Growing together, growing apart

AN: Well, here we go, Chapter 2.

I'm up to 8 chapters for this story on FF.net. I hit a bit of a writer's block so I'm slowly posting here as well. The plan is that as soon as I've caught up here, that I'll be ready to update Ch 9 on both sites. I want to thank those who reviewed, they give me the inspiration to get over my block and continue the story.

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On the way to report to the Hokage, Sasuke observed his lover out of the corner of his eye. He knew Naruto was hurt over Sakura's accusation that he hadn't been a friend to her. The blond cared for all of his friends and cherished them all the more considering how alone he had been as a child. Sasuke knew he was eating himself up about how upset their pink-haired teammate had been. 'Well, she can just get over it.' he thought, with a surge of possessiveness flowing through him. 'I'm not giving the dobe up.'

Sasuke remembered back to the day he had defeated Itachi.

--Flashback--

He had been sitting there, Itachi's blood on his hands, and with a shock realized IT WAS HIS BROTHER'S BLOOD ON HIS HANDS. He had been expecting to feel a sense of accomplishment. After all, he had trained hard and brought his clan's killer to justice, and he did it without the Mangekyou. Instead, he felt empty. What had it all been for? His clan was still slaughtered, and now, with his brother dead, he was the last Uchiha. Add in that he was a missing nin and he had nothing. All it had done was make him his brother's murderer.

There was nothing left.

He couldn't help but remember the happy times he had had with his brother and felt depression hit. His brother was dead. He still didn't understand why things had turned out the way they had. Why did Itachi massacre the Uchiha clan? Why did he leave Sasuke alive? It didn't make any sense and now he was left with nothing. What was left for him to do? Revive his clan? How? Why should he when he didn't even want to live at this point? He had nowhere to go...he was a murdering traitor, nothing more.

He was rudely brought back to the present by a punch to his shoulder. "Come on bastard, it's time to go home." He looked up to see Naruto's annoying face. 'What the hell is he talking about?' He couldn't figure out why Naruto was looking at him with...compassion?

"I have no home" was all the reply he thought necessary.

Apparently that wasn't enough for the idiot, who actually appeared angry "Yes, you have a home, and a family, and it has missed you. I'll kick your ass if I have to, but you're coming back to Konoha."

What family? They're all dead. How could he possibly say that?!? Sasuke launched himself at the blond, he was furious. What right did Naruto have to be angry? What right did he have to talk to Sasuke that way? As he fought with Naruto, he felt himself fall back into the pattern of taking out his frustration and anger on the blond. It was so familiar, even though they hadn't fought in years (not counting Naruto's attempt to take Sasuke away from Orochimaru's base) that he was able to purge all the upset into this fight.

As he lay on the ground, utterly exhausted, he realized that he was no longer empty...he was still able to feel. He turned his head and saw that Naruto was staring at him with a slight smile on his face. Sasuke felt himself being lifted onto someone's back. Before he lost consciousness, he could hear the same happening to Naruto. His last thought was that maybe he could keep living after all.

--End Flashback--

'How did he know?' Sasuke thought to himself as he and Naruto climbed the stairs of the Hokage tower. 'How did he know what I needed?'

He knew he was lucky to call Naruto his friend after all that had happened, all the pain he put the blond through. The fact that he could also claim him as his lover just left him thanking the fates for this gift he didn't deserve, but, selfish bastard that he is, he'll take and keep. He was starting to learn to be happy, and he had a reason to live again. Naruto didn't want him to die and, as in everything else between the two, fought with everything in him to keep the Uchiha alive. He couldn't thank the dobe enough...not that he would say anything of course.

Arriving at the Hokage's office, Naruto walked right on in without so much as knocking, "Tsunade-baachan, what have you got for us?" Sasuke following in after him.

Tsuande looked at them from behind her desk which was flanked by Kakash and Sai. "Ah, there you are brat. Sai was just telling me he couldn't find you."

"Yeah, Sakura ran into me when she was finding Sasuke, so what's going on?" he said a little rushed with a slight blush on his face.

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. Tsuanade looked around the boys and asked "Where is Sakura?"

Looking around as if just realizing that Sakura wasn't there, Naruto replied stupidly "She's not here yet?"

Behind him, he heard Sasuke sigh, "Idiot" then he addressed Tsunade directly, "Sakura was upset when she found out that Naruto and I are sleeping together and ran off. I have no clue where she is now."

This proclamation was met with several differnt reactions. Kakashi brows met his hairline, but quickly came down and a small giggle could be heard from his direction. Which was a little scary to hear from their old sensei. Pervert. Sai looked only a little surprised, but his face wasn't used to showing expression anyway, so who knew what was going on in his head. Tsunade however looked at Naruto with pleading eyes, "Please tell me that's not true."

