A/N: So, there results as to which story should finish second in my 'lil poll were clearer than clear. Therefore – the prologue for Darkest Hours is now here!

Just a bit of warning… At the moment, it's rather late around here, so I'm by no means at even tenth of my usually low wits, and I'm dozing off in front of my computer. So… I have no idea of how this turned out, but it begged to be released, so I was powerless to stop it.

Before getting started… DISCLAIMER: I believe pigs will be getting wings and flying years before I own ANYTHING concerning Naruto, so… No sue, pwease?

Awkay, let's go! I REALLY hope this was worth voting!

A surprisingly big, pitch-black raven made a nasty scream as it sat to a tree branch, water dripping from each and every single one of its feathers. Its also dark eyes cast an accusing glare against the dark sky that poured rain over its world in a merciless flood.

Eventually, it was forced to give up on its pride and furrow its feathers against biting coldness that sneaked to the very core of its being. If birds knew how to sulk, that's exactly what it did while shuddering on its place.

All of a sudden, the raven's grumpy thoughts were momentarily washed away as a blood stilling, heart wrenching scream coming from a nearby cave ran through the entire landscape, seeming to continue for what felt like an infinity.

Giving a yell that was a mixture of fright and annoyance, the raven reluctantly rose to its wings, deciding to abandon the nightmarish place.

CHAPTER 1: Prologue

During his short life, Naruto had been through amounts of pain that would've taken down even the very strongest of people. But the ache that kept swelling constantly underneath his ribcage that setting day… It shouldn't have been humanly possible.

After such a long and hard chase, after all the years and training… He'd been too late, after all. All of his efforts didn't mean a thing.

Sasuke was dead. There was no hope left anymore.

It'd started pouring rain at some point – he had no clue of when. At the moment, he was too numbed to be able to tell warm drops from cold rain.

He jolted and gasped somewhat wetly when a firm hand was suddenly placed to his shoulder. Turning his head slowly while stopping investigating the ruins of the Uchiha's hideout – embarrassed by the turmoil that must've shown from his eyes – he met Kakashi face. There was something dark and almost defeated in his former sensei's visible eye. " You've been digging around here for six hours already, Naruto." The eye filled with misery. " I know how much finding Sasuke's body means to you, but you really need to rest."

He shook his head vigorously, as though terrified by the mere idea. " No", he stated firmly. " I'm fine. I'm not going to give up now." He couldn't stop, not now, not yet. Not when the image of Sasuke's face kept haunting his vision, as a constant reminder of his newest and by far most bitter failure. This task was the only thing linking him to sanity.

" Naruto." Sakura's voice had never sounded like that before, and Naruto just had to turn to look. The pinkette was standing right beside him, wetness running over her cheeks in a constant river. Although Naruto wasn't the most observant ninja around, he could tell her violent shivering most definitely wasn't caused by cold. Her green eyes were filled by about million emotions as they bore into his. (Neither noticed how Kakashi left soundlessly to grant them some privacy, and to go somewhere to clear his head.) " Naruto, you… you have to stop." Her voice broke, and she had to swallow thickly before she managed to continue. " This… This isn't going to bring Sasuke-kun back, Naruto. He … He's…" The rest of the words were too sour and thorny to make their way out.

That was probably the only time ever Naruto would've wanted to scream at Sakura – more out of pain and frustration than actually angered by her words. But fortunately, his words remained firmly stuck in his throat as his eyes widened upon spotting something.

A surprisingly big, pitch-black raven flew through air, only about thirty centimetres above him, its croak carrying echoes of the desperate scream it'd heard not too long ago.

" Naruto?" Sakura's eyes held deep worry, as her medic's instincts kicked in. " Are you alright?"

Some distant part in the back of his mind realized he was shivering like a leaf, and his skin felt unnaturally cold. But all he could really focus on was that bird.

His head started to spin.

Sasuke…

Sakura was startled when he suddenly sprinted into a run, making moss and water fly. " Naruto, where the heck are you going?!"

He was too much in a haste to even turn his head. " C'mon, Sakura-chan, we've gotta hurry!" he shouted out, all exhaustion and desperation forgotten. " We've gotta get to Sasuke before it's too late!"

He couldn't even consider the option it already was.

Inside a huge cave, a heavily bandaged Sasuke slumped to the floor, absolutely all strength escaping from his damaged body.

/ " He did it to protect you." /

" No…" There was no one hearing him.

/ " You need to know about him… This man who risked everything to protect the Shinobi world… The Leaf Village… And most of all, his little brother. You need to know about Uchiha Itachi's life." /

" Stop… lying to me…" But the sad truth was, that the only one still lying to him was himself.

/ " Remember your kind brother." /

" He… tried to kill me…" Even he didn't have the strength to believe anymore.

/ " Remember." /

His eyes started to dull, his mind no longer remembering to which timeline it belonged.

Just before his world became overran by shadows, he could've sworn he saw a brightest flash of sunlight.

