Chapter 54: Feelings of the Heart

(Konoha Cemetery)

It was a silent night in Konoha, as Sakura Haruno stood all alone in the cemetery. Her sad eyes fixed on one name...

Chouji Akimichi

She was not close to the boy, but nonetheless he was a friend. A classmate and a member of the "Infamous 9", that thought alone made her chuckle sadly as she looked at the picture in her hand.

It was a group photo of her class, everyone looked so happy. Chouji was happily munching on his chips, while a bored Shikamaru stood beside him. Ino gave the best pose she could muster...

On the left side, Shino was stoic as ever while Kiba had a cocky grin on his face. Hinata, was her usual self giving an extremely shy smile for the photo...

And there they were, "The Magnificent 3"

She stood in between Naruto and Sasuke, with a happy smile on her face. Naruto was also giving a small eye smile, making him look like a mini Kakashi clone with the face mask covering his face.

While Sasuke didn't smile, but she could understand he seemed content with the people around him.

Those days...

"Still hanging in the past, Sakura?" asked a very familiar voice, she didn't even have to turn around as she knew who he was.

"Yeah, it may sound naive...but I really wish to go back to these days" confessed Sakura sadly, as Sasuke came beside her.

To her surprise, he kneeled down and placed a hand over Chouji's grave. No words were said, yet she could feel the sadness in his heart...

"No, it's fine. It's a genuine wish..." reassured Sasuke, completely surprising his teammate. She had expected a rude remark from him, and yet he did the opposite.

And just like that, he tucked his hands inside the pockets of his pants and started walking away. Sakura wanted to say something, but no words came in her mouth. Her breath hitched in her throat, when he suddenly stopped.

"Maybe one day I can make a peaceful world for all of us. A world where you won't have to see your friends getting killed, families getting murdered..." said Sasuke honestly,

He couldn't say anything more, even if he wanted to. Sasuke could not understand why he was giving such a promise, why he felt his chest tighten on seeing her pain. Despite deciding to abandon all feelings for every person in Konoha, he could not stop himself from helping her.

Granted she was a teammate, and the closest thing to a friend after Naruto. In the past, he found her annoying due to her swooning over him...but in time, she grew up. Sakura changed and became a kunoichi whom he respected.

He had killed people, was using Hinata for his own plans...and yet he did not feel a pang of guilt.

But just seeing her standing at Chouji's grave made him feel this intense emotion? Why?

He freezed like a rock, when she embraced him from behind. Her hands tightly covering his chest, the warmth of her body hitting him. The feeling of her breasts tightly pressed against his back...

"Sakura, I..."

"Shh, just stay with me..."

Sasuke's fists clenched tightly, those simple words combined with this feeling in his heart was breaking through all his barriers. Every part of his body and heart was screaming at him, to let go of everything and just kiss the girl embracing him. Maybe, he really liked her...

A bitter sweet smile came on his lips, this feeling in his heart was more the reason he had to let her go.

After all, Darkness and Light could not exist together. And if they tried, the Light would be overwhelmed by the darkness...

He could live with the regret of not reciprocating these feelings, but could not live in a world where Sakura and Naruto were constantly suffering. Maybe, the world will remember him as a monster after his plan was accomplished, but he would at least be successful in creating a peaceful world for her.

Total Destruction of the Ninja world, this was the only dream he was living for...

Yet he knew he was just one man, he was a strong warrior and an adept tactician. While Naruto had charisma and power, together they could-

"NO, I won't put him through this...he has suffered more than enough. This burden is mine" thought Sasuke vehemently, and grabbed Sakura's hands that were around his chest and gently removed them.

A confused frown came on Sakura's beautiful face, as she patiently waited for him to explain this action.

"Sakura, I have to go..." said Sasuke evasively, but she sensed the hesitation in his voice.

"You sure?" asked Sakura calmly, and just received a nod from him.

A small smile came on her face as he started walking away from her, it was short but she felt something which none of them thought was possible...

"I'm really glad I met you..."

Those silent words shocked her to the core, freezing her completely in the cold night. The voice was so low, yet it broke through all her barriers and touched her heart. Did he really say that?

He gave her a hesitant glance, and she saw a true smile on his face. But the moment was short lived, as Sasuke disappeared with a shunshin...

"I'm sorry, but the path of happiness is just not meant for me..."

