Eternal Rivals: Yin and Yang

by Zipzapdoowoop

For millennia, 2 lineages have controlled the history of the continent. The world is kept in constant war. Death, suffering, and anguish are mixed in with instability. However, the birth of the last 2 of the bloodlines will transform the crowded continent of today into the barren wasteland of tomorrow. *Split-Personality Naruto*, *Byakugan Naruto*.

13. Chapter 8: Real Friends And The Stars

Yo. This chapter will serve as a breather from the last chapter. The characters will be resting and recovering from the attack on Konoha. This allows me to explore and develop ideas outside of combat and conflict, This also allows me to further Naruto and Sasuke's relationship. Kishimoto did a good job making Naruto and Sasuke friends, but he failed in showing why their relationship was so deep at all. I will fix that.

This chapter is more like an angsty slice of life. Enjoy. The next chapter will be the introduction of the Akatsuki and the start of the Tsunade Arc.

Anyways, enjoy the chapter, and let's get on with the story.

General narration

"Talking"

Flashbacks

'Thinking'

Narration

"Yami speaking"

"Bijuu talking"

'Bijuu thinking'

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or Naruto Shippuden, nor the Naruto Manga. They are owned by Viz Media and Masashi Kishimoto. I only own "Narrator" and other OC's.

---

It's been a few days since what is now being called the Konoha Crush. Naruto has bandages wrapped all over his body, and a few patches on his face.

He's home now, in his apartment, staring blankly at the floor. He can't help but feel numb. After everything that has happened to him during this last month and a half, he had enough on his plate. Now, he has been told the news that broke the village.

Sandaime Hokage-sama, Sarutobi Hiruzen is dead.

You'd expect that after all he has figured out lately, this would be good news for Naruto, right?

It should be. It really should. But despite all the rage and hatred Naruto holds for the Hokage, he can't help but feel numb. Empty. Apathetic.

Despite everything, whenever he thinks about the old ape, Naruto can only remember the good times. Their first meeting. Their first talk. Them eating out at Ichiraku. Him barging into the Hokage office every weekend. And when Ji- Hiruzen would take him out once in a blue moon.

And when he thinks about those good times, tears prickle his eyes. His heart fills with a sharp, overwhelming ache as if the pumping vessel of pulsing chambers in his chest would explode.

Between the hatred and near euphoric satisfaction tingling in his coils, and the unbearable feeling stabbing his heart at the knowledge of his passing, Naruto can't understand his emotions at all.

So he'd rather feel nothing. Being numb and dull is better than having a breakdown caused by being overwhelmed by the chaotic turmoil derailing his psyche. Blindly walking through the motions is better than watching yourself run into the unknown. Even an idiot like him knows that.

After a cold sigh, Naruto puts a black shirt on over his black shorts and sandals and heads outside.

…

Naruto gets to the meeting place. Sakura is already there with a short black kimono on. He notices she's clutching to her midsection, clearly still in pain from Gaara's attack. She walks with a faint limp too. Anyone else besides Naruto would've missed it.

He looks over to where he hears footsteps. He sees Sasuke slowly make his way toward them in a full black outfit. Sasuke keeps his gaze on the ground the whole time.

When he finally reaches them, Sasuke looks up to pierce his gaze directly into Naruto's eyes, searching for… something. Sasuke averts his gaze after a few seconds and wordlessly continues walking.

The rest of Team 7 follow Sasuke on their way to the funeral.

---

The shinobi of Konohakagure gather at the roof of the Hokage mansion to mourn for the death of the Snadaime Hokage. Sarutobi Hiruzen.

The villagers are summoned to gather around the Hokage mansion. Every villager watches the ceremony from below.

The moment the rain starts pouring, the ceremony starts.

The elders face the casket of the Hokage. "We are gathered here today to remember and honor the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, Sarutobi Hiruzen. He sacrificed himself in this battle so that our village would survive to see another day." It's short and concise. Some would call it cold, but the shinobi are fine with this. The duty of a shinobi is to protect from the shadows, free of worship. It's fitting that their Hokage would follow this fate.

The shinobi take turns placing a white rose on top of the casket of the Hokage.

Naruto stares at the casket blankly with tired eyes. All he can ask himself is 'why?'

Naruto's attention is stolen by the sound of choking next to him. He looks to see a brown-haired boy sniffling and holding back sobs at the funeral. The boy trembles and fat drops of bitter tears fall from his cheeks, soaking the Earth in all his pain and frustration.

Naruto recognizes the boy. 'Konohamaru…' Naruto doesn't approach the boy. He has no idea what to say to comfort him. He couldn't imagine how the boy feels.

Iruka crouches to pull Konohamaru into a hug, consoling the boy.

Naruto can only look away in self-disgust. 'Konohamaru is suffering, and here I am too much of a coward to allow myself to feel. I don't have the strength nor decency to feel something at the funeral of Konohamaru's grandfather.'

Finally, the rookies take their turn to place a rose on the Hokage's casket. 'It's a shinobi rule. Never show your feelings. Keep your mind focused on your mission, no matter what. No matter how much you're hurting inside, you can't shed a tear.'

Finally, it's Naruto's turn to place his rose. He hesitates for a bit and lingers longer than he should, but he places the rose down. He looks at the image of the Hokage in the picture frame, and can't help but feel his eyes water.

He forces himself to keep his composure and heads back to his spot. That same question still lingers on his mind. 'Why?' There are so many things that 'why' refers to, but only one can be answered at the moment.

Naruto turns to face Iruka. "Iruka-sensei, why do they do it? Why do people risk their lives for others."

Iruka looks at the casket of the Hokage. "Well, when someone passes away, it's the end. Their past and future, all the dreams they once had disappear along with them. This is true regardless of whether they died honorably in battle, as so many have before, and many more will.

All the ties that bind him to the living are severed- all but one. The most important one of all, people. Parents, siblings, friends, lovers, the people important to them are left behind. And those people left behind, those that care gathers in a great circle and are joined by their shared memory of him. It's a circle of friendship, trust, and sacrifice that grows larger and stronger as time passes.

It's hard to explain. We remain in the circle together. We have no choice. It's important to us."

Naruto nods stiffly. "So we do it because we have to, dattebayo. I get it, sort of." Begrudgingly, Naruto's respect for the Hokage grew a little.

The funeral ends quickly after. Naruto decides to approach Konohamaru. He doesn't know what to say, so all he can do is put a hand on the boy's shoulder and bring him in for a hug, just like Iruka did.

Konohamaru hugs back fiercely with sniffles, but no more tears are shed.

"I'll walk you home. Is that fine?" Asks Naruto.

Konohamaru nods meekly and wipes his reddened eyes.

---

As they walk toward the Sarutobi Compound, Konohamaru stops walking.

"What's wrong, Konohamaru?"

Konohamaru fidgets a little. "Can…can you take me back to the Hokage tower? I-I want to do something important."

Naruto knows Konohamaru is hurting, so he is tempted to say no. However, seeing that determined look on the kid's face causes him to reconsider. Naruto sighs in resignation. "Okay."

Naruto grabs Konohamaru's hand and they walk back together to the Hokage Tower.

---

As they get back to the tower, Konihamaru leads Naruto to his Grandfather's storage room inside the tower. They had to navigate around the shinobi and ANBU patrolling in the tower, but mostly they had little difficulty. There is nothing strange about the Honorable Grandson visiting the tower, but eyebrows were raised at the sight of Naruto.

Eventually, they get to the storage unit. "I… I want to look around. Maybe I'll find something to help me remember him by. Maybe some of the pain will go away."

Naruto has no idea how to deal with grief, so he hesitantly agrees.

Both boys enter the unit. It's dark and dusty, so they have a hard time seeing and breathing. "I'll help you look around, so that way we can finish this sooner, dattebayo."

"Hai."

The pair look around the unit. They clean up the mess on the floor and set the shelves. They dig around the piles in the corners and the items hidden around the unit.

They collect pictures, unknown items, cool gadgets, and anything of sentimental value to Konohamaru. It's been hours, but nothing major is found.

They quickly lose hope.

Konohamaru yawns. "Naruto nii-chan, I'm getting tired. Can you take me home?"

Naruto is about to say yes but spots something… interesting on the other side of the room.

"Uhh, how about 10 more minutes. This time, we switch sides so we can check if we missed anything."

Konohamaru thinks about it. He yawns once more. "Okay. 10 more minutes."

They swap sides and start their searches. Naruto walks toward the something he found earlier, only to find that it is behind one of the shelves and the entrance is blocked by a large pile of stuff.

He looks behind him to see Konohamaru absorbed in his search. Good.

Naruto climbs the shelf carefully, trying not to knock anything over. He jumps off it to the other side in a crouch so he doesn't make any noise. When he gets to the other side, he sees an old, dirty chest.

He grabs a nearby cloth to wipe it, and he sees that underneath the dust and grime, the chest is vibrantly colored.

He uses a tool nearby to break the lock sealing the chest.

Konohamaru perks up. "What was that?"

Naruto begins to sweat. "Uhh- ow, ow! Nothing, just bumped my head, dattebayo!"

