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1 . Shikamaru
If there was one thing Shikamaru hated, it was idle gossip. Unfortunately, he was friends with Ino, who loved idle gossip. Sure, there was value in knowing certain secrets and hidden truths, but that generally did not include caring about who was hooking up with whom, or who had been spotted sucking face in the park. In fact, Shikamaru usually couldn't care less. That was why he didn’t pay much attention when Ino slammed her hand down on the table and declared that she just had to share a new juicy piece of gossip.
Shikamaru sighed as Ino built up the story, starting of course with some extraneous details about what she was doing and who she was with. Choji nodded along happily, indicating that unlike Shikamaru, he was listening intently. He always seemed to hear more than most people expected, even when it looked like he was just thinking about how to snatch leftovers off of his teammates’ plates.
As Ino gestured dramatically, Shikamaru couldn’t help glancing at the empty seat next to her, where their sensei should be sitting. It still hurt to think about, and it made him ache for a cigarette (even though he’d promised Temari he’d quit). At first it had almost felt like an insult to keep up their regular meetups without their fourth member, but it ended up making them all feel worse when they abandoned the practice entirely. Now, despite how busy they all were, they found time to meet up and reminisce.
“Ok, so I round the corner and–” Ino continued on.
Shikamaru sighed again, but he made an effort to tune into Ino’s rambling. It wasn’t often that they got to spend downtime together, so he really should try to pay attention to what she was saying.
“--and then when I looked over, you’ll never guess who I saw!” She paused for dramatic effect, waiting for her teammates to comment.
Choji hummed thoughtfully. “Who?” He seemed incredibly invested in the story, unlike Shikamaru.
Ino glanced over at Shikamaru, who just shrugged. “I know you don’t really expect me to guess correctly, so how about you just tell us?”
She gave him a flat look, but relented. “Fine, be that way. You’re no fun.” Ino stuck her tongue out at him. “I saw Naruto and Sasuke together.”
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, while Choji tilted his head curiously. “They’re always together, when they’re both here. Don’t they even live together when Sasuke is actually in the village?”
“No, I mean,” Ino clarified, “ together together. As in, romantically.”
Shikamaru considered Ino’s words before responding. Choji was right that they were always together, so it would probably be easy to misinterpret their relationship. It wasn’t that Shikamaru thought it was too outlandish to think that they might have some kind of romantic involvement. Naruto had always been far more obsessed with the wayward Uchiha than what would be considered typical friendship levels. That being said, Naruto was, well, Naruto. He genuinely loved and cared for all of his friends very deeply, so it also wasn’t too outlandish to think that he was just a particularly dedicated friend. Sasuke on the other hand…
“What were they doing?” Shikamaru asked.
It wasn’t lost on Ino that he had suddenly become far more invested in the story. Her eyes gleamed with amusement. “I caught a glimpse of them at one of the training fields. I’m surprised they didn’t notice me, but they were really distracted.” She made a face somewhere between amused and disturbed. “They were kind of all over each other.”
“That doesn’t mean much if they were sparring,” Shikamaru commented, still looking for more concrete evidence.
Choji nodded in agreement. “Aren’t they always kind of doing that sort of thing? I feel like Naruto is always hanging off of Sasuke and dragging him around.”
“And that’s another thing,” Ino retorted. “I never really thought much of it, because Naruto is so handsy with everyone, but isn’t it weird that Sasuke just kind of…lets him?”
It was weird. Shikamaru had assumed it was due to some kind of weird guilt from everything he’d put Naruto through. Ever since Sasuke had his “redemption journey” (or whatever it was he was doing), he’d been strangely tolerant of Naruto’s antics. Sure, everyone saw them occasionally bickering and throwing a punch or two, but it all seemed relatively good natured.
“Everything about their relationship is weird,” Shikamaru replied with a shrug. “But it doesn’t mean they’re secretly together.”
Ino rolled her eyes at him. “No, but I’m pretty sure a steamy makeout session in the middle of the training yard does.”
Both Shikamaru and Choji were silent for a few moments as they processed their teammate’s discovery. Unsurprisingly, Choji recovered first, returning to his meal without a word. Shikamaru frowned at Ino, deep in thought.
He chided, “You couldn’t have led with that particular detail?”
Shrugging, Ino responded, “I live for the drama.”
“Clearly.”
Shikamaru sat back as he thought about the implications of Ino’s words. Naruto and Sasuke, kissing. Well, that couldn’t be written off as just friendship.
“Guess that explains why things didn’t work out with him and Hinata,” Shikamaru commented absently.
He wished he could be happy for his friend. In theory, the two of them worked well together. There was a kind of balance in the opposition of their personalities, and they obviously shared some kind of deep bond. Sasuke was significantly less angry and vengeful since he’d started spending more time in the village with Naruto, and Naruto seemed more focused and serious with Sasuke around. So yes, in theory he should be happy.
But in reality? Shikamaru had serious concerns. It was no secret that Naruto was next in line to be Hokage, as soon as Kakashi decided his student was ready. And knowing Kakashi, he might get tired of the job at any moment and pass on the hat. That meant that Naruto wasn’t far off from becoming Hokage himself, and Sasuke would know that too. Staying in Naruto’s good graces would be ideal for someone who was quite vocal about wanting to make changes to how the village was run. Naruto insisted that Sasuke’s ideas would ultimately help the village, but Shikamaru wasn’t convinced. Considering it was just a few years ago when Sasuke had decided killing all the Kage would be the best way to bring peace, Shikamaru really didn’t trust his judgment on what was good for the village. And he also couldn’t trust Naruto’s judgment on Sasuke. He’d proven over and over that he had a massive, Sasuke-shaped blindspot that led him to making terrible decisions.
Sasuke wouldn’t even need to use his eyes to get Naruto to do what he wanted. He was already Naruto’s closest confidant, and everyone knew it. So what kind of game was he playing? If Shikamaru was going to be Naruto’s advisor in the near future, he had to figure it out. For all the qualities he loved about Naruto, his blind trust in everyone around him was not one of them. Shikamaru had learned to deal with Naruto’s ridiculous affinity for making friends with dangerous strangers, but he hadn’t come to terms with his friend’s closeness with Sasuke. He still didn’t trust Sasuke, and he doubted he ever would completely. This only cemented those feelings.
When had Sasuke ever shown romantic interest in anyone, let alone someone that he tried to kill on multiple occasions? Shikamaru wanted to say that Naruto wouldn’t fall for any tricks, but he knew that was a lie. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Naruto had all kinds of attachment issues from the way he’d grown up. Sasuke could easily fill a vital role for Naruto, and put himself in the perfect position to whisper in the future Hokage’s ear.
Shikamaru frowned. Unfortunately, he was going to have to get involved in the very drama he tried to avoid. He had to, not only for the sake of the village’s future, but for the sake of his friend’s heart. How troublesome.
- Kakashi
“You understand why I’m concerned, don’t you, Sasuke?”
Of all the reasons he never wanted to wear the hat, it had never occurred to him that being forced to meddle in the love lives of his students would be one of them. And yet, when Shikamaru had come to him to express his concerns, Kakashi couldn’t just brush them off. He still cared for all of his former students dearly, even after everything Sasuke had done, but he was not quite as willing to turn a blind eye as Naruto. Although, was anyone?
