As Long as it Feels OK

/*AN: Well, into the fifth chapter now. I just finished the fourth one yesterday, but now that I have the in between chapter written I want to get on with the story. A few days have passed since the end of the last chapter. Team seven is just sitting down to set up camp after their first night on the road for their mission. Don't forget to review because it keeps me writing. It's nice to know people are enjoying the story. ^^ */

*DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters in Naruto. If you have a problem with male/male content then you probably shouldn't read this story as it will eventually be coming to that.*

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Lexicon:

Icha Icha Paradise: Come Come Paradise, Flirting Paradise; it's the naughty book Kakashi is always reading.

Kunoichi: Female Ninja

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Kakashi sat down on a large rock and set his pack down next to it, “Sakura, gather wood, Naruto, food and Sasuke you work on the tent.” He pulled out his copy of 'Icha Icha Paradise' and began reading. Sakura scowled but walked off, Naruto not far behind her and Sasuke set down his pack to get some of the tent pieces out.

“What's up with you Sasuke? You're silence hasn't been oppressive.” Kakashi continued to pretend to read.

“Nothing's up. I haven't been acting any different from how I normally do.”

Kakashi shrugged, “Naruto's been more quiet then usual too. He didn't even complain about having to get some food for all of us on his own. I wonder if he's actually feeling better.”

“Naruto was fine when I was over the other day.”

Kakashi's one visible eyebrow raised and his book lowered as he regarded Sasuke, “You were over to Naruto's?”

“So?”

“Hm.” The silver haired man went back to his book, Sasuke went back to setting up the first tent and Sakura wandered back into the small clearing.

“I've got some logs here Kakashi-sensei. Would you like me to start a fire?” Sakura had been quieter since she found out it wasn't Sasuke she'd been with at the party. She'd been more servile and kind, even to Naruto. It almost seemed as though her spirit had been broken during one drunken mistake.

“If you wouldn't mind Sakura.” Kakashi didn't even look at her.

Color crossed her cheeks as she set about her job. Sasuke noticed her struggling with the flint and stone, there was a small bead of sweat running down her forehead, she repeated the same movements over and over and over.

“Sakura...” Sasuke interrupted her concentration. “Would you like some help?”

“Ah... Sure.” She gave him a shy smile and handed him the fire starters. The black haired ninja struck them together creating sparks. He leaned in closer to the wood and incidentally closer to Sakura. She smiled at his closeness, but didn't make any move to jump him.

Sasuke's voice was just a whisper, “You know, just because you made a mistake doesn't mean that you're as useless as you might think you are.” It was a rare complement and it was directed to the pink haired kunoichi sitting next to him.

Sakura blinked in surprise before she burst out laughing, “Oh Sasuke! You're so funny!” She continued to laugh. Kakashi paid no heed. Naruto came through the trees with a couple rabbits.

“What's so funny?” He glanced around the camp, his eyes fell on Sakura and Sasuke sitting next to the small fire pit they were attempting to light. Sakura was leaning close to the Uchiha and laughing. Sasuke was smiling at her, glad to see her feeling a little better.

A flash of anger and jealousy passed from Naruto's chest and he clenched his fist. “What the hell is going on?!” Anger was apparent in the blond’s voice. The laughing stopped, the smile turned to a frown, the book was lowered. All turned to look at Naruto.

“Ah...” He scratched the back of his head. “Never mind.” He fox grinned and brought the rabbits close to the fire before turning and working on the tent while Sakura went to gather a few more logs for the night. “Get it together Naruto.” He berated himself mentally, “It was one night! One night, and it wasn't even you! Get yourself together!” He punched the ground to allow
himself focus on something else.

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So far, this had been the most awkward first night on a mission ever. While Sakura was acting a little more like normal, trying to carry on conversation with Sasuke, her eyes kept straying to Kakashi. Kakashi was quiet even for himself. And Sasuke was normal, although a little easier to please then on an average night.

They ate in silence. The meat was young and tender, the fire hadn't been too hot so it was cooked perfectly. They finished setting up the tents while the meat cooked. Two tents, one for Sasuke and Naruto and one for Kakashi and Sakura, Kakashi didn't trust Sakura not to try and jump Sasuke in the night, he never had.

Naruto had first watch. He sat listening to the sounds of the forest, staring into the fire. It flickered and danced to the music of the night and he was enraptured by it. He always found it odd that such a simple thing could be controlled so easily and yet if it was not tended, could become an unstoppable force.

Since bringing Sasuke back from Orochimaru, Naruto's natural fear of fire had increased. He'd been on the receiving end of too many of Sasuke's fire breathing techniques. It had been a two and a half years since then. Sasuke had been re-accepted as a Konoha ninja, barring he do nothing more to harm the village of the leaf again.

