Naruto Shippuuden -:- Broken

Summary:

The only way to solve the Sasuke problem, was to kill him. The only person who could do it, was his best friend. When the deed is done, how will Naruto cope with the fall out? Major Angst :P

Disclaimer:

I own a lot of things, Naruto ain't one of them.

Author's Notes:

I watched all 289 episodes of both series in the last month, and as such have become slightly obsessed. I've read from the last point of the anime to chapter 503 of the manga...and Thursday has become my favourite day of the week.

This fic is based on events in the manga that have yet to be animated, so there are many, many spoilers – ye be warned :P

I desperately want to see the Sasuke/Naruto fight because its gonna be great! The fight will be so awesome in fact that I don't think I can do it justice – hence why this fic follows just afterwards :D

And now that I've filled my word count with author's notes (this chap only, promise)...

Enjoy!

Chapter One -:- Too Little Too Late

The battle felt as if it had lasted for days.

Both of the impossibly-powerful teenage shinobi had come out fighting, their strongest techniques cancelling each other out. There had been Sage-mode and several Rasen-Futon-Shurikens verses the Mangekyo Sharingan and Susanoo. Then Amaterasu verses the Kyuubi. The nostalgic Rasengan verses Chidori.

But that had been the beginning of the fight. Naruto's back-up sage clones had long since dissipated. The inextinguishable Amaterasu had long since been consumed. All Chakra long since exhausted.

It was down to kunai verses sword.

The rivals stood opposite each other, both panting from exertion and wincing from their accumulated injuries. They stared each other down, both trying to ignore the memories that battered their resolve. Above them the afternoon sun had dissovled into night, their fight lit by a half moon.

Sasuke Uchiha glared with dark eyes as he drew his sword. Blood dribbled down his left cheek, an after effect of overusing the Mangekyo. His white shirt was dirtied from the fight. Tied round his forehead was his scratched forehead protector that Naruto had made him wear. He held the sword in both hands in front of him, prepared for the next attack.

Usumaki Naruto slipped a kunai from his pack, spinning it on one finger before gripping the handle. His signature orange outfit was torn and bloodied. Doubt clouded his blue eyes as he observed his friend.

He knew this was the only way. Any other option could easily result in war, Sasuke's destructive actions starting the cycle of hatred that would throw them into conflict. There wasn't going to be a happy ending where Sasuke was welcomed back to Konoha with open arms. It was too late for talking. The only solution was

To betray his way of the ninja. To go back on his promise.

Sasuke moved first, covering the distance between them in a second. Taken off guard, Naruto was only just able to block, the two blades clashing. He attempted a leg sweep, but Sasuke saw through it, easily jumping over his foot and flipping backwards. With his feet back on the ground he pushed forward again, sword flashing.

Going on instinct alone, Naruto managed to dodge two jabs, retaliating with easily deflected blind slashes. He darted back and out of range to try and put himself on the offensive rather than defensive, but Sasuke was too quick; immediately following and attacking.

After exchanging a few more blows, the fight began to even out. Naruto succeeded in slicing Sasuke's arm in the same attack that resulted in his own leg being cut. For every hit that was given, one was received. They earned even more wounds, though most were superficial, the pain not even slowing them down.

Eventually they reached a stalemate, both blades slammed up against each other, sending sparks flying as each tried to push the other back. After a moment of struggling and death glares with neither of them able to gain the upper hand, they used the force to repel themselves back to their original positions.

Sasuke twirled his sword, adjusting his grip on the hilt as Naruto brandished the kunai by his side. This was the final attack.

It's said that when two shinobi exchange blows, just once, they can foresee the outcome of the battle...Did you see it Sasuke? When we fight, we both die.

The memories that Naruto had been desperately trying to suppress flooded his mind, making his hand shake with doubt. He saw Sasuke as a child, their loneliness forming an instant bond. He heard Sasuke offer him food during the bell training, insisting that they were a team. He remembered their rivalry when they were learning to climb trees. He saw Sasuke's half-smile, as close as the arrogant kid got to showing happiness. Could he really do this? Can I really kill my best friend?

No.

Pain ripped him in half. It was white hot and burning, sending coloured spirals dancing before his eyes. His head dropped, and through the patterns he could just make out the hilt of the sword buried in his chest.

He glanced at his right hand, his kunai having barely cut the fabric of Sasuke's shirt. He couldnt decide if that was a good thing or not. Defeated, he went to let his hand drop, but Sasuke caught it, keeping the blade point above his own heart, and Naruto's hand wrapped round the handle. He held all of Naruto's weight, his other hand gripping his shoulder, no longer needing to hold the sword.

"You were right."

Naruto managed to raise his head so that his eyes met Sasuke's, not quite believing what he was hearing.

"Our loneliness gave us strength, because it gave us hatred. Hatred made me stronger. It gave me power and motivation and..." he paused, averting his eyes. "And it gave me pain."

Through his own pain, Naruto tried to understand what Sasuke was talking about. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed at the best of times, so he guessed it was excusable now to have a thick moment, what with currently being impaled.

"But you said that your 'bonds' made you stronger. That you were able to advance because you had people you needed to protect," Sasuke continued. "I didn't understand, and I didn't believe, but you were right. You are stronger than me."

Naruto blinked, wondering if he had made a mistake as to who had gotten stabbed. A slight movement and the flush of pain that followed confirmed that it was indeed him. So what the hell is he talking about?

Sasuke half-smiled at Naruto's confusion. "I could tell as we were fighting that you were holding back. I was trying my hardest, and I still couldn't beat you." He briefly let go of Naruto's arm so that he could tap his thumb against his forehead protector. "You were so desperate for us to fight as equals that you went easy on me.

"I should have listened to you, and Sakura, and Kakashi-sensei. I should have stayed in Konoha and forgotten my revenge. But I was so consumed by it that I couldn't let it go. I should have listened."

Naruto smiled, relieved to have finally gotten through to his friend. But then he felt the crushing disappointment as he realised that his ideal ending just wasn't possible. His smile collapsed, pain etched on his face. "B-but its t-too late."

"For me. But not for you," Sasuke replied, and Naruto's attention was once again drawn to the sword in his chest. I must be missing something. "I got my dream. I got my revenge. And I trampled everything that got in my way in order to get it, including you. It's only fair that you get your dream too. You're gonna be a great Hokage; because you managed to save your friend."

Can someone really become Hokage if they can't even save one friend? What do you think Sasuke?

"I-I don't underst-stand..." Naruto muttered, his vision blurring as the pain became overwhelming.

"Heh," Sasuke smirked. "You're still an idiot."

Sasuke's grip tightened on his right hand, drawing Naruto's eye. He watched powerlessly as Sasuke stabbed the kunai into his own chest, the blade piercing his heart. Sasuke met Naruto's gaze, and smiled.

"Thank you."

That was just the prologue type thing, which is why it's so short, later chapters will be longer!

Please review! :P