Mine

A/N: I like this chapter. ^_^

Mine

Chapter 10: Figuring Things Out

Tsunade's words from their conversation the day before rang in his head, taunting him, making him doubt himself.

"Why do you keep saying he loves me?"

"Because it's easier to hope that he loves you a fraction of how much you love him."

The idea that Sasuke had romantic feelings for him was something foreign to Naruto, and the idea that Naruto had romantic feelings for Sasuke seemed ridiculous. Yet the though would not leave Naruto's head the entire time he was away on his mission to Suna in order to inform Gaara that Sakura might come seek his help.

Naruto felt strange the entire trip to Suna. He wanted to see Sakura on the way, wanted to see her in order to go with her so she wouldn’t be alone, but a part of him didn't want to see her at the same time. He had said that he would go with her, and instead, she had agreed to have Sasuke help her escape rather than let him leave with her. He was her husband, and she couldn't even let him help her escape?

Naruto shook his head, realizing he was being foolish. Sakura had done it for his own good because Naruto had to stay where Sasuke was in order to stay alive.

Sasuke.

Naruto would have closed his eyes if he hadn't been so hell bent on delivering his message to Suna. It was almost pointless in some regards that he go to inform Gaara. A messenger bird had already been sent, but the idea that Sakura might actually be there already had made Tsunade send him as well. There was a chance that Sakura wouldn't go to Suna since she had already deviated from the original plan that Tsunade had discussed with her. Apparently Tsunade had told Sakura that she should go there, though he hadn't recalled Tsunade discussing that with him, and Sakura hadn't mentioned it when he had seen her, but Tsunade must have known what she was talking about.

Naruto would deliver his message personally to Suna, and then do some scouting out around the area to see if he could find Sakura. If he couldn't in a week's time, then he would have to go back to Konoha – as he had promised Sasuke.

Sasuke.

Naruto's eyes fluttered, reminding himself that he couldn't close them. He couldn't close them, despite the way his body was betraying him. He couldn't stop to think about Sasuke. He couldn't think about Tsunade's words that Sasuke liked – no loved – him. He couldn't think about the way that he had been so obsessed about Sasuke for years. He couldn't think about the way that Sasuke had made his body feel euphoric when Sasuke had entered his body, even when Naruto had tried so hard not to feel the pleasure.

Most of all, he couldn't think the traitorous thoughts that he wanted to possibly be with Sasuke more than he wanted to be with his own wife.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

"Sakura really would never have been executed for what she did. It was a bit of a stretch in order to get her to leave," Shizune murmured. Tsunade looked at Shizune from her desk as she shuffled through paperwork. She didn't bother to look up at Shizune.

"I know," Tsunade said as she signed a few papers. "But it was the best thing that I could come up with on the spot. Sakura might have been Naruto's undoing if she had stayed," Tsunade said. She stopped shuffling through the papers, and looked saddened. "She is my subordinate, and I care about her, but I will not let her interfere with Naruto when it could mean the cost of his life. I could see Naruto doing something stupid in order not to go back on his word to break his wedding vows. And it will kill him on the inside now that he essentially has to chose between Sakura and Sasuke."

Shizune bit her lip.

"Are you sure this is a good idea though? Don't you think any of them will find it odd that you couldn't pull rank among your ANBU and stop the supposed execution?" Shizune asked. Tsunade waved her hand dismissively.

"By the time they figure out that Sakura's life would never have been in any danger, Naruto and Sasuke should have had enough time together for Naruto to realize who he truly wants. According to the ANBU report I received this morning, Sakura is heading to Wave Country in hiding. I told Naruto to go to Suna so that way he thinks he has an idea where she might be. Making it a mission allows me to control how long he will be out looking for her. If I had let him be, he would have searched high and low with no direction to where she was headed. That could have taken him weeks, or, since he might know something about her I don’t know, he might have a hunch as to where she would head on her own. If he thinks that I am concerned for where she will be, and I give him the direction, then he is more likely to take looking for her in Suna more seriously, even though I know she’s not there."

