[OP: "Grow"--The Oh Hellos]

Finally, Sasuke spoke again:

"So...what now?" 

Shine wasn't expecting that question. "How do you mean?"

"Don't you have some solution?" Sasuke said irritably. "Like always?"

"Do I...?" Shine frowned in confusion. "You want a solution?"

"No, I prefer to go through that again." Sarcastically.

Shine laughed.

For some reason it annoyed Sasuke less this time when she did...as if maybe she was laughing because she thought he was actually trying to be funny--though he wasn't.

"I'm just not used to you being open to help," she said.

Sasuke frowned. "Anyone ever tell you you might be too honest?"

"Anyone ever tell you that you're annoying?" Shine retorted.

"Only your team," Sasuke asid.

"I can't believe I missed this," Shine said, shocking him again. "But it's almost a relief to hear you trying to be unpleasant after all that. C'est la vie--Even with everything else I'm dealing with."

That brought another question to mind.

"Did I miss anything important?" Sasuke asked.

"Oh, lots. But no worries, none of it was that exciting. Just planning, for the most part. And if you really want to know, we can catch you up later."

"I might as well just know now." Sasuke started to get up.

He was shoved back down very forcefully.

"If you get up for any reason that's not medically necessary," Shine said in a firm voice, "you will be tied down. Is that clear? You're still not fully healed anyway. Can't you feel that you're running a temperature?"

Sasuke did still ache all over, but this was nothing new for him.

Which maybe should have been a bad sign.

"Well, I can't just stay here--" he began.

"Oh, yes, you can," Shine said, with a tone that left no room for argument. "And if you don't do as I say, I will follow up on that threat, believe me, and you know I will. And if you're pissed that you have to be waited on by Sakura and the others, then next time don't do something crazy. You brought this on yourself. And some people would appreciate the chance to get a break, honestly, but of course you won't be reasonable."

"You know, I've done more dangerous things probably while not feeling any better than this," Sasuke said.

"Then that confirms what I already thought, which is that the people you worked for are morons as well as sadists," Shine shot back. "So stay put. Sakura will be back soon enough... By the way, did she say anything to you?"

"Only that I was stupid," Sasuke said. 

Then he rubbed his face. "And she slapped me."

"Oh, really?" Shine didn't sound upset. "Good for her. I'm glad she's taking this more seriously now. If she hadn't, someone else would have."

"You have an odd way of treating people you claim are sick."

"You show no gratitude to people for saving your life, yet again," Shine replied staunchly. "I suppose I can't expect you to do that, but you really owe Ino for this one. And Shoto too."

"What?" Sasuke had been calming down until she said that.

"He helped. He still is, actually. We discovered his ice has some ability to keep this chakra subdued. That's the ice pack you're still using now."

Sasuke felt about that how you might have felt touching a cockroach or snake.

"I don't need his help." He began to pull it away.

Shine fixed him with a loo,k and he stopped; strange how fast she could cow him again.

"We have this old saying where I live--'don't look a gift horse in the mouth,'" she said. "In other words, don't despise help even if you don't like the source, and don't ask too many questions about it if it's not harming you. I suggest you embrace that philosophy for once in your life. Shoto is sorry for his part in this, believe it or not, and I suspect he will tell you so in time, and I hope you'll be gracious enough for once to acknowledge that you asked for it as much as he did, so what did you expect? He's not cruel, and he didn't want you to die. Try to believe that. If anything, this may have scared him enough to stop this stupid feud, for which I rejoice, and I suggest you meet him halfway if that's true. You're not going to impress anyone by trying to act stronger than him. No one here even cares which of you is stronger. Get that through your thick skull."

She got up. "I'll be back... I have to talk to Mirai pretty soon. Don't exert yourself if you can help it...and I wouldn't provoke Sakura either, if you'd be so sensible as to take my advice for once."

"I don't think this much sarcasm is necessary," Sasuke said. "Just say what you want me to do, and I'll do it if I feel Iike it."

