Chapter ten.
Forgive me not.

A/N; Thank you all for your kind words and support so far and for encouraging me to continue, it all means so much and drives me to move forward with my passion. I like to think that my writing grows with each chapter and I can't believe how many years this story has continued for, it initially started as just a short, thoughtless way to vent and now it's blossomed into my favorite project! Here's chapter ten, I said I wanted to finish this story this year and here we are, we've reached the second to last chapter. I'm going to finish this off at chapter eleven. I post song lyrics at the beginning of every update but I really feel like this one ties up everything so well. It would be cool if you guys could listen to it before you read!

"I want all that is not mine.
I want him but we're not right.
In the darkness I will meet
my creators,
and they will all agree that I'm a suffocator."
- Smother.

xXx

"You're finally here."

He sounded like a stranger to himself. His voice was choked and raspy. Kakashi nodded and waited for Sasuke to begin the conversation. He was yet to decide on how to say the things he needed to say.

"Where's Naruto?"
"You surprise me Sasuke."

He had not waited this long to dance around the questions that needed answers. He was cornered and helpless.

"Where's Naruto?"
"He's fine. He's upset though."

All of Sasuke's efforts had been futile. He was further from Naruto than he ever had been. Naruto was rightfully upset. Everything that had happened between them had been a complete mess. He would never know how it felt to be with the man that he loved.

"Can I see him?"

Sasuke wasn't admitting anything but more importantly he wasn't denying anything either. It was like he had just accepted it was over and Kakashi didn't want that. He wanted Sasuke to apologize. He didn't want any of it to be true. He wanted a reason to fight for Sasuke's freedom.
He wanted his student and his team back. He wanted to save some someone, just this once.

When he looked back on Obito and Rin he swore if he had a second chance he'd do anything to protect them and to take back those last moments with them. Team 7 was that second chance. He had an opportunity to protect and love again, just as Sasuke did. He couldn't stand to watch it be wasted.

"Naruto is not the only who believed in you Sasuke. He's not the only one who cares about you."

Was it true? Were all the legends and all the hatred towards the Uchiha clan true? Sasuke was the sole survivor of a family bred of hate. He could have been the one to break the cycle but it was so easy for him to follow a path blinded by desire of destruction.

Sasuke said nothing. So Kakashi continued. He held onto the bars that separated them and hung his head in defeat.

"He's not the only one who's tired of trying to save you. No-one ever gave up hope. You've hurt everybody."

It was painful to hear. Kakashi's voice was unsteady and if Sasuke could have seen behind his mask he would have known his lips trembled and his face contorted in anger. He wanted to believe the reason Sasuke hated so passionately was because he loved so deeply but he could not see behind the darkness that shielded Sasuke's heart from the heavy burden of being a part of something bigger than his short sighted goals.

"I'm not who you think I am Sensei."

He had not used such an affectionate term for many years. Kakashi looked up and finally, he understood.

"If you truly believe in me then I don't need to tell you it's not true. You already know I'd never abandon the village."
"Will you tell me why then?"

Sasuke shook his head. His charcoal locks fell across his face and Sasuke refused to say any more. He had made up Kakashi's mind for him. He needed to be the one to tell Naruto.

"I see. You know what this means don't you? I can't hide this any more. Your future in this village is no longer in my hands."

And by that they both understood that what he was saying was it was over. His redemption, his fleeting opportunity to make things right had passed. The past Team Kakashi had once shared was a faded and agonizing memory that Kakashi would do his very best to forget.

The powerful, formidable Uchiha clan of Konohagakure would be extinct. History would forever write them off as parasites that needed to be erased. The Uchiha were at the heart of every war, they had an insatiable thirst for revenge that could never be quenched.

But Kakashi didn't believe that. He believed that Sasuke cared, just not about that. He believed that Sasuke had lost himself a long time ago and forgotten what he truly could have been.

He hesitated to leave and gave Sasuke one last look before turning his head and admitting to himself that he couldn't protect his student anymore.
The first, and most important, decision he made was that he needed to speak to the council.

