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“It was a hug.”
“It was not.”
“It absolutely was.”
Across the table, Sakura looked moments away from flipping it over.
Naruto pointed dramatically.
“You saw it.”
“I saw him stop you from falling off a roof.”
“He wrapped both arms around me.”
“Because you were falling off a roof.”
Naruto leaned back in his chair.
“Sounds like a hug to me.”
Sakura closed her eyes.
Somewhere, deep inside, she was finding strength.
The argument had started three days ago.
It began when Naruto became convinced that Sasuke secretly liked hugs.
Not tolerated.
Not accepted.
Liked.
Sakura, naturally, informed him that this was the stupidest thing she’d heard all week.
And because neither of them knew when to stop, a bet had immediately followed.
If Naruto could prove Sasuke secretly liked hugs, Sakura would buy ramen for a month.
If he failed, Naruto had to stop bringing it up forever.
Naruto agreed without hesitation.
That had been his first mistake.
His second mistake was attempting to gather evidence.
The first hug attempt happened at training.
Naruto launched himself at Sasuke.
Sasuke sidestepped.
Naruto hit the ground.
The second attempt happened outside Ichiraku.
Sasuke disappeared using a substitution jutsu.
Naruto hugged a fence.
The third attempt somehow involved Kakashi.
Nobody spoke about the third attempt.
A week passed.
Naruto collected exactly zero evidence.
Which was frustrating.
Because he was right.
He knew he was right.
There was no way Sasuke secretly hated affection.
Not after everything.
Not after all those late-night conversations.
Not after the way Sasuke always stayed a little longer than necessary before leaving.
Not after the way he looked at Naruto when he thought nobody noticed.
Unfortunately, proving it was impossible.
Then came the mission.
It should have been routine.
Simple.
Easy.
Instead, it turned into a disaster.
The enemy shinobi appeared out of nowhere.
The fight scattered the team across the forest.
For a few chaotic minutes, nobody knew where anyone else was.
Then Naruto heard Sakura shout his name.
He turned.
Just in time to see part of the cliff edge beneath him give way.
The ground disappeared.
Naruto barely had time to react before he was falling.
Then something grabbed him.
Hard.
Strong.
Familiar.
The world jolted.
Naruto slammed into a solid chest instead of the rocks below.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Sasuke’s arms were wrapped around him.
One around his back.
One across his shoulders.
Holding him so tightly it almost hurt.
Naruto blinked.
Sasuke blinked.
The realization hit both of them at exactly the same time.
Unfortunately, so did Sakura.
And Kakashi.
And the rest of the mission team.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Naruto looked at Sakura.
Sakura looked at Naruto.
Then slowly—
Very slowly—
Naruto smiled.
“Oh.”
Sasuke immediately knew that smile.
“No.”
“Oh.”
“Naruto.”
“OH.”
Sakura burst out laughing.
Naruto pointed.
“YOU HUGGED ME.”
“I CAUGHT YOU.”
“WITH BOTH ARMS.”
“YOU WERE FALLING.”
“YOU LOOKED WORRIED.”
“I WASN’T.”
Kakashi wisely turned around before things got worse.
Sakura was laughing too hard to breathe.
Naruto was practically glowing.
And Sasuke looked like he wanted the earth to open beneath him.
The walk home was unbearable.
For Sasuke.
Naruto enjoyed every second.
The teasing continued all evening.
It continued through dinner.
It continued while they were walking through the village.
Finally, after nearly six straight hours of suffering, Sasuke stopped in the middle of the street.
Naruto was still talking.
Big mistake.
Because before he could finish his sentence, Sasuke grabbed him.
Pulled him forward.
And wrapped both arms around him.
A real hug.
Not because Naruto was falling.
Not because he was in danger.
Just because.
The entire world seemed to stop.
Naruto’s brain certainly did.
Sasuke buried his face briefly against Naruto’s shoulder.
“Congratulations.”
Naruto forgot how to breathe.
“You proved it.”
The words were muffled.
Embarrassed.
Barely audible.
Then Sasuke immediately let go.
Turned around.
And walked away.
Naruto stood frozen in the middle of the street.
Several villagers who had witnessed the entire thing started cheering.
Sakura nearly collapsed laughing.
And somewhere ahead of them, Sasuke continued walking without looking back.
The tips of his ears were bright red.
Naruto grinned.
Worth it.
Absolutely worth it.