Title:
Lie No Longer
Characters: Naruto, Sasuke
Pairing:
NaruSasu, sort of
Rating: PG-13
Challenge:
Sasuke's Return
Bonuses: Death, Crowds, Photograph
Words:
240
He was finally back. Finally returned to Konoha, after so many years abroad, in the service of that snake bastard Orochimaru. A crowd had gathered around him, seeing if it was true, if it was really Uchiha Sasuke. It was, of course. That pale, beautiful face was no illusion.
Neither was the blood.
A chill had filled Naruto's veins as he looked down at his fallen friend. Deep in his heart, he had known that it couldn't end any other way than this. Sasuke was a traitor. He'd turned away his friends and his homeland for, what, power? No, there was no way he could've just returned. But Naruto had lied to himself, told himself that Sasuke could come back, if only he could find him. He had lied until the very end, when Sasuke had arrived at the village gates, skin marred by the fierce black curse seal. He had lied until the very end, when his Rasengan tore a hole in Sasuke's chest and Sakura's voice turned to heart-wrenching sobs.
But he could lie no longer, as Sasuke's body lay beneath a black-and-white photograph of his 12-year-old self. He could lie no longer that Sasuke was too far gone, and he could lie no longer that his heart had broken that day Sasuke had tried to kill him.
No more lies. Not even that greatest one of all, finally freed in his last words.
"I...did love you...clumsy fool..."
