PROLOGUE

2 years after the 4th Great Ninja War

Kakashi sat hunched over paperwork, his Hokage robes pooling around him like a clear sea. "Ah! My favourite troublemakers grace me with their presence!" he announced, his voice raspy from disuse.

A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips, crinkling the skin around his visible eye. It was a familiar sight, a remnant of the playful teacher beneath the mantle of responsibility.

Naruto was bursting through the door; his signature grin plastered across his face. The Hokage's office, usually a place of sombre deliberation, seemed to brighten with his infectious enthusiasm.

"We're all grown up now, old man! No more trouble from us, right Teme?" he boomed, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Sasuke, his usual stoic expression etched even deeper, trailed behind. A dark cloud seemed to hang over him, a stark contrast to Naruto's exuberance. He shot a glare at his best friend—a look of exasperation. He broodily watched both the men he hated to love creating a noise without which he could do.

"Naruto," Kakashi sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly beneath the weight of his office. He pushed away from the desk, the long robes swirling around his legs as he stood. Despite the dangers of tangling, his movements remained fluid. "One of the things that worried me most about taking on this mantle," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement, "was the thought of you two still being alive and causing havoc."

Putting down his Hokage cap on the corner of the table, Kakashi's hand lifted to ruffle the white hair that was glinting as bright silver due to moonlight pouring from the long window. He stood and peered down at the people for whom he was a responsible figure now.

Sasuke scoffed, a single, sharp exhale. He couldn't stand the mushy sentimentality. "So," he interjected, his voice laced with impatience, "about this lead... is it solid this time?"

Naruto, ever the optimist, bounded forward. "Yeah, believe it! Shikamaru thinks that the sighting of a creepy pale dude with a one-sided horn is good enough evidence for an S-Rank threat! Maybe even an Otsutsuki!"

Kakashi added, fiddling with the scroll in his grip, "The Ōtsutsuki threat needs to be neutralized as soon as possible! The world is finally picking up its pace, the rebuilding after the war was daunting on shinobi and civilians alike and as per the suggested strategy of Five Kages, you both are the only ones we can trust to counter it."

Sasuke let out a frustrated groan. "We've been chasing shadows for weeks! Not that I mind getting out of Konoha for a fight," he added quickly, catching the disapproving glint in Kakashi's eye. "But I had other plans for my life now… I wanted to restart, to finally find—"

Kakashi cut him off, his masked lips stretched further. He placed the scroll gently in Sasuke's outstretched hand. The droop in his eyelids was more noticeable now, the playful spark that used to light his eyes dimmed by exhaustion. "Sasuke," he said, his voice softer than usual, "I know... about your atonement journey. You can continue it once we're sure this Otsutsuki threat is dealt with." Sasuke attributed the tiredness in his voice to the heavy boulder of responsibilities on his shoulders as a Hokage.

Naruto, sensing the shift in mood, puffed out his chest.

"Teme! Let's fight the last war with me. Then...we can have true peace. And once I am your Hokage...I will drag your ass back to Konoha as I please," Naruto pressed on the non-existent arm of Sasuke and chuckled as Sasuke's foot kicked the back of his knee which made Naruto feign the exaggerated damage by crouching down.

Sasuke scowled, "Fine. Let's finish them off, so I can finally leave Konoha for my much-needed mental peace!" Sasuke huffed and turned on his heels, leaving Kakashi with an outstretched arm which was supposed to be on his shoulder for some kind of support. And Naruto leapt up from the ground.

The screeching noise of his voice thumped in the corridors of Hokage tower, Naruto's loud steps behind Sasuke made him grimace. "You are always dying to leave me! I brought you back to get us back together!" Naruto whined as he followed Sasuke and when he caught up to the raven-head, he almost jumped on his back. Sasuke tried to keep his grunting muffled but failed.

"You really gonna disappear again after this mission, huh?" Naruto asked, his voice thick with a melancholy that contrasted sharply with his usual boisterous enthusiasm.

