Work Text
Uchiha Sasuke loves Naruto.
Uchiha Sasuke hates Naruto for making his life miserable.
That's what he realised after denying his feelings for the blonde for the whole 6 years before highschool graduation
after being friends with him for 10 years.But Uchiha Sasuke surely loves Uzumaki Naruto.Sasuke was in middle school when all of a sudden he realised that the usual annoying sound of Naruto's laughter was not so annoying anymore. He shrugged it off thinking that maybe he is getting used to it because of the seating arrangement; if Naruto wasn't his benchmate then he would have never found this dork funny and no way in hell his too-much-bubbly-even-at-7am laughter will not sound annoying anymore.
Years passed by but when puberty hit Naruto during the beginning of highschool, all Sasuke could do was gape at him when he would do the reps around the school ground, or rub the sweat off his forehead while his tanned skin looked too good to be true—he blamed his gay ass for all these emotions and the boners—which were just ‘humanly reactions’. Not due to the fact that the glimpse of Naruto's taut abs—whose image was engraved in his mind, which he accidentally saw when he was entering the school gym and Naruto was exiting the gym’s showers at the same time. Not like he was complaining.
The denying thing did a whole fucking flip—or whatever the word is, when on the day of their highschool graduation, Naruto introduced him to Gaara. Gaara was someone he had always heard of from Naruto—a redhead he met online while playing some online game. It was annoying but something tolerable as long as it was just about talks and nothing more. Sasuke buried the jealousy deep inside of him because he thought he should not be jealous over someone who lives a thousand kilometres faraway. It is not like Sasuke had to meet him in real life or worry about something else. Naruto is straight, so why was he so worried?
Gaara was just a friend for two years.
But suddenly on the day of graduation he was so much more.
Something Naruto never even bothered to tell him about.
That was the day he realised some things.
One—Naruto is gay, second—Naruto and Gaara have been dating for a year, third—he loves Naruto.
He loves Naruto. Yes he does. Because the second Gaara introduced himself as Naruto’s boyfriend—the only thing he could comprehend was that he just let the love of his life slip away. Sasuke can still remember the way his heart was beating at an alarming pace when the red head hugged Naruto and placed a kiss on his forehead, eyes full of love. Sasuke could feel the way his jaw clenched upon noticing the PDA, it is not even considered as PDA because it is something even Friends do occasionally. But no one can blame him. if he hates what he saw. Because no one knows what it is like to be neighbours with someone whom he has given his heart to years ago, who just roams in his house as if it is his own but he surely owns the house even if it is indirectly because he owns Sasuke—who has his heart on his sleeve for him. No one knows what it is like to watch your love in someone's arms. No one knows what it is like when you know that you can never have them. No one knows what it is like when they tell you how they find some random girl pretty and you find yourself standing in front of a mirror comparing something which you don't even have.
No one know what it is like to wish that he were a girl just so that he could get at least a fucking chance to show his love that he loves them.
The ironic thing was that you see someone else having them again and the worse thing is—they got accepted the way they were. They don't know what he went through.
But pain was never a competition even if Sasuke tried to get petty and compare it. But Sasuke never was the one who gets petty over such things. Maybe he didn’t deserve Naruto.
It has been 2 years since highschool graduation, and here he is—living the best of his life. Hazardous intake of coffee, a bunch of people who wouldn't leave him alone, fucked up love life because the love of his life is happy with another person and whole stack of college projects which are due next week. He really wished that the sarcasm was not present here, because for once in his life he is tired of doing what he's doing. It was always bearable at one point, no matter what circumstances—you just have to pretend that you don't feel and act cold and things pass by pretty easily.
Life was bearable until it was not all of a sudden. Sasuke always looked forward to college life with Naruto, except for the fact that he never thought that Naruto would end up getting an apartment with him instead of his boyfriend. It would have been bearable if the interaction with him would have been as minimal as Sasuke could manage.
Sasuke is weak when it comes to Naruto, and this is what Sasuke realised when he found himself nodding to every thing the blonde said while he was looking at Sasuke like he hung stars for him; the only thing Sasuke proposed to him was he can stay with him at his apartment because Sasuke didn't want him to get a roomed with any stranger and rent another flat.
Even if Naruto is committed, Sasuke can't help but still feel worried for him and his health. Although Naruto is a 20 year old lad, he still manages to burn the omelettes and they are the only thing he knows how to ‘cook’ apart from that disgusting piece of shit—ramen.
Sasuke regains focus once he hears a ping from his phone finding himself again zoned out during the middle of a lecture.
Without diverting his eyes from the Lecturer who is teaching something regarding medieval artists—which Sasuke has already studied about, he turned over his phone, reading the first notification that popped up.
Naruto: Gaara and I broke up.
Sasuke sucked in a deep breath. Naruto never follows any grammar rules while texting and he can count on his fingers just how many times he previously did this.
Me: Where are you??
Naruto: Home.
Sasuke diverted his eyes from the screen of the phone as his eyes bored holes on the lightened screen of his laptop, hearing the all too familiar blaring of the heartbeat in his ears.This is not a good day at all.Sasuke shut his laptop hastily, packing all of the stuff. Ignoring the stares from other students, he rushed down the lecture hall, exiting the hallway. It didn't take him more than 10 minutes to find himself standing in front of his motorbike. Hands on the knees as he gasped for oxygen, guess he is out of shape due to these classes and never ending projects.
Straddling the bike, He put on the helmet; lungs calming down in the process. He turned the ignition on and let the muscle memory do its thing.
Gaara and Naruto, their relationship was anything but toxic. Even if gaara looks like he is a part of an underground shady business with all that smokey eye look of his, he is kind hearted. Yes, he is because if he wasn't Sasuke would not have let him near Naruto. He always treated Naruto with gentleness, love and so much more. And sometimes Sasuke used to think that maybe god knew that Naruto deserved someone so much more…Sasuke guesses that's why Naruto met Gaara on that online game of his.
However he wonders if this is the same Gaara—whom he entrusted Naruto with; sooner or later it will be clear because if Gaara was the same; he wouldn't have dared to hurt Naruto the way he did today.
Sasuke blinked away the thoughts, finding himself parking the bike in the parking lot of their apartment. Muscle memory is surely something he will forever be grateful for. He took off the helmet and his boots clicked on the floor, the sound echoing loudly. He entered the elevator and punched the 11th floor button. Sasuke’s index finger clicking against the helmet—ring clicking with each impact against the hard metal; Sasuke being impatient with each passing second.
Naruto never dealt well with breakups considering he never randomly dated anyone. The only breakup before Gaara was during the second year of highschool with Sakura—whom he dated for only six months. Sasuke still doesn't know the reason but one thing is for sure; when Naruto gets attached to someone he loves them deeply.
The elevator clicked open and Sasuke left hurriedly, feets moving on their own accord and after ten something steps he found himself standing in front of the familiar door; he punched in the passcode.
1024
Naruto’s and Sasuke’s birthdays. it was 1010 when he first reset the passcode but Naruto said it was too predictable—and being oblivious as ever. It is not likeSasuke had any intention of letting him know that it was him who did the reset, not the previous apartment owner.
Entering the apartment,Sasuke hung his bomber jacket and changed his boots to sliders considering he forgot to wear socks today and the marbled floor will be too cold to step barefoot.
The apartment was eerily quiet, just like the way it is always around this hour of the day. Naruto and Sasuke are always at college around this time but now even when Naruto is here, he doesn't turn on the living room or kitchen lights.
Sasuke let the bag fall off his right shoulder to the empty sofa, walking straight towards the facing doors and opening the left one.
The lights were off. Barely any mess in sight, bed made as if no one has ever laid on it since last night. The low noise of water running was the only source of sound in the whole apartment. His fingers twitching, Sasuke sat down on the bed, eyes staring in front at the mahogany door.
“Naruto.” The raven haired cringed at how loud his voice sounded in the silence.
The sound of water running stopped immediately. A shriek like sound came out muffled and then there was a loud thud followed by a small thud.
Sasuke’s lips curved up slightly.
No longer after five minutes of waiting the bathroom door clicked open, Sasuke’s eyes not leaving the bedroom floor.
He would rather watch the white marble floor rather than come across a sight of half naked Naruto because even though he is so tempted to watch him, he doesn’t prefer to oogle his bestfriend who was committed to someone else and even if he isn’t currently—that doesn’t give Sasuke a right to be creepy. He has his own values and he’d rather not cross them. He can tolerate anything but being the reason someone cheats on their partner, and it is not like Naruto ever wants him to look at him like that because Naruto doesn’t like Sasuke that way and will never even think about it.
“Bastard! Why did you have to scare me like that—my ass hurts–ow!” Sasuke can hear the barely concealed hiss, as he blinked lazily; eyes still at the white marbled floor.
I should not be rude to him today.
Are you okay, Naruto? yeah this will work, right?
“Usuratonkachi, not my fault you keep forgetting there is a thing called roommate.” Sasuke tsked.
Great. Just Great.
I really hate my brain-to-mouth filter.
A groan is the only response he got.
“I am wearing a shirt. And um can we not talk about it?” Sasuke immediately looked up.
For a second he forgot what situation he was in due to the fact that after a shower; this Naruto is the most breathtaking Naruto.
Naruto’s eyes caught Sasuke’s, and he found himself getting stilled; intraced due to the azure eyes which felt like they were staring at his soul which laid bare for him but those azure eyes of his were red and a little swollen. Eyes looking straight at Sasuke for a second then adverting the eye contact while all he could do was look at the sadness they held.
“We can not talk about it if you want, for now.” His eyes looked back at me again as I stared at his reaction. His lips morphed into a tiny smile but it was not that genuine the way it has always been.
Are you hiding something, Naruto?
- ☾ -
Two days passed by, and Naruto took a week off from the University. Except for a day after that day Sasuke resumed the classes but checked up on Naruto after every lecture. That day later on the raven haired cooked some ramen for the blonde with a lot of vegetables. Naruto suggested they should watch some movies, and the blonde cried during the sad romantic movies that he picked—and Sasuke pretended that it was the movie that was sad, not the fact that a motherfucker broke his heart. At midnight Sasuke again cooked some miso soup and rice balls. They ate dinner quietly for the first time in months of living. Naruto stared at a spot on the table during the whole dinner and flinched when Sasuke passed a rice ball to him. The raven haired pretended not to notice the not so subtle flinch and ate the remaining dinner. Naruto left for bed at 2 am after Sasuke told him he’ll do the dishes. He washed the dishes, trying his very best to not focus on the muffled sobs. Trying his best to not burst open the door of his best friend’s room and let him cry on my shoulder and let himself be the rebound and help him move on.
As much as he'd like to do the last thing, it is not fair to him. Sasuke would rather love someone from afar than use them when they are at their lowest point in life.
Naruto never brought up the reason why the three year long relationship came to an end all of a sudden. Just like he never did with sakura.
That night when he went to Naruto’s room to keep the water bottle after refilling it he came across a tear streaked sleeping face of his best friend. And that day Sasuke realised that whatever the reason was for the messy breakup, he can never forgive Gaara for doing this to Naruto.
“Sasgay, back to earth!” He looked at Suigetsu and his annoying smile blinked back to reality. Suigetsu recently dyed his hair white with some light blue undertone, and the raven haired still
don't know if Suigetsu should be cocky regarding the fact that he actually pulled off this look. Not everyone looks good with a hair colour as weird as his.
“I told you to stop calling me that.”
“Ay ay, I will once you stop moping around.” Sasuke’s eye twitched at this statement of his.
“I don't mope around.”
“Sure sure”,
Sasuke scoffed and packed his things upon noticing the setting sun from the cafe’s window.
“I will not be available on the weekend, let's do the remaining work on Monday.” He informed Suigetsu who smiled showing a thumbs up.
“Alright Loverboy.”
“Why can't you just say my name like a normal human—you know what nevermind.”
He rolled his eyes at the wink Suigetsu gave in return. Turning around on his heel he walked out of the cafe after splitting the bill in half and buying some chocolate muffins.
Sasuke exited the cafe with his not-so-heavy bag on one shoulder and a bag of muffins. He didn't drive here as the cafe is only five minutes away from the apartment.
Today's day was nice. Cold and chilly for sure but he likes winters.
Sasuke’s phone buzzed indicating an upcoming call and he lazily rummaged through his jeans pockets.
“Hello.”
“Hello otouto, I am back in Tokyo.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke stepped off the subway and adjusted the strap of his bag. The cold air hit him as he walked toward the exit, the chill biting at his exposed skin. He should’ve brought a scarf. Not that it mattered; Itachi would probably shove one into his hands the second he saw him. Typical older brother behavior.
The streets were alive despite the hour. The faint chatter of people, the honking of distant cars, the rhythmic sound of his boots against the pavement—it all blended into white noise. His mind, however, was stuck on something else. Or rather, someone else.
Naruto.
He should stop thinking about him. Should stop replaying the image of red-rimmed blue eyes, the way Naruto’s fingers trembled when he reached for the rice ball that night. Should stop remembering the silence that lingered between them, heavy and suffocating, like Naruto wanted to say something but never did.
Sasuke hated it.
Because Naruto had always been loud—always spoke his mind, always laughed like the world wasn't a shitty place. He wasn’t supposed to sit in the dim light of their apartment, staring at nothing, flinching at the smallest touch.
He wasn’t supposed to look like his whole world had just collapsed.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, shoving his hands into his pockets. He had no right to be this angry, no right to be this protective over something that was never his to begin with. Gaara wasn’t a bad person—Sasuke had told himself that a million times before—but right now, he didn’t give a damn. If he ever saw him again, he didn’t trust himself to not throw a punch.
The café came into view, the familiar glow of warm lights spilling onto the sidewalk. He spotted Itachi easily, sitting by the window with a cup of coffee, long fingers tapping lazily against the ceramic. Even from here, Sasuke could tell his brother knew he was approaching.
Itachi always knew.
Sasuke walked in, the scent of roasted coffee beans and cinnamon filling his senses.