"Sarcasm is more fun," Shine said. "And after the way you scared me, you deserve it." She frowned and then left the room.

Sasuke just shook his head to himself. 

[I thought it was funny, personally.]

* * *

Shine met with Mirai later and was able to confirm Gaara's story and elaborate on some points.

Mirai didn't ask her that much about any of the things Stone had been concerned about, like power and respect for the Village.

Shine knew why--because the Village had no reputation to uphold to begin with.

It was really so painfully simple, in some ways, to understand why they didn't find the faith suspicious... They had no idea what a cult even was, since they had assumed Pain's way was just the way they lived, so this new thing wasn't any more suspicious to them.

Although, Mirai liked it when Shine explained it, and she had none of the skepticism that they had come to expect from ninja.

"It all sounds wonderful," she told Shine. "Especially where your leader gave his life for all his followers."

"All of us," Shine said. "But yes, for His friends."

"It's noble," Mirai said. "Not what I would expect... I can't understand why the other Village thought this was so bad."

Shine didn't want to explain it to her and put ideas into her head. There was no reason to invite trouble.

"People don't trust new things," she said instead. "But it seems as if your Village has nothing to lose."

"That's true..." Mirai said. "It sounds almost as if Lord Gaara had nothing to lose either. But the others in the party...I wonder why they were willing to join you if it was so...controversial in Stone Village."

"They would know better than I," Shine said. "Suffice to say all of them must feel the pull in some way to something greater. We always are fortunate with our students. Blessed, really. How did you like the plan for helping the Village?"

"That? I thought it was brilliant," Mirai said. "I never would have thought of it..." She looked around nervously. "I...suppose you can tell I have no idea what I'm doing here... None of us have experience... It's just that..."

"Pain did it all," Shine finished. "It's not really your fault."

"You're too kind, but really I think I must just be incompetent," Mirai said.

"No, no, you're not," Shine assured her. "Or you would not have thought of this. I think you did the best thing you could. I'm not lying here."

Mirai brightened a little. "Well, good. Someone thinks so... I think my brother wishes he was the head council member, but people find him more off putting. I think that's why they picked me."

"Your brother?" Shine said. 

"Yes...Seiji and I are siblings," Mirai said. "You couldn't tell? But then, people say we don't look alike. We took after different parents."

"Ah, my siblings and I look nothing alike either," Shine said, "so I understand. So...Justice and Future. I guess your parents must have had an idea for you."

"I think they expected us to be leaders, as our father was before us," Mirai said.

So even Rain wasn't immune to nepotism. Some ninja things were just a staple, Shine guessed.

"So...how do things like marriage work here in Rain?" she asked. "I haven't seen many people at all, let alone couples and only one or two children."

"There are few children," Mirai said. "Lately, anyway. People have tried not to have them, or they die... Illness, you know. Marriage is not really something we're concerned about... We don't really have justices of the peace here... I suppose the Council could serve as one, but people tend to just pair up and live in the same place. There's no contract. In such a small Village, everyone knows everyone who is together, so not much reason for it."

"Hmm, that's not really what marriage is for. But I suppose the idea is there, if not the name."

"You are with that tall man, right?" Mirai said. "The red head."

"You'll have to be more specific," Shine said.

"The friendly one," Mirai added.

"Yes," Shine said. "We're engaged, actually, but have had to delay tying the knot because of... work."

"I see," Mirai noded. "It is an inconvenience."

"Yes, but it's also part of our religion to need to be married," Shine said. "At least to enjoy certain benefits, if you know what I mean. And I think it's best this was. Helps us to take it seriously."

Mirai nodded. "Well, congratulations... What about that other fellow?"

"He's quite single," Shine said. "And likely to want to stay that way, at least for now... Why, are you attracted?"

"Oh...no, not me," Mirai said. "I just was wondering, since it's such a large group, if there were more couples and family members. It would explain why so many of you were traveling."

