Bonus Content #4

The Promise that Couldn't be Kept

He'd been too late. How late? An hour? Less? More? Did it matter? He'd been late. He was always late. But Hatake Kakashi didn't have time to wallow in that now, not as his eye fell on the two figures on the ground.

They were both unconscious; this much was evident by their lack of movement or awareness of his arrival. Naruto looked peaceful, laying on his back. A headband lay beside his head. His was on, so it could only belong to one person. Pakkun confirmed this as he padded over and sniffed at the headband.

"This is Sasuke's."

For some reason, the words were like a nail in the coffin. Kakashi had to close his eye for a moment and take in a deep breath. He let the pouring rain try to drown out the roaring in his ears. But at least Naruto was alive. Injured, but alive. And that had to count for something. Turning from the blonde, Kakashi turned his attention to his other pupil.

Nakao was lying face down, not far from Naruto. Kakashi noted, with initial alarm, that a puddle of blood had pooled beneath her, the rain causing the blood to spread out around her. But Sasuke wouldn't have killed her. No. He was sure that Sasuke would never mortally harm Nakao. Naruto…Kakashi could see Sasuke going too far with Naruto. But never Nakao. He was certain of this.

Pakkun padded over to the girl, sniffing about her. "She's alive. Her breathing is normal. She's just been incapacitated."

Kakashi knelt beside his student and gently flipped her over. The first thing he noticed was the blood, as there'd been enough of it to soak through her new Chuunin vest. Kakashi pulled up her shirt to check the wound, finding exactly what he thought he would. Sasuke had used the same technique Haku had to incapacitate him several years ago. The stab wound was just below a small scar; where Haku had stabbed her and almost killed her.

Kakashi quickly assessed the rest of her. She was speckled with cuts and bruises, but they were nothing like what Naruto had sustained. Which indicated to Kakashi that Nakao's wounds had been obtained during the mission to retrieve Sasuke, but she did not fight him.

Interesting. So there had not been a battle, but Nakao had been close enough to Sasuke she was within stabbing range. They were no further than a foot apart. Kakashi didn't want to think about what that meant, but it was fairly obvious. He couldn't say for sure what exactly had happened, but Nakao had allowed Sasuke to get very close to her. She had trusted him enough to allow him that close.

And then he stabbed her.

He knew Nakao well enough by now to have an idea of what she was going to be like when she woke up. When she blinked away the fogginess and remembered what had happened. She was going to be devastated. He had not forgotten what losing her brother had done to her. And losing Sasuke?

He felt for his pupil. He understood the pain that was going to overwhelm her. The sense of failure that would choke her. And unfortunately, he didn't have any words of wisdom for her.

"With this much rain, I won't be able to track Sasuke's scent anymore," Pakkun said quietly.

Kakashi was silent for a moment. "Naruto and Nakao are the priority right now."

Pakkun nodded and Kakashi set to work, gathering up his two students to take them back home.

"I need this injury to heal so I can go bring Sasuke back," Naruto said with his usual determination.

I sat on the edge of his hospital bed. My abdomen was still wrapped in bandages, as were my arms and legs. Bandages dotted my cheeks. IV tubing ran from my arm up to the bag of fluids hanging from the IV pole I'd dragged with me from my room.

Naruto was even more bandaged than I was. Hardly any of skin was visible and I could see bandages disappearing beneath his clothing. Still, he sat up in his hospital bed, gripping his sheets and gritting his teeth.

I gave him a small smile and tapped his hands lightly, reminding him to release the death grip on his linens. No sense reopening the cuts on his knuckles. "The nurses don't want to re-bandage you again; they've got enough to do."

My words seemed to draw him from his thoughts, and he blinked before offering me a small smile in return. Naruto, who was at least free from an IV pole, gazed up at mine, to the blood that was dripping from the bag into my veins. He seemed about to say something when what felt like a massive explosion rocked the room and pounded at our ears.

