( His mother, dead. His father, dead. Everyone in the family, dead. Itachi, alive and unharmed, holding the sword that had just inflicted this wound on his shoulder.
Oh gods, Sasuke cried, is this what I think it is?)
How heart wrenching :'-(

( "Look, Sasuke, I don't know about you, but I thought we were getting to be friends, you know?" Naruto did not miss the ever subtle flinch that washed over Sasuke's face at the word, but he bullied on, ignoring the strange pang in his chest. "Sure, we started off being dicks to each other, but I thought that was like.." Naruto scratched his head, the words escaping him the longer he rambled. "Like.. a foundation. Yeah, a foundation for our friendship."
...
"Shit, we got along, didn't we?" Naruto huffed and set his facial features to pout. "Besides, how the hell am I supposed to know what friends are like? You're my first friend." Naruto wrinkled his forehead in thought and then corrected himself. "Or at least, I thought you were.")
TT_TT

( "I just.." Sasuke sighed, unable to look at the blonde in his stupefied face, "I just didn't know how to say I was sorry."
The sound of Naruto's jaw dropping was followed immediately by an unintelligible gurgle that could have been "What?"
"I didn't mean to say those things." Hell, he had said he was sorry, in a way, so what was the harm in saying the rest of the things on his mind? "Then I didn't know how to take it back. After a while, it was just easier avoiding you."
If Naruto had not been staring at the dark haired genius as he spoke, he may have doubted that it really was Sasuke speaking to him.)
Yay to mending bridges~

( Therefore, he manfully let out a warbling sound that he hoped came out as a 'yes.')
This made me laugh.

(Another whimpering sound and Sasuke finally looked up to see Naruto's face etched in shock and a weird sense of anticipation. The sunny ninja was really listening to him, like he cared about what came out of his mouth.
It gave him the courage to say what he should have said thirteen days, twelve hours and nine minutes ago. Not that he was counting.)
Ah, these precious boys.

( "Why are you being the thing that he told you to be?" Sasuke would never do anything someone else told him to do, that was just part of who he was. So why was he?
A humorless laugh escaped Sasuke's lips before he could rein it back. "What else can I be?"
Naruto shrugged, the movement letting him know that Sasuke still held him by the arm. "You can be Sasuke," he replied, his voice gentle and soothing, but with a lilt of steel beneath it.
"Sasuke, huh." Unbidden, Sasuke's eyes softened and his hand that held Naruto in a bruising grip gentled, traveling up to the blonde's shoulder then to his cheek to cup it gently. )
My eyes are all watery. Their whole conversation and Sasuke's conscious affection while Naruto is awake is wow.

( "As far as I know, Itachi didn't turn you into this asshole I know."
Sasuke smiled back at Naruto, tremulous and slight, but still smiled. How had he managed to avoid Naruto for so long without having lost his mind?
"I may be an asshole, but at least I'm not an idiot."
The blonde's smile grew wider and Sasuke let his thumb graze the corner of that blazing grin that even the darkness of the night could not hide. The last two weeks of avoidance and hurt feelings dissipated with that simple movement and for the first time in a long while, their smiles turned genuine and their eyes reflected the change.
"Hey, Sasuke.."
The dark eyed boy didn't let Naruto finish, only nodding and continuing to rub the cheek that burned so hotly under his fingertips.
"We are." Sasuke said simply, and for a short time, the world seemed most wondrous.)
I am pretty sure the word is friend. But this world building makes the word so much more loaded now. But them being at peace and sure of where they stand with each other fills me with a relieved and thankful content.

( 'I'm coming home.'
And he would come back to Konoha as he left it, leaving a path of blood and bodies, so that his brother could follow the trail. After all, what was the point of conquering Konoha if his brother wasn't there to welcome him back?)
Whoa, this twist. Is Itachi insane? Does he want to be Hokage or something? What is going on?

I look forward to see if this Gaara will do a turnabout. I am glad we got to see Naruto and Sasuke's relationship mended.

I hope you are well, you're illness sounds terrifying. Moments where you literally think you are going to die hit pretty hard. Did you lose inspiration for this story? If you still have notes, would you mind posting notes on where you had planned to take the story, moments you wanted to execute, the missing plot holes and anything related to the story? Thank you for writing and leaving your stories up.

