Walking a Mile

Sex and a night's sleep did nothing to improve Sasuke's mood. He showered before Naruto woke up and went into the kitchen to make breakfast, but remembered there was nothing but ramen. Whatever. He made the ramen, but again he just watched it steam. He was still staring at it when Naruto finished his own shower and came into the kitchen. He looked at the open uneaten cup of ramen in front of Sasuke.

"Are you alright, Sasuke?"

"Yeah."

"You're not eating."

"I've lost my appetite."

"We can go out and get something to eat. We should check with Ino to see if her father's back."

"Yeah."

They went straight to Ino's.

"Yeah, he's back, but . . . Give me a minute, I'll tell him what happened. Wait here in the shop."

A few minutes later, "They what!" Sasuke and Naruto cringed, for themselves and in sympathy with Ino. It wasn't really her fault, but . . .

Her father, Inoich, came down and gazed at them with hard eyes. He was a little taller than they were, but he made them feel like children about to be scolded by an adult. He was a member of the interrogation squad so his menacing presence was practiced. "You two, come with me."

Ino was already in the practice room. Sasuke was frightened by the prospect of Inoichi seeing his mind, fearful he would see the direction his relationship had taken with Naruto, the lie about the mission yesterday, and most of all, his plans and feelings concerning Itachi.

"You two, sit there." They sat next to each other facing Inoichi. "Don't move. Think about being in your own bodies."

Inoichi sat and made a variety of handsigns. Inoichi didn't go limp like Ino did when she practiced her art and Naruto and Sasuke lost consciousness, but their heads merely fell, their chins touching their chests. Ino watched anxiously.

Sasuke and Naruto woke up so suddenly it made Ino jump. They both fell over and started shaking, Sasuke worse than Naruto. Inoichi opened his eyes.

"Sasuke."

They both just lay there shaking. It took a full half minute for Sasuke to look at Inoichi. He looked at his own white hand. "Yeah." Sasuke was back in his own body.

Naruto looked at his own hands and laughed. They were both back in their own bodies. Naruto was so happy he rolled over and hugged Sasuke. Sasuke was still trembling and cold so he didn't push Naruto away.

"You'll take a little time to readjust after being . . . away for so long. Ino," Inoichi turned his attention to his daughter.

"Don't . . . be hard on her," Sasuke struggled to say. "It's our . . . fault. I think . . . this experience . . . did us good."

"Hmm. You can stay until you feel strong enough to leave." Inoichi led Ino away.

"Thank you."

"Thanks."

When they were alone, "I'm glad you didn't eat," Naruto said.

"I'm glad you didn't either."

Sasuke sat up, still shivering. Naruto put his arms around him. They heard someone coming toward the room they were in and Naruto pulled away. Inoichi gave them both a cup of sake.

"It'll help warm you up." They took the cups, they both took a sip, but then Sasuke threw it back, swallowing the rest all at once.

"I want to assure you that I didn't pry into your minds, but Sasuke, your mind is very dark and conflicted. You need to talk with someone."

"He already has," Naruto said. Sasuke looked at him with no real emotion in his eyes. His trembling almost stopped, Naruto's already had. Sasuke turned his head back to Inoichi, but didn't look him in the eye, and nodded.

"What about me?" Naruto asked out of curiosity and maybe a little desire to shift Inoichi's attention from Sasuke.

"The opposite."

Sasuke tried to stand, steadying himself with a hand on Naruto's shoulder. He forced his body to hold him.

"Thank you Inoichi-san." Both Inoichi and Naruto were startled; they both knew Sasuke never used honorifics. "I'm going home." Sasuke turned and made for the door.

"I'm going with you," Naruto said. "Neither of us are very steady yet."

Sasuke looked back at him and nodded. For Sasuke, this was the end and he didn't want it to end. He wanted Naruto with him.

As they walked, they both regained their strength and control of their muscles.

