Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto or anything that comes along with it otherwise I probably would have killed off Sasuke long ago, or at least stopped him from being such an arrogant ass.

"Speech"

"Thought"

"Kyuubi thoughts"

(Further into the past, around six months before the funeral)

Chapter 3: Past Memories

With Sakura consumed in her sorrow as she realised she couldn't help a tearful gaze was directed at Naruto, knowing he was the only one who could do anything. Sasuke had gone mad- he was almost as destructive as the Kyuubi when its chakra became channelled through its host, causing a number of tails to appear and a 'demon cloak' to envelop what was a hyperactive, always optimistic child and mould him into a miniature demonic version of the great nine-tailed fox that almost destroyed Konoha- although he hoped he wouldn't have to call on that very power in order to take down his opponent- no, his friend.

"Sakura-chan, stay back. Whatever happens, I promise I'll bring him back. Just stay with Kakashi-Sensei."

A dumbfounded nod then Sakura scrambled from her usual spot of staring at the discoloured mass that was Sasuke and returned to the unconscious body of their teacher, an emerald haze covering her hands as she placed it on a deep gash upon his left shoulder. Of course not wanting to let down his students Kakashi had entered the confrontation without the help of either Naruto or Sakura, and in turn wound up with numerous cuts ranging from flesh to deep and a few broken ribs from an impact with a tree after he had been forced to propel himself back with an exploding tag in order to get away from the familiar lightning gathered in Sasuke's hand.

"Be careful Naruto-kun! Don't do anything stupid!"

The thought was only amplified as she saw the demon fox's chakra once again flow freely from the central point in Naruto, immersing the male in a fiery shroud. Sakura instantly saw his skin begin to melt away and then re-grow in equilibrium; the only indication this horrendous act happens being the darkened colour in the chakra, a result of the blood being mixed with it. This advanced healing process came at a terrible price, with each passing second Naruto's life span became shortened vastly, which meant he had to finish off the battle quickly, but to do so he knew he would have to get the fox's co-operation. It was then that he arrived at the familiar place in the back of his mind where the Kyuubi found his residence, trapped behind both bars and seal that prevented him from breaking free and wreaking havoc once more.

"Kyuubi!"

"What is it Kit? I'm sleeping."

"I need you're help otherwise I won't be able to get Sasuke-kun back."

"Just leave the Uchiha brat; all he's done is hurt you anyway. Unless you would prefer if I took care of him for you…"

"KYUUBI!!"

"What?"

"Sasuke-kun is important to me- to Sakura-chan! I can't let him get killed because he doesn't know what he is doing!"

"Why is he so important to you? Give me a few minutes with him; i'll give him what he wants. I'll show him true power."

At this point a malicious grin spread from one side of Kyuubi's face to the other, his sharp teeth glorified in every bared aspect. The blonde who looked miniscule in comaparison stood defiant to the fox's delight, his face emotionless as the seriousness of the situation shone through. It wasn't every day the jinchurriki was seen in this way- it had to take something to push him over the edge and away from his usual optimistic manner.

"Kyuubi- are you going to help me or not?"

"…"

"…?"

"Okay Kit, but only because I know you'll just die if I don't- that kid is still an ass to you though, I don't understand why you want to save the pathetic excuse for a human. Don't call on me next time when you find yourself with him, otherwise i'll kill him, regardless if he is your friend or not."

"…thanks Kyuubi."

The dank sewer that contained Kyuubi disappeared as Naruto ended his conversation with the demon fox inside him, now glaring at Sasuke through scarlet slits, his pointy hair now more jagged and his whiskers more prominent all the while the chakra around him pulsated of its own accord, but keeping to the outline of the fox shape, three tails flaring up behind him.

"Kyuubi no Kitsune? Naruto, you're still using that old trick?"

The cynical voice uttered from the Uchiha's lips caused Naruto's body to suddenly tense, his fiery red eyes seeking out the tone cold of his friend's. Sasuke was almost indistinguishable from the vast length of time the pair had been apart; the tanned skin of normality tainted with a pale white, the black eyes that could usually be scoured for a small sign of compassion and determination now completly extinguished, leaving behind two lifeless black orbs. With his appearance changing it seemed that the Uchiha Sasuke that Naruto knew from Konoha was fading fast, and he knew it.

A nostalgic feeling washed over the pair as the miniature Kitsune growled out the next words, the hint of rage dominating the usually happy tone of his voice.

"I'm going to bring you back- even if I have to break your arms and legs to do it!"

As soon as the determined words died the Kitsune charged at the sneering shinobi with his Kyuubi-influenced claws outstretched, the scarlet slits unmoving even as the body they were contained in zigzagged across their selected battlefield. The kekkei genkai of the Uchiha immediately flared into action as his opponent approached, the three tomae of each eye tracking the boy with ease. He pushed aside the claws as they lunged for his torso, knocking the wrist sharply before retaliating with a swinging kick to the back of the blonde's head, effectively knocking him into the watery depths of their battlefield below.

"Naruto- do you know where we are?"

The shadow that depicted Naruto's rise to the surface grew larger with each passing moment until a clawed hand broke the water's surface, the owner of such a hand manipulating the chakra in their body in order to get a grip upon the liquid surface before heaving himself upon it as if it were the same density as earth. However this was no surprise to any trained shinobi now standing upon the waters. A look of surprise was dedicated to the unanswered question spoken by the Uchiha, his eyes wide as they finally realised where they were.

The Valley of the End.

A/N I'm not the best at battle scene (heck, it's the first time I ever have wrote one) so you're going to have to forgive me about that. Chapter 4 will be quite long I should think- longer than this one anyway, and I'm about three-quarters of the way through it so I'll post it as soon as I'm done.