Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. However, I might be able to hire him for a little bit. Oh wait...

I'll keep this short. Sorry for the wait. And enjoy...

Movement 2: Betrayal

To betray...

The term is relative. Some betray people, to which the result is death, or chaos. Some betray ideals, which can lead to either revolution, or destruction. One thing that is common about betrayal, no matter what is betrayed, is the devastation it brings. This is because of what it destroys.

Trust...

Trust is binding, the chain that keeps people connected. The stronger the chain is between people, the more devastating the result when it's finally broken. Some people feel anger, nothing but rage and vengeance in their hearts. These people are either quickly cut down or quickly disappointed. The other kind is hopelessness. A loss of more than trust, this feeling is more like an overall loss of faith in humanity. These people may never get over it, or choose to end their life rather than shoulder the burden.

I was a man of vengeance once, and my good friend Sakura was the woman of hopelessness. In my rage and blind devotion, I promised the most important person to me that I'd return this traitor to us, no matter the cost. I would find this to soon be a lost cause, in more ways than one.

But my story doesn't start with the fight with Sakuke Uchiha, nor does it start with the failed attempt to bring him back. My story starts in a hospital bed, in a world of hurt...

The first thing I remember after my eyes opened was the large pain that now shot through me, like my nerves were sadistically waiting for me to regain consciousness before sending the signals to my brain. The second thing was a little less painful, as the sunlight hit my eyes as it loomed over Konoha Village for the start of a new day.

The Third sight was not painful at all, Sakura, in all her red and pink glory, was at the hospital room window, the wind gently teasing her short hair, giving her the look of a solemn warrior.

Sakura, upon seeing the patient awakening, turned to Naruto and gave a gentle smile.


She smiled at me, which was a rarity in itself. This one however, was even rarer, as it was a genuine look from a friend.

"Naruto, it's good to see you're ok," she spoke to him.


As much as I wanted to, even if I was able to in the first place, I couldn't just be overwhelmed with joy at that moment. Just seeing her there once, and my memories came back to remind me of my failure to her. No, not just to her, to myself as well. Still, I had to say something to her about it.

"Sakura," I said a bit shakily. "I'm...I'm sorry I couldn't bring him back to you. I failed to keep my promise to you."


As the last words left my mouth I prepared to be hit, to be spat on, for Sakura to just plain-out despise me.

Sakura shook her head slightly, almost confused by his dramatics. "Its ok Naruto, you don't' need to worry about that anymore. Right now, you just need to recover," she said, giving him another reassuring smile.


I just blinked a few times in disbelief. I look back on that time and think how stupid I was at that point to still think Sakura didn't give a damn about my well-being. Still, I also want to cry when I think of that moment. I guess it's the first time I ever really felt she did have feelings for me. I gave her a stupid nod of my head, and then she started to head out the hospital door.

As much as I wanted to spend some time with her after my recovery, Ero-sennin came into the picture to take me away from Sakura-chan for a while. Well, when I say 'while', I mean TWO AND A HALF FUCKING YEARS! Ah, that felt good. Either way, there I was, sent out into the world again to train, train, and oh yeah, train.

Not to say I wasn't grateful for Jiraiya giving me his training. In fact, after those two years, all of the training paid off when I returned to the village. I still wonder if it was luck, or the last I got to see of 'him.'

Naruto was taking a stroll through the streets, seeing as he had nothing else to do with his person. A rather full moon was out, though its healing light tended to struggle with the partially cloudy sky in its path.


I would see Sakrua on a bench, practicing her techniques on an animal. After a greeting, she let me in that she found a bird along the ground, looking rather battered. Seems she found that the poor fella had a broken wing, and she couldn't resist a chance to use her healing techniques in a real scenario.

Sakura, after what seemed a while, finally stood up off the bench, gently cradling the bird in her hands. With an upward motion, she opened her palms to the sky, freeing the bird to its natural home. A content smile came over her as she lost sight of the animal.

Her moment was interrupted by a whistle, and turning around she saw Naruto with a rather gentle grin on his person.

"That really is something Sakura-chan," he told the young woman. "I've been doing mostly chakra training, and even I can't control it that well. You got some magic fingers there," he chuckled rather perversely at that last comment.

Unfortunately, Sakura caught on to his double-meaning...

