Ranch Country

Damn you story, I just know this is gonna turn into a chapter thing, but I'm going to try and end it around eight or so chapters. I don't think I could handle a larger number of chapters. Anyway, enjoy and please don't forget to spay and neuter you pets...AND TO REVIEW!!

I don't own Naruto.

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Muscles bunched under Naruto's tanned skin, and Sasuke could -feel- the nose bleed coming on. Why the man had to wander around without a shirt on at all hours of the day was beyond him, though he could only fall to his knees and thank God for it.

It had been a week since supper, and though he hadn't been able to get Naruto alone, it wasn't through lack of trying. Every time he thought he'd pinned the man in a lone field or the Horse Barn, where he was shining his tack at some absurd hour in the early morning before the sun was even up, someone would mosey up and ruin his momentum.

He had heard through Suigetsu that Naruto was bringing his prize stud Kyuubi over to breed Gaara's mare, Shukaku. The two boys had heard of the ancient demons in Japanese class in high school, and that was it. Every dog Naruto had owned, or any horse that had a fiery nature was given the name of the Mythical fox Demon. Same for Gaara, and even now, years after, it seemed that neither was about to grow out of the naming phase anytime soon.

As it were, Kyuubi trumpeted once and plunged, Shukaku rolling her eyes in either pleasure or terror, though Sasuke was betting it was the former. Cattle were one thing, they were mostly inseminated, though the bulls were allowed to cover a few to keep them in high spirits. But horses were quite another, the creatures were so powerful and elemental it almost was -like- watching two demons mate.

Shaking his head the pale man turned to Naruto who had stepped back and wiped his forehead off, grabbing the hat he'd casually handed to Sasuke to hold when this process had first begun. Kyuubi grunted a few more times and finally slid off of Shukaku who just stood there, trembling as Lee stroked her head, murmuring what a brave, fine girl she was.

“He shoots he scores.” Naruto murmured with a strange smirk on his face, turning and motioning for Kankuro to help him carrel Kyuubi. The process might have to be repeated next week before the pregnancy took and it would be a pain to truck the Stud all the way back out here when the Subaku estate had more then enough room to care for another horse.

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“Naruto, I was a jerk. I know that, Kiba knows that, everyone knows that.” Sasuke began, trying once more to convince Naruto to give him another chance. The blonde man sighed and the baby Uchiha could see that he was no where near as vulnerable as he had been the week before. It was as if all the emotions and memories he'd had, had been locked away in a vault somewhere deep in the boys subconscious.

“Yeah you were a jerk. That's not the problem Sasuke.” Blue eyes turned to meet black and Sasuke saw he was wrong. All the emotions weren't gone, his former lover had just gotten them under control, but it didn't stop the pain from showing just as clearly as it had when he'd first laid eye son the man after his four year absence.

“You were ashamed of this place, you were ashamed of me. You were ashamed of us. That's what hurts the most, is knowing that I didn't matter enough for you to even acknowledge me. A quick little 'I've got exams coming up and need to study, so don't bother me dobe' would have been enough. But you were so caught up on your image that you never thought about me.” The blond threw Sasuke a sad smile and turned, walking back to his truck.

“I did think of you. I never stopped thinking of you.” Sasuke half shouted, the knowledge that if he didn't get what he really needed to say out that Naruto would walk out of his life forever.

“Oh.” Crap, it was that -tone-, the one that only showed up when Naruto was on the road to getting heavily pissed. “Which part of me were you thinking about when you were trying to get yourself off with your little girlfriend?” The snarky smile sent Sasuke's way could have cut to the bone. “Was it my eyes?” He fluttered his lashes, before continuing. “Was it my mouth? Or maybe it was the way I never stopped you, even when I knew it would get us both into trouble.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” All thoughts of getting back into the blond man's good graces were blown out the window as Sasuke's temper approached 'angry/mean' at light speed.

“You think my father had no idea what we did in the bailer that night?”

“What does that have to do with anything?” That particular memory had gotten Sasuke out of some tight spots at Yale, when he was trying to get off to his girlfriends annoying squeals and moans.

“I never should have invited you that night. I knew it was gonna be trouble, I just never knew how much trouble.” The blond muttered to himself as he strode back to his truck, opening the door and grabbing his t-shirt out of the cab. He pulled it on and turned back to find Sasuke in his face. A pale finger screwed into his chest and he blinked. The Uchiha was a little taller then he was, just didn't seem like it with so little muscle definition on that scrawny pale frame.

“I NEVER WANTED TO GO TO YALE!!” There, it was out now, lets see how Naruto likes them apples.

“What?”

“My father made me go. Said if I didn't he'd send me down to my Uncle Madara's in Montana and I'd never get to see you again.” Black eyes narrowed at the shocked blue. “He set rules for me and if he found out that I'd told you what they were even now, he'd still send me to Montana.”

