Walking a Mile

No mission. Sasuke was up at the crack of dawn. Naruto only woke up when he smelled the coffee. By the time Naruto dressed and got to the kitchen, Sasuke was already finished with breakfast.

"I was going to let you sleep."

"Thanks."

Sasuke started for the front door.

"Where you going?"

"I'm going to go talk to Kakashi. Alone."

"Uh, Sasuke." Naruto gestured to himself.

"Uh, I forgot. I'm getting too used to this."

"Ino's father should be home any day."

Sasuke fell back onto the sofa. "Kakashi knows more about Itachi. If Itachi . . . I have to find him."

"Cheer up. You can't do anything now. At least you've figured this out. And Neji's on your side now. He's beginning to trust you."

"It was your earnestness. That is why everyone comes to believe in you. He saw it. He didn't recognize it, but he saw it. It's your earnestness he trusts."

Naruto preened. Sasuke was hypnotized. Naruto was only wearing boxers and the way he leaned back stretching his abdomen showed off just how well built Sasuke's body was. Sasuke was practically drooling. The worst thing was: this time, Naruto noticed.

"What's with you?"

"Huh?"

"You're staring at me."

If nothing else, Sasuke was good at recovery. "What else should I be looking at at the moment?"

"You need to relax. Hey, let's go out and you can act like an idiot and no one will know."

"As fun as making you look like fool might be, I'm not in the mood."

"That's sort of the point, change your mood."

"Naruto, it's not that easy. My brother might be . . . not innocent; I think he did it, but why? I can't just stop thinking about it and be happy."

"Is there anything you can do now?"

"No, I suppose not."

"Will thinking about it make any difference?"

"I guess not."

"Then stop thinking about it."

"Huh, that's how you're so carefree: you cast off everything you can't do anything about." Sasuke hugged himself. "I can't do that. It seems that everything that's important to me is something I can't do anything about." Naruto sat down next to him. "I look like you, but I wish I could be you, so carefree and confident. No worries. You don't even let reality stop you from reaching for your dreams. And somehow it works out for you. I just keep training and training, and once I get good enough to defeat him, I start having doubts as to if that's what I still want to do. Your goals, your future, your journeys seem so much easier."

"But at least you were never hated without knowing why. At least you had a few years with a family. And if Itachi really did spare you out of love, you have someone who loves you. What do I have? I have friends—"

"More than me," Sasuke broke in.

"But no family and no one's in love with me."

"I don't think that's true."

"What?"

"I'm sure there's someone who's in love with you."

"How can you be sure?"

Sasuke shrugged. "It's possible."

Naruto wondered. Could Sasuke . . ? No, it's not possible. Sasuke was revolted just to be in his body, how could he be in love with him.

"At least you have friends. Shikamaru and the others only hang out with me because I'm with you. Half the village, if not more, think of me as a traitor and some make fun of me behind my back. No one does that to you anymore. It's kind of pathetic, but you're my only friend."

Pathetic, huh? So much for him being in love with me.

"One friend in this entire village and he's the biggest impulsive idiot in the Fire Country." Sasuke was nearly in tears. As insulting as he was being, knowing—not so much seeing since he was in Naruto's body—Sasuke was crying, broke Naruto's heart. The Ice Prince wasn't so heartless after all. Naruto put an arm over Sasuke's shoulders and Sasuke broke down and nuzzled against the friend he'd just insulted. Sasuke was sagging against him and his face was lost in his own yellow hair.

Sasuke didn't sob for long, but he didn't pull away when he was finished. Nor did Naruto encourage him to move. Then Naruto's—physically Sasuke's—stomach growled against Sasuke's ear. Sasuke chuckled and Naruto laughed, but he found himself sorry that Sasuke was pulling away.

"I'll make you some breakfast. I only made enough for me since I thought you'd sleep longer."

"Thanks, Sasuke."