"What the fu-!" I jumped, almost upsetting my pole.

Naruto, equally surprised, reached to his right, pulling open the yellow curtains covering his window. Sunlight spilled into the room from the setting sun, causing me to blink rapidly as Naruto knet on his bed, peering out the window.

"Pervy Sage!?" Naruto blinked in surprise.

I pivoted to peer out the window as well. Sure enough, Legendary Sannin Jiraiya sat atop his giant toad outside in the street.

"Yo!" he greeted before jumping off his summon to perch on Naruto's windowcill, his legs dangling outside the window. "I've come to tell you, that as my pupil, I'll be training you to become a full-fledged shinobi in three years."

"Three years…?" Naruto echoed and I glanced to him with my own astonishment.

"I have it on good authority that the Akatsuki will be hunting you again. It seems it will be three to four years before they come after you again."

I swallowed, my mind conjuring up images of Itachi and Kisame in that hotel. But the memory conjured up images of Sasuke and the echo of his screams and I had to shut the memory down.

Naruto frowned. "I don't care about that right now."

"What do you mean?" Jiraiya asked in surprise, clearly not expecting this response.

"If I don't go after Sasuke immediately, he'll be killed by Orochimaru!"

I winced.

"Ah…so you've discovered Orochimaru's true purpose for recruiting Sasuke. That he plans on taking over Sasuke's body."

"What!?" I shot Naruto a glare. "When were you going to tell me that!?"

But Naruto only focused his wide eyes on the man in the window. "How did you know?"

"I was looking into Orochimaru's Immortality Jutsu. It seems that his jutsu requires a good three years between uses. And as he couldn't wait for Sasuke, he's just utilized it. Meaning there's several years before he'll be ready to take over Sasuke's body."

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Naruto asked suspiciously, but there was hope shining in his blue eyes.

"No…" the silver-haired man said carefully. "But…forget about Sasuke. Sasuke went to Orochimaru on his own accord. No matter what you do, he won't change. I've seen many shinobi, enough to know that Sasuke is the same kind as Orochimaru. If you're thinking about bringing Sasuke back, forget about it. That's something an arrogant fool would do."

I could feel Naruto's body begin to shake with growing rage, but it was me who jumped to my feet, ignoring the twinge of pain in my gut. "Shut up!"

My outburst caused the older man to peer over at me in surprise.

"Don't pretend like you know anything about him!" I seethed. "Do not compare him to that monster! They are not the same."

Jiraiya focused cool eyes on me. "And they're giving you blood for kicks? Or have you forgotten how he slid a blade into you?"

Naruto shot me a sharp look; I'd neglected to mention what happened between myself and Sasuke. He only knew the bare minimum of what Kakashi had told him.

I clenched my teeth, glaring daggers at the man who looked at me with such little emotion. My hands clenched at my sides in anger. Anger that he would say these things. Anger that he would dare contradict me. Anger that he was right.

"He may be nothing to you, but he's our friend," Naruto cut in, turning his gaze from me back to his mentor.

"Would a friend hurt his comrade!?" Jiraiya finally shouted, taking us both by surprise. "Take a look at your current plight!"

Anger flashed in Naruto's eyes, but he bit his lip as I saw grief flood them. I could think of nothing to say.

"If you're going after Sasuke, there will be no training with me. I will assign ANBU staff to monitor everything you do. You are not an ordinary kid, and the Akatsuki will be after you again. Soon, you will have to deal with guys stronger than Orochimaru. Give up on Sasuke. Sooner or later this was going to happen; don't suffer anymore. Forget and dismiss him."

My eyes shifted to Naruto, for it was him Jiraiya was truly speaking to. Even if the man's words filled me with rage.

"If you are going to live as a shinobi, you have to be wise; you have to make the right judgements. If you remain a fool…living in this world will be tough."