Konohamaru giggles weakly. "Nii-chan sure is clumsy huh?"

Naruto chuckles nervously. "Uhh, yeah!" Konohamaru continues with his work. Naruto breaths out a sigh of relief.

Opening the chest, Naruto finds many interesting things inside it, most of which he can't identify, but one thing stands out among the rest.

A pure white box with red and gold engravings and adornments decorating it. Somehow, despite how long the chest has gone untouched, the box remains in perfect condition, not a speck of dust in sight. But above all, in the center of the box lid is a circular red swirl. A red whirlpool design, exactly like the design on the back of his clothing.

Naruto looks around. After making sure the coast is clear, he stuffs the box inside of his clothing. He closes the chest and covers it with a stray tarp, hoping to keep it hidden.

He climbs the shelf and lands in a crouch on the other side. He comes near Konohamaru and lets out an exaggerated sigh. "It's been 10 minutes and I couldn't find anything. Did you?"

Konohamaru grunts and pulls out what was hidden from him. "Yeah, look!"

Naruto sees an old painting in great condition. It has the Hokage in it, side hugging a beautiful woman holding a brown-haired baby.

On the back of the painting is a simple sentence. "In loving memory of Sarutobi Aina." Konohamaru grins widely. "It's my Kaa-chan! That's her! Isn't she beautiful?!"

Naruto can't help but give an honest grin. He's so happy for Konohamaru. "Yeah, she is."

Konohamaru's eyes begin to droop and get heavy. He sways a little. "I'm glad you joined me, Naruto nii-chan." Naruto catches Konohamaru before his head hits the floor.

He's panicking. What happened to Konohamaru?

A quiet snore answers his question. Naruto deadpans and his eye twitches. Did he really just fall asleep standing up?

He shrugs. Naruto lays the painting on Konohamaru's chest and carries him in his arms. He leaves the storage unit. On his way out, he reminds the ANBU to lock the unit for him.

Naruto carries Konohamaru to the Sarutobi Compound where he hands him off to Asuma, who so happened to be entering the compound himself.

Naruto heads home, satisfied with his day.

---

When Naruto gets home, he makes sure that no one is following him or around him. He locks the door to his apartment and peaks out the window. No one is near the area. Good.

Naruto closes his curtains so no one can peek inside his dingy apartment. He locks his windows while he's at it. He doesn't want his sensei to just pop in randomly like he usually does. Both of them.

Naruto places the box on his bed and he kneels on the floor. He doesn't understand, but for some reason, he feels like this box contains answers. Whether the answers are good or bad, he has no idea. But Naruto knows one thing.

This box will change him.

Naruto tentatively unties the red ribbon around the box. He peers at the symbol on top of the box, hoping that it'll give him answers. That symbol is the same as that on his clothes. The red swirl.

Naruto gulps loudly and opens the box as gently as he can. He fears shattering the delicate decorations on it, and he hopes he doesn't crease anything. He places the lid gently on a pillow away from him.

Finally, Naruto gazes intently inside the box. Three things stand out to him. Inside the box is a long forest-green scarf with pale sky-blue horizontal stripes spread evenly across it.

It looks knitted. Someone made this scarf by hand, and by the looks of it, they must've done it for someone special. The amount of time, skill, and effort needed to make the scarf must've been immense.

On the side of the scarf, on the far side of the box lays a shinobi headband. He notices the headband is old and definitely used. It doesn't look the cleanest, and the metal plate has lost its luster. It is riddled with scratches, and the color of the strap is dull. However, what catches his eye is the engraving on the plate.

It's a stylized whirlpool symbol. The exact same symbol as that on the box and his clothes.

Naruto scrunches up his eyebrows a little in confusion. What does this symbol mean, and what are his ties to it? It keeps coming back to him.

Finally, the last item he sees is on top of the scarf. It's a neat, blank envelope. There is a bit of writing on top of the envelope. It reads "To Naruto".

Naruto's eyes widen. This secret, hidden box in the Hokage's storage unit has strong ties to him, and inside it is a note addressed to him! At least he thinks so. There are no other Narutos that he knows of, especially in Konoha.

Naruto gently lifts the envelope and flips it over. On the back, he sees the letter is sealed by wax. The signet seal is the same as the symbol on the box, the headband, and his clothes. From what he knows, signet rings are used to seal letters with custom engravings. Those engravings are usually the crest of a family or organization.

A sudden burst of hopeful anticipation fills Naruto's chest. This could be something left behind by his family! His excitement is palpable.

However, just as quickly as his joy came, so too did a wave of tangible dread fill his stomach. Based on what he finds out, this could be very bad news. Or he is getting his hopes up, coming to the wrong conclusion based on his desperation to escape the loneliness.

Naruto gulps audibly. He can feel his throat and tongue start to dry.

Naruto carefully peels back the wax seal until the fold relaxes, releasing the contents of the vessel to the world. Naruto extracts the folded paper inside. Opening it, he reads the contents of the letter.

"Hey.

I don't really know how to start this out. I've never been any good at small talk or formalities, much less the semantics of things. I hope you don't inherit that from me.

I went on a bit of a tangent there, didn't I? I'll get to the point.

Naruto, if you're reading this, then I'm dead. I write this letter to you to explain why I'm dead, and to give you a piece of me. If I'm dead, then that means that either labor or the failed Fuinjutsu killed me. And if I'm dead, then that means that you will be tasked with keeping my burden, and for that, I'm sorry.

Naruto, I'm the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. A Jinchuriki is a vessel for a Bijuu. They are a living human sacrifice. When a female Jinchuriki is pregnant, the energy that goes into keeping the beast at bay is spent nourishing their child. So when they give birth, that is when the seal weakens, allowing the beast to escape.

And if you're reading this, then that process is what took my life. But please, don't blame yourself for my death. I don't ever want you doing that. You are the greatest gift I could ever ask for, and if my death means you get to live a full healthy life with your Tou-chan, then I'm glad, dattebane!

Shit, I really wrote that. And I cursed as well. I can't delete this either. I wrote it in pen! Oh well, I hope you are old enough by then to not be fazed by a few harsh words, no?

But, back onto topic, I'm dead. Only an Uzumaki can hold the Kyuubi back, so if I'm dead, then the responsibility of holding back the Kyuubi will fall to the only other Uzumaki left, and that's you, Naruto.

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry for placing that burden on you. When I first came to the village, the kids in the Academy bullied me because of my appearance. They called me names and they would pick fights with me. Everyone looked at me like I was a freak. I was an outsider. I never suffered because of my Jinchuriki status, but I've heard stories of the treatment of other Jinchurikis. Your status as a Jinchuriki will make life hard for you. I didn't want you to experience what I did. You were never supposed to go through that.

But don't worry. With help from your Tou-chan, you'll be okay, and he'll give you the happiest life he can without me.

I'm not great with words. So I tried my best to show my love to you. I knitted you a nice scarf! It's inside the box! I started knitting it the day I found out I was pregnant with you! I didn't finish it until yesterday and my due date is tomorrow. It took a long time to make, so you better appreciate it! It's the prettiest color of green, isn't it? You're one lucky boy to be able to wear the best color in the world!

I also left an Uzushiogakure no Sato headband for you in the box. It was my Kaa-san's headband from when she was a ninja. Sadly, I never got to wear it, and I never will. This headband is all I have left of Uzu, and I'll pass it on to you. I trust you, so please, take care of it for me?

I wish I could carry you and swaddle you when you cry. I wish I could play with you and take you to all the most fun places in the village. I wish I could be there to give you hugs and kisses when you get a nightmare in the dead of night. I wish you could taste my cooking. I wish I could see you on your first day at the Academy. I wish I could see you graduate. I would've made you the biggest, tastiest bowl of ramen I could, dattebane!

I wish I could see you start dating. I hope that whoever is your girlfriend knows how lucky she is! I wish I could see you make Jonin. I wish I could see you get married. I don't know if I could ever let go of your arm that day. If I had it my way, you would stay by my side forever and ever! But sadly, you will grow up. You have to. It's inevitable, and I don't know how to feel about it. I mean, you're not even born yet and here I am thinking about your wedding!

Sorry, I went on another tangent. I wish I could raise you and watch you grow up to become the strongest, most handsome man you can be. And someday, I hope you give me as many grandbabies as you can! Even if I'm not there to spoil them, I'll give them as much love as I can from the great beyond.

I'm sad I won't get to meet the wonderful man you become, but don't worry, your Tou-chan will do a better job of making a man out of you than I ever could.

It'd sadden me if you never got to see my face, so I left another gift for you underneath the scarf. I'll give this box to Sadaime Hokage-sama so he can give it to you when you are old enough.

Naruto. Be the best man you can be. Be happy, and be free. Follow your dreams, because when it feels like everything is going wrong and life is falling apart, your dreams will keep you going. They'll give you the strength to become a better you.

I love you.

Signed; Your Kaa-chan, Uzumaki Kushina"

Naruto grips the letter with more strength than he should. Tears fall from his face onto the letter, coloring the paper a darker hue. His sniffles become prominent and quiet sobs escape his throat.

