Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto or any of its characters, but unfortunately for them, I own this storyline

Storyline- Naruto, after retrieving Sasuke, begins to learn a little bit more about why he's hated, who his friends really are, and why his attitude is beginning to change.

Morgri- This story has a lot of Naruto OoCness, basically, he becomes a different person. Also strange pairing most likely, cause I am really tired of the same old sakunaru, sasunaru, and naruhina.

Story begins after chapter -118.

Morgri- By the way, this story takes place mostly in Naruto's point of view.

"Character Speaking"

Flash back

-POV-

Thoughts

Shift in time. POV, or scene

When Did You Change?

Morgri

Episode one: Retrieval

It all began only 12 hours ago; the chase to retrieve Sasuke; the greatest battle of my life. The beginning or ending of Konoha's future, rode on my shoulders. 'Make it or break it,' those were the thoughts that ran through my head at the time. An all out battle, between Sasuke: King of rookies; and me: The big Dobe. I never would have thought it would be like this though, a brother so filled with a misconception of gaining power that all he could do was run, run the wrong way. Why do I say that? Because, he ran to weakness, to suffering, and to more hate. All of this, what power does it bring? It didn't help me out, all this time, the pain the suffering this village has given me, did I get stronger? Yes, I did, but not because of hate, not because of pain, but because of work. Hard work, that's what makes you strong. They say I'm stupid, that I can't ever compare to him, but how much farther from the truth can they be?

The prodigy, Sasuke, bound to be even stronger than his brother; the one he pledges to defeat, and bring forth the revival of a new clan. Let me ask you this though, how much better would that new clan be? Bread in hate, lust for power, and disgust for this world. Would it really be any better? Would it really help his cause? I don't think so. I know… I know very well the feeling that's crept inside Sasuke's heart. The pain, the hatred caused by a single person. The only difference between me and him, he was offered help, every day. Wouldn't you gladly jump into that fate? Something that could help you cause, make your dream even brighter than before. Sounds reasonable to me; but not to him, he's got to do it all alone. Fool… What will that give you? A bigger ego, more pride?

You see, this is really how stupid he is; but if that is the case, then why… Why am I so caught up in being better then him? Maybe it's because he has everything I could ever wish for. He has Sakura… Sakura-Chan I might say. He has power, popularity… Yet he takes it for granted…

Your right, he doesn't have parents… That's his reason… I guess that's all the reason he needs. Revenge is such a power thing. It can destroy your whole life… batter it up as to the point where you can't think straight anymore. What happens after? You turn into a Sasuke… Running, fearing, wanting… Power, is all that matter to you. You don't care about anyone around. Your friends are only second best, your love… It doesn't even exist. So what's the point, the point of living your life that way? I know, because you think that in the end, it will all have been worth it. You think the pain will all just go away, vanish, like it was never there to begin with

How much further you could be from the truth. A pain of that depth reaches down into your soul and rips it apart. The only cure, some one there to love you in a way you could have never imagined. Sasuke, he had that chance, but he didn't take. Sweet revenge, oh how much better it was, a false cure meant to tear you apart, meant to destroy in every single way that exist and will exist in the painful place called reality. So why not except the cure? Because, that's just not an option, and I guess, I can understand that too.

He left a burden on your soul, didn't he Sasuke? Something you think no one will ever understand, something that I understand so much better than you ever could. The only problem? I'm just the dobe, the idiot that doesn't know a single thing, the one who just gets in the way for the worse, and you know what? That's my reality, something that only I can change, something that I will change, something… I have to change. That's my love, that's what keeps me going… Striving towards that ultimate goal of gaining the title Hokage.

Do you notice the difference between me and him now? If not, let me tell you. I've worked hard, training myself day after day. Every morning, every night, I work to gain my strength. It might seem slow, but its there, showing itself every time I take the stage for a fight. Just a little more speed, a little more power, a little more heart.

He on the other hand, tries to take the easy way out. Pop, on comes the curse, on comes the power. Oh yeah, he didn't want it a first, but his thirst grew. We could all see it, even if we didn't want too. Anko even predicted it, cause she knew well. Now look where we are at. A battle to be fought to see if he really received power or if it was all a lie, a false glimmer of hope meant to trick someone into receiving it. I certainly hope that's the case, because I really don't know how I'll fair in the battle.

Haha, don't get me wrong; I know that strength doesn't opt the outcome of a battle, but I'll tell you one thing… It certainly helps quite a bit. Power, Strength, Speed, Skill, Desire, Heart, Protection… That's what makes one truly strong. And to my dismay, I don't have all of that; but I have… Hope, And I know that, that makes a great ninja as well. But I'm not stupid, and I know that that's not enough to take on someone who does have all of those elements.

