Mind games

Reasons

If Naruto had to be described in one word, it would be determined. It had been years since his best friend betrayed him and the rest of the village, and it didn't faze Naruto at all. He would get Sasuke back if it was the last thing he did.

Naruto trained for years. He searched for years. He never gave up. He knew that one day he would come across the information he needed and he would find Sasuke again. He knew that one day he would have his chance.

He was right.

Sasuke and Naruto stood, face to face, in the middle of a battle field. Neither of them looked particularly worse for wear, but that couldn't be said for their comrades. Bodies littered the ground around them. Most dead, the rest on the verge of death. It was safe to say that they would be the only two walking off the battle field in one piece.

That is, if they didn't kill each other, first.

"What are you doing here, Naruto?" Sasuke's voice was no more cold or void of emotion than it had been years ago.

Naruto's blue eyes held that determination he was famous for, "To bring you back, Sasuke-bastard."

Sasuke's eyes surveyed Naruto slowly. His face showed no emotion, gave no hint to his thoughts of feelings.

"No,"

Naruto could feel his fists begin to shake as he faced his teammate, his friend, his... his... "Damn you, Sasuke! I will bring you back!"

For a brief second, so brief that Naruto wasn't sure if it'd actually happened or if he'd imagined it, Sasuke's eyebrows shot up, "Just give up, already."

"Never."

This time Naruto was sure that he saw Sasuke's eyebrows rise in surprise. His red eyes were slightly wider than normal. Naruto stared at him impassively. Did he honestly think Naruto was about to give up just because he told him to? Surely he knew Naruto better than that.

"You don't belong out here, Sasuke. You got your revenge. You killed your brother. There's no reason for you to continue on this path now," Naruto could hear the slight shake in his voice, but ignored it as best he could.

The way Sasuke looked at him next unnerved him. Sasuke's crimson eyes blinked and, when they opened again, they were the onyx color that Naruto knew all too well. Those eyes bore into Naruto's bright blue ones. They looked... pleading, almost.

"Give me one good reason I should come back," Sasuke's voice was low, but it lacked that familiar bite of hatred.

Naruto wasn't sure what brought on the sudden changes in Sasuke, but it didn't matter. He was presented with the perfect opportunity to argue his case and to get Sasuke to come back. He'd been planning for this moment for years.

But, as Naruto thought through everything he wanted to say, he didn't like his argument anymore. He knew Sasuke wouldn't listen to his words. So, he resorted to the only other idea he had.

Naruto took two steps to close the small gap between the two boys. He reached up and grabbed Sasuke's shirt and pulled him down into a fierce kiss.

It didn't surprise Naruto at all that Sasuke didn't respond. What did surprise him, however, was that Sasuke didn't make a move to pull away.  He simply was there, letting Naruto kiss him.

After a second, Naruto pulled away, breathing slightly irregular. He looked up at Sasuke, making no move to back further away from the dark haired boy. Sasuke's onyx eyes looked down into his. Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

Finally, Naruto had the words to break the silence, "That's why you should come back, you stupid bastard."

Naruto stared into Sasuke's face, waiting for a response. Instead of words, Sasuke responded with a slight smile. Naruto watched as his eyes softened just the tiniest bit. To anyone but Naruto, it would have been invisible. But to Naruto, it meant victory.

He placed his hand in front of him, palm up, "C'mon, Sasuke. Let's go home."

Sasuke placed his hand carefully on top of Naruto's and let the young boy lead him home.