He has never felt so happy. He has a family! A family that loves him! His Kaa-chan said she loved him, and she even made him a scarf! He means something to someone. And he knows her name now! Uzumaki Kushina. It's so pretty! They share their name too!

But at the same time, a deep, numbing sadness enters his heart. He'll never meet the wonderful woman that is his Kaa-chan. He'll never hear the voice of the woman with the pretty name. He'll never interact with the woman with the scatter-brained and entertaining personality that is his Kaa-chan. He felt the warmth of her words, but he'll never feel the warmth of her hugs. The tenderness of her kisses.

And beneath it all, a bubbling, boiling pot of scorching rage starts to rise.

Naruto makes sure to place the letter on the bed before anything else. He clenches his fists until his knuckles pop. A dark, sinister aura explodes from his person. Orangy-red chakra and a crimson-black mess swarm around him. The pressure is enough to force one of the curtains open.

Fangs poke out of his mouth and his nails transform into claws. He turns to face the window. He lifts his face and his eyes speak of his hatred. His right eye has black sclera surrounding his now crimson irises and slit pupil. His left eye keeps the white sclera, but his iris is crimson and his pupil is slit as well.

He glowers at the visage of the Sandaime Hokage with all the rage and hatred he can muster. This. Keeping away his family from him and lying to him despite having evidence of their existence -evidence that was entrusted to him- can never be forgiven. It won't be. But there's nothing he can do. The man is dead. His window of opportunity is shut. And that fills him with frustration as powerful as his hatred.

Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto sees the scarf his mother made for him. His chakra relaxes and he almost immediately calms down. All the tension leaves his body.

He hurriedly closes the curtain and climbs to his bed. He softly strokes the scarf, feeling the warm, soft fabric. He can feel himself tear up.

He picks up the scarf, marveling at how good it feels in his hands. He brings the fabric up to his nose and inhales deeply.

The smell is like that of a forest at dawn. The fresh, glistening morning dew cooling the air, giving the residents of the forest a sanctuary to enjoy. That image comes to mind when he smelled the scarf. It's comforting and revitalizing.

Or is it more like the way the air smells after it rains? Or more like before it rains? What's the word for it again? Petrichor? He isn't really sure what the smell is, but it's his new favorite smell.

Naruto brings the entire scarf to his chest. He clutches and hugs it like it was a stuffed animal. Naruto's eyes relax and return to their vibrant blue.

Naruto's reddened, puffy eyes notice something at the bottom of the box underneath where the scarf was. He picks up a blank piece of paper. Naruto fiddles with it, wondering what he is looking at until he finds writing.

"The only picture of you and me in the world, dattebane."

Naruto flips the paper over and his eyes widen. The front of the paper is a picture of a stunning ivory-skinned redheaded woman sitting in a rocking chair, clutching her pregnant belly. She's wearing a green apron over a white blouse. Her smile is warm and tender, and her violet eyes twinkle in mirth.

A wide smile blooms on Naruto's face. Tears blur his vision, but even then, he could never forget the image he has laid his eyes on. He remembers every detail of the most perfect woman to have ever lived. Someone that cannot be compared. The most special person in the world to him.

Naruto kisses the picture delicately so as to not degrade the photograph, and passionately puts every last drop of emotion he has into it.

Naruto lay down, his eyes suddenly felt heavy. 'I'm so glad to finally meet you. Good night, Kaa-chan.'

Naruto falls asleep clutching the scarf and picture of his mother in his arms. He has never slept so peacefully before.

---

When Naruto wakes up, the smell of forest dew and petrichor fills his nostrils. He looks down at the source of the wonderful smell, and he sees a green scarf in his arms. Protected in the scarf is a photograph displaying the image of a gorgeous and very pregnant redheaded woman with ivory skin.

The memories of yesterday finally wander back to his consciousness, and Naruto smiles as bright as he can, with tears threatening to spill from the corners of his eyes.

His Kaa-chan. He finally met his beautiful Kaa-chan. If he could die right now, it might be worth it if it meant being with her for the rest of eternity. That sounds nice, actually. She might not have been around for the first 13 years of his life, but they have the rest of eternity to catch up.

Naruto eyes a knife in his kitchen and his eyes dilate. The glisten of the blade in the morning sunlight is captivating and alluring, like the wink from a demoness. A sudden sear from Yami's chakra is enough to get him out of his funk. He smacks his cheeks. 'No! I can't die yet! Kaa-chan said she wanted grandkids, and I haven't even had any kids yet! It's too soon.'

He shakes his head. Despite his thoughts of confidence and vigor, he can't help but wallow in self-pity.

That feeling is only amplified after re-reading the letter. It shows the vibrant and bubbly personality of his mother, as well as the deep emotions she has for someone she never even met. it's the same way he feels about her. A melancholy smile settles on his face. He is happy, but his sadness can never really heal after this. He'll always be stuck in that what-if state of mind until the day he dies.

No matter. He has to keep on living, for his Kaa-chan. It wouldn't do for him to die so early and make her sacrifice meaningless. He gets out of bed to get ready for the day.

...

Once he's done getting ready, Naruto places the photograph of his mother neatly in a drawer so no one can see it. He places the box with the letter and headband under his bed. Naruto looks at the scarf, and suddenly he feels stuck. What should he do with it?

He feels a warmth in his right arm. Yami's chakra climbs up the limb up to his eyes. Naruto rubs his eyes to try and soothe the burning sensation. He remembers this feeling. The only way to soothe the ache is to mix the chakra with his and activate it in his eyes.

Naruto starts the process of mixing his chakra with Yami's. He molds the chakra and focuses it on his eyes. He activates the chakra and a fresh burst of pain surges in his eyes. His irises turn pale, resembling a pale gray, and his pupils fade. Veins protrude all around his temples and his eyes.

---

(Flashback to a Forgotten Past)

Static-y, blurry images from a forgotten past rush to his brains. It's almost like he's looking at the scene all over again in low quality. He sees a small blond-haired little boy with bright blue eyes and whisker marks. The kid is speaking to an old woman with a blurred-out face. She has no defining features.

The woman walks toward her closet and pulls out a wooden box. Inside is a bunch of wrapping. She addresses the blond boy who heavily resembles himself.

"All the things that I have given you and the other kids are things that I bought for my son. No matter how close to my heart they were, or cheap or expensive, I've given everything I bought for my child away to you kids. But this right here is special. This-" she unwrapped what was underneath. It's a bright-red scarf the same color as his Kaa-chan's hair.

"-scarf right here is the only thing I have ever made for my child. This red scarf I knitted with my own hands. It took me months just to learn how to knit at all, and even more to finish this project. It was the only thing I have ever done for myself. Although my son isn't here to enjoy this symbol of my love, I've decided to give my show of love, effort, and dedication to you Naru-chan. Whenever you feel sad, just keep this scarf close to you, and you will feel my hugs there. And I would trust no one better than you to protect this scarf. Do you think you can do it?"

The boy looks stunned. He doesn't seem to know what to say. It looks like he is about to cry and laugh at the same time.

"Are you sure? Am I really good enough, -ttebayo?" The woman simply walks up to him and kisses him on his forehead.

"I couldn't think of anyone better for my gift." The boy starts tearing up but wills his tears to recede.

"Okay! You got it! I will protect this scarf with my life Baa-chan!" The woman wraps the scarf around his neck and a somber smile appears on her face.

"Thank you. Goodbye Naru-chan. I love you."

(End of Flashback)

---

Naruto gasps desperate gulps of air. He grabs onto his drawer so he doesn't fall. His hands shake like he has Parkinson's. His Byakugan fades, bringing back his vibrant cerulean eyes. That boy, that was him! That was a memory he didn't know he had! That old woman, was she his first precious person? Who was this 'Baa-chan'?

So this situation with a precious woman in his life entrusting a scarf to him has happened before. Considering that he no longer has that red scarf must mean he failed to keep his promise. He won't fail this time!

Naruto neatly folds the scarf and places it at the bottom of his ninja pouch. It's his good-luck charm. His Kaa-chan will be with him every day from now on, lending him strength in battle.

He won't wear it. Not yet. Despite his bravado and his promise to protect his scarf, he's scared. The last thing he wants is to ruin his Kaa-chan's precious gift.

Naruto sighs. He leaves his apartment for Ichiraku Ramen. He's honestly not very hungry, but he needs to feel something. He feels numb.

---

Sasuke has been up all night. Nightmares from his past wouldn't let him sleep. Every time he closes his eyes, he sees the tragedy all over again. The death of his family, cousins, friends. All of their dead bodies littering the streets of the district. And the murder of his parents right before his eyes.

Those images hurt.

What always prickles him is remembering himself after the tragedy. Wallowing in self-pity, blaming himself for his weakness. His lack of hatred being overtaken by mourning. His refusal to take any action and acceptance to continue living his pathetic existence.

The image of that same version of himself materializes in front of him. That same part of himself represents his cowardice and weakness. He's been trying so hard to bury that part of himself, but lately, it's been coming back.

And seeing himself crying and filled with sorrow disgusts Sasuke. He pulls out a kunai and throws it at his alternate version, dispersing it in the wind.