I have to take it step by step, line by line... Hit by hit, and all above. If believe that I can win, beat the one person I've longed to defeat for so long, I think I can. One thing that I have learned of the years is that, nothing is ever for certain. You never know the outcome of a battle, no matter who the opponent is. There are so many factors to multiply, Skill is one, but then again, there is slack. There is Smarts, but there is underestimation. I've fallen pray to a lot of these, and each time it's happened, even against the most powerful enemies, it ended up slapping them in the face. A major reputation blow, that not even the crowed expected.

I think I have swayed away from the original topic a little bit. So, I'll get back to the point. Here I am face to face against my arch rival, nemesis person. Sounds complicated huh? Not really, all that's left is to whip his behind into to next week, but that's not looking good. Judging from the way he looks, the curse has taken part of his body, and is already letting its power seep out. I can feel the power take control of the area, a large aura of evil intent fills the every rock, every pebble, every ripple of water. It really brings fear into my heart, but if I show that, this battle will already be over.

Intimidation is a big part of a fight. It can be used to bring an advantage, or a disadvantage, it really depends on the user. Neji for example, was able to intimidate Hinata, who in turn nearly forfeited her match. When he tried to intimidate me… He only fueled my lust for victory even more. In each of those cases, intimidation served as a fuel to victory or defeat. Pretty whacked huh?

I know what your thinking, what happened to the battle. Well, I'm just trying to avert my mind from the killing intent. Why do I, after all this could be my LIFE!! Ah… who cares, I don't have much to live for right now, a promise to a person who doesn't even acknowledge my presence, HA! That's a lot. However, a promise is a promise, and I can't ignore that. Why? Because that's all the hope I have right now. A fulfilled promise, wouldn't that say something? I know it would to me, after all I don't see many.

Well, I found him. Looks like he's not going to stop, time to leap into to action. I'll find a way, to stop him. To fulfill that promise I made not so long ago. Well let us begin.

"YOU STOP RIGHT THERE," I shout at the top of my lungs.

He stopped… I didn't think he would. Maybe he has hope after all. I don't know; I don't want to judge anyone. He could be just as evil as Orochimaru, but you know what, we don't know until we find out.

"What's your problem, running away from the village like this?" The conversation begins… Let me hear.

"Hahaha, that pathetic little village? Why wouldn't I run?" He started speaking a little louder… Sending chills up my spin, Even Sasuke never sounded this cold. "Who can get strong there? In the midst of weakling, wanting only peace?"

"Anyone can," I screech back, I'm not about to let him run the show. That just decreases my chances victory. "Didn't you see, not even Orochimaru, combined with the Sand and the Sound could take us down, Are you blind?"

"Hmph… That because there weak, something I'm not destined to be. I've got a vengeance to carry out, and you're too weak to stop me," he spoke calmly, as if he was completely confident with the skill handed over to him. "Haha, is this all they send me? Uzumaki Naruto, an idiot not worth the time to even talk too? Hahaha, the must want you to get killed."

That hit me hard, not because it came from him, or not because he thought I was weak, but because it was partially true. The village has always hated me. I didn't know but only about 6 or so months ago. A demon sealed in me. I hate it, I really do, but something that life has taught me is that you've got to live with what you got. To tell you the honest truth, I wouldn't have it any other way… Ok say maybe I would be happier with out the fox, but you see, he's become a part of me. Something that I have to live with, not a burden, but a strength. Who knew I would say that?

"HA!" I shout out stupidly, "Show me… This strength that's been given to you, we'll see how much it really helped." And to make matter worse, I'm going to add more… "If you can't even beat me with it, HA! What use it?"

I shifted my body into my normal fighting pose, ready to strike at any time. He didn't back down, and of course, I didn't expect him too, after all, he ad a lot of power to test out. Who better to test it out than on me? He stood there, not moving, waiting for the first move to be made. It looked more defensive than offensive. I braced my self for the first attack. I'll start by checking out how strong he actually is.

I dashed towards Sasuke at speed, retracting my arm, putting force into the blow. With all I had, I went towards him at a speed I didn't know I could run; even he seemed a least bit surprised. I came within striking distance and extended my arm to hit him with full force.

"AHHHHHHH!!!" I screamed attempting to intensify the attack.

My arm reached his face. He didn't even flinch. His arm was there, clenching my fast with power I had never felt. He tightened his grip, causing pain to fly through my arm… A pain I hadn't felt since I fought Kabuto. He took my arm, and I felt my self being forced away, as though I had been thrown effortlessly through the air. My, was he this strong? The power in his arm was much more than before, much more than I could have imagined. What incredible strength.

I slowly made my way back up to my feet; there was no strategy in head, nothing I could do to counter attack. So I stood there, pondering my next move. What was there to do, here I am next to a monster, with power running through every inch of his body, power I can't even imagine.

"Stupid Dobe," He says to me, appearing right in front of me, in blinding speed. I didn't know he was that fast, how could I have known? I knew this wouldn't be an easy fight, but I didn't expect this. "This next attack will penetrate your heart and sever it to the point as to where not even the legendary Tsunade will be able to fix it."