(Like.. Kiba, yes. Dog boy. He had made fun of him, but it had been very good natured. Or at least, he hoped so, because otherwise, some of things had been pretty damned offensive. Naruto would have to rethink that one.)
This made me laugh. It was fun hearing about the different visitors Naruto got.

( 'It's too soon,' the old man slumped in his seat, his shoulders sagging with the weight of responsibilities and lives. 'Too soon for the Nine- Tails to manifest like this. Naruto cannot control him the way he is now, he's too weak.')
This made me mad, calling Naruto weak.

( 'The war has gone on too long, ten years too long. Am I a fool for letting it go on for longer?')
And this made me madder, what is he saying? He could've shortened the war? Was the war on purpose?!
...
Oh. That's what he meant.

(... What can I do but sacrifice your last will in the name of peace and Konoha?")
I want to punch Hiruzen in the face except for that fact that he is an old man and I would be arrested if not outright executed.

( "Naruto is strong, very strong." He had known that since the day of his birth, the day of the sealing. He had become more certain as the years passed, as he watched the young Naruto grow up surrounded by hatred and still managing to retain all that was good and confident. "He may not be the most brilliant one." No, that one had defected after killing off his clan. "He may not be the quickest learner." No, that title fell to the last of the Uchiha, no contest. "He may not be the most skilled one." Kakashi reigned supreme in that area, still. "But he is the most resilient one, a brightly shining star in a sea of darkness.")
This was an interesting exposition of the different characters.

( Surely, discussing such trite and stupid things should be reserved for the ears of other insane females, but no, Ino thought it necessary to inflict such a cruel mental torture on him.
"I mean, I do admit, Sasuke and Naruto aren't the best of friends." Ino babbled right over Shikamaru trying to strangle himself with the scarf that hung about his shoulders. "So I thought, sheesh, no problem, good thing Sasuke and Naruto aren't running into each other." Shikamaru sighed when all he got from self strangulation was a bit of discomfort instead of the blissful embrace of death. "But the more I look, the more I see that Sasuke is avoiding rather too enthusiastically."
The blond girl continued with her incessant rambling, her hand grasping hard on Shikamaru's sleeve so that he could not escape without looking like a fool.)
Poor Shikamaru lol. Though Ino presenting her case to him gives him clues to solve the puzzle :D

( "Sakura, get this obsessive woman off of me." Shikamaru pulled ineffectively at his sleeve in a death grip by such delicate looking lily white teacup hands. "I can't listen to another syllable about Sasuke." His pulling became more frantic as he picked out that gleam in Sakura's green eyes. The twit was enjoying this, damn it. "You like the guy, you talk to Ino about it. I have better things to do." Take the freaking hint, he silently pleaded, let me keep some of my tattered dignity.)
xD

Wow, that got depressing fast but acting deluded is also unbecoming. At least Sakura has a clue. Slights against Naruto again. Gai almost lost me as a fan there. Never been a fan of Asuma's so shade on him is fine :b

( "I'm training Naruto, not fighting the demon."
...
"Who else would it be? Naruto is Naruto, no matter what chakra he channels.")
Props to Kakashi for seeing Naruto as Naruto, and not writing him off.

( She had come in at first light bearing a host of foods and medicines, fresh bandages hanging off the tray's edge, smiling like a loon and scaring the wits out of him with her forced cheer. )
That does sound pretty terrifying, also sort of funny since Sasuke doesn't give the impression that he is easy to freak out. Actually when Ino was smiling at Sakura when she visited her, it did sound like she had some sort of Stepford wife thing going on, but it didn't scare Sakura so it was probably a more of a muted thing and Ino wasn't acting out of guilt. In this case it is like uncanny valley times ten since Sakura is forcing herself when she just feels bad.

( If Sasuke had not been a well trained ninja with good reflexes and control over his reactions, he would have screamed like a five year old girl with a mouse down her dress.)
...This is such a great description, what an image lol xD Sasuke's undercover mission, fail. But getting to see Naruto, success!

( Kakashi." Sasuke turned his head carefully, craning his neck to look up at the mildly amused commander, his black eyes betraying nothing of his thumping heart about to make a jumping leap from his mouth. "Why didn't you say so before I went through all this trouble?")
Sasuke's so cool lol And seconding Kakashi being an ass.

( In this tent lit only by the softly filtered sunlight, there was no Kakashi, no guards peering in through the gaps in the tent. No, in this moment, only he and Naruto were present, one sleeping as if dead and the other standing over that stilled form, dressed in bandages and a robe.)
I love how Sasuke is able to ignore everything around him until it was just him and Naruto.

