Well... this is awkward.

I know it's not Christmas anymore, and I apologize that this didn't get finished in time. I'm updating anyway because I finished this one, so I hope you like it, despite the fact that my other ones are probably better. ;)

Btw, I actually uploaded this over a week ago but it never showed up on the site, so I just took it down and now I'm re-uploading and crossing my fingers that it actually works this time. IT BETTER AS HELL SHOW UP! *angry derp face of doom*

Note: Naruto and Sasuke are 16. Please review.

Under The Mistletoe

"Sasuke-teme!" Naruto called loudly, running to catch up with the bored-looking Uchiha. Sasuke's eye twitched, but he quickly relaxed. He would never in a million years admit it out loud, but he actually enjoyed the blonde's company.

Sakura watched them walk home together from a distance, smiling at the two boys.

"Rivals? My butt," Sakura murmured to herself, as they walked closer together for warmth. The pinkette turned away from her team-mates, deep in thought. She had always known, deep down, that there was something more to Naruto and Sasuke's relationship. She had begun to notice it each time they were all together as a team. Sakura could see right through the insults; they didn't hate each other as much as they let on, in fact they didn't hate each other at all.

It had to be love.

Sakura couldn't help it as another small, warm smile graced her features. She was so happy for them. After getting rejected by Sasuke countless times, she finally understood that it would never be, and was finally able to move on. That was around the same time she began to notice just how deep Sasuke and Naruto's bond was. She wanted to help bring them together, as both boys were too stubborn and shy to state their true feelings for each other out loud. Just then, a lightbulb flickered on in Sakura's light pink head, and she nearly sprinted to Ino's house in her excitement. She fought her way through the thick, freezing white snow, and rapped loudly on the door of the Yamanaka's flower shop. The door opened, revealing a surprised-looking Ino, who ushered Sakura in and out of the cold.

"What's up, Forehead?" Sakura smirked deviously, making Ino eager to hear what she had to say.

"I have a plan."

. . .

"Sasuke, are you cold?"

The raven shuddered visibly, burying his chin deeper into his thick white scarf, his ears and nose bright pink from the icy, winter air. Naruto stared at him worriedly, concern clear in his aqua blue eyes, but Sasuke just shrugged unconvincingly.

"Shut up, dobe. I'm f-f-f-fine." Sasuke rubbed his hands together, mentally slapping himself for not wearing mitts. His hands felt as if they would fall off... well, they would if he could feel his hands. Naruto sighed at his stubborn comrade, and took Sasuke's hands in his own, rubbing furiously and blowing gently on them to warm them up. Sasuke blushed, but didn't reject him. Naruto was like a human heater. Sasuke scooted closer, his forehead now resting against his rival's. Naruto's sweet, warm breath fanned over the Uchiha's face and hands, thawing out his frozen body. He sighed pleasurably, cracking a small smile.

"Better?" Naruto asked, smiling gently at the raven. He nodded, not wanting to leave Naruto's warmth, and simply closed his eyes.

"Yeah... thanks Usuratonkachi."

Sakura and Ino watched the two boys from a safe distance, as in far enough away that Sasuke wouldn't sense them. They giggled at the cute little moment happening outside Ichiraku's ramen shop.

"You sure this'll work?" Ino asked hopefully, crossing her fingers.

"I'm positive. We've got them right where we want them," Sakura replied cheerfully, her green eyes turning back to her comrades. She pointed to the entrance of the ramen stand. "Look up there!" Ino glanced above the two boys, her pupil-less blue eyes widening, and then grinned wickedly at Sakura. Above them hung a cluster of small, green leaves adorned with tiny red berries. The Christmas-classic mistletoe.

"I hate to admit it, but Sakura, you're a genius," Ino whispered with grudging admiration. Sakura beamed.

"Agh! You feel like an icycle!" Naruto's surprised voice silenced the two watching girls. He had placed a warm hand on Sasuke's cheek, only to flinch away at the cold, pale skin. Sasuke smirked.

"And you feel like the sun."

Naruto chuckled at the intentionally pathetic comeback, and pulled Sasuke into a tight embrace.

"Come here," he murmured in amusement.

The Uchiha gasped in surprise, a dark blush covering his nose and the tops of his cheeks as Naruto's arms held him securely around the waist. Sasuke tried to shove him away.

"What are you doing, moron?" he hissed, weakly straining against Naruto's unbreakable grasp.

