Naruto looked himself in the eye, staring into his bathroom mirror. He was trying to have a stern talk with himself, but Kurama kept interrupting.
I don't know why you're being so wishy-washy about this, Kurama said, and Naruto was silently thankful that his eyes didn't change color every time Kurama spoke – people would notice. (Yes, he'd checked this. Multiple times.)
Imagine if Kurama had needed to use his actual mouth to speak? It would have been extremely uncomfortable, he was sure. And he'd be forced to say words like wishy-washy out loud.
Would have been cool if his eyes could flash red, though, the way Sasuke's did.
You're avoiding the subject.
"Oh, shut up. If you left me alone for a second I might be able to actually think."
Sure, but that would be a disaster.
"And I'm not wishy-washy!"
Dammit, he said it out loud anyway. He sighed at his reflection, wondering if Sasuke at least thought he was a nine out of ten. Sasuke was a twelve, that was for sure, and if he turned on his sharingan – well, in Naruto's opinion that just wasn't fair play. His kyuubi mode was cool, but he didn't think it upped his sex appeal.
Oi, see if I let you use my chakra next time if this is your attitude. Besides, not only are you wishy-washy, you're also pathetic.
"Thanks, Kurama. That's exactly the kind of pep-talk I was looking for."
The sarcasm was lost on the fox, however.
I can't give you a pep-talk for something you haven't even decided to do.
Unfortunately, he had a point. The thing was, Naruto had gotten this idea into his head, that he could probably sneak into Sasuke's room without anyone noticing. And once the thought made its home in his head, it was impossible to get rid of. He really shouldn't do it, though. But he wanted to. And this was where he'd stranded, interrupted in reasoning with himself by Kurama telling him his morals were boring.
Live a little, Kurama said, never the voice of reason. What are they gonna do, send him home because you actually like him?
"That's the thing," Naruto disagreed, grabbing his toothbrush and squeezing some paste onto it. "How can I know that I actually like him? Maybe his attitude is just attractive and once I've seen what it's like I'll get over him."
Uh-huh, if you say so. Over him, under him – test that theory out before you actually marry him.
Kurama was right, that was the problem. Either Naruto had to admit that it was more than sexual attraction, or he'd have to prove to himself that it wasn't by sleeping with him and seeing what happened afterwards. He'd lost interest in things before. But he was also able to eat ramen at least once a week without growing tired of it. He didn't even vary the type of ramen.
"Am I a creature of habit?" he mumbled to himself, forgetting about his toothbrush lifted halfway to his mouth. "Or do I constantly need new things to entertain me?"
You can do the soul-searching and psychoanalysis at some other time, Kurama complained. We've got a Sasuke to catch.
Naruto stared down at the toothbrush, trying to tell himself he wasn't the type to break rules. Which was a lie, honestly. What would happen if he got caught? Well, depended on who caught him. He doubted his parents would make it publicly known. Suigetsu wouldn't care, probably. Gaara might, but he already knew how Naruto felt about Sasuke. No, the people he really needed to avoid was anyone involved in the actual process and reporting. Shouldn't be too hard.
That's the spirit, Kurama told him, and Naruto didn't need to see it to know he was grinning wide, sharp teeth showing.
"You're a terrible influence," Naruto accused him, wondering if his toothbrush was wet or not, and deciding to rinse it first just in case it wasn't. "I bet you never bothered any other host like this."
Kurama clicked his tongue, waiting until Naruto had as much toothpaste in his mouth as possible before replying.
Who do you think helped your mom seduce your dad, huh?
Naruto spat all over the sink.
♡♡♡
Climbing in through Sasuke's window was easier than he'd thought. It wasn't even locked, and there was no one keeping guard. Things had relaxed considerably the less people were left, and Naruto had to admit the logic wasn't obvious to him. But it served his purposes, and he slid the window shut behind himself and quietly toed off his sandals.
Sasuke didn't move when Naruto slipped underneath the covers, but he could feel his eyes watching him.
"Hi," he said, for lack of anything better.
"Hi he says," Sasuke muttered, but didn't object when Naruto scooted closer. "What kind of security does this place have? I'll have to file a complaint."
"No-o, no complaints."
Naruto moved around until the blanket was sufficiently covering them both, and dared to put his arm over Sasuke's stomach. His very bare stomach. His hand curled around Sasuke's side, tracing his ribs up and down, then further down over his hip, his leg…
Swallowing, Naruto concluded that all of Sasuke was bare. And that thigh he felt under his palm was just as hot as he'd imagined.
"So you…" He trailed off, squeezing the muscle. Sasuke waited expectantly, and Naruto cursed how dark the room was. "You sleep naked?"
This was certainly important information to gather. A step above favorite food for sure.
"Saves time when getting dressed," Sasuke replied, then shifted onto his side, Naruto's hand staying glued to his leg. "So did you actually want anything or are you just trying to seduce me?"
It was warm underneath the covers, and Naruto's heart was beating too fast in his chest. Sasuke was so close, his skin so smooth. Naruto's thumb dug into his thigh, his breaths coming out short as he imagined walking his fingers up a path towards Sasuke's dick.
"I can't stop thinking about you," he confessed, propping himself up on his unoccupied hand, elbow sinking into the mattress. "You're the one who suggested I sleep with you to get it over with."
Sasuke stiffened under his touch, and his voice was dark and dangerous when he answered.
"And that's it, then? We'll have our fun and go our separate ways?"
"What?" Alarms began ringing in the back of Naruto's head, and he quickly (but regrettably) took his hand off Sasuke's thigh and groped around for his hand instead, lacing their fingers together. "I mean, either you were right, and we'll lose interest in each other once the sexual tension is gone."
"Or?"
Naruto licked his lips, pulling their hands closer to his chest. He thought Sasuke must be lying with his head on a pillow, maybe with his arm tucked underneath it. He considered asking him to turn on a light, but maybe it was easier like this. Sasuke's expression was a mystery to him, but something told Naruto he'd better tread carefully.
"Or we don't."
"I've never slept with the same person twice," Sasuke told him, matter-of-factly. "Don't get your hopes up too high."
"Is that a challenge?"
Sasuke pushed their hands against Naruto's chest, forcing him to lie down on his back. Then he let go, tugging the covers off to straddle him, his weight on Naruto's thighs. It knocked the breath out of him, and when Sasuke's hands slipped underneath his shirt to palm at his stomach and chest all he could do was make a weak little noise.
A second later, Sasuke's eyes lit up the dark, sharingan spinning red. It was mesmerizing, and Naruto's hands shot up to pull him down, until their noses bumped and he could see into those eyes properly.
"Yeah, that's definitely doing it for me," he groaned, twisting his fingers in Sasuke's silky hair and opening up his legs for Sasuke to fall comfortably between them.
Sasuke was heavy, not even bothering to hold himself up or let Naruto breathe. His hands ran up and down Naruto's sides, then he eased up a bit as he gripped Naruto's t-shirt on each side, ripping it apart.
"Whoa," Naruto exclaimed, heart leaping into his throat. "That was one of my favorite shirts!"
"Then why didn't you take it off before getting in bed with me?"
Fearing a repeat on his pants – as sexy as that was, he didn't want to run home completely naked, seriously – Naruto quickly squirmed out of them with Sasuke doing his best to distract him. There was a hot mouth working on his throat, hands mapping out his chest with fervor, and the moment Naruto was done he felt Sasuke's weight on him again. He couldn't help but moan at the feeling of naked skin on naked skin, warming him up to the core.
His shirt still sort of hung onto him, and he struggled to remove the now ruined pieces of fabric while Sasuke did nothing to help. Not that Naruto was complaining, but you'd think Sasuke knew a little more patience.
"I should have known you'd be a jerk in bed, too," he said, then finally caught Sasuke's lips with his own.
There wasn't much talking done after that.
♡♡♡
Naruto had hoped he'd wake up to some kind of revelation. Instead, he woke up with the uncomfortable sensation that someone was watching him, and his ninja training kicked in as he forced his eyes open, instantly alert.
Above him loomed a man very similar in looks to Sasuke, except his hair was longer and he had deep lines under his eyes. Eyes which were, at the moment, watching him very thoughtfully.
"Uh," Naruto said, intelligibly.
Sasuke was sprawled half on top of him, face tucked into his neck. He happily stayed asleep while Naruto engaged in some kind of staring match with what was definitely Sasuke's older brother whom he was supposed to meet officially this afternoon.
