How to Save a Life

Disclaimer: I definitely do not own Naruto or any of the characters!

Me: Well, hello there! This is my very first Naruto fanfic and I really hope you all enjoy! I did not intend for this first chapter to be so angsty, but it just worked out that way. Haha, I typed what I felt like typing, and this is the polished result. XD

Warning: SasuNaru…and that's about it…for now…muahahaha, no but really, I promise to keep this fic fairly clean!

Chapter 1: Departure

"Goodbye Konoha."

At daybreak, Konoha truly was a beautiful site. There was one certain cliff that had a spectacular view of the entire town, and one boy stood at the very top, eyeing over everything as if it were the last time he would ever see it. Expressive blue eyes scanned the area once more, before the boy sighed and turned his back on the only home he had ever known. Blonde hair began to shine brighter and brighter as the sun slowly peeked over the mountains. The boy noticed his classic orange jumpsuit screaming brightness as well, and simply shrugged it off. Sure, it may have been a stupid idea to wear something so noticeable; but quite frankly, he was very attached to it. It reminded him of when things were well…of all the good times he spent with Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi on Team Seven. Sure, Sasuke and Naruto had never really gotten along too well, but there had definitely been a degree of understanding between them. It always made Naruto feel better just knowing that Sasuke was always going to be there; shining on missions and taking the time to talk to him, even if it was only to inform the blond of his idiocy.

It had been six months since Naruto's epic battle with Sasuke at the Valley of the End. Six agonizing months in which he had been forced to stay put in the stupid town when his heart was screaming for him to leave. He had been sure that Tsunade had sought to prevent the very thing that was happening right now. He was leaving Konoha, and going after Sasuke. He knew the stakes were high; he knew there was a chance he wouldn't return with his best friend, let alone his own life, but yet, he just had to try.

Tsunade's voice rang clearly in his head, "Don't be a fool! What if you go after him and it's a trap? What if Sasuke's only bait to bring you to Orochimaru? We've got to protect you…"

Naruto snorted. He knew damn well that when she said that she hadn't really meant him at all, but rather the powerful Nine-Tailed Fox that resided inside him. They wanted to protect the kyuubi. Not him. But it didn't bother him much; he was used to it by now.

"Story of my life," he muttered as he walked further into the woods that surrounded Konoha. He smirked when he thought of the uproar that was sure to happen in a few hours. It would be reported that he had gone missing, and the whole town would be on the lookout. Naruto was sure that Tsunade would send ninja after him. He didn't care. There was no way he would be returning this time without Sasuke. This time it was all or nothing. He had been weak the last time, he had given it his all and yet, he still failed. And he hadn't been the same since. His loud, cheerful, optimistic personality had been doused somewhat; reduced to one of pure determination and hatred. He hated Orochimaru for taking his best friend from him, he hated everyone for trying to "save" him, but most of all, he hated himself. He took the blame on himself for Sasuke leaving, believing that he didn't do enough to make him want to stay. Naruto silently cried himself to sleep every night since, contemplating what if's and always saying that maybe if he had just done that much more, maybe Sasuke would have stayed in Konoha, would have stayed with Sakura and Kakashi, would have stayed with him.

It was no lie. Naruto had fallen for Sasuke. He wasn't even really sure when his feelings for him had changed. He was positive that Sasuke had no idea. I mean, how could he? Even so, he couldn't help wondering, thinking that it was possible, that him and Sasuke had as much a chance as any other two people in love. But then again, he knew nothing of Sasuke's feelings. Naruto had received nothing but conflicting signals from his best friend. And especially now, after all that had happened at the valley…

Naruto gasped as he realized a lone tear sliding down his cheek, and hastily wiped it off. All he knew now, as he walked along the trees, was that if this was love, he had never felt anything like it, even when had been massively crushing on Sakura.

Sakura. Now there was an interesting subject. She had been in "love" with Sasuke for years, completely ignoring Naruto's futile attempts at a relationship with her. But like Naruto, Sakura too had changed when Sasuke left. She seemed to have given up hope. It almost seemed like she knew he was lost forever, and could never possibly return. So she started dating Lee. This pissed Naruto off to a great extent. Not Lee, as he was a perfectly nice guy and all, but that she had presumed Sasuke as dead. He hated her for it.

Hate, hate, hate. That's all he seemed to think about nowadays. And as ironic as it was, he hated hating. He missed his old self, his carefree, happy self, but he could not possibly be loud and eager when he knew his best friend was in the utmost danger. He had no idea where he was going to end up, he didn't even know where to start looking. But he had made the first step, he had stepped away from security, he was free.

"Mission Title:" he said to himself, "Saving Sasuke."

"Objective: Save his life and in turn...save my own." He smiled as he stated this over and over; it gave him a small shred of hope. He was going to bring Sasuke back, and in turn, he would save himself. Naruto saw his own salvation more as a returning to that which he once was, innocent and cheerful, with huge dreams of becoming Hokage.

"Hokage's kinda gonna have to wait," he said with a chuckle. He began to run, then leapt onto a branch of the nearest tree. He traveled through the trees, each moment putting more and more distance between him and his home, and less between him and love.