9: A Celebration Without You

The village buzzed with energy. Decorations were being hung, banners stretched across rooftops, and the streets of Konoha pulsed with excitement. In just six days, Naruto Uzumaki would finally become Hokage.

But Naruto himself sat alone on top of Hokage Rock, staring out at the village.

His fingers absentmindedly traced the scar on his cheek as the wind rustled his hair. This was everything he had ever dreamed of, everything he had worked toward since he was a kid. And yet…

His chest felt empty.

"Tch. Idiot."

Naruto's grip tightened. He could almost hear Sasuke's voice, mocking him from some distant place. For years, he had fought for this—fought for him, for their bond, for the belief that Sasuke would be there at the end of the road.

But Sasuke was nowhere.

Not here. Not watching. Not even caring.

He had long accepted that Sasuke had chosen his path. That no matter how much Naruto wanted to drag him back, Sasuke had made his choice.

But now, on the verge of everything Naruto had worked for—why did it feel so wrong without him?

A gust of wind blew through the trees, carrying the scent of rain.

Somewhere, far beyond the walls of Konoha, Sasuke was out there.

And no matter how much Naruto told himself to let go—

He still wondered if Sasuke even knew.

If he even cared.

The celebrations in Konoha continued, but Naruto couldn't bring himself to join in.

Everywhere he went, people congratulated him, slapped him on the back, and told him how proud they were.

And yet, the one person he wanted to hear it from was gone.

Sitting in his apartment, Naruto leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. The ramen he had made sat untouched on the table, long since gone cold.

His mind kept drifting—back to the Valley of the End, back to the rain-soaked battlefield where he had reached out and Sasuke had pulled away.

"I'm not coming back."

Naruto shut his eyes tightly.

It had been years. He had stopped chasing. Stopped begging. He had told himself that Sasuke's choice was his own, that Naruto had no right to try and change it anymore.

So why, after all this time, did it still hurt?

A knock at the door startled him.

"Oi, Naruto!" Kiba's voice rang out. "We're all meeting at Ichiraku—get your ass out here!"

Naruto exhaled through his nose, forcing a grin onto his face before pushing himself up.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," he called back.

Because that's what he was supposed to do.

Keep moving forward. Keep smiling.

Even when the ache in his chest wouldn't go away.

Sasuke sat in the dim glow of a small campfire, sharpening his sword with slow, deliberate movements. The rhythmic scrape of metal against stone was the only sound in the silent forest.

Then, suddenly—he stopped.

He wasn't sure why, but an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.

Like something was pulling at him.

Something familiar.

He turned his gaze toward the night sky, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Something was happening in Konoha.

Something important.

But he pushed the thought away and continued sharpening his blade.

Because it had nothing to do with him.

Not anymore.

The celebrations in Konoha continued, but Naruto couldn't bring himself to join in. Everywhere he went, people congratulated him, slapped him on the back, and told him how proud they were.

And yet, the one person he wanted to hear it from was gone.

Sitting in his apartment, Naruto leaned back against the wall, staring up at the ceiling. The ramen he had made sat untouched on the table, long since gone cold.

His mind kept drifting—back to the Valley of the End, back to the rain-soaked battlefield where he had reached out and Sasuke had pulled away.

"I'm not coming back."

Naruto shut his eyes tightly.

It had been years. He had stopped chasing. Stopped begging. He had told himself that Sasuke's choice was his own, that Naruto had no right to try and change it anymore.

So why, after all this time, did it still hurt?

A knock at the door startled him.

"Oi, Naruto!" Kiba's voice rang out. "We're all meeting at Ichiraku—get your ass out here!"

Naruto exhaled through his nose, forcing a grin onto his face before pushing himself up.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," he called back.

Because that's what he was supposed to do.

Keep moving forward. Keep smiling.

Even when the ache in his chest wouldn't go away.

Sasuke sat in the dim glow of a small campfire, sharpening his sword with slow, deliberate movements. The rhythmic scrape of metal against stone was the only sound in the silent forest.

Then, suddenly—he stopped.

He wasn't sure why, but an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.

Like something was pulling at him.

Something familiar.

He turned his gaze toward the night sky, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword.

Something was happening in Konoha.

Something important.

But he pushed the thought away and continued sharpening his blade.

Because it had nothing to do with him.

Not anymore.

Konoha was brighter than ever. Lanterns hung from rooftops, merchants sold Hokage-themed trinkets, and the villagers spoke of nothing else but Naruto's upcoming inauguration.

Naruto himself, however, barely heard any of it.

He sat at Ichiraku Ramen, his bowl half-eaten as Kiba, Shikamaru, and the others talked and laughed around him. Normally, he'd be the loudest one here, scarfing down bowls and arguing with Kiba over dumb things.

But tonight, he just… wasn't in it.

Shikamaru, ever observant, nudged his shoulder. "You good?"

Naruto blinked, snapping out of his daze. "Huh? Yeah. Just thinking."

Kiba smirked. "Thinking? That's dangerous for you."

Naruto forced a laugh, shoving Kiba lightly. The others chuckled, and just like that, the moment passed.

But Shikamaru wasn't fooled. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "It's about him, isn't it?"

Naruto stiffened.

Shikamaru sighed. "Naruto… if he wanted to be here, he would be."

Naruto exhaled sharply, stabbing his chopsticks into his ramen. He knew that. He knew that. But it didn't stop the damn ache.

Did Sasuke even know? Did he even care?

Naruto looked up at the sky. Somewhere out there, Sasuke was alone, as always.

And no matter how much Naruto tried to forget…

He still wished he was here.