Summary: AU. Naruto had disappeared one year ago and is now presumed dead. Sasuke, Sakura and Kakashi are on a mission patrolling the border between the Country of Fire and the Country of Rice Fields when a heavily injured blond stumbles into their campsite. Could this blond possibly be someone they know?

A/N: This is the first fanfiction I've ever written, so I would really appreciate it if you leave a review. English is not my first language, so if there is some grammar mistakes or the like, please forgive me. I've got some problems with my grammar at times. Hopefully it's not too much ^_^

Before you start reading this story, there's something to take notice of. That is, this story is AU. Therefore, the characters might act a bit OOC at times, as their circumstances are a bit different than in the canon. I try to stick to canon, but there are certain things in canon that just wouldn't work in my story.

The most important difference in this story is that Orochimaru still has control over the Sound Village, but he had never left the Akatsuki. Therefore, Sasuke had never met Orochimaru and had never left Konoha. He is still a member of Team 7. The Uchiha massacre still happened, but Sasuke is no longer obsessed over revenge. And yes, Sasuke is more talkative towards his team members. They had become his family.

That's it! Now onto the story. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Towards the Light

Cold. So cold. The caressing wind enveloped him, smoothly stroking his spiky blond hair before disappearing into the distance. He shivered in the icy air, but he could not move from the spot. It had been so long: so long since he had felt the caress of the wind upon his skin; so long since he had seen the wan light of the winter moon; so long since he had heard the music of the night. It had been so long since he had been free.

Freedom. The word overwhelmed him. Freedom? What is freedom? What does it mean? It had been so long since he had tasted it, he no longer remembered what the word meant. A state of being free. What does it mean to be free? ...I don't know. I've forgotten...

The wind blew stronger against him, biting at his blood-soaked figure. His blood dripped softly from his fingertips, falling into the gentle snow below, staining it crimson red. He didn't notice it. He never noticed it any more. It had been so long since he had felt anything but pain. He was numb to it by now.

A lone wolf howled into the cold winter air. He started. I have to get away. Before they catch me. Before I lose again. He started moving his feet. Forward, slowly forward. His feet dragged in the snow, leaving two crimson trails behind him. His blood still fell onto the snow, leaving a clear trail for his pursuers. He didn't notice it: he couldn't notice it. He could only focus on one thing: moving forward.

A colour flitted through his mind. Green. Green? What is that? What does it mean? The wind pushed him along, causing him to stumble slightly over his feet. He faltered. No. No time. Got to move forward. Before they catch me again. I have to warn them. He stopped completely and cocked his head. Them? Them who? Who is Them? He stared bemusedly at his feet, noticing the crimson spots at his feet. So beautiful...

Run. Don't stop, run. Before they catch you. Before you lose again. He could hear voices in the far distance. Fear flashed across his eyes and his feet started to move again. One step at a time. He no longer felt anything. He could only move forward: away from the voices; away from the darkness; away from the memories.

He frowned slightly, but didn't stop. Memories? What are those? An act of remembrance. What does it mean to remember? The voices were drawing closer, along with the sound of dogs howling in the air. They were tracking him, he knew. But his mind could not register the fact.

The colour flitted through his mind again, this time accompanied by something else: a smile. His steps faltered again. A smile? What does it mean? He stared distantly at the snow again, but kept moving forward. Whose? The thought flitted away as quickly as it came. A voice spoke far-off into his mind: no time to wonder. Run. Before they catch you. Before you lose again.

His eyes stared at the empty air in front of him. Lose? What does it mean to lose? To not win. To give up. To let them catch you again. His eyes shot up to the road in front of him. NO! His eyes filled with determination and his steps became surer. I will not lose. I will not give up. I will not let them catch me again.

The colour came again, this time clearer and set in something. A face. A face of a smiling girl with clear emerald eyes framed with soft pink hair. She looked at him, encouraging him to move on. He frowned slightly in confusion. Who? Who is she? He searched his mind, but he couldn't find the answer. I can't remember. It had been too long. Too long since I...

