S O U L M A T E S (SasuNaruSasu Magazine) SOULMATES MAGAZINE N1 | Page 33

ENDINGS BY Zeny
Naruto doesn’t want to believe in destiny, but
it seems he always ends up watching Sasuke’s
back walking away from him, no matter the
context. It’s the same as three—no, four years
ago; the difference is that now he watches him
go with his feet planted firmly on the ground,
no intention of chasing him.
He doesn’t know if he can let go of the obses-
sed dedication he has spent so much time per-
fecting: Sasuke, his goal; Sasuke, his inspiration;
Sasuke, his enemy; Sasuke, his best ally; Sasuke,
his friend.
Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke.
He mutters the name out loud. It’s a habit.
Even Kurama knows. It’s always been the
trump card the fox pulled out in every dispute:
how could you be stronger than me, when Sa-
suke makes you so weak?
Naruto closes his eyes.
He really did it, huh. Sasuke was rescued from
the darkness. The hate that was devouring his
soul has transform… Though Naruto doesn’t
know into what.
But this is the end.
He reached his goal, his enemy became his ally,
his friend is back…
way to get Sasuke to talk is not saying
anything.
He knows he has to work for the peace of the
world, for the unity of all the Shinobi villages.
The war may be over but, as Kakashi said:
Trouble is just about to start.
He argued with him and the Konoha Council,
an elderly pair he had never met before.
However, as Kurama cynically pointed, they
were the artisans of many tragedies, including
his. They judge and decree and hold the pup-
pet strings of the ninja as if they were tools,
just as they did with It achi. He has to do so-
mething about that—
Sasuke’s getting away. Again.
Behind Naruto is a world of responsibilities
and unfulfilled promises.
Sasuke’s getting away, and Naruto doesn’t ha-
ve a reason to chase him.
But his eyes don’t stray from the figure shrin-
king in the distance.
Fear, uncertainty and determination throng his
throat. The wind whispers and shakes the thin
branches. Some fallen leaves crowd around his
feet.
We still…
Isn’t that true? Tottering steps lead him forward.
Sasuke still hasn’t recovered fully; that most be
the reason for his slow steps. Naruto can see
him from where he stands, leaning against a
tree trunk. “Wait, Sasuke!”
The last funeral was yesterday. But.
And now what? Perhaps he doesn’t need a reason.
He couldn’t ask, Sasuke, what are you gonna
do? Where will you go? Hey, don’t even think
about dying again! Didn’t I tell you to help me? Perhaps…
We still have things to talk about!
It sounds like a desperate excuse.
It’s one of those things he can’t explain with
words.
The war has left him drained. It’s a strangely
nice, empty feeling.
Maybe he likes that, when he shuts up, Sasuke’s
voice fills the silence. He knows now: the best
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