Chapter 2
It's been two weeks since I came back to Konoha. It was interesting getting reacquainted with everyone again. Sakura is becoming a great medical nin, Tsunade is training her well. She is more mature than before, but I know she still pines for Sasuke. Kakashi and Iruka-sensei are just the same. Kakashi still reading those pervy books and Iruka-sensei doting on me way too much. I'm glad they still have each other, even if they don't realize it themselves yet. I'm glad that everyone was essentially the same from before. It's been relatively peaceful the two weeks I've been back, but that can't last. Orochimaru and Akatsuki would be making their move soon. It would only be a matter of time.
Two months, two months since I came back with Jiraya. And after two months of being here the attack has finally begun. Orochimaru has finally sent his forces, led by Sasuke. Heh, maybe this is his final test or something. There were wounded all around me, but surprisingly I had yet to see any dead. And within all this chaos Sasuke had still not announced his arrival.
"Sasuke-kun!"
That was Sakura's voice. Frantically, I scanned through the dust and people for her. Then I spotted her. There she was; running to him. I couldn't let her reach him. I couldn't let the play continue any longer. I couldn't play savior to Sakura when Sasuke would get ready to attack her.
"SAKURA! STOP!"
I was at her side almost instantly.
"Naruto! What're you doing? Sasuke-kun is here! This is our chance to get him back!"
She tried to run around me but I grabbed her arm before she could get to far.
"Naruto! Let go of me!"
The facade had to end sometime.
"Sakura, you're a fairly decent ninja, so don't be an idiot. Sasuke isn't going to come back, he couldn't even if he wanted to at this point."
Sakura just stared at me wide-eyed, then she became angry and punched me.
"How can you say that! How can you be so selfish and say such cruel things? You even promised that you'd bring him back! You'll never understand how I feel! How it is to lose Sasuke after having him so close!"
That was the last straw. I cut Sakura off with a slap, and face Sasuke. I walked straight past Sakura the stopped for a second and growled out, "I am going to Sasuke, and not to bring him back. Do not try to stop me again. And never again say I don't know what it's like to lose Sasuke. You have no idea how much this hurts me."
As I walked towards Sasuke I vaguely noticed that Ino came and held Sakura back. I stopped in front of Sasuke and looked at him for a second.
"Sasuke, so it's finally come to this."
He gave a grim smirk, "Yeah, I guess it's finally time. Ah, wait a second." Sasuke called out to his men and informed them to return to Orochimaru. He would follow them as soon as he finished with me. After they left Sasuke pulled you his forehead protector that I left behind. I watched him slowly take off the sound protector and put on his old one.
"Only today I will wear this Naruto. Today we will end this once and for all."
Those words were the only warning I had before Sasuke began his assault. Everything continued as one big blur. Kicks and punches were thrown recklessly. We fought each other with reckless abandon. Our battle which had begun in the forest at the outskirts of Konoha had somehow traveled into the heart of the village. Vaguely, I tried to take note of not destroying too many building, but it couldn't be helped. Again I witnessed his transformation by the curse seal, and again I received Kyuubi's chakra and underwent my own transformation. Our battle would soon come to an end. Sasuke and I were bloody with our own and each other's blood. This would be the final blow. Sasuke with his chidori and me with my rasengan. We ran towards each other just as we did that time at the ravine. It wasn't until it was too late that I saw Sasuke's sad smile, that I noticed that at the last second he averted his the direction of his attack, and allowed the rasengan to hit him full force.
"Gomen, Naruto." he said as the rasengan came into contact with him.
After the attack Sasuke slumped towards me. I could only stand still in shock as my mind tried to make sense of what just happened; Sasuke missed me on purpose and allowed for me to hit him. Why? Why?
"WHY!" I cried out and held him close to me. "Why Sasuke?"
I could feel his arms shakily wrap around me.
"Because I love you Naruto," he gasped out softly, "and I realized I couldn't live without you."
I could feel tears trail down my face and my heart contort in pain.
"Sasuke you idiot." I choked out, "You idiot, you took too long."
I could hear him give a weak chuckle, "I know I am," then his chuckling turned into soft sobs as he whispered, "I-I'm sorry Naruto. I'm sorry it took me this long, so long that this life was no longer mine to give to you."
Sasuke pulled back slightly, rested his forehead against mine, and looked me in the eyes, "Ne, Naruto? Can I have one last kiss?"
I nodded and felt his lips brush mine for a few seconds before his lifeless body slumped against me once more. I held his body tightly as the tears racked my body.
"N-naruto." Sakura's quiet voice came from in front of me. I lifted Sasuke's body into my arms and headed towards the Konoha gates. As I walked past Sakura I gave a soft apology. Reaching the gates I could feel their presence: Tsunade and Jiraya.
"Naruto." came Tsunade's voice.
I turned around to face them and put on a forced smile.
"Gomen, Tsunade-san, Jiraya-san. But I can't pretend anymore. It hurts too much to live like this. I'm leaving Konoha for good. I leave you all with these last words, remember them and remember Sasuke and me. Live and be happy while you can."
I turned and left the only place that I could ever call home. I don't know where this path will lead me but I'm willing to take it. If only because I cannot live this lie anymore.
Owari
Wah! I almost started crying when writing this! I was writing Sasuke's death scene while watching Naruto and the "sad" music started playing! That was not cool!
Anyways I hope ya'll liked it. and I hope ya'll don't mind the horrid fight scene I wrote. I didn't really want a true fight scene but a semblance of one was needed to finish the fic.