Naruto…

The shadows, however, were much too strong and persistent.

Naruto didn't have a slightest clue of for how long he'd kept running with Sakura barely able to keep up, nor what the power leading him on was. And if he was honest with himself, he didn't even care.

There was only one thing that mattered to him.

All of a sudden, they made a sudden halt as they reached a huge, ancient-looking cave in the middle of a thickest forest, hidden by trees and shadows. Everything about the place screamed out the Akatsuki's name.

Naruto's voice worked before he heard his thoughts. " Sasuke's in there", he announced, tone trembling with anticipation like he didn't remember feeling ever before.

They were close, so very close. This time around, nothing would stop them.

As he took a step forward, Sakura's hand suddenly grabbed his wrist. The girl's eyes held hesitation and well as desperate hope. " Naruto… Are you sure?"

Without needing a call, brightest of grins came to his face. " I've never been this sure in my entire life, Sakura-chan."

She nodded, letting go.

' I trust you.'

Not another word was said as they walked the final steps towards their years long goal, then entered the cave's darkness.

At first, there was too little light to allow them to see, but soon enough Naruto found his eyes starting to detect shapes and distances. They were standing in a huge hall-like space that smelled heavily like dust and mold. After a moment, he detected huge, stony stairs not too far ahead, and glanced anxiously towards Sakura. Her stiffness told him she'd seen them as well.

They both coughed as they walked down the stairs and Naruto found himself shuddering, not daring to even imagine what he'd find from below.

After what felt like small eternity they reached another, significantly smaller room. His eyes by then used to the lack of light, Naruto saw clearly, and for a while his whole body seemed to shut down on him. His heart nearly stopped, and for several precious seconds he was unable to breathe. Colour drained from his face.

For there, right before his very eyes, was Sasuke, slumped to the floor with alarming glassy eyes, trembling uncontrollably. Naruto's by then racing heart hopped several times too much as he saw the horrendous amount of blood caking the floor between him and the last Uchiha, but he calmed down instantly upon realizing that although Sasuke seemed badly injured, this blood definitely wasn't his.

At that moment, he finally regained his ability to speak. " Sasuke…", he breathed out, and felt his eyes sting uncomfortably with tears of relief that wanted to break through. In a mere blink, he'd sprinted to Sasuke and fallen to his knees beside his best friend, his arms wrapping tightly – frantically – around the raven. Sasuke jolted, but surprisingly enough didn't struggle. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut, allowing Sasuke's warmth and scent to fill his senses. " You… You bastard, I… I thought you… I…" His hold became even tighter. " Damnit, Sasuke, I missed you so much!"

It wasn't until several minutes later – as the first rush of emotions had faded – did he realize that something was wrong with how unresponsive Sasuke was. A frown appeared as he reluctantly pushed the raven just a little bit further to take a good look at him. " Sasuke?" Those chilling glassed eyes didn't meet his, didn't even move. " Sasuke, what's wrong? Are you in pain?" The Uchiha still didn't respond, and fright started to take over inside him. He shook the raven as gently as he could from his growing worry, but received no response. He felt a bang of ache. " Can… Can you even hear me?"

He didn't know for how long he sat there, staring at Sasuke's face and desperately searching for any signs of recognition whatsoever, until he was finally forced to admit to himself that nothing was going to happen.

A tiny part of him was almost ridiculously grateful when shivering, unnaturally pale Sakura took over just then. Feeling far more reluctant than he should've, he made room as she knelt to Sasuke's side, examining him with trained eyes. " S – Sasuke-kun?" He could see her shoulders slump when she couldn't reach him, either. He was mildly startled when her hand suddenly started to glow, but as shock faded he watched mesmerized as she scanned Sasuke through. About a minute later her hand dropped, and a heavy sigh escaped through her lips. She didn't meet his eyes. " He's badly injured. We'll have to get him to Konoha. There… There I'll try to find out how to help him."

He swallowed thickly. " Do you think they'll agree to help him?"

Sakura, still looking away, didn't reply.

Swallowing again, he slid his arms ever so gently behind the Uchiha's back and underneath the boy's legs, then carefully lifted the raven up. He was immediately startled by how light Sasuke was. Had the boy eaten a thing since he'd left Konoha?!

Determination starting to build up once more, he pulled Sasuke as close to his body as possible, almost like wishing feeling his brisling life would somehow pull Sasuke out the darkness that'd consumed him.

" I've been training and waiting for almost three years", he murmured into Sasuke's ear, hoping from the bottom of his heart the words would somehow reach the troubled soul. " I'm not going to give up now, teme. I'll never give up on you."

With those words, the journey home begun.

Outside, sky kept crying, knowing how long and dark road there was to walk.

TBC??

A/N: (whimpers) Painful, much?

So, whadda you guys say – should this story continue? Please do let me hear from you! (sends irresistibly cute, huge pleading eyes)

Thank you so much for reading!

Take care!