….

when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory
Leave out all the rest

….

Naruto sat hunched against the door to his apartment. The empty hallway of the building was eerie but he couldn't bring himself to go in. no one was waiting for him.

Time was lost.

A pair of feet stood infront of him. He looked up slowly and stared at the unexpected guest with tired eyes.

A choked question bubbled in his throat "What do I do, Sakura?"

She fell to her knees and hugged him close. His blue eyes widened as her lips moved, whispering. She then pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "This is the only way to save Sasuke, It's our only chance."

He nodded and stood up.

….

Leave out all the rest

Leave out all the rest

….

*Two hours ago

Moment after Naruto left the Hokage tower, lost in a frenzy of disbelief and shock, a pink-haired girl walked into the dishevelled office with a look of determination on her face.

Tsunade nodded her head as she kept her chair facing the window. Sakura saw the reflection in the glass and left.

They had planned this when they knew that the council was not going to back away. The only way for the chaos to stop was for Sasuke and Naruto

to die.

….

When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed

….

A door opened and Sasuke walked out to an open plaza. He was wearing a white kimono.

The aggravated crowds yelled out in anger as they saw him. Words for him to be punished and die were coming in all directions as he walked through the crowd. The ANBU holding his elbow tightened his grip and Sasuke winced. The shackles around his elbows and ankles made it hard to move much less struggle. But what good would that do him anyways?

He was made to walk up steps leading to a high wooden ground. The execution stage vibrated with the barbaric screams from the enraged crowd below.

Tsunade had just given her speech and had explained that Sasuke was going to die for the safety of the village and with hearing the dangers he had put the villagers through they only wanted the execution to be done with. Sasuke tuned her voice out as she continued while the ANBU with the black gloves tightened the rope around his fragile neck.

"Also, the same punishment will be inflicted on the person that had brought the traitor back into the village, and unbeknown by us, he had been keeping the dangerous S-ranked Ninja in his apartment the whole time." The crowd turned their heads as the door opened once again, and from the Hokage Tower's jail section emerged two ANBU ninja with a blonde man being dragged between them.

Sasuke gaped as Naruto was pulled up the steps and a rope was tied around the tan neck beside him. "NO, STOP THIS!" screamed the Uchiha in rage. He couldn't believe they were making it seem like Naruto brought Sasuke to the village on his accord without the knowledge of the Hokage. What was happening?

Sasuke was about to scream out that they were liars when a black glove covered his mouth. The ANBU with the cloud marks pulled at the loop and made it so tight Sasuke could hardly breath. "Let him go." He croaked out. The shackles clanked as he fought to free his hands, now bound behind his back.

Naruto looked dizzy. Blue eyes glanced at him with sorrow.

Tsunade turned her back to the crowd and viewed the two with cold eyes. "I wish you have a better start in the next life."

Sasuke, for the first time in years felt the hotness of tears slide down his cheeks. He didn't want Naruto to die with him. Not like this. Sasuke wheezed out and struggled to look at his companion. To his shock, Naruto was smiling slightly at the woman who had just announced their demise, so faint that it wouldn't have been noticeable if he weren't so close.

"Pull the lever." Yelled Tsunade, her voice cracked and the crowds fell silent. The ANBU behind Sasuke wrapped his glove-covered hand around the lever. And before the wooden doorways opened under their feet, Sasuke caught a glimpse of green eyes staring at him with regret from the crowd.

"Goodbye." Mouthed Sakura. And the lever was pulled.

The crowds watched as two figures hung limp.

The ANBU on stage was nowhere to be found.

….

When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some
Reasons to be missed

….

Sasuke opened his eyes to see green. Sounds of leaves being carried by the wind made him suck in a deep breath. His pale hands moved weakly on the grass, touching the softness. The rough material of cloth made him look beside him.

The breath stuck in his throat as he saw Naruto on the ground.

The ANBU with the cloud mask was watching them. And as the ninja approached Sasuke found his hands free of chains. The Uchiha sat up, his hands protectively rested on his friend's chest.

"You're safe now. Leave and don't come back." Then the figure pulled out a scroll. He tossed it to the Uchiha and jumped onto a tree. Then disappeared into the shadows.

Sasuke unrolled the scroll and marvelled at the artistic strokes. The familiar use of ink made him grateful to the person he had misjudged and hated.

The thin paper held explanation form the Hokage saying that even though she couldn't control the decision of the Council she was not able to stand and see Naruto die as he watched his best friend get murdered in a humiliating manner.

'It was Sakura's idea. She came to my office one night; at around 11PM, saying that she couldn't stand the way things were going to the worst. She said she had a plan and I was glad to hear a solution to my insomniac filled nights. She planned to use two bodies from the morgue and use her Chakra with genjutsu to give the appearance that you were executed, and then when the lever was pulled, Sai would swiftly use his advanced jutsu to substitute the bodies without anyone noticing. But we had one problem, we couldn't expect you to live in Naruto's apartment forever and we couldn't risk the truth coming out. So Naruto had to go too. It is better this way since he wouldn't stop badgering me till the day of my funeral' Sasuke smiled at this 'Do not come back to the village. This is the last solution. I wish you happiness with your new life.

-Tsunade.'

Under the Hokage's signature a new letter started. A few lines:

'I couldn't handle the fact that after all these years we were not meant to be together but to see you die, Sasuke, I wouldn't be able to handle that. I will be happy as long as you are living the way you want, and now I realize, that is with Naruto.

-Love, Sakura. ' The stains on the paper showed dried tears.

Naruto stirred and groaned. He hadn't expected Sai to hit him so hard. Actually, they didn't tell him Sai would hit him at all. But the ANBU just went and swung at him and Sasuke, before carrying them off somewhere. Blue eyes fluttered and green invaded his disoriented vision.

He had the sudden feeling of relief as something soft and warm rested on his cheek. He looked to see Sasuke hugging his side. Soft lips traced his whiskered cheeks.

"According to Konoha, we are both officially dead. So, where do you want to go now?" Naruto chuckled at the sarcasm in his friend's voice.

"Wherever you want, Sasuke. Wherever you want."

End.