A Reverse

Author: Ashrey

Pairings: SasuNaru? ItaNaru?

Rating: M for safety Chapter Rating: T

Warnings: This fic contains a lot of spoilers from the manga (especially the battle at Valley of The End), shonen-ai/yaoi hints (maybe actions too), Blood, death and angst scenes, AWFUL grammar (sorry, but English isn't my mother language), language & cursing.

Disclaimer: Naruto weren't mine. But he-himself, his personality, and his spirit had inspired me A LOT.

A/N: When I'm in the middle of working at chapter 6 for Different Angle, I re-read Naruto's manga scans. The chapter that I re-read was the battle between Naruto and Sasuke at Valley of The End. At my first time reading this chapter, the only thing that crossed my mind was 'Damn! Great battle scenes!', but after I re-read this chapter again, I cried. Literally.

I cried for Naruto, for his feelings toward Sasuke. Being betrayed by a friend, a best friend nevertheless, was hurt. And trust me, I knew that feeling.

But the difference between Naruto and me are, Naruto try his best to make Sasuke back, but me, when my friend cut every bond that I had with her, I never tried to make her back, 'coz it hurt to damn much.

So, forgive me if I say that Sasuke is really really stupid, and I loathed his stupid-ness (no, I don't hate Sasuke, only his stupid-ness) with all I might, 'coz me, myself, was a stupid person. And that is how this fic were created.

This fic is dedicated for Naruto, for become my motivator, role model, spirit, and everything that he taught to me. With my admiration and love for him, I present this fic for you guys.

Chapter term(s):

Dobe: Dead-last.

-sama : terms that used to called a respected person

"blond: (man) having fair hair."

"blonde: (woman who is) blond."

"brunette: a person having brown or black hair and usually a relatively dark complexion"

XxXxXxX – scene change

Blah blah -- thinking

Ps: A lot of thank you for Kishimoto Masashi-sensei for making Naruto, the way he is.

A lot of this fic's dialogues and scenes were directly taken from the manga.

--------------

A Reverse – My Dear Friend….

"…It's not meaningless…. To me, you have….. Become a close friend…." Sasuke's words keeps echoing at Naruto's head, again and again. But it hurts, it really hurts, because just after hearing that, a Chidori was aimed to him. And Naruto want to know, want to know what are the meanings of Sasuke's words. So he formed a Rasengan, only to make sure.

Make sure that all of this is only a dream, a really bad dream.

And with that, Rasengan clashed with Chidori.

XxXxXxX

Naruto were never felt any water colder than this. He was drowning, drowning, until the water pressures forced him back to the surface. No, it was not the water that felt so cold. It was Sasuke's heart who felt so cold.

The blue eyed blond glance a dull look to the other boy, who was still calculating calmly.

Calculating the most efficient way to kill him.

Seriously… Can you…

A water droplet drop.

Can you kill me calmly, Sasuke…..?

Warm tears emerged from the once happy summer sky blue eyes.

"Do you know, Naruto…." A familiar, yet unfamiliar voice spoke. "That if both of you and your opponent are first-class ninjas, you can only read inside each other's minds when your fists meet. There is no need for words." The boy smirked. "You're naïve, aren't you, Naruto?"

The mentioned boy tore his gaze from the smirking boy, questioning silently to the water instead.

"How…?" A familiar hand seals formed in those pair pale hand. "Can you read the true mind? MY MIND!" Rapid fire balls followed after those words. A Katon. The blond jumped, dodging the fire balls, but a kick landed successfully on his face, throwing him back to the lake.

XxXxXxX

….Sasuke….

I always knew you were a loner…..

I… In the beginning, I was relieved, because I thought you were the same as me….

Besides, I was glad.

In fact, I wanted to talk to you straight away…

But….

You didn't speak….

You could do everything...

Also, you always had everyone…

Another attack was aimed at him, the blond tried to hold it back.

Because we were too different….

Regrettably, I decided that you would be my rival…

I didn't want to lose… Because I was called a loser, I thought that all the time.

Even when we become Team 7, I thought the same…

Stubbornly, I continued to lied, but……

A punch landed on the blond's face.

I always wanted to be like you.

I aspired to be like you…

Because of that….

That time….

I was truly glad…

You acknowledged me.

Since those were the first words….

….But, our fists didn't have to meet for me to understand.

From that moment we haven't spoken.

We…

How are we friends?

'It's not meaningless…. To me, you have… Become a close friend'

But… If you seriously want to kill me…

Even if those words from before were serious…

I don't understand…

The brunette gripped the blond jacket's collar, and hoisted him trough the air.

Maybe I thought I was your only willing friend…

"If….." the blond chocked out.

"It's too late now! Naruto!" the brunette screamed.

And impaled a full power Chidori trough the blond's chest.

XxXxXxX

Kakashi increased his speed, feeling a surge of chakra blown up. He got a really bad feeling, and the rain drops fall. "Rain…! Have you lost their scent! " He asked at his summon dog, Pakkun.