"Grr, you lousy little prick! Don't think I saw through your fake comments!" She took out her knuckle-gloves. Naruto inwardly gulped, as he knew all too well what happened the last time she had those on.


Just as I was about to get a taste of godly strength, it seems God Himself decided to throw me and Sakura-chan a curve ball.. in the form of a windmill shuriken...

As the giant star landed between Naruto and Sakura, a slight and subtle chuckle could be heard at their cautionary reaction.

"Well, at least you two aren't so far gone that you can't dodge a basic attack."


That sentence would remain with me for the rest of my life. Not because of its owner, but of how he said it.

The two shinobi looked behind them to see a lone figure outlined in the moonlight. A ragged and rather battle-worn cape adorned his back, and it fluttered in the slight breeze. As he came a bit closer, they could see his rather heavy looking leather vest. He also wore a pair of knuckle gloves like Sakura's, the difference being the two giant arm-blades attached to them. It seemed his entire lower body was wrapped with gauze, but most of it was covered by some rather rugged leather boots and some long shorts which seemed to glisten in the moonlight like a rainbow.


At least I was comfortable with that smirk he always had...

The young man scoffed mockingly, his red eyes burning a hole through the two ninja.

"What's wrong guys? No hug? No 'good to see you'? I would have thought you'd at least recognize..."

"Sasuke!" shouted Naruto, interrupting the young Uchiha, much to his chagrin.

"It's really you," muttered Sakura to herself. "Sasuke! You're finally back home Sasuke!"

Sasuke pouted mockingly towards the kunoichi. "Aw, no honorific this time? I'm so hurt..."


I was frozen in time while the man I knew as a comrade, as my friend, started this rather unusual rant towards me and Sakura-chan. However...

The eyes of Sasuke suddenly grew from playful and cocky, to cold and calculated.

"...I could make you cry," he said so low and emotionless, his breath could freeze the air around him.

Sakura was then a victim, as suddenly cuts appeared all over her body. Two on her cheeks, multiple cuts to the sides and arms, and many strategic cuts to her legs, causing her body to buckle under.

Naruto just stared in shock, as Sakura screamed at the pain. Whether the pain was physical or emotional, not even Naruto could tell.

He slowly turned his head to the Uchiha, his eyes stating his killing intent.

"What...the hell...did you do Sasuke?" he asked slowly, trying to restrain himself as best he could.

"Rather impressive don't you think, dobe?" replied Sasuke. "A technique I picked up from one of Orochimaru's scrolls: Marboroshi Shuriken no Jutsu . Sakrua went down rather easily. Guess she's not as strong as I thought."

He seemed rather satisfied with his work, as he started to laugh darkly, uncaring of who or what heard him.


It was as bad as any nightmare one could have, but this was a reality. I knew that no matter how much I didn't believe it, what I was seeing could only be real. That was the only logical explanation that would hold up. Still, even with this, to see Sasuke standing there laughing like a madman who just murdered someone...

"You son of a bitch!" Growled Naruto, and with all his power, rushed the ninja, his Rasengen already growing in his hand. Sasuke, however did nothing, his trademark Sharingan whirling in his eye. Before Naruto connected with his attack, Sasuke had already used his speed and his calm demeanor to safely place himself on the wall behind the bench.

"Aw Naruto," said Sasuke, that fake pout coming on. "I guess I'm not wanted here. I guess I'll have to leave."

Like a switch, the other face came on. "However, I see now that I was right with my choice. I'll become strong, I'll fulfill my destiny, and no one will be my equal. I'll be generous tonight and let you live. However..."


How ironic for the rain to come at a time like this. It started to pour on us before Sasuke finished his little speech.

"If you should ever meet me again, and come at me with friendship or some other bullshit, I will kill you without even an inch of remorse."


He took his leave then, his bloody message sent. The beast and demon inside me wanted to hunt him down that moment, and rip him to shreds. But the real me saw another reason to stay start to regain her balance.

As Sakura recovered from her attack, a look of realization came to her face. The shock quickly turned to panic.

"Sasuke? Sasuke! Where did he go? We got to find him!" said a very shaken kunoichi. Sakura tried to rush away from the scene of the fight, but she found it hard. Two strong arms wrapped around her.


I tried to collect her, as she started to scream at me. She thrashed, kicked, shouted, she even used that tremendous strength of hers, as I felt the bones in my shoulders breaking and cracking as she pummeled on me. I didn't mind: let Kyubi mend the damage, Sakura couldn't go after Sasuke while she was like this.