( Minutes passed into an hour, and still Sasuke did not make motions to leave Naruto's side. Outside, the guards who had peeped out of curiosity had long lost interest and wandered back to their posts, and Kakashi had taken a seat on an unstable stool to doze off by the flap of the tent. Sasuke, however, sat still on the bed, looking at Naruto, his mind shouting quiet encouragements to the unconscious idiot whom he knew to be stronger than this.)
Sasuke's vigil over Naruto is beautiful, and I like the cameos by people around them that Sasuke doesn't pay attention to.

( Sasuke leaned forward so that his face was mere inches from Naruto's sleeping one, his dark eyes hidden by the fall of his hair. )
This feels reminscent of when Sasuke was crouched over Naruto when Naruto was unconscious at their first Valley of the End fight.

( If anything, the idiot fought tooth and nail to be the person that he is, never letting the barbs and insults of Konoha's denizens get to him, never letting the outside forces win against his indomitable spirit.)
Naruto is absolutely amazing seriously and I love how all of these are Sasuke's thoughts ;_;

( Kakashi watched through the crack of his eyelid, smirking inwardly at the lovely tableau, wondering if he should take a picture of this touching scene and blackmail his soldiers for all their worth later on in life.)
That picture would be probably become a happy if secret keepsake to both Sasuke and Naruto.

( It was so gentle, so sweet, that Kakashi literally fell out of his chair in surprise when that same caressing hand went out far to Sasuke's side, to fall in a sharp crack of a slap across the same cheek that it had touched only moments before in reverence.
'Tough love, there..' Kakashi could only dumbly think as he tried to extricate himself off the floor and the fallen stool. He had barely gotten his feet under him when Sasuke raised his hand again and backhanded Naruto's yet untouched cheek in another vicious slap, leaving behind a red print to match the one already rising like a blush in the other cheek.)
This made me since but smile at the same time. Ow. Also, understandably logical since they are pretty physical with each other lol

( "I realized something." Slap. "Naruto isn't the kind of idiot who likes quiet words and gentle support." Smack. "He needs this, the damned moron." Crack. "Wake up, you empty headed bastard.")
Man, this feels like I am intruding on something intimate, how awkward.

( The shaking stopped immediately, Sasuke's surprised and pleased eyes staring at the hand that had him by the wrist, squeezing hard enough to turn the knuckles white and cut off his circulation.
"Stop.." A raspy voice emerged from Naruto, scratchy from disuse but no less irate for it. "Stop shaking me, asshole.")
Yay! Naruto's back! Sasuke rough treatment worked, but I still feel embarrassed witnessing that.

( Instead, he saw the anger in Naruto freeze over as he broke eye contact to stare at the floor.
"Yeah, you're right." It wasn't as if they were friends, as if they could tell each other the deep, dark secrets in their hearts. So, there should be no earthly reason why Sasuke's answer shot that lance of pain through him. "Sorry I asked."
...
"You don't have the right to ask me that." Naruto's response was unusually cold, sending an unwelcome shiver down Sasuke's spine. "To quote you, none of your business."
Feeling as if he lost something, Sasuke walked out of the tent with a heavy heart. Maybe it was a good time to get that head exam he had been contemplating, because there was no reason that he should feel the nausea building in his stomach or the slow tightening in his chest.)
What a horrible turn of events, I want to cry for Naruto. Damnit Sasuke, you totally did lose something!

( A short, pregnant pause followed and Kakashi berated himself in his mind for not bodily carrying the Uchiha heir out before he spoke.)
Hindsight Kakashi :-(

( When the girls kept eyeing her curiously, she lowered her eyes but refused to elaborate further, not going into the gruesome details of giving Kurenai the sad, broken puppy eyes until she had handed over the precious package nor the three hour foraging in the woods for the proper mushrooms and herbs.)
Hinata's a nice girl, I am still mad Kishimoto did her and many of the female characters dirty by either having them letting themselves go physically, or stunting their careers to become badass members of society that help to change the ninja world for the better.