Guess your meeting time got bumped up, Kurama snickered.
Naruto had almost forgotten about him, quiet as he'd been last night. Maybe the fox did have some tact when it came down to it.
Oh, don't worry, Kurama drawled. I'll give you my review later. 6 out of 10, maybe. Not very innovative, but certainly enthusiastic.
This was the moment Naruto's face caught up with his eyes, cheeks exploding with bright red color.
"I, uh," he said, wondering if he should just go back to sleep and pretend this never happened.
"What a surprise," Itachi said, not looking surprised at all. "Can I assume you had a nice and proper conversation and resolved everything between you, then?"
Conversation? Naruto couldn't remember much conversation happening last night, other than the occasional just like that or fuck that's good.
"Maybe I should leave," he mumbled, then cleared his throat.
However, as he made to slip out of bed, Sasuke tightened his grip around him.
"Fuck," Sasuke said, the word muffled by Naruto's shoulder. "Go away, Itachi."
"You promised me breakfast," Itachi replied calmly, but he did take a step back and stopped staring at Naruto.
"Change of plans."
Naruto thought it wise to stay silent.
"Also," Sasuke continued, still keeping his firm grip around Naruto's chest – and his leg slung over his, and his – "the breakfast here is shit."
For a long moment, Naruto thought Itachi would insist. Then he sighed, glancing at Naruto with an unreadable look before turning to leave. And just like that, he and Sasuke were alone. And awake.
Very awake.
"So…"
Sasuke's hand trailed down the side of his chest, down the dip between thigh and hipbone. Holding his breath, Naruto closed his eyes and didn't let a single thought fly through his brain as Sasuke's hand wrapped around his dick.
Instead he grabbed his shoulder to urge him on, his other hand coming up to twist the sheets by his head. As dry as Sasuke's hand was, the touch alone was enough to send hot arousal coursing through his body.
"I'm breaking all my rules for you," Sasuke whispered, mouth finding a spot below his ear that had successfully driven him crazy the night before.
"Good," Naruto forced out between labored breaths, head thrown back as Sasuke palmed his balls. "My favorite thing about you."
Sasuke snorted, shifting until his mouth was level with Naruto's ear.
"Wanna know something?"
Nodding, Naruto barely managed to focus on anything other than how nice and deep Sasuke's voice was, and whether or not he'd mind his morning breath if he turned his head.
"You're really bad at sucking dick."
"Funny," Naruto said, grinning as he flipped them over, taking a second to gather his composure. "Since you're gonna let me do it again."
"I'm not–"
But he did.
♡♡♡
Riding the high of post-sex endorphins, Naruto had mostly been able to avoid thinking about his inevitable meeting with Itachi that afternoon. Unfortunately, time passed quicker than he liked, and he'd been forced to leave fairly soon after Itachi woke them up (stealing one of Sasuke's shirts as he went). (He was definitely going to keep the shirt.) He'd checked for spies with his toad sage mode, but it seemed things really were relaxed now.
It had been so good and no, he was definitely not over him.
Told you, Kurama snickered, smug as ever. Now you just have to worry about his feelings.
Naruto blanched. The small teashop where he'd meet Itachi was just across the street, and he paused for a few deep breaths.
Why would you say that?! he said inside his mind, not wanting anyone to overhear them. I was feeling pretty good about things!
But Kurama didn't answer, and Naruto had no choice but to enter the teashop and face Sasuke's older brother.
"Hi," he said as he sat down opposite him at a low, traditional table. Not at all awkward. "Thanks for, uh, meeting with me."
"Let's not waste time on chit-chat," Itachi told him, pleasant smile on his face. "I want to know if you really think my brother will agree to marry you."
A hundred thoughts spun through Naruto's head, but not a single one of them could fully encapsulate the panic he felt at such a statement. Even though Itachi looked calm, his words could be anything ranging from a threat to a test, or worse – he could be repeating something Sasuke himself had said.
"I don't know," he choked out, heart beating a staccato against his ribs. "Why, did he say anything to you? Do you think he hates me? Oh god, you're here to tell me Konoha would never approve, aren't you?"
His hands were in his hair, twisting it desperately while Itachi looked on in mild concern. There was no tea on the table yet, which was just as well. If Itachi told him he'd guessed right, he wasn't exactly going to stick around to drink any.
"So you didn't have a conversation," Itachi concluded, which did nothing to dissuade Naruto's fears. "Have you considered that all healthy relationships are built on good communication?"
Naruto blinked at him, mouth agape.
"Have you tried having a conversation with Sasuke?" he asked, lowering his hands to press them into the tabletop. "He won't even tell me what his favorite food is!"
"Oh. Well. It's tomatoes? I thought he wrote that in the file we sent over?"
"Tomatoes?" Naruto stared at him in disbelief. "All this time, it actually was tomatoes?"
Itachi's look of concern increased as Naruto buried his face in his hands. He couldn't even be mad. Oh, but he wanted to kick Sasuke's ass so badly! He was such a complicated person, how was he supposed to even begin to guess what was going through that stubborn head of his.
"I have no idea if Sasuke wants to marry me," he sighed, the heels of his palms digging into his eyes. "I thought you might know."
"I think," Itachi said, touching his fingertips together as he thought, "that if Sasuke says no it's not going to be about you personally."
"What do you mean?"
They were interrupted by the tea being served, a short, very old lady taking her sweet time pouring it into their cups. Naruto had been here countless times, and his impatient expression earned him a chastising look from her. Once she'd finally walked away out of earshot, he watched Itachi imploringly.
"I'm not sure what it's about. I have my guesses, but…" He trailed off, elegant hands lifting the teacup. He was as infuriating as Sasuke, Naruto concluded, but in a different way. "You would probably have more luck getting him to talk than me."
Naruto was, all things considered, doubtful that he would. Still, there was a spark of hope inside him that refused to die.
"So you think I have a chance?" he asked, twisting his teacup back and forth. It felt hot against his fingertips, not unlike Sasuke. "I mean, if I can figure out a way to convince him."
Itachi's smile this time was amused.
"I thought that was what you'd been doing during the night."
Blushing brightly, Naruto coughed.
"Maybe."
He couldn't say that the person he'd wanted to convince was himself, and that it hadn't helped much. He was still helplessly attracted to Sasuke, and now his daydreams could add a second layer of torment with the memories. But it didn't solve his problems. As much as he hated that Itachi was right, they really needed to talk to each other… with words.
"I won't lie and say my brother is an easy person to live with, but you certainly couldn't do better."
"Thanks. I think? I mean, he's driving me crazy, but in a good way."
"I think you could handle him."
Naruto had a feeling that coming from someone like Itachi, this was supposed to be high praise. Still, he was burning with the need to know if Sasuke had talked about him, and what he'd said.
"Did he… I mean, has he said anything that makes you think that?"
He probably wasn't subtle at all, but he doubted he had any dignity left anyway after that morning. Surely, if Sasuke still truly hated the thought of marrying him, he wouldn't have agreed to stay in the competition for this long? Or would he? Before, when the whole thing was completely theoretical in his mind, he hadn't thought it would be so difficult to find someone who actually liked him, and wasn't just in it for the benefit of their village. He hadn't thought that he would end up liking someone who might not return his feelings.
Although, Sasuke must return them to some extent… But enough for a lifetime together? Naruto was starting to see the flaws in choosing a husband through an event like this.
"With Sasuke, you have to pay more attention to what he doesn't say," Itachi said, calmly sipping his tea like they were having a completely normal discussion. "As well as the way he says things. Has he told you that he could never fall in love with you, or that you're unattractive to him, or that he doesn't care about your opinion?"
"Well, no," Naruto had to admit. "He mostly calls me an idiot."
"There you have it, then."
"There I have what?"
"The possibility that the opposite of all three is true."
Well, Sasuke probably did find him attractive. But those other two? He couldn't be so sure. Some of his hesitation must have shown on his face, because Itachi took pity on him.
"Try talking to him about what happens afterwards, if you decide to go through with it."
"Oh, right." Naruto frowned. "I'm not so sure what happens afterwards."
The look Itachi gave him was less pity, and more maybe Sasuke is right to call you an idiot. He drank from his tea and pretended he didn't notice.
♡♡♡
"Hey, uh, mom?"
