Vulnerable Chapter 11: An Early Good Bye, a naruto fanfic

An Early Good Bye

Sasuke's POV:

Sasuke smirked half sadly for the sake of the good old times when they teased each other. He couldnt have expected another answer, really. It was a tie. He found it funny and yet melancholical. He really felt like hugging Naruto again but he resisted. He figured it was too much closeness for a day.

Sasuke observed Naruto's face, seeing as the blond was trying hard to keep a cool mask which was though irresposive where his hand was lying on his skin. He kept quiet, he knew better than this.

It was a hard choice for Naruto, no matter how immature his blonde friend could be at times, when he had a serious matter to deal with he could become the most mature person ever regarding that matter and he usually pulled it off quite well. He always admired that in Naruto, the ability to face serious situations with maturity even when he was loud and a dobe all the other time. At many times, this also made him wonder, where did Naruto find that maturity.

If all his wide grins, foolish pointless jokes and immature brags were only a facade to fool people….But fool them for what? He always remembered how Naruto hated being taken lightly out of his clumsy personality. He had no reason to fake such a person. This beat Sasuke and sometimes he couldnt help but not trust what Naruto was giving out. Others, being too busy with his own issues, he just gave in the flow, imitated every one else cruelly and just thought of him as just a loud dobe that couldnt help himself.

Upon his next words, Sasuke found his hand twitching lightly on Naruto's cheek and his onyx eyes took even a darker shade if possible.

You really mean it? (Naruto's previous words)

He opened his lips to say something comforting, something that would put Naruto out of his insecurities and just eliminate the dark shadows of their past that were haunting his heart and made the blonde skeptical against the raven.

He had set up himself for this but he really hated for his best friend to doubt him. It hurt. Yet again it was only just a question, it really didnt mean all that much that the blonde man mistrusted Sasuke;s words, but more that he had a hard time believing them out of Sasuke's usual coldness.

But this impression got torn to shreds when Sasuke heard the next question coming up.

Your not toying with me?

Sasuke's lips twitched and stayed partially open for some moments as in contemplation, then they closed only to part again when the raven took on a stoic and cold in the same time mask that was serving as a facade to hide his upset and anger. It was another thing to doubt him-which still hurt a lot even if he deserved it fairly- and another thing to be told straight in his face. And there he thought he was the one being blunt.

''Naruto, you're such a fool if you think that. Why would I accept you to come with me if you were just a toy? Do you think I am in the mood to hear your loud voice all day just for the laughs? Trust me, this is not the case.''

he said, in a slow and low tone, in his husky voice as his onyx eyes glared both secretly shyly and strictly at Naruto.

A faint color of pink tint took over his pale cheeks momentarily at that confession. He hated opening to people about his feelings, he was more of an action person but Naruto had that effect on him and he hated this. It was like the blonde was forcing him to spit it all out even when he didnt do anything about it.

As darkness fell around, Sasuke couldnt help but narrow his eyes for a second when the blonde;s voice filled his ears in an eerie way.

You're all I want.(Naruto's words from previous chapter)

He actually felt like smiling when he heard that but since this was so unlike of him he kept a serious emotionless face even if he knew he was relieved he had heard that, he had taken that kind of answer. Somehow, though, he knew already this would be what the blonde would reply.

What he didnt know though was whether the blonde really had thought of it in depth and meant it or if he was talking for the sake of the moment again. And knowing the blonde, Sasuke was more towards believing the later. He sighed a low sigh and looked at Naruto with examining eyes.

I am far less. But you aren't able to see this…

Instead of wording any kind of thoughts that were flooding his tired mind at that moment, he chose to be his typical laconic self and restrained himself only to one word-which though meant the world to him.

''Naruto…''his eyes got a softer look now, running all over the blonde's face as if searching for any sign, for any crack behind the cheery mask on the kitsune's face, where he could discover any sign of weakness, any sign that this was just a lie as he was afraid of.

The next thing that happened caught him off guard.
He had just told Naruto that he needed what the man had to give to him, yet the blonde reacted badly to it, as if the raven had slapped him across the face.
He watched with secret hurt pride and heart as the blonde turned his face slightly to the side to escape Sasuke's cupping palm and shifted to the right.

His empty hand fell limp on the side, empty as his heart for some infinite moments. He tried to absorb the look in Naruto's cerulean eyes. They seemed to show mistrust, hurt feelings, fear….but fear of what?

