Disclaimer: Naruto is something I do not own. Really! You'd think I didn't have to say this for the fifth time…

A/N: I can't express my thanks enough for my reviewers who've stuck with me all this time. Sachiel Angelo, Ketsueki Kaen, and SilverxStarlight. Also, I'm thrilled all day when new reviewers come in and encourage, like Always-Aftermath and Katzenmond.

Cookies for you all! *Wipes tear from eye*

~Chapter 5: Phase 2~

As Sasuke restlessly paced around the gloomy Uchiha manor, he could only think of one thing—would Sakura like Kiba? Sasuke had planned to have Lee go with Sakura to the lovey-dovey ball, but Kiba might be even better. After all, he was more like Naruto than Lee was. As Sasuke rounded a corner, he could've sworn he saw a flash of pink.

He blinked. Pink? Moving? All he could think of was Sakura. She had better have went, he thought grimly. It'd be bad if she showed now.

Half an hour later, his doorbell rang. His mind went on overdrive. This is bad! He thought, panicking. What if she decided to see if I was coming, and didn't go at all? Or worse, she ditched Kiba because she knew what I was doing? Summoning all of his Uchiha courage, he composed his face into a stoic mask and opened the door.

"Sasuke?"

Sasuke practically sagged with relief. It was Naruto outside the door! Mission: Success.

"Naruto?" He feigned confusion.

Naruto was staring at him. If Sasuke had been a lesser man, he would've fidgeted. But, Uchihas were not supposed to fidget. So he just stood there, a slight blush tinting his pale cheeks.

"Um…" Naruto said.

Sasuke's heart pounded. Why was Naruto looking at him like that? Could it be…?

"Why are you wearing a terry cloth robe, Sasuke?"

Sasuke face-palmed. "I'm sick…isn't that why you're here?" As soon as he said that, he wanted to take it back. Why did I say that? What if he figures it out?

Apparently, though, Naruto lived up to his name of "Most Oblivious".

"It's not my fault!" He whined. "Shizune made me come; she said Tonton heard from Akamaru that you were sick!"

Ah, so that's what the flash of pink was. Tonton the pig. Sasuke thought. Thanks, Shizune. "I don't need your help." Sasuke told Naruto brusquely.

Naruto, however, shook his head stubbornly. "Shizune said that you were really sick! Akamaru told Tonton that you were coughing all over the place and that you had the flu. So she told me that I had a D-rank mission, and that was to help you."

Sasuke smirked. "If it's a mission, then, I guess I can't dissuade you. Come in." Mentally, he sighed with relief. Phase 2 was going well.

Naruto stepped into the hall, looking around with awe. "Whoa…this is a really nice place, Sasuke." And indeed, it was. The Uchiha Compound never failed to impress, with its huge gardens and stately manor.

"Whatever. Do your mission, and help me."

Naruto eyed him. "I can't believe I have to help you…" he muttered. "Even if it's a mission…I mean, you have tons of fangirls willing to help you!"

Sasuke winced inwardly. Fangirls? And him? Alone in a house? No thank you.

"Look, I don't want you to help me either, but it can't be helped." Sasuke said brusquely.

And he walked away, pretending to cough a bit.

"Hey! Wait up!"

Naruto caught up to him moments later. "Whoa…is this your room?" He gaped at Sasuke's huge room, with windows covering three walls, so Sasuke could admire the view. "It's the size of my whole apartment!"

Sasuke ignored him, and slid into his bed. "Once you've finished admiring everything, get us two cups of tea, will you? The kitchen is two doors down, to the right, and the tea packets are on the top shelf."

Naruto turned to him, scowling. "Fine, fine. But understand—I'm only doing this because of my mission!"

Sasuke smirked. "I'm sure."

Naruto stomped away, huffing. But he returned soon. "Here you go." He announced, clattering the tea onto Sasuke's drawer.

"Thanks." Sasuke sipped his tea leisurely, while Naruto slurped his down in one go.

"Hm, this is good!" Naruto exclaimed. But then, he set down his teacup. "Sasuke…I wanted to ask you a question."

"Hm?"

"Are you sorry that you left Konoha to go to that slimy bastard's place?"

Sasuke sat up abruptly. He hadn't expected this question so soon. He thought about it, keeping his eyes on his cup.

"No."

"WHAT?" Naruto stood up, looking livid. "Then why did you come back?"

"There was nothing left to learn at his place."

Naruto forced himself onto Sasuke's bed. "How could you say that? You don't regret that you made Sakura-chan cry, and made everyone worry? You don't regret that Neji, Chouji, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Fuzzy Brows almost died for you?

"I told you before. I knew what I was doing."

"That's a lie! I had to rescue you!"

"That's true. But like I said, I am an avenger. I don't regret going, because I learned many jutsus I wouldn't have learned here."

Naruto looked outraged. "How-how could you say something like that? So you're going to leave again?"

"Most likely not."

"But…you said…"

"Haven't you been listening? I went to a legendary Sannin, and learned all I could from him. There is probably no one else out there that can match his power, except…" Sasuke's eyes clouded. "Akatsuki. So I'll stay here in Konoha, make ANBU, and be able to go on missions and train to defeat my brother."

Naruto was silent. "So…you didn't come back for us? The people of Konoha?"

"The people of Konoha? Like they need me." But…I came back for you. And don't you understand, I'm not going to leave again?

Naruto shook with rage. "Teme! And we all thought you were starting to change. You-you asshole!"

Sasuke started to feel rage himself. "I didn't ask you to come butting into my affairs! Worry about yourself, for a change!"

"Worry about myself? If I didn't worry about you, you'd probably be sexually assaulted by now!"

"Like I would've let him!" Sasuke roared.

"You would've!"

"Shut up, dobe!"

Naruto leaned over, and grabbed Sasuke by the scruff of his neck. "You still are the power-hungry, stupid, teme, I've known all these years!" His eyes burned.

"And you're still the dumb, dead last idiot I've known all these years!"

Sasuke shoved Naruto off him. "You don't understand anything at all!"

"Yeah? I understand enough, all right!"

Sasuke kicked him. Hard. "Baka!"

Naruto doubled over. When he looked up, his eyes were flinty steel. "If you weren't sick, I'd kick your ass!" He growled. And he stomped out of the room, slamming the door. "I don't care about the mission!" He yelled. "Teme!"

And Sasuke heard the front door slam as well. Then, he realized, that he was crying. He looked at the shining spots on his hands with a sort of apathy, and clenched his fists.

Stupid, stupid, Naruto. Why did he have to fall in love with him?

Sasuke's plan has a bump. A big one. What'll happen next? Poor SasuNaru fans…go on, review, and maybe you'll a cookie and a happy chapter next time!