Kushina was sitting in her office, signing papers left and right like some kind of tornado. Under normal circumstances, Naruto would have immediately turned around and come back another time, but these weren't normal circumstances. Without missing a beat, she nodded at him to sit down, papers flying around her in organized chaos.
"You're not even reading them," he commented, catching a stray page as it flew by.
"No need," she said, finally pausing and dropping her pen onto the desk. There was no one else in the room, which suited Naruto but probably meant she wasn't in a good mood. "Everything okay?"
"Kind of. Mostly. Or, you know."
She leaned back in her chair, settling in to listen. Naruto was grateful that she didn't urge him on, because it was hard enough to gather his thoughts without any questions directed his way.
"I was thinking about what's going to happen afterwards."
"Afterwards?"
"Yeah. When I've…"
Picked a husband, he didn't say, but it couldn't be that hard to guess. Sure enough, his mother's expression turned understanding.
"Well, there's the bonding ceremony eventually, but it'll take some time to organize. You'll want to get to know each other better, of course. I'm sure Sasuke could move in with you, but considering his clan they might need you to visit them as well."
Naruto let out a surprised noise, his heart picking up speed. He didn't have time to say anything, though, since his mother was working herself up into a one-sided discussion.
"Since you're so compatible already, we probably don't need to wait more than six months. I bet Konoha will be more than happy to sign off on things as quickly as possible, kami knows they've been looking for an opportunity like this for ages. Never mind that I'm already married to Minato! If I were them I would have put more focus into allying with Suna, but what do I know."
Kushina stood up and started pacing the length of the room, hair flowing around her animatedly.
"Of course, politically it's a fantastic opportunity for us to ally with the Uchiha clan. Do you think we can steal them from Konoha? I know they're not entirely happy with their position."
"Mom."
"And Sasuke's parents are both so lovely. And the two of you! Mikoto and I joked about how cute you were together, and now you're getting married… I can't believe you've grown so big already! Where does time fly?" She stopped, giving him a wistful look. "It feels like yesterday that you held your first kunai…"
"Mom!"
She blinked, startled back into reality.
"What?"
"There's still three people left," he said, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Don't tell me you've already made my decision for me!"
Putting her hands to her hips, Kushina huffed at him.
"I knew who you were going to pick weeks ago. Don't tell me you've changed your mind?"
Naruto clamped his mouth shut. There was something uncomfortable lodged in his throat, making it hard to breathe.
"Naruto…" Her eyes softened, and she closed the distance to pull him into a hug. "Tell me what's wrong."
"I don't know what's wrong," he mumbled. Kushina combed her fingers through his hair, and all the tension seemed to leave his shoulders. "Everything's just happening so fast."
"Oh, Naruto, don't worry about it so much. It'll be fine, I promise."
But would it? His head still felt like it was spinning with the knowledge that everything with Sasuke felt great, except for the parts where he had days to work out if he was the love of his life, and in that case convince him to marry him.
"Were you always so sure about dad?" he asked, even though they'd always told him that it was love at first sight.
"Hmm. What's Kurama's opinion?"
"Huh? Kurama's? Why does his opinion matter?"
Oi. You're on thin fucking ice, kid.
"Oh, Naruto." She pushed him away, just enough to meet his eyes, hands holding him by the shoulders. "Every time I had doubts, Kurama made me realize I was wrong to have them. What does he think about Sasuke?"
Well, kid?
Shut up.
"He thinks terrible things," Naruto whined, jutting out his lower lip. "It's embarrassing."
Unfortunately for him, Kushina threw her head back and laughed brightly.
"I know what he's like," she said, patting his cheek. "But I think you'll realize that he knows you better than you know yourself, sometimes."
Your mother is wise, Kurama informed him sagely.
I thought I told you to shut up!
Make me. Oh, that's right! You can't.
Naruto closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath. Why did he think going to his mother for advice was a good idea? Now things were even worse than before. Maybe he should just go to bed and hope that when he woke up, everything would have solved itself without him needing to do a single thing about it.
But where's the fun in that, Kurama said.
Suigetsu had left after giving Sasuke one final, big hug – he wasn't entirely sure whether it was made out of friendship or a disguised attempt at strangling him. Still, he left an empty space that soon filled with Sasuke's anxious thoughts.
He had to face the facts.
There were only two people left – fact.
One of those people were him – (unfortunate) fact.
The next time Naruto made a choice he'd be choosing his future husband – (unfortunate, terrifying) fact.
He was not enjoying facing the facts.
The day before the final ceremony he paced the length of the corridor outside his room, hoping Gaara could hear him and that it annoyed him. There was a churning feeling in his gut, and he wished Itachi wasn't so busy. Who comes all the way to support his brother, only to announce he had meetings to attend when said brother needed his support the most?! Well, Itachi would. Unless Sasuke was dying (or kidnapped) he'd always put duty first.
Not that the conversations they'd had were helping his anxiety.
Sighing, he considered simply going to bed. It was getting late, and although he'd barely been able to eat at the formal dinner he'd not quite survived (so many people, and all of them staring at him while he chanted this is fine inside his head) the thought of food made him nauseated.
Naruto hadn't snuck into his room since that night.
Pausing mid-step, he grimaced. That's not what he wanted to think about, not at all, but it was also a fact, wasn't it. He didn't want to think about that night (or the morning, or the time he'd spent remembering). Biting the inside of his cheek, he let out a dismissive sound. What did it matter to him, if Naruto got over him? It solved the problem. He'd go home. No life changing decisions necessary.
Except it annoyed him. A lot.
And, to be honest, he doubted Naruto hadn't shown up for lack of wanting to. He probably had a good reason, and just hadn't found the time to tell Sasuke yet. He'd certainly felt Naruto's eyes on him during dinner, not to mention the ceremony where he'd sent Suigetsu home–
He forced himself to start walking again, clenching and unclenching his hands. Naruto hadn't shoved the kunai at him this time, breaking what had become tradition. No, he'd looked Sasuke in the eye, had looked at him like it meant something. Like he was nervous about Sasuke's reply.
As if Sasuke could go home, now. Not out of his own volition. Even in an argument with himself, he was going to lose. Naruto's hand was squeezing his heart, and he couldn't even complain.
That was the worst fact of all.
I am in love with an idiot, he thought.
Tacking on the last three words didn't take the edge off the first four. He, Uchiha Sasuke, in love! What a concept! What an idea! What a horrifying embarrassment to himself!
Sasuke had woken up to an empty bed and his first thought had been if he's with Gaara I'm going to kill him.
His second thought had been oh no. Then he'd tried to smother himself into his pillow, which didn't work. And now he had to live with the consequences.
He'd tried to tell himself it was just a crush. That the captivity was getting to him. That the chemistry in bed was just the result of a long dry spell. That he could walk out the door right now and go home and never think about Naruto again. It didn't help that it had only been two days since three became two, and the next (final) choice would be tomorrow. As if someone was hurrying things along, ignoring the suffering it caused him.
Again he paused his pacing, this time to bang his head against a wall. Maybe if he did it hard enough he'd get amnesia. Wishful thinking.
A door creaked open, and when he tilted his head, he saw Gaara peeking out of the doorway. They stared at each other for an uncomfortable minute, and then Gaara went back inside, closing the door quietly. Probably for the best. Closing his eyes, he released a slow breath, only to choke on it when Karin cleared her throat nearby.
"Sorry to interrupt your… brooding? Anyway." She pushed her glasses up her nose, clearly looking down on him. "Naruto wants to see you."
Was it pathetic that his heart skipped a beat? This whole being in love business couldn't be healthy.
"Why?"
She stared at him. Sasuke decided to spare himself the humiliation of waiting for an answer, and pushed off the wall instead. He stalked past her, ignoring how she was clearly rolling her eyes.
"Can't wait for this to be over," Karin sighed, catching up with him. "Babysitting grown men… I have things to do, you know!"
"Unlike me, apparently," he muttered, following her outside.
The sun was about to set, but it was pleasantly warm. He still shivered, wondering if it was some kind of premonition of what was to come. The past days had been a miserable string of official events and visits at the academy and the hospital and any other place they could think of, and he felt like he'd barely been able to breathe. There weren't any dates scheduled for the evening… He fought down the triumphant warmth in his chest at the thought of Gaara back in his hotel room. Minato's words crept unbidden to the forefront of his mind, and he tried his best to shake them off as they made their way through the village. He refused to acknowledge that they were all acting as if Naruto had already made his choice.