Upon Sasuke realizing what could have possibly bothered his blonde friend and ex teammate he sighed, impatiently this time and tapped two fingers absent mindly on his shoulder, as if trying to undust something, long forgotten. So Naruto was willing to come all the way with him, leave everything behind and risk his life for Sasuke but he wasnt willing to believe him when he said he cared for the blonde dobe one bit, was he?

Sasuke took a step back from Naruto, thinking this maybe was such a good idea to begin with. Maybe Naruto wasnt as ready as he thought himself to be in order to follow Sasuke blindly and abide with him for the rest of his life. Sure, they could split up in the meantime, but such major decisions such as leaving Kohona and the hokage place along with this werent usually ones that were taken if one wasnt sure for what they wanted. But now with Naruto doubting him so intensely, Sasuke was starting to doubt their whole plan. Which was one and simple for the time being-escape together-. But it hold more to it than just those two words cause running away would mean a lot for both of the afterwards of their tired lives.

Somehow, they both needed a break and Sasuke felt that. But he couldnt talk, he couldnt assist Naruto in hs decision. He had done his best warning him a little while ago, choosing not to be selfish and Naruto chose to brush it off only to doubt him again later on. Naruto was such a child in so many ways and Sasuke didnt know if this was out of the past emotional wounds he had brought upon the blonde or out of the raven's bad name as a traitor. And either one he thought, the same great much it hurt to think of it.

His mind, lost in his own- contemplation about what they were going to do thoughts-, absent mindly registered the fact that Naruto had moved around again and that he had said something among the lines that they should get going.

His eyes shifted from the cerulean ones only to look around him. He had known for some good long moments now that it had got dark and that they shouldnt be there, but he hadnt done anything about it, too caught up into trying to solve this deep deal with Naruto. Once more, he reminded himself why it was no good getting emotional and he turned on his heel, feeling slightly annoyed that this had taken so out of hand.

He turned back the moment he heard Naruto's unsure voice again, unstable and akward as if he wasnt that sure of what he was talking about even though he seemed so hard to come out as certain.

It…it won't…be…hard t-to run. (Naruto's previous words)

Are you sure about it?

He laid his eyes on the tanned figure, his eyes slightly widening and then retaking their usual range, as he noticed the sentimental kitsune extending a hand out, holding his most precious head band.

Oh how many memories were brought back to Sasuke upon observing the object hanging from the hokage's hand, for some brief moments. A bitter smile tried to make its way to his thin lips but he pushed it back, not wanting to lose more time to trivial reactions and things.

His eyes crept up back to Naruto's with a questioning look. Why was Naruto giving this to him? Wasnt he coming along? So what was the deal with the head band? Was it a sign to warn him for something? A memorial when hed run and leave him behind after the first few days or a contract of devotion and commitment?

Sasuke didnt say anything, even if his lips parted for some split seconds. No sound came out, his mind too busy and too tired to make something clear out of this.

His hand twitched on the side and his mind was screaming to him to take the head band but for some reason his hand always stayed in the same old forgotten position, his eyes boring into Naruto's as if he was trying to find a bigger reassurance for his devotion than the blonde could give at the moment.

Snapping out of the moment and realizing they didnt have time for stupid contemplations, his hand slowly started moving towards the head band but it stopped up mid air, when the next voices he heard registered in his mind as the most dreaded anbu alert.

''Hokage!''

''Shi-…''he whispered so low only he could have heard himself.

They had caught them. His hand dropped back to his side, in a defeated and dissapointed motion he managed to hide behind a cold proud mask.

So, that was it. Their brief dream had ended so abruptly, in the less desired way. He blinked slightly, not sure if he really wanted to move. He knew Naruto couldnt run now, he knew he shouldnt, wasnt supposed to help him,- most of all he knew this was a bad idea from the start. And yet he had let things take that way. How foolish of him.

He eyed Naruto, noticing the slight hurt in his eyes. Boring his eyes silently into the dobe's blue pools, his own gaze became a bit warmer as if one of comfort for the misunderstood hokage.

He wanted to run, to set him out of the anbu's grip and wrap his arms around him, claiming him as his own. He was the only one Naruto should be devoted to, he knew the dobe chose him over Kohona anytime, so why did those anbus have to ruin their moment, their reunion and take him away?

Wasn't Naruto meant to be his? Why did he have to share with Konoha? He knew they didnt really care for him but only viewed him as the victim willing to carry on his shoulders the burdens of a whole tradition and even be succesfull in the end.

