Archive of Our Own

The war was over, but peace didn’t feel real yet.

Naruto stood just outside Konoha’s gates, eyes on the horizon where the trees met the sky. Victory felt distant, like something that had happened to someone else. Part of him was still back there in the mud and blood, still running, still trying to hold everything together with sheer will. Time hadn’t dulled the edge of it. Even after a year, some things hadn’t healed.

He wasn't the boy who had walked away from the village.

But the village greeted him like nothing had happened. And Naruto didn't know how to make peace with that.

Sasuke’s trial happened not long after the war ended. Naruto had thrown everything he had into it, trying to make them understand. He talked about their childhood, about what Sasuke had done during the war, how he’d stood with them when it mattered most. Kakashi had just become Hokage, and he’d backed Naruto up. That had helped. In the end, the Elders gave in. They called it redemption. A second chance.

Sasuke hadn't said a word. Hadn't looked up. Just sat there, hollow-eyed and quiet, like the verdict didn't belong to him.

Naruto didn't know what he had expected. A flicker of hope, maybe. A sign that things might begin again. But Sasuke remained sealed away, unreachable, like a dream slipping through Naruto's fingers.

He had thought this would be the beginning of something. But beginnings were quiet things, and Sasuke... Sasuke was still somewhere far away.

Over the past year, he'd taken missions, some long, some short, always vanishing like smoke the moment his presence threatened to settle. He wandered in and out of Konoha like a ghost, barely anchored, always on the verge of leaving again.

Their bond had always lived in silence, in glances, in the way they moved around each other. But something had changed. That last battle, the blood, the breath shared in those final moments, it left a scar deeper than any wound. It tied them together in ways Naruto hadn't figured out how to name.

The sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the training grounds. The village was quiet, winding down for the night. Sasuke had been given a small room on the edge of town. The Uchiha compound had been destroyed during Pain’s attack and never rebuilt. There was no need. There was no one left to rebuild it for.

Sasuke hadn't taken the new arm, either. The decision had startled the village, but not Naruto. Some ghosts weren't willing to share space in the body. Guilt had its own gravity, and Sasuke was still lost in its orbit. Flesh and bone couldn't repair what he had lost. That step had to come from within.

Naruto had tried to reach him, but Sasuke's walls weren't made of stone. They were made of silence. And silence was harder to tear down.

Still, Naruto kept showing up.

He didn't know how to explain what it was they had between them now, only that it felt heavier, and somehow more fragile. Like a thread woven from everything they had endured and everything they had almost destroyed.

The sky deepened into navy, the stars arriving one by one, and Naruto made his way toward the quiet building Sasuke was staying in. 

The streets were empty. His footsteps felt loud in the stillness. The moon hung low and watchful. For the first time in what felt like years, Naruto felt the tiniest flicker of peace curl against his ribs. It didn't last long, but he held onto it anyway.

He stopped in front of Sasuke's door. Inhaled. Exhaled. Knocked.

The door opened. Sasuke stood there, all sharp lines and unreadable eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard you were back from your mission. Brought you some books," Naruto said, lifting a bag like it was a peace offering.

Sasuke frowned. "Books?"

Naruto gave him a crooked grin. "Yeah, you know, those paper things with words. You read them."

A smile tugged at the corner of Sasuke's mouth, quiet and sudden, and Naruto's chest ached. That smile didn't belong in this broken place. It was something delicate, like new grass pushing through scorched earth.

"I know what books are, idiot. I just didn't think you'd... bother."

Naruto shrugged. "You're not exactly hosting tea parties. I figured you could use something to do."

Sasuke shook his head, but took the bag anyway.

"Thanks," he said, barely above a whisper.

Naruto nodded. "No problem."

"I'm leaving tomorrow," Sasuke added. "Two weeks this time."

Naruto blinked. "That soon? You just came back."

He hadn't expected Kakashi to send Sasuke out again so quickly, though maybe he should have.

"I asked for it," Sasuke said, eyes dropping. "I need the distance. Something quiet. Somewhere else."

Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but the words slipped through his fingers.

"I'll be fine," Sasuke said, but even he didn't believe it.

They stood in the half-light, suspended in something neither of them could name.

"Guess I'll see you when you get back home," Naruto said, voice gentler now.

"Home," Sasuke repeated, like he was testing the shape of the word in his mouth.

And Naruto saw it – that flicker of doubt, of pain. That longing for a place that didn't feel like it belonged to him anymore.

"You're a citizen again," Naruto said. "This is your home."

Sasuke looked away. "It doesn't feel like it."

Naruto's heart gave a quiet, tired thump.

"Then I'll keep trying to make it feel like it."

Sasuke didn't answer. Just stared past him, voice flat when he said, "Do what you want. See you when I get back."

The door closed.

Naruto stayed there for a moment, alone with the wind. The cold slipped into his sleeves, but he didn't move.

He wanted to do something more. Something bigger. Something that could speak louder than the words Sasuke couldn't hear.

Home wasn't a room. It wasn't four walls and silence. Home was a feeling. A promise. A place built by hands that loved you even when you couldn't love yourself.

He walked through the sleeping village, the last lights flickering out behind curtained windows. The night was deep and quiet. His thoughts restless. Searching.

And when he passed a store selling wood and nails and cement, he stopped.

Maybe he didn't need a plan. Maybe he didn't need the right words.

Maybe he just needed to build.

-

The Hokage's office was a mess. Papers and scrolls were strewn all over the floor, and there was a pile of half-finished paperwork threatening to topple over.

Naruto glanced around, then looked at his former teacher, who was slouched in his chair with the weariness of someone deeply regretting every decision that brought him here.

"How's the Hokage thing going?" Naruto asked, trying not to smirk.

Kakashi gave him a flat stare. "Don't ask. I suggest you ramp up your studies, so I can go back to reading smut in peace, far away from budget approvals and mission rosters."

"You're the one who agreed to be Hokage," Naruto said, shrugging. "And I am studying. It's just... a lot."

"Believe me, I know," Kakashi muttered, rubbing his temples like he was trying to press the headache back into his skull. "So. What brings you here?"

Naruto hesitated. His hand came up to the back of his neck, sheepish, like he was trying to smooth away nerves that wouldn't budge.

"I was wondering if there's any land for sale in the village," he began. "And maybe... if there's any way I could buy it?"

Kakashi's eyes narrowed slightly. 

"For what?"

"I want to build a house," Naruto said quietly.

A pause.

"Oh," Kakashi replied, sitting back. "Well. That cramped little apartment isn't exactly befitting of the Hero of the Leaf."

"It's not that," Naruto said quickly. "I mean, it is small, but I don't mind it. That's not why I'm doing this."

Kakashi's gaze sharpened. 

"Then what's this about?"

Naruto looked down, heart thrumming in his chest like it was building something of its own. The words stuck for a moment. When they came, they came softly.