His face shows determination. He has been getting weaker lately because of his weaker self. If he wants to progress and escape this mediocrity, then he must kill his weakness. He must purge it, and all he'll be left with is his darker self, the one that carries all his power. It's the only way he can grow.

It's the only way he can kill his brother.

Sasuke grunts and decides to wander the village and clear his head.

---

After half an hour of wandering, Naruto bumps into someone while walking. For some reason, he feels more irritated than usual. He can't help but lash out at the unfortunate stranger. "Hey, watch where the fuck you're going!"

The person who bumps into him immediately stops and grunts. "Hn. Who was the one that was walking while staring at the ground, Usuratonkachi."

Naruto's eyes widen. There's only one person who calls him that. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke turns his head and smirks. "Who else calls you out on how useless you are, Usuratonkachi."

A vein bulges on Naruto's temple, looking ready to burst. He clenches his fist and grits his teeth. Naruto is about to inflict Sasuke with his own verbal lashing but stops when he notices his appearance.

Sasuke looks pale. Paler than usual. His hair is thin and his lips are slightly chapped. There are bags under his eyes and Sasuke generally looks haggard. The righteous fury in Naruto's veins ebbs away, being replaced with genuine concern.

"Sasuke? Are you okay?" Naruto puts a hand on Sasuke's shoulder to show concern.

Sasuke flinches slightly at Naruto's touch but doesn't push him away. He sighs. "Had a rough night. Couldn't sleep. I haven't had a chance to eat either."

Sasuke takes his time to notice Naruto's appearance. He looks extremely well-rested, unlike him, but there is also mental exhaustion he can see in Naruto's eyes. His usually strong and rolled-back shoulders are slumped. His energetic demeanor is swapped for lethargy. And what worries him most is two things. Naruto's perpetually clenched fist shows an unending and bubbling rage he has toward something. It seems like he doesn't have an outlet for releasing that anger either. And the look in Naruto's eyes tells him everything. Naruto is sad.

Not the normal waves of sadness his idiotic friend gets -like when he discovered instant ramen wasn't instant- but the way Naruto looks at the world tells him that Naruto is on the brink of a collapse. He is in a depression, and if he doesn't get help, his friend might start having dangerous thoughts.

"Naruto. Are you okay?" Naruto would usually take it as Sasuke mocking him, but the tone of genuine worry in Sasuke's voice makes Naruto's brain short-circuit. It's so unexpected that he can't think straight, so all his brain can do is answer honestly.

"No. I haven't ever felt this bad in my life." Naruto's eyes widen and he slaps his hands over his mouth. He didn't mean to say that, and by the look on Sasuke's face, he didn't expect him to actually answer that question.

An awkward silence befalls the two boys. Neither knows how to continue their conversation. Suddenly, Sasuke's stomach growls. Sasuke grunts and looks away, while Naruto chuckles. "Hehehe! Hey, you paid for my meal a while ago before Test Two of the Chunin Exams. I haven't paid you back yet and I haven't eaten breakfast yet. How about some ramen?"

Sasuke is about to deny the offer, but his stomach growls. He grunts in frustration. This is just like last time Naruto asked him out to eat, dammit!

"Haha! You can't deny me because your stomach always answers for you, dattebayo!"

Sasuke groans. "Do you have superpowers or something? This happened last time and I wasn't even that hungry. Besides, you don't have to pay me back for when I covered your meal. That was me paying you back from last time at Ichiraku."

Naruto slaps Sasuke on the back and wraps an arm around Sasuke's neck. "Don't be a buzzkill, Sasuke! I'll pay for the meal like last time, dattebayo!"

Sasuke holds in a wince. "Get off of me! Did you even shower this morning?"

Naruto's eye twitches. "Fuck you, I'm not musty! I should ask you that! You didn't sleep last night!"

Sasuke will concede that point. "Fair. But stop slapping my back, you idiot! That hurts! What you lack for a brain went to your muscles, you damned bullet shrimp. The last time you did that, there was a big red handprint on my back!"

Naruto gnashes his teeth. "I'm not a shrimp, teme! And it's not my fault you bruise like a ripe peach!"

Sasuke growls. "You're 4'7 you midget! You are a shrimp! And I don't bruise like a peach! It's called having pale skin you fucking dumbass!" Sasuke rarely curses, but only Naruto is able to get under his skin and bring that out of him.

"Yeah yeah. Let's just go eat."

Sasuke grumbles the entire way but let's Naruto guide him to Ichiraku Ramen. God, Naruto is insufferable.

---

At Ichiraku, Naruto orders a single large bowl of Miso Ramen while Sasuke orders a medium bowl of salt ramen with sliced tomatoes. The same as last time.

Sasuke and Naruto enjoy the silence and enjoy their food. However, Sasuke realizes something is wrong. Naruto only ordered a single bowl of ramen, which he is eating slowly.

Sasuke bites his lip, unsure of what to do. He eventually decides to bite the bullet. "Oi, Naruto. Are you okay?"

Naruto flinches. He was busy staring into space, letting his mind wander. Sasuke brought him right back down to Earth. "O-oh. Uh, yeah, don't worry about me, Sasuke."

Sasuke's eyes gain a strange intensity to them. "Naruto. I know you. You only ordered one bowl of ramen. And you've barely touched it. I already finished my food."

Naruto grimaces, being caught out. He looks away from Sasuke with a pout. Why does Sasuke have to be so observant?! "I'm just not that hungry, that's all, dattebayo."

Sasuke grunts. Naruto is being needlessly difficult, much more than he usually is. The dobe is not okay at all. But he can't force Naruto to speak to him. Well, unless he…

Sasuke scowls at the idea. It'd be humiliating, borderline mortifying, but he needs to help his friend. And this is the only way.

"I… I've been suffering from nightmares. They keep me up at night." Whispered Sasuke. Naruto nearly missed it.

Naruto freezes. He has no idea what to say. He clenches his fists to try and ease the tension in his body. He sighs dejectedly. He digs into his pocket and places money on the counter. "Thank you for the food." He begins walking away.

Sasuke glares venomously at Naruto. How dare he ignore him after he opened up just then!

Naruto stops walking but doesn't turn back to look at Sasuke. "So, are you coming?"

Sasuke pinches the bridge of his nose and grumbles incoherent nonsense. He wordlessly follows the idiotic blonde.

---

Naruto takes Sasuke to a random Training Ground. "So, do you mind telling me why we are going so far out from the village, Naruto?"

Naruto ignores Sasuke and looks around, making sure no one is near. When he is sure no one is around the vicinity, he visibly relaxes. "Sorry about that. I just wanted to be absolutely sure no one else heard what I had to say. You are the only person in the world I trust wholeheartedly. Please, promise me you won't tell anyone about this."

Sasuke's eyebrows rise. He has never seen the dobe act so serious. "Naruto? What are you trying to tell me?"

"Promise me, Sasuke!"

Sasuke's eyes widen. From the tone of his voice, Naruto is absolutely serious, almost desperate. He can't afford to betray his friend. "Alright. I promise on our friendship that I won't reveal your secrets."

Naruto isn't entirely convinced, but it's Sasuke, so it should be fine, right?. "Tch, fine."

Sasuke's brow twitches. That little brat!

"But first, I want you to tell me about what you are going through. I want you to feel better. That would make me feel better."

Sasuke grumbles. He keeps telling himself that this is for his friend. He is doing this for his friend! "Ever since I lost to the sand rat, Gaara, I have been getting nightmares again."

Naruto places his chin on his palm. "Again?"

Sasuke nods. "Yeah. Back when the massacre happened, I struggled with nightmares for nearly two years. It wasn't until the year before we graduated that I stopped getting those images. I could sleep soundly. Lately, though, those same visions I fought so hard to rid myself of have come back. And they're worse than before. Every time I sleep, the images of the district being littered with bodies invades my mind. I see my cousins, neighbors, family, people I knew, friends included, I see their broken, empty bodies painting the district with a Sharingan-Esque glow.

The moonlight would make the ambiance like that of a Sharingan when it reflected off the blood. And the hum of the night was the only noise in the district. I would see myself running home, making sure my parents were alright. Everything would be fine if they were fine." Sasuke chuckles meekly. "It's just my wicked luck that I walked into their room at the perfect moment. I walked in and saw them get decapitated. Every time I close my eyes, even now when I blink, I see it all over again! Their bodies fall forward and their blood flowed like a river, while their heads rolled around the floor. Their dead, hollow eyes were constantly glaring at me, condemning me for my weakness, marking me as a failure!" Sasuke trembles. Shivers rake his body and he sniffles slightly.

Naruto comes close to put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. It's not much comfort, but for someone as cold as Sasuke, Naruto's warm hand is enough to keep him going. His shivers stop, and his trembling ceases. Sasuke wipes his nose with his sleeve and he shakes his head. "Those memories hurt. Of course, they do. But what nearly breaks me is who else I see in those visions."

Naruto squeezes Sasuke's shoulder. "Is it your brother?"

