The clouds parted to reveal the light. Happy birthday, Sasuke (fourth-update bonus chapter)

Listening to Sasuke's huffy, indignant words, Naruto felt utterly at peace.

But he knew Sasuke was still angry, so he neither argued nor explained. He simply listened carefully to the raw emotions pouring from Sasuke's heart.

Naruto carried Sasuke in his arms as he darted between towering trees.

Suddenly.

The forest ahead broke off where the terrain dropped away. Naruto gathered his strength, bent slightly with Sasuke in his arms, and leaped with all his might.

They sailed through the air toward the crown of a tree on the opposite side.

"This time is different from last time. What happened last time really was because I wasn't careful enough."

Naruto landed steadily atop the tree with Sasuke in his arms.

A gentle breeze stirred Sasuke's loose, flowing hair, and Naruto's soft voice reached his ears.

But those words weren't enough for Sasuke to accept things right away.

"But if I hadn't come this time..." Naruto hesitated.

Sasuke picked up where he left off. "If you hadn't come this time... what?"

"If I hadn't come this time... I might have lost you."

Only then.

Did Naruto lower his gaze to the innocent-looking beauty in his arms. His natural, sunny smile looked exceptionally warm and earnest beneath the slanting light of the setting sun.

After pounding on Naruto to vent his anger earlier, Sasuke still had some resentment left. But hearing Naruto's words firsthand, he merely huffed and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. "Then lose me. You still have Miss Shikamaru to choose from anyway."

"No. My heart tells me it's gotten used to having you by my side."

Naruto spoke from the heart, but Sasuke still stubbornly kept his head turned away. So Naruto jumped straight down from the treetop with him in his arms.

The sudden weightless plunge