Chapter 82 Good Brothers

"That was definitely the most embarrassing twenty minutes of my life." Naruto said with lingering fear.

"You've seen Asuma-sensei and Kurenai-sensei kissing at a rest stop before." Sasuke exposed mercilessly.

"Didn't we agree not to mention that matter again?" Naruto said angrily.

"I just remember you told me not to mention this, but I don't remember I promised you." Sasuke teased and stopped at the intersection.

"At least her dad isn't home this time," Naruto whispered.

"It's better than nothing." Sasuke muttered, holding a large bundle of clothes under his arm. "Besides, the atmosphere in there is so awkward that it could be cut through with a kunai."

"If they really like Sakura, they should overcome their mental barriers. If they can't, Sakura can move in with us. It's a deal," Naruto said firmly.

"Oops, we forgot to buy another quilt," Sasuke said suddenly.

Naruto shrugged, freeing one hand to pull out the sealing scroll from the pile of clothes.

"It's okay, we'll find a way."

They might have taken a lot more things from Sakura's room than her mother thought - she had thought they were just coming to get a few days' worth of laundry.

They were all exhausted and didn't want to use chakra anymore, so they decided to walk through the civilian area.

The afternoon sun shines through the gaps between the leaves, casting patches of light and shadows on the ground.

Naruto's golden hair sparkled in the sunlight, as if it was made of gold-spun silk threads, weaving the sunlight into a dazzling crown. Sasuke couldn't help but reach out and gently pull his chin-length hair.

"You should get a haircut," he said calmly.

Naruto blinked, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"Ah? Oh, yes." He reached out and smoothed his messy hair. The uneven length was evidence that he had cut his hair himself before. "Let's talk about it after we sleep together for a few days and nights. Then we can ask Sakura for help."

Having said that, Naruto didn't look that exhausted, at least not like Sasuke.

As if seeing through his thoughts, Naruto suddenly asked, "Do you want to find a place to sit for a while?"

Sasuke nodded, and they found a sunny lawn next to the fifth training ground. The warm sunlight shone on the grass and gave the trees a golden edge.

Sasuke sat down and Naruto laid down next to him, his hands behind his head.

They just quietly enjoyed the sunshine and this rare tranquility, doing nothing and thinking nothing, as if time had stood still.

"You haven't mentioned becoming Hokage for a long time." Sasuke said suddenly, his eyes falling on the mottled light and shadows among the leaves, "Is that still your dream? To become Hokage?"

He expected Naruto to answer "Of course" without hesitation, but Naruto remained silent, seemingly thinking seriously about his question.

"Becoming a Hokage is, of course, a great thing." Naruto said slowly, looking into the distance, even though the glaring sunlight made him a little uncomfortable, "Hokage-sama is really amazing, they are like tall shadows, protecting the entire village. They are the most powerful ninjas, and I respect them very much."

Sasuke was acutely aware of the hidden emotions in Naruto's tone, and he heard the subtext.

"But?" he demanded, not missing the hint of hesitation in Naruto's voice.

Naruto was silent for a moment, then he said softly, "But…this isn't enough."

He turned around and looked directly at Sasuke, his eyes confused.

“It’s no longer enough to just follow in someone else’s footsteps.”

As he spoke, he sat up straight and supported his hands behind his back, "I want to become stronger, I want to surpass everyone, I want to be strong enough to protect everything I cherish, even if it is the Hokage, even if it is the village, I will protect it."

He looked into the distance again and said firmly, "The village may also become bad, just like the Hidden Mist Village. The village may also be destroyed, just like the Whirlpool Country. I must protect the people I love, my friends, and my companions."

He looked at Sasuke again, his eyes gleaming with determination, "My family. Even if one day I have to become an enemy of the entire village, I will not hesitate. So, even if I can't become Hokage, I will always put the people I cherish above the village."

Sasuke was stunned. He felt as if something hit his chest. Something collapsed at this moment, and something was built up at this moment.

It suddenly occurred to him that what Naruto had said before, his indifference to the Uchiha legacy, and his unwavering trust in Sasuke himself, were all not just words.

Sasuke can be anyone and do anything.

At this moment, looking at Naruto in front of him, Sasuke suddenly felt that those rules, those traditions, and those family constraints had become insignificant. They were nothing more than shackles that hindered their progress. As long as they were strong enough, they could break all shackles.

With Naruto, Sakura, and teacher Kakashi by his side, Sasuke not only felt the power, but also felt unlimited possibilities.

Something in his mind shattered. The pain that had been deliberately forgotten shattered like glass, and the indifference and hatred from Itachi collapsed like a collapsing wall.

The world he built with hatred completely collapsed at this moment. For the first time, he felt that he saw the light of hope.

"Sasuke?"

Naruto's worried voice brought him back to reality. He turned his head and saw Naruto looking at him with concern, his cobalt blue eyes full of worry and confusion.

Sasuke suddenly smiled, with a hint of relief and disbelief in his smile.

What on earth had I done to deserve such pure trust from this idiot?

"I think so too, Naruto." Sasuke whispered, with a barely perceptible tenderness in his tone. He was serious, he wanted to fight side by side with Naruto and break all obstacles, so he tightly grasped the trust that Naruto handed over and incorporated his own beliefs into it. He leaned forward and touched his forehead with Naruto's.

He won't run away anymore.

“We will create a whole new future,” he whispered, a promise and a challenge.

Naruto smiled, a smile as bright as the sun, and he pressed harder against Sasuke.

"Together, we will create a brand new future," he said firmly.

******

The sun was almost setting when Sakura found them.

They lay side by side on the ground, bathing in the afterglow of the setting sun, as if they were asleep.

Sakura had an angry look on her face, but her expression softened when she saw this.

"Let's go, you two idiots." She said softly, opening her arms and hugging the two of them. Her arms were so warm, like a safe harbor. "Let's go home."