"I'm hungry," Sasuke said once they were out on the street.

They stopped at a cafe. Sasuke ate light, Naruto ate like Naruto.

"It' over."

"Hmm."

"Seriously Sasuke, what's wrong?"

"What do you think? Itachi."

"Are you really thinking about . . ." They kept their voices low, but they didn't want to risk speaking to openly.

"I don't know. I don't know what to do." He was lying and that almost hurt more than what he was planning to do.

By the time they finished eating, they felt normal again.

"I want to spar, I need to fight, make sure I'm totally . . . back," Sasuke said as they walked toward his apartment. Sasuke stopped suddenly and put a hand on the hilt of the sword on his back. Naruto looked at him, then followed Sasuke's eyes.

"Uchiha," a Chunin they'd both seen, but didn't know, said. He was backed up by four others. "We want a word with you."

"So talk." Sasuke kept his hand on the hilt.

"On the training grounds."

"A public street should be adequate, don't you think, for a 'word?'"

The speaker pulled out a kunai. Naruto stood between the group and Sasuke.

"Wait, what's this about?"

"This is between us and that traitor Uchiha."

"Traitor?"

"Move, Naruto," Sasuke growled.

Naruto ignored him and created five clones. "Sasuke is a Konoha shinobi; we don't turn on each other."

"He turned on us first."

"He never attacked any of you."

"He attacked you." That was true enough.

"Move, Naruto," Sasuke repeated at a deeper growl.

Naruto looked back to see the Sharingan staring through him. Naruto grabbed Sasuke's wrist to prevent him from drawing. The Chunin lunged forward, Naruto's clones tensed, and then . . . nothing, the Chunin were frozen in mid-run. Sasuke looked passed the Chunin and saw Shikamaru standing behind them.

"Naruto is correct, Konoha shinobi do not ambush each other," Shikamaru said. "Unless you want to fight Sasuke, Naruto and his clones, and me, I suggest you all go home." He released his shadow jutsu and the Chunin dispersed.

"Thanks, Shikamaru," Naruto said. Sasuke let go of his hilt, but he still looked ready to fight. Naruto released his clones and only then did Sasuke's Sharingan fade.

"I was just going to see Ino. You back to normal?"

"Yeah."

"Shikamaru," Sasuke said in a very serious voice. "Do you think I'm a traitor too?"

"Naw. I understand why you left. I don't like that you did, but you came back without having to be hauled back in chains. That's good enough for me."

You're too lazy to hold a grudge. Sasuke nodded and walked forward until he stood next to him. "Thank you." And Sasuke walked off. Naruto thanked Shikamaru again and went after him, not knowing when someone one else might appear to challenge Sasuke.

Kakashi looked down at the pair. He saw the whole incident and would have stepped in if he didn't Shikamaru approach and make handsigns. He and Sasuke were very much alike and he knew what the Uchiha was thinking. Kakashi made his own decision.

—

Naruto and Sasuke fought. Sasuke was angry and frustrated, he pressed Naruto into full defense. They fought until Sasuke was so lost in the battle he activated both his Sharingan and Chidori. Naruto screamed at him and started a Rasengan, but Sasuke came back to himself.

Sasuke turned away and attacked a tree with the full force of his Chidori. The power was phenomenal, reducing the tree to little more than ash and splinter. The sheer power of the technique exhausted him.

"I'm going home," he said. He looked back at Naruto with softer eyes. "Are you coming?"

The pair showered and ate.

"Sasuke, it's not the whole village," Naruto said as they ate.

Sasuke brooded for a few seconds. "In the middle of the village."

"They probably just happened by; I doubt they were gunning for you."

"The middle of the village!" Sasuke slammed his hand down. He took a breath and leaned back. "I'm not like you, Naruto; I can't change their minds. There's no way I can prove myself. I could slaughter all of Akatsuki and they wouldn't accept me. I had resolved myself to that, but . . . I didn't realize how much they hated me. I can't live like this." Sasuke sat back.