No, that wasn't it. Not all of it anyways. Sakura couldn't go after Sasuke because that...monster wasn't him at all! I could go on and on inside my mind about the layers upon layers I was deciphering by myself while in this situation.

That's when my heart decided to take a stand, seeing as my brain was too busy with its 'analyzing.'

"Sakura," started Naruto, which caught the young woman off enough to get her to stop her assault on Naruto's chest. She looked to find tears on the edge of his eyes, yet they stared into hers with a seriousness she'd never seen from him before.

"I can't let you go after him. Not now, while you are so upset over what you had to bear just a few moments ago."

"How can you just stand here!" she shouted to him in distress. "This is our friend, our team mate! And you just let him run off without any effort?"
"It wouldn't matter what amount of effort I put in, not this time around!" he shouted back, and immediately regretted it, seeing Sakura's shocked look.

"Sakura...I know. I know how much you care for him. I know you're in love with him. But that wasn't Sasuke you love. As much as I hate his attitude, the Sasuke who was our friend would have never done something so cold, no matter how much he would have us believe it. This is not our Sasuke anymore Sakura."

"I can't believe what I just heard," she murmured to him. "Are you...are you going back on your promise to me?"
"I would never do that to anyone I care about so much!" he replied loudly, mostly to get across his genuine feelings. "I'll bring that asshole back a paraplegic if I have to, but I will bring him back here! It's just, after tonight, I learned something. The Sasuke that we know might never come back to us again."


She looked at me, tears still flowing as fast as the rain around us. I got the impression that she saw truth in my words. Still, it was her worst fears I just told her, and because of that she buried herself in my already soaked overshirt. I couldn't blame her: how else did I expect her to take my words? I just stood there, looking to the sky for a sign. A sign that would let me know that I was doing the right thing.

A lot of time passed since that night. Things were well between me and Sakura-chan, and she seemed to not be angry at all for what I said that night. Then again, neither of us brought up our old friend at all.

But, the entire saga came to a close, and the final page was written in a small village outside of the Fire Nation. Sakura and I were sent out to stake out the area, seeing as we heard about some trouble.

Little did we know that the trouble would come looking for us.

I remember those final few minutes well. Sasuke had ravaged the village, save for a large noble's building in the middle. I remember Sakura keeping her own real well, until Sasuke used the Tsukiyomi. Sakura managed to fight it off somehow, but it was enough of an advantage to let Sasuke really knock her around.

So there I was, on a rooftop with Sasuke, Sakura limp and unconscious on my right. The village lit aflame, as if we were center stage in an arena located in the depths of Hell itself.

Naruto stared down his opponent, who simply looked at the young man with a proud smirk on her face.

After a quick glance at his teammate, Naruto smirked.

"What's wrong Sasuke? Are you getting soft on me?"

Sasuke knew what Naruto was referring to, and responded with a cocky 'heh'.

"Not really, just wanted to save myself some grief by killing you before her. After all," he smirked, "she's worthless compared to you."
"So this is how it will end. You and me in the middle of a ring of fire."
"Quite appropriate, seeing as one of us will be sent to Hell when this battle is over," replied Sasuke, his voice turning into his 'cold' mode. "And I intend to make it you Uzumaki Naruto."

After a few hand kata, Sasuke finished with the 'horse.'

"Marboroshi Shuriken no Jutsu!" he said. Naruto, seeing this attack before, jumped into the air to avoid the direct attack. Sasuke smiled.

"Predictable," he muttered, and flew a flurry of real shuriken at Naruto. Naruto put up the 'Cross' kata.

"Kage bushin no Jutsu!" spoke Naruto, as the one shadow he created pulled him out of the way in mid-air. They both landed and the real Naruto put up the 'sheep' kata.

"Henge!" he said, and the shadow Naruto transformed into a bastard sword. He charged, using his improved speed and rushed Sasuke. As he tried to land a vertical strike, Sasuke put up his armblades in a criss-cross shape to block it.

The Uchiha smirked as he caught Naruto eye-to-eye.

"Since when did you learn how to use large weapons Naruto?" he asked tauntingly.
"I could ask you the same, if I gave a damn!" he growled. Eventually Naruto pulled back.

It was by then too late.

