It's- it's him?

Sasuke's gaze steeled. Naruto... How long had it been since their last encounter?

Naruto was just barely moving, making his way to the lake. He fell over, inches away from the water's edge.

Sasuke kept his sword out. Naruto was obviously injured, but who knew what new powers he possessed and how strong he was now? Sasuke wasn't going to let his guard down.

He watched Naruto intently, sword at the ready. Naruto wasn't moving at all. Should I...?

He crept ever close, putting his sword back in its sheath elegantly. His eyes hovered over Naruto and soon, his hand was doing the same, floating inches away from his old friend's shoulder.

His body was covered in wounds and blood was pouring, slowly but surely. Naruto's face was in pain and his eyes were half closed.

"S-Sasuke...? Is that you?"

Sasuke's breath hitched. "Naruto. What are you doing here?"

"I was looking for you. I ran in with some guys but... I'm fine! Believe it..." His sentence trailed off.

Sasuke frowned. "Usuratonkachi. You're hurt."

Naruto laughed softly. "After all these years, still using that nickname. You're just the same as as-" He coughed up blood, the red liquid pooling around him.

"Naruto? Naruto." Sasuke repeated his name, shaking his shoulder. I should just leave him here to die. The thought flashed through his head. I'll leave him here and have one less thing to worry about.

He stood up, watching Naruto's moonlit face. But I... I don't want to.

He realized this with utmost certainty.

Soon, Sasuke was washing Naruto's wounds by the lake, his mind racing with everything he learned at the Ninja Academy. He had ripped up his own shirt to use as a tourniquet, wrapping it tightly around Naruto's arm and leg. The rest of his shirt was completely bloody, wet from being applied to Naruto's other injuries.

Soon, Sasuke realized he could've just used Naruto's ugly orange jacket instead of his white shirt. "Well," he muttered. "There's nothing I can do about it now."

Gently but firmly, he picked up Naruto. He looked around, trying to spot anybody who could be spying on them. There was nobody around but them, so he walked on.

Sasuke's mind wandered elsewhere as he stared at Naruto's unconscious face. There was just something about him that Sasuke couldn't turn away from. Maybe that was why every time they met, Sasuke either left quickly or did his best to kill Naruto. He didn't want something deterring him from his goals.

Yet he never managed to kill him. Whether it was because he lacked the power or he lacked the will, he didn't know.

Sasuke suddenly stopped walking. He was lost. Judging by how much time he had been trekking through the forest, he should have been at the cave with Karin, Suigetsu, and Juugo by then.

He groaned, looking around for the cave. Nothing. Well, if we're gonna stay somewhere, this place is as good as any.

Sasuke placed Naruto on the ground carefully, glaring at him. "Stupid idiot. I wouldn't be in the middle of nowhere right now if I were by myself," he whispered, his lips curled downwards. Of course, there was no way of knowing that. Sasuke just wanted to blame someone for his troubles. And of course, Naruto didn't respond. He only rolled over to his side and muttered something in his sleep.

"You can't replace Sasuke... Sai, stop it..." he mumbled, waving his hand around in the air. He then winced, opening one eye. Sasuke looked away, embarrassed. So, Naruto was awake.

"Go back to sleep. It's late," Sasuke grumbled, starting a fire with his Fire Ball jutsu and laying down on the opposite side of it as Naruto.

Naruto only stared at Sasuke, wide-eyed. "You didn't leave me to die."

Sasuke turned around, his face opposite to Naruto's view. "Be glad I didn't. I should have."

Naruto's eyes became sad. "You've tried. Lots of times."

"Yeah well..." Sasuke still couldn't think of an explanation as to why he would have tried to help Naruto, even bring him along.

"I hope you don't leave me here by myself." Naruto's scratchy voice rang throughout the silent forest. "I hope there's still a shred of goodness in you that'll tell you not to run away or kill me. Or both." He chuckled slightly looking up to Sasuke's bare back. It took him seconds to really realize that Sasuke was shirtless. Despite himself, he blushed. "What happened to your shirt?"

"I used it as bandages, you idiot."

Naruto looked at his arm, and sure enough, a white cloth was tied around it. "Oh."

Nobody spoke.

After a moment, Naruto tried to start the conversation again. "Want my jacket?"

Sasuke froze. He rolled around, glaring at Naruto. "I don't want that thing. Who knows where that's been?"

"Are you really that self-absorbed? Orange isn't your color, but nobody's gonna be here to see you try to pull it off except me, ya know!"

"Oh, shut up, it's not about that. It's covered in your blood! Nobody would want to wear it, even if they liked the color."

Naruto laughed hard. Sasuke looked away and felt his face heat up. "What's so funny?"

"Really, it's just like old times!"

Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes, rolling back around.

Naruto blinked. Did I say something wrong? "Well, goodnight."

Sasuke didn't respond.

-

"It's late! Where is he?"

"Off being a depressed asshole, probably."

Karin and Suigetsu were arguing in their cave, Jugo just outside trying to spot Sasuke among the shadows of the forest.

"Oh, come on, Suigetsu," Karin said, hands on her hips. "Don't you feel an ounce of worry for him?"

Suigetsu harumphed. "Worry?"

"Yeah! I - We should be looking for him right now!"

"There you go again. Everything you do is in favor of trying to win that jerk's heart. Ya think he'd fall in love with you because you were able to find him brooding in some dump?" He raised his hands in the air, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he imitated Sasuke's voice. "Hooray, Karin! You found me and won hide n' seek! Yippee!"

Karin shoved Suigetsu on the shoulder. "He's not brooding in some dump. If he hasn't come back yet, it means he's in trouble."

Suigetsu rubbed his shoulder. "Or he abandoned us."

Jugo's deep voice resounded through the cave. "He wouldn't abandon us."

Suigetsu glared at Jugo. "And what do you know? I've known him longer than you have."

Karin put her hands on her hips, about to reprimand Suigetsu once more. "You little-"

"Please," Jugo began. "Don't. You're both distractions. Can't you be quiet and enjoy the crickets chirping, or at least try to help out a little?" Neither of them had ever heard Jugo say something like that.

Suigetsu grumbled a curse under his breath and sat down next to Jugo while Karin stared at the two of them. That's right. Sasuke isn't going get saved - or I guess he can save himself - if we're fighting in this cave doing nothing.

Karin nodded. "I'm leaving. I'll be back soon."

"Where are you going?" Suigetsu asked.

"Mind your own business."