"Well, you're partially right. We have a few other couples in the group," Shine said. "But not enough, honestly."

"What an odd thing to say."

"I'm half kidding, but really, some of them would be if they just worked up the nerve," Shine shrugged. "Anyway, we should discuss more that has to do with our ideals. If it's okay."

"Oh, yes," Mirai said.

* * *

"We won't be able to start working until we hear a response from Sand," Temari told the others, while they were hanging around the main room yet again. "So for now, I guess we're resting...and learning more about the Village."

"Coolio," Camie said. "I'm psyched to do that. Maybe there's some cute guys here. I'm not shopping, but you single ladies could."

"I think that would be a blow out sale," Karin said. "In this Village. Low quality."

"You don't know that for sure," Camie said. "But I get it, you're not looking to purchase."

"Can you stop with the payment metaphor?" Momo asked. "It's demeaning to guys...and, frankly, to girls also."

"Don't take it seriously, sis," Camie said.

"I wouldn't be shopping anyway," Sakura said, rubbing her arms in a tired way.

"Ah, come on, you gotta get over this Sasuke thing," Camie urged her. "What's wrong with looking around?"

"Even if I wanted to do that, I'm way too busy," Sakura said loftily. "And all of you should focus on the mission."

"I'm 100% sure you wouldn't care about that if you actually wanted to," Camie scoffed.

"Speaking of the sourpuss," Hanabi said, "was he at all grateful when he did wake up?"

"If he was, he didn't say so." Sakura looked a little miffed. "Not that I gave him much of a chance."

"Why? What did you do?" Camie asked her.

"I just scolded him for being so stupid," Sakura said.

"You...scolded Sasuke?" Naruto hadn't been listening up till that point, but that was shocking enough to catch his interest.

"Not for long..." Sakura said.

"Well, the first time," Dabi said, "you know, it's a little awkward."

"Dabi!" Momo said.

"Well, she never scolded him before," Dabi said innocently.

"Don't pay any attention to him," Momo said, with an eye roll. "I suppose Sasuke probably was irritating as usual."

"What did you do, though?" Naruto wanted to know.

Sakura looked embarrassed. "I might have...slapped him, also."

Shocked stares.

"And he didn't kill you?" Karin said.

"He didn't even react," Sakura said.

Dabi started to laugh. "I wish I had been there to see that."

"Shut up!" Sakura said.

"Why did you suddenly decide that was a good idea?" Ino asked her, puzzled.

"I guess I just didn't think about it. I'd have done it to Naruto," Sakura said. "And it was stupid, wasn't it?"

"The world had turned upside down," Dabi said. "Sh--, next she'll say she's drawing healthy boundaries."

He got another dark glare from Sakura.

"Ah, Sasuke totally had that coming," Camie said. "Lowkey, I don't know if he's okay though. That was a close call. Maybe I should check on him. I'm sure I always cheer him up."

Bakugo laughed dryly. 

Camie sauntered out of the room.

"Well, this is always entertaining," Dabi said. "But I still would prefer him getting slapped. And he didn't do anything at all?"

"No," Sakura said. "And stop asking about it, you creep."

"Just hope he didn't secretly like it," Dabi said. "That would be the creepy part."

"Don't even say things like that," Sakura said.

* * *

Sasuke was really bored by the time Camie waltzed her way into the room.

He had absolutely nothing to do and was dying to just get up and risk the consequences Shine had promised.

Jugo had been supposed to be keeping an eye on him in case he needed help, but Jugo was watching birds out of the window and had half forgotten Sasuke was there.

"Hey, yo," Camie peeped in. "S'up?"

Sasuke gave her a look.

"Gosh, it's dingy in here." Camie came further into the space. "Aren't you bored?"

"No, it's riveting," Sasuke said sarcastically.

"Wow...like, you are really getting better at the sarcasm." Camie gave him an a-ok 👌 sign. "It's almost like you're a human being instead of a prickly cactus 🌵 with legs...and other human features...and this metaphor doesn't really work, come to think of it. But anyways...you know, you had a really close call. You must be real desperate for attention."