He gestured at the sake bottle with a trembling hand, the fiery liquor failing to ignite its usual spark in his cerulean eyes. The amber liquid burned a familiar path down Naruto's throat, evident by his disgruntled hisses. Sasuke averted his eyes from the bright figure.

He sat ramrod straight, his dark silhouette mirroring the vast expanse of the midnight sky sprinkled with a million diamond-bright stars.

Sasuke remained silent; his gaze fixed on the endless expanse above instead of answering.

A sigh escaped Naruto's lips; a sound heavy with unspoken emotions. "I want you to stay," he finally admitted, the words scraping raw against his throat. "Restart your life here. With us. Konoha knows the reality of Itachi now, the Uchihas are not the villains anymore."

Sasuke's throbbing head almost propelled him to pick up the sake and drown in the swirling daze of the intoxication, but his palm fisted, halting him from snatching the bottle from the blonde. His nightmares were not going to be quelled by a mere sake.

"Only you can understand this truly, Naruto. You and I both know it. Every action of mine will be scrutinized by this village. No matter what. I am not loyal to Konoha, I am loyal to you, your loved ones and your ideals. If it was up to me, I would have left after I was released...one and a half years ago."

Naruto turned towards him, a warmth radiating from his cerulean eyes that even the night's chill couldn't extinguish, so Sasuke kept his eyes on the sky that hovered above them, the stars were closer to them. The rooftop of Hokage Tower made them feel like they levitated.

Naruto rasped, "Thank you...for being my best friend. My only one."

Sasuke's eyes squeezed shut, the pulsing ache behind his left eyelid a constant reminder of the power he wielded and the life he'd taken.

"I almost killed you."

"That is your thing, Teme. Killing me, making me exhausted, making me want to kill you-" Naruto let out a throaty laugh, the sound tinged with the slur of intoxication. His voice trailed off, dissolving into hiccups punctuated by a fit of giggles.

Sasuke clicked his tongue, a hint of amusement flickering across his face despite himself. "Even more annoying as a drunk," he muttered.

"Shut up, Teme!" Naruto retorted; his voice laced with mock indignation.

He leaned over, flinging an arm around Sasuke's shoulders, the gesture sloppy but heartfelt.

Naruto continued, "By the way…" he continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I got a room ready for you at our place."

Sasuke stiffened, his onyx eyes flashing with surprise. "What?" he demanded; his voice sharp with suspicion.

Naruto squinted at him, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to focus through his haze. "The house, remember? I told you I bought one. Well, I made you and Hinata the official owners. It's my dream, Sasuke… that one day, when you're done with your atonement journey, you'll come back and live with us. I don't ever want us to be alone again."

A kaleidoscope of emotions flickered across Sasuke's face—surprise, suspicion, and a flicker of something akin to gratitude. "What the hell? Did you ask your girlfriend?" Sasuke's voice was more like a grating squeak due to shock.

Naruto exclaimed, enthusiasm bled in his veins, "Yes. She is my Hinata. The sweetest human being! She doesn't mind. She understands why I did what I did." Naruto grinned, "Also...you can meet my son too. He will be two months old next week! The little thing is mine, Sasuke...I am a dad!" Naruto patted the thigh of Sasuke and looked misty-eyed.

A tightness constricted Sasuke's chest. Understanding didn't erase the scars of the past. He forced a smile, but it felt brittle on his lips. What if she'd be unwelcoming like the rest of the Konoha population and only accepted Naruto's plans for Naruto's sake? A question lingered in his mind, long and hard.

"Congratulations on the kid, Naruto. I still think you are too young for a child," Sasuke exhaled and shrugged. Naruto draped his arm around Sasuke's neck tighter, pulling him closer and let out a hoot.

"And you're the Godfather...in my absence, you will be taking care of Haru. Be prepared, bastard. Be nice to my son!" Naruto gleamed.

"Why do you...why are you doing all this?" Sasuke gritted his teeth, unable to understand the pooling emotions.

"Because...I trust you the most." Naruto smiled warmly, a softened and less clownish smile.