Silence filled the room for a long moment before Naruto spoke. "Fine. If that's what being wise is…then I'm fine with being a fool all my life!"

Jiraiya shot Naruto a surprised look, but I smiled, just a bit. It was exactly the response I had expected Naruto to give. And even if the rest of my world was falling apart, it was comforting to know something hadn't changed.

"I'll create an even more awesome jutsu and I'll save Sasuke no matter what! And…And, I'll even kick the Akatsuki's butt!"

Jiraiya frowned, shaking his head as he peered down at the street below him. Leaning in, I placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. He glanced up at me.

"I'll help," I said softly. Naruto stared at me for a moment longer before he flashed me a grin.

Finally, Jiraiya spoke, breaking our eye contact. "If you do it alone...the best you'll be able to come up with is some idiotic erotic jutsu."

I blinked, glancing back to Naruto, but his blue eyes remained on his mentor. Without warning, Jiraiya leapt away from the window, back onto the head of his toad. "Be prepared once you're out of the hospital, you big fool."

A wide grin slowly spread across Naruto's face and he saluted. "Roger!"

"Hana said he'll be okay…" Kiba said quietly. He was laying on his bed, but his head was turned on his pillow to face me.

I knelt on the ground beside Akamaru's makeshift hospital bed. It had hurt to get down here, and the nurses would freak if they saw, but I had to see him. He deserved that much. Kiba's sister, a vet, must have given the dog some pain killers because he barely reacted as I gently rubbed his furry head.

"'No walks for a while were her words'," Kiba continued. "She said the nerves in his legs were damaged."

I frowned, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Akamaru's tiny head. A small whimper was the only response I received. Using the bed, I struggled to push myself up, one hand gripping my IV pole. Biting back my own winces of pain, I finally swayed to my feet, glancing over at Kiba in time to see his face spasm in pain.

"No walks for you either then…" I said quietly, pulling my pole with me as I moved over to Kiba's bed, planting myself on the edge. I watched as the pain twitched through his body before it settled.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Kiba asked me when the pain had passed.

"I got bored," I tried playfully, but failed rather miserably.

Kiba's frown deepened at my tone. "I'm sorry, Nakao…"

Ignoring the sharp pain it caused, I got to my feet, keeping my back to my friend. "Don't be ridiculous. Sorry for what?"

From the sounds of grunting, I gathered Kiba was struggling into a sitting position. I could feel his gaze boring into my back. "We didn't get him back…"

I swallowed against the lump trying to rise in my throat. When I spoke, I couldn't speak any louder than a whisper. "It was my fault."

"Nakao, no-"

"It was, Kiba," I said louder, my voice cracking. I paused for a moment to bite down on my quivering lip. "I let him get away. I was there, I was standing right there-"

I cut myself off as my words began to come out in tight gasps. My hand wandered to the stinging wound in my abdomen as I fought the tears in my eyes.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," I whispered, tears slipping down my cheeks.

It was one of the many thoughts constantly parading through my head as I laid in my own hospital bed. Kiba had almost died. Akamaru had almost died. For what? For me to step right up to him, to allow Sasuke the opportunity to incapacitate me.

I'd been stupid. I had really thought I would be enough to convince him to stay. I had let my guard down. I'd thought…he was kissing me. He cared about me. He wanted to stay with me.

God I was so stupid.

I hardly noticed my hands were clenched into fists and that tears were streaming down my face. I had almost lost so much when, in the end, I'd lost everything anyway.

"I'm sorry, Kiba," I blurted, not ashamed to let the tears fall, to let my nose run, to let out tiny, gasping sobs. "I just…I…"

It was all too much. The pain in my chest, the thoughts in my mind, the searing in my abdomen. I felt like the world was closing in around me. I could feel my knees buckle, like the weight of it all was shoving me towards the ground.

I didn't hear him get out of bed or make his way to me. All I knew is that he was right there. His hand gently cupped my elbow and he swiveled me to face him. I couldn't even look him in the eye with my flushed cheeks and dripping nose and cascade of salty tears.

