"Thank you, Teacher Cangwu."
Without turning around, Cangwu waved a hand.
"Go back and get some rest."
"Yes!"
Sasuke was sincerely grateful. He took one last look at Cangwu's back, then turned and headed home.
Beneath the night sky, Sasuke's hatred settled, and delight spread across his face.
Before reaching Tazuna's house, he spotted Naruto lying on the roof, staring blankly into space.
Sasuke made no sound, simply watching him for a while.
Suddenly, Naruto seemed to snap out of a dream. His eyes were confused for a moment, then he noticed Sasuke's gaze.
Their eyes met.
"Hmph."
When Naruto smiled, Sasuke put on his usual cold front.
But the instant he took a step forward,
memories from years ago surfaced in his mind.
It had been an afternoon sometime after the Uchiha massacre.
He'd been sitting at the end of a wooden dock over the lake when Naruto walked down the slope behind him...
Cangwu's words echoed in his mind.
"Going from having something to having nothing is painful."
"If you never had it, does that mean it doesn't hurt?"
"You and Naruto are different, but you're also alike."
"If the two of you switched places, you couldn't bear it, and you couldn't do what he did. The same goes for Naruto."
Haa—
Sasuke drew a deep breath.
When he looked up again, Naruto thought he'd gone inside to rest. He turned his gaze away and stared blankly at the stars.
"Idiot."
Sasuke shoved his hands into his pockets.
Naruto froze for a moment, then looked at Sasuke with confusion.
Then the corners of his mouth lifted. "Hmph. You're such a smug, tsundere, Sasuke."
Sasuke said nothing more and went back to rest.
Hearing the door close, Naruto raised a hand and gazed through it at the starry sky.