XV.
"Rise an' shine, bastard!" Naruto shouted in Sasuke's ear one morning.
Sasuke groaned, burying his face deeper into the pillow and blocking out the world. Scooting closer, the Uzumaki added more chakra into his voice so that it magnified."I said, RISE AN' SHINE, TEME!" He screamed with the force of a thousand suns, making his teammate look pet peeved. "Alright, alright. I'm up. Now, shut up, already." Sasuke sent him a death glare, meaning no messing around with. Naruto pouted and grumbled to himself, "Geez, just tryin' to help ya out here, bastard."
"Hmph."
Aaaaand back to square one.
As they stood up, something on the floor glinted under the sunlight of the window. Naruto picked it up and cocked his head to the side. "Wha -? Hey, teme, what happened to your hitai-ate?" The blonde eyes it closely, the leaf symbol was sliced in half. "I don't need that thing," Sasuke replied, pointing to his own forehead. Naruto looked taken aback. Somehow he knew he was dead serious about it. A dark aura had surrounded his body completely.
"Of course ya need it, teme! You're one of us." He exclaimed. "We're a team! Wearing this means you're a ninja of the Leaf. Just like you - or me!"
"..." Sasuke remained silent, further alleviating his suspicions. "Baka, you're my friend!" He says with such ferocity that Sasuke jolts back because of it. "You are my friend. And it's because of that that we work together. Kakashi-sensei said so himself. Those that treat their teammates like trash are worse than scum."
'Stalling for time,' he crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping that he believed his words just as much as he did. "Fine, just this once," The Uchiha snapped, tying it back on, though however reluctantly. "There, you happy now?"
'Why's it cracked open?...And why is he trying not to wear it?'
"I guess..." He shrugs, narrowing his eyes, and squinting. Something sure was fishy about this. "I just..I dunno. Why're you acting so weird around me these days?"
"Hn." Sasuke answered stubbornly, crossing his arms and looking away. Naruto growled and tackled him. "N - NARUTO!" He shouted, feeling him press against him again. There was still that awkward silence where they sat there, looking away from each other. "Please, I just wanna know why..." Naruto asked him pleadingly, with tears in his eyes, and Sasuke almost felt guilty about what he was going to say. But, it needed to be said. Otherwise, he would never know...
"L - Listen," he muttered. "There's something...I have to tell you..." Sasuke started off quietly, not used to talking to Naruto privately like this. In public, it was always the same old back and forth banter/bickering. But, like this, when they were all alone…it just wasn't the same. "I...don't know how you'll take it, but…" He murmured, "...we're leaving the village. Pack up your things and we can go without a trace. And as soon as possible."
"What? Sasuke, what the hell?" Traumati, his hands shook as he reached for the kunai from his pouch. It'd be easy to kill him now, to end his life. To leave was like committing a crime. And if the bastard would do such a thing...!
Apparently his face said it all, because Sasuke added in sadly,
"Kakashi hasn't taught me enough. Even now...I'm not even close to strong. I'm still weak, just like how I was five years ago. When I witnessed my whole clan die before me." Sasuke looks down and clenches his fist. "I'm starting to see it now, you were always one step ahead of me. And I - and I was just your shadow, watching as you grew stronger and stronger with all the others. And maybe someday the whole village. I'm still alone." Naruto looks at him sadly. He knows that feeling all too well...Still. Leaving the village? After all they've been through together?
"You're the only way I can cope with these feelings. To let out my emotions; to finally be free of myself. But, it won't last for long, I know that already." He says, locking desperate eyes with him. Reaching out a hand to his face, he says, "You're one of the few people that is family to me." Sasuke admitted. "That's why I love you, so, so much. I wish I said it sooner, after all of this time..."
"S - Sasuke..." Naruto's eyes fill with tears. What could he do? What can he say?
"I understand if you don't want to come with me. You want to become hokage. If you're a missing nin like me, then you'll never achieve your dream. And I don't want you to suffer like that again."
"Sasuke, I…"
"If you want to stay, I won't stop you. I'm going to leave the village no matter what. Whether you choose to come with me is completely up to you." Sasuke said, gripping his hand for a sense of connection. There was none.
" I- I can't do that, Sasuke! Everyone here means so much to me! They're my family! And what about Team Seven? Did everything we do mean nothing to you?"
"It wasn't meaningless. The Leaf may be your home, but it isn't mine. If that's what you think, then, I suppose this is goodbye. I thought we were similar and that you were different than them. You're so much more. If you choose them over me, then...this is goodbye -" He turns around to leave, but...
"-WAIT! Sasuke, I -!" He called out helplessly, yanking him back by the sleeve. Sasuke stumbles, and glares at him out the corner of his eyes. Naruto opens his mouth to speak, but looking past his shoulder...
...He sees someone else with them.
The Uzumaki screams, but then a hand clasps onto his mouth. Anything he says is muffled.
PREVIEW OF NEXT CHAPTER:
"Oh, why hello there, Sasuke." The boy himself turns around; and had a heart attack.
"I - Itachi-?"
TO BE CONTINUED
