Did you know that this will be my 21st story posted on here currently. I did have several more GW ones and hopefully sometime soon I'll repost them. Anyway I just wanted to say something because I'm 21 and so is this story. :D
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If possible read this story out loud to yourself in a 1958 West Virginian accent. It sounds fabulous if I do say so myself…. ; )
Anticipation
ZzZ
The anticipation of death is far worse than death itself.
He didn't know when they would come for him, only that it would not be long before his time ran out. It wouldn't be long now at all. He'd already been in this cell for two weeks, a surprising amount of time for the council's deliberation. He wondered if they were holding off on their decision to see if he would break. But he knew that they would send down his execution orders long before he would give in.
The man had refused any and all visitors, save for the Hokage herself and that was only because the Godaime was above his refusal. Anyone else who tried got a quick, stiff rejection and within days of his incarceration, most had stopped trying. He couldn't say he was surprised; he hadn't given them much reason to hope. He didn't believe in giving others false hope. It was pointless and only caused him trouble in the end.
The end… Was this really going to be it for him? He'd traveled so far and come so close to actually accomplishing something. Yet here he was, in the lowest level of the Hokage Tower, a small window to the outside giving him bare glimpses of the freedom he had always craved. Was this how his story was meant to end?
In that moment, his life seemed truly unfair in a way he hadn't seen in almost ten years. After all the things he had managed to survive, would this really be the death of him? He wanted to curse his life then, curse everything that had made him the man he was. But without those things he would not have grown to be a man. It was fitting in that truly annoying way that made senile old women say that there was a reason for everything.
A thousand people were dead and it was for a reason. He would soon follow them and there was a good reason for that as well.
A metal gate clanked open off to the side that he couldn't see and already tensed shoulders stiffened at the coming footsteps.
"Who's there," he called gruffly, only faintly surprised at how unused his voice sounded.
"It's time, young man," her voice replied. "The council has come to its decision."
He nodded even though she probably couldn't see it and stood, leaning casually against the wall as though he wasn't living his last few moments on this earth.
He followed calmly as they led him back up the stairs from which they'd come. His eyes roamed the interior of the tower before squinting at the light that hit his eyes as soon as the door was opened.
He didn't know much about Konoha executions, having never had the pleasure of witnessing one, but he was vaguely pleased that his would take place in the warm sunshine. He thought that was only fitting.
No one spoke as he was led through the assembled citizens though their fear and anger was easy enough to see.
In the middle of a clearing he was pushed to his knees with his hands bound behind his back. He knew now what was to come. He waited patiently for the blow.
"I'm sorry," a voice whispered to his left and he turned his head in surprise.
"It's okay," he replied calmly.
"I'm sorry."
"It should be you…, Naruto." He tried to smile, tried to show the blond that there were no ill feelings between them anymore. Naruto lifted his sword and moved into a striking stance.
"I'm sorry," he began as the blade began its downward arc. It would be a swift, killing blow, meant to be efficient and merciful.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke."
ZzZ
This came to me while I was trying to research for This is Where I Came In and wouldn't leave me alone until it was finished. I'll get back to work now. XD