"Fool," muttered Sasuke, as Naruto was suddenly wrapped up in ninja wire. His shadow clone was dispelled, and he looked to see himself surrounded on four sides by Shadow Sasukes.

'Shit, I let my anger get the better of me. He must have made then during my attack.'

All four shadows started the familiar kata for the Uchiha's best clan technique. 'Wait a minute?' thought Naruto, 'they're doing more kata after the horse! Oh shit, must be another technique!'

"Katon: Houkoten Doragon no Jutsu!" shouted all four shadows, as blue flame spouted from their mouths over the wire towards Naruto.

Naruto screamed in pain as the attack connected. His eyes clenched in pain, as he frantically tried to move. He eyes shot up in realization. Naruto started to spin in place, his body becoming like a mini tornado. The centrifugal force finally became enough to throw the shadows around, as the surrounding buildings were slammed into by their momentum.

As the flames died down and wire drooped, Sasuke was greeted with the sight of Naruto hunching over, barely able to still stand.

"Well, I'm surprised you weren't melted to the bone. Seems you learned a few tricks dobe," he smirked. Then he felt a familiar aura start to emanate.

Naruto started to rise, his eye red and silted, showing the signs of his calling upon the power of his guest: the King of the tailed demons: Kyubi.

"Ah I see," he smirked. "Guess that now is the time for Round two, as it were."

Sasuke activated his Seal of Heaven, and he too began his transformation.

"Sasuke, I pray you're ready!" spoke Naruto, his voice deep and saturated with primal fury.

"As you wish!" replied Sasuke, his voice also dripping of fury and hate.

The two demons charged at each other, pummeling the crap out of each other. Sasuke, after finding an opening, kicked Naruto in the air. Sasuke quickly followed his opponent, using the body shadow.

"Oni Rendan!" shouted Sasuke as he used his signature technique, varied a bit by his new found demon strength and agility. Naruto was sent crashing into the roof, surprised that he didn't break it with all that force Sasuke used. Sasuke dived at Naruto, his knee poised to pierce Naruto through the stomach.

Naruto held up a 'hare' kata and his feet started to glow.

"Oni no Metsubou Tsuchi! " he roared, and he spun himself on his head, his feet spinning like a drill. He shot himself towards Sasuke, and connected with him in the gut, Sasuke choked in pain as the feet dug into him for a few more rotations, before Naruto flipped himself upright, grabbed Sasuke by the throat, and threw him into the rooftop with authority.

After a few moments, Sasuke leaped to his feat and began his kata, 'monkey, ox, and hare.'

"Raikiri!" shouted Sasuke, as the large chakra formed in his hand. Naruto saw this and pressed the bottom of his hands together and started gathering chakra.

"Oodama Rasengen! " cried out Naruto, as the advanced technique started to form in his palms.

The two shinobi charged after they had stabilized their attacks, the two massive balls of energy colliding with each other, struggling for dominance.

"Sasuke," growled Naruto to his friend, "this is your last chance. Please stop this madness. Can't you see what you're doing to me? Can't you see what you're doing to Sakura?"

"You still don't get it do you?" shouted Sasuke with all the hatred he could muster. "I don't give a damn about you! I don't give a damn about Sakura! My only purpose is to kill, and to kill my brother! I...am...an...avenger!"

The two were in a deadlock with their techniques, and eventually, the two massive collections of chakra dissipated. The two shinobi landed on their feat, but Naruto was hunched over again.


So that was it. I was...just convenient for Sasuke. Someone to practice on until I was no longer useful. Sasuke wouldn't come back to us. Moreover, he would kill us if given the chance. Sasuke cared for only one thing, and Sakura and I were not that one thing.

The last thing I thought was how to explain to Sakura...that I saw no other choice.

"I see..." spoke Naruto quietly. "Then...I guess this is goodbye Sasuke."

"What are you talking about dobe?" asked Sasuke in an irritated voice, however, he then froze at what he saw. '

Nine blood red, translucent tendrils emerged from Naruto's back. Naruto put his two hands in front of him in a strange kata: his middle and ring fingers intertwined while the other ones were tucked in.


All I could think was 'Forgive me for using this technique Ero-sennin. Forgive me for killing him Sakura.'

"Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Ashi! " Shouted Naruto with all his might, and the nine tendrils rocketed towards Sasuke with blinding speed.

