CHAPTER 44: A Lifetime

A/N: Hello people~ I don't know how many of you checked the little announcement I'd made, but I'll update y'all anyway. (^^)dI'd injured my hand and had to get 8 stitches, which is why typing kinda hurt, hence the delay.(；д； )Though I hope you enjoy this chapter!🤎💙

The air in the room this morning was tense, unlike last night. Naruto was now sitting beside Sasuke on the chair while the Uchiha's family stood nearby in the room, with a new presence among them.

A fairly old-looking detective who went by the name of Hiruzen stood by the foot of Sasuke's bed. It was easy to tell that he was a man with great experience and was good at what he did.

As for why he was here, it was obvious. One of the high-profile men of Konoha (Fugaku) had been arrested under heinous charges, and Sasuke was to give his statement now that he was finally in a state to do so.

"I'm sorry to have to do this right now, young Sasuke."

He said as his assistant brought out a voice recorder while he stood with an old little diary and a pen in his hands.

"Can we begin?"

Hiruzen's voice was soft despite the authority it held. He waited for Sasuke's approval before he began firing the questions, the answers to which were horrifying even for him.

Sasuke went on to describe the relevant incidents, and Hiruzen wished he could stop asking questions as soon as possible. He would have, if not for the legal requirement of the victim's statement.

Sasuke wasn't coping well with the questions either. Despite his stoic exterior, his heart beat painfully against his chest. He had to recall every torturous event, the fear that he had felt during those moments, and the pain that had coursed through his body. All those memories were still so fresh that his hand trembled under the covers as he spoke, the slight shakiness of his voice easily overlooked by all except one.

While the others saw what Sasuke wanted them to see, Naruto saw the vulnerable man who was hiding behind the facade.

His eyes never once left Sasuke's stature. He was observing the raven like an eagle. All the while Sasuke spoke to the detective, Naruto held his hand under the covers, occasionally squeezing it reassuringly.

After a long, excruciating hour, the statement was finally recorded. Mikoto was already shedding tears by the end, and Deidara, horrified himself, was caressing Itachi's back comfortingly, who was fuming.

It wasn't until Hiruzen spoke again that the tension in the room faded a little.

"Alright. Thank you for cooperating so well, young Sasuke. The evidence is already overwhelming, so there is no need to worry."

His words gave the gathering in the room the much-needed confirmation and a sense of relief. He contemplated saying something while he observed Sasuke and eventually chose to speak.

"It is unlike me to get personal in a case... but I'll make sure your father stays in there for a long, long time."

He gently patted the raven's foot in a friendly gesture and took his leave quickly, as if already getting to work. His assistant followed him out.

The room fell silent for a long minute before Mikoto went to Sasuke's other side and gently hugged her younger son, almost taking the raven by surprise.

"O- Okasan..."

"You did well, dear... you did so well. My brave son... I'm so sorry for leaving you with him all this while..."

Her words were a whispered praise for the raven but were spoken more to herself than to Sasuke. Her hug tightened around him carefully, enveloping Sasuke in her motherly warmth. Itachi and Deidara soon joined in, creating a safe cocoon around their youngest family member.

Sasuke had spent relatively less time with them, yes, and yet, their affection felt more familiar to his heart than his father's harshness.

He felt overwhelmed by the sudden emotions coursing through him as he took his time to welcome this feeling. Yes, he had felt love, but it had never been from his family before. This is why this moment was special for him.

They stayed in the hug for a little while before Mikoto raised her head to look at Naruto. She saw how the blonde looked at them; his cyan orbs shone with love for the raven. They were a testament to how happy he genuinely was for Sasuke.

That was all she needed to see to know that her son was with the right person.

Her eyes caught Naruto's, and she stretched her hand out in Naruto's direction, catching the others' attention as well. Naruto, who was taken aback by the unexpected action, hesitantly took Mikoto's hand, and before he knew it, he had been pulled into the 'family' group hug.

A small smile made its way to his lips as he melted into the hug almost shyly, causing Deidara to chuckle.

Naruto's cheeks were now a little pink, but he grew more confident in the hug. He hadn't known them for long, but he felt oddly comfortable and happy to be a part of it.