"Aren't you just hurting Naruto in the long run?" Shizune demanded. Tsunade looked up at Shizune.

"How can I hurt him in the long run if he's not even alive in the long run? My priority has, and always will be, to keep him alive." Tsunade .

"But – but couldn't there be a different compromise?" Shizune asked. Tsunade shook her head.

"I'm not just talking about keeping Naruto physically alive, Shizune. Between the two, it's obvious that Naruto wouldn't be able to live without Sasuke more than Sakura, even if Naruto did have a pig-headed moment and insist on going with Sakura. Not to mention the fact that if Sasuke can't have Naruto, I wouldn't be surprised if the bastard committed suicide, and then Naruto would die painfully as his yang chakra consumed his body," Tsunade explained. She looked at the papers in her hand, and then back up at Shizune. "I might be messing things up again; I don't know. I just know that I can't let Naruto die."

"I'm starting to wonder between all of you if you would be the one most damaged if Naruto died. I think you're trying to keep him alive more for your own sake than anyone else's," Shizune said as she turned and left. Tsunade looked out her window, staring at the Hokage mountain where she one day hoped to see Naruto’s smiling face carved into the mountainside, overlooking Konoha.

Tsunade had often wondered the same thing as Shizune.


- - - - - - - - - - - -

Sasuke laid on his bed, his half-lidded eyes staring at the ceiling above him. A week had passed since Naruto had told him that he would return to him: return to his bed. He had completed some remedial missions for Tsunade, but she had made sure to set this day aside for him; no missions. He wondered if Tsunade knew that Naruto was coming back today and would – hopefully – come back to him.

Sasuke wasn't quite sure what to make of it. When Naruto had left, Sasuke had felt so heartbroken, but the thought that Naruto would return to him somehow made his heart flutter, despite the circumstances. Even so, Sasuke wasn't sure if Naruto would actually come. Sasuke snorted, and immediately changed his train of thought. Naruto had said he would, and Naruto always did what he said he would, so of course he would come. Wasn't that part of the problem? Naruto didn't know how to break his word?

When Naruto did come (since Naruto had promised he would), Sasuke wouldn't allow his friend to be emotionless. He wouldn't stand for it. It would slowly eat away at both of them if this became something dispassionate as a means to fulfill a duty to stay alive.

Sasuke's eyes jolted completely open as he recognized Naruto's chakra signature.

Naruto had come just as he said he would. Even though Naruto always did what he said he would, it was still a thrill to know that Naruto hadn’t run completely from him. Sasuke opened the door, not greeting Naruto, nor expecting a greeting. And he didn't get one. Like last time, Naruto walked past Sasuke and straight to the bedroom, his face emotionless. Sasuke followed, watching as Naruto walked as though on a mission himself. He idly wondered if that's all Naruto saw this as: a survival mission. Still, looking at Naruto, Sasuke knew immediately that something in Naruto's mind had been decided. On further inspection, Naruto didn't look quite as emotionless like he had the last time. Instead, he looked more tired than anything.

As Naruto began to take off his clothes, Sasuke grabbed Naruto's wrist making him stop mid-motion. Naruto wrenched his hand out of Sasuke's hand and continued to remove his shirt, glaring at Sasuke. Sasuke's heart leapt. Naruto was acting like Naruto, albeit an annoyed and tired Naruto, but at least more like himself. It gave Sasuke an enormous amount of hope. Once again Sasuke stopped Naruto's actions by grabbing his wrist.

"Teme," Naruto snarled as he once again ripped his hand away from Sasuke's grasp. "What are you doing?" Sasuke almost smirked to hear Naruto sound annoyed at him – to stop Naruto from undressing no less! It was somehow refreshing, and Naruto's annoyance sounded untainted with hatred.

"I can't get off unless I know you're enjoying it," Sasuke informed Naruto. He looked at Naruto with an intensity he hadn't felt in years, watching Naruto’s face. Sasuke felt as though he were battling for his life, battling for what he wanted, and he looked at Naruto, his eyes flashing in desperation. Something had changed between this time and the last time, and he wondered what it was.

