I slowly walked through Konoha, the village hidden in the leaves. I kept my head down in the hopes that no one would recognise me. It had been a long time since I visited the village. I felt my bangs covering my eyes, but did nothing to remove them, to clear my sight. I knew where I was going. I had walked this path many times. I walked slowly, as if my feet knew where they were going, and wanted to prevent me from that pain. To someone else, it may look like I had all the time in the world. I guess I did. Through the years I had lost everyone and everything that I cared about. Wether accident or destiny, it doesn't matter. I was alone. And it all started with you. I passed an apartment that once belonged to a carefree boy with fair-hair. Rumour has it he was hated by the whole village. The reason? I don't know. But that was a long time ago. I stopped to look at the apartment, now getting old, to take in the sight. I don't know how long I looked at that old apartment, thinking of what pain that boy must have gone through, but it hurt to think how much he would have had to hide it. I started at my slow pace to the carvings of the past Hokage's. I laughed quietly to myself; a lot had changed since I lived here in the Hidden Leaf Village. I stopped and looked up; I had reached my destination. Looking at you, up there engraved into the history of Konoha, I felt my eyes tear up. I don't cry often, it's not in my make-up. But you are one person who can always bring those tears to the surface, bring up old pains that I tried to rid myself of years ago. It all started with you. I remember sitting up on top of this rock with you, holding your hand. I was crying then too.

Flashback "Come on, don't die!" I said fiercely

He coughed heavily, blood dribbling out the corner of his mouth.

"Thanks, thanks … for … everything" He managed to speak.

"Don't thank me yet! I'll get you help! Thank me after that!"

"Why do you … think … I asked you to … bring me up here? You know … as well as I do … that I'm not going to … survive this." I didn't know how he could be so calm about this.

"No!" I shouted, tears starting to leak out of my eyes. I guess I knew that what he was saying was true.

"Come on, we … had fun … didn't we?" He was starting to close his eyes.

"NO! Please! Just stay awake! For me!" Tears were freely flowing down my face now; I didn't even try to stop them.

He coughed fiercely and I held up his head to subsidise it.

"Just … don't forget me... kay?" I silently nodded, my voice having left me.

"You know, I guess Neiji … was right, some are … born to be Hokage, and … some aren't. I guess I wasn't one of them." More blood fell out of his mouth, this time onto my shorts.

"No, you're wrong! You can fight this! Stop being such... such..." I broke off, unable to carry on.

"We … both know that … that last attack did … too much damage. Just … accept it. I just … want to … say … one thing. Thanks … for being … my best friend … Sasuke …" His hand went limp in mine and a tear dripped onto our joined hands. I just sat there, with you in my arms, for hours.

End Flashback

I think, right then, my heart broke. I don't think I ever got over it. After you, my friends died one by one. And slowly, I was left with no one. I left the rock and started to make the long and slow journey back to my house. Even as I felt the tears of the pain from losing you rise to the surface, I didn't try to get rid of them. It's been 10 years, ten years since you died. You were my best friend. I'm sorry I never got to say that to you. I'm sorry that I never showed you how much I cared. I'm sorry that I never believed in you. I'm sorry I let you die. As I reached my house and opened the door, I looked back at the statues of the past Hokage's, and your's with them. I guess, I thought, that you were wrong. Some people were born to be Hokage, and you were one of them …

Naruto.

"Believe it!!!"

I do.