Everything was so calm.
It was strange after all that had just happened but the sky above was bluer than he had ever seen it, the air crisp and hitting their faces. They panted like dogs in the heat, the left side of his torso had long lost any feeling due to the amount of blood loss. The sun was beating down on them and giving no mercy but they were alive to feel it and that itself was a miracle.
"Hey, you still alive over there?"
Sasuke turned his head, just a bit, to look over at the grinning blond who's left eye was swollen shut and bruising all around him.
"Worry about yourself, idiot."
He chuckled and coughed, a groan escaping from him at the pain.
"My head hurts. God, we really did it this time huh Sasuke?."
Naruto panted hard against the damp soil, his back expanding with each breath. It came out harsh and the limb that was missing the arm flinched and wobbled as if it still had its arm.
"Ugh, damn it. My head."
The Uchiha looked at him as he squirmed, hands trembling. He tried to stretch his right arm but everything hurt too much. The blond groaned in pain and clutched at his chest. Naruto grabbed at his shirt and tried to tear it off, something felt like it was clawing at his chest and ripping him open.
He gasped as his heart thrummed with pain and suddenly he went silent.
"Naruto, stop that!"
Sasuke growled but all he could do was stare, his body failing on him and all as his breaths came in shallow spurts. Blue eyes stared up at the sky for a second before making the effort to look at Sasuke. The Uchiha, in turn, felt his own breath quickning as Naruto attempted a crack of a smile.
"I can't believe it..."
The edges of his eyes began to glaze over, almost like when the sun set and took the light with it. Suddenly, everything looked too bright and normal and as Sasuke's eyes widen, obsidian orbs suddenly felt like someone was trying to scratch them out. The smile stayed on Naruto's face as turned back to the sky and the light faded.
"At least I got you back."
He exhaled slowly.
And then...
Nothing.
He didn't move, his chest had released air and hadn't inhale anymore. His eyes stared up endlessly and all Sasuke saw was red. Churning, seathing, scorching red. His eye bled and mixed in with the salt water that fell down his cheeks and for a moment the world stopped.
And then he screamed to the heavens.
A blood curdling scream that lasted for so long it left his throat aching raw and burning when he realized there was no more voice to scream with. He stayed there, with an unmoving body that was losing its heat and no one around help them out. A body that would not laugh out loud, that would not yell at him and punch him when he needed it. He looked strange, almost ethereal against the destroyed earth and blood caked in his blond hair. His face was uncomfortably calm and pale and for some reason Sasuke could not look away.
Out of nowhere pink hair came into view. Sakura was yelling and there were tears pouring out of her eyes as she pumped green chakra into him and at one point even punched Naruto's still chest hoping for a response. She was still screaming but he couldn't hear her.
Sasuke couldn't seem to function at the moment and in his mind he was furious at himself. There could be something he could be doing, to try and help her, to try and revive his friend but his mind and body seemed to not be cooperating and so he just limply stared as Kakashi tried hauling Sakura away from their fallen comrade who continued staring at the heavens as if all the answers were there.