Naruto took a step forward towards Sasuke; Sasuke had expected Naruto's initial reaction to step backward, away from him instead of closer.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Naruto asked. It was clear he wasn't going to let Sasuke intimidate him, and he sure as hell wasn't going to let Sasuke control the situation. "You're going to put me under a genjutsu and get away with whatever you want because you're too weak to get it any other way?" Naruto demanded. Naruto looked at Sasuke, looked at the way his eyes were intensely focused and realized he was playing with fire. Naruto didn't flinch when Sasuke's hand shot out and grabbed Naruto's throat. His grip was firm, but loose enough so that Naruto could still breathe.

"I know you're pissed as hell as me. I messed things up. But I did it to fucking save your life. Do you have any idea what I went through the first time? Each time? I'm not my own man, Naruto. You took that from me."

"You're not making sense jackass."

"Damnit Naruto! I need you to survive more than you need me!" Sasuke yelled, his grip on Naruto not increasing, but his firm grasp still in place as he yanked Naruto forward by his neck to be close to him.

"You lied to me. You lied to Sakura," Naruto accused. "And now she's on the run because of it." Sasuke didn't say anything. Naruto closed his eyes. "Why didn't you just tell me?" Naruto asked quietly.

"I was afraid you'd reject me. Like you did," Sasuke murmured.

"I'm married and you're using the sharingan to have a fuck with my body without telling me. What did you expect?" Naruto asked sarcastically, opening his eyes slowly to look at Sasuke again.

"To be grateful perhaps? I'm saving your life," Sasuke said bitterly. "And I suppose I wanted you to choose me over Sakura. But I didn't expect it."

"Choose you over Sakura?" Naruto repeated. Sasuke shook his head.

"You still don't get it do you Naruto? I need you. I love you," Sasuke said. Naruto's eyes widened.

"I l-love Sakura. I'm married to S-Sakura," Naruto said, somehow less enthusiastic than normal, and Sasuke was surprised to note that Naruto's eyes had darted away from his and turned his head to the side. Sasuke released his grip on Naruto's neck, and placed both his hands on Naruto's shoulders, shaking Naruto once to get Naruto to focus his eyes back onto his.

"I know that, dobe. And I know you don't go back on your word, do you? You can't just leave Sakura because you made wedding vows to her. But what about me Naruto?" Sasuke asked, bringing his face closer to Naruto's. He turned his head slightly, his lips close to Naruto's lips. Sasuke almost smirked as he thought he could hear Naruto's heartbeat quicken at their proximately. "What about you Naruto?" Sasuke asked, pulling his lips away from Naruto's, and flashing his eyes to look at Naruto's eyes. Naruto straightened at the remark, his eyes widening. "What about what you want Naruto? Don't you want me Naruto?"

Sasuke was pleased to see that Naruto knew exactly what Sasuke was talking about, knowing that as emotionless as Naruto had tried to be the last time, it was that emotionless act that had tipped Sasuke off about how much Naruto really had felt. Naruto had had to shutdown because he was feeling too much, and Sasuke knew him well enough to know that was a sign of Naruto's own insecurities. A part of him knew that Naruto was strongly bonded to him, and Sasuke grasped onto that idea, that idea that had always made him hope desperately that Naruto loved him back.

Sasuke had stood naked in his bedroom long after Naruto had left, looking at the ceiling of his bedroom, wanting to just disappear. He had originally heard some noises in another part of his house, but he had been too numb to think about it. Later, he realized that Naruto had finally snapped due to the destruction Naruto had caused in his house. Knowing that something warred inside of Naruto enough to make Naruto punch several holes in his walls was like saying that Naruto had realized he himself had screwed up. It had given him hope to see that Naruto had been trying to hide his emotions.

Naruto returning to his house as he said he would had made Sasuke realize he couldn't hide anymore. He had to face his fears. And he had to make sure he got what he wanted.

"I don't know why I feel so strongly towards you Naruto. I don't know why I can't seem to do the right thing when I'm around you. I know you're mad that I didn't tell you earlier, and I know you're mad that Sakura left, but you don't really hate me, do you?" Sasuke asked quietly. Naruto shook his head.

