Yeah, so, here's a one-shot for you guys. SasuNaru/NaruSasu if you squint. Enjoy.

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He knew.

Of course he knew.

Despite what everyone said, Naruto was not a stupid kid. He had to work hard, but that was okay - he had three, seven, twenty times the stamina of probably anyone in Konoha.

He had to work hard because nobody would work with him. Although Naruto told himself in his heart that that was okay, too; he knew he was wrong. He knew it was strange to not walk home with friends from class. He knew it was strange that all the adults whispered terrible things as he passed by. He had to work hard because if he didn't, he wouldn't get the respect he wanted.

He found that as he got older, as he got wiser, as he got stronger; people started to like him more. Was it for his power, then? Did people like him because he wasn't the dropout he used to be? Or were they pretending? Did they act like they cared so he wouldn't bring out the monster inside of him? Somehow it wasn't that far-fetched.

And then, with a few small words and a wound; slowly the team ... no, Naruto's family fell apart.

He still tries to look back on it fondly now - that is, the picture sitting on his night stand. Three kids and one adult; loving, hating, tolerating each other because they were a team and that is what a team does. That day was a bright sunny summer day and they had no mission to take care of; as Kakashi so elegantly informed them three hours after he was supposed to be there. But as they all turned to go their seperate ways, their sensei stopped them.

"Don't you want to spend some time together as a team?"

Of course they did. But what would they do? It was too awkward of a situation for any of them. Naruto would only pay attention to Sakura, Sakura would only pay attention to Sasuke, and Sasuke would only pay attention to his own damn self. Naruto and Sasuke would likely get into a fight; maybe because of Sasuke's indifference, maybe because of Naruto's mischieviousness, maybe because neither of them could figure out how to talk to each other otherwise. The confused silence of the three genin was broken with a suggestion.

"Come on, you three. Let's take a picture."

And then the exam. The first crack in the glass. It was all his - Orochimaru's - fault, anyways. If he had never existed, never wanted the Sharingan, never persuaded Sasuke ... It wouldn't have to be like this. That damn curse mark, those black markings that spread across his body ... Naruto hated them. He wanted them to disappear forever. No matter how many times he caught a glimpse of that thing; no matter how many times he concentrated on making it just go away ... there it stayed. That goddamn mark.

And then they're at the Valley, the Valley of the End - how appropriately titled. The end of everything, that's what it was. He just didn't get it. He still doesn't. Why did he have to leave? There were so many strong shinobi in Konoha ... if killing Itachi was what he really wanted, that is. He had never seen Sasuke ... that way before; angry and absolute in his decision. "Like you could understand!" the words still ring in his head.

He knew, though.

He knew he'd be back.