The silent raven panted slightly as he emerged from beside the tree, quickly casting a fire jutsu. It easily defeated the enemy. He grabbed the scroll hastily and surveyed the area. He closed his glinting crimson eyes. When he reopened them, they were their usual steely colour. "You can come out; I know you're there." The mumured emotionlessly.

His blonde team mate had his trademark grin in place as he departed from behind a random tree in the forest, right next to the area Sasuke has fighted in just a moment ago. He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "How did you realize I was here?" the blonde enquired. Sasuke didn't reply for a minute. He just stood there, bathing in the moonlight which filtered through the trees.

"I have the Sharingan, Dobe," he muttered darkly, "Or have you forgotten that detail?" Naruto just smiled in reponse. Sasuke had been back for almost a year now, and the raven wasn't allowed to go on missions alone for the time being: Tsunade wanted to make sure where his loyalties lie, and so made Naruto follow the Uchiha on all of his missions.

"Teme," Naruto just said fondly. He scanned Sasuke's body and his sapphire orbs landed on a gash on his forearm, "You're wounded." He said. Sasuke narrowed his haze and inspected the cut, and then shrugged it off.

"It's nothing," he mumbled with boredom. Naruto shook his head and approached Sasuke. 'He doesn't even tread cautiously.' Sasuke thought, scowling. "It is a mistake to continue trusting me, Dobe," he said, "I could turn on you any second and kill you." All he received was another grin.

"But you won't." He the blonde replied, trusting his sources. Sasuke knew that was a key to endthe conversation, so he just settled for insulting the blonde once more and turning his head away to face another direction. Naruto opened his pouch which was fastened on his right thigh, and pulled out a jar and some bandages. "Sit down, Sasuke." He said.

"Why should I do as you say? I'm not your slave." Was the grouchy response he received. He expected an insult or something aggressive in response, but all he got was a friendly smile.

"I know you're not, Sasuke, but please sit down." The smaller teen said softly. Sasuke glowered again, but then sat with his back against a tree. The blonde smiled gratefully and whipped some of the creamy substance out of the jar. "This might sting a little," he warned gently just before rubbing the jellow-like liquid onto the bleeding wound. Sasuke hissed, and Naruto knew it stung. "It's nice to have you back, Sasuke." He said, trying to stir up a civilized conversation to take Sasuke's mind off of the pain.

"You've said that far too frequently, Usuratonkachi," the raven repied coolly. He heard a small chuckle.

"Is that so? I'm sorry." Came the sheepish and apologetic reply. He pondered on what to talk about next but surprisingly; it was Sasuke who struck up a conversation this time.

"Why do you trust me?" he asked. Naruto knew Sasuke was watching him, but he couldn't bing himself to look up. He had finished rubbing the antiseptic in and now got the bandages out of his pouch, wrapping them firmly yet gently over the wound.

"I'm not a medic ninja, but I've learnt a bit from Sakura-chan," he said, "You need to re-wrap the wound every evening until it scabs over. Before you wrap the wound, you have to rub antiseptic on your wound, all right?" he finished, tying a small bow with the bandages to hold them on.

"You haven't answered my question." Sasuke stated firmly.

"When it scabs over, don't..." Sasuke cut him off by grabbing his chin with his hand firmly. Naruto didn't flinch.

"You havent answered my question, Naruto." The raven hissed. Naruto stared up into the steely gaze and sighed.

"I trust you because I do," he said. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "It's true. I trust you specifically for the reason that I just do. You're like a brother to me. You're a special person." Naruto finished quietly, but sincerely. Sasuke scanned the stormy blue eyes skeptically.

"You shouldn't trust people," he finally said, releasing his hold sharply, so that Naruto fell on the floor, "It will eventually lead to your downfall." He explained, closing his eyes and thinking. He didn't receive a response for a while, and thought he had finally broken past the blonde's foolish ideas of trust and friendship and bonds. No such luck, he discovered, when the smaller ninja replied.

"But if you lock yourself away and don't trust anyone; that can also result to downfall. You'll be alone for eternity if you never let yourself trust in at least someone." Sasuke raised his gaze to meet the blonde's. He never realized how deep and sincere Naruto's words were, albeit somewhat corny. Naruto chuckled, "Man, I sound sappy! That's enough talk of that depressing stuff, hmm?" he grinned, stretching. "I'll get some water." He said, fetching a container from his backpack and wondering down to the lake.

