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On the training fields...
Sweat is dripping down your arm, down the sword you're pointing at a pale throat. You're careful not to cut the delicate skin there, to keep still even as you breathe heavily.
"Whoops," Naruto grins up at you, blue eyes beaming despite the danger he's in. "You caught me."
With a sigh, you pull back and put away your weapon, allowing him to get up from the ground. "You're not taking this seriously."
"I am," he swears, dusting off his pants. "You're just too good."
"I saw you fight," you remind him. "You could smoke me in a heartbeat."
"Only in Ninjutsu," he points out, throwing an arm around you. "You're much better in Taijutsu."
"And Genjutsu," you remind him. Because at least that you know.
"See," he smirks, leaning in. Before you know it, something warm and wet drags itself across your temple and you gasp in horror.
"Did you just lick me?" You ask, trying to get away from him.
"Yeah," he nods. "I wanted to know if it was sweat."
"Of course it's sweat! I'm sweating. It's hot!"
"Well, you should take off your shirt then," Naruto points out, still one arm hooked around your shoulders. He lights up like a Christmas tree at the idea. "We could take off all our clothes! That would be fun!"
Without hesitation, you hook your left leg around his right. He goes down like a tree, staring up at you in surprise as he hits the ground.
"I think the heat has gone to your head," you point out calmly. "You need a break."
"Aww, you're so thoughtful," he hooks his arms behind his head and smiles up at you. "That's a great idea."
-
In the library...
"I'm never going to memorize all of this," Naruto complains for the fifth time in twenty seconds. "Help me? Please?"
"You don't need to memorize it," you snort. "It's about understanding it, that's all. And most of it is basic stuff. You learn that for the Chunin-Exams."
"Well, about that..." Naruto scratches his chin with an awkward smile. "Teach me? Please? I'll buy you lunch."
"I brought lunch," you remind him. "And you're already buying me dinner because I had to book a private room because you can't keep quiet in the big hall outside."
"Right," he nods. "But you're still going to teach me, right? Because you love me and you can't let anyone else become Hokage instead of me."
Flustered, you shuffle around the papers in front of you. "I'd not call it- I mean, I don't want- I respect Kakashi, but-"
His eyes, big and blue and oh so pretty, do not miss one of your movements. It's unnerving and you're much too weak for it.
"Fine," you huff out. "I'll teach you. What motivates you?"
"Ramen," Naruto answers, as quick as a whip. "And a kiss, maybe?"
You shoot out of your chair before your head explodes -and your heart as well - to grab the huge Bento Box you brought. "One bite for every right answer. Is that a deal?"
"If you're feeding me, sure."
-
On a mission...
"Are you listening to me?" You ask, your heart racing. "Naruto?!"
"Yes," his eyes cut back to yours, but they're darker now, his chakra powerful and dangerous. "I'm here. Don't worry."
"Oh, sure, I'm not worrying at all," you hiss. "You looked like you were going berserk but everything's fine now. Are you insane?"
"They were going to kill you," he hisses back, his teeth sharp like fangs. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Trust me," you bite back. Your heart beat slows a little, allowing you to take in your surroundings a bit more calmly. Five dead, one injured. Naruto's done his job as well as yours. "I'm never going to make Jonin if you keep babying me."
His grip on your wrist has you wince and he loosens it immediately, frowning at your obvious pain. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I-" He hesitates. "I love you. I can't let you get hurt. I'm sorry."
Your heart picks up speed again. You stare at his hands, feel the chakra coursing through them. He does not yet deem you safe. Or he has trouble letting go.
"If this is you confessing to me, you couldn't have picked a less romantic spot." You say it like a joke, to lighten the mood, to distract from your own fears and feelings.
But his brows furrow.
"What do you mean, confess? I confessed months ago."
"When?"
"When I asked you to be my partner, remember?"
You gape at him. "I thought you meant your sparring partner! There was no- you didn't specify! Naruto?!"
"What?" He laughs a little helplessly. "I said I wanted to fight by your side! Wasn't that clear enough?!"
"No wonder you kept being weird while training. Oh my god!"
And there it is, that smile of his, half careless, half caring too much for his own good.
"But you love me back, right?" He asks and you snort, lean in as if to kiss him, before you think better of it.
"Naruto," you grab him by the shoulders. "I'll not kiss you with those ridiculous fangs."
"Oh, right, let me just take care of that."
-
Amongst friends...
Sasuke sits quietly on your right, staring into his bowl as if the secrets of the universe are going to reveal themself to him and only him. But you can tell that he's listening, even though right now it's mostly Tenten, Lee and you debating the most devastating Taijutsu move to use on an attacker.
"And you tried that one?" Naruto asks, slinging one arm over your shoulder while he tries to grab meat from the grill with the other. He manages to hit Kiba in the head with it instead.
"I always wanted to," you admit, "But last time I got the chance, you interfered."
"Aw," he pouts. "I could have watched you kick ass and I blew it? Shame on me. Dibs on the next mission with you."
"Absolutely not," you decline, offering more Sake to a disgruntled Kiba. "I'm still picking up the pieces of our last mess. Oh, Hinata, thank you," you take the grilled vegetables from her and pile them on both your and Naruto's plate.
Below the table, his foot hooks around yours. You pat his thigh and he rolls his eyes and if you didn't know better, you'd think him annoyed, or angry, or careless.
But this is Naruto. Even the most mundane things are just another way of him showing his love for you.