Hold Your Tears || SasuNaru/NaruSasu

October 9th.

**The Day Of the Nine Tails Attack - Naruto's Birthday**
The sun hung low over the village, casting an amber glow over the rooftops of Konoha. 

Tomorrow would be a special day—a day that marked the birth of Naruto Uzumaki, the orphaned child of the Hidden Leaf. But for those who knew the truth, October 10th was a day of conflicting emotions. The very same day Naruto was born, the village had faced its darkest hour.

Twelve years ago, a masked man had attacked the village, bringing with him the wrath of the Nine-Tails, a beast of unimaginable power. The village had been on the brink of destruction, and yet, in an act of sacrifice, the Fourth Hokage had sealed the beast within his newborn son. It had been an act of both desperation and love, and the outcome had been peace—but a peace that came at a great cost.

Naruto grew up in the shadow of that fateful day. To the villagers, he was not a hero, but a reminder of the nightmare they had barely survived. They resented him, ignored him, and worse, they feared him. He longed for respect, for recognition, and above all, for a place to belong. And yet, each day, he walked the streets of Konoha with a smile on his face, determined to show them all the strength of his resolve. His dream to become Hokage—a dream of acceptance, of finally being seen for who he truly was—burned fiercely within him.

**12 Years, 364 Days Later...**
The eve before Naruto's 13th birthday, Sasuke Uchiha found himself walking through the crowded marketplace, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. It was a rare occasion—Sasuke was shopping for a gift. And not just any gift, but one for his teammate, Naruto. The thought of it left a strange, uncomfortable feeling in his chest, but he couldn't exactly explain why.

"Where are you going, Sasuke?" Sakura's voice cut through the murmur of the marketplace, drawing his attention. She was running up to him, a slightly breathless expression on her face, and her usual bright pink hair bouncing with each step.
Sasuke sighed, barely glancing at her. "I'm getting Naruto a gift."

"Oh!" Sakura's eyes lit up, the surprise evident on her face. "For his birthday tomorrow? That's really nice of you."

Sasuke rubbed the back of his neck, trying to play it off as if it were no big deal. "It's not that big of a deal. I was thinking of getting him money. The only thing he ever wants is ramen anyway."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical. "Really? Just money? I thought you'd get him something... more personal."

"Personal?" Sasuke repeated, not sure he understood the implication. "It's Naruto. What does he care about personal stuff?"

Sakura couldn't help but smile at the bluntness of Sasuke's words, though part of her wanted to point out how little Sasuke really understood Naruto. She didn't—she had learned to accept that.

Sasuke's understanding of people, especially Naruto, was still limited. Instead, she asked, "So, you're really going to get him ramen for his birthday?"

Sasuke shrugged, his expression unreadable. "If he likes it, what's the problem?"

Sakura hesitated, her thoughts momentarily drifting. She couldn't deny it—Sasuke's actions over the past few weeks had been different. Less aloof, less cold. Since the Chuunin Exams, there was a strange sense of camaraderie between the three of them. It wasn't perfect—Sasuke still kept his distance, his aloof nature never quite fading—but it was a start. She could see that Sasuke, in his own way, was trying. Even if he wasn't fully aware of it himself.

"Well, I'm sure he'll appreciate it," she said, though there was a subtle shift in her tone. She was less concerned with Sasuke's gift choice now. Over time, she had realized that her feelings for him had changed. The boy she once thought she admired from a distance no longer held her heart. She had moved on—partly because she had come to realize that Sasuke was unreachable in more ways than one, and partly because her focus had shifted. But who could she turn to now? Who did Naruto like?

Before she could voice another thought, a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" It was the unmistakable voice of their sensei, Kakashi Hatake.

Sakura panicked, her face flushing. "We're on a date, Kakashi-sensei!" she blurted out, her words tumbling over each other.

"No. We're not," Sasuke replied almost instantly, his tone flat and dismissive.
Kakashi chuckled softly behind his mask. "I see, shopping for Naruto's birthday, huh? Well, that's thoughtful of you, Sasuke." His one visible eye crinkled as he smirked. "But you should know—Naruto can get a bit down on his birthday. It's the day his parents died. He tends to keep to himself about it."

Sakura's smile faltered at the reminder. She had almost forgotten the weight of that truth.

Naruto had always been the center of attention in the village, the loud, boisterous ninja that everyone either loved or hated. But beneath that exterior, there was pain. A wound so deep, Naruto rarely spoke of it. The day his parents died, the day the Nine-Tails attacked—he never let anyone forget that.

"Oh..." Sakura murmured, the gravity of Kakashi's words settling between them.

"Anyways," Kakashi continued, "I'll leave you two to it. Just keep in mind that Naruto can be a little... sensitive tomorrow. Don't make a big deal of it."

"Yeah.. Anyways, what's that in your hand, Kakashi-Sensei?" she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Kakashi looked down at the small, leather-bound book in his hand—Makeout Paradise, the latest volume. He could almost feel the weight of her stare.

"I—uh—well... What hand?" he stammered, trying to cover his tracks, but it was too late.Sakura snatched the book out of his hand, glaring at it. "Makeout Paradise? Really?"Kakashi felt a blush creeping up his neck. "It's... not what it looks like!"

"YOU PERVERT!!!" Sakura shouted, punching him squarely in the face, sending him staggering back.

Kakashi rubbed his cheek, his irritation rising.

"I do not have the time for this." said Sasuke

Without another word, Sasuke turned on his heel, his footsteps quickening as he walked away. Sakura called after him, but he didn't stop. The last thing on his mind was dealing with her teasing. He had something else to do.

**The Night Before Naruto's Birthday**

By the time Sasuke made his way to Ichiraku Ramen, the sun had dipped below the horizon, and the streets of Konoha were growing quieter. The familiar scent of steaming broth filled the air, and the cheerful sounds of the ramen stand's owners greeted him.

He walked up to the counter, his expression unreadable. "Four deluxe bowls of ramen," he said without hesitation. Each bowl was $10, a bit extravagant by his standards, but he knew Naruto wouldn't care about the price. He just wanted to see his face light up with that goofy smile.

As Sasuke paid, a strange feeling gripped him—something he couldn't quite place. Was it excitement? Nerves? He didn't know. But the thought of seeing Naruto tomorrow, of sharing this small gesture with him... it felt right. It felt important.

He could already picture Naruto's bright grin, his eyes lighting up in that way they always did when he was excited about something—anything. The thought made Sasuke's heart race in a way that made him uncomfortable.

But what was this feeling? He couldn't stop it. It had started after the Chuunin Exams, maybe even before that. The strange tension between them after their accidental kiss at the academy... he still remembered it. He had been so angry at the time, but now, as the days passed, he realized that anger had quickly turned into something else. Something he couldn't name.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, he would figure it out. Tomorrow, he would face whatever these feelings were.

Tomorrow... he would see Naruto again. And maybe, just maybe, it was time to confront what was growing between them.

Sasuke glanced up at the moon, the cool breeze brushing against his face. A silent resolve
formed in his chest. Tomorrow would be a turning point. It had to be.

Yeah... tomorrow.

A/N: 1337 Words!!!! First time writing a story so.. is it good?