"I'm building it for Sasuke."

Something flickered across Kakashi's face, but it was gone before Naruto could name it. "I see."

"I want him to have a place," Naruto continued, his voice gentler now, as if saying it aloud made it more fragile. "Somewhere that's his. Somewhere that feels safe. Like he can exist without having to fight for every scrap of belonging."

Kakashi was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. Then he leaned back with a sigh that felt older than he looked. 

"Most of the Uchiha land's already been claimed. But there's one small plot near the old compound. No one touched it. I think you could build something there."

Naruto's breath caught. 

"Seriously?"

Kakashi nodded. 

"Technically, the village reclaimed it after Sasuke left. But it still belongs to him. I think it's only fair he gets it back."

A grin bloomed across Naruto's face, bright and sudden. 

"That's perfect."

"Then go build your house," Kakashi said, gesturing at the mess around him. "And let me suffer in peace."

Naruto laughed. 

"Good luck, Kakashi-sensei."

He had almost reached the door when Kakashi spoke again.

"Hey. Naruto."

Naruto turned.

"If anyone can get through to him," Kakashi said quietly, "it's you."

The words settled over him like a promise. Like a blessing. Naruto nodded once, then left the office with something warm blooming in his chest.

He was going to build it. And it wouldn't just be wood and nails and paint. It would be something more. Something sacred.

A place called home.

-

Two weeks wasn't nearly enough time to build a house. Not for anyone else.

But Naruto wasn't anyone else. And with the help of a hundred shadow clones and the quiet determination that had always carried him through the impossible, he knew he could make it happen.

Sai had helped him draft the design – traditional, clean-lined, peaceful. A home with soft wood, quiet rooms, and a garden that would one day bloom. It overlooked what was left of the Uchiha district like a memory.

"It looks nice," Sai commented, as they stood in front of the empty land. "Are you going to live here with Sasuke, too?"

Naruto's face reddened. "Wha—no, it's not like that."

Sai tilted his head, looking genuinely confused. "Like what?"

"Nothing," Naruto muttered.

Sai's voice remained calm, even thoughtful. "It's a very intimate gift. I've never seen records of friends building homes for each other."

"There's a first time for everything."

Sai smiled. "I suppose so. Let me know when you want to paint it. I have a lot of ideas."

"I'll keep that in mind," Naruto said.

After Sai left, the silence settled differently. Less empty, more expectant. Naruto turned toward the plot of land, the soil still bare, the air still. But he could already see it: the shape of a house rising out of memory and hope, each line of wood and stone saying what words never quite could.

He closed his eyes.

He saw the porch bathed in morning light. He saw the garden blooming quietly. He saw Sasuke standing at the doorway, not lost, not wandering. Just... home.

It wasn't just a house. It was a promise.

A place to start over. A place to come back to.

Naruto would build it with his own hands, over and over, if he had to.

Because some things were worth the effort. Because healing didn't always begin with words. Sometimes, it began with the ground beneath your feet. With walls that wouldn't collapse. With someone choosing to stay.

And Naruto would be there.

Every step of the way.

-

Naruto felt a little guilty.

He'd seen the prices at the lumberyards. The cost of tile, insulation, even the handmade nails from the smithy near the river. And yet, his invoices were suspiciously low. Discounted, sometimes halved entirely. He wasn't naive. He understood what it meant.

The villagers were trying to thank him.

Not with words, but through actions. Through small favors and quiet kindnesses tucked inside the margins of everyday life. A stack of lumber delivered early. A note in careful handwriting, for everything you've done . An old man pressing an extra bottle of water into his hand and walking away before Naruto could say thank you.

He appreciated it more than he could say.

Still, he'd turned down most offers to help. Not because he didn't need it, but because he wanted to do this himself. Brick by brick, beam by beam. Every nail he drove in was another word he couldn't quite say aloud.

Look, Sasuke. I mean it. I mean all of it.

The foundations were poured, solid and still beneath his feet. The frame rose slowly, the shadow clones working tirelessly on it. Walls took shape under his hands, and with each layer of plaster, each stroke of paint, the space grew warmer, closer to what he imagined a home should be.

He found that he didn't mind the labor. The work was honest, grounding. It gave him time to think. Time to reflect. And more than anything—

It gave him time to dream .

He dreamed of quiet mornings, of Sasuke sitting on the porch in soft sunlight, a mug of tea in his hand and his shoulders finally at ease. He dreamed of coming home from missions and seeing the porch light on, the silhouette of Sasuke behind the door. He dreamed of late dinners, shared silences, and the kind of warmth that didn't demand words.

These weren't the kinds of dreams he'd ever allowed himself before. Not really. But now they arrived without permission, looping again and again behind his eyes.

He didn't know where they'd come from. Maybe from years of worry, or the echo of war, but they'd taken root. And with every nail he drove into the wood, he wanted them more.

So when a familiar voice called out, it startled him enough to nearly drop the hammer.

"Hey, you need a break yet?"

He turned to see Sakura standing there, arms folded, the sun catching on the pink of her hair and the faint worry in her eyes.

"I'm fine," Naruto said, wiping sweat from his brow. "What're you doing here, Sakura-chan?"

"Brought your dumbass some lunch," she said, lifting a basket. "You didn't think you could live on instant ramen and willpower forever, did you?"

Naruto grinned. 

"Thank god. I'm starving."

"You're always starving," Sakura muttered, though her voice was fond. Her gaze drifted to the structure behind him. "How's it coming along?"

He glanced at the house – half-dressed in scaffolding, but already beginning to feel like something more.

"It's coming along great," he said. "Sasuke'll have a nice, comfy place to come back to."

Sakura gave a small smile. "I haven't seen you work this hard since you were mastering the Rasenshuriken."

Naruto shrugged, already unwrapping the lunch. "Yeah, well... Sasuke's worth it."

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

Sakura paused. 

"Oh?"

"I mean–" Naruto fumbled, color rising to his cheeks. "He's my best friend, y'know?"

Her smile deepened, but there was something else behind it this time. Something older, quieter.

"Mm."

Naruto blinked. "What?"

"Nothing," she said lightly, settling onto the porch steps. "It's just... you two have always been intense. First it was rivalry, then missions, then chasing him through the world while he wanted to kill all of us. And now… this ." She gestured loosely to the house. "And through it all, you keep finding your way back to each other."

"Well, yeah," Naruto said. "We're connected. The old man Sage said we're reincarnations of his sons, so we're like... brothers, or something."

"Or something," Sakura echoed, her tone unreadable. "Don't tell me you actually see Sasuke as a brother."

Naruto tilted his head. 

"Why not?"

She met his eyes. "Because if I had a brother, and he looked at me the way you look at Sasuke–" she gave a short, amused exhale, "– I'd be a little concerned."

Naruto stared. 

"The hell does that mean?"