Naruto on the other hand was resembling a tomato and staring at his lover. "Do you think you could have warned me before telling everyone?!?"

Before Sasuke could do more than smirk and explain that he hadn't told everyone, just these three, he heard a thud behind him and turned to see that Tsunade's head had hit her desk. "Baa-chan?" Naruto asked tentatively inching towards the Hokage. A groan could be heard from her and as he got nearer he could hear her mumbling "no no no no". Suddenly feeling angry that another person he cared about was against his relationship with Sasuke, he cried out "It's nobody's business who I choose to sleep with, why can't you just accept it?"

Tsunade at first looked confused as she raised her head to look at the young man who reminded her so much of her little brother. Then realization dawned and she quickly stated "It's not that brat...it's just that Jiraiya won the bet."

A cricket could be heard chirping in the silence that followed that statement, then...

"WHAT BET?!? WHAT THE HELL WOULD YOU BE BETTING ON MY SEX LIFE FOR? THAT'S JUST SICK!"

As Naruto was making it his personal mission to destroy the fragile ear drums of all those around, Sasuke went to sit in one of the chairs and stare out the window showing his boredom. Kakashi came to stand next to him and place a hand on his shoulder, "Congratulations Sasuke! So, who's on top?"

At that, Naruto's head turned so fast you could almost hear the bones snap as he changed his tirade in Kakashi's direction leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that Kakashi was a pervert and what was he thinking asking a question like that? and didn't he get enough material from Ero-Sennin's books?

Tsunade, feeling that the amusement would have to be put on hold for a moment, slammed her fist into her desk, "THAT'S ENOUGH!" As attention was placed on her she lightly placed her elbows on her dangerously creaking desk and rested her chin on her entwined fingers. "Genma!" and in a puff of smoke the senbon chewing Jounin was kneeling in the room before the Hokage. "Go find Haruno Sakura and get her here, I don't want to put off the mission briefing any longer."

"Hai" and with that he disappeared again.

"While we're waiting on Sakura, could you all please leave Naruto and I alone for a few minutes? And Sai, thank you for looking for Naruto, you're dismissed, but know that you're not to tell anyone about what you heard."

As the others started to depart Sasuke looked at his lover silently asking if he wanted him to stay. Naruto didn't look too comfortable, but he put on a huge grin and nodded his head. Knowing that the blond could take care of himself, he followed Sai and Kakashi out of the office, closing the door behind him.

Occasional incoherant exclamations could be heard through the doors, but nobody was worried. Naruto wasn't called the loudest ninja in Konaha for nothing. Thinking about how true that was, even in bed, Sasuke smirked to himself remembering the previous night before they had showered and fallen asleep together. Before he could let himself get too distracted, Sai decided to break the silence. "I must say, I'm surprised you two are sleeping together considering he doesn't have much of a penis." At Sasuke's continued silence, Sai decided to elaborate, "Well, from what I was able to see at the hot springs. I guess maybe the saying 'it's not the size that counts' is true after all."

"Sai?" Sasuke put in stopping the verbal stream from the other raven's mouth.

"Yes?" Sai asked curiously.

"One, do not talk about Naruto's and my relationship like that again. Two, if you ever look at him naked again, I will slice out your eyes." he said with a snarl, his own possessiveness surprising him. He might not be showing the strain of their relationship being made partially public as much as Naruto, but that didn't mean he wasn't fondly remembering the time, not so long ago, when it was just between him and the blond. He wasn't ashamed of their relationship, but as his lover said, it was nobody's business but theirs. However, he knew that if he had not said anything in the Hokage's office, Sakura would let it out anyways.

Sai didn't look intimidated at all and, in fact, looked as if he was going to keep going when Kakashi decided it was time to intervene. "Sai, Tsunade-sama dismissed you, go find something else to do." After Sai had departed with a fake smile in Sasuke's direction, Kakashi turned to Sasuke "Do you need to be placed on a separate team from Naruto so that it won't affect your performance as a shinobi?"

The Uchiha seemed taken aback by this question and he thought about it for a few moments. The former dobe had become a strong shinobi and, if matched with Sasuke, they would be a powerful combination. They had even discussed trying to join Naruto's wind ability with his own fire jutsus as Wind strengthens Fire. He told Kakashi as much.

His old sensei looked intrigued by the idea and impressed that Sasuke actually appeared to be thinking rationally about this. He wondered if maybe Sasuke was instinctually compensating for how hot-headed his lover usually was. Thinking of Naruto as Sasuke's lover was not that hard to do, it somehow just seemed like the logical conclusion to everything that had happened to the two in the past. Seeing as how they managed to not kill each other, all that tension had to go somewhere.

They were distracted from further discussion by Sakura's arrival. She walked up to them slowly, her eyes were pink from her earlier tears and she was wringing her hands. Kakashi said that he would advise the Hokage that they were now all there and Sakura continued up to Sasuke. He looked back at her with no expression waiting for her to say whatever it is that she wanted to say.