Sasuke watched until the slight figure of his team mate disappeard from sight, and then took in the boys' words. He sighed and looked around. The blonde hadn't returned for about half an hour now. 'Is it too hard to even locate a source of water for the idiot now?' he thought, sneering. He stood and trailed in the direction that the blonde had left in.

He was slightly more than mildly surprised by what he found. The smaller teen was sitting by the lake, staring into seemingly nothing. His sapphire orbs that usually glinted with mischief were shimmering with pain and anguish. His golden locks shone even in the darkness, and he looked so small and delicate: as if he would break if you merely touched him.

"Boo!" Sasuke blinked in surprise as he was shoved into the lake. The Naruto he was watching disappeard in a puff of smoke and Sasuke glared as the real one stood before him, "Never let your guard down, Sasuke! Dattebayo!" he grinned. Sasuke only now realised the truth behind that smile. But before he enquired as to what it was about, he had a task.

Naruto screamed as Sasuke dragged him in by his ankle. When the blonde raised to the surface, shaking and hyperventillating, Sasuke's task was complete. "Hey! That wasn't fair! You can't use the same trick on me! Dattebayo!" the smaller boy whined, still shivering. Sasuke let the smallest of smirks grace his features.

"I didn't: you pushed me, I pulled you." Sasuke reasoned feasibly. The blonde pouted and sent Sasuke a glare. "Naruto," he said, regaining Naruto's serious attention. He nodded for him to continue, "Why are you sad?" he asked bluntly. Naruto flinched.

"I have no idea what you're talking about Sasuke." He said. "Come on, we should get out - we'll catch a cold." He said. Sasuke knew it was just a diversional tactic.

"Not until you enlighten me to your..." Naruto cut him off.

"Why do you even care?" he snapped, "You've never cared before; nor anyone else! Why start now?" Sasuke blinked emotionlessly.

"You're right; I never did care before," he admitted. He saw the crestfallen expression on his friends' face, "But I do now. Before, I was obsessed with revenge and power, and I'm sorry." He said bluntly. Naruto looked up at him with longing yet vulnerable sapphire eyes. "I mean it." He answered the unspoken question.

"But..." Sasuke cut the boy off by closing the distance between them and crashing his lips against the more delicate ones. The blonde's eyes widened and he tried to pry away. "If you're only doing this to make fun of me, or out of lust, I can't. I don't want a relationship..." he said sadly.

"I know why you don't, and I don't care," Sasuke replied, "I don't care that your a Jinchuuriki. I don't care what people think of you." He explained. A small smile crept onto his face, "Naruto: I love you." He said. He noticed how truly surprised the blonde looked. He wasn't prepared for the smaller boys' eyes to well up with tears. He quickly wiped them away with his drenched sleeve.

"Y - you mean it? No kidding?" Naruto asked, praying Sasuke hadn't noticed his tears. Of course that was useless - he was facing Sasuke when he felt the hot water cascade down his scarred cheeks. Sasuke embraced Naruto.

"I really mean it, Dobe. Quit crying - you're such a girl." He said. He was pleased when he finally got a raise out of the boy.

"Hey! What gives you the right to call me a girl? I'm not a girl!" he squeaked defensively.

"Hmm... I'm not so sure. May I check?" Sasuke asked slyly. Naruto's cheeks flared crimson and he turned away, glaring.

"You're just like Sai now!" he yelled furiously. Sasuke narrowed his gaze.

"Has he seen?"

"What? No! I wouldn't let him get down my pants if he was the last person alive!"

"But you'll let me." It was more of a statement than a question. Naruto's blush intensifyed and he spluttered incohorency. He was about to retort, but sneezed instead. Sasuke smirked. "You've caught a cold."

"See! I told you this would happen! Argh! You are so..." he went into a coughing fit and held his head.

"Wow. You really are sick. We should get back now then." Sasuke murmured, helping the blonde out, who had a dizzy spell and had to be supported by Sasuke.

"We can wait until tomorrow." Naruto said groggily.

"No. You need medical attention. You're sick, Dobe."

"Don't call me a Dobe, Teme."

"Hn." They began their way back to Konoha. Naruto had several dizzy spells; which resulted in being carried the rest of the way by the raven. When they entered the village; Sasuke made not-so-subtle hints informing people that both the Uchiha and the Kyuubi container were a couple.

By the next day; everyone knew. "News travells fast." Was Naruto's dazed comment while he rested in bed due to his fever.

"Hn. It seems that way, Dobe."

"Teme."

"Usuratonkachi."

"Jerk."

"Idiot."

"Bastard."

"Uke-chan."

"What!"