Sakura just laughed, standing and dusting off her hands. "Figure it out, moron."

Naruto opened his mouth to argue, but something in her face stopped him. A resigned sort of fondness. Like she'd long ago accepted something he hadn't yet noticed. Something he was still too close to see clearly.

"But I've got faith in you," she added gently, touching his arm. "You'll get there. Eventually. Just... give it some thought, alright?"

He nodded, unsure why his throat felt tight.

"You both deserve to be happy," she said. "After everything. After saving the world, for gods' sake." 

She gave him a smile that held more than he could understand.

Naruto cleared his throat, feeling off-balance.

"I should get going. I promised Ino I wouldn't keep her waiting, and you know how she gets when she's angry."

"She's scary," Naruto agreed. "Hey, Sakura-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you. I'm going to pick out the furniture tomorrow, if you want to come with."

"Sure."

"It's not that I'm bad at interior decorating, or anything, I just..."

"Want to make sure it's right," she finished. "I know. That's why I'm here."

"You're the best," he said, grinning.

She shook her head, but her smile was warm. "I try."

As she walked away, Naruto watched her go. A strange weight pressed against his ribs.

He wasn't used to things feeling complicated. He wasn't used to things feeling heavy.

But that was part of living, wasn't it? Part of growing up. The weight that came with loss, the weight that came with change. The weight that came with loving someone you couldn't have.

Naruto swallowed, turning back to the house. It rose from the earth, bright and new. But it wasn't complete yet. It needed more than wood and beams and sunlight.

It needed love.

-

The furniture store was bigger than he remembered.

Naruto wandered through the aisles, staring at sofas and chairs and tables, not sure how they could possibly fit inside the house he was building. Sakura stood next to him, a small notebook and pencil in hand, her eyes sharp and focused.

"So, we're thinking traditional, right?"

Naruto frowned. "What's the difference between traditional and modern?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Everything, idiot."

"Right," he said. "So, can we do a mix? Some traditional, some modern. That way it doesn't feel too stiff or stuffy, y'know?"

"Makes sense," she agreed. "That'll help balance the space. So, for the living room, what kind of seating?"

Naruto thought. "Something soft, maybe? For relaxing. Like a big couch, or something."

"Okay, let's look over here."

They rounded a corner, and Sakura immediately began pointing to various styles. Naruto nodded vaguely, not really sure what the difference was between a loveseat and a chaise lounge, but trusting her judgement anyway.

"Do you want to be able to fit a TV?"

"Huh? Uh, dunno. I don't really take him for the type to watch TV."

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"

"Me? I won't be living there, so it doesn't matter. It's his place."

She gave him a flat look. 

"Really."

Naruto blinked. 

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nevermind," she sighed. "Alright, we'll skip the TV for now. What about the bedroom?"

Naruto paused, suddenly aware of the fact that his palms were starting to sweat. 

"What about it?"

Sakura turned to him, eyes narrowed. 

"What kind of bed, doofus?"

"I, uh." He tried not to shift uncomfortably under her stare. "A big one? With enough space to stretch out."

"For him?"

"Obviously," Naruto said, feeling more and more like an animal backed into a corner.

Picking out someone else's bed felt intimate in a way he hadn't considered before. The thought of Sasuke sleeping here, breathing soft and even in the dark, sent something strange through him.

Sakura was watching him again.

"Yeah, definitely a big one. You're still growing, and I bet Sasuke is, too."

Naruto didn't even bother trying to ask how his height or lack thereof was relevant. 

"Okay, so a big one. Cool."

"And sheets," she added, jotting down a few more notes. "Blankets, pillows, maybe a comforter."

"Oh, he prefers the blankets. They're easier to kick off."

"Why do you know that?"

"Genin missions," Naruto replied automatically, distracted by a low table near the front window. "Hey, look at that one."

"Hm. Not bad."

They walked up to it, and Naruto ran his fingers over the smooth wood. "Yeah. Yeah, I like this. I can see a few mugs of tea here, y'know? And a couple of books. Or maybe just a plant. It'd be nice."

"I'll add it to the list," Sakura said, sounding like she was smiling.

They moved on, weaving between the displays and the other customers, and Naruto felt a little lighter.

A bed, a couch, a table. Small pieces, small promises. They didn't have to be anything more. They didn't have to say what he couldn't find the words for.

He would build this place. He would fill it with all the things Sasuke had missed out on. All the things he deserved.

And he would be there when Sasuke came home.

-

The paint cans stood in a neat row along the porch, their metallic surfaces catching the late afternoon light.

Naruto picked up the first, turning the can over in his hand, examining the label. A soft green, like new leaves in spring.

"This is the right shade, right?"

Sai nodded. "I think it will suit the architecture."

Naruto wasn’t entirely sure what that meant, but Sai had offered to help, and he was grateful. Painting the walls had been easy enough and once Sai explained the process, the clones had taken care of it quickly, the sharp scent of fresh paint curling in the air like something new being born.

"So, you want the Uchiha crest on the wall of the living room, correct?" Sai asked.

"Yeah. It's gotta be the right place. When you enter, you can't miss it. I want him to feel like he's still part of that, y'know? He's allowed to be an Uchiha. Even if he's the last one. Especially because he's the last one. If that makes sense."

"I believe I understand," Sai said, thoughtful.

"And I want one in the bedroom too, above the bed," Naruto continued. "I think it'd look good."

"That seems fitting," Sai agreed.

They fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

"He will like it," Sai said.

"How do you know?"

Sai smiled. "I may not have known him long, but I believe he will."

Naruto exhaled, nodding. 

"Thanks."

He turned the can over again, studying the way the light played over the surface, and hoped, more than anything, that Sai was right.

-

Naruto stepped back, breath catching in his throat. Sweat clung to his skin, and his hands were raw from labor, fingers still curled with tension. The sun was beginning to set, casting everything in a wash of gold and fire. The walls glowed like they had a heartbeat. Like they were waiting.

He hadn't slept in days, too busy racing the clock, too stubborn to stop. He had to finish before the week was out.

Sasuke was supposed to come back in three days.

Naruto swallowed hard, his chest tightening. The air smelled like sawdust and sun-warmed earth, like something clean and full of possibility.

The house stood solid and strong, its windows dark and empty. Waiting, just like him.

He imagined Sasuke stepping through the front door, a bag slung over his shoulder. He imagined a soft exhale, a tired smile.

Naruto shook himself, forcing the image away.

He wouldn't allow himself to get ahead of things. The house was ready, but there were still a thousand questions, a thousand what-ifs, a thousand things that could go wrong.

He stared at the mugs he'd placed in the kitchen cupboard, the ones he'd picked out earlier that day – they had cats on them, which made him smile, and he'd pictured Sasuke using one, maybe sipping tea as he read a book, maybe just holding it and letting the warmth seep into his palms.

