Always by Hope in the Shadows

~.~.~.~.~.~.

Always is a strange word. It is a word that makes another word, or phrase, or a sentence into something eternal. Yet the people that surrounded me who used the word didn't do what they said they'd do forever.

"I'll always love Sasuke!"

Sakura had once shouted that. Now she was with Lee and having his kids.

"I'll always protect my comrades."

That's what Kakashi said, but when it came time to protect me I was no longer his 'comrade'. I was not worth protecting when push came to shove.

"You'll always be like a little brother to me."

Tsunade had said that once in a moment of affection. But now that I wasn't at her side I was no longer that brotherly figure.

"You'll always be weaker than me."

Sasuke had truly believed that. So much so that when he had tried to capture me for the Akatsuki he had not anticipated my strength and I had nearly killed him.

It's quiet now. For some reason the memorial stone is beautiful at night especially when there is a full moon shining. I can't stay here long, someone might find me and then they'll know I'm still alive. I run my fingers over the last name engraved on the stone – my own.

Namikaze Naruto

I laugh a little. It's funny how they only honor me as his son after I'm 'dead'. I pull out a kunai and start to add a new name to the stone.

"We'll always be together," his voice echoes through my mind as I cut into the stone.

"Always?"

I finish the last stroke and I can't stop the tears that roll down my face. Why had I been so skeptical of his words. If I hadn't doubted his words would he still be standing here next to me alive instead of being dead by his brother's hand?

"Always."

I run my hand across the new name etched net to mine. We could no longer be physically together in this life anymore, but we would forever be together on the memorial stone. I don't want to leave now, but I must so I turn and leave. My last image of the stone burned forever in my mind.

Namikaze Naruto Uchiha Itachi

"I love you…always…"