Uzumaki Naruto hasn't fully realized his skills and potential, yet, he never quit on his rigorous training and is very determined about it.
"I will become the best of the best and make the people realize that I am a good person inside, so that they will come to appreciate my existence, especially Sakura." He told himself. He was panting and his face was covered in sweat after hours of creating ineffective replications of himself.
But his spirit wasn't discouraged. "Hmph. I guess I'm not that good in replications. But I will go back to that later. I should keep on practicing and move on. I will beat Sasuke! He thinks he's so good. We'll see about that."
Then he started to walk towards the nearest tree, and examined it before he ran towards it and tried his best to walk upwards without falling. This was pretty tricky, but he had gotten used to it by now because of constant training.
He kept going until he reached the top. And then he went down and started practicing his individual moves, molding his chakra and improving his techniques.
He kept going for hours on end and never stopped for rest.
Not far away, Uchihi Sasuke sat on the rooftop and breathed calmly.
He had left the team an hour after dinner for an evening stroll to breathe and relax.
He paced around the woods and looked up to the moon shining vividly. He breathed in the fresh air and felt relieved to be away from the people that he cared about.
The more he spent time with them, the more painful it was for him.
He had finally discovered that he had grown fond of his team mates and Kakashi sensei's company. He really cared about them despite his hostility.
In order to escape his pain, he had to isolate himself to avoid getting distracted. The time he spent alone was a time for him to think back on his past and the life he left behind. But for the past few days, he also thought of possible ways to avoid getting more intimate with any of his teammates, convincing himself that opening up would be a sign of weakness. He also knew that if he stayed any longer with them, he would find it more difficult to leave.
As of this moment, it would be easier to remain undetached and focus on his first priority: to search for his spiteful brother and avenge the death of the Uchiha clan
Flashback
He was staring at his reflection by the pond when he heard someone crying. His instincts told him to find the sourse as it was a sign of danger.
He thought carefully before he acted. Then he rushed towards the familiar voice, not turning back and worrying about nothing else. He followed it and only stopped for oxygen after he realized that it was leading him towards the place they stayed.
'All the more I should get worried. One of my teammates might need help.'
After listening hard enough, he realized that it was coming from Sakura's room.
'Sakura..'
He moved swiftly and hid himself below Haruno Sakura's window, his back against the wall. The windowpane was half open so he could overhear the conversation going on inside as Sakura continued to whimper.
"..I-I can't do it..anymo-more.. Please.Make it end."
The usually affable voice that Sasuke described as 'annoying' but had actually grown to love was nowhere to be heard. If it weren't for Sasuke's familiarity, he wouldn't have recognized that it was Sakura talking softly.
Hearing her quivering expression and her sorrowful plea made Sasuke uneasy, and somehow, it affected him in an uncertain way.
He felt his reflexes in motion; his feet was ready to jump inside the room, and then his hand took out a knife. He had to stop Sakura from crying and end her pain.
But another voice spoke up.
"Sakura, what is it?" Kakashi asked gently.
The calm soothing voice of Kakashi-sensei's convinced Sasuke to stay down, but he still held his guard.
He peeked inside without a sound and surveyed the room.
Sakura was sitting on the floor with her body leaning on the wall. Tears were running down her cheeks, and her eyes were full of despair that Sasuke felt his chest grow heavy.
Sitting beside her, trying to calm her down was Kakashi-sensei.
"..Ka-kakashi-sensei, will there still be hope, for me..? I feel so helpless a-and neglected.." her soft voice shook, along with her hands.
Kakashi fell silent and didn't reply.
'Sakura.. What's happening? Please, stop crying. It pains me to see you so miserable.' Sasuke thought.
"Will I never be, spe-special in his eyes? Will I only be Sakura, the smart and serious looking girl? nothing more? Because it simply drains the life out of me, just thinking about it."she forced a smile on her face as she looked in Kakashi's eyes, "But then again, who am I to him anyway?"
'Sigh..Sakura.. I know it hurts you so. But sometimes, we can't always have what we cherish the most..We have to hurt the people we love in order to protect them..' Sasuke felt his heart being torn to pieces as he tried to hold himself together.
"We can never escape love and it's inevitable emptiness. For even the bravest and the best warrior who has gained the world and attained immortality will feel lonesome and meaningless, without someone else to share his life with. At one point in his life, I know that Sasuke will regret why he took you for granted, and he will long for you." Kakashi replied.
"..Why do I care anyway?" Sakura chuckled half heartedly as she wiped her tears dry. "I'm used to pain. So what's the use? Why the tears? This is so embarrassing. I'm over reacting."