The bed upstairs had a new set of sheets. Dark blue. Soft to the touch. Sakura had brought them over that afternoon, holding them with both arms like they were something fragile. She’d sewn the Uchiha crest into the corners by hand, red and white against the fabric, subtle, but deliberate. She hadn’t said much, just passed them to Naruto and squeezed his wrist before leaving. He hadn’t known what to say either.

It wasn't much, and yet—

"It's the little things, huh?"

Naruto turned, startled.

Kakashi stood there, a book in his hand. He looked more than a little tired.

"I heard you were working yourself to death," he said. "Thought I'd see what the fuss was about."

"It's nothing special," Naruto muttered, suddenly embarrassed.

Kakashi walked past him, looking around the empty space.

"It's not done yet," Naruto added quickly. "The fridge is getting delivered tomorrow, and I couldn't deal with the plumping alone, so the toilet's not hooked up, but when I told that old guy down the street, he said he'd come help me fix it, and–"

"Naruto."

Naruto fell silent.

Kakashi stood still, his gaze thoughtful.

"I think," he said slowly, "Sasuke will like it."

Naruto swallowed, a dozen emotions fighting for control.

"Do you think so?"

Kakashi nodded. "He's a little shit, but I know him. He's going to feel guilty. He's going to tell you it's too much, that he doesn't deserve it, that it's a waste of time. And then he's going to love it."

Naruto exhaled. Something loosened inside him, the same something that had settled in his chest that day when Kakashi gave him the go-ahead. The same something that had built with each hammer-strike, each piece of furniture, each drop of paint.

"You think?"

"I'm sure," Kakashi said.

Naruto smiled, relieved. "Well, I'll believe you. Since you know him better than me."

Kakashi laughed quietly. "That's not true. You know him better than anyone."

Naruto blinked.

"And I think he knows it."

"How can you tell?"

Kakashi tilted his head, considering. "There are different kinds of bonds, Naruto. Some are forged by war. Some are forged by loss."

Naruto's heart beat harder.

"But there are also bonds that are forged by love. That's the strongest kind."

Naruto inhaled.

"And yours," Kakashi said, turning toward him, "are the strongest I've ever seen."

-

When Ino arrived the next morning, Naruto was already up, sitting on the bare floor of the porch and waiting.

"Someone's eager," she teased.

He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit sheepish.

"I know you've got other places to be, so I appreciate it."

"It's fine, silly. No one knows plants like me."

She walked inside, hands on her hips. "Alright, let's see what we've got to work with."

Naruto grinned and pushed himself up, leading her around to the back of the house. The morning was still young, dew clinging to the grass, and the sun had barely lifted past the rooftops, casting everything in pale silver.

Ino hummed softly as she walked the perimeter of the yard, crouching occasionally to touch the soil, her fingers sifting through it like she was listening to a secret only she could hear.

"So, you want an edible garden, right? Fruit trees, herbs, vegetables."

"Yeah, and a few flowers. I don't know a lot about them, but I've seen Sasuke reading a few books on botany. He might like that."

Ino gave a faint smile. "That's sweet."

"Also, we need a whole tomato garden," he added. "Like, a ton of them. All sorts. He likes tomatoes. Like, a weird amount."

Ino grinned. "Sure."

"And if you've got any, um, medicinal stuff, that'd be cool. You know, just in case."

Ino's face softened. "Of course."

He followed her around the garden, listening as she pointed out various positions for the different plants. She marked the spots with stones, explaining why each plant needed a specific amount of sunlight, or shade, or water.

"Put the tomatoes on the south side," she said, "they love the sun. Herbs along the walkway, cause they're low-maintenance, and they’ll smell amazing when you brush past them. Maybe a cherry tree by the back fence, for spring blossoms and fruit later in the year."

He tried to picture it -- Sasuke stepping out barefoot in the morning, brushing his fingers against the herbs, biting into a tomato right off the vine, a cherry blossom petal caught in his hair – and had to shove the image away before it made his face turn red.

"And over there," Ino said, nodding to a little corner of the yard, "we could do a flower bed."

"Yeah," Naruto said, then hesitated. "Flowers have meanings, right? Uh, is there maybe one that means 'home'? Or something close? Or... peace? Or belonging?"

Ino raised an eyebrow, amused. "You're asking about the language of flowers now?"

"Don't make it weird!" he said quickly, crossing his arms. "I just thought it'd be cool to put something like that near the front. You know. For vibes."

Ino laughed gently. "Okay, okay. Let me think... For peace, you could go with lavender. For belonging, bluebells. And for home… roses, actually."

"Roses?"

"Yeah. Depends on the color, though. Red is love. Pink’s for gratitude. White can mean remembrance, or new beginnings."

Naruto blinked. "Huh."

"Thinking of planting some white ones?"

"...Maybe."

Ino smiled, eyes warm. "We’ll get you some of each."

He followed her around as she laid out the garden, marking each section with flat stones and sticks, explaining why one plant would thrive in shade while another needed open sky.

They paused near the edge of the house, where the soil turned dark and soft, and Ino crouched again, her hair slipping forward as she touched the ground. "This is a good place for the roses. Maybe even a little bench, later on. You’ll need somewhere to sit once all of this is done."

Naruto exhaled. "Yeah. Maybe."

Ino stood, dusting off her hands. "We can go pick everything up right away, if you want. That way we can get planting this afternoon. Sound good?"

"Sounds perfect."

He was lucky, he knew. To have such great friends, who dropped everything to help him. Who never asked questions, even when they knew the answers.

"Hey, Ino," he began.

"Hm?"

"Thanks. For everything."

She glanced at him, a bit surprised, then smiled.

"What're friends for?"

-

Once everything was in place, the plants settled into the earth, Naruto felt a sudden surge of confidence.

He had done it.

The house was ready.

The last light of the day slipped behind the trees, leaving the sky painted in dusky blues and purples. Stars began to flicker to life above, barely visible through the branches. The earth was still damp from watering, patches of turned-up soil dark and uneven, but full of promise.

Naruto walked slowly around the house, his fingers brushing over the windowsills, the doorframe, the porch railing. The wood was cool under his touch, solid and real. Everything was quiet except for the faint creak of the boards beneath his feet.

Tomorrow morning, Sasuke would come home.

Naruto would meet him at the gate. He’d try to act normal, not too weird or overeager. He’d lead him here, heart pounding, and wait for that moment when Sasuke realized what this place was. What it meant.

He pictured the look on his face – brows drawing together, mouth parting slightly. Surprise, maybe. Uncertainty.

But more than anything, he hoped to see something else.

Relief.

The kind that softens your shoulders after a long road. The kind that comes when you realize someone built a place for you. Just for you. A place where you can breathe.

The night deepened, shadows stretching across the yard. The newly planted garden was quiet, bare soil and labeled rows, waiting for life to take hold.

Naruto stood on the porch and looked out over it all.

