Light in the Dark

Uchiha Reunion

Akari

Itachi was going to stop the edotensei user to release everybody. It was decided that I would be the one to go with him. Naruto had completely worn himself out, and received a nice lecture from Itachi about the importance of not doing it all on your own. Which I think really settled in his head.

"Hey! Before we go can I talk to my brother for a second?" I looked at Itachi, who looked in between my brother and I. Before nodding and walking off. Killer B headed the other way.

"Akari, what's up?" Naruto was looking at me, worry was evident on his face. Even if he tried to hide it.

"Naruto, please remember what Itachi said, you're no longer alone okay?" I stared up at him, looking back at a mirror of myself almost, "We are not alone anymore, we've had so many people touch our lives in ways I never imagined,"

"I was never alone Akari, I always had you," Naruto smiled at me, that big, bright, goofy, smile my brother wore so well, "Sure you were a real pain, but Akari we wouldn't have survived without you,"

"Now-"

"Don't even say it's not true, you kept me in line, and on the days I wanted revenge on that place, you were there to pull me back to reality," Naruto's smile faded, "I had to face my inner darkness, and you know what it took to beat it?"

"What?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"The mention of you, because even when I felt as though I was alone, I never was, I always had you sis," Naruto reached into his pocket, and pulled out a beaten up headband, tying it around my arm, "You're my light too, ya know?"

I jumped up and hugged my brother. Who had no hesitation in pulling me tighter to him.

"Okay, I go with Itachi and we knock out this whole pesky zombie puppet master," I pulled away from him, "You and Mr. B go and take down Madara, make sure you get in a few good hits for me, okay?"

Naruto smirked at me, nodding his head.

"You got it sis!" He gave me a thumbs up, before turning around to catch up with B, "Meet ya on the battlefield okay?!"

I stood for a moment, watching my brother's back with a bit of pride. Naruto, you really have grown up. My brother, my knuckle headed brother. Who used to paint the Hokage faces, and make me do his homework. I used to have to pick up his dirty clothes, and his trash. Make sure he ate more than ramen that day. Back then I would be lying if I said I saw him as an equal. I couldn't even say today I saw him as one. No, he was so far past me now. Maybe not in controlling the Nine Tails, but in everything else.

I'll see you soon Naruto, just stay alive till then.

•••

"Akari, you understand that Naruto needs to be the one to pull him back, correct?" Itachi called out to me, as we made our way.

"Do you doubt his feelings for me?" I questioned, and Itachi quickly shook his head.

"No, I believed you two to be intertwined even when you were kids," Itachi explained, "If it were to come to it though, I don't believe you could kill Sasuke,"

"Alright, you've got me-"

No, he was close. Entirely too close.