Chapter Text
At the academy, the life of a shinobi is painted as one of non-stop action and adventure. Students are taught to believe that the best part of your day is out on the field, fighting the good fight with your pulse singing under your skin and the sound of metal clanging in your ears.
This is incorrect.
As most ninja would attest, the best part of your day is getting home. Curling up with good food, a good book, and the warmth of a blanket at your lap.
Sakura Haruno had just finished a lengthy shift at the hospital and was enjoying this time-honored tradition, red-bean dumplings and a glass of wine set before her on the couch. Burrowed comfortably amidst the cushions, she was just about to begin reading the newest addition to her favorite series and had no intention of moving for at least a couple of hours.
So it was with no small amount of irritation that she was interrupted by a harried pounding at her door.
She sighed, set down her wine at her kitchen bench, and made to answer it.
Pulling the door back revealed the familiar figure of Naruto, hand raised mid-knock. His blond hair was slightly disheveled, expression fraught.
“I’m freaking out, Sakura,” he said by way of greeting.
She raised an eyebrow. “So it would seem. Why is that exactly?”
“Sasuke.”
“Oh god,” she said. “What trouble has he gotten himself into?”
“What?” His eyebrows furrowed. “No. No trouble.”
She heaved a sigh of relief. “Well, what’s the issue then?”
“He wants to meet up.”
Sakura nodded and waited. When Naruto offered no further explanation, she blinked.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “Is that…is that what’s gotten you so agitated?”
“Yeah,” he said, brushing past her to get inside the house. “Got any ramen in? I need something to calm me down.” He moved to her cupboard and rifled through it before emerging with a cup of instant noodles.
“By all means, help yourself,” Sakura deadpanned.
Naruto bustled around her kitchen then, boiling water and wrestling with packaging. He sipped absently at Sakura’s wine as he did so and made a face.
“Ugh,” he said. “This is disgusting.”
Sakura snatched it back. “That’s because you’ve got an unrefined palette. I can get you a juice box if you’d prefer.”
Naruto squinted at her. “I can never tell if you’re being serious or not. Do you actually have a juice box?”
Sakura swatted him. “No.”
“Aw.”
And soon enough the ramen was ready. Naruto slumped down next to Sakura on her couch and slurped at it with a nervous energy.
The kunoichi cleared her throat. “So,” she said. “Sasuke.”
Naruto winced. “Yeah.”
“Your best friend. The yin to your yang. Someone you haven’t seen in months.” She sipped at her wine. “Yeah. The prospect of meeting up with him must be awful.”
“You don’t understand,” he said, distraught. “The last time I saw him was in the Land of Tea. We had spent the whole day together, and ended up at the beach. The sun was setting, and he was being all – all – Sasuke. With that smirk and that voice and those eyes -”
Sakura raised an eyebrow. “And?”
Naruto’s voice was small. “I was gonna kiss him, Sakura,” he said. “I was gonna kiss him right there on the sand.”
Sakura shrugged. “So kiss him.”
Naruto barked out a humorless laugh. “Are you kidding? You think Sasuke’d really be interested in me back?”
Sakura sighed and set down her glass. When she spoke, it was with the tone of a long-suffering kindergarten teacher.
“You’ve known each other a long time,” she said.
Naruto nodded. “Yeah.”
“He understands you like no one else does.”
“Yup.”
“He’s protected you and cared for you like his life depended on it. You were each other’s first kiss.”
“Well, I wouldn’t really say it counted as a proper ki-”
“He is one hundred percent interested in you, you absolute moron.”
Naruto’s mouth snapped shut. He swallowed thickly and shook his head. “That – even if that were true, it wouldn’t help me.”
“And why is that?”
“Because his life has been an absolute shitshow, Sakura!” he cried, something snapping. “And he’s only just getting better. You think he needs complications right now? You think he needs to feel as though I’m only there for him because I want something from him?” He shook his head again. “No. Right now, he needs a friend. Someone dependable.”