He understood Sasuke’s reluctance to remain in the village, and he understood the hatred that still clouded his heart. Why wouldn’t he resent the place that had allowed his family to die? Kakashi couldn’t disagree with some of his feelings, if he was being honest, but that didn’t justify the last Uchiha’s actions. He wanted to believe that Sasuke wouldn’t go to such extreme lengths to get his way anymore, but he would be an idiot to completely discount the idea.
Sasuke’s expression didn’t give anything away, as cool as ever. “I don’t understand why my personal life is any of your business.”
Kakashi smiled airily behind his mask, his eyes crinkling. “It becomes my business when you involve the village’s next Hokage.”
Sasuke stiffened. “Naruto can make his own decisions about his life. He doesn’t have to run his choices by you. And neither do I,” he added dangerously.
“No,” Kakashi agreed. “And believe me, I’d rather not get involved. But I am, unfortunately, the Hokage, and I’ve had a potential concern about village safety brought to my attention. It’s a concern I can’t brush off.”
“If I wanted to destroy the village, I wouldn’t need to be dating Naruto to do it,” Sasuke scoffed.
“Oh, I’m well aware. I’m also well aware that you’ve changed your tactics for village reform,” Kakashi replied. “Which I’m very grateful for, I might add.” Grateful, and a bit proud, if he was being honest. He knew how difficult it was to let go of anger and vengeance. He didn’t tell Sasuke this, of course, because Sasuke would see the praise as condescending, or fake.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Sasuke,” Kakashi sighed, “we both know you haven’t given up your revolutionary ideals, you’re just doing it in a much more gradual, quiet way.” Again, he was grateful for this change, and not necessarily opposed to it. He just had a few potential concerns.
“Just come out and say whatever you’re trying to imply,” Sasuke snarled.
Sighing, Kakashi cursed his past self for accepting the Hokage position in the first place. He hated that this was his problem to deal with. “Given your very vocal opinions on the village, and the Council in particular, it is reasonable to have concerns about your intentions with the future Hokage.”
“You think I’m with Naruto just to piss off the Council?” Sasuke frowned, his non-covered eye narrowing dangerously.
Kakashi shrugged. “I’ve long since stopped trying to figure out why you do what you do,” he quipped. “But, you can’t expect me to not notice the timing.”
“The fuck are you on about?” Sasuke snarled.
Kakashi ignored the cursing and the attitude. He’d expected it when he decided to have this conversation. “You know how the Council feels about you. And it’s not exactly a secret that Naruto is going to take the hat after me.” He tilted his head innocently. “It is interesting that this information about your relationship has come to light, just days before your meeting with them to discuss your brother’s legacy.”
For a few moments, Sasuke was silent. Dangerously silent. And then, his killing intent spiked so intensely that half a dozen ANBU surrounded them, weapons at the ready. Kakashi waved them off, telling them to stand down. If Sasuke decided he wanted Kakashi dead, all the ANBU in Konoha wouldn’t be enough to stop him. He was better off speaking to Sasuke alone and trying to keep tensions from rising any more than they already had.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” Sasuke spat.
“Better me than the Council,” Kakashi shrugged.
“I don’t have to explain myself to them either,” Sasuke insisted, his voice low and threatening. “I’ve jumped through their hoops. I’ve kept quiet when they wanted me to. I’ve behaved myself and taken every mission that’s been put in front of me. I’ve done everything this damn village has asked of me.”
Kakashi sighed, “I don’t disagree.”
“So why are you pestering me about this?”
“Because,” Kakashi explained, “it’s my job. Unfortunately.”
“Do you really think I would do that to Naruto? Use his feelings for my own gain?” the younger man demanded.
The truth was, Kakashi couldn’t honestly say for sure that the answer was no. Years ago, he wouldn’t have doubted for a second that Sasuke would lie and hurt Naruto to get what he wanted. Afterall, he already had. But now? He wanted to have faith in his former student. Sasuke had changed. He’d shown genuine remorse for his actions, and he’d been acting in the village’s best interests…as long as they aligned with his own. It was true that Sasuke had taken every mission Kakashi had given him, but Kakashi had also been picking and choosing which missions to offer. He wanted Sasuke to succeed.
It just couldn’t be at the village’s expense. Or Naruto’s.
As much as Kakashi wanted to give Sasuke the benefit of the doubt, he was too experienced, and too cynical, to trust blindly. If he was wrong, it wouldn’t just be Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship that suffered; it would be the entire village. Possibly even other villages. It was only a few years ago that Sasuke had declared his intentions to kill all the Kage, and reset the shinobi system completely. Kakashi would be an idiot to overlook the potential damage his former student could do.
And Kakashi was many things, but he wasn’t an idiot.
Kakashi’s silence said enough. For a brief moment, so quick Kakashi almost thought he’d imagined it, there was a flash of hurt in Sasuke’s expression. Of course, it was gone almost instantaneously, and Sasuke’s expression returned to his normal scowl.
Defiant, he looked his former Sensei in the eyes and declared, “You have no say in what Naruto and I do in our personal lives. Stay out of it.”
Sasuke didn’t wait for a response, using his Rinnegan to travel somewhere else in the blink of an eye. Kakashi groaned and leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his temples. He couldn’t wait to hand the hat off to Naruto.
- Sai
Sai didn’t like Sasuke on principle. He was too unpredictable and too powerful. A loose cannon, a threat. No matter how “reformed” he claimed to be, Sai would never forget what he’d done. He’d helped the Akatsuki, he’d threatened the stability of the entire shinobi world, and he’d almost killed Naruto. Multiple times.
Friendship still didn’t come easily to him, but Sai understood it well enough to know that friends didn’t try to kill each other. Sasuke was undeserving of Naruto’s friendship.
But that was irrelevant, at the moment. Sai was a former ROOT shinobi, he knew how to suppress his own desires and emotions. Even if he personally wouldn’t mind if Sasuke disappeared off the face of the earth, it wasn’t his job to pass judgment. Right now, it was just his job to observe and report. The Hokage told him about their confrontation in his office, looking tired and worn as he ordered Sai to keep an eye on the Uchiha.
It took a while for Sai’s ink mice to find Sasuke, but he eventually managed to track him down. Sai doubted he was truly skilled enough to hide from Sasuke and his legendary doujutsu, but it didn’t matter. Orders were orders, and Sai couldn’t disagree with them. Knowing that Naruto had apparently entered a physical relationship with Sasuke was alarming, to say the least. It put the former rogue nin in a concerning position of power and influence over Naruto.
It also wasn’t lost on Sai that Sasuke had never shown any romantic interest in anyone, or at least anyone within the village. That made it incredibly suspicious that his first confirmed relationship was with the only person that could potentially subdue him, should the need arise. If he couldn’t best Naruto on the battlefield, perhaps he’d decided to switch to a much more subtle tactic to ensure victory. It was the only explanation that made sense to him, because surely a man like Sasuke wasn’t capable of truly loving someone.
Sai followed his ink mice as they led him over rooftops and down alleyways until eventually, Sasuke came into view. He wasn’t outright hiding, but he was slinking along in the shadows to avoid unwanted attention. Sai trailed behind him, staying silent and stealthy even though there was no way Sasuke hadn’t already figured out he was being followed.
