I didn't mean to hurt you.

There was a loud knocking on the door, who could be here its 4 in the morning he thought vexed,

I didn't mean it, but it seemed easier than telling you the truth, I didn't want to risk it. Risk you turning and walking away forever like how I almost did to you.

He pushed himself out of the bed reluctantly walking down the stairs with a yawn flipping on the light switch.

When you leave, I get scared that you'll never come back and I'll be alone again.

Sliding across the hardwood floor his eyes returned to the cold orbs of darkness.

I was so obsessed with killing him that when I finally did I didn't know what to do. I forced myself to create false obsessions so I'd have a reason to live. I needed a reason, but you…

Gripping the handle of the door he pulled it open a twinge of regret and guilt running over his face as he looked at his guest.

You became my reason.

"Sasuke…"

"Naruto?"

The smell of the morning mildew took him off guard as he saw Naruto stare at him. He was dressed in the usual black under clothes his usual flack vest no where to be found yet he had his mask up on top of his head. The color from his face was once again drained like yesterday. He silently wondered to himself if he had been like that all along. Suddenly he remembered that they were just standing there. He welcomed him in as he moved upward wincing at his ribs nodding. Sasuke shut the door turning his head confused, "What are you doing here this early?"

Naruto smiled the color returning suddenly, "Come on I thought you didn't sleep Sasuke!"

He growled to the attempted insult passing him into the kitchen, "Coffee?"

He shook his head grabbing a seat spinning it then landing sitting backwards on the chair. With a smile he spoke, "No thanks! But I noticed you still have those papers. Those papers about Itachi's death, you killed him yourself why don't you believe it?"

There was a moment when he turned away grunting, "What I do is none of your business dobe."

He seemed to jump at the insult as Sasuke avoided looking at him. Naruto whispered resting his chin on his arms, "Maybe sometimes Sasuke you should try to move on, past this stupid obsession of yours with revenge. He's dead already don't you think its enough? You owe it to yourself and your family to…"

Sasuke jumped dropping the kettle of hot water and smacking the glass cup towards Naruto on accident. Naruto caught it suddenly his eyes sad as he set it down. Sasuke shook furiously, "Don't lecture me you bastard! You out of all people who won't give up on their own damn dream no matter how much of your life you waste on it! I fulfilled my dream it was realistic and I took care of it and I'm making sure I did for myself! I can't believe it still that you think you can be Hokage! They would never let a monster…a person like you be Hokage! They won't even let you become an ANBU officer!"

He shook furiously when he saw Naruto stand there his face reflected hurt as he set down the cup slowly. Turning his head he pushed the chair in slowly. Sasuke thought over his words then jumped, "Naruto! I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that."

He shook his head then forced a wry smile looking at him, "I know that, its fine teme! Come on I've known you long enough to know what you mean don't you think? Anyway I got to go, see you later!"

Sasuke froze there for a moment as he heard the door way shut. He turned his head back carefully covering his face cursing himself repeatedly under his breath asking how he could be so stupid. Walking up the stairs slowly he threw himself on the bed promising that when he woke up he'd go to Naruto's house and see him and apologize once again.

Naruto put his hands into his pockets as he headed to the Hokage's home. He looked to the still dark sky his eyes radiating a mosey like look. He swallowed slightly then continued walking when he saw Wataru staring at him, one of his perkier team mates. He smiled to his Captain, "Captain, are you ready?"

He nodded smiling looking to Miroku and the others. They all put on their masks as they turned to the other teams being departure and the medical ninjas. Naruto suddenly jumped when he saw Sakura leaning against a wall smiling to him with Tsunade. He walked over slowly as Tsunade smiled to him motherly dusting off the lint on his shoulder while he pulled up his mask. Her lecturing voice called once again smiling, "Don't you be too risky alright, you are leading all these people don't forget that."

He nodded smiling brightly, "No worries Baa-chan!"

Sakura snorted smirking, "You be careful with your wounds alright you idiot!"

He nodded to them then saluted waving off as in an instance everyone disappeared.

Sakura took a deep breath trying to push aside her worries, Tsunade looked down to her student and smiled to her not to worry turning for them to return back to work.

