs flexing as his hips shifted with the urge to thrust into that mouth.

When Naruto finally released his other wrist in favor of gripping Sasuke's hips to hold him still, Sasuke's hand found purchase in Naruto's hair, both hands now digging into the other's scalp. Naruto continued to suck aggressively, bobbing his head, and making Sasuke's toes curl restlessly into the floor. Sasuke's breath now came out in short gasps, and he could feel himself speeding towards his climax. He writhed beneath Nauto's hands, inwardly straining to prolong the sensations. But, when he felt one of Naruto's hands grip the base tightly, only to slip down further and give a squeeze to his sack, Sasuke knew he'd lost. Arching high against the cushions, he came with throaty groan in Naruto's mouth.

Naruto was momentarily taken aback when the salty sting of Sasuke's cum hit his tongue, but he quickly recovered to swallow most of it. Slowly releasing the other's cock, he wiped what he hadn't managed to swallow from the corners of his lips and chin with an arm. He rested his face along Sasuke's thigh, his lips and jaw smarting a bit from fierce usage, but he found he didn't mind it much. Not as he got to watch Sasuke quiver in the aftermath of his orgasm.

The other looked drained in the best way possible, his eyes closed, and chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Underneath Naruto's hands, the skin of Sasuke's thighs was somewhat damp with perspiration.

A minute later, Naruto shifted. His ignored erection was becoming a bit painful now, and he placed a hand over it, grimacing. Sasuke was still slumped against the cushions and Naruto worried his lip, eventually deciding he'd go take care of it quickly in the bathroom. But, as he rose, Sasuke's arm shot out to pull him back on top of him. Surprised, Naruto braced his hands against the other's chest.

"Sasuke? I thought…" His voice trailed off when he felt sluggish hands jerk his boxers down, freeing his straining cock. Naruto suddenly hissed when Sasuke hurriedly began to pump him with a hand.

"You still haven't cum yet," he could just hear Sasuke murmur.

Feeling Sasuke's other hand grab a handful of his ass, Naruto threw his head back and moaned. "Shiiit."

Sasuke was only a few strokes in when, before he knew it, Naruto was cumming onto Sasuke's hand and abdomen. The much-needed release seemed to sap Naruto of his own strength and he slumped on top of Sasuke, his face burying itself into the crook of Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke's soiled hand settled on Naruto's thigh, and his other hand hadn't let go of his ass.

It was another minute before Naruto came around, his face lifting until they could wearily stare at each other. Naruto suddenly glared, face flushed and lips swollen from their activities. "You bastard. I knew you wouldn't blow me," he said hoarsely.

Sasuke blinked repeatedly before tiredly smirking. "Hn."

Sasuke hadn't bothered to correct him then. It was during the middle of the night, when they were side by side in Naruto's bed, that Sasuke finally fulfilled his end of the bargain after a brief slumber. And it was only because he felt like it, of course.

Sasuke had roused while Naruto remained sleeping. Having recovered, and his body instantly responding to the warmth of the one near his, Sasuke turned onto his side. Since Naruto's back was to Sasuke's front, Sasuke snuck a hand across Naruto's side, beneath the blanket, and gripped the other's sleeping length. Leisurely fondling it, it wasn't long before the limp member came to life in his hand. Sasuke sensed when Naruto woke after shifting restlessly against him for a long minute.

Naruto turned his head to look over his shoulder. "Sasuke?" he murmured groggily.

Sasuke silenced him with his lips. As he kept Naruto's mouth occupied, Sasuke jerked him deftly until he had Naruto straining against him, his ass rubbing continually against Sasuke's own revived erection. Sasuke eventually released Naruto's mouth and shifted, pressing Naruto onto his back, where he settled between his legs, spreading them. He was pleased when Naruto offered no protest whatsoever.

