Sasunaru oneshots

The weight of a bond

The forest was eerily silent, the kind of silence that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki were on a mission together, a simple reconnaissance task that had quickly turned dangerous.

Naruto was panting, his orange jacket torn and stained with blood. A kunai was lodged in his shoulder, and despite his best attempts to fight back, he was slowing down.

"Damn it," Naruto muttered, clutching his injured arm. "Sasuke, I'm fine! Just focus on the enemy!"

Sasuke stood in front of him, his Sharingan spinning as he glared at the group of rogue shinobi surrounding them. His sword was drawn, the blade gleaming in the dim light filtering through the trees.

"Shut up, dobe," Sasuke snapped without turning around. "You're in no condition to fight. Stay back."

Naruto bristled at the command but couldn't deny the truth. His body felt heavy, and every movement sent sharp pain radiating through him. Still, the idea of standing by while Sasuke took on their enemies alone didn't sit right with him.

"Don't you dare tell me to—"

"I said stay back!" Sasuke's voice was sharp, colder than usual. He didn't have time for Naruto's stubbornness.

The rogue shinobi weren't ordinary bandits. Their movements were calculated, their chakra signatures ominous. Sasuke could tell they were trained killers, and Naruto, injured as he was, would only slow him down.

One of the enemies darted forward, aiming for Naruto with a kunai. Sasuke moved faster than the eye could follow, intercepting the strike with his blade. The clang of metal echoed through the forest as sparks flew.

"I won't let you touch him," Sasuke growled, his Sharingan glowing brighter.

The rogue shinobi smirked. "Protecting him, huh? How noble. Let's see how long you can keep that up."

They attacked in unison, a flurry of blades, jutsu, and chakra-enhanced strikes. Sasuke met them head-on, his movements precise and deadly. He countered every attack, his Sharingan predicting their moves with ruthless efficiency.

Naruto watched from behind, frustration bubbling inside him. He hated feeling useless, but he couldn't deny how incredible Sasuke looked in battle. The Uchiha fought with the kind of skill and determination that made it clear he wasn't just fighting for himself—he was fighting for both of them.

"Damn it, Sasuke..." Naruto muttered, his voice shaky.

A sudden explosion of fire jutsu sent debris flying everywhere. Sasuke leaped back, his body shielding Naruto from the blast.

"Are you trying to die, idiot?!" Sasuke hissed, glaring at Naruto.

Naruto opened his mouth to retort but was silenced by the look in Sasuke's eyes. It wasn't just anger—it was fear. Fear of losing him.

"I told you to stay back," Sasuke said, his voice lower this time. "I won't let them hurt you."

Naruto's eyes widened. Sasuke rarely showed this side of himself, and it caught him off guard.

Before he could respond, one of the enemies unleashed a lightning jutsu, its crackling energy heading straight for them. Sasuke acted on instinct, stepping in front of Naruto and taking the brunt of the attack.

The jutsu hit Sasuke square in the chest, sending him to his knees. He coughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, but his grip on his sword remained firm.

"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice was filled with panic.

"I'm fine," Sasuke said through gritted teeth, forcing himself to stand. He raised his sword again, his body trembling from the impact.

"No, you're not fine!" Naruto shouted. "Why the hell are you doing this?!"

Sasuke turned his head slightly, just enough for Naruto to see the faint smirk on his face.

"Because I made a promise," Sasuke said. "I told you I wouldn't let anyone else die. Not you. Never you."

Naruto felt a lump in his throat. He clenched his fists, summoning every ounce of strength he had left.

"You're not doing this alone," Naruto said, stepping forward despite the pain. "We're a team, remember?"

Sasuke's eyes flickered with something—reluctance, maybe even respect—but he didn't argue.

"Fine," he said. "But don't get in my way."

Naruto grinned, the familiar spark of determination returning to his eyes. "You wish, teme."

With renewed energy, the two of them fought side by side. Sasuke's precision and Naruto's unpredictability created a perfect balance, overwhelming their enemies.

By the time the last rogue shinobi fell, both of them were bloodied and exhausted.

Sasuke sheathed his sword, his breathing heavy. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

Naruto laughed weakly, slumping to the ground. "Yeah, but I'm your idiot."

Sasuke rolled his eyes but didn't deny it. He sat down beside Naruto, the weight of the battle finally catching up to him.

"Thanks, Sasuke," Naruto said after a moment, his voice softer.

"For what?"

"For always having my back."

Sasuke didn't respond immediately. He stared at the ground, his expression unreadable.

"Just don't make me do it again," he said finally, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

Naruto grinned. "No promises."

And in that quiet clearing, amidst the aftermath of the fight, their bond felt stronger than ever.