It kind of hurt Naruto that Sasuke had so thoughtlessly insulted him and didn't seem to give it any thought after the fact. I'm such a loser that he doesn't think his insults mean anything to me. I'm just company and a shoulder to cry on. I don't really mean anything to him.

A few minutes later Sasuke put a loaded plate on the kitchen table, the sound of which summoned Naruto as well as if Sasuke had called his name. It was a large breakfast that greeted him: eggs with cheese with lots of sausage and bacon. Sasuke wasn't a vegetarian, but he ate much healthier than Naruto; this wasn't what the Ice Prince made for himself. And he was allowing Naruto to eat it in his body.

"Wow, thanks."

"Thanks for hearing me out and rant. I'm going to lay down for a while."

Naruto was a good at reading body language and subtle clues as stick on the ground, but even he could see Sasuke wanted to apologize, but couldn't bring himself to say it. He said it the best he could with big breakfast. And giving him his trust. Naruto might have ran out and told everyone what a whinny crybaby Sasuke was, but Sasuke trusted him not to. Naruto smiled and ate up.

—

Sasuke was emotionally drained and fell asleep on the unmade bed. Naruto let him sleep. He dressed and left Sasuke's apartment.

It was too early for people to go out or home for lunch so the streets were quite. Naruto tried to keep himself from putting his hands behind his head, but he was putting no extra effort to walk like Sasuke. No one would notice. Unfortunately.

Sai sat on a bench drawing. He looked up when Naruto approached. Sai stood.

"Nice to see you apart from Naruto for once."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You have a problem? I'm just trying to walk here."

"Why do you hang around Naruto so much? Afraid of getting cornered by one of us?"

"Us?"

"Half the village doesn't trust you."

"No one else has threatened me and you're not much of a threat."

"I think you're a bad influence on Naruto."

"I wasn't aware he was so impressionable. Are you jealous that I've replaced you on team Kakashi? You were always the replacement."

Sai whipped out his scroll and began to paint. Naruto knew that in Sasuke's body he was no match for Sai, but he put some of what Sasuke taught him to the test: he released a fireball which made it in time to burn the scroll before Sai could release an ink beast.

"I don't want to fight in the middle of the village."

"Then let's go to the training grounds."

"No." Sai narrowed his eyes and pulled his short sword. Naruto inwardly swore that he'd not worn Sasuke's sword; not that he knew how to wield it. The Sharingan activated on its own and Naruto found it almost dictating his movements, his muscles knew what to do and the Sharingan showed him the present and the next second. Naruto dropped into a taijutsu stance. Sai attacked. Naruto caught Sai's wrist and kicked the paler ninja in his floating rib then brought his knee up to hit him in the jaw. As Sai flew back from the force of the two hits, Naruto twisted his arm, disarming him, before letting go and allowing Sai to crumbled to the ground.

Naruto's—or rather Sasuke's—eyes widened; he hadn't even thought about doing any of that. Sasuke trained so much that he didn't even have to think about how to fight, his body just reacted.

Sai spit blood from his mouth and put a hand to his side. Not thinking Sai capable, or willing, to continue the fight, Naruto walked away. The Sharingan had not yet faded from his eyes; he didn't see Sai attacking his back, but knew it, somehow sensed it. Naruto turned, lowered his body to kick Sai's legs from underneath him.

"Leave me the hell alone!" Naruto growled at him as Sai sat up. "I don't want to fight you now."

"I'll get you soon, Uchiha." Sai got up and limped back the bench to gather his things. Naruto relaxed and the Sharingan faded.

Naruto continued on his aimless walk. He found himself near Ino's family's flower shop and decided to go in.

"Sasuke?" Naruto shook his head. "Oh. Father's not back yet."

"That's not why I came here."

"Oh. Where's . . ."

"Sleeping."

"I didn't think he was one to oversleep."

"He woke up before me, but he's taking a nap."

"Oh. What did you need?"

