Uchiha Sasuke. That's all you need to know about me. That's all that's important to you. Maybe my trouble with Naruto's stubborn ass is important. It's in the past, so it doesn't matter to me to talk about. After I told him my feelings, he did what only Naruto would do: Run away.

I stood on the bridge alone. Sakura joined after a while, but Naruto wasn't anywhere to be found. Kakashi-sensei even arrived before the stupid blonde.

"Where's Naruto?" the Copy Ninja asked.

I remained still, fear building up inside of me. I was scared that he had succeeded in killing himself. "I haven't seen him since last night," I said.

"I hope nothing's happened," Sakura said, worriedly. She was only voicing my fears.

"He's not one to try to hurt himself," Kakashi-sensei said. "He would jump into a battle without thinking, though."

"Don't say he's not suicidal," I said in a soft voice a little angry that Kakashi-sensei could assume so much when he knew so little. "He tried to drown himself yesterday after he talked to Sakura. I was able to save him, but just barely. He was unconscious for about five hours."

Kakashi-sensei and Sakura were a little stunned. The latter broke down into the tears after a short period of silence.

"I know where Naruto is," Iruka-sensei said, walking up on the other side of the bridge. "He went to the Village of the Hidden Sand to stay with Gaara. If you leave now, you can get there before he can leave again."

"Why did he leave!" Sasuke demanded.

"He needs to be somewhere where he doesn't have to worry about who he is. He just needed som… Hey! Sasuke wait!"

I had run off to the edge of town and was leaving completely. I was going to the Village of the Hidden Sand by myself. I had to stop Naruto. There was no way Naruto was going to just walk out of my life. He didn't have to travel to the Hidden Sand to find someone to love him. I love him.

I kept running until nightfall. I leaned against a tree, panting. Someone came from a clearing ahead of me and stopped. I was too tired to look up and see who it was. I took a step forward, but collapsed on the ground.

I saw a fire when I woke. I didn't know where it had come from, but it was warm. There was a jacket over me that added to the warmth. I looked around because I felt a familiar presence. It was dark still and it must have been the middle of the night. I saw the blonde hair first, then the amazing blue eyes as he looked at me. He was wearing the black T-shirt he wore under his jacket. I looked down and saw that it was his jacket over me.

"You weren't lying when you said you loved me, were you?" the blonde asked in a soft voice.

I sat up, holding his jacket tightly around my shoulders. "No, usuratonkachi, I wasn't. I'm sorry for punching you last night. I was…" I looked down. "I was afraid that you had killed yourself."

"You had every right to punch me. Who am I to tell you that you're feelings are a lie? I know that mine are. I don't hate you and I've always thoutht of you as more than a rival or friend." Naruto went silent for a long time. It was so silent that my ears were ringing.

I wanted to break the silence, but I had no idea what to say. I looked at the dirt between me and the fire.

"You probably should get some more sseep," Naruto whispered. "It's still early. We should head back in the morning."

A strong breeze swept through their clearing, making us both shiver. I handed Naruto his jacket, but he refused.

"I don't want it," the blonde insisted. "You need it more."

I moved closer to him and pt the jacket around his shoulders. Then, I wrappd my arms around him. I felt him lean into me after I saw his ears turn red. I smiled and rested my head on his. We both fell asleep like this.

I woke up first. I laid Naruto on the ground and stirred the fire. Before long, Naruto was awake, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Morning, usuratonkachi," I said, holding back a smile. The moron was cute when he was still half awake.

"Did you bring ramen?" Naruto asked, sleepily. "I forgot my ramen."

I let out a smirk. "No, I didn't bring anything," I admitted. "I started after you right from our meeting place on the bridge. I'll treat you to ramen when we get back."

Naruto leaned on my shoulder after a short nod. The poor boy was still half-asleep. I pulled him close and held him.

After a few minutes, Naruto turned his head to look at the fire. "Can we still go see Gaara?" he asked.

"Of course," I said. "I would need to get my things together, first. And you need ramen."

Naruto nodded and stood. "We should head back, then," he said. He was back to his usual self, fox grin and all. I put out the fire and they started back.

Sakura slapped Naruto for a greeting, but it just made me angry. He was still trying to get her attention, even though he had accepted my feelings for him. I sighed, giving up on the situation. /He'll come around sooner or later/ I thought.

"So, Sakura," Naruto started. "Want to go on another date?"

I growled at him. "What the hell is wrong with you, usuratonkachi!" I yelled, pissed off.

Naruto laughed. "Everything is wrong with me, I guess," he said. I couldn't believe that he could say that with a stupid-looking grin on his face. He turned to Kakashi-sensei as if it never happened. "What are we doing today?" He seemed to have forgotten about visiting Gaara. I sighed.

"I got it off for you again," the Jounin said. "Go home and rest."

Naruto grinned even more and looked happy. He turned to me. "Let's go get ramen, then!" he shouted.

I nodded and followed him to the shop. I smiled at his back as he talked mindlessly. I didn't mind that he had forgotten. I sat next to him at the counter and bought the ramen. Naruto was happy that he didn't have to pay for it. I wanted him to know how serious I wanted to be anyway. I looked up from my food to see Naruto had hardly eaten.

"What's wrong?" I asked, becoming worried again.

"There's something you should know…" he said softly and sadly. "I'll understand if you won't want anything to do with me after this…" He sighed, but didn't move.

I waited for him to continue. "What is it?" I asked when he was silent.

"Do you remember the story of the Nine-Tails that attacked Konoha sixteen years ago? (A/N: They're sixteen or seventeen) The Fourth Hokage locked him inside of me. I killed him and now… I'm a monster."