I knew then, that he wasn't playing around; he really wanted to kill me. He really wanted to test his strength out. I braced my self for the attack, I knew I wouldn't be able to defend from it, so I might as well have taken away some of the impact. His hands formed seals quickly and accurately, reminding me of Kakashi, fluent in every movement"

"Feel the Hyuuga's power," He scoffed. His hand burned with purple chakra around it, making what looked like and orb of power held in his hand. What had he done? Did he manage to steal the Hyuuga's special ability?

I felt his hand jab into my chest. The chakra quickly started flying through my skin, my muscles, and to my heart. Then pain, a pain I had never felt before. The blood rushed through my throat and out of my mouth. I coughed in pain for what seemed and eternity. Shocks of pain, excruciating hurt, ran through my body light thunder through a cloud.

I fell…

Was this the end? If so, how did it end so fast? Was he really that strong? Or was I really… that weak?

NO!

I can't give up…

I won't lose. I can't lose, I made a promise. I feel myself moving. The pain bolting through every vain, every artery in my body, but I can't pay attention… No, this a battle of promise. Promise that must be fulfilled and I will do what it takes to accomplish that task… I will succeed… I will win.

"Cough… Is that… Cough cough… All you got?" I talk, attempting to fade the pain away. To not show my weakness, to from a strategy. I knew, if the battle lasted long, I wouldn't win… I couldn't win. So I haft to make it short… One attack… Rasengan. "Let's show off our best skills… Your chidori versus my rasengan…" Of course in my current condition I have a total disadvantage. However, I have a strategy. I hope it will turn out well.

"Hahaha! Do you think you can match up to me?" He threw back at me the answer that I hoped for. I new that next would come the 'I'm surprised deal'… "I'm surprised you're still standing against that previous attack. You think you can last with the little bit of energy you have left?"

"Are you concerned?" I responded, trying to keep my own little edge of the battle, if I blew this, I was most likely gone for. "I am—though—a bit curious as to how you copied the Hyuuga's ability."

Sharingan was enough, if he had the power of the both the Hyuuga and his clan, he would be almost unstoppable, especially if Orochimaru got his hands on him… That would be very very bad, and I wouldn't like that situation, especially since we only got Jaiyra and Tsunade to protect this village, if they even want to anyway.

"Idiot, I didn't copy the attack, I merely reinvented it. The Hyuuga's attack functions by using their eyes to look at their opponents Chakra points. They use chakra at the edge of the hands to hit those stimulated points, or to deal inward damage an organ. I may not have been able to see you Chakra points, but everyone knows where the heart is. All I had to do was put a bit of chakra into my hand and hit your heart. However, I added a twist; I use the chakra to pinch all of the surrounding nerves, causing extreme pain to flow through your body."

Incredible, a whole new attack by just using the main idea of the Hyuuga's byakugen… I never knew that Sasuke was that smart, but then again, I should have seen it, simply because he did the same exact thing with Lee's attack. Recreated it in the form of Shishi Renden (Lion Combo).

"Ready Sasuke! I hope you are, cause this attack will blow you away like it would have in our last little battle" I used the intimidation factor… Let see how it works.

"Hahaha… Chidori…" He had already formed his attack? What incredible speed.

This is it, it's all or nothing, everything rides on this attack!

Add chakra in to the palm of the hand. Begins rotation Accelerate

"Die…"

His attack reached me, penetrating all my defense… Is it over…?

Never, because I'm smart to, and I have my own little strategy…

"A bunshin…but how…?"

I grabbed Sasuke's arm, spinning his body towards my own. It was over, for the resangen would penetrate his body and either kill him or hurt him badly… I can't kill him… How irritating huh… The one person, who attempted to end your life, threatened you… what Irony…

"Looks like your whole plan failed Sasuke… Now you will feel pain…"

I swung him towards the ground, and using all the force in my hand I hit him in his stomach… He blue ball of chakra erupted around us both, and then silence… I had won, he had lost. The battle was done, but not the pain… You see, the pain never ends…

"H….ho…how…" His words were elapsed in pain… Every word had the flow of intense hurt. "Th…this… power, did… I lose?"

As if his dream had fallen, far from him. He stared into my eyes. Every possible emotion was embedded in his face… Every thing he had ever wanted to say to me… It seemed so much… yet so simple…

"I… I hate you…N..Naruto," and he fell… I looked down at his unconscious face… There was nothing to say… except for maybe one thing…

Authors note:

Morgri- Well I guess it's a start… I hope to here from all of you. Tell me what you think… All comments are appreciated… You can even give me some ideas for later chapters if you wish. Anyways, I hope to hear from a lot of you.

Side Note: As you probably noticed, nothing of this has to do with any of the storyline… and if they fight was hard to understand… Sorry, I'm still learning the whole fight scene deal J