They were disgusting him. They were the same people that despised the blonde when he was just a little loud kid with the misfortune to have a demon sealed in it. No one seemed so understanding back then. And nor do they seem now. They didnt even plan to give them time for any proper good bye, either. But this was expected.

Sasuke knew he was thinking very selfishly now but he didnt care. He was just tired. Tired of things never going his way. Tired of always having to chase after revenge cause happiness just wouldnt cross his road, and when it did, it always fled scared of his misery right off, just like now with Naruto.

''Uchiha Sasuke, by the digress of Konoha, we place you under arrest. Resist, and we will be forced to harm you.''

With those thoughts, and Naruto's hand stretching for him, the anbus annoying voice registered partially in his mind, but he didnt care. He wasnt scared, afraid, or anxious anymore. He was just mad. That they were ruining his chance with Naruto. His chance to live a god damn proper life for once. Why did Konoha enjoy so much making her sad children even sadder?

He always had that wonder ever since an orphan outcast at the steps of the ninja academy, when he was forced to face the world alone and mother Konoha instead of helping only kept asking for things normally didnt go asked to a 12 year old.
Sasuke eyed the anbus angry.

''Hn.'' He growled, but his face still seemed peaceful but for his angered glare.

He didnt bother replying back, his concern only over how that anbu was treating his own master in such a harsh physical-hurting way and pressing that arm over that wound Sasuke himself had opened to the hokage.

''Idiots, don't hurt him.''he said in a low but sure deadly tone as he took some slow steps forwards.

His eyes shifted around all of the anbu squad, only to pin in the end back at Naruto's.

''Tchk, tchk, hokage-sama, didnt you tell your friends that this isn't the play ground? They seem to be confused.''he said pointidly, trying to take the anbus with a bit of bitter irony, bitterness just as the one he felt inside him right then.

And with that, he jumped on the air, spreading smoke bombs around and flying kunai. Many of them found their target, knocking the anbus momentarily down.
One of them also managed to hit the anbu that was supressing Naruto on the face, and as a result the guard back stepped harshly, losing his grip on Naruto and falling on the ground some good meters away.

Sasuke had used his sharingan to see through the smoke and fog the bombs had created all this time and so he knew when that certain anbu was on the ground and exactly where. He smirked satisfied, that one kunai seemed to have exactly the strength he planned to target it with.
He also spotted that Naruto was still immobile, probably dazzled by the sudden unexpected attack.

It was really pathetic of the anbus to think they could restrain the Uchiha and he was finding it amusing if not a bit annoying in the same time.
As it all had happened in a matter of split seconds, Sasuke made his way back to Naruto, closing any distance between them, only space separating them their breathes that mixed in anxiety.

He knew Naruto could see him now, since they were nose close so far, so he made no effort trying to signalize who he was to him.
Instead, he looked seriously into his eyes and he took the blonde's face into his hands gently.

''I am sorry, Naruto. I can't do this to you.'' He whispered in his ear huskily.

He pulled back only to look Naruto again in the eyes, unsure of how to say good bye in such a dreaded moment where their dreams had turned to dust so fast and unfair.
Another second passed before he closed his eyes and leaned in forwards and slightly upwards to plant his lips on the hokage's forehead.

The kiss lasted just for two counted seconds but Sasuke tried to take Naruto's essence into him as bad as he could, cause he was really in need to feel him right now and their time was limited.
Finally, he pulled back without giving Naruto any time to react and with that he was gone out of the scenery just as he had come into, that very morning he faced the hokage.

Wasnt it really a tragic irony how he had gone there with an empty heart and was leaving in the same way? Nothing gained, nothing earned. Just emptiness. Seemed as if God didnt want to spare him some sun light into his lonely path. But he was used to it anymore, thus the emptiness. Heh, not unusual for him, Uchiha Sasuke.

But somehow, he couldnt tell why it was then, when he felt tears running down his cheeks as he made his way out of the cliffs and back to the forest where his team was waiting for him.

Naruto's POV

The price we've paid, he thinks. Was it worth it?

Naruto had forgotten how many times they'd put each other through this kind of turmoil over the years. How many obstacles he's had to stumble over, break down, before reaching his goal; his everything. Naruto swallows thickly, admiring the raven. How could he begin to put a number on the amount of blood the pair have spilt, on the agony each has rendered. It was impossible. It was mortifying. Naruto cursed the times they lived in, and wished things would be different. That their lives alone had turned out different.

