Broken Kunai

MadaSasu: Are you competing with VampireDoll666 for my favorite reviewer? ^_^
Silverfox588: Surprising, huh?
Stefire: Thanks!
Guest: ^_^
VampireDoll666: Especially with Sasuke teaching them more advanced jutsu. ^_^
Rosebunse: Won’t stay peaceful.
harvestangel99: He even surprised me!

Yeah, this has taken a upswing mood-wise, but don’t get used to it.
Thanks to PhoenixInnocence for the beta!

Adultfanfiction people: REVIEW! I get so few reviews on AFF that’s it’s kind of depressing. That is how you pay me, with reviews. Remember that.

----------

The hawk let the pair off right in front of the entrance to Suna. It was Temari who met them. Sasuke stroked his hawk’s neck and the bird vanished.

“The rest of your group hasn’t arrived yet,” she said. She led them into the shade. “Do you need a chair?” she asked Kakashi, not bothering to be delicate about it.

“No, I can stand for a while.”

“My brother was excited to get your request,” she said. “He’s been experimenting with different weapons and traps. His enthusiasm’s been a bit annoying.”

Kakashi smiled and even Sasuke smirked.

“I thank him, but he does know I’m retired, right? I’m not going back out in the field.”

“You never know,” Temari shrugged.

“Temari-san!” another shinobi above them called down. “There is a group approaching!”

The three of them looked and could only see wavering dark shapes in the distance. Soon, they resolved into a masked ANBU, a blond, and a pink haired kunoichi. Sasuke purposely kept his gaze away from Sakura as they ran up to them.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” the captain said.

“We weren’t waiting long,” Sasuke said.

“I’ll take you to Gaara,” Temari said. She led them to the tower.

Gaara came out from behind his desk to greet Naruto. Gaara would have settled for a handshake, but Naruto hugged him.

Once he was let go, Gaara said, “Welcome to Suna. I’m grateful for the offer for help with our medical-nins and I hope Kankuro can help you, Kakashi-san. You’ve been a great help to our village.”

“Thank you, Kazekage,” Kakashi said.

“Thank you for allowing us to come here, Gaara-sama.” Sasuke’s use of an honorific startled Naruto and Sakura who never heard him use one before. Kakashi knew Sasuke would do anything for him—even show respect to other people. “May I have a moment alone?”

Gaara nodded and gestured for Sasuke to approach and the others to leave. “Matsuri will show you to your rooms.”

Sasuke stepped forward and the others left. Gaara took his seat.

“I want to apologize for my words and behavior in the Land of Iron. I was reckless, just short of suicidal. I was on a path that could only end in my death, even if succeeded. I chose darkness because it was easy to give into revenge. I also went a little crazy after I learned the truth about my brother. To me, nothing and no one deserved to live if my brother was dead and I blamed the shinobi system and all shinobi for what my brother was ordered to do. And I just wanted to kill Danzo who was behind it all. I would kill anyone to get to him.

“I’ve disappointed a lot of people, but you and Kakashi are ones I feel horrible about disappointing. I didn’t deserve the friendship and comradery you offered. But I thank you for it and apologize for throwing it away. I thought a lot about your words after that and they helped me change my mind. So thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Forgive me for being an asshole?”

“I do. I was the same, that’s why I said those things. It took Naruto kicking my ass to change me.”

Sasuke let a half smile escape briefly. “I want to make it up to you if I can. I’m here officially as a bodyguard, but if you need my services . . . I owe you.”

“Understood.” That almost sounded dismissive, but Sasuke understood; neither one of them were comfortable in these types of situations.

Sasuke bowed respectfully and turned to leave; rather than insultingly turning his back, he was exposing his back: a sign of trust between some shinobi.

Kakashi and Temari were still in the hall.

“You want to room together?” Temari asked Sasuke to confirm what Kakashi had told her.

“Yes, I’m more a . . . helper than a bodyguard,” Sasuke said.

“I’m having someone prepare a larger set of rooms.”

“As far away from Sakura as they can accommodate,” Kakashi added with a smile behind his mask.

-----

It was warm in Suna so the first thing Kakashi did was strip off his flak jacket—worn as much out of the potential of attack on their journey as custom—then his shirt and mask. He was bare-chested and barefaced before Sasuke had taken his sword from his belt.

Sasuke gave him a once over with his eyes then went to the window in their bedroom to take stock of their position. He was only slightly surprised when arms wrapped around him from behind.

“Thank you,” Kakashi breathed into Sasuke’s ear.

Sasuke turned around to look into Kakashi’s eye. “I would do anything for you.”

Kakashi kissed him briefly. “We have some time. This place will feel more like home with the smell of sex in the air and hammered into that bed.”

Sasuke smiled seductively. “I agree entirely.”

Kakashi pulled at Sasuke’s shirt and belt, working them open. He took a step back to sit down. Sasuke kept his body pressed against Kakashi’s, planting his knees next to Kakashi’s hips. Kakashi started kissing and gnawing at Sasuke’s neck. Sasuke bent his neck to give Kakashi all the room he needed. Kakashi gripped Sasuke’s waist tighter. He growled as he licked the abused flesh of Sasuke’s neck, tasting his pheromones as only one with the senses of a hound could taste or smell like a Hatake or an Inuzuka. That thought occurred and he was suddenly jealous and fearful of Kiba or another of that clan smelling Sasuke’s scent, these pheromones.

Kakashi couldn’t take it anymore. The smell, that taste, the sudden jealousy . . . He twisted, forcing Sasuke down on the bed. He pulled at Sasuke’s loosened clothes until most of his body was uncovered.

“If we were at home, I wouldn’t balk at using a kunai to cut your clothes off,” Kakashi said.

“Get off of me and strip so I can too.”

With a growl, Kakashi obeyed. He was pleased though to be able to see the lithe body as he stripped.

Sasuke was quite pleased with jealousy and zealousness Kakashi was showing. He loved watching Kakashi strip. Until it came to the leg. Damn Sakura.

Kakashi noticed the tightening of Sasuke’s eyes and the direction of his gaze, but it was quickly suppressed. Sasuke probably would never get over it. Why didn’t that bother him? Maybe because the day Sasuke stopped caring about the fact he was maimed would be the first day of the end of their relationship.

Kakashi had to stand up to get rid of these damn pants. He balanced on his fake leg and peeled off the offending cloth. Shifting onto his real knee on the bed, he unstrapped his peg leg and then turned all his attention to Sasuke’s bare body.

