1.
Sasuke was supposed to die. They had defeated Madara, they defeated Kaguya and Zetsu, and he fought with Naruto, somewhere inside him he believes that fighting Naruto was never about defeating him. It was never about severing the last bond of his life. Somewhere he wanted to be defeated, didn't want to continue living a life knowing he was the reason his brother was dead. The reason why team 7 fell apart. This was only confirmed when he saw Itachi talking to Naruto in the blondes memories.
He thought he had forgotten the way his brother smiled, but saw him smiling at Naruto and Killer B and telling him that he'd leave Sasuke to him. He believes this is where all the urge to fight left him. So he let himself fall right beside his best friend, his only friend. Both of them were worn out but Sasuke only felt a strange sense of peace. Now he could die and join his parents, his clan, his brother, again. Well, he didn't really know if he deserved to go to the same place as them, but he refused to think of it.
He closed his eyes and let himself fall asleep
_____
Sasuke opened his eyes again, he still felt the pain from his fight, though his left arm was normal again. Where was he? The air didn't feel like war, it smelled like the Konoha he once knew, it was making him a little nostalgic.
He could see a white ceiling above him, it wasn't in the best of shape but looked to be a decent apartment. As far as he could tell he was lying on a futon. It wasn't familiar but it wasn't uncomfortable either. He was about to get up when he heard someone unlocking the door.
"I'm home!" A very familiar but young voice said and Sasuke almost panicked because he knew this chakra better than his own. It was not as dense or large but it was the same unmistakable bright and warm chakra. Naruto.
What in the name of the sage?
He saw a child come inside the room he was in, and his heart clenched painfully because this was Naruto, it was no mistake. He wasn't under any genjutsu. "Oh! Old man you're finally awake! I'm Uzumaki Naruto an' I was hunting some fish for dinner an' I saw you laying in the forest an' you looked hurt to I bought you to my home on my own because I'm gon be the Hokage and I can't let leave someone hurt-" the blonde ball of energy stopped his rambling when looked at Sasuke.
He realised he was crying, the tears won't stop, because of course it was Naruto who found him and he just had to bring him to his home despite the fact that he was a stranger. He could sense there were no Anbu outside his window or house so he assumed his arrival was not well known yet.
"Is it really hurtin' that bad? I wanted to get some bandages for you so I went to the shop but the lady wouldn't give me any..." His friend, who was now a child, actually looked guilty for not being able to get him bandages. He was biting his lip nervously and didn't look at him.
Sasuke knew the extent of the village's hatred towards Naruto for quite some time now, but that didn't mean it had to stop him for being furious.
"Anyway! I'll make you some instant ramen and then you'll be fine because it no matter what happens it always makes me fine" the blonde said and walked towards the kitchen, before turning back and rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, and it was such a familiar gesture that Sasuke would probably start cry again if he wasn't so drained right now. "Unless you don't wanna eat?"
"I'll have some, but that can wait, how old are you? And I'm not an old man, I'm seventeen" He said, he guessed Naruto was around six to eight years old, he would probably get an idea of what time they were in. He hoped it was before the massacre.
"Jiji told me not to tell anything to strangers!" The boy said with his arms crossed.
"Well, you shouldn't bring those strangers to your house either Naruto"
"..... You looked like you were in pain... And I'm seven years old 'ttebayo!" He huffed.
Sasuke couldn't help but smile a little, he didn't know how the village could hate such an innocent and bright boy. There was still a year left before the massacre, but by this time the idea of a coupe was already being discussed, he knew he couldn't stop it even if he told the Hokage about everything. And he certainly wasn't going to. He didn't trust him at the least, and he'd rather die than face the elder council. Even if they were eliminated, the coup would still happen, and people would still die. And Obito would make sure it happened.
Even if he couldn't save his clan, he's going to save Itachi and Shisui. Neither of them deserved to die, not like they did in his time. But for all this to be done he still needed to confirm that the things were same here as in his timeline. He was a little terrified at the fact that he had so easily accepted he was in the past. It would probably hit him later.
"So you're in the academy?" He asked leaning back against the wall, his ribs were still bruised though they didn't feel broken.
"Mhm! I'm gonna have to work hard so that I can be the Hokage one day" Naruto exclaimed excitedly and Sasuke smiled at him. "I'm sure you will be" and he knew it too, Naruto would be an amazing leader. He had let the allied shinobi forces to victory with his sheer determination. The young boy looked surprised for a second probably at the fact that someone was actually saying he could become the Hokage eventually, before he smiled again and nodded.
"I'm gonna go make some ramen now, and then you're gonna be fine 'ttebayo" he said before walking to his cupboards, where he probably stored ramen.
"What's your name? Are you from Konoha? Why is your eye purple? Are you gonna go after eating?" The blonde came back with a cup of ramen and a ton of questions.
Sasuke didn't know if he should tell him his name, this Naruto had already met a Sasuke in class, but he didn't want to conceal his identity either, he is Sasuke, named by his parents after the Sandaime Hokage's father. He didn't want to change his identity.
"My name is Sasuke, I... am from Konoha, my eye is purple because of a kekkei genkai, and I will leave if I'm troubling you, even though I don't have a home in Konoha anymore, I have enough funds to stay in an inn so you don't have to worry about me" that wasn't technically true, he didn't have any money with him. But finding some small jobs to do would be easy enough.
"No! .... I mean you can stay here cause I live alone and no one's gonna say no, but you don't have to but I'd like it if- um, I mean, hey! There's a boy in my class with the name Sasuke too but he's a bastard and I don't like him at all, he sucks, you're much better" He stammers and his cheeks are a little flushed, no doubt from embarrassment.
"That's nice of you to offer, I have a few things to do in the village, I'll come and meet you again for sure, I'd like to spend the night if that's alright" he says, because his ribs are hurting and his body is very tired, he will think about what is happening in the morning after he's slept properly. Sasuke finishes his ramen as Naruto nods.
"You can sleep on the futon, it's a lil dusty but should be fine since you don't seem to mind"
And Sasuke was used to sleeping on much worse things that the futon was a small blessing. He nodded and lied down again, he didn't think he'd be able to stay awake for much longer now that he knew he was safe for the night.
"Goodnight Naruto" he murmured quietly, before closing his eyes.
"Goodnight 'ttebayo!" He heard someone shuffling into a bed on the other side of the room before he fell asleep.