It was what he had been waiting for. On the next morning, he got a mission. A mission. Find Sasuke. That's all that mattered to Naruto. He was joined by Sakura, Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Sai, Kakashi, and Yamato. It didn't matter though. Naruto would've gone alone if he had to, but their help is paying off. Now he was so close.

"Just a little further." Naruto panted to himself. He was so close. So close to seeing Sasuke again. His heart pounded in his chest, and its incessant beating only spurred him on. He was thinking of Zetsu's words:

"Sasuke triumphed in the battle. Itachi Uchiha is dead. Sasuke is down right now. He looks to be in pretty bad shape."

Those words were some of the most hopeful Naruto had ever heard, though they also filled him with dread.

"He looks to be in pretty bad shape." What the hell does that mean?!, Naruto thought, bad shape? How bad?

But he was close, so close. He pushed himself faster and faster. Feet and rain pounded the ground.

An eerie black fire was raging.

"Dammit!" Naruto yelled "What is that Jutsu?"

"Careful!" warned Kakashi. "That fire won't go out until it incinerates everything in its path! Yamato?"

"I'm on it!" Yamato replied, "Earth Style, Planet Splitter!"

With that, the ground before them rose, carrying the black flames along with it.

They ran on, into the ruins of what was most certainly an epic battle, and there he was in the middle of the rubble. Fitting, that the last wall standing barred the symbol of the Uchiha clan. Both of the Uchiha brothers lay motionless before it.

"S-Sasuke." Naruto whispered. He walked forward, his feet moving by themselves, carrying him closer and closer to Sasuke.

He had never been more afraid in his life. He was afraid he was too late to save him. Would he hear his voice again, calling him an idiot? Would he see his eyes? His smile? Or was it over? Was Sasuke, the boy Naruto loved more than anyone else, dead? Had all the training, all the searching, all the blood, sweat, and tears put into bringing Sasuke back for nothing?