Sasuke had shimmied out of his clothes, leaving his white skin with a thin sheen of sweat from the desert environment.

“Turn over,” Kakashi instructed.

Sasuke obeyed, getting on his hands and knees, showing that perfect, muscular ass to his lover. Kakashi was about to pounce on him, but remembered they needed something for lubrication. That was another thing he preferred about women: self-lubrication. He was about to sigh and get up to find lotion or something when he remembered a little trick he copied from Kotetsu.

“This is going to feel icky,” Kakashi warned. He made a thin version of Kotetsu syrup field trap in the small of Sasuke’s back. Sasuke squirmed a little and his skin puckered. “Needed something for lube.”

“Thanks.”

“Not like doing it dry doesn’t hurt me too,” Kakashi said. He dipped his fingers in the syrup and coated his erection; then he used those fingers to coat Sasuke’s entrance.

“Hurry up.”

“You are just an impatient little slut.”

“Only for you.” Sasuke twisted his hips in a flirtatious manner.

Kakashi pressed into Sasuke’s body. Kakashi preferred this position because he could easily fuck Sasuke while holding him close and bite and lick his neck.

As desperate as Kakashi was to fuck him, once he was inside him, he leisurely rolled his hips. Sasuke rocked back just as leisurely. They savored each other’s bodies; the tight, slick heat of Sasuke’s ass and Kakashi’s hot, hard cock forcing Sasuke’s body open and touching him deeply in the most intimate way.

But once they started to feel their orgasms building, they moved faster. Kakashi pulled out and Sasuke knew he was wanted on his back. Kakashi pushed his knees up and hammered into the young man’s body.

Sasuke twisted and shifted his hips as much as possible, looking for that spot that made his eyes roll back. He let out a strangled cry when he found it. Kakashi obliged and aimed for it. He was rewarded with Sasuke letting out slutty moans and tightening up, scraping the lube off his cock with every thrust, trying his hardest to milk him of his cum.

“Feels so fucking good, Kakashi,” Sasuke sighed.

Without touching his own cock, Sasuke cam on his chest. Kakashi thrust faster into his clenching hole. He leaned over Sasuke’s body, propping himself up on an outstretched arm next to Sasuke’s head. His thrusts became sporadic as he cam inside Sasuke.

Sasuke snaked his hand around the back of Kakashi’s neck and pulled him down into a kiss. “We’ll have to take a shower before dinner.”

Kakashi hummed as he laid down on Sasuke’s body.

“It’s an official dinner with Gaara and his siblings and a few of the elders. Including Baki.”

“Why are you talking?”

“Trying to keep my lungs inflated. You’re heavier than me.”

“Want me to move?”

“Not really. You think we can wake up on our own in time to shower for dinner?”

“No and they didn’t give us an alarm clock.”

“Well, they gave us two beds. Let’s shower and then we can doze on the other bed.”

“Alright.”

-----

Sasuke and Kakashi arrived at dinner only thirty seconds late.

“I’m missing a leg, that’s excuse enough to be late,” Kakashi complained as Sasuke dragged him into the room. He nearly fell over as Sasuke stopped, but Sasuke was careful to hold him up.

Sasuke offered their host a tolerant smile. “Forgive us. He’ll be late to his own funeral. And for no good reason.”

They sat next to each other. Meals in public were always amusing for Kakashi: it was a game to keep people from seeing his face. Sasuke didn’t worry about it, but sometimes he snuck his own peeks at the ways Kakashi managed to eat without exposing his face.

After dinner was a reception, Sasuke’s group being in Suna as a diplomatic mission. Many people avoided Sasuke, but they crowded around Naruto as a hero. Kakashi was popular and Sakura was thanked by everyone for her help training their medics. The ANBU captain stood near the window, all the guard. Sasuke gravitated toward him since he was not the most popular guest. He leaned against the windowsill.

“I thought I might be more perturbed at still being distrusted, hated, and scorned, but it really doesn’t bother me,” Sasuke said. “I never liked parties.”

“You have all you want, don’t you?” the captain asked pleasantly.

“I do,” Sasuke said with a smile. “And I have at least one good friend. These two things are all I really need.”

“You honor me.”

“I was talking about Naruto.”

The captain laughed. “Then count two friends.”

“Two.” He finished his water. “This would be a good gathering if she wasn’t here.”

“At least you’ve mellowed a bit. Remember, if it wasn’t for her, you might not have him.”

“I do prefer being his lover, but I often think how fun it would be to work with him again now that our powers are on par.”

“On par?”

Sasuke gave him a stern look. “Yes. On par.”

“As you say. Even lame, he could definitely defeat me. You know of course that no other man in the history of Konoha had an entire squad of ANBU watch him at all times? Just you.”

Sasuke smiled and looked down. “Is that acknowledgment of my power or Tsunade’s distrust?”

“The former. I don’t think Kakashi could have killed you.”

Sasuke pondered that. “Depends on my state of mind at the time. But you’re not going to get me to say who might be more powerful.”

Gaara approached.

“Kazekage-sama,” the captain greeted.

“I’d like to speak to you,” Gaara said to Sasuke.

“Of course.” He nodded to the captain and followed Gaara to a balcony.

“How can I serve you, Kazekage-sama?” Sasuke asked.

“I hate formality. Sycophancy is fake.”

“It is said that a ruler is to be feared as the lion; I wouldn’t be rude to my host.”

“Naruto said you never use honorifics.”

“I’m not in a position to be rude these days. I owe you for your forgiveness and for giving Kakashi this opportunity.”

“Kakashi was instrumental in saving my life. And you . . . you were the first one to ever wounded me, the first to draw my blood.”

“That was a strange, traumatizing day for us all. It was that day I realized just how powerful Naruto was. You would have killed me if Naruto hadn’t shown up and I realized that I wasn’t as powerful as I thought I was. Not a good day.”

“It was for me. I’ve thought about you a lot since then. I and my siblings were sent to back up Naruto and the others to bring you back to Konoha. I dreaded never seeing you again; I wanted to fight you again.”

“I’ve wanted to finish that fight as well. Perhaps we can have another match.”

“Perhaps. The way I was back then, I saw people only as tools or things to kill in order to validate my existence. Naruto changed me. I could finally appreciate my siblings and I eventually was able to open myself up enough to become Kazekage. But few have ever demanded my attention. When I saw you at the summit . . . You were so beautiful, so . . . savage.”

Sasuke’s blood froze.