"Nothing really. But since I'm here, he's place is kind of gloomy. Like him." Naruto looked around. He saw a bouquet of while lilies.

Ino saw his attention. "Calla lilies. Not lilies really. They symbolize death and rebirth, love, and beauty."

Reminds me of Sasuke's pale skin. "They're beautiful. I think white flowers would look good in his apartment."

Naruto returned home with a bouquet Ino made for him of calla lilies, pear tree flowers, and jasmine. Sasuke woke up at hearing the door open clumsily. Naruto didn't want to be seen carrying a bunch of flowers so Ino put them in a flower box and put that in a bag. It was a bit awkward.

"What're you doing?"

"I went for a walk and stopped by Ino's. I thought flowers would cheer you up." Sasuke smiled at the thought. "She didn't charge me, says it's sort of a gift." Sasuke helped him take them out. They were in a vase and already arranged, which was why they were awkward to carry. Sasuke topped off the water and put them on the coffee table.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing."

"You look a little . . . frazzled."

"Um . . . I ran into Sai." Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "He challenged me, but I tried not to fight, but . . ."

"You won, I assume."

"Yeah. You're amazing. I just . . . I didn't have to think. Your instinct just kicked in and I defeated him."

"Is he alive?"

Naruto laughed a little. "Yeah. I think I might have broken one of his ribs and gave him a few bruises. I just hope you don't get into trouble for it. He started it, I swear."

"Hmmm. I don't think he'll admit that I beat him. He'll probably say it happened while training."

"I won't go out without you again. He wouldn't have attacked if you were there."

Sasuke distractedly rearranged the white flowers. "I'll never be accepted here."

"But we won over Neji, that's something."

"Yeah, but if I can't kill Itachi like I said I would . . . If he'd tell me the truth, if I'm right about him, I might . . . I miss my brother, Naruto. I'd rather go to him than stay here."

"You'd . . . join Akatsuki?"

Sasuke just looked at Naruto for a few moments. "No. I won't join Akatsuki." Naruto nodded in relief. "Are you tired?"

"No."

"Let's go train. I need to take my mind of everything."

—

Training did take Sasuke's mind off his brother and what the village thought of him, but those were the only things it took his mind off.

At first, he used his resentment against the village to throw everything he had against Naruto. Once he was finished feeding off his negative emotions, threatening to leave him emotionally drained again (where had all his cold logic gone?), his mind was clear as he pushed Naruto's body as far as he dared take it.

Then Naruto entered into a similar flow state as the one Sasuke usually used; it was more for defense, but it served Naruto well for offence as well. Sasuke's natural grace won out over Naruto's large, inelegant movements. Naruto's (that is, Sasuke's) face eased into that cold unlined face. After leaving Konoha, Sasuke had thrown away all emotion. Not having emotions, meant no expressions, and no expressions meant his face never wrinkled, leaving it smooth and hypnotically beautiful.

Sasuke wanted to slap himself. But Naruto did that for him. Naruto caught him slightly off guard (because he was staring, damn it) and Sasuke took a kick, one without full power, but a kick none the less, to the left cheek.

"Damn, Uchiha, take it easy on my face will ya."

"You kicked me."

"Yeah, but you didn't dodge it!"

"Whatever." Sasuke decided a little singe on his clothes would be enough and not do too much damage to his own body, so he made the hand signs for his fire phoenix jutsu. It worked, but it lacked the power and the precision of the original. Naruto dodged it easily.

He should have known it was a bad idea, but Sasuke was angry that he couldn't hit him. Sasuke rushed in and tried to enter the same flow he always did when in a close taijutsu fight. But Naruto's body failed him.

It ended with him pinned under Naruto who preened even as he straddled him. "I finally beat the Ice Prince!"

Right now, I'd rather you beat off the Ice Prin—Sasuke couldn't believe what he was thinking. "Get off me," Sasuke growled.

"Right, alright."

"Fighting like that won't help you improve; you're just relying on my training. Try using more of your own moves. I've got less to work with here."

