Shades Of Grey

Chapter10

Naruto’s phone went off in his pocket, causing him to jump awake. He stretched and leaned back in his chair to get his phone out. He had precious moments before the bell led him off to his next exam of the day. He flipped open his phone and read his message.

‘Am I following you home or are you still working? Sasu~’

‘Working. Iruka-san still doesn’t trust Chouji alone.’

Naruto heard a sigh from the black haired head in front of him. He laughed inwardly. He had been blowing Sasuke off in his own way since Saturday, but for a good reason. He really did have to work, but only a half shift so he could study for the last four exams he would have to take before winter break. He had been secretly working on the Uchiha’s present since Saturday night. He still had a long way to go.

‘Should I stop by and study with you?’

‘Aww~ Sasu-kun cares about me! =^^= Thanks but I’m good for tomorrow exams.’

Another sigh. Naruto had to shove his fist in his mouth to not laugh aloud. He recovered in time for the bell to dismiss them to the next - and last - exam for the day. Naruto jumped out of his seat and rushed by Sasuke, purposely but subtly brushing against him. Sasuke smirked and stood, slowly following Naruto with hands in his pockets. They pushed through the crowds, losing each other on the way to their next exam. The two hours passed slowly as Naruto struggled through the test while Sasuke breezed through it. Sasuke was relaxing long before the other boy. The day finally came to an end. Students gathered with their friends to discuss upcoming tests and the relief at having finished two. Naruto winked at Sasuke from across campus as they went their separate ways. Naruto waved to his friends and headed off to work. Seeing Sakura kidnap Sasuke, Naruto decided to work on the present while at work.

"Iruka-san! What training today?" Naruto called, entering the shop and pulling his shirt from his bag.

"Naruto, we’re in the back!" Iruka called back.

Naruto dropped his bag behind the counter and pulled his jacket off, slipping on the shirt as he headed back. He found Iruka teaching Chouji back room stocking.

"I got front then?"

"Please," Iruka half smiled.

Naruto gave Iruka a mock salute, and then headed back out front. Once there, he pulled his project from his bag and started working on it. Hinata had teased him about his choice in presents, but in the end reassured him Sasuke would love it. Naruto knew nothing about the skills needed and was praying it would at least resemble what it was supposed to. Business was slow, only bringing in one customer while Naruto was working. He raced home after leaving the shop, eager to get more work done. Dropping his bag on the ground twenty minutes later, the orange fabric spilled out. Naruto started his ramen before collecting the materials. The half assembled teddy bear was orange in color. Naruto had assembled the body and was attaching the second leg. The work was a little sloppy, but it somehow added to the charm. Naruto set the bear on the coffee table and pulled out books to cram before bed. He ate as he studied. He finally allowed himself to fall into his bed just in time to secure six hours of sleep.


~One week before Christmas party~


Naruto yawned as he leaned on the counter. Chouji had the day off and Iruka had stepped out for lunch, leaving Naruto alone to man the shop. His eyes were drooping closed when a blur of pink and black caught his eye outside the window. He perked up and glanced out the half curtains. Sakura was standing in front of Sasuke. She looked very distressed. Sasuke turned to walk away in the middle of her talking. The door opened and the bell sounded. Sakura was close on Sasuke’s heels as he headed towards the back.

"Sasuke-kun, I just don’t understand! What did I do?"

"Let’s start with what you don’t do," he muttered.

"Huh? Sasuke-kun, tell me!"

Sasuke turned on Sakura. His eyes were red. He did not care if anyone saw his outburst.

"You never stop talking. You never stop touching me. You never give me any space. You are quite possibly the most annoying creature ever. Damn, not even that Dobe can be this annoying. Look, Ha-ru-no," he annunciated the syllables of her last name. "I never liked you. It was convenient for me to use you, so I did. Now, go away. I can’t stand another minute around you."