"I believe in you. So does Kakashi and Sakura. Ino and Shikamaru have nothing against you. Even Neji's come around. Everything will get better. Especially when I become Hokage!"

Sasuke gave him a small smile, but his eyes didn't follow suit; they were sad. At least he wasn't angry anymore. "You can't force people to accept others."

"If you leave again, you'll just prove them right."

"Won't matter at that point. They want me dead or gone. I get the feeling they would prefer dead."

"I was the one you tried to kill. Twice. I don't hate you."

Sasuke forced down the last of his meal. "But we were friends; friends are capable of forgiving each other. Those others, they cannot forgive."

"You're not—"

"How long have you been in love with me?" Sasuke stopped him from asking a question Sasuke did not want to answer.

"Maybe I've always been in love with you and didn't realize it until . . . I saw you again. What about you?"

He smiled a little ashamedly. "Not until all this happened. Doesn't really make sense. But I probably also had feelings for you before. I guess I would have to; I came back because of you after all. I couldn't kill you in the end and you were all that tied me to Konoha." Sasuke tilted his head down and rubbed his face. "To think we of all people should become lovers."

"I really do love you, Sasuke."

"More than Sakura?"

"More than Sakura. Now that I think of it, I wonder just why I love her. But I can't understand why I love you either. People kept asking me why I cared so much about you leaving. We seemed to hate each other, always fighting, fierce rivals. Even after you tried to kill me. But you didn't. You are what I've always wanted to be: cool, good looking, loved by all the girls, a natural, talented genius. But that's not all."

"You might have to ask Sakura or Ino, but I don't think anyone's ever been able to explain love. As much as things may make it false, I really do love you too, Naruto."

"Then why do you look like you're going to throw up?"

Sasuke smiled. "Is that what I look like?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm not so used to showing emotion." Sasuke forced what he hoped was a sincere, but not gloomy expression. "I love you." He was sure Naruto could hear the 'but' at the end. But then again, maybe not. Because Naruto was smiling, and not just one of his regular smiles, it was the type of smile that made Sasuke's stomach knot. Was it the right thing to do, leaving?

Sasuke stood up, came over, and pulled Naruto up to embrace him. "I really do love you." He kissed him chastely on the cheek.

Naruto pulled back enough to capture Sasuke's lips. They rubbed against each other until their arousals were obvious.

It was nice to be able to do this in their own bodies. Naruto's skin tasted saltier and copperier than his own as his lips wondered. He tasted a bit of ramen, but the boy ate so much that it wasn't a surprise.

When Naruto copped a feel, Sasuke smiled and pushed him onto the bed. He could forget about his plans now, could forget about everything and just concentrate on this. He stripped while Naruto watched. His smile was genuine as Naruto watched him with all the admiration and lust the boy could muster. Once stripped, they started at each other, almost awkwardly.

"Are you just going to sit there, fully-clothed, and staring?"

"Huh?" Naruto realized the situation and rushed to rectify it. Sasuke nearly laughed at Naruto stripping his clothes as quickly as possible without getting of the bed. As soon as he was stripped and somewhat settled down, Sasuke was over him. He teased Naruto's nipples with his mouth until Naruto started cursing. He left that to taste his weeping erection. Different in taste and texture, but not at all distasteful. Naruto watched spellbound as Sasuke, the most beautiful creature in Konoha took him into his mouth. Sure, they had been lovers before now, but this was the first time in their own bodies.

"Sasuke," Naruto sighed. Sasuke let him thrust up into his mouth a few times, then held his hips down. Naruto wanted to watch, but his eyes kept shutting from the pleasure. Sasuke ran his tongue up his shaft, sucked at the head, tongued the slit, and deep throated Naruto, using his throat muscles to message the head. They'd had sex enough in the last few days that they were both better able to keep their orgasms at bay.

