Chapter 9
Naruto sat in his office, staring blankly at the papers on his desk. His hands were resting on his knees, fingers slightly curled, but his mind was far from the work in front of him.
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light being the city skyline outside the large window. The soft hum of the gang's headquarters was present in the background—people moving, conversations happening, plans being made.
But Naruto wasn’t paying attention to any of it.
His thoughts were on Sasuke.
The look on Sasuke’s face when he had called him "dobe" in front of everyone. The way his face had changed when Naruto pretended not to know him. The way his voice had almost demanded answers.
Naruto leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.
What had he expected?
That Sasuke would just accept the act? That he wouldn’t recognize him? That he wouldn’t react?
No. That had been foolish.
Sasuke wasn’t an idiot. And he wasn’t the type to let things go.
Naruto sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. It had to be this way.
The life he had lived for that one week—that wasn’t real.
It was a fleeting moment, an accident. A brief, stolen peace in a life that had never known it. He had allowed himself to act like Naruto Uzumaki again.
But Kyubi… Kyubi couldn’t afford that luxury.
There was no room for foolishness. No room for laughter, for weakness. The moment he had returned, he had to bury that part of himself again.
That was the price of being the boss.
Naruto exhaled sharply, gripping the armrest of his chair.
But still…
The way Sasuke had looked at him.
Like he wasn’t just confused. Like he was hurt.
Naruto clenched his jaw.
It’s better this way.
Better that Sasuke sees him as Kyubi now, not the idiot he had met before. Better that he thinks Naruto never existed.
___
The next day, Sasuke returned to the gang’s headquarters, his mind still filled with questions. He didn’t care about the training, the recruits, or anything else happening around him.
He wanted answers.
Throughout the day, he observed the gang’s operations, waiting for the right moment. He trained with Suigetsu, exchanged a few words with Kakashi, and even caught Itachi watching him from a distance.
But none of that mattered.
As the evening settled in, Sasuke finally saw him.
Naruto—no, Kyubi—stood at the far end of the courtyard, speaking with Pain and Konan. His posture was firm, his expression unreadable. The golden-haired idiot that Sasuke had once laughed with was nowhere to be seen.
Sasuke stood there, watching.
Naruto was different—or was he? Was this the real him? Had the Naruto Sasuke met just been an illusion?
Naruto must have sensed his gaze because, in that moment, he turned his head slightly—just enough for their eyes to meet.
For a second, everything else disappeared.
No words were exchanged. No movements were made.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, silently challenging him.
Naruto’s expression didn’t change. His blue eyes held no warmth, no recognition. Just a cold, calculating gaze that lasted a few more seconds before he turned away, continuing his conversation as if Sasuke wasn’t even there.
Sasuke clenched his fists.
So that’s how it was going to be?
Fine.
If Naruto wanted to act like he didn’t know him, then Sasuke would just have to make him acknowledge him.
___
Sasuke stood in the training hall, fists clenched, his mind still replaying last night’s silent encounter with Naruto—Kyubi.
If Naruto thought he could just ignore him, he was wrong.
Sasuke wasn’t the type to let things go.
That’s why, the next morning, he went straight to Itachi.
---
"I want another mission."
Itachi raised an eyebrow at his younger brother. They were in one of the gang’s smaller offices, away from the others. Itachi leaned back in his chair, studying Sasuke carefully.
"Already?" he asked. "You just finished your first mission."
"I don’t care," Sasuke replied. "I want another one."
Itachi tapped his fingers against the desk, thinking. "And why the sudden eagerness?"
Sasuke didn’t answer. He knew Itachi would see right through him if he spoke too much.
"Hn," Itachi muttered. He glanced at Kakashi, who was sitting lazily in the corner, reading his book.
"What do you think?" Itachi asked.
Kakashi didn’t look up. "He’s good enough. Let him go."
Sasuke crossed his arms. "So? What’s the mission?"
Itachi sighed, then pulled out a file, sliding it across the desk.
"There’s been suspicious activity near one of our businesses in the west district. You and a few others will go there, investigate, and deal with any threats if necessary."
Sasuke took the file and flipped it open.
"I’m assigning Suigetsu and Jugo with you again," Itachi continued. "And…"
Sasuke glanced up as Itachi hesitated.
