7: Shadows That Never Fade

Sasuke sat at the edge of the bed, staring at his hands. The dream still clung to him like a phantom, lingering in his chest long after waking.

Why now?

He had buried those thoughts. Shut them away. He had made his choice—to walk a path that had no place for Naruto, no place for the past.

And yet…

The weight of Naruto's voice still echoed.

"You left me."

Sasuke exhaled sharply and stood, pushing the thought aside. The wooden floor was cool beneath his feet as he moved toward the window, pulling back the curtain just enough to see the darkened sky.

The moon hung low, casting silver light over the quiet landscape.

He was far from Konoha. Far from everything he had once known.

But it didn't matter.

It shouldn't matter.

And yet, every time he closed his eyes—

Naruto was still there.

Sasuke clenched his fists, frustrated with himself. He had no time for dreams. No time for ghosts.

He turned away from the window and reached for his cloak, pulling it over his shoulders. The cold air of the night seeped into his skin, grounding him in reality.

Whatever the dream meant, whatever his subconscious was trying to tell him—

It didn't change anything.

Sasuke Uchiha had made his choice.

And there was no turning back.

The candlelight flickered weakly, casting long shadows across the room. Sasuke stood motionless, staring at the small wooden desk in front of him.

There, half-covered in dust and neglect, lay the last remnant of a life he no longer belonged to—a framed photograph of Team 7.

Naruto, grinning like an idiot. Sakura, smiling warmly.

Kakashi, ever indifferent yet watchful. And himself—standing slightly apart, yet still there.

Sasuke exhaled through his nose, his fingers tightening around the frame as he picked it up.

It felt heavier than it should.

He turned it over in his hand, eyes narrowing at the faces frozen in time. How long had it been since he had really looked at it? Since he had let himself remember?

Too long. And yet, not long enough.

A bitter smirk tugged at his lips.

How pathetic.

This was nothing more than a relic of a past that no longer existed. A past that had to die.

Without hesitation, Sasuke clenched his fist and crushed the frame in his hand.

Glass shattered, shards biting into his palm, but he barely noticed the pain. The wooden frame snapped under the force, splintering into useless fragments.

The photo crumpled in his grasp, torn at the edges, Naruto's bright smile splitting apart under his fingers.

Sasuke let the broken pieces fall to the floor.

His hand was bleeding, but he didn't care.

This was it. The last tie. The last shred of sentimentality.

Konoha meant nothing to him now.

Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi—none of them mattered anymore.

With one final glance at the ruined photo, Sasuke turned on his heel, stepping over the broken shards without a second thought.

He pulled his cloak around him and walked out into the night.

Never once looking back.

The crash of breaking glass echoed through the quiet Hokage office.

Naruto cursed under his breath, shaking his hand as blood welled up from a fresh cut on his fingers. The broken cup lay in shards at his feet, water spreading across the wooden floor.

He sighed, flexing his hand. It wasn't deep—just a small sting.

But for some reason, it made his chest ache.

He turned toward the window, leaning against the sill, his eyes drifting over the sleeping village below. The streets were peaceful, lanterns flickering in the dim light.

Yet all he could think about was him.

Sasuke.

How long has it been?

The thought came unbidden, creeping into the quiet of the night. Naruto exhaled, resting his forehead against the cool glass.

He had stopped chasing him. Stopped searching.

But that didn't mean he had stopped wondering.

Was Sasuke okay? Was he eating properly? Did he still have that same fire in his eyes, or had the weight of everything finally dulled it?

Naruto clenched his fist, the sting of his wound grounding him.

He knew, deep down, that Sasuke wouldn't look back.

That he had made his choice.

But even now—even after everything—

Naruto couldn't help but wonder if, somewhere out there, Sasuke was looking at the same moon.

The cave was silent, save for the distant sound of dripping water. Sasuke stepped forward cautiously, his Sharingan flickering in the dim light. The air was thick—humid, charged with something unnatural.

He had sensed it the moment he crossed into this land. A presence, watching, waiting.

And now, as he ventured deeper into the cavern, it revealed itself.

A voice—soft, sultry—slipped through the darkness.

"You've come far, traveler."

Sasuke didn't react, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Who are you?"

A low chuckle echoed around him. Then, from the darkness, she emerged.

Long, flowing hair cascaded down her back, framing a face that was almost too perfect—too unreal.

Her lips curled into a knowing smile, crimson eyes glowing faintly. Her presence was intoxicating, thick like honey in the air.

A succubus.

Sasuke remained still, unreadable. "You're in my way."

She tilted her head, stepping closer. "Am I?" Her voice dripped with amusement, her movements slow, deliberate. "You don't seem eager to leave."

He narrowed his eyes. "I know what you are."

"And yet, you're still standing here," she murmured, reaching out as if to touch his face.

Before her fingers could brush his skin, Sasuke moved.

In an instant, he had her wrist in his grip, his Sharingan spinning. "Your tricks won't work on me."

She only smiled, unfazed. "Who said I was trying to trick you?"

The air grew heavier, the space between them charged with something unspoken.

Sasuke's grip tightened for a moment before he let go, stepping back. "I'm not interested in your games."

The succubus chuckled, her eyes gleaming. "Such willpower. No wonder you carry so much darkness inside you."

Sasuke turned, already walking away.

But as he stepped deeper into the cave, her voice followed him, soft and knowing.

"You can run from temptation, but can you run from yourself, Sasuke?"

He didn't answer.

But even as he left the cave behind, her words lingered in his mind longer than he cared to admit.