“You’re late,” Itachi said as Sasuke slid into the seat across from him. His tone wasn’t accusatory, just amused.
“I had class.”
Itachi hummed, taking a slow sip of his coffee. “And?”
Sasuke frowned. “And what?”
Itachi tilted his head slightly, studying him the way he always did—like he was peeling back layers without permission. “Your messages were brief. That only happens when something is bothering you.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. “Nothing’s bothering me.”
Itachi raised a brow, clearly unimpressed.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, leaning back in his seat. “Naruto and Gaara broke up.”
The reaction was subtle. A flicker of acknowledgment in Itachi’s dark eyes, a slow blink, a small nod. “I see.”
Sasuke waited, expecting something more. Maybe a remark about how obvious his feelings were, or how he should finally do something about them. But Itachi said nothing. Just sipped his coffee like he hadn’t just heard something that could very well change Sasuke’s entire world.
That was the thing about his brother. He never pushed.
But Sasuke knew the silence was an invitation.
“…He won’t talk about it,” Sasuke muttered after a while. His fingers drummed against the table, restless. “Won’t even mention Gaara’s name. He took a week off from uni, and…” He hesitated, something tightening in his chest. “He’s different.”
“Of course, he is,” Itachi said simply. “He loved him.”
Sasuke flinched at the words.
Itachi’s gaze softened, but his voice remained steady. “It doesn’t matter how strong Naruto is. Losing someone he cared for—someone he saw a future with—isn’t something he can brush off easily.”
Sasuke knew that. He knew that, and yet—
“I hate seeing him like this.”
Itachi smiled faintly. “Then be there for him.”
Sasuke scowled. “I am.”
“No, you’re hovering.”
Sasuke shot him a glare. “There’s a difference?”
Itachi chuckled, shaking his head. “There is. Hovering is just watching from a distance, waiting for him to break. Being there is reminding him that even if he does break, someone will be there to catch him.”
Sasuke looked away, lips pressing into a thin line.
Itachi sighed, leaning forward. “You can’t fix him, Sasuke.”
Sasuke’s hands curled into fists under the table.
“I know.”
And he did. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.
- ☾ -
Sasuke returned to the apartment close to midnight. The lights were off, but he could see the faint glow coming from Naruto’s room. The door was slightly open, just enough to show Naruto curled up on the couch inside, a blanket draped lazily over him. The TV was still on, playing some random sitcom, but Naruto was fast asleep.
Sasuke sighed, toeing off his boots before walking over.
The table was a mess—empty ramen cups, a half-eaten bento, a bottle of water knocked over. Naruto must’ve tried to stay up for him.
Idiot.
Carefully, Sasuke reached for the remote and turned off the TV. Naruto shifted slightly but didn’t wake. His blonde hair was a mess, strands falling over his closed eyes. His face was peaceful now, the stress and sadness from earlier melting away.
Sasuke crouched down beside him, watching.
This was dangerous. Being this close, letting himself feel things he shouldn’t. But Naruto had always been dangerous for him.
His fingers twitched. He wanted to brush the hair out of Naruto’s face, wanted to trace the freckles scattered across his nose. He wanted—
He exhaled sharply, standing up.
Not tonight.
Instead, he grabbed the blanket and pulled it over Naruto properly, making sure he wouldn’t wake up cold.
Then, without another word, he turned off the lights and walked to his own room.
And if he stayed up all night thinking about the boy just a few feet away from him, well…
That was his own problem.
Sasuke didn't sleep.
Not really. He spent the whole night staring at the ceiling, listening to the muffled sounds of Naruto shifting in his sleep, sometimes mumbling things Sasuke couldn't quite make out.
At 6 a.m., he gave up.
With a sigh, he rolled out of bed, ran a hand through his hair, and trudged to the bathroom. He splashed cold water on his face, hoping it would jolt him awake, but the exhaustion clung to him like a second skin.
By the time he stepped into the kitchen, Naruto was already awake, sitting cross-legged on the couch, staring at the TV without actually watching it. His hair was a mess, sticking out in every direction, and he had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders like a cocoon.
Sasuke leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You didn’t sleep well.”
Naruto blinked, as if only just realizing Sasuke was there. He gave him a small, tired smile. “Could say the same to you, bastard.”
Sasuke scoffed but didn’t argue. He stepped toward the fridge, pulling out a carton of eggs and a pack of bread. Naruto watched him, blue eyes curious.
“You’re cooking?”
“Unless you want burnt omelets.”
Naruto made a face, pulling the blanket tighter around himself. “Yeah, no thanks.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes and turned on the stove. The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t heavy. It was…comfortable. For the first time in days, Naruto didn’t look like he was forcing himself to be okay.
Maybe today wouldn’t be so bad.
- ☾ -
Turns out, Sasuke was wrong.
It started with a text.
Naruto had just finished his breakfast, licking the last of the strawberry jam off his fingers, when his phone buzzed on the table. Sasuke didn’t think much of it at first—until Naruto’s entire body went stiff.
Sasuke’s grip tightened around his coffee mug. “Naruto?”
Naruto stared at his screen, unblinking. Sasuke could see the way his fingers trembled around the device, the way his breathing turned shallow. He swallowed thickly, turning his phone over so the screen was hidden.
“It’s nothing,” Naruto said, but his voice lacked its usual warmth.
Sasuke placed his mug down, his eyes narrowing. “Was that Gaara?”
Naruto didn’t answer. Which was an answer in itself.
Sasuke exhaled slowly through his nose, biting back the urge to snatch the phone out of his hands. He knew Naruto—knew that if he pushed too hard, Naruto would retreat into himself, shutting everyone out.
So he forced himself to relax, even as something inside him twisted uncomfortably.
“I see,” Sasuke said evenly. He didn’t ask what the message said.
Naruto forced a laugh, but it sounded hollow. “Damn, am I really that obvious?”
Yes.
Instead of saying that, Sasuke just shrugged. “You always have been.”
Naruto snorted, but it lacked any real amusement. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding Sasuke’s gaze. “It’s nothing bad,” he muttered. “Just…confusing.”
Sasuke wanted to ask. He wanted to demand to know what Gaara had said, if it hurt Naruto, if it made him doubt himself. But he didn’t.
Instead, he simply said, “Do you want to go out?”
Naruto blinked. “Huh?”
“Out,” Sasuke repeated, already standing up. “You’ve been cooped up in here for days. Let’s get some fresh air.”
Naruto hesitated.
Sasuke crossed his arms. “You said you’d stop moping.”
“I’m not moping,” Naruto muttered, but the fight in his voice was weak.
Sasuke raised a brow, waiting.
After a moment, Naruto sighed in defeat and stood up. “Fine, fine. But you’re paying if we get food.”
Sasuke rolled his eyes. “As if you ever pay.”
Naruto grinned, the first real one Sasuke had seen in days. It made something in his chest loosen just a little.
☾ -
They ended up at a small ramen shop a few blocks away from their apartment.
The place was almost empty, save for an elderly couple sitting near the window. Naruto ordered two large bowls without hesitation, grinning when the waitress gave Sasuke a knowing look, as if she felt sorry for his wallet.
Sasuke just sighed, used to it by now.
They ate in comfortable silence for a while, the sound of chopsticks clinking against ceramic filling the space between them. Naruto seemed…lighter. Not fully okay, but better.
Until he spoke.
“He apologized.”
Sasuke paused, chopsticks hovering mid-air.
Naruto didn’t look at him. He stared at his ramen, swirling his spoon around, his expression unreadable.
Sasuke set his chopsticks down. “Gaara?”
A slow nod.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, leaning back against his seat. He should’ve expected this. Gaara wasn’t the type to just walk away without a word.
“What did he say?” Sasuke asked, keeping his voice neutral.
Naruto hesitated, then sighed. “That he’s sorry. That he didn’t mean to hurt me. That he…” His voice wavered, and he quickly shoved a spoonful of broth into his mouth, as if to stop himself from saying anything more.
Sasuke’s fingers curled into fists under the table. He knew there was more.
Naruto swallowed, forcing a chuckle. “I don’t even know why I care, y’know? It’s over. We broke up. That should be it.”
Sasuke’s gaze softened. “It’s not that simple.”
Naruto finally looked up, blue eyes tired but searching. “Then why does it still hurt?”
Sasuke clenched his jaw. He wanted to tell Naruto the truth—that it hurts because he gave Gaara his heart, because he loved so deeply it left scars. That it’s normal to feel like this, that it doesn’t make him weak.
But those words felt too heavy, too raw.
So instead, Sasuke just muttered, “Because you’re you.”
Naruto blinked. “Hah?”
Sasuke huffed, looking away. “You love hard, idiot. You always have. That’s not something you can just turn off.”
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, then—
He smiled. A real, genuine smile.
Sasuke’s breath caught.
“Thanks, bastard,” Naruto murmured, nudging his foot under the table.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, picking up his chopsticks again. “Whatever. Finish your ramen before it gets cold.”
Naruto laughed, and just for a moment, everything felt right again.
But as Sasuke watched him—watched the way Naruto’s fingers still trembled slightly around his chopsticks, the way his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes—he knew it wasn’t over yet.
Gaara might have apologized.
But Naruto wasn’t okay.
Not yet.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke knew Naruto wasn’t okay.
That thought clung to him like a persistent shadow, lingering even as Naruto laughed, even as he smiled like everything was fine. But Sasuke had always been good at noticing the things Naruto didn’t say.
And right now, Naruto was saying nothing at all.
The ramen shop had been a temporary distraction, but once they returned to their apartment, the silence stretched between them again. Naruto went straight to his room, muttering something about needing to lie down, and Sasuke let him go.
For now.
Sasuke sat on the couch, fingers drumming against his knee. His mind replayed the conversation from earlier, trying to piece things together.
Gaara apologized.
And yet, Naruto looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
Something wasn’t adding up.
Before he could overthink it further, his phone buzzed on the coffee table. He grabbed it, expecting another useless message from Suigetsu, but instead—
Itachi: How’s Naruto?
Sasuke exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
Me: Still a mess.
A few seconds later—
Itachi: Figured. Give him time.
Sasuke scowled at the screen. Time. As if that was something he could just hand over like a neatly wrapped gift.
Me: He won’t talk.
Itachi: Then wait until he does.
Sasuke frowned.
He hated waiting.
☾ -
Hours passed. The city outside was alive with the hum of late-night traffic, but inside their apartment, it was quiet. Too quiet.
Sasuke was in the kitchen, staring at the fridge, debating whether or not he had the patience to cook. He was halfway through pulling out some leftovers when he heard it.
A door creaking open.
Soft footsteps.
He didn’t turn around. He just waited.
Naruto shuffled into the kitchen, hair still a mess from sleep, his sweatshirt hanging loosely off his frame. He paused when he saw Sasuke standing there, then sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I can hear your brain working from here,” Naruto muttered, voice still rough with sleep.
Sasuke arched a brow. “Didn’t know you were psychic.”
Naruto snorted, but it was weak. He opened the fridge, rummaging through it aimlessly before shutting it again with a sigh.
“You’re not gonna eat anything,” Sasuke stated.
Naruto scratched his cheek, looking anywhere but at him. “Not really hungry.”
Sasuke didn’t say anything, just set a glass of water in front of him. Naruto stared at it, then huffed before taking a sip.
Silence settled between them again, thick and heavy.
Sasuke leaned against the counter. “You gonna tell me what really happened?”
Naruto stiffened. “I told you already. We broke up.”
“You also said it was confusing.”
Naruto’s grip on the glass tightened.
Sasuke waited.
He didn’t push. He didn’t demand. He just waited.
And eventually, Naruto exhaled, shoulders slumping.
“…It wasn’t mutual,” Naruto admitted, voice barely above a whisper.
Sasuke’s brows furrowed. “You didn’t want to break up?”
Naruto let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “No. Gaara didn’t.”
Sasuke’s stomach twisted.
Naruto ran a hand down his face. “I broke up with him.”
Sasuke’s lips parted slightly, caught off guard. That…wasn’t what he expected.
“Why?” he asked, tone softer now.
Naruto finally met his gaze, and Sasuke felt something tighten in his chest at the look in his eyes.
Because Naruto looked lost.
“I don’t know,” Naruto admitted, voice cracking slightly. “I just—I felt like I had to.”
Sasuke studied him carefully. “Did something happen?”
Naruto hesitated. Then—
“No.”
Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe that. But before he could call him out on it, Naruto shook his head and let out a bitter chuckle.
“It’s stupid, really,” Naruto muttered, gripping the edge of the counter. “Gaara… he’s perfect. He’s kind, he’s patient, he never treated me badly. And yet…”
He trailed off, swallowing thickly.
Sasuke’s heart pounded against his ribs.
“…And yet, being with him didn’t feel right anymore,” Naruto admitted.
Sasuke felt the breath leave his lungs.
Naruto’s fingers curled around the hem of his sweatshirt, knuckles turning white. “I tried to ignore it. I thought maybe I was just overthinking things, but it got worse. Every time he kissed me, every time he told me he loved me, I—”
He stopped. Exhaled sharply.
“…I felt like a liar,” Naruto confessed, voice raw.
Sasuke didn’t know what to say. His mind was racing, trying to piece together the meaning behind those words, behind the heartbreak in Naruto’s voice.
Naruto broke up with Gaara.
Not because he stopped caring.
But because something inside him told him that staying would be worse.
Naruto let out a shaky breath. “I didn’t tell him that. I just said we weren’t working out. I couldn’t—I didn’t want to hurt him more than I already did.”
Sasuke clenched his jaw. He wanted to say something, to offer some kind of reassurance, but the words caught in his throat.
Because deep down, a dangerous, selfish thought was creeping into his mind.
Who were you thinking about, Naruto?
Because if it wasn’t Gaara…
Then who?
Naruto let out a tired laugh, running a hand through his hair. “God, this is so messed up. I shouldn’t feel this bad for breaking up with someone, right?”
Sasuke’s voice was quiet. “You loved him.”
Naruto flinched.
