The library's third floor always felt deserted after five—lights dimmed to conserve power, the HVAC cycling in deep, juddering sighs, most of the stacks already shadowed into indistinct geometry. It was a place where even voices seemed to be absorbed by the walls, all the better for students who needed a silent corner to survive. Naruto and Sasuke walked the length of the main corridor, shoes whispering over industrial carpet, hands linked with the casual arrogance of a couple that had decided to stop pretending they weren't.
Naruto couldn't help it: every time their fingers met, a jolt ran up his arm. He'd expected the thrill to fade, or at least normalize, but here on the threshold of L3/19—the so-called "hideout"—it hummed in his chest like a live wire. The smell of old paper, long since embedded in every cubic inch, was joined now by the faint aroma of takeout fries and the sharp ozone from overtaxed laptops.
Inside, the alcove was nearly full. Gaara was first to notice them, raising his eyes from the column of text he'd been annotating and offering Naruto a slow, approving nod. Naruto tried not to blush, failed, and squeezed Sasuke's hand tighter as they rounded the stacks. Temari was at the far end of the battered wood table, a wall of folders and loose sheets barricading her from the rest of the world. Her hair was a little mussed, her sleeves rolled up to the elbows; the only sign of the day's toll was the barest yawn as she flipped a page. Next to her, Shikamaru sat cross-legged, one foot tapping the air absently, his laptop screen glowing a sickly blue. Every few seconds he'd type something, then sigh, then return to staring at the grid of windows open across his desktop.
A single desk lamp, the kind designed more for mood than for light, spilled a low, golden pool across the table. The rest of the alcove was all heavy shadow, giving the place the ambiance of a speakeasy or an underground war room. It was, in some sense, both.
They'd barely gotten seated—Naruto sliding in next to Gaara, Sasuke opposite, a beat of private electricity passing between them—when Kiba exploded into the alcove, clutching a bag of chips and a half-empty Gatorade. He skidded to a stop, grinning at the assembly. "Sorry I'm late! You guys start without me?"
"Sit down," Temari snapped, not unkindly.
Kiba flopped into the last empty seat, immediately tearing open the bag. "So, what's the crisis? Did Shikamaru find another mathlete who's really a clone?"
Shikamaru didn't bother to look up. "Please. The odds of a second clone are low. This is bigger."
Temari cleared her throat, the sound like a command in itself. Every head swiveled toward her—every head except Shikamaru's, his fingers still dancing across his keyboard with maddening nonchalance.
Temari shuffled through a manila folder. "Orochimaru's paperwork checks out perfectly—official leave of absence, all the right signatures." She looked up as Sasuke's fingers drummed an impatient rhythm against the tabletop. "But here's the thing—I can't find a single witness who actually saw him leave campus. Not one."
Sasuke leaned back, arms folded across his chest. His expression remained neutral, unimpressed. Naruto leaned forward, the table edge pressing into his forearms.
"But, why does that matter?" Naruto said, glancing between Temari and Sasuke. "He could've slipped away when nobody was watching."
Sasuke gave a slight nod, the barest tilt of his chin. Something warm bloomed in Naruto's chest at the small gesture of agreement.
Temari's lips curved into a knowing smirk. Gaara's eyes narrowed to slits, while Kiba practically vibrated in his seat, leaning forward until his chest pressed against the table edge. Sasuke and Naruto exchanged a quick glance—a silent question passing between them—before both turned their attention back to Temari, who reached into her folder and extracted a thick sheaf of papers, slapping them onto the table with quiet finality.
Temari's voice dropped to a near-whisper. "After Gaara filled me in, Shikamaru and I started tracking Orochimaru—his schedule, his contacts, his routines." She tapped the papers with one finger. Sasuke's posture stiffened, his jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. Beneath the table, hidden from the others, Naruto's hand found Sasuke's knee and rested there, a silent anchor against the tide of memories Orochimaru's name always seemed to summon.
