Forget Me

Worth This Shit

italics for flashback this chapter.

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Shuriken practice and rasengan practice later, both father and son were flat out on the grass.

Sasuke watched from a distance, shaded by green trees slowly turning red. His face was masked by the peppering shadow of the leaves. Back pressed against the wooden bench, he watched the two lie on the drying field.

Memories flooded his mind, flashes of all those years passing him by. The more he thought of it, the more it hurt. The nerves in his body were either frazzled or shrieking in hazardous pain. He didn't feel like stopping it. It was a wondrous feeling that left him numb.
Well, partially of course. Whenever he saw Naruto his heart would still and then pound loudly at the sight of him. Everyone had moved on. Hell, even Sakura. But then again, who wouldn't? Who would live in the past in such turmoil other than him?

A bottled water shook in front of his face. Eyes adverted to the hand that held it, then up to the face.

Naruto smiled down at him, sweat beading down his forehead to the bridge of his nose.

He gave a curt nod, taking the bottle in silent gratitude. He couldn't help the smile that slid over his pale face as his good friend stretched, yawning as he sat down beside him.

Sasuke popped the cap, downing its clear contents slowly. He knew Naruto was staring at him.

The other looked between Sasuke and Boruto with equal fondness. Although his gaze lingered more at his black-clad partner.

"Your kid is as annoying as you."

Sasuke passed the bottle to Naruto, glancing at him from the corner of his eyes.
Naruto laughed fondly, staring to where he left his son to practice.

"Never change Sasuke."
"I thought we agreed to change."

"I thought we meant it as change our past relationship. but, we're still friends right? I mean,  we are."

They were clinging onto something so lifeless it was almost believable.

Sasuke sucked in a breath.

"Whatever."

He pretended not to see the contented smile that was plastered on Naruto's face.

He was trying so hard to make this right it was almost flawless.

But nothing could fix the wound if it was already broken. Nothing.

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Later, at the Hyuuga household, Boruto burst through the doors.

Sweat coated him entirely. The kid grinned in triumph when Hinata asked him about the training.

"I made a huge rasengan today!" He elongated the 'huge' word.

Hinata passed him a glass of water, smiling.
Himawari pinched her nose and screwed her eyes up.

Boruto laughed, pulling the disgusted girl to his side. She squealed, squirming away from him.

Naruto frowned, sliding onto the couch.

"Go shower, or you'll inflict your bad odour onto Himawari."

Boruto stuck his tongue out at his dad before running off to the showers.

Naruto smiled when Hinata placed a towel in his lap.

"You were off with someone else today?" she stared curiously.

Oh. She saw?

"Erm, I- yeah. I was."

"Who?"

Totally didn't expect that.

"S-Sasuke."
There was a tense silence that stretched on for a few minutes before Hinata spoke again. Her voice startled Naruto out of his awkward silence.

"He's no good for you Naruto. You should stop spending time with him."

Naruto watched Hinata's brows furrow in displeasure. He knew. He knew why Hinata didn't want him to be with Sasuke. The reasons were so simple. He'd get hurt again, and he'd leave her, and his life for Sasuke. But it was okay now. He was reckless before, he won't be reckless again. It had been so long.
Although he wouldn't lie about the fact that when he was with Sasuke, he felt happy. Just having him sit beside him was already enough.

Did he still love him? Would it matter any more than it did all those years ago?

No. It wouldn't.

He looked up to Hinata, smiling as he pulled her to him.

"Don't worry Hinata, I'll be okay."

Pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, he headed off to the showers, leaving her behind.

-----------------

Sasuke sat on that same tree again, chewing on a ripened tomato.

It was nice, not too sour. He was surprised no one came to him during this time.

Wouldn't they all be dying to kick him out of Konoha? If that sounded sarcastic, well, it was. What game was Naruto playing at? Trying to keep him by his side. It was confusing. Irritating that he knew none of what was happening around him.
That idiot had two kids and a wife for Christ's sake. Shouldn't he be off spending time with them instead of pulling him along on his life journey?

His eyebrows furrowed in thought. If only life was like tomatoes, fresh and simple.

Tomatoes were the best.

Sasuke pulled himself up from his slouched position and took another bite, eyeing the villagers who passed him by.

They barely knew he was there, cloaked In the shadows far from light's grasp.

And frankly, he preferred it that way. Being the shadow of everyone's light.

From a distance, he saw red hair, spiking his interest.

Gaara was here?

He crouched beneath the branches, looking around cautiously before he started to follow after him.

----

"Uchiha."

"What do you want Gaara."

"What is with you?"

"If there is any I wouldn't tell you."

"Naruto is trying his best you know?"

"His best to do what?"

"To live without you."

"..."

"Well you don't seem bothered."

"Why do you care?"

"He's my friend. And as his friend, I wouldn't want him to suffer."

"That's apparently all anyone cares about now, just because he saved the world? Pathetic."

"Maybe it's not pathetic. Maybe it's just you."

"What about me?"

"Maybe you're just afraid."

"There's nothing that fears me."

"Are you that certain?"

I don't know.

----

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A:N/:

It's another worthless chapter again I'm sorry.

"Tomatoes are the best."