Sadness and Sorrow

Promise

Both got in trouble then, Naruto with Sasuke, and Sasuke with his parents and brother.

"I'm sorry for not checking in when I left school, but I had something important to do," Sasuke explained. The family was conferring in his room to get to the bottom of the youngest Uchiha's absence. The school had called his parents, and when they came to pick him up, he wasn't there.

"What was so damn important that you had to have us worried like that?" Fugaku asked, slamming a fist on Sasuke's desk.

Sasuke jumped, but answered calmly, "Naruto. And I wish I could tell you what's going on with him..." He looked at the floor. "But I'd be breaking a promise."

"Sasuke... You can't tell anyone! Please!" Naruto begged him upon waking up.

"Naruto! He's hurting you! And you expect me to keep my mouth shut?" Sasuke asked in disbelief. "Think about what that's doing to Kabuto! Seeing his brother raped and beaten twenty four seven!"

Tears pooled in Naruto's eyes as he grasped Sasuke's shirt. "Please, Sasuke! I can fix this. I promise I can!"

Sasuke clenched his fists and turned away. Naruto dropped his shirt. "Ngh... Okay. I'll keep your secret, but you and Kabuto are staying over my place for a while. Grab an overnight bag for the both of you."

"Thank you..." He was pulled into a hug. The blonde sobbed into his shoulder. "Thank you Sasuke..."

Naruto and Kabuto were both asleep in the guest room. Sasuke clenched his fists again. Making that promise angered him. It was like Naruto wanted things to stay the way they were. But the end result was getting harmed. If you keeping hitting something, eventually it will break, thought Sasuke.

"Hey, Sasuke, pay attention," Itachi said, snapping in front of his face. "You got your punishment. No computer for a month."

Sasuke acted as if this was the end of the world like a normal teen would, then went to check on his best friend. He was awake, watching Kabuto sleep tiredly. He looked up as Sasuke came in. "Hey, Sasuke," he said, putting his head on his shoulder once he sat down. "I'm exhausted..."

Sasuke smiled in spite of himself. "Stupid dobe," he muttered and put an arm around the blonde's shoulder, planting a kiss on his forehead. Naruto blushed, but stayed still, enjoying the closeness he shared with Sasuke.

They fell asleep like that. Together.