Sasuke shakes his head. "No. I see someone I hate just as much as my aniki. I see myself, my old self in those visions. The sobbing, pitiful, sniveling brat I used to be. That pathetic boy is too busy drowning in his sorrow to do anything. That boy who was too weak to save anyone he cared about. He was the same boy too weak to lift a finger to escape mediocrity. That boy who at times contemplated death, because it'd mean he got to see his family again. He'd be free of his suffering." Naruto's eyes widen. It's just like him this morning.

"That disgusting creature who didn't have a purpose. That is the version of myself that represents my other half. He represents that torpidness and weakness I swore I would bury. I worked so hard to get rid of him, and now he's coming back! I don't want to be that guy again."

Naruto stays quiet. He doesn't know what to say. He can relate to Sasuke, sort of, so although he can't comfort his friend, he can at least show he understands.

"I can sort of relate. Besides the Kyuubi, I have something else inside of me. It's like an alternate version of me, but it claims to be my other half. It's the exact opposite of me. It is angry, vengeful, and bloodthirsty. Honestly, that's as far as I can understand. My other half gives me strength when I need it, whereas your half makes you weak when you need strength. Your half acts as a foil, but my half wants to eliminate me."

Naruto rubs his head in annoyance. "Urrghh! I don't know what I'm trying to say! I'm only saying stuff, and I'm not really saying anything. Ugh. I guess what I mean is that I understand what it's like to have another part of you go against your wishes and remind you of your faults. That's all."

Sasuke smiles. Naruto is such an idiot. No matter how hard he tries, or how close he is to a breakthrough, he always seems to relapse back to his stupidity. Despite not offering much comfort, it makes him feel lighter having spilled his heart out to the idiot. He feels much better. It makes him happy to know Naruto understands him. It lets him know that he isn't truly alone in the world. "Hn. Usuratonkachi." Sasuke's smile widens.

Naruto can only smile in reply.

Sasuke turns serious and looks at Naruto. "Now. It's your turn. Spill it. What's with that 'other half'? What's wrong, dobe?"

Naruto's face scrunches up as if he sucked on a lemon. He scowls. Having to open up sucks. No wonder Sasuke was hesitant.

He takes in a few deep breaths, trying to calm down and feel peace. He can't. But he feels obligated to say something regardless. He sighs.

Naruto looks at the ground. "You know of my relationship with Sandaime Hokage-sama, right?"

Sasuke raises an eyebrow. "Hm? From what I remember, you spoke very highly of him when we were in the Academy. Back when we were assigned the mission to Nami no Kuni, you referred to him as 'Hokage-Jiji's. I take it you were very close."

Naruto grimaces. He nods hesitantly. "Yeah. You're right as always, Sasuke. Arrgh! I used to really love him, you know? He was the closest thing to family I've ever had, and despite not seeing each other for very long, I always got the feeling that he loved me too." Naruto sighs defeatedly. "I guess that was just wishful thinking., dattebayo."

Sasuke's eyes knit together ever so slightly. "What do you mean?"

Naruto clicks his tongue. 'Is this an interrogation or something? He wants details.' Naruto rubs his head. Sasuke did give him many details himself, so it's only fair he reciprocates. "You remember I mentioned this other me? Well, ever since I started being influenced by it, I've been having bad thoughts. Really really bad thoughts.

It whispers into my ear, trying to make me do horrendous acts, like killing any and every opponent I meet. It makes me angry and vengeful. It makes me crave for more. It makes me selfish. It tempts me with its seductive promises of power. But worst of all, it makes me smarter, and as they say, ignorance is bliss. It puts traitorous thoughts in my mind and makes me investigate them and it makes me actually think before I act." Naruto's shoulders droop in defeat. "It has never been wrong with its intuition."

Sasuke's eyes narrow further. "I don't like what I'm hearing. Even so, you are being more than a little vague right now."

Naruto lifts his gaze and locks eyes with Sasuke. The intensity in Naruto's eyes unnerves Sasuke. "When Kabuto brought up me being an Uzumaki, it made me wonder if I was more than some random orphan cursed with a brand and a demon. I wondered if maybe, just maybe I had a family. But if I did, then that meant my Jiji lied to me my entire life and purposefully withheld that knowledge from me."

Naruto's eyes start to dull. "I never wanted to think that my Jiji would ever do something like that to me. One of the privileges of not having pre-existing bonds is that it means there is no fear of betrayal."

Sasuke flinches as if struck. That hit much closer to home than he is comfortable with. Thankfully, Naruto either didn't notice or decided to ignore it. "But that other me kept putting that thought into my mind. Over and over and over until I started doubting Jiji and myself."

Naruto trembles slightly but manages to tame the rage. "After Hokage-sama's funeral, I decided to walk Konohamaru home yesterday." Sasuke is about to speak up, but Naruto interrupts. "Konohamaru is Sandaime-sama's grandson." Sasuke grunts. How did Naruto know he was going to ask that?

"Konohamaru wanted to take a detour before he went home. We went to the Hokage's storage unit in hopes of finding something to give him closure. While I was searching, I found something interesting." There's an edge in Naruto's voice that felt almost vicious. Sasuke shudders a bit. "I found a box with the same symbol that is on my clothes. The one the Hokage picked for me when I was very young."

Naruto's eyes soften. A small smile blooms on his face. "When I got home, I opened it and I found this." Naruto takes off his pouch and digs inside it. After a few seconds, his smile widens and he gently pulls out a… scarf?

Naruto presents it to Sasuke like it is the most delicate newborn. "In the box was this scarf and a note. It was a note from my Kaa-chan."

Sasuke's eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. He gasps in bewilderment. He is genuinely stunned.

Naruto rolls his eyes. "Yeah, I know. I was shocked too. But there was a handwritten note from my Kaa-chan inside the box addressed to me. Kaa-chan was afraid she was going to die when she gave birth to me, so she wrote a letter the day before I was born." At this, a tear rolls down Naruto's left eye, flowing down his cheek. It drips and falls from his chin to the ground.

Naruto's face suddenly becomes flushed. "Inside was also a picture of her. She was so pretty! She had violet eyes, skin as pale as yours, and she had the most beautiful red hair ever! It was like looking at an angel. I even found out her name! Uzumaki Kushina!"

Sasuke smiles at Naruto. He is truly happy that Naruto found some sort of happiness. His smile falters when he sees a sinister aura surround Naruto.

Naruto glares venomously. He trembles in a mix of burning rage and gleeful sadistic intent. "The note confirmed one thing for me. Sandaime-sama knew my parents. Kaa-chan entrusted him with the box. And he purposefully hid my parents from me. He made me suffer alone for my entire life for some unfathomable reason. Because of that…"

A frosty chill crawls up Sasuke's spine.

"I will never forgive him. I hate him. I never want to know anything about him again. I want to shout and scream and dig him out of his grave just so I Can Kill Him MYSELF!" Naruto hyperventilates. "But I can't. I'm not smart enough, strong enough, anything enough! I missed my chance, and now I'm stuck with all this hate and pain that I can never get rid of. That man will never get the punishment he deserves, and there is no greater injustice in the world to me."

Sasuke stays quiet, genuinely speechless. He has no words. What he does know are two things.

One. He was right to doubt the Hokage. That man is a liar, and he doesn't like how that reflects on Konoha as a whole.

Two. Seeing the state of suffering his friend is in from never having the chance to enact his vengeance, Sasuke realizes he doesn't want to end up like that. Sasuke is more sure than ever of one thing. He MUST kill Itachi. He will enact his vengeance for Naruto and him both. He'd be dishonoring Naruto and his impossible ambition of vengeance against the Hokage if he didn't kill Itachi. He finally understands. Killing Itachi isn't his goal. It's something he must do no matter what so he can move forward.

Sasuke walks toward Naruto. He puts his hand on Naruto's shoulder and looks into Naruto's eyes. He can see so much pain inside of them. That look is what drove Sasuke to do something he hasn't done since he was 7.

He hugged Naruto. He made sure to pat his back some too. It's as awkward as a hug between distant siblings. Maybe even more so.

He could feel Naruto stiffen like a pole at his action, but Sasuke wouldn't back down. He's already made it this far. He brings Naruto in closer. The hug still feels very distant.

Finally, Naruto hugs back with fervor. He puts his face on the crook of Sasuke's neck and he bawls. Naruto lets out all the pain and frustration that has been burdening him since he's graduated. All the anger diffuses into more sadness. It makes Sasuke uncomfortable being in such close contact with another person, but he'll endure for his friend.

When Naruto finally stops crying, the boys decide to sit on the grass away from each other.

Sasuke can't help but frown deeply at Naruto's still melancholy form. His eyes are red and puffy and he looks slightly pale. The sadness is mostly gone, but Naruto now looks empty. Hollow; almost like his soul left his body. It's honestly unnerving.

Sasuke realizes that he has left his job half-done. He needs to work on the second and by far the hardest part of making Naruto happy. Actually cheering him up.

It's almost too much trouble for him to bother, but he can't help but try. Unfortunately, Sasuke has never had to cheer anyone up before.

He looks over at Naruto. He rubs the bridge of his nose and sighs. "Naruto. Do you want to spar?"

Naruto picks up a pebble and tosses it at a tree in front of him. "I'm not in the mood."

