A/N: It is currently late. How late? 3:10 am when I finished this.

I worked on this chapter all day, I'm tired. I wanna sleep...Not only that, I tried uploadin this chapter 5 times. First four, it was doing some weird shit where I could type certain things in certain areas, fifth time it saved, but fucking screwed with the text, so I had to restart all over.

So mind if you guys leave a review? Please? Also could people add this to communities you are part of? And maybe share this story?

BTW: No Sakura bashing. Personally I don't like Sakura, but I appreciate her efforts and character development, she's a strong girl with flaws, but she does her best, and we seriously need more role models like that. If we met I would probably encourage her to continue to kick ass.

So please let me know what you think in the reviews, or even pm message me!

Chapter Two

The same voice called me.
Sometimes sad, sometimes angry, sometimes annoying.

Heh.

But mostly happy.

I was waiting to see you again.

Wherever you are. In the afterlife, a different world, I would follow.

To see your smile.

"Is that your wish?"

Yes.

"You won't mean anything to him anymore. He'll love another."

I don't care.

"He won't love you."

As long as I can be by his side, I don't care.

"...If you so wish to see Naruto again, you must sell your to us."

Take it.

"...But you wo-"

Didn't you hear me? I don't care. Let me see him again.

"Very well."

My eyes opened. I was taken by surprise by the branches that were around me.

I moved my arm to test if my body was alright. I felt something run down my backside.

I flinched, jerking my head to see what was on my back.

A black feather?

I never noticed how weak my feet were, they lost their grip on the branch I st-

Wait, gripped? My feet was gripping something?

Due to instincts I spread my arms and felt the air glide past my arm and I smoothly flew into another branch after flapping my wings.

Wings? I looked down to myself and saw black feather lined soothingly against my body. I quickly brought my arms in front of my face. Wings. My lower back tingled and twitched.

I had a feathered tail.

I was a fucking bird. Not just any bird, a Raven. I felt anger begin to build up, my feet digging into the rough branch of the maple tree I was perched on.

I wanted to see Naruto again! Not become a fucking bird! I felt my stomach growl. I studied biology to know what birds required to eat. Worms, berries, and bugs.

I was not eating bugs or worms. I am Sasuke Uchiha, and I do not eat revolting worms or bugs. But if I were to live, I might see Naruto again. Was it worth it? Yes, Naruto would be worth anything.

But was this a cruel joke? Was he tricked to sell his own soul for nothing? He didn't even know who he sold his soul to.

Grumbling at my situation, I stretched my thin, slender wings. In epiphany thoughts, I decided to search the area from the sky for Naruto.

For some reason I believed all hope was not lost.

Call me a fool, but I felt something pull at me, as if to tell me he was out there.

I glanced at the clear sky, straightened my back, adjusting my feet to be shoulder-width apart, my dark eyes staring down at the setting sun. Just like the day I died.

Bending my knees to jump up so I could catch a extra wind, I was about to set flight until I was interrupted by a sharp sneeze below me.

I was mid jump, one foot still perched on the branch and the other that released itself from the branch.

Due to physics, I tumbled to the ground when the branch broke and dragged me down.

I expected to fall into the hardened, clay, ground. But I fell on to something round and big. Like a basketball, but it was soft and...fuzzy?

It was hair, blond hair.

It was a little boy. He was asleep.

He looked like...

Like Naruto.

The boy murmured, stirring from his slumber. His small, back, was leaned against the thick, rough, moist, bark of the maple tree.

His rosy cheeks seemed to highlight the deep, sapphire eyes when he opened them. His pupils focused on me.

Expecting to receive a terrified face and a screech. His face was more surprised and shocked than scared. His widened mouth turned itself into a overjoyed smile, his eyes glistened in excitement.

"Birdie! Where did you come from?! You're so pretty..." he smiled, giggling as he grabbed me with his stubby hands.

Based on his small, thick fingers, and smooth skin, he was still very young. Around the age of ten.

So pure...

The trees blew against the wind above us, breathing and exhaling it's air, giving life to him and I.

His smile was the same, no matter what hardships he had gone through. Even when he was reborn in this alternate world, he never refused to smile for any occasion.

Although being grabbed was fairly uncomfortable, the smile I got to see was worth more than anything.

The warmth from his hand reassured me that his intentions were good.

He petted the top of my head with his single finger, he was caressing me gently.

"Where were you from?" he asked curiously, although I could not answer, he seemed to understand by looking me in the eyes.

"I see, you're far from home huh?" his childish smile made my heart flutter in joy. So innocent and carefree.

I nodded in silence.

He shot a smile and opened his mouth until a girl's voice yelling echoed in the forest. Rustling bushed began to approach us. A branch was pushed out of the way, a girl stepped forward.

Strawberry, pink, hair glowed in the light and colored eyes that matched the the green leaves of the trees.

She was going to grow up as a beautiful woman by her well shaped face, eyes, and smile.

