Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (period ->) .

-- Chapter 1: The Encounter --

Naruto and Kakashi stood side-by-side as they faced him, the one they ahd been chasing all these years. They looked ragged and worn, cuts and bruises showing. Sasuke looked at them calmly, unruffled in his level two cursed-seal state.

"Sasuke, come back to Konoha," Naruto begged. 'Why can't he just give in. Damn this is hard, neither me or Kakashi can use powerful jutsus. If we do, we run the risk of killing him'

Sasuke had no intention of going easy on them. 'If they are going to get in my way, then I will kill them'

"What's the matter Naruto, are you getting tired already? You never were any match for me"

Kakashi said, "Naruto we need to take out his cursed seal transformation. If we manage to destroy his wings it will weaken him, without doing any actual harm." Naruto nodded, and placed hands together and create five shadow clones, yelling "Kage-bunshin no jutsu"

Sasuke laughed, "This again, Naruto?" Naruto ignored him, and set about creating three Rasengans. "So you are finally starting to get serious?" Sasuke smirked. "Too late"

'If Naruto manages to pull this off, I'll be able to use it, but if I miss it could be deadly for either of them,' Kakashi thought. As Sasuke charged, Naruto had four of the clones move behind Sasuke. Sasuke turned around, ready to destroy them -- and he did. "Rasengan!" naruto cried as he thrust his arm forward. Sasuke dodged and grabbed Naruto by the throat, smiling. To his surprise, Naruto returned the smile.Kakashi's mangekyou sharingan destroyed Sasuke's wings, sending them to another dimension.Kakashi fell out of pure exhaustion, he could not use that technique easily. He looked to see Sasuke's demon-like form receded into the cursed seal.

"I'm impressed, but even in my weaker form, you are not strong enough to defeat me," Sasuke said. Naruto created another clone. They immediately began forming a Rasengan.

"Again? This has to be some kind of a joke." Sasuke gripped one wrist, and electricity began forming in his palm. The two Narutos rushed at Sasuke.

"Chidori"

"Rasengan"

After the blast, Naruto held a kunai to Sasuke's throat. 'As I thought, the clone's Rasengan would distract him.'

"Sasuke, it's time to return to Konoha."

"What are you going to do? Kill me? After all, that's all that you'll be able to do with that kunai. You don't have the guts."

'Damn! It's true, I cannot knock him out without giving him a chance to counter. I'll just have to hope.' "No Sasuke," Naruto said, pulling away from Sasuke, dropping his guard. "I'm going to ask you to come back."

"Hah," Sasuke laughed, "You really are naive Naruto. I'm going to end this now." Sasuke began gathering electricity again, but this time stronger, with more hate. Naruto closed his eyes. 'This is it,' Naruto thought. 'I wanted to say bye to Iruka-sensei, and Sakura, especially Sakura. I wouldn't even mind seeing Jiraiya and Tsunade one last time. I would say bye to Kakashi, but I can't risk him doing anything.' Naruto braced himself for it.

Time seemed to slow. Naruto was anticipating the blast, thinking of all the good memories he had. At least he had some time where he was happy. Even with this thoughts of detachment, Naruto could feel it forming in his hand, against his will. The Futon Rasengan. 'NO KYUUBI!' Naruto's hand unwillingly thrust forward, and Naruto felt the wind graze against his skin, giving a burning sensation. Naruto kept his eyes closed, until he could no longer hold them that way. When he opened them he saw Kakashi standing over Sasuke's body.

"Naruto! What have you done?" With the last of his strength, Naruto got up and looked at the body. Half of Sasuke was gone, just completely blown away. One tear escaped from Naruto's eye as he said "Brother." Then he passed out.

--

Naruto put on his black clothes, his mourning clothes. As he walked toward the place where the funeral was to be held, he heard the whispering. Despite the fact that it was only Kakashi and Naruto who originally knew the true events, word spread fast. He couldn't be sure whether it was just rumors or the truth. Either way, it wasn't good.