“You were so far in the very depths I had managed to crawl out of—it was a dark reflection of myself and it struck me in my soul. I wanted to save you, but when I believed you were lost, I despaired. Seeing you at the end of the war, alive and on our side, I realized I loved you.”

“Kazekage-sama, I’m flattered and sorry that I caused you such pain. If I wasn’t already in love, I would consider it, but then again, I doubt the Hokage would allow me to permanently leave Konoha.”

“You love someone else?”

“I do.”

“Is it requited?”

“It is.”

Gaara was silent for a moment. “I respect Baki, but I could never love him.”

Sasuke knew Baki was Gaara’s sensei when they were in Konoha for the chunin exams. Gaara had figured it out and that made Sasuke smirk.

“Baki and Kakashi have very different personalities. However, they both probably believed they’d have to kill us, didn’t they?”

Gaara nodded.

“I truly love Kakashi. Forgive me for not being able to requite you.”

“Was I merely too late?”

“No. I’ve always loved him. However, had he scorned me, I would have seriously considered you. If Tsunade let me leave.”

“I am glad you are not disgusted by my intentions.”

“Not at all. I feared the same thing with Kakashi. I would like to consider myself your friend.”

“Yes.”

Sasuke smiled. “Thank you.”

-----

Kakashi had left shortly after Sasuke joined Gaara on the balcony. He was tired and had a few drinks; he didn’t want to wait for Sasuke. He went back to their room and flung himself on the bed, not bothering to unlatch his leg.

To anyone else, Sasuke looked normal when he returned to their room, but Kakashi could see his disquiet. Kakashi sat up.

“What’s wrong?” Kakashi asked. He pulled his mask down in the presence of his lover.

“Gaara’s in love with me.”

“Huh?”

“He confessed his feelings to me. I turned him down as gently as I could.”

Sasuke went into the bathroom to rinse his face; he wasn’t used to the heat and didn’t like having so much sweat appearing and drying on his face. Kakashi took that time to think about it. Gaara was Sasuke’s age. Thirteen years younger.

Sasuke came out of the bathroom, knowing nothing good could come of that pensive look on Kakashi’s face.

“Maybe you should consider it,” Kakashi said slowly.

Oh, shit, Kakashi thought. The speed of that thought was remarkable considering how quickly Sasuke turned furious eyes on him and slapped him hard. Sasuke was angry and looked every bit betrayed. He stormed out, leaving Kakashi to raise a hand to his stinging cheek.

Even knowing Sasuke as he did, Kakashi wasn’t sure if he was going to go beat up on some poor Suna shinobi who happened to be loitering near a training area or find somewhere secluded to cry like an emotional, distraught girl. His money was on the former.

He laid back down. He deserved that slap. But Sasuke deserved a lover his own age. He was only thinking of Sasuke’s wellbeing. Or was he just wanting this all to come to an end now before Kakashi grew too attached, before Sasuke realized his mistake. Gaara was so like Sasuke. They would be a good match. A quiet, but powerful match. Together they would be nearly as formidable as Sasuke and Naruto. Then again, Tsunade would never let Sasuke leave Konoha.

Kakashi sighed. Sasuke could make his own choices. He hit his fist against his forehead. He really needed to learn to keep his mouth shut.

-----

It was after midnight when Sasuke returned.

Kakashi stood and hugged him. “I’m sorry, Sasuke. I was just thinking of your own welfare. My age makes me insecure and I keep thinking you’re going to leave me. I’m sorry for doubting your sincerity.”

“I’m just hurt that you’re not as jealous of me as I am of you.”

Kakashi couldn’t say that he was; words would fail to convince Sasuke of his true feelings. Kakashi took his head in his hands and pulled him into a bruising kiss. He summoned all his passion for the younger man and ravaged his mouth.

But it was Sasuke who pushed him back and down onto the bed. Their lips were forced apart.

“I just want what’s best for you,” Kakashi said, breathless. “You asked me if there was someone else I loved and that you’d let me go, that you wanted me to be happy. I want the same for you.”

“You are what’s best for me; I am happy,” Sasuke said and kissed him just as passionately as Kakashi had him.

Someone knocked on the door, but they ignored it. When they knocked for the third time, Sasuke unstrapped the peg leg and threw it through the open bedroom door and into the outer door. That stopped their unwanted visitor. Sasuke dove back into the kiss until he had to come up for air.

“I love you, Sasuke,” Kakashi gasped. “I won’t question your love anymore.”

“I’ll believe that after five years, but allow me to doubt your word as much as you’ve doubted mine.” Sasuke’s smile became broader and more glorious. “I love you so much. You’re the only person I have ever loved and ever will. You’re all I need.”

“You think I’m not jealous of you? Now that you’ve stripped my feelings of their reins, no one else will ever touch you again. If they want you, they’ll have to kill me first. I will never let you go.”

“Good. Until Death separates us.”

“Until Death.” Kakashi kissed Sasuke again, a sweet, wet kiss, his hand on Sasuke’s upturned cheek. Even once the kiss was over, he continued to rub his thumb over the scantly stubbled cheek. He smiled thinking how pathetic Sasuke’s beard would be if he let it grow. At least if Kakashi let his own grown it would be respectable if not very full.

“You are truly beautiful,” Kakashi said.

“I don’t think you know how beautiful you are as well. If you did, maybe you’d give up that age thing.”

“Shut up and take your clothes off.”

“See, you’re not so old not to have sex twice in a day.”

-----

It was hotter in Suna so they didn’t bother with a blanket or even a sheet, but they faced each other, Sasuke’s leg over one of Kakashi’s, their arms crossed, and their breaths puffing against the other’s face. They were dead to the world and completely naked, leaving their large windows open. But they were shinobi: if anyone entered the room or ventured near their window, they would both be instantly alert. But as it was they slept sounder than a pair of hibernating bears.

But the heat increased as the morning wore on. Finally, Sasuke couldn’t take it anymore and woke up. His movement woke Kakashi and they took a cool shower together, their libidos already killed by the great sex last night. Kakashi washed Sasuke’s hair and massaged his neck, then down his back and even grabbed his hips and dug his thumbs into Sasuke’s glutes. Sasuke leaned forward, resting his head on the arm bracing him against the wall.

Kakashi was wearing a rudimentary metal leg while in the shower and it was not made for comfort. “I can’t stand on this leg much longer.”

Sasuke turned and helped Kakashi finish showering so he could get out and sit down. He finished up and followed. Kakashi had dried off and then lay down on the spare bed, still nude.