It didn’t look like much yet. Not to anyone else. But he knew what it would become.

He let out a breath, felt the tension unwind from his spine.

He was ready.

-

Sasuke had hoped the mission would clear his head.

It didn't.

Instead, his thoughts were more tangled than ever -- like threads knotted so tightly they choked the breath out of him. There was a hollow space inside him now, where rage used to live. Where vengeance and pain had burned like a second heartbeat, keeping him upright, keeping him moving.

It was gone.

And he didn't know what to do without it.

Dawn was just beginning to break, staining the misty forest in pale hues of lavender and gold. The cold bit into his fingers, sharp and clean, but it didn't wake him up. He hadn't slept in two days, he was too restless, too raw. The path to Konoha stretched ahead, but each step felt heavier than the last.

He didn't want to go back. Not really.

Not to that small apartment with its silent walls and blank windows. Not to the cautious eyes of people he'd once betrayed. There was nothing there for him.

Except.

He closed his eyes, jaw clenched.

Except, Naruto was there.

Naruto, who smiled like a fool and somehow still meant every word. Naruto, who had believed in him when Sasuke couldn't even look at his own reflection. Naruto, who had held onto him with both hands, who had refused to let him fall.

And Sasuke hated that. Hated how much he needed him. How much he wanted to see him. How, even now, his traitorous heart beat faster at the thought.

He didn't deserve him. He never had.

Naruto deserved something whole. Something warm and soft and uncomplicated. He deserved someone who could love him without hesitation.

Sasuke loved him like a drowning man loves the surface - desperately, violently, selfishly. What he felt wasn't gentle. It was raw. It hurt.

And it terrified him.

His hands were shaking. He told himself it was the cold, or the exhaustion. But he knew the truth.

It was fear.

The gates of Konoha rose ahead, tall, familiar, oppressive. Beyond them was everything he'd run from, and everything he'd tried to find.

He didn’t know if he belonged there. He didn’t know if he belonged anywhere.

A breath caught in his throat. He took another step, and froze.

"Hey."

Naruto’s voice broke through the stillness, warm and bright. Sasuke turned his head slowly.

He was standing just beyond the treeline, arms crossed, hair a mess, grinning like the idiot he was. The sunlight caught in his hair, made it gleam.

Like the sun, Sasuke thought bitterly. Always.

His heart stuttered. Stupid thing.

"Took you long enough," Naruto said.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"Were you just out here waiting for me?"

Naruto shrugged, stepping closer. "Well, yeah."

"Why?"

Naruto’s grin softened, his eyes searching Sasuke's face. Something in his expression twisted, like hope and hesitation braided together.

"I wanted to show you something," he said, quieter now.

Sasuke looked away. That voice, low and earnest, sank into his ribs, coiling like warmth and ache all at once.

He panicked.

"Show me later," he muttered. "I'm tired."

A pause. Naruto blinked, thrown.

"Right," he said finally.

The air between them changed. Something heavy settled in - thick with unsaid things, with missed chances.

Sasuke shifted his weight.

"Sorry."

Naruto glanced down and away.

"S’fine. Go rest."

Sasuke nodded and walked past him, not daring to look back. The cold pressed in again, biting through his clothes.

He told himself this was better. Safer.

He had to stay away. Had to shut it down before it swallowed him whole.

Because hope... hope was dangerous.

Hope was what kept him alive when everything else had been stripped away.

Hope was Naruto's voice, calling his name on a battlefield.

Hope was Naruto's smile, waiting at the end of every road.

And hope was what broke him, every single time.

-

Not even ten minutes had passed after he'd arrived back at the apartment before someone broke the door down.

Quite literally.

The wooden frame shattered, the lock bursting into pieces, and Sakura marched in, a furious look on her face.

Sasuke blinked, surprised.

"Hello," he said, slowly.

She walked up to him and slapped him across the face.

"What the fuck," he growled, glaring at her.

"Don't 'what the fuck' me, asshole."

Sasuke scowled. "Why are you breaking into my apartment? If you wanted to visit, you could've just knocked."

"You," she said, pointing a finger, "are an idiot."

"You're not the first person to say that," he replied, his cheek still stinging.

"I can't believe it. I mean, I really can't. I thought, 'Well, sure, Sasuke can be kind of dense sometimes, and yeah, he's emotionally constipated, but there's no way—'"

"Sakura, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Naruto!"

"What about him?"

"Don't act like you don't know," she snapped. "I swear to God, if you break his heart again, I'll rip off your balls and feed them to a pack of wolves."

Sakura talking about his balls was not a conversation he'd ever expected to have.

"Did he send you here?"

"Of course not, idiot. He's too busy sulking."

"Sulking," Sasuke repeated.

"Yeah, because he's upset," she said, throwing her arms in the air. "God, do you even care?"

"Why would I upset him?"

"I don't know, ask him yourself. Instead of just leaving him there, like you always do."

"That's not—"

"You always fucking leave him," she said, her voice growing hard. "Whenever it gets tough. Whenever he reaches out. You run. And I understand, okay, I do. But you can't keep doing that. Not now."

Sasuke glared, his heart pounding.

What the hell happened to the Sakura who'd always blush and stammer whenever he came near? The Sakura who would abuse Naruto, but would never dare speak a harsh word to him?

Jesus, all these years they spent apart had made her bold.

"I have my reasons," he managed. "It's none of your business."

Another slap, this time harder. Sasuke couldn't even get mad, because he knew he deserved it.

"If you don't drag your sorry ass to his apartment right now, I will make it my business."

"Fine," he snapped. "Fine, I'll go. Just stop hitting me."

She eyed him, her expression sharp.

"Good," she said.

He waited a moment, but she didn't move.

"Are you going to stand there while I change?"

"Yep," she said, leaning against the wall.

He glared at her, then sighed.

"You're a pain in the ass, Sakura."

"You're not so pleasant yourself," she replied.

-

Sasuke knocked on the door, feeling a bit awkward.

"I told you, Sakura, I'm fine. You can go home."

"It's not Sakura."

A moment passed.

Then, the door opened.

"Oh," Naruto said, surprised. "Uh. Hi."

Sasuke studied him. He looked tired, and maybe a little sad.

"Hey," Sasuke replied.

"You, um. What are you doing here?"

"Sakura came over and knocked some sense into me," Sasuke muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Naruto huffed a laugh. "Figuratively, or..?"

Sasuke pointed at the angry red handprint on his cheek.

"Huh. Figures."

"Yeah."

"You want to, uh. Come in?"

Sasuke shook his head.

"I was wondering if the offer from before still stood. That thing you wanted to show me."

Naruto's face lit up, and Sasuke had to remind himself to breathe. The morning light was soft and golden, and it seemed to surround Naruto, haloing him.

"Really?"

"Yeah," Sasuke replied.

"Alright," Naruto said, his grin widening.