As if his own answer was already given.
By the time they reached the outskirts, the sun was a mere sliver on the horizon.
"Up there," Karin pointed, steering his gaze towards a tower built on the edge of a cliff.
They were near the sea now, and vaguely Sasuke could hear the rushing sound of whirlpools in the distance.
"Pretty sure I can find the rest of the way on my own."
She gave him a look.
"If I'm going to babysit, I'm going to do it properly," she grumbled, shoving him with a palm to his back. "Don't talk too loud, I'll definitely hear you."
"I thought they'd stopped spying on us," he said with a frown, telling himself that shoving her back would be beneath his dignity.
"Yes. I'm under strict orders."
"Strict orders to do what?"
They hadn't moved, despite the shoving. Karin crossed her arms, huffing at him like his questions were stupid.
"Listen," she said. "Naruto asked me to make sure you're not interrupted, and I don't want to know why. No one can get past my sensor abilities so the only one who could potentially get scarred for life is me."
"Do your sensor abilities rely on your ears?" Sasuke asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No," she admitted, reluctantly. Sasuke wasn't sure why he'd asked. "But if you start making suspicious noises I'll throw explosive tags at you for ruining my cousin's innocence."
"…sure."
"I'm not joking."
"I believe you."
She considered him for a moment, then shrugged and started walking again.
"You know, Naruto's never had a boyfriend," she mused, twirling her hair between her fingers. "He's probably really bad at it."
Sasuke didn't reply.
"He'll need someone reliable. Someone who'll take care of him. Someone nice and understanding."
Although his eyebrow twitched, he continued his silence.
"The thing is…" She glanced at him appraisingly, and somehow, Sasuke felt like her conclusion wasn't necessarily positive. "Well, I told you before. I think you're the only one who's crazy enough to deal with both him and the kyuubi. So everyone's overlooking all the areas you're lacking in."
"You don't think I'm reliable?"
He tried to tell himself he wasn't insulted. Judging by Karin's amused grin, he didn't succeed.
"I don't think you've shown you're reliable," she said. "Why should Naruto trust you with his life? All you've done is look pretty and insult him."
Sasuke swallowed down the sour lump in his throat. She was right. For the most part. He'd also done a bit of this and that while in bed, but that probably wasn't in his favor, either.
"Why should I trust him with my life?" he asked. "All he's done is drool over me and insult me."
Karin shrugged, but the grin didn't fade.
"Unless you want to be an accessory just hanging off his arm, I suggest you figure it out."
He was insulted, he decided. He stewed on her words in silence as they neared the tower, the building looming over them in the faint starlight. There were no lamps lit inside, no sound aside from the low murmur of those whirlpools the village was so famous for.
The heavy metal door creaked ominously as Karin pushed it open, and while Sasuke had no fear of the dark, he hesitated to step inside.
"Up the stairs and onto the roof with you," Karin urged him on, waving a hand flippantly. "I'll be right behind."
It was hardly reassuring. Still, he forced down a sigh and climbed the stairs as told. The inside was as smooth as the outside had seemed, the same building material that seemed to be used for all buildings in Uzushio. Sand-colored most likely, and he contemplated living a life surrounded by buildings like this as opposed to the mismatched buildings in Konoha, and the old traditional houses of his clan. Would he grow bored, or get used to it? It's not as if he went around contemplating architecture on a daily basis.
He stubbornly ignored thoughts of the person apparently waiting for him at the top of the tower, letting his fingers trace the curved wall of the staircase and focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. He wondered what the tower was for. Look-out? Or leisure? It didn't really seem like any threats could appear from the whirlpools themselves.
Too soon the staircase ended, the door at the top easily opening under his touch. Outside, the wind was stronger than it had been on the ground, and the stars seemed closer, somehow. He blinked a few times as he took in the sight, the roof empty save for by the side facing the sea. There seemed to be some kind of pavilion standing there, although it didn't have a ceiling. Maybe it was just a bunch of fabrics hung up as a makeshift shelter, small candles flickering between the gaps to create cozy lighting, revealing gold and red colors in the dark.
If there was some kind of fluffy lounge bed and rose petals strewn about, Sasuke might knock himself out.
"Don't forget," Karin hissed at him, poking him in the side. "Suspicious noises, explosive tags."
He rolled his eyes, and forced down the dread as he made his way over. The tower was wide, but the steps he took were much too few to gather himself before he reached the billowing sheets of sheer fabric hiding Naruto.
Pushing a few of them aside, he did, indeed, find a soft-looking lounge bed with a low backrest rising from it in a half circle. Naruto sat slouched against the backrest, lost in thought with his face bathed in soft candlelight, twirling a deep blue flower in one hand.
"Seriously," Sasuke said, startling Naruto with his dismay.
"Sasuke!" Naruto shot up from the bed, the poor flower thrown aside. "You sure took your time."
Avoiding Naruto's gaze, Sasuke found that there were lots of flowers decorating the area, tucked into tall vases and floating in decorative bowls. It was nauseatingly romantic, blankets and pillows in a heap on the bed.
"What's this about?" he asked despairingly, raising his eyes to the sky as if the stars would help him. "Was this your idea?"
When he looked down again, there was an indignant blush on Naruto's cheeks.
"And what if it was?" he replied stubbornly, crossing his arms. "Are you allergic to romance or something?"
Sasuke stared at him.
"Are you…" He trailed off, licking his suddenly dry lips. "Why?"
Naruto kept up his stubborn expression for a few moments, then sighed, shoulders slumping.
"Because I wanted to talk to you and this was the only way to convince my mom nothing's wrong."
"Oh no, what could possibly be wrong?"
Scrunching up his nose, Naruto jumped back on the bed, patting the space beside him.
"You don't have to sound so sarcastic," he said, patting the bed harder when Sasuke didn't move. "At least sit down, you're making me nervous."
Reluctant, Sasuke got on the bed and sat down beside Naruto. He felt stiff, heart pounding in his chest. Naruto picked at his nails, knees pulled up to his chest. The romantic setting seemed to mock them, making the silence all the more unbearable. Sasuke wasn't stupid. He knew they needed to talk. If he'd been a more generous person he might have started, might have offered Naruto some help to get them through this together.
Maybe he could be that person with someone he was really close to, but with Naruto? He had a feeling that the wrong word at the wrong time would make it all end in flames, literally. And if it was going to end, he didn't want it to end in a fight.
"Do you…"
Naruto swallowed, and Sasuke's jaw clenched in anticipation. He looked small like this, biting his lip before continuing.
"Do you at least like me, a little bit?"
It was Sasuke's turn to swallow. His chest burned, throat too raw to speak. He wished it was easier. That the stakes weren't so high. That his life wouldn't change irrevocably, if he said yes.
"If you're just here because your village forced you–"
He turned to face him, and Naruto's mouth snapped shut. His eyes were so wide, drawing Sasuke in. Naruto had said that he wanted to find the love of his life. How could anyone possibly know the answer to that question?
"It's more complicated than that," he answered, keeping his voice low. "I did come here against my will and better judgment. I thought you'd send me home right away."
"But I didn't," Naruto blurted out, leaning closer, letting his legs fall down so that one of his knees touched Sasuke's thigh. "I couldn't have."
Maybe the setting was getting to him, maybe it was the candles and the starlight and the way they reflected in those deep blue eyes, but Sasuke ached to reach out and touch him. Instead he clenched his fingers into a fist, nails digging into his palm.
There was silence again, more expectant this time. Sasuke knew he needed to answer Naruto's question, but how? He didn't want to lie, but how could he tell the truth? He wasn't good at this stuff. There was a reason he'd never tried dating, or dreamt of finding love. Life was complicated enough without it.
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered, reaching out to place his hand over Sasuke's closed fist. "I think you like me. But I want to hear you say it."
Naruto's hand felt warm, and Sasuke stared down at it to gather his thoughts. They were past the point of using insults and riling each other up. They didn't have time to argue their way into an understanding. Still, the words felt heavy on his tongue, each breath a struggle.
"Do you think that solves everything?" he forced out, feeling winded from the effort. "To me it just makes everything worse."
He'd expected Naruto to argue, or be disappointed. Instead he moved closer, sinking lower until his cheek rested comfortably on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Yeah," he said, slipping his fingers between Sasuke's and squeezing them. "I kind of figured that out. Your brother said that if you said no, it wouldn't be because of me, so it has to be because of something else, right?"