Sasuke sat on the bed and massaged Kakashi’s leg. “I hope—if nothing else—whatever Kankuro makes you will be more comfortable.”

Kakashi hummed.

Sasuke really did hate looking at that stump so he kept his eyes elsewhere on Kakashi’s body.

Someone knocked on their door. Sasuke got up and opened the door so that his naked body was hidden.

“What?”

“Kankuro wants to see Kakashi,” Naruto said.

“We’ll be there soon.”

-----

Sasuke walked next to Kakashi so that he could grab onto Sasuke’s shoulder if he needed to.

They entered Kankuro’s workshop. If Sasuke hadn’t been used to Orochimaru and Kabuto’s laboratories, Sasuke would have been creeped out by the human forms hanging around them.

“Are you sure you don’t want any missile launchers or poison needles?” Kankuro asked instead of a greeting.

“I’m sure. I just want to be able to walk smoothly and fight when needed. And carry hidden weapons.”

Kankuro looked dejected. “Take off the leg you have now and have a seat.” He indicated a chair near him.

Sasuke helped Kakashi take his pants off, leaving him in jockeys. When Kakashi sat down, Sasuke sank to his knees to remove Kakashi’s false leg. Kankuro was a little startled by Sasuke’s submissiveness and attentiveness.

Kankuro knelt in front of Kakashi to take measurements. He made a peg leg and attached it to a large cup, then mixed up a molding matrix in the cup. Sasuke helped Kakashi up so that his stump was in the matrix to make a mold. Kakashi kept his hands on Sasuke’s shoulders to keep his balance. Facing each other with Kakashi’s hands on Sasuke’s shoulders, they were forced to look into each other’s faces, which was equally awkward as lovers as not. If Kankuro wasn’t in the room, they would have spent the time making out.

While the mold was setting, Kankuro started working on the leg, choosing the wood and started carving it. Once the mold set, Kankuro took it away and Kakashi could sit.

“It’ll take me a day to create the leg. I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you, Kankuro.”

Sasuke sank again to his knees and reattached Kakashi’s rudimentary peg leg. Kankuro was disturbed by the idolatrous nature of Sasuke’s actions. They left, Kakashi keeping a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder for the first dozen steps. Sasuke put a hand on his former sensei’s back for a moment in more of an affectionate way than a balancing one.

-----

Kankuro looked in on his little brother. “Busy?”

Gaara looked up and didn’t answer.

Kankuro stepped in and closed the door. “Hey, I know you like the Uchiha kid, but I think he’s got a thing for his sensei.”

“I know.”

“Oh. Thought I’d let you know if you didn’t. Does Kakashi love him back?”

“Seems like it.”

“Oh. Okay. Sorry, otouto.”

“He did say Tsunade wouldn’t let him come to Suna anyway. I didn’t consider that.”

“Kind of like Temari and that shadow user.”

“If she really wanted to go to Konoha, I’d let her.”

“You won’t hold this against Sasuke or Konoha, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Good. Just checking. Um, you’re not going to hold it against Kakashi either, right?”

“No.”

“Good. He didn’t want anything fancy, so I’m not giving him any poisons.”

“Fine.”

“’K.” Kankuro left. He hoped a broken heart wouldn’t affect his brother too badly.

-----

Kakashi wasn’t hard to research. A simple comment to Sakura and she was telling Gaara how wonderful he was, about how he didn’t hesitate to save her, and had done all he could to make her feel better about being the cause he was retired. She sang his praises for nearly twenty minutes. There was nothing in that that really helped Gaara.

“He’s one of the smartest shinobi we have, strong, skilled, and he’s a fantastic tracker. He doesn’t even need his hounds; he has a nose just as good as they do.”

But when talking about Kakashi, it was almost inevitable that one had to bring up his few shortcomings.

“But he reads that erotica all the time, even around us when we were children. He’s also notorious when it comes to women.”

That perked Gaara’s interest. The man wasn’t even gay? Bi then. That was a weakness. A big weakness.

“He’s one of the most eligible bachelors in Konoha, even retired. The rumor is he’s bedded half the women in the village, but still, no one’s seen his face. He’s a letch. But he’s always been a gentleman to me. I think I’m just too young for him or it’s because I was his student.”

No and absolutely not, Gaara thought. It was obvious the true nature of Sasuke and Kakashi’s relationship was hidden from Sakura. No reason to tell her if he didn’t plan to let the relationship last much longer.

Since he had her talking, Gaara asked about Sasuke. Sakura shrank.

“He’s so dark. He blames me for Kakashi’s injury. I don’t really understand why he’s so angry. Kakashi said Sasuke was really looking forward to working with him in the field, but he’s so angry. He nearly attacked me. Well, he did, but Naruto grabbed him. I’m frightened of him. This is our last mission together. I’m glad. I was over my feelings for him after he tried to kill me before, but now I’m just terrified of him.”

Interesting.

Temari reported something similar from Shikamaru. Naruto was a little more judicious.

“Kakashi? He always looks lazy and uninterested, but he’s really one of our best shinobi.”

“I heard he was a bit of a pervert and womanizer.”

Naruto laughed. “Yeah, he is a pervert, reading those pervy books in public. I’ve heard rumors about him sleeping around, but I don’t know if that’s true.”

“Sakura said he was one of the most eligible bachelors of your village.”

Naruto laughed again. “I don’t know about that.”

“I’d say much of your village is ill informed.”

“Huh?”

“Sasuke told me about his relationship with Kakashi.”

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“Yeah, well, they told me to keep it quiet; they don’t like gossip.”

“I can understand that.”

“Sasuke’s really in love. He was willing to kill Sakura because Kakashi was wounded because of her.”

“What about Kakashi?”

“I’m not as sure, but he must to be living with him and all.”

Gaara changed the subject.

-----

Kakashi and Sasuke were back in Kankuro’s workshop the next day.

Kankuro picked up a leg from his desk. Unlike Kakashi’s current leg, it had a cup that covered most of his thigh. It also looked like a full leg, bleached to be close to Kakashi’s natural skin color.

Kankuro opened up compartments. “This holds six kunai, this holds twenty explosive tags. Here on the surface, you can mount several shuriken for quick and easy access. I could have put in a poison gas jet in the heel. Could have even made the toes projectiles. But I didn’t.” The puppet-user looked and sounded disappointed.

Kakashi sat down and Sasuke immediately went to his knees, took off the present leg and helped attach the new leg. The leg fit perfectly.