"I don't know how to handle kids, but...I can work on my skills, I guess." Sasuke felt that he had nothing to give to Naruto, so whatever he asked of him, he ensured to agree to it, dropping his walls.

Naruto's eyes which glinted with merriment a second ago, had a solemn glaze clouded over them, Sasuke raised his brow as he sensed the shift in mood, anticipating the words from his best friend. "Even if the Uchiha district is almost rebuilt and up and running, I knew...I knew you didn't want to go back to that place. So, I got you a home! With me! Once you...you want to settle down with your lady...I have planned with Hinata that we can add a second floor...for your family."

A flicker of surprise, then anger, crossed Sasuke's face. He jerked away from Naruto's embrace.

"What about privacy, Naruto? Your girlfriend and the baby..." he seethed, "Naruto...I am sure she would need privacy with you and her son...in that house. Why did you impose me upon her?" He tried to make it make sense to his dumb but the most loyal friend.

"She and I discussed it. I can't leave you alone, I won't, Sasuke...I know about the nightmares and the visions...I am not afraid you'd go back to being...you know," his voice trailed off, and then he put a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "But I am afraid that your condition would eat you up and you won't tell me and I'd lose you...I don't want to lose you, simply."

Naruto kept a smile, but Sasuke noticed slumped shoulders. Naruto's eyes were unmasked and showed weariness, evident by the dark circles shadowed under them, accentuating the toll Sasuke's whole existence had created on him.

His words hit Sasuke like a physical blow. How could he, who had caused so much pain, deserve such unwavering loyalty? Shame gnawed at him, a familiar ache in his gut. His pale complexion seemed to drain even further, the guilt a physical weight on his chest.

"Thank you. I don't think I deserve-"

"You deserve the world, Sasuke." Naruto interrupted and emptied the bottle with a large sip, "I don't want us unhappy ever again." Naruto made it sound so easy for Sasuke. As if deserving something good was a chance for the avenger who caused terror and spilt blood heartlessly.

Sasuke's mind shrouded in guilt and regrets pounded hard, the back of his skull squeezed whatever nerves or brain matter was bunched up there. "I don't know how to pay you back." He knew the rumbling emotions churning inside him were making his already pale face have an ashen hue.

Naruto stretched, the popping of his muscles cutting through the thick silence. "Just be here with me, Sasuke. Take care of my family, and that includes you too."

Sasuke met his gaze, a silent vow forming between them. "I promise," he said, his voice low but steady. He could do this for Naruto. He owed him that much.

Naruto grinned, pulling out his pinky finger. "Promises are done like this, believe it!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, a reluctant smile playing on his lips. "We're not kids anymore, Naruto."

"Come on, just nineteen," Naruto whined, his voice playful.

With a dry chuckle, Sasuke interlaced his pinky with Naruto's, their thumbs pressing together. "Fine, sealed, promise!" he conceded.

Naruto cheered, too loud for Sasuke but...there were luxuries that only the blonde was allowed. A semblance of a smile had gently flickered over the Uchiha's lips.

Sasuke's face hardened, "I have a question. A personal one."

Sasuke noticed that Naruto's breath hitched, the dazed playfulness wiped out from his gaze in a second as the serious tone rattled Naruto. "Hm?" Naruto urged.

"You have a kid with the Hyuuga...without a wedding, aren't they a traditional stick-up-their-ass kind of clan?"

Naruto let out that breath that he was holding on, "Oh! Well..." he rubbed the back of his neck as he withdrew his promising interlocked hand from Sasuke's and averted his gaze, "Hinata and I... we love each other, truly. But...it was..." His voice sounded strained and unconvincing.

"Unplanned child. Okay, I get it." Sasuke let out an annoyed growl as his blonde friend was beating around the bush and floundered with words he clearly did not know about.

A hollow laugh escaped his lips, the stillness of the night added to the solemness of the discussion, cool breeze played with the golden locks of his friend's hair. "No! I mean...we were both aware of what we were doing. It was just a heat of the moment where we weren't cautious. But...we both love Haru and cherish him."