Insulting again, Naruto thought. But he did what Sasuke suggested and resisted relying on Sasuke's trained instinct. Sasuke thought that would close the distance between them. Well, it did, but not in skill.

Naruto thought he had the upper hand and grinned widely. Sasuke was caught off guard by seeing his face wearing that very Naruto expression. This is ridiculous.

Sasuke found himself on his back again.

"Pinned ya again."

This time Naruto leaned down so they were nearly nose to nose. Sasuke stopped himself from speaking because he knew he was in eminent danger of mixing up his words: rather than 'Get off me' he would probably say 'Get me off.'

It's Naruto's hormones, it has to be! That thought comforted him for a moment. Sasuke just gave up any fight and let his body sag into the ground. Naruto looked concerned. "Sasuke, you all right?"

"Tired."

"Just because I beat you twice. In a row!"

"Yeah, whatever." Sasuke sat up without waiting for Naruto to move. Naruto tried to get out of the way, but lost his balance, falling onto Sasuke's legs and hitting his head against Sasuke's.

"Damn it, you idiot."

"You're the one who made me lose my balance."

"You're supposed to be a shinobi, deal with it."

"You're such an ass."

"You're an idiot."

Naruto punched Sasuke hard across the face. Sasuke barely thought, he pulled on his legs from under Naruto and kicked him in the chest. Even with very little room to pull back before delivering the hit, it hurt. However, Naruto was thrown back three feet by the discharge of chakra.

Naruto gathered himself and rushed Sasuke. Their training had become a regular, ignoble brawl. No clever jutsu, no battle plan, no being careful of each other getting hurt, just an all out brawl. At least they left their weapons in their pouches; Naruto had brought Sasuke's sword for appearances, but left it on the sidelines.

They ended up, predictably, choking the life out of each other. Both were trying to force their knees between them to push each other away, but neither would let go of the other's throat. Sasuke found himself on his back again. Naruto wasn't doing a good job at cutting off his air, but he was restricting his blood to his brain. Sasuke was doing the opposite, cutting off Naruto's air. The thought that they were trying to kill their own bodies was lost on them. They were nearly nose to nose again, the breathes they did get out were breathed in by the other.

"Sasuke! Naruto!"

Their grips didn't loosen, but they looked in the same direction at the same time, expressions of intense hate now directed at whoever was interrupting them. The cruse mark had begun to creep across Naruto's face, his eye glowing a fiery red, and Sasuke's eyes were rimed in purple, like Orochimaru's and some of the Kyubi's chakra remained within Naruto's body, giving Sasuke the same red eyes.

Sakura took a step back. On seeing her, Naruto got himself under control, allowing Sasuke to push him off. They were both light headed, but it was Sasuke who was close to fainting. He held onto consciousness, feeling Orochimaru straining to take control. Sakura saw him not moving and ran to him. She used her medical jutsu to enlarge his blood vessels to allow better blood flow. Sasuke sealed Orochimaru better and let himself slip into oblivion.

"Sasuke!" Naruto shrank at her shout. "What were you doing?"

"I—I don't really know."

"Were you trying to kill each other?"

"No, I—I wasn't thinking."

"That's something I'd expect from Naruto." That hurt.

Sakura healed them both. Sasuke woke up as she was reducing the swelling on his cheek.

"Naruto, are you alright. You really shouldn't be picking fights with Sasuke."

"Who said I was the one who picked the fight?" Sasuke said. Sakura finished her work. "Why are you here?"

Sakura was taken aback by Naruto's harsh tone. "I was looking for you, both of you. We have a mission tomorrow."

"Fine." Sasuke stood and picked up his sword, forgetting he shouldn't have. Naruto didn't notice and followed him. Sakura was left confused.

