Chapter Text
Sasuke never had an issue about speaking his mind. He was quite blunt, too—someone who never sugarcoats.
He wasn't averse to arguing either. In fact, Naruto was sure he liked arguing. At the very least, with him. It wasn't always he who started all those fights they had when they were genins.
Even with Kakashi, or the third Hokage, or any other adult, really—he wasn't afraid of talking back.
He was only ever gentle to Sakura, and even with her, he didn't really hold much back.
Of course, compared to anyone else, he was less harsher. He'd tell Sakura she needed to train to be a real ninja, but he'd tell Naruto he's an idiot who's weighing down the team.
It was only after the war that Naruto saw Sasuke actually anxious about arguing with someone. In fact, he was basically walking on egg shells around Sakura the whole time they were in the hospital.
He could understand. It probably was a little awkward since he had just came back. There were a lot of things that happened between all of them and it would take time to heal and feel things going back to normal.
And he was right, time passed by and sooner than later, they were finally acting a little more like how they were during their genin days. There was still a sliver of awkwardness from time to time, but everyone was finally comfortable enough to talk—banter even, and even discuss the war.
It was still a sensitive topic, but it could be mentioned without any lingering tension.
Thinking about it, that was probably the only time Sasuke had been very careful about arguing with anyone, but especially with Sakura.
Naruto knew Sasuke felt guilty of what he'd done over the years so that was probably why he was very careful about how he worded things to Sakura.
Naruto could tell that Sakura knew it, though, and appreciated the effort. She also did her best to make sure Sasuke knew he could just be honest with them.
Still, Sasuke was very mindful of disagreeing with anything Sakura says. It was like he was literally afraid of getting on her bad side or making a bad impression.
But then Sasuke decided to leave for his travels. To be completely honest, Naruto was a little nervous then. They were having a lot of progress in rekindling all of their relationships, and he was afraid that with Sasuke leaving again, he'd grow distant again.
Surprisingly, it seems his journey did the exact opposite. Maybe it was easier for Sasuke, but he was a lot more frank—honest in his letters than when he talked to Naruto in person.
And he imagined it was the same for Sakura.
And Naruto knew he was right when one day, Kakashi told him that Sakura would also be leaving to travel with Sasuke. They must have discussed and planned about it in those letters.
And then they just disappeared for a few years.
He could still talk to them through letters, but he never saw them in all those years they were away.
He knew a lot of things had changed in those years. He knew it in his head especially when they came back with Sakura wearing the Uchiha crest on her back, and Sasuke holding Sarada with his lone arm.
But still, he was confused about how his friend is acting right now.
He was smiling. Not a smirk, a smile. This would be shocking enough as it is if it were the Sasuke before his travels with Sakura, but to be fair, Naruto had seen him smile more often now that he is a husband and wife.
It wasn't that. It was because he had just witnessed Sasuke and Sakura argue earlier. They were quite heated, too.
And now Sasuke is smiling? He doesn't look worried or remorseful at all. He looked simply content.
Naruto was confused, he couldn't help but just straight out ask, "Why are you happy?"
"Hn?" Sasuke distractedly sounded, looking at his Hokage.
"I just saw you argue with Sakura, why are you smiling?"
"Why shouldn't I smile?"
"Because you fought with your wife?"
"Yeah, and we're done fighting."
"??" Naruto stared at him. "So now you're done fighting, you don't care anymore?"
Sasuke rolled his eyes at Naruto, giving him the same look genin-Sasuke would give before calling him an idiot.
"We're done fighting, so it means what's next is making up. Why shouldn't I smile?"
Naruto stared at his friend, who still can't seem to help but smile.
What does he even mean by that? Did he even want to know?
END