Sasuke couldn't help but smile, just a little.

-

"So, where are we going?" Sasuke asked.

"I don't wanna ruin the surprise."

"Seriously?"

"Yep," Naruto said, and then added, "it's not far."

They were walking toward the edge of town, early morning light cutting through the mist like gold through gauze. Dew clung to the leaves. The forest hadn't quite woken up yet.

Sasuke kept pace beside him, hands in his pockets, trying not to look like he cared. Trying not to feel the hope that was slowly, inexorably, cracking through the numbness he'd worn like armor since he got back.

"Is it in the woods?"

"Kind of."

"You're being vague on purpose," Sasuke accused.

"Well, yeah," Naruto replied, grinning.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

"It'll be worth it," Naruto promised.

They moved off the path, their boots muffled in the damp grass. The trail was familiar – too familiar. It was the same one they used to train on, back when their futures were still blank pages instead of bloodstained scrolls. When Sasuke thought he still had a choice.

"How's your mission go?"

Sasuke blinked, caught off guard by the question.

"Fine."

"Just fine?"

"Yes."

"No near-death experiences?"

"Not this time," Sasuke muttered.

"Hm. Good."

"What about you? Done anything interesting since I've been gone?"

"Actually," Naruto said, his expression brightening, "I have."

"What's that?"

"Well, you'll find out soon."

Sasuke glared. "Seriously?"

Naruto just laughed.

Sasuke exhaled. "Fine. Whatever."

They were nearing the old Uchiha district. Sasuke hadn't been back in years. Not since he'd left the village.

"Are we going where I think we're going?"

Naruto gave him a sheepish look. "Yeah. Is that okay?"

"Sure," Sasuke muttered.

There was no point in hiding from his past.

Naruto glanced at him, a strange, nervous energy seeming to settle between them.

Sasuke's heart thumped faster.

"Here," Naruto said.

There was a house. New. Quietly built into the land like it had always belonged there. Two stories, wide porch, clean wooden panels stained with fresh lacquer. A small garden curled around the edges, tomato plants already staked in neat rows.

Sasuke stared.

"What is this?"

"Come inside," Naruto replied, and his voice was quiet, almost hesitant.

Sasuke stepped through the front door, and his breath caught. The Uchiha crest was painted on the wall, bright and proud. Everything else looked new. There was a bookshelf, and a table, and a couch, and the smell of paint hung in the air.

"This is.."

"It's yours," Naruto said, and he was close, too close, and Sasuke could feel his warmth. "If you want it."

Sasuke couldn't speak.

"You said Konoha didn't feel like home anymore, right?" Naruto continued, and his voice was so gentle, so careful, that it made something tighten in Sasuke's chest. "So I figured, why not make one?"

"It's.."

"And..." Naruto cleared his throat. "Bedroom's upstairs."

Sasuke followed him up, every step feeling heavier than the last. Like he was walking toward something he didn't know how to survive.

The room was spacious. The bed was made with navy blankets, embroidered with the Uchiha fan. A dresser, a nightstand. A window that looked out into the trees. Light spilled over the floor like water.

There was a picture frame on the nightstand.

Sasuke's eyes locked on it.

Team 7. Before everything. The photo he'd destroyed.

His knees nearly buckled.

"I obviously don't know how to sew," Naruto was saying, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's a gift from Sakura. She's actually pretty good, which is surprising, and she said she'd teach me if I ever wanted to learn, but, um. I hope the blankets are alright."

He kept talking, but Sasuke wasn't listening.

He was unraveling.

He didn't understand how Naruto could still do this, how he could still want to. After everything. After the blood and betrayal and broken years.

Naruto had built him a home.

Not just a shelter, but a home .

And Sasuke… Sasuke was a war-torn thing. A shell of a boy who had torn down everything he'd ever been given. He didn't know how to receive this. Didn't know how to carry it.

"The bathroom is downstairs, and it's got a bath, and a shower, and everything. And I didn't want to overdo it with the garden, but Ino helped me pick out some nice plants, and there's a whole section for tomatoes, because I remember you used to love them, and—"

Every last inch of Sasuke's body was vibrating.

He couldn't even form words, and Naruto was still talking, and his mouth was dry and his eyes were hot, and the floor seemed to drop out from beneath him.

"Sasuke? Are you okay?"

Naruto was there, a hand on his arm, and Sasuke was shaking, he realized. He was shaking.

"Hey, talk to me," Naruto murmured. "What's wrong? Sasuke?"

Everything.

Nothing.

Sasuke didn't know. He only knew that the weight in his chest was splitting wide open, and for the first time in years, he couldn't hold it back.

He was crying.

Not silently. Not stoically.

He was crying like he was breaking. Like something inside him had given out. And Naruto, Naruto wasn't running. Naruto just wiped the tears away, slow and gentle, like it didn't scare him to see Sasuke like this.

"Did I mess up?" Naruto whispered. "Tell me. I'll fix it."

"I..."

His voice wouldn't work.

Naruto stared, and Sasuke couldn't hold his gaze. He was burning up, his heart too big and his lungs too small.

He was scared of looking into those eyes, because he knew, deep in his bones, that if he did, he would lose himself. He would drown in them.

He would drown, and he would be happy to.

"Sasuke, please."

It was the plea that did it.

The desperate, aching way Naruto's voice cracked.

"You," Sasuke choked, his vision blurring.

"What about me?"

Sasuke's mind was reeling.

Naruto's hands were warm and strong, holding him up, keeping him steady.

"You..."

Sasuke didn't know when they'd moved, didn't know when he'd gotten closer, didn't know when his hands had started clinging to Naruto's shirt.

"Idiot," he whispered, his eyes slipping shut. "Stupid."

"What are you—?"

Sasuke kissed him.

It tasted like salt, like tears and lightning and the aftermath of a storm that had raged for years. His own, Naruto’s, he couldn’t tell. He was shaking. Maybe crying. Maybe unraveling.

Relief hit him like a scream in his bloodstream. It was too bright, too hot, too much, and he didn’t care. His body had moved before he could think, before he could stop it, and now he was drowning in the heat of it. Drowning, and finally breathing.

Too late. Too fucking late to pretend he hadn’t already crossed the line a thousand times in his head.

Naruto’s breath caught, sharp and sudden, and Sasuke felt it like a punch to the gut. Then he felt the shiver. The way Naruto’s lips trembled against his. Chapped, warm, soft in a way that made Sasuke feel like he was going to fall apart right there, in his arms.

He was burning.

Burning like a prayer set on fire, like longing clawing its way out of his chest with bloodied fingers, screaming to be known.

Then, it was over.

Sasuke's eyes flew open, and there was panic, and shock, and a terrible, painful kind of regret, because what the fuck did he just do, what the fuck was wrong with him–

Naruto was staring at him, eyes wide and glassy, lips parted, flushed like he’d just run headlong into something that changed him forever. Sasuke couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t look away.

