Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor am I profiting form this fan fiction in any way.

Warnings: See Ch.1

A/N: Wow thanks for all the great reviews! I really wasn't expecting as many as I got so soon! Hope you all like this new chapter.

Fading Into Darkness Ch.3

Naruto slowly walked back into the village. It was beginning to get dark so he figured he may as well force himself to have some dinner. He had given up his ramen obsession after Sasuke had left, the familiar stand bringing back far too many memories of the Uchiha for him to deal with. He wandered down the main shopping district, glancing at all the different stands.

"Naruto!"

He recognized the voice immediately. Over the years Sakura had become a decent friend to him, no matter how much he tried to push her away. He couldn't help but feel guilty when he cringed at her greetings and the flash of hurt that always went through her cucumber eyes. With a heavy sigh he paused, waiting for his pink haired team mate to catch up. When she reached his side, she was out of breath and looking a little to pale.

"Sakura…is there something wrong?" The girl looked up at him with sadness and a hint of fear in her eyes. He took a step back, not understanding what had happened, but knowing it wasn't good.

"The Hokage needs to see you right away!" He raised an eyebrow in question but Sakura just grabbed hold of his arm and both vanished in a swirl of pink petals. They appeared seconds later in Tsunade's office. Sakura pushed Naruto into a chair and moved off to his left.

The blonde glanced around the room, seeing Iruka to his right, Sakura to his left, and Tsunade directly in front of him. Just as he was about to ask what was going on, Kakashi appeared in a poof of smoke and moved to stand behind Naruto. Now he was just annoyed.

"Ok, what's with the defensive formation around me? You all act like I'm gonna attack you or something." They all remained silent as he glanced around. /what the hell? They think I'll attack them?/ after a moment of tense silence, Tsunade cleared her throat and looked directly at the blonde. The look in her eyes made him extremely nervous. He kept his emotionless facade up nicely, but on the inside he was fidgeting.

"Naruto, I have some news." He raised a slender blonde brow at her in question when she didn't continue. He noticed beads of sweat roll down the side of her face and the way her hands gripped the edge of her desk so tightly that her knuckles were white. She was afraid, that much was for certain. He couldn't comprehend why she would be afraid, around him no less. He decided it was about time to ease the tension in the room. He hated seeing the people he cared about acting as if they were afraid of him.

"Oi Baa-san wh…" A hand on his shoulder cut him off. Glancing back he saw Kakashi looking down at him shaking his head lightly. Obviously, now was not the time for him to pick on the Hokage.

"Naruto, I received a report from one of the Anbu teams." He nodded to her to continue.

"The sound has fallen. Orochimaru has been killed." His face brightened considerably at that. Thoughts of Sasuke's return obviously going through his mind. He blinked out of his daze when Tsunade came around her desk and kneeled in front of him, grasping his hands tightly in her own.

"They said that…that Sasuke was killed too, Naruto I'm so sorry." Big blue eyes blinked down at the Hokage, seemingly not understanding. The blonde opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed it again. This went on for several minutes while everyone watched on nervously.

"That's not funny Tsunade!" Everyone was startled by the sudden yell from the usually quiet Naruto. He stood abruptly and knocked Tsunade back into her desk. Kakashi, Iruka and Sakura were about to rush forward and restrain him but the Hokage held up her hand, signaling them to stay back. She stood quietly and walked up to the blonde until she was mere inches away. She reached into her pocket, pulling out what appeared to be a silver chain. She held it in front of his face and let the silver ring in her palm drop to dangle right in his line of vision. Naruto sucked in a breath through his clenched teeth at what he saw.

"I thought you may want to have this. Considering what's engraved on it." He reached a shaking hand and clutched the necklace. Sitting down heavily in the chair he was previously occupying, he looked at the simple, silver band closely, reading the inscription.

All My Love, All My Life Naruto- S.U.

It was the ring Sasuke had given him two months after they had gotten together. One month later, he had slipped his ring onto Sasuke's hand just before going unconscious. That was the last time he saw Sasuke.

/So he kept it all this time./ He sat silently for a long time, slowly everything was beginning to sink in. The other occupants of the room watched noiselessly as large unblinking blue eyes stared straight ahead. The blonde lifted his hand to his chest, digging his fingers into his shirt; it felt as if his chest were on fire. Sakura burst into tears as she watched tears begin to fall from her teammate's eyes. She couldn't help him, her friend was dying before her eyes and there was nothing she could do for him.

Naruto squeezed his eyes shut as his tears began to fall faster. The pressure had been building for five long years and now he just couldn't hold it anymore. He was beginning to hyperventilate; he knew he was breaking down. He threw his head back and let out a harsh moan that escalated into a heartbroken wail. Digging his fingers into his blonde locks, he started rocking back and forth, continuously mumbling under his breath. Tsunade, Iruka and Sakura were all weeping heavily for their friend, while Kakashi watched on sadly.

Three hours later Tsunade let Naruto go home. They were all worried about the boy but he insisted that he needed to be alone. The blonde walked into his apartment dejectedly, not even bothering with the lights. Two years ago he had moved into a small two bedroom apartment close to the Uchiha estate. From his balcony on the third floor, he could see the complex and found himself staring at the fading family crest nearly every night. He slowly made his way onto the balcony and looked over to it once more. That pain in his chest wouldn't go away, he found himself wishing he was still numb to his emotions as he had been the last five years. After staring off into the Uchiha complex for a while, he made his way to his bedroom and curled into a ball atop his bed. He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, his emotions were going haywire and his mind was beginning to break down.

/I want to die./

He sat up abruptly and grabbed the kunai he kept on his nightstand. His thoughts whirled, rapidly going through the pros and cons of his death.

/pros…village would be thrilled, Iruka wouldn't have to worry about me anymore, Kakashi wouldn't have to put up with me anymore, Sakura wouldn't have to follow me around out of guilt anymore, Akatsuki would never get Kyuubi. Now cons…Iruka, Tsunade and Sakura would be sad…but not for long, they would get over it quickly./

He nodded his head resolutely and raised his kunai. He trailed it slowly down his left arm, from the inside of his elbow all the way down to his wrist. The cut was so deep that he was sure he could see some bone. He switched hands and was about to start on his other arm when the cut began glowing bright red with Kyuubi's Chakra. It sealed itself almost instantly.

/I don't think so brat, stop being a coward/

"Fucking Kitsune! Let me die!"

/No! Now stop your sniveling you brat./

Naruto growled in frustration. Leaning against the headboard, he began to think of what he could do. His hand went to the ring hanging from the silver chain around his neck as he thought about how he could pull off suicide without the Kyuubi interfering. Then it hit him. One fatal blow was all it would take; he just had to be sure the fox wouldn't have enough time to heal him. He traced his kunai from his hairline, down over his nose, lips and chin, to his neck and paused at his Adam's apple. He considered for a moment before dismissing that spot and tracing the blade down farther, over his collar bone down to his chest, directly over his heart. He paused and thought on it for a moment before deciding that driving his sharp blade through his heart would be the best way. Taking a deep breath he raised his hand and prepared to thrust the kunai into his chest, never noticing the shadow slip into his open window.

A/N: Okay don't kill me! I promise it will get better. I'm starting on the next chapter now so it will be out tomorrow. Poor Naruto, I made him suffer too much in this chapter. Well Review please, and as always, if your going to flame at least make it witty. Bai for now!