"You bastard. You know I don't hate you," Naruto said as he clenched his fists. "I just didn't understand why you didn't say something to me sooner. Even though I kind of get it now, it still hurts," Naruto said, holding a hand to his heart, indicating the pain it caused him.

"You understand why I didn't tell you?" Sasuke asked, surprised that Naruto had said that. Naruto nodded.

"Maybe better than you do," Naruto said.

Sasuke looked at Naruto avidly. Here they were, standing in his bedroom with Naruto half undressed before him, having a very bizarre discussion. He felt his heart beating fast, feeling somehow relieved. Naruto didn't hate him. Naruto was talking to him.

In all honestly, it was a lot more than he had hoped would happen after he had been caught ruthlessly fucking Naruto’s body.

"Your body isn't reacting well to the excess of yin chakra in your body. This is probably going to sound gross, but you have to consume my sweat in order to make the negative symptoms go away." Naruto began to explain to Sasuke what Tsunade had told him about Sasuke's imbalance of yin chakra, and explaining the symptoms that Sasuke suffered from. "...And the only thing I can think of to make it easier is if you were to maybe lick the sweat off my body or something. I know that's rather gross, but it's the only think I can think of," Naruto said.

"Lick the sweat off your body?" Sasuke repeated. He was pretty sure he had managed to kill himself, and somehow managed to end up in heaven.

"I know, gross, but-"

"Naruto, do you realize what you're saying?" Sasuke asked. Naruto merely looked at him, and Sasuke continued. "Are you consenting to this? Allowing me to lick your body?" Sasuke asked breathlessly.

"Yeah, I guess it means I'm consenting," Naruto said. Sasuke felt his breath catch, looking at the way that Naruto's eyes focused on his. "You looked surprised," Naruto noted.

"I am," Sasuke confessed.

Naruto closed his eyes, allowing himself to revel in the memories of pleasure he had felt the last time that he had come to Sasuke. Then a shudder ran though his body as remembered the time before that when he had awoken during the midst of the genjutsu with Sasuke inside of his body.

Naruto still remembered the feel of Sasuke's body coming at him from behind, the way Sasuke's stomach clenched and unclenched as he thrust forward into Naruto, while gripping his wrists, using his arms to help pull himself tighter inside of his body.

Naruto could picture perfectly the way that Sasuke's naked body glistened in sweat, his eyes closed, his mouth moving and his chest heaving as he panted in time with how he thrust inside of his body. Sasuke had looked so utterly lost and beautiful it had been hard to look at his friend due to how it had made his heart both ache and explode with emotion when Sasuke had believed he was controlling Naruto’s body. Naruto’s cock grew hard as he remembered the intimacy he had shared with Sasuke.

"You're accepting this surprisingly well. What happened between this week and last?" Sasuke asked, very aware and thoroughly aroused by Naruto's sudden arousal.

"Sasuke," Naruto said, and Sasuke nearly moaned at the way that Naruto said his name, remembering the way that Naruto had cried out his name the day that he had accidentally deactivated his sharingan – though now that Naruto had explained his symptoms, he realized that it was probably due to not having gotten his "fill" of Naruto's yang chakra to balance him out. He was brought back to the present as he tried to listen to what Naruto was saying after Naruto had said his name so seductively. "It's kind of funny, if you think about it. I spent three years of my life chasing after you, only to have you return to chase after me for another three years. On my mission, I spent a lot of time thinking about you, thinking about us, and especially thinking about something that Tsunade said to me."

"What did she say to you?"

"She said that she hoped you loved me a fraction of how much I love you. I thought it was stupid of her to say I loved you. I thought it was stupid of her to say that you loved me," Naruto said, almost bitterly. "But when I got to thinking about it, really thinking about it..." Naruto trailed off, and then gave a half laugh. "I guess you've always been right, calling me a dumb ass..."

"Naruto?" Sasuke murmured, wondering if Naruto had really just implied what he had desperately hoped he would imply.

"You've really enjoyed fucking me, haven't you?" Naruto asked huskily. Sasuke's eyes darkened.

