Summary: "There are no shortcuts. That's why, I'll never stop training!" was something Naruto took to heart. But what if the person who said these words ran away? It's Naruto who'll bring him back.
A/N: I got this idea after reading "This Impulse Unfastening My Heart". There will be some similarities which, I hope, will stay minor;; Short, not really any effort put into it. I really want to write an IkkixAkito fanfic right now;; -Has been listening to 'Bad Touch' by Bloodhound Gang;;-
Shortcuts
"There are no shortcuts. That's why, I'll never stop training! One day, I'll reach my brothers shadow and surpass it. But right now, I'm nothing compared to him. That man... is a true genius." was something Naruto didn't want to believe. All he wanted to do was hide in the protective shell his pranks made for him.
As he grew up, he knew he couldn't hide anymore, so he stopped doing pranks all the time and only did them for when he felt was appropriate. Slowly, but surely, Naruto grew with the help of those words and the dream to one day be able to walk shoulder to shoulder with Sasuke.
As time went by, Naruto became more dedicated to his dream and spent less time in his shell. The more of him that saw the world, the more of him that saw Sasuke, now his teammate, was being devoured by the darkness. This Sasuke that was in darkness, in this dark shell of anger, was not the real Sasuke. Not the Sasuke that helped Naruto get over his fears. This Sasuke was nothing but a broken soul left by his brother.
As the chuunin exams passed, Naruto couldn't help but feel like the Sasuke he had slowly fallen in love with had vanished. Naruto, deciding that he would break down if he saw Sasuke with those eyes, those pain and anger filled eyes of his, instead chose to leave the village for awhile with his new 'sensei', if that was what you could call the writer of 'Icha Icha Paradise'.
He came back with a new Hokage, a new technique, and new hope. The Hokage was a drunk gambler, the technique had yet to be fully mastered, and his hope was crushed with just a glare by Sasuke. It seemed like Sasuke had grown worse with time, and not better like Naruto had wished.
'Sasuke took a shortcut even after he told me not to take one!' and 'Teme! I'm going to bring you back even if I die trying!' were what went through Naruto's mind as he ran after Sasuke. 'How could Sasuke-teme do something so stupid?!' was what everyone on the team thought, minus the 'teme' part.
"I couldn't bring Sasuke back. I'm sorry Sakura-chan..." he said. His voice reflecting nothing of what he really felt. "Don't worry, I'll bring him back! It's a promise of a lifetime!" he grinned. His face was a dead give away to those who knew him enough, 'Such a painful smile on him. It doesn't suit him at all. It almost makes me cry just looking at him...' was what they thought as they visited him in the hospital.
As Naruto got out of the hospital, he made a new ambition for himself. 'I'm going to bring the old Sasuke back from his shell no matter what!'
A/N: Half-assed ending, but no matter, right? The beginning was half-assed as well. Been obsessively drawing Akito and Agito;; Mostly Akito. Hope someone actually enjoyed this...;; And I just remembered that 'Icha-icha' means 'Horny'... So, the book is called 'Horny Paradise'...? Wow...