"Why didn't you marry her? It has been over a year," Sasuke hated being intrusive but it was Naruto, he could be curious about him, right? He wondered as he let the question crackle the tensed air that suffocated them.

Naruto sighed, unseen burdens caused his voice to shake, "Actually...I wanted to deal with this Ōtsutsuki threat first before getting into the whole marriage thing. And when we got to know about pregnancy...her clan started to be a pain in our ass. They turned into terrorizing Byakugan protectors. Hanabi is not officially the head yet, and Hiashi is a pushover when it comes to their council. They were making Hinata miserable, affecting her health and everything. So, we started living together and decided to hold the marriage till the baby was born."

"So..." Sasuke's eyebrow raised. Curiosity simmered within him.

Naruto let out a hearty cackle, giving up. "Okay, bastard...it is in three months. The date is not finalized because I want all Kage to attend and Gaara is still being a pain about scheduling though, his council isn't too keen to have him visiting us for a while."

"Good. I guess…I'm happy for you," Sasuke muttered. His heart began to be heavy in his chest.

"Then be my best man! I mean, I'm not asking. You will be." Naruto wiggled his eyebrows.

Another wish from the man who never gave up on him when the world did; what do I do, Sasuke wondered.

I should listen to him. I am an empty man, with nothing to offer. I should offer to him whatever he demanded. With that thought, Sasuke grunted a "Hm," in response, which made Naruto grin widely.

Sasuke mused, shifting the subject from personal information as he didn't want Naruto to start scraping his wounds in return, he wasn't drunk enough to talk about it, for now, "I have to give you a gift? A lifelong Ramen sponsorship?"

Naruto nodded like an excited puppy, "Perfect! Also, Sake."

Sasuke fought back the smile, instead glared, "No. Don't push your luck."

Naruto's eyes brightened at their little game which always shielded them against the harder emotions which always lurked around them. "Please...You have all the Uchiha wealth, you prick."

Sasuke jerked his head away, admiring the moon playing hide and seek with the clouds above him, "No!"

Naruto deepened his voice, "I will charge you for the room otherwise."

Sasuke gave in, humour twinkled in the eyes of the blonde as he huffed and leaned back with a satisfied crooked smile on his lips, "Okay. Ramen and Sake till your last breath, are on me." Sasuke shoved the blonde from his hilarious haze, "Even this sake you inhaled like a drunkard was paid by me, Dobe."

"Can we get Ramen now?" Naruto pushed his luck.

And Sasuke let him, "Sure."

Naruto gushed as he scrambled off the ground, Sasuke with the speed of the light stood and grabbed the dwindling Naruto, "Aren't you sweet, Mr Uchiha."

Sasuke's one-armed support was enough for Naruto and more than that...one snarky remark was more than enough to get by, "Will you shut up or should I smack you?"

The night kept on darkening, and Konoha started to fall into a deep slumber. But for those two figures, sleep was a distant thought. Instead, they found solace in the steam rising from their bowls of ramen, the comforting aroma was a reprieve from the burdens they shouldered. Each slurp and each savoury bite, was a shared experience, a silent toast to their unwavering friendship.

They were not just rising Gods of the Shinobi world, they were comrades, brothers, forever linked by an unbreakable oath. Sasuke thought about his life at the moment, the pulsating pain at the back of his skull heightened but somehow, the loud squeals and annoying hiccups of Naruto were drowning out the pain.

As promised, Sasuke was indeed paying for his best friend's Ramen and Sake till his last breath.

"KAKASHI!"

A shrill scream erupted and echoed in the hallways of the Hokage Tower during the blazing heated day of Konoha, the very familiar velvety tone tore Kakashi's attention from his book.

The guttural scream hammered the spike of dread in his chest.

"KAKASHI! SAKURA!"

No. NO! Kakashi's heart thrummed within him.

The ominous premonition that had gnawed at him for the past few days—a dull, leaden weight in his gut—abruptly lifted, replaced by a chilling certainty.