Then, after a long pause, he whispered—
“…I thought I did.”
Sasuke’s breath hitched.
Naruto turned away, rubbing at his face, like he was ashamed. “Maybe I did. But not enough. Not the way I should have. And that’s not fair to him.”
Sasuke swallowed, his pulse ringing in his ears.
Not enough.
Not the way I should have.
Sasuke forced himself to breathe, to shove down the sudden hope that clawed its way up his throat. This wasn’t about him. It couldn’t be.
And yet—
Naruto turned back toward him, offering a weak, exhausted smile. “Guess I’m more messed up than I thought, huh?”
Sasuke shook his head, his voice coming out rough. “You’re not messed up, dobe.”
Naruto let out a small laugh, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
Sasuke stared at him, really looked at him. The boy he had loved for years. The boy who gave everything to others but rarely let himself take anything in return. The boy who had spent so long loving someone he wasn’t sure he truly loved.
And Sasuke—Sasuke was still standing here, pretending his heart wasn’t aching at the truth Naruto couldn’t yet see.
So he did the only thing he could do.
He reached forward and squeezed Naruto’s wrist. A small, grounding touch. A reminder.
“I’m here,” Sasuke said quietly.
Naruto blinked at him, lips parting slightly. For a second, something flickered in his eyes, something raw and unsure.
But then he smiled. “I know.”
And even though it wasn’t enough—
Sasuke would wait.
Sasuke had always been good at pretending.
It was something he learned as a child, a skill sharpened over years of pushing down things he didn’t want to feel. He learned how to hide his emotions behind cold stares and sharp words, how to pretend that things didn’t bother him when, in reality, they tore him apart.
And for the most part, it worked.
Except when it came to Naruto.
Because Naruto made it impossible to pretend.
He was warmth where Sasuke had only ever known cold. He was loud, messy, infuriating, and yet—he was the only person who had ever made Sasuke feel like he was home.
And that was the problem.
Because Naruto didn’t see him that way.
Sasuke knew that. He had always known that.
And yet, standing here now—watching Naruto try to smile through his pain, watching the way his hands trembled when he thought no one was looking—Sasuke wanted to be selfish.
He wanted to reach out and touch him, wanted to pull him close and press his forehead against his and tell him, I love you. I’ve always loved you. I don’t care if it’s wrong, I don’t care if it ruins everything—I just need you to know.
But he couldn’t.
Because Naruto wasn’t his to love.
And maybe he never would be.
☾ -
Naruto fell asleep on the couch later that night.
Sasuke sat beside him, staring at the screen of his laptop, but not actually seeing anything. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, unmoving. His mind was elsewhere.
Naruto shifted slightly, mumbling something in his sleep. Sasuke turned his head, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. His lips were slightly parted, his breathing even. His lashes cast soft shadows against his cheeks, and in the dim light of the living room, he looked almost unreal.
Sasuke’s fingers twitched.
He had loved Naruto for so long that he didn’t know what it was like not to love him.
It was in everything he did. It was in the way he always made sure Naruto ate real food instead of instant ramen, in the way he memorized Naruto’s schedule better than his own, in the way he picked up on all the little things—like how Naruto chewed on his bottom lip when he was nervous, or how he rubbed the back of his neck when he was lying.
It was in the way his heart clenched every time Naruto smiled at someone else. In the way jealousy burned inside him whenever Naruto looked at someone like they were the only person in the world.
It was in the way he had spent years convincing himself that being Naruto’s best friend was enough.
But tonight, as he watched him sleep, he wondered how much longer he could keep lying to himself.
Because the truth was—
It wasn’t enough.
It would never be enough.
☾ -
Sasuke didn’t sleep.
Instead, he sat there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of everything press down on him all at once.
The thought of Gaara’s name in Naruto’s phone still made his jaw clench. He didn’t care if Gaara had apologized. He didn’t care if Gaara had never intentionally hurt Naruto. All he cared about was the fact that Gaara had something that Sasuke had spent years convincing himself he didn’t want.
Naruto.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the couch.
He could still remember it—the way Naruto had introduced Gaara that day at graduation, the way his whole world had tilted on its axis as the redhead wrapped an arm around Naruto’s waist. He could still remember the way his stomach had twisted, the way something inside him had shattered when Gaara pressed a kiss to Naruto’s temple like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Sasuke had smiled. Had nodded. Had pretended it didn’t feel like the ground had been ripped out from under him.
He had stood there, watching as Naruto slipped out of his grasp, and he had done nothing.
Because what else could he do?
Naruto had been happy.
And Sasuke—Sasuke had always sworn that Naruto’s happiness mattered more than his own.
But now?
Now, Naruto was hurting.
And Sasuke didn’t know how to fix it.
☾ -
Morning came too quickly.
Naruto stretched, groaning as he blinked blearily at the ceiling. “Did I pass out on the couch?”
Sasuke sipped his coffee, not looking up from his laptop. “Obviously.”
Naruto yawned, rubbing his eyes before glancing over at him. “Did you sleep?”
Sasuke ignored the question. “Do you want breakfast?”
Naruto frowned, but let it go. “Hell yeah.”
Sasuke stood, heading toward the kitchen. He heard Naruto shuffle behind him, running a hand through his hair as he followed.
The kitchen was silent except for the sound of the stove clicking on. Sasuke worked quietly, focused on scrambling eggs and toasting bread. Naruto leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching him.
“You don’t have to take care of me, you know.”
Sasuke didn’t pause. “I know.”
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I mean it, bastard. You’ve been acting weird ever since…” He trailed off.
Ever since Gaara.
Sasuke tensed slightly but didn’t turn around. “You’re overthinking.”
Naruto scoffed. “Bullshit.”
Sasuke took a slow breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He set a plate in front of Naruto before grabbing his own coffee.
Naruto stared at him for a long moment, and Sasuke could feel the weight of his gaze.
Then, suddenly—
“…Do you ever feel like you’re meant to be with someone, but for some reason, you just…can’t?”
Sasuke froze.
His grip tightened around his mug, his pulse roaring in his ears. He forced himself to stay composed, even as his chest constricted painfully.
“Why?” he asked, voice carefully neutral.
Naruto shrugged, poking at his eggs. “I don’t know. It’s just something I’ve been thinking about.”
Sasuke’s throat felt dry. He swallowed, forcing himself to meet Naruto’s gaze. “Are you talking about Gaara?”
Naruto hesitated. Then—
“…No.”
Sasuke’s breath caught.
Naruto looked away, lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t think I was ever meant to be with him,” he admitted. His voice was quiet, like he was afraid of saying it out loud. “I just…thought I should be.”
Sasuke didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Naruto let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. “God, I don’t even know what I’m saying. Forget it.”
Sasuke’s fingers twitched.
There was something in Naruto’s voice—something raw, something hesitant, something that made hope bloom in Sasuke’s chest despite himself.
He wanted to ask.
Wanted to press, to demand to know who Naruto was thinking about when he said those words.
But he didn’t.
Because he was afraid of the answer.
So instead, he simply said, “Eat your damn food, dobe.”
Naruto snorted, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
And just like that, the conversation ended.
But the weight of it lingered.
And as Sasuke watched Naruto take another bite of his food, laughing about something stupid, he realized something.
This wasn’t just love.
This was agony.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke was losing control.
Not in an obvious way. He still went to class, still did his work, still gave the illusion that he was fine. But inside? Inside, he felt like he was unraveling, thread by thread, every second he spent in Naruto’s presence.
Because Naruto had planted something in his mind that morning. That stupid, offhanded comment.
"Do you ever feel like you’re meant to be with someone, but for some reason, you just…can’t?"
Sasuke couldn't stop thinking about it.
It haunted him in the quiet moments, followed him like a ghost when he was alone.
Because he had spent years pretending. Years convincing himself that loving Naruto in silence was enough. But now, Naruto had unknowingly wedged his way into that part of Sasuke’s brain that had always told him don’t hope.
And suddenly, Sasuke couldn’t stop hoping.
Hoping that Naruto had been talking about him.
Hoping that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance.
And that was dangerous.
Because Naruto didn’t love him like that.
Did he?
☾ -
The weeks passed.
Naruto was getting better. Slowly.
He still had his moments—days where Sasuke would find him staring at his phone too long, his expression unreadable. Nights where Sasuke would hear him tossing and turning in his bed, unable to sleep.
But the difference was, Naruto was trying.
And that should’ve made Sasuke happy.
Except it didn’t.
Because every time Naruto smiled at him—every time Naruto leaned into his space like it was the most natural thing in the world—Sasuke felt something inside him tighten.
This was getting worse.
And the worst part?
Naruto didn’t even realize.
Didn’t realize the way Sasuke’s hands curled into fists every time he touched him.
Didn’t realize the way Sasuke’s breath caught whenever their knees brushed under the table.
Didn’t realize that every single night, Sasuke lay awake, replaying every little moment in his head, wondering if it meant something.
Because Naruto was stupid like that.
Stupid and oblivious and everything Sasuke loved.
And it was only a matter of time before it all fell apart.
☾ -
It started with another text.
Sasuke was in the kitchen when Naruto’s phone buzzed on the counter. He wasn’t trying to snoop, but Naruto had left the screen facing up, and Sasuke’s eyes flickered toward it before he could stop himself.
Gaara: Can we talk?
Sasuke’s stomach dropped.
He turned just in time to see Naruto walking in, hair damp from the shower, a towel slung over his shoulders. Naruto noticed the phone immediately, his expression unreadable as he picked it up.
Sasuke waited.
Naruto stared at the message for a long time. Then, without a word, he turned the phone over so the screen was facing down.
Sasuke’s fingers curled against the counter. “Are you gonna answer him?”
Naruto didn’t look at him. “I don’t know.”
Sasuke exhaled slowly. “You still care about him.”
Naruto flinched. “That’s not—” He stopped. Took a breath. “It’s not like that.”
Sasuke’s grip on the counter tightened. He didn’t know why he was pressing this. Didn’t know why he was doing this to himself. But the words kept coming.
“If it’s not like that, then why haven’t you blocked him?”
Naruto frowned, finally looking up. “What the hell is your problem?”
Sasuke clenched his jaw. “I don’t have a problem.”
Naruto scoffed, tossing his phone onto the counter. “Bullshit. You’ve been acting weird ever since the breakup, and I’m sick of it. If you have something to say, just say it.”
Sasuke forced himself to take a breath. He could feel it slipping—the tight control he had spent years perfecting.
“Fine,” he bit out. “I don’t get why you’re still talking to him. He hurt you.”
Naruto’s brows furrowed. “He didn’t mean to.”
“That doesn’t change the fact that he did.”
Naruto exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “It’s complicated, okay?”
“No, it’s not,” Sasuke snapped, and suddenly he couldn’t stop. “He’s your ex. He made you miserable. You don’t owe him anything.”
Naruto’s eyes flashed. “You don’t get to decide that.”
Sasuke’s breath was shallow. His hands were shaking.
Naruto shook his head, frustration bleeding into his voice. “You don’t understand, Sasuke. You don’t get what it’s like to love someone and then have to walk away.”
And that—
That was the final crack.
Because before Sasuke could stop himself, before he could think, the words slipped out.
"I don't understand?"
Naruto froze.
Sasuke’s chest was rising and falling too fast, his vision edged with red. “You think I don’t know what it’s like? You think I don’t know what it feels like to love someone who will never love you back?”
Naruto’s breath caught.
Sasuke’s voice was shaking now, but he didn’t care.
“You have no fucking clue what it’s like to love someone and it fucking kills you everyday. Just fucking because I don't date someone cannot give you the right to question about my emotions. Do whatever you want. I don't fucking care."Sasuke seethed, turned around and left the apartment; door shutting with a bang behind him.
Naruto stared at the empty space infront of him.
Naruto stared at the door.
The silence in the apartment was deafening.
His heart was pounding, his mind racing with words he hadn't been able to grasp in the moment.
Sasuke was—
Sasuke was angry.
Not the usual irritated, roll-his-eyes-and-scoff Sasuke. Not even the cold, silent Sasuke that Naruto had learned to read through the years.
This was different.
Sasuke had snapped.
Naruto let out a shaky breath, gripping the counter to steady himself. His chest felt tight, his stomach twisted in a way that made him feel sick.
Because for the first time, he was realizing something he should have seen a long time ago.
Sasuke wasn’t just angry.
Sasuke was hurting.
And Naruto—
Naruto had been too blind to see it.
☾ -
Sasuke didn’t know where he was going.
All he knew was that he needed to leave.
His hands were shoved into his pockets, shoulders tense as he walked aimlessly down the street. The cold air bit at his skin, but he barely felt it. His mind was too loud, his thoughts spiraling too fast for him to focus on anything else.
You think I don’t know what it feels like to love someone and it fucking kills you every day?
God. He was such an idiot.
He hadn’t meant to say it. He hadn’t meant to let years of restraint crumble in a single moment. But Naruto had pushed—had questioned something he had no right to question—and Sasuke had broken.
He hadn’t even waited for a response. Hadn’t given Naruto a chance to process it.
He had just left.
Coward.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, stopping in his tracks. He ran a hand down his face, trying to ground himself, trying to shove everything back down where it belonged.
But it was too late.
Naruto knew now.
Or at the very least, Naruto knew something.
And Sasuke had no idea what to do about it.
☾ -
Naruto sat on the couch, hands pressed against his face. His thoughts were all over the place, disjointed, chaotic.
Sasuke’s words were playing on repeat in his head.
“You have no fucking clue what it’s like to love someone and it fucking kills you every day.”
It wasn’t just what Sasuke had said. It was how he had said it.
The way his voice had shaken.
The way his hands had clenched into fists.
The way his eyes had burned with something raw and painful, something Naruto had never seen before.
And that—that was the part that scared Naruto the most.
Because what if—
Naruto swallowed hard, his fingers tightening in his hair.
What if Sasuke was talking about him?
The thought alone made his breath catch.
Because suddenly, everything made sense.
