The Darkness in the Light

Chapter 1:

Anniversary

I don't own Naruto

The wind blew across Konoha, it was calm and peaceful, and carried the smell of rain. Soon the calmness would turn to a storm. On top of the Hokage Faces sat a young man. He sat on the head of the Yondaime…the one who had made him what he was.

Everything seemed so peaceful from this view…so perfect…as if the past few years had never happened…as if Team 7 still existed…and everyone was still happy. Naruto looked out across his home…the place that had shunned him…and in some cases still did. Although this place had caused him so much pain…it was his home.

Even as he looked across the peaceful village, he could not feel peaceful…as long as his promise was left broken…he could never be at peace. He put his hand on the cool stone beneath him and murmured. "What would you do…? What would you do if you were me?" he asked quietly. He didn't expect an answer…the Yondaime was dead…and was nothing like him.

The Yondaime was a prodigy, a hero…while he was exactly the opposite…a monster…a demon. He sighed, and his brilliant cerulean eyes closed. Along with them…closed a window to his emotions.

Suddenly his eyes flew open as he sensed a dark presence, it was familiar…the darkness…but the presence itself confused him. His eyes darted over the faces…nothing. Maybe he was being paranoid…maybe he was finally losing it…if he ever had 'it'.

Soft raindrops began to fall, causing a rhythm that could be soothing…if he was in a better mood. Naruto sighed and stood up, unaware that a pair of eyes were still following him.

He walked through the town, unwilling to go home to an empty house. He wandered through town, ignoring stares. As he patrolled the town, the rain got heavier. He was soon soaked, and his hair was stuck onto his head.

He didn't care that he was getting soaked…he didn't care about anything right now. He sighed as he came to a fence and he leaned against it, his face angled toward the sky.

"Naruto!" came a surprised voice. "What are y…oh…are you ok?"

Naruto turned his soaked hair to see the person he least wanted to see. He didn't want to be reminded of his promise. Sakura was staring at him worried, her pink hair hidden by a hood. Her ocean-colored eyes stared up at him, they were filled with worry. "I could ask you the same thing…" was all he said.

Sakura looked at the ground. "I well…I was going…" she paused. "It's the anniversary…"

"What anniversary?" he asked confused.

She looked surprised. "I thought you of all people…Naruto…it's October 10th…it's your birthday…"

"Oh…" he said simply. Maybe that was why he was feeling so depressed...maybe that's why...he let his thoughts trail off. It got dead quiet, it was awkward, the two of them, standing alone in the rain. Finally Naruto sighed and asked. "So what were you doing out here?"

"Looking for you..." said Sakura quietly. "I was worried...that..."

He sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry about me..."

Then he started walking toward his house, ignoring the unually hostile glares that followed him. Sakura stared after him, before running to catch up. "Stalking me?" he asked, grinning impishly. She ignored him and together they walked in silence.

They had almost reached his house when a young kid darted in front of them sending mud and dirty water everywhere. He turned and ran strait into Naruto. The boy landed in the mud. He paused, looking confused before bursting into tears. Naruto mumbled something about watching where he was going and helped him up. "You ok?" he asked.

The boy nodded when suddenly a woman was pulling the boy away, scolding him. "Stay away from that...he's dangerous...a beast!" she hissed.

Naruto stared after her, his expression a mixture of angry and loneliness. Then he shook his head and kept walking. Sakura walked slowly after him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine just fine..." he said, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. He knew that tomorrow that mother would tell everyone the monster attacked her son.

Sakura stopped, and he realized how harsh his voice sounded. His gaze softened and so did his tone as he spun to face her. "I'm sorry...but she is right...and that's what makes me angry..." A thought had kept reappearing in his mind...ever since the day he had hurt her...and now it was back.

She blinked at him. "No she's not...you're not dangerous...or a beast."

"But I am...can't you see that?" he asked quietly.

"No," said Sakura firmly. "No I can't."

"I'm a danger to everyone around me...even when I am in control...every second...the danger grows..." he said. "Each second decreases the time before Akatsuki comes for me...and I don't want to be in Konoha when that time runs out."

"Naruto...what are you saying?" asked Sakura, her voice full of worry.

He paused, already knowing his answer...he was about to turn that thought into a reality...no matter how much it hurt him to do it. "I'm leaving..."

"Wh...what?" she asked shocked, unwilling to believe.

"I'm leaving Konoha..."

"No...you're joking...you can't!" she said, still not believing.

"I'm dead serious Sakura...I don't want to put Konoha in danger...and the only way I can protect it...is to leave...to get far away..." he said, his voice serious. He didn't have his usual smiled, his features were unusually serious.

"But...wh...what about me? What about us?"

"I plan on looking for Sasuke," he said, as if that answered her question.

"I didn't mean that...I meant us!"

"There has never been an us Sakura..." said Naruto, his voice and bit gentler.

"That's not true...I...I love you Naruto..."

"You loved Sasuke too..."

A strange wordless moment passed between them, it was not silent, because the winds were beginning to pick up speed. Sakura's hood blew off, revealing glistening tears on her checks.

"Sasuke's different...with him...all I could ever picture was me and him...alone...but with you...I...I can picture something more...I can picture having a family with you..." said Sakura desperately, ending the moment.

Naruto's cerulean eyes were now the color of a storm. "Would you really like a creature like me having a family with you? What would...who knows what the kids would be like...or the danger they'd be in..." he said, his voice now heavy with sadness.

"Naruto...I don't care...you're not a monster...you are human...I would love any child of mine...no matter what it was like...and the danger..." She stepped forward. "We will destroy Akatsuki...together!"

Naruto shook his head. "I have to leave..."

"Then take me with you!" said Sakura. "Don't leave me alone...don't break my heart Naruto..."

"You were fine when Sasuke left..."

"The pain I would feel if you left would be so much more than that...I'd rather die than be away from you!"

"You'll die if you come with me!"

"If you don't take me..."

She was cut off, Naruto was less than an inch away from her. "Sakura...I love you more than you'll ever know...I wish things didn't have to be this way..."

"Then don't make them that way..." she pleaded.

"I don't have a choice..." whispered Naruto. Suddenly his arms were around her waste and his lips gently met hers. Instinctively, her arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer. The gentle kiss began to turn desperate, as if he was trying to make up for lost time...and the time that would still be lost.

They broke apart, but he kept his arms around her. "Please...don't go Naruto..." she whispered, barely loud enough for him to hear.

"I have too...and...I promise...I will not break this promise...I will never hurt you like he did...I will come back..." he whispered, her voice in her ear.

Then...he was gone. Sakura blinked, new tears forming. "Naruto...you better come back...you have to...if you don't...I'm not sure my heart could take it..."

Well that's it for chapter one...please review...I like constructive criticism...so please review.

I know it's a bit rushed...but I've been pressured by a friend to get this done fast...I wish I had more time to add details...it's not as romantic as I wanted it to be...but...it will get better...next chapter