Hey Everyone!

Thanks for giving my first (published) fanfiction a chance.

This story is for those who were unsatisfied with the Naruto ending. Many injustices were left unaddressed, and I'm still sore about the tragedy of Itachi's life. Sooooo- here is my attempt on fixing that. To change Naruto into the Hokage he can be, and the trials that he will face along the way. Curtain up!

Prologue

Broken Ties

Naruto heaved heavily. The fight wasn't going too well for him. He just couldn't get an advantage and Sasuke sure wasn't pulling his punches. Naruto was desperate. How could he make the other boy understand?

"You will return with me to the village and that's final! And if it kills me I will make you!"

Sasuke sneered at him. "You just don't understand. And that is because you're too weak to see the reality. I have an ambition and you know I've always had it. I must kill my brother and avenge my clan. That is my purpose in life: to become strong and defeat him."

"But Sasuke, you can become strong at the village. We can train together, like we always have. Kakashi-sensei can teach you more jutsu-"

"Kakashi is weak", he interrupted harshly. "At the invasion no one was able to defeat Orochimaru and so I know I need him to gain such power. I can feel it in my skin, the hidden power. You cannot stop me, you fool!"

And then Sasuke charged. Chidori was already blazing in his hand, the electricity crackling underneath his fingers. Naruto, still exhausted from their battle earlier, hurried to make a clone and form the Rasengan in his palm. Too late. It wasn't strong enough.

Naruto coughed up blood and sank to his knees as Sasuke pulled his arm out of Naruto chest. Red was dripping from it. So much red. For a moment, Sasuke seemed surprised to see it there, then his expression hardened once again.

"How unsatisfactory. And this is what you threw your dreams away from? I hope it was worth it. This is goodbye, you fool. Maybe in another life, it could have been different."

He turned to leave when a hand twisted around his ankle and demanded he'd stay.

"Of course it was worth it you bastard. And to think that I fell in love with you…"

"What was that?!" Sasuke sounded angry, well angrier than even before.

All was quiet when he finally spoke again. "I said I'm in love with you, Sasuke."

"What the fuck, dobe?! Out of all the attacks you've thrown at me, this one is the one least likely to work. I will not return to the village.", Sasuke laughed cruelly.

"It's not a trick, I", he coughed up some more of the red liquid that was leaving his body rapidly. His voice was quiet, almost breaking. "I guess it doesn't hurt to tell you now. It's the truth, simple as that."

"It doesn't matter to me."

"Not to you, bastard. But to me. I would have given anything for you, you know."

The raven's expression was unreadable. "And now?"

"I stand by it. I hope you will find happiness one day Sasuke." Sasuke swallowed as Naruto whispered the last words. "I believe in you. There is more to you than just revenge."

Words spoken, Naruto passed out and left the other deep in thought. "But should I really do it? Is the Mangekyou worth it?", Sasuke asked softly, torn apart. Had Naruto's eyes been open, he would have observed a greedy gleam battling with self loathing and guilt over dominance on the other's face. But his eyes remained shut. And so he was blissfully unaware how only the sudden arrival of Shikamaru and Neji at the valley of the end interrupted the Uchiha's inner struggle and chased him away. Saving him. Or actually both of them, one could argue.

Once they had been best friends, brothers even, now they were separated by a road of hardships. They would not meet again for a long time to come.