He slowly bit and licked his way down Naruto's chest, exercising all of the newfound skills he'd acquired within the last few days. Upon reaching his stomach, he gave a few teasing sucks, fingers digging into the hard abdominals, before lowering to sift through the patch of hair just below. His fingers found the hard cock jutting forth and wrapped around it. With his face now level with his hand, he observed as he gave the pulsing member a measured tug. Naruto was thick and warm in his hand, and he quelled whatever squeamish feelings and reservations he might've had in favor of giving as good as he'd received.

He touched the tip of his tongue to the damp head, acquainting himself with the pungent taste. It was hardly at the top of the list of things that had come across his palate, but the way Naruto's body seemed to shudder in response encouraged him. He slowly opened his mouth and wrapped his lips around the blunt head, noting that it felt even bigger inside of his mouth. He then proceeded to mimic what had been done to him, steadily licking and sucking the other's cock furtively, maintaining a careful suction.

"Ahh… S-Sasuke…" the other gasped aloud.

Beneath him, Naruto began to squirm, his hips rotating so hard that Sasuke had to hold him down with a hand. His other hand occupied itself with holding Naruto's cock steady as he started to bob his mouth up and down over it.

"S-so good," Naruto whispered. One of his hands slid down into Sasuke's hair, pulling it at the crown.

Sasuke felt the unmistakable swell of pride fill him at the words, and he sucked harder, pleased when he heard the other's guttural groan. He realized that the tug of Naruto's fingers in his hair, coupled with writhing body beneath him, served to arouse him almost as much as if he was the one being touched, and he found himself grinding his sensitive erection into the mattress underneath him.

Sasuke continued his oral assault mercilessly, enjoying the mindless babble that seemed to spill from Naruto's mouth. He couldn't help but smirk a bit. Of course Naruto would be vocal in this. Then, remembering what Naruto had done to him, Sasuke released his grip on Naruto's hip to slide down and cup the swell of Naruto's balls.

"Shit, S-S-Sasuke…"

The hitch in his name spurred Sasuke on, and he gave the velvety sack a careful squeeze, before kneading them gently. His eyes rolled up to see the sweetly tortured expression on the other's tanned face, his own member pulsing at the sight of the other's gaping mouth and brows furrowed in passion. Hearing Naruto's pants increase, Sasuke continued the combination of hard sucking and gentle massaging, ignoring the almost borderline pain the tugging at his hair was causing.

"S-Sasuke… I-I'm gonna…" Naruto panted.

Sasuke paid attention to the words with only half a mind as he was intent on bringing the other over the edge, tightening his lips even further on the other's slick cock. That and the tips of his fingers inadvertently ghosting over his perineum seemed to do the trick, and before he could realize it, Naruto was cumming with a shuddering moan, the full brunt of salty tang hitting the back of Sasuke's throat before he could brace himself.

Naruto's hips thrust up so hard that it forced his cock deeper into Sasuke's mouth, more than he was prepared to handle, and Sasuke gagged. He quickly managed to pull his mouth away, coughing a bit. Giving a discomfited glance at Naruto, he found his bed-mate lost in the throes of orgasm, oblivious to him. And so, Sasuke continued to stroke Naruto as he caught his bearings, watching behind watery eyes as the last of Naruto's cum shot over his hand and Naruto's abs.

Once he regained composure, Sasuke gingerly wiped his mouth with his arm, frowning slightly at the flavor in his mouth. That would take some getting used to, he thought with annoyance, but when he took a glance at Naruto's spread body—arm tossed over his face, his chest still heaving with sharp breaths, looking damned corrupted because of his doing—Sasuke couldn't help but feel incredibly proud and triumphant.

Once again, he had prevailed over Naruto's virtuous principles.

He got onto his knees with every intention of crawling back to Naruto's side and seeing what to do about his unflagging erection, but Naruto's hand was suddenly wrapping around his forearm and hauling him back. Then two strong hands were at his hips, pulling Sasuke up over him. Sasuke, forced to straddle him, let himself be manhandled until he was straddling Naruto's upper chest.