He hadn’t deduced where Sasuke was heading yet, but he could tell it wasn’t back to Naruto’s apartment. It was unlikely he’d catch Sasuke doing anything particularly nefarious, but he kept a close watch anyway. If Sasuke was planning something, he’d disappear long before Sai could stop him. The fact that he was remaining visible was a good sign that at least for the moment, the village was safe. Of course, that could change at any moment, knowing Sasuke’s history.
He knew it, the Hokage knew it, the entire village knew it. Even Naruto must know it. Naruto was not the most intelligent person, but even he wasn’t completely oblivious. No, Naruto’s insistence that Sasuke was not a threat to the village had nothing to do with intelligence, and everything to do with belief . He believed that Sasuke had changed and would not repeat his past behaviors. No one else shared that belief, but Naruto was incredibly persuasive. Sai knew that despite how friendly the Rokudaime acted with Sasuke, he was still on guard. Even Sakura, with her confusing childhood crush, never fully relaxed around Sasuke. The only person that completely let his guard down was Naruto. Naruto didn’t seem to have any doubts about the Uchiha’s apparent change of heart.
Sai knew that Naruto’s faith in the people around him was considered an admirable trait, and that it had been integral in saving the world. But that didn’t mean he could understand it, or that he agreed with it.
Letting Sasuke get so close to him, both physically and emotionally, was a terrible idea. Naruto insisted that “everyone makes mistakes”, but the Uchiha’s actions were incomparable to the average person’s mistakes. Someone who openly promised mass murder and a violent revolution did not suddenly change their ideals overnight.
There was an expression for that, he was fairly certain. What was it? Ah, yes; a leopard cannot change its spots. Once a traitor, always a traitor.
Sai knew it was useless to challenge Sasuke directly, and that the action would only upset Naruto. So, he would be watching, and waiting, monitoring for any sign that Sasuke was ready to show his true intent. That day would come, eventually. Sasuke was a dangerous, unstable liability, and that would never change. He just hoped that when the inevitable happened, Naruto wouldn’t be dragged down with him.
Friendship still didn’t come easy to him, and sometimes he still didn’t really understand it, but he knew Naruto deserved better than what Sasuke could give him.
4 . Sakura
When she first heard it from Ino, she’d laughed. Naruto and Sasuke? Kissing? Hah!
As much as she loved her friends, they were both incredibly hot headed, particularly when it came to each other. There was no way they’d be able to stop punching each other long enough to do…anything else.
Or so she thought.
Ino had looked at her sympathetically and assured her that it wasn’t a joke. If they were still kids, she would have thrown a tantrum and waited for Ino to laugh and tease Sakura for getting upset. But they weren’t kids anymore. Their relationship had come a long way, to the point that Sakura considered them to be best friends once again. They might tease each other and occasionally push each other’s buttons, but Ino would never joke about something like this.
Long gone were the days of fighting for Sasuke’s attention. Not only had Ino moved on (and was dating Sai, if the rumors were to be believed), she would never have resorted to such a petty lie anyway. So if Ino said she saw Naruto and Sasuke kissing, then Sakura believed her. But she had no idea what to think of it.
Undoubtedly, she was hurt. She might not be the same little kid batting her eyelashes to get Sasuke’s attention, but her long history of romantic interest toward him wasn’t exactly a secret. Naruto knew this. Sasuke knew too, even if he continued to insist that he had no romantic interest in her, or in anyone for that matter. He was definitely more tactful than he used to be with his rejection, but he still refused to give her a chance. She tried not to push like she used to, partly because she knew it was pointless, and partly because she genuinely didn’t want to ruin their friendship. Still, she couldn’t help her feelings.
The three of them had been getting along well over the past couple years, to the point that she would consider both of them to be some of the most important people in her life. Even if Sasuke rarely spent any time with her without Naruto as a buffer. She’d accepted that he would never be the person her younger self had been infatuated with, but it didn’t make her love him any less.
That was what made the sting of betrayal from her friends so much worse, because they knew . One of the turning points in the relationship between her and Sasuke had been one of the first times Sasuke had returned to the village after his release from prison. He’d been gone for more than a year, with barely any word. Sakura had been worried that Sasuke had gone rogue again, until she finally pestered Kakashi enough to get him to admit that yes, he was actually in contact with Sasuke. He’d confirmed that Sasuke had not gone rogue again, but refused to give any details of where he was or what he was doing. Kakashi also refused to pass on a message, but she wondered if he did it anyway, because Sasuke showed up a few weeks later for the first time in years.
She’d never forget how much he’d changed, how handsome he’d become. Any doubts that her infatuation remained flew out the window the second she saw him. She was still as in love as she had been as a teenager. At the time, she’d just been so excited that he was back, that she didn’t spare a thought for Naruto’s own enthusiastic reaction. It was just how he was, especially with Sasuke. It was how he’d always been. And if at one point she saw the smallest, most genuine smile on Sasuke’s face when he first laid eyes on Naruto, she managed to convince herself that it was her imagination. Particularly because after fending off Naruto’s overly enthusiastic greeting, one of the first things Sasuke had done was ask to speak to Sakura alone.
Sakura had been so excited, and nervous, convinced her feelings were finally reciprocated. In the end, it hadn’t been a love confession, but an apology. It had been simultaneously the most frustrating and heartwarming conversation she’d ever had. Sasuke’s rejection was clear, and absolute, but the invitation for a relationship, even if it was just friendship, had moved her. Clearly, the angry boy she used to know had done a lot of reflecting and maturing. In the end, she was happy to accept the chance at rebuilding a friendship. In return, she promised not to push, but swore she would always be waiting for him if (or when, she hoped) he changed his mind about the nature of their relationship.
She’d told Naruto this, because she told Naruto just about everything nowadays. In return, he told her everything too, as close friends often did. Or at least, she thought he did. Apparently he’d omitted one very important detail about his life.
There was a petty, childish part of her that was fuming. Were they doing this just to get back at her? Was this some kind of joke at her expense? They’d always been so far ahead of her in everything else, was this just one more advantage for them?
She quickly dismissed the thought. That was just her mind coming up with worst-case scenarios, fueled by her hurt and betrayal. Maybe at one point Sasuke would have been cruel enough to fake a relationship to hurt her, but he wasn’t now. And Naruto–
She felt guilty for even thinking that he’d purposefully hurt her like that. It was obvious why they wouldn’t have wanted to tell her, even if it hurt to admit.
With some of her more bitter feelings under control, Sakura was able to think more clearly about her new information. Sasuke and Naruto. Naruto and Sasuke. Together. Romantically.
Honestly, she wasn’t actually surprised when she really thought about it. Even when Sasuke had been their enemy, he’d still only looked at Naruto. Her, he would have killed without sparing her a second glance. But Naruto? He may have claimed that Naruto meant nothing to him, and that he didn’t think about their boisterous teammate at all, but it was obviously a lie. Sasuke’s attention always went back to Naruto.
Making a threat? A quick glance to see how Naruto would react. Throwing insults? The sharpest barbs were always directed toward Naruto. Sasuke could brush everyone else off with minimal effort, but he was always ready to announce, to insist , that Naruto meant nothing to him. As someone who was apparently worth less than the dirt on the bottom of his shoe, Sasuke certainly went out of his way to make sure everyone else knew how little he claimed to care about Naruto.
