Naruto POV~

I wanted to leave.  From the looks of it, it was around mid-morning. I would assume I was only in that pocket dimension for about a day, so maybe the night? I was pretty sure that the five kage summit happened only yesterday. Maybe.

I could only imagine the panic my kidnapping had thrown up. I had to clear that up soon.

This Tobi guy, though. There was something strange about him.

I shook my head. Couldn't worry about that now.

I made to leave, but he said something that froze me in my tracks.

"You know, you asked what was happening out here while you were in the Kamui dimension." he said, "I suppose it's no use keeping it from you."

"Keeping what?" I whirled around and glared at him. My shadow clone did, at least. If he was planning to single me out and send me back to this so-called Kamui dimension, I'd rather he send a shadow clone than the actual me. 

But he didn't do that. Instead, he said, "Sasuke has gotten an invitation to fight his brother, Itachi."

I stiffened. Several of my clones disappeared in puffs of smoke. 

Cold dread held me in place long enough to hear his next words.

"You were in the pocket dimension for only a night. The five kage summit was yesterday, and Sasuke has already fought Itachi and came out victorious."

I whipped around. The real me, this time. "Did he -"

"Itachi is dead." Tobi interrupted, answering my question before I'd even asked it, "Sasuke killed him."

Kakashi POV~

The trail led deep into the forest. All the ninken had spread out among the trees, searching for every scent they could find. After all, Pakkun had said that the trail was getting thinner the further they went.

It was only a matter of time before it went completely cold. But by then, we'd reached the place we needed to be. 

We weren't exactly there, but I recognized the area. Supposedly, there was an abandoned Uchiha hideout around here. How I knew that was none of the Uchiha's business. 

After that, all I had to do was follow the black fire. 

I noticed the Amaterasu. Itachi was the only one I knew of that could use it. 

When we reached the hideout itself, the entire place was surrounded by the black flames, the trees forever burning in the fire. I'm pretty sure that if I made the effort, I could get rid of them all, but for now I only needed to clear a path.

It took a couple minutes, but I finally gathered enough chakra for the Mangekyou.

It's been a while.

The kamui was sufficient enough at clearing the way into the hideout. Once we went in, I could truly see the damage.

Shuriken were everywhere, damage not sparing a single corner. There was a wide range of scorch marks, debris, and, to my dismay, blood everywhere. 

"Whose is it?" I asked Pakkun, who sniffed at some of the blood. 

I feared his answer, but all he said was, "It's both of theirs. I can't tell who the winner or the loser was."

My heart sunk. 

It looked like the battle really did go all out. I didn't know what that meant for Sasuke. 

I was terrified.

I could only hope that I hadn't failed yet another person I cared about.

Naruto POV~

Sasuke killed him.

He said it so bluntly. 

I could only stare. By then, the last of my clones had completely vanished. 

It was only Kurama's voice that spurred me into action.

"Naruto, run!"

I was running the second he got the last syllable out. I noticed, then, that Tobi had taken advantage of my surprise and attempted to teleport back to his Kamui dimension or whatever he called it.

Not today, fuckface.

Kurama was pouring his chakra into me already, and I wrenched myself out of the way of his portal. I ran off in a flash of chakra, leaving him in the dust.

Of course, with his abilities, I now knew that he could find me and take me wherever I was, whenever he wanted, and my evasion would only work for so long.

But until then, I was willing to do whatever I could to take him down. And take down the Akatsuki. 

But first things first: I had to find Sasuke.

I was running blind, at the moment. I had no idea where I was, so I slowed down, not completely stopping.

'Kurama - '

"I got it." he grumbled, "We gotta find that Sasuke brat. He better be okay."

Kurama's concern, no matter how he tried to hide it, was cute. Kurama hadn't held many conversations with the people I knew, and besides me, Kurama's had more conversations with Sasuke than most any living person.

'How far can you spread your sensory?'

"As far as we want, gaki. You should know this by now."

'We we haven't really tested the limits of your sensory, er, I haven't, at least. It never really came up.'

"Hm. The further I stretch my sensory, the more chakra it takes." I could feel him radiating more chakra, "For example, you're currently north of Fire country, very close to the Land of Iron."

'Can I...?'

Kurama's chakra flooded my senses, and suddenly I could see everything. My vision and hearing sharpened as well, and I could feel the presence of every solid object and every bit of chakra for miles. It was a bit disorienting, but with Kurama's guidance, I managed to zero in on one certain chakra signature. It was unique in the way Uchihas were, after all.

'Sasuke.'

"Bingo." Kurama withdrew some of his chakra, if only to keep my sensory at a manageable level instead of overwhelming me.

I kept Sasuke's chakra in my sights, and head out towards him.

Sasuke POV~

I don't remember passing out, but when I woke up I was still lying in a crumpled heap on top of the cliff.

Absently, I remembered crying myself out. I stopped caring. 

I sat up and continued staring at the ocean. A seagull got brave and landed on a jagged rock a few feet to my left. I suppose I was sitting here long enough for them to figure out I was about as dangerous as a grain of sand at this point.

It wasn't like me to just sit here and give up. Even after the massacre, I only moped for about a couple days before making up my mind to seek revenge for the rest of my life.

I guess I never thought about what came after.

What did I want?

I thought back about what Madara (whether or not he was really Madara was debatable) said about Itachi. About what Danzo and the elders did.

Hatred, a fiery feeling I was so familiar with, blossomed in my chest once again. It was so easy to hate. So easy to succumb to it.