—

Naruto slammed the door behind him when they got back to Sasuke's apartment. The curse seal had retreated and not come back nor had the red chakra of the Kyubi, but they were still glaring. Sasuke looked back and there was such hate and anger that Naruto reacted almost out of instinct and attacked. Sasuke turned his attack and threw him to the ground. Sasuke dove after him and tried to strangle him again. Naruto grabbed at his head, going for his eyes, but as he was, he looked into them and remembered they were his own.

"Sasuke," Naruto gasped. "You'll kill yourself."

Sasuke finally came back to himself as well and let Naruto go.

"What were we doing?"

"I'm not sure," Naruto gasped. He tried to regain his breath. "Do you really think I'm just an idiot?"

Sasuke took his time answering. "No. But you can be a fool sometimes. I wasn't lying when I said I wish I could be you. Granted you may be a fool, but you're happy. I may be smart and a genus, but I don't really remember being happy after Itachi . . . And what I remember from before that just makes me more unhappy to think those days are gone forever and may have never been real. You may be an idiot, but that's not such a bad thing, is it?"

"I feel like you still don't respect or acknowledge me when you say I'm an idiot."

"Forgive me. Habit."

"I still think you're an ass, but you're my best friend."

Sasuke gave him a small smile. "And you're my best friend. I may have said it was pathetic, but I'm not ashamed of it. I hang out with you, don't I? I'm sorry I offended you."

"Well I am just idiot after all. Sorry I tried to kill you."

"And I am an ass sometimes. I'm sorry I tried to kill you."

"Sometimes?" Sasuke gave him a mock glare. "I guess if that bothered me, I'd bother someone else."

"My brother once said that he was an obstacle to overcome even if it meant I hated him. I didn't hate him. In a way, I guess I've become your older brother. You seem determined to use me as a yardstick for your own skills."

"Naw, not really. I just want you to acknowledge that an idiot like me can be a great shinobi like you and become Hokage one day."

"Well then. I acknowledge that a reckless, boneheaded, rash, ignorant, loud idiot like you can be a great shinobi and I know you will become Hokage one day. Especially since that is not my goal."

Naruto smiled. It was that smile that made Sasuke's stomach knot. And for the first time he wondered if it wasn't how beautiful his own face was when Naruto smiled, but if it was Naruto's smile, if it was Naruto that was causing that knot of desire.

"I'm glad. You and Kakashi are probably better qualified right now."

"So is Neji. But I think that's all. No one would make me Hokage, not after I abandoned the village, even if I did come back. You have the heart and compassion I and Neji lack. And I have to admit, I'm not as concerned for the village as the Hokage should be. I just want to confront Itachi and reestablish my clan. That's all."

"It seems as a simple goal, I mean it doesn't seem to be for you, just doing your duty. It's there anything you want?"

Sasuke hesitated. He wished he could say he wanted to reestablish his clan because it was what he wanted, but it was really just something he felt he owed his clan. His revenge on Itachi was for him and his clan, but now that he had doubts, it was only for his clan. "No, there's nothing. Unless . . . I have to talk to Itachi."

Sasuke seemed to be dropping back into his depression again. Naruto, who never really thought about anything, came up and hugged him.

"It's not right. You should have your own goals."

"Like what? Hokage?"

"I don't know, but you should live for something more."

"I sacrificed my own life a long time ago. I'm the last of the Uchiha, that's all I am."

"No, you're not! You're Sasuke, you're our friend and a great ninja! You should forget about revenge, forget about doing your duty. I'm sure your family would want you to be happy, not suffer for their sakes. If I died, I wouldn't want you to sacrifice everything to avenge me."

"I would though. It's my nature to." Naruto embraced him tighter. "Wouldn't you avenge me?"

Naruto couldn't answer at first. "I never thought about it. I don't believe anyone could kill you. But if someone were to kill you . . . yes, I guess I would want revenge."

"We're not so different after all then."

"Maybe not." They didn't move or say anything for a full minute. "When you said someone loved me, were you thinking of someone in particular?"