The hand on his cheek is quivering, but Naruto isn't worried. Sasuke is the strongest person he's ever known. Nothing could tear him down. The boy built himself up from tragedy. In honesty, it made him wonder. I mean, what was he thinking? Had he really come back here just to kill Naruto? And now, decided he preferred the idea to take him along? It was thrilling, don't get him wrong. Naruto knew in the pit of his gut he'd do anything for the raven.

But.. there were so many things he wanted to ask. So many things he wanted to say. Sasuke's eyes grew dark, and with just a few moments, Naruto stopped himself short of asking anything. He felt childish, and mildly ashamed for the questions.

Never mind, the fox roars. Your better off not knowing.

He nods numbly, taking this to heart. So Sasuke didn't want him as a joke. The blond drifts off into a sea of images, far away from the current situation. But through the haze, he doesn't miss that pink on Sasuke's face. Or the way he looked embarrassed, despite the mask.

The darkness was coming, claiming the village below with it's encroaching wrath. If only everyone would change. And if only things would go their way. And if only... if only...

''Naruto…'' He doesn't need to say much else. Because Naruto gets it. Sasuke is looking for a sign, a reason to doubt. But the Hokage holds fast, refusing to shift his gaze. He doesn't have need to. Because what he said is true, and he won't take it back. None of it. Cus' what he said is true.

Things were shifting again, and going sour. He knows this, but can't fix it. Both were going to have doubts no matter what- albeit about which thing, was totally in the air. They could never agree on a whole lot, but at that moment? He bet there were a mix of things they might comply over. The idea itself was pretty sketchy, but Naruto had faith. Faith in the Uchiha, like always.

The headband was only testament to this.
.. But it turns out, time was not on their side.

Naruto had never held much enjoyment of the night, so it wasn't much of a surprise that it betrayed him so.

''Tchk, tchk, hokage-sama, didn't you tell your friends that this isn't the play ground? They seem to be confused.''

It was a threat. A barely concealed one, but a threat none the less. He watched Sasuke curiously, taking in the hatred that marred his face. Secretly, it never ceased to catch him off guard. How quickly his best friend snapped into the role of a murderer. It scared him, too. Not to an extreme degree, mind you. Because Naruto had been on the receiving end of those glares in the past.

But that didn't keep him from cringing at the memory of bones cracking and blood splitting, either. His raven was a cold-hearted killer. Plain and simple. It was what he wanted to be for years. What neither of them ceased to realize, either. And watching him move so fluidly now, this understanding was even more clear than ever.

He should be running.

He watched as Sasuke jumped into the air, his lithe figure sending smoke bombs in all sorts of directions.. plummeting to the ground between him and the other Anbu. Naruto lost the Uchiha for a moment, and struggled more vehemently because of it. If he didn't try hard enough.. Sasuke might leave him behind!

His thought was disrupted when the man holding him suddenly slumped back, the sharp intake of breath slipping from the blond as he stumbled away.. wrapping an arm around his injury collective-like. He still couldn't see much, blue eyes straining against the grainy illusion of smog. Naruto knew his captor had not perished, he could hear the wheezing some feet away.

But that didn't matter.

Where was Sasxx

The space around him was suddenly small, and warm. Naruto blinked, feeling the dark shadow of Sasuke before he actually understood it fully. He embraced this, knowing how dangerous the situation was becoming. No one else would dare to get as close as Sasuke had, so Naruto held no doubt that the person in front of him was really the Uchiha.

''We s-should...'' he stammered. Hands were drawing back to his face; gentle and assured. Naruto looked at him, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth.

It was in that instant, he knew.

Sasuke wasn't going to take him with him. The Anbu had destroyed any chance of that. Naruto cursed himself for being Hokage in the first place, and stretched a trembling hand to the collar of the Uchiha's shirt, clinging to the fabric. It was irrational, sure. But it made Naruto feel better, knowing Sasuke hadn't left him yet. That they still had a bit more time left.

''Your... going w-without...'' Trying to admit it aloud, Naruto choked. His eyes had drooped, crestfallen to anything else but Sasuke. They were too late for this. For any chance at happiness with one another. When had he messed things up so badly? If only he'd been a little faster. A little stronger.

''I am sorry, Naruto. I can't do this to you.''