Sasuke’s words pierced her heart. She felt something die inside. Her eyes lost their sparkle. Sasuke had walked away from her, leaving her nowhere to go but out of the shop and back home. Naruto watched the scene with wide eyes. He watched Sakura walk out, very defeated, tears pouring down her face. He watched Sasuke hide behind some books, only to walk into his sight once he was sure Sakura was gone. He walked to Naruto as if nothing had happened.

"Ouch," Naruto whispered.

"I tried to be nice. She never shuts up," Sasuke sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Naruto was not sure if he should be happy or feel bad for the girl. He settled for slightly shocked. Sasuke chuckled at the confusion showing in his blue eyes. Sasuke walked slowly around the shop. He studied the new books they had just stocked. Naruto went back to daydreaming and yawning. He was watching Sasuke move through the store, always staying within eye sight. Sasuke would toss him a smirk or some kind of look every now and then. Naruto’s grin seemed permanently attached to his face. Sasuke saw something out the windows on the door and disappeared from Naruto’s line of vision. Before the blonde boy could frown, the doors opened. A loud group poured into the shop.

"Naru-chan~!"

"Sai! Ne, what’s everyone doing here?"

"Its winter break, baka! Can’t we just come say ‘hey?’" Kiba scowled in a playful way.

Hinata giggled, which pulled a smile from the dog lover. Shikamaru yawned and looked slowly around the shop. Rock Lee was pulling Gaara over to look at something, not noticing the blush on the red-head’s face as Lee grabbed his hand. Kankuro had his fist in his mouth, trying desperately not to laugh at his brother. Naruto smiled at his friends. Sai dropped his hands on the counter.

"I’ve decided on everything. So when you get off, you HAVE to come help me get that cake home. There’s no way I can carry it alone," he announced.

"What about these guys?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Have you seen them lately? They can’t stay serious to save their lives," the boy sighed. "I know you’re busy, so just help me with the cake. I won’t ask for anything else until the party. Iruka is closing up for Christmas and all, right?"

"’Course he is. I guess I can help with the damn cake. But I really do need most of this break for the assignments we were given. That school is rough."

Naruto stuck out his tongue and scrunched up his nose at his own words. Sai chuckled. He noticed Kiba and Hinata missing and walked off to attempt finding them. Naruto watched Sai gather his friends and usher them from the shop.

"Why are we leaving? Naruto looks so lonely," Lee protested.

"You guys are so loud. Plus what are real customers going to think," Sai shot back.

The group was finally herded out. Naruto shook his head at the closed door. He was reaching down to pull out his little project when Sasuke appeared again. Naruto jumped at the sight of the boy, having forgotten he was still there among the chaos. He quickly returned his hand to the counter and leaned on his elbows.

"Your friends are annoying," Sasuke commented.

"Yep," Naruto smiled.

"Dobe. I really don’t compliment you as much as you’d like to think."

"Its only a complaint if I’m insulted," the blonde stuck his tongue out for the second time in five minutes.

"So, since you’ve agreed to help that friend of yours I’m to assume I’m staying at home today?"

"No no! It won’t take long. I’m off really soon, anyways. When Iruka-san gets back from lunch and Chouji shows up, I’m free."

Sasuke smirked at the boy’s frantic attempt to convince him not to go home. Sasuke pocketed his hands and started slowly for the door.

"I’m hungry, Uzumaki. Maybe you will be too, when you’re all finished."

Naruto waved Sasuke out the door. He watched with a smile as Sasuke headed down the street, and then passed the time waiting by cleaning up. Iruka did not keep him waiting long and sent him off quickly. He called Sai immediately, and helped the boy get his cake home. He was running to the café twenty minutes later. He ignored the entrance and jumped the short fence blocking the back patio. Sasuke frowned as he dropped into a seat.

"Don’t do that. I want to be able to come here again," he snapped.

Naruto laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head. Sasuke rolled his eyes. Their food arrived quickly. Naruto choked down his as fast as he could. When he reached across the table with his fork, he got a slap on his hand. Naruto pouted.

