I Didn't Mean It:
Not That Way.
The sun was going down and the air grew chilly. Konoha got quieter and the children ran back home to their parents. Jounins started their watch over the Leaf; they walked the streets and kept an eye on the surroundings.
The usually deserted area of the village had a silent visitor. The dedicated planks with engraved tributes stood tall and proud. The solemn figure stood still in front of a specific Gray Boulder. The names engraved on the shiny surface were numerous. The man shifted his pose and leaned on the other leg. A tan hand was pulled out of a pocket and traced the names on the planks; it started from the first name. The index finger twitched in reluctance as the name he came to see was finally under his finger.
The man sighed loudly, his chest tightened; there was no use to avoid anymore. He clutched at his shirt as the pain increased. His palm flattened on the name, hid it form sight.
It wasn't supposed to end like that.
Not like that.
Tears landed onto the concrete under his feet. The quietness seeped into his body; the silent spoke volumes to his ears, to his soul. No one blamed him at all for what happened that day. Inwardly he knew that Konoha wanted it that way. They wanted everything to end, for the chase to stop. But Naruto never wished to be the one to end it in such a way- Even if it was an accident. Even if what really happened was the last thing he wanted to achieve.
What he planned and dreamt to be the final battle, the door to an unforgettable reunion and a lifetime of happiness, of sharing and healing, came down in broken pieces. When blood splattered and bonds were broken.
They fought in a final stand for unfulfilled promises and a desire for resistance.
One wanted out and one wanted the past to be relived again. To be stuck in a zone where all there was to see were happy childhood missions and sarcastic comments with hidden affection. But the darker side wanted distance and power. Power to hurt those that hurt him. To hurt the home that had turned against his family.
But Naruto wasn't going to allow that, because that home was his home too. And he was going to lead it in the future.
So they fought. They fought like they didn't want to see the sun of tomorrow, nor hear each other's hateful words or pleas of a rekindled friendship. So Naruto hit and hit, then blocked and hit again. Until he was the only one standing and his opponent was gone.
An empty vessel in its wake.
Just gone.
He did not mean to hit that hard but Kyuubi melted through his chakra and exploded his power to the peak.
For that, the chase was over. And Naruto stood at the boulder every night, to ask for forgiveness and ask for another chance. For it be in this life or the next one.
The hand slid down to reveal the name. His eyes shifted up quickly, too scared to look. The title of the Plank held the name of a legendary family. Long forgotten. To be kept in history books because there will be no new additions. The last member was dead for Naruto killed him.
Blue eyes shifted back to where his palm rested, vision shakily ascended. The last name on the plank, added just a few days ago on Naruto's request, looked simple. It was just two words.
Two words that were a person a couple of days ago.
Naruto closed his eyes.
And he could still see the words.
Uchiha Sasuke.
And he broke down with his knees on the concrete and his arms on the plank. Night was the only time he could spend with Sasuke anymore.
Because now, Sasuke was just a memory.