Sakura cast her eyes to the ceiling and muttered something under her breath. After a moment, she collected herself and set Naruto with a firm gaze. “Look,” she said. “You know Sasuke better than I was ever able to. I’m not going to sit here and dispute what you think he needs. But are you sure there isn’t anything else at play here?”
He blinked at her. “What do you mean?”
She opened her mouth, thought better of it, and shook her head. “You know what?” she asked. “I think this is a discussion you need to have with Sasuke yourself.” She exhaled a breath. “Where are you supposed to meet him?”
“Some village in the Land of Earth.”
“And when are you heading off?”
“Tomorrow morning. I was hoping to get an early start.”
“Hm. Probably wise. It’s going to be a long trip.” She eyed the bags under his eyes. “In that case you’re probably going to need an early night too. Want to crash here?”
Relief was palpable in the loosening of his posture. “Yeah. Thanks. The bed still set up?”
“‘Course.” She ruffled his hair. “With the frequency you use it, I should be charging you board.”
He poked his tongue at her. “Try getting less comfortable furniture, and you might not have such a problem.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
And so it was that Sakura set the blond up in her spare room. He settled into bed and wasted no time in criticizing the wilted state of a pot plant at her windowsill.
“Ow,” he said as she whacked him with a pillow.
“Well quit complaining when someone’s showing you hospitality!”
“But it shouldn’t be in direct sunlight,” he protested. “It looks sad.”
“Ugh. You take it then.”
“Really?”
“Really. Something for you to look forward to when you come back.” She jabbed a finger in his direction. “So return in one piece, okay? And…don’t freak out too much about the whole Sasuke thing.”
“Yeah,” he exhaled. “I’ll try.”
“Good,” she nodded. “Well if that’s everything, I’m going to bed. If I don’t catch you in the morning, I’ll see you when you get back.”
“Right. Night, Sakura.”
“Night, numbskull.”
And then the kunoichi closed the door and left Naruto to his thoughts. Judging by the distracted look on his face and the drumming of his fingers, he wouldn’t be getting a very good night’s sleep.
She sighed. There really was nothing more frustrating than seeing him and Sasuke dance around each other like they were engaging in the world’s most convoluted tango.
Still, with any luck that would soon change. There was a betting pool in place within Konoha regarding the nature of their relationship, and Sakura had a feeling that she was staring down quite the win.
Naruto was absolutely gonna kick Sasuke’s ass.
In typical Uchiha fashion, he had completely downplayed the difficulty of the journey he would have to undertake to meet up. Because trekking all the way to a remote region of the Land of Earth in the depths of winter would have come with challenges all on its own. But when that was coupled with the literal mountain he had to ascend, set into a range that made any in the Land of Fire look like toddlers, well -
Let’s just say the effects of peacetime on Naruto’s fitness were becoming glaringly apparent.
The winding alpine path he was following passed underneath an overhang, and he took a moment to pause and appraise his surroundings. Snow lay thick and heavy around him, a testament to the near blizzard conditions he’d had to soldier through earlier in the day. A break in the clouds now offered a bit of a reprieve in the weather, but a haze on the horizon had him wondering how long it would hold out. Looking down, the landscape seemed to stretch on for infinity. A patchwork of rock and hill and tree. Some distance away, an ice-blue river carved its way back towards the Land of Fire and he could see a faint twinkle of lights as someone prepared for the imminent fall of night. An orange sunset lit the whole scene up like the world was on fire, and Naruto was forced to consider whether he might actually reach his destination tonight.
Sighing, he adjusted his pack and set off again.
As it turned out, however, he needn’t have worried about arriving on time. A short while after, the path he was following widened and leveled out. He began to pass other travelers with increasing frequency, until finally he crested a hill and came face to face with the crowds and lights and activity of civilization.
It was a nice town. All lights and open streets. But Naruto barely took it in. All he wanted right now was to sit down with something warm to eat.
And then there was Sasuke.
Naruto took an anxious breath. Just the thought of the Uchiha being nearby had his nerves thrumming with electricity. So it took a moment to work up the courage to cast his chakra outwards, seeking the familiar hum of his presence.
