Chapter Text
Sasuke had almost walked halfway home before turning back. She couldn’t place her exact reason for doing so, but maybe it was just on impulse. Besides she really did need to do some grocery shopping. She had run out of food yesterday and luckily she had been in the habit of skipping breakfast or she wouldn’t have made it to morning break.
She passed a few of her classmates heading home; Lee was walking on her hands for some strange reason, though she did it quite well Sasuke admitted, and beside her was that girl who collected bugs… I forget her name. The bug girl looked Sasuke square in the eye as she passed, or she thought she did, Sasuke couldn’t tell with those sunglasses on.
Naruto wasn’t there yet when Sasuke walked up beside the basketball courts, so she climbed up on a nearby wall, watching a few of the basketball club students play while she waited. Since when do I wait for people?
~
Naruto couldn’t run very well on her leg, still painful from that day, so she let herself walk around the school grounds to the rec centre. Sasuke will definitely be there. She’ll wait for me.
At first she got confused about which way to go, walking through the centre and reaching a dead end, and then she realized she had to walk around the side of the building to get where she intended to go, her leg aching at this point.
But when she pushed through the gate…Sasuke wasn’t there.
“Oi. Over here, glasses. Yeah up here.”
Naruto turned to look up at Sasuke, standing high on a retaining wall; “There you are” she laughed. There was no way she was getting up there today.
“I don’t know why I actually came here, what could you say to me that might change things?”
“Well… do I have to change things?” Naruto wondered, “ we’re friends aren’t we? And the truth is that… I like you. I don’t want to change that.”
“Why would you waste your time liking someone like me?” Sasuke retorted, walking back and forth along the wall.
Naruto watched Kabuto do a slam dunk in the distance as she spoke: “Someone like you? You’re you, that’s why I like you silly.”
“hm. Good answer. But what if I don’t like you back, or what if you realise that I’m not who you thought I am? What then? I don’t like people who can’t make up their minds.” She stared at Naruto then, wondering if this was pointless.
Naruto moved closer, she couldn’t let herself doubt what she felt “I’ve seen a side of you no one else has, and I want to see more. Even if things turn out badly, I’ll never regret knowing you Sasuke.” There wasn’t much else she could say, Naruto wasn’t very good at making complicated arguments, but her heart told her that this was the right thing.
Sasuke flew down elegantly and gripped Naruto's shirt by her collar. “I don’t like people who do things without my permission, so this time I’m going to kiss you on a whim.” Pulling her close and doing a much better job at kissing than Naruto's kerfuffle.
It lasted longer than before and Naruto raised her hand to touch Sasuke’s cheek and run her fingers through her hair, Sasuke still gripping Naruto's collar. Lightning shot through her chest as they let their lips part and tongues connected like a circuit, it felt cool in Sasuke’s mouth and tasted delicious, ecstasy filed her body persisting even after Sasuke had pulled away slowly.
“What happened to your glasses?” she observed the wad of tape on the bridge of Naruto’s nose.
“umm what?”
“Glasses” she repeated; poking them up on Naruto's face.
“oh ahah… yeah I kind of have a run in with Sakura and, well I could have taken him but Ino was there too and that guy is a psychopath if you ever get into a fight with—“
“Sakura and Ino? Seriously he is reaching the end of my patience.” Sasuke picked up her pack and began walking back around the courts.
“Hey, wait! That’s it? Does that mean… Does that mean you like me too? I mean even if you don’t that is okay we can still be friends right?” Naruto clambered after her.
“Yes.”
“Yes? Cripes Sasuke you really like being mysterious don’t’cha? Yes to what?”
“Yes, I think I like you. Can we drop it now please?” A blush crept up Sasuke’s cheeks.
Naruto leapt up awkwardly, landing on her good leg and laughed “oh, oh my god! The HOLY GRAIL, this is amazing! I’ll never sleep again I feel so happy.” She continued beaming as she caught up with Sasuke, her new girlfriend. Ahh that feels good!
Sasuke chuckled and put a hand up to cover her face which was immediately grabbed and pulled back.
“Don’t hide it, I like to see it; your smile.”
Naruto was a strange girl, she didn’t try to bribe or own Sasuke and being with her made Sasuke want to do better, to be better. And not just for the sake of beating everyone else, but to find her purpose, her potential.
“Are you still having trouble with your leg? Maybe we could go to the hospital to get it checked out.” Sasuke spoke attempting to change the subject.
“Aww but I like it when you’re my doctor Sasuke, heal me Sasuke I’m damaged” she replied and pretended to swoon.
“Hmm, yes, I think you have some vital parts missing; and what’s this replacing your brain?” Sasuke searched through Naruto's hair dramatically, “Ahh it’s the miso ramen for sure. You know what this means right?”
Naruto looked up nervously “what? Ramen brain isn’t serious right?”
“It means you can only eat soba for the rest of your life”
“NOOO! Not soba. Just euthanize me, it will be the kinder choice.” Naruto gripped Sasuke’s arm as they walked and Sasuke gave in to the urge to wrap it around Naruto's shoulders.
I might never be the person Naruto sees in me, but maybe if things stay like this, part of me can forget the curse that my brother gave me.
“oh I just remembered, I need to get some groceries.”
“Okay! I’ll help, and then you can stay over my place and cook me more of that tomato soup you like.”
“Why am I cooking?”
“I’m injured.”
“It’s your leg!”
“Don’t worry Sasuke I’ll draw you another picture to make up for it.”
“Usuratonkachi… well I guess you didn’t come last at one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“you’re the first friend I’ve had, Naruto.”
Naruto grinned her impossible grin and she couldn’t really feel any pain anymore.