"Nakao…"

His voice pulled my gaze to him. My vision was distorted through my watery eyes, but I saw those brown eyes rove my face. Saw his mouth etch into a deep frown.

"If it gave you any chance at happiness," he said softly. "I would do it all again."

His words only wrenched another sob from me. Carefully with his injuries and mine, he pulled me into a tight hug. My arms were tucked between his body and mine, but I didn't have the strength to move them anyway. I just nuzzled my head into the crook of his neck. His scent was masked by antiseptic and iodine and clean bandages, but at least it wasn't the coppery smell of blood that clung to him the last time I held him.

I should have been ashamed. How dare I mourn what was my fault? What almost made him lose his life, and the life of his best friend? I was the reason the three of us were here, in this pain, with nothing to show for it. But the tears had started and they wouldn't stop. So we just stood there. Stood there until sleep began to pull at me.

It was the nurse that woke me some time later. Kiba and I were tangled together, holding onto one another in his hospital bed. He was still asleep, his soft breathing a comfort to me. The nurse had switched on a light, eyes falling on the two of us. I waited for her to chastise me, or help me to my room, but she said nothing. An assessing gaze slowly swept over the both of us before she turned the light back off and left the room.

I let my eyes close again.

"I'll come back, stronger. And you'll be stronger. And then we'll go after Sasuke, together," he smiled warmly, his blue eyes revealing just how much he believed his own words.

I tried to smile in response. But the truth was...although I had hollered and chastised Jiraya...he'd been right. Sasuke had chosen to join Orochimaru. He had chosen that life over Naruto. Over me. It didn't matter how strong we got; we'd never be able to drag Sasuke back here.

I had to admit all of this to myself, even if caused a sharp pain to stab through my chest. I had lost him. And now I was losing Naruto.

We stood in his hospital room, both of us back in civilian clothing. They were releasing the both us today and Naruto was leaving immediately to begin his training with Jiraiya. My small bag of belongings was abandoned at my feet, and Naruto's accumulation of items from the hospital was now packed in its own bag, sitting atop his now abandoned bed.

I didn't expect his leaving to hit me so much, to make me feel as though I was losing literally all I had left. But Naruto, he was the only one who could possibly understand what I felt. Who understood the pain we were going through even though no one seemed to understand our preoccupation with Sasuke.

In a way, Naruto was my last link to Sasuke. My last living, breathing reminder of him. Because as soon as Naruto stepped foot outside this village, team seven would officially fall apart. Sakura and I would not be able to carry on the facade. Nor did I even want to.

I didn't even want to face Sakura. The fact that she thought we were going through the same pain caused my blood to boil. What could she possibly understand about this loss? She had lost her teammate; someone she admired. I had lost everything.

Besides, seeing her now only made me relive those finale moments with him. How long had I judged her, berated her, for allowing her irrational emotions to dictate things? To allow Sasuke to be a kind of weakness? And in the end, I had been no better. Sasuke had played me like a fiddle. I had jeopardized everything, including the sacrifices Neji and Kiba and Chouji had made, because I was too fucking stupid. Too weak.

I was still weak. I found myself in such a fragile state, I didn't even know who I was anymore. I wanted to grab hold of Naruto and refuse to let go. I wanted to cry and plead with him to stay with me. I needed his strength.

But I rallied what felt like was the rest of my strength and I gave him the widest smile I could manage. "Right..."

Naruto's eyes assessed me before he gave me a sad smile. "He cared about you. I know he did."

His words took me aback and I let the surprise show on my face. He was still giving me that sad, kind look. His words were nice to hear but...

"People don't usually stab people they care about..." I said softly with my own sad smile.

"Well...Sasuke's always been a little different."

This did illicit a tiny chuckle from me. "Well, that's true."