The second decision he made was that he needed to see Naruto first. Naruto deserved to say his goodbyes.

"Sasuke?"

He wanted to say something more but he wasn't sure what, so he said nothing at all. And with that, he left.

xXx

They came without warning. Kakashi could not have sent them for his surprise was evident. He had barely left when he almost immediately returned, following them back through the stifling dark and into view.

Lord Mitokado-Sama and Lord Utatane-Sama loomed above his cage; he wore his arms crossed across his chest and she let her hands rest clasped behind her back.
Death was not a faceless figure that greeted him in the night, it was the judgment of his Elders, the result of a life lead by a reckless, selfish, disdain towards other life.
It was the bitter scorn that he could see leering down at him through glass lens', manipulated by a figure in the shadows that stood out of sight but watched on with what Sasuke could imagine was nothing short of satisfaction.

He didn't need to see Sai to know it was him. He could sense him and his suffocating aura. Hatred bleed into his veins and goosebumps riddled his skin.

This is what Death was. Death was an instrument in insuring Life's plans were carried out efficiently.

"Uchiha Sasuke. You were warned that the village would not be forgiving if you proved to still be a threat to its people. You assured us and your Sensei, Hatake Kakashi, that your intentions were pure and yet you sit before us awaiting your punishment. If were not for Kakashi's compassion you would never have been given an opportunity to resume your previous status among us in Konoha."

Utatane was a cold woman, but there was doubt on her lips. Kakashi picked up on her under-confidence and saw his moment to speak up.

"What will Naruto say?"
"What does it matter what Naruto has to say about this?"

Mitokado-Sama was growing impatient. There was nothing to discuss. After many years of aggression and corruption between the Uchiha and the Senju clans it was time to put things to rest. His Lord, the second Hokage, Tobirama Senju would not have been so misguided if it were not for his unfortunately compassionate elder brother; Hashirama.

Over many years he had watched the fallen Hokage's of the village's history choose peace and forgiveness over reason and justice.
The Uchiha clan were a liability that had finally reached the end of a vicious reign. A young boy, the demon fox child, was not going to be the deciding factor that yet again put the village in a detrimental position. Kakashi was blinded by his emotions.

"You are a Shinobi. You're a prime candidate to become the next great leader of our people. Put aside your feelings and see reason, Kakashi. This is not up for discussion."

Kakashi could not agree.

"Your point of view is out dated, Mitokado-Sama. Utatane-Sama. We are long past the days of a militaristic leadership. If anybody has been blinded, it's you, by the teachings of Danzo and your own late Sensei, the Second."

Sasuke was well aware of the position his Sensei was setting himself up for and he couldn't begin to understand why Kakashi felt so passionately about his freedom. After all, it wasn't just Naruto he'd hurt.
It was a lot of other people.

"If we're going to discuss Lord Danzo, we may as well discuss the young man who killed him. Whether you agree with principles or not is highly irrelevant, Danzo was acting Hokage when Sasuke murdered him. We can't let that go unpunished."

Danzo was not murdered. He had actively sought out to find Sasuke without approval from the surrounding nations and their Kage.
Wave after wave of Root Ninja squads had ambushed Team Taka, taking their time to hit them just when they found a moment to rest, in an organized assault once Sasuke's location and intentions had been discovered.

The Akatsuki were gone. One by one the remaining members had been picked off and Tobi, who had taken Sasuke under his wing, had fled once he lost his key players in a battle he once so surely spoke of.

There was no battle. There was death and defeat and seemingly there was peace with an under-current of rising tension between neighboring lands.

People were beginning to get bored again and resources were low. It was only a matter of time before the cycle of greed, war and suffering started all over again.
Sasuke and Taka planned to take advantage of the moment the Kage were done finished sitting still.

For some time Sasuke had lay in wait and went about gathering his resources before Danzo finally tracked him down and attacked when Sasuke was at his weakest.
Jugo didn't make it. Karin fled and her she lost her use as a Taka pawn, he did not care for her or whether or not she lived. Sasuke could not be sure if Suigetsu had been killed also or if he too had fled. It was about the same time that he disappeared as Danzo finally arrived to the center of the battle.