"What does it look like, bastard?" Naruto replied calmly. "I'm not gonna let you freeze to death." Sasuke felt his heart flutter at that. He just sighed in frustration, and snuggled back into the blonde. 'Tch' was all he said in response as he lost himself in Naruto's warmth.

Sakura's emerald eyes filled with mirth as she watched Sasuke wrap his arms around Naruto's neck, and tangle his hands in Naruto's soft blonde hair. Ino snickered.

They both watched as Naruto suddenly glanced up at his favourite ramen stand. Blushing furiously, he loosened his grip on Sasuke, who shot him a confused glare.

"Dobe, what the-"

"Maybe we should just go home, it's late," the blonde muttered nervously, averting his eyes. Sasuke, irritated as hell, glanced up at what Naruto had been looking at. His face turned beet red.

"Mistletoe," the Uchiha murmured softly. His obsidian eyes met Naruto's cerulean ones. Naruto pulled Sasuke back against his body, and looked at the raven with sudden determination and uncertainty. "Wait," Sasuke said nervously. "We're actually going to-? But you just said-"

"We've done it before, plus... I'm curious about something," Naruto replied quietly, tilting his head to the side, and gazing at Sasuke with half-lidded blue eyes. "It's in the Christmas spirit."

"O-okay..." Sasuke whispered, as they leaned towards each other. Sakura and Ino watched in awe as their lips met and their eyes fluttered closed. It was so heart-warming and personal, that Sakura looked away from her two kissing team-mates. All of a sudden, it felt wrong to be intruding on such a beautiful, immensely private and intimate moment. They'd done what they came there to do, give two lovebirds in denial a push in the right direction, and so it was time to let the boys figure out the rest themselves. She tugged lightly on Ino's pale blonde ponytail.

"Let's go," Sakura told her firmly. Ino started to protest, but caught the serious look in her shimmering green orbs, and immediately understood why Sakura felt the sudden urge to leave. She's right, we've done enough here. Ino carefully climbed out of their hiding place and followed Sakura away from the two boys and back to her house.

Sasuke and Naruto had just parted, their cheeks flushed and lips slightly chapped. They took a moment to catch their breath, despite it being a short kiss, and pressed their foreheads back together. Naruto was the first to crack a smile, and then Sasuke couldn't stop his lips from twitching upward in a small, but genuine smile as well.

"Wow.." Naruto said in amazement, his aqua blue eyes sparkling.

"So, did you find the answer to what you were curious about?" Sasuke asked boldly, playing with the lapels of Naruto's maroon jacket.

"Yeah, I did," Naruto replied in a low voice, capturing Sasuke's lips once more with his own. The Uchiha's eyes fluttered closed, and he couldn't help but sigh into the kiss, contentedly moving his lips against Naruto's and getting used to the softness and warmth the other boy's mouth brought. Not to mention his taste was becoming addictive.

They separated, both a little breathless, and then they embraced tightly again. Naruto's body shook with mirth-filled laughter, his cheeks tinged pink. Sasuke chuckled as well, glad that he wasn't the only one overwhelmed with the events of the past five minutes. Did this mean that they were really together now? Sasuke smiled hopefully at the thought, blushing uncontrollably. Naruto flashed his signature grin as he pulled himself up by Sasuke's shoulders, his cheeks equally flushed.

"Do you wanna stay at my place tonight, Sasuke?" he asked softly, and leaned forward to tenderly place a kiss on Sasuke's temple, causing the Uchiha to blush even more.

"Alright," Sasuke responded a bit shyly. And as they started to walk back to Naruto's apartment, they held hands like it was the most natural thing in the world.

. . .

Sakura watched Naruto and Sasuke enter the training ground the next day with an adoring smile on her face; the boys were holding hands. My work here is done, she thought cheerily, upon noticing the rare smile on Sasuke's face. Mistletoe apparently worked wonders. Kakashi joined her, an eyebrow raised curiously at his two canoodling students.

"Well, well, aren't they cute," he commented cheekily, catching Sasuke sneak a quick kiss on Naruto's lips, the blonde grinning impossibly wide and knocking their foreheads together. Sakura beamed, her emerald green eyes sparkling in the light of the sun, despite the snow cascading down on them.

"They belong together," she murmured sincerely.

And there was no regret or doubt in her voice as Sasuke's warm laugh filled the crisp, winter air.

The End*