“It should fit better and give you good stability, but the knee and ankle joins will take getting use to and you’ll have to learn to use chakra to manipulate them. The joints are stiff enough to not give out on you. I’ll teach you how to use it. It’ll take a few days, a week. But you can walk on it now.”

Kakashi stood, Sasuke kneeling next to him so he could put his weight on Sasuke’s shoulder as he stood.

“That feels a lot better,” Kakashi said as he put all his weight on his legs. It was indeed stiff and was too long to walk.

“Here, I’ll bend the knee so you can walk.” Kankuro bent the knee and the ankle. Kakashi could walk as well as with his peg leg. “Should be good once you learn how to manipulate it.”

“It’s more comfortable and for that alone: thank you.”

“I can start the training now, if you like.”

“Please.”

“Do you want me to stay?” Sasuke asked Kakashi.

“You don’t have to.”

“May I stay and observe?” Sasuke asked Kankuro.

“Why not?”

Well, Sasuke was listening in on Suna techniques for one.

Kankuro taught Kakashi a lot of different things, including the secrets of chakra strings and puppet manipulation. Kankuro went on like an enthusiast, not thinking about giving away secrets. Kankuro was enjoying having someone to talk to about these types of things—apparently his siblings couldn’t care less about his specialties. Puppeteers were considered a bit weird even in Suna.

Kakashi was a quick study and got the fundamentals. They walked back to their room slowly as Kakashi used the techniques to manipulate the leg. He was worn out when they returned to their room. Sasuke helped him to the bed. Kakashi lay back with a laugh.

“Thank you, Sasuke. It’ll take a little time to get used to, but I’ll be able to walk pretty normally soon. Thank you.”

Sasuke lay down beside him. “You’re welcome. I love you.” He put a hand on Kakashi’s ribs. “Hopefully it will become second nature for you, like moving muscles; you won’t even have to think about it. Then maybe we can go on a long walk outside the village and come upon some bandits. I can act all girly on your arm to lure them in and then we can have a little fun together.”

Sasuke’s hand moved to Kakashi’s cheek before Kakashi could respond to that and just managed a “Yeah” before Sasuke was kissing him. A slow, intimate, open mouthed kiss. Sasuke ended it before the languid kiss could get heated.

“We didn’t have breakfast and it’s approaching dinner,” Sasuke said. “I’m starving. Want to go eat?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s check out some of the local cuisine.”

-----

The next day, Sasuke decided to leave Kakashi and Kankuro to their training. He hung out with the captain. First, they spared. They were aware that they were in another village and careful not to show off anything special. Suna may be an ally, but that could change and the pair could feel the eyes on them. They just used taijutsu.

They walked back to their separate rooms to shower and change. Then went out to lunch, the captain tucking food under his mask with as much skill as Kakashi.

Gaara was one of those watching the pair. Sasuke was happy, smiling and laughing with the masked man. He wondered if there was a way to use this to his advantage. But that would only really work if he was angling for Kakashi’s affections. It was Sasuke he needed to deceive. He’d speak to his people to see if there was something he could do.

-----

Sasuke told Kakashi all about the day he spent with the captain over dinner. Kakashi wasn’t jealous. Sasuke was eager to please him and was so open and loving. He decided the captain wasn’t a threat. Sasuke couldn’t spend every waking moment with him anyway.

Sasuke and Kakashi were walking home from dinner when Kakashi stopped and turned to track a woman who walked past him. Sasuke stopped and looked at him.

“Sorry,” Kakashi said with an embarrassed smile behind his mask. “Curse of having such a strong sense of smell.”

“Smell?” He gave Kakashi a dark look.

“Give me a break, Sasuke; until you seduced me I was straight. It’s hard to ignore the scent of an aroused female, it’s hardwired into us. Even you can’t deny it. Can you?”

“Never had a problem around Karin.”

“You must not have as keen a sense of smell.”

“Maybe not. You run off to fuck her and I’ll take off your other leg.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. But I’m totally up for something now. That smell is intoxicating.”

Sasuke smirked. “As long as it’s with me.”

“Always.”

“Then I forgive you.”

“Thank you.”

-----

Well, there was a momentary discussion, but it didn’t look like Sasuke blew up. However, Kakashi did react like a dog passing a bitch in heat. This was a valid method. Gaara just needed to find the right bait.

Later that night, Gaara stood at his mirror and transformed into Kakashi. His face was covered by the man’s mask. From copying the angles of the mask, his face had changed to an approximation of what Kakashi really looked like. Gaara pulled down the mask. He pouted. Even smoother than a real face and no doubt not completely accurate, he was still handsome.

Temari came in and saw the white-haired jounin. She stopped short. It looked like him from behind, but this man felt like her brother. She understood.

“Oh, please don’t tell me you’re going to try something like that?”

Startled, Gaara let the transformation drop, his body shrinking to his own height.

“You know Sasuke would know the difference. You think you could pull off the leg, a face you’ve never seen, a body you’ve never looked on, touch Sasuke in the way Kakashi does, talk as he does, feel or smell like the real man? Even in a dark room, you couldn’t replace him.”

“I wasn’t serious. I wondered what he looked like.”

“I’m so sorry, Gaara. I’m still not even convinced he’s reformed. I don’t trust him. You deserve someone much better. If he did requite you that would have been the quietest relationship: neither of you would ever speak.”

“When do they leave?”

“Another week. Sakura is still training our medics. Kankuro is using all that time to train Kakashi.”

“The sooner the better. Before I do something stupid.”

-----

Gaara summoned Sasuke for his opinion on defense. Sasuke told him Kakashi was expecting him, but Gaara said he’d send a messenger to him to meet Sasuke at a bar near the tower. And Gaara did send him that message, but he didn’t say when.

Kakashi took a seat and ordered a cup of sake.

He smelled her first. It wasn’t just the smell of arousal, but the smell of a woman who had already had at least one very wet orgasm. Kakashi’s mind wandered a little to the fact he was the inspiration for more than a few such orgasms. He loved making a woman squirt juices some women didn’t even know they possessed. He grunted quietly in the memory.

He considered that one particular civilian he had writhing with her first satisfying orgasm. Of course she was so noisy, her husband ran in and the famous shinobi was jumping out a dark window naked, dragging his clothes behind him. Good times.

The smell was headier and closer now.

“Mind if I join you?” a sultry voice said in front of him as he took a wistful sip from his glass.

He looked up and was glad he’d already swallowed. It was the very girl from Icha Icha Paradise. A sultry blonde with large red lips that already looked swollen from kissing and giving head. Her hair looked just a little tousled. She looked just like the love interest from his favorite series; Jiraiya’s very own wet dream.

