“Stay with me”. Those three words echoed through Akashi’s mind. Sasuke wants him to stay? After all that happened? After he even told him he hated him, he still wants him to stay? Is this a trick? Is this some kind of trap? The hand on his neck shifted and a thumb caressed the side of his jaw. “Stay”. The boy in front of him repeated, but Akashi didn’t know what to do.
“I…”. His words got lost in the making and he stumbled backwards, separating from the other boy. “I cannot”.
Sasuke furrowed his brows in the darkness, something akin to anger flashing across his features. “You still want to stay there? Even after everything that happened? Even after all the pain they caused you?! You still wish to stay!” His voice became louder and his words were said with such harshness, that Akashi almost flinched back just from the sound of them. “Haven’t you had enough of the pain?!” Sasuke’s whole stance showed just how angry he was. Fists clenched at his sides, teeth gritting against one another, wide eyes staring at Akashi.
Has he had enough? Was everything too much for him?
“Yes”. Was his answer for everything. He wished to stay… Even after all that happened, he wished to stay… The pain was excruciating… It burned him from the inside out. Everything hurt… A blade would be a mercy right now, compared to the amount of pain he felt. But… How could he leave the other part of himself behind? No matter how much he tried to push everything away, Naruto always seemed to find a way to crawl back into his heart. He was his little brother, and as much as he tried to deny it, he couldn’t…
A sudden force made him stumble backwards into the cold, cave walls. “I don’t understand… After everything… Is your loyalty to the village that strong?” Akashi flinched as a fist slammed next to his head and pieces of the wall crumbled to the ground. He blinked his eyes and looked at the Uchiha in front of him. Why did he care so much? After all of this time, why now?
“My loyalty is not towards the village”. He admitted.
Sasuke’s eyes widened in realisation and he pulled his fist away from the wall, then, he chose to lower his head onto the redhead’s shoulder. “Naruto…”. He said after a moment of silence… It wasn’t said as a question.
“Yes”. Hands slide into his own, and fingers intertwine with his own. He didn’t have any will to push the other boy away. The both of them were hurting, but for different reasons, he knew that. But, their pain was different, so, so different. Sasuke’s pain was akin to a blizzard, slowly freezing him to the bone, leaving no part of him warm. Akashi’s pain was akin to a forest fire, burning him from the inside out, leaving nothing but ash to fill his mind.
They aren’t compatible… Not at all… The closer they are to one another, the more do they destroy each other.
“It hurts to be near you”. He spoke up, feeling the boy stiffen at his words. “Every time I look at you, I’m reminded of that night…”. The grip the other boy had on his hands tightened. It was so quiet, he could hear Sasuke breathe…
His grip loosened and Akashi’s hands were released from the hold he had on them. Sasuke shifted, lifting his head from the shoulder it was on, and looked at him with his abyss-dark eyes. “I’m sorry…”. The words left his lips before he could think of the consequences. He could only watch as Akashi closed his eyes and released a sigh.
“There they are again… Those forsaken words…”. Hearing him say that, Sasuke couldn’t help but wonder if he made a mistake. Did they just take a step back? A step back from everything? “Why must you say them again?” The boy asked, blank eyes staring at Sasuke.
“Because I mean them”. Akashi let out a humourless chuckle at that.
“Oh, do you now?” He pushed off the wall. The fist came flying before Sasuke could do anything. It connected with his jaw and he stumbled backwards, tripping over his feet and landing onto the hard ground. A shadow loomed over him, and as soon as he opened his eyes, a weight settled over him and a hand gripped around his neck, forcing him down.
“Akashi!” He forced out through clenched teeth, already at a loss of breath from the force on his neck. “Stop!” He breathed out, but the pressure didn’t disappear, it just got harsher.
“You know… I could bring you back to Konoha, after all… Maybe then I wouldn’t think of you so much”. Akashi reached behind himself and rummaged through his pouch. Sasuke’s eyes widened when he saw what the boy was holding in his hand. A kunai was being twirled between his fingers. “If you were imprisoned, with no way to come near me, maybe I wouldn’t feel like this…”. Sasuke watched as it was lowered to his face. “Maybe these feelings would go away”. The coldness on his cheek was soon replaced by a stinging sensation as the sharp tip of the kunai was dragged down his skin.
