Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor any of the other characters.

Author's Notes: Love's Little Lessons will hopefully be updated on Saturday. I won't make you wait two weeks for another update unless I really need to!

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Hero

By: Suiryoka

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“How ironic.”

Naruto can't count how many times he has said the same exact thing while standing here. No matter how many times he says it, he can't shake the feeling that it should have happened the other way around. The irony of the situation hit Naruto like a blow to the gut when he thought about it.

And as Naruto stares at the black stone in front of him for the fifth time that day, memories of words he once uttered come to his mind.

'I like that, I like that! I've decided that I'm going to have my name carved into that! I'll be a hero! I'm not going to die a useless death!'

He didn't realize it at the time, of course, but the stone was a cenotaph for those killed in action. Fallen heroes. The one's that were recognized for their bravery after death.

A solitary tear falls down Naruto's cheek, leaving a wet trail in its wake. Naruto lifts the back of his hand to his face, wiping it away. He didn't know those words would jinx the man he loved like a brother, a friend, and perhaps something a little more.

Naruto was more than shocked when Sasuke—his best friend who betrayed everything he had for power—jumped in front of a what would be a fatal blow from Itachi to protect him like he did years ago on the bridge. He gave up his revenge—with the object of his hate standing right in front of him—to save the only person who could ever take away the pain, loneliness and hatred he held in his heart.

As he took his last breath, Sasuke gazed up at Naruto and gave him a smile. He died content and maybe somewhat happy, even though he didn't get his vengeance, something ironic in and of itself; but that isn't what Naruto thinks is strange.

The fact that Sasuke was capable of saving him while Naruto knows he would never have the guts to do something as honorable as that makes him want to bow down in shame. He never saw Sasuke as the heroic type before, but he was proved wrong.

As far as Naruto is concerned, a traitor such as Uchiha Sasuke deserves to have his name carved on the cenotaph more than he does.

He finally lets the tears he's been holding in since the day of Sasuke's death escape. Regret and despair fill his heart as sobs wrack his body.

No matter how hard he wishes to have the courage to be like his longtime rival—dying for someone without a single thought against it—Naruto knows Sasuke could be the only one to teach him such a thing.

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END

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