He felt like he was a part of them... of the family of the man he loved.

ONE WEEK LATER~

Sasuke came out of his room after having changed into his usual home clothes. He was finally ready for discharge... at least physically. His wounds had healed well, of course, while Naruto had been like a healing balm for his mental health.

"Let's go."

The raven addressed the usual four people who were waiting outside for him.

They walked to the parking lot, having already planned out their next steps. Mikoto, Itachi, and Deidara had been staying at their mansion ever since they'd come to see Sasuke. Hence, despite wanting to have the young Uchiha around, they had eventually settled on letting Sasuke stay at Naruto's.

They had come to trust Naruto enough. Besides, taking the raven back there would have undone all the healing Sasuke had undergone. And so, the Uchihas sat in their car, bidding the two lovebirds farewell and, of course, making a promise that they would visit frequently.

Their car left the hospital gates, and Naruto and Sasuke followed behind them on the blonde's bike.

Sasuke's hands were fastened around Naruto's waist unashamedly, unlike the first time he had sat behind him. He rested his cheek against the broad and sturdy back of the blonde as they rode against the wind.

'Time... really flies.'

It was the first time Sasuke had such a thought. Every second with Fugaku had felt like the longest hours of his life; yet, the days spent with the blonde blurred into each other. It felt like only yesterday that Sasuke was hesitating to touch Naruto.

'He really is my sun...'

Sasuke tightened his grip on Naruto as if conveying his emotions through it. Naruto, who seemed to acknowledge that, grinned behind the screen of his helmet.

It didn't take them long to arrive at Naruto's place. Sasuke entered the apartment after Naruto, and not much had changed, except that Kurama was missing.

"Make yourself at home..."

Naruto said as he walked to his kitchen while the raven sat on the couch in the living room. His eyes landed on the spot where he had left Naruto's birthday gift, and to his surprise, it was still standing against that wall, untouched.

'He... still hasn't opened it.'

A sigh escaped his lips, which was presumably heard by Naruto, who came back with a glass of water for the raven and sat beside him.

"Why the sigh?"

Naruto asked, handing the glass to Sasuke.

"You still haven't opened the gift I gave you."

Naruto's eyes widened at that, his heart sinking. He had purposely left the gift as it was, but he had momentarily forgotten to consider how the raven would feel about this.

The last thing he wanted was for Sasuke to feel undervalued.

"I- I'm sorry, dattebayo... But you see, I... I couldn't open it."

"Couldn't? Or did you just forget?"

"No! That... wasn't the case. It's just that... I feel like I don't deserve it. After what I did to you on my birthday, I don't think I deserve a gift from you, you know."

Sasuke could hear the vulnerable undertone of his man's words. He didn't like how Naruto was blaming himself for something that wasn't even his fault.

"Dobe, you didn't do anything. I... understand how it feels."

Sasuke tried to console the blonde despite being bad at it. However, his words were genuine, giving Naruto the reassurance he didn't even know he needed.

"So... you forgive me?"

Naruto asked skeptically.

"Forgive? There should be something to forgive for me to do it in the first place."

Sasuke's hand slowly, but confidently, reached for Naruto's. He intertwined his slender fingers with Naruto's.

"Though I never want to see you like that again... all crying and broken."

The raven remembered how Naruto had trembled in his arms while calling him 'Sai.' Being called by that name didn't hurt Sasuke as much as Naruto's broken state did.

"That reminds me... do you still see him when you look at me like you used to?"

It was Sasuke's turn to sound unsure.

"No. I don't."

Naruto's words and tone left no room for any argument. The raven was relieved to hear them. He gave the blonde's bigger hand a tight squeeze before he stood up and went over to bring the birthday present he'd gotten him.

"Hey... where are you going?"

Sasuke chose not to answer the blonde and silently brought the rectangular, cloth-covered gift to the centre of the room. His hands worked swiftly yet delicately to remove the cloth from it. He only looked up when the cloth had fallen to the ground.

"I didn't get the opportunity to give this to you properly. Here... I made this for you. You... don't have to feel guilty for accepting this."