Sasuke frowned. "Do you think this is funny?"

"Yeah." Without batting an eyelash.

Pause.

"You're an airhead." Sasuke looked away, but he was less annoyed than pretending to be annoyed.

"Sheesh, you don't even hate me that much," Camie called him out on it. "You're just being a jerk because you got no social skills. and I came in here to cheer you up and everything, too... Ah, for real, tho, I have no idea what kind of memes you like."

"If you mean those stupid visual jokes you make, I'm not interested," Sasuke said.

"Whoa, I can't believe you actually knew that," Camie was stunned. "You listen to our conversations about it? Oh, gosh, quick, what's the 'galaxy brain' meme?"

"I don't care."

"Oh, come on, you have to remember that one!"

Silence.

"I guess you're too dumb," Camie said.

"That isn't going to work on me." Coldly.

"You must be bored if you're even talking about this," Camie declared. "I could be super nice and bring you some books or  something, but you're kinda being a prick, so..."

Sasuke would have preferred to have something to do if he was stuck here--and even this was a change from before when he could have sat for hours with his own thoughts and never cared to find anything else to do--but either his thoughts were too unsettled now, or he had gotten used to the constant activity of the group and now the lack of it left a void for stimulation in his brain...one or the other, and now he didn't want to have so much empty time.

He hated that Camie knew it, though.

"I don't need anything," he said.

"Ugh, always with the tough guy act." Camie rolled her eyes. "Just who are you trying to impress anyway? Sakura isn't even here."

"I wouldn't try to impress Sakura!" Sasuke got angry at that.

"Got ya," Camie snickered. "I played you like a cheap kazoo. Always works. Boy, you hate it when people insinuate that you like her. It's pretty classic. For the record, I think you don't actually hate her as much as you fake you do. She's just annoying, right?"

Sasuke frowned darkly.

"Hey, why would you try to kill her anyway?" Camie said. 

"I wasn't in my right mind yesterday." Sasuke mistakenly thought Camie meant that time instead of the time on the bridge.

"Yesterday?" Camie said

Sasuke realized his mistake. " I...thought you meant... A lot of things happened that I don't remember," he faltered.

"Huh, though you reacted funny if you thought I meant that." Camie was a little too smart at sniffing out this kind of BS. "Bro, for real? Stop trying to kill people on your team!"

"I didn't," Sasuke said. "Anyway, nothing happened. I should never have admitted to it. I thought she said something."

"All she said was that she slapped you," Camie said. "And good thing, too. You deserved it. And worse."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "She actually bragged about that... I guess people change after all."

Camie studied him. "You're not mad?"

"It wasn't that hard," Sasuke said loftily.

"I hope you didn't like it," Camie said. "'Cause that's weird, bro."

"Of course not!" Sasuke snapped. "Don't ask questions like that. What's wrong with you anyway? Is that all you think about?"

"I think I hit a nerve there," Camie said. "I get it, you prefer the tough girl thing because it's more entertaining and people being nice to you freaks you out. Well, you know, Bakugo is a lot like that too. And I know you gonna say, how did he end up with me then, because I'm super nice? But the secret is I just pretend to be mean to him, and he thinks it's funny, so it works."

"Didn't ask and I didn't want to know," Sasuke insisted. "Stop talking to me."

"So no on the books?" Camie got him back very quickly.

Another sour look.

"Well, you don't deserve it, but since I'm a Christian, fine, I'll yeet some your way anyway." Camie waved her hand. "But only because I'm so nice...and that'll show you, since you hate nice poeple anyway. So, hah, UNO reverse." She blew an image of that card.

And Sasuke hated that he knew what it was by now.

He hadn't realized how much he'd absorbed about them without trying to, and it was pretty disconcerting to think about it.

But Camie actually did keep her word and brought some of the books that the group carted around everywhere.