Temari's fingertips drummed once on the stack of papers. "We've traced Orochimaru's movements back through the semester. No campus exits. No taxi services. No bus tickets." She glanced at Shikamaru, who nodded almost imperceptibly. "Either he's found some way off campus that nobody knows about—" she paused, letting the implication settle across the table, "—or he never left at all."
Kiba leaned forward, chips forgotten. "So if he never left campus... where the hell is he hiding?"
Temari slid a stack of papers across the table. Naruto grabbed one, squinting at columns of numbers and administrative stamps. The university seal topped what looked like a decade-old expense report for campus construction.
"Look at the highlighted section," Temari said, waiting as everyone scanned the documents. She passed around a second sheet, her expression grim. "The university allocated nearly two million for renovations."
Temari tapped a finger against the expense report. "These records show renovations from a decade ago, but I've cross-referenced every building permit filed. The medical building got new equipment, the library got structural repairs—" she gestured around them "—but those projects barely touch half this budget." Her voice dropped lower, forcing everyone to lean in. "Two million dollars disappeared into this campus, and there's nothing visible to show for it. Nothing above ground, anyway."
Gaara tossed the papers onto the table with a sharp flick of his wrist. The tendons in his neck stood out, and his pale fingers curled into half-fists against the wood. Naruto recognized the tightly controlled energy—he'd worn it himself too many times.
"This proves nothing," Gaara said, voice low and clipped. "Two million could vanish into someone's pocket just as easily as underground. And Orochimaru..." His lips thinned. "That snake always has an escape route. I expected something concrete."
Temari squeezed Gaara's shoulder, the gesture softening her voice. "You know me better than that, little brother." She turned to Shikamaru, her eyebrow arched expectantly. "Show them."
Shikamaru sighed through his nose, muttering "What a drag" under his breath, but he still pivoted his laptop toward the group. The screen displayed a color-coded map of campus, each building outlined in blue with varying intensities. Every structure glowed with similar electrical signatures—except for the library, which pulsed an angry red, its power consumption dwarfing the surrounding buildings tenfold.
Naruto squinted at the screen. "What exactly am I looking at here?"
Shikamaru's fingers tapped lazily against his keyboard. "Power consumption records. Much easier to hack than the university's secure databases." He gestured toward the angry red glow dominating the display. "This building—the library where we're sitting right now—is drawing enough electricity to power ten campuses this size."
Sasuke's breath caught, his knuckles whitening as his hands curled into fists. "The lab has been beneath us this entire time."
Temari exchanged a knowing glance with Shikamaru, who pivoted his laptop back around and resumed typing. "That's our working hypothesis," she confirmed, voice steady despite the implications.
Kiba's chair scraped against the floor as he half-rose. "What are we sitting around for? Let's tear this place apart!"
"Sit," Temari commanded, her palm cutting through the air. "The lab's somewhere beneath us, yes, but we need a plan. A facility consuming that much power won't have an entrance labeled with neon signs. Whatever door or passage they've built will be reinforced, hidden, probably biometrically secured. We go charging in blind, we'll alert them before we find anything."
Kiba slumped back into his chair with a huff. Naruto caught Sasuke's eye, noting the slight shake of his head—that familiar "impulsive idiot" look he'd seen a hundred times before. Meanwhile, Gaara hunched over Temari's documents, his pale fingers tracing lines of data as his brow furrowed in concentration.
Naruto's leg bounced under the table, his fingers digging into his palms. "So what's the plan?" His voice came out steadier than he felt. Kurama could be right beneath them—had been here all along while Naruto searched every corner of campus.
Temari leaned back, exhaling slowly through her nose. "We wait." She nodded toward Shikamaru, whose fingers continued their relentless dance across the keyboard. "He's mapping potential access points and security protocols."
"Timeline?" Sasuke's question was clipped, precise.
Without looking up, Shikamaru's mouth quirked slightly. "Now that I know where to look? Three days. Five, tops."
"Use that time," Temari said, her gaze sweeping across their faces. "Rest. Eat. Prepare. We're about to break into what's likely a government black site. This isn't a campus prank—it's the real thing. We move when Shikamaru gives the signal."
