There are so many of these describing how Naruto feels, but we forget that Sasuke is part of this too. I think his side should matter, even if I personally don't like him.

It hurts to think sometimes, here in this hell. Every now and then I just lie on my bed, not because I'm tired –no, I'm never tired here- but because it just hurts. I don't bother to talk about it, because there's no one here that's going to listen. Or care, really.

I remember you, you little twit. Always trying to beat me. Jealous that every girl was fawning over me, even when you couldn't tell that Hinata wanted you. You were so clueless it made me sick to look at you.

I was outraged when you were stuck on my team. I knew you would hold me back; that you'd stop me from my full potential. Until I saw your potential. It made me strive to stay better than you. I was more powerful than you, more controlled, but you still surpassed me without trying. I don't even see how that makes sense, but it made me angry every time I thought about it.

I gave up trying to hate you. In the end I decided it was easier to just be your friend. It was a rocky friendship, but as much as I hate to say it, I loved you. Damn… It hurts to say it, too.

When I thought I was going to die, my last thought was that I hoped you'd be okay. That you and, even grudgingly, Sakura would be okay. I wanted you to get stronger, so that even if I couldn't, you could fulfill your dreams.

But then Orochimaru came to me with a promise of power. A promise so… tempting… I couldn't refuse it. I didn't refuse it. I tried, but in the end, I took that chance, no, opportunity for greatness and revenge. I'd be better than you, you twerp. Finally, I would murder Itachi and beat you.

But it stills hurts. It still doesn't stop the pain.

I thought you were dead on that cliff. I thought that the last thing I wanted to do was touch you, kiss you even. So close…so cold…I don't care. I tried not to care. I wanted to not care.

But I do.

I do care.

I will kill Itachi. I will kill Orochimaru. And I will beat you. Beat you like the worthless twerp you are. And then the pain will stop.

Then it will all go away, and I won't care anymore. Then I can die fulfilled. I can die happy. For once, I can be happy.

With or without you, I will be happy…

Thanks to Peyton and the green slushie of inspiration. She should be happy. I'm taking my time to pay tribute to a green $1 school slushie that froze my brain into an idea. Oh, well, thanks hun, don't forget to bring money for another one. :]