Heyo! It's been a long time hasn't it? I apologize for that and honestly I have but one excuse – FINALS WEEK – though it isn't really a good one because finals week by definition only lasts for a week and I've been holding out on you for like a month or something so I made this chapter extra long!… you may throw things at me if you'd like…

Disclaimer: Naruto is someone else's ingenious brain baby… not mine.

Another disclaimer: Some of the things that the characters do in this chapter are huge no-no's, things such as jumping people with baseball bats and committing suicide… these are no-no's k?

Sleepless Nights

Chapter: 8

Enter the Dark

'I hate myself. There's no point to continuing life. I should just die and get out of his hair. Life is worthless… I'm worthless.'

Sasuke Uchiha had been living in Konoha for these past fourteen weeks with one reoccurring thought on his mind. The thought… of death.

Ever since he'd come home it seemed that a dark cloud followed him wherever he went. If he went out alone he was insulted and assaulted. When he left the house with Naruto the blonde's mood darkened and even he was shunned. Sasuke was bringing Naruto down as he fell deeper into the abyss, and he knew it.

That day was Monday, Sasuke's day off and Naruto day to work. The blonde wouldn't be home until much later that night, giving Sasuke more time to think than he'd wanted but just enough time to realize how much of a wrench his returning to Konoha had thrown into Naruto's plans.

'Because of me he's missed his training, stood physical pain and risked his title as Hokage arresting his own citizens all for me.'

Even though he had Naruto there more than willing to protect him Sasuke couldn't help but look over his shoulder for the enemy though there was no one in sight. The constant worry of past acquaintances tracking him down was tearing him apart! Sasuke found himself strung out on an invisible drug, jumping at the slightest sound and overanalyzing every step he took.

He was so lonely, but couldn't bear the thought of friends; of people being close to him for fear that he would hurt someone, break another soul or wound another heart.

Alone and with no one there to keep him from his dark fantasies Sasuke had quit loafing around the house hours ago, not even having the will to keep moving or to switch on the television. He sat idly on the couch staring at nothing but the wall and lightly massaging his mangled swollen fingers and the fresh purple splotches that covered every visible inch of his skin and more. It wasn't too hard to believe that the pale man bruised easily because throughout the last fourteen weeks he had been known to develop a bruise in mere seconds but would Naruto really believe the lies Sasuke told about these ones?

'It's my fault; I did this to myself… I did… myself. I should have stayed home; no one else needs to suffer for me, for what I did.' His unbroken train of mind never strayed from its path, plunging him further and deeper into depression until the light at the end of the tunnel between life and death seemed like the only way out. Just this morning, though, the raven had been singing a completely different tune.

Naruto'd asked him, no, ordered him out of the house for a little fresh air. The blonde hadn't been specific as to where he was to go nor if he even had to leave the yard and now that he dwelled upon it Sasuke realized that things would have been much better for him had he stayed close to the house.

X

"I haven't been to the market in a while," Sasuke chimed to himself almost happily; "I really hope they have fresh tomatoes, it's not really fair if I make Naruto fix dinner all the time." He wrinkled his nose momentarily at the thought of what dinner would be if he didn't get his ass of the couch and cook. It wasn't that Naruto was a bad cook or anything… it's just that Sasuke hadn't ever tasted anything Naruto'd made by himself because all he ever prepared was instant ramen.

On his way out of the house Sasuke picked up a wicker basket for groceries and tossed his leaf village headband to the side, he wouldn't need it today since today was his day off. A tranquil smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he strolled leisurely down the street, it was far too early for anyone else to be out on the streets so it would be pretty hard for Sasuke to get himself into any trouble.

He weaved his way through the narrow dirt streets as though he'd never left them at all. Whilst letting his mind wander and humming a random tune Sasuke found himself subconsciously following the smell of chicken broth and fresh meat to the beginning of Market Street and the Ichiraku ramen shop.

Sasuke shouted a pleasant hello to the shop owner and his red faced daughter (and it wasn't the heat of the kitchen that made her blush). The raven had been on relatively good terms with the owner of Naruto's favorite eatery for all the time he'd been back in town since he hadn't done anything offensive to the man personally when he left. Naruto took Sasuke there to eat frequently when the blonde didn't feel like cooking and therefore one could nearly saw that Sasuke's relationship with the shop owner was good.

He didn't get too far down the street past Ichiraku when Sasuke realized that – given the fact that all the drapes were drawn and the lights were off – most of the vendors were closed.

Sasuke scowled half heartedly and turned back the way he'd come to head right back home, he would have to come out again later and brave the crowds because he'd really rather not go out with Naruto today.

Suddenly the basket Sasuke was carrying toppled out of his arms as the expertly wielded blunt object collided with the back of his head and when his collision with the ground didn't knock the wind out of him a swift kick to his stomach did. He scrambled to his hands and knees gasping for breath only for whatever he had been struck with to be cracked in half over his back.

