Warning: may contain some violence
Pairing: eventual Sas/nar
Rating: T
Disclaimer: tragically, I don't own Naruto and probably never will…oh well..but this fanfic is mine!(she says, gleefully!)
This is my first fanfic so please bear with me while you check it out! Reviews and comments welcome and if you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them. Everything will be considered. Enjoy!
Prologue
The sky blazed with fire; sunset had arrived in Konoha, casting it into golden light and shadow. A lone figure was walking down a quiet street, carrying something in his arms.
The men and women of Konoha stopped, stared, and murmured to each other as Kakashi trudged wearily down the street, exhaustion gripping every muscle. He looked down at the limp figure in his arms, with one arm draped across his chest and the other dangling uselessly. Regret and sorrow gripped Kakashi's heart as he looked at his student. How could he have been so blind? He should have known something like this would happen.
Sasuke and Naruto had reminded him acutely of how he and Obito had once been. Together, they competed for dominance over the other, always striving to prove themselves the stronger of the two. Naruto possessed the same never-ending energy and fire that Obito had had. He had the same thirst to prove himself, to prove his worth to the world. Naruto and Obito both strove for acknowledgement.
Kakashi had scorned Obito, thinking him worthless and weak like everyone else. He had been so naïve. That friendship/rivalry had ended in tragedy and disaster, much like this one just had.
Naruto was still limp in his arms, still slackly unconscious. His head had fallen back, and the golden glow of the setting sun washed upon his face, creating a halo out of that blonde hair. What would this mean? What would happen next?
Again, Kakashi berated himself for his blindness, his stupidity. He had focused on Sasuke, knowing the power he could possess, the man he could one day become. He had been talented, a genius ninja. In turn, Kakashi had not paid as much attention to Naruto, or Sakura, when they were the ones who had really needed his guidance. He had been blind to Sasuke's anger and his thirst for power. As a result, Sasuke was gone, tempted into betraying his village by promises of power.
Sighing, he shook his head. There was no use mourning the past. What was done was done. There was no way he could change what was past, no matter how much he wanted to.
Arriving in the foyer of Konoha's hospital, he turned Naruto over to the waiting nurses and Shizune and watched as he was rushed away into emergency care. Now he had difficult tasks to perform. He needed to report to the Fifth, and let her know about the loss of the last Uchiha. Then he needed to inform Sakura of the news concerning her teammates. He sighed again as he thought about the enormity of the job, and rubbed a hand through his hair. Neither prospect was pleasant.
Darkness. Only darkeness. All that could be heard was his own breathing, steady and even. Then he felt glowing warmth spread through his body, although he could not see its source. Nevertheless, he accepted it anyway, and sunk into the security of the warmth. Following his acceptance came an absent coolness. Detachment. Vaguely he recognized somebody sobbing quietly. Then nothing. Now came the voices he heard in his head, unrecognizable at first, then gradually they became clearer. Snippets of a familiar conversation, flashes of memories. Strangely, he felt none of the emotions that he knew should accompany such memories. It was as if he was another person, a spectator, watching from the sidelines as the battle unfolded.
You were my best friend…..
You're coming back, even if I have to drag you back…..
Dead last…..
We all risked our lives to save you….
SASUKE!
He opened his eyes. A bright, blurry light filled his vision. Blinking, he waited until his eyes focused. 'Where was he?'
He turned his head and looked out the window, seeing a tree, then the buildings of Konoha beyond. He was home. Which meant…he had failed. Where was Sasuke?
'He's gone….' A small voice whispered in his mind. 'He's gone to Orochimaru…'
He stared at the ceiling again, a heavy weight pressing down on his chest, almost cutting his breath in half.
He's gone…
Pain made his throat tight, and tears leaked out of his eyes. Angrily, he wiped them away. Crying did not change anything, nor would it make things better. Closing his eyes, Naruto felt he was almost drowning in emotions of overwhelming strength. Anger, disbelief, sadness and pain. It was only another wound to add to an already scarred heart. Only another scar to try and heal.
He's gone…….
His best friend, his rival, and the person he had secretly looked up to and respected. The person he had wanted to be like. His rival, his companion, his what? It did not matter anymore. That part of his life was over, to be kept only as painful memories.
The door slid open and he turned his head to see who had intruded on his silence. Shikamaru. The laziest ninja walked into the room and sat on a chair beside the bed. Shikamaru looked nothing like the person he normally was. Instead, Naruto saw a serious, yet slightly relieved chuunin.
The silence stretched between them for a few long moments. He was alive. What of the others?
"Naruto.." Shikamaru began.
"What?"
Naruto turned his gaze upwards once more, staring at the bare seiling and its sole light.
"I thought you might want to know that the others are all still alive. Injured, but alive."
Naruto nodded.
"That's good. Thank you."
"And Naruto? You did well. Don't be too hard on yourself." Shikamaru said over his shoulder before sliding the door closed behind him.
Naruto closed his eyes and swallowed around the lump in his throat. He'd failed. He had not been strong enough when it had really counted. He'd failed Sakura, he'd failed to keep his promise to her. He'd let down all his team mates. They had placed their trust in him and risked their lives delaying the enemy so he could complete the mission successfully.
Sitting up slowly and ignoring his screaming muscles, he stared numbly at the hands in his lap as he felt his emotions slowly becoming numb.
"I need you help….." he whispered.
"I thought you might." Replied the white haired frog hermit who was currently perched on his window sill.
