Exactly as it sounds like. Surely, it's not that complex of a comment.
[He's quiet for a moment, as if trying to debate on broaching a subject, before finally giving in.]
I found something of yours under my bed the other day. Try keeping your mess in your room rather than everywhere else in the house. Especially my room. [Quieter still.] Especially that.
[He heard that. The on-off thing. For a reason. Ouch.]
I know. But, that one, it's new. It was made for you. [He wonders if Sasuke will get it. Doesn't think he will.] The other one kinda got scratched, y'know. So I figured...
[And he dismisses it, just like that, though who's to say if Naruto can do the same. As for his next sentence, it doesn't go the accusatory route that it could so easily drift towards, instead lingering on something almost respectful, proud.]
As I recall, you're the one who scratched it. [He "hmm"s quietly, getting an idea, but no wanting to walk that line, not til the other says it himself.]
[--in your home. He has no idea what to make of Sasuke's tone then. Why is it the best common ground they can find usually has something to do with a fight?]
'Cause you said I couldn't. [Scratch it. And this was the one and only reason Naruto did it.]
... figured. You could hang onto it. Because it's not scratched.
Does it matter? [Because it's easier to say that than, "They're all ghosts."]
[There's a nostalgic tone in his voice, his mind worlds away in a valley of significance.] You surprised me that day. [And that's as close as a compliment as you're getting, you know.]
[He falls silent, having no words for a moment, before daring something.] I don't belong to your village any more.
What you think doesn't matter in this situation. [It all depends on his mood, Naruto. All depends on his mood.]
By being able to. [By being strong enough to stand for your beliefs. By never backing down. By not walking away like you should have, like I wanted you to.]
What's the point in all this, in giving me this? It doesn't change how things are, in how they are going to be!
Hm. I guess not. [ He drops the subject right there.]
So, you thought I wouldn't. [Pause. Correction.] Couldn't. [Was it really that much of a surprise? Sasuke should have known him by them, surely. What he could- would- do. It's an odd thing to realise this may not have been the case.]
Sasuke. [Calmly.] It's a gift. It doesn't have any strings attached, okay? It's something I scratched, so I'm giving you a new one.
[He wasn't expecting that to go so simply. It seems someone was learning what battles to pick.
[He waited to the next part, a small "Mmm" in confirmation. He hadn't thought he could do it, be it by skill or sheer desire. Fighting to kill someone, he understood, he knew. What Naruto did that day, at the time, he had doubted in the desire regardless of the passion he had shown between exchanging blows. Why? That three-letter question that never faded.]
I'm sure you've destroyed other things of mine over the years. Why this?
Hey! What do you mean 'your home'!?
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[He's quiet for a moment, as if trying to debate on broaching a subject, before finally giving in.]
I found something of yours under my bed the other day. Try keeping your mess in your room rather than everywhere else in the house. Especially my room. [Quieter still.] Especially that.
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[Ah. Well. He'd sort of thought -hoped- that would stay hidden a bit longer. A small cough.]
No. I have mine. That one's yours.
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[His. The communicator flips off, then back on once again.]
I don't have one, or want one, for a reason.
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[He heard that. The on-off thing. For a reason. Ouch.]
I know. But, that one, it's new. It was made for you. [He wonders if Sasuke will get it. Doesn't think he will.] The other one kinda got scratched, y'know. So I figured...
[Clean slate.]
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[And he dismisses it, just like that, though who's to say if Naruto can do the same. As for his next sentence, it doesn't go the accusatory route that it could so easily drift towards, instead lingering on something almost respectful, proud.]
As I recall, you're the one who scratched it. [He "hmm"s quietly, getting an idea, but no wanting to walk that line, not til the other says it himself.]
...Figured?
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[--in your home. He has no idea what to make of Sasuke's tone then. Why is it the best common ground they can find usually has something to do with a fight?]
'Cause you said I couldn't. [Scratch it. And this was the one and only reason Naruto did it.]
... figured. You could hang onto it. Because it's not scratched.
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[There's a nostalgic tone in his voice, his mind worlds away in a valley of significance.] You surprised me that day. [And that's as close as a compliment as you're getting, you know.]
[He falls silent, having no words for a moment, before daring something.] I don't belong to your village any more.
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[But Naruto isn't so sure it could be a compliment. There were surprises that day, good and bad. So he is quiet for a while.] By scratching it?
You don't belong 'to' anybody, but yourself. And a hitai-ate won't change that.
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By being able to. [By being strong enough to stand for your beliefs. By never backing down. By not walking away like you should have, like I wanted you to.]
What's the point in all this, in giving me this? It doesn't change how things are, in how they are going to be!
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So, you thought I wouldn't. [Pause. Correction.] Couldn't. [Was it really that much of a surprise? Sasuke should have known him by them, surely. What he could- would- do. It's an odd thing to realise this may not have been the case.]
Sasuke. [Calmly.] It's a gift. It doesn't have any strings attached, okay? It's something I scratched, so I'm giving you a new one.
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[He waited to the next part, a small "Mmm" in confirmation. He hadn't thought he could do it, be it by skill or sheer desire. Fighting to kill someone, he understood, he knew. What Naruto did that day, at the time, he had doubted in the desire regardless of the passion he had shown between exchanging blows. Why? That three-letter question that never faded.]
I'm sure you've destroyed other things of mine over the years. Why this?
Reply
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