“Feelings?” Akashi stopped with his cutting and glanced at Sasuke. Seeing a brief opening, Sasuke knocked the kunai out of his hands and flipped them around. He placed his forearm across Akashi’s throat, forcing him into the ground. “Feelings?” He asked again, seeing the conflict in the redhead’s eyes. “What kind of feelings?” He leaned down and watched as Akashi looked away from him. “So you’re not going to talk? Fine… I’ll make you talk”.
Akashi’s chin was grabbed and Sasuke leaned down even more. The redhead clenched his eyes shut as lips covered his own. The pressure on his neck disappeared and a hand settled on his waist, fingers brushing against his clothes. The other hand went to his own and their fingers intertwined once more. Sasuke lowered himself, chest pressed against chest as he pried the boy’s lips apart.
The hand on his waist slipped down to his hip, before it trailed down his thigh, fingers gripping the fabric which rested there. Sasuke separated from the redhead under him and leaned back to look at him. Then, something unexpected happened. Akashi reached a hand up and grabbed at the back of his neck, pulling him down. Sasuke’s eyes widened once he felt something hot and wet slide from his jaw, up to his cheekbone.
He whipped back in alarm, just in time to see Akashi’s tongue dart back between his lips. “Did you just…?” Akashi raised his brows and his tongue darted back out to wet his lips.
“Hmm?” He hummed, nonchalantly looking at the boy above him and Sasuke felt his blood boil from beneath his skin at the sight. “I did”. He reached his hand up again, but this time, he grabbed Sasuke’s chin between his fingers and sat up, holding him in place. “Did you like that?” That question made a shiver run down the other boy’s spine. What the hell was going on all of a sudden? He couldn’t move a muscle as Akashi neared him, nosing at his neck. “You look like you did”. Then, again, something wet swiped at his skin.
“Stop that”. A laugh rang out next to his ear at his weak protest.
“You really want me to?” Hands wrapped around his waist as Akashi pressed his lips against his neck. “You are not protesting…”. Sasuke felt something hard drag down along his skin, before a wince escaped him as sharp teeth bit into his shoulder. “You even seem to like this… Pain”. He brushed his lips over the wound and once again, Sasuke felt the wet sensation.
“I don’t”. Sasuke spoke up and Akashi moved back to look at him.
“Then why are you not struggling?” The redhead tilted his head, violet eyes looking straight at him. What was he supposed to say as an answer? The truth? Lie?
“Because if I do, you’re going to leave”. He chose the former. He didn’t want him to go back to Konoha… Not after what they did to him… How could he just let him go back? “And I don’t want you to leave”. He watched as the expression on Akashi’s face shifted into something akin to vulnerability. “So… Just stay…”, he reached forward and wrapped his arms around Akashi’s shoulders. “… please…”. He found himself pleading, almost begging for him to stay.
“You know I cannot do that”. Hands gripped his wrists and his arms were removed from around Akashi’s shoulders. “I cannot leave Konoha”. Sasuke’s hands trembled at those words. He knew there was no way he would listen… But, he still hoped things wouldn’t end up like this. With them separating…
“Yeah… I know… I expected that answer…”. Still… As much as he expected it, he wasn’t prepared for rejection once again. His wrists were released and Akashi shifted away from him, before he stood up, reaching for his discarded blade.
“I will not stay and you will not come to Konoha… The only thing left for me to do is go back…”. Before he could take one step away, a hand wrapped around his wrist.
“Wait”. He heard Sasuke speak up. “Just… Wait for a moment”. He did as he was asked and turned back to look at him. Those eyes of his were staring at him in desperation. Pure, unadulterated desperation. He looked like he had so much to say, but couldn’t find the right words. It was the same with Akashi. Every time their eyes met, he would get this unbearable sensation in his heart.
A sensation which didn’t hurt… But it throbbed… Overwhelming his whole body. He didn’t know what to make of it, he didn’t know what it meant… The only thing he wanted was for it to stop.
But it still kept on going. He didn’t know how to make it stop. Oh, just how much he wanted it to stop. It throbbed even more as Sasuke tightened his hold on his hand. Even more as the desperation harshened in his eyes. Even as those lips of his trembled.
What did that mean? Did he want to get away from him? Stay with him? Which one was it?
Please…
Someone…
Just give him an answer… An answer to everything. What he was supposed to do. Where he was supposed to go. What he was supposed to choose…
The village?
Or himself?
His mind felt fragile. His mind felt frail.
The village?
Or himself?
Everything hurt and he couldn’t make it stop.
The village?
Or himself?
Which one should he choose?
The village?
Or himself?
Is his life even worth it? Worth to choose it over the village? Over its occupants? Over Naruto? What even is the meaning of his existence? Of his life?