"Nagato will be leading the mission," Itachi finished.
Sasuke frowned.
Nagato? The same guy who followed Naruto around like a bodyguard?
That meant one thing—Naruto would know exactly what Sasuke was up to.
Perfect.
"When do we leave?" Sasuke asked.
Itachi smirked slightly. "Tonight."
Sasuke closed the file, his mind already focused on one thing—this was his chance to get closer to Naruto’s world.
Whether Naruto wanted it or not.
Mission Briefing: Suigetsu’s Teasing
Sasuke stood outside the gang’s training hall, waiting for the rest of the team. The night air was cool, but his mind was anything but calm. He was focused—on the mission, on proving himself, and most of all, on finding a way to break through Naruto’s act.
Footsteps approached.
"Yo, Sasuke!"
Sasuke turned his head slightly as Suigetsu walked up, his usual smirk in place. Jugo followed behind, quiet as always.
"Excited for our next mission?" Suigetsu asked, stretching his arms. "I mean, we must’ve done something right if they’re sending us out again this soon."
Sasuke didn’t reply.
Suigetsu tilted his head. "Huh? Ignoring me already? You weren’t this moody yesterday."
Still no response.
Then, Suigetsu grinned.
"Ooooh, I get it now," he said, elbowing Sasuke. "You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?"
Sasuke’s expression didn’t change, but his grip tightened slightly.
Suigetsu didn’t miss it. "Damn, I knew you were interested, but I didn’t think you’d be this obsessed. You’ve been all weird since the meeting with Kyubi. What, did you two have a secret past or something?"
Jugo sighed. "Suigetsu, stop it."
"What? I’m just saying! I mean, Sasuke literally looked like he saw the love of his life yesterday."
Sasuke finally turned his head and shot him a glare. "Shut up."
Suigetsu burst out laughing. "Oh man, that reaction just makes it more suspicious!"
Sasuke ignored him and walked toward the briefing room. Suigetsu followed, still grinning. "Alright, alright, I’ll drop it… for now."
Jugo shook his head. "Suigetsu, you’re going to die one day because you talk too much."
"Eh, worth it."
Nagato was already waiting when they entered, leaning casually against the wall. He grinned when he saw them.
"Good, you’re all here. Let’s get started."
Sasuke forced himself to push Suigetsu’s teasing out of his mind. It didn’t matter.
What mattered was the mission—and the fact that Nagato would be reporting everything to Naruto.
One way or another, Sasuke was going to force Naruto to acknowledge him again.
---
Naruto sat in his office, going over reports from the gang’s latest operations. His face was calm, unreadable—but his mind was elsewhere.
Sasuke.
That damn bastard.
Naruto had kept his act up, pretending not to recognize him, pretending that their time together meant nothing. But the way Sasuke looked at him yesterday… it stirred something in his chest.
Annoying.
A knock on the door broke his thoughts.
"Come in," Naruto said, putting the files down.
The door opened, and Kakashi stepped inside, his usual relaxed posture in place. His single visible eye curved in amusement as he leaned against the wall.
Naruto sighed. "What do you want, Kakashi?"
"Oh, nothing much," Kakashi said casually. "Just thought you’d like to know… your boyfriend is going on a mission today."
Naruto nearly choked. "W-What?"
Kakashi’s eye twinkled. "Sasuke. He insisted on getting another mission. He, Suigetsu, and Jugo are heading out under Nagato's lead tonight."
Naruto scowled, leaning back in his chair. "He’s not my boyfriend, Kakashi."
Kakashi tilted his head. "Oh? Could’ve fooled me. The way you two stared at each other yesterday… it was like watching a tragic love story."
"Shut up," Naruto muttered, glaring at him.
Kakashi chuckled. "I wonder what he’s thinking right now. After all, he looked very interested in you, Kyubi."
Naruto didn’t respond. He didn’t want to admit it, but Kakashi was right.
Sasuke was stubborn. He wouldn’t just let this go.
And that meant Naruto had a problem.
Kakashi watched him for a moment before pushing off the wall. "Well, just thought you’d want to know. Try not to let your feelings get in the way, boss."
With that, he walked out, leaving Naruto alone in his office.
Naruto exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
Damn it.
Sasuke was going to be a problem.
A problem Naruto wasn’t sure he wanted to solve.