Bakugo also looked in, though he seemed to just want to tell Sasuke he was a moron for pulling that crap and making problems for everyone else. [Aw, he does care.]

Sasuke wasn't impressed by this in the least, but as usual his attitude had no effect on Bakugo.

Momo brought in some tea.

"Are all of you just going to do this?" Sasuke said. "It's like some parade. Just get it over with."

"I have no idea what you mean by that," Momo said. "Shine asked us to check in on you frequently and not to make Sakura do all the work because she's really tired after yesterday. Karin said she nearly drained all her chakra. And Shine had to go do another observation in the Village, so she couldn't be here."

She poured some tea. "Do you take sugar?"

"I don't drink tea," Sasuke said.

"What?" Momo looked actually horrified. "You're...joking, right?"

"No, just go away."

But Momo didn't listen to that anymore than Camie had.

She just moved the tea over. "It's important to drink tea if you're recovering from a cold...or... whatever that was. And to eat properly. You did eat, right?"

"I'm tired of trail food," Sasuke said, distastefully. "Not very appetizing."

"You shouldn't have tea on an empty stomach though." Momo was starting to sound something like his mom used to...though it had been a long time since he'd thought of that. 

"What part of 'leave me alone' do you not understand?" he said.

"I'm not sure your wishes are really a factor in the assignment." Momo tilted her head. "Besides, what else do you have to do?"

Silence.

"But I can leave if it's really making you more miserable." Momo got up. "I suppose as long as I checked in... I'm sorry we're irritating you."

"Why?" Sasuke muttered.

"What?" Momo said.

"Nothing..." Flatly. "Actually...when is Likstar coming back?"

"I don't know..." Momo wasn't expecting that question. "An hour or two, maybe? Depends on how long she wants to talk. Why?"

"I don't want to stay here." Sasuke frowned. "But until she says so, all of you are just going to make sure I don't move."

"Don't you think it would be better just to do as they say and rest?" Momo said, more patiently than most people would have. "You'll just increase the time you have to spend in bed if you don't follow their instructions. Didn't you ever have to do this before?"

Another long stare.

"I guess I knew already," Momo reflected. "I hope you're not planning to fight someone again..."

"After what happened the last time?" With a flat tone.

"I didn't know that you cared that much about the last time when you fought people." Momo was really savage for her.

"After something like that..." Sasuke looked away. "You wouldn't understand anyway."

"I would, actually. All our quirks take a toll on our bodies. Any one of us could hurt ourselves badly by over using them. Though, for me, I would lose body movement before it became fatal, but without help... Well, if you push yourself that way, you could end up permanently handicapped."

"That's not what happened." Irritably. "It's your...powers and mine--they conflict."

"That too... It's fascinating, isn't it? Learning about all this. It tells us so much about this world too...uh, but that's not what you want to talk about."

Actually, Sasuke wouldn't have minded learning more about this, but he didn't want to ask her.

"So I can't attack any one of you without repercussions," he said. "In more ways than one. How annoying."

"I didn't think you wanted to attack us that badly," Momo said, somberly. "Unless there was something you were trying to get away from."

"What?" Sasuke glanced up sharply.

"I...I'm sorry for being so blunt, but, I just thought that, when you attack someone, it's to get away from them or something else," Momo said slowly. "To sever ties. It's not just anger, is it? You've never been the one to attack people without a reason or for fun."

This was quite true...though not something most people noticed about Sasuke. Most of the minions of the people he had worked for assumed he was as eager to draw blood as they themselves were.

Sasuke had neither liked nor really disliked it, he thought. He had no emotions about it...or so he assumed.

But Momo's phrasing that it was never without a reason also made sense.

"Or I am just crazy." Sasuke didn't care if she thought so. "Like all of you say."

"I think you have been crazy." Momo was honest. "Sometimes...but certainly not all the time. I mean, we wouldn't be having this conversation if you were crazy."

"Is that something you can just stop being?"