Why was he even created? Made real?
“Akashi”. The quiet voice brought him back to reality. Ah… yes… He still had a choice to make. He still had to make a choice. One important choice.
The village?
Or himself?
One life was not worth more than a thousand others.
One life was not worth more than a thousand others.
One life was not worth more than a thousand others.
“I am going back”. The hand holding him released its grip and subsequently released him. The throbbing inside him worsened, but he had already made his choice. He was going back and nothing could stop him from doing that.
Nothing…
He looked at the vulnerable expression of the other boy.
Nobody…
His lungs expanded with the heavy intake of breath he took, head raised towards the cave ceiling. This was it. He was going back. He was going back. He was going back. He was going back.
He was going back.
“This is goodbye”. He turned to the raven-haired boy, a hand extending towards him. It wrapped around his shoulders, bringing him close in something akin to a hug.
“This is goodbye”. The words got thrown back at him.
And as Sasuke raised his arms, he touched nothing but thin air, as the boy in front of him disappeared, leaving nothing behind.
Leaving him behind.
As his name was called from behind and three people burst inside, his face hardened, erasing any previous emotions which were on it.
He was left behind.
_
Akashi bent down and picked up the hidden kunai, pocketing it.
Was that the right decision? He glanced back at the hideout. Has he made the right decision? Of leaving him behind? He shook his head at the thought.
It’s too late to regret it now, he had done what he had done.
No use in thinking about it now.
With that, he jumped away…
Konoha awaited him.
_
Tsunade was sat in her chair when she heard the knock come from the door. “Come in”. She said, watching as the doorknob turned and the door opened up. Her eyes widened at the sight of the red-headed boy. “Akashi?” She questioned and the boy walked up to her desk, standing still. There was nobody there, except him…
So he had failed…
For the first time…
Akashi had failed a mission…
Did that mean it was too much for him? Was there even a chance for him to bring Uchiha Sasuke back? Or was it all pointless? Damn it! She believed this would work! So why didn’t it?! What went wrong?!
“I see you’re alone… So the mission had failed?” She questioned, looking at his blank features. He showed no sign of acknowledgement, no sign of hearing her words at all, no sign of hearing her question at all. “Akashi? Are you okay?” She pushed back on her chair and stood up, circling around the desk to get to the boy. “Aka-?!” Before she could call out his name, the table besides her broke into pieces, a closed fist hovering over the wreckage.
“Over and over and over and over again, you do this to me”. The fist trembled as did the boy alongside it. “You continue breaking me… Destroying pieces of me, until I no longer feel whole”. She took a step forward, but the boy shifted and she stopped in her tracks. “Why? Why must you do this to me? Why can you not stop?” His violet eyes glanced at her, but, the anger she expected, was replaced by pure sorrow.
“I do-!” She started, words catching inside her throat. She didn’t what? Mean it? Intend for things to turn out this way? Break him? Hurt him? Destroy him? He felt like laughing at those thoughts.
“You what? Trying to come up with an excuse again? Trying to find an excuse for failing at everything?” He took a step towards her and she had nowhere to step back. He stopped in front of her, towering over her, broken violet eyes looking down at her. “You fail at everything you do… You cannot fix things with words! Some things cannot even be fixed!” She looked up at him, honey-brown eyes widening at his words.
“Akashi, I-!” A hand was placed on her shoulder, fingers applying pressure, but not painful pressure.
“And to think I used to admire you…”. She felt her heart throb inside her chest at his words. “Yeah… Funny, is it not? I learned medical jutsu because of you, because I wanted to save people like you, be someone known as a ‘hero’… How childish of me… My wish even failed to turn into a dream…”. His lips pressed together into a thin line. “You used my feelings against me… Made me go after the boy I used to like… A boy with whom I do not want anything to do with any more… A boy who had ruined me and left me in pieces…”. He pushed her away, making her stumbled back.
“I’m sorry!” She looked at him in desperation. “I’m sorry, Akashi! I did what I thought was best for Konoha! For its people!” She yelled out.
“Am I not one of its people?!” This was the second time she had ever heard him sound so… Broken… Sorrowful… Angry… The first time was only four months ago… When he appeared in front of her, crying and screaming and begging for her to do something about Danzo… But, she did nothing.