He allowed many of his men to fall on Sasuke's blade, to wear him down and kill his comrades before he was sure that he could step in.
He was a coward, only attacking when his enemy was at his weakest and still, he was dead.

Sasuke ran. All his plans had fallen through and he had nothing left in the world. He had no comrades. After his brother's death he was even further from finding solace than when he had set out.

Vengeance came with nothing but more hate and more pain. He wandered the lands and hid from the ghosts that chased him. He could not find a reason for being until he returned to Naruto, the only light he'd ever known in his darkness.
All he knew was that Naruto was his path to forgiveness.

"Kakashi-Sensei. This is what needs to be done. He's right. I'm a murderer. You can't defend me anymore."

If he could see Naruto one last time, and promise to stop hurting him, he'd be ready.

"Sensei, listen to them."

The fifth member of their discussion, Sai, emerged from his corner and with ease slipped into his role as the council pet. He bore a piteous look that seemed well rehearsed and Kakashi did not buy it. Not for a minute.

"I won't agree on this until we have spoken to Naruto. He deserves a chance to weigh in on this so we can't just immediately act. After all these years you can't simply ignore the wishes of Lady Tsunade. She would have never allowed this."

While nobody was convinced, it was only Mitokado who voiced his irate displeasure in the form of a grunt and a sigh.

"Kakashi, we've humored you for long enough-"
"Homura that's enough. You have until noon to speak with Naruto. Our decision is set, however, Sasuke you have this time to say your goodbyes to your Team mates."

Not another word was spoken as the corridor cleared out and all but one made their way out of Sasuke's silent prison.

"It's what's best for Naruto. It's what's best for everybody, Sasuke. Surely with your eyes, you can clearly see that it's inevitable."
"How so?"
"It's only a matter of time before the villagers finally tire of living with the damage you've caused. You hurt a lot of people and you need to atone for that."

"I'm glad you saw reason."

Sasuke climbed to his feet and stood tall before Sai. He curled his hands around the cold iron bars that kept him sealed and slowly ate away at his chakra like a dull tingling in his veins.

"Naruto will never be yours. Even when I die. He'll always love me."

And then Sai did something that shook Sasuke and filled him with electric pleasure; a toxic truth replaced his blank smile, a bitter snarl that ignited passion in his dead, black eyes.

"I have the rest of my life to convince him of what you were and what I'm not. Your time is nearly up, don't forget that."

Sasuke had nothing more to say and Sai accepted his silence as a victory. He left with the intention of never seeing or never speaking with Sasuke again. Everything had worked out for him and once the execution had taken place he would have what he wanted.

xXx

It was Shikamaru who reached them first.

"Naruto! Sakura!"

He called out. They had been heading in the right direction but were at a loss of where to start. Naruto had suggested the Correctional Facility but Sakura had been there before.

It was tightly run and full of hardened criminals that had long forgotten the forgiving warmth of a summer sun. The windows had been barred and boarded, blocking out the light and the hopeful glimpse of an outside world.
The Correctional Facility was full of hopeless degenerates and Sasuke was not one of them.

She was aware, however, of an underground chamber system that sat beneath the Hokage's mansion from the time that she served as Lady Tsunade's pupil.

She had never seen it for herself but there was talk among the ANBU which spread like wildfire gossip through the mansion and its staff that the chamber system were rows of prison cells that housed S-rank criminals.
The chamber was supposedly designed to be sound proof and pitch black. It was where the Foundation tortured and killed their captives for information.

Of course, she chose not to repeat this information to Naruto. Partially because she always questioned the validity of the rumors but also because telling Naruto would cause nothing but panic and stress.
Instead, with little trouble, she convinced him to lead her to the Hokage's office to find the Council who were acting as temporary stand in's until the sixth Hokage could be chosen.

When Shikamaru tracked them down Sakura found a sense of relief in not having to be stable minded in their search for Sasuke.
She had been forcing herself to stay level headed and strong for Naruto's sake.