—
The walk back to the dorms was quieter than usual, Naruto's footsteps dragging against the concrete as if his shoes had suddenly filled with lead. Every step felt heavier than the last. Kurama could be right beneath them—had been there all along. The thought pressed down on his chest, making each breath shallow. The evening air bit at his cheeks as they cut across the quad, Sasuke's long stride eating up the distance while Naruto trailed behind, hands burrowed into his hoodie, fingers curling and uncurling against his palms. He kept glancing down at the ground, imagining his brother somewhere below, separated by layers of concrete and dirt and secrets. How many times had he walked this exact path, completely unaware? The residue of the library meeting buzzed through him like electricity, the map with its angry red glow burning behind his eyelids every time he blinked.
Sasuke unlocked their dorm room and held the door, a gesture that had become routine between them. Inside, he guided Naruto to sit on the bed and settled beside him, one hand moving in slow circles against his back. The weight of everything—Kurama, the underground lab, the waiting—crashed over Naruto at once.
"We're close," Sasuke said, his voice low and certain. "Three days, and we'll—" He stopped as Naruto's phone vibrated against his thigh.
His phone buzzed. At first, he thought it was the group chat, but the screen read IRUKA, full caps, a string of emojis following the name: fish, heart, fish, bowl. Naruto's stomach plummeted.
Swiping to answer, he mumbled, "Hey, Iruka," before his foster father could even speak, then pushed off the bed to pace the narrow strip of carpet between their desks. Behind him came the soft scrape of Sasuke's chair as the Alpha retreated to give him space—or more likely, to eavesdrop without being obvious about it.
"Is this a bad time?" Iruka's voice was clear, warm, with a careful patience that always made Naruto's chest ache a little. "You sound exhausted. You're not skipping meals again, are you?"
Naruto glanced sidelong at Sasuke, who was reading but not turning the page, every sense tuned to the conversation. "Nah, I'm eating. Even tried the vegan stir-fry last night. Tasted like cat litter, but, uh, I'm alive."
A sigh from the other end. "Naruto, I need you to be serious. You promised Kakashi and me you'd keep up with your health. Are you taking your meds on time?"
He didn't dare look at the desk drawer where the week's suppressants and Tsunade's sample pack of birth control lay buried under ramen wrappers. "Yeah," he said. "Every morning."
"Good. I know you're under a lot of pressure, but you have to prioritize yourself, okay?"
Naruto grunted, half a laugh, half a groan. "I'll try."
A beat, then: "Any progress on Kurama?" Iruka's tone shifted, the way it always did when he brought up the missing brother—gentler, a little desperate, careful not to scare Naruto off the topic.
"We're working on it," Naruto said, rubbing a hand through his hair. "There's a lead, but it's… complicated. I can't really explain until we know more."
Iruka hummed, skeptical but trusting. "Just promise me you'll be careful. If you think someone's watching you or if you feel threatened—"
"Iruka, I'm fine," Naruto interrupted, maybe a little sharper than he meant. "Really. You worry too much."
There was a long pause before Iruka replied. "That's my job, Naruto."
Something hot and tight blossomed under Naruto's ribs. He tried to change the subject. "So, uh, how's school? Did they ever fix the air conditioning in your classroom?"
Iruka's exasperated chuckle told Naruto he'd gotten away with it, for now. "Still broken. My students are melting. But I didn't call just for you to hear about my battle with the Facilities Department." Another pause, lighter now. "What's going on with you? Any new friends?"
Naruto felt his face go red, and, reflexively, his eyes darted to where Sasuke sat. The Alpha's expression hadn't changed, but there was a definite smugness in the way he tilted his head, just a fraction. Naruto turned away, lowering his voice. "Maybe. I mean, I've got people I talk to. There's Kiba, and Gaara, and—" He trailed off, uncertain how much to reveal.
Iruka's voice went syrupy sweet, the kind of tone that spelled doom. "And? Naruto, are you seeing someone?"
Sasuke's head snapped up from the textbook, eyes glittering with malicious delight.
