Naruto 403

1
Naruto
#403: Tears
[side text: Memories of a chance encounter...]
Flashback!Itachi: ...I know you're here alone. / ...Why do you not flee?
Flashback!Naruto: Hah! // I can be one person, or a thousand! // Besides, I can't just run away! // If I can just capture you, I'll be able to see Sasuke!!

2
Flashback!Itachi: ........ // Why are you so obsessed with my little brother? / He's a Missing-nin, right?
Flashback!Naruto: It's because I at least think of him as a brother... // ...a hell of a lot more than you ever have...!!!
Flashback!Itachi: .........
Flashback!Naruto: GUAAAHHHHH!!

3
Flashback!Itachi: You are already within my genjutsu. // ...I'll tell you once more. / I just want to talk with you a little.
Flashback!Naruto: ?!
Flashback!Itachi: ...You want to bring Sasuke back; that much is clear. // But in the event that you fail... what will you do then?

4
Flashback!Naruto: I'll bring him back no matter what!
Flashback!Itachi: No matter what... Well, that's all very well if you happen to get lucky, and he comes willingly back to the village... // But what about the other end of the scale?
Flashback!Naruto: What do you mean...?
Flashback!Itachi: You just told me you think of Sasuke as a "brother"... // Well, then, answer me this: what would you do if Sasuke were to, say, attack the village of Konoha?
Flashback!Naruto: What? Why would Sasuke...? // He'd never do a thing like that!
Flashback!Itachi: Sasuke is still "pure"... a blank slate. // He could easily be turned to any number of paths. // And if it came to that... would you be able to stop him?

5
Flashback!Itachi: Even if that meant taking his life... // Would you be able to weigh his life up against the village of Konoha?
Flashback!Naruto: I would protect Konoha! / I'd make sure I stopped Sasuke without killing him!
Flashback!Itachi: ...Such a child. // You are living in a world of dreams and fairy-tales... There are times in a shinobi's life when he must make harsh and difficult choices.

6
DoubleFlashback!Jiraiya: It's about time you gave up on Sasuke. // One way or another, he was always going to end up like this. Spare yourself the pain... just let go. Forget him. // It's not about techniques, or about strength... As a shinobi, you have to train yourself to be able to make the right judgements, the right choices. // If you want to live the life of a shinobi, you need to wisen up. // This world isn't an easy place... for a fool like yourself to live in.
DoubleFlashback!Naruto: If that's what it means to "wisen up"... I think I'd rather stay an idiot forever. // Even if I have to do it alone, I'm gonna come up with new, better jutsu... // ...and save Sasuke, no matter what!
Flashback!Naruto: I was told the same thing before, once... // But I say screw making "decisions"...

7
Flashback!Naruto: Once I've said something, I never go back on it. // That's my "Way of the Ninja".

8
Flashback!Naruto: ! // Mngh!
Flashback!Itachi: I have placed a portion of my own power inside you. // Although... I hope that the day never comes when you have to use it.
Flashback!Naruto: Wh... What the heck are you talking about? // I know you're after me, aren't you?! / Then why don't you - !
Flashback!Itachi: I have to go... // There's something important I have to attend to.

9
Tobi: What're you doing? Everything's been ready for a while now...
Sasuke: When I look up at the moon like this... / It brings back memories of that night... // And also... // ...of things that I always tried to forget.

10
Sasuke: Looking up, I find myself able to remember Itachi... // Those hazy memories that I locked away in some corner of my heart just come flooding back.
Flashback!Itachi: Running... Running... / Always clinging to that life you hold... // And one day, once you have obtained these same eyes as I... // Find me once more.

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Flashback!Sasuke: *pant* // *pant*
Flashback!Itachi: .........
Flashback!Sasuke: ! // Wait!!

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[no text just memories]

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Flashback!Sasuke: *pant* // *pant* // *pant* // *pant*

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Flashback!Sasuke: *pant*
Sasuke: That night... // He was crying.

15
Sasuke: I always thought... I must have imagined it. // I was simply blind to the truth. // It looks like the tale that you told me was the truth.

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Naruto: (What was Itachi trying to tell me back there...? // Why did he...?)
Flashback!Zetsu: Sasuke won the fight! Uchiha Itachi is dead. // Sasuke collapsed as well, though... what now? / He's just hanging on...
Naruto: Sasuke... what are you doing right now...? // .........You're okay, right...?

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Tobi: What're you going to do about Itachi's eyes...? // Will you take them......?
Sasuke: Nah...
Tobi: .........
Sasuke: The things that Itachi wanted to see... // ...and the things that I'm going to see from here on out... are completely different. // I can't give Itachi the future that he wanted...... // I'm going to restore the Uchiha in my own way.
[insert text: He now knows his brother's feelings, his wishes... and thus, he is able to walk his own path...!!]
[bottom text: A piece of shocking news reaches Konoha... what will Naruto do?! Next issue, "United Front"!!]