Finding balance with his hands against the headboard behind Naruto's head, Sasuke glanced down. Naruto's eyes looked heavy-lidded in the shadows, and Sasuke's dick was rigid, hanging near Naruto's chin. The sight was quite arousing, but Sasuke still managed a scowl.

"Idiot, what are you—

His retort was promptly cut-off by his own unbidden gasp as Naruto gripped his ass and nudged him forward, before sucking the tip of Sasuke's cock into this mouth. Sasuke's annoyance quickly switched into approval.

He smirked, head tipping back as the pleasure spread.

Indeed, he had prevailed.

The next morning, Naruto made his way around the circular hallway of the Hokage office building. The day was bright, which seemed promising to those who had been worried that the rain might ruin outdoor training.

Naruto ran a hand through his hair. Physically, he felt extraordinarily sated, but his emotions were in a tailspin. When he'd awoken earlier, Sasuke had been long gone, just as he had the other mornings before. For some reason, after the intimacy they'd shared the night before, it left a cold feeling in Naruto's gut that further stressed his guilt.

He was ashamed of how far he'd gone in the name of unadulterated desire, but he'd be the biggest hypocrite in the world if he said he hadn't reveled in every moment. He'd lost himself utterly amidst the wild torrent of passion they'd shared. Every consuming kiss, every fiery touch, and every heated look Sasuke had given him was forever burned into the channels of his mind, and he knew that there would be no undoing of that. What tortured him the most was acknowledging how something that was fundamentally—at least, morally—wrong, could feel so incredibly right.

Naruto shook his head, ridding himself of the illicit thoughts. He was going around one of the sharp turns of the hallway when he nearly ran into a familiar figure.

Shoving aside his ANBU mask, Neji's look of momentary surprise quickly changed into one of pleasantness. "Naruto. How are you today?" he asked with a small smile on his handsome face.

Naruto blinked dumbly, feeling a sudden rise of panic. This was exactly the sort of situation he'd wanted to avoid. He took a quick breath, forcing a too-bright smile on his face.

"Hey Neji. I'm good. How are you doing?" he managed, hoping his paranoia didn't show.

"I am well. I was just leaving Tsunade-sama's office. I assume you're headed there?"

"Uh, yeah. You know, gotta get to working and all," he said with a chuckle that sounded weak to his own ears.

Neji's eyes raked over his face, unsettling Naruto more than he'd like to admit. Those pale eyes had a way of discreetly inspecting a person, as if peeling back the layers. Naruto could only hope that the Hyūga nin suspected nothing.

"I see," he replied agreeably enough. "Well then, now that we've come upon each other, allow me to give you this," he said, pulling out a neat letter from his vest.

He held it in front of Naruto, and Naruto took it. Blue eyes skimmed over the indisputable Hyūga insignia scrawled on the front of the folded, tan parchment. He glanced back at Neji questioningly.

"Hiashi-sama handed this to me last night and assigned me give it to you," he explained.

"Do you know what this is about?" he asked, feeling a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Neji shrugged elegantly. "I'm afraid not. However, I'm fairly certain that this is for your eyes only, so I'll be taking my leave. I'll be seeing you around, Naruto," he said with a parting smile. And with that, he lowered his mask and continued down the hallway.

Naruto stared at the letter in trepidation, the bold black insignia staring right back at him. Then, with anxious fingers, he opened the letter and began to read the finely written words that had been inscribed by none other than Hiashi himself. The letter was brief but as he read on, Naruto's eyes grew bigger and bigger.

By the time Naruto was done reading, he could feel his heart rate pick up and the palms of his hands begin to sweat. He stared blankly at the wall in front of him, his mind still trying to process what he'd read. He gulped once, then twice, shifting until his back rested against the wall, the hand that held the letter lowering to his side.

Hyūga Hiashi had summoned his presence for tea at the Hyūga compound for this very afternoon.

Suddenly, in the span of one minute, everything became that much more complicated.