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A weapon realizes that it is a tool, and a tool with only one use. A tool realizes that it is a man, a human with only one life to hold on to. A man realizes that shinobi never meant 'happiness' or 'heroism.' And a shinobi realizes nothing, simply because it is never meant to know.

A weapon clashes against another, violently, and falls. A tool is used and broken once its usefulness has diminished. The smallest ounce of a man, a human, cries out against the steel that claims his life. A shinobi takes the enemy alongside him in death, because he has been taught to do so.

The weapon is brandished and cleaned, put atop a shelf to dust. The tool is repaired and given away to be used again. The man is mourned, flowers dropped by his grave, a prayer said by those who knew him; The shinobi is forgotten, a scratched name on a monument, another one born to be his replacement.

No matter what way he chooses to say it, or any way he places it into his actions, there is one thing that is certain.

And it is that certainty that probes his thoughts endlessly.

He is a weapon, a tool, and a human, by choice.

So when that blade nears him, being afraid is beyond his capability.

'I am a shinobi and nothing more.'

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There are little children that play in the morn and near dusk. They are young kin that walk on the balls of their feet, that show wide, joyful eyes, and a jumping exuberance that one calls 'youth.' Each has a different face, a unique voice, and an inkling of what is to come. They are young, they are happy, and they live with the future of a village on their shoulders.

They are only children, they argue, and receive the response they have always been given.

They are the future of Konoha, our shinobi, and available to our every use and cause, the others will say.

So when the only child of Nara Shikaku and Yoshino disappears mysteriously on a tracking mission--they say it was for the best.

When the only kunoichi of the Yamanaka family is tortured and killed--they say it was for the best.

When the Akimichis mourn the death of their youngest--they say it was for the best.

And in the midst of the confusion and the pain, there they stand. Straight and tall, in the best clothing they own, painted the colours black and white. They force themselves to do as they have done years before, and let their voices flow into a stream of melancholy smiles and tears.

The names are said, they are mourned and there are tears visible to them as they walk past their comrades. The only words they manage to say are 'it was for the best,' and even then no comfort comes to those who need it. The Godaime tries her best to clench the tears she cannot shed, and hide the words she cannot speak.

In the end, they were only children. Tsunade knows that, she understands that, she has the words etched into her mind. When she is alone, she cries for all the ones lost and for all the ones that are going into battle. In the end, she couldn't save them, she couldn't help them. They were only children.

When she follows the words of the First, the Second, the Third, and the Fourth, she hopes it is for the best.

They are her warriors, at her use and disposal.

Even then, she can't be their savior.

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There is a Will of Fire within every ninja of Konoha. It burns, incased within their heart and soul, flames against whatever attempts to stop it, and is the very code they live by. It is what makes them invincible, and human all the same. The flame that tests them against themselves, and kills once you've touched it.

The Will of Fire dwells within the lightened, within those who believe, within those who are soldiers. It is the very strength that carries them off into battle, the very strength they use to conquer, the strength they use to kill. It is also the strength that guides them against the repenting, strength that no one other has. Strength to ignore the cries of the man you slaughter.

The Will of Fire belongs to all who claim it, all who dare to, all who want to possess it. It is a birthright that you claim, in life or death. The Will of Fire is invisible to others, it lies within its holder.

The Will of Fire connects all the shinobi with one another. Ideals, colours, strength and otherwise. The Will of Fire christens every man your brother and every woman your sister, because it does not matter if the blood that flows through your veins is not alike. The Will of Fire bonds you together, you are family. Because that is the only thing that holds this pillar together.

There is a pillar in the village of Konoha. He has no name. Simply because he is the spark that ignited the flame.

In the village of Konohagakure there is a Will of Fire that dwells within every ninja. Here it only rewards you with two things: life or death. Because the fire flickers, because the flame extinguishes. Because it caused your death rather than your life.

There is a Will of Fire in the village of Konoha, and it contains a secret.

The Third never meant for it to be this way.

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Because a person has already fulfilled their usefulness, you kill him? Because a person does not succeed, you watch them squirm and scream during torture? Because I am still useful, is that the only reason you let me live?

That kind of thinking can get you killed.

Because I wasn't strong enough, because I failed. Because no matter what I say, I am still weak. I follow out a meager existence, just for your sake, and I am rewarded with this? Sense of mind, a new level of pain, and my comrades' demise?

Wondering will get you nowhere.

Because I cry in no one's presence, makes me strong? Because I understand how many dying people there are out in the world? Simply because, I have one chance to do things. One last life before I am completely gone and withered away?

You begin to comprehend.

Because I lay here, drenched in blood on the battlefield, doing what you have told me to do? Because I have followed your orders obediently? Because I am ready to risk tooth and nail just for your dreams, for your accomplishments?

You will understand someday.

But she never receives the chance to, because she lies here on the warground, a young girl in tattered clothing and blood. All the while she's asking the questions she never bothered to ask, because faith can do many things to a person. There isn't a person to answer her, to comfort her, to save her. She isn't hoping, she knows just how fruitless it is.

