Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor any of the characters.

A/N: Heh…heh… sorry for the constant late updates… but I was busy with the endless amount of assignment and exams. Either way, college is busy, I'll try to update as soon as possible next time.

Chapter 8

"Murderer! Give me back my mother!"

" Why? What have we ever done to you!"

"Stop please! Please! I don't want to die!"

"I'll do anything! Just don't kill my child!"

And in each plea, crimson blood was spilled, staining himself and the ground around him with the warm liquid and each time, there's a bloody red crescent moon hung brightly on the midnight skies.

The cold rain droplets were pouring down onto his already soaked form along with his torn yukata from his frantic running. But Sasuke didn't care, all he could thought about is out put as much distance between him and the Konoha den, from Naruto…

'Naruto…'

The cat demon paused in his steps at that thought, Naruto… his most important person, the person who he hoped to see during his time in the Sound pack, the person who acknowledged him, not as an Uchiha, but as Sasuke… the person that he couldn't live without, the person he loved the most…

He hurt him.

The memory of Naruto being injured by him lying on the grass, with his expressive cerulean blue eyes staring at him and blood staining on his tanned body was just too much to bear. He hurt someone again, and this time, a person that he valued and loved more than the others. The memories he buried deep within his mind had now resurfaced.

Fear… guilt… sorrow…

That's what he felt each time he saw the life disappearing from their fearful eyes. Their pleas before their final breath and the tears caused by fear… fear of him. And every time, his sharp claws ripped through their fragile body with their final scream rang through the air before their deaths. Whether they're children, women or the elderly, no mercy was given, as Orochimaru's orders are absolute. Just like now.

Sasuke finally understood, why he could escaped from Sound so easily, it's not that he can, it's because Orochimaru wanted him to. The target that Sasuke was to kill next is the alpha male of the Konoha pack…

Uzumaki Naruto…

He finally understood everything, Orochimaru knew him like the back of his palm, he knew that Sasuke will return to the only place he could ever return too, Konoha, his birthplace, and Kabuto along with the Sound Five were merely meant to make sure that he'll stay on track to their plot. Zaku, Kin and Dosu were the trigger, their orders weren't to retrieve him, but to deliver the potion Orochimaru developed to him, which triggered the appearance of his other side.

Cold, merciless and a perfect killing machine, a product of his research.

And all this time, no matter where he goes, he could never escape Orochimaru's shadow. All this time, he was merely playing his role, as Orochimaru's puppet to bring down Konoha, starting with Naruto's death.

Sasuke stared at his pale hands before looking up the grayish clouds and laughed, his laughter echoed throughout the dark forest. He laughed until he had no strength left to do so, as the cold water droplets continued pounding on his dark form. He finally came to a conclusion,

'I'm not worthy of Naruto… Naruto is the alpha male of Konoha, a figure worthy of respect… Compared to him, I'm just nothing…nothing but a bloodstained murderer, stained by the blood of the countless others he killed before him. He doesn't need me anymore, he has many friends, pack members and his mate, Haku, a person who is kind and gentle, a person that will take care of him and he has many people who will support him no matter what happens. I have nothing left… no family… no friends… no Itachi…no Naruto… there's no more reason to remain here anymore. My existence threatens Naruto's…I must go…'

With that thought, he continued running, deeper into the forest. Sasuke's sensitive ears picked up that the beta Kurenai along with his co-betas Kiba, Hinata and Shino had been tracking him, but then the storm prevented them from tracking any further, and they were forced to return to the den. Ignoring the dangers posed by this violent autumn storm, he continued forward on fours in the cold, dark forest with his sorrowful onyx eyes gleaming with determination.

'Don't worry Naruto… I will protect your existence… by destroying mine… because to me… your dreams are much more important… I lost my right to have dreams a long time ago… '

*****

Naruto worried blue eyes stared unblinkingly at the window of his office as his fingers tapped impatiently on his wooden desk. Naruto was worried sick from when he woke up in the infirmary with Haku sitting beside him. He nearly panic when Haku told him that Sasuke had ran off and hasn't return yet. Hearing that, he immediately checked himself out of the infirmary and ran straight into his office with Haku by his side. He rammed the door opened, causing the door to nearly dislocate from it's hinges and the occupants in his office, including Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi and the Suna's alpha male Gaara to stared at him, shocked, until…

"GAKI!!! What the hell are you doing?!" Tsunade punched him on the head while yelling, "You're injured! Your ribs are broken and you should be in bed!"

Kakashi tried to calm the blond lion demon by saying, "Ma…ma… Tsunade-sama, calm down, Naruto is injured after all…"

However, Naruto practically shouted, "How can I sleep now when Sasuke is missing again!!!"

"Naruto-kun, please calm down…" Haku tried to calm his fox mate down but his efforts were futile. As Naruto began shouting again,

"How can I calm down at this time! Sasuke is out there alone in this storm! He might be dead if we don't do something now!"

"Gaki…" snarled Tsunade, while flexing her fingers. To prevent the short-tempered Tsunade from punching Naruto through numerous walls in the building and render him in a week coma, Jiraiya had to step in.

"Naruto! What's the use of loosing your cool now! You may be worried about Sasuke but don't forget! You're the alpha male of the Konoha pack! How could you lead an entire pack when you cannot keep your cool at a time like this?"