Then there was their fight after the war. They’d nearly killed each other and ultimately left each other permanently disfigured. But Naruto brought Sasuke home. He came back for Naruto. Not for her, or Kakashi, or the village. Only for Naruto. Yes, Sasuke had formed more bonds now, but no one would ever pretend that Naruto hadn’t been the force driving him home.
And of course, she could never forget how when everyone else had given up on Sasuke, Naruto refused. No one else believed he could change. Naruto took a beating for him, humiliated himself for him. He fought tooth and nail to get Sasuke pardoned after the war. He visited Sasuke as often as he could while he was in jail, and Sakura knew that Naruto received letters when the rest of them only got radio silence.
Maybe she should have found it romantic, how they seemed to always have the other on their mind first and foremost. But she didn’t. She couldn’t. All she could see was the gaping hole in Naruto’s chest, after their first fight at the Valley of the End. His bloodied, beaten form after their second fight.
They hurt each other. More specifically, Sasuke hurt Naruto. Over and over. Naruto fought back, and never shied away from a rough spar with a friend, but he would never hurt someone he cared about like Sasuke had. In fact, Naruto treated his enemies better than Sasuke had treated Naruto, his supposed best friend.
This…this couldn’t be good for them. For Naruto, especially. Even if part of her would always love Sasuke, she didn’t really know him. Not like she knew Naruto. Naruto was one of her closest friends, one of her best friends . She had to look out for him, and not let herself be blinded by her feelings for Sasuke.
Naruto’s quest to bring Sasuke home had been borderline obsessive. No, not even borderline; it had been his singular goal. How could he possibly know that he had romantic feelings for Sasuke, after dealing with such an intense obsession for so long? It would be easy to mistake such strong feelings for love, especially for someone who never had any healthy relationships in his life to learn from. Combine the sudden access to his years-long obsession with a childhood history of attachment and abandonment issues, and it would be all too easy for Naruto to fall into an unhealthy relationship with the person who had hurt him time and time again.
Sakura knew Sasuke had changed. She believed him. She believed that he was sorry, and that he was trying.
But she also knew how fragile his own psyche was. He was recovering from his own trauma, and barely had any more of a measure of healthy relationships than Naruto did. Sasuke didn’t talk about his family, so Sakura had no idea if his parents had been in a happy marriage. She knew that many older clans, like the Uchiha, often practiced arranged marriages. For all she knew, Sasuke’s parents may not have even loved each other at all. And then, of course, he would likely never truly recover from the damage his brother had done to his trust. The last person he loved had done something unspeakable to him, so how was he supposed to understand what a healthy relationship looked like either?
Truly, the two of them were the worst possible match. They weren’t emotionally mature enough for a serious relationship. Even if they were genuinely infatuated with each other, that wasn’t a good foundation for a relationship, not when the two of them both carried so much baggage. It would be one thing if it was a fling, or a no-strings attached physical relationship, but she doubted that was the case. Naruto became hyper-attached to anyone that showed him even a scrap of affection, and Sasuke would never let himself be vulnerable with someone that he didn’t trust with every fiber of his being. No, neither of them were capable of something low stakes or casual. They both threw their entire heart and soul into everything they did, for better or worse.
In this case, she feared it was for the worse.
She had to do something. They would probably be upset with her for butting in, but Sakura couldn’t stand by while Naruto got hurt. Not again. Because he would get hurt, there was no doubt in her mind. Both of them were too intense, too traumatized, and Sasuke was not emotionally stable enough to handle either of their intensity or trauma. Even if Sasuke would no longer physically hurt Naruto, that didn’t mean Naruto was safe. In fact, she knew he wasn’t. She knew, because she saw the look on his face every time Sasuke left the village.
One of these days, Sasuke would leave, and it would break Naruto’s heart. Or, he’d say something in a fit of anger that he couldn’t take back. Or his grief and rage would catch up with him again, and he’d do something that Naruto couldn’t defend him against. There were dozens of scenarios she could come up with, and they would all end up with Naruto suffering for Sasuke’s choices. Again.
She refused to stand by this time. Her own feelings be damned, she had to keep Naruto from getting hurt again. Sakura doubted he would listen to her, the stubborn idiot, but she could think of one person who might be able to convince him.
- Naruto
He’d messed up, he’d messed up so bad. After everything that's happened in his life, Naruto liked to think that he had grown from the impulsive, reckless kid he used to be, but apparently his self control was no better than it had been at age 12. He hadn’t meant to kiss Sasuke in the middle of the training field, he just hadn’t been able to help himself.
Their spars always had an underlying spark of electricity between them to begin with, and keeping their matches strictly professional had become a challenge since they’d gotten together. It was so easy to lose themselves in each other, just like their brawls when they were kids. Only now, they were definitely not kids, and their relationship was very different. It was impossible to keep his mind from wandering to less appropriate avenues when his partner smirked at him like that , particularly when their bodies were already flush together. But that wasn’t what did him in. He’d kept his composure, even though Sasuke had been gone for months and this was the first time they’d been able to put their hands on each other since his departure. In his defense, he was already training when Sasuke showed up out of nowhere, ignoring his report in favor of a friendly spar. Per usual, the friendly spar turned heated quickly.
It wasn’t even the subtle flirting hidden behind affectionate insults that got to him. It wasn’t the longing following months apart, worrying and wondering about where Sasuke was and if he was safe. It wasn’t even his stupid pretty face, flushed from exertion. No, the bastard got him with a smile. It was the one , which didn’t make an appearance often, but made something in Naruto’s chest feel like it was exploding with affection. It wasn’t the small, teasing smile that Sasuke wore during their playful bickering, nor was it the subtle but genuine upturn of his lips that he’d started to show Sakura and Kakashi. No, it had been the one that made Naruto’s stupid heart stutter, because he hardly ever saw it.
Sasuke still guarded his own heart carefully, and kept his emotions in control. He didn’t like to show obvious emotions, and most people still found him quite difficult to read. (Naruto disagreed, but he knew that he was the exception, not the rule). So when, mid spar, Sasuke had looked at him and smiled so wide that it made his stupidly pretty eyes shine, Naruto was a goner. He was weak for that rare, genuine smile, the one that no one else got to see.
So yes, he’d acted impulsively. The urge to kiss that stupid smile was overwhelming, and he didn’t even try to fight it. He just hadn’t expected Sasuke to reciprocate. He’d been too preoccupied to notice the other presence around them, until Ino squeaked in surprise, then turned on her heel and walked briskly in the opposite direction. By that point, the damage was done.
If Ino knew, the whole village would know by sundown. Sasuke was going to kill him.
You’re just being dramatic, Kurama chided.
Not really, Naruto argued. You know Sasuke didn’t want our relationship to be public.
So what? The fox replied. It’s not like you were announcing it to everyone. Except to me, he added with a snort. Sage knows I’ve heard far more about your relations than I ever wanted to.
That’s not the point. I’m the one that crossed a line. It’s my fault that Ino saw us, and now she’ll tell everyone, Naruto insisted.
Kurama grunted in response, If you haven’t chased the Uchiha brat off by now, I doubt you ever will.
Naruto wasn’t sure if that was meant to be encouraging or insulting. The fox ignored him when he tried to ask for clarification. But what did Kurama know, anyway? He might be centuries old, but he still didn’t have the best grasp on human customs or behaviors. Also, he definitely didn’t like Sasuke. It was probably best not to take Kurama too seriously.
