Dark, Light and the Shadows Between (complete)

Sasuke walked alongside Naruto.

It was a beautiful day. The most beautiful day he'd ever seen. He didn't know why he'd never noticed it in his travels before, but, in fact, Konoha was the most beautiful village in all the five great nations. Why, he wondered, was the sky bluer here? Why was the sun brighter, the scents on the breeze sweeter?

It was still the most beautiful place on earth when a group of teenage academy students dropped into their path.

"You gonna wipe the pavement with this loser, Uchiha-san?" One teen sniggered as others high-fived each other and laughed loudly.

Sasuke turned to Naruto, who turned and faced him in response, an unreadable look on his face.

"Naru-bear?" Sasuke cocked his head. A tiny choked sound left Naruto, but his expression didn't change.

Sasuke stepped closer to Naruto and half of Konoha felt the adrenal surge in the slavering Chunins.

He draped his arms loosely around Naruto's neck and continued.

"These men are bothering me, tiger toes. Can you take care of them for me?"

"You mean these men, Sasu-bunny?"

Shrieks of alarm could be heard for blocks as thick vines sprouted out of the ground, winding around three of the red-faced teens, binding them and flipping them to dangle upside down.

"Uh huh." All six teens, dangling or otherwise, fell into stunned silence as Sasuke closed the distance completely. Then he tilted his head and showed all of Kohona that he and Naruto had settled their differences...and then some.