Asymptotic Perfection

by Mileharo Kerran

I've always been a fan of the Naruto-verse; in fact, it's pretty much all I read nowadays here at FFN. That's why I find it a bit daunting to write something in this fandom; I'm terribly nervous about doing it justice. Anyhow, I hope I've kept the characters... well, in character, and I'd love to hear what you think of it. Tell me which parts I should improve, too. Thank you for reading, hope you'll enjoy it. :)

BTW, I don't own Naruto.

Prologue: The End of the Dream

The sunlight filtered tepidly through the forest canopy and danced over the ground below as the afternoon winds blew through the leaves. In the middle of a small clearing, two groups of people stood facing each other. One group looked at the other with shock, and the other looked back warily. The air around them almost crackled with tension, and for more than a few moments, there was nothing but silence. And then…

"Sasuke…"

The name was whispered almost reverently, and the loud nature of the blond ninja was for the moment subdued as he faced his friend, his rival, his purpose. On each side of him, his three teammates could only look on, not making a sound save for the single gasp from the lone female in their group.

"He's… alive."

Slowly he walked towards the dark-haired man at the opposite end of the clearing. This figure had an arm draped weakly around a red-haired female, and was supported on the other side by a tall man who was also, even from this distance, noticeably shaky from exhaustion. A few meters from the trio, the blond stopped.

"Itachi…?" he asked.

"He's dead."

The statement echoed through Naruto's mind. Itachi was dead… and now Sasuke was here in front of him, obviously weakened but very muchalive. He did not know what to feel. He did not know what to think. Was this finally the end of their three-year ordeal?

He laughed weakly. "That's great, Sasuke. Now you can go home, right?"

"Home?" asked Sasuke, and there was a far-away look in his eyes. "You mean Konoha?"

"O- of course, I meant Konoha. You can… come with us now, if you want."

The dark-haired ninja laughed bitterly. "You must be joking. Come back to Konoha? And just what would I do there, eh?"

Sakura spoke up. "Come back to live, Sasuke. Come back and start anew. Re-establish the Uchihas... perhaps?" There was longing in her voice, as finally, the hope they had nurtured for so long seemed now a possible reality.

Through all this, the pale-skinned member of Naruto's group only stared and listened at the exchange, his mind filled with wonder at this evidence of the strength of the bonds which bound the old teammates. There was something Sai could not quite understand… Sasuke was their old friend, Naruto and Sakura always told him… but why was Naruto's voice shaking, and why were Sakura's eyes brimming with tears? They all seemed so… sad. But… weren't friends supposed to be happy together?

"Live… but I am dead already, don't you see? My task is done, and now… now I can finally rest and have my peace. I will not find it in Konoha, where everyone will only look at me and see my past… the family that I have lost. I will not be my family's living tombstone."

"Sasuke, you baka!" Naruto exploded. "The very fact that you are still alive means you still have a part in this world, don't you see?" His arms swung around wildly. "Konoha is where you began, and Konoha shall be where you will continue, can't you understand that? Sure, you lost your family, but do you think this is what they would have wanted for you? Surely… surely the point of going through all this is so you can go on… in the name of your family!"

Sasuke gave another small smile, which never quite reached his eyes. "Still the optimist, I see, eh, dobe?"

"Damn right, I am! I swore I'd bring you home, teme, and if it's the last thing I'll do, then so be it!" He moved forward and stretched his hand towards his old friend, with the intent of taking him from his companions. The girl with the glasses clutched Sasuke possessively and stepped back, even as the tall man on his other side stepped forward and blocked Naruto's approach.

"Really, Karin… Juugo… there's no need…" Sasuke grabbed Juugo's arm. "Naruto… go home. You've tried your best… but it really isn't up to you now, is it? If you intend to take me by force… I won't be able to stop you. I'm in no condition to fight now."

"Sasuke," Kakashi spoke up for the first time since they first set eyes on their old teammate. "Be reasonable. Where would you go now? What will you do? And you've said it yourself, you're in no condition to fight, and neither are you in any condition to do more travelling unaided –"

"Please, Sasuke," Naruto broke in. "Come home. You have to believe me, Konoha's so different now, you almost won't recognize it… Granny Tsunade… she'll understand, and she'll help you. Everybody's waiting for you –"

"Naruto." His voice was resigned, but determined. "I've said my piece. Now please, just leave us. We still have a long way to go, and so do you. You… you wanted to 'save' me, right? Well… I'm telling you, you've come as close to your goal as you'll ever be." He removed his arm from Karin's shoulder and stepped forward. "I thank you for that, Naruto. If anything… you were the only one, really, who believed in me. But our paths have crossed today for the last time, if I can help it. This is the end." He raised his hand weakly and placed it on Naruto's shoulder. "Goodbye… my friend."

He squeezed Naruto's shoulder, but in the next moment, the blond had his arms wrapped around him in a tight hug, his tears now flowing freely. Sakura could do nothing but sink to her knees and weep.

"Sasuke," said Naruto hoarsely, "I won't lose hope in you, man. Never. Even if you say otherwise, I'll always pray to the gods that they make you see sense, teme, enough to bring you home." He pulled himself apart from Sasuke, but held on to his upper arms. "Don't… don't wander too far away, alright?" There was a smile in his lips now, but it was bitter, very bitter, and he could taste the tears as they came.

Sasuke glanced over to where Sakura was, and slowly walked towards her. "Sakura…" The girl had both her fists over her eyes, and Sasuke bent down, cringing in discomfort, and took one of her hands. The kunoichi looked at him through watery eyes, her eyes full of the old love, the old despair. He brushed a lock of pink hair from her face, and wiped at the tears. "Sakura, promise me these are the last tears you'll shed for me." Sakura only sobbed louder. "Don't waste your love on someone who isn't worth it. I'm sure you'll find the person who will never make you feel as… as sad as I have." With a last caress of his thumb in her cheek, he straightened up, and walked away.

"Kakashi-sensei." He nodded his farewell to his old teacher, without slowing down. Upon reaching his group, the two other members once again took up their positions on either side of him, and the three walked out of the clearing. The four people remaining looked on as they slowly became nothing but pinpoints in the distance. And then…

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted as loud as he could, his voice ringing through the old forest and scaring the birds out of their perches. "We'll always wait for you, you hear me! Always!"

Always…