He groaned, rubbing at his eyes with the palms of his hands. At least he hadn’t seen Sasuke since the incident at the training grounds. It was giving him plenty of time to wander aimlessly and clear his head.
He didn’t want to ruin what they had. Sure, he wished he could hold Sasuke’s hand in public, or take him on a proper date, but he was still happy. He understood why Sasuke requested to keep their relationship to themselves, he really did. It hurt, when he thought about it, but he wasn’t surprised. He never had been.
Even if he wasn’t the same annoying little village pariah he used to be, he knew Sasuke was still so far out of his league. Despite his history as a missing nin, and his year of imprisonment, Sasuke was still, well, Sasuke. The village had slowly started to thaw toward him in more recent years, and Naruto wasn’t foolish enough to think that Sasuke’s looks didn’t play a role. Because damn, the man had matured quite well . Of course there were still plenty in the village that looked at Sasuke with disdain, but there were also plenty who looked at him with undisguised hunger in their eyes. If anything, his sordid past seemed to make him more desirable.
It was impossible to miss the flirtatious smiles thrown his way when they were out together, even if Sasuke didn’t pay them any attention. Naruto wasn’t so insecure in their relationship to think that any of those random faces were a threat, but that didn’t erase the fact that Sasuke was the village’s mysterious, handsome, redeemed bad boy with a tragic backstory. People found that sort of thing very attractive, he’d learned. The problem wasn’t that he worried that Sasuke’s attention would wander, and in fact he knew it wouldn’t. Sasuke didn’t have any interest in pretty girls flipping their hair at him, or buff looking guys trying to flex their muscles.
The problem was that he could . He always could. He could have anyone he wanted. And Naruto–well, he felt pretty good about himself on most days, but he wasn’t delusional. He still talked too much, even if he felt like his brain-to-mouth filter had come a long way. He still barely knew how to cook, and couldn’t keep his apartment clean to save his life. He knew he wasn’t particularly charming, in the traditional sense, and the only reason that anyone bothered to look his way was because he’d worked his ass off for that recognition.
But Sasuke? He’d always had it. So when Sasuke had asked him to keep their relationship private, Naruto immediately understood why.
He was embarrassed. Naruto, as a romantic partner, was an embarrassment.
As much as Naruto wished it wasn’t true, he knew it was. He hated it, but he was too stupidly in love and desperate to hold onto his relationship to argue about it. Even if it felt like a punch to the gut when he thought about it, he never brought it up. He knew it was pathetic, but he didn’t care. He’d spent so long chasing Sasuke (and not understanding why for about half the time) that he would do anything to hold onto him. Even if that meant sucking up his own hurt feelings.
Except, now their relationship was out there. Everyone was going to know. For some reason, his love life had been a topic of interest in the village ever since he turned down Hinata a few years ago. He didn’t really get why.
Well, they would certainly have plenty to talk about now, especially when Sasuke realized that everyone else knew about them and dumped him.
‘Dumped’? What are you, a moody teenager ? Kurama snickered.
It’s true though! Naruto groaned internally. Sasuke is a really private person. He won’t like that everyone knows about us. He’ll probably be mad, and he’ll probably leave again. Maybe for good this time.
Kurama sighed. For how much you’ve grown, you can still be such an idiotic brat sometimes. I’m going to sleep until you figure it out.
Figure what out? Naruto frowned when he didn't get a response. Kurama! What am I going to figure out?
The fox never answered, and Naruto found himself at a literal crossroads. To the left, was his apartment, the one that he shared with Sasuke when the man was in the village. If he went home, Sasuke might be there. If not now, then later after delivering his report to Kakashi. Usually, that realization would have him sprinting home without a second thought. For once, though, he was dreading seeing Sasuke. If he didn’t talk to Sasuke, he could keep pretending that their relationship wasn’t going to fall apart because Naruto had no self control.
Naruto turned right, taking another familiar path toward the one person he knew he could count on for guidance.
+1. Iruka
Naruto unexpectedly knocking on his door was far less common these days, but never unwelcome. Iruka couldn’t help but smile as he opened the door for his former student. A warm greeting was almost on his lips, but it cut off in favor of concern when he noticed Naruto’s stormy expression.
“Are you ok, Naruto?” He ushered the young man inside, glancing around warily for signs of trouble. Not that anyone was really a threat to Naruto these days, but he would never make the mistake of assuming that there couldn’t be someone stronger out there.
It wasn’t often that Naruto came to him for advice anymore, and over the past few years it had almost exclusively been about Sasuke. First, it was questions about how he would know if he was attracted to someone or not. That conversation was followed by a discussion on Naruto’s sexuality, and his very confused, “but how could I be gay, Iruka-sensei? I still like girls!” Then, it was advice on how to confess your feelings to someone. After that, there had been a handful of uncomfortably personal questions that Iruka didn’t like to think about in relation to the person he considered basically a younger brother. Still, he did his best to answer all of Naruto’s questions, and to always welcome him, even if he really didn’t want to know so much about what his former students were up to.
Uncharacteristically subdued, Naruto shrugged and stepped inside. He took off his shoes, heading into the kitchen without any prompting. He’d been here enough times to know the layout of Iruka’s apartment, and that he was welcome to make himself at home.
Iruka followed his former student silently, doing a quick visual scan for any obvious injuries. He didn’t see anything, not even the tiniest scratch. The Kyuubi took care of most of Naruto’s more serious injuries, but Iruka still couldn’t help but worry. He’d always remember Naruto as the determined but untested bottom of his class, struggling to make it through even the basics. He’d always known Naruto had the potential to be great, but there was no denying the young man in front of him had started from rock bottom.
“Naruto?” he asked, concerned about the uncharacteristic silence. Normally, Naruto would be chatting his ear off by now, or demanding a trip to Ichiraku.
Still not saying a word, Naruto plopped down into the nearest chair, immediately burying his face in his hands. He started taking heaving, uneven breaths. Iruka rushed over, rubbing Naruto’s back soothingly. He may not know what was going on, but he wouldn’t let Naruto suffer alone.
“Take your time,” Iruka said gently. “And breathe. Just like this–” He took a few slow, deep breaths in demonstration. When Naruto managed to mirror him he praised, “That’s it, you’re doing great.”
While Naruto was figuring out how to breathe again, Iruka made a clone and instructed it to prepare Naruto’s favorite tea and a few snacks. The sound of his clone bustling around the kitchen was barely audible above Naruto’s shaky inhales. He’d seen Naruto have panic attacks before, but it had been years since the last one. At least, the last one he knew of. Naruto wasn’t around nearly as often, these days. He was too busy with his Hokage training and diplomatic missions. Iruka missed his pseudo-younger brother, but he was also so incredibly proud of the young man’s accomplishments.
By the time the clone set out a steaming cup of tea and a few sweets, Naruto’s senses finally seemed to be returning. The clone dismissed itself, and Naruto reacted to the familiar poofing noise. He tilted his head, blinking up at Iruka with red-rimmed, teary eyes.
Iruka tried to offer a reassuring smile. “Have some tea. It will help with the tightness in your chest, and it’ll start to rehydrate you.”
