Disclaimer: yeah...not mine...I know stop reminding me...

AN: Thank you guys for reviewing...I'm upping it to R because in the future it might get a little more violent and limey...but who doesn't like limey

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Chapter Two:

Uchiha Sasuke sat staring into space, not aware of time; nor did he notice the rain pouring down on him. He wrapped his arms and legs around him for security as the rain fell in torrents upon him. His mind reeled with nervous anxiety, and he gnawed on his lip fretfully.

Itachi? He's...back? The thought danced in his mind painfully, nagging him like a burr. He quickly wrenched the burr away, however; Itachi wasn't his biggest concern at the moment. He clenched his fists and slammed one against a tree trunk next to him, staring out at the training ground before him.

He had trailed after Kakashi to ask him a question—what it was, he couldn't remember—and had seen him stop at the training ground as though waiting for someone. When the white haired Sannin Sasuke had only seen from a distance appeared, Sasuke knew he should leave. But then the Sannin had mentioned Naruto and he couldn't force himself to move.

His body, tensed as they spoke of the battle between Gaara and Naruto which he remembered so well, had begun to tremble at their next words. Naruto...the kyuubi...it all made SENSE now. Naruto had been the vessel in which the demon fox had been sealed by the Fourth Hokage. He had never known, but now that he did, he felt as if he had always known.

It stung him a bit to know Naruto had not mentioned any of this to him, but he didn't focus on this. Naruto was...going to DIE. When the kyuubi would break free of the seal, Naruto would be dead. Not the dead-but-not-really he had been when he had fought Haku, but honestly DEAD.

Sasuke clenched his fists tighter, digging his blunt nails into his skin, gripping so tightly he drew blood. The warm crimson dribbled down his palms to mingle with the rain as it fell on his arms, coursing down to his wrist. He started to cry.

"Dobe, you can't die. You're too lucky to die. You've just got to live—I know you're not going to die. I know it. You're my only friend, you idiot." He pulled his fist back and slammed it against the tree again, over and over, punching violently. His knuckles were soon raw and bloodied, but he punched on desperately, as though the pain was a release, the outlet in which he sought solace.

"NARUTO! NARUTO! NARUTO! NARUTO!" Each slam of his fist matched his words; he cried out his friend's name as his flesh thudded against the wooden trunk. Splinters flew into his hand, but he continued to gnash at the wood. "NARUTO! NARUTO! NARUTO!"

Fingers wrapped around his arm, clenching it tightly. He turned his head and saw Kakashi staring at him with concern. He had neither seen nor heard his sensei; though it was raining, he still should have sensed the familiar presence.

Sasuke jerked his hand out of Kakashi's grip, embarrassed, realizing his sensei had heard him chant his "rival's" name over and over. "Kakashi-sensei. What do you want?" he snapped.

"I want you to stop being an idiot," his sensei retorted. Sasuke looked away guiltily, and mumbled an apology. "Come on, let's get you out of the rain."

"Kakashi-sensei...was it true?"

"Was what true, Sasuke?"

"What you and the Sannin were speaking about?'

"Heh, so you heard the conversation between me and Jiraiya, then," he laughed bitterly. "Yes, Sasuke. It was true. All of it."

"So you mean...Naruto is...the kyuubi?" he asked, disbelief in his voice, even though he knew.

"Yes, even that. Naruto was chosen to be the vessel for the kyuubi when Yondaime sealed him in there. Yondaime chose him because Naruto is his—" Kakashi stopped quickly. "Well, that's not important. Naruto has within him, the demon fox that attacked Konoha 17 years ago."

"Why didn't anyone tell me this before?"

"Because none of the children are supposed to know. You were all supposed to be able to treat Naruto as though he was normal because you wouldn't know what was different about him. That was Yondaime's plan—for Naruto be regarded as a normal child or a hero, if anything—but none of the villages trusted him after the death of the Fourth. Their distrust rubbed off on the children."

"You know...Kakashi...I used to hate him."

"Naruto? Hated him? Why?"

"Because he was so hurt and yet still nice to everyone." Sasuke winced, remembering a day etched in his memory. "When he and I were attending the academy, one day I had forgotten to make myself a lunch, and Naruto came over to me." Sasuke laughed sadly. "He asked me, in his little annoying voice, if I wanted some of his lunch. It looked so disgusting, and I told him. I told him to go away, said he was annoying." Sasuke sighed fitfully. "But I didn't mean it...it just...bothered me, that he could be so nice even though he was alone."

"Sasuke..." Kakashi began, but he had no idea what he could say to the boy. Sasuke had hurt his friend years ago for no reason.

"I envy him. I envy him with every fiber of my being. He's an incredible person, and he doesn't even know that. He motivates everyone around him by his blind stupidity and faith in himself." Sasuke laughed softly, a hollow, cold laugh. "I hated his happiness and his friendliness. And when he began to like Sakura—f" Kakashi couldn't be sure, but he thought he heard anger in Sasuke's voice, just there. "Only to find out she liked ME...he hated me for it, something I had no control over."

Kakashi embraced the boy softly, muttering to him. "'Sasuke...don't fret about things that happened in the past. You and Naruto are friends now. Don't spend time in the past."

"But Kakashi...if I think about the present—or the future—I'll think about Naruto.: Sasuke looked away, vaguely noticing the rain was beginning to lessen. "Naruto's going to DIE, Kakashi-sensei. He CAN'T die. I need him..." Sasuke choked out. "I love him."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow involuntarily. Sasuke hastily plunged on. "I don't love him like that, Kakashi-sensei. But he means more to me than any other person ever has. I can't bear the thought of losing another person close to me."

"I know what you mean, Sasuke...but you can't go with him."

"WHY?!"

"Because," Kakashi said, tightening his grip on the Uchiha. "Were the kyuubi to seize Naruto's spirit, Naruto wouldn't be able to tell from friend from foe and could do nothing against the kyuubi even if he could. The kyuubi would know you, however, and would attack you before anyone else."

"That's not a good reason, Kakashi. I don't care about myself—if I can help Naruto, I have to go." The Uchiha's gaze darted down to his feet that he shuffled awkwardly. "I just want to do anything I can to help him..."

Kakashi smiled at him fondly. "Sasuke, Jiraiya will be with him. Don't worry. Jiraiya will do everything he can to take care of Naruto—even give up his life to save him. Yondaime's...legacy...will be protected, I swear."

"I just can't help feeling like I'd be making a mistake by staying here, Kakashi-sensei. Naruto needs me, even if he doesn't know it yet. I just have to be there for him."

"Sasuke, you cannot go after Naruto." The Jounin gripped Sasuke's shoulders and shoved him away, staring into his eyes intently. The rain stopped completely suddenly, but a streak of lightning flashed and crackled across the dark sky. "Sasuke, listen to me. You will be putting yourself at danger if you follow him. Do you understand?"

Sasuke untangled himself from Kakashi's embrace and nodded firmly. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei. I won't do anything without thinking, I promise."

Kakashi nodded at him, smiling softly. "Come, then. Let's go dry you off."