(Suna)

Gaara could not understand what was happening, standing in this dark place and looking at the person standing beside him made him feel something, a feeling which never existed in his heart till this day.

This blonde boy not only defeated him, but was now fearlessly standing in front of the giant Shukaku.

Naruto noticed how Gaara flinched when Shukaku glared at him, disappointment and murder was clearly evident on the Biju's face. It was as if he held Gaara responsible for its own defeat...despite being the weakest Biju of the world.

"Such hypocrisy..." thought Naruto angrily,

Gaara flinched when Shukaku raised its giant tail, knowing what was coming he quickly shut his eyes. After all, resistance was futile against Shukaku...

He waited for that incoming attack to strike him, it was just like Shukaku to vent out his anger on Gaara. Not allowing him to sleep, driving him mad with blood rage, driving people away from him. It was as if the Biju had pledged to torture his container until he died or committed suicide.

Moments passed and yet nothing hit him, he slowly opened one of his eyes and was shocked when Shukaku had freezed and Naruto was standing in front of him.

"Silence, beast!" shouted Naruto, his voice full of hatred and malice that even stopped Shukaku.

"Naruto, maybe you-"

"Kurama, stay out of this. I sympathize with the Biju but you have no right to torture your Jinchuuriki. We were just as unlucky as you were, and that does not grant you to the right to torture us. I am going to teach this animal a lesson..." warned Naruto, and leaked some of his KI to make his point clear to giant fox.

The Biju tried to say something, but a murderous glare from Naruto was all that was needed to silence him. Not that Shukaku deserved any mercy, but still it was a matter of concern that Naruto's anger was greatly increasing these days. And Kami forbid, if a hypocrite person or a Biju came before him...then they would wish they would have died sooner, rather than face Naruto.

And it seemed Shukaku was not so lucky...

"Human, I will devour your soul. Here I come..." declared Shukaku excitedly,

And the very next second Shukaku found himself being glared by a dark pair of Mangekyo eyes.

Gaara was stunned when his Biju's tail that was about to strike them collapsed on the ground, the pressure Shukaku was releasing vanished instantly. He even noticed shock on the Biju's face...

"What's the matter? Can't attack? You're up against a little human...Ichibi" taunted Naruto,

"Bastard, what did you do to me?" asked Shukaku roughly, trying his best to break out of this power but only felt himself being subdued more and more.

"Or have you finally learned that only those willing to be killed should think about killing others?" asked Naruto darkly, and raised one of his fingers at the giant Biju.

Kurama and even Gaara watched intently as Shukaku's eyes changed and were not totally red in color instead of its original yellow color.

"Naruto Uchiha commands you, kneel"

"Yes, your majesty"

Gaara was sure it was a dream, when the very next second Shukaku kneeled faithfully before Naruto. Gone was the giant beast, the only thing that remained now was a faithful dog waiting for a command from his master.

Kurama saw Naruto panting harshly and blood leaking from his eyes. But even then...

"To think his eyes are strong enough to subdue Shukaku so easily..." thought Kurama in shock,

"What are you?" asked Gaara nervously, if this boy could so easily destroy "Shukaku" who had tormented him for years, then what would he do someone like himself?

His breath freezed in his throat when Naruto turned around and removed his face mask. Blood leaked like a river from his eyes, while his shiny blonde hair were falling over his face and yet those dark red eyes sent shivers down Gaara's spine.

If there was a demon in this world, then he surely would look the same as this boy.

His very presence leaked sinister and evil.

The scared Suna genin haphazardly took a few steps back when Naruto started walking towards him...

"Is this how I'll meet my end? Helpless and tortured to the very end?" thought Gaara sadly, as his mother's face flashed in front of his eyes.

"You don't want it to end, do you?" asked Naruto knowingly with a small grin on his face, but instead of making him look welcoming it made him look more sinister.

"Stay away from me..." warned Gaara, but his fearful voice made Naruto chuckle.

"It seems you still have some reason to live..." said Naruto calmly, and stepped in front of Gaara.

"What did you do to Shukaku?" asked Gaara nervously, watching that giant raccoon kneeling like a dog still surprised him.

"That creature won't trouble you anymore, he'll be your pet from now on" offered Naruto proudly, as Gaara narrowed his gaze in suspicion.

"What do you want from me?" questioned Gaara, and was surprised when Naruto looked in his eyes with his Mangekyo.

For a few moments, nothing was said as the dangerous boy just continued to stare in his eyes until a sad look appeared on his face.

"So, they did the same thing to you just as my people did to me. Such hypocrites..." said Naruto bitterly, his Mangekyo spinning dangerously due to his rise in chakra.

"We're Jinchuuriki, this is our destiny..." said Gaara sadly, he knew fighting against this boy was useless. If he could defeat him in combat, subdue Shukaku like a street dog, then there was nothing left for him to fight against this boy.

"NO"

"What?"

"If you had the strength, then you could have prevented this. If you had power, then you could have opposed this atrocity?" questioned Naruto, as he slowly walked back towards Shukaku.

Gaara watched curiously as Naruto stepped in front of Shukaku...

"Are you going to kill me?" asked Gaara calmly, but just heard a small "Hn" from the other boy.

"You have yearned for a family, haven't you? Searched for that one person who could understand you, who could accept you as a human instead of a monster or a weapon?" said Naruto seriously,

"How do you-"

His question was cut short as Naruto turned towards him...

"I am Naruto Uchiha, jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. I am like you...Gaara" introduced Naruto with a small sad smile on his face,

"The Kyuubi? I see..." said Gaara calmly, as some of the tension vanished from his mind bringing a smile on Naruto's face.

"I am not going to kill you, Gaara. Unlike the others, I can understand your pain. And yet I didn't have to go through this much pain, I found some precious people who loved me despite my identity as a Jinchuuriki. They became my friend, my brother..." said Naruto happily, and smiled sadly when the shock and disbelief was clearly evident on Gaara's face.

"No, it's not impossible. There is no such things as friends, there is no such thing as a BROTHER!" yelled Gaara in disbelief, his choked voice full of sadness and anger, while tears came to his eyes.

The next second he saw various flashes of Naruto's own life, the scene with the mob, Kakashi's entry into his life. The glares and curses thrown at him everyday, how he eventually found some friends at the academy.

But still the pain and hate continued to be thrown at him, until he snapped...

Before Gaara could see more, the flashbacks stopped and he found Naruto standing beside him, his hand resting peacefully on Gaara's shoulder.

"I can give you everything you desire. I will be your family, your brother..." offered Naruto with a true smile on his face, and despite his blood stained face Gaara could not help but be touched by the genuine feelings in the boy's heart.

"Or you could continue to serve people who hate your very existence and will always consider you a monster? Just like my parents, your father sealed this animal in you who enjoyed tormenting you for years. With me, you won't have to face such pain..."

A small tear slipped from Gaara's eyes when Naruto touched his cheek, the feeling of his touch and that understanding look in his eye tore apart all the barriers in his heart.

"Father, brother, friend...I will be everything for you"

Kurama was just stunned with the scene happening in front of him, was this really Naruto? Just as he thought he knew everything about the boy, something new comes up that makes him wonder who Naruto truly was...

"Walk this dark world by my side- different rules, different time, different life. I'll grant you powers that will make you strong to fight against any injustice, in return I want only one thing" said Naruto seriously, and smiled when he saw Gaara on the verge of accepting the offer.

"What do you want?" asked Gaara curiously,

"Swear your allegiance to me, you will fight only for me. Not for any village, not for any Kage, not for anyone else. The power of kings will indeed make you lonely, but as long as we are together you won't have to fear anything or anyone. Because I won't let anything happen to my brother..." explained Naruto briefly,

Gaara's gaze shifted towards the kneeling Shukaku, the animal which had tormented him for years was now at this boy's mercy. The village which had shunned him all these years, could be destroyed if only Naruto wished. His so called family that was terrified of him can be taught a lesson, make them feel pain for all the injustice they had done to him.

All these years, he had searched for this. And looking into Naruto's eyes made him confident that he could get everything he desired.

"Till this day I have been lying. My life was a lie, my family was a lie, my people were a lie, my village was a lie. All lies..." thought Gaara disappointedly,

Naruto saw the boy's fists clenching tightly...

"I wanted to stop this madness, but couldn't bring myself to break these lies. But now..." thought Gaara seriously,

Naruto smiled when Gaara gave him a light hug, as he gladly returned the gesture.

"Very well, I accept it..." promised Gaara,

At that day, two blood brothers were born...