Naruto nodded numbly, but he did at least pull the mug closer. It was too hot to drink, but just inhaling the aromatic steam seemed to have a calming effect. He also grabbed one of the snacks Iruka set out, choosing a sugary, gooey, unhealthy pastry in front of him. Normally, Iruka would have offered something healthy, knowing that Naruto’s eating habits still hadn’t improved, even after all these years. Right now, though, a little bit of comfort food was warranted.
Iruka didn’t push Naruto to talk, but he knew the young man would speak eventually. That’s just how Naruto was; he was a verbal processor. It took Iruka a long time to understand why Naruto sometimes felt the need to ramble on and on about his specific plans or concerns in front of him, only to choose his own path regardless of his sensei’s advice. Sometimes, Naruto just needed to put his thoughts into words to fully understand what he wanted to do. Sometimes he wanted advice, other times he just wanted someone to listen.
After nibbling on the pastry in a few more minutes of silence, Naruto finally murmured, “I ruined my relationship with Sasuke.”
Iruka felt both of his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. This was definitely not the conversation he’d been expecting. He walked around to the otherside of the table and took a seat so he was across from Naruto. Gently, he prompted, “What do you mean?”
“It was an accident!” Naruto wailed, returning to a more familiar volume. “I just hadn’t seen him in so long, and I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to, he was just–ugh! And I didn’t know Ino was there! He could’ve said something too, it’s not like the bastard ever lets his guard down so he must’ve noticed her! I mean, how else was I supposed to react after months of nothing but the occasional letter and then suddenly he’s right there and so stupidly pretty and–”
“Ok, ok, you’re losing me,” Iruka interjected, knowing Naruto well enough to realize his tangent would keep going without any clarification.
Naruto blinked a few times, causing a couple of stray tears to fall from his eyes. He reined in his tumultuous thoughts. “Um, I sort of kissed Sasuke in the middle of a public training field, and Ino definitely saw us.” He averted his gaze, as if ashamed to admit what he’d done.
“Ah. If Ino knows, then the entire village will know by sundown,” Iruka supplied knowingly. Ino was Konoha’s most notorious gossip.
“Yeah…”
They’d discussed Naruto’s relationship with Sasuke enough that Iruka knew why Ino seeing them was a problem. “You two were still keeping it a secret?”
Naruto nodded numbly. “Yeah, you know how Sasuke is.”
“Is he angry with you?” Iruka guessed.
Naruto just shrugged. “Probably.”
“You don’t know?”
“I made up an excuse and took off,” Naruto admitted, “but I know he’s gotta be upset. He was the one who asked to keep our relationship secret and now…” He groaned, burying his head in his hands again.
“Naruto,” Iruka chided, “you can’t make assumptions about what Sasuke is thinking or feeling without talking to him.”
“But I know what he’s thinking!” Naruto insisted. “Sasuke already has trouble trusting people, and I went and messed up the one thing he asked me to do!”
Iruka reminded him, “It wasn’t like you did it on purpose. Sasuke is a smart man, he will know that you weren’t trying to betray his trust.”
“Maybe,” Naruto shrugged, “but it doesn’t matter. Now that everyone knows, he’ll break up with me.”
He was struggling to follow Naruto’s train of thought again. “Even if Sasuke is upset–which I’m not saying he is, you definitely need to talk to him properly–that doesn’t mean he will break up with you. After everything you two have been through together, I can’t believe one misunderstanding would be enough to get between you.”
The younger man’s shoulders slumped. “You just don’t get it, Iruka-sensei.”
Even after so many years had passed since he’d truly been Naruto’s sensei, his former student still used the title. It was likely that he’d never stop, not even when he became Hokage. Iruka didn’t mind, but sometimes it was still a bit jarring to have the hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War refer to him with any kind of authority.
“I think you’re right,” Iruka agreed. “Please explain it to me.”
Naruto seemed to shrink in on himself, in a way that Iruka hadn’t seen since he was a child. He knew that much of Naruto’s bluster and bragging had been a front, but Naruto had rarely shown when he was feeling insecure. Even as a child, he’d been exceptionally skilled at exuding faux-confidence and pride. It was always startling to see the loud, energetic child become so small and unsure, and now it was just plain shocking. Naruto was the strongest shinobi in the world, and had jounin and Kage alike wrapped around his little finger. Seeing him turn into an insecure child over his boyfriend, of all things, was certainly a bit off-putting.
“The only reason Sasuke was willing to be with me,” Naruto explained reluctantly, “was because no one knew. I mean, besides you and Kurama. And I think Sasuke told Team Taka, but anyway,” he digressed, “no one else knew. It didn’t mess up Sasuke’s reputation.”
Iruka was completely taken aback by what he was hearing. “ Sasuke’s reputation?” The former missing nin that threatened to murder all the Kage? His reputation?
Iruka knew that Sasuke wasn’t exactly a traditional shinobi anymore, but he did take missions from Kakashi on behalf of the village. He’d even accompanied Naruto to a few diplomatic events, as a bodyguard. Sasuke’s allegiances weren’t a secret. Sure, he didn’t keep up with Sasuke as much as he did with some of his other students, but he was fairly certain that the Uchiha’s ties to the village did nothing to diminish his fearsome reputation. Was that what Naruto was concerned about? That the knowledge of Sasuke’s relationship would make him look less tough?
“I don’t think you need to worry about Sasuke’s reputation,” Iruka responded. “I doubt any enemies will be less intimidated just because he has a boyfriend. Especially when said boyfriend is, well, you . You’re not exactly a pushover, Naruto.”
Somehow, Naruto looked frustrated with him , even though the younger man was the one not making much sense. “No, you still don’t get it!” Naruto insisted. “It’s not about looking tough, it’s just–” he swallowed hard. “Look, I know what I’m like, ok?”
Frowning, Iruka tried to clarify the comment. “What do you mean–” The realization hit him suddenly. “Oh. Oh, Naruto.” He looked at the powerful, compassionate young man in front of him and suddenly saw the lonely, isolated child he’d once known. The one that had been called “demon” and “monster”. The one that was thrown from shops and threatened for doing nothing more than daring to exist.
When Iruka finally stopped seeing Naruto as the demon fox, and started actually caring about him, he’d been quiet and cautious about it. He tried to only take Naruto to Ichiraku after dark, when fewer people would see him with the young jinchuuriki. He would ask Naruto to meet him, rather than walk with him. And if he saw people he knew, he’d make up an excuse about leaving or take a long trip to the bathroom.
It was shameful to admit it now, but he’d been just like the rest of the village that shunned Naruto, for a time. The hatred toward the boy had been so extreme that even showing the barest amount of humanity or sympathy could cause scrutiny or even shame for the person that dared see the jinchuuriki as anything other than a monster. Ichiraku had certainly had its share of vandalism and even a long stretch of lost business (he found out later that a certain porn-reading, chronically late ANBU had helped pay their bills during this time, feeling like it was the only thing he could do to honor his late sensei and his wife). Nowadays, it was the opposite. A visit from the village’s hero could boost business for weeks, and even just basking in his presence was considered lucky. But that didn’t mean Naruto forgot, nor did it mean that he was able to let go of his learned fear and distrust.