( She wasn't entirely sure if Sasuke and Naruto were friends or not, but from what little she had observed, she had not gotten the impression that they truly hated each other.
"I wonder about that.." Sakura said very softly so that Hinata did not think she heard it clearly. Too polite to inquire further, Hinata pretended that the pink haired girl said nothing. If anything, she was glad they were no longer talking about her gift to Naruto. It embarrassed her to be so teased, especially when it seemed that these girls knew that she had a crush on a certain blonde boy. How they had figured it out, she had no idea, it's not like she told anyone. Hell, she hardly ever spoke.)
I like how observant and tactful Hinata is. Ino lost points for her slight against Naruto.

Yes! to the revelation that this story is supposed to be long, I am down with continuing to read this story because it is dynamic and engaging. It's tough and draining coming across stories I have to force myself to read. Fuck them, kudos to Sakura to not admitting to anything even if I don't know but am hoping she did it for the right reasons.

( "Do I look like I give a damn?" Sasuke turned his enraged face to Asuma, making no effort to suppress the ugly feelings boiling over in his heart. "I have to see him."
...
Gritting his teeth until the enamel ripped off, Sasuke could only watch as his commanding officers nodded and left the tent. Kakashi was right, he could not move without feeling enormous amounts of pain – but that would not stop him from seeing Naruto.
...
Whatever the case, he would force his way into Naruto's tent tomorrow, damn the seals and quarantines, to see his idiot rival. Then, after he made sure that the boy was alive and drag him back into the world of the conscious, he would ponder why he thought of Naruto so much and get his head examined fully.)
Yay to Sasuke's strong attachment to Naruto :D Also lol to him thinking there is something wrong with himself fixation on Naruto.

( "It's okay, Sakura." Ino patted her back soothingly, letting her voice gentle into a bare whisper. "It's okay to cry, to admit that it scares you."
Ino held her as the dam burst and the tears flowed, rocking the shaking form back and forth, glad that her friend had finally come out of that frozen shell and feeling her heart squeeze at the pain that welled forth from each wracking sob.)
I really love you showing how great of a friend Ino is to Sakura. Sakura breaking her friendship with Ino after finding out Ino also liked Sasuke after Ino didn't count that same fact against Sakura, especially after Ino was the first to offer Sakura friendship is my major beef with Sakura's character in canon beside being an abusive teammate to Naruto when he does well by her even if him wanting her attention might be annoying at times.

( Thank the gods that Ino had been there to mitigate that because Sasuke had been at a complete loss as to how to behave. He had sent her off by telling her that she had nothing to be sorry for, only to make her cry even harder, and had received a small nod of acknowledgement from Ino for his efforts.)
More points to Ino. Also, I like how Sasuke is considerate and acknowledges Sakura more than he did in canon. It's good to see everyone try their hardest and not hold each other back instead.

( Naruto settled comfortably, imagining that he was leaning against something soft and cushy.)
This is a cute thing to imagine, Naruto and Kurama almost hanging out while stuck in Naruto's head.

( The malice disappeared and wistfulness took its place. 'I was roaming the untamed skies before your ancestors even knew how to make fire.')
Fuck, that's sad.

("Whoop dee fucking doo. Now you're stuck in my fucking head. Nice going.")
Naruto can be such an asshole orz

( 'Ah, yes, the Uchiha boy.' Something in that tone bothered Naruto, the way it seemed to sharpen to unseen edges. 'Your little secret, even from yourself.')
I love how you make nothingness have an easy to imagine presence. And damn, cryptic as ever haha

( Man, was it him or was this voice in his head a moody son of a bitch?)
What a way to describe the great Nine-tails lol

( Then it was silent and for the first time since he had come to this white space in his head, Naruto felt that he was truly alone. No voice, no evil presence, just him and this blank, dead place. He only had to get out, but before that, he had to get over the overwhelming sense of disbelief first.
"The great what!?")
Leaving off with something funny/unbelievable makes a great cliffhanger xD

Come on Sakura, you can do it. The fact that she could keep up with the boys even without a training as hard as they did, or maybe she actually does since they are suppose to be battle/war/invasion ready human limitations can only be pushed so far without a personal mentor and she comes from a civilian background is actually a relief, I was thankful she was able to keep our of Sasuke's way when he fought originally since it was possible she was already taxed beyond her capabilities so couldn't help with offense but could at least defend. Oh thank god, she was taught some healing. I am glad Sakura has enough chakra to stay alive doing as much as she could for Sasuke. Sasuke's thoughts on the wrongness of the possessed Naruto is understandably distressing. I like how Itachi's smile grew dimmer, it's sort of weird Itachi is able to hold his own against Kyuubi Naruto but maybe because Demon Bound doesn't the demon itself is the reason Itachi can do that besides being crazy proficient in his own right. No idea if Itachi is a total bad guy in this universe or an undercover one. I am sort of disappointed with Kakashi being so against relying on Gai for anything. I am a pretty big fan of Dai, Gai, and Lee so frown at any offense against them. At least he has help from two of his colleagues.

