[The words almost seem to startle a laugh out of him. The sound isn't as bright or loud as they usually are, but just for a moment it feels like they're little kids again- walking together after a mission, sprawled out on the grass after training. Sitting side by side on the edge of that dock.
Naruto had played those memories out over and over again in the years after Sasuke had left. How he might have changed things if he'd known the truth about Itachi sooner, if he'd been able to beat Sasuke in the Valley of the End, if he'd caught up to him just a little faster, if he's gotten to them in the forest before Orochimaru had laid that curse. If he'd reached out sooner. If he'd just reached out to Sasuke instead of being embarrassed.
He'll probably never stop feeling those things no matter how the future turns out. There had been so much pain.
The truth was that no matter how far Sasuke went- no matter what he did in those years- he was also still that boy that had protected his teammates. He was still the boy willing to die to keep Naruto's worthless little life, willing to sacrifice his own dreams- the boy that put himself in front of him and in front of Sakura-chan. I don't want to watch those precious to me die before my eyes again.
well this is awful
Naruto had played those memories out over and over again in the years after Sasuke had left. How he might have changed things if he'd known the truth about Itachi sooner, if he'd been able to beat Sasuke in the Valley of the End, if he'd caught up to him just a little faster, if he's gotten to them in the forest before Orochimaru had laid that curse. If he'd reached out sooner. If he'd just reached out to Sasuke instead of being embarrassed.
He'll probably never stop feeling those things no matter how the future turns out. There had been so much pain.
The truth was that no matter how far Sasuke went- no matter what he did in those years- he was also still that boy that had protected his teammates. He was still the boy willing to die to keep Naruto's worthless little life, willing to sacrifice his own dreams- the boy that put himself in front of him and in front of Sakura-chan. I don't want to watch those precious to me die before my eyes again.
Maybe without reason, Naruto smiles.]
You're the one that wouldn't come home. Bastard.