Absolutely nothing…
“Am I not worth protecting? Am I not worth living? Does my life even have worth to you at all?! Or am I just a tool for you to use and throw away after it grows blunt?!” She stumbled backwards at his words, back hitting the glass window behind her. This… She did this… She was the cause for this… Hiruzen… She had failed this boy. The boy who looked up to her. The boy who wanted to be like her…
She had completely destroyed everything…
“Sasuke told me to stay with him… To not go back here, not after what you did to me… But, I could not… This village meant too much to me… I had too many memories in it, ones I cannot just discard… Naruto is here, and as much as I try and deny it and as much as it pains me to say this, he is still my brother… One I cannot leave behind… My little, baby, brother…”. It was in that moment, that Tsunade realised.
The only reason Akashi didn’t leave… The only reason he was still on their side…
Was because of Naruto…
“And yet, I am still disappointed that this is who we are left with… The one who was meant to be the voice of our people… The woman who was meant to lead our community into peace…”. His lips curled up into a sneer. “The all mighty Fifth Hokage… The only place I see you leading us… Is complete and utter extinction…”. He growled out, filled with a twisted sense of satisfaction at the glistening of her eyes.
Without another word, he disappeared from in front of her, leaving only a crimson flash in his wake.
Leaving Tsunade in the ruined office…
Leaving her to contemplate her actions…
Her mistakes…
_
The moment his feet touched his house’s floor, he collapsed into himself, crashing onto his hands and knees. His insides constricted as his stomach tried to empty itself.
There was nothing in it to bring out to the surface.
Shivers raked down his spine, shaking his body with each one. He heaved out harsh breaths of air from his lungs, constantly choking as he tried to breathe in. The floorboards screeched as nails scratched down the surface, leaving thin lines in their wake.
It hurt… His mind… His body… Everything still hurt…
Saying all those things made nothing better… Only worse… Only so, so much worse…
He grit his teeth, his jaw clenching, and tried to calm himself down.
Breathe in…
Breathe out…
Breathe in…
Breathe out…
Breathe in…
Breathe out…
Everything is fine. He told himself. Everything is going to be okay. He told himself. He was fine. He told himself. Nothing bad will happen. He told himself. Things will get better. He told himself.
Now… Which one was the lie?
… And was there only one?
_
He stayed at home… Doing nothing at all… Just… Existing? He didn’t know if that was the right word. The bedroom was no longer used… The memories felt fresh once again, thanks to Inoichi, and he couldn’t handle being there.
Days passed, no mission was given to him. Days passed, and he just stayed in place… Days passed… Days passed… Until… A knock came from his door. Akashi didn’t get up. Another knock came from his door. He still didn’t get up.
“Akashi! I know you’re in there! Come out!” Kakashi’s voice rang out through the front door and the said boy pulled himself off the couch. His heavy body throbbed as he walked up to the door and looked around for a key. Damn it… Where did he put it? Where? “Akashi!” The redhead flinched as the loud voice pierced through his ears.
“Wait”. He weekly mumbled out. Ah, there it is. The key was found and he took it in his hands, fingers shaking as he pushed it into the lock. It clicked open and he wrapped his hand around the doorknob, slowly pulling at it. The door opened up and in front of him stood Kakashi and Naruto. “What do you want?” He leaned against the door frame, blankly staring at them. His eyelids felt heavy.
“The Hokage has called for you”. Was Kakashi’s answer. Akashi watched as the man’s eyes slid down to his neck, where the scarred skin was. He didn’t bandage it this time… He just felt too tired to do anything…
“I see…”. Akashi said, glancing at the floor. Without another word, he turned around and reached for his shoes. “Give me a moment”. He shakily grasped at the boots and pulled them on. “Let’s go”. He walked out, closing the door behind himself, not even locking it.
The three of them continued on their way to the Hokage Office.
_
Kakashi opened the door to the office, Naruto and Akashi following after him. Once the redhead stepped one foot inside, he was immediately hit with a wave of intense sadness.
“Is that kid Jiraiya-chan’s student?” Akashi glanced to the side and saw an elderly-looking frog who was sitting on another frog, look at Naruto.
“Yes. This is Uzumaki Naruto”. Tsunade looked at the frog and confirmed his words. “The Child of Prophecy we spoke of earlier, right?” She questioned. Child of Prophecy? Naruto was? Akashi peered at his confused brother. How unsurprising…
“A toad geezer?” Was what left Naruto’s lips. “Seriously?”
“Watch your tongue, Naruto!” Tsunade reprimanded, not even looking at Akashi. Seems like she has had enough of him… Or, was she scared to look him in the eye? “This is one of the Two Great Sages of Mount Myouboku, Fukusaku”. She introduced the elderly toad. “He came here because he has some business with you”.