But one person, no matter what, would never escape my hatred.

Danzo.

I was prevented from moving against him in the beginning. I still am, technically. He held a position of power and very few people knew of his crimes. By all means, the Hokage would've locked him up by now if he didn't have such a following and such a strong governmental position in the Leaf Village.

The fucking Leaf Village. Why the fuck do I fight for them?

I smirked dryly at my own bitter humor. Naruto was going to be the death of me.

Really, now that I knew the truth, there was only more reasons to hate Konoha. If not all of Konoha, then at least some of the most powerful positions in Konoha (not including the current Hokage).

Konoha had a dark history, and dark roots still lurked in the shadows behind the seemingly perfect ninja village.

I hated it.

I hated Danzo. What he did to me. What he did to Naruto. What he did to - 

Itachi.

I hated it.

The anger roared in my blood and, before I could stop it, I slammed a fist on the rock below me. The seagull startled and flew off, squawking noisily. I punched the ground again, and a scream tore out of my lungs. I heaved a breath and slammed my fists down again, and again. Before I knew it, I was crying again, tears streaming down my face as I punched the ground again and again.

I was curled in on myself, knees pulled up to my chest and cradling my bloodied hands, when he arrived.

"Hey, Sasuke."

I froze, paralyzed. That voice.

I turned my head slightly and I saw him. Hood down, golden hair as impossibly bright as it always was, blue eyes clear deep pools in the light.

I was speechless, staring at him open-mouthed.

He raised an eyebrow. "Not gonna say hi back?"

I stood, still favoring my bleeding hands. He eyed them but didn't say anything. 

I turned to face him, and took a step closer.

Before he could react I swung my arm and socked him in the face.

He stumbled, pressing a hand to his now-bruising cheek.

"What was that for?" he spluttered, "This is the first time we see each other in three years and the first thing you do is punch me?"

Everything about this situation was ridiculous enough already, so I said dryly, "I told you I never wanted to see you again, dobe. What part of that don't you get?"

He stared at me for a moment with wide eyes, then burst out laughing.

"None of it, apparently." he straightened and smiled at me. That bright, angelic smile.

(He might as well be an angel) 

"Nice to see you again, Sasuke."

Naruto POV~

Honestly, I was a little surprised that Sasuke punched me, but not that much. I probably should've expected it.

His hands were bloody (there was blood on the rocks, too, so I didn't need to ask about that), his eyes were hollow, and his entire form looked worn and wrung out, but he was there. He was alive. I was grateful for that.

There was a deep sadness in his inky black eyes (sadness that I was familiar with, both with him and my own reflection) and even though it's been three years I could see it. I could see the pain he was in.

Before I could stop myself, I'd stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.

He tensed for a moment. Hugs weren't his thing, after all. He never was one for physical comfort. Usually just my presence alone was enough for him.

But he looked ready to fall apart. Sasuke is strong, but he was proud. If he was going to fall apart, it would make sense that he would do it here, away from people. He wouldn't appear in front of anyone crying. 

But I was here now, and there was nothing he could do about it.

For several long seconds, he was stiff in my arms. I thought he would pull away, but he didn't. Slowly, he began to relax. By the end of the minute, he was sagged against me limply.

He didn't cry. He wouldn't cry in front of me. I hugged him tighter.

Eventually I let go. He still stood there, eyes fixed on the ground.

"Why'd you come back?" he asked. His voice was steady, just barely.

"I had to." I answered. "The Akatsuki was coming. That Tobi bastard can find me anywhere I go. I..needed help."

He glanced up and punched me in the shoulder. "That's stupid. You're stupid."

I shrugged, "It's who I am."

He stared at me a second longer, his sharp eyes searching my face. For what, I don't know, but he didn't look away again. Uchiha pride and such. 

Sasuke has always been hard to read, but after working with him so long, there were certain habits I'd gotten familiar with. He hid his emotions a little better than before, but I could see the slight way he winced at the mention of Tobi.

I was suddenly afraid to say what I was about to say, but I had to eventually.

"So. I heard about your brother."

Sasuke, the master of not reacting, didn't react. At least, the quiet intake of breath is, by all means, not a reaction. 

"Is that why - "

"No." I cut him off, "Before you say anything, no. It's part of why I'm here, but I've been trying to find a way to meet with you for a while now. I just escaped Tobi, and I sensed you nearby, so I came. But not before Tobi told me about the fight." I softened my tone. I didn't pity him. Sasuke hated pity. But I supported him, "I don't know what happened. To be honest, I don't really care what happened. But what I do know is that my friend just got provoked by a masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha and fought the guy who killed his clan. Of course I'd want to check in."

He gaped at me. Well, the expression on his face didn't change at all, but his eyes did widen a fraction. 

He sat down heavily. "You really are stupid."

"Come on, teme. That should be obvious by now."

"Oi. I wanna talk to him."

I smirked and said out loud, "Kurama wants to say hi. He missed you."

"OI. THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID."

"He really likes you, you know."

I could feel Kurama's chakra taking leaking out of my palm, taking form as the chibi nine-tailed fox that he used to talk to Sasuke all those years ago.

As soon as mini-Kurama was fully formed, he leapt up and smacked me upside the head. I yelped and rubbed my head as I grinned.

The little fox hopped down onto the ground and sat down. "Stop twisting my words, baka. I just said I wanted to talk to him."

Sasuke watched our bickering silently. There was a light in his eyes that wasn't there before.

I smiled. It wasn't much, but it was something.

It was something.