Sasuke’s cold demeanor. The way he always kept his distance but never really left. The way he hovered, always watching, always there.
The way he never dated.
The way he never seemed interested in anyone.
Naruto had always assumed that Sasuke just wasn’t the type to fall in love. That he was too closed off, too emotionally unavailable to care about that kind of thing.
But now?
Now, Naruto wasn’t so sure.
Because what if he had been wrong?
What if Sasuke had been in love all this time?
And what if—
Naruto’s stomach twisted.
What if it had been with him?
☾ -
Sasuke didn’t come back that night.
Naruto barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Sasuke’s face—furious, hurt, like he had been carrying a weight too heavy for too long.
And Naruto—Naruto had made it worse.
By morning, Naruto had enough.
He grabbed his phone, ignoring the missed calls from Sakura and texts from Kiba, and did the only thing that mattered.
He called Sasuke.
It rang once. Twice. Then—
Voicemail.
Naruto scowled, running a hand through his hair. He dialed again.
No answer.
“Bastard,” he muttered under his breath, shoving his phone in his pocket. He grabbed his jacket, slipping on his shoes. If Sasuke wasn’t going to answer, then Naruto would find him.
☾ -
Sasuke was at the river.
It was stupidly dramatic, even for him, but he didn’t care.
He sat on the railing, one foot propped against the edge, staring at the water below. The sky was overcast, the cold biting at his skin, but he welcomed it.
Anything was better than going back.
Because what now?
He had spent years avoiding this exact situation. Years hiding, pretending, convincing himself that Naruto never needed to know.
And now?
Now, Naruto did know.
Not everything. But enough.
Sasuke closed his eyes, exhaling sharply. He needed to figure out what to do next.
Then, suddenly—
“Took me long enough to find you.”
Sasuke’s breath caught.
He turned, and there Naruto was—standing a few feet away, hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his expression unreadable.
Sasuke’s stomach twisted.
“Go home, Naruto.”
Naruto didn’t move. “Not happening.”
Sasuke clenched his jaw. “I don’t want to talk.”
Naruto tilted his head slightly. “Too bad. Because we’re talking.”
Sasuke let out a bitter scoff, shaking his head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
Naruto’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Bullshit.”
Sasuke stayed silent.
Naruto took a slow step closer. “What you said last night.” His voice was quieter now, but still firm. “Did you mean it?”
Sasuke exhaled sharply through his nose. “Forget it.”
“No.” Naruto’s voice was steady. “I won’t.”
Sasuke turned away, staring at the water. “It doesn’t matter.”
Naruto’s eyes narrowed. “It matters to me.”
Sasuke’s hands curled into fists. He could feel it again—the unraveling, the breaking.
He needed to stop this.
So he did the only thing he knew how to do.
He pushed.
“You really wanna know, huh?” Sasuke’s voice was sharp, his eyes dark as they locked onto Naruto’s. “Fine. I meant it.”
Naruto sucked in a breath.
Sasuke let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Happy now?”
Naruto stared at him. And Sasuke could see it—the realization, the pieces clicking together.
And then—
“…Was it me?”
Sasuke stilled.
His breath hitched.
Naruto’s voice was quieter now, but there was something fragile in it. “Sasuke… were you talking about me?”
Sasuke swallowed hard. His throat felt tight. His whole body felt like it was on fire.
Because this was it.
The moment he had spent years avoiding.
And Sasuke—
“…i don't want to talk about it."
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke refused to answer.
He saw the way Naruto’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, the way his hands curled into fists inside his jacket pockets, his breathing uneven. He saw the way the realization settled in Naruto’s features, how his usually open and expressive face was suddenly unreadable. But Sasuke didn’t care. Or at least, he tried to convince himself that he didn’t.
Because if he allowed himself to care, if he allowed himself to acknowledge the sheer weight of what Naruto was asking, then everything would come crashing down. And Sasuke wasn’t ready for that.
Not now.
Maybe not ever.
So instead, he did what he had always done best.
He shut down.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” The words came out colder than he intended, but maybe that was for the best. Maybe if he made this painful enough, Naruto would stop asking, stop looking at him like that—like he was standing at the edge of something he didn’t know if he wanted to fall into.
Naruto’s lips parted slightly, like he wanted to protest, but Sasuke was already turning away, already walking past him, already leaving before Naruto could say anything else.
And this time, Naruto didn’t stop him.
☾ -
Sasuke didn’t go home.
He didn’t even hesitate when he pulled out his phone and called the only person he could think of right now. The only person who might understand.
It rang once. Twice.
Then, finally—
“…Otouto?” Itachi’s voice was groggy, thick with sleep, but there was an immediate alertness to it. “It’s late.” A pause. Then, softer—“Are you okay?”
Sasuke exhaled slowly, gripping his phone tighter. “Can I stay with you for a while?”
Itachi was silent for a long moment, and Sasuke knew his brother was analyzing the situation in that calculating way he always did. Finally, there was a quiet sigh.
“Come over.”
☾ -
Itachi’s apartment was quiet when Sasuke arrived. It was different from the apartment he shared with Naruto—neat, organized, painfully empty. There were no scattered ramen cups, no piles of laundry that Naruto kept promising to put away but never did, no stupid action movie playing in the background that Naruto had watched a hundred times already.
This place didn’t feel like home.
And maybe that’s why Sasuke chose it.
Itachi was already waiting for him, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. His dark eyes flickered over Sasuke’s face, taking in the exhaustion, the tension in his shoulders, the way he refused to meet his gaze.
“You look like shit,” Itachi remarked, stepping aside to let Sasuke in.
Sasuke huffed out a humorless laugh, toeing off his shoes. “Thanks.”
Itachi closed the door behind him. “I assume this has something to do with Naruto.”
Sasuke stiffened, his fingers twitching at his sides. Of course Itachi knew. He always knew.
“Don’t want to talk about it,” Sasuke muttered, brushing past him.
Itachi let out a quiet hum, but didn’t push. Instead, he simply walked toward the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water before handing it to Sasuke.
Sasuke took it without a word, staring down at the clear liquid like it held all the answers he didn’t have.
Itachi leaned against the counter, watching him carefully. “You can stay here as long as you need,” he said after a moment. “But running away won’t fix whatever happened.”
Sasuke’s grip on the glass tightened. “I’m not running.”
Itachi arched a brow. “Then what are you doing?”
Sasuke didn’t have an answer for that.
Because what was he doing?
Avoiding Naruto? Ignoring the problem until it disappeared? Pretending like he hadn’t just completely shattered years of careful control in a single moment of weakness?
He didn’t know.
All he knew was that he couldn’t be around Naruto right now. Not after what he had said. Not after the way Naruto had looked at him—like Sasuke was something fragile, something he didn’t know how to handle.
So instead of answering, Sasuke simply took a slow sip of water, his gaze fixed on the counter.
Itachi sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Fine. Have it your way.” He pushed himself off the counter, heading toward his bedroom. “Guest room is yours.”
Sasuke nodded, setting the glass down with a quiet clink.
He didn’t sleep that night.
☾ -
Naruto didn’t hear from Sasuke the next day.
Or the day after that.
Or the day after that.
And it was driving him insane.
He had called. Texted. Even stopped by the places Sasuke usually went when he wanted to be alone. But he was gone.
Until finally, after almost a week, Naruto did something he should have done from the start.
He called Itachi.
The phone barely rang before Itachi picked up.
“I was expecting this,” Itachi said, voice calm as always.
Naruto gritted his teeth, pacing the apartment. “Where is he?”
“He’s staying with me.”
Naruto’s breath caught. “So he really left.”
Itachi sighed. “Naruto—”
“No, what the hell, Itachi?” Naruto snapped, running a hand through his hair. “He left. He just—he just walked out, and now he’s acting like I don’t exist?”
Itachi was quiet for a moment. Then, carefully, he said, “What did you do?”
Naruto froze, his pulse hammering in his ears. “What—?”
“What did you do,” Itachi repeated, his voice still even. “Because Sasuke only runs when he’s scared.”
Naruto’s breath was uneven. He could still hear Sasuke’s voice in his head, sharp and broken and raw—
"You have no fucking clue what it’s like to love someone and it fucking kills you every day."
Naruto swallowed hard. “I didn’t—I didn’t do anything,” he said, but the words felt weak.
Itachi sighed again. “Naruto.”
There was something about the way Itachi said his name—steady, calm, but edged with quiet disappointment—that made Naruto’s stomach drop.
He had always respected Itachi. The man wasn’t just Sasuke’s older brother—he was a presence, a force. He carried himself with an ease that made people listen, but more than that, he had always understood Sasuke in ways Naruto never could.
And right now?
Right now, Naruto wasn’t sure he wanted to hear what Itachi was about to say.
He swallowed hard, gripping his phone tighter as he sat on the edge of the couch. His knee bounced restlessly, his mind racing. “Tell me where he is,” Naruto demanded, trying to keep his voice even.
A pause.
Then, in that maddeningly calm voice, Itachi asked, “Why?”
Naruto exhaled sharply. “Because I need to talk to him.”
“You had the chance to talk to him.”
Naruto’s fingers twitched. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?”
Naruto’s throat felt tight. “I don’t know,” he admitted, his voice quieter now. “I just—he left, and I don’t know how to fix it.”
Itachi sighed, the sound carrying too much weight. “That’s the problem, Naruto. You think this is something you can just fix.”
Naruto frowned. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means Sasuke isn’t something you patch up and move on from,” Itachi said, and for the first time, there was a sharper edge to his voice. “This isn’t just about a fight. This isn’t just about you.”
Naruto’s breath hitched.
Because that was what he had been doing, wasn’t it? Thinking that if he just found Sasuke, if he just talked to him, everything would go back to normal. That whatever this was—whatever Sasuke had been feeling—was temporary. Fixable.
But the way Itachi was speaking, the way his words weighed, told Naruto otherwise.
“…How long?” Naruto asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Itachi hummed, like he was debating whether or not to answer. But then, quietly, he said, “Years.”
Naruto felt his stomach twist painfully. His grip on his phone tightened.
Years.
Sasuke had been hurting for years.
And Naruto—Naruto had been too blind to see it.
He had spent so much time thinking that Sasuke was just Sasuke—closed off, cold, impossible to read. But that wasn’t true, was it? Sasuke felt things. Deeply. He just never let anyone know.
And Naruto had never noticed.
His chest felt tight, like something was pressing down on it, making it harder to breathe.
“I don’t—” Naruto stopped, running a shaky hand through his hair. His thoughts were a mess, tangled and chaotic. “I didn’t know.”
“I know,” Itachi said simply. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you were part of the reason he left.”
Naruto sucked in a sharp breath.
Because fuck—that hurt.
But he couldn’t even argue.
Because Itachi was right.
He had seen the way Sasuke looked at him that night. The way his voice had shaken, the way his hands had trembled. And Naruto had pushed him anyway.
Naruto clenched his jaw, swallowing against the nausea building in his throat. “Where is he, Itachi?”
“I told you, he’s with me.”
Naruto exhaled, gripping his knee as he leaned forward. “I need to see him.”
Itachi was silent for a long moment. Then—
“No.”
Naruto’s breath caught. “What?”
“I said no.” Itachi’s voice was calm, firm. “He’s not ready to see you.”
Naruto shot up from the couch, pacing the length of the living room. “That’s not your choice to make.”
“It’s his choice,” Itachi corrected, unfazed. “And right now, he’s choosing to stay away.”
Naruto’s chest felt too tight. He pressed his free hand to it, trying to steady his breathing, but the pressure didn’t go away. “You don’t get it, Itachi,” he said, and fuck, his voice was shaking. “He’s never left before. Not like this.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.”
Naruto stilled.
Itachi’s voice was quieter now, but no less sharp. “Sasuke has spent his whole life chasing after people who leave—but he never let himself walk away.”
Naruto swallowed. “So?”
“So maybe, for the first time, he’s choosing himself.”
Naruto’s heart stopped.
A choked sound left his throat, his vision blurring slightly. “No,” he said immediately, shaking his head. “No, Sasuke—he wouldn’t—”
“Wouldn’t what?” Itachi’s voice was unreadable. “Wouldn’t leave?”
Naruto pressed his hand harder against his chest. His breathing was getting worse, his pulse too fast, his thoughts too loud.
He had never considered that.
That Sasuke might be done.
That he might be choosing to walk away from him.
Naruto stumbled back onto the couch, his breathing shallow, rapid. He tried to take in air, but it wasn’t working.
Because suddenly, the thought of Sasuke leaving—really leaving—was too much.
All his life, Sasuke had been there. Always just a step away. Even when they fought, even when things were tense, Sasuke had always stayed.
But this time, Naruto had pushed him too far.
And now—
Now, Sasuke might not come back.
Naruto gasped, his chest tightening, his hands trembling. The room felt too small, the air too thin.
Itachi’s voice was suddenly sharp. “Naruto. Breathe.”
“I—I can’t—”
“Naruto. Listen to me.” Itachi’s tone was firm, steady. “Slow down. Breathe.”
Naruto tried. He really tried. But the fear—the sheer terror—that Sasuke was slipping away was choking him, suffocating him.
He squeezed his eyes shut, pressing the heel of his palm against his forehead. “He’s gonna leave,” he gasped, his voice raw, breaking. “He’s really gonna leave me.”
Itachi was quiet for a long moment.
Then, softer—“Not if you stop him.”
Naruto sucked in a shaky breath, forcing himself to focus on that. On action. On what he could do.
Because he couldn’t just sit here.
He couldn’t lose Sasuke.
He wouldn’t.
Naruto wiped at his eyes, forcing the panic down as best as he could. His hands were still shaking, his chest still too tight, but he forced himself to move.
“Tell me where he is,” he said again, his voice hoarse but determined.
This time, Itachi didn’t say no.
But he didn’t say yes, either.
Instead, he simply said, “Don’t screw this up, Naruto.”
The call ended.
