Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto"

Chapter 2: Isolate

Sitting in that coffin, a strange pain filled Sasuke's chest. It was beyond dark inside the wooden box that contained him, that protected the world from his chakra. It was just big enough for him, but just small enough to suffocate him. The coffin was sealed, isolating him from the outside. Sasuke couldn't breathe. He wondered why he was doing this, why he was subjecting himself to this. He could feel his body changing. He could feel the darkness pressing against him. The stench of the wood mixed with the smell of his sweat suffocated him… as did the rounded walls that encased him. What agitated him above all this, was that he could hear nothing. There was no sound, as if the black was a vacuum. There were no noises from the outside. There was no one. Only him. Alone again. Perhaps that's what the pain was that filled him. Isolation, loneliness, regret.

Sasuke gritted his teeth as two large bumps began to form on his shoulder blades. His scalp began to burn and itch, and his skin felt as if it grew three times thicker. The weakness that had consumed him moments ago was replaced by this raging energy. He felt hatred course through his veins, making his muscles restless. He yelled in agony, but no sound filled his ears. Itachi would pay for what he was making Sasuke do. The older Uchiha would die… he would die at Sasuke's hands. In between the pain and rage, an image flickered in his head for only a second. Sakura.

Sakura had asked Naruto to bring Sasuke back… and he promised he would. Maybe he did love her as much as Sasuke had said. Naruto certainly understood her more than she thought. He probably understood her more than anyone, and it surprised her. Sakura had once said that the blonde nuisance didn't understand her at all… but he was proving her wrong. He knew that she loved Sasuke, though it hurt him, and he knew that she hadn't been able to stop him from leaving. Why promise to bring Sasuke back? Naruto kept his promises. And he left. He and Shikamaru, Kiba and Akamaru, Choji and even Neji… they all left to go find and save Sasuke.

She felt so alone. Isolated. The other girls couldn't know how she felt; they would never know how she felt. As she walked the streets of Konoha alone, she could feel their stares. Ino had no sympathy. She, after all, was Sakura's rival and wanted Sasuke for herself. But she didn't know Sasuke like Sakura did. They had been teammates. Friends. Though it would be difficult to get Sasuke to admit it… she knew he cared about her. All the signs were there. Ino would never know what it was like. Hinata always appeared so sad. She felt sorry for Sakura; she knew what it was like to love someone who didn't love in return. But again, Sakura knew that Sasuke loved her… perhaps not in the way she wanted, but he did, to some degree. Perhaps Hinata was afraid that, with Sasuke gone, Sakura would turn to Naruto.

Humph. Sakura turned away from her sad eyes. Then she saw Tenten, who smiled sadly. Sakura tried to smile, but couldn't. This would be the hardest part. Waiting. Waiting to see if the mission was successful. Waiting to see if Sasuke would walk through those gates.

He was free from the box and a purple mist shrouded him. Even so, he could see his grayed skin. He could feel power surging through him. It was time. And then he heard an annoying voice.

"Sasuke…" Naruto said brightly and laughed. "Sasuke! What're you doing with these guys?"

He didn't turn to face him. Why should he?

"Come on! We're going home now!" Naruto continued to talk.

Sasuke chuckled. The sound was so unusual coming from him.

"Sasuke?" Naruto suddenly sounded… nervous.

Thoughts ran through Sasuke's head. Memories of when they had started their training. They had been rivals, always pushing each other. They grew together, older and stronger. They had even fought to prove who was strongest. If Kakashi hadn't interfered, surely he would have won. Now… there was no doubt about it, he was stronger than Naruto.

"Hey… we're going home. Everyone's worried about you,"

Sasuke couldn't hide the glee from his face. He threw his head back and let out a cackling laugh.

"SASUKE!" Naruto shouted. He was definitely angry now. "You can hear my voice, can't you?"

But he didn't care. It was time to go. To learn all he could… so he could kill Itachi the traitor. Sasuke crouched low and then shot himself into the air.

"Wait, Sasuke!"

A/N Lovely place to end, huh? Well... more to come. R&R. Let me know what you think.