"I'm," Sasuke stammered, pulling away. "Fuck. I'm sorry."

Naruto blinked.

"Sorry?" he repeated.

"Shit," Sasuke muttered, and his eyes were filling again. "I'm…"

"Do that again."

Sasuke stopped.

"What?"

"Kiss me," Naruto said, his gaze dropping to Sasuke's mouth. "Again."

"Huh?"

Naruto reached up, his palm gentle against Sasuke's jaw. His thumb traced the outline of his bottom lip, and the touch sent a shiver down Sasuke's spine.

"Please."

Sasuke swallowed, then nodded.

It was slow, and hesitant, and so different than the first.

Naruto's lips met his with a gentleness that shattered him. They fit like a truth long buried. Like a wound finally touched. Sasuke had never believed in heaven, not until this moment. Not until the quiet, desperate press of lips that felt like forgiveness.

His heart was thundering, and he was terrified. Terrified that if he breathed too deeply, too quickly, it would end.

But Naruto's hand was there, a gentle pressure on the back of his neck, and he was kissing him back, and Sasuke's whole body was alight. He felt the tip of Naruto's tongue, tracing the shape of his lips, and he inhaled sharply, his mouth opening.

And then it wasn't slow anymore.

It was messy and fierce and starved, and Sasuke realized this wasn't new. This was years. This was everything unsaid pouring out of them at once. It was need sharpened into a blade. It was mouths colliding, breath catching, hands fisting in fabric like it would all slip away if they let go for even a second.

Naruto was everywhere . In his mouth, in his lungs, in the wild rush of blood under his skin. Sasuke didn’t want to stop. Didn’t think he could.

Naruto pulled away, breathing heavily, his eyes dark.

"Sasuke."

He sounded like he was about to fall apart, and the sound of it sent a rush of heat through Sasuke's body.

"Naruto," he managed.

"Fuck."

Sasuke had never seen him like this. His lips were swollen, and his cheeks were red, and his hands were trembling, and his eyes were heavy-lidded, and there was something dangerous and desperate in his gaze, something that made Sasuke's head spin.

Naruto's hand moved, fingers tracing the line of his throat, his collarbone, then settling flat over his heart like he was trying to memorize the beat of it.

"Sakura-chan was right. I really am an idiot."

Sasuke's heart skipped a beat.

"What did she say?"

"She said," Naruto breathed, "that we definitely don't look at each other like brothers."

A rush of heat ran through him, and his hands tightened around Naruto's waist.

"Yeah, no shit."

"I'm glad," Naruto murmured.

"Me, too."

He smiled, then, and Sasuke could only stare, the beauty of it catching in his throat.

"You," Sasuke breathed. "You're..."

But Naruto didn’t let him finish. He surged forward and kissed him again, rougher this time, fingers threading through Sasuke’s hair, mouth insistent like he was starving.

There was nothing gentle left. It was raw. Wild. Like they'd both been hollow for so long they didn’t know how to be full.

Sasuke melted into it, hands sliding down Naruto’s back. Years lived in silence were unraveling with every kiss. Every gasp. Every scrape of teeth. They had both been burning at the edges for so long it was a miracle either of them was still standing.

Sasuke pulled him closer, their hips brushing, and the sound Naruto made sent a wave of dizziness through him.

"Sasuke," he breathed.

Sasuke didn't know what it was about his name on Naruto's tongue that sent such a fierce rush of heat through him. He pressed forward, kissing the corner of his mouth, his jaw, the sensitive skin just below his ear.

"Naruto," he whispered, and the gasp it earned was enough to send a spark of pleasure straight to his groin.

Fuck.

He could feel the way Naruto was shifting, could feel the press of his hips, the growing heat between his legs.

"Sasuke?"

He was so warm.

So fucking warm, and he felt like he was floating, or maybe sinking, or maybe it was something else entirely.

Naruto was breathing harder now, his hips rocking, and Sasuke couldn't even think.

"Bed," he managed, and he didn't know how he'd spoken, because it was taking every bit of his energy just to keep standing.

Naruto made a low, needy noise, and pulled him onto the mattress.

"Fuck," he breathed, and his eyes were a shade darker, his pupils blown.

"Yeah," Sasuke replied, his voice unsteady.

Naruto's gaze fell to his lips, and Sasuke watched, fascinated, as he bit down on his own.

"What," Sasuke murmured, "you don't want to kiss me anymore?"

"Oh, I do," Naruto replied, a small smirk forming. "Trust me, I do."

"Then come here," Sasuke said.

He didn't have to tell him twice.

Naruto was everywhere, his weight and his heat pressing Sasuke into the mattress, his lips insistent, almost frantic.

Sasuke gasped when a thigh wedged between his legs, a sharp jolt of pleasure tearing through him.

"Ah," he breathed, the sound slipping out before he could stop it.

Naruto's eyes widened at that, redness spilling into the edges.

"Oh," he breathed, voice dark with something that felt like awe. A grin tugged at his mouth, mischievous, almost boyish.

"Shut up," Sasuke muttered, glaring.

"No, no," Naruto said, his expression softening. "That was..."

His words trailed off, and his hand moved to Sasuke's thigh, fingers curling around him with a tenderness that made Sasuke shiver.

He moved forward, slowly, carefully, and brushed their hips together, a barely-there touch.

"This?"

Sasuke could feel him, hard and warm, and he bit down on his lip, refusing to give Naruto the satisfaction of another sound.

"Sasuke?"

His voice was a little unsteady, his gaze dark and uncertain.

"Yeah," Sasuke said.

"Good?"

"Yeah."

He pressed his hips forward, rolling them, and a moan slipped out before Sasuke could stop it.

"Fuck," Naruto breathed.

Sasuke was burning. Every inch of him felt like it was straining toward the next touch, the next sound, the next moment.

"Again," he rasped, and his voice sounded desperate, and strange, and nothing like him.

Naruto trembled, his breath shallow. He leaned in, his lips brushing Sasuke's cheek, and one hand anchored firmly to his hip.

He thrust again, slow and purposeful, and Sasuke felt like he was unraveling.

"Oh, God," Sasuke breathed.

"Sasuke," Naruto whispered, his voice catching.

His hand slid down, his thumb hooking into the waistband of Sasuke's pants.

"This," he asked, "okay?"

Sasuke was already nodding, his own hands fumbling with the fastenings of Naruto's pants.

They undressed quickly, neither one caring where the clothing landed.

"Fuck," Sasuke whispered, his gaze drifting down, down, down.

He'd never seen him like this, had never even let himself imagine it, because that would mean he'd had to admit to wanting it.

But now, with the evidence right in front of him, all those thoughts came rushing back. All the times he'd caught himself staring at him, just a moment too long. The way his eyes would sometimes linger on the muscles of his chest, or his ass, or the sharp line of his jaw. The dreams that would wake him in the middle of the night, leaving him breathless, and aching, and painfully, painfully aroused.