She sat down while he stared, flabbergasted.

“I’ve had enough of my own company,” she said. She raised her right hand to her nose.

Oh, fuck, he thought. She gets off on her own scent. She’s the type who’ll suck my cock clean after I fuck her.

“I-I-I’m sorry. I’m a afraid-fraid I’m already in a committed relationship.”

“She won’t know. You’re not from around here and you wouldn’t be in a place like this alone if she was in Suna with you.” She slid her foot up and down his leg. “A big, strong man like you can satisfy me.”

This was a moral test. This was a test of his fortitude. Sasuke? No, he wouldn’t pull something like this in a foreign land. Who could he convince to do it? No, this was fate testing him. The kami were testing him. Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke with a kunai, Sasuke with that katana, Sasuke, Sasuke, Sasuke’s Sharingan, Sasuke’s ninjutsu, a jealous, vicious, hormonal, teenage, fiery, vengeful Sasuke.

“I’m sure I could, but I really can’t.”

“Oh, come on. I can deep throat a snake.”

He almost said sincerely ‘I’m sure you can’, but that might be insulting. “I’m practically married.”

“Practically,” she sighed. “Practically, isn’t is. And even if it was, I could slake your thirst with something better than sake.”

Kakashi’s mind was blank. The memory of the taste of a woman was tantalizing his tongue, making him salivate. His mouth wasn’t the only part of him salivating. Think, think, think; there was supposed to be a reason he couldn’t ravage her, press his face between her legs and suck on a wet, sloppy cunt. Sasuke.

“No, I really can’t.”

She stood up and came over to press against him. Her scent was so strong. He wanted lick up her sweat and worm his tongue as deeply into her body as was humanly possible. He wanted to eat her out until she cam on his face then fuck her into oblivion.

It was then that Sasuke came in. He watched, not letting Kakashi see or sense him.

“I really can’t,” Kakashi said. “There are plenty of men who would be happy to help you out.”

A few men around whistled their agreement.

She bent over to be nearly eye to eye with him. She put a hand on his cheek, ready to take his mask down. He grabbed her wrist hard.

“I said no,” he said sternly. His visible eye was hard as well. His whole body and aura suddenly threatened a swift death.

Sasuke smiled. That’s the man he loved.

“It smells like you’ve already found completion once today, you can do it again,” Kakashi said with the same hardness. He let her go and she backed away.

Kakashi took a breath and pulled his mask down ever so slightly to drain his cup. He went back to waiting, unable to believe how close he’d come to betraying Sasuke. His damn nose.

Sasuke walked up and resisted putting a hand in Kakashi’s hair and playing with it affectionately.

“Kakashi.”

Kakashi was startled to hear his lover’s voice. “Sasuke.”

“Come on, Naruto insists we try the local ramen together.”

“Right.” Kakashi stood and limped after his former student, having already paid for his drink.

They walked toward the ramen stand. “I saw that,” Sasuke said.

“Huh?”

“I saw her coming onto you. I’m proud of you. She looks just like that girl in Jiraiya’s book.”

“How do you know that?”

“They were teammates, of course Orochimaru read them. I got bored. I’m proud of you. You’re right, I can’t blame you for being tempted, but you overcame it. If I was someone else’s and you came onto me, my dream man, I can’t say I’d be so true. You have nothing to worry about; only another you could hope to tempt me away. But a clone wouldn’t cut it.”

“I love you.”

“Not nearly as much as I love you.”

They arrived at the ramen stand.

-----

“I’m sorry, Kazekage-sama, I was unable to seduce him.” The blonde bowed deeply in apology.

“I know you did your best. He was tempted, correct?”

“Very. Had him stuttering.”

“You did well.”

She left Gaara alone in his office. The best seductress in Suna couldn’t tempt Kakashi to an indiscretion. Who was he to interfere anyway? If they loved each other, they loved each other. He should keep his eye in his own village. Maybe he could persuade one of his shinobi to transform into the raven haired Uchiha for a night. He wondered if the raven was an affectionate lover, if he smiled down at Kakashi as they made love or if he was a cold stern piece of marble all the time. Gaara wondered what he himself would be like. He never really changed his expression either.

He shut his eyes. He really wanted Sasuke. He wanted to see Sasuke smile and he wanted to see his body and feel it. He spent far too many nights thinking about that wild shinobi. That savage rouge. The look in his eyes when he resisted Gaara’s help was . . . rapturous. He looked dark and evil. He fell in love as his heart broke for his dark twin.

Gaara shoved his chair back against the wall. He only wanted Sasuke. ANBU all around tensed. Even though he wasn’t a jinchuuriki anymore, he was still dangerous. One ran to warn Temari.

-----

Temari found Gaara in his own room.

“Are you alright? Half the shinobi in the village are on edge.”

“I love Sasuke.”

“I know.”

“He loves Kakashi.”

“I know.”

“I deserve Sasuke.”

“Maybe.”

“I want nothing more than him. To see his smile. I love him.”

Temari came over to him and took him in her arms. “My poor baby brother in love. You knew the demon he was, but you don’t know the man he is. You fell in love with the demon you recognized, correct? He’s not that anymore.”

“True.”

“Do you love—can you love—a normal man.”

“An Uchiha is not a normal man. He’s the only person I’ve considered in that way. I’ve only noticed two people in my life: Naruto and Sasuke. I don’t love Naruto.”

Temari hugged him tighter. “Find someone worth you in Suna. Who isn’t a temperamental, traitorous freak,” she said lightly.

“I bet they’re having sex right now in my village.”

“That’s not a good attitude to have.”

“That old man is probably banging him right now.”

“It could be going the other way.”

“Temari, that’s is not helping. Thinking about Sasuke shagging Hatake, looking at him lovingly . . . I want to pull off Hatake’s other leg.”

“Sasuke’s probably an ordinary, always expressionless, drab, argumentative, complaining bitch. He’s not the demon you fell in love with. Anyway, what’s got you suddenly in a mood? You knew he and Kakashi were together.”

“I put bait in front of Kakashi and he didn’t take it. They didn’t even argue.”

“He’s probably scared shitless of Sasuke. He does strike me as jealous. You want that? You couldn’t even look at another person, man or woman, without him yelling at you. He’s got Kakashi cowed, whipped. That’s not you. If you knew what life with Sasuke was, you’d give up on him.”

“Or it could be all I wanted.”

“My baby brother, the romantic. Who knew?”