“What kind of rules?” Ooooohhhhh dear. Oh, oh dear. That note in Naruto's voice meant trouble, that completely calm one that warned all the fluffy little animals to run for the hills lest they be caught in the crossfire.

“I couldn't contact you, I had to keep a normal life. No one there could know where I was from, they weren't to suspect that I was gay, that I had someone waiting for me back home.” Sasuke was taking deep breaths and the blond motioned to his open cab, knowing from experience that when he was nervous the pale boy would hyperventilate until he passed out. This seemed to be on of those times.

“I wanted to call you, email you, see you. I wasn't even allowed home for Christmas, and when Father heard about your dad he said that it wasn't that big of an emergency. Said he'd send Itachi to see you.” The breaths were almost sobs now and Naruto tentatively laid a hand on Sasuke's back as he had so many times in his youth.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” Tears were flowing now and Naruto stared, never having seen the Uchiha break apart, even when his Father had threatened to send him to his Uncle Orochimaru in Japan when he found out that Sasuke was gay.

“I...how...God.” Naruto didn't know what to say, the entire past four years suddenly made sense to him. Why Itachi had showed up for the funeral, why Kisame had 'adopted' him after his father had passed away. They wanted to make sure Sasuke wasn't contacting him on the sly. Those BASTARDS!!

Rage poured through his system and the hand resting on Sasuke's shoulder tightened involuntarily so the pale man let out a slight squeak of pain. Unclenching his hand, Naruto let it drop to his side, where it clenched again in sync with his left hand, fists forming, the nails biting into his palms till they nearly penetrated the skin.

“You can't say anything, Father will find out. He'll send me down to Montana if he finds out.” The baby Uchiha was nearly mindless with terror that he'd be ripped away from the one person who truly understood him at the end of the day. He wouldn't be able to survive another Naruto-less period, the knowledge of that fluttered through his mind like a terrified sparrow, never knowing where to land.

“He can fucking try.” Naruto snarled, blue eyes flashing like ball lightening at the newfound knowledge that all his previous pain hadn't really been caused by Sasuke. “He comes onto my property and I'll kill him.” Sasuke looked up, eyes nearly blank with thoughts of his father finding out.

“W-what?”

“You stay at the Uzumaki ranch from now on. Anyone from Uchiha comes onto my property without a valid reason...” Naruto trailed off, unable to think past the fact that there was a chance that Sasuke still loved him, that Sasuke still wanted to be with him.

“I-you. You still...” Sasuke couldn't finish his thoughts and he gaped like a fish until Naruto grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him up to fuze their mouths together. The kiss left them both gasping and Naruto ignored the stunned exclamation Kankuro shouted from behind the two of them.

“I thought you were mad at him.”

“Turns out it was all Uchiha-San's idea to send his youngest baby off to Yale without a regard for how many others might get hurt in the process.”

“Fucking Jackass.” Kankuro muttered in ire, taking in the shocked features of Sasuke with a grin. “Never liked the bastard and I like him less now. I think I'll have a little chat with Gaara and let him know that we won't be doing business with the Uchiha's anymore unless 'Boy Wonder' takes over the family business.”

“Thanks Kankuro. Do me a favor and let Uchiha senior know Sasuke let the beans slip about his little plans. I want that old idiot enraged when I go toe to toe with him.” The smile on Naruto's face was terrifying, nearly bloodthirsty in it's intensity. Kankuro saluted him with an equally mean grin.

“Will do. 'Scuse me Gentlemen.”

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“So what happened?” Kiba asked for the third time and Naruto sighed.

“How many times do you want me to repeat this?”

“Dammit Kiba.” Sakura huffed, smacking the brunette across the back of the head. “Sasuke's father told him that if he went to Yale for four years without contacting any of us, he wouldn't be sent to either Japan or Montana to live with equally creepy Uncles.” She took a breath and looked over at Naruto for conformation.

“That's the jist of it.”

“And so now the Subaku's aren't doing business with the Uchiha's?” Kiba asked, scratching his head as he tried to take it all in.

“Nope, neither are ROOT farms, or ANBU.” Naruto said with a grin. ROOT was a large wheat farm, that specialized with the feed milk cows were given to produce the creamiest milk. ANBU was a specialized milking plant where all the milk from Uchiha Estates was sent to be pasteurized and bottled and then sent to various restaurants and stores around the province. Once the Uchiha's realized they weren't going to be in business with some very influential people maybe the head of the Family would change his tune about his son being gay. After all, Canada was a very open minded country, especially to things like homosexuality.

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Wow, that was unexpected. How many others are surprised by Sasuke's outburst??