As I mentioned to my readers in a later chapter, I am rewriting (editing, etc.,) this on the AO3 website. I now know that some things that were left out in the story could've been entered earlier to make more sense out of the building storyline.

Please understand that when I began this story, baby-kitsune9 helped me a lot in her great beginning chapters, even by sending me several of hers. Although there were differences between her original story and mine, I pretty much kept to her ideas and even wording back then. I guess you can say that as I progressed as a writer and my imagination went wild, I stuck my own insane thoughts into her beginning story. Sometimes the results of that were awkwardly presented.

I sincerely hope that as I progress in updating chapters, this is a more understandable read for y'all.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing!

Thinking

Emphasis

Bijuu, etc. Speaking

Bijuu, etc. Thinking

Earlier the teams had happily joined together, all returning from their successful separate missions, thanks to the nose of the Inuzuka, the eyes of the Hyuuga, and the Uzumaki's sensing abilities. Everyone had been nearly ecstatic to be together only minutes before it happened, making plans to go out to their favorite haunt to work on things that just never seemed to pan out, as much fun as they had in their efforts. Whenever they got together, which was never as often as they wished, they spent time trying to get Naruto drunk, trying to see Kakashi's face, the girls attempted to ride Akamaru, all while making sure Lee never got a chance to drink anything with even 1% alcohol in it. There were other activities they engaged in, too, but those things happened every time the lot of these shinobi were all together at the same time.

This was especially difficult for two of the members of their generation to manage, considering that they had been in ANBU for some time, but never told anyone. Only the Godaime Hokage and the ANBU Commander knew of their ANBU status.

It had all gone to hell at once. To think that it was Naruto's own clansman's fault – it had to be! What Karin Uzumaki had done to not only mask her own presence – something that she was known to be able to do – but to also be able to completely mask Sasuke Uchiha's as well... Shikamaru would say it was unthinkable, but he was a man who normally thought of everything. Kami, if only we had been more aware! How could this have happened?! They ran across rubble as the building overhead crumbled away and fell into pieces around them. Naruto's life was in peril. Their friend was fading right before their eyes from what had to be a fatal wound he had sustained to the chest.

Sasuke had finally made good on his threat to kill the blonde and had struck before any of them could move to stop or block him. His Chidori pierced the blonde's chest for what had to be at least the third freaking time. Only this time Naruto hadn't been able to block him at the last second as he had before. As a result, there was a large gaping hole in his chest right by where his heart should be. And though the team knew that this was the wound from which he wouldn't come back, their only thought was to get him - and them - away from even more danger and stay beside him. The feelings of helplessness were so overwhelming, they simply didn't know what else to do as the teams cleared the rubble before Sakura threw down her backpack and reached out to take Naruto from Kakashi's back.

Kakashi grit his teeth as the blonde was laid out on his back on the ground, wheezing and gasping for air due to the damage done to his lung where his heart had been all but taken out. The Kyuubi's red chakra was flickering in and out over the wound but was obviously growing weaker. Naruto was a goner, they could all see it, even Naruto, despite how dense he could be. It was that forced smile on his face that gave him away.

He had under two minutes left before his body quit on him and he died. Two minutes left to suffer in agony as he struggled to breathe through tears as blood pooled around him. Neji stripped off his vest and folded it for Naruto to use as a pillow; it wasn't much but it was a small comfort.

"Naruto, I'm going to give you something for the pain," Sakura said through her tears as she fished around in her medicine pouch for something to ease her friend's suffering.

"..orry," Naruto said weakly, with a voice shaky and strained, making Sakura pause and look at him. What had he just said? "Ssssorry," Naruto said in a whisper, staring at the haze of familiar faces gathering close. There were so many precious friends here with him right now, and the blonde wished to tell them everything, but there was no time.

Naruto wanted to tell them sorry for failing so often, sorry for not being able to keep those promises, and for not being able to bring Sasuke back to their side: to the right side. He was sorry for not being able to protect those precious ones, as he had repeatedly promised, sorry for not being open about so much... Things were never supposed to end like this!

"There's nothing to be sorry for Naruto. You didn't do anything wrong," Kakashi said gently as he reached out and brushed the sun-kissed golden strands away from the face of the young man he had secretly fallen in love with. "You did everything perfectly, everything you or anyone could have possibly done," he continued as he tried to stay calm. When Naruto made a soft whimpering sound and squeezed his eyes closed for a second, however, Kakashi thought his own heart would stop.

"B-Be happ-y... live, please -" Naruto managed to squeak out, squeezing Kakashi's hand. The blonde Toad Sage could hear the distressing sounds friends made in shock and could almost see some of them crying and smiled a bit. There was just one last thing to say to them and then the Uzumaki could slip away with no regrets.

"Love you a-all..." were the last words the group of friends barely heard. Naruto's breathing then stopped.

Everyone stood in shocked silence as one of their most precious people, Naruto Uzumaki, died.