Naruto: ATBN

A/N: Yes, I know I need to update Bitch Nights!!! Lay down ye pitchforks and torches, please. BN is actually being written, and actually much FASTER now that I’m not focusing exclusively on it. As in, I was so stressed about it that I’d stopped writing altogether. But doing this other stuff gives me ideas for BN, so I end up writing it, too.

For today’s fun, Leeana69 wrote a meme for Admiral ShadowWolf; I, however had never heard of one before. Apparently, you’re supposed to pick a selection of songs, put them on your playlist, and then while each one is playing, write a drabble for each.

However, I can’t drabble, so I said, ‘Fuck that!’

In the end, I think I sort of got the spirit of the exercise, if not the letter. By the time each song had played through once, I had the whole scene in my head. After that was getting the actual writing part done. So several hours and ten pages later . . . Like I said, I can’t drabble. I’m too much of a perfectionist.

It does help, however, that I’ve long considered Nickelback to be my unofficial soundtrack for Naruto(and Bitch Nights, incidentally.) All of the songs here are by them, and all of them are my favorites, so if you haven’t heard them, I’d recommend doing so, just because they’re made of awesome like that. Of course, I hope you like my ‘drabbles’ anyway . . .

Credits to Leeana69 for the idea, and Aini and Admiral ShadowWolf for being my betas.


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Saving Me (Sasu/Naru)

Naruto sat atop Yondaime's head on the monument, looking down on a village that insisted on hating him for the demon that-funnily enough-shared their feelings. He loved Konoha, loved its people; his heart was just too big, his experience with loneliness too great for him not to want to spare others of the same fate, but sometimes it was so hard. And the one he thought could have shared the pain and eased the burden had left . . .

Sasuke

Sasuke sat in his room brooding. The dark, enclosed feeling of Orochimaru's lair pressed down on him with a tangible weight; he wasn't even sure which one they were in, they moved that often. But they were all the same. Dark, cold and lonely, the atmosphere left him in a constant battle with fear and depression that beat the pain of his childhood. At least back home, he'd had a friend . . .

Naruto

Naruto thought back to the last time he'd seen his best friend and rival. The coldness in his expression was the same as he'd seen in the younger version of the same face. The only difference was that now he could see the faintest hint of longing. Sasuke had been so fast; if he'd really wanted Naruto dead, he could have easily done it while he'd been held immobile by his own feelings . . .

If he'd just said the words, I'd have given up being Hokage.

Sasuke reflected on Naruto's words. 'Can a person who can't even save one of his friends become Hokage?' The realization that the stubborn shinobi had put aside his entire life's ambition on hold in order to save their friendship . . . if he'd asked why, what would he have said?

If he told me . . . I'd leave this life behind me

All I need is you.

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Photograph (Kakashi/Obito)

Kakashi sighed in annoyance as he rummaged through one of the boxes in his closet. His apartment was the size of a shoebox, so anything that wasn't absolutely essential was put up. At this point, he wasn't even sure he cared enough about this particular training manual to dig it out. Let Naruto darken the library's doorway for once . . .

His fingertips brushed aged leather and it caught his attention. Grasping the book, he pulled it out of the box, revealing it to be . . . an old photo album. In fact, the very album . . .

Kakashi's heart gave a painful thud as he read the label on the spine, in old but familiar handwriting. He-ever the OCD one-hadn't wanted to mark on the smooth leather, but he had grabbed it long enough to scrawl 'Team Awesome' with permanent marker. Minato had just laughed.

Hesitantly, Kakashi emerged from his closet, opening the dusty album in the sunlight from the window by his bed. He let his eyes rest on the several pictures of him with his teammates, always looking aloof, even in the one or two pictures in which he was maskless(thought part of that may have been because Obito had been the one to steal said mask. Even back then, he'd only taken it off when Rin needed to heal him.)

Obito . . .

Kakashi waited for the pain to clench at his heart at his teammate's name, the name of the one he'd never appreciated, never loved until it was too late. And waited.

It didn't come.

Instead, he found himself thinking about his own team. How Naruto, Sakura, Sai and Yamato all looked to him as a leader; how more recently, they'd begun initiating more than that. For the first time since he'd lost Obito, Rin and Minato, he was finding himself dragged to social functions, team dinners, training that he hadn't scheduled, movies . . .