Naruto barely took a second to breathe before grabbing his keys and running out the door.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Naruto didn’t remember getting in his car. He didn’t remember the sound of the keys jangling in his trembling fingers, didn’t remember the way his breath came in short, desperate gasps as he sped down the streets, barely aware of the red lights he should have stopped at, the pedestrians who shot him dirty looks as he whipped past.
All he knew—all he could focus on—was Sasuke.
His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. His heart was pounding so hard it hurt, but he didn’t care.
Sasuke had been hurting. For years.
And Naruto hadn’t even noticed.
How could he not have seen it? How could he have been so fucking blind? He thought back to every moment, every time Sasuke had been there, quiet and unwavering, always at his side but never asking for anything. The way Sasuke had never dated, never even looked at anyone else. The way he had always stayed, even when Naruto had made it hard, even when Naruto had hurt him without even realizing.
And now, for the first time, Sasuke had left.
Naruto’s grip on the wheel tightened. No.
He wouldn’t let it end like this.
The moment Itachi had muttered the address over the phone, Naruto had burned it into his mind, barely saying goodbye before sprinting to his car. He didn’t even know what he was going to say when he got there, didn’t know how he was going to fix this—
All he knew was that he had to try.
Because the idea of a world without Sasuke in it—without his Sasuke, without the person who had been the most important part of his life since they were kids—was unbearable.
☾ -
Sasuke sat on the edge of the couch in Itachi’s apartment, staring blankly at the floor, fingers loosely curled around the mug of tea his brother had handed him. It had gone cold a while ago, but he hadn’t moved. He wasn’t even sure how long he had been sitting there, lost in his thoughts, his heartbeat slow and heavy in his chest.
The logical part of him knew he couldn’t stay here forever. Knew that eventually, he’d have to go back, face the inevitable.
But he didn’t want to.
Because he knew what was coming.
Naruto had figured it out.
And that meant everything was going to change.
There was no going back now. No undoing the words he had thrown out in a moment of reckless emotion, no way to pretend like Naruto hadn’t seen the truth in his eyes.
And Sasuke—Sasuke wasn’t ready.
A sharp knock at the door shattered the silence.
Itachi sighed, setting down his book. “I assume that’s for you.”
Sasuke didn’t move. His chest tightened, his throat going dry.
The knock came again, harder this time. “Sasuke, open the damn door.”
Naruto.
Sasuke closed his eyes. Fuck.
Of course he was here.
Of course he had come.
“Sasuke.” Another knock, louder. A pause. Then, “If you don’t open this door, I swear to god, I’ll break it down.”
Sasuke exhaled sharply through his nose. Stupid idiot.
Itachi didn’t even bother hiding his amusement as he stood and made his way toward the door. He shot Sasuke a look over his shoulder—one that clearly said you should deal with this—before unlocking it and stepping aside.
Naruto was a mess.
His hair was even more disheveled than usual, like he had run his hands through it too many times in frustration. His breathing was fast, chest rising and falling like he had sprinted up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. His blue eyes were wild, locked onto Sasuke like he was afraid he would disappear again if he so much as blinked.
Sasuke hated how much that look affected him.
Naruto stepped inside, shoving past Itachi without a second glance, his gaze burning as he marched straight toward Sasuke.
Sasuke tensed, but he didn’t move.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Naruto snapped, voice shaking—not with anger, but something else. Something desperate.
Sasuke forced himself to keep his expression blank. “Go home, Naruto.”
“No,” Naruto bit out, hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Not this time.”
Itachi, to his credit, simply lifted a brow and walked toward his bedroom, muttering something about not wanting to deal with this. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving them alone.
Naruto exhaled sharply. “You just fucking left.”
Sasuke looked away. “I told you. I didn’t want to talk about it.”
Naruto let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah? Well, too fucking bad. Because we’re talking about it, whether you want to or not.”
Sasuke’s jaw clenched. Why couldn’t Naruto just leave it alone?
Naruto took a step closer. “How long?”
Sasuke frowned, not meeting his eyes. “What?”
Naruto swallowed, voice quieter now, but no less intense. “How long have you felt like this?”
Sasuke didn’t answer.
Because he knew if he did, he’d break.
Naruto sucked in a shaky breath. “Itachi said years.” His voice cracked slightly on the last word. “Years, Sasuke.”
Sasuke exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “Naruto—”
“No.” Naruto’s hands shook. “You don’t get to walk away from this again. You don’t get to run.”
Sasuke stood abruptly, his chest tight, his patience snapping. “What do you want me to say?” His voice was sharp, colder than he intended. “That I’ve been in love with you since we were kids? That I’ve spent every fucking day watching you fall for other people while pretending it didn’t kill me? That I left because I couldn’t fucking breathe around you anymore?”
Naruto stared at him, his breath catching.
Sasuke let out a sharp, bitter laugh, running a hand down his face. “You want the truth? Fine. I love you, Naruto. I always have. And it fucking ruined me.”
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Naruto’s lips parted slightly, his breathing uneven. His blue eyes searched Sasuke’s, like he was trying to process what had just happened, like he wasn’t sure if he had heard correctly.
Sasuke felt his chest constrict. He had said too much.
He turned away, heading toward the door. “Forget it.”
A hand shot out, gripping his wrist before he could take another step.
Sasuke froze.
“Naruto—”
Naruto yanked him back, hard, forcing Sasuke to face him. His grip was tight, almost shaking, his entire body thrumming with tension.
And then, before Sasuke could react—
Naruto kissed him.
It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t gentle. It was desperate, like Naruto was trying to tell him something in all the ways words had failed. His hands fisted in Sasuke’s shirt, pulling him close, holding on like he was afraid to let go.
Sasuke’s breath hitched, his mind short-circuiting. His hands hovered uselessly at his sides for half a second before Naruto pulled him closer, like he couldn’t stand the distance between them.
And that was when Sasuke broke.
He grabbed Naruto’s collar and yanked him back. Sasuke's hands were shaking while Naruto stared at him with wide afraid eyes and confused look.
"I am not a fucking rebound, Uzumaki. If you think this is something I would gladly accept then, No. You don't know me Uzumaki Naruto."
Naruto’s breath caught in his throat.
The heat of Sasuke’s touch, the sharp pull of his collar—it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold space, by distance, by the walls Sasuke was shoving back up faster than Naruto could tear them down.
Sasuke’s dark eyes were blazing with something raw, something fractured, something that looked so much like pain that it made Naruto’s chest ache.
But beneath all of it, there was fury.
Sasuke’s hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his entire body rigid. “You think this is enough?” he spat, his voice laced with something bitter, something sharp enough to wound. “You think one desperate kiss is going to fix everything?”
Naruto flinched, but he didn’t back down. “I never said that.”
“Then what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Sasuke seethed, eyes flashing. “You don’t love me, Naruto.”
Naruto’s stomach twisted. “You don’t get to decide that.”
Sasuke let out a harsh, humorless laugh. “You don’t even know what you want.”
Naruto’s jaw tightened. “I know that I—”
“You kissed me because you were scared.” Sasuke’s voice cut through the air like a blade, his expression twisted in something unreadable. “You panicked, Naruto. You realized I was serious about leaving, and you thought this—” he gestured between them, his voice breaking slightly on the word, “—would make me stay.”
Naruto’s hands clenched at his sides. “That’s not—”
“Yes, it fucking is,” Sasuke snapped. “You don’t get to stand here and act like this is some grand fucking realization. Like you’ve been waiting for me all this time. Because you haven’t.”
Naruto sucked in a sharp breath.
Sasuke took a step back. “You loved Gaara.”
Naruto flinched.
“You’ve always looked at other people,” Sasuke continued, relentless now. “But never at me.” His voice cracked, just a little, just enough for Naruto to hear it. “And now, because I’m leaving, because you’re finally losing me, you think—what? That you can make yourself feel something?”
Naruto’s chest ached. “That’s not fair.”
Sasuke let out another bitter laugh. “No, what’s not fair is that I have spent years—years—loving you, and you never fucking noticed.” His breathing was uneven now, but he didn’t stop. “What’s not fair is that I let myself believe that one day, you might actually—”
He cut himself off, his throat working around the words.
Naruto took a step closer. “Sasuke—”
“No.” Sasuke’s voice was quieter now, but no less intense. He shook his head, eyes shadowed, like he was already closing himself off again. “I can’t do this.”
Naruto’s stomach dropped. “What does that mean?”
Sasuke exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. “I can’t keep doing this, Naruto. I can’t keep standing beside you, pretending it doesn’t kill me every time you talk about someone else. I can’t keep being the person you run to when you need comfort, only to watch you leave when you don’t.”
Naruto’s breathing was uneven. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
Sasuke’s lips curled into something broken. “You already have.”
The words hit Naruto like a punch to the gut.
Sasuke let out a slow breath, looking exhausted. “You don’t love me, Naruto.” His voice was soft now, but it hurt so much more. “Not the way I love you.”
Naruto’s pulse was roaring in his ears. “You don’t know that.”
Sasuke shook his head. “I do.”
Naruto reached out, his fingers twitching, but Sasuke took another step back—just out of reach, just far enough that Naruto’s heart clenched at the space between them.
“I’m not going to be your rebound,” Sasuke said, quieter this time, but the finality in his voice was devastating.
And then, just like that, he turned around and walked toward the door.
Naruto’s throat felt tight. “Sasuke—”
Sasuke hesitated—just for a fraction of a second. But he didn’t look back.
Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he said, “Go home, Naruto.”
And this time, Naruto didn’t stop him.
☾ -
Naruto wasn’t sure how he made it back to the apartment.
The entire night replayed in his mind like a bad dream, like something he could barely hold onto before it shattered into pieces again.
Sasuke’s voice. His expression. The weight of his words.
You don’t love me, Naruto. Not the way I love you.
Naruto ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. His chest still felt tight, the ache settled deep in his ribs.
This wasn’t over.
It couldn’t be over.
But for now—
Naruto shut his eyes.
For now, Sasuke was gone.
And Naruto had no idea if he would ever come back.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Three years later.
Naruto never thought he would know what missing someone felt like—not really.
He had lost people before. He had spent his whole life knowing what it was like to be left behind, to watch people walk away. But this? This was different.
Because Sasuke hadn’t just left.
Sasuke had taken a part of Naruto with him.
And now, three years later, Naruto was still trying to figure out how to live without it.
The apartment wasn’t the same. It hadn’t been since the night Sasuke walked out. The silence was heavier, suffocating, pressing against Naruto’s ribs in a way that made him ache. It didn’t matter how much noise he made, how many times Kiba or Sakura came over to hang out, how often he tried to pretend everything was fine.
Because it wasn’t.
Because Sasuke was gone.
Naruto stared down at his phone, thumb hovering over an old message thread that hadn’t been touched in three years.
His fingers twitched.
There was nothing stopping him from texting. Nothing except the fear that Sasuke wouldn’t answer. That he wouldn’t care. That Naruto had taken too long to realize what had been right in front of him all along.
Naruto swallowed hard, locking his phone and shoving it into his pocket.
It was too late, wasn’t it?
Sasuke had moved on.
Naruto didn’t know where he was. Didn’t know what he was doing. Didn’t even know if he still thought about him.
All Naruto knew was that he hadn’t dated anyone since the night Sasuke left.
Because no matter how hard he tried, no one else could ever make him feel the way Sasuke did.
And now, after three years of silence, Naruto finally understood.
He was in love with Sasuke.
And it might not even matter anymore.
☾ -
New York City, USA.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as he stepped out of the lecture hall. The cold autumn air hit his skin, but he barely felt it. He had been awake for too long, running on nothing but caffeine and sheer willpower.
Three years.
Three years of being an ocean away.
Three years of pretending he didn’t miss Tokyo. Didn’t miss his old life.
Didn’t miss Naruto.
Sasuke scoffed at his own thoughts, shoving his hands into the pockets of his coat. Pathetic.
Even now, after all this time, Naruto’s name still lingered in the back of his mind like an old wound that hadn’t healed right.
Sasuke had left for a reason. He had needed to.
Staying in Tokyo would have killed him.
Every day would have been a reminder of what he couldn’t have, of the way Naruto looked at him that night—shocked, guilty, not in love.
So he had left.
He had thrown himself into his studies, drowned himself in the chaos of New York, built a life that had nothing to do with Naruto.
But the thing about running away was that it never really worked.
Because no matter how far Sasuke went, Naruto was always there. In the edges of his memories, in the quiet moments when he wasn’t distracted enough to ignore it.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, shaking his head. It doesn’t matter anymore.
Tokyo was his past.
And he had no intention of going back.
☾ -
Naruto never thought he would hear Itachi’s voice again.
Not like this, anyway.
“Come to the airport,” Itachi said, his tone calm but serious.
Naruto blinked, sitting up straighter on his couch. “What?”
Itachi sighed. “Sasuke is coming back.”
The words slammed into Naruto’s chest. He almost dropped his phone, his breath catching. “What—” His voice came out hoarse, broken. “He’s—he’s coming back?”
Itachi hummed. “Just got off the phone with him. He’s landing in three hours.” A pause. “I thought you’d want to know.”
Naruto’s heart was pounding. He swallowed hard, fingers curling into his jeans.
Sasuke.
After three years of silence, after three years of not knowing—
He was coming home.
Naruto licked his lips, forcing himself to breathe. His mind was racing, tangled in too many emotions at once. Excitement. Terror. Hope.
Would Sasuke even want to see him? Would he care that Naruto was still here, still waiting for something he didn’t even know how to name?
“Is he—” Naruto exhaled shakily. “Is he different?”
Itachi was quiet for a moment. Then—
“Maybe.”
Naruto clenched his jaw. Fuck.
He wasn’t ready for this.
He wasn’t ready to face everything he should have said years ago.
But if he didn’t—
If he let Sasuke come back without saying anything, without at least trying—
Then he would never forgive himself.
Naruto shot to his feet, grabbing his jacket and keys in one swift motion.
“I’m coming.”
Itachi’s voice was softer now, knowing. “I figured.”
The call ended.
And Naruto?
Naruto ran.
☾ -
The airport was loud, crowded, overwhelming. But Naruto barely noticed.