"I found Sasuke and I found something out as well. You guys are going to want to hear this."

Shikamaru took a pause to catch his breath and evaluate the fragile eyes that bore into him with a desperate plea that that 'something' was confirmation of the doubt that was slowly shrinking was in fact the only truth of their day.

"Sasuke-"
"Needs to speak with you. The two of you need to come with me."

In a cloud of smoke their Sensei appeared behind them. His hands were clenched at his side and wished she could have seen through the mask that hid his anguish.

"What's going on Kakashi-Sensei? What aren't you telling us?"

Naruto heard a tremble in her cracking voice. He could not find the courage the force himself to speak. A cool wind blew against his skin and the thin hairs on the back of his neck stood rigid.

"The decision fell from my hands and the council have made up their minds. Sasuke has been granted the remainder of today. Tomorrow his death will take place."

xXx

"Sakura? Would you like to go first?"

She slowly nodded and blinked away residual tears that followed a dried path of previous sorrows. With his arm around her shoulders Kakashi guided her towards the door that lead to Sasuke and closed it behind him; engulfing them in darkness and leaving Naruto and Shikamaru on the other side.

''Naruto?"

Naruto could not respond. When the decision had been handed to him, whether or not Sasuke was to return to the village or pay for his crimes, he had a choice. But it had been taken from him and now he realized he would always choose for Sasuke to live alongside him in the village as his equal, his friend and his lover.

He would choose it every time. For a moment there, he'd forgotten who he was and what he stood for.

"We can work this out, this can't be the end of it."
"But it is. A part of me always knew that Sasuke could never be ours and that we couldn't force him to come home. Even when he did I never believed it. I'll never get him back no how hard I try. Sasuke has been gone for a very long time."

And Sakura made her way towards the flickering of a soft, dying flame. A shadow emerged as they approached, their echoing footsteps bounced into the emptiness and alerted Sasuke to their arrival.

When she finally saw his face she began to cry again.

"Oh Sasuke!"

He would have sighed and rolled his eyes but he didn't, instead he pressed himself against the cool metal and extended his hand which she accepted and squeezed tightly.

"I never wanted you to see me like this."

Her eyes, a delicate shade of honeydew melon, glistened and washed over him in an invasive manner that made him feel like he was on display.

"Why did you try to leave again? Is what Naruto said true?"

She pulled away from him and covered her mouth with her hands. Sasuke shook his head and she let out a loud, relieved sob.

"No."

He told her.

"I wasn't running away. I was trying to find him. Sai told me to check out the training field, he set me up."

Admitting it out loud sounded crazy. He hadn't said anything for so long because it barely sounded true to himself.
But Naruto was safe all along and in hindsight it had taken little to no effort on Sai's behalf to lure Sasuke to his death.

A Shinobi should never let his feelings get in the way.

He knew that now. He was no loss though, as long as he made sure Naruto kept away from the guileful former Root member. Sai was Danzo's right hand man, and it made him question whether his blind hatred came from his love for Naruto or his lust to see Sasuke atone for Danzo's death.

"I need you to promise me Sakura, I need you to keep an eye on Sai and watch over Naruto for me. You can't trust his intentions and the same goes for you Sensei. You need to make sure he stays away from Sai. Promise me that."

Sakura nodded fervently. Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder and gently shook it.

"We need to let Naruto say goodbye. He's probably getting impatient."

She looked into his eyes one last time and smiled feebly.

"Goodbye Sasuke. I haven't told you this but.. I still love you. Even after all this time."
"Sakura. I can't be the person you need me to be. I'm sorry for all these years, I want you to be happy."

It hurt to hear that but she accepted it. She could finally let go. He was right, they weren't meant for each other. He was meant for Naruto. Maybe if he'd figured it out earlier they could have all be happy. Maybe Sasuke would have never left the village.

"Goodbye."

It was too late to dwell on it, even as she turned her back and walked away without one last glance.

xXx

"Naruto, it's time."

Time seemed to be moving quite quickly and Naruto was hardly prepared. He was sure of one thing though, he wanted to spend his time with Sasuke alone. Just the two of them.

