"Na...ga...to." the name burns on his lips but he says it anyway, lying over a lifeless body. He can feel a presence behind him but he doesn't really feel like turning around right now. The Akatsuki leader (Pein.Nagato.Brother) is wheezing and staring at him, also ignoring whoever is standing behind Naruto. "I bet you think your brave. Mother thought she was brave when she left to your shit village." he is smiling. Dying and smiling. "little bastard, mistake." he's closing his eyes and gritting his teeth but his lips upturn in the oddest of ways. "you aren't brave, you didn't wish to stand and fight you were just too scared to run away. Coward." he spits at him. His breathing is shallow. His hand reaches up and pushes the young Uzumaki's face, leaving a bloody smeared handprint. "Brother" he whispers. "I will always be your deepest darkest memory." and he's gone. The sound of his hand splashes the puddle next to Narutos foot splashing cold dirty water on his burning hot ankles. The sun refuses to shine through the clouds its dark and its dreary and a reflection of everything he feels inside. "I couldn't" he wants to speak but the words are cracking in his throat. He is afraid to say what he feels, but he has to. If he doesn't then he would truly be a coward. "just like Gaara...like Sasuke...I couldn't save him." He wants to cry. He wants to hold someone and cry for hours and hours. The only one I can ever save is myself. The presence behind him is gone, and he's not so sure it was ever there in the first place. He's doesn't know anything beside the fact that he's breathing but thinking about it, he's not so sure of that either.
We don't remember days. We remember moments. Even if they hurt, they are memories and even the darkest memories I will always be. are worth remembrance.
"Why are you here?" Naruto asks blandly. Knowing damn well that he doesn't have to be. He hears a grunt in the distance and instantly can imagine the arrogant grin plastered across Sasuke's face. He knows he wont receive an answer, so he ignores the previous question and moves on. "Where is Sakura?" no answer. Naruto sees Sasuke from his peripheral vision and waits for a response. "She's alive. Just exhausted from earlier. Kakashi was fighting Madara, so she ended up sealing the fox all by herself." Naruto turns to look at his comrades face. "why are you here Sasuke. Why?" For the first time in his life Sasuke looks at Naruto. Really, really looks at him. "Because I think of you as a brother...and I'm more of a brother then he ever was."
Im more of a brother then you'll ever be!
"Your just going to leave again." Before Sasuke can answer he has a hand on his shoulder. "Sasuke. We don't walk the same path. Naruto grins disgustedly, and Sasuke has never seen such disdain on his face before. "perhaps there's a fork in the road and someday youâ–’'l stumble to the right side but for now..." Naruto doesn't look sad anymore. For once his features are at peace. "Maybe one day you can come home. For now it's better you stay in my memories."
"Naruto, I can never be a memory." so now he's crying. They're both crying. The team is crying. The gods are crying. Because all that's ever left is memories.
Sometimes he wishes they didn't have so many.