His fingers drummed anxiously against his thigh, his leg bouncing restlessly as he stood near the arrival gate. He didn’t know what he was expecting. Didn’t know if Sasuke would even want to look at him, much less talk to him.
But he had to be here.
Even if Sasuke walked right past him.
Even if he acted like Naruto didn’t exist.
He had to be here.
The arrival board dinged, and Naruto’s stomach twisted.
Flight from New York: LANDED.
Naruto sucked in a sharp breath, his pulse hammering in his ears.
And then—
A familiar figure stepped through the terminal doors.
Naruto felt like the air had been punched out of his lungs.
Sasuke.
He looked—
Different. Older. His features sharper, more refined. His hair was shorter, his frame even leaner, but his eyes were the same. Dark, unreadable, intense.
Naruto’s heart ached.
Three years.
Three years, and Sasuke was finally standing in front of him again.
Naruto swallowed hard, forcing himself to move. His legs felt heavy, his chest too tight, but he pushed forward anyway, closing the distance between them.
And then—
Sasuke’s eyes flickered to him.
And he stopped walking.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
The world around them blurred, faded into nothing. It was just the two of them, standing in the middle of a crowded airport, three years of silence stretching between them.
Naruto’s breath hitched.
Sasuke was looking at him like he didn’t know what to say.
Like maybe—just maybe—he hadn’t expected Naruto to still be here.
Naruto swallowed past the lump in his throat, forcing himself to speak.
“…Hey.”
Sasuke’s lips parted slightly, his fingers tightening around the strap of his bag.
And then, in a voice softer than Naruto had expected, he said—
“…Hey.”
Sasuke hadn’t expected Naruto to be here.
Not because it was impossible, not because Naruto wouldn’t do something like this—because of course he would—but because Sasuke had convinced himself that three years was enough time for Naruto to move on.
And yet, here he was.
Standing in front of him, hair as wild as ever, blue eyes wide and searching, waiting.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, fingers tightening around the strap of his bag.
He wasn’t ready for this.
He had spent three years telling himself that Tokyo was his past, that coming back didn’t mean reliving the moment he walked away. But now, with Naruto standing here, looking at him like Sasuke was something he had been waiting for—
Fuck.
He exhaled slowly, keeping his expression blank. “What are you doing here?”
Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the sharpness of his tone. He recovered quickly, rubbing the back of his neck in that nervous way he always did. “Uh—what do you think, bastard? I came to see you.”
Sasuke scoffed. “Why?”
Naruto’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Because it’s been three years.”
Sasuke arched a brow. “Exactly. It’s been three years. Why start now?”
Naruto flinched. Just barely.
But Sasuke saw it.
Something bitter twisted in his chest, but he shoved it down, shifting his bag higher on his shoulder. He didn’t know what he wanted from this conversation. He didn’t even know why he was still standing here.
He should just walk past Naruto, get in a cab, go home.
But his feet wouldn’t move.
Naruto sighed, his frustration slipping through. “Look, I know I—” He stopped, licking his lips before trying again. “I know things ended badly.”
Sasuke let out a humorless laugh. “That’s one way to put it.”
Naruto huffed. “Will you just—listen for a second?”
Sasuke exhaled sharply through his nose but didn’t interrupt.
Naruto took a step closer, hesitating before shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. “I—I haven’t talked to you in three years, not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how.” His voice softened slightly. “I didn’t know what to say, okay?”
Sasuke’s fingers twitched.
Naruto exhaled, shifting on his feet. “But I do now.” His blue eyes flickered to Sasuke’s, something unsteady in them. “I just—I need to know.” He swallowed, his voice quieter now. “Do you still hate me?”
Sasuke stilled.
Hate?
His grip on his bag tightened.
Did Naruto really think—after all this time—that Sasuke had left because he hated him?
Sasuke scoffed, shaking his head. “You’re an idiot.”
Naruto blinked. “What?”
Sasuke finally looked at him, really looked at him, and the sheer amount of emotion building in his chest was almost too much. He clenched his jaw, swallowing back everything he wanted to say.
He didn’t hate Naruto.
He had never hated Naruto.
But that wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that loving Naruto had almost destroyed him.
And now—
Now, Sasuke didn’t know if he could survive it a second time.
☾ -
Naruto didn’t know what he had been expecting.
He had spent three years imagining this moment, picturing all the ways it could go. Maybe Sasuke would be cold. Maybe he would be indifferent. Maybe he would look at Naruto and feel nothing at all.
But this?
This was worse.
Because Sasuke didn’t look like he had moved on.
He looked tired.
Like he had been carrying something heavy for a long time and had never put it down.
Naruto swallowed hard. “Sasuke.”
Sasuke sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Naruto, just—drop it.”
Naruto’s chest tightened. “No.”
Sasuke gave him a look, sharp and warning. “I didn’t come back for this conversation.”
Naruto huffed. “Yeah? Then why did you come back?”
Sasuke’s jaw ticked. “Because this is my home.”
Naruto’s breath hitched.
Home.
Naruto’s fingers curled into fists at his sides. “Then act like it.”
Sasuke blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Naruto took a step closer, his pulse too fast, his voice rough. “If this is really your home, then stop acting like you don’t care.”
Sasuke’s expression darkened. “I never said I don’t care.”
Naruto’s throat felt tight. “Then say something, Sasuke. Because I—” He sucked in a shaky breath. “I don’t know where we stand anymore.”
Sasuke was silent for a long moment.
Then, finally—
“I don’t either.”
Naruto’s stomach twisted.
Sasuke exhaled, shaking his head. “Naruto, I spent three years trying to forget about you.”
Naruto’s chest ached. “Did it work?”
Sasuke hesitated.
And that—that tiny moment of silence—was all the answer Naruto needed.
Sasuke had tried to forget him.
But he hadn’t.
Naruto’s heart was pounding, his breath uneven, but he forced himself to step back, to give Sasuke space.
This wasn’t the right time.
Not yet.
Naruto licked his lips, nodding once. “Okay.”
Sasuke’s brows furrowed. “Okay?”
Naruto exhaled, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. “I’ll wait.” His voice was softer now, steadier. “For whenever you’re ready.”
Sasuke stared at him, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes.
Then, slowly—
He nodded.
Naruto didn’t move as Sasuke turned away, walking toward the exit.
But before he could disappear, Naruto called out, voice just loud enough to carry over the noise of the airport—
“I’m glad you came home.”
Sasuke paused.
His shoulders tensed, his head tilting just slightly, just enough for Naruto to see the way his fingers curled tighter around his bag strap.
Then—without looking back—Sasuke muttered, “Me too.”
And just like that, he was gone.
But this time, Naruto wasn’t afraid.
Because for the first time in three years, Sasuke was home.
And Naruto was going to do everything in his power to make sure he stayed.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke didn’t sleep that night.
He had unpacked most of his things, made his bed, stared at the ceiling for a good two hours, and yet, his mind wouldn’t shut up.
Naruto.
Naruto was still here.
Three years. Three fucking years. And nothing had changed. Not really. Not where it mattered. Because the second he saw Naruto standing at the airport—wide-eyed, breathless, waiting—Sasuke had felt the same damn thing he had been trying to kill for years.
And that? That was terrifying.
Sasuke sat up abruptly, running a hand down his face, exhaling sharply through his nose. This is fucking ridiculous.
He had left for a reason.
Three years ago, he had walked away, knowing that staying would have broken him beyond repair. He had spent every day trying to convince himself that time would fix it, that time would make it disappear.
But it hadn’t.
Because the second Naruto had taken a step closer, the second he had opened his stupid mouth, Sasuke had known—
He was still so fucking in love with him.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, shaking his head. No.
This wasn’t going to happen again. He wasn’t going to let it.
☾ -
Naruto was losing his mind.
He hadn’t expected Sasuke to just let things go overnight, but fuck—he hadn’t expected to feel this restless. Like something was constantly pressing against his ribs, urging him to move, to do something.
It had been one week since Sasuke came back.
One fucking week of silence.
Naruto had done his best not to push, to respect whatever time Sasuke needed, but it was driving him insane.
Because Sasuke was here, but he wasn’t.
He had gone back to his usual routine—walking around like nothing fazed him, keeping himself busy, avoiding Naruto like the plague.
And Naruto—Naruto wasn’t okay with that.
Not anymore.
☾ -
It happened on a Tuesday.
Sasuke had been hoping Naruto would take the hint—that he’d let things be, that they could exist in the same city without making this worse.
He should’ve known better.
The knock on his door was sharp, impatient, like whoever was on the other side was seconds away from kicking it down.
Sasuke sighed, rubbing his temples before heading toward the door. If this is Suigetsu, I swear to god—
He pulled the door open—
And froze.
Naruto stood in the hallway, arms crossed, jaw tight, blue eyes burning.
Sasuke’s stomach twisted.
Because Naruto looked pissed.
“…What do you want?” Sasuke said, keeping his voice level.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. “You’re avoiding me.”
Sasuke scoffed. “I’m busy.”
“Bullshit,” Naruto snapped, stepping forward, forcing Sasuke to take a step back. “You don’t get to do this, bastard. You don’t get to show up, say some cryptic ‘I don’t know where we stand’ bullshit, and then act like I don’t exist.”
Sasuke clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing. “I told you, Naruto—I don’t want to do this.”
Naruto let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Yeah? Then why the fuck are you still here?”
Sasuke stilled.
Naruto took another step closer, voice dropping lower, rougher. “If you really wanted to forget about me, you wouldn’t have come back.”
Sasuke’s breath hitched.
Fuck.
Naruto wasn’t wrong.
And that? That was the worst part.
Because Sasuke could have stayed in New York. Could have kept running.
But he hadn’t.
And Naruto knew it.
Sasuke turned away, jaw clenched. “You don’t understand.”
“Then make me understand.” Naruto’s voice was shaking now, but not with anger. With something else. “Because I’m still here, Sasuke. I’m still—” He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how else to say it. I never stopped—”
He cut himself off, his throat working around the words, his hands twitching at his sides like he wanted to reach for Sasuke but didn’t know if he was allowed.
Sasuke felt like he couldn’t breathe.
This was too much.
Too close.
Because Naruto had never said things like this before. Not three years ago, not ever. He had always been too blind, too wrapped up in everyone else to notice what had been in front of him the whole time.
So why now?
Why, after three years of silence, was Naruto suddenly saying everything Sasuke had always wanted to hear?
Sasuke swallowed hard. No. He can’t do this.
“Stop,” he muttered, voice tight.
Naruto’s eyes snapped to his. “Stop what?”
“Stop—” Sasuke let out a sharp breath, fingers curling into fists. “Stop acting like this is easy.”
Naruto’s face twisted. “I never said it was easy.”
Sasuke’s throat was dry. Too dry. He could feel it, the crack forming in his ribs, in his voice. “You don’t—” He stopped himself, inhaling sharply. “You don’t know what it was like, Naruto.”
Naruto’s chest tightened. “Then tell me.”
Sasuke shook his head. “I spent years loving you. Years, Naruto. And you—” He let out a bitter scoff. “You spent all that time falling for someone else.”
Naruto flinched.
Sasuke’s voice was lower now, rougher, like he was trying to keep himself from breaking apart in front of him. “Do you know what that did to me?”
Naruto did know.
Or at least, he did now.
Naruto exhaled slowly, stepping forward again, carefully, deliberately. “Sasuke.”
Sasuke didn’t move, but he didn’t step back either.
Naruto swallowed, his voice quieter now. “You think I don’t regret it?”
Sasuke didn’t answer.
Naruto let out a shaky breath. “I should have known sooner. I should have seen it sooner. But you never let me. And by the time I figured it out, you—” His voice cracked. “You were already gone.”
Sasuke’s chest ached.
Because fuck—he had spent so long being angry, spent so long convincing himself that Naruto had never cared. But now—now, Naruto was standing right in front of him, telling him exactly what he had wanted to hear for years.
But was it too late?
Sasuke exhaled sharply, his voice barely above a whisper. “Why now?”
Naruto sucked in a breath. “Because now, I can say it and mean it.”
Sasuke’s pulse roared in his ears.
Naruto took one last step forward, closing the space between them, until Sasuke could feel the heat of him, the weight of what was about to happen.
And then, carefully, softly—
“I love you.”
Sasuke stopped breathing.
Because this was it.
The thing he had spent years waiting for.
And now—
Now, he had to decide if he was brave enough to take it.
Sasuke stared at Naruto.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears, drowning out everything but the weight of the words hanging between them.
I love you.
He had imagined hearing those words for years. Had dreamed of them, had wished for them, had wanted them more than anything.
And now that Naruto was finally saying them—
Sasuke felt like he couldn’t fucking breathe.
His fingers twitched at his sides, his throat too dry to swallow, too tight to speak. He could see it—Naruto’s hands clenched into fists at his sides, his eyes burning, his chest rising and falling too fast, like he had just taken the biggest leap of his life and was terrified of what came next.
He wasn’t lying.
Sasuke knew when Naruto was lying.
But that didn’t mean Sasuke could accept this.
Not yet.
Not when there was still so much pain, so much fear, so much of himself that he had spent years trying to put back together.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, stepping back.
Naruto’s face fell, and fuck—Sasuke hated that.
But he couldn’t let himself fall again.
Not yet.
Not if he wasn’t sure Naruto would catch him.
“…You don’t get to do this,” Sasuke said finally, his voice hoarse, rough.
Naruto’s breath hitched. “Sasuke—”
“No.” Sasuke’s jaw tightened. “You don’t get to tell me this now, after all this time. Not after—” He stopped himself, inhaling sharply, forcing the ache in his chest back down where it belonged. “Not after you made me watch you love someone else.”
Naruto flinched. “I—”
Sasuke clenched his fists, looking away. “You think I can just forget everything? That I can just hear those words and pretend that the past doesn’t exist?”
Naruto stepped closer. “No. I don’t. I just—” He exhaled shakily, voice unsteady, hands twitching like he wanted to reach for Sasuke but didn’t know if he was allowed. “I just don’t want it to be too late.”