"Why’d you do that!" he whined.

"Not my fault you eat too fast. I never said I’d share this time."

"But, but, I thought it was cute!"

"When I’m not hungry."

Naruto crossed his arms and dropped his back onto the chair hard. Sasuke ignored the little tantrum and finished eating. Naruto was soon over it, and began talking about Sai’s upcoming party. Sasuke agreed to take him home for the night, so long as he stopped talking about the party. Naruto made him stop by the apartment for books and clothes first. Sasuke had started to hate school as of late. The students always had so much work to do, and Sasuke had been finding it harder and harder for him to get much farther than making-out with Naruto. He had hoped the winter break would give him time to finally go all the way with the blonde dobe. He had tried not to plan too much for it, but when Naruto had answered his question about a gift, he had decided it was going to happen on the winter break. He was leading Naruto into his room in what felt like no time at all. When bags and books where dropped onto the floor, their lips were connected and Sasuke was pushing the boy onto his bed. Naruto quickly found himself bare down to his boxers while he had only managed to get Sasuke out of his sweater and under shirt. Sasuke kissed down Naruto’s neck, stopping at a tender place to suck and bite.

"T-Teme! You’ll leave m-marks!" he hissed.

"Good," Sasuke growled.

Naruto gasped as Sasuke bit his shoulder. Naruto grabbed Sasuke’s sides and forced him to travel lower. Sasuke trailed his tongue down to circle Naruto’s nipples quickly. He left bright trails of salvia on Naruto’s tanned, well-toned chest. He circled the blonde’s belly button slowly with his finger as he kissed the edge of the black boxers. He then kissed the bulge in the material. Naruto moaned as Sasuke grasped the irritating boxers and pulled them off. Sasuke wasted no time in taking the entirety of Naruto’s length in his mouth. Naruto all but screamed at the sensation. His fingers threaded through the black hair. Sasuke took his time as he moved on Naruto. He relished the loud moans he was extracting from the boy. Sasuke sucked on Naruto slowly. His tongue ran all over the shaft of Naruto’s member. He went slowly through the process. He knew just how to make Naruto scream his name. He smiled into his work as he was soon rewarded with the sounds he wanted. Not long after that he was rewarded further with Naruto’s orgasm. When Sasuke sat up, licking his lips clean, Naruto was looking at him with half closed, passion filled eyes. He managed a weak smile.

"My turn," Sasuke whispered.

Naruto nodded and struggled to sit up. Sasuke watched victoriously as his partner moved slowly, weak with the passion that had washed over him. Sasuke helped him hurry the process by stripping himself and helping Naruto kneel on the bed. Naruto found his strength and pounced on Sasuke. Instead of kissing and nuzzling his face, he licked Sasuke’s overflowing cock. Sasuke drew in a sharp breath. Naruto licked slowly, cleaning his partner of all pre-cum. He took Sasuke in, deep-throating him immediately. Sasuke groaned and squirmed under Naruto’s mouth. Naruto rubbed his balls softly and started his own cycle of sucking and licking. Sasuke grabbed the blonde’s shoulder, nails digging into the flesh there. Naruto groaned with the pain, the vibrations in his throat extracting a moan from Sasuke. The Uchiha did not last nearly as long as he had hoped before cumming in the mouth’s mouth. Naruto purred happily, enhancing the orgasm, as he lapped up the boy’s seed. Sasuke muttered something about a shower as he laid on his bed, covered in sweat.



~Next day~

Naruto woke the next day to smell bacon down the hall. He scrambled out of Sasuke’s bed, falling, and tangling himself in the sheets. He left the sheets around himself and ran down the hall to the kitchen. He slid through the doorway, managing to stop just before crashing into Sasuke. He earned himself a smirk from the boy clad only in a white apron. Naruto hugged Sasuke tightly, licking his cheek.