He arrived at the site two hours before the funeral began. Naruto could hardly believe that Sasuke was gone, for good this time. Even more, it was his fault that Sasuke was dead. 'If only I could have controlled the nine-tails. Maybe the villagers are right, maybe I really am a monster'

"You can't keep beating yourself up about it," said Kakashi, walking up.

"Kakashi-sensei, if it wasn't for me, Sasuke would --"

"Stop! Anyone else would have done the same thing in your position, Kyuubi or no Kyuubi."

"I couldn't even control him. I'm dangerous to be around."

"As long as no one tries to --"

Kakashi stopped when he saw Sakura coming. Her eyes were already red. Her hair was a mess. She looked as if she hadn't slept in two days. 'This is all my fault,' thought Naruto.

People arrived either one at a time or in small groups. The whole while Naruto felt their eyes piercing him like knives. A large number showed, people who Naruto didn't even know. The rest of the rookie nine were there, as well as Gai's team.

When the program started, Tsunade thanked everyone for coming to honor a great ninja, as well as one who died in battle. As she said this, all eyes were on Naruto. Some told of hate and anger, but mostly fear. The only ones willing to stand by him were Kakashi and Iruka. After Tsunade finished, Kakashi and Iruka each said things about Sasuke, honoring and praising him.

After it finished the crowd dwindled, and most of the mourners left. Only team seven stayed for longer. Sakura was crying into Kakashi's arms as he whispered, "It'll be okay." Eventually only Naruto was left. He stayed there, just wishing that he could talk to Sasuke one last time. When night fell, Naruto was still there. He was there for days until his body could take no more, and he collapsed.

Naruto awoke to a pink-haired doctor looking over him, checking his status. "Sakura," he began, "I'm sorry." She ignored his words and just kept on working, jotting down things on a clipboard. She finished and started walking out. "Sakura?" A tear came out of her eye, and she walked out the door.

'Damn it, she won't even talk to me or acknowledge that I'm even there.' Naruto got up and left his room, there was no reason for him to even be there. He went to the Ichiraku ramen bar and ordered some. Teuchi normally would have asked what was wrong, but he knew exactly what was wrong. He served the ramen and left Naruto there to eat.

Naruto made his way home after finishing the ramen. He looked around at his messy apartment, almost disgusted by the horrible condition it was in. He made his way to bed and put on his ridiculous looking pajamas. Usually they gave him a laugh before bed, but not tonight.

When he awoke the next day, Naruto decided to get flowers for Sakura, in an attempt to bring their friendship back together. He went into the Yamanaka flower shop and got a bouquet of purple hyacinth flowers. No words were spoken as he ordered the flowers, besides Ms. Yamanaka telling him the price. He paid and left, heading towards Sakura's home. She had moved out by the time he returned with Jiraiya, so he made his way to her apartment, on the second floor.

Naruto knocked and waited for Sakura to answer. She came to the door and looked through the eye-hole. "Go away Naruto."

"Sakura, please?" he begged.

"I said go away demon. You're a monster." Sakura thought of all the words that would hurt Naruto the most and just let them out, screaming at him through the door. Naruto set the flowers down in front of her door and left. He was used to those words, but not from Sakura, or anyone that he cared about. It hurt him so much more to hear her say those words than any villager. He went back to his apartment with his head down the entire way.

He laid on his bed staring at the ceiling for hours, just thinking. 'I need to learn to control kyuubi, to hold him back. I need somewhere to train, somewhere to become strong enough to hold him at bay.' He thought about leaving, weighing the pros and cons. 'Sakura doesn't want me here. But maybe she just needs time to heal, she's hurt right now. You killed the man she loved, you think she's going to just get over it?' Naruto continued to debate with himself, until he finally won.

He was going to leave. He packed only the most basic of supplies. He left his home at night and visited Sasuke's grave, one last time. "Goodbye," he paused, "Brother." After that he made his way to the gate that had no guards on duty. 'I wonder what Sasuke was thinking as he left? if it was anything like this?' He kept on walking until he was gone from sight.