She would grow up with a good heart, her eyes told that. Although she was young, she had a glint in her eyes that seemed to have an old history, but for some reason I felt threatened by her.

Her eyes were worried until she set her eyes to Naruto. They turned annoyed and angry.

"You idiot, I lost you! What if something happened to you?!" she exclaimed in a exasperated voice. She stormed herself to Naruto pinching his cheek and placed a hand on her back hip, grabbing his cheek and pinched.

"Sakura! Ow! I'm sorry! I just wanted to run before Iruka yelled at me!" Naruto protested, trying to loosen her grip on his reddening cheek.

Somehow I was rather protestant of how she treated and approached him, not because I believed she was mistreating him.

It was clear her intentions were good. She was a kindred soul.

"Naruto Uzumaki! Do you have any idea how worried I was?! Don't ever run off like that and disappear! What if something happened?! Iruka was worried sick!" she began to stalk away, dragging him by the cheek.

I wasn't sure if I was surprised Iruka was reborn with Naruto. He was always worried for Naruto, and took care of him in our first world.

He even refused to rest in peace when the world had set itself on fire. I didn't blame him though for wanting to start again.

Our world was filled with criminals and war, Naruto and I were wanted fugitives for trying to protect our small village from the government, we were living in hell.

We ran and hid, along with our family and friends.

But traveling in a big group is risky when you are a target of danger. One by one, we died.

We started off a large number of people. Some died from disease and illness, starving to death, and assassinated.

Then it was just Naruto and I left. We were bombed.

He pushed me out of the way so he would take most of the damage.
I awoke with minor injuries compared to Naruto.

Bruises, cuts, and a few broken ribs. My ankle felt twisted. I searched in the debris and found Naruto.

He was bleeding from his chest, stomach, arms, legs–everywhere, his head the most though. He was bleeding away, joining death very soon.

Never again. This world had the same technology, same media, same fashion, same people. But very different governments.

There was no signs of war. Only signs of juvenile problems.

This was a peaceful world, a second chance.

A second chance to be with Naruto. Even if I had to watch him from the side. It was good enough.

...I was content with this. I was. I really was.

That was when Sakura noticed me perched on his arms. To my surprise she lit up, letting her fingers drop from Naruto's cheeks.

"Who's your little friend? He looks friendly." she smiled, admiring my feathers and eyes. "He's a pretty Raven"

While rubbing his sore cheek, he looked up to her "He's my new friend." he introduced me to her.

"What's his name?" she asked curiously, a cursors hand approached me. I leaned in to her gentle touch.

Naruto pondered for a moment. "Um...He's...His name is...Akane!" he exclaimed in joyful confidence. I sighed, that idiot, I was a boy for Christ sake!

She simply scowled as she continued her careful touches and strokes on my feathers.

"Naruto, Akane is a girl's name!" she turned and scolded him. Naruto replied with an eye roll, crossing his arms in stubbornness, sticking his tongue at her.

"So what? It means red, his eyes are red, they're pretty so I call him Akane." he reasoned, even though it was a weak one, to him it was perfectly fine, I suppose idiocy is hard to rid of, even through reincarnation.

I didn't have much issues with names as long as it was reasonable, but Akane was not a name I enjoyed being associated with.

"Sigh...I'm not even gonna start, Iruka will yell at you..." she dropped her arm and glanced at where the sunlight glowed.

"It's getting late...we should head back to Iruka." she calmly suggested. Naruto looked at the scarlet sun that seemed to drip light from its rays. Giving life to whatever it touched.

Naruto looked to her and blushed, nodding to silently agree. She flashed a warm smile and took his hand in his to guide him away from the forest.

Away from the trees that provided shade, and away from me. I had no right to interfere with his life. To just be able to see him was good enough.

Naruto turned to me, flashing his charismatic smile, saying a goodbye to me.

"I'll see ya again Akane!" he cheered, turning his face back to Sakura and eventually disapeared into the trees and bushes with gentle rustles.

If he still wanted to see me, I would let him come to me. I wasn't going anywhere, so just for him, I'll stay and watch over him.

I felt a slight ache when he left, I felt the bright feeling inside me disappear like the sun did. But I continued to push it away. I had no choice.

The Sun and Moon were the same despite the changed world around me. So I knew that Naruto was still Naruto. Perhaps different, but still himself.

This was enough.

Just for me.

This was paradise for us.

Whenever the Sun would set and say goodbye to leave me, Naruto would always come. Bringing a piece of bread, cheese, or fruit for me to eat. We ate together, and he would tell me how his day was, and discuss to himself about Sakura.

All I could do was nod and glance at him, but he knew I cared despite my silence, because I stayed where he could always find me.

He told me he was happy I was his friend. That I was there for him in this silent sanctuary.

Our sanctuary where it was only him and I.

