AN: I don't normally write WIP fic but I thought I would try exploring this story in a less rigid way and see where the muse takes me. I'll make sure to update the tags when appropriate. Just to be clear though, this fic will contain both slash and het relationships.

As far as canon goes anything in the anime or manga is fair game, although, since the end of the war hasn't been written yet I'm taking a few liberties to fit my plot.

Finally, I know that Akatsuki technically means "daybreak" but this fic is not referring to that. At least not directly. The title came from the Martin Luther King Jr. quote: "I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality..."

Prologue:

It was so quiet that Sasuke could hear water—or blood, it was probably blood—dripping somewhere across the battle field. Yet, despite the near silence, the air was charged with tension as every eye was focused on him, waiting to see what he'd do.

He stared into Naruto's patient eyes and idly wondered when the hyperactive boy he'd known had become a man who could stand so still. He shook his head slightly, already focusing what little remaining chakra he had into his hand. It wasn't much, not after the battle they'd had, but he still had enough for this.

Naruto nodded grimly, calling up a clone. He looked tired, the Nine Tales cloak long gone, but he was determined as always. "One last time then."

Sasuke activated his Chidori, the sound of a thousand birds screeching across the field as Naruto's clone helped him form the Rasengen. Once Naruto was ready, Sasuke ran forward hand outstretched to meet his former teammate.

As soon as their hands collided, everything fell away and they were once again standing in that mysterious star-filled void, that strange place where somehow they could actually understand each other. This was the third time that they'd done this and for the first time Sasuke was ready to listen.

"You have to do everything the hard way, don't you?" Naruto asked, but he didn't look mad, if anything he was looking at Sasuke fondly.

"Tch." Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest. "I might be a little stubborn."

Naruto laughed at that, loudly and completely undignified. It was a joyful laugh that rang out into the emptiness around them. No one else Sasuke knew laughed like that and he was disgusted to find that he had missed it. After a moment though, Naruto's face grew serious in a way that was nothing like the twelve-year-old that Sasuke had left behind.

"What are you going to do now?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke was surprised. He'd expected Naruto to declare that he would drag him back to Konoha or die trying like he had every other time. Sasuke had never been given a choice before, he'd never been asked.

"I don't know," Sasuke admitted. It was hard to say, but there was no lying here in this place and he really didn't know. His whole life had been about killing his brother and then about avenging him. He didn't have anything else to hold onto, not really. Hate alone hadn't been enough and arriving at the battle and seeing Naruto had made him realize how naïve his vague idea that he would become Hokage had been. It was clear that Naruto would be the next Hokage and strangely enough, he was okay with that.

"Thank you," Naruto said quietly and Sasuke realized that even though he hadn't said the words out loud, Naruto had heard them.

Sasuke grunted. He avoided meeting Naruto's eyes, instead watching a shooting star pass behind the other boy's ear.

Naruto smiled, hopefully. "Will you come back? Will you let me help you?"

Again Naruto was asking instead of demanding and for that reason alone Sasuke found himself nodding. Any other time he would bristle at the idea that he needed help, but he was just so empty. He didn't know how to fix it himself. He didn't know what he was going to do or what he would even be able to do. All he knew was that he was tired of hiding away in the darkness and he was tired of running away from Naruto. Besides, it was clear that no matter what he did, the idiot would never stop chasing him. It was getting tiresome.

"Damn straight I won't," Naruto said, once again replying to Sasuke's unspoken thoughts.

"Even if it means that you're never Hokage?" Sasuke asked, before he could stop himself. An insecure, jealous part of him needed to know if he meant more to Naruto than that childhood dream. He was surprised to find that he cared enough to ask. He thought he'd managed to cut out not only his bonds, but also his insecurities a long time ago.

"Even then," Naruto said. "Hell, just getting you off the most wanted list may mean cashing in most of the goodwill I've earned anyway." He looked at Sasuke with a soft smile on his face. "But it would be worth it."

Sasuke dropped his eyes. He could feel the waves of genuine caring coming off of Naruto and it was making him uncomfortable. He'd never cared about anyone like that and being on the receiving end of it made him feel awkward.

"This is what he'd want," Naruto said, taking a step forward.

"I know," Sasuke whispered, his stomach twisting painfully at the thought of Itachi. Part of him wished that he was still as cold and empty as he had been even just a few days ago, so that he wouldn't have to feel the guilt curling around his stomach.

Naruto shook his head. "Don't wish that."

Sasuke was also starting to wish that Naruto couldn't read him so well in this place. He felt too exposed and he was glad that it was only a moment before the void began to fade and the world became solid around him again.

His Chidori went out as soon it hit the Rasengen, leaving his hand stinging from the exploding chakra. The force of the impact was less than last time because they were both exhausted from fighting Tobi and Madara, but it still drove his arm back and Sasuke could feel his shoulder dislocating. The pain was sharp, but nowhere close to the worst pain that he'd ever experienced so he phased it out.

He tried to stay on his feet, but it was a losing battle and he landed on his knees in front of Naruto, who had fallen to his own knees. Because neither of them had dodged they ended up pressed against each other, Naruto's forehead against his. Embarrassingly enough, Naruto's body was the only thing keeping him upright. At least he was pretty sure that Naruto was in the same boat.

"It's okay," Naruto said, tilting his head back.

At first Sasuke thought that Naruto was speaking to him, but then he looked up and saw all of the Allied Shinobi soldiers that were still mobile gathered around them, their eyes intent on him and weapons in their hands. The fact that he hadn't even noticed them until Naruto spoke meant that he was dangerously fatigued and unable to protect himself. Knowing that, he didn't bother to move. Dying would probably be easier than living anyway.

Naruto frowned. "Seriously guys, it's okay. Sasuke and I were just talking. But everything's okay now, right Sasuke?"

The world was starting to go grey around the edges of his vision, but Sasuke managed to nod his head once before he started to slump to the side. The last thing he was aware of before he passed out was Naruto's arms coming around him.