Based on the uncharacteristic fidgeting and forlorn expression, Naruto believed wholeheartedly what he was saying. He was too blinded by his past traumas and abandonment issues to see what Iruka knew for a fact:
Sasuke was smitten . It felt weird to say about the very stoic Uchiha, but he noticed it the first time he saw them together. It was obvious even just in the way Sasuke forced himself to accompany Naruto to dinner with Iruka, just to make his partner happy. Sasuke was not particularly expressive, and definitely not outwardly affectionate (at least in front of Iruka, which he was honestly thankful for because he didn’t know how he’d handle seeing two of his former students canoodling ) but it was no less obvious.
Sure, he’d been a bit skeptical at first. In his defense, Sasuke had tried to kill Naruto multiple times . They’d blasted each other’s arms off! He was prepared to give his former student the shovel talk, even if his former student could probably kill him with a literal glance, but he hadn’t needed to. It hadn’t been a grand gesture that won him over, but rather a tiny, gentle moment between the two of them that they probably didn’t even register as important.
They were eating takeout from Ichiraku, because of course they were, and Naruto was snatching food from Sasuke’s bowl. Specifically, bits of pork belly. Sasuke had ordered extra, so Naruto was happily helping himself. Sasuke made a show of being irritated and trying to yank his bowl away, but Iruka noticed that Sasuke didn’t eat a single piece. In fact, the tomato-based ramen that Sasuke always ordered (which Teuchi must have put on the menu just for him) didn’t normally come with pork belly. Iruka realized that Sasuke ordered it that way because Naruto liked pork belly. Specifically, he liked the game of “stealing” it from Sasuke. He was so busy gloating and having fun that he missed the tiny, genuine smile from his partner, prompted by his own joy and laughter.
It was a small gesture, and certainly not something that could make up for all the hurt Sasuke had caused his friend, but it did convince Iruka that his intentions were good. And that was enough for Iruka.
“Listen, Naruto–”
The reassurance he’d been planning was suddenly cut off by another knock on his door. Iruka frowned. He was already dealing with Naruto’s almost incoherent, panicked babbling about his relationship ending, so he really couldn’t handle more guests right now. Based on how Naruto tensed up, and glanced frantically toward the front door, he guessed that the younger man was feeling the same. Naruto was usually a “the more the merrier” kind of person, but it was clear that he was not in the mood for more company at the moment.
Normally, he wouldn’t be rude, but Naruto needed him right now. His first thought was to ignore the knocking, but it kept getting more frantic. Based on how his door was starting to creak in protest from the force of the knocks, he was fairly certain that he knew who was at the door, and that ignoring them wouldn’t make them go away. With a sigh, Iruka promised Naruto he’d be right back, and told him to stay put. Naruto just nodded numbly and sipped at his tea.
Iruka made sure Naruto’s shoes weren’t visible in the entryway before he opened the door, smiling tightly. He felt guilty about his curtness, but Naruto clearly didn’t want to see their unexpected visitor. If he didn’t already know who was at the door, he would now. Naruto would make himself known if he wanted to be.
“Hello, Sakura,” he greeted, “it’s nice to see you, but I’m afraid now isn’t a good time.”
As he’d expected, Naruto remained out of sight in the kitchen. As close as he and Sakura had become, he was definitely not up for visitors right now. Actually, he was probably not up for seeing Sakura specifically. Iruka could guess why she was here. He knew that her teammates had elected not to tell her about their relationship. Iruka got along with Sakura just fine, but he hadn’t developed the same closeness with her as he had with Naruto. The only times she visited him were for Naruto’s sake. He did appreciate that she looked out for him, but he had a feeling that finding out one of her closest friends and her (former?) love interest were in a secret relationship probably didn’t go over well. It was definitely not something Naruto needed to deal with at the moment.
“Sorry to bother you, Iruka-sensei, but I really need to talk to you,” Sakura said seriously. “It’s about Naruto.”
Iruka stepped outside and shut the door so he could try to shield Naruto from the conversation. “What about him?”
Sakura fidgeted a bit, looking more uncertain than he’d seen her in years. Like Naruto, she had grown immensely from who she used to be back at the academy. She was neither shy, nor a lovesick school girl like she had once been.
“I don’t know if Naruto has talked to you about this, but apparently he and Sasuke have been in a relationship for a while now and kept it a secret,” she explained, getting directly to what was on her mind.
Iruka just hummed in response, neither confirming nor denying what he knew.
Apparently, that was enough of a confirmation for Sakura. “You knew,” she accused, frowning.
There really wasn’t a point in denying it. “I did,” he confirmed. “But it wasn’t my place to share with anyone else.”
Sakura nodded, not looking surprised that Naruto had confided in Iruka. She did, however, fail to hide her obvious hurt. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me…”
Iruka raised an eyebrow. “You can’t?”
Sakura winced. “No, I can understand why…but still! I’m not a twelve-year-old with a stupid crush anymore. Naruto is one of my closest friends, and he usually tells me everything!”
“I’m not going to be an intermediary for you and Naruto,” he warned, “and I’m not going to betray his trust either. But,” Iruka added quickly, “I can say that Naruto didn’t want to hurt you. He was afraid that you would feel like he’d ‘stolen’ Sasuke from you, or betrayed your trust.”
“I get that, but–ugh!” Sakura shook her head. “Forget it, that’s not what I’m here to talk about.” Her expression hardened. “I’m worried, Iruka-sensei. Naruto is going to get hurt.”
“What makes you say that?”
Sakura glared at him, like he was missing something obvious. “Well, for one, neither of them are emotionally mature enough for a serious relationship. And don’t try to tell me it’s casual! I know that neither of them are capable of doing anything casually.” She held up two fingers as she continued, “Plus, Sasuke will keep leaving. Every time he does, it breaks Naruto a little more. It will only get worse if they’re romantically involved.” She held up a third finger. “Neither of them know how to communicate! They just punch each other instead of talking. It’s not a good foundation for a relationship!”
Iruka couldn’t completely disagree. In fact, he’d had similar concerns in the beginning, and he knew that Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship had hit a few rough patches. However, he also knew that they’d been actively working on improving their communication, and making healthy choices for their relationship. Iruka was certainly not a therapist, and he couldn’t convince either of those stubborn fools to go to couples’ counseling, but he did have more psychology and interpersonal relationship training than the average shinobi. It came with the territory of being a teacher, especially after Tsunade became Hokage and reformed the village’s mental health programs.
They also weren’t children anymore. Yes, there was underlying trauma that would always impact them individually and how they related to others, but they had grown up. They’d learned, and matured. Naruto would always be loud and impulsive, but he’d learned how to slow down and consider the consequences of his actions. Sasuke would always be guarded and withdrawn, but he’d learned how to start opening up to a very select few. Some of it was age, and the wisdom that came with time, but Iruka couldn’t discount the work they’d both put in for each other.
“Both of them have grown a lot, and changed. Sure, they’re still both stubborn, competitive, emotionally stunted little brats, but they’ve come a long way!” Iruka insisted. “Neither of them are perfect, and their relationship will never be perfect either, but they’re both trying their best.”
Sakura was still clearly unconvinced. “And what about when Sasuke leaves again?”
