A very short little onshot. It's just my opinion of a realistic glimpse into what the life of a ninja could be like.
No flames. Pretty light SasuNaru; perhaps NejiTen if you want to see it. I don't own anything.
When they were young, it was dreams of glory that pushed them on, a determination in each new generation of students gloriously defend their home. They learned; they trained; and on the day they received their headbands, ninja of Konoha made a vow to always answer the call of their leaders.
Even when it meant letting their fragile lives be torn apart.
First, they had called for a kunoichi. The four teams stood, as promised, the men silent pillars of strength behind the woman whom they were useless to protect.
Team Gai drew the short stick.
Lee flat out cried. Gai could only stare in heartbroken shock. And Neji, Neji froze. He said nothing, looked at no one. Even when the council called his dearest friend into the other room, even when he knew he would never see her again, Neji remained stoic.
No one on team Gai ever smiled the same again.
Life had to move forward. Missions went on as normal. Ninjas trained, and they eve began to forget the looming threat waiting to snatch them up one by one. Only team Gai, minus one, dwelled on their loss; the rest did their best to pretend it never happened. To pretend they never knew her.
But then the summoning came. All four teams once again waiting to uphold the oath they swore. This time they wanted a male, someone strong and fast, someone who could survive until the end.
Sasuke knew, deep in his gut, that they would call his name. It seemed so obvious that he was the best candidate. Team seven had the strongest success record. They were invincible, he was invincible. They would choose him.
"Naruto Uzumaki."
The other three teams immediately let out a breath, guilty with pleasure at knowing that their little family was safe. Team 7 was left alone, gasping as reality hit.
Naruto had been called. Just like Tenten, he would have to go into the other room. They would give him the mission. And he'd never come home.
Suddenly, Sasuke understood why Neji didn't look, why he couldn't spend those last moments memorizing the feature of the person who had set him free.
It hurt. It hurt so damn much.
But Naruto wasn't as kind as Tenten; he wasn't as gentle. The blonde wouldn't allow Sasuke to ignore him. Naruto grabbed his pale face and pulled it to stare directly at his own.
"Don't end this before it's over," he breathed. "I love you, bastard."
There was no final embrace, no farewell kiss. Naruto turned, followed the elders into the room, and left Sasuke alone. Even with the other ninja standing there, with Sakura and Kakashi by his side, Sasuke was empty.
The sun had set. Naruto was gone. That's the part they don't teach them in the academy; that's a suicide missions.