I keep forgetting to mentioned, but I really enjoy your authors notes/warnings/disclaimers, they help me start the chapter with a smile or brace me for the drama. Holy crap, I had assumed it was Orochimaru that had them but it was actually Itachi. Also cheers to positive Team 7 dynamics. Omg, Itachi is part of Sound.

( "Don't be such a dope!" Naruto turned to glare through the darkness at Sasuke, "we're gonna be okay. Sheesh, how can you give up before it starts?"
...
"So what if your fancy eyes can't see?" He raised his hand to shove Sasuke lightly on his shoulder, forcing the dark haired boy to step back to keep his balance. "So what if we're up against something so damned amazing that it's making you say stupid shit?" Naruto shoved his face very near Sasuke's seething one, his voice a study of fire and disappointment. "You're my rival, ain't you? You're the guy who's always supposed to be better than me? So why the fuck are you so scared? Why're ya making me yell at you, huh?"
...
"Hold on a sec," Naruto gasped as he forced his body to move, "I'll be right there, so don't you give up, you asshole."
...
Then he held out his hand for Sasuke who only stared up at him in disbelief.
"Sasuke, you bastard," the blonde grated, "get the fuck up. We ain't dead yet."
...
Sasuke watched in unabashed awe as a smile dawned on Naruto's face, his eyes shining bluer than the summer sky and somehow brightening the suffocating night around them. It was a smile filled with faith and belief, a smile that warmed him throughout his body, chasing away the crippling fear and shame that had filled every nook and cranny of his system.
"I may be an idiot," Naruto continued through that blinding smile, "but you ain't. You're the best at everything, right? You always succeed, right? Why should it be any different now?"
'How do you do that,' Sasuke wondered as he reached out his hand towards the one Naruto had extended earlier, 'how the hell can you change me like this with just a smile and words?')
Good for, I love how inspirational Naruto is, conviction in spades. Sasuke can't help but fall in love, yeah? Freaking amazing chapter, thank you :D

Kudos on the insert of 121, I didn't realize til younglings it out lol.
I completed Sasuke's unfinished sentence with the word capable. Or even deadly, I wonder what word he thought though haha
I am probably being a little harsh but Sakura taking a hold of Sasuke's shirt because she was thrown with how much stronger Naruto was than her expectations felt really pathetic. You're still on the freaking battle ground, there are still enemies after you, pay attention to the important things like survival and just put Naruto in the category of can survive and someone I count on to fight by me.
Ah, poor Kakashi seeing everyone else return but for his own.
Fighting wise, it seems like it would be better if people were at least in groups on two so they could have each other's back versus being one and entirely outnumbered when coming across a group but they are low in numbers since they had to send kids in so that's maybe understandable why they don't.
Yay to Sasuke's honesty so Naruto knows versus just thinking the worst of him. It's really good to see Ino's concern over Sakura, and getting to see the dynamics of Battalion 121 both when they returned and when they discussed the possible independent mission to seek their missing members help bring them to life for me.

This is a great AU, I like all the characters you included. Naruto looking at Konoha one last time, Sasuke joining him, and Sasuke watching Naruto as he slept. It's nice to see them share moments realistically. The groups acting as bait is a great but terrifying tactic. Way to go Naruto for getting his shit together when faced with the enemy after getting caught off guard. Sakura is probably going to like Sasuke more since he saved her but I don't think she has anything on Naruto so am seeing her as a minor if anything obstacle for now.

CONTINUE PLZ I LOVE THIS STORY!

I'm extremely liking this! Waiting for next chapter! This is so awesome!

Why did u disappear from the face of the earth?

Oh man why is this not finished?10 years! Jeez now m just gonna go and wallow in disapointment of not knowing the whole story! And here I am writing this at friggin midnight even I have a science exam tomorrow :(

I'm excited to see what happens with Gaara. He is one of my favorite characters.

So cooooooool!

hey if its TBC then continue it already dude I need to know what happens