Okay, I know I said I might keep it a one shot, but I had another chapter ready, I was bored, and it was really short. And I really wanted to keep writing this. Besides, one person requested I keep going, so that's enough for me. Anyway, here's chapter 2, complete with much death and despair. And uh, puppies. Yeah. It's really hard to be upbeat after writing (or reading) this chapter. Enjoy!
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Naruto blinked and shook his head, piecing together thoughts from the fog of sleep.
'Ugh, must've dozed off for a minute. That must have been a really boring fight. I wonder if Sasuke won.'
Naruto looked around, but couldn't seem to clear his vision.
'All I can see is a red blur. I wonder why there's so much red. It's not even a very good color, just like a really emo orange. Heh, emo. Like Sasuke. Why isn't anyone talking? I want to know who won. What about the fight? Why does my hand itch? Is that a scream?"
Suddenly the world crystallized.
The bleachers were stained with blood, some still flowing, some pooled and still. Everywhere there were people. Some were writhing and crutching various wounds, some trying to help the injured, some professionally cleaning and bandaging their own injuries before taking defensive stances, some not so restrained sprang off in all directions, and some just stared vacantly at the blood, empty.
Only some.
Not all. Only some of the hundreds of people. Some. A handful.
The rest died.
Died like Zabuza, stabbed a dozen times.
But these were no demons. There was the old pervert, Ebisu, glasses broken by the kunai sheathed in his eye.
There was the crimson eyed women who led Team 8, she blocked four, but the other six found their mark.
There was Chouji, no visible wounds but the blood still dripped from his back, splashing on a half-full bag of chips.
There was the man who sold Naruto his wallet for a fair price, and never really hit that hard when he chased him after a prank, too many wounds to count.
TenTen, pierced in a dozen major arteries.
Shino, one in a kidney, the other buried in the back of his neck, bugs bursting from the wounds like blood-drenched larva.
Kiba, again nothing visible, but staring ahead with dead, milky eyes as Akamaru whined, licking his face, his hands, before curling up next to him, occasionally pawing at his stiff fingers, as if to will them to move again, to pet him, to tell him it was okay.
And then… Naruto threw up.
'No. Oh God no.'
Iruka. Just one. One kunai, right through his heart.
And Naruto felt it. A knife in his heart.
It stopped his breathing, doubled him over with pain. He vomited, threw up until he was reduced to dry heaves, then shuddered on the ground.
He tried to cry, tried to scream, tried to deny it to the world.
But the knowledge was there.
He knew all about death from the academy. He knew how a direct blow to the heart was always fatal. Remembered how Iruka had taught them about it on Valentines day, a morbid joke. That same day he gave Sakura a valentine, and she threw it away before she went up to Sasuke an-
'Sakura! Sasuke!'
Naruto looked around frantically. Where were they? Sasuke had been fighting, and Sakura had been… right… next to him…
'No'
Naruto turned.
And saw Sakura, slumped over the rail –'must have been leaning out to watch Sasuke'- five kunai protruding from her back. No bloodstains. Her dress was already red. But it dripped to the ground, mixing with the others, indistinguishable, a testament to the equality of death.
He looked down.
There was Sasuke. His perfect face marred by the kunai that pierced the top of his head and punched through just above his right eye. Dozens of other wounds. But his face. Still, however deformed, it held a smile of victory.
And still the tears wouldn't come.
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Yep. I told you there was death and despair. I'd like to say the next chapter is upbeat and cheerful, but I don't really think that's gonna happen in this fic. And, on that note, what do you guys (and girls) think about maybe bumping up the rating? I'd really prefer not to, but the way this fic is going, I might need to involve some hardcore stuff. So, what's your opinion? And I swear, this time I'll actually wait to hear from more people before I go off and do it. Anyway, please read and review, and if you have any other questions or concerns, you can e-mail me at graypersona at gmail, and seriously, if you're just gonna flame me, try to be creative. I have spam filters, so don't bother with something like "you suck donkey balls". Be original. Anyway, next chapter up soon!