Eclipse

Part 8

The day is quiet. Autonomous. Sasuke teaches and Naruto does paperwork.

"Send me somewhere," Sakura whispers when she finds him in his office. "Please."

"Why?" Naruto asks, raising an eyebrow. "You just got back from a long one. Don't you want time in between?"

"No," she says. "Send me on a mission."

Naruto eyes her critically, trying to figure out what to make of her sudden demands. "Is this because of Sasuke?" he asks.

"No," she bites out. "It's because of you and Sasuke."

Naruto closes his eyes and sighs. "You saw..."

"Yes, I saw," she says tersely. "How could you do that? How long has this been going on behind my back? Why didn't you TELL me? We're friends, Naruto. You should have told me!"

"I didn't tell you because we're friends," Naruto explains calmly. "I knew it would hurt you. I knew you wouldn't understand it. I knew you wouldn't like it. I can't explain it. It just... happened."

"Why!" she shouts in a shrill voice, demanding answers. She feels like she's suffocating and the tears won't stop.

"I'm in love with him," Naruto whispers, feeling guilty about it. "I'm sorry."

Sakura shakes her head, letting out a breath to try and calm herself.

"You're right. I don't understand it. I don't like it. I don't care that you're both men, I just wish you would have fallen for some other man."

"It wouldn't have happened," Naruto says. "It had to be him. You can hate me all you want, it won't change anything."

"I don't hate you," Sakura murmurs. "I'm just angry. I'm angry at you, at him... and at myself because I should have seen this coming."

"Love makes us blind. It makes us selfish."

"I'll forgive you for it if you promise me something," Sakura starts.

Naruto stares at her for a moment. "Anything..."

"Don't keep it a secret," she says. "Tell people. Tell everyone. Hold his hand. Kiss him. Tell him you love him. Declare it. Make it known."

"Why?" Naruto whispers.

"Because he deserves to feel loved. He deserves to know you're proud of him and unashamed."

Naruto closes his eyes and nods, vowing to do so no matter how hard it may be.

With that, Sakura is satisfied. "Send me in a mission," she requests yet again.

This time, Naruto relents. He grabs a pile of files, searching through until he finds a low-risk escorting mission. "Here," he says. "Take Hinata with you."

Sakura nods her head and then she's gone.

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.
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When the day is over, the two men meet. By now, it is dark. Only the street lamps are lit. Naruto walks to the old Uchiha compound and makes his way to the home of Sasuke. It's something he does most nights because no one wants to be alone when the lights go out.

"Hey," Sasuke greets him.

"Hey," Naruto echoes.

They smile and then Naruto steps in. He leans into Sasuke and they touch mouths, eyes slipping shut. His lips are smooth, gentle.

"I'm in love with you," Naruto says as they part. "I'm sure of it now."

Sasuke watches him, listening as he talks. His chest feels fluttery, light. He still feels like it is all too good to be true, too good to be real... but it is true. It is real. This is his life now. He has what he wanted. He has who he wanted.