"You've no idea."

"I'm still furious at you. Still pissed off at you, but...I don't think it's fair if you're the only one who gets to enjoy this."

"And what is 'this?'"

"I haven't figured it out yet," Naruto murmured. Sasuke's eyes went wide when Naruto continued to strip, Sasuke's eyes trailing over every inch of exposed skin, knowing every inch in great deal detail, but relishing in the new experience of having Naruto expose his own body for him willingly.

Naruto stepped out of his clothes, his body turned to face Sasuke full on, his erection bobbing, and the slit of his cock wet slightly with precum. Sasuke's body seemed to move on his own accord as he slipped off his clothes, letting them fall to a pile on the floor.

Sasuke looked at Naruto as Naruto raked his eyes over his body. Neither of them moved for a moment, but Sasuke couldn’t wait long. He decided to close the gap between them, and reached a hand out to touch Naruto, but Naruto moved away from him.

"Stay there for now. I still haven't decided if I want to punch you or start groping you," Naruto said almost playfully.

"And I still haven't decided what you're up to. You come in here acting like you hate me, then you tell me to lick the sweat off your body because it will help me. That idea seemed to turn you on more than it did me, and now you won't let me touch you," Sasuke said, shaking his head.

"I told you, I haven't figured things out yet," Naruto nearly growled.

"Well then let me give you a little push to help you along," Sasuke murmured huskily. Naruto didn't have time to react as Sasuke shoved Naruto's shoulder, making him collapse on the bed with Sasuke landing on top of him. Naruto's face contorted in anger as he brought his knee up, hitting Sasuke's outer thigh to try and dislodge Sasuke from on top of him. Sasuke grunted as he grabbed Naruto's wrists and pulled them over his head as Naruto bucked his hips up against Sasuke's. The jolt of pleasure of feeling Naruto's cock against his own made him lose his grasp on Naruto's right wrist. After freeing his hand, Naruto sent a punch to Sasuke's face, though Sasuke blocked it with his left hand. Naruto bucked his hips against Sasuke's again, successfully dislodging Sasuke from on top of him. Sasuke rolled to the side, his right hand grasping Naruto's wrist, his left hand clasping Naruto's balled up fist. Sasuke used his grip on Naruto to pull his friend on top of him, the skin of their naked bodies slapping against each other as they switched positions.

Naruto got the upper hand as he straddled Sasuke's waist, using the lower part of his legs to pin down Sasuke's upper legs.

"Bastard!" Naruto hissed, as he slapped away Sasuke's left hand, and twisted his wrist out of Sasuke's right. Naruto's hands darted out to grasp around Sasuke's throat.

Sasuke's freed hands darted out and grasped Naruto's waist. Both tightened their grips, Naruto snarling, Sasuke smirking despite the constricting feel at his throat. In one fluid moment, blue eyes widened as Naruto realized Sasuke's intent as Sasuke bucked his hips and thighs upward, dislodging Naruto slightly. Sasuke slid his hands from Naruto's waist, to Naruto's ass cheeks, spreading them wide before he thrust his hips upward, his cock twitching as Sasuke forced himself inside of Naruto.

"Ah!" Naruto cried out in pain at the intrusion of Sasuke’s dick entering his ass, the grip on Sasuke's throat tightening. Sasuke grunted at the feel of forcing himself inside of Naruto from his current position, but didn't stop him from moving his hips up while using the grip on Naruto's ass to pull Naruto back down on top of him.

"Nn," Sasuke managed a choked moan through Naruto's grip on his neck, his eyes triumphant as he smirked at Naruto whose eyes began to slowly glaze over in lust. Sasuke grunted in pleasured pain as Naruto’s body tightened around his cock, trying to force him back out, but Sasuke wasn’t releasing his grip on Naruto’s body. Sasuke knew he was thrusting in roughly, thrusting in dry to Naruto’s body. Yet he knew Naruto liked it, even better than Naruto knew his own body.

