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"I'm sorry, Naruto."

"Even though I promised not to – I'm leaving you alone."

"His cat can control water?" Sasuke panted, grimacing from the pain as blood dripped down from his several puncture wounds onto the ground. Though the wounds seemed serious, Sasuke would be fine; at the last moment he had managed to concentrate his chakra around him, creating a thin barrier that had managed to stop the needles from being fatal. "What the fuck can you do, then?"

He turned when there was no reply from the fox. "Hey, fox?"

Naruto sat there frozen, his usually crimson eyes bleeding black as they remained unwavering from Sasuke's wound.

"But you'll be okay."

"You've grown so much since I found you. Even with this, you won't go back to that lonely cave, right?"

"Naruto?"

"It's okay, Naruto."

"Don't cry."

"I'm happy to have been able to see your face one last time. It would have been nice to see you smile, but that's too much to ask for, right?"

"Naruto…"

It was dark.

Why was it so dark?

Just the day before, they had been happily sitting in their apartment, with his master reading in the arm chair and Naruto curled up at his feet.

Ah.

So this is how easy it is to extinguish human life.

"Oi!" Sasuke called hotly, stalking over to the immobile fox. "What the fuck are you-"

His sentence died in his throat as Naruto finally met his gaze, and the raven-haired man felt a chill travel down his spine as he stared into dark globes. Naruto's eyes no longer held even a hint of crimson; they had been completely engulfed by darkness, and Sasuke could not even begin to see their depths.

Dangerous.

Sasuke was blanketed by the same premonition he had had in the beginning, all the way back when he was still in the Nursery. It was the same feeling that had called him to Naruto in the first place.

It was raw power.

It was madness.

When he blinked, the fox was gone. It took him a few seconds to realize that Naruto had leaped into the air, and he could only watch as the fox floated amidst the next set of ice needles that Zabuza had prepared. With a growl, each needle set on fire, and it rained flames as they fell to the ground. Faster than Sasuke's eye could follow Naruto landed on the ground and went charging to the other side of their prison, his nose scrunched in a terrific snarl.

Sasuke fought a shiver.

So powerful.

The fox growled again and the mirror in front of him burst into flames. Without hesitation, the fox charged through the wall of fire he had just created, and for a moment he left Sasuke's sights. Only seconds later the ice mirrors surrounding them came crashing down as Haku was thrown into the middle of the circle, his body shattering through sheets of ice that still remained.

Though the fox was now moving better than Sasuke could have ever imagined, he could not deny the feeling of unrest within him as Naruto jumped on top of the struggling cat, using his weight to press Haku to the ground. The blonde's lips were still drawn back in a deep snarl, showing off sharp canines that seemed to be begging to be buried into the cat's throat.

Naruto's actions were not normal, and Sasuke was not comfortable settling the battle in such a way.

"Hey." He spoke as Naruto used one paw to hold Haku's head against the ground.

The fox didn't acknowledge his voice, and a vein throbbed in Sasuke's forehead.

That brat did not have the right to ignore him!

"SHITTY FOX."

In one swift moment Sasuke crossed over to where Naruto pinned Haku to the ground and delivered a merciless kick to the fox's side. Naruto went flying, his eyes wide with surprise as he crashed into one of the trees surrounding the clearing. Sasuke watched the impact with satisfaction before striding to stand next to the fox's form, his arms crossed as he glared down at the fox sternly.

Naruto's eyes were back to their regular crimson as he stared up at him with his jaw slacked.

"Are you back to normal now?" Sasuke said roughly, his lips stretched in a straight line. "Shitty fox."

"Ah." The fox finally spoke for the first time. His eyes nervously scampered back to his wounds. "I…"

"I'm fine. You're overreacting." The raven-haired man snapped, feeling weary. He was just finally beginning to understand the weight of his existence to the fox, and the amount of responsibility it entailed.

"I thought I let it happen again." Naruto was back in his human form, and he sat cross-legged with his eyes focused on the ground, cerulean eyes watering. "I thought…"

"You thought wrong." Sasuke ground out, smacking the blonde on the side of his head. "Are you trying to insult me? I don't die easily, you fucktard."

"I'm not scared as long as you're by my side, Naruto."

"Because I know that you'll protect me."

"I can protect myself, dumbass." Sasuke continued, roughly poking Naruto in the forehead with one finger. "So just take care of yourself and we'll both be fine."

The last traces of black vanished from Naruto's eyes as he abruptly burst into laughter.

"What!?" Sasuke barked with a scowl.

"Nothing." Naruto grinned up at him. "Just underestimated you, is all."

"Hn." The raven-haired man sniffed. "Dumbass."

His eyes sharpened as they landed on the two figures approaching them. Zabuza was obviously choosing not to use the same method again as his hand gripped the hilt of his sword, and Haku walked silently at his side, his side bearing gashes from where Naruto had attacked him before.

The raven-haired man quickly readied himself. It was obvious that the cat was more focused on speed than power, similar to Naruto; if he could have the fox face off against him, he could face Zabuza without any further distractions.

"Hey." He spoke quietly. "Take care of that damn cat."

The blonde gave him one side-long look before dipping his head in acknowledgement. With a sudden burst of speed, Naruto launched himself forward as a fox, slamming into Haku's body as Sasuke followed closely behind, his focus on the sharp-toothed hit man.

"Still choosing to fight alone?" Zabuza grinned while Naruto and Haku began to tussle to their side. "Suit yourself."

In a flurry of swings and jutsus, Sasuke and Zabuza continued their battle from before as Naruto and Haku faced off. They circled each other warily, and Haku's eyes glittered keenly as the cat's tail swished back and forth.

"Your bond with that man is still weak."

Naruto's lips pulled back in silent laughter. "I knew that, thanks."

"I can feel your power." The cat spoke amiably. "It is raw and whispers of endless possibilities. Yet it also rings with insanity."

"Shut up." Naruto growled. "You know nothing."

"I hope that your partner will become strong."

The fox halted.

"It's not just him." He spoke. "I, too, am holding us back. I became so obsessed with the past, I forgot to watch the present."

The sudden image of Sasuke towering over him, needles embedded into his body made Naruto swallow thickly.

"My eyes are wide open now." He stated evenly. "And now, they see only Sasuke."

Haku said nothing, but his eyes glinted with a spark of wisdom as he observed his opponent.

"Sasuke will get stronger." The fox snarled, ending the conversation. "And so will I."

The cat laughed. "Such a weak bond will never deter Zabuza and me."

The two animals clashed in a combination of claws and fangs.

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AlexandriteSky: A longer chapter than usual! However, I thought it was really important to emphasize the time when Naruto finally decides to devote himself to Sasuke instead of being stuck in his past. Thanks to all who read this chapter, and please update! It really motivates me to make frequent updates!