She is just a girl on the warfront. A tool for his bidding. A thing one calls a shinobi. She sobs on the earth but her tears are not rightfully hers.

She only hopes that in death, he'll be all right.

She only hopes that he won't hate her.

She only hopes that he goes somewhere else.

She is a girl saved for his selfish reasons, she knows, and even in death she loves him.

That's the reason she dies for him isn't it?

Somewhere, she knows that he is chuckling.

You've finally understood.

The only emotion Tayuya feels in death is regret.

She'll love him forever.

A girl in tattered clothing dying for the master she loves and obeys.

Somehow, it is the only way to die.

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There is a solid, logical reason for the smile he has plastered on his face.

There is a reason for that beautiful gift of his to look so mismatched upon his skin.

There is a reason it is shoved messily into place amongst the
crimson streaks.

Where the plitter-platter of dots borders his tanned skin and bright hair, where his sapphire eyes lay closed and that grin...

That grin.

A person should not be allowed to smile in death, Sasuke thinks.

He wasn't happy. He wasn't great. He wasn't the best.

That grin should not be there, but it is.

Your best friend shouldn't smile when you kill him, Sasuke says.

But he does anyway.

That's why Sasuke hates him. He'll hate him forever. Forever.

Avengers aren't meant for the good life. Fools are. It is a known fact. Fools are there to be carefree and content for the avengers who sulk and slaughter. Fools live for their counterparts, fools worry and go to extreme heights doing the unthinkable for avengers.

Fools will do anything, possible or idiotic, for their friends. They are set up for suicide the moment they shake a hand, remember a name. Fools understand what may come and what may not, but simply because they are fools, leave it as be. Fools love and die, but never come and go. Fools aren't special. Fools are humans that exceed normal capabilities.

Fools chose to become what they have ignoring, all the while, the consequences. Fools are born, christened into their roles, and never for a moment think about the deed they've done. Fools are people--stupid, moronic, idiotic people--but they still live. Fools are always there, need to be or not.

Fools are always punching you in the face, slapping you upside the head, grabbing the collar of your shirt and shoving you against the wall. They always want to prove a goddamn something, anything, to those they care about. Fools will harm you, knowing how much it pains them, to tell you what's right from wrong.

Fools borderline death, life, and everything in between. But they don't care, they don't give a fucking damn. They don't give shit for what you have to say, in their mind it is wrong and that's enough. A fool is a fool, choosing their ways and mishaps. Fools are far from perfect, close to insanity, and heroes.

Fools are heroes that save the avengers, avengers are murders that cannot do anything towards the fools. There are promises that are kept and broken, vows that were never made and forgotten. A fool is a fool, no matter what actions they take or words they say. An avenger is an avenger, no matter what occurs on the pathway towards his goals.

A fool is birthed from the knowing of the impossible. An avenger is birthed from the tradegies they see.

A smile doesn't look good on him, it never does. There is a reason Sasuke never smiles.

A grimace has never claimed his face, it never has. There has to be a reason for it.

The smile is almost a taunt, even though the man he's killed has long gone past. His body spread across the ground, pooled in the warm liquid that once flew through his body.

There's a gash...

A gash that gleams the best amongst all the lacerations that adorn his body. A gash that Sasuke made, the last blow. The chirping is still present, ringing in his ears.

The last blow that he said to make...

...the one that he now can only use once. Just once.

He is a man that died for the sake of a selfish friend, an obsessed killer, a brother. A human that shut out the screams when those violent, azure sparks pierced his body. A shinobi that claimed no title, no name, but a smile. The very same smile that he wears now.

As he has said before, people should not be allowed to smile in death.

But because, only because, this is him, he does not object.

Uzumaki Naruto is special, he is a wondrous man who died heroically for his best friend. In Sasuke's mind, he is an idiot.

Just one idiot in his darkened world. That is all.

Naruto is an idiot, he always has been, and now he's dead. He was killed by his only friend, for his own pitiful reasons.

Naruto is a fool.

And Sasuke is a moron, because Naruto has known it all along.

Because as he chooses to live as a fool, he chooses his own way to die.

Because Sasuke is a grand fool. He always has been.

So Naruto smiles in death because he has a secret that no one will ever know. He smiles amidst all the pain, the blood, the sorrow.

Because all he'll ever be is Naruto, a fool.

And because Sasuke is one too.

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Mainly written so I can keep focus on my other projects. Everything written in those drabbles in some fic/story-in-progess. It's the same aspect really, but in the stories there will be more details and written differently. Same aspect but transfered to ficcy mode. What's funny is what gave me inspiration. o.o duelist's stories, Dai (as usual), and being awake at 3 A.M. Yay! for three AM, ne?

Will edit, soon.

Screw it, I'll write it now.

Yesterday I caught a very frightened bunny. Bare hands, sprinted after the damn thing. I caught it, liek woah. :D It was great, only I out of six people caught it. Yeah, yeah, no more bragging. :P Okay.

Now tomorrow I will edit. XD; Hah!