Naruto's P.O.V

Time seemed to stand still as we ran at each other, our deadly jutsus in hand. The memories of being in the academy, becoming a Genin team with Sasuke and Saukura, fighting against Haku alongside him, and so many other times flooded back to me.

While we ran, I swore that I saw Sasuke's eyes soften up, if not for a second, then went back to their cold, merciless look. The Cursed Seal was weakening.

We collided, and our jutsus caused an immediate barrier to form between us from the sheer chakra put into our attacks. We were trying to push and charge at each other at the same time. Then, Sasuke did something that will probably haunt me for years to come. His eyes went back to normal again, and then he grinned. He moved his Chidori to the side ever so slightly and…

….he missed.

The force I felt from the impact of my Rasengan hitting my best friend felt like a ton of bricks crashing on my chest. I knew that what he did wasn't a mistake.

He fell, breathing slowly and losing chakra. He didn't look good at all. I kneeled down next to the youngest Uchiha.

"Why did you do that?" I asked him.

"I don't want to be responsible for killing my best friend, as well as Konoha's future Hokage." Sasuke replied, a bloody lip turning to a weak smile. His Sharingan deactivated as he spoke.

"Come on, we'll get you to the hospital and get you fixed up in-" I tried to finish my sentence, but seeing the hole in his abdomen proved capable of stopping me from speaking. Sasuke looked down at my arm, then his eyes widened.

"Naruto, your arm…shoot, pull out that kunai." He said weakly, and pointed to a kunai lodged into my bicep. I suddenly felt the pain in my arm.

"How did you-"

"I must've thrown it into your arm when the Seal still had control of me. That kunai has a lethal toxin on it, and also is meant to not cause as much pain thanks to a justsu placed on it…" he looked to the side, "I'm sorry Naruto…"

Hearing him say sorry sounded weird to me, not to mention wrong.

"Hey, don't worry about it. Kyuubi will heal it in no time." I replied.

"Naruto, that stuff was made specifically to take you down. Orochimaru designed the jutsu and toxin himself….you don't have much time." Sasuke coughed.

" Forget about me, I'll be fine. What's important is getting you fixed up before it gets too bad." I reassured. By now, all the sound nin had either fled, or had been killed. I noticed everyone on my team standing near, listening.

"N…Naruto…thanks for being one of my only friends…even though I was a jerk to you."

"Hey, now don't talk like that! You're not dying on me!" I said, tears forming in the corners of my eyes.

Sasuke turned to Kakashi, and spoke, just over a whisper, "K-Kakashi….make sure that Dobe here doesn't go getting himself killed anytime soon…and tell Tsunade and the others that I'm sorry…" he said. Kakashi simply nodded.

"No, you're NOT going to die!" I yelled again.

"That poison shouldn't be a problem if she feels the way I think she does about you…" Sasuke said. Great, now he's getting delirious on me.

"Who?" I asked him.

"Naruto….one more thing. Take care of Sakura for me….and tell her I'm sorry for ever hurting her." Sasuke spoke, his eyes slowly closing. His chakra level was almost undetectable now.

"S-Sakura-chan? Tell her?" I asked him.

"Yeah…she's special Naruto. I only wish I could have known that about three years ago…" he added, his eyes now closed.

"I'll love her for the both of us, Sasuke. I promise." I replied.

"I appreciate it…and if you ever see Itachi, tell him about my death. I'll never forgive him, but he does have a right to know that he's the last Uchiha." Sasuke breathed.

"I will Sasuke. Thanks for being my friend until the end." I nodded. He smiled, his eyes opening a little. The Curse Seal faded away, and he sighed a little. A stray beam in the late afternoon sky shined down on him.

"Goodbye…Naruto. I know that Konohagukare's in good hands with you….stay strong." He said, then his chest fell and his eyes closed. The light faded slowly, and he stopped moving.

"Thanks Sasuke…hope to see you again someday." I finished.

Before I could say anything, I felt a jolt of pain surge through me suddenly.

"No, it's the poison! Quick, we have to get Naruto to the hospital!" I heard Kakashi say. Everything turned black after that.

Seconds later I awoke in front of the cage where Kyuubi slumbered.

"How you