Disclaimer: I do not own Sasuke or Naruto. Or Orochimaru, for that matter, either. They are sole property of the genius known as Masashi Kishimoto.

A/N: I’ve been stewing over this one shot for a few weeks. It takes place during the battle at the Valley of the End. Yes, I know that people have written about that fight time and again and it’s probably getting a bit old, but I kind of really wanted to do this (because it’s a Sasuke-introspective type deal!). I hope that you guys like it!

Inspired by You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson, although this doesn't tie in as tightly as it was meant to with the song.

+Thanks as always to my beta, AlwaysHiei+
-Direct your thanks to her for telling me to post this-

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Let Me Go

By Endless Rain

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I hate you. I hate everything about you.

You're so confident, and you think that with that confidence you can just push your way into my life. Did I ever say that you could do that? I don't remember doing so.

You say that I'm your "brother." Do you know how much that scares me? Of course not. I scoff at you for your senseless sentiments. You don't know me and you only make that achingly obvious with that one word--the one word that I loathe. Brother? Yeah right. I would never want to be related to you in such a way. You're more of a pain than my true brother.

You claim to care about me, but have you ever? If you truly cared, you would have butted out and left me to my own devices. If you cared, you would let me do what I have to do. But you're too dense.

"Even if I have to break all the bones in your body and drag you home, I won't let you go to Orochimaru!"

"I'll break your arms and your legs and take you home by force!"

"If you're still not sure, I'll break you like a stick and bring you home immobile!"

I feel like screaming. I want to cry. But I can't. Your words are too important. Why... why can't you understand?

I hate how you just forced your way into my life. I don't understand you or the way that you work. We're supposed to hate each other. We shouldn't get along.

You want so badly to be my equal, but do you know just what that means? I'm below you on so many levels. You are allowed to have friends and family and loved ones. I, however, am cursed to be alone. My goal is supposed to be the only drive and motivation that I have in life. My brother should be the only one that I keep in the forefront of my brain.

I hate you! I... I hate you.

I hate the way that you're so easy to get along with.

I hate the way that you smile and the way that you speak.

I hate your idiocy.

I hate your inner sense of honor and justice and hidden intelligence.

I hate your preaching.

I hate the way that you get the most out of life.

I hate the fact that you can so easily cheer people up, motivate them.

I hate the way that you spur people to action.

I hate that you seem to know what I'm thinking before I think it.

I hate the fact that you seem to know who I am.

I hate the way that you can see straight through my barriers into who I am.

I look you in the eyes. I can see myself.

If you were to look into mine, would you be able to see yourself, too? Would you see how much I loathe you? Would you see why I do?

Would you be able to see--as you always seem to be able to--the fact that I don't really hate you at all?

Would you see that what I hate is the fact that I don't hate you?

Could you see that I hate that I really love everything about you?

Would you notice that I hate that I don't hate this thing between us?

Do you even notice it yourself? Do you notice that I don't really hate this? That I don't really hate us?

My motivation has changed, and I know it. I've known it for too long. I should have stopped it before, but I couldn't. I want to cut this string between us, but I can't. And I hate it.

I need to break away--this thing will hurt us both.

Please, I try so desperately to convey it without words, please understand. You can see me so please understand me. Let me do what I have to do.

We can speak without words. We always could.

Loneliness can make a person strong, and it can make bonds even stronger. Let me loosen ours. Let me do what I have to do before we both end up slighted.

Let me destroy the last strings that I keep trying to break while you keep trying to protect them.

You can see me as I am. You can see the real me--the boy who is scared and terrified and afraid to die. You know that I both want to be that boy again and yet fear to regress back to.

...Does a future leader of a nation really need confused and conflicted people like me to drag them down?

Let me go.

Let me cut this string.

Let me do what I have to do to survive.

I can see it in your eyes now--the determination.

You refuse me and then you smile. And I can't help but smile back. Your smile always was infectious.

But don't get me wrong. That doesn't stop my plea. I'm sure that you know, but as always, you don't care.

You've fallen. I guess I've won.

I don't feel any better, though.

I can't even tell if I'm crying. I'm numb. The rain is falling so hard. Is it crying for you? or is it maybe crying for me? I can only stare down at you as you lie in the mud defeated once again--but again so close to victory.

I would even dare to say that you've won.

So while you lie there immobile, I'll beseech you one last time.

Let me go, and let this strange kind of-of love go with me.

Forget about the avenger who seems to have become your obsession.

Forget about whatever questionable feelings that you have for him as well. You know that you'll only be slighted if you tried to act upon them.

Please... please let me go.

Let me go, Naruto.

-OWARI-

Thanks for reading, and please do drop me any comments that you have. I know that I adore any and all reviews (besides badly thought-out flames).

Let the Rain Fall,

Endless Rain