He shifted a bit, lifting Sasuke's arm until it hugged his back, snuggling into him as close as possible. Sasuke didn't have the heart to push him away. It was tiring to keep his walls up all the time, and Naruto's scent tickled his nose when he tilted his head down.
"But I'm not sure what it is," Naruto continued, sounding troubled. "I don't know you well enough yet. There's so much I don't know about you…"
Sasuke didn't know what to say. There were too many emotions to deal with, and few of them made sense. Did he trust Naruto? Maybe. Enough to put the rest of his life in his hands? A much stronger maybe.
"Maybe you won't like me when you find out more," he said, staring at a vase, the flowers in it perfectly arranged.
If Naruto had done it all by himself, he'd put in a lot more effort than he needed to. He must have suspected that Sasuke didn't like romantic gestures, but everything still looked like he'd put his entire soul into it.
"Did you do all this on your own?" he asked, before Naruto had a chance to reply to his first statement.
"Oh, this? Yeah." Naruto sighed, slumping against him like all strength had left him. "They'd brought it all over, so I thought it would be a waste if I didn't. 'S kind of nice, though."
"It's… not terrible."
Naruto let out a snort, but Sasuke could see him smile, too.
"High praise coming from you."
"I have my moments."
There was a pause, and then Naruto strained his neck to look up at him, expression unreadable even with that smile lingering in the corners of his lips.
"I think I'd like it," he said, lifting a hand to brush his knuckles over Sasuke's chest. "Whatever else there is to find out about you."
"You're optimistic to a fault."
Naruto's smile grew, and he pinched the fabric of Sasuke's shirt between his fingers, tugging at it.
"Yup."
Helpless, Sasuke followed the tug and leaned down, pressing his mouth to Naruto's. The touch was soft, Naruto sighing through his nose. He found himself reluctant to let go, free hand coming up to cup Naruto's cheek and keep him in place as the kiss deepened. It was easier like this, no words between them to be misunderstood. Just the warmth of Naruto's body against his, the heat of his mouth, the way his fingers curled around the hairs at the back of his neck.
It was simple, like nothing else was.
"You like me," Naruto mumbled against his lips, eyes closed. "I want to know what's so bad about it."
Everything, Sasuke wanted to say, but it wouldn't be true. Me, he thought. I don't know how to like someone.
He kissed Naruto again, and then one more time. It would be cruel to break his heart. Crueler than Sasuke wanted himself to be capable of.
"It's not you," he whispered, wondering if he could find the strength to shape the truth into words. "It's everything else."
Naruto's eyes opened, and for a long moment they simply stared at each other. He may not want to be in love, but he didn't want to lose Naruto, either. How could he explain that there was no way he could say yes, and that at the same time he didn't want to say no?
"What do you need to say yes tomorrow?" Naruto asked, his gaze searching.
The question surprised him. What do I need, he thought, letting his fingertips trace Naruto's palm. Naruto looked at him as if he'd do anything, as if Sasuke could simply answer and Naruto would make it happen. But how much could change in just a few hours?
"Is that what you want?" he asked instead of replying, keeping his eyes on their joined hands. "You think I'm…"
"The love of my life?" Naruto finished for him, sounding more thoughtful than anything else. "I think you could be. I want you to be."
Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. He had to look up, to see for himself the truth in Naruto's eyes. For just a moment, the words were on the tip of his tongue, threatening to spill out. There was no hesitation in Naruto's expression.
"I know it's a bit much," Naruto added, lifting his hand to brush a few strands of hair from Sasuke's face. "You probably think I'm an idiot for it. But that's how I really feel."
Forcing his lungs to function, Sasuke fought to swallow down the lump in his throat. That Naruto could just say things like that…
"I–"
He faltered.
It felt like ropes were wound around his chest, tightening with each second that passed. It felt like he was at war with himself, and no matter his answer he'd lose.
"Just think about it," Naruto said, braving another smile. "I don't want you to choose me because you feel like you have to, but I think… I think if you gave me a chance, I could…"
"How can I think about it," Sasuke choked out, fist clenching over Naruto's thigh. "There's no time left to think."
Something passed over Naruto's face, too quick for Sasuke to make sense of it. When he reached up to kiss him there was something desperate in the way their lips pressed together, Naruto's hands twisting in his hair as he licked into his mouth.
If his answer was no tomorrow, this could be their last kiss.
Sasuke pushed Naruto down on the bed, pressing their bodies as close as their lips. There was nothing he could say now, nothing he could do to make things better.
Time was running out, and all the future held was heartbreak.
Naruto stared into the dark, ignoring the stars above to focus on the sea just below the cliff's edge in front of him. The constant murmur of the whirlpools should be soothing. He could remember coming here as a child, excited by the view in daylight. Could remember sneaking down the cliff side with his friends, throwing rocks into the swirling water, watching them get swallowed down and arguing over how deep they went.
He felt like he stood at the edge of something so deep he'd never hit the bottom if he jumped.
Thinking about Sasuke was like dipping his toes into the water where the cliff ended, trying to feel the undercurrents, jagged rocks rising through the surface that let them jump back and forth on a dare, adrenaline pumping through their veins.
He knew the water streams ran along the whole coastline of their country, keeping them safe from enemies but blocking important trade. There were so many things he needed to learn about his village if he wanted to take over after his mother, and doing it alone was daunting on the best of days.
He'd imagined his future husband would be someone he could rely on. Someone who would learn with him, and offer advice when he needed it. Someone who understood the pressure on his shoulders, even when he pretended to the whole world that he couldn't feel it. Someone to jump those rocks with, trusting each other not to fall.
What did he know about Sasuke, really?
Having second thoughts? Kurama asked, Naruto's fingers tightening their grip on the smooth wall circling the top of the tower.
"No," he said, frowning. "Stop interrupting me, I was getting somewhere."
Kurama huffed, and Naruto rubbed at his eyes. Sasuke had left rather abruptly when Karin decided she'd had enough of waiting and pretending she couldn't hear them being too quiet. To his surprise, Sasuke had leaned in for one last kiss before allowing her to drag him away. His whole chest clenched just thinking about it – there had been something heavy and final in that kiss that only made him more determined to find a solution.
Sasuke had said there was no time left to think. There were still a few hours until morning, hardly enough to solve his entire future. They'd wasted so much time arguing instead of getting to know each other, but how could they have known? Maybe if they had more time…
Biting on his lips, Naruto's hands found the cold wall again, holding on tight to steady himself. There had to be something he could do. He wasn't known for giving up, and he didn't think he could just ask Sasuke to marry him and hope for the best.
He didn't know exactly what made Sasuke hesitate, but he felt relatively sure now that the only way to fix it was to give him more time. Time to think, time to get to know him, time enough for Naruto to prove his worth.
Time to have a proper conversation.
Too bad we don't know how to stop time.
He sighed, shoulders slumping. Kurama was right – he couldn't just stop time. All he needed was a little more of it…
Oh.
He perked up, pushing his hands through his hair and leaving them there as he stared blankly ahead, thoughts racing through his head. Maybe it could work? If he just–
Resolutely, he straightened up and turned his back on the dark sea, blinking once as the candlelight hit his eyes. Feeling a hopeful smile tug at his lips, he carefully blew out each candle before rushing down the winding staircase. If he talked fast enough, he might just get away with it.
♡♡♡
Things were tense in the corridor behind the grand stage, where Sasuke's fate would be decided once and for all. Dramatic, maybe, but Sasuke felt his heart pound in his throat as he waited. Gaara stood a few steps away, leaning against the wall and deep in thought. He couldn't help staring at him.
The way things were looking, one of them would become Naruto's husband.
It was such a strange thing to think about, even though he'd had plenty of time to come to terms with the fact that this whole selection process had one goal, and one goal only. He'd thought of it in abstract terms before. Someone was going to marry Naruto, not him. But now it might be him.
Unless he said no.
A sleepless night had done nothing to aid him in his decision, had only made things worse, really. He absolutely hated the thought of Naruto choosing Gaara, felt his jaw clench and his teeth grit together painfully whenever he pictured it. Jealousy, however, was not a good foundation to build that kind of decision on.
All he knew was that he'd regret any decision he made, probably. Maybe he'd regret it more if he didn't choose Naruto and had to give up the potential he felt between them, but maybe he'd regret it the most if he did choose Naruto and it didn't work out.