"You're not over reacting. That's the problem with people nowadays. They think that venting out their feelings and letting out the truth is over dramatic. Don't insult your own actions, because they come from your heart. If there is anything that has always been real, it's the emotions within each of us.. True, you may not feel the agony of pain if that's all that you've ever felt. But there is still hope, I assure you. You are still fortunate Sakura. People love you sincerely for who you are. So don't feel so down."
Sakura paused as the tears rolled on.
"You don't understand sensei. Sometimes, no matter how miserable my life becomes because of loving him, it doesn't matter to me anymore. Because, well, what's important is that someone loves him for being the cold, defensive Sasuke that he is. All his life, nobody really cared for him as a person, and it's tragic. But he needs love. And now I'm here. I don't really care if he'd love me back, or not. Because in a way, the pain keeps me going, gives me strength.."
"And makes you wiser. I know how you feel Sakura, more or less. Pain has taught me so much, that I can hardly express it in words. I know that it's painful and it may seem tedious at times, but you just have to keep the faith and continue loving him. Just give him time, and eventually, he'll open up..I really admire you for enduring all this at an early age. Cases like this are rare." Kakashi took out a handkershief and gave it to her, "But you know Sakura, sometimes, even people who are like ourselves need affection. You need to be loved too."
"Hm..I just want him to be happy, even if it means leaving him alone most of the time. His happiness matters more than my own. I'd do anything in my power to keep him happy, even if it means living a life full of lies.."
"Be careful though. Once you get used to pain, you may not be able to feel anymore.."
"It doesn't matter now Kakashi-sensei. I don't really care about myself these days."
"But I do Sakura." Kakashi slowly took off his mask and closes in on her, reaching for her face, "Because you matter to me."
Sakura gazed at him and got lost in his eyes. Then he moved closer and leaned towards her for a kiss.
Sakura's eyes grew in shock at first, but moments later, she gave in and closed her eyes as her florid lips met Kakashi's soft mouth.
Outside, Sasuke's inner being started to scream for words but to no avail. Sasuke had seen everything and pulled away as he hid himself again. His body trembled and his feet felt so weak, that he couldn't get up anymore. Right on the spot, he wanted to break down and cry. The scene gave quite an impact on him, and he never expected it.
He heard feet shuffling as Kakashi drew back and stood up. He helped Sakura stand and wiped away her tears with his hands. Sakura stopped crying and all that he heard of were only her sniffles.
"You're being too hard on yourself. Don't throw away your life for this Sakura. You might regret it.. If Sasuke won't love you, I will. I'll always be here for you." Kakashi said as he wore back his mask, "Get some rest. You'll need your energy for tomorrow's journey..The hanky's all yours by the way. Goodnight."
end of Flashback
"..Sakura.. If only you knew.." Sasuke whispered as all the supressed tears slowly cascaded down his cheek.
"Sasuke?" Naruto pushed him slightly by the shoulders, "What are-are you crying!"
Immediately Sasuke wiped his face with his hand and jumped up to face him.
"Naruto! Wha-what are you doing here?" he tried to sound cold, but he couldn't help his voice from shaking. Naruto didn't say anything and just stared at him. "Why are you up here? You--what are you smiling for?"
Naruto sat down on the roof besdie Sasuke and admired the trees dancing.
"I was training up on the trees until I saw you here. So I came down. At first, I thought I was just seeing things, so I got closer and saw that it was you." his eyes stared into space, and then he continued, "I thought I saw you crying but I wasn't sure. I kept telling myself that a guy like you would never cry. But then I saw myself in you and realized that maybe like me, you were only hiding from your past and the pain that you had to carry. It made sense. But, we handle it in different ways. I put out a smile, but you numb yourself. Why do you have to act so aloof towards the people you value the most? Don't you know that it makes the situation harder when you become so distant?"
Naruto's questions threw Sasuke off and blew him away. Naruto was right. Sasuke felt his eyes burn. He held them back and searched the place to make sure that no one else was there. He looked away to avoid Naruto's gaze and continued to stand.
Silence hovered around them.
As the mist began to thicken, Sasuke began to cry. His emotions took over and tears streamed down his pale face.
He couldn't hold the loneliness any longer. All those painful and miserable years that he had to act selfish to the people he actually cared about. And now, worst has come to worst.
Sasuke has finally fallen.
As his vision continued to blur, he felt Naruto stand as he placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. There was a warm aura around him.
'Naruto understands me. He's the only one who can help me now.'
