Burn out Bright

Title:Burn out Bright

Pairing:Sasu/Naru

Summary:6 year have passed since Sasuke left. It is only when a powerful new weapon is discovered that they meet again, but is this weapon more than they can handle.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


A/N: Please read author’s Note at the bottom. thanks

Burn out Bright

"Talking"
'Thinking'
/Kyubi/

Chapter 1


“Anyway, back to the reason I called you here.” as she spoke she eyed the blued boy with concern. “I have a mission for you. There have been rumors for a while now about an ancient weapon that has been rediscovered. I believe you have all heard these rumors, am I right?” all three nodded. “Good. I don’t know how much you’ve heard but it seems Jiraiya has a lead on where it may be.”

“Wait, do you want us to go get it? I’m mean Konoha doesn’t need another weapon.” Naruto said not liking the idea of possibly using it on other countries.

“Yes I want you to retrieve it.” answered the Hokage. The blond male frowned and was about to speak up when the Hokage cut him off.

“ And before you tell me that ‘I shouldn’t use a weapon like that against other countries’ I’m going to tell you I don’t plan to.”

Naruto opened his mouth to speak and then closed it when nothing came out. He squinted hard in concentration thinking over what the other blonde said. Giving up on understanding he turned his eyes to her and said

“Huh?”

The Hokage sighed “I said I don’t plan on using the weapon. I just want it to be away from anyone who might use it against us.”

“Ohhh! I get it.” He smiled

“There… there is something else too.” she knew this news was going to be hard on the blond boy. What made it worse is she would have to tell him on the anniversary of the Uchiha’s betrayal. She took a calming breath then continued, “While collecting information on the weapon’s location Jiraiya also learned of another group searching for it.”

All eyes wee on the Hokage. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. Naruto’s eye had a look of anticipation and sadness in them.

He already could guess which group. The Akatsuki were only interested in the power of the demons not anything else. Orochimaru had been dead for two years, so the only group left with interest in gaining power would be…

“Hebi” was his whisper, but in the silent room it was deafeningly loud.

“Yes.” The Hokage said quietly. “I’m guessing they probably have the same information as Jiraiya, so there is a chance you might run into them. I don’t have to tell you that your mission comes first and the Uchiha is a traitor and missing nin.” Her words were cold and strong but they needed to be. Naruto needed to understand that he couldn’t keep chasing after the raven youth all his life. She could see the hurt and sadness within those blue depths, for he knew those words were more aimed at him than the two others in the room. It hurt her to see her adopted little brother hurt so much but she was also the Hokage and had a responsibility to the village.

“Do you all understand?” she asked.

“Hai, Hokage-sama” Sakura answered

“Hai, hai.” came from the copy-nin.

Then all eyes turn to the blond.

“N..naruto?” Sakura called cautiously.

“Huh? Oh sorry. Hai! I understand.” He said smiled while scratching the back of his head. All in the room could see the smile didn’t reach his eyes, but at the same time they all knew he would put the mission first. Even… even if their old teammate was there.

“Good, here are the mission scrolls.” she handed one to each of them. “ I want you to be packed and ready to go in 2 hours. dismissed.”

They all nodded to the Hokage and took their leave.

As she sat alone in her office she cradled her head in her hands. A tear singled tear rolled down her cheek.

“Be careful gaki.”

*********************************************************************

Naruto jumped from roof to roof in the direction of his apartment. Kakashi and Sakura had gone their own ways after leaving the Hokage tower. They were going to meet at the gates when they were finished packing. They all wanted to leave as soon as possible.

Continuing on the blond was caught up in his own thoughts about seeing Sasuke again.

‘Maybe this time… maybe this time he’ll come back.’

A part of the blonde’s mind laughed mockingly at him ‘Why would Sasuke come back? There is nothing here for him. Nothing here he needs. Especially not you.’

/Brat don’t think that way!/ growled the demon within him.

Kyubi voice startled the blond out of his dark thoughts and almost caused him to fall off the roof he jumped to.

‘Kuso! Look what you almost made me do.’ he yelled at the demon.

The blond could hear the great beast snickering.

‘Jerk.’ the blond pouted in his mind.

/Come on kit you don’t know how the Uchiha feels about you. For all you know he could be madly in loovvvvve with you./ the demon started snicker again.

‘Ha ha very funny.’

/Honestly kit you don’t know what that brat thinks or feels for you until you asked him./

Recently the blond noticed that the demon seemed to talk to him more and more. Also, it seemed that the conversations they were having were a little friendlier than, “I’m going to kill you then beat the crap out of your limp body”. Actually if the blond really thought about it the demon seemed to, even just slightly, care about him and not because of the fact that if he died so did Kyubi. Still it was kind of weird having a centuries old demon give you advise on love.

‘okay. If you say so.’

/Start packing you don’t want to be late./

‘Wah?’ Coming back to reality the blond looked around and released he was standing in his living room.

“How long was I standing here for?”

The blond could hear snickering in the back of his mind.

‘Jerk.’

Naruto sighed then started to collect the things he needed to pack.

***********************************************************************

Once finished he grabbed his bag and left. Running towards the front gates he noticed Sakura was already there.

He started to run towards her and was about to yell when he noticed she wasn’t alone. He slowed and hid around the corner. Sakura was with Lee and he didn’t want to interrupt them. He’d just lean back against the wall and wait.

***********************************************************************

“Lee thank you for coming to say goodbye. It was really sweet of you, when I know you are busy with your training.” Sakura said.

“Lovely Sakura-chan even if I had to walk a million miles across burning hot coals, on my hands I would have come to bid you farewell.” As he said this there was a burning fire in his eyes.

