Chapter 4

The Monster inside.

Naruto was a monster.

That was the only constant in Sasuke's life, he was the only constant.

He was loud when they were seven and he's loud now. His life had shifted into grays when the Massacre happened and suddenly, everyone changed. People changed. And people were gone.

They looked at him with tearful, pitying eyes- some looked guilty.

Only Naruto ever looked at him the same before and after.

Only Naruto could understand. Because his family was gone, because he was all alone, because he was just like Sasuke.

His sentiments were real, the only real thing Sasuke had heard- "Itachi was a good guy" Naruto had said, and Sasuke knew that Naruto knew that personally "but a monster like him is still a monster"- and it was true, he couldn't get angry because what Naruto said was true.

Itachi was a monster; prodigies were monsters, ninjas were monsters- unpredictable beasts of nature. Sasuke had his eyes opened. Monsters weren't meant to be with humans, but Sasuke needed to get to Itachi, so he didn't care if he had to discard his humanity- he'd do anything, anything, to kill Itachi.

His humanity had already been shredded into pieces.

It was when his resolve sharpened that Sasuke realised something exponentially world changing; Naruto was a monster too. He had to be.

Always, always, always smiling like the sun, grinning like the moon and shouting like a songbird. He was a monster- if he wasn't then he was a demon, he couldn't be human.

Sasuke had seen only a glimpse of the villager's glares and sneers and unfair treatment, and he knew there were worse things hidden inside the closet of- don't touch it kid, you'll never turn back. Naruto was a monster, because he kept beaming, because he was always so good, so pure, so happy. Because Naruto didn't break. Sasuke would've. Sasuke did.

Did Sasuke fear Naruto though? No, he didn't think so. Naruto may have been a monster, but he was pure, and good, and kind. Sasuke knew that.

Sasuke didn't fear Naruto, Sasuke feared his kindness.

So he pushed him away, insulted him, tried to erase that stupid grin of his face- the only person who would ever understand him, because Sasuke knew that if it was Naruto, then he could make Sasuke forget about getting vengeance and justice for his clan. If it was Naruto, Sasuke knew he'd be able to cure that twisted hatred that boiled in his stomach. If it was Naruto, Sasuke was sure he'd be happy. But he didn't want that.

Sasuke didn't want to let go of his hate, his hate kept him going, kept him living without drowning from the guilt of being the last loyal Uchiha- the only one left alive. If he was happy, Sasuke was afraid he'd forget to hate and forget the guilt- guilt was what he deserved! Why did he have to live when everyone else died! He needed to get stronger and prove himself worthy of the Uchiha, he needed to beat Itachi because otherwise he'd put to shame all that the Uchiha were meant to be, he'd put to shame his family if he couldn't beat Itachi who killed them.

So yes, Naruto was a monster. And yes, Sasuke knew he was the only one Sasuke would ever be willing to accept. But there was no way he would, at least not yet- not when he was weak and Itachi was strong, not when Naruto was stronger than him still. And no, he wouldn't let go of his hatred, not yet.

So yes, he was Sasuke Uchiha and he wasn't quite the monster that Itachi was, or Naruto was- but he'd be one, to stand on the same level as them. Believe it.

AN: So its been a really long time, but here is are two chapters uploaded at the same time. Someone asked me if it will continue to be all perspectives, well, my answer is that it will not I just want to build up the characters before getting into the story.

Thank you for reading :)