"It's alright! I still have it… They're here!" The nin-dog told his master.

When they arrived in Valley of The End, Kakashi scanned the area. Fierce battle traces were still obvious to be seen. "Am I too late…?" The silver haired man words were swollen by the heavy rain.

He stepped forward. Approaching an unconscious figure.

"Naruto… Why… like this…" Kakashi grimaced in pain seeing the scene in front of him. One of his students lying in the rain, soaked with blood. Pakkun sniffed the headband that was lying beside the unconscious boy.

"Sasuke's" the dog muttered solemnly. Kakashi tore his gaze from the young boy. A pained expression was clearly shown in his face, and then he took the headband. He lifted the boy in bridal style, after putting the headband in the boy's chest.

"If I wasn't in time… I'm sorry…." The silver haired Jounin glanced again at the boy's face.

"Naruto…. Was your fate was… Inevitably death…?"

XxXxXxX

After Kakashi took off with the boy from Valley of The End, a man emerged from the earth of the Valley of the End. Since the beginning of the battle of the Kyuubi's holder and the younger Uchiha started, that man already had been there. Watching. Using his camouflage skill.

"Haha that was interesting is it?" A voice spoke.

"Yes." Another voice answered, revealing a man in red clouds cloak.

XxXxXxX

A pink haired girl standing in the middle of the bridge, staring blankly at the river beneath her. Her mind was not there. She was thinking about a certain brunette and blond boy.

Her teammates.

"Sakura!" A familiar voice called her, the voice of Yamanaka Ino, her best friend. "Looks like everyone is back! I heard that they're all in hospital!" Ino shouted, a delighted tone was shown from her voice.

The pink haired girl beamed, running as fast as she could toward the hospital, Ino at her back, smiling softly.

In a few minutes, both of them reached the hospital, and asked their friends rooms at the front desk. "I'm going to see Chouji first! And you?" The platinum blond girl asks her pink haired friend. "I'm going to see Naruto… and Sasuke-kun." She answered, although she was delighted, she still worried about her teammate's conditions.

Ino nodded, and they parted ways.

XxXxXxX

"So… You're awake already." A lazy, familiar voice called the room occupant.

"Shikamaru." The conscious boy acknowledged his comrade. Shikamaru sighed, and walk slowly to the bed. "Everyone is fine, don't worry." The shadow user say, informing the other boy.

"I see…" He murmured. Shikamaru glanced towards the boy.

The lazy nin frowned, seeing the other boy conditions. "I heard about him…." He managed to say in firm voice.

"…..Yeah…."

XxXxXxX

Sakura walked as fast as she can, after a few more steps she will arrived at Naruto and Sasuke's room.

Few more steps.

She speeds up her steps, almost running. And when she wanted to opened the door in front of her, two familiar voices were talking in the room.

The pink haired Kunoichi halted her steps.

"….Yeah…. Naruto had died in my hand." Sasuke's voice echoed through the door.

And with that Sakura's body slumped down to the floor, crying.

XxXxXxX

Sasuke sighed while trying to finish his breakfast.

Onigiris.

He always loved Onigiris.

The raven stood from his chair, and grimaced. He was not feeling really well when woke up this morning. All his body ached. And he didn't know why. He stretched his arms, yawning slightly. He didn't get enough sleep recently, apparently being a Jounin had its downside indeed.

He almost understands Kakashi's lateness behavior. Almost.

He put the dishes toward the sink, he will wash it later. The brunette walked to his room, want to check the calendar. There is something about this day, which keeps nagging him. The floor creaking softly, following his steps. His room was still the same, since he had planed to leave Konoha. The raven picked his table calendar, skimmed trough the date and days. What day was today? Oh yeah, Tuesday. His finger stopped at the mentioned day. The date was clearly written in the calendar.

10th October.

Naruto's birthday and the Kyuubi's death festival.

Slowly, the raven slumped to the floor, his knees on his chest.

How many years it has been?

Since he had killed Naruto and obtained Mangekyou Sharingan?

Two? Three? Actually, Sasuke himself don't remember. The days without the loudmouth idiot were a pure Hell for him.

Or is it Heaven? He did hate that idiot, dumb-ass blond.

Did he? If he did, why the memories with that blond keep haunting Sasuke everyday?

Not to mention that dobe's last words, before…..

Before he impaled his full formed Chidori straight to the blond's heart.

'If…..'

'……My death can prevent you from going to Orochimaru, then please…. Please take it.' Naruto had said that, just before his Chidori rammed to his teammate's chest. And Naruto was…

He was smiling…… A sad, lonely smile.

'Because, Sasuke… That… That was friends are for, wasn't it….?' Before he choked an amount of blood to Sasuke's chest. And Sasuke watched with his own eyes the way Naruto's eyes closed slowly, the way of his face color's was drained up, his breath become short and slow, before it stop for once and all.

