THE FARM || ITASASU

Part 13

A/N: I wonder how many knives am I going to have held against my neck for this one, hmm?

The days had grown shorter as summer edged toward its end, casting longer shadows across the farmhouse in the golden afternoons. The tension that once saturated the air had settled into something more subdued, like a storm that had passed but left the scent of rain behind. Sasuke and Itachi had grown closer, their relationship finally reaching a place of stability and understanding. The secretive glances and cryptic words had been replaced with a more natural rhythm—small gestures, shared smiles, and the kind of warmth that only comes when the weight of unspoken emotions has been lifted.

But even as things settled into place, a different kind of unrest gnawed at Sasuke. Despite the progress he had made with Itachi, the clarity he thought he had found was still tinged with doubt. The pull toward Sasori hadn't disappeared; if anything, it had grown sharper in the quiet moments when Sasuke's thoughts were left to wander. It wasn't just desire—though that was there, undeniable and ever-present—it was the sense of unfinished business, the echo of what could have been. And Sasori was still there, ever the silent observer, always watching with those unreadable eyes.

Itachi had noticed, of course. He was far too perceptive not to catch the fleeting looks Sasuke cast in Sasori's direction when he thought no one was watching. But instead of jealousy, Itachi seemed almost resigned to it. Perhaps he understood that no matter how close they grew, there was a part of Sasuke that was still caught in Sasori's web, tangled in threads that neither of them fully wanted to sever.

One evening, as the sun dipped low on the horizon, turning the sky a brilliant shade of orange and pink, Sasuke found himself standing on the porch, staring out at the fields. His thoughts were a tangled mess, and the weight of the impending end of summer felt heavier with each passing day. Soon, he and Naruto would have to leave the farm, return to the city, and face the reality that lay beyond the comfort of this secluded world. A world where people wouldn't be so understanding of his relationship with Itachi. A world that would scrutinize and judge, tearing apart the fragile happiness he had found here.

As if sensing his turmoil, Sasori appeared, as he often did, without warning. He leaned against the porch railing, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were sharp as ever. He didn't say anything at first, just watched Sasuke with that knowing smirk.

"You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders," Sasori remarked, his voice light but edged with something more.

Sasuke sighed, not bothering to hide the conflict in his expression. "I can't stop thinking about what happens next. About leaving this place and going back to the city, where everything's complicated again. Where people will tear us apart the moment they find out."

"Ah, the burden of other people's opinions," Sasori said with a mocking lilt. "You always were more concerned with what others think than with what you actually want."

Sasuke glared at him, but it lacked real heat. "It's not that simple, and you know it."

"Isn't it?" Sasori's gaze drifted lazily to the horizon, his tone as casual as ever. "You chose Itachi because it's what you've always wanted, even if it comes with complications. But the thing is, Sasuke, those complications aren't going away. In the city, your relationship with him will be scrutinized, judged, and you'll be forced to hide it if you want any semblance of a normal life. But with me... you wouldn't have had to deal with any of that."

Sasuke tensed, his hands clenching at his sides. "You really think it's that simple? That if I chose you, everything would be easier?"

Sasori shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I know it would be. We're not tied down by the same chains. You wouldn't have to pretend with me, wouldn't have to carry the guilt or the burden of what others might think. You could just... be."