-----

Gaara was able to control himself for the next few days. Kakashi had gotten the hang of using the leg and Sakura had finished training the medical-nins. It was time to return to Konoha. Another reception dinner was held the night before they departed.

Gaara pulled Sasuke aside again as he had before. This time Kakashi noticed, but he wasn’t concerned.

“Thank you again, Gaara-sama,” Sasuke said. “I am in your debt for asking Kankuro to help Kakashi. Let me know if I can return the favor. I’m on a short leash, however, and have to ask Tsunade’s permission to carry out missions for Suna, but if she approves, I’ll prove my gratitude.”

“I will keep your offer in mind. But in the short term, I just ask you consider . . . me.”

Sasuke gave him a sympathetic smile. “I’m flattered, really. And I know how you feel; Kakashi wasn’t fully open to my affections at first. I love him dearly and so now does he. I’ve loved him for a very long time. I do respect you, I do find you attractive, and we do share some personality traits, but Kakashi and I share more than a shared history, we’re also so alike in personality and histories. And most importantly, we live in the same village—the same country.”

“I’ve never kissed anyone before,” Gaara said. “I’ll call us completely even if you kiss me.”

“I can’t. Kakashi’s sworn to murder anyone who touches me.”

“Then that ANBU with you whom you spar with is due to die.”

“Point taken.”

“I might take it as a political insult if you refuse.”

“That’s blackmail.” Gaara didn’t react. “No more? Just a kiss.”

“No more. Unless you want to.”

“I will not do such a thing without telling Kakashi about it first. He’ll understand. I’ll come to your room shortly after the end of the reception after I explain it to him. No more than a kiss.”

“No more.”

Sasuke left the balcony slightly annoyed. Sasuke was not a good actor, but he was adept at expunging any emotion from his face. He was gracious to Kankuro, but Kakashi and the captain both noticed his lighter mood had evaporated.

The captain whispered to him when he was close by. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing for you to be concerned with. At least not yet. No following me until we meet up to leave in the morning.”

“Understood.” His voice wasn’t cold and professional as Sasuke had feared; the captain did know how much Sasuke valued their friendship.

“Thank you,” Sasuke said softly. He sighed. “On second thought, come to our room with us for a nightcap. You’re ANBU and my closest friend; you should know.”

An hour later the three of them went to the room Sasuke and Kakashi shared with a bottle of local brew. Sasuke leaned back against the closed door.

“Gaara’s blackmailing me with ‘a political insult’ and it’s for something so simple and so diabolical as a kiss. I’m going to do it, Kakashi, but I had to tell you first rather than do it and tell you afterward. I made him promise it would be no more than a kiss. Restrain your jealousy for just one hour—though it shouldn’t take that long. It won’t mean anything; it can’t.”

“You know where I stand,” Kakashi said. “I am jealous of you, but you know what I think about it. We’re shinobi. Any day you—or I if I were still an active shinobi—could be assigned a mission that requires a seduction. That’s what this is. For the good of Konoha, do it.”

“Agreed,” the captain said. “I don’t want to see this happen or anything to come between the two of you, but if that’s the simple price, pay it.”

Sasuke nodded distractedly.

“I am here as a bodyguard,” the captain said. “You are the last Uchiha, the only active shinobi in possession of a Sharingan. No one can argue with me standing guard outside the door. If you send out distressed chakra, I will intervene, Kazekage or not.”

Sasuke smiled. “Thank you.”

The captain nodded to Kakashi and then followed Sasuke to Gaara’s room. He vanished to follow Sasuke as a good ANBU guard should.

Sasuke looked perfectly normal as he approached Gaara’s door. He knocked and was let in immediately. The captain took up position. Suna ANBU were everywhere, but they tolerated him.

Within, Sasuke stayed near the door as Gaara continued into his sitting room.

“Why are you the nervous one?” Gaara asked. “You’ve done it a hundred times, haven’t you?”

“Not quite. But only with Kakashi. It’s different when you want to do with someone and when you’re being blackmailed by someone.”

Sasuke spurred himself into motion. He walked up to Gaara with the thought of getting this over with as quickly as possible. He approached the slightly shorter man.

“Just pretend I’m Kakashi.”

That broke the tension in Sasuke and he laughed. “I don’t think you’d like that. I can get a little bitey with him. Your sand would throttle me. How do we know your sand won’t react to me touching you?”

“It’s no longer as automatic or else Naruto would have been injured when he hugged me.”

Sasuke laughed a little nervously. “He can intrude on one’s personal space.” He laughed again. “I did sort of kiss him once. He was glowering at me—inches away—and someone knocked him into me and we ended up with our lips pressed against each other. We both nearly gagged ourselves sick. It wasn’t really a kiss though.” He dampened his lips.

To do this properly, Sasuke felt he should put a hand on Gaara’s cheek, but he couldn’t do something so loving. He took a steadying breath and then leaned in. He pressed his lips to Gaara’s and held them there a long moment before retreating, using only a little suction as he pulled back.

“No, a real kiss,” Gaara said. “I can get a peck on the lips from my sister.”

“Alright.”

Sasuke went to touch Gaara, pulled his hand back, then gave in; he put a hand to Gaara’s cheek and leaned in again, closing his eyes. Rather than lining up their lips, he pressed his upper lip between Gaara’s. Opening his mouth a little prompted Gaara to open his lips as well. Sasuke hesitated, but he moved his tongue to Gaara’s slightly open mouth.

Gaara’s tongue was not there to meet his. Sasuke pressed his tongue between the parted teeth and moved his tongue, prompting Gaara to respond. A shy tongue finally touched his own. Sasuke licked at the unfamiliar muscle and Gaara licked back.

Sasuke switched his focus to suck at Gaara’s lip. Gaara got the picture at that point and closed his upper lip over Sasuke’s and sucked a little. Sasuke let go and Gaara’s tongue penetrated his mouth. Sasuke let his tongue lap at the invader, but he wanted to get away.

Gaara put a hand on Sasuke’s shoulder. Sasuke’s free hand fisted. Then Gaara put his other hand one Sasuke’s hip. Sasuke stiffened, but resisted the urge to pull back. He was distracted and let Gaara kiss him. But when Gaara’s hand wandered to his groin, Sasuke stepped back.

“Just a kiss; it’s what we agreed.”

“Unless you wanted more.”

“Just a kiss.”

“You truly feel nothing for me?” Sasuke was surprised Gaara could still sound unperturbed after his first kiss.