“The correct term would be ‘Two Great Toad Sages'”. The toad corrected. “But, more importantly, there seems to be no doubt that you’re Jiraiya-chan’s student”. It said while looking at Naruto.
“Jiraiya-chan?” Naruto asked, confusion written clear on his face. “Chan?! Don’t talk about him as if he were a child!” Naruto pointed at the toad. He still hadn’t changed, eh? Still going on with the pointing at people… If the toad could be counted into that. “What the hell’s up with this toad geezer?” Naruto questioned.
“I told you to watch your tongue!” Tsunade yelled out at him.
“He’s the one who taught Jiraiya sage jutsu”. Shizune jumped in. “He’s Jiraiya’s master”. Naruto’s eyes widened in surprise, something akin to disbelief flashing across his features.
“So, what’s this old ass sage want with me any way?” Naruto asked, looking at the toad.
“Now, where to begin…?” The toad wondered out loud, glancing down. “Well, I guess I’ll just tell ya…”. It raised its head and glanced at the blond boy. “Jiraiya-chan was killed in battle”.
“What? What did you just say?” Naruto wobbled on his feet. Ah… So this was why Akashi had sensed all that sadness. Jiraiya was dead?
“I know it’s sudden, and I don’t blame you if you don’t believe me”. The toad said, looking away and taking a deep breath. “Not too long ago, there was a rumour that the leader of Akatsuki was hiding in Ame somewhere”. It said, glancing back at Naruto. “Jiraiya-chan went to confirm whether this rumour was true or not”. Sakura turned to the toad in surprise.
“The leader of Akatsuki is in Ame?!” She asked, her green eyes widening.
“If I’m not mistaken, Ame is a very recluse village that’s quite hard to infiltrate”. Sai touched his chin in thought.
“Yes, but infiltration and intelligence gathering were Jiraiya’s specialities”. Kakashi jumped in.
“Exactly”. The toad confirmed. “Jiraiya-chan then stood face-to-face with Pain, the Akatsuki leader, but… Pain was one of Jiraiya-chan’s former students”.
“Student?” Sakura repeated in surprise. “How could that be?” She questioned.
“Jiraiya called him Nagato”. The toad revealed Pain’s true name.
“It happened a long time ago. During the chaos of the Great Ninja war in Ame, which had become a battlefield, Jiraiya was watching over some orphans who had no living relatives… To think that those kids would…”. Tsunade trailed off, closing her eyes.
“Still, to corner such a great ninja like Jiraiya is… Just what the hell is this ‘Pain’?” Kakashi questioned.
“He possesses the Rinnegan”. The toad revealed. The Rinnegan? What is that? Akashi glanced at the toad in interest.
“What did you say?!” Kakashi exclaimed, whole posture radiating alarm, as he looked at the toad.
“What is the Rinnegan?” The toad looked at the redhead when he asked the question. This boy… Jiraiya had told him about him… He was his student’s twin brother…
“The Rinnegan is a doujutsu said to have been possessed by the Rikudou Sennin, the forefather of all ninja”. Shizune jumped in. “I thought it was just a legend…”. She trailed off.
“The Rinnegan – the doujutsu of legend”. The toad spoke up. “Its power reaches far beyond anyone’s imagination… Also… There’s six of them who possess it”. It revealed.
“Six people with the Rinnegan?” Kakashi exclaimed. “How is that even possible?”
“There might be some trick behind it… Odds are that Jiraiya-chan was the only one who knew it… Still…”. It trailed off, as if it was remembering something. “During his battle with Pain, Jiraiya-chan had his throat crushed, and in the end, he left behind a message before collapsing”. The toad grabbed the cloth which it wore and took it off, turning around and showing its back to everyone. “Here it is”. On its back were various numbers which Jiraiya burned into its body.
“It’s in code…”. Shizune mumbled out.
The toad placed the cloth back around its body. “It was so Pain wouldn’t notice it. There ain’t no mistaking it”. It said. “Now I’ve told you all there is to say”.
“What did Jiraiya want to tell us”. Tsunade wondered out loud. “If we can decipher that code, only then we will know”. Then, out of nowhere, Naruto suddenly spoke up.
“Granny… were you the one who sent him?” His voice lacked any emotion as that question was spoken. Akashi watched as Tsunade closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them.
“Yeah”. She answered. How unsurprising it is that she was the one who sent him to certain death.