Naruto sighed and leaned back to look at the stars instead. He'd lost one of his best friends during that mission, and one of his greatest enemies. Not to mention that Sasuke had never really been the same since. He had admitted that Naruto was his best friend, but Naruto still had a hard time trusting the Uchiha.

While what he'd allowed to happened had brought forth an inner turmoil regarding how he felt about Sasuke, he still feared the anger that could break forth from the dark haired ninja when provoked. That's why he'd taken to spending more time with Kiba.

Kiba had survived the mission to bring Sasuke back, and he also understood what Naruto went through to bring his childhood friend back. Kiba didn't judge him for what he carried inside himself. On the contrary it seemed as though the dog lover accepted him more for his fox-like attitude.

Naruto grinned. Kiba was a good friend. And it would be nice to go back and spar with him once this mission was over. Maybe he could help Naruto figure out what he was supposed to do about how he was beginning to feel about Sasuke.

Naruto was brought back to the moment when Sakura stepped out of the second tent, “I couldn't sleep...” Naruto looked at her curiously. “Your shift is almost over and I'm next and I couldn't sleep so go to Sasuke.” The words were so rushed together that he only understood that she was going to take over early.

“Thanks Sakura. I'm still pretty tired.” He grinned and clapped her on the shoulder before bowing into Sasuke and his tent. Sasuke looked to be asleep. His sleeping bag top was pulled up and curled under his chin. His head was splayed over the makeshift pillow and his head was buried half in the covers half in the pillow.

The blond smiled. Maybe he could get used to being attracted to this guy. He cared for him, there was no doubt about that, he fought too hard to bring him back not to care. Sasuke cared for him too. They spent time eating ramen and sparring together, something they never really did before Orochimaru.

The blond stifled a yawn before unzipping his jacket and stripping off his shirt. A small noise came from Sasuke as he shifted. Naruto looked to see that he was ok, Naruto was pretty sure he still had nightmares about their fight at the water falls. The Uchiha seemed to be sleeping well enough though.

Naruto sat and removed his shoes next before shucking off his pants and crawling into his sleeping bag. He wiggled closer to Sasuke to steal some of the warmth he would have stored up in his sleep. He had the last watch so he didn't have to worry too much about waking him up, Sasuke could always go back to sleep.

The blond got comfy just as Sasuke turned over and looked him square in the eye, “Have you ever heard of a girl named Naruko?”

Naruto blinked once, blinked again, then hid his blush by pretending to make the blankets more comfortable on himself. “No, why?”

“There was a girl at Sakura's party...” Naruto's blush got worse. “I want to see her again, she wasn't like most girls. You know, most girls in Konoha are all blushy and giggly and follow you around like a lost puppy... She didn't, she knew what she wanted and she took it...” Sasuke trailed off.

Naruto cleared his throat, “Never heard of her.”

“She said she was Kiba's cousin, maybe I should ask Kiba about her?”

“Sure whatever. Go to sleep, we have to make the rendezvous point tomorrow.”

“Yeah, you're right.” Sasuke rolled back over.

“Night asshole.” Naruto grinned at the black haired boy's back.

“Night dobe.” There was silence for a few moments.

“Ne, Sasuke?”

“Yeah?”

“What did she look like?” Naruto grinned at his own deviousness.

Sasuke rolled back over with a huge grin on his face, “She was gorgeous. She had long blonde hair, the same color as yours, and bright blue eyes like yours too. She wore this amazing dress the same color of her eyes and she was curvy and soft in all the perfect places. She was hard too, so well built, and she knew exactly what she wanted!” Sasuke was staring off and smiling happily, Naruto found himself wanting to make Sasuke smile more often.

“Wow, she sounds great... But you don't know where she's from?”

“Nope.” The smile vanished. “She said that Kiba's her cousin though so she can't be from too far away.

“What if you never see her again?”

Sasuke shrugged. “I'll get over it, it's just she was so good at what she did...” Color crossed his cheeks.

“Ah. One of those?”

“Mm. She took what she wanted and wasn't ashamed that she was doing it. Girls in Konoha just aren't like that. If I’m ever to restart my clan, it will have to be with a woman like that.”

It was Naruto's turn to blush. He'd never even thought of when Sasuke wanted to restart his clan. Even if he was becoming attracted to his fellow ninja, he could never offer him the children that he would need. The blond ninja was suddenly ashamed of his selfishness, “I'm sorry, Sasuke.” He rolled over so his back was to Sasuke.

“What for?”

Naruto thought for a moment so he wouldn't let the truth spill, “That I don't know her. I'll try and find her for you.” He had to think of a way to tell Sasuke it had been him without making his team mate hate him.

“Okay, thanks Naruto.” Naruto could hear his smile. “You're the best friend a guy could ask for. Night.”

“Night.” Naruto went to sleep feeling like it was possible he was the worst person in the world.