“As a friend, but not as a lover. One thing is: I’m attracted to a man taller than me who can make me feel as safe as cowed. You are powerful enough to cow even me, but even with your powers and ultimate defense, I don’t think I could feel that same security with anyone else. It’s not just physical security, it’s assurance, trust in him. I would trust you, but I . . . As much as you can’t stop another person from loving you, you can’t make someone love you either.

“When I first kissed Kakashi, it was as if my soul was centered in my abdomen and it was being pulled at. Ever since, there’s been an echo of that feeling. I don’t feel it here. Your heart may be racing, you might be out of breath, but do feel like I did?”

“I feel something, yes. But maybe it’s not the same.”

“You’ll find someone who makes your heart ache even when you’re being held by them; you’ll be overwhelmed with longing even when they are right there. Whatever you love about me, it’s not enough; you don’t really know me.

“Let’s forget about this and just be friends. I’d rather not lose that.”

“Agreed.”

“No hard feelings.”

“No hard feelings.”

“You’re not a bad kisser. Goodnight, Kazekage-sama.”

Sasuke didn’t look any different when he came out into the corridor. The captain followed him and appeared next to him as they entered Sasuke’s room and the captain shut the door.

Kakashi was laying on one of the beds, his book in hand, held to just cover his lower face. Sasuke was relieved when it came away to show his mask still in place.

“So?” the captain goaded.

“That was the most nerve racking experience since the last time I saw my brother.”

“And?” Kakashi asked.

“I kissed him. He wouldn’t accept a simple kiss. I kissed him again. When he tried to touch me, I pulled away. I made it clear I didn’t love him; I didn’t feel the same kissing him as I do you, and we agreed to forget it and just be friends. The end.”

“I’ll keep guard tonight, just to be safe,” the captain said.

“You can fly with us tomorrow and sleep on the way,” Sasuke said. “Even if he’s keen on Hinata now, Naruto should appreciate the alone time with Sakura.”

“Understood.”

The man vanished.

“I hate that about ANBU,” Sasuke said.

“We annoy Hokages to no end,” Kakashi said. “I don’t miss it.”

“Give me a second.” Sasuke went into the bathroom and brushed his teeth, cleaning out his mouth and washing his lips. Kakashi stripped for bed as Sasuke cleaned up.

“Overkill,” Kakashi said when Sasuke returned.

“I wasn’t disgusted; I just don’t like feeling like I’m contaminated.” He crawled up Kakashi’s clothed body. “I belong to you.”

Kakashi put a hand over Sasuke’s temple and caressed him. “And I’m yours.”

Sasuke rubbed his head into Kakashi’s hand. After a few seconds of that, Sasuke leaned his forehead against Kakashi’s.

“Let’s sleep tonight. We can fuck like rabbits when we get home.”

“Agreed.”

Sasuke got up to strip down to his boxers and laid down next to Kakashi.

Kakashi understood that more than anything Sasuke felt like a whore right now, having to do something sexual with a man, not his lover, for his village like a mission. It would make Kakashi feel like a whore and Sasuke was far more innocent at least when it came to sex. He only had sex with one person and that person was the one he loved.

Kakashi turned off the lamp and curled up behind his lover. It felt good just to touch him. Kakashi inwardly berated himself for letting Sasuke go. He should have gone instead and told Gaara to back off. But it was over and Sasuke was here, no worse for wear. He snuggled in closer to smell his hair. They fell into a peaceful sleep.

-----

Gaara didn’t even knock at his sister’s door, he just opened it. “Temari,” he said into the darkness with his gravelly voice.

“Gaara?” she asked as she fumbled for a light. She came out of her bedroom in a robe.

“I got him to kiss me.”

“Oh no.” She sat down.

“I liked it. He said he felt . . . like his soul was being pulled out when he kissed Kakashi, but he didn’t with me. I told him I didn’t feel that exactly, but I did. Then I thought about how I’d feel if he was trying to make me love him or someone was trying to take him from me. I resent their happiness, but I can’t hate them.”

“Good. You’re not the first to love someone you can never have. Will you be alright?”

“I think so. I’ve felt pain worse than this. I think you may have been right: I was in love with that nuke-nin who attacked with wonton abandon. He’s far more controlled now. Far more soft and caring. I realize I asked the impossible, I blackmailed him, but he was kind to me the entire time, but not out of fear. He kissed me out of fear for what I might do to Konoha, but not out of fear of me. That meant something.”

Temari stood and hugged him. “He knows what it’s like to be feared and called a monster; maybe not as well as you or Naruto, but he understands. I imagine the fact Kakashi, Naruto, and that ANBU friend of his are his friends is because they don’t fear him and they treat him like a normal man. He really might have been good for you, but fate was against it. Kankuro and I love you. It is hard for the Kazekage to find a boyfriend or girlfriend, but you should try to be more relaxed and stop scaring people away. You’ll find someone else who isn’t frightened of you.”

“Understood.”

-----

In the morning, the captain was unreadable behind his mask, but Sasuke was certain the man hadn’t slept a wink last night. Sakura remained on Naruto’s other side at all times to have him between her and Sasuke.

The Sand siblings approached as Sasuke summoned two large hawks.

“Our ANBU escort will ride with Kakashi and I’ll ride alone,” Sasuke explained. When he saw Sakura’s sour look, Sasuke said, “I can summon Aoda, my snake summon, have him swallow you and then when we get to Konoha, I can summon him and have him throw you up. You may survive his digestive process.”

Naruto shivered remembering being inside one of Orochimaru’s snakes during the chunin exam. It wasn’t an experience he wanted to repeat.

Sasuke turned to greet Gaara. “Kazekage-sama.”

Gaara held out a hand and Sasuke took it. Gaara’s eyes were softer than any of them had ever seen and Sasuke smiled softly.

“You were right,” Gaara said.

“I wish you luck.”

Everyone else exchanged shakes and words of appreciation.

“If you don’t mind,” Gaara said, “will you take Temari with you?” Sasuke had noticed Temari had luggage with her.

“To see Shikamaru?” Naruto teased.

“Shut it, blondie,” Temari said.

Sasuke and Kakashi coughed out a laugh at the blonde calling Naruto ‘blondie’.

“I don’t mind traveling by foot,” Temari said. “Three of you are going by bird, right?”

“Despite our absolute confidence in Kankuro’s craftsmanship, we don’t want to risk sand contamination or him getting tired,” Sasuke explained.

A few more pleasantries and they were off. Sasuke and Kakashi were enormously relieved to escape Suna with their relationship intact.