"Sasuke? Are you alright?"

He wasn't, not really.

Not with Naruto standing in front of him, gloriously naked, and a little out of breath, and so fucking perfect, it was a miracle the universe hadn't collapsed upon itself.

"Yeah," he managed.

Naruto seemed to be affected in the same way, his eyes lingering a little too long on certain places.

"God, you're," he started, and his words trailed off.

He swallowed, hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his eyes met Sasuke's.

"Fuck," he breathed.

There was a moment of uncertainty, of hesitation.

Then, Naruto's hand drifted forward, his fingers curling gently around him.

Sasuke exhaled, his body shaking.

"You too," he managed.

Naruto understood. He lined them up, hips pressed close, and took both of them in his hand.

"Like this?"

The sound Sasuke made was more of a whimper than anything else, and he flushed, embarrassed.

Naruto didn't seem to care.

He stroked them slowly, his touch warm and gentle.

"Ah," Sasuke breathed.

He didn’t even realize he had been holding his breath until it rushed out of him, his body leaning into every stroke, chasing the heat curling low in his stomach.

Sasuke used his hand to stroke what wasn't covered by Naruto's, and the groan he got in return was so hot, he nearly came right then and there.

"Naruto," he moaned.

"Fuck, Sasuke."

Sasuke couldn't respond. His brain was full of static, and heat, and a desperate, aching need, and every stroke, every touch, only added fuel to the fire.

He could hear his name, over and over again, but he didn't know who was saying it. Didn't care.

Naruto's free hand curled into his hair, pulling him forward, and the kiss was hard and hungry.

"Fuck," Naruto muttered, his voice cracking. "I'm—."

"Me too," Sasuke managed.

Their mouths crashed together, and Naruto's rhythm quickened, and a moment later, Sasuke was gone.

White-hot pleasure coursed through him, and he was dimly aware of the cry that was torn from his throat, but all he could focus on was the sensation.

He felt Naruto spill across his hand, and the knowledge that he'd made him feel that good was enough to send a second wave through him.

For a moment, the room was silent, the only sounds their heavy breathing.

Naruto pulled back, his cheeks red, his expression dazed.

"Hey."

Sasuke blinked.

"Hi," he replied.

Naruto grinned, and the warmth that spread through him was almost painful.

"You okay?"

Sasuke didn't trust his voice. He nodded instead.

"Good," Naruto murmured. "Might be time to try out that shower, huh?"

Sasuke glanced over, realizing they were both covered in a layer of sweat and various other bodily fluids.

"That might be a good idea," he agreed.

"Alright," Naruto said, standing.

Sasuke followed.

The shower was larger than the one in his apartment, and it was obvious the plumbing was new. The tile was cool under his feet, and the water was hot, and there were two different types of shampoo, and Sasuke felt a surge of emotion rise up in his chest.

Naruto was watching him.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Sasuke shook his head.

"I just..."

He looked around, at the house that was somehow his.

"No," he murmured. "Nothing's wrong."

Naruto tilted his head, his eyes searching.

"Okay," he said, smiling.

"I love you," Sasuke whispered, and the words came out on their own.

It was the most honest thing he'd ever said.

The most vulnerable, too.

"What?"

"I said," Sasuke murmured, looking down, "that I love you."

The silence that followed was almost unbearable.

Sasuke could hear the water hitting the tile, could see the steam rising from the spray. He didn't dare look up.

"Say it again."

Sasuke blinked, his eyes snapping up.

Naruto was staring at him, and the expression on his face was indecipherable.

"Say it again," he repeated, and there was something fierce and determined in his voice.

"I," Sasuke started, and then stopped.

"Sasuke, please."

There was a desperation, there.

An edge of something so fragile, so raw, that it took Sasuke's breath away.

"I love you," he whispered, and this time, his voice didn't waver.

Naruto kissed him, then, and his lips were trembling, and the air around them was warm, and wet, and filled with the smell of soap and sweat.

"You're," Naruto breathed, "the most important person in my life. You always have been. And my dense, stupid, idiot brain really thought that was just normal, because we were best friends, and family, and all that shit. But when you kissed me, Sasuke, it was like everything made sense."

He pulled back, just enough to see him.

"I think I always have," he murmured. "Loved you, I mean."

Something flared behind Sasuke’s ribs, hot and blinding.

"And," he continued, his eyes bright, and wide, and so incredibly blue, "I love you. Too."

Sasuke didn't speak, afraid if he tried, nothing would come out.

He stared, and for the first time, let himself see.

It was like an open book, and every word written on the page was one of longing, and loneliness, and unspoken dreams.

Every page, an apology.

Every line, a prayer.

They finished their shower in silence, and dressed, and the quiet was soft, and easy, and the world around them was still.

"Do you want some dinner?" Naruto asked. "I bought some groceries yesterday."

Another rush of heat ran through him.

"You went shopping."

It was a statement, not a question, and Sasuke's voice was hoarse, and thick, and his throat was too tight, and—

"Of course I did," Naruto said, and his tone was gentle. "You live here, now."

"Where's your stuff?" Sasuke blurted.

Naruto blinked, his eyebrows knitting together.

"My what?"

"Your…" Sasuke gestured vaguely. "Clothes, or whatever. From your apartment."

He couldn’t meet his eyes.

"Oh," Naruto said. "Still at my place. Why?"

Sasuke’s ears burned.

"Just wondering," he managed. "Maybe you could... bring it over."

The realization hit him, and the blush spread.

"Are you," Naruto started, careful, "asking me to move in with you?"

"I–"

Yes.

It hadn’t even occurred to him that Naruto might leave.

The idea felt wrong.

"Yeah," he said, and his heart was racing. "I guess I am."

Naruto smiled, then, and the world righted itself, and Sasuke wondered, dimly, why the hell it had ever been off-balance to begin with.

"Alright," he said, and his voice was warm, and soft, and the kind of happy Sasuke had never known, until now. "I'd like that."

"Good," Sasuke murmured.

"So," Naruto grinned. "Dinner?"

"Yeah," he agreed.

"I must warn you, I can't really cook much. Ramen is kind of it. Maybe some fried eggs, if I'm feeling adventurous."

"That's fine," Sasuke said. "I can do the cooking."

"You can cook?"

"Some of us didn’t survive on instant ramen through our entire childhood."

"Rude," Naruto snorted, but the smile on his face was so beautiful, Sasuke didn't bother to reply.

He led the way to the kitchen, and Sasuke followed, and it was such a simple thing, such a small action, that it made his chest hurt.

This is mine, he thought.

His house.

His kitchen.

His life.

He looked at Naruto, and his heart skipped a beat.

Mine, his mind whispered.

Sasuke didn't correct it.