The days went on for us. One after another, the days had passed. Never once did I find his words tiresome. What displeased me however is when he spoke of being harassed at school. Apparently a group of middle school students enjoy picking of elementary children, Naruto however was never picked on. Yet.

I was always listened with joyful enthusiasm. He would laugh at his own mistakes and ideas, and I would join him by silent smiles that were overshadowed by my own feathers.

But nothing lasts.

On the hottest, humid summer, just like the day I died, Naruto did not come when the sun had set. I felt a tight, sinking feeling in my stomach, my feathers were ruffled in disturbance.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

My heart was threatening to stop at the thought of Naruto in danger.

Without hesitation, I spread my wings to quickly scoured the city. No bright specks of blond or a shard of blue. Until I saw a fair-haired boy, topaz eyes, and tattered clothes.

He was accompanied by older, meaner children. Sakura was there as well. Naruto was being harassed and beaten by them, Sakura was restrained, but managed to kick one of them in the balls.

Nice.

Naruto was marred by cuts, and stained with his own blood because of the reddened fist that belonged to the disgusting fuck that threatened Naruto.

Naruto struggled but his short stature of 4 feet made his efforts worthless.

Without a moment of hesitation, I tilted my wings to adjust my smooth flight to a jagged, fearless, dive at the pasty-faced boy that held Naruto by the collar, his upcoming fist never met Naruto; I had flown right into his face.

I nipped and shredded his layers of skin into fleshy ribbons with my sharp talons, followed by streams of blood at the seams. I felt furious and angry that they would dare to hurt him.
To hurt Naruto. I had seen him bloody, I had watched him die. But never again...!

I would never allow that to happen again!

Despite the boy's cutting, screams of agony and pain, I refused to stop tearing at his flesh. He would never touch Naruto again.
His hands tried to grab at me as my talons dug into his soft, warm, flesh for my fings to flap faster so I could rip his skin off his worthless face. When his hands got near me, I opened my beak and tore off another piece of flesh off his hands.

I wanted to see more blood.

Fucking die you piece of shit...!

And everything blurred when I found my body was thrown into the ground from a violent force that made contact with mine. I heard a clump, asnif something was dropped.

I also heard my bones shatter like glass.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the boy who I failed to kill. His face mutilated into pieces of skin, no doubt going to become a ugly, scarred face; with his bloody eye, I prayed he would be blind and never go near Naruto again.

The horrible boy ran with his friend, tails between their legs. If they had tails. Fucking cowards.

When they were lost out of sight, gentle hands had lifted me from the cold, earthy, ground. I felt something drip from me. Blood?

I noticed the baseball bat with a noticeable splotch of blood at the tip.

I see, they had managed to hit me with it. How weak I was.

I'm sorry Naruto, I can watch you, but never protect you in this form.

I'm so sorry.

I wasn't scared, I was regretful I didn't have more time.

A soothing, familiar voice called to me, his voice was sad, but sounded younger.

I looked up to a tear-filled child. His eyes were glimmering with the build up of tears threatening to spill away from his eyes and drip down his face.

Instead, I felt the warm drops of his grief touch my body.

"Akane...Don't die...please don't die..." he begged, his hands shook vigorously, he was trying to be strong. I saw his will in his eyes tremble. His sadness tore and pierced my weak heart.

He was crying for me.

Naruto...don't cry.

His clouded, eyes made the lively blue in him turn pale and dead. I didn't want to see that.

It haunted me with the bitter memories of the past. The dark past I never wanted to return to.

Please don't cry.

I opened my mouth to say something, but it was drowned out by the surge of blood that filled my mouth.

Despite the spreading pain, I was happy.

To be in his warmth during my last moments instead of dying in a corner where the ashes of people were my only company.

This time, I'm dying first. I'm sorry.

Naruto soon gave into crying his broken heart to me. He nuzzled me softly against his cheek, not caring that I was filthy in blood.

"I love you...so don't die...Akane...!" He wailed my name out of the unbearable loss.

He begged again, his voice was overwhelmed by his sadness, he couldn't handle my death. So I lifted my beak-the pain beginning to reach higher and higher levels of pure torture-and nuzzled him back before the pain reached its overwhelming climax.

Then I felt my body fall and become consumed by the feeling of numbness.

At that moment, I realized the truth of this life.

The scarlet, sunbeams that kept me and Naruto warm as we chat carelessly, the laughter that resonated from his heart, his kind offerings of food to me even though I never once expected that from him; these were the gems of this life. Of my second chance with him that I never once got to do in my first life.

I felt my heart being carried away by the gentle breeze of the summer wind.

I felt it glow, cry, and laugh.

It then faded, and grew cold once more.

There was nothing left of me anymore.

I died.

Again.

But I still wasn't satisfied. I still wanted more time.

Just a bit longer.

Please.

"Hmmm...That didn't turn out so well did it now? How about another go? We know you're not satisfied. How about another round Sasuke?"

Yes.