Sasuke tried to avoid the tendrils, as they attempted to grab him. Unfortunately, even with the use of his Sharingan, they proved to be too strategic and speedy to avoid forever. Eventually they all pierced his flesh, causing him to scream in morbid pain.

"Sayonara," muttered Naruto to himself, as he pulled apart his fingers, and in turn ripping Sasuke in to pieces, which were immolated by the pure chakra of the tendrils.


I carried Sakura back to Konoha after the battle. Tsunade was notified of our return, and immediately took Sakura from my arms and to the ICU. She would sleep there for 4 days before she was cleared and discharged. Meanwhile I let Tsunade know that Sasuke was no longer alive, and could be cleared from the threat list. She had a solemn smile on her face: she didn't want it to get that far, but she understood that I was left with no choice. That made me feel better: at least oba-chan understood, and she would be sure to let the elders know as well, just in case anyone was arrogant enough to put an order out on my head.

I was at home, lying on my couch, still recovering from my own injuries. Still, I healed rather quickly, and was now just sore all over for the most part.

That's when I got the knock that I knew was coming. I took a few giant breaths, and then walked over to the door to open it.

Sakura looked up to see Naruto open to door. He gave her a simple smile, and side-stepped.

"Come on in Sakura-chan," he said as he offered his house to her. Sakura put on a small smile and entered the house. She took a seat on the couch and Naruto dragged his kitchen chair to the living to sit down.

"I know why you're here Sakura-chan," he said softly.
Sakura looked up rather surprised at her team-mate's initiative. "You do?"

"Yeah, and I just want you to know: I understand and no matter what, I still care about you."

Now that remark had her confused. "What the hell are you talking about Naruto?"
"I was talking about how you must hate me now. I killed Sasuke, so I can understand you wanting me to stay away and all that stuff."

Sakura was paused for a moment, but then put a hand on Naruto's shoulder.

"I don't hate you Naruto," she said to him, looking him dead in the eye.

Ok, now it was his turn to be confused. Sakura, seeing his reaction, decided to explain herself.

"Tsunade let me know about the battle Naruto," she told him. "She let me know everything you said to her."
"And...you believe me?" he asked questioningly.
"Of course I do," she said with a little smile. "We've known each other for a while now Naruto, and throughout all that time, you've never given me a reason to never completely trust you."

She got up off the couch, and walked to the window, lost in thought as she stared at the passing populace. Naruto's eyes never left her, now even more curious as to what she was thinking.

"It...hurts," she spoke, her gaze still out the window. "I can't think it won't hurt for a long, long time. You were right Naruto, I did love him. Of course you already knew that. But to hear about what Sasuke did, what he said, it's a true betrayal. Not just of my trust, but...he betrayed my love," she turned to Naruto, "and he betrayed your friendship. I can only think that now that's he's in the other life, he's the Sasuke we know, and the Sasuke I loved. So Naruto, I don't hate you. Because of our friendship, our bond. And I know that when you killed him, it wasn't selfish, no, it was because you were thinking about everyone you care about."


She amazed me that day. Not just for giving the answer I hoped for but never expected, but for knowing me so well, after I thought she didn't want to know me at all. I was frozen in time, replaying those words over and over again. And with each new replay, the more my walls broke down, until they were completely destroyed.

Naruto started to tremble, feelings overwhelming his person. A few tears started to streak down his cheek.

"T-thanks...Sakura-chan," he managed to stutter and sniff out. "It...means a lot to me...to know...that you care...that I can still be your friend...your team-mate."

Sakura smiled, and patted him on the shoulder. "It's the least I can do in return. Well I have some lesions with Tsunade-sishou, see you later Naruto-kun," she said and let herself out, leaving a stunned Naruto in the middle of his apartment.

Marbaroshi Shuriken no Jutsu - Phantom Shuriken Technique

Katon: Hokoten Doragon no Jutsu - Fire Element: Dragon's Heavenly Flame Technique

Oni no Metsubo Tsuchi - Demon's Ruined Earth

Oodama Rasengen - Great Sprial Sphere

Oniwaza: Kiyubi Jajjimento: Ashi - Demon Technique: Kiyubi's Judgement: Evil.

Whew Big part done. Had to make up for lost time, me thinks. Hope you enjoyed it. Hope that more than one person reviews this time also XD

KPAAF and Cya Next Time!