"It's just for some people...there's a moment of insanity, and then there's...well...nevermind that." Momo tugged her ponytail. "Perhaps you wouldn't rather be compared to that... There are people in our world whose powers drive them crazy. Dabi knew a bunch of them. Some of them are nice people, in their way, from what he's said, but they're just...mentally weak."

"According to Tobirama, all Uchiha are mentally weak," Sasuke said without much feeling. "So it's genetic."

"You can't really believe that," Momo said. "I mean, that can't be all there is to it. Your parents weren't crazy, were they?"

"No...but they had no losses to activate the abilities."

"But didn't your father have Sharingan?" Momo was puzzled. [Yeah, what was that little plot hole? No one other than Itachi and Sasuke ever unlocked their sharing through loss? That's not possible. But it didn't drive them all insane, clearly...so...Tobirama really is a racist?]

Sasuke thought... He didn't remember... He hadn't really known how it worked at the time to know if his father had it.

"Not powerful ones," he said finally.

"Or maybe you just never saw him use it," Momo said. "I suppose there's Itachi's...but not everyone was as powerful as him...and he was..." But then she paused. "Well, nevermind. I shouldn't talk about this kind of thing. I just meant not all Uchiha go mad, so it's not just genetics."

"Not all of them suffer enough to. That's all... That's how it starts."

"But that can't be right either," Momo said. "I'm sorry, all Uchiha lose people at some point--everyone does--they didn't all go mad. There were older ones in the clan... Please, you can't listen to Tobirama. He was biased."

"On the other hand--" Sasuke didn't know why he was defending this and Momo was defending the Uchiha, but he went on anyway. "--Madara and Obito, they were both mad."

"You think so?"

"Even I didn't think that eternal dream idea sounded smart." He frowned. "Even if I'm crazy and stupid."

"You really shouldn't talk about yourself that way," Momo said, a little reproachfully. "Well, they weren't just... I mean, anyone who went through what Obito did would have gone a little mad... Madara brainwashed him, too. Or it's possible that Obito was just mad to begin with. He was hurt badly..." She made a face. "And Madara...I think he was just crazy, period. I don't think it's that he lost his brother, though--I think he was like that before, based on what I know of him. And it seems to me the real reason he went power-mad was because he was strong, not because of loss. He thought he could do anything... I don't mean that your family doesn't have a burden, but, I do think that's more to it than just the Sharingan. I mean, it can't be true that everyone who has it is doomed..."

Everyone was except one person--and a half, if you counted Kakashi.

Suddenly Shoto stuck his head in the doorway.

"Momo...I think I need..." he said slowly.

Momo lok up "Oh...right." She got up again.

"I'm not talking to him," Sasuke said, sounding as if Momo was his servant.

Momo looked at him strangely. "Why are you telling me that? Maybe you should talk to him. Are you afraid?"

Sasuke scowled. "No, I'm not afraid. I just don't want to."

"I guess it's up to you then," Momo said to Shoto. "I was pretty much finished anyway... Uh, did Sakura see you come in here?"

"I think she's still working on getting more medicine ready," Shoto said. "I think she would have stopped me, after the way she yelled at me yesterday."

"She was upset," Momo said. "She didn't mean it...I think."

"I still deserved it," Shoto said. 

"No, you didn't."

"I want to hear you argue about this even less than I want to talk to either of you alone," Sasuke cut in.

Shoto shot him a look, but then he nodded.

"I'll just...uh, wait outside if you need me." Momo moved out of view.

Both boys glared at each other coldly.

Sasuke had no intention of speaking first.

Shoto had been dreading doing this since Sasuke woke up but nevertheless had resolved he would. He wouldn't be such a coward as to not own up to his mistakes.

But Sasuke's cold glare and attitude weren't making it easier to want to sound humble.

Shoto finally looked at the wall instead. [#relatable.]

"I came to say that I shouldn't have started that fight," he said, finally. Stiffly still.

Sasuke was in no rush to be forgiving--now or ever.