The words sent tremors up his spine. Don't say that, he wants to scream. Don't leave me again! Black molds with blue, except Naruto can't get the words out. He's caught, in the last free moment they'll have together. His throat gets tight; constricted. The blond sniffles, wishing this could go any other way. He doesn't want to say goodbye. Doesn't want this to be the end. But there was something right about this motionless moment. Even in the empty memory, something felt perfect about it. Even with that driving hatred, that had once been absolute motivation to the pair. There was nothing but calm. Like tearing at an open wound; out of sight things felt better, even with the dull aching throb of pain underneath.

Another second passed.

''There's gonna be more coming.''

There'll be no way out, if you don't run.

''H-hokage!''

The voices are so far away. To Naruto, they could be days apart. He lost Sasuke's gaze, and felt a rush of panic as the boy leaned close. No, no! Don't say goodbye. Don't do this! Naruto returns the gesture, clamping his water-logged orbs tight and trying to forget how close the raven is. How much he wants to stay here, like this. Within Sasuke's reach, forever. ''Please..'' Lips press to his forehead, leaving an inivisble mark. Naruto loses all sense of understanding, his heart pounding so hard he could hear it echo in his head.

They've got two seconds.

He wants more. God, he wants so much more than what they have. He wants that forever on the horizon. To be able to lean in close. To capture five seconds and stay there, breathing. An extra three to reach out, touch his face. The rest he doesn't want to count; he couldn't 've even thought about time, but pull back and wonder. How many seconds to a kiss, just a quick one? How many to a good one?

''I'll delay them,'' he whispers. And it's tearing him up inside, but Naruto knows it's all he can do. Cus' Sasuke needs to leave. Whether or not he gets to, too. Naruto's trying to come to terms with this; forgoing the previous notion of forgetting Sasuke. Time is slipping away, it's shroud of promise deluding into a cruel future that he'd only have contemplated in nightmares.

One more second, please, someone, please!

Sasuke's pulling back, not giving him a second thought. The blond doesn't move, but his body is shaking. His mind is screaming at his legs to move, to follow. But he can't. The smog is clearing, and Sasuke's already halfway gone. I wish we had more time..

''Where is he? D-do you see the Hokage?''

Chin tilting downward, Naruto gives in to a moment of weakness. He feels so cold, feels so beaten. Sasuke has managed it yet againxx to leave him wishing, hoping, for a better way. Maybe it wasn't too late, the fox murmurs. It's tails are flicking, unnerved. Footsteps are shuffling all around, trying to find their Hokage. But he didn't care. He was thinking, debating, how much time he had left. Not to be with Sasuke, but to catch up.

You have less than a minute, the fox says.

He blinked, jerking forward. He was glancing around wildly for Sasuke; wishing he could catch his fading form. For a second, he forgot he was the Hokage and reverted back to the mentality of their old team days - a completely flustered, stubborn a** kid who was now staring at the faded dust where his best friend once stood.

He's really gone.

Naruto drops down, finally, and there was a moment of tense silence before either one of the Anbu responded to him. Naruto knew it had been coming. Sasuke would go away because there was something going on more important than the two could ever conquer.

''Hokage Uzumaki?'' A voice calls, looking down upon the crown of gold that had been flattened by sweat. Naruto frowned, tasting ash and bitterness in his mouth. But the name had done it's part, and was dragging him back to who he was. Who he was suppose to be.

''I'm alright.'' Naruto held up his hand to stop the encroaching footsteps, and shook his head, ''Really, I'm alright.''

Slowly, he rose back to his feet, glaring at the dirt as if he could blame it for the events alone. The Anbu were hovering now, barely scooting away enough for the Hokage to move freely.

It must be the scratch. They act like they've never seen blood before.. For some reason he didn't think it was that big of a deal. Because really, it wasn't. These guys were worried about superficial wounds. Especially since the injury had stopped bleeding several minutes ago; clotting by itself.

''Sir, do you wish us to entail a pursuit?'' Everything they said was just confirming his suspicions about the extreme hope he'd reserved for their almost-escape. By now, Naruto was sure everyone knew about his disappearance. Not that it mattered. The blond just wanted to go home, now. Get away from this memory as fast as he could.

''No. Don't. I'm tired, and I've got enough paperwork as it is.'' Naruto gave the meek response, feeling a pair of hands slip against his arm as he stumbled down the Hokage's faces. Naruto's lips parted to protest the help but he didn't say anything. Obviously, his opinion would be moot anyway.

Blue eyes shifted in the opposite direction, intent on sorting which way Sasuke might've went again.

