The feeling of humiliation as I grovel at the Raikage's feet is only surpassed by the pain.
I must not let Sasuke die.
We were seven, and I didn't know a lot about the world. I met Uchiha Sasuke for the first time, and he was already eight. "Swear! Swear it!" I could still hear their voices ringing in my mind and a feeling of unease and on e I couldn't identify. Unsure, I pledged my oath. "Do you promise to let nothing bad happen to Uchiha Sasuke?" Stumach clenching, I nod. "I swear."
Oh, how my heart burned when he was marked by Orochimaru. My head screamed as burning rods were inserted, my pain cooking;my heart was writhing as flaming ropes constricted it.
Even now I wince when I think about it.
I pant, but try to stay in control, not let them all see how I'm slowly breaking. I will not unravel before him, the Raikage. I must save Sasuke. The end of his life means the end of my reason, mind, soul.
I gasp and woke up sweating; I'm travelling with Jiraiya, growing stronger for I must become better. This nightmare plagues me: Sasuke dead; blood everywhere, throat cut, intestine bulging out. I can't let it effect me, but those words still travel through my mind: I swear.
Sakura begged me, "Please..just bring him back. Bring back Sasuke-kun!" Tears were running down her face, and I could feel my heart break to pieces. The next words would rip it out. "Promise." And then I cursed myself: "I'll bring back Sasuke, no matter what, Sakura-chan! That's a promise of a lifetime!" With that, I'm smiling on the outside while simultaneously shredding my heart and stomping it into the ground.
Raikage scoffs, seeing how pathetic I am. How pitiable I've become. Kakashi knows a lost cause when he sees one and tells me to get up.
But I don't, because I can't. Tears run down my face. Shame. That was what I'd felt when I was seven, and that's what I feel now. What I've felt for the past two years.
Because kitsune are bound to their word.
And I've failed to keep my promise.
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Words: 392
Just my thoughts on 457. After reading complaints on NF on how much a "wuss" Naruto's become, I subsequently defended him and had this plot bunny a day later.
Kitsune always keep their word.
So I spawned this. People were complaining how he's Sasuke's bitch (but that's how I love him. ;0) and then in 458 Sai call's it and tells Sakura she also causes him pain, that it's "like a curse". So what if he HAD to keep his word, like he'd be sick/ill if he didn't?
8/5/09
Edited 8/21/09: Just some spelling errors.