Ah. There it was. Elegant and calm and impossible to ignore. Naruto followed it as if pulled by strings, weaving between pedestrians until he eventually came across the man himself.
Seated at an outdoor café table, he had his back turned to him and his head tilted to the sky.
Despite himself, Naruto grinned. It was a rare chance indeed to catch Sasuke unawares.
He dampened his chakra and made his way over silently, the picture of stealth. When he was directly behind the Uchiha, he held his breath and prepared to surprise him by raising his arms and –
“Don’t you dare.”
Naruto deflated.
“How did you know I was here?” he pouted.
“With your chakra?” Sasuke snorted. “Felt you from miles away.” He made a curt gesture to a mug set across from him. “You’re getting slow in your old age. I imagine your hot chocolate is cold by now.”
Naruto slouched over and appraised it dubiously as he sat. “It’s not the bitter stuff, is it?”
“Drowned in a sickening amount of sugar and whipped cream, I’ve been reliably informed,” Sasuke replied dryly.
Naruto perked up and took an enthusiastic mouthful. Despite Sasuke’s words, it was pleasantly warm and just on the right side of sweet.
The Uchiha watched in amusement as Naruto drank, and the blond took the opportunity to appraise him in turn.
Time had been really kind to Sasuke. Once, he had walked with a shadow in his eyes. He had carried calluses on his knuckles and a tapestry of bruise and scar on his skin. Now, that very skin seemed to glow. There was a shine to his dark hair and a smile that had only been becoming more present each time Naruto saw him. He was bundled up in a scarf and an elegant hanten over a deep blue kimono.
Naruto suddenly felt very self-conscious in his own travel-damp cloak and jumpsuit.
“You trying to show me up or something?” he asked.
“What?”
Naruto gestured at him. “You. Wearing that.” He nudged him playfully. “It’s like you’ve dressed up.”
Sasuke glanced down. “For you?” he asked. “Don’t be presumptuous.”
And Naruto was given no chance to respond, as a dark-haired waitress strode up to their table with a pen and notepad poised at the ready.
“Are you wanting to order any food this evening, sirs?” she asked politely.
Sasuke spared a teasing glance in Naruto’s direction. “Ramen,” he said. “Miso. Extra pork.”
The blond snorted. “Could we also get the onigiri?” he asked in his best imitation of the Uchiha’s voice. “With tomato and okaka?”
“Certainly. Is that everything?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
She departed with a curt nod and a click of her pen.
“I have a bone to pick with you, you know,” Naruto said conversationally after she had gone.
“Oh?”
“Yeah. When you mentioned a ‘slight incline’ and ‘well-paved path,’ I didn’t expect to be traversing the goddamn alps like a mountain goat.”
Sasuke nodded. “That’s fair” he said. “Of course, it may have helped if you actually followed my directions properly.”
“What?”
“You came from behind me, right? Well, the path I presume you took is the one usually used by sheep herders.”
“What?”
“If you had taken the northwest turn at the border, I imagine you would have found the journey a lot more pleasant. There’s even a chairlift.” He laughed at Naruto’s outraged expression. “You idiot.”
“Bastard!” the blond fumed. “You’re telling me -”
“Didn’t you think the village here was a bit busy for some random mountain settlement only accessible by dirt track?” Sasuke asked.
Well. There were quite a few people around, come to think of it…
“There’s a snow display on,” Sasuke continued. “Quite popular with civilians and tourists. I don’t think they had difficulty getting here.”
“…I hate you,” Naruto grumbled.
“I shall try to contain my heartbreak.” He leaned forwards to pour out two cups of matcha from a pot at the center of the table. “Tea?”
And then it was like they had never parted. Naruto segued into an update on all the things that had been happening in Konoha, and Sasuke interjected with questions and thoughtful comments. Then the Uchiha spoke of all the places he’d seen in his travels, and Naruto listened with rapt attention and sparkling eyes.
And Sasuke was devastating. Funny and smart and biting and alluring. Naruto found it increasingly difficult to stay present. To not get lost in him.