"Found my breakfast," he muttered into the other’s cheek.

"Cute. Sit down and eat before it gets cold. And then go get dressed."

"Yes, Mommy."

They ate quietly. Sasuke slid movie tickets across the table after the food was gone. He found himself in another tight hug before the blonde boy was rushing back to the room to dress - loud, excited noises coming from him. An hour later they were clean and dressed and sneaking through Konoha to catch a movie. Naruto was walking ahead, fingers interlaced behind his head. He acted indifferent and unnoticing of the boy behind him, but inside he was jumping for joy. It was rare that Sasuke decided to take him out in public. Naruto had long since dispelled his insecurities. He respected Sasuke’s desire to stay quiet. Though he had to admit, with Sakura gone he found it much easier to comply. Naruto went in first. He headed straight for the theatre and found a seat hidden in one of the back corners. Sasuke joined him just in time to previews to end. Sasuke passed Naruto candy and popcorn. Sasuke snuck glance at Naruto as they watched the movie. Naruto’s face was full of joy and excitement as he watched. Sasuke held his hand tightly. That was the last official date they had as the days to Sai’s party drug on. Naruto worked every day and they each stayed at home finishing school work. Naruto finished Sasuke’s present the day before the party. He had told Sasuke what time to arrive at the party, and had then gone to Sai’s house early to help set up.

"Naru-kun, just help hang things," Sai sang as they set up.

Naruto was hanging holly as he watched Hinata hang mistletoe, only to be tackled by Kiba and kissed furiously under the plant. Naruto joined the others in laughter. When Kankuro started to move his bag, Naruto rushed over to get it. His face was red as he hugged it tight.

"I’ll move it," he said with a smile.

"Whatever. You’ve been weird lately, Uzumaki."

"Have not," Naruto protested.

He rushed off to hide his bag without waiting for a response. He pulled the little blue box from its hiding place before cramming the bag in a closet. He pushed the box in a cabinet Sai had near the kitchen. Sai saw him hide it and smiled to himself. He had been the only one, except for Hinata, to notice that Naruto had been searching for a gift for someone. Sai kept everyone busy until the door opened and school mates began pouring into the house. Sai had opened the back door to open the party to the inside setting, or outside for dancing. It seemed that the entire student body, plus some, had arrived. Sakura had been drug out back by Ino to dance. Sakura’s eyes were hollow and all emotions were still forced. Naruto felt a surge of guilt when he saw her. When arms wrapped around his waist, he forgot everyone. Turning, he smiled at Sasuke. He grabbed his hand and pulled him through the crowd. Stopping at the cabinet, he stopped Sasuke a few feet from it.

"Close your eyes," he demanded.

Sasuke glared at him before obeying. He heard rustling and felt something forced into his hands. Opening his eyes, he saw the box. Raising an eyebrow curiously at Naruto, he opened it. His face broke into a genuine smile at the contents. A small, orange teddy bear sat inside. It had Naruto’s trademark grin and whisker marks on its face. The Konoha Academy leaf symbol was on its chest. Naruto’s face matched the bear’s.

"I know its horribly made, but nothing else seemed right. Something I made myself was the only thing you couldn’t buy yourself," he explained nervously.

"Arigatou, Naruto-chan," Sasuke whispered.

Naruto’s face lit up. He resisted the urge to throw himself on the boy. Sasuke looked around. Something above Naruto’s head caught his eye. He swallowed hard. He dropped the box, holding the bear in one hand. The other hand fell on Naruto’s chest and pushed him back. The blonde stumbled back a few steps. His features were confused as Sasuke stepped with him. The hand was removed and a finger pointed up. Naruto followed its path and his face turned several shades of red. Mistletoe hung above him. He looked down in time for Sasuke’s lips to descend on his own and steal a kiss. He vaguely heard whistles and gasps around him. Sasuke pulled back with a smirk.

"Merry Christmas, Naruto."