Also he had no intention of taking it easy on Shoto of all people, even if he had been the type to forgive.

"I suppose Likstar guilted you into this," he said haughtily. "But I don't want to hear fake apologies. Or any, actually. I know what you intended."

"I didn't intend for you to die over it, if that's what you mean." Shoto looked back at him to give him the same kind of cold glare as before--but it was almost more...well...fragile.

As if perhaps he actually was sorry under the annoyance.

Sasuke didn't believe it.

"I'm sure you would have been very broken up about it," he shot back.

This new sarcasm thing was really kind of cathartic, in its own way. Hard to believe it had taken him this many years to try it out.

And it made Shoto more annoyed, which was a bonus.

"You have to be so unpleasant?" he said, almost as snarkily.

"I have no reason not to be," Sasuke replied coldly. "If you're finished with whatever this is, I'm tired."

Shoto frowned, but then he took a breath and rallied his self control.

"Well, Shine didn't put me up to it," he said. "I even tried to talk to her about it, and she didn't even want to hear it. I think she was disappointed in me...or maybe she was resigned to the situation. I don't know which was worse."

Sasuke almost lost his insolent expression right there--maybe he could relate to that feeling.

"I still don't like you," Shoto went on, brutally honest as usual, "but I let it go too far. That's all I was trying to say. You don't have to forgive me. In fact, I don't even care if you do. But it's the right thing to do, to acknowledge it. I have a temper...always have. I let it get the better of me again, and I'm trying to work on it... I suppose your actions are no excuse for mine. That's what I was saying. I'm not saying that you're not a selfish b-----d, still, but I shouldn't have also acted that way."

"Are you actually saying that I dragged you down to my level?" Sasuke was offended. [Like that's not what he spent most of Shippuden trying to do with Naruto.]

"Those are not the words I used," Shoto replied. "Though I would like to say it was that... Unfortunately, I have done things like this before, so, I think the problem was me. Don't act as if that makes you better than me. Out of the two of us, at least I can admit it's a problem."

"I'm sure you don't expect me to make any apologies. And I'm not sorry for you at all."

"I know," Shoto said, a little more warmly, but then he sighed. "That's not why I'm doing this. It's the right thing to do. Try to understand that for once."

That last part had plenty of salt.

Sasuke didn't like it--in a way it was making him feel small again.

He really thought this was worse than Shoto's just despising him freely was...At least that made more sense.

But then, why did any of this bother him? It never used to...

Sasuke made a fist, but it was less anger than frustration at his utter lack of ability to understand any of them or anything that they did. It was getting really old for him.

"Whatever," he said. "Just go."

Shoto took that to be the closest he was going to get to an acceptance of this--and since he thought he'd probably throw up if Sasuke acted the least bit emotional about it anyway, he was glad to escape.

Momo was waiting outside.

"I didn't mean to listen in," she said. "I just worried he would...get agitated, so I thought someone should be here."

"That's fine..." Shoto rubbed his face and then stared at his hand. "I'm not sure I really handled it that well. He still makes me angry. I tried to say I was wrong, but I still got mad. I just don't know--"

Momo put her arms around his neck, surprising him.

"It doesn't matter," she insisted. "You admitted you were wrong. That takes courage... Not many heroes would do that...especially not to a villain. Even if it wasn't as smooth as you wanted, all that matters is that you still did it. I'm...proud of you."

Shoto smiled a little. "Thanks...but--"

Momo kissed him, to his further surprise.

[r/kiss for Todomomo. Artist name was not listed.]

"It's okay," she added quietly.

Shoto decided to stop talking about it after that.

[AWW...

Personally, I'm just glad to see Momo and Shoto not fighting anymore. That was really uncomfortable while it lasted.

By the way, relationship tip for you single people: Find someone who is attracted to your best qualities. Always better if they make you want to be your best self than bring out your insecurities.

Anyone think Sasuke might actually let this go? I mean...miracles happen, right?]