But then, mid-conversation, Sasuke bumped his leg against Naruto’s under the table. The blond stuttered to a halt at the contact. He expected Sasuke to pull away, but the Uchiha evidently felt no such compulsion. He stayed quite still, in fact, warm and ever so distracting.
“Um,” he said.
“Something wrong?” Sasuke asked, not looking up from his onigiri.
Naruto shook his head desperately. “N-nope! Uh, I was just -”
The leg shifted against Naruto’s and the blond let out a squeak.
He searched frantically for something to say. “Nice town here!” he croaked. “Really, really nice spot you chose.”
Finally, Sasuke moved back.
“You think so?” He took a sip of tea at his side. “I believe there’s more to see, if you’ve finished your ramen.”
“Yeah!” he said in relief, jumping quickly to his feet. “Let’s – let’s check it out.”
Sasuke regarded him for a moment before rising from his seat and pulling out some money to leave on the table. “Well then,” he said. “Follow me, usuratonkachi.”
With that, they made their way down the street. Naruto slowly managed to get a hold of himself and take in the sights.
It really was a beautiful town. Like something out of a fairy tale. The sun had well and truly set now, and multi-colored lights strung overhead lit the snow like a rainbow. Icicles sparkled from traditional buildings and pedestrians meandered unhurriedly between booths and stores. When the boys reached the end of the main thoroughfare, the crowds became a little denser and funneled through an arch that opened into a wide courtyard decorated in sculptures made of ice. Someone had even managed to construct a building out of the stuff. Naruto had never seen anything like it. Some of the walls were completely transparent, distorting the world outside into odd colors and indistinct shapes.
“Thought you might like it here,” came Sasuke’s voice beside him.
Naruto looked up and had to immediately avert his eyes again lest he do something - stupid. Sasuke’s face was slightly flushed from the cold, a few snowflakes settled on his eyelashes. Light at his back illuminated him like some kind of angel.
“‘S pretty,” was all Naruto could say, staring determinedly at a carving in front of him.
“Mm,” Sasuke hummed. There was movement as he shifted to examine the blond. “You cold?”
Naruto’s breath came out in puffs of fog. “I-I’m fine.”
Sasuke made a disbelieving sound. “Your face is red. And you just stuttered.” Another rustle of movement, and then Naruto was being maneuvered to face him. “Here.”
Without warning, Sasuke came right in close. Naruto felt as frozen as the world around him as the Uchiha’s scarf was secured snugly around his neck and his hands were taken a hold of. Sasuke rubbed at them in concentration, the friction and maybe something else entirely causing a burst of pleasant heat to course through the contact.
“Better?” he asked, voice soft.
Naruto pulled away like he’d been electrocuted.
“Yup!” he squeaked. “Great! Absolutely fantastic!”
Sasuke blinked, something unreadable flashing across his face. Then he gave a nod and turned his back.
“Good,” he said, moving off. “Because you’re not dying of hypothermia before I’ve even had a chance to see everything properly.”
“…Thanks for the voice of concern, asshole,” Naruto huffed, trotting after him.
“You’re welcome.”
Snow crunched softly underfoot as they made their way out of the courtyard and followed a stream of people heading downhill. A distant sound of music and laughter increased in volume the further they walked until they eventually rounded a bend and came across a picturesque frozen lake lit in yellows and blues. People were skating across its surface with varying degrees of success. A particularly energetic group of children stumbled and slid at the edge, giggling uncontrollably, while a live band on the far side of the ice played something bright and upbeat.
Naruto barely restrained himself from bouncing up and down in excitement.
“You want to have a go?” Sasuke snorted.
“Can we?” Naruto asked enthusiastically. “I mean – we can leave if you don’t want to. I just -”
Sasuke shoved at him in amusement. “Moron. Wait here while I go get some skates.”
Naruto gave a mock salute and the Uchiha ducked away through the crowd. It took a moment to realize he was staring after him, and he quickly averted his gaze.
Okay. This would be – good. Here was something that he could focus on instead of Sasuke. Something that could distract him and keep him sane amidst the Uchiha’s attention.
Maybe, just maybe, he would actually get through this thing in one piece.