I'll never see him again.

It wasn't a question. Or a doubtful thought. These words were stated like a fact, and Naruto's heart shattered with it's reality. He tried to recall every aspect of the man in his head, hoping to retain as much as he could about his raven. His best friend...

His traitor.

''It's not just your disappearance, sir. We need to make sure this, doesn't happen again.''

Don't worry, he whispers. It won't. Cus' Sasuke'll never come back. The humiliation over his previous promise had scarred him, making the abandonment all the harder. I mean, how was he suppose to face Konoha? He'd opted to leave them not twenty minutes ago! Let them drown in their economy. He'd traded it all. And why? Because he wanted Sasuke.

Well, look what that got him.

People bombarded him as soon as the blond set foot on the gravel roads, a tangible relief sweeping over his village's face. Sakura Haruno, was among them, and got to work quickly patching the injury on his torso. His counsel weren't quite as considerate, and once attaining the information that he was indeed alright.. they dragged him back to the office(while the poor boy was just two streets short of home!). A shirt was tossed in the blonds' face along the way, disgust marring their features.

''We have to speak with you.''

They all chattered quickly and brusquely, demanding to know what course of action should be taken against 'the enemy'. Each elder mocked him then, noticing he denied the very idea of such a title. They told him Konoha thought him a weakling; and worse, a sentimental fool. Naruto just shrugged. ''Let them.'' But that didn't stop the questions.

Days went on, and nothing changed. Lee appeared several times, pressing the matter.. but he brushed it off. Paperwork didn't get finished, food wasn't consumed, and sleep was avoided. All Naruto could think was to stare blandly at the open window in his office, at the empty gaze of the past Hokage.

''Naruto...?''

''I'm leaving for the day.''

Silence. The boy stood, counting the seconds til' someone told him NO. All Anbu had been dispatched to his home and office lately.. another perk his counsel had set up. However, when nothing was said, the Hokage looked dazedly over his thin shoulder, catching the eyes of his assistant, and another ninja he'd never met.

A rookie..

Prejudicedly, he decided he didn't like this person immediately. Not because of anything personal, oh no. But the mere sight of the kid was enough to rip open fresh wounds, and send him springing toward the door.. dying to leave.

His hair bounced right along with him, falling into his eyes at a number of angles. Blue eyes wavered, deciding to block out the number of Anbu that followed. He grew dizzy for a moment, a hand catching to the nearest wall. He frowned, free hand shifting to clutch at the withered bandages on his chest.

The price we've paid, he asked. Was it worth it?

No. And it never will be.

His footsteps were soft, and sorted. Because image is still everything. The Hokage entered the street, dropping his hand from his chest and stuffing it into his pocket. Shouts escaped the crowd as they fumbled about, instantly aware of their Hokage. Many people stopped, in fact, and examined him; as if searching for some type of obvious disfigurement that would've come from being with Sasuke.

Golden locks tumble across his face, riffling with a passing breeze. They'd wanted power. Both of them. And once you have it.. there's no turning back. He had no way to reverse the hurt they've caused each other. And it killed Naruto to know this. Because for as long as they were apart, being torn away was even more painful.

If they'd have come two minutes later...I wouldn't be here.

The Hokage extended his gaze upward, watching the passing clouds with a sad smile. Was Sasuke looking at the same sky, somewhere? Was he reaching for it, like Naruto was? An arm stretched out, ignoring the estranged looks he received.

He took comfort in the idea, but it put him even more at ease to know that his Uchiha was even alive to begin with. Because god knows that if he had gained anything from their interaction, the Hokage knew his avenger was at least doing well for himself.

Naruto traced childhood steps to the old training grounds, and settled easily into the crook of an old tree. He didn't think twice about it, just fell back. Marks coated the bark of this life form, another creation scarred by it's past.

''I hope you'll be okay.'' He chewed on the inside of his cheek, repeating the words a second time. His smile was fading. Fingers were getting numb, tracing the lines of absolutely nothing on a overbearing root.

''Will Sasuke be okay, though? Or will someone else get hurt instead?

Stay tuned to find out more!''

R&R plox.

K, I am posting this for the few people that like this story and bother to comment. I shouldn't be that nice with you, guys, though, cause you're not with me. I see many new readers everyday, yet the same old story keeps going. Almost no one bothers to comment. Is it such a stretch? It's just to click a simple button all there is to it. It's not as bothersome as you think.