Sasuke scowls. Damn. That almost always works. How does he cheer Naruto up if even a spar won't?

Sasuke's mind pulls a blank. He has no more ideas. He has no choice but to make a spar more enticing. "How about a bet then. The winner of the spar can make the loser do whatever they want."

Naruto perks up. Some light comes back to his eyes. "When you say anything, do you actually mean anything."

Sasuke's scowl turns sour. He scrunches up his face. He does not like where this is going, but alas, he relents. "Yes. When I say anything, I do mean anything."

Naruto's eyes explode with life. He jumps up and smiles widely. "Yatta! Okay, I'll kick your ass so hard you'll wish you never challenged the great Naruto-sama, dattebayo!"

Sasuke rolls his eyes and smiles. Finally, Naruto is back. What should he make Naruto do when he inevitably wins? Maybe make him buy him lunch again? Yeah, that's not too bad. "Fine. But that means you have to do the same if you lose, Usuratonkachi."

Naruto smiles and gets in a ready stance. Sasuke enters his typical defensive Uchiha stance. He won't need to take this too seriously. Despite his progress recently, it's still Naruto.

Naruto charges in at a speed that catches Sasuke off guard. Sasuke barely manages to dodge the initial punch, and he was too late to notice it was a feint. A heel kick comes barreling toward him, and it's only the last-second activation of his Sharingan that allows him to react. Even so, Naruto's sandal grazes his cheek, leaving a red line from the friction.

Sasuke backs away for some space. He scowls at Naruto. 'That was a fluke. It won't happen again.' Sasuke keeps his Sharingan active and waits for Naruto to rush back in.

When Naruto is in range, Sasuke does the usual movements of his clan's Taijutsu. Observe your opponent, dodge their strikes, and use blocks to set up counter-attacks. Get a strike in or two, and take a few steps back. Rinse and repeat. It's a simple process that is ingrained in the blood of the Uchiha. Despite that and its simplicity, it exists for a reason. It's reliable, and even if you know the motions, few people can ever find any weakness in the Uchiha Taijutsu. They still fall for its ruthless simplistic efficiency.

Every time Naruto swings a punch from wide, Sasuke dodges it with ease. Sasuke sees through all of his feints, so whenever Naruto goes for a haymaker, jab, or a straight, Sasuke would block them and hit him in return. Afterward, Sasuke would back up before Naruto could land a counter-strike. It's so frustrating!

Naruto tries to switch things up by faking a feint. He goes wide on purpose to build up power and trick Sasuke into thinking he's setting up another feint. The fist gets past Sasuke's guard, nearly reaching the Uchiha's nose. Sasuke was caught off guard. Before it can land, Sasuke's hands grab his wrist and pulls him forward. Naruto loses balance and his face meets Sasuke's exposed right knee.

Naruto is launched back, holding his throbbing nose. "Itai!" 'Owwww!'

Sasuke rushes in, pulling out a kunai. He needs to make Naruto surrender so he can end this quickly.

Naruto uses the momentum of the strike to roll backward and create the space needed to summon Shadow Clones. Putting up the seal, Naruto activates it when Sasuke is within 5 meters of him.

A clone pops to life on Sasuke's left, holding his left wrist tightly, bringing his momentum to a halt, A second clone spawns on his right, setting itself a wild haymaker, Sasuke uses his free right hand to push the fist away from him and toward the clone keeping his left arm still.

What Sasuke failed to notice was the clone that summoned behind him, with its leg high in the air, and its body coiled like a spring ready to be released. A dangerous sandal sole plummets into the bony area behind his right ear. Sasuke is launched many meters away, creating little hills of impact from rolling on the ground.

Sasuke forces himself up at once, albeit clumsily. Once standing, he spreads his arm in order to restore his balance and diminish the dizziness. The ringing in his right ear won't quit, no matter how many times he swats at the ear canal.

His Sharingan gives him sharp enough reflexes to spin around the extended left arm of a clone throwing a straight. Sasuke ducks under the kick of the second clone, and slides between the legs of the third clone. He gets up and runs toward the nearest tree. He places a foot on it and jumps backward. Using his arms, he platforms on the back of the second clone and leaps in the air. He spins and kicks clones one and three on the face, successfully dispelling them.

He spins in the air and grabs the throat of clone number two. He drives his knee down on the clone's spine and jerks back its head, snapping its spine in half. The clone dispels in the most awful death Naruto has seen yet. His face goes a little green.

A dozen more clones come from out of the forest with Naruto joining them. The clones and Naruto gang up on Sasuke, trying to beat Sasuke's insurmountable skills with overwhelming numbers.

Sasuke uses his Sharingan to track active strikes and predict the route of future ones. Sasuke works on redirecting the strikes and putting the clones in compromising positions. That way, Sasuke saves energy while gaining an advantage, and Naruto wastes energy creating his own downfall.

Sasuke redirects one particularly vicious strike to a clone, causing one of the clones to dispel its brethren. The dispelling of the innocent clone makes every clone in the proximity hesitate. This gives Sasuke the chance he needs. He spins around another strike and kicks one of the clones toward the back of another, causing them to bump into one another. The clone instinctively jerks an elbow back to hurt the threat, causing another clone to dispel.

Sasuke punches a clone on the nose, dispelling another, and pokes the only attentive clone in the eye, causing it to go temporarily blind.

Every Naruto clone being distracted gives Sasuke his opening. Sasuke leaps high into the air and casts a set of instinctive handseals. "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Sasuke aims the fireball at the center of the mass of clones. A handful of clones manage to realize the danger in time and hop away from the imminent blast zone. The fireball lands and explodes, killing the other 13 clones. Now, it's 1 v 3.

Naruto tries to sneak up from behind Sasuke, only to get a sandal to the chin, launching him back-first to a tree. The two other clones pull out kunais, hoping one lucky strike can end this match. Sasuke pulls out his own kunai since his first got lost.

Sasuke and the clones bolt at each other, sparks flying from the contact of metal and metal. The clangs and shrieks of the metal protesting against the abuse wander the forest, creating a minor cacophony simulating war.

Sasuke grabs the clone's arms and uses them as a platform to flip over it, avoiding being beheaded by the dashing clone, whose kunai is where his throat was. Sasuke lands behind the used clone and kicks him back into the attacking clone, causing them to bump into each other.

But Sasuke wasn't prepared for what happened next. The attacking clone shoved the used clone back at Sasuke. When the used clone was near enough to the Uchiha, it stabbed itself in the chest, grimly dispelling itself. The chakra smoke impairs Sasuke's vision, making it hard to see.

The attacking clone used that to its advantage. It swung a riotous haymaker at Sasuke's cheek, prompting the Uchiha's journey through the air. Sasuke lands on his back and rolls on the dirt, smudging his cheeks with dusty brown spots.

The clone sprints toward the downed Sasuke. Sasuke is ready for what comes next. Sasuke spins on the ground, trying to sweep the clone's legs. The last remaining clone leaps into the air to keep standing. Sasuke hurries back up on his feet and shifts his hips.

When the clone lands back on the ground, it sees a sandal nearing it. Its imminent demise will come when that sandal strikes its cheek. It looks Sasuke in the eyes and smirks.

The clone digs its toes in the dirt. When Sasuke's kick lands, it uses the momentum to kick the dirt on its feet into Sasuke's eyes. The clone dies with a sadistic smile, hearing the irritating screeching of the Uchiha.

"Arrrrgh! Naruto, you idiot! My eyes!" Sasuke instinctively hunches over and grabs at his eyes with his hands, trying to wipe them clean.

Suddenly, he hears leaves rustling, and the air is knocked out of his lungs as something collides with his back, landing on top of him.

…

When Naruto saw the clone execute his plan, he started swinging on the branches like a monkey to gain momentum. When he saw Sasuke hunched over, he knew his time had come. He swung feet-first into Sasuke's back, making him fall over. Naruto sits on Sasuke's back and uses his feet to pin Sasuke's arms down.

He takes out a kunai and uses his free hand to pull Sasuke's head up by his hair. He places the edge of the blade on Sasuke's now exposed throat. "Do you yield?"

Sasuke stiffens when he hears that voice. Of all people, Naruto is on his back? But why?

The edge of the blade digs deeper into his skin, making him flinch. "I said, do you yield?" Sasuke's eyes widen. Yield? Naruto… had defeated him? He was dominating the fight for the most part, and in one instant, one single move is enough for the dobe to win? In a real fight, he'd be dead. He never thought the tide of battle could change so easily. Naruto… defeated him.

He can't accept this. Naruto beat him fair and square in a spar. No no no no NO! He cannot accept any of thi-

The pricking of the blade going deeper into his throat breaks his train of thought. "You know-" Oh God. Sasuke can hear the smugness in Naruto's voice. "-if this was a real life-and-death battle, I'd have killed you, Sasuke. You lose."

Sasuke trembles in rage. He will not be able to live this down. This humiliation- he promises he will deliver it back to Naruto ten-fold someday.

When he realizes Naruto isn't letting up on him, Sasuke realizes what needs to be done. Sasuke swallows hard and bites his lip. He gnashes his teeth and gives Naruto a small, barely noticeable nod. He refuses to speak.