Sasuke realized this was the most he had spoken in a while as he turned the canvas around for the blonde to see. Naruto's jaw dropped as he saw before him a stunningly beautiful painting with him as the muse.

The blonde's eyes were closed on the canvas as he basked in the sun, a serene smile gracing his lips while he stood among the cherry blossoms. Every brushstroke upon the canvas was deliberate, perfectly capturing Naruto's every feature in such detail that only a hand that knew him intimately could succeed in doing so.

Sasuke had poured his heart and soul into the piece, letting his love for the blonde guide him. All the happiness that Naruto had ever brought to Sasuke had managed to manifest itself onto the canvas in a magical blend of pigment and passion, creating something so ethereal: a masterpiece so vivid it felt alive.

Naruto looked up from the painting towards its creator, who was looking at him expectantly. He wished he could praise the piece, but no word he could say would have been enough to describe how he felt.

Instead, the blonde stood up and walked over to Sasuke, gently cupping his face in his palms, surprising the raven a little.

"Is this..."

Naruto began, but the words felt stuck in his throat. He did his best to gulp down the emotions that had formed a lump in his throat.

"Is this how you see me?"

The words left him in a warm whisper.

"Yes..."

Sasuke's voice reciprocated Naruto's warmth as he answered so simply. It won Naruto's heart all over again. His hands wasted no time moving from the raven's cheeks to engulfing him in an earth-shattering hug, the painting standing between their bodies.

Naruto took the liberty of burying his face in the crook of Sasuke's neck. Never had he been loved like this before. What Sasuke was giving him was unconditional, unparalleled to everything Naruto had ever felt.

"I really don't deserve you, you know."

He mumbled, snuggling his face against the slender neck of his man. Sasuke could feel how ragged Naruto's warm breaths were against his skin, indicating he was on the verge of crying.

"O-Oi... don't say that. If not for you, I might not even be alive today."

Sasuke spoke despite himself, feeling the blonde flinch at his words. He sighed as his one hand left the canvas to return the hug.

"You know... people say love is blind. But I disagree. Love sees. Love sees everything and accepts all the perks and flaws of the other... that's love."

Sasuke's fingers gently caressed the blonde's head, who had essentially frozen because of how hard those words hit him.

"So... am I that type of person for you?"

Naruto's voice was soft, the guilt in it fading to give way to acceptance.

"Hn... You're the only one who has stuck by me through everything... so don't say you don't deserve it. You do."

With that, Naruto slightly pulled away to look Sasuke in the eyes. A few stray tears had already fallen down his cheeks.

"Baka... you really made me fall hard for you, dattebayo."

An unexpected chuckle escaped him as he leaned forward and pressed a powerful kiss to the raven's forehead, who obviously blushed at the action. The blonde's heart felt full with love, sending jolts of passion through his body.

"Come on, help me hang this up, yeah?"

He said this with his signature grin. It took a moment for the raven to process it all before he quickly nodded, and they both got to work.

They decided to place the canvas in the living room itself. It was a beauty that should be admired by everyone who came to the house. Naruto hammered a nail into the very wall against which it had been kept a while ago, and they both hung the huge canvas on it.

"It's looking good."

Sasuke nodded at that, agreeing with Naruto. He felt proud of his work, and the feeling was only enhanced by how much Naruto appreciated it. His lips curved into a small smile, which Naruto happened to notice.

"You like painting that much?"

"Mhm."

Naruto could see how those ebony eyes shone at the mention of 'painting.' He smirked softly as an idea struck him.

"Ne, Sasuke. Are you tired?"

"No. I've only been resting in the hospital. I'm anything but tired."

"Then... would you like to go somewhere with me? I promise it's nowhere stupid."

"I would've gone regardless, dobe," Sasuke said with a small smile, making Naruto's heart skip a beat.

"Let's go, then, Teme."

The two rode Naruto's bike to a famous art store; Chakra Strokes. Sasuke removed his helmet and almost stumbled as he got off the bike.

"Y-you... wanted to bring me here?"

Naruto smirked as he now stood beside him. He slowly reached for Sasuke's hand, holding it and intertwining their fingers.

"Yes. Plus... it's also your birthday tomorrow, isn't it?"

"You knew...?"

