The lights are dim
and now I'm alone I'm looking out
I'm looking in, way down
the lights are dim

From "Into the Fire" by Thirteen Senses

There are some things I will never understand, things that I see every day and will likely see for the rest of my life. A boundary that is impossible for me to cross has been crossed by another, and others have made a firm decision that I cannot follow, even though I swore I would. I've been an idiot, a person who has not held up to the esteem to which I've been held.

And to think I've always scolded Naruto for acting before planning.

I'm not blind to what has been going on around me. I can see the power Naruto put into his words as he told Sasuke his resolve, even as Sasuke rejected it. I can see the way he chases after him, so desperate and yet also confused. I see a will in him unlike anything I've ever seen, a determination to bring back one of his most precious friends, a fire worthy of a Konoha ninja. I realize that I am falling behind, and at times it seems impossible to catch up, but I hope. Oh, how I hope.

Over three years ago our teammate, Uchiha Sasuke, betrayed us to gain enough power to avenge his clan. However, the more he tried to gain his revenge the more he delved into his family's dark secrets. None of us know the full of it, maybe not even Naruto, but in a gathering of the other shinobi our age, I had decided to go along with a plan to kill our old friend.

But in the end, I didn't. I couldn't even tell a simple truth…I couldn't rely on them.

I'd thought that Sasuke would be like when we younger, cold at times, yet kind, ever-troubled, but someone who would do anything to protect those dear to him. It came as a shock to see him so twisted, so cruel. How could he have so little heart as to cut through his comrade's body just for his own satisfaction of a battle won? The girl was just as shocked as I, the poor thing, and then he had the nerve to ask me to finish her off.

I pretended to do what he asked, pulling out a kunai dipped in poison lethal enough to take down ten full grown men. His sight was failing, and I quickly tried to stab him between his shoulder blades.

But I couldn't finish him. I kept remembering how things used to be, him smiling and everyone just trying to succeed as shinobi, and Sasuke took that hesitation as a weakness and tried to kill me.

His attack never connected.

Naruto, his presence like a soft, cool breeze, contrasting completely against the blaze of hate and anger that Sasuke exerted had, at the last minute, carried me away from the threat. He'd saved my life.

Yet, now he didn't even look at me.

All his attention was focused at the man that stood before him, his comrade, friend, brother, teammate…

…the person he trusted and depended on more than anything in the world.

The pain in his eyes was obvious, and justified considering everything he'd gone through for this moment. Was he realizing that our hope of him ever coming home was useless in the end?

He drew a breath, calming himself.

"Sasuke."

In that one word, it was as if all of his apprehension had disappeared. All that was left in his face was warmth.

"…Naruto."

Hello everyone!

This is a fanfic I'll be working on while I try to work out some kinks (and find the latest handwritten chapters) of Breakthrough. CnC is much appreciated- but please, no flaming, bashing, ect.

Ideas for new chapters are much appreciated as well ;D! This chapter is just a recap of what has been happening lately and where I'm starting from~ Yes, I will put what seems like Naruto's almost-confession in there *rolls eyes*.

I am a Sakura fan, as well as a fan of both NaruSaku and SasuNaru, and in more of a crackish way, SasuSaku. The story will have teases of all three (just like the manga, mind you) but mostly in a one-sided manner. Sorry if Sasuke comes off as a jerk, but as I am not a big fan of his character, though I don't think that matters at this point

This story is going to derive from the man plot, as well as add scenes from the past that were not there before. However, I hope I can do so in an admirable way and I would be very open to any help. It will focus in on relationships –but not in the way you may think. Sai will not have a big part- but Kakashi will.

Yes, I have horrible grammer. Yes, you may shoot me.

-Thy