Opening his eyes, Kakashi tenderly laid the photo album, still open, on his bed. He looked for a moment longer, gaze caressing each beloved face in return before gently shutting the cover. Feeling a lightness in his heart, he moved back to the closet, once again intent on his original search.

Maybe after helping Naruto study, he could take the blond out for ramen . . .

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Feeling Way Too Damn Good - (Sasu/Naru)

He had no idea where Ero-Sennin was, and for once, he didn't care.

He had no idea how Sasuke had found him in the middle of this big, dirty city, and he could actually care less.

It was like he was dreaming. For almost two days straight, the two of them had been holed up in the inn, in various states of fucking, eating, sleeping and showering(though the latter tended to lead to more fucking.)

The rules were simple. Sasuke had shown up at his window that night, startling the jinchuuriki from sleep, and told him in that cold, hard voice that the second Naruto tried to convince him to come back, he would be gone as quickly as he'd arrived, and Naruto would never see him like this again.

'Like this' referred to the moment that his best friend and rival had, with no further notice, pulled Naruto's cock free of his pajama pants and blown him senseless.

For the first time in his life, Naruto had kept his mouth shut.

Not that it was easy. The sex was mind-blowing enough that he didn't have time to think too much, but during Sasuke's more tender moments, or when he allowed Naruto to take his turn as seme, or whenever their lips touched-never at first, but more and more as time passed-Naruto could feel his heart break a little more at the thought that this-whatever 'this' was-would soon be over.

The very thought was enough to make him simultaneously wish Sasuke had never shown up, and to make him reach again for the raven, determined to make sure he was real, that he hadn't left yet. And Sasuke seemed to be able to read the heart on his sleeve as easily as ever, and would just crook his mouth and offer to call room service for more ramen.

What was worse? To love, knowing you'd just lose again, or to love only a memory?

Finally, the time came; Naruto watched Sasuke leave the way he'd come, and turned with tears in his eyes to the bathroom. He knew Jiraiya was probably due to check up on him soon; luckily, his tenant would take care of the physical marks, if not the emotional ones.

He stepped into the hot shower, intent on cleaning his body and hopefully the tears that fell silently.

Before he could even grab the soap, however, he was grabbed from behind, a faintly shaking voice whispering in his ear. "Just one last time."

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Learn How to Crawl (Sasu/Naru)

Sasuke stared defiantly at Tsunade and the members of the council, still maintaining his defiance in the face of impending death.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Ibiki began, "You stand accused of-"

"Hn," Sasuke glared, cutting the man off. "Spare me. It's not like I'm here to defend my own innocence. I did it, I admit it. Betrayal, consorting with missing S-rank nins, dabbling in forbidden jutsu, just about everything you can level against me, I'm guilty of. I didn't return here to play games or negotiate. Kill me or don't. Imprison me or don't."

Tsunade's voice was sharp, "Do you realize the seriousness of the crimes you're accused of?"

"Yes, I read the list, Hokage-sama. I plead guilty. Now sentence me."

She leaned back in surprise, "Why would you let yourself be brought back to Konoha if all you expect is to die?"

Sasuke nearly flinched, remembering a certain pair of pleading cerulean eyes.

For him. So he wouldn't have to go back on his word. So that they both . . .

He firmed his mouth, refusing to answer.

A flicker of understanding flashed in Tsunade's honey eyes, and she stood. She approached the bound Uchiha, heedless of the disapproving murmurs of the council, the tense wariness of the surrounding ANBU. The legendary Sannin, known for her rough edges, her ineloquence, leaned down so close her lips brushed his ear and whispered, "Yesterday, when he dragged your sorry ass to my office, was the first time since you left that I've seen that light in his eyes. Would you darken them completely over your pride?"

Sasuke's breath caught; his heart gave a painful thud as emotion that he'd thought long since smothered, suffocated under self-loathing and hatred, started to seep into his consciousness.

When she moved back, Sasuke met her eyes, for the first time in years letting his emotions color his gaze before respectfully bowing his head.

For him . . . for him, I'll learn how to crawl . . .

