It had been weeks since their last encounter, and the memory was still fresh in his mind. The thought brought many emotions out of the boy, often ranging from despair to sorrow as he thought back to all those days they spent together at Konoha high; when they could consider themselves the best of friends. But time had changed all that, as it did many others. After that, Naruto was stripped of all his emotions and left with a falsified feeling, a sense of loneliness so deep that it drove a wedge between Sakura and their love. And after all those years of agony, he was what led her to walk away. Because of Sasuke, he no longer had anyone to care for him. After their disappearance he found himself with Iruka, the only person he could truly depend on.

Iruka had offered to move in and keep him company, his excuse being that he needed a change. But Naruto knew better. The older male had offered him a way out, had deliberately reached out to him when no one else had. And how had Naruto thanked him? By overdosing on some anxiety pills. He knew he wasn't the most perfect being in the world, but Iruka hadn't minded. In fact the two had grown to love each other, and developed a bond so deep that no one could penetrate it. But their feelings had remained neutral throughout the years. They shared a completely platonic relationship, and made it known to others that they were strictly friends. Though there were those who thought them otherwise.

He sighed deeply, and stole a glance to the clock hanging from the wall, its arms reading 3:23 pm. If he really wanted too, he could go visit Iruka and Obito, as they were always at school discussing important matters, or he could always venture off to the old Uchiha manor and visit-

The thought startled him, visit Sasuke? The bastard was the reason for everything.

He pondered this thought for a while longer, bringing his hand to cup his chin. Surely Sasuke wouldn't be expecting him, granting him the element of surprise. He could be the first to strike back for all the years of abandonment.

A twisted smile tugged at the corners of his lip as he thought more about this. And after another long moment, he hoisted himself up, and made his way to the entryway, tugging it open as he stepped outside.

He ventured down the road leading into town, staring into the shop windows, at everything he could never have. He passed the old academy building, and soon found himself in front of the private property belonging to his old friend, Sasuke.

He took his time walking the path that lead to the porch, and when he knocked at the door, he did so so aggressively that he thought he might break through the wood. But when Sasuke answered, he felt all his anger slip away and a numbness loom over him. The two stared at each other, and Sasuke raised a dark eyebrow, pressing him further. He took a step, and welcomed the man inside but his friend only shook his head, and remained where he stood. An awkward tension rising between the two.

He hadn't planned it this way, but it just so happened. And when he brought his gaze up to focus on the other male he felt the word slip from his lips, and linger in the air surrounding them. "Why?"

"Why what?" Sasuke asked.

"Why'd you leave?"

Sasuke drew in a breath as he folded his arms across the thin blue fabric that was his shirt, and leaned against the doorway as if for support. Those charcoal colored eyes lingered on the male for a moment too long, before focusing on the clear blue skies above. His voice barely a whisper as he asked, "You honestly don't remember?" A pained smile crept its way across the delicate features of his face as Sasuke thought back to that fateful day.

Snowflakes fell from the sky, their delicate designs often left unnoticed as they descended from the skies, falling so elegantly until they came to be one with the others that lay against the earth. The crushed ice often becoming that of a snowman, one with a face and a smile so big it'd warm even the coldest of hearts. Sasuke sat about in its cold wetness as Naruto continued to add on to the figure, seemingly lost in his art. He stared in awe at the blonde who worked diligently, averting his eyes as Naruto quickly turned to him, trudging through the snow with one of those goofy grins.

"Hey Sasuke?" He sat himself beside the teen, and looked the skies as the snow continued to fall. Laughing as they began to land upon his face, "I love her you know."

Sasuke stared at him, incredulous of the fact. But soon averted his eyes elsewhere as Naruto awaited a response. Minutes passed before a sigh escaped that of his lips, and his voice sounded, "Love?" He asked, barely shaking his head in disbelief, "How can you love someone when you've only known them for a couple of weeks?"

"Haha." Naruto laughed sarcastically, "This coming from the man whose never loved at all."

"I love you don't I?" There was a silence that followed, and a sense of dread filled the Uchiha. But instead of acting on impulse, he continued to focus on the skies above, distracting himself with whatever.

Naruto turned to acknowledge his friend, expecting the male to break out into a laugh, and call him an idiot for almost believing in such things. But as his eyes landed upon Sasuke, he came upon the realization that this was no joke. In some way he felt relieved to hear his friend to express himself so openly, but then again he had Sakura. Not to mention he had just admitted his feelings regarding her.

They sat for what seemed like hours, staring at the darkening skies. And when the snow stopped falling, Naruto decided it was about time he head home. With a somewhat forced smile, he wished Sasuke a goodnight, and even though he returned the farewell, a look registered upon his face, one in which Naruto had never seen before.

He hadn't realized then, but the look he was given was that of pain as its greatest peak, and that had been the last they had seen of each other. Naruto was the one to grow distant, to severe their ties and because of his own selfish act he had damaged their friendship to the point of no return.

He looked to Sasuke with that of a child facing his greatest fears and without another word, Naruto turned on his heel, fleeing down the path he had come. Leaving Sasuke where he stood with that same painful expression painted on his face.