Ever since they had their first sleepover at Sasuke's. They both only got closer.

Doing everything together and gaming whenever they were free became the norm.

Dispite being opposites, since they could perfectly relate to each other and their similarities stood out more than their differences, this only helped them get even closer.

Before they even realized it, they had already formed an inseparable bond with each other.

Sasuke knew that he'd always looked up to Naruto and admired him. He came to accept that part of himself naturally along the way. But soon, he stopped thinking about wanting to surpass him or wanting to compete with him. Even though he did start off with thinking about Naruto as an admirable rival, it wasn't long before it stopped being just admiration and before he knew it, he was already feeling something other than the admiration that he'd always felt.

It didn't take long for Sasuke to realize that he may have fallen in love with Naruto. But he himself had no idea why he thought that it was 'love' even though he clearly wasn't attracted to him sexually. It was confusing to say the least. 

If Naruto was also straight or asexual even, he may have ended up confessing, since asexual relationships are a thing - as far as he knew from what little information he'd looked up. And especially because he could tell that Naruto treasures him a lot too. He wasn't dense enough to not even notice how Naruto was just as fond of him as Sasuke is of him.

But... Naruto was capable of being sexually attracted to guys. Especially if it's someone he truly treasures, isn't it only natural to want to show that love physically too? Sasuke understood this, so he couldn't bring himself to confess. After all, it was an unchangeable fact that he was incapable of being attracted to guys. Even though, he really does love him a lot. Naruto was truly special to him. But he would definitely feel repulsed if they were to do anything more than hugging or kissing.

He really did give it a lot of thought.

At first, He thought that he may have just been too attached to his first closest friend but he couldn't deny his feelings of wanting to monopolize him. Could this really be just attachment? He didn't know.

It was only after properly thinking it through, that he decided it was best for either of them if he stops having such intense feelings for the blonde. It was fine, since there was no attraction involved, he believed that he could easily stop himself from being overly attached to him. Or at least that's what he thought.

But the more time they spent together, the more he realized, he just really loved him a lot. He admired him, respected him, trusted him, and really truly loved him so much. He wanted to be someone who'd always be allowed to stay closest to him. He never wanted to leave him side. He felt unusually empty when they don't talk to each other for even just a day. He really just wanted to be with him. Talk to him about anything and everything. Play their favorite games and have sleepovers. Bicker about useless things then laugh together. It was all just things that any close friends would do, but the fact that he ended up thinking he didn't want to share this precious close friend with anyone, made it a little difficult to see it as friendship. Even though he wasn't even capable of being a proper lover who can make him happy. He was just too selfishly attached to him. He was already in love before he realized it.

"Sasuke..?", Naruto's voice brought him back from his dazed thoughts. It became a routine to have a sleepover at either of their houses on every weekend. It wasn't any different today. They were in Sasuke's room, seated on his bed, leaning against the headrest. Just browsing through their phones instead of gaming or talking like usual.

"Hn?", Sasuke made a questioning sound and looked at him, trying not to reveal his feelings that were still in a turmoil.

"Did I do something to upset you, maybe? You've been.. Avoiding me lately, haven't you? It's not like you to keep things to yourself and mull over it, just tell it bluntly like you always do..?", Naruto tried to sound jovial but his anxiousness was clear in his voice.

Sasuke really wanted to beat himself up right about now. Ever since they first met, why does he always end up hurting him? He thought to himself in frustration. He couldn't help but think that he didn't deserve to be loved by Naruto after all. Naruto deserves to be with someone way better... And yet, he still selfishly wanted to be someone closest to him.

"Sorry... I'm just- Well, there's a lot I'm thinking about so I'm sorry, I didn't realize it seemed like I was avoiding you, I didn't mean to do that", Sasuke said with a guilty smile.

"What are you thinking about..?", Naruto asked in a serious tone.

"Just a lot a things...", Sasuke looked away.

"Did you fall in love or something..?", Naruto tried to joke when he realized that Sasuke didn't want to talk about it. Just trying to lighten the mood and change the topic.

Sasuke blushed involuntarily and didn't deny it right away so it was a little too obvious that Naruto unknowingly got it right.

"No way.. Who?", somehow it sounded like he was upset and Sasuke's heart skipped beat when his mind was invaded with thoughts of how Naruto may have been feeling jealous.

"Uh.. Secret?", Sasuke said in a rather meek voice.

"Hahah, what's with that... Shit, I didn't think this day would come so soon", Naruto looked away frowning, with a hand covering the lower half of his face. He clearly looked very upset.

"Naruto-", Sasuke began to say but was interrupted by Naruto's next words.

"I'm jealous! You already found someone you love huh! How mean of you to keep it a secret from me though", he said with an obviously forced grin.