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Next Contestant (Kaka/Saku)

Kakashi watched as Sakura all but strutted up to the bar, her leather-clad ass swaying seductively. Watching the surrounding men checking out the kunoichi's legs-and wondering just what she was wearing under that miniskirt-made Kakashi glad he was wearing a mask. It wouldn't do to alert their target-a missing nin involved in a drug-smuggling ring-just because the bait's boyfriend happened to be on the same mission.

It was his own fault; you date a kunoichi on your team, you end up having to occasionally watch said kunoichi seduce a mark.

He'd known he was in trouble when she'd come out of the bathroom wearing the black leather miniskirt. She'd given him that look that clearly said, 'Why not? It works on you." And the shiny pink halter-top that both matched her hair and drew attention to those delicious, smooth-skinned shoulders . . .

Things were even worse tonight; they'd discovered through observation that their target didn't like to be approached; he's rather be the one doing the approaching. So the last few nights, he'd been forced to watch as his sakura blossom had done her best to catch the man's eye-and catching everyone else's in the process.

The hours wore on as he watched her flirt shamelessly with the men buying her drinks, dancing with them, working the testosterone in the room until he was ready to wade into her circle of admirers and kick their asses out the door.

Finally, finally the target was drawn by Sakura's irresistible charm, obviously curious as to why she hadn't picked one of the men already fawning on her. Kakashi ground his teeth as she made a flippant response, then giggled as the scumbag laid a hand on-his girlfriend's-arm!

I wish you'd do it again . . .' Kakashi urged the man silently, trying his damndest to tamp down on the killing intent he was no doubt radiating.

Fifteen minutes later, Kakashi joined Sakura in the alleyway, where she was already disposing of the man's remains. "Here comes the next contestant," she cooed, as he shoved her up against the brick wall of the building.

"No," he growled, hands already beneath her skirt as he shoved her against the brick wall, "I'm the winner."

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Someday (Naru/Sasu)

Sasuke froze as he watched his best friend and rival burst into the ruins of what was his bedroom. He'd been so pissed at that bastard, Sai, for bringing up the blonde he'd tried so hard not to think about, and now here was the genuine article.

Before he could stop himself, he found himself saying, "Naruto?" He had to struggle to keep in indifferent expression on his face, trying to keep the same bored, uninterested facade he bore at all times. "So you're here, too?"

He and Naruto just stared at each other across the vast space between them, the others completely forgotten, the words being spoken irrelevant to the conversation they were having through their eyes.

They were best friends, and elite class shinobi, after all. They could read each other's hearts.

'Naruto, you shouldn't be here . . .'

'But I am here. I came for you.'

'I can't come with you. I won't.'

'Why, Sasuke?'

'Because I . . . '

'Sasuke . . .'

'I'm going to make things right, Naruto. But not now. Not yet.'

'When, Sasuke?'

'. . .'

'Sasuke?'

And then Sasuke moved to strike, allowed himself to be stopped, allowed Orochimaru to take him away.

As he felt the jutsu begin to drag his body into the ether, he locked eyes one last time.

'Someday.'

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This is How You Remind Me (Ita/Sasu?)

Uchiha Itachi sneaked another glance across the restaurant, searching for the booth housing three cloaked men. One of them kept his hood up, far too recognizable to risk showing his face. The other two, however, had dropped theirs, revealing two sets of vastly different, yet handsome features. One had white hair, and intelligent eyes hidden behind thick lenses, while the other . . .

The other was his own brother, Uchiha Sasuke. Though only fourteen(where did the time go?, ) he Itachi had always known how similar in appearance they'd been-it had caused quite a few jokes in the compound as to whether or not so much in-clan breeding was a good idea or not.

'Rough family to be in,' he thought bitterly as the sake started to take hold, 'Forced to kill your best friends, blind your brothers and marry your cousins to 'keep the blood pure.' No wonder they all turned into rebels. Insanity must be a recessive trait.' He shook his head a little to clear it, and went back to staring at his otouto, his breath catching as he watched the boy glance out the window, as if looking for something.

How pissed the boy would be if he only knew his quarry were only a few meters away. Itachi was no fool; he and Kisame were obscured with a mild henge that was low level enough not to be detected while his Sharingan kept an aura about them that discourage normal eyes to linger. Or maybe he was a fool, for no matter the precautions, he shouldn't be here. Sasuke wasn't a threat of course, and neither were his keepers, but he was supposed to be searching for clues to the Kyuubi container's whereabouts. It had been a year since the boy-Naruto-had seemingly disappeared off the map with the other Sannin. Apparently, Sasuke had left the village some time before that.