Sasuke stood tapping his foot in front of Naruto's home. He grunted looking up to the sky then decided to just go inside thinking that Naruto must have decided to go back to sleep or was showering or something. Jumping to the side of the window he walked in slowly seeing the bed nicely made a real first for Naruto yet then he saw everything was clean. Walking over to the bathroom he saw it was empty and everything was just put away if he didn't know any better he would have thought that no one lived there at all.

Continuing to walk through the home thinking of it as a chance to invade his privacy with a sly grin he turned walking to the bathroom seeing bandages with blood in the sink and some needles and scissors. Continuing he noticed the open first aid kit. His eyes saddened as he wrapped his hand around the bandages whispering, "Naruto, you dobe."

Turning back he walked out of the room heading back to the window but stopped seeing his bed stand. Over the years Naruto would always get so excited over photos. He said he finally got to prove that he had people who cared about him. Noting he saw the picture with him and Naruto. He had fought over not wanting to be in the picture but seeing the plea in his best friend's face he was forced too.

Sighing he smirked in remembering that day yet turned away jumping out the window. Walking down the street he put a hand under his chin trying to think of where he could have gone. He continued searching the village with no avail and his team mates were also no where to be found. Finally giving up to his last resort he walked into Lord Hokage's office. With a sigh he stopped, "Lord Hokage."

In the same annoyed voice she asked, "Sasuke?"

There was a moment as he asked, "Do you know where Naruto has gone?"

She raised an eyebrow to him for a moment then leaned back in her chair partially amused, "he didn't tell you I see. Did you two get in an argument? This morning he seemed rather sad."

Before she could say another word he slammed his hand on the desk, "Don't mess with me all I asked was where he went."

She jumped, "Don't start a tone with me you little brat! He went on a mission!"

With that he stopped turning away. Walking down the hall he sighed looking down for a moment. He grunted turning his head away carefully. Naruto always came to him bothering him in the noisy way he did yelling that he was going then, this time he had to admit he was a bit angry that he didn't tell him still he didn't blame him either.

Continuing he found his way to his office sitting down throwing his leg on the top of the desk. He looked around to his squad to which consist of a man named Ruin and some others. Ruin was someone he worked with the most often though he didn't like any of them. He seemed annoyed with them all and at the same time they were very much so loyal to his infatuation Naruto. He blamed Naruto's characteristics. He also had Shino and Kiba on his team strangely enough. He looked down to his paper work and instantly found it difficult to concentrate. He gritted his teeth turning away when he saw Konohamaru come in from Naruto's 3rd cell. Carefully he flooded out the room while Konohamaru walked in. He handed him the mission file, "Shizune told me to bring this to you, Captain's mission file."

He took it quickly looking into the file report. His eyes widened as he looked through it. Leaning back for a moment he turned his head, "how many people were dispatched?"

"4 cells and 1 group of medic ninjas"

He cursed himself as he took a moment. He nodded dismissing him and turning away nodding slowly, "Alright."

"The auxiliary team has returned!"

The frantic doctors strode through the area caring for the many wounded as a rain storm occurred outside. Blood filled the area as the stretchers continued to run in and out of the area. A stretcher entered as the doctor asked suddenly, "How many causalities!"

"Just one!"

The stretcher laid the wounded battered body of Naruto down as they looked down shocked.

It had been a week and Naruto wasn't back yet it was calmer and Sasuke's work had been finished though not to the best of his ability. He had missed the dobe but then again it was nice to have a vacation and at least he knew he wouldn't have to worry so much though it was such a dangerous mission. As he stood he heard in the hallway a loud scream, a loud familiar scream of Sakura. Walking into the hall a book in hand he saw she was crying. Confused he asked, "Sakura?"

Hysterically she cried, "Naruto! He's been critically injured!"

He froze his heart seemed to skip a beat as he looked at her. She was crying she was crying a lot; if she was crying this much could it have been that serious? Could Naruto be in that much danger he wondered to himself as he pushed himself forward shakily, "Naruto…"

"Blood pressure rate normal, pulse rate normal, no internal bleeding from injuries, one of his eyes is gouged out."

"How are the wounds on the chest and shoulder?"

"The chest wound is still healing but the shoulder is bleeding."

"His legs?"

"Muscles are healing but there seems to be a chakra build up near the navel it won't access to the rest of the body."

There was a moment as they continued to work the body laying forced to resort to breathing support.