Sasuke gave Naruto's cock one last lick as he pulled back, sitting back on his haunches. Naruto got the hint and sucked Sasuke off almost as skillfully as Sasuke had. Sasuke's hands were tangled in Naruto's yellow hair, but resisted shoving the other all the way down his cock.

Sasuke tried to pull Naruto away, but Naruto was insistent. Naruto slightly regretted it as Sasuke cried out when he shot into his mouth; he wanted to see Sasuke as he cam. He wasn't able to see much as he sucked Sasuke dry. He rose and kissed Sasuke, sharing his essence with him. He was glad Sasuke didn't push him away in disgust, rather he nearly stole it all. That turned him on more.

In retribution, Sasuke did finally push him away and finish sucking him off. Sasuke pulled away just as Naruto was about to climax. Naruto swore at him. Sasuke turned his attention to his balls, bringing Naruto to climax quickly. Sasuke scooped up Naruto's cum and painted it on Naruto's lips as he brought his face close.

"Turn over."

Naruto compiled thinking he didn't need so much preparation since it was too soon for Sasuke to be ready to enter him. He got the shock of his life when he felt Sasuke's tongue lap at his cheeks. His tongue moved inward. Naruto squirmed as much from the gentle pleasure as from embarrassment. Sasuke spread him open and teased his opening with his tongue. He pressed in, massaging the ring of muscle. Naruto squirmed.

Sasuke slicked his fingers and began stretching him. He spent time probing Naruto's prostate which was torturous considering Naruto had just cum. It was a little sadism coming out in Sasuke as he did it.

Listening to Naruto's pleasured mewing had Sasuke hard in less time than Naruto predicted. Sasuke lubed his length and pressed into the well prepared whole. Sasuke kissed, licked at Naruto's neck and upper back, and sucked at Naruto's earlobes in a lascivious way that made Naruto hard without any other stimulation.

Naruto was reveling in the debauchery Sasuke was plunging him into. He rocked back to forced Sasuke to go deeper and faster. Sasuke pulled him back against him. "Don't cum yet," he whispered in Naruto's ear. Sasuke thrust a few more times and erupted inside of his blond lover.

Sasuke pulled out and lay on his back, legs spread and knees bent in the most inviting manner. Naruto leered at him and decided to attack Sasuke's entrance with his tongue in retaliation for what Sasuke did to him. Sasuke pulled his knees up to give Naruto better access. With such a lascivious teacher, Naruto brought Sasuke back to hardness in no time, though Sasuke suspected it might hurt since he'd cum more times this week than ever before in his life.

Naruto left off, prepared himself, and pushed in. Naruto slithered between Sasuke's legs and kissed him. Sasuke spread his legs more and put them down in a more comfortable position. Sasuke let Naruto make love to him with no more encouragement than sucking Naruto's tongue deeper into his mouth as they kissed.

Naruto had settled down while he ate Sasuke out so now he could take his time. Sasuke grew impatient.

"Harder," he said through clinched teeth. Naruto complied happily. Naruto kissed his neck and grazed his teeth on the white skin. Sasuke grabbed his head pressed him down. Naruto took the hint and bit hard enough to draw blood.

They finally got into a rhythm of their hips meeting in midair with Naruto nearly pulling all the way out before they came back together, penetrating Sasuke deeply. Sasuke erupted between them and Naruto followed suit. Sasuke sank into the bed in an exhausted heap. Naruto collapsed next to him so as not to smother Sasuke.

After a few minutes, Naruto curled up next to Sasuke and used his shoulder as pillow and had his arm over his chest, holding him like a pillow. Sasuke played with the spiky hair. Despite how much he loved Naruto, despite their—fantastic, Sasuke had to admit—sexual relationship, Sasuke was resolved. He fell asleep with the peace of a man who no longer had any doubts. He would break Naruto's heart, but this was for Naruto's good as well as his own.