"Can you wait here Sensei? I have to do this myself."

He didn't wait for a response. He entered the corridor and ran his hand along the wall and rows of prison cells closest to him to help guide him to his friend.
He could feel Kyuubi begin to stir and shortly after beginning his searching a deep, disgruntled voice spoke to him.

"I can smell decay. These walls are slowly draining our Chakra. Leave now Naruto."

Kyuubi's voice was a low rumble that boiled in Naruto's belly and formed goosebumps on his skin. He ignored it and continued forward.

"Baka. Turn around now!"

Kyuubi spoke louder, panic rang clear in his tone. Naruto found himself even more desperate to reach the end of the impairing hall.

"Sasuke!"

He called out and somewhere ahead a voice called back.

"Naruto?"

Naruto began to run and before him appeared a light. He couldn't see anything else so he set his goal for there. The air was thick with musk and his heart was heavy. When he appeared, Sasuke was pressed firmly against his cell door and his hands were wrapped tightly around the bars.

Naruto made no hesitation in reaching through to touch his face.

"Sasuke."

He was out of breath.

"Naruto."

With great restrictions they pressed their foreheads together and Sasuke felt Naruto cry; painful, gut wrenching sobs that filled Sasuke with a pain he'd never known.

"Please don't die. Please don't let them do this. Let me get you out of here, we'll run away together! Far away from the Village!"

Sasuke pulled Naruto as close as he could and pressed their lips together. His lips were wet with tears that tasted like salt and he trembled under Sasuke's touch. It felt natural.
It felt like a hidden truth they had both longed for since as far as they both could remember.
When Sasuke pulled away Naruto tried to stop him but the cell prevented them from getting any closer.
At the back of his mind Naruto was aware of the nullifying ebb that kept them both sedated and tamed the beast that continually protested to no avail.

"You can't make this harder than it is Naruto. What about being Hokage? The village needs you. Don't throw away your dream for this."

Naruto shook his head and backed away from the comforting orange glow. Even then his eyes were so bright, so intense that Sasuke could see them clearly. He wanted that image to etch into his thoughts.
He wanted to close his eyes and see that endless ocean through the ceaseless darkness that he faced.

"I wanted to be accepted by you, none of that matters! I'll never forgive them for this! If that's what being a Hokage means, saying goodbye to your friends then I don't want that! All I want is you!"

He collapsed into a heap on the ground. They both knew goodbye was never going to be easy.

"Please Naruto.."
"Why Sasuke? Why did you do this?"

His voice was muffled by his hands.

"I didn't try to run away from you. I was trying to find you, I knew something had happened to you when you left with Sai."

There were a lot of vile questions that tried to fill his heart with resentment such as why Naruto hadn't just gone home with him, why Naruto had chosen Sai, and if he didn't want this why couldn't they make things right before it reached a point of irrevocable damage? But Sasuke had learned to put aside those voices. A little too late.

"Then why don't you do something about this! Why are you just accepting this?"

He stood up again, this time he emerged with something more akin to anger and Sasuke knew, he'd miss even that once Naruto had left.

"Naru-"
"No! Just stop it! Just leave with me, I know we can get out of here!"
"Naruto, I'm going to try to leave. I can't escape this, it's what I deserve. I betrayed the village. I'm an S-rank criminal. I never truly had a second chance, allowing me back into the village was just a way to spare you any more pain. Pain that I've caused you over all these years."

Naruto moved closer.

"I'm sorry."

Sasuke waited for a response, and while he did he heard someone else heading their way.

"If you can't leave, then neither can I. I want to be with you until the end."

Kakashi had returned. Their time was up, Naruto was to be escorted back into the mansion and they would never be together again. But Naruto wouldn't allow it.

"I'm sorry. We need to leave now. The Council have returned."

He extended a sorrowful glance and motioned for Naruto to follow him but Naruto was stubborn. He wasn't leaving with nothing short of a fight.

"No. I'm not leaving. I'm staying here, in there, with Sasuke. You can lock me up too."

xXx