“Why did you let him do something so reckless?!” Naruto demanded, raising his voice at her. “You knew him better than anyone!” He added. “How the hell could you send him to such a dangerous place?!” He raised his fist in the air, taking a step closer. Kakashi extended a hand in front of him, blocking his way.
“Stop it, Naruto!” The man said. “There’s no one here who understands her feelings as much as you”. Akashi clenched his fists at his words. If she didn’t want him to go, then why did she send him?! What is this bullshit?! Defending her?! For what?!
“Damn it…”. Naruto mumbled and turned around, walking over to the door.
“Naruto!” Sakura called out. “Where are you going?!” She asked as Naruto grabbed the doorknob.
“If Ero-Sennin had been Fifth Hokage, he would never have let Granny Tsunade do something so reckless”. He grit his teeth. “Never…”. Naruto opened the door and walked out.
“Naruto!” Sakura took a step forward, but Tsunade stopped her.
“Sakura… it’s okay. Just let him be for awhile”. She said as if this could be forgotten in a moments time. How dare she?! Akashi glanced at her, anger radiating off him in waves.
“The great Hokage, once more, you made a mistake you cannot fix… How unsurprising of you!” He sneered out, surprising everyone in the room, except the woman he called out. “Do you still think everything can be solved if you do not try? How shallow… You will never change…”. Without another word, he whipped around and exited the office, slamming the office door behind himself.
Now… Time to find Naruto…
_
The sun was just starting to set and Akashi followed after Naruto’s chakra signal. His brother was aimlessly walking through the streets, hands stuffed inside his pockets. Akashi shoved his own inside of his pockets and clenched his fists. Damn this… Damn that Tsunade! Whatever she does, it just brings pain to someone! What the hell is she doing?! Is she even thinking properly?!
Naruto hadn’t noticed he was being followed and he just walked to his apartment, not even locking the door behind himself. Stupid… Akashi thought. He never once locked the door… Even when they were younger… Even when Akashi reminded him to… He never listened…
Akashi knew Jiraiya meant a lot to Naruto… After all, he was one of the first people who acknowledged him… Who believed in him… He trained him… He spent those two and a half years with him… He was with him every single day… He was with him while Akashi wasn’t…
So, Akashi grabbed the doorknob and pushed the door open, stepping inside his old apartment. Ah… This brought back memories… Good and bad ones… The yelling in the morning when Naruto wouldn’t get up… The rescues of their alarm clocks, because Naruto had a habit of breaking them as they ring… The shared baths… The laughter… The late night talks… The games they played… The stories they made up…
That fight they had… The tears… The pain… The anger…
The loneliness…
He was overwhelmed by the pure thoughts of them… Shaking his head, he walked to Naruto’s room. He still hadn’t been noticed. So, with restrained shakiness, he opened the door to the bedroom. Naruto looked up in alarm and once he saw who was there, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Akashi…?” He asked, not moving an inch from the place on his bed. The said boy gently closed the door behind himself and turned back to Naruto.
“Yeah… It is me”. He stood in place, not knowing what to do… Not knowing if Naruto was willing to accept him at this time… Not knowing if he was even welcome any more…
“Why?” The blond questioned. “Why are you here? Why now?” Akashi walked up to him and stopped in front of the bed… In front of him.
“Is it not obvious as to why I’m here?” He tilted his head to the side, his heart throbbing inside his chest… A different kind of throb than when he was with Sasuke… He reached a hand forward and placed it on Naruto’s cheek, on those whisker marks of his. Naruto grit his teeth at that and averted his eyes. Akashi took a deep breath and crouched in front of the saddened blond. “I am here”. He said, gently moving Naruto’s head so he was facing him. “I am here”. He repeated and watched as the dam inside Naruto broke.
Arms tightly wrapped around the redhead’s body and he was pulled forward. Sobs racked through Naruto’s body and Akashi could do nothing, but return the harsh hug. It had been so long since they had last hugged… So, so, long… “I wanted him to keep watching over me…”. Naruto sobbed out. “I wanted him to see me become Hokage…”. The grip he had on his brother tightened.
Akashi grabbed him and picked him up, setting him on the bed and laying besides him. Arms immediately wrap around him again. “Everything will be okay…”. Akashi whispered out, running his fingers through those blond locks of his. “Everything will be fine…”. He comforted the crying boy, his own heart breaking in the meantime. “I am here…”. As one particularly harsh sob wrecked Naruto’s body, Akashi leaned forward and brushed his lips over the blond’s forehead.
What was he supposed to do now?
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