"Of course. I'd be a shitty man to not even remember my man's birthday, dattebayo. Let's go inside."

Naruto dragged Sasuke inside despite the latter's hesitation. The two entered the gigantic store hand in hand, earning a few curious glances from others but no hate as such.

The store had sections for different kinds of art supplies arranged so aesthetically that one would feel as if they were in an entirely different world. The racks were akin to those in a library but stacked with pigments and other essentials.

Sasuke's heart skipped a beat at the sight. Never in his life had he imagined he would be able to buy anything from here, given how his father was. He hesitantly asked Naruto,

"Are you sure I can..."

"Yes. I wouldn't have brought you here if I hadn't planned on getting you anything."

Naruto grinned reassuringly, and the next moment, Sasuke bee-lined over to the section of paints, his eyes scanning the beautifully arranged tubes and brushes of every size lined up right next to them.

His slender fingers roamed over the glossy paint tubes despite their price. For once in his life, he wasn't holding himself back.

Meanwhile, Naruto observed his man from the sidelines for a while, noting how he had left one kind of paint behind, preferring the other one.

'Kami... he's cute.'

Naruto sighed, realizing how deep he was in it. He then stalked over to the raven's side, watching him carefully pick his supplies. He would ask questions that would sound silly to any artist, but Sasuke would answer all of them, knowing Naruto had no clue about art.

They surfed the store for about an hour. Sasuke took his time exploring the place while Naruto patiently followed. He was more than happy to accompany the raven, knowing how seldom the Uchiha had gotten the chance to buy finer supplies in the past.

And when they finally checked out the things from a self-billing counter, Naruto had officially gone broke.

"I told you, dobe, they'd be expensive."

Sasuke said as they walked out towards the bike. Naruto sighed and stuffed his wallet in his pocket.

"I know, I know. But still... how are they that expensive? I mean, you only bought a set of paints, didn't you? And a few brushes?"

"Hn. Be glad I didn't go for resin or a big canvas."

Naruto scoffed, but there was no bite to it, just playful annoyance.

"Are you really going to be so expensive to keep?"

"Why? Got a problem?"

Sasuke's words elicited another scoff from the blonde, which was soon followed by a smirk.

"Problem? Nah. I just wanted to keep it in mind so I know the minimum I should be earning, you know. I want to keep you happy, dattebayo. That's really all that matters."

That effectively left Sasuke at a loss for words.

"Dobe... shut up."

Was all he could manage to say, the blush creeping up his neck and cheeks, earning a laugh from Naruto.

The two went back to bickering along the way over unimportant things. Once they were inside, Naruto left again to get Kurama back, leaving Sasuke to finally settle in.

Sasuke did as he was told. He took the liberty to take a shower, and because he didn't have any clothes to wear except those that he had worn earlier, he decided to borrow Naruto's t-shirt and shorts, which were... well, orange.

'They smell like him...'

Sasuke's cheeks flushed at the thought. He could feel Naruto's scent clinging to him because of the clothes. After folding his dirty clothes and putting them aside for laundry, Sasuke made his way to the kitchen, hoping to find a quick snack.

He didn't want ramen, and he knew the blonde well, so he wasn't expecting much in the first place. However, upon opening the fridge, his eyes landed on a rack that was particularly dedicated to tomatoes.

'Naruto didn't like tomatoes, did he? Then why...'

Just then, the realization dawned on him. Those tomatoes were there for him. Naruto had started keeping a stock of them in case Sasuke came over.

'This dobe... he'll really be the death of me. Where is he anyway?'

Sasuke reached for a tomato and washed it before he went to the bedroom with it in hand. He sat under the covers, waiting for Naruto, who was oddly taking a lot of time.

Soon enough, Naruto walked in with Kurama in one hand and a bag in the other. He stuffed the bag, which was supposedly a stock of ramen, away and went straight to his bedroom. However, as soon as his eyes fell on Sasuke, he immediately noticed what he was wearing.

'Are those my clothes...?'

He wondered, despite knowing the answer. He just couldn't wrap his head around it.

"Took you long enough."