Iruka frowned, because that was something he didn’t have a good answer for. “That’s between them. I know it is hard on Naruto when Sasuke leaves, and that it is hard for Sasuke to stay in the village, but they’re working on it.” It was still the largest point of tension between the two of them, as far as Iruka was aware. Naruto struggled when Sasuke was out of the village, and Sasuke struggled when he was in the village. Time was slowly soothing Sasuke’s resentment, and Naruto’s fear of abandonment, but neither of those were likely to ever completely go away.
“But–”
Iruka cut her off, “I know you’re worried about Naruto, but you don’t have to be. Well, not any more than usual,” he joked. “Their relationship isn’t perfect, of course, but they care deeply about each other, and I see them both trying to better themselves for the sake of the other. I think that’s all any of us can hope for in any relationship.”
It looked like Sakura still wanted to argue, but she was definitely considering his words. Her expression was slowly becoming more thoughtful, and her posture gradually relaxed. She looked at Iruka with wide, hopeful eyes.
“You really think so?” she asked quietly.
He smiled gently in response. “I do.”
She was quiet for a few moments, considering. Softly, she asked, “Are they happy together?”
That was a much easier question to answer. “Disgustingly,” he chuckled. “Last time I had them over for dinner, I even saw Sasuke smile . And he didn’t even look like he was in pain!”
Sakura couldn’t help but laugh a little, even though she was still clearly worried. “I just don’t want to see Naruto get hurt. Sasuke has always been a bit of a blind spot for him.”
“More than a bit, I’d say,” Iruka agreed dryly. “I don’t have a crystal ball, so I can’t promise that everything will always work out, but I don’t think you need to worry about those two. I’ve seen them together, and I promise you it’s the real deal.”
“You really don’t think Sasuke will hurt him?”
Perhaps he should have said that he didn’t know, because Sasuke did have a history of doing just that, and he still wasn’t the most emotionally available person. But he confidently, and honestly, replied, “No, I don’t.”
It was surprising how much his words meant to Sakura. She nodded, and finally looked more at ease. He doubted she was completely convinced, but the fact that Iruka approved of the relationship did seem to hold a lot of weight.
Seeing that she was coming around, he told her, “They’re going to need your support right now. You know how fast this news will spread, and not everyone is going to be in favor of their relationship.” Gently, Iruka added, “Just give them a chance. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you see.”
Sakura was contemplative, but she nodded hesitantly. “...ok. I can do that.”
“Wonderful,” Iruka smiled. “I’m sure your friends will appreciate it.”
Sakura nodded absentmindedly, before turning on her heel and walking away without another word. She was clearly lost in thought, going over everything they’d talked about and probably everything else she’d heard today. Iruka made sure she was completely out of sight and sensory range before addressing the second presence that he’d just noticed. Said presence had been incredibly well hidden, which wasn’t surprising given who it was, but Iruka was too experienced to be startled at the sudden reveal. He did wonder how long it had taken him to notice, or if he’d only noticed once he’d been allowed to.
Iruka turned toward the spot beside his porch where the presence was the strongest. “So, how much of that did you hear?”
From the shadows, a silent figure stepped forward. Sasuke was looking at him with a strange expression that Iruka couldn’t quite interpret. “Enough,” he replied, studying Iruka closely. “Did you mean what you said?”
Iruka raised an eyebrow at the younger man. “Do you think I was lying?”
“I would have been able to tell if you were lying,” Sasuke replied dully.
“Well, then you have your answer.” Iruka shrugged.
Sasuke continued to stare at him, being incredibly unnerving. Even without his Rinnegan visible, or his Sharingan activated, his gaze was still intense. Despite years of good behavior, and never actually having threatened Iruka directly, it was impossible not to feel intimidated by the Uchiha’s sharp gaze. Still, Iruka wasn’t a coward, so he refused to break eye contact with the former rogue nin.
Eventually, Sasuke seemed to come to some kind of conclusion. He broke eye contact first, looking away a bit awkwardly, and murmured, “...thank you. For saying all that.”
It was said quietly, but clearly genuine. Iruka smiled, but didn’t comment further. He knew Sasuke didn’t show his gratitude easily, and still struggled with these kinds of emotional situations. Iruka decided to spare him from having to talk about his feelings.
“I assume you know that Naruto is here?” he asked instead.
Sasuke nodded, looking grateful at the change of subject. “Yeah. The idiot ran off earlier after telling me a really obvious lie,” he explained. “And since then I’ve been dealing with things like that .” He gestured toward where Sakura’s retreating figure was just out of sight.
“Ah. Who tried to corner you?”
“Kakashi, for one,” Sasuke grunted in response. “And I know Sai has been following me, and that Shikamaru is the one that told both of them.” He scowled. “As if it’s any of their business.”
Iruka laughed dryly. “Well, you know how it is in peacetime. People get bored and gossip about any little thing that catches their interest.” They both knew that wasn’t the full truth of what was happening here, but Iruka hoped he could lighten the mood at least a little.
As expected, Sasuke didn’t laugh or show any kind of amusement toward the comment. Instead, he asked, “Did someone say something to Naruto? He’s been avoiding me all day and I don’t know why.”
“It’s more of a lack of saying something that I think is the problem,” Iruka sighed.
Sasuke frowned at him, not following the statement. He waited for Iruka to elaborate.
There was no point in beating around the bush with someone like Sasuke, so Iruka didn’t waste any time getting into why Naruto had shown up on his doorstep that evening. “Naruto is very upset because he thinks you are planning to break up with him.”
The statement drew genuine surprise from Sasuke. “What? Why would he think that?”
“He thinks you’re angry that your relationship is public,” Iruka explained. “He thinks that you wanted to keep it a secret because you’re embarrassed to be seen dating him.”
Immediately, the normally stoic man’s face became alight with emotions. Disbelief, anger, and then sad comprehension. “Tch. I didn’t want our relationship to be public because I didn’t want to hurt his reputation. It doesn’t exactly look good for the future Hokage to be in a relationship with a former war criminal.” He scowled, but there was genuine sorrow at the realization of the origin of Naruto’s distress.
“Have you ever told him that?” Iruka asked gently.
Sasuke looked at him like he was an idiot. “No, I assumed it was obvious.”
“Well, you know what they say when you assume things…”
There was a subtle twitch to Sasuke’s facial muscles, but he didn’t otherwise respond to the comment. Iruka was just glad the man’s temper had improved over the years, because he could have easily been set on fire for annoying a much younger, more volatile Sasuke.
“So he really thinks–” Sasuke’s frown deepened. “That moron.” Despite his word choice, it sounded more sad and fond than actually insulting.
“Naruto has many wonderful qualities,” Iruka said teasingly, “but critical thinking has never been one of them.”
At that, Sasuke did actually crack a small smile. Then, he glanced at the closed door behind Iruka, his intent obvious.
“You know, I was about to go out for a walk for a bit.” Iruka smiled encouragingly. “There’s still some tea in the kettle, and I think Naruto could use a stern talking to about his own assumptions.”
Sasuke nodded once, the motion small but grateful. “Thank you.”
Iruka chanced patting the young man on the shoulder. Sasuke was a high level shinobi, and would have seen the motion coming a mile away. He had plenty of time to move or block the contact, but he didn’t. He didn’t comment on it, or offer any kind of similar gesture in return, but the fact that he allowed it was already a huge step for him.
He let them be, and took his time wandering around in the moonlight. It was a very pleasant night, and he wasn’t in a hurry.