Naruto lets go of Sasuke and he smiles widely. Naruto tears up a bit, but when Sasuke looks back, he sees a massive, beaming smile filled with pure pride and joy. Seeing Naruto genuinely proud of his achievement fizzles out the frustration Sasuke is feeling. He's happy for the blond. He only wishes he wasn't the one Naruto defeated to feel this way.

Sasuke gets up and starts dusting himself off. He starts walking away.

"Oi, oi, oi. Where do you think you're going? If I remember correctly, the loser has to do what the winner wants them to do, no matter what, dattebayo!" Naruto's lips form the most mocking shit-eating grin Sasuke has had the displeasure of seeing.

Sasuke clenches his fists. He stares at the ground and his eyes dilate and shrink with each breath he takes. He wants to say no. He needs to. He doesn't know if his pride can take it.

"Or does the word of the Uchiha not mean anything, dattebayo?"

Sasuke grinds his teeth, trying to relieve himself of this stress. A muscle jumps in his jaw. He wants to say no so bad, but he is a man of his word. It's part of the Uchiha pride. An Uchiha doesn't go back on their word. It's one of the reasons Uchiha's don't speak much.

"Hn." He nods.

Naruto's grin turns malicious. He giggles in a manner that brings shivers up Sasuke's spine.

"Before I tell you the dare, I want to be sure of something. Your Sharingan can copy jutsu, right?"

Sasuke raises a brow. "Yeah, why?"

Naruto rubs his hands together in glee. "Okay, I want you to copy the jutsu I am about to cast, and I dare you to perform it, dattebayo!"

Sasuke's other brow lifts close to his hairline. He is perplexed. What jutsu does Naruto possess that would make him so excited?

Naruto makes a ram seal. "Oiroke no Jutsu!" A puff of smoke appears. When the smoke clears, a tall, voluptuous blonde woman takes place where Naruto was. The young woman's eyes twinkle in mirth and her arms push up her large breasts, accentuating her full, covered form behind the smoke.

Sasuke's left eye twitches violently. His eyes turn bloodshot in fury, and the corner of his lips jumps at the thought of what Naruto is implying. Unfortunately for Sasuke, his fury instinctively activated his Sharingan. He accidentally copied the jutsu, and the memory of Naruto's feminine version's bare body has been branded in his brain. If he was a weaker person, he'd wish for death.

Naruto dispels the jutsu, seeing Sasuke's furious form and the crimson glare of his Sharingan. He grins like the Cheshire Cat. "Oh, you copied the jutsu. I'm glad you know how to listen. But one more thing. You won't be transforming into my dear Naruko-chan, no, you will create your own Sexy jutsu equivalent."

Naruto swears he heard a crack come from inside Sasuke's mouth. Maybe he cracked a molar? Ehh, big deal.

Sasuke seethes. To be disgraced to such a level… all he can ask is why him? Why have the gods decided to punish him like this? What has he done to deserve this?

Sasuke hesitantly puts up a ram seal. His eye is still twitching and a deep frown is etched on his face. His glaring Sharingan contrasts his flushed face, which has gone red at a mixture of irritation and mortification.

Sasuke closes his eyes and tries to picture what a… sexy adult female version of him would look like. Since he heavily resembles his mother, even as a boy, he'd probably look like her. So now he needs to adjust for the distinct characteristics that define his face and features. His demoralized expression reflects the emotions he feels.

He scrunches his face and activates the jutsu. The puff of smoke covers his form.

When the smoke settles, what appears is something that nearly makes Naruto's eyes pop out of their sockets. A tall, pale, raven-haired woman looks impassively at Naruto with sharp, slightly slanted obsidian eyes. Her hair is done in a neat ponytail, keeping her spiky curtains from covering her narrow, angular face. Her muscles look very well-toned for a woman, and her figure is more on the slimmer side. Wide hips complement long, toned legs, and her arms push up what looks to be C-cup breasts.

Naruto's face flushes slightly. As his eyes roam over the girl's body, his blush darkens. After a few seconds, Naruto shakes his head and starts giggling. He puts a hand over his mouth to muffle the sound, but in the calm, quiet forest, the sound is as booming as a thunderclap.

Snorts are heard with every intake of breath, and Naruto's giggles become more uncontrolled. Finally, he wheezes, and out comes the loud, raucous guffaws that cannot be contained. "BWAHAHAHAHAHA! OH MY GOD! AHAHAHAHAHAAA!"

And Sasuke? Sasuke goes red-faced. Steam comes out of his -her?- ears from exasperation. "Shut up! Shut up, you stupid dobe!"

Naruto's laughter dies down, and he wipes a tear from his eyes. "Ohh, such harsh words. You need to stop acting so Tsun-Tsun-" His smile turns teasing. "-Satsuki-chan!"

Sasuke dispels the jutsu. His Sharingan activates and he levels Naruto a malicious glare. A dark, sinister aura rolls off of Sasuke's body. He has never been so humiliated. So degraded. So appalled. His body trembles, trying- and failing- to contain all his intense, bubbling dark emotions.

Sasuke lets out an almost primal snarl at Naruto. He can't take it anymore. He will show the idiot his wrath. He rushes in and swings a wide, powerful, left haymaker at Naruto. The fist lands on Naruto's nose. A loud crunch reverberates throughout the woods, eliciting a wince from all woodland creatures who heard it.

Naruto is launched back-first into a tree. He writhes on the ground, holding his now broken nose. "Urrrghhh!" His screams are muffled by his own hands. Sasuke runs after Naruto and swings his right foot forward, punting Naruto further into the forest.

He sits on Naruto's chest and pushes his arms away from his face. Sasuke slams a fist into Naruto's right cheekbone. Naruto's hands instinctively go to massage the lump, giving Sasuke the space he needs. Sasuke's right fist barrels into Naruto's chin on the left side of his face.

Naruto's hands go up, trying to block Sasuke's barrage of strikes. Sasuke moves around and swings another fist onto Naruto, busting his lip. Sasuke moves Naruto's hands once more and then rams his right fist onto Naruto's left eye, causing it to swell.

Naruto finally kicks Sasuke off of him. He gets up and clumsily runs at the Uchiha. Sasuke dodges Naruto's initial swing and redirects any strike that gets too close. Finally, Naruto aims a straight at Sasuke's nose. Sasuke grabs Naruto's arm and pulls him in. Sasuke grabs Naruto by the shoulders and adjusts his hips. When Naruto is in range, Sasuke's right knee pistons up, crashing into Naruto's crotch.

Naruto's eyes go wide, nearly popping out of his skull. His face puckers and he squeaks like a rodent. Naruto collapses in a beaten heap, groaning and biting back tears. The boy cups his crotch, trying to get the feeling back in his testicles.

Sasuke looks at Naruto blankly. He feels no remorse. Naruto had it coming. He deserved that for demeaning him in such a way. He feels lighter now. Most of his rage has disappeared. The dobe serves as a good punching bag. But now, he needs to make sure this information never gets out.

Sasuke stalks toward Naruto. Naruto looks up, hearing thumping, ominous footsteps coming toward him. Horror blooms from his eyes when he sees Sasuke approaching. "No. No, stay back! Stay away, I'm sorry!"

Sasuke cannot forgive Naruto for what he made him do. He won't. And to tease him in such a way, that alone deserves death. The dobe doesn't deserve any mercy.

Naruto's panic becomes palpable. "No, wait, please! I-I promise. I promise I won't tell anyone about this, ever! I won't even mention it, I swear! I never go back on my word."

Sasuke stops walking. He thinks about it. Normally, giving someone your word is meaningless, but coming from Naruto, him giving his word is as binding as a death seal. So, maybe, just maybe, he can let this slide. Just this once.

"Tch!" Sasuke turns around, avoiding looking at Naruto.

Naruto winces. 'Damn. Sasuke is so mad he didn't even grunt. I might've gone too far this time. How do I make it up to him?'

"Hey, uh, Sasuke? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset, okay. I went too far and I didn't realize that. I give you my word that I will never mention this again, dattebayo."

Sasuke doesn't say anything. He nods stiffly once and that's it.

All the tension in his body leaves Naruto. Whew! 'Thank god. Sasuke is willing to let it go. But knowing Sasuke, this is my only pass. But Sasuke is giving me the silent treatment. That means he hasn't forgiven me. Damn.'

Naruto gulps. He has to find a way to make it up to Sasuke. "Hey, uh, Sasuke. Remember how we agreed the loser will have to do whatever the winner decides to do, no matter what?"

Sasuke immediately turns around fuming. His Sharingan casts a deathly glow around him, making Naruto fear for his life again.

Naruto backs up. "No, no no! You misunderstood me. You beat me just now. I couldn't even get a hit in." Naruto blushes in shame. He puffs out his cheeks and exhales slowly. He sighs. "That means that I have to do whatever you want. It's the rules."

Sasuke's Sharingan fades. His vengeful expression clears, restoring his normal stoic countenance. He huffs a bit. 'He's so frustrating! One minute he's the most annoying pest, like a cockroach, trying to fight for his life and survive. And other, he's like a dove, trying to embrace everything in a warm glow.'