Sasuke cried out in pain and collapsed to the ground once again. It was impossible for his mind to sort through the instant anger and fear layered in confusion to figure out exactly what was going on. At the moment all he knew was pain. Sasuke gasped again when he felt and heard the snap of bone when someone stomped on the fingers of his right hand. Sasuke was right handed; he was now all but defenseless.

In an effort to save himself some pain Sasuke stayed completely still save for his body's violent convulsions whenever he was struck. It seemed like an eternity until they finished their foremost beating – Sasuke'd assumed the they after being hit with multiple objects at one time.

All of a sudden six hands were on him pulling him up off the ground, Sasuke found, much to his dismay, that no matter how hard he tried he couldn't support his own weight and was forced to count on them to hold him up.

Still in an unaware haze Sasuke's head listed to one side before he was slapped back, his head jerking in the opposite direction and eliciting a painful crack from his neck.

He wondered what the point of helping him up was because he was dropped right back to the ground.

"You're a disgrace to shinobi the world over!" his assailant spat angrily, Sasuke hadn't gotten the courage to open his eyes and when he did the scene in front of him was far more painful than anything they could have inflicted on his person. He knew them.

"Neji! What did you do? We were just supposed to scare him not kill him!" above Sasuke stood a very pissed off Neji, terrified Tenten, and lee who looked like he was about to vomit.

"I haven't killed him and we were scaring him." He shoved her away and turned back to Sasuke, holding the broken object out to poke in his face, "and I may just have to kill him now that he knows it was us who attacked him."

Sasuke crawled back until the pain in his hand became apparent and he found his voice, terrified and cracked as it may have been.

"Baseball bats? Really?" The fear must have registered in his eyes because Neji then laughed darkly and thumped him not so playfully upside the head.

"Yup! But we're not just here to play baseball with your skull Uchiha; we've got something to say to you."

"Th – then say it!" Sasuke wasn't too afraid of his old comrades to not be snippy back. Neji frowned and walloped him on the temple with the broken bat, Sasuke's vision suddenly blurred and he couldn't make out the shapes in front of him even though he knew they were three. By the time Sasuke's sight returned to him there were but two, lee had gone.

He groaned and pressed his hands to the sides of his head, the on setting headache making it impossible to think.

"Now that we're all warmed up I'm sure you won't try to run away again," said Neji with just the littlest hint of amusement in his voice, "you stay away from Naruto, scum like you have no idea what you put him through! He's risked his job, not to mention his life just living with you!" Sasuke could not help but to gasp though the act in itself shot a jolt of pain through his jaw.

"He's risking everything…? For – for me?"

Neji snorted, "Lord knows why! He can't get over you, all the guy ever talks about is you, he said the only reason he went home in between training was to make sure Sasuke-kun was alright!"

'Sasuke-kun?' Sasuke questioned absently.

"You're bringing everyone in the city down with you! I bet you didn't know that after Naruto arrested those three villagers he had privileges revoked, all because of you! And did you really think life was going to return to normal if you came back? Every day Konoha shinobi are dying right outside the gates repelling allies and enemies who want to get their hands on you just because Naruto asked it, and it's killing him! I sure as hell don't see you out there getting your throat ripped out by that psychopath animal whisperer or shark man or that water guy!" Sasuke's eyes widened as tears began streaming down Neji's face, Tenten slid her hand into his and squeezed.

"You're nothing!" he raged, "Hinata-chan died for nothing just because that dumbass had to protect you!" the malice in his eyes escalated to murderous intent as Neji remembered the anguish of watching his cousin die. He snatched the thus far fairly unused bat from Tenten's hand and brought it down hard on the arm Sasuke'd raised to protect himself.

"Worthless piece of trash I'll kill you!" Neji swung the weapon violently and every time it looked like he'd made contact Sasuke would roll out of the way. His mind tipped a million miles an hour as he tried to figure out what he should do.

'I could fight him, but then I'd get in trouble and possibly more injured-!' he winced as the feeling returned to his right hand again, 'no! that won't work, but what do I do I can't fight him and Tenten isn't helping either of us!' he paused for a moment weighing his options and a moment was just enough time for the enraged Hyuuga to bean him in the ribs with such force that he crashed back into the ground, sliding a few additional feet.

He was out of time, Sasuke panicked as Neji approached, pat in hand, posed to kill and it looked like Naruto wasn't going to swoop in and save him this time.

"HELP!" his call was strained and weak but it was still a call for assistance. If he died now at least no one would be able to say he didn't try.

Sasuke shut his eyes tight and held out his hands as if to soften the blow, as though Neji wouldn't just find a way around it and inflict the same amount of damage if not more.

A few months ago Sasuke would have been proud of the fact that he could drive someone to such means of violence just by being alive but being back home and near the people he once loved and the people who once loved him Sasuke had realized that that had been no way to live. Now, because of the choices he made when he was a child someone who he had been acquainted with was out for his blood.