That shut Naruto up instantly, his worried cerulean eyes stared onto the ground in shame. 'Ero-sannin is right, loosing my temper wouldn't help the situation at all, as the alpha male, I cannot be overwhelmed by emotions that could jeopardize the safety of the pack… and Sasuke…' Naruto gave a mumbled apology that managed to calm Tsunade down.

She gave a sigh, knowing how one will feel during the verge of loosing someone precious to you; she had the similar experience with her ex-mate Dan, who died during the war with Mist as well as her younger brother. The ex-alpha female of the pack ruffled Naruto's blonde spiky locks and said, "Don't worry gaki, we've already sent out Kurenai's team to track him down, I'm sure that we'll hear from them soon."

Naruto glanced up at her thanking her silently, his eyes filled with slight relief and a grin on his face. Tsunade swore that Naruto is still like a little brat sometimes, despite of his status and famed as one of the strongest demons that Konoha pack had ever raised. In the background, both Kakashi and Jiraiya had an amused smirk on their faces, while Gaara just rolled his eyes and Haku gave a small smile.

"Just now, the Uchiha tried to kill you didn't he?" asked Gaara as he folded his arms.

Naruto's grin dropped immediately as he placed his tanned hands on his newly healed ribs, but his eyes shore in determination, "Sasuke might be a teme, Gaara, but he will never hurt me on purpose! He is my best friend but I believe him!"

Light aqua eyes met the bright unweaving cerulean blues; the raccoon rolled his eyes again and sighed, 'Typical'. "Fine, I believe you, but why did he suddenly went on a murder rampage?"

This time, Tsunade cut in, "Sakura already told me about the lilac potion the Sound member thrown at him. I've already told Shizune to collect the remaining sample for analysis. The results should be out in a couple of days, that potion must be what triggered his sudden change in personality."

Naruto nodded, too worried to say anything as he tapped on his wooden desk, as he waited for any news of the pursuit team. Half agonizing hours later, Shikamaru, Kiba and Akamaru bustled into his office, completely soaked to the toe. Naruto quickly straighten himself and asked, "Reports?"

Shikamaru shook his head and replied, "The Sound members got away, we were closing in on them near the border but that weasel, Kabuto jumped out of nowhere and intercepted us. Chouji is injured; Ino is healing him in the infirmary now."

Naruto was silent for a few seconds and asked, "I see, how's Chouji's condition?"

"I'm not really sure, Ino said that Kabuto severed some of his intercostals muscles near the lungs, and Chouji is having troubles breathing properly, so we had to retreat and the storm was getting really bad that time."

"It's alright, as long everyone is alright, you should rest now, Shikamaru, I'm sure that you're exhausted." said Naruto with relief that his friends return safely.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru rubbed his brown hair and walked out of the office.

Kiba glanced at Naruto and sighed, "Sorry man, but we lost track of Sasuke, because of the storm. Akamaru and I lost his scent and Shino's bugs cannot track him in this weather."

Akamaru gave a small whine and drooped his white head, obviously sorry.

Naruto closed his eyes and calmed himself down, truthfully he's on the verge of shouting and panicking right about now. But he held himself back, he's the alpha male of the Konoha pack afterall.

"Kiba, do you know which direction Sasuke went?"

"Hinata said that she saw him heading North, nearing the Valley of the End."

Naruto thought about this for a while, 'Tsunade-baachan is gonna be so pissed on what I am about to do.' Naruto stood up suddenly, starting everyone in the room.

"Kiba, you and Akamaru should go back to rest and wait out the storm" said Naruto in a commading voice, as he pulled up his jacket from his chair.

"Then what are you going to do Naruto-kun?" asked Haku in concern, he had a bad feeling about this.

"What do you think? I'm going after Sasuke of course!"

The room was silent for a few seconds and the uproar began.

"YOU WANT TO DIE GAKI?!!!"

"Naruto, that's a very rash action, you dumbass!"

"Are you sucidal?"

"Naruto-kun! You might die!"

"WOOF!"

Only Kakahi and Kiba remained silent, Kiba is due to his seething at himself to unable to track down Sasuke while Kakashi already anticipated this action.

Naruto gave everyone a stern glare which kinda quiets them down. "Sasuke is a part of the pack, and as alpha male, it is my duty to take care of every single member. Sasuke is my responsibility and my best friend, I must go and bring him back."

Everyone looked at him, speechless for a moment until,

"Don't die gaki."

Naruto looked and Tsunade and grinned widely, "Thanks baa-chan!" Saying so he sprinted out of the office, not before hearing Haku's worried voice, "Be careful Naruto-kun."

Naruto gave a wave and rushed out of the building and into the storm.

'Wait for me Sasuke, I'm coming for you.'

*****

Quite a distance away from the Konoha border, 5 demons in black cloaks with red clouds on them stood on top of a cliff.

"You sure he's here Itachi-san?" his question was met with silence.

"I've always wanted to come to Konoha, un! Is there anything I can blow it up?"

"Shut up you brat!"

"Yay! We finally came to Konoha! Isn't it nice senpai!"

The cat demon with the glowing crimson eyes stared at the scene, the Valley of the End is in sight.

"Let's go."