Sasuke’s chest ached.
Because fuck—he didn’t want it to be too late either.
But what if it was?
What if the damage had already been done?
What if he was still that same stupid, heartbroken kid who had walked away three years ago because he couldn’t stand being second choice again?
Sasuke closed his eyes for half a second, steadying himself. When he spoke, his voice was quieter. Colder.
“I need time.”
Naruto inhaled sharply.
Sasuke finally forced himself to look at him. “I’m not saying no,” he admitted, because he couldn’t. Because Naruto was the only thing he had ever wanted, and he couldn’t bring himself to push him away completely.
But he also wasn’t saying yes.
Not yet.
Because Naruto had spent years figuring out his feelings—and now, it was Sasuke’s turn.
Naruto exhaled slowly, nodding. He looked hurt, like he had been bracing himself for rejection and hadn’t entirely avoided it.
But then—something shifted.
His shoulders squared, his fists unclenched, and when he met Sasuke’s gaze again, there was no hesitation.
“Then I’ll wait.”
Sasuke’s breath caught.
Naruto tilted his head slightly, lips pressing into something like a determined smile. “I don’t care how long it takes, bastard. I’ll wait. For as long as you need.”
Sasuke swallowed hard.
Naruto wasn’t leaving.
Not this time.
And for the first time in years, Sasuke allowed himself to believe that maybe—just maybe—he wouldn’t have to run anymore.
☾ -
One Month Later
Naruto kept his promise.
He didn’t push. He didn’t demand anything.
He was just there.
And Sasuke—Sasuke hated how much he loved that.
They started falling back into their old routine, little by little. Naruto would drag Sasuke to Ichiraku, even when he complained about the smell. Sasuke would roll his eyes but sit across from him anyway, watching as Naruto ate like he hadn’t had a meal in weeks.
They would walk home together afterward, like they used to, Naruto’s hands shoved in his pockets, Sasuke’s gaze flickering toward him more times than he was willing to admit.
It wasn’t the same as before.
Because Naruto knew now.
And that made everything different.
One night, as they sat on Naruto’s couch, an old action movie playing in the background, Naruto turned his head, watching Sasuke carefully.
Sasuke ignored him at first, keeping his eyes on the screen.
But Naruto wasn’t subtle.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, finally looking at him. “What?”
Naruto licked his lips. “Do you still love me?”
Sasuke felt his entire body tense.
Naruto’s voice wasn’t teasing. It wasn’t cocky, or playful, or any of the things he usually hid behind.
It was just—real.
Sasuke clenched his jaw, inhaling slowly. “Naruto—”
“It’s okay if you don’t.” Naruto’s voice was softer now, but his blue eyes were still locked onto Sasuke’s, watching him, waiting. “I just—I need to know if I still have a chance.”
Sasuke exhaled slowly, his chest feeling too tight, too full.
He wanted to say no.
Wanted to tell Naruto that things had changed, that he had moved on, that he wasn’t that same lovesick idiot who had walked away all those years ago.
But he couldn’t.
Because that would be a lie.
Because Naruto was still the only thing he had ever wanted.
Sasuke swallowed hard, breaking eye contact, his fingers twitching against his thigh.
“…Yeah,” he admitted, so quiet he almost wasn’t sure he had said it out loud.
But Naruto heard him.
Because Naruto smiled.
And Sasuke—Sasuke let himself breathe for the first time in years.
For the first time in years, Sasuke started noticing things.
Naruto had always been expressive—loud, dramatic, wearing his emotions like a badge of honor for everyone to see. But this? This was different.
Because now, Sasuke could see it.
The way Naruto's eyes lingered on him a little too long when he thought Sasuke wasn’t paying attention.
The way his breath hitched just slightly whenever Sasuke leaned in too close.
The way his ears turned red whenever Sasuke’s fingers brushed against his.
And fuck—Sasuke liked it.
He liked watching Naruto fumble, liked seeing the way Naruto reacted to him, the way he felt something now.
It was a shift—small, unspoken, but there.
And Sasuke?
Sasuke was enjoying it way too much.
☾ -
It started with the hoodie incident.
Sasuke had crashed at Naruto’s place the night before, too tired to walk home after spending hours watching some dumb action movie that Naruto insisted was a classic. Morning had come too fast, and Sasuke—still groggy, still half-asleep—had grabbed the first hoodie he could find before heading to the kitchen.
He didn’t even realize his mistake until Naruto walked in, froze, and just stared at him.
Sasuke blinked at him over the rim of his coffee mug, voice still rough with sleep. “What?”
Naruto didn’t answer.
Didn’t move.
Just kept staring—at Sasuke’s chest, at Sasuke’s arms, at the way Naruto’s own hoodie hung a little too loose on him.
Sasuke’s brow furrowed. He looked down at himself, finally noticing the faded orange fabric, the unmistakable Uzumaki Naruto scent clinging to it.
…Oh.
Naruto swallowed, his ears burning red. “Uh—”
Sasuke arched a brow. “Problem?”
Naruto shook his head way too fast. “Nope. No problem. None at all.”
Sasuke took a slow sip of coffee, watching as Naruto very deliberately avoided looking at him.
Interesting.
☾ -
Then there was the chopstick moment.
They had gone out for ramen—because of course they had—and Naruto, being the idiot that he was, had forgotten to grab chopsticks.
Sasuke noticed before Naruto did, sliding his extra pair across the table without a word.
Naruto reached for them at the same time Sasuke did.
And their fingers—
Touched.
It was barely anything—just the lightest brush, a fraction of a second—but Naruto’s entire body locked up like Sasuke had set him on fire.
Sasuke raised a brow, tilting his head. “You okay?”
Naruto made a strangled sound. “Fine. Totally fine.”
Sasuke hummed, his lips curving just slightly.
Naruto scowled. “Wipe that look off your face.”
Sasuke took his time pulling his hand away, watching the way Naruto’s shoulders tensed, the way he gripped the chopsticks too tightly, the way his cheeks were definitely pink now.
“Oh?” Sasuke said, voice smooth. “What look?”
Naruto groaned. “Bastard.”
Sasuke smirked.
☾ -
But the best part?
The best part was when Naruto tripped over his own damn feet because of him.
They had been walking side by side, heading back to Naruto’s apartment, when Sasuke absentmindedly stretched, his hoodie riding up just enough to reveal a sliver of his stomach.
And Naruto—
Naruto tripped over nothing.
Sasuke blinked, watching as Naruto flailed, barely catching himself before crashing into the sidewalk.
Naruto cursed under his breath, gripping his knees, completely red from the neck up.
Sasuke tilted his head. “You good?”
Naruto shot him a glare. “You—You can’t just—” He waved a hand wildly in Sasuke’s direction. “Do that!”
Sasuke frowned. “Do what?”
Naruto gestured even more aggressively. “That! The—The thing!”
Sasuke blinked slowly. “…Existing?”
Naruto groaned, burying his face in his hands. “Oh my god.”
Sasuke smirked, stepping closer, voice dropping just slightly. “Naruto.”
Naruto froze.
Sasuke leaned in, just enough to watch him squirm. “Are you—” His lips curled, teasing. “Blushing?”
Naruto choked.
“N-No,” he spluttered.
Sasuke stared at him.
Naruto glared at the floor.
Sasuke stared harder.
Naruto finally groaned, throwing his hands up. “Okay, fine! Yes! You happy? You win!”
Sasuke grinned.
Because finally—finally—Naruto knew what it was like.
To be completely, helplessly ruined by the other person.
And Sasuke?
Sasuke wasn’t going to let him forget it.
Sasuke wasn’t sure when it happened.
Maybe it had been gradual.
Maybe it had been the way Naruto watched him now—like Sasuke was something worth looking at, something worth waiting for. Maybe it had been the way Naruto’s hands would hesitate before touching him, the way his cheeks flushed too easily, the way his voice softened just slightly whenever he said Sasuke’s name.
Or maybe—maybe it had been the way Sasuke felt when Naruto did all those things.
Because for the first time, Sasuke wasn’t the only one who wanted this.
And fuck—it made him feel stupidly warm inside.
So maybe that’s why, when they were sitting together on Naruto’s couch, Sasuke just…decided.
Because he was done waiting.
☾ -
It was late.
Naruto was sitting beside him, stretched out across the couch, one leg tucked under the other, half-focused on some dumb action movie he had already seen a hundred times.
Sasuke had been pretending to watch too, but his gaze kept drifting—to Naruto’s fingers tapping idly against his thigh, to the way his lips parted slightly whenever he was really concentrating, to the way his stupid blonde hair was still damp from his earlier shower, strands sticking up in different directions.
Naruto looked soft like this.
Unfiltered. Unguarded.
And Sasuke—Sasuke was tired of waiting.
So he just…said it.
“Let’s date.”
Naruto choked on his drink.
He coughed violently, nearly knocking the popcorn bowl off the couch, eyes going comically wide as he whipped around to stare at Sasuke.
Sasuke just watched him—calm, patient, completely unbothered by the fact that Naruto was having a minor crisis right next to him.
Naruto gawked. “What the—WHAT?”
Sasuke arched a brow. “Are you deaf?”
Naruto grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.
Sasuke scowled, catching the pillow before it could hit his face again. “Tch. Annoying.”
“Annoying?!” Naruto’s voice cracked. “You—you can’t just—SAY THAT!”
Sasuke blinked. “Why not?”
Naruto gaped at him, still looking like he was short-circuiting. “B-Because! That’s not—that’s not how this works!”
Sasuke tilted his head. “No?”
“NO!” Naruto flailed. “You can’t just drop a bomb like ‘let’s date’ like it’s casual conversation!”
Sasuke leaned back against the couch, lips curling slightly. “I just did.”
Naruto groaned. “You’re the worst.”
Sasuke smirked. “You love it.”
Naruto froze.
And just like that—his entire face turned red.
Sasuke had seen Naruto blush before—had made him blush before—but this was different.
Because Naruto wasn’t flustered because Sasuke had caught him off guard.
He was flustered because he wanted this too.
Sasuke felt something tighten in his chest, something warm and unfamiliar curling in his stomach as he watched Naruto struggle to form words.
Naruto opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
Then opened it again—before shutting up completely.
Sasuke watched, highly amused, as Naruto buried his face into his hands.
“Oh my god,” Naruto muttered into his palms.
Sasuke’s lips twitched.
Naruto peeked at him between his fingers. “You’re serious?”
Sasuke nodded. “I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t.”
Naruto stared at him, eyes searching, like he was trying to find the lie.
But there wasn’t one.
Because Sasuke had already decided.
He wasn’t going to run.
Not this time.
Naruto exhaled shakily, rubbing his face. “You’re really making me answer right now?”
Sasuke shrugged. “Take your time.”
Naruto groaned. “That makes it worse.”
Sasuke let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “You’re ridiculous.”
Naruto scowled. “You love it.”
Sasuke paused.
Then—
“…Yeah.”
Naruto froze again.
His ears went completely red.
Sasuke smirked, leaning closer, voice deliberately low. “Is that a yes?”
Naruto made a strangled noise. “I—shut up.”
Sasuke hummed, tilting his head. “That’s not an answer, dobe.”
Naruto grumbled something under his breath, avoiding Sasuke’s gaze.
Sasuke leaned in even more. “What was that?”
Naruto glared at the couch. “I said yes, asshole.”
Sasuke’s smirk softened.
Naruto grumbled louder. “Stop looking at me like that.”
Sasuke didn’t stop.
Didn’t want to stop.
Because Naruto was his now.
And for the first time, Sasuke let himself be happy about it.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Sasuke was not jealous.
He wasn’t.
Really.
Sure, Naruto had been talking to that guy at the café for way too long. And sure, the guy was laughing a little too hard at Naruto’s dumb jokes. And fine, Naruto was smiling—that stupid, bright, heart-wrenchingly genuine smile that Sasuke used to think was reserved for him.
But that didn’t mean he was jealous.
…Right?
Sasuke tapped his fingers against the table, watching.
Naruto had run into some old university friend while they were out, and now he was standing by the counter, chatting like they hadn’t already been here for twenty minutes waiting for their order.
The guy—Kaito, or whatever the hell his name was—was leaning a little too close, grinning a little too wide, and Sasuke could already tell what kind of person he was.
The kind that flirted without even realizing it.
Or worse—the kind that did realize it.
Sasuke exhaled sharply, tilting his head slightly, observing.
Naruto, to his credit, wasn’t flirting back—but he also wasn’t stopping him.
And that was a problem.
Sasuke’s fingers curled into fists against the table.
He wasn’t the type to get insecure. He wasn’t the type to question his place in Naruto’s life.
But this was new.
They were new.
And Naruto hadn’t told anyone yet.
Which meant Kaito, or whatever his name was, had no idea that Naruto was already taken.
Sasuke clenched his jaw.
Fine.
If Naruto wasn’t going to say anything, then he would.
☾ -
Naruto had just finished laughing at something stupid when he felt it—a presence behind him.
A very familiar presence.
A very unhappy presence.
Before Naruto could turn around, a hand settled on his waist.
A firm, possessive hand.
Naruto stiffened.
Oh, shit.
Kaito—who had been way too close for Sasuke’s comfort—paused mid-sentence, his eyes flickering between them. “Oh—uh. Hey?”
Sasuke didn’t answer.
Didn’t even acknowledge him.
Instead, he tilted his head, looking down at Naruto with calm, unbothered amusement.
“Are we leaving, or do you want to keep flirting?”
Naruto choked. “I—I wasn’t—”
Sasuke hummed. “Didn’t look that way from where I was sitting.”
Naruto’s face exploded with heat.
Kaito’s eyes widened slightly, his gaze flickering between them again, finally catching on. “Oh—oh. Wait, are you guys…?”
Sasuke finally looked at him, arching a brow. “Dating?” His grip on Naruto’s waist tightened slightly. “Yes.”
Kaito blinked.
Naruto groaned, covering his face with one hand. This was so embarrassing.