Naruto lay on the bed his eye covered on one side with a bandage around his head. He had one over his shoulder and around his chest a long with the splint from his fractured ribs. One leg was lifted into the air and wrapped with a bandage on his right arm also. He wore a mask over his mouth to help him breath and an IV in his arm. Kakashi looked to the boy as Iruka stood beside him. Tsunade stared to his team mates annoyed while they screamed out, "OUR TEAM WAS SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES!"

"THE CAPTIAN CAME BACK TO HELP US!"

"IT'S NOT HIS FAULT THEY ALL DIED!"

"PLEASE DON'T PUNISH HIM!"

Kakashi laughed a little at their loyalty speaking, "Calm down already."

They continued as Naruto laughed a little showing one blue eye looking out at them, "Its okay it really was my fault we achieved our goal so I got a little careless, I am guessing that arrow head was coated with some chakra poison or something."

Tsunade nearly smacked him yet then Iruka sympathized, "Naruto."

"Captain! Please we apologize!"

Tsunade jumped kicking them each and throwing them out of the room, "As you should now return to work so he can rest!"

Kakashi chuckled as Naruto asked softly whimpering as he moved, "Please don't hurt them Tsunade it isn't their fault."

She turned to him and smiled lightly yet shook her head, "I know I know now you rest alright I don't want you moving at all."

Iruka looked at him for a moment telling him to lie back as he did. He looked up as he listened to the counselor speak, "I injury out of 20 from the auxiliary mid-rank team. 21 fatalities no survivors as known, please dispatch after math quickly there is nothing else left in the report."

Another voice jumped, "How could he leave no survivors when he had the upper hand! He isn't using THAT power again is he?"

"No there was no difference in skill or anything."

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows, "I just lost control…" he then smiled brightly, "I was pathetic! I just killed them all I didn't think about survivors or anything not enough training I guess!"

Everyone saw the true hurt when they heard Sasuke's voice break in gently, "Don't smile."

Everyone turned as Kakashi asked, "Sasuke?"

Tsunade saw the look on his face and pushed everyone out the door in dismissal she glared to Sasuke signaling him threateningly then turning back to Naruto waving a good bye the others forcing to mutter so as they ran out of the hospital. Sasuke walked in slowly into the empty room shutting the door on the way, "Don't smile when you're feeling so bad."

He asked for a moment, "How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough"

Naruto smiled a little then turned his head away slowly. He looked out the window pushing him up painfully pressing his hand to his chest in a low grunt not even bothering to hold back the tears he instead wiped them away quickly. Smiling he turned to him, "I look like shit huh?"

He smirked, "Yeah you do, you are such an idiot…you worried everyone."

He looked down for a moment remembering how his heart skipped a beat. He looked to his best friend who looked to be in so much pain. Standing for a moment he walked near the window his hand in his pockets as he turned to him. He winced in pain and he looked like he wanted to cry out as he lifted the top of the bed. Turning he smiled, "Sorry, I thought I was a monster though...you're not mad anymore?"

He stopped suddenly turning, "Naruto I didn't mean that."

He grinned nodding, "I know that it's cool like I care."

There was a moment of silence when there was a loud whispering outside the door though it was shut it was loud. Naruto's eyes widened as Sasuke looked at him pity in his eyes. They way they insulted him and spoke of him as if he wasn't there. Naruto turned away giving a wry smile yet Sasuke walked out the door quickly his eyes narrowed, "you shut up and leave and if I hear you speak another word about Naruto I promise you, your death won't be so much as a mercy killing."

They jumped disappearing while Naruto shook slightly he whispered, "You didn't have to do that…but thank you."

He nodded to him smirking, "You're such a dobe Naruto."

He moved back carefully laying down his face twisted in pain as he turned to his friend, "Shut up teme."

Smirking in response they stared at each other beginning their mild conversation. Propping himself down on the chair he looked at him carefully, "You know you do care…you don't need to hide it anymore…"

His eyes widened as suddenly Sasuke reached his arms out wrapping them around him slowly. Naruto's eyes widened as he felt his heart beat uncontrollably. He questioned suddenly, "Sasuke?"

"Stop doing this, stop worrying me."

He stopped shaking softly while Sasuke turned his head his hand pressing into the back of his head, "You're not leaving me again."

Naruto reached his weak hand up whispering shakily, "but…"

He ended, "I'm not leaving you either."

You became that reason, my reason to keep trying and to keep living.