Disclaimer: Naruto is copyright Kishimoto Masashi and related enterprises. I am merely borrowing the characters for my own amusement.
Opening Notes: Compared to most of my friends, I'm a relative newbie in the Naruto field. If I make a mistake, please do not hesitate to tell me so I can correct it accordingly. However, do keep in mind that this is an AU fic, so some events will not correspond with the manga/anime timelines.
The story itself takes place in the middle of Episode 133, after Sasuke burns up the chain of Naruto clones...and it deviates from there. Enjoy your stay!
"Oh, for the time when I shall sleep
Without identity."
- Emily Bronte
"A...amazing," Naruto muttered in shock, staring blankly at Sasuke's shoes. Shockingly enough, the Uchiha had destroyed all of his clones with his fireball jutsu. The only reason that Naruto was alive right now (and not a well-done piece of meat) was the fact that he had the Nine-tails' chakra protecting him.
But still...
His body hurt like hell. It screamed at him for being an idiot and clinging to Sasuke's ankles instead of hiding at the bottom of the river like any sane person would have done. His hands hissed at the heat of the lava-encrusted earth beneath his fingers. And there was a distinct smell of charred flesh in the air, though the Nine-tails had healed most of the damage for him already.
In the silence following the attack, Sasuke spoke.
"Shut up, Naruto."
His voice was deeper, taking on a distinctly gravelly tone. In one swift motion the sable-haired Uchiha was dangling Naruto by his jacket cuff, glaring at him with Sharingan eyes.
"It's already too late, Naruto!" With a growl, Sasuke flung Naruto off the edge of the cliff and dived after him. His hands closed around Naruto's ankles while his feet caught the blonde boy in a vicious headlock.
Their descent was swiftly vertical. Two seconds later, there was a sickening crunch. Naruto had impacted headfirst into the rocky shore beneath the cliff. His body, released from Sasuke's grasp, slowly flopped down to the ground and rolled into the river, where it floated limply. The neck was twisted back at an impossibly sharp angle.
Back on shore, Sasuke stumbled away, only to fall to his hands and knees as an inexplicable urge to vomit overcame him. He gagged and heaved, but nothing came up but foul-tasting bile.
Damn it, I'm not this weak!
Sasuke clenched his fist and covered his mouth with his free hand, still gagging.
This is...this is what I've wanted all along. That's why this fight has meaning!
More coughing. Sasuke forced himself to stop and turned to look at Naruto.
The river's surface was shrouded in a fine layer of mist. Above the cliffs, the blue sky was marred with streaks of black clouds, promising rain in the near future. And between them both laid his opponent, his body still and unmoving.
Sasuke's mind flashed back to Itachi's words.
-o-
"You are also capable of activating the Mangekyou Sharingan. But, there is a requirement for that.
You must kill...
...your closest friend."
-o-
Naruto wasn't moving.
Any minute now. Sasuke thought, expecting the stupid dobe to get up and laugh, calling him names for being so weak.
"Ha! You think you're so great?" Naruto would taunt him. "That didn't hurt at all, you dumbass! You can't kill me—I'm going to be the next Hokage!"
Silence, but for the roaring of the falls behind him.
Come on, dead last. Sasuke gritted his teeth. Get up. Show me what's so special about you that brother would pick you over me.
And still...
Naruto wasn't moving.
Another voice popped up in his head.
"I'm dead, dumbass."
Naruto's voice.
Crap.
Sasuke got to his feet and watched in silence as the body of his best friend drifted down the river.
The pupils in his eyelids twisted and merged together to form a new pair of eyes.
The Mangekyou Sharingan.
"I told you already," Sasuke muttered, eyes fading to black. "I don't have a future with Konoha anymore."
He turned and ran for the forest.
I won't turn back.
Five hundred feet downriver, a small body was slowly being engulfed by red chakra. A finger twitched, and fell still.
Closing Notes: Short, I know. XP As for that last part, Itachi never elaborated on whether a friend really had to be as dead as a doorknob before one could get the Mangekyou Sharingan...or whether the person killing their friend just had to believe he was dead. So basically, I'm taking creative license here. Nyahh!