Whatever it was, whatever he'd been dreading… it had hit them.

Kakashi surged to his feet, a blur of white hair and white robes as he propelled himself towards the source of the scream.

The normally bustling corridor became a tunnel of white noise, the rhythmic thump of his sandals against the polished floor was the only sound that registered in his ears. His emotionless eyes, usually calculating and sharp, scanned the warmly lit hallway, searching for the source of the raw, desperate energy that tugged at his heartstrings.

Two years as Hokage till now. Kakashi had envisioned his tenure as a stepping stone—a bridge to Naruto's inevitable ascension. Eight years in total, perhaps, was the unspoken agreement they'd made…enough time for Naruto to mature into the role by the ripe age of twenty-five or twenty-six.

But the sight that greeted him at the end of the hall shattered that carefully constructed timeline.

His dark eyes, honed by years of experience, locked onto a single, tumbling figure cloaked in darkness, a limp form cradled precariously over its shoulder.

A jolt of morbid understanding ran through him.

His responsibility as Hokage would extend far longer than he'd anticipated.

Because his successor, the boisterous beacon of hope for Konoha...Naruto Uzumaki was dead.

Kakashi sprinted toward the figure, his gaze drawn to the haunted depths of the onyx eyes that glared back at him. Empty, devoid of their usual spark, they simmered with a venomous anger that sent shivers down his spine. He came to a halt, a single step away from the scene—a desecrated body slumped over a broken shoulder.

A whisper, a ghostly whisper of the man in black, hung in the air, "I killed him! Kakashi, I killed him!" A throaty and raw plea of something.

Naruto Uzumaki was dead. Killed.

Killed by the very student who mirrored Kakashi in so many ways; none other than the infamous Sasuke Uchiha.

A tremor shook Kakashi's soul, his mind reeling from the brutal reality before him and finally snapped. His heart, a leaden weight in his chest, plummeted further, crashing against his ribs.

My students didn't deserve this. Kakashi's gaze flitted as Sasuke lay down the body of the Shinobi who was the hero.

Naruto's orange jumpsuit, once a vibrant symbol of his infectious enthusiasm, was now a tattered ruin, ripped open across the chest by a familiar gouge—the unmistakable mark of a Chidori. A wave of nausea washed over him, the memory of a similar wound inflicted long ago by his own hand on his dear friend, Rin. The memory twisted the knife in his gut.

Oh, Sasuke. What did you do? The harsh reality bore the sirens for the storm ahead.

"Call Sakura!" Sasuke slumped to his knees, the ragged sob escaping his lips was a stark contrast to his usual stoicism.

His lone trembling hand, stained crimson, hovered uselessly over Naruto's still form, a desperate attempt at a medical jutsu he didn't possess, a silent plea for a miracle that wouldn't come.

"He's gone, Sasuke, you brought him here instead of the hospital because even you know it," Kakashi finally spoke, his voice hoarse but steady.

The words resonated through the sterile hall, a death knell that hung heavy in the air. That was the moment when Kakashi's tunnel view retracted and he noticed the building crowd around them. Obviously. After all, Konoha's hope died. Konoha's worst nightmare snuffed that hope. And the Hokage, the one who had to bear the burden, was standing with nothing inside his head.

Sasuke's anguished scream tore through the silence, a primal roar of despair and helplessness that echoed through the corridors of the Hokage tower.

His face, contorted with a horrifying mix of fury and grief, was a mask of shattered pride and shattered dreams.

"No! Kakashi, bring him back!" The desperate plea hung in the air, a final, fading echo of a bond brutally severed.

But the silence that followed spoke volumes—a chilling reminder of the unchangeable truth. Naruto Uzumaki, the hero of the Hidden Leaf, the future Hokage, was dead.

And Sasuke was the reason. Kakashi's limbs gave up as he fell to the ground near the golden boy, hearing nothing but shouts from around. The silver-haired, masked Hokage wanted the world to split again and swallow the harsh reality that had unfolded before him.
.

.

A/N: Favs and Reviews are much loved and needed.