In the Shadow of Betrayal

Onshot

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**Title: "In the Shadow of Betrayal"**

Naruto Uzumaki awoke in the darkness. The taste of blood filled his mouth, and his limbs ached unbearably. Slowly, he opened his eyes and took in his surroundings: cold, damp ground, surrounded by tall trees that barely let the moonlight through. He tried to move, but a sharp pain shot through his body, and he collapsed back onto the ground.

With a weak groan, Naruto placed a hand on his side, where blood seeped from a deep wound. Memories returned, fragmented and agonizing. The mission. The ambush. The betrayal.

It had been a simple reconnaissance mission, or so he had thought. Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi had accompanied him. They had always relied on each other, trusted each other. But when the trap was sprung, no one had reached out to help him. Naruto's vision blurred as disappointment and pain overwhelmed him.

"Why?" Naruto murmured, his voice a hoarse whisper in the silent night. His fingers dug into the cold ground as if seeking some anchor in reality.

He could hardly believe what had happened. He had always thought they were a team, that they could trust each other. But as the enemy shinobi overwhelmed him, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi had turned away. He had seen the panic in their eyes, the hesitation before they abandoned him. They had left him to die.

Naruto tried to rise, his arms trembling with the effort. But his legs gave out beneath him, and he fell back onto the cold, hard ground. The pain was overwhelming, but he couldn't bear the thought of lying there and dying. He thought of all the promises he had made to himself. Becoming Hokage. Protecting his village. Protecting his friends. But what was left of those promises now?

The hours passed agonizingly slowly. Every breath was a torment, but Naruto clung to life. Somewhere deep inside him, a spark of hope still burned. The Kyuubi, the mighty beast within him, was silent, as if it too was stunned by the betrayal.

In the distance, Naruto heard footsteps. With his last bit of strength, he lifted his head and saw a figure approaching. His heart beat faster. Had they come back to save him? But as the figure drew nearer, he realized it wasn't one of his comrades.

It was Gaara. The Kazekage knelt beside Naruto and placed a hand on his shoulder. Gaara's eyes were filled with a mix of compassion and anger. His usually calm features were etched with deep concern. "Who did this to you?" he asked quietly, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

Naruto could barely speak, but he whispered the names of his teammates. Tears welled up in his eyes as he forced the words out. Gaara's face hardened, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I will help you," he said firmly, gripping Naruto's hand, offering comfort. "And then we'll find out why they betrayed you."

With Gaara's help, Naruto managed to stand. Every step was agony, but he refused to give in. Gaara's strong arm supported him, and together they began their journey. Naruto stumbled, but Gaara held him steady, his eyes vigilant and protective.

As they walked through the dark forest, Naruto felt a spark of new hope. He wasn't alone. Gaara was with him, and together they would uncover the truth and seek justice. The betrayal of his friends had cut deep, but he would not give up. Not now, not ever.

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End.