“Ah,” Kaito said after a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. “Damn. Well, that explains a lot.”
Naruto whipped his head up. “Wait—what does that mean?!”
Kaito just smirked, winking before stepping back. “Nothing. You guys are cute, though. Good for you.”
Sasuke hummed, clearly unimpressed, while Naruto continued to sputter like a fool.
Kaito lifted a hand in farewell, grabbing his coffee from the counter. “See you around, Naruto.”
And then—he was gone.
Naruto turned to Sasuke immediately.
“What the hell was that?!”
Sasuke looked entirely too calm, sliding his hands into his pockets. “What was what?”
Naruto scowled. “Don’t pull that innocent act—you were totally being jealous!”
Sasuke’s lips curled slightly. “Was I?”
Naruto groaned. “Yes!”
Sasuke tilted his head. “And?”
Naruto froze.
Because what was he supposed to say to that?
Sasuke had no shame.
Naruto could still feel the ghost of his hand on his waist, could still hear the smug amusement in his tone, could still see the way his dark eyes had burned with something possessive.
And now?
Now, Sasuke was smirking at him, like he had already won.
Naruto’s face was so red it hurt.
Sasuke took a slow sip of his coffee. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”
Naruto wanted to die.
☾ -
They left the café shortly after, Naruto still grumbling under his breath while Sasuke walked beside him, completely unbothered.
Naruto stole a glance at him—at the way his hands were stuffed into his pockets, at the way his expression was calm but smug, at the way his entire presence just screamed satisfaction.
Naruto huffed. Unbelievable.
“You’re never gonna let this go, are you?” he muttered.
Sasuke smirked, glancing at him sideways. “Not a chance.”
Naruto groaned.
Sasuke reached over, lazily ruffling Naruto’s hair before shoving his hand back into his pocket.
“You’re mine,” he said simply, like it was the easiest fact in the world.
Naruto’s heart skipped a beat.
And suddenly—he wasn’t annoyed anymore.
Because yeah.
He was Sasuke’s.
And Sasuke was his.
And that?
That was all that mattered.
It had been a month since they started dating.
And somehow, in all that time—despite Naruto blushing over everything, despite Sasuke’s obvious teasing, despite all the stolen glances and lingering touches—they still hadn’t kissed.
Not properly.
Not the way Sasuke wanted to.
The first time had been a mistake. A desperate, impulsive moment in the heat of an argument, when Naruto hadn’t even understood what he was feeling yet.
But now?
Now, Naruto knew.
Now, Naruto wanted this, too.
Sasuke had been patient. Had waited for Naruto to make the first move—but at this rate, he was going to die waiting.
So he stopped waiting.
☾ -
It happened at Naruto’s apartment.
They were sitting on the couch, their legs tangled together, the soft hum of the TV playing in the background. Naruto had been rambling about something—his newest mission, his training schedule, some dumb prank he pulled on Kakashi—but Sasuke wasn’t listening.
Not really.
Because Naruto was too close.
His body was warm, radiating heat like always, his golden skin glowing softly under the dim lights. His hair was still messy from his earlier shower, strands sticking up in different directions. He smelled like citrus and spice, and Sasuke hated how much he liked it.
And his mouth—
His mouth wouldn’t stop moving.
Sasuke barely processed what was happening until it was already happening.
Naruto was mid-sentence, grinning about something stupid, when Sasuke’s hand lifted on its own, fingers brushing against his jaw—
And then, before Naruto could react—
Sasuke kissed him.
Soft. Intentional.
A slow, deliberate press of lips that left no room for confusion this time.
Naruto’s entire body froze.
For a long, horrifying second, Sasuke thought he had miscalculated.
But then—
Naruto melted.
His shoulders relaxed, his breath hitched, and just like that—he was kissing Sasuke back.
Slow. Hesitant.
Like he was afraid of messing it up.
Sasuke huffed softly, amused by how shy Naruto suddenly was. He tilted his head slightly, pressing in just a little deeper—just enough to pull Naruto in.
And fuck—Naruto let him.
His fingers twitched against Sasuke’s knee, gripping the fabric of his sweatpants like he was holding on for dear life.
Sasuke smirked against his lips, pulling back just enough to murmur, “Took you long enough.”
Naruto whined. “Shut up.”
Sasuke laughed. Actually laughed.
Because Naruto was blushing so hard it reached his ears.
And Sasuke loved it.
Naruto grumbled something under his breath, still flustered, still gripping Sasuke’s leg like he couldn’t believe what just happened.
Sasuke smirked, leaning in again—
But before he could kiss him a second time, Naruto shoved his face into Sasuke’s shoulder.
Sasuke blinked. “Naruto?”
A muffled “Give me a second” came from his sweatshirt.
Sasuke snorted. “Are you serious?”
Naruto grumbled louder.
Sasuke rolled his eyes but let him hide, one hand absentmindedly resting against Naruto’s waist.
Naruto’s fingers curled into Sasuke’s hoodie, still holding on.
Sasuke sighed, lips twitching. “You’re such a loser.”
Naruto, face still buried in his shoulder, mumbled—
“Yeah, but I’m your loser.”
Sasuke stilled.
Then—slowly—his grip on Naruto tightened.
Because fuck—Naruto was right.
And Sasuke wouldn’t have it any other way.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Naruto Uzumaki was nervous.
And Naruto Uzumaki was never nervous.
But as he stood in front of the sleek, intimidating Uchiha family estate, clutching the straps of his backpack like a lifeline, he had to admit—this was worse than any exam, any big match, any nerve-wracking life moment he had ever faced.
Because today, he was meeting Sasuke’s family—as his official boyfriend.
Not as Sasuke’s annoying best friend. Not as the neighbor kid who used to steal their snacks when he visited.
As the guy who was dating their youngest son.
And that? That was terrifying.
Sasuke, the asshole, looked completely unbothered, standing next to him in his usual all-black attire, arms crossed, lips pressed into a flat line.
“This is ridiculous,” Sasuke muttered, giving Naruto a side glance. “You’ve met them before.”
“Yeah,” Naruto hissed, turning to glare at him. “When we were kids! This is different, bastard! I’m meeting them as your boyfriend.”
Sasuke arched a brow. “So?”
Naruto groaned, running a hand through his hair. “What if they don’t like me?”
Sasuke blinked. Then, with an exaggerated sigh, he reached over and grabbed Naruto’s wrist, dragging him toward the front door.
“They already like you, idiot. Now stop whining.”
Naruto made a strangled noise but didn’t resist as Sasuke pressed the doorbell.
A few seconds later, the door swung open.
And there, standing in the doorway, was Itachi Uchiha—his long hair tied in a low ponytail, wearing a simple black sweater, and giving them a look that was way too amused for Naruto’s comfort.
“Well, well,” Itachi drawled, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorway. His dark eyes flickered to Naruto, and his lips curved into a smirk. “Look who finally grew the balls to make a move.”
Naruto’s soul left his body.
“Oh my god,” Naruto mumbled under his breath, feeling his face heat up instantly.
Sasuke groaned. “Aniki—”
“Oh, don’t ‘aniki’ me,” Itachi said smoothly, stepping aside to let them in. “I spent years watching you mope over him. This is a historic moment.”
Naruto choked.
Sasuke glared. “I did not mope.”
Itachi hummed. “That’s not what your sad indie playlists said.”
Naruto wheeze-laughed. “Sad indie—Sasuke?!”
Sasuke turned to glare daggers at his brother. “I will actually kill you.”
“Sure you will.” Itachi smirked, looking too damn pleased with himself.
Naruto wiped tears from his eyes, grinning ear to ear. “Holy shit, this is amazing. I should’ve started dating Sasuke sooner if I knew I’d get this kind of entertainment.”
Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose. “I regret everything.”
Itachi snorted. “Come on, let’s go to the dining room. Mom and Dad are waiting.”
☾ -
Meeting the Uchiha Parents
Mikoto Uchiha was smiling before Naruto even sat down.
“It’s so nice to see you again, Naruto,” she said warmly, setting down a dish on the long dining table. “It’s been so long since you visited!”
Naruto, still flustered from Itachi’s teasing, rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “Y-Yeah, I guess it has been a while.”
“It’s about time,” Fugaku Uchiha muttered, flipping a page in his newspaper. “Sasuke talked about you enough as it is.”
Sasuke froze mid-sip of his water. “Dad—”
Naruto’s head snapped up. “Wait, what?”
Mikoto giggled. “Oh, Sasuke’s always been terrible at hiding his feelings.”
Itachi nodded. “Terrible.”
Fugaku hummed. “Embarrassingly so.”
Sasuke set his water down aggressively. “I hate all of you.”
Naruto, absolutely thriving in this moment, leaned toward him with a shit-eating grin. “So, you were talking about me, huh?”
Sasuke didn’t answer.
Naruto smirked harder. “Sasuke~”
Sasuke shot him a warning glare. “Shut up.”
Naruto gasped dramatically. “Oh my god, I was your crush? Sasuke, you should’ve told me~”
Sasuke’s eye twitched.
Mikoto giggled again. “We always knew it would happen eventually.”
Naruto beamed. “You did?”
Mikoto nodded. “Of course. Sasuke may be good at a lot of things, but hiding his feelings isn’t one of them.”
Sasuke scowled. “That’s not true.”
Fugaku raised a brow. “Son, you once got mad when Naruto had a crush on someone and refused to eat dinner for two days.”
Naruto choked on air. “Wait—WHAT?”
Sasuke’s soul left his body.
“That never happened,” Sasuke lied through his teeth.
Itachi smirked. “Oh, it definitely did.”
Naruto grinned so wide it hurt. “Sasuke, were you always this obsessed with me?”
Sasuke glared death at everyone in the room.
“Aniki, I swear to—”
“Alright, alright,” Mikoto interrupted, laughing softly. “Let’s eat before Sasuke murders someone at the table.”
Naruto laughed, sitting up straight. “Man, I love this family.”
Fugaku smirked. “Good. Because you’re part of it now.”
Naruto stopped laughing.
His eyes widened slightly, the warmth in Fugaku’s tone settling somewhere deep in his chest. Part of the family.
Sasuke, noticing his reaction, reached under the table and gently squeezed Naruto’s knee.
Naruto exhaled, heart so full he thought it might burst.
This was his life now.
And he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“Naruto, don’t touch that.”
Naruto touched it.
More specifically, Naruto grabbed the old photo album from Sasuke’s bookshelf and flipped it open before Sasuke could stop him.
Sasuke, standing stiffly in the doorway of his childhood bedroom, sighed aggressively. “You’re such a menace.”
Naruto ignored him.
Because holy shit—
The first page was an absolute masterpiece.
It was a baby Sasuke, barely three years old, with his chubby cheeks and serious expression, sitting in a kiddie pool with a tiny inflatable duck. His arms were crossed, his eyes already too judgmental for a child, but the real kicker?
The floaties.
Bright yellow, covered in tiny ducks.
Naruto lost it.
“BAHAHA—OH MY GOD.” He wheeze-laughed, gripping the album like it was the greatest treasure of his life. “SASUKE. WHAT. IS. THIS?!”
Sasuke, mortified, strode forward, reaching for the album. “Give me that.”
Naruto dodged him, flipping another page.
And there it was.
Seven-year-old Sasuke, standing in a school hallway, holding a tiny bouquet of flowers with an absolutely furious expression on his face.
The caption, written in Mikoto’s delicate handwriting, read:
"Sasuke lost a bet and had to give flowers to his crush today!"
Naruto screamed.
Sasuke snatched the album from his hands immediately, snapping it shut.
“Nope. We’re done.”
Naruto, still cackling, wiped a tear from his eye. “SASUKE. PLEASE. WHO WERE THE FLOWERS FOR?”
Sasuke, stone-faced, muttered, “They were for you.”
Naruto stopped laughing.
“…Wait. What?”
Sasuke, realizing his mistake, went rigid.
Naruto blinked. “Did you—hold on—DID YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON ME WHEN WE WERE SEVEN?!”
Sasuke turned around and walked toward the window.
Naruto gasped dramatically. “OH MY GOD. YOU WERE IN LOVE WITH ME FOR THAT LONG?!”
Sasuke opened the window.
Naruto snorted. “Bastard, where are you gonna go? We’re on the second floor.”
Sasuke muttered, “It would still be less painful than this conversation.”
Naruto tackled him onto the bed.
☾ -
A Few Minutes Later…
Itachi leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the chaos unfold.
Sasuke was face-down on his bed, aggressively trying to suffocate himself with a pillow. Naruto was sitting on top of him, gleefully scrolling through even more embarrassing childhood photos that he had found in the second album.
Itachi smirked. “I see you found the archives.”
Naruto grinned. “This is the greatest day of my life.”
Sasuke, muffled into the pillow, muttered, “I hate everyone.”
Naruto snorted, nudging him with his knee. “Oh, come on, don’t be a sore loser. You had a crush on me for years, and I only just found out.”
Sasuke turned his head slightly, his glare burning through Naruto’s soul. “You say that like you weren’t pathetically pining for me this past year.”
Naruto’s face went red.
Itachi raised a brow. “Oh? Do tell.”
Naruto panicked. “WAIT—”
But Sasuke sat up so fast Naruto fell onto the bed.
Sasuke smirked, finally back in control. “You should’ve seen him, Aniki. Blushing over nothing. Staring at me when he thought I wasn’t looking. Stammering whenever I got too close.”
Naruto’s soul left his body. “SASUKE—”
Itachi looked highly amused. “Sounds familiar.”
Naruto groaned, rolling over dramatically. “I’m being bullied. Someone save me.”
Sasuke smirked, leaning over him. “No one’s coming to save you, dobe.”
Naruto huffed. “I liked you better when you were awkward and pining.”
Sasuke chuckled, low and smug. “Too bad. You’re stuck with me now.”
Naruto grumbled but smiled anyway.
Because yeah.
He was stuck with Sasuke.
And Sasuke was stuck with him.
And honestly?
That was perfect.
THE END.