Heartbreak now or heartbreak later, he thought bitterly to himself. Gaara chose that moment to look up, meeting his eyes evenly. He looked neither triumphant nor resigned, and Sasuke itched with the need to know what was going on in his head.
"What?" he asked bluntly, as if he hadn't been looking first.
Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow at him.
"I thought you'd look less nervous," he answered calmly, arms crossed loosely over his chest. "Having doubts about Naruto's choice?"
He didn't know what to say. Had Gaara made peace with second place? Or did he know something Sasuke didn't?
"Did you volunteer for this?"
It was all he could think of, nails digging into his palms.
"Of course," Gaara said.
"Nothing left behind? No regrets?"
"Should there be?"
Sasuke stared at him. He knew that Gaara felt something for Naruto, but he'd never bothered to consider what or how much. And what, exactly, did Naruto feel for Gaara then?
Some of his panic must have shown on his face, because Gaara's expression soured.
"I don't know why you ask. Naruto has already told me clearly what his choice will be."
"I'm not asking about Naruto's choice." Sasuke drew in a breath, stretching his fingers in an attempt to relax them. "What about you?"
For a long moment, Gaara watched him with a blank face. There was something unnerving about the look in his eyes, as if he had to make a conscious effort not to stab him.
"If you're stepping down, I'll gladly take your place."
Each word was carefully pronounced, a threat as much as a promise. Sasuke suppressed a shiver. It was clear that Gaara had no problem devoting his life to Naruto. Perhaps, if Sasuke hadn't been thrown into the mix, Naruto's choice would have been given from the start.
But Naruto didn't want Gaara, despite their friendship.
"I didn't mean to insult you," Sasuke told him. "This is more than just accepting a proposal."
"Anyone could become kazekage in my stead," Gaara said, surprising him with the heat in his voice. "There are many villages, countless opportunities, but only one Naruto."
Only one Naruto.
And only one of each of his family members. Only one street with the dango shop he visits with Itachi. Only one garden that was his mother's favorite. Only one dock where he'd managed his first fireball technique to impress his father.
Only one Naruto.
The words echoed in his head, so loud that he didn't notice the approaching footsteps until someone coughed impatiently to get his attention. He glanced at the man standing at a respectful distance. He vaguely recognized him as one of the Konoha ninja that had accompanied him on the trip to Uzushio, acting terribly important. Itachi hadn't mentioned anyone else coming with him, but maybe this guy had stayed the whole time and Sasuke had simply not noticed him.
"Uchiha-san," he said clearing his throat and managing to sound both condescending and wary at the same time. "I trust everything is in order."
"How should I know?"
"I'm talking about the ceremony, of course."
Sasuke stared at him, hoping he wouldn't have to repeat himself. Why was he here? Couldn't he see that Sasuke was in the middle of a crisis and would prefer not to be bothered?
"Is there a point to your question?" he asked, irritation swelling within him at the displeased look on the man's face.
He had the kind of face that was easily forgettable, but his holier-than-thou attitude lingered long after he'd left a room. Sasuke had done a good job of avoiding him on the trip. People with very small responsibilities who took themselves much too seriously always rubbed him the wrong way.
"Yes." Another little cough, like his throat was itching. "We would rather not take any chances."
"Chances of what."
Sasuke was going to rip the words from his throat if he didn't start making sense soon, already on edge, emotions boiling. Gaara took a careful step away, observing them closely.
"No offense, Uchiha-san, but your loyalty to Konoha has been questioned in the past. I'm here to ensure you are aware of what is expected of you. There have been… concerning rumors about–"
Fed up, Sasuke molded a chidori into a long, thin sword, poking the tip into the man's throat.
"I couldn't care less about Konoha," he said, voice low and void of humor. "I'd decline just to piss you off, if I did."
There was a satisfying amount of fear in his beady eyes, Sasuke's chakra crackling in the air between them.
"Have I made myself clear?"
"Tsunade-sama will not be pleased to hear it."
"Then do me a favor and don't tell her."
The man took a step back – Furihata, Sasuke remembered his name to be – swallowing nervously. Sasuke allowed his chidori to flicker out and die, feeling the chakra sting his fingertips.
"Uchiha brat," Furihata mumbled, scowling at him even as he continued to back away. "You think you can get away with just anything, don't you?"
Sasuke's smile was sinister.
"Why don't you stay and find out?"
Furihata didn't stay.
As soon as he'd disappeared around a bend in the corridor, Sasuke heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache taking shape behind his eyes, too much stress and too little sleep finally catching up with him.
Maybe he should say yes just so he didn't have to deal with Konoha and its politics again. He could feel Gaara watching him, probably drawing his own conclusions. Sasuke tilted his head back, staring up at the ceiling. He wasn't anywhere near a decision. Piss off Konoha, break Naruto's heart? Leave his family, and maybe find love?
If only there was a way to piss off Konoha while also not selling his soul to Uzushio.
"I see it now."
Startled, Sasuke turned towards Gaara.
"See what?"
"What Naruto sees in you."
"What?"
Gaara hummed in thought, gaze sweeping over the narrow corridor. When his attention returned to Sasuke, he gave him a short nod.
"You don't compromise who you are. I can respect that. But you should know that if you hurt Naruto, Suna will officially declare you an enemy and hunt you down."
Sasuke felt too tired to care.
"Whatever," he sighed.
There was no point trying to make a decision in advance. He'd just have to face Naruto and…
Well.
Something.
♡♡♡
Naruto considered the crowd. He was bouncing on his heels, filled with restless energy. Waiting wasn't his strong point, and what had felt like a distressingly short amount of time had now dragged on into infinity, leaving him frustrated.
He'd had half a plan to find Sasuke as soon as he got back, but now apparently security was vital and the hotel had been surrounded by guards.
He rolled his shoulders, feeling them catch on the stiff fabric of his kimono. No one had bothered to widen the shoulders since he'd last worn it years ago – the first time they'd tried to make him go through with selecting a chakra bond partner. They'd gotten as far as fitting the kimono for the ceremony, and then he'd finally managed to push it down their throats that he wasn't ready.
Didn't mean he was ready now, either, but there wasn't much he could do about it. And to be honest, the thought of marrying Sasuke was only 50/50 fear and excitement. He felt confident he could work those numbers until there was just excitement left.
You could always run away together, worst case, Kurama mused. Domestic life in the village sounds boring.
"You're boring," Naruto shot back childishly, grimacing as he spotted his parents. "Stop trying to turn me into some kind of fugitive."
It's romantic! Who needs a honeymoon when you could dodge bounty hunters together.
"Is this a scenario where we're declared missing nins? Wait. Don't answer that."
He bounced a few more times, doing his best to ignore Kurama describing, in vivid detail, his grand plan for their escape. The fox was probably trying to distract him from his nerves, to no success. All he could think of was Sasuke waiting behind the scenes, possibly prepared to turn his back on them forever. Well, Naruto wouldn't let him. Not without a fight – and anyway, he doubted Sasuke would mind his plan. It was all the others he had to worry about, forcing himself to still as his parents found him.
"Aww, look at you!" his mother cooed, pinching his cheeks. "Lilac is such a good color on you!"
"Is it?" he asked dubiously, enduring her fussing with his patience hanging on a thin thread. "Isn't it time to start yet?"
She clicked her tongue at him, his dad smiling indulgently at the two of them.
"He's not going anywhere," Kushina said, shaking her head. "No need to look so nervous!"
"Hmm," was all Naruto could reply, glancing at the crowd again.
They stood to the side of the stage, a much bigger one than the previous ceremonies had taken place in. It felt like half the village was there, waiting to celebrate. The Hokage had arrived sometime last night, together with the Kazekage. He was so looking forward to rejecting Gaara in front of his dad…
"Hey, uh, mom?"
"Oh, stop worrying!" She pulled him into a crushing hug, waving at Minato until he joined them, succeeding in both stealing Naruto's breath and his dignity.
"You'll be fine," Minato said, patting his shoulder after they let go of him again. "We're proud of you."
It's possible they'll kill you, Kurama said, not sounding very concerned about it.
Thanks for nothing, he replied, forcing down the lump in his throat as his parents pushed him towards the stage.
I'll mourn you, I guess. We had a good run together.
Again, thanks for literally nothing. Can't you try to be a little reassuring for once!?
But Kurama only laughed.
