AN: Threw another chapter in just because I don't know when I will have another opportunity to post. So I thought I just wrap up the tape discovery piece just in case I can't. Plus I'm feeling good so why not?


Stay

The screen turned black and the room was filled with an eerie silence as the two boys tried to understand what they just saw. Their fathers were not only friends but apparently very close too. They laughed like they used to laugh and made promises to each other the same way they use to. How could two sets of friends stray so far apart? Naruto looked over to the Uchiha next to him, his eyes leaking the question. Sasuke didn't dare to look back. If he did he would remember why the times with team 7 were some of the best times of his life. He would remember all the competitions with Naruto and all the starry looks from Sakura and all grunts and all the shouts and all the fights but most of all- all the laughs. For what he needed to do, it was best that he didn't remember. He didn't need to remember why he once dubbed Naruto as his best friend, the same way his father did with the previous Namikaze, and how they both fell apart. Was it just destined for this to happen to them? Was it destined for them to fall on the opposite side of the spectrum just like their fathers? Minato and Fugaku started at the same place. How did one become an honored Hokage and the other a disgraced traitor?

The sound of hustle and bustle filled the once quite manor as the ninjas of Konoha finally took their positions. The street began to fill as some went to breakfast and the children headed off to the academy. Genin would crowd the training grounds, waiting for their Jounin instructor to come and make their lives a living hell. Civilians would hurry to open their shops to let in the morning rush and costumers would hurry to beat it. Konoha was alive again.

Sasuke quickly brought himself to his feet, letting his previous thoughts fall into oblivion. Now was not the time to try to piece this together. Now he had to get out of here. Sasuke made his way to the door but Naruto grabbed his wrist before he can exit it.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I found what I was looking for and found it useless. I have no more business here."

"Sasuke, do you really think I'm going to let you leave like this? You're a threat to my village and my people. I need to take you in."

"I said that I didn't want any trouble."

"But next time," Naruto said as he took a step closer and tightened his grip, "You'll want trouble."

"To be honest with you Naruto," Sasuke said as he turned to face the blonde Hokage, "I don't know what I want anymore. Today I don't want to kill you and tomorrow I might still hold the same resolve."

"But what if you don't," Naruto said, narrowing his eyes, "I can't take that chance."

"But can you take the chance of me killing all of your comrades to escape," asked Sasuke as he sent a course of lighting through his unoccupied hand.

"Would you?"

"Yes."

"No hesitation?"

"None."

"And for that," Naruto paused at the brink of losing his resolve, "I have to turn you in."

"I understand," said Sasuke, "And I would have to do whatever I can to break free. I have responsibilities as well. I must destroy this place so it could no longer oppress its people. Even you and Kakashi have felt the pain this village can cause."

"But, I'm Hokage now," said Naruto, his voice pleading, "I can change things from the inside. I can make things better without hurting anyone. You don't need-"

Sasuke held up a hand to cut the man off, "And if you do that, if you take away power from those who abuse it, how long would that last? To the end of you term maybe and then someone would take you place. Plus you can't forget about those that would be eager to 'shorten' your term if your changes oppose their wants. 'Without hurting anyone', do you really think that you can change things without any consequences. If you do then you're a bigger dobe than what I once thought."

Damnit, Sasuke was right. Naruto always hated it when Sasuke was right. How much could he really change? For Sasuke dreams to come true the village would have to be destroyed, built over. The entire structure would have to be redone. He couldn't do that, even if he did have a lifetime, not peacefully anyway. However, he couldn't let Sasuke just run into his village Sharingan ablaze. "Sasuke, even if you go through with your plan, who are you really protecting? If you kill everyone in this village then who would be left to save?"

Sasuke breathed in deeply and then let it out in a tired sigh, "It looks like both of our methods are flawed, then."

Naruto then looked at Sasuke eyes pleading. If he just stayed then they could work it out. They both wanted the same thing. They both wanted peace. If he just gave him a chance to fix things. If he just stayed. "Stay."

"No."

Naruto grip loosened in shock and defeat. It was enough leverage for Sasuke to break free. He walked to the entrance of his old home. Grabbing his discarded sandals, he disappeared in a circle of fire, the Uchiha symbol being the last thing to burn away.


AN: I hope that you liked this chapter. Sorry that it was so short but I felt that this was a good cut off point. I really think that the Sasuke that I'm trying to create is really seen in this chapter. Also the back and forth relationship between Sasuke and Naruto is starting to form here too. I really like this chapter! Anyway Sephitachi out!