Sasuke bit into his lower lip and hesitantly said, "I don't know if I can actually call it 'love', I do love them, they're very special to me, but I'm not sexually attracted to them"

'them..?', Naruto thought to himself, 'not specifying the gender can only mean.. '. He looked at him seriously, "Is it a guy..? Is that why you're not attracted?"

"Why'd you know that right away..?", Sasuke face palmed.

"You're kidding.. It better be me or I'm gonna be extremely upset!", Naruto exclaimed in frustration.

"Wha-! Why?! Didn't you hear me say that I wasn't even attracted?! I don't even know if it can be called 'love'...", Sasuke was extremely anxious.

"Love is love, with or without attraction, and I'd definitely never make you feel like you need to be attracted to me if it's me that you love! So please tell me that it's me - as far as I know I'm the only guy that you're this close to, it's me right?", now he just sounded desperate.

"It's you...", Sasuke trailed off hesitatantly.

"Geez, tell me that sooner. I was jealous for no reason at all. I'd be dammed if you choose to be with a guy but didn't even consider me", Naruto admitted honestly.

"You know it's useless even if I love you right..? It'll just be a burden to you in the long run. I'd rather you be with someone else who loves you properly", Sasuke said in a guilty tone.

"And by that you mean you want me to be with someone who lusts after my body?", Naruto narrowed his eyes at him.

Sasuke sweatdroped, "No, I mean someone who's capable of loving you entirely and showing it in a physical way too", he blushed a little at the end.

"It won't matter after 30 or 40 years, we'd be too old to think about showing our love in that kinda way so isn't it alright to just chuck it entirely?", Naruto said in all seriousness, then added with a slight blush, "and well, I'm actually more fond cuddles and hugs, rather than other intimate stuff so won't even hugs be more than enough to show your love physically, or do you hate that too?", he asked carefully.

"Not at all! I'm fine with that- no, I actually like it, I really liked kissing you too", Sasuke admitted honestly albeit a little shyly.

"Ki- huh?! Wha-?!", Naruto blushed red.

"Back when we kissed that one time during that pocky game thing, I actually didn't hate it and now I think I liked it even so yeah", Sasuke looked away bashfully.

"Noway, but you looked like you hated it back then", Naruto said in disbelief.

"That was just me trying to cover up the fact that I actually didn't hate it, sorry. But you too, you looked like you hated it..?", Sasuke probed carefully.

"I was also just trying to cover up... Cause I liked it too...", he whispered out shyly.

Sasuke couldn't help but smile, he felt unbelievably happy to hear that. It was crazy how happy he actually felt.

"May I hold you..? I'm honestly so happy right now, I really want to hold you", Sasuke smiled happily.

Naruto blushed red, but nodded nonetheless. Sasuke proceeded to gently hold him in an embrace. And he knew immediately that what he felt was nothing but love. Naruto was right, with or without attraction, love will always be love.  And Sasuke truly loved Naruto from the bottom of his heart.

"That's right-! I almost forgot!", Naruto exclaimed and leaned back to look at Sasuke, still in his embrace, "Um, I love you, Sasuke, please be only mine..?"

Sasuke blushed red and chuckled softly, "Likewise, Naruto, I love you a lot, I'll be only yours so please be mine in return..?", it was so cheesy and embarrassing that he could bury himself alive right about now but, he had to say it so that Naruto knows he loves him too. It was fine to swallow up his embarrassment if it was for Naruto.

Naruto chuckled happily and nodded, going back to leaning into his embrace and cozily snuggle up to him, "All yours...", he muttered in a low voice but Sasuke clearly heard it. He couldn't have been happier. They couldn't have been happier. All they needed was to be by the other's side for as long as they live, supporting each other and enjoying each other's company. That was more than enough.

It's not that their Homophobia or Heterophobia was suddenly cured.  It's not like their homosexuality or heterosexuality convineantly changed to asexuality. The only difference was that they were in love, one was attracted while the other was not. But that wasn't enough to affect their bond that was already strong enough. Naruto was indeed sexually attracted to Sasuke but not enough to lose control and want something more than what they already have. Sasuke never felt attracted to Naruto until the very end but that didn't stop him from loving him wholeheartedly and trying his best to show his love in any other way possible - with lots of kisses and hugs.

Love is more contradicting than one would expect. Love was capable of making someone selfish and selfless at the same time. Just like our beloved protagonists who selfishly wanted to monopolize eachother but were also selfless enough to give up on anything if that meant that the other would be happy by their side.

Sometimes things just mysterious work out, no matter how contradicting or unbelievable it may seem.

Just how Sasuke and Naruto managed to love each other dispite their differences in either sexuality or mere likes and dislikes. Since they strived to understand each other and always honestly voiced out their own opinions. Their trust in each other was strong enough, so it was no surprise that they managed find their happiness in eachother's presence.