The crowd quieted down as they reached the center of it, his mother greeting everyone with enthusiasm. Naruto looked out over the sea of faces, trying to pretend he wasn't sweating through his clothes. He didn't have the presence of mind to listen to any of the speeches, barely managing bows of acknowledgment as first the Hokage, then the Kazekage took their spots on stage and briefly addressed the audience.
What if he caused an all-out war? Or worse. What if Sasuke said no.
Or worse than worse, Kurama snickered. Sasuke ran away during the night.
Naruto's heart froze in his chest, a painful squeeze forcing the breath out of his lungs. He was going to scream if Kurama didn't stop making things worse.
Relax, Kurama continued, rolling his eyes. Where would he go? Konoha? The way he looked at you last night I doubt it even crossed his mind.
You're awful and I hate you so much.
He gnawed at his lips, wishing he knew what was going through Sasuke's head. His whole body itched with the need to go find him, just to make sure he was still there. Someone was making yet another speech, but Naruto stared at the doorway Sasuke would be appearing through. Maybe if he stared hard enough, time would move faster.
A hand on his shoulder startled him, his dad giving him a questioning look.
"Everything okay?" Minato asked, keeping his voice a low murmur.
"Sure," Naruto squeaked, clearing his throat desperately. "Just fine."
He hated when his dad looked at him like that. It was impossible to lie convincingly.
"So uh, hypothetically," he started, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. "If I don't make a final decision today, how many problems will that cause?"
Minato frowned at him, searching his face. He held his breath as he waited for the verdict, bracing himself.
"You're still unsure?"
"It's not that! It's just… It's a lot to ask, you know?"
"I'm confident you two can make it work." His dad's smile was reassuring, only succeeding in increasing Naruto's frustration. "With that level of compatibility–"
"Yes but he's not going to agree," Naruto hissed, glaring back. "I'm not going to force him–"
He snapped his mouth shut, feeling his mother's eyes boring into him. Straightening up he put on his most innocent look, heart sinking as she quickly crossed the stage towards them.
"Is there a problem?" she asked as she reached them, her expression daring him to confirm it.
"Nope, no problems, it's all good," he babbled, wincing as he realized how he sounded.
"Just nerves," Minato said, saving him. "I know we can trust Naruto to follow his heart and make the right decision."
Blinking in surprise, Naruto whipped his head around to stare at him. He looked as unruffled as ever, but took the time to wink at him when Kushina wasn't looking. It allowed him to release a slow breath, some of the tension leaving him.
His relief was short-lived, however, as the two remaining candidates were introduced to the crowd. Listening to Sasuke's long list of accomplishments was impressive. Of course, he already knew he was impressive, but it seemed Konoha had decided to add a few bits and pieces that hadn't been public information until now. They completely glossed over the years he'd spent with Orochimaru, though.
They make him sound like prince charming, Kurama commented, and Naruto could only agree.
Charming wasn't a word he'd use to describe Sasuke.
Maybe it said something about him that the two people he had left to choose between were both a little bit unhinged with dark pasts, and a reputation that made people shiver in fear. It was better not to think about it.
On the contrary, you've thought quite a lot about what Sasuke could do to you with his Sharingan and a–
Shut up! Please! I said I'm not thinking about it!
If Kurama replied it was drowned out by the sight of Sasuke, finally, walking onto the stage. Naruto ran his eyes over him, committing him to memory. He looked paler than usual, face drawn with fatigue. He must have slept as little as Naruto, dark shadows below his eyes. Even so he was beautiful, the most beautiful man Naruto had ever seen. Everyone else faded into the background, Naruto's heartbeat pounding in his ears as he waited desperately for Sasuke to look at him.
When he did, everything seemed to slow down.
Something settled in his chest, slotting into place.
There he is, he thought.
Those dark eyes held his for a small eternity, the emotion in them unreadable. Naruto's face probably showed his feelings all too clearly–
Someone called his name, breaking him out of his stupor. Reality came crashing back down as he stared down at the microphone held out to him. Part of him wanted to ask the question everyone expected him to. He wanted Sasuke, all of him, had told the truth last night that he wanted Sasuke to be the love of his life. He wanted it to the point of physical pain, chest so tight with emotion he could barely breathe.
He cleared his throat.
"Look," he started, gripping the microphone with both hands. "This is the weirdest thing that's ever happened to me, and my life's been pretty weird."
There was a ripple of nervous laughter through the crowd.
"I don't think two months is a fair amount of time to figure out if someone is the love of your life, you know? It's a lot of pressure. But I did find someone I hope will become that person for me."
He glanced at his mother, the two kages beside her. Tsunade looked pleased, Gaara's dad less so. Taking a deep breath, he turned towards Sasuke and Gaara. They stood several steps away, faces carefully blank. Sasuke kept his eyes downcast, shoulders rigid. That, more than anything, told Naruto he'd made the right decision, consequences be damned.
"I need to give him more time, though."
Sasuke lifted his head, lips parting in surprise. Naruto took the time to give him a lopsided smile, then figured the time had come to talk really fast.
"So I'm not going to ask him to marry me or chakra bond with me right now, okay? I need to give him a fair chance to get to know me and decide if I'm good enough for him. Like, obviously I'm a catch but I don't think a relationship should be based on outside pressure. Thank you for understanding!"
Before his mother could properly react, he took a few long strides until he stood in front of Sasuke, dropping the microphone carelessly on the way.
"Hey," he said, grinning when Sasuke fought down an incredulous smile. "Wanna go on a date with me?"
"Are you actually an idiot," Sasuke asked, the frown on his face undermined by that smile still threatening to take over.
"I heard you're into idiots," he replied, cupping Sasuke's cheeks between his palms.
Somewhere off to the side the crowd gasped, someone (possibly Karin) whistling loudly.
"Only one idiot."
Naruto couldn't help it. He pulled Sasuke into a kiss, burying his fingers in his hair and tasting him thoroughly. Only when someone body-flickered into the space next to them did he let go, cheeks heating up at the knowing look Itachi was giving them.
"How much time did you have in mind?" Itachi asked, looking far too amused as he raised an eyebrow towards Sasuke.
"That's none of your business," Sasuke muttered, which was when Naruto noticed the angry voices nearby, one of them belonging to his mother.
"Well, someone has to argue in your favor," Itachi said, waving a hand towards the small crowd of officials gathering around the village leaders. "I suppose I'll start at a year and work my way down from there. I can make up some clan tradition if I must."
They stared at him, only moving when Itachi gently pushed at them. Naruto let his hands drop from Sasuke's hair, grabbing one of his hands instead.
"Come on," he said, tugging him along. "Let's hide at my place for a while."
They made their way to Naruto's apartment, skillfully avoiding anyone trying to stop them. Naruto slammed the door closed once inside, letting out a noise of surprise when Sasuke pushed him up against it, catching his lips in a bruising kiss. Winding his arms around Sasuke's waist he pulled him closer, chests pressing together. His head was spinning, a thrill of anticipation rushing through his body. He didn't want to ever stop kissing him, whining in protest when Sasuke leaned back again.
"You really think they're going to let us get away with it?" Sasuke asked, Naruto too focused on admiring his lips to listen properly. "Naruto!"
"What? I'm sure it's fine. Say my name again, I like it."
Sasuke knocked a fist lightly over his head, giving him a look.
"It's like your idiocy increases exponentially to my proximity."
"Don't be mean," he pouted, running his hands up and down Sasuke's sides. "You're distracting. It's clearly your fault."
Sighing, Sasuke leaned in and rested his head on Naruto's shoulder.
"Furihata is going to be furious. Tsunade too, probably."
"Who's Furihata?"
"Some guy. He told me before I got on stage that I wasn't allowed to say no to you."
Naruto pushed him away, holding him at arm's length. He searched Sasuke's face for any regret, but all he saw was a deadpan look that asked him what the hell he was doing.
"Would you have?" he asked, just to make sure.
"I don't know." Something complicated passed over Sasuke's expression, ending in a grimace. "I was considering it."
"Oh."
Letting out a small huff, Sasuke stepped back into his arms and tilted his head, considering him.
"Should have known you'd find a way to prevent that from happening."
"You'll see," Naruto said, finding his confidence again. "You'll be head over heels for me in no time!"
Sasuke smiled, just a quirk of lips, causing Naruto's heart to somersault inside his ribcage anyway.
"Good luck," he said.