Sasuke spoke nonchalantly, snapping the blonde out of his thoughts. He was waiting for an answer when he finally looked up, only to see how those cyan eyes were transfixed on him. That's when he realized why.

"Oh... Thanks for lending this."

Naruto could only nod at that and turn his head away.

'Baka! He's underage! No dirty thoughts. Please.'

He sighed in frustration and somewhat anger that was directed at himself.

"I... I'll go take a shower... take care of Kurama, would ya?"

It was more of a statement, but Sasuke agreed nonetheless. Kurama, being the smart fox he was, sauntered over to the raven and settled beside him, making a somewhat adorable sound.

"Tsk, you want cuddles? What are you, a dog?"

Sasuke pulled Kurama closer and cuddled him tight anyway. Naruto had been watching the two, and the scene managed to calm him down unexpectedly. He smirked and made his way to the shower.

A FEW HOURS LATER~

The three had just finished watching a movie. Kurama had already fallen asleep yet again, but this time on his usual pillow. Sasuke's head was resting on Naruto's shoulder, already dozed off as well. Unlike them, the blonde was very much awake. His eyes panned over to the wall clock in the room.

'It's almost 12.'

Naruto noted, gently shifting Sasuke's head from his shoulder to a pillow, hoping the raven wouldn't wake up. He tactfully slipped out from under the covers and out of the room, heading to the kitchen to get the supposedly fresh stock of ramen.

However, the movement had already managed to stir Sasuke awake. By the time Naruto had gone into the kitchen, the rustling sound that followed was enough to make the raven sit up.

"What is that dobe up to at this hour?"

Sasuke wondered as he rubbed his eyes awake. He was about to go check on him, but before he could, the blonde himself walked inside with a cake just the perfect size for two people and a little candle lit on it.

"Happy Birthday to you~"

Naruto sang in his raspy voice as he made his way over to Sasuke, leaving the latter momentarily speechless. The raven's ebony eyes shimmered with disbelief under the light of the flickering candle.

His lips remained parted in astonishment as he watched Naruto come closer and stand before him, the glowing cake in his hand.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke."

The blonde said with a grin as he ended the song. He observed how Sasuke's surprised expression melted into one that was thankful yet unsure before he looked away.

"I've never celebrated my birthday before..."

"Sasuke... there are a lot of things you haven't done that you should have done a long time ago, dattebayo... and I want you to do all that... starting today. Let me be the one to bring those stolen moments back to you. Please?"

Naruto took a step closer to Sasuke. He held the cake in one hand while his other shot out to take the raven's chin between his thumb and index finger to turn his face.

"Please, teme... blow out the candle. Make a wish."

A small, encouraging smile graced the blonde's lips as he waited for the raven to follow through, his heart hurting at the unshed tears in his lover's eyes.

Sasuke could see the love and thoughtfulness behind every word and action of his man, and he was no one to break his heart by dismissing them. So, he finally let out a sigh and nodded.

"Fine."

He closed his eyes and made a small wish before finally blowing out the candle. Their faces were now illuminated by the subtle moonlight entering through the window beside them.

Sasuke looked up at the blonde, and a beautiful smile made its way to his lips.

"Thanks, dobe."

Naruto set the cake on the bed before looking Sasuke in the eye, his pupils dilated.

"Anytime, teme."

Was all he said before closing the distance between their lips in a sudden yet enchanting kiss. Sasuke wasted no time in returning it, his hands wrapping around the blonde's neck while the latter's snaked around the raven's waist, pulling him closer.

Their lips moved rhythmically with the stars and the moon bearing witness to their passion.

They parted slowly, panting a little as their eyes met each other's, both smiling satisfactorily after basking in each other's affection.

"So, what did you wish for?"

"Hn... I'm not going to tell you."

Naruto pouted at the answer, which was the most adorable thing Sasuke had seen the blonde do. He smiled as he thought to himself:

'I'm too embarrassed to admit it... but I wished for us to last for a lifetime.'

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this timetaking and long as Rapunzel's hair chapter. 🫠Hehe.It took me a lot of time to figure out how to end this, but I think it turned out fine. d=(^o^)=bWhat do y'all think? Anyway, see you all in the next chapter!Author sound out~ ✌🏻