Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Naruto. The characters have been used for my own pleasure to create this work of fiction. I made absolutely no profit. But I can dream.

Warning: Well it's pretty full of spoilers for episodes 135+. Other than that, nothing. No bad language, no yaoi (though if you tip your head just so and squint...you're probably reading too much into it).

Just Breathe

He spent a lot of time looking at the stars since that day. It wasn't that he couldn't sleep, it was just that he didn't want to. When he slept his dreams were filled with the sound of a waterfall and eyes that spun with an intent to kill. He heard Sasuke tell him he was his best friend and then he watched him leave. He would wake up to stare at the stars and clutch his aching chest, reminding himself to just breathe.

Just breathe.

In a little while it wouldn't hurt so much. In a little while he could close his eyes and go back to sleep. In a little while he would smile again.

Just breathe.

Naruto believed in being strong. He believed in this because without it he would shatter into a million pieces and cease to exist. He understood why Sasuke also felt this desire to become better, faster, stronger. Yet there were limits he couldn't define or even unconsciously articulate that drew the line between his desire and Sasuke's.

When he thought about it too much, he felt something akin to betrayal. An overwhelming sadness and bitter pain that rolled and settled with sharp familiarity. To retaliate he became incredibly angry. A fierce rage that burned red and white inside and threatened to overwhelm him in sheets of fire.

So he didn't think about it. Didn't think about that day or the words that were spoken. Didn't look back. In his mind he had given himself a mission and a promise. Maybe tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. It didn't matter how soon or when, what mattered was he had given his word and all he could do was move forward.

Some days it was harder than others. Some days he watched Sakura stare off into the distance and knew she was sad. Some days he caught the way Jiraiya looked at him, an expression that seemed to say he was a fool for trying, for caring, for refusing to give up. Some days he touched his forehead protector and remembered the feel of another in his hand.

Those were the days he watched the stars. And remembered to breathe.

Tonight he had dreamed it was a dream.

Waking up and seeing the outline of Sakura sleeping across from him, heard the quiet snores of Jiraiya, seeing the edge of the woods beyond their campfire; he remembered and the knowledge stole his breath and left him cold. For the rest of the night, he stared at the stars and tried to forget.

Somebody had once told him, Iruka-sensei probably, that some people believed the stars were the souls of their ancestors looking down and watching over them. At the time Naruto had thought it was a stupid story. Now though, he began to understand. Neiji had told him that Sasuke was in the dark. Naruto knew that Sasuke was alone, like Naruto was alone. He wondered if Sasuke knew the story about the stars. When they met again, he would be sure to tell him. Because if the stars really were the souls of fallen ancestors then maybe they weren't so alone after all. And if Naruto could tell Sasuke this story then they wouldn't be alone, because they would be together.

The sky was turning pink and orange, mixing with shades of crimson red. The shade of a memory, of a best friend, of words spoken in anger and love, frustration and hope. On the edge of the sky the world shifted to blue and for a brief moment the two rested together. He watched them separate, sorrow filling him until he wanted to cry or scream or laugh in despair. When it was over and the world was filled with nothing but the reflection in his eyes, he gave in to everything. And breathed.