Sasuke chuckled at the memories. In minutes, his chuckles become laughter. He was laughing loudly, while streams of tears falling down on both of his cheeks. He knew that he did not hate the other boy.

He cared for him.

No, he did not care.

He loved him.

He loved Naruto.

And he realized that after bathing his body with the blond's blood.

Sasuke didn't care when the council decided his punishment for killing fellow Shinobi, although they were grateful to Sasuke for rid the Kyuubi forever.

Even when some villagers said their thank you to Sasuke for killing the Kyuubi boy. Sasuke didn't give a damn.

Sasuke also never cared when Kiba almost strangled him to death, when knowing that Naruto had died.

He did never care of the blatant disappointments that Kakashi, Neji, Shikamaru or the other Shinobis had showed towards him.

He did not cared either, when, Tsunade herself, almost lost control and tried to kill him, if not because of Jiraiya, who tried to calming her, and told her that's not what Naruto had wished for. Even if it's obvious that, the white haired Sannin want to have some piece of Sasuke himself.

Or, when Sakura and Iruka, decided not want to know anything ever about Sasuke.

Because, Sasuke really never cared about anything else.

XxXxXxX

"Here we are, in memories of our fellow Shinobi, Brother, Friend, Teammate, and Student, named Uzumaki Naruto." Tsunade hiccup her words, and gazing a picture of a certain blue eyed blond. Jiraiya standing beside her, soothing her. "Who was never reached an age of manhood." Her tears and Sakura's fell at last.

The other occupant in the small apartment was silent. Rewinding their own memories about the mentioned Shinobi. Everyone in Konoha that knew about Naruto was there, all Rookie Nine and their teachers, Gai's team, Kakashi, Iruka, both Sannins, Konohamaru and his friends, and a few other fellow Shinobis and villagers.

But, no stoic raven haired boy was seen.

Like the other occupant will allowed him to come.

"Happy Birthday, Naruto…." Sakura's soft whisper were heard.

XxXxXxX

A slender man with raven hair crouch down, brushing his finger in the memorial monument.

His name was not even engraved here.

Because he was the Kyuubi's holder.

Because he was died in the hand of Konoha's prodigy. His supposed to be best friend.

"Naruto….." The brunette whispered softly. "Why did you…" He paused. "I'm… just… a foolish man…" Sasuke held his breath, knowing how really true his words are.

"Yes indeed, you are foolish, little brother." A voice that Sasuke recognized was heard. The young brunette spins his head. Gawking at the person's presence.

There, a few meters from him, Itachi stood with all his might and glory. Sasuke growled. How could he doesn't detect Itachi's chakra or presence? Itachi stepped forward. Making Sasuke positioned himself in defense posture. "So, you had already obtained Mangekyou Sharingan, little brother?" Sasuke's body stiffened at that. Itachi's lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"I must admit it, you had made my work easier than before, little brother." Itachi paused, seeing his little brother's reaction. It's obvious that he was confused. "Thanks to you, I've got what I've been pursuing all this time." Itachi let out another smirk, accompanying his haughty look.

Sasuke snarled at his brother. He doesn't understand a single thing that he was babbling about. What the hell he'd been pursuing al this time anyway?

"I guess, it's time for you to meet him. It's already a few years anyway. Two? Three?" Itachi asked to nobody, and making a certain gesture slowly with his hand.

Not to long after making the gesture, a massive purple clouds gather around beside the older Uchiha, forming a certain figure.

"It's been, three years, ten months, one week and four days, Itachi-sama." The figure spoke slowly behind the thinning clouds. "Isn't it, Sasuke?" The voice asked, Sasuke stiffened again, and Itachi smirked.

In seconds, the clouds were gone, and were replaced by a lean figure.

A figure with blond sunkissed hair, and azure eyes.

A figure that was haunting him all this time.

"Long time no see, Uchiha-san." The figure greets him with familiar voice, too familiar even.

The voice that he missed all this time.

"Naruto….."

-------------- To Be Continued -------------

A/N: Okay, a long and desperate chapter indeed. I cried so many times when quoting Naruto's feelings and thoughts at the beginning of this chapter. I realized how much he cared about Sasuke. And, it makes me fallen in love again, and again with the warm hearted blue eyed blond.

FYI, I dunno when I'll update this fic, coz I'm still concentrating at my other fic, Different Angle. I made this fic to pour the urge of my sudden angst mood, when reading Valley of The End scenes (Dun wanna put too much angst in Different Angle, that's why). So yeah, the update on this fic will be slow, I'll admit that. Not just because my other fic, but this fic is an angst fic (my greatest weakness category), and I never write an angst fic before. So this is my first attempt to make it.

Hope that you liked it. Reviews, comments, and critics are always welcomed.

Much love and thank you,

Ashrey. –Who still in the middle of crying for Naruto-