His eyelids drooped slightly. Too long since I...what? Too long since what happened? He stopped and stared at the bright stars.I can't remember. The voice started again. Run. Before they catch you. Before you lose again.

He started to move again, spurred on by the voice in his head. His breath started to come out in small ragged breaths, as if the air struggled to escape. His cerulean eyes darkened slightly, but still he moved forward. His skin had long since become a sick pallid colour, but he did not notice. His veins showed blue against his translucent skin, but still he moved forward. He could not stop.

The voices drew closer still. Still he moved forward, his ragged breaths appearing as a small cloud in front of him. His vision darkened still, but he did not stop; could not stop. He trudged forward through the snow, the crimson spots behind him starting to grow less. He could feel his vision darken and lighten, being on the brink of consciousness.

A flickering light appeared in the distance, drawing him towards it. It drew him like he was a moth drawn towards the light: beautiful, but dangerous. His vision darkened still. No more. I can't do this anymore. His steps faltered ever so slightly. NO! RUN! Before they catch you. Before you lose again!

A smile flitted across his face. It's alright. It no longer matters. Let them catch me. He closed his eyes, but still he trudged forward. I just don't care anymore...

The same green-eyed face appeared in his mind again. A look of disappointment appeared in the emerald eyes. A soft and gentle, but still strong, feminine voice sounded in his mind. "So you won't fight anymore? You'll just give up?" Tears filled the emerald eyes. "You don't care about me anymore?"

The words struck a chill into his heart. His breath grew even more ragged and his steps fastened slightly. His heart clenched with sadness as his eyes started to burn slightly. Why? Why does it hurt so much?

He moved closer to the light, no longer conscious of its dangers. It was a haven now, drawing him closer to safety. A thought flitted through his mind again. You should not go there. It could be dangerous. A single lucid thought flashed through his mind. But it could be safe as well. Safe from my pursuers. I'd rather take the gamble, since I know that there are danger behind me. It could be safe in the light. Safer than the darkness, anyway. The voice in his head was silent, but the voices behind him intensified. He knew he could not last much longer on his own. He was too weak from the cold and loss of blood.

The light slowly drew closer. With each small step he gave, the light came closer a little bit. His vision darkened suddenly and he stumbled over his dragging feet, falling with a crash into the snow. He lay there for a few seconds, unable to get up again. But still he moved forward. He crawled on his arms towards the light blinking coyly at him. He felt his body weaken exponentially with each movement, but still he endured. I won't give up. Not now. Not so close to safety.

The light was closer now, but still felt like it was too far away. His pursuers were almost upon him: he could hear their steps and shouts clearly now. Still he crawled forward. His lips muttered soundless words: silent prayers to who knows what. His breathing grew even more struggled; every breath he drew bestowed agony upon his lungs. But still he did not give up: the emerald eyes spurred him on, calling him towards her.

Pain filled his entire body, but desperately he moved on. The light was no longer just a haven to him: it was a place where the green-eyed angel would be. She would be there, allowing him to finally rest.

A thought flashed across his mind, but disappeared before he could make sense of it. There was something he had to do, but he didn't know what. He mind shut out every other thought; just the thought to keep moving dominated his mind. He used a tree to get upright again, never stopping for more than a few seconds. Safety was so close...

Suddenly the light was upon him. He stumbled slightly and blinked confusedly at the flickering firelight now shining its light upon him. He stared bemusedly at the small campfire for a few seconds, unable to comprehend that he had reached his goal. Then, relief flooded through his body and his own cerulean eyes fluttered close when he finally allowed himself to rest, slipping into sweet unconsciousness. He never noticed the three figures surrounding the campfire who stared at him with eyes wide with shock.

A/N: So, what do you think? Do you like it? Does it have potential? Is it worth continuing? As of this moment, I am unsure whether I should make it multi-chaptered or keep it an oneshot. I'm leaning towards multi-chaptered, but that depends on your responses :P