Naruto looked like he wanted to say something else, but seemed to think better of it. Instead, he stepped in closer, wrapping me in a hug. My throat swelled up almost immediately and I blinked back tears as my arms wove around him.

We held each other tightly, like we were of the same mind. Like we both knew we were saying goodbye to the only person who could understand. Who might offer even the slightest amount of comfort, if only because misery loves company.

Slowly, we pulled away. Emotions were flowing between us, raw and unchecked, but I forced down a sob. Somehow, I forced a watery smile onto my face. Reaching out, I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Grow a few inches, won't you?"

Naruto blinked and laughed; laughed like the past few days had never happened. I laughed too, despite myself, a tear rolling down my cheek.

The laughter died down at Naruto gazed at me long and hard, a billions thoughts passing through his eyes. After a long moment, he pulled me back into a hug, tight and unyielding. He spoke softly into my ear. "I'll be back."

I held him just as tight, just as fiercely and whispered back. "I'll be waiting."

I wasn't sure how I'd found the strength to come here. I wasn't sure what I'd been hoping for. Comfort? Serenity? All that greeted me was a heavy heart and roaring silence; even the birds seemed to have vacated this place.

I sat atop that crumbling wall, legs dangling over the edge. I couldn't go beneath the bridge. That would have been too much. I couldn't take those memories. So I let the events of the last few hours run through my mind instead.

I sat outside the hospital on one of the stone benches. I'd been discharged and immediately took up residence on this bench. Because I didn't know where to go or what to do. Everything felt saturated in memories and pain. There was no where safe to hide; except maybe this bench.

I couldn't say how long I had sat there. A few hours at least, as the sun was now beginning its descent through the sky. I kept my gaze on it, allowing the harshness of its rays to burn away any tears that threatened to spill.

Suddenly, I felt someone sit beside me. I knew that presence well enough that I didn't need to look over.

"You're not planning to sleep here, I hope," Kakashi-sensei said quietly.

I didn't answer. I could feel his gaze on me, but I couldn't meet it. I knew he had been the one to find Naruto and myself. How could I look him in the eye when he knew how I'd failed. He couldn't know the exact details, but how would it have looked? I'd been stabbed, clearly at close range. There was no sign of resistance. Shame washed over me anew.

"Your life doesn't end here," my sensei tried again. "This chapter ends, but there's always another one to start."

The words popped out of my mouth before I could think about them. "I don't want this chapter to end."

Silence, then his quiet voice. "I know."

I felt my bottom lip quiver. "Why, Sensei?"

I wasn't sure what had loosened my lips. Perhaps it was his voice. There was something in it, like an understanding. Like, somehow, he knew what I was feeling, or at least part of it.

Kakashi-sensei shook his head. "We're all driven by something. A dream…revenge…love…"

The word cut through me like a knife. I tried to stifle the sob in my throat.

"It's not our job to understand the drive of others. All we can do is acknowledge it, and not lose sight of our own drive."

I closed my eyes. I wanted to lose sight of mine, very much.

"No one says this is the end, Nakao," Kakashi-sensei said when silence had passed between us for quite some time. "It's only the end if you stop moving forward."

He was right of course. But…but I wasn't Naruto. Naruto, who always got back to his feet. Who never let anything keep him down. Who never lost sight of who he was or where he was going. I wasn't him. And I wasn't Kakashi. I wasn't full of spirit or wisdom or any of that.

I was just…me. Broken, bruised, and battered me.

Kakashi-sensei was right. I should keep going. I should pick myself up and make something of myself and keep looking forward. But…I didn't have the strength for that. Not today. So tonight…tonight I was going to find something to numb this pain. Tomorrow I would be stronger.

Probably.

Author's Note:

Thanks to those of you who are still reviewing! You make my day, you have no idea. My mind has been exploding with ideas lately and I have 3 other content ideas in the works. So I hope to see you soon. Thanks for tuning in!