Sasuke pinches his nose, trying to collect his thoughts. 'I can't help but feel livid at the dobe's behavior, but it was a bet, despite how humiliating the punishment was. And now he's trying to make amends by counting my sucker punch and subsequent beating as a spar. When he tries that hard to protect our friendship, I can't help trying to meet him halfway.' Sasuke sighs. All signs of agitation left his body. He can't stay mad at the loser.

"Hn. Fine. Meet me back here at 8:00 P.M. And bring a lot of food. You're paying for both of our dinners. And no ramen." Sasuke approaches Naruto and crouches so they can be at eye level. Sasuke lifts up a hand and reaches for Naruto's nose. He grabs and yanks on the bone, twists it to the left, and shoves it back in place. He reset Naruto's nose.

Naruto yells and writhes on the floor, trying to soothe the pain without agitating his nose. Sasuke walks away from him and back toward the village.

Naruto stops the scene once Sasuke leaves. 'That fucking bastard! I mean, thanks for fixing my nose, but you broke it, you dickhead! At least be gentle about it, dattebayo!'

Naruto shakes his head and stares dumbfounded at where Sasuke once stood. What's going to happen at eight? Well, whatever. Naruto smiles in glee. He has a chance to patch things up with Sasuke tonight.

---

Naruto sprints to the clearing in the forest he and Sasuke were in earlier. 'Shit! I'm late! I spent so long trying to buy food that the time slipped me by, dattebayo!'

Naruto is holding many bags of groceries in his hands. A branch snags onto one of the bags, creating a tear in it. Naruto tries to hold in the contents of the bag, but he loses his balance and falls off the tree he was on.

The sound of him impacting the Earth caught Sasuke's attention. He walks over and sees Naruto stuck in a bush. Shredded bags and many food products lay on the forest floor, littering the once organic ground. Sasuke can't help but facepalm. He sighs. "I should've known asking you to do a simple task like 'bring food' couldn't end in any other way besides failure."

Naruto has no retort. Sasuke is right. But he doesn't have to like it. "Grr, if you have time to judge me, then shut the fuck up and help me, dattebayo!"

Sasuke sighs. He's been doing that a lot lately. He goes to pick up the food on the ground while Naruto tries to get himself out of the bush.

Sasuke carries the sandwiches, onigiris, and drinks with him while Naruto -finally out of the bush- sets up a picnic blanket of sorts. Sasuke places the food and drinks on the blanket and both boys sit on either side of the food.

Naruto grabs a sandwich and takes a bite. "So, why are we here?"

Sasuke doesn't say anything at first. He takes his time to observe Naruto. There are still bruises on his face. Nothing too serious. They are mostly healed. But the large, black, swollen left eye of his… he can't help but feel some regret. But then again, he's trying to move on and be the bigger person.

Sasuke looks Naruto in the eyes. "I don't like being in the village much. The people always look at me strangely. It's not bad looks, but they look at me with reverence. They don't look at me like they look at everyone else."

Seeing the look on Naruto's face, Sasuke can't help but shake his head. "It's not all it's made out to be. People crave respect and adoration constantly. People ask for them in tandem, but people forget that respect and adoration are two different things. When people look at you with reverence, they don't look at you with respect. People look at you and see a goal. They see me as a tool for status, wealth, and prestige. They never try to get to know you because they don't care about Sasuke. They only care about what it means to be me."

Naruto looks at Sasuke in awe. Sasuke… can understand that too?

Sasuke ignores the look on Naruto's face and keeps going. "I hate those looks so much. It's like I'm an outsider in the village. So whenever I get sick of being in the village, I go here, to this clearing. It's far from those eyes filled with empty praise. It's quiet, so no one can keep pestering me, trying to gain my favor or sell me on how their daughters are the best choice to rebuild my dead clan. And this place is surrounded by nature. It's peaceful. I'm surprised you found this place earlier today. It's my secret spot."

Naruto feels touched that Sasuke would invite him to share such a personal space with him. And to think that Sasuke would feel the exact same way about the village that he does. They are so alike it's unbelievable. Regret bubbles in Naruto's gut. He sullied such a special place to Sasuke earlier, only to try and tease him. He's such a bad friend.

But then again, he's here to make up for that. "Okay, so, what do you want me to do?"

Sasuke looks at the food and nods to it. Naruto gets the message. Shut up and eat.

Naruto and Sasuke eat their meals in complete silence.

…

After an hour in silence, Sasuke finally decides to speak up. "You wanted to make up for what you did earlier today, right? I want to move on from that already, so all I ask is that you lay down next to me and look at the stars."

Naruto's mouth hinges open. 'That's it? Is there some trick to this?' His eyes narrow, but he obliges.

Naruto lays down next to Sasuke and they look at the stars together. The sky is perfectly clear tonight, so nothing is impeding them from seeing every last blink from outer space.

A small smile blooms on Sasuke's face. "When I was little, my Kaa-san used to tell me old stories the Uchiha ancestors told to explain the natural world. These stories come from a time before modern science, so most have been proven wrong. Even so, they have a certain charm to them, and I can't help but think about them whenever I'm feeling lost. My favorite is the one about the stars. Would you like to hear it?"

Naruto reciprocates the small smile on Sasuke's face. "Sure."

Sasuke's smile widens ever so slightly. "Kaa-san told me that the stars are like their own little suns, just like ours, and that inside each star is the soul of a person special to us. Past, present, and future. And each person sees the stars differently since not everyone loves the same people. The stars that glow brightest are the people that love you the most. And by being in the stars, the people we love, even when dead can still watch over us. They give us enough love to guide us in the dark of night."

Naruto's eyes tear up a little bit. Looking up at the night sky, all those countless stars, that's how many people have, do, or will love him in his lifetime. He's so alone, but the stars tell him a different story. The stars are hope that someday, he will be loved by many. And when that happens, he'll be happy.

Sasuke sees the unshed tears in Naruto's eyes. His expression softens, but he continues on with his tale. "Whenever I look at the night sky, I feel happy again. Even if it's only for a moment, I can feel my family around me again. And when I look at Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, I like to think that my Kaa-san is in there, watching me from up there, and giving me protection when I need it. The brightness of Sirius makes me remember all the good times with Kaa-san."

A tear falls from Naruto's eye. So, Sirius, the brightest star in the sky must be the soul of the person who loves him most. So, that big, blue star in the sky, that must be her. Naruto looks at the star and smiles warmly. 'Hello, Kaa-chan.'

Sasuke can feel his own eyes water. But he's made of tougher stuff than Naruto. He refuses to cry. "And Polaris, the North Star, it's a famous star because it's a star that has been used for navigation and drawing maps. People still use the star for directions while traveling. Even though it doesn't shine the brightest, it's always there to guide people to where they need to go. It gives people direction and drive. I like to think that star is my Tou-san. He might not have been the warmest man, but looking back, he guided me to the right path when I really needed it. He wasn't always there, but he was there when he was needed. Hopefully, he is still guiding me, even now."

Naruto looks for the tip of the Ursa Minor constellation. When he finds it, he stares at Polaris. His smile widens. 'Hello, Tou-chan. I'm glad to know you are helping me from the great beyond.' He's sure his Tou-chan is dead. There's no way his Kaa-chan would fall in love with a deadbeat.

But despite the wonderful story Sasuke shared with him, something still doesn't sit right with Naruto. "But, why are you telling me this, dattebayo?"

Sasuke becomes slightly flustered. He still has no idea how to handle mushy stuff. "Because earlier you were downcast. I'm not very good at talking, so I had to come up with something that would get through to you. I don't know. I guess I wanted you to know you aren't truly alone. Despite your parents being dead, they are still with you."

Sasuke begins scratching his cheek in a Naruto-like manner. "I just wanted to make sure you weren't sad anymore."

Naruto struggles to hold in tears. No one has gone so far for him before. Sasuke is… Sasuke is… He doesn't know what Sasuke is, but he is special to him. The most special person in his life is Sasuke. "Thank you, Sasuke."

Sasuke smiles and nods.

Naruto then remembers why they are here in the first place. "So, Sasuke, about earlier. The dare I made you do."

Sasuke groans.

"By doing this, does this mean you forgive me? Are we good?"

Sasuke sighs. He shakes his head. He looks at Naruto and smiles. A small chuckle leaves his lips. "Yeah, we are."

Naruto beams a smile at Sasuke in return.

Both boys stay watching the night sky, enjoying the wonders of what lies beyond their small marble of a planet. They fall asleep together, side-by-side in the clearing.

---

That's the chapter. I hope you enjoyed it, and thank you for reading.

My main goal for this chapter was the building and development of Naruto and Sasuke's bond, which goes beyond friendship. I also worked on the slow-burn of Sasuke's resentment toward Naruto. I want to do what most Fanfiction authors fail to do, and that is developing Sasuke as a character. I want to do him justice. After all, Sasuke is the second main character. He is equally as important as Naruto.

As always, If you have any questions or concerns, even criticism, Please PM me or Review. I'll always answer.

This is Zippy, out.