Work Text:
Sasuke’s really tired of being the errand boy.
He understands it on a logical level. He’s younger than Itachi and commands less respect, and in addition, he’s generally able to navigate around a busy city faster than anyone else who travels with them.
That doesn’t make it less annoying when Itachi sends him on an errand for flowers, of all things, and Sasuke’s stuck wandering a foreign city trying to find an emporium that doubles as a greenhouse that’s apparently run by a half-elf.
Sasuke doesn’t have a problem with half-elves or humans or dwarves or fairies or anything else, which is another reason Itachi uses him for errands – no chance of him deciding that he’s inherently better than any of the vendors because of his Uchiha elf pedigree, but it does mean that there’s no one part of the city that this emporium will be. It could be in the elf district or the human or the general – there’s no way of knowing for sure.
And according to Sakura, Sasuke’s only contact in town, this half-elf Naruto is the only one likely to carry these incredibly specific flowers Itachi needs, and so Sasuke wanders.
He’s grateful that Sakura apparently knows the only shop in the city that will have what he needs.
He’d be more grateful for better directions, but she’d waved him off with a vague, “Oh, people who need to find Naruto generally do.”
Wildly unhelpful, he’d told her then – and thinks again now as he wanders, frustrated. It’s another ten minutes before he’s ready to burst out in a fit of anger on the sidewalk because he swears, he’s been down every possible street; asked every remotely friendly face for directions; and checked every map – and still, he has no idea where this damn place is supposed to be.
It’s just then that a hand claps down on his shoulder. “Hello there, young man,” a cheerful voice says. “You look a bit lost. Can I help you?”
Sasuke spins, eyes sharpening – waits for the inevitable reaction when he’s recognized as an Uchiha, but it doesn’t come. Instead, a kind looking older man with brown hair in a ponytail and a distinctive scar across his nose only smiles and lifts his hand from Sasuke’s shoulder in an apologetic gesture.
“I’m sorry,” he says politely. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I know that look, though. People who are new to the city often have trouble finding what they need. The places tend to wander a bit, here. Maybe I can help.”
“The places tend to wander,” Sasuke repeats flatly.
The man smiles and shrugs.
Sasuke raises an eyebrow. “That seems…counterintuitive.”
He laughs. “Perhaps. Usually, though, we tend to find what we need when we need it – or someone who can help us find it. I’m Iruka. It’s nice to meet you.”
Sasuke shakes his hand tentatively. “Sasuke.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Sasuke.”
“Uchiha’s the family name, I presume,” another voice says, and Sasuke turns to see a man whose face is half-hidden, a shock of white hair just peeking out from a hood. “Am I wrong?”
“Ah! Kakashi!” Iruka says. “This is Sasuke. And we don’t care about his family name, do we?”
Kakashi shrugs. His posture is bored but his eyes are sharp, and Sasuke shifts uncomfortably. “Just a question, Iruka. What can we help you find, Sasuke?”
Sasuke eyes Kakashi for a moment before turning his focus back to Iruka. “I’m looking for a particular plant. A friend in the city mentioned an emporium has it, one run by a half-elf named Naruto.”
Kakashi raises an eyebrow. “That’s –”
“Just like the city,” Iruka interrupts with a laugh that relaxes Sasuke with its sincerity. “You’re looking for our son – well, more or less. We were just on our way to drop something off for him, actually! He’s this way, only a couple blocks down.”
“You’re welcome to join us, Sasuke,” Kakashi tells him.
“I thought that was obvious,” Iruka mutters.
“And that’s why I stick near you, dear.” Kakashi turns back to Sasuke. “You coming?”
And, well. Sasuke doesn’t really have better options, so he nods stiffly and falls in beside them.
Sasuke doesn’t understand it. He’s been past this block four times, and he knows he’s never seen this tiny little green door with the orange frog before. He would have noticed. He definitely would have noticed.
Kakashi sees his irritation and chuckles. “It happens that way, kid. That’s how the magic works here. Either you would’ve found it eventually or you would’ve found someone else who could.” He pushes open the door. “Oi! Naruto!”
There’s a bang from the back as something falls, and then, “Shit.” A pause. “Yeah? Kakashi?”
“Brought you another stray!” Kakashi calls, and Iruka elbows him in the stomach sharply enough that he huffs out a breath of air. Sasuke stifles a smile.
“What he means is that we found a newcomer in need of your services,” Iruka corrects. “His name’s Sasuke!”
“Oh! Sakura mentioned –” There’s another bang, another curse, and then, “Hang on one second!”
“I don’t have a second – Naruto, I’m late for work!” Iruka shouts. “I’m going to leave your stuff here, and Sasuke, too, okay?”
“Okay, dad, sorry!”
Iruka smiles just a bit, and Kakashi rolls his eyes. “Good to meet you, kid,” he tells Sasuke. “Be nice to him. He’s an idiot, but he’s ours. Come on, sweetheart. We gotta go.” He tows Iruka out as he tells Sasuke goodbye, and then Sasuke’s alone in a place that feels somehow like a rainforest in the middle of a metropolis and finds himself thinking that maybe there’s a reason not everyone can find this place.
Maybe not everyone should.
It’s only a minute or two before Naruto emerges, but Sasuke’s already noticed several rare varieties of plants – and there seems to be a sprite humming around somewhere intent on shocking Sasuke just the slightest bit every time he gets too close to touching the too-green leaves. “Hi!” Naruo gasps, and Sasuke turns. “Sorry – sorry! I was repotting – it’s nice to meet you!”
Sasuke stares.
This person is not like any half-elf he’s ever met. Eyes with slit pupils but rounded ears, a soft smile that shows elf-like canines, and a wild spike of untamed blonde hair with tanned skin – he’s – he’s –
“Naruto?” he asks for lack of anything else to say.
“That’s me!” He beams, and Sasuke –
Does not mind being the errand boy anymore.
In fact, he wonders how many other things Itachi might need him to fetch.
There are, after all, worse ways to spend his time.