Vision of Truth II: Shield and Sharingan (Naruto)

Failure

"Let it hurt, let it bleed
Let it take ya right down to your knees
Let it burn to the worst degree
May not be what ya want
But it's what ya need
Sometimes the only way around it
Is to let love do its work
And let it hurt, yeah, let it hurt"

- "Let It Hurt" by Rascal Flatts

Chapter 7: Failure

I ran and ran and ran, focusing only on Sasuke's chakra. Finally, I reached a strange area with two giant ninja statues staring at each other with a waterfall in between. I leapt onto one of the statues to stand beside Naruto, who stood facing off against Sasuke. Kiku jumped to the ground and ran to a relieved Tadeo.

"Good, you made it," Naruto said without taking his eyes off Sasuke. "I was starting to get worried."

Sasuke did not appear impressed. "Hn. Of course you're here. You couldn't make him see the truth, could you? You know there is no point."

I grit my teeth, forcing back the thoughts that told me he was right. "Maybe I don't know enough. He needs a chance to prove that he's the one who's right."

"Of course I'm right about you!" Naruto shouted. "You're crazy, Sasuke! Wake up, will ya? Before it's too late!" He ran at Sasuke with a punch, but Sasuke blocked him and kicked him over the edge of the statue, where he fell into the water below.

I gasped and peered over the edge. Fortunately, Naruto seemed fine. Physically, at least. I narrowed my eyes at Sasuke, who also watched the water with an emotionless expression. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing," he said. "I have woken up. Don't you see? That guy who dreamed of a happy future full of peace and friendship - he was the one who was asleep. That's why I left the village. That's why I've gone in search of power. It's not the future I dream of anymore. Only the past - that's where my dream lies."

"You're letting him win, you know. This is what Itachi wants. If you allow yourself to be stuck in the past, he wins! You can't let him have this control over you. You have to let it go."

"That is interesting coming from someone who cannot get over her own terrible memories." Sasuke gave me a side glance, and I swallowed hard. "It must be easy for you to latch onto this hopeful future when you are able to repress the memories that would get in the way. I do not have that luxury. You do not have the right to tell me to do what you are afraid to do yourself."

"Hey!" Kiku said indignantly. "That's not fair! Your situations are totally different."

I lowered my head in shame. "No, he's right. I don't yet know what it's like to fully overcome a painful past." I gazed down at Naruto, who watched us from the shore. "But he does." Sakura was right. Naruto was the only one who could reach Sasuke now.

Naruto threw a shuriken at Sasuke, who dodged and threw a kunai. He quickly hid behind a rock. Undeterred, Sasuke threw two more kunai. These ones were tied to some sort of wire, and he angled them so the wires wrapped around Naruto, securing him to the rock. For his part, Naruto looked as defiant as ever. "I'm warning you," he said. "You're making a big mistake."

"Like I said, a future with you guys isn't what I want anymore," Sasuke said. When he started to make hand signs, I quickly grabbed a kunai and raced towards him. I dodged his kick by leaping into the air. He stepped to the side as I came down on him. Before I could land he kicked me in the stomach and sent me flying over the edge just like Naruto.

"Katsumi!" Kiku and Tadeo cried.

I used my chakra to latch onto the statue as I fell. I could not stop completely, but I managed to slow my descent enough so that I landed safely in a pool of water. Breathing heavily from the effort, I looked up but could not see or hear my cats any longer. Surely they would have tried to attack. I hoped Sasuke had not done anything to them. My thoughts were cut short when fire rushed across the wires from Sasuke to Naruto. There was no time for me to stop it.