"Ah...ah..." Naruto gasped out, half in ripping pain, and half in forced pleasure. Naruto moved his hands from Sasuke's neck to Sasuke's wrists to pull them off of his ass, but Sasuke just grabbed Naruto's upper arms before Naruto got the chance. Sasuke used the force of Naruto's pull on his wrists to pull his entire body closer to Naruto, still thrusting.

Naruto began to pant heavily, his eyes closing in pleasure as loosened his grip on Sasuke’s arms. He fell on top of Sasuke, propping himself up on his forearms on Sasuke's chest. Sasuke grunted at the pain of Naruto's elbows digging into him, but the thought was dismissed with the pleasure of the next thrust inside of Naruto’s body.

"Bastard," Naruto panted close to Sasuke's ear.

"You like it," Sasuke taunted back.

"See if I...heh...let you have a lick off...heh...me," Naruto hissed through his panting.

"You like – nnn – like it," Sasuke moaned, closing his eyes in pleasure as he felt Naruto's body tightening around his cock, feeling the pressuring and the weight of Naruto riding on top of him as he felt himself coming closer to his climax, "and – nnn – that's all I need – nnn – to live."

Naruto grunted a response, and pushed himself upward so that he was sitting straighter atop of Sasuke. He gripped the side of Sasuke's ass and thrust downward on top of Sasuke.

"This fucking hurts...in a good way," Naruto confessed, his body beginning to perspire heavily as his hair became plastered to the side of his face. Sasuke groaned in pleasure as he watched Naruto finally taking control of some of his own pleasure.

"Naruto," Sasuke moaned as he thrust inside of Naruto. Sasuke once again moved his hands to wrap around Naruto's cock, pushing and pulling in rhythm with their thrusts.

Sasuke was in pure bliss, his mind in a euphoric state as he finally had Naruto responding to him, as he finally had Naruto wanting him back, as he finally knew that he could make Naruto feel so blissful. He opened his eyes, seeing Naruto look down at him, his gaze clouded in lust and pleasure.

"I love you," Sasuke mouthed wordlessly to Naruto. Naruto's eyes widened as his body went rigid, crying out a pleasured scream as he came into Sasuke's hands and across Sasuke's chest. The pleasure Sasuke felt increased as he watched Naruto come. Sasuke’s release came moments later as he cried out Naruto's name, orgasming into Naruto's tightened body, his body spasming in his pleasured release.

Naruto moved his body off of Sasuke's and rolled to the side of Sasuke's large bed exhausted. Naruto took deep breaths as he closed his eyes. Sasuke looked over at Naruto, unable to keep the hint of tenderness out of his usually stoic gaze. He moved his body closer to Naruto's, and ran a finger down Naruto's arm, and then popped it into his mouth and sucked.

"Are you sure I can't lick your body?" Sasuke murmured huskily. Naruto opened his eyes lazily to look at Sasuke. Sasuke only smirked before he leaned down and licked and sucked at the base of Naruto's neck. Naruto closed his eyes contented.

"Whatever. Just don't suck too loud. I'm still trying to figure this out," Naruto said.

"Take your time, dobe," Sasuke said.

"Bastard," Naruto hissed out with no real conviction of meaning it in his voice.

"Only if I'm your bastard," Sasuke murmured against Naruto's skin. When Naruto didn't respond, Sasuke lifted his head to see that Naruto had fallen asleep almost immediately. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, realizing that considering how quickly that Naruto had conked out that he probably had just gotten home from his mission and had come right to him. Sasuke felt almost as pleased to know that Naruto had come right to him after his mission as his body had felt just moments before. It was clear that Naruto hadn't slept much during the time either. Sasuke smirked to himself.

He felt that he didn’t really need to lick Naruto's body, but he decided if Naruto wasn't going to stop him, then he might as well get his fill. Then he would make sure that Naruto got some well deserved rest so he'd be able to figure things out when he awoke – hopefully figuring things out that would lean in Sasuke's favor.

This story isn’t over yet, but I felt the need to thank all the readers who have reviewed and encouraged this story. I know I’m not the best at responding to reviews, but I have each and every review saved on my computer to look at for inspiration. :-)

Please let me know what you think, ne? ~ Jelp