Sasuke's heart hammered for a few seconds. "Yes," he said calmly.

Naruto swallowed. "Was it you?"

"Yes."

"I love you too, bastard." Naruto pulled back just enough to kiss him. As befitting the village idiot, it was a clumsy kiss, but it was genuine. Sasuke quickly took over in order to get somewhere. They may both be virgins, in pretty much every sense of the word, but Sasuke was a bit more worldly than Naruto. Naruto didn't expect to feel Sasuke's tongue lick at his lips and press in for entrance, but he yielded. Sasuke invaded every part of Naruto's mouth as he tried to reciprocate.

They rubbed up against each other feeling each other arousals. Sasuke took over the initiative and pulled the purple rope he used as a belt. Naruto allowed his pants to slip off his narrow hips. He pulled the zipper down his black and orange jacket. They quickly pushed away the rest of their clothes. Sasuke pushed Naruto down to his bed.

Sasuke may have been able to hold onto his virginity while around that pedophile snake, but he did pick up a few things from observation. And with Naruto being in his body, he knew every inch of his skin, knew everywhere to touch to elicit a gasp or moan. At first Naruto couldn't believe Sasuke knew just where to touch him, but then he realized. So he did the same. But Sasuke loved changing the rules on others. Sasuke disengaged his lips and moved down his smooth body to engulf his cock with his mouth.

Naruto cried out. Sasuke had to admit to himself that there was a bit of narcissism involved, he loved being able to make Naruto make that sound, but he also liked the sound of his voice making that sound too. Though without experience, Sasuke did a wonderful job, just doing what he always fantasized someone else, no one in particular, doing to him. From the way Naruto writhed and sighed, it was correct.

Sasuke pulled up to suck on just the head before pulling away completely. Naruto was drained, but a little angry that Sasuke stopped. Sasuke got up and Naruto was too shocked to protest, but Sasuke was back within moments with a jar of some kind of ointment. Naruto stared at him. He really was naive.

The strangeness of the situation was not lost on Sasuke, in a way he was going to take his own virginity. He resumed the blowjob while he dipped a finger into the jar and let his body heat warm it before he pressed it to his entrance. Naruto squirmed. Sasuke teased him then gently pushed in. There was no pain, but it was such a strange feeling. But the feel of Sasuke raking his cock with his tongue took his mind off it. Sasuke switched to an intense assault on the head while he slipped in a second finger. There was more discomfort this time, but Sasuke was unbelievably distracting. He massaged the ring of muscle and scissored his fingers to loosen it. Then he added a third finger. Naruto tensed.

Sasuke pulled his mouth away. "You have to relax or it'll hurt both of us." And he returned to his work. Naruto tried to relax. Finally, Sasuke believed he was ready. Sasuke scooped out more ointment and lubricated his own erection. Sasuke abandoned Naruto's cock (or rather his own) and removed his fingers. He slowly eased into him while Naruto tried to relax. Sasuke's own body was so tight it was as uncomfortable for him as it was for Naruto. But he soon pressed his entire length in. Sasuke stopped and leaned down to kiss Naruto again, trying to take his mind off any pain he might be feeling.

Naruto was surprised at how comforting it felt to have something inside of him. As the pain dulled he rolled his hips to encourage Sasuke to move. Sasuke slowly pulled out and back in. As he did he hit something that made Naruto see stars. He arched his back and moaned, pulling his mouth from Sasuke's. Sasuke thought at first that it was out of pain, but then Naruto gasped, "Sasuke, again." Sasuke couldn't suppress a smile. He obliged.

Naruto writhed in pleasure and didn't even think about containing his release. It didn't take long. The sensation of having sex with someone for the first time, Naruto's response, and the convulsing of the body around him made Sasuke cum inside of him.

Sasuke withdrew and lay down beside Naruto.

"I love you, idiot."

"I love you too, you bastard."

—

Pear tree flowers symbolize 'comfort' and jasmine 'you are graceful.'