♡♡♡
Roughly ten months later, Sasuke watched Naruto pace back and forth, muttering to himself (or Kurama). He was dressed in a lovely dark blue kimono, decorated with both Uchiha fans and Uzumaki swirls, matching Sasuke. After spending a moment enjoying the view, he took a step to the side to block Naruto's path.
"You're nervous," he said, Naruto all but knocking into him.
"I'm not nervous!" Naruto objected, indignant look on his face. "Why would I be nervous!"
Reaching out to pat down unruly blond hair, Sasuke hummed in thought as if he truly had to consider the reason.
"Unless you're planning another shocking announcement before running away with me, I'd say you'll be fine."
Naruto huffed, tugging at his sleeves. There was a faint dusting of red across the bridge of his nose, spreading to his cheeks when Sasuke poked him in the forehead.
"Idiot. What do you think is going to happen? We've practiced."
"But not all of it," Naruto whined, giving Sasuke a pleading look. "What if I mess it up?"
Sasuke sighed. Over the past months since Naruto bought them more time, they'd barely spent a day apart. Naruto had visited Konoha for long periods of time, claiming the entire Uchiha clan was silently judging him for so much as breathing in Sasuke's direction. Which they were, but Sasuke wasn't going to tell him that.
"If that old lady says we're ready, then we're ready. I'm ready, as unbelievable as it is."
He muttered the last part, and Naruto gave him a weak smile.
"Hey, just to check. You do like me, right?"
Naruto had asked him at least five times a day for the past week or so, and Sasuke would have murdered him in his sleep if he didn't look so disgustingly happy every time Sasuke confirmed it.
"I'm literally bonding my chakra with yours for life. It's a little late to ask."
Sure enough a pout formed on Naruto's lips, his eyes widening innocently until Sasuke felt plagued by guilt.
"Fine," he sighed, looking up at the sky for strength. When he looked back down, he lifted his arms, Naruto immediately jumping into his embrace. "You're so high maintenance."
"Excuse me?" Naruto buried his nose in his neck, clinging to him like an octopus. "I'm so low maintenance you barely notice me."
Sasuke pressed a kiss to his temple, then placed his mouth by his ear.
"I love you," he breathed into it, feeling Naruto melt into a puddle in his arms.
He'd discovered a few months into their relationship that Naruto was an absolute sucker for affection, and he shamelessly used it to his advantage whenever he could. Even though Naruto knew exactly what he was doing, it still worked every time.
And well, it's not like there was any harm in it. The opposite, really, but it was easier to say things out loud if he told himself he wasn't embarrassingly sappy.
(A flimsy excuse, but Sasuke had many of those.)
"Aah, you can't just say things like that when I'm not prepared," Naruto groaned, then switched to peppering Sasuke's neck and face with kisses until he swatted at him, pushing him off.
Of course, Itachi and Shisui chose that moment to join them, both of them looking far too pleased with themselves.
"Starting on the honeymoon early?" Shisui teased, laughing when Sasuke glared at him.
"Get lost. You're supposed to wait with the others."
Sasuke tried not to think about the extensive guest list. It was like his entire clan had migrated to Uzushio for the week, not to mention everyone else from Konoha. They were going to start with the actual wedding, and then add the chakra bonding. Apparently the bonding tended to drain your energy – so much for Naruto's enthusiastic plans to party all night and then spend an additional few hours in bed, not sleeping. Sasuke had a feeling they'd both be exhausted for a week once all the tension finally got released.
"Is that really the way to speak to your older brother," Itachi said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "We're here to offer you advice."
"You're not even married yet, what advice could you possibly offer."
Itachi's smile was indulgent, and Sasuke felt himself bristle with irritation.
"We're older and a lot wiser though," Shisui pointed out, throwing his arm around Naruto's shoulders. "You should be grateful! Right, Naruto?"
To Sasuke's horror, Naruto blushed a deep red, avoiding eye contact.
"What have you told him?" he demanded, mentally counting all the stupid ideas Naruto had ever suggested, wondering which one of them could be Shisui's doing.
There were far too many that qualified, and maybe he was better off not knowing.
"Nothing!" Naruto choked out, struggling to get out of Shisui's firm hold. "I know better than to listen to perverted old men!"
The insulted look on Shisui's face was comical, but Sasuke had run out of patience long ago. He leveled his brother with a hard glare, but all he received back was a soft smile.
"We just wanted to see you one last time before we hand you over to the Uzumaki clan," Itachi said, successfully transforming Sasuke's irritation into a nervous lump in his throat. "Although I trust Naruto to take good care of you."
"Do you have to make it sound like we'll never see each other again?"
Naruto sidled up to him, hugging his arm.
"Thanks!" he said brightly, radiating confidence all of a sudden. "You can leave him to me!"
"Well, I think we've taught you the most important things," Shisui hummed, tapping his mouth with a finger. "He probably won't die from neglect."
"I'm right here."
All three of them smiled innocently at him, Naruto caving in first and bursting into laughter.
"Aww, I'm sorry, Sasuke! You're so cute when you're annoyed."
"Oh, so that's why you get on my nerves all the time? You think I'm cute? I'll show you cute."
Naruto stuck his tongue out, lacing their fingers together.
"No threats on our wedding day," he scolded him, gaze turning a little dreamy as the words caught up with him. "Isn't it so cool? We're getting married! All that's left is teaching you to cook ramen."
"It's good to have goals in life," Shisui commented sagely, "even if they're impossible to reach."
"Nothing's impossible," Naruto insisted, pointing at him with his free hand. "This is a challenge I intend to win!"
"Yeah, good luck teaching him to cook," Shisui replied with a snort, and Sasuke would have felt insulted if he wasn't making it difficult for Naruto on purpose.
As Naruto argued with Shisui, he allowed himself the small, private thought that he was rather lucky, after all. Sure, things weren't perfect, but they were working things out. Naruto made his life better, even on the worst days.
"Oi," he said, when Naruto's face started getting worrying shades of red at the continued teasing. "Be nice to my future husband."
Shisui was immediately forgotten as Naruto turned to him, eyes shining.
"Sasuke!" he cried, throwing himself on top of him and toppling them both to the ground, mindless of their formal clothing. Sasuke should have expected it, really. Naruto had been practically vibrating with energy since the wedding date was announced. "Say it again! Before I'm your actual husband."
"Idiot," he sighed, letting his head fall back on the hard ground. "How many times am I going to have to say it before you stop throwing yourself at me."
"I'll never stop," Naruto said, a promise that was equal amounts endearing and irritating. "And you say it so rarely! You should be nicer to me!"
"I'm nice to you."
"You haven't bought me ramen a single time!"
"Well," he conceded, mouth twitching with amusement. "That's a point of pride, really."
Naruto kissed him (very angrily), only releasing him when Itachi coughed politely. He jumped up to his feet, offering Sasuke a hand. He was definitely grateful that Naruto wasn't always acting like a child on a sugar high, but as he took Naruto's hand and allowed him to help him up, he figured this was his last chance to mourn the quiet days of his past.
"Is it time?" Naruto asked eagerly, squeezing Sasuke's hand a little too hard.
"Looks like it," Shisui said. "We'll give you two a moment…"
He and Itachi finally left, and Sasuke felt his heart pick up speed. Turning towards Naruto, he found him with a strange look on his face.
"What is it?"
Naruto shook his head slowly, reaching out to trace the swirled embroidery right above Sasuke's heart.
"I'm just really happy," he said.
"I noticed."
Rolling his eyes at Sasuke's dry tone, he leaned in for a quick brush of lips. It didn't matter how many times they kissed, Sasuke still felt his chest fill with warmth each time.
"You sure then?" Sasuke couldn't help but tease, one last time. "You really found the love of your life in a politically motivated competition?"
Letting out a bright laugh, Naruto wrapped his arms around his neck, pressing his nose into Sasuke's cheek.
"Kurama still thinks I have shit taste."
"That's because you do."
"Stop agreeing with him!"
Holding Naruto tight, Sasuke hid his smile in Naruto's hair.
"And for the record," Naruto added, "I did which means I was right and you were wrong. I mean, you're always wrong but–"
"Naruto."
"Mhm?"
He could feel Naruto's shoulders shake with silent laughter. It made him heave a sigh, too lovesick to pretend it was anything other than fond. This was the man he was going to spend the rest of his life with, huh?
He leaned back, leveling Naruto with a look.
"I've been wrong once in my life," he conceded.
Naruto's answering grin was blinding.