Sakura just smiled at him. He was a little on the crazy side, but she loved him anyway. Love. Her smile faltered a little thinking of her blond teammate. It was so obvious to her that Naruto was in love with Sasuke. Lee seemed to notice how her smile faded.

“Sakura my beloved what is troubling you?”

“Oh, it’s okay Lee. It’s just something… someone I’m worried about.”

“Oh I understand, Sakura-chan.” Lee’s smile also faded. Sakura started to panic. Did Lee think she was talking about Sasuke?

“Oh, Lee it’s not who you thin…” Sakura tried to explain only to have Lee cut her off.

“No I understand. For I too feel sad for him.”

“Huh?” Now she was confused. Lee felt sorry for Sasuke?

“Poor Naruto, for his youthful love is so far from him!” Lee cried out.

Oh, so Lee did understand who she was talking about. Sakura went up to her boyfriend and held him close.

“I wish he had someone he could hold just like I’m holding you, Lee.” she whispered sadly.

“Oh spring time of youth why have you left one of your own in the darkness of winter.” he cried again.

She smiled despite their sad conversation. Lee could be strangely poetic sometimes. She wrapped her arms around him and held him tighter.

“Things will work out for the best, Lee. I have a good feeling.”

The Tai-jutsu nin pulled away smiling and striking his good guy poss.

“You are right Sakura-chan. There is always a good side to everything.”

“Ya, well Naruto and Kakashi sensei should be here soon. Thanks again for coming.” she smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek.

“Anything for the lovely Sakura-chan. Goodbye my sweet.” then Lee took off running back to the training grounds.

***************************************************************************

From were he was leaning against the wall Naruto heard Lee say goodbye, well actually heard not only that but the whole conversation they had. That wasn’t his fault though, it was Kyubi’s. Over the years his senses became heightened so it wasn’t like he was spying.

Thou right now even if someone had caught him and accused him of spying he wouldn’t have had the will to fight back. He knew what they said was true. He knew he was in love with Sasuke. He knew that every moment he spent away from the other it felt like a hole inside his chest grew. Funny that hole in his heart seemed to appear after the raven had stuck his chidori through it. But he also was aware that the physical wound itself wasn’t the reason for its existence. The betrayal. That was the real cause, Sasuke’s betrayal and his refusal to be cared for by anyone… including his best friend.

The blond shook his head trying to rid himself of these thoughts.

‘They are worrying about me. I have to show them there’s nothing to worry about…even if it’s not true.’ he sighed then stood up straight and plastered the largest grin possible on his face. He yelled out to Sakura as he ran up.

“Hi, Sakura. Kakashi-sensei not here yet?” he asked looking around like he just arrived.

Sakura smiled gently at him. “No, he’s not here yet. It’s impossible for him to be on time, it would ruin his record for the most consecutive lates.”

He laughed at that, but it was hallow.

Little did they know that said copy nin was in a tree not far away.

******************************************************************************

Kakashi sat in the tree and watch what was going on below. He had arrived before even Sakura did, but wanted to observe his students a little. He had seen Sakura arrive and then Lee shortly after. They were talking to each other and that is when he saw Naruto approaching. He watched as the blond caught sight of Sakura and Lee holding hands. Loneliness, sadness and longing could be briefly seen in those blue eyes, before he masked his emotions once more.

‘Naruto, how alike you and Sasuke are.’

That is when Lee and Sakura’s conversation started to address the blond and his raven love. He knew Naruto could hear them and watched for the blonde’s reactions. There were some many emotions that crossed the blonde’s tan face that it was hard to decipher. Then as quickly as they came they were gone again. Masked once more in those ocean blue depths. Once Lee left the blond ran out pretending nothing happened. He was a good actor.

‘Naruto it make me sad to think you suffer with this pain, but it is heartbreaking that you wish to suffer alone.’

His two student laughed and joked about their teacher as Kakashi watched.

‘Well I think I let them drag my name through the mud enough for one day.’

With that the Copy nin jumped down startling both students.

***********************************************************************

Sakura and Naruto were laughing and joking about their lazy sensei, well that was until he nearly gave both and heart attack.

Kakashi’s uncovered eye curved up into a smile. “From the way you two reacted to my arrival, I would think you were talking about me behind my back.” he said knowingly.

“N..no, of coarse not Kakashi sensei.” Sakura lied.

“Hey we don’t have to explain anything to you. You are the one who’s late!” The blond yelled trying to switch blame.

Taking pity of his student he decided not to torture them about their pervious conversation. So instead he came up with a lie of his own.

“Well you see I was on my way here when a duck and her duckling decided to cross in front of me. I wanted to be polite so I waited for them to cross, little did I know it was actually a duck parade and it was going to take awhile for it to end.”

Both student looked at there sensei like he was nuts and then…

“Lair!” both yelled.

Totally unfazed the copy nin started walking towards the gate.

“I guess we should head out now…” Kakashi wait for students to catch up before continuing his sentence.

“… we wouldn’t want to get stuck in another duck parade.”

Both students fell over at that comment. The sliver haired Jonin just smiled to himself and kept walking.

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TBC

Well there’s another chapter done. So I’m guessing either people don’t like this story or they are being really lazy in reviewing. When you only get like two reviews on a new story it’s kind of depressing. I want to thank the two who did review, because you’re the only reason I posted another chapter.
Listen I hate to do this but I need some ‘positive’ feed back on my chapters, so unless I get more reviews this time I don’t think I’m going to continue. Not continuing this story would make me depressed and make it harder for me to write my other stories like ‘Midnight’s Moon’ and ‘Different times, Different places’.
So please rate and review.

Oh, for those how are reading ‘Midnight’s Moon’ I am almost finished the next chapter, so should be up soon. =)


Thanks
Spoon

=)