Unfortunately I had to re-submit this because the document manager thing screwed it up, put I left the original author's notes in each chapter
SailorMystika (now X Kalika X): I just thought I would take this opportunity to let everyone know that I DO NOT OWN NARUTO! If I did, it would be rated MA for Sasu/Naru moments.
Critiques and Criticisms are welcome! Flames will be laughed at, and the flamer pitied.
Title ideas are also appreciated.
"Has everything that Team 7 went through meant nothing to you!?" Naruto yelled
at the boy who no longer seemed to be Sasuke.
The ebony haired boy closed his eyes.
"No." he answered. "To me...you have become my best friend."
Naruto's eye's widened. "Then why..."
"Which is why there is meaning in defeating you." Sasuke finished.
Naruto had no time to be confused as his fellow genin suddenly began to speed
toward him.
The youngest Uchiha performed a set of hand seals and cried "Chidori!!"
Naruto grunted as he jumped up.
He's serious... thought the blonde, almost more sadly than angrily.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!!" he yelled, performing his own hand seals.
Then Naruto began the technique that Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, had taught him.
"Rasengan!!"
The two young shinobi sped toward each other, before colliding with a big burst of chakra.
The boys held their ground for a few moments, before they were both forced back by the power of their attacks.
Naruto lay on the surface of the clear blue water, staring up at the sky.
It's true... he thought, turning his head so that he could see his former teammate.
He's really trying to kill me.
Naruto moved so that he was crouching on the water's surface. His wet blonde hair fell over his eyes, hiding them from view.
Sasuke stared at his opponent, thinking fast.
I have to create an opening...then I can use Chidori!
He twisted his hands into some familiar seals, and then...
"Katon! Housenka no Jutsu!!"
Naruto leapt out of the way of the handful of fireballs that came rushing toward him. Sasuke followed, and began to rain some Rock Lee style kicks on the blonde. Naruto fell to the ground, without so much as a grunt. The dark haired genin narrowed his eyes, his chest prickling oddly.
He's not even trying to defend himself! he realized.
The last Uchiha shook off the weird feeling that surrounded his heart. Naruto slowly began to rise.
Now! thought Sasuke.
He performed the necessary hand seals mind-numbingly fast.
"CHIDORI!!"
The small blonde hardly saw it coming, but time seemed to slow for Sasuke as he felt his left fist pierce Naruto's chest, just below his shoulder.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Naruto finally lifted his head to look Sasuke in the eye.
The young Uchiha cringed as he saw his younger friend's eyes.
They weren't filled with hatred, intense pain, or fear.
Instead there was sadness, and other emotions that were unreadable to Sasuke.
Then a faint smile crossed the blonde's face.
"I didn't really hate you," he said, a bit raspily.
Sasuke shook as Naruto reached out and took hold of his sleeve.
"I really wanted to be like you," he continued.
"You're my best friend...I won't let Orochimaru have you..."
Naruto's eyes closed, and he said nothing more.
Sasuke stood frozen, his arm still inside his teammate, and best friend.
"Unnhh!" he grunted as he quickly pulled his arm out. Naruto fell to the ground, and Sasuke felt a slight tug.
The blonde genin's hand was still gripping his sleeve.
The last Uchiha fell to his knees beside the fallen boy, his thoughts wild.
Is he dead? He is, right? That's...that's what I wanted...right? What the hell was he talking about?... No, it doesn't matter...
Sasuke pulled Naruto's hand from his sleeve. His hand was ice cold. The ebony haired shinobi stood, shakily.
Go...You did it, so go...
Sasuke gasped as the seal on his neck suddenly burned, and something he himself had said in the past echoed in his ears.
"I don't want to watch anymore important friends die in front of me..."
He turned back to his own victim, staring wide-eyed.
Wake up... said a small voice in Sasuke's head.
Wake up Naruto...Get up do-
"Do...be?" he uttered aloud.
No! shouted his own voice inside his head.
Sasuke stopped. Something was happening. Red chakra began to swirl around Naruto's wound. Then the slightest intake of breath was heard from his direction.
Naruto was alive.
Without another word, Sasuke turned and ran.
--
A few minutes later, Hatake Kakashi appeared.
"Sasuke..." was all he said before picking up Naruto and disappearing again.
--
Uchiha Sasuke stopped and leaned against a tree. He had only run a few miles, and his direction had been neither toward The Village of Sound, nor toward Konohagakure.
What are you doing? You should have finished the job! came his own voice.
Sasuke sat down against the tree. His pale hand rose and rested itself on the cursed seal.
"Anhh!" he gasped as it burned painfully.
Forget him, continue on to Orochimaru... his power can kill Itachi!
Sasuke imagined himself talking to Naruto.
"Orochimaru will give me his power so I can kill my brother!" the Uchiha shouted.
Sasuke somehow knew exactly what the blonde would say...
"Dammnit! The Sasuke I know wouldn't be so weak!... He'd use his own power!!"
The dark-haired genin rose. He knew which one of them was right.
Uchiha Sasuke began to walk.
--
Haruno Sakura was waiting at the gate that led out of Konoha. She chewed on her bottom lip, praying that both Naruto and Sasuke would return in one piece. She knew that Kakashi had gone after them. The kunoichi waited eagerly for her teammates and sensei to come back.
The large gate began to open. Sakura's eyes widened.
"Sasuke-kun?! Naruto?" she said excitedly, looking to see who was there.
Kakashi stepped into Konoha. He looked at the pink-haired genin, feeling very bad for her.
The light of hope in Sakura's eyes faded. Sasuke wasn't standing before her. Only Kakashi-sensei, holding a bloody, unconscious Naruto.
"Ka- Kakashi-sensei..?" she murmured, her sea-green eyes beginning to moisten.
"He's alive. But...someone...punched a hole right through him. I have to get him to the hospital." stated the silver-haired shinobi.
He paused for a moment, then was off.
The 12-year-old kunoichi continued to stare towards the gate for a moment, as if hoping Sasuke had been following a bit behind.
Then she turned and began to make her way to the hospital, a tear coursing down her cheek.
She was already long gone when the gate began to reopen.