*Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, or any of the characters mentioned in this fanfiction. Only the original techniques I have created. If I did, do you really think I'd bother to write this disclaimer?*
Normal text: Character dialogue/normal text
Bold text: Bijuu/bijuu-mode
Italics: Character thoughts
Underlined text: Jutsu name
Chapter 1
Can't take it anymore
It hurt.
His whole body hurt.
Naruto couldn't bring his thoughts together long enough to focus on which part of his body hurt the most.
Probably the gaping hole in his chest.
Yeah...that seemed to be a good start...
The thunder began to quieten as a soft rain fell upon the Valley of the End.
The sound of metal hitting the ground next to his head managed to rouse Naruto from the sweet embrace of unconsciousness, long enough to identify the scratched leaf hiate come to a rest beside him.
"Why?...Why did you hold back Naruto!?"
"Sasuke..."
The name swam sluggishly through his head as he processed the words yelled at him.
"B..because we're teammates...and we're friends...Sasuke..."
"No! You know that we're through! I'm going after Itachi and Orochimaru is my only way to him! You know that there's nothing you can do about it...so why do you keep coming after me!?"
Drip...Drip...Drip
He wasn't sure if that was his own blood, or if he was hallucinating...but still the dripping grew louder.
"Answer me Naruto!"
Drip...Drip...Drip
"Sasuke...come...closer..."
Sasuke hesitated slightly before slowly moving over to Naruto, crouching beside him. He knew he Naruto didn't have much longer left until...
"Sasuke...I will never stop finding you...no matter where you go...no matter how many times I'm knocked down...because...you're my friend."
Sasuke stiffened as Naruto's words left his mouth. Suddenly, all his anger had deserted him. His ate was still burning, but now was only compared to embers smouldering inside of him.
Drip...Drip...Drip
"I think...this might be the end..Sasuke..."
Naruto started to rise, only to fall back down again and begins coughing on his own blood.
"Naruto...please...Don't get up..."
"It's ok Sasuke. I don't think I could if I wanted to..."
Drip...
Drip...
A weak chuckle drifted from Narutos' failing lungs and he relaxed into his lying down position again before muttering:
"I think it's time for me to go now..."
Sasukes' eyes widened.
"No! Please Naruto! Don't leave me! I can't lose you! Not like this!"
"Come on Sasuke...Don't be a baby."
Naruto added with a bloody-smirk.
Drip...
Finally, Naruto closed his eyes and gave one final shudder...
And then he was still.
Sasuke was stunned. Naruto can't be dead...He just cant be!
Sasuke scooped his friends' crumpled form into his arms without thinking and started running.
He didn't care which direction he was running in. It didn't matter.
All that mattered right now was trying to save Naruto.
All of the pain inside, amplified by the fact that his best friendl ay unmoving, unbreathing in his arms with an arm-sized hole tunneled through his chest finally started to take its toll.
Sasukes eyes were blurred with tears as he reached the treeline and began to leap from branch to branch as fast as he could run.
His friend...his only friend...dead...
It can't be over...
Not if Sasuke could help it.
The tears flowed freely now, staining his bruised face as he sped onwards towards wha he hoped was the leaf village.
Sasukes' foot snagged on a branch and he went down hard, crashing through at least 5 branches on his way to the forest floor, Narutos' unmoving body crashing in a heap beside him.
Sasuke moaned and crawled closer to his friend, coming close enough to link his fingers with the cold, lifeless hand beside him.
Reality started cutting in and out for Sasuke, when suddenly, a rustle of leaves was heard from across their landing site.
He tried to find the strength to raise his head, but a steady running pace was heard bursting from the bushes where the sounds were coming from. The fight with Naruto had taken more out of him than he realised.
A sharp intake of breath was heard as the stranger came closer.
"Sasuke...What have you done?"
A glint of silver caught Sasukes' eye as he managed to turn his head slightly to the right.
His gaze was focused enough to make out the distinct bone-white hair of the stranger who approached him and his friend.
He moved feebly to protect Naruto's body from the possible aggressor, when he felt a cool hand press up on his cheek.
"Ka..Kakashi-Sensei..."
And then the suffocating darkness rushed to meet him as Sasukes' head fell backwards onto the forest floor.
*Chapter End*