Hot Night in Konoha (complete)

Warnings

• Anal
  
• Angst
  
• Dom
  
• Language
  
• M/M
  
• N/C
  
• Oral
  
• Yaol
  

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Conventions

Thoughts of Sasuke and others are set in italic type (whole paragraph)

Naruto’s thoughts are set in bold-italic type (whole paragraph).

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“Wow, Teuchi-san, this is your best ramen ever!”

Naruto smiled broadly at the proprietor of Ichiraku Ramen, his favorite place to eat, and then lowered his head over his third ramen bowl to continue slurping noodles at double-quick pace. Ichiraku Teuchi grinned down on his favorite customer, then turned to his companion.

“You don’t like the ramen?”

“It’s okay,” Sasuke said, stirring the now-cold chicken broth in a bowl only half-empty. “Maybe I’m not all that hungry.”

“Well, I am!” Naruto said, lifting his bowl to drink down the last of his meal. He set the bowl down and wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his jumpsuit, then belched loudly. Sasuke wrinkled his nose and leaned away from Naruto.

“God, do you have to do that?”

“It’s a tradition here! Right Teuchi-san?”

Teuchi laughed.

“Well, you do always do that when you’re here—which is almost every day.” Ichiraku Teuchi collected bowls and utensils and turned to the sink to wash them. As he did, an old fan perched on a shelf lined with canisters of meal and flour fluttered the apron ties against the back of his neck.

“Yeah,” Naruto said, swallowing. He frowned. Sasuke turned to look at him.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. Just seeing if I can burp again.”

“Shit. I’ve had enough of this.” Sasuke stood, plunged hands into pockets. He stepped past the curtain that separated the ramen bar from the street, then turned, poked his head inside.

“Uh, thanks for the meal. You didn’t have to—”

“Sure I did. You helped me accomplish the best jump I’ve ever done.”

Sasuke kicked at the ground. The hot, musty scent of dry earth rose to his face.

“Whatever.”

“So,” Naruto said, “I’ll see you around, I guess.” Pause. “Right?”

“Maybe,” Sasuke said. “Depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether or not I stay in Konoha.”

Naruto’s eyes widened.

“Your family is leaving Konoha? But the Sixth—”

“Didn’t say my family was leaving. Said I was—or might. Don’t know.”

“Why?”

Sasuke glared at Naruto.

“You sure are nosey, aren’t you?”

“Just trying to be friendly.”

Sasuke lowered his voice.

“I’m not the kind of person you need as a friend.”

Naruto stood.

“Whaaat? You don’t mean that.”

“You don’t know me well enough to know whether I mean it or not.”

Sasuke turned, began walking. Naruto parted the curtain and stared blankly at the back of Sasuke’s head. On sudden impulse he ran to catch up. He fell into step beside the sullen boy. After a dozen steps, Sasuke turned and spoke, sarcasm in his voice.

“You want something?”

“Nope.” Naruto looked straight ahead, put his hands behind his head, smiled as he walked.

Sasuke shrugged, continued. On impulse he turned down a side street. Naruto followed. At the next corner, Sasuke took two steps past the street then turned back abruptly and took the corner into an alley bordered by the backs of houses, laundry strung high above his head.

“Hey!” Naruto said, surprised by the sudden change in direction. He quickly caught up with Sasuke, who refused to look at the tag-along boy. He narrowed his eyes and set his jaw.

Naruto began to whistle.

Sasuke stopped, put his arm out across Naruto’s chest. Naruto ran into it and stumbled to a halt.

“Wha—?”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Naruto blinked twice.

“Just walking. I’m allowed to walk where I want, right?”

“You’re following me.”

“What makes you think that?”

Sasuke’s face reddened as he yelled into Naruto’s face.

“Leave—me—the fuck—alone!”

He tensed his body, made fists that shook with rage. Naruto stood his ground, but pulled his head back as Sasuke yelled at him. His eyes widened again.

Sasuke turned away, screamed again as he threw hands into the air.

“Arrgghh!”

He began walking the way he had been headed.

Three steps, four. Then—

“You don’t have anywhere to go, do you?”

Sasuke froze, shoulders hunched. He turned his head, just a bit, spoke carefully.

“What makes you think that?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Your father’s the Sixth, but every time I mention him you get angry.”

Sasuke turned around.

“And you’re talking about maybe leaving Konoha, but you don’t know if you will or not.”

Sasuke raised one eyebrow.

“And besides,” Naruto added as an afterthought, “you seem like you’re really, really pissed about something.”

Sasuke’s other eyebrow rose. He opened his mouth to speak, but Naruto spoke first.

“Am I right?” Pause. “Huh? Did I get it right?”

“Maybe,” Sasuke said, lowering his eyebrows, “you’re less of a moron than I thought.”

“Listen,” Naruto said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle, “if you, um, need a place to stay, you’re welcome to my place for a while.”

Sasuke’s eyes flared a little.

He’s incredible. He doesn’t know me at all, and yet he’s willing…

Naruto stood, looking hopeful.

“I’d be in the way.”

“No way.”

“But you’re inviting me without talking to your—”

“I live alone.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.”

“Why—”

“Long story. Maybe I’ll tell you when you’re ready to tell me yours. In the meantime, if you need a place to crash, you’re welcome.”

Sasuke blinked twice.

“I…don’t know.” After a moment: “Why don’t you tell me where you live?”

Naruto did, then suddenly made an excuse to leave. Sasuke stared after the boy as he scrambled quickly away. Sasuke realized his mouth was open and shut it. He looked at the ground and sighed. The weight of what happened with his father finally hit him.

He found a pile of crates behind a trash can at the end of the alley and crawled behind it. He squeezed shut eyes bright and brimming, willing himself not to cry, hoping no one would hear the soft, guttural sounds heaving up from his chest to constrict his throat.