Looking for the power to defeat him.

A mixture of grief and anger had Itachi turning his bottle upwards in hope of finding some comfort at the bottom. His brother, his beloved baby brother, had betrayed the village he'd slaughtered their family to protect.

But he doesn't know that, part of him argued.

Did it matter? When the time was right, Sasuke would come for him. Absolution would never be his, but he'd never asked for it. He didn't deserve it. Even if it were for the greater good-and every day he asked himself if maybe there had been some other way-the blood of his entire clan, from the eldest already near the grave to the youngest of their cousins, still in her cradle, could never be washed away.

That was the true reason he let his brother live. Not just because he loved his otouto more than life itself, but because he hated what he'd become for 'the good of the village.'

Itachi finally noticed that he was out of sake when Kisame nudged his elbow, their signal for 'you've had enough.' He nodded, thoroughly depressed and needing some downtime.

Sometimes . . . sometimes, so long after the fact, he could forget some of the horror of what he'd done. But as he took one last glance at the brother he'd left behind, the well-hidden pain in those onyx eyes . . .

'This is how you remind me, Otouto'

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Far Away (Naru/Sasu)

Uchiha Sasuke silently made his way across the rooftops of Konoha. It was early morning, so early that even the birds were only just waking up and the morning dew forced him to use added chakra so he didn't slide upon landing.

There was only one thought in his mind, one destination. He made it to the run-down apartment, climbed the stairs silently and, actually shaking in trepidation, raised his hand to knock . . .

Only to have the door open before he could touch it.

Sasuke and Naruto both froze at the sight of each other. The former was cloaked, in the hopes of remaining unrecognized by anyone he passed, the latter wearing his orange sleep pants, obviously having just rolled out of bed. Both looked disheveled, though for different reasons, and both looked mildly frightened for the same ones.

Naruto broke the silence first, "S-sasuke?" His voice was uncharacteristically timid, as though afraid that he was trapped in a genjutsu. "Is it really you?" Hope started to glimmer in the blue eyes.

Sasuke had to swallow before he could speak, and even then, his response was nearly automatic: "Hn. Usuratonkachi."

There was a sound further down the hall, and before the Uchiha quite knew what was happening, he'd been pulled into the apartment and the door shut behind him.

Right. I'm still a missing-nin.

Naruto tugged him all the way to the living room, and Sasuke let him, feeling . . . unsure, afraid. Once Naruto recovered from the shock, what would he say? Was the blonde happy to see him? Or was it too late? He'd been gone for so long now . . .

They were finally at the window where they could see each other clearly, and Sasuke couldn't help but just stare at his friend for a few moments, drinking in the details, noting the changes the last few years had wrought. He'd have felt more self-conscious, had not Naruto been doing the same thing. But was that longing in the other's gaze or something else?

I've been away for far too long . . .

Naruto's lips trembled, his eyes filling with tears, "I wanted you to stay, Sasuke."

For a moment, Sasuke felt so guilty. "Naruto . . . I . . ." Why couldn't he say the words? "All along . . . I've . . . " I love you, I'm sorry!' he wanted to say, but something, maybe his pride, maybe the remnants of that stick Naruto had long proclaimed was shoved up his ass, but he couldn’t just say it.

Still, he could see that Naruto was as good at reading him as ever as a tiny smile graced his features, "I forgive you."

Kami, he didn't deserve his Dobe. The love involved in forgiving what he'd done . . . and with no reassurance that said love would be returned, that Sasuke wouldn't betray him again . . .

If he could make even that small reassurance, "I'm not leaving anymore."

Naruto's look of joy lit up the room even as the morning sun broke over the trees on the horizon, and the last Uchiha found himself pulled into a tight hug, and for the first time since his family had died, he let it happen. The blonde's voice was muffled, but Sasuke could still make out the words, 'Believe it!'

Flinching, Sasuke turned Naruto around so that he could press him into the nearest wall. "Dattebayo,' Dobe."

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A/N: Sorry, there was too much angst; I had to throw something in mildly funny.

You know, I always swore I’d never write anything like a songfic. Good thing my friends had some condiments to eat my words with . . .

In any case, tell me what you think! *blows kisses*