Shadows within a Dream

By: Kisu

A/N: I wanted a really pretty name for this fic, finally settling for Moonlight Shadows and then later switching it to "Shadows within a Dream" I think it's perfect!

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me…(but I wished Sasuke did..damn he's a hottie)

Part 1.3: I've Awakened

Sasuke, I can't stay here anymore.

-Dobe…what are you saying?-

Get well soon, you arrogant bastard.

-Naruto…you baka.-

-Naruto…-

-Naruto?-

"NARUTO!" Sasuke's eyes shot open and he breathed heavily. As he tried to sit up, pain lanced through him and he groaned. Sakura's worried face came into his line of vision.

"Sasuke-kun! You woke up!" Sakura smiled. "I'm so glad!"

"Sakura…where's Naruto?" Sasuke asked.

"Well you know that idiot. He's always gone when you need him most." Sakura laughed. Her face fell as Sasuke stared at her.

"Sakura, don't toy with me." He said, sharply.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto is gone." Sakura replied, quietly.

"Gone?" Sasuke's eyes widened.

…I can't stay here anymore.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura questioned when she noticed that he had spaced out.

"Why?" Sasuke whispered. "Why? That…that….IDIOT!" He struggled to sit up and Sakura gasped.

"Sasuke-kun! Don't stress yourself!" She cried.

"It wasn't his fault that I got hurt, the seal! The seal made him lost control! It wasn't Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, angrily.

"My, my. What's all the commotion about?" Kakashi walked into the room.

"Sensei! You have to go after Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, desperately.

"He left days ago." Kakashi replied, calmly.

"What is wrong with all of you!?" Sasuke demanded, his body shaking with anger. "Don't you care what happens to him? What happened to teamwork?"

"Sasuke-kun." Sakura murmured.

"You won't get any better if you act like this." They looked up to see a beautiful woman walk into the room.

"Godaime-sama!" Sakura greeted the woman. Tsunade nodded to her and walked over to grab the clipboard at the foot of the bed. She examined the contents with interest before putting the clipboard back.

"You have to go after Naruto!" Sasuke burst out suddenly.

"I'm glad that he has people that care that strongly about him." Tsunade smiled. Sasuke suddenly felt uncomfortable and looked away.  This wasn't him. Why was he worried about Naruto? He shouldn't be acting like this.

"You have every right to be worried." Tsunade smiled. "But don't worry, the situation is all under control." She walked over to him and firmly pushed him back onto the mattress. "After all, he is Konoha's future. He won't disappoint me."

"That's right, Sasuke-kun! Naruto's goal is to become Hokage and surpass everyone! That's his ninja way!" Sakura exclaimed.

"I sent Jiraiya after him. They'll be back in exactly two years from today." Tsunade told him.

"Two years." Sasuke closed his eyes, tiredly.

"Then you two can go at it like cats and dogs again." Kakashi said, pleasantly.

"Perhaps then, he would have matured and harnessed the Nine-tails' power." Tsunade spoke up as she crossed the room to the window. "That boy will become the greatest Hokage that ever lived."

"Hokage. Yes that's right." Sasuke mumbled before closing his eyes.

It was silent as the three of them watched the youngest survivor of the Uchiha clan sleep.

"Naruto is wonderful, isn't he?" Sakura said, quietly. "He has done so much for us and we haven't done anything for him." She glanced down at the floor and studied the black and white tiles. "He's changed Neiji-kun, Sasuke-kun, Hinata, and Gaara. He was there, always lending his support through that loud mouth of his."

"He made me become Hokage." Tsunade smiled, softly. "That boy has undying determination."

"Naruto is one of a kind. It's what makes him special to us." Kakashi said. "That's why he was chosen." Kakashi walked over to the window and focused on the last face carved into the Hokage monument. "Isn't that right, Sensei?" He smiled. A lone breeze wafted through the window and ruffled their hair. A bird took off from the trees and was followed by another. They circled higher and higher into the bright sunlight.

Uchiha Sasuke.

The voice slithered through his mind and Sasuke froze. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a field of flowers and the wind was cool and refreshing. Overhead, the sun beat down on his bare arms with gentle warmth. "Where am I?" He asked. No one answered him and there was no sound, in exception of the occasional rustle of the wind blowing across the field, sending petals dancing around him.

"Sasuke!" Naruto was suddenly in the field. Even at his 16 years of age, he still held the charm and immaturity of a boy. His blue eyes gleamed and the sun made his golden hair, glow. Naruto waved to him and spun in a full circle. "It's a beautiful day!"

"Yeah." Sasuke smiled.

I'll take away what you love.

Sasuke turned his head sharply.

I'll take away everything that you care about.

"Who's there?" He yelled, turning to find the speaker. "Come out!"

I'll take him.

"What?" Sasuke froze and his frightened dark eyes flickered over to the boy in the flowers. "Naruto!" He yelled, lunging forward with his hand outreached. "NARUTO!"

"Sasuke? What's wrong?" Naruto asked, giving him a sunny smile. His hand reached out for his and when their fingertips brushed, the sky became dark. Naruto froze, his mouth opened in a shocked gasp. The light disappeared from his blue eyes and a trickle of blood made its way down the corner of his mouth.

"No!" Sasuke gasped. His arms reached out to encircle him, and when they made contact, Naruto shattered. The flowers were wiped away and the sky was a dark red, the color of blood. "Naruto! Where are you? Naruto!"

Can you protect him, now?

"DAMN YOU!" Sasuke yelled, shooting up in bed. His hands clenched at his blanket and he breathed heavily. He buried his face in his hand and realized it was the same one had that Naruto had stabbed his kunai in. It was the same one that spilt the blood he had swore on. Naruto's lifeless face continued to linger in the back of his mind and he jerked the blankets aside. He stood up, and tested his ability to carry his own weight. "Had too much time resting." He announced as he walked over to the closet. He opened the door to see his clothes, washed and cleaned. Quickly, he got dressed and took one more look around the room. With a smirk, he opened the window and got ready to jump out of it. "You're right. While Naruto trains, I will train. But I won't give in to you. Naruto cannot be so easily killed."

Sasuke jumped out the window, and flung out his arms as he soared toward the ground. Before he reached there, he made a neat somersault in the air and landed lightly on a branch of a tree.

730 days more to go.

He'll go find Kakashi and see if he was willing to train with him.

Besides, why should Naruto have all the fun?

TBC… End of Part 1 It gets better! Really I swear!