Lonely
It hurts when the silence invades. Poisoning his mind like a sickness that just won't go away. The clock ticks maddeningly in the quiet loneliness. Even his natural cheer fades in the solitude.
Thoughts creep up on him like the vines of a vicious plant. They twist in his mind and pull out regrets from the recesses of his memories. You should have tried harder. He'd still be here if you did. They claw at his mind, telling him that his dreams are hopeless if he can't save just one person. How do you expect to become Hokage if you can't bring your best friend back home?
He was able to fight the silence so many years ago when their rivalry was still strong. Loud shouts and challenges would fill the air and leave him looking forward to the next day, full of loud arguing and violent competition. He wants the silence to end so badly.
Sasuke needed to come home. He understood the silence, the pain that came with complete loneliness. They understood each other, a thought, a glance, a smirk, told so much. That was when the quiet was welcome. When you knew someone well enough to speak without words.
Naruto could stand the silence when Sasuke was there, but the loneliness killed him when he was gone.
A/N: Yeah, I don't even know. I was staring at the Road to Ninja oneshot and thinking about how lonely Naruto must be when this popped into my head. I might rewrite it later...