"Sasuke-kun...um...I'm sorry, I was shocked and reacted badly and..." she trailed off as Sasuke walked away to follow Kakashi into Tsunade's office. "I'm not the one you yelled at" was all he said to her.

Upon re-entering the office he saw Naruto standing off to the side with a small smile on his face, he made eye contact with the blond and raised an eyebrow and was rewarded with a slightly larger smile. Nodding his head at the blond, Sasuke then faced the Hokage standing next to Kakashi. Sakura found a place on the other side of Kakashi. Naruto face went blank as he took his place beside Sasuke and awaited orders.

Tsuande looked at the team before her and couldn't help but think of the talent and power within these four shinobi. "Alright, I'll make this quick, at noon you will meet at the village gates to begin an escort mission for a visiting dignatary and his entourage to the Earth country. This mission should take you no longer than 2 weeks and I expect you back in Konoha by then. This is a B ranked mission due to the status of the dignatary and some valuables he will be transporting. Further mission details are in this scroll" which she tossed to Kakashi who pocketed it looking as bored as ever.

"Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke" at hearing their full names, both young men stood a little straighter, "as you are both still technically genin, upon your return to the village, you will be entered into the upcoming Chunin exams next month." Naruto had to be restrained from jumping for joy by Sasuke's hand on his shoulder. "Quiet dobe, let her finish"

"Damn teme, you know how to take the fun out of things" but Naruto quieted and, as respectfully as he ever is, let Tsunade continue.

Giving a brief thankful glance to Sasuke, she continued "As the exams require a 3 person team to enter and Sakura has already become a chunin, we are looking for a third member of your team. One should be found by the time you return from your escort mission. Good luck and now get out." With that she started to shift the scrolls around on her desk attempting to look busy.

"Tsunade-sama, I request to be placed on a different team and excused from this mission." All attention was now on Sakura, though Sasuke did not miss the quick look of pain on Naruto's face. The Hokage looked annoyed. "Why would you wish a different team, Sakura?"

Sakura kept her gaze on her mentor "For personal reasons, Hokage-sama." Tsunade didn't look any happier, "Will these personal reasons prevent you from doing your job?"

The pink kunoichi hesitated before answering no. "Then, no, you will not be removed from the team for this mission. Personal feelings and lives have no place on a mission. All of you understand that. Do not let what is going on in your private life affect your skills as a shinobi, or you will get yourself or your teammates killed. Am I understood?"

They all answered in varying degrees of an affirmative and made their way out of the office.

"I will meet all of you at the gates in 3 hours, don't be late" and Kakashi was gone in a puff of smoke. Sakura hurried away as well and Naruto and Sasuke left together. They were each in their own thoughts. Sasuke was aware that a large amount of trust was being placed in him, both on this mission and as Naruto's partner. He knew the Hokage cared a great deal for his lover and the fact that she took the news of their relationship in stride, had apparently even made a wager (albeit against them having a relationship) surprised him. He had expected to receive threats from her considering his history. The fact that he was also being sent on a mission out of the country with no ANBU escort, Kakashi didn't count in his mind, said all the more of the amount of faith being placed in him. He was a little intimidated by this and, if he was honest with himself, afraid that he would screw this up. Everything seemed to be going so well in his opinion, much better than he could have hoped with the way he had left the village,

"So, a two week mission away from the village where we will have to be alert the whole time" Naruto broke into his reflections. Receiving no verbal acknowledgement from his best friend, Naruto continued "and we've got about 3 hours to get ready and to the gates. I could probably be ready in an hour." Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the blond having a feeling where this was going. Unable to contain himself further "so...wanna go back to your place real quick?" Naruto finished with a leer. Sasuke did nothing more than smirk and made to the roofs towards his home, his lover right behind.

Arriving through the window to Sasuke's bedroom Naruto immediately pressed himself to Sasuke's body and plundered his mouth in a passionate kiss. One hand snaked to Sasuke's hair while the other lightly grabbed the Uchiha's ass, silently asking if he'd submit without their usual battle for dominance. Sensing how needy his lover was, and distantly wondering the cause, Sasuke decided he could let himself be topped without making Naruto have to fight for it. It was going to be two weeks before they could have sex again, so he didn't want to waste any time struggling when what he really needed was to be one with his lover. Who was topping wasn't really a concern at the moment.

Therefore, he wrapped his arms around the blond and let himself be carried away in the sensation.

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An hour later saw Uzumaki Naruto leaving the Uchiha distric on his way to his apartment. Two hours later saw the 3 former teammates at the village gates being introduced by Kakashi to their clients. Despite Kakashi's tendencies for tardiness, the group left just after noon and made their way towards Earth country.


TBC