Naruto acted like it wasn't affecting him that I was leaving he put on a brave face and kept on going. I did however notice a change in behavior the last week I was with him.
We had gone to Ino's birthday party and he was very cold to me even ignoring me choosing instead to converse with Kiba. I didn't like how he was treating me at all it made me feel vulnerable and abandoned. The entire night all he did was ignore me and boss me around, telling me to go get him a drink or something to eat when he was hungry and I was fortunate enough to get a chance to talk to him.
Late into the night I asked him to come talk to me outside alone and he complied. I confronted him with how he was making me feel and asked him why he was being so downright awful to me. I explained that I was hurt badly and didn't feel I deserved such treatment.
His face contorted a little and I noticed the usual spark in his eyes had vanished. "Sasuke" he said in a melancholy tone of voice. Then he grabbed me and held me tight in his arms. "I just don't want you to go I know you don't either. I have tried to take it like a man but this pain in my heart is overwhelming I'm sorry I took it out on you I never meant to hurt you and I hope you can forgive me. I just wish there were someway you didn't have to go."
A little surprised by this sudden admission I turned to him with tender understanding eyes and said " I know this is a return to you being alone but remember I am your friend and will always be. I know how much I hurt you when I left with Orochimaru but this is totally different I am definitely coming back and then we can be together again. I need you to take care of my house while you are gone so in effect it is now yours I will definitely write back to you and tell you what the Snow Country is like. Remember my thoughts are with you always."
This little speech seemed to have made him feel better and I think he was able to come to terms with my leaving for a year. Of course the day I left was very painful for me.
We went to the docks so I could depart and I was dreading the moment I would have to say goodbye to him. He walked over to the platform with me and we just kid of hung out there avoiding the fact that this was good bye again for a time. Then the whistle blew and it was time. I had no preparation for what my heart felt as I said good bye. I gave him a hug and kind of stared at him for a moment to burn his image into my head. He said good bye to me and smiled his usual ear to ear smile I waved back as I walked up the ramp smiling the most authentic smile I could come up with but as soon as I got onto the ship I broke down.
It felt almost involuntary like my body was more upset then I was at leaving him. I felt drained and tears just come flowing down in a torrential flow. The only thing I could think was this was it no going back now. I kept on walking and sailed away into the sunset. I could only guess at what that sweet dobe was doing right at that moment. Was he crying too?