for: sn_exchange

[sne_mod]

From: octavius_x
Title: Run
Rating: NC-17 for sexuality
Summary: Sasuke & Naruto run from Kumo to Ame. Complications and Adulthood ensue.
A/N: Hope you like! The photo in this story has been digitally altered by the author.
Mod note: Reminder for the author/artist of this submission, please do not reply to comments signed in, if you want to reply anon

Comments

[sowell]

God I loved this. I loved how dark Sasuke was, because he is like that. He's capable of totally betraying Naruto, and I love that you took him to that place in this story. I loved the way you created the atmosphere with all the details like:

he shells before they'd been thrown into the pan had been an unremarkable grey and nearly translucent. They were cooked in their shells with garlic and served up as orange as his jumpsuit. Hot burst of oil and juices in his mouth.

and

Even outside the walls the sounds of Konoha’s preparation for his inauguration chatter was a living breathing thing. He’d come to read her moods, know what made her angry and sad. People were baking, boiling, gossiping. Print shops worked overtime turning out sheets of butcher paper and the heavy pigment smell of ink rolling out signs that wished his happiness and success in all his ventures. The old clans were pulling out ceremonial robes from storage, dusting out mothballs ironing shirts.

Your descriptions are just so vivid. I really loved this, thanks!

[sowell]

I just wanted to say that while writing this I asked questofdreams for a really well written sasunaru fic to sort of get me back on track for this pairing, and though I really only had a chance to glance over one fic I thought you should know she recommended you.

I'll reply to the comment after the reveals. I feel like everyone frowned at me for thanking anon in the past but I'm so moved when someone leave such as nice comment it's hard to resist.

[sowell]

questofdreamsis just about the sweetest girl on the internet. Can't wait to find out who you are!

[octavius_x]

Thank you so much for leaving a comment. This was a pretty difficult challenge to work with (it was a Naruto disappears right before his inauguration request) without it being something that hadn't been done before. I really wanted it to sort of tackle how their relationship would exist without nostalgia to fall back on, and Ame is a city basically wracked by a negligent or power hungry leader so Naruto also has that in the background while he makes his choice.

Thanks again!

[gonrie]

I'm envious of how you write. The sentences are so well described and I thought it was a good IC.
:)

[octavius_x]

Thank you! Sasuke is a difficult nut to crack these days, so it's a weight off my mind to know he came out okay. <3

[octavius_x]

Just so you know this comment made me blush <3

I've written nostalgia pieces for the other two exchanges, and to some extent I think the Sasunaru relationship really relies on Naruto's memories of "how they were" and those times are romanticized. I figured there would be enough romantic stories on here, so I tried to go for something different sort of a what happens when the memory runs out and you're faced with real life. I struggled for a long time to think of something that would make Naruto abandon his hokage inauguration (part of the request) and the only thing I could think of was Sasuke. Because if Naruto can't save him the position means nothing, right? Thank you so much for your comment!

[aamyra]

I.. the last five lines literally took my breath away.

That was-- I mean. Everything--

I shuddered not once, not twice, but too many times reading this. The way you described every moment, Naruto's feelings, oh, god, Naruto, was so raw, the emotions leaked out, and, god it was so painful. So dark. But in an alternate universe, probably, where Kishimoto wouldn't have to care about the public's opinions, this could probably really happen. If he was extra badass, he would probably let it end this way. Naruto's sheer belief, his utter trust and loyalty towards Sasuke, that his bond with him would be solid through and through, that really was the death of him. He knew that, but he didn't care. Or, he had known there was a possibility, just like Jiraiya had warned him, but he believed until the very end anyway-- so even when he was wrong, he STILL didn't care. He exposed himself to this betrayal that Sasuke had always been capable of, as Sowell had said, and that was what he yielded to in the end

[octavius_x]

To be honest, I was afraid there might be too much internal Naruto going on but I feel like with him he may not always do the smart thing, but he does do the right thing, and that's worth something, if not everything. I chose the background of Ame to kind of bookend Naruto's decision to miss the Hokage inauguration ceremony, in that this place is the result of all ninja wars and his decision could lead to another dismal place like Ame. But there's also a childish side to their relationship that I think they unconsciously relax into when they're together like this because it's a comfort zone, and even though they are adults and Naruto is supposed to be making all these smart decisions as the future hokage his stubbornness to the point of blindness in regard to Sasuke is what makes him endearing, and is probably the only thing that could bring Sasuke back. I tried to do a more adult story for them, something that didn't rely only on nostalgia or the village to reconcile them

[aamyra]

Are you kidding me? Whatever you hoped for when you were writing this story-- you got them. Yeah, it was extra painful, and certainly with an adult-ish theme, but nobody's complaining. At all. And I agree! Naruto's stubbornness is very endearing. Sigh, Naruto, Naruto. I don't know what to do with him!

Thank you! This is very typical, but I love making new friends! Hahaha! <3

[ezyls_girl]

fffffffffff beautiful, beautiful writing. ;A; I'm really too speechless to say anything else.

Just, ♥

[octavius_x]

Thank you! I really appreciate that you read it, and it makes me so happy you enjoyed <3