Naruto could've died. "What? No, I mean—not really. I don't even have time—"
Iruka laughed, the sound full and genuine. "It's okay to date, Naruto. In fact, I wish you would. You're allowed to have a life outside of your search, you know?"
Naruto's ears burned. "I know," he muttered, angling his body away from Sasuke and lowering his voice to a near-whisper. "And yes, there is someone."
"So," Iruka pressed, "are you going to bring them home for Thanksgiving? I need to know if I should plan for an extra chair."
Naruto fumbled, then panicked: "It's too soon! It's not even—it's complicated."
Sasuke was fully turned around in his seat now, elbow on the desk, chin propped on one fist, watching Naruto squirm with the lazy interest of a cat watching a goldfish.
Iruka's voice went soft, a smile evident in every syllable. "You know I'd love to meet whoever has you this flustered." A pause stretched between them, weighted with unspoken questions. "No pressure to share details now, but don't think you're getting away with keeping them secret forever."
Naruto groaned, burying his face in the crook of his elbow. "Can I go, or are you going to keep grilling me?"
"I'll let you off the hook—this time. Call me if you need anything, okay? And if you miss a dose, I'm flying out to campus and dragging you to the nurse myself."
"Yeah, yeah. Love you too, old man."
Iruka's voice softened. "Love you, kid. Be safe."
Naruto hung up, the taste of shame and something sweeter warring in his mouth. He risked a glance at Sasuke, who was still watching, black eyes alive with the promise of a thousand I-told-you-sos.
"What?" Naruto snapped, trying for annoyance but overshooting into flustered.
Sasuke smirked, not bothering to hide the amusement. "Didn't know you were planning to take me home to meet the parents," he said.
Naruto's throat closed up. "Asshole," he managed, the insult coming out soft and without heat. He stared at the floor, then glanced up through his lashes. "But would you? Come home with me, I mean."
Sasuke's voice dropped to that low, commanding tone that made Naruto's spine tingle. "Come here." Naruto found himself crossing the room before he could think better of it. Sasuke reached for him, pulling him down until Naruto was settled in his lap, strong arms circling his waist. "I'll meet your family eventually," Sasuke murmured against his ear, "but only when you're ready for that step."
Naruto's pulse hammered beneath his ribs. For once, Sasuke wasn't commanding or deciding for him—he was waiting, offering space for Naruto to choose. Something warm and unfamiliar bloomed in his chest, expanding until he could hardly breathe around it.
Sasuke's lips brushed the shell of Naruto's ear. "Let me take you somewhere," he murmured, his nose tracing a path down the curve of Naruto's neck. "Just us."
Naruto's breath caught. "You mean like—"
"A date." Sasuke's arms tightened around Naruto's waist, as if anticipating escape. "A proper one."
Naruto twisted to face him, searching those dark eyes for mockery. Finding none, he swallowed hard. "But Kurama—" The name hung between them, heavy with unspoken guilt. "How can I just go out and have fun when he's still out there somewhere?"
Sasuke's fingers traced idle patterns on Naruto's hip. "That blonde with the intel—"
"Temari," Naruto corrected, unable to help himself.
Sasuke's mouth twitched. "Whatever. She gave us a window—just a couple of days. After we infiltrate that lab..." His voice dropped lower, thumb pressing into the hollow beside Naruto's hipbone. "Let me have this time with you. Before whatever comes next."
Naruto hesitated, then nodded. "Okay," he whispered, the word barely audible even to himself.
Something shifted in Sasuke's expression—the usual sharp angles softening into a smile that reached his eyes. He leaned forward, one hand cupping Naruto's jaw, and pressed their lips together. The kiss was gentle, unhurried, nothing like their desperate encounters before. Naruto's eyes fluttered closed.
"Tomorrow," Sasuke murmured against his mouth, the word a promise.
Naruto could only nod, his throat too tight for words. Sasuke kissed him again, deeper this time, before lifting him effortlessly and laying him across the mattress, his body following in one fluid motion.