Sasuke waited for Neji to hit him but the blow never came and the sound of a blunt object breaking bone had not come from his body. He quickly opened his eyes just in time to see Neji get wacked across the face for a second time by what looked like a giant wok, in fact it was a giant wok!

"Get out of here you delinquents!" shouted the hero who'd saved him.

Sasuke was still confused when the shopkeeper gently pulled him onto his feet and brushed the dust off of him. The old man had abandoned his station at Ichiraku and watch over the easily burnt noodles to beat the shit out of the guy who beat the shit out of Sasuke.

"If you were in trouble you should have called sooner," said the man gruffly, "people like you and my daughter who like to handle things by themselves should be required by law to carry a rape whistle!" he laughed suddenly but stopped when he saw the far off look in Sasuke's eyes.

"Hey guy, are you going to be alright?" he put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, the raven subconsciously ducked away from it. Ichiraku's owner took a quick look at his wounds and scratched his head nervously with a sick look on his face and Sasuke raised a slight eyebrow in question, did he really look that bad?

"Ya know, I don't have the kind of first aid kit in my shop to take care of that, I could call the hospital if you'd like or some Anbu to come and get you… or I could send my daughter to get Naruto-"

"No!" Sasuke interrupted but calmed down immediately after, "I mean n-no, I'm alright. I just need to get home." Sasuke hobbled around and started down the street. He tripped over his own feet but continued on slowly.

The shop owner had insisted he take Sasuke home in case he couldn't make it by himself but Sasuke wasn't able to hear him well enough to respond. All he did was momentarily beg the man not to mention this to Naruto and take off a little faster, mumbling inaudibly to himself all the way.

It took an unreal amount of time for Sasuke to finally make it home due to the fact that he'd taken the long way to avoid having to pass the Hokage's mansion and risk being seen by someone he knew. As soon as he'd gotten home Sasuke tried to keep moving until Naruto arrived but he soon gave that up and stopped altogether, sitting on the couch wallowing in his own sorrow and unable to banish Neji's words from his mind.

X

That was the seventeenth time he'd relived the events of that morning and Sasuke's mood hadn't improved since. He still massaged his broken fingers though that only made them hurt worse.

"I've killed so many people without even trying," he mumbled as hot tears rolled down his cheeks, "without even knowing. People I knew… Hinata…" Sasuke closed his eyes and slammed his fist into the small table next to the couch, shattering it.

He glanced sullenly at the Mess on the floor and then returned his gaze to the wall.

'I can't cause him anymore trouble, I won't. Naruto deserves so much better than he has… than me…' suddenly Sasuke perked up as an idea popped into his head. He now knew the only way to make Naruto's life better, to stop all the suffering he'd caused.

He jumped up from the couch as best as he could and limped to the bedroom with a soft smile on his face. He uncovered his bag with his things in it and dug around for a while with his good hand until he found his wallet and his notebook which he had just happened to have written down the weakness of every shinobi he'd ever met in.

Sasuke hobbled to the kitchen and set the two things on the counter where Naruto was sure to see them. He dug around in Naruto's storage drawer until he found the one working pen in the house; Sasuke sincerely contemplated requesting that Naruto buy himself a pack of pens with all the money.

He flipped through the pages of the notebook until he came to the page with his brother's name at the top; the whole page had been crossed out with red ink. Sasuke smiled as his eyes scanned the page, his hand caressed the paper as though it were actually Itachi there, he had said some of the vilest things about his brother on that page and he'd done his best to take it all back. The only thing that was written on it was three of the truest words Sasuke'd ever gotten out.

'I'm sorry brother.'

Now he wrote in black pen at the very bottom of the page until there was no more space left. Next he took the money from his wallet and set it all next to his note and smiled. It would make a good gift to Naruto; he wouldn't need it anyway, not where he was going.

Throughout his mission Sasuke didn't think and his conscience was silent. He knew exactly what he was doing and this is what he wanted.

The raven limped slowly across the room and hoisted himself up onto the counter before pulling open the nearest drawer and bringing out the shiny sharp assistor who would allow Sasuke to carry out his final plan.

Once again humming that unfamiliar tune Sasuke stood up on the counter and leaned his back against the wall for support. He grinned a sickly grin and tossed the silver thing up and watched it as it spun in the air, when it fell back down he caught it by the handle.

Sasuke closed his eyes again but this time it was not for fear but anticipation of calm waters ahead and the sweet release of an everlasting nap. He chuckled at some unheard joke as he dragged the silver across the thin pale skin of his wrists repeatedly and sighed contently as his knees buckled and he slipped on the liquid that pooled on the counter beneath him and toppled headlong onto the floor.

Author's note: In no way to I condole suicide or any type of hurting one's self! It doesn't solve any problems, don't be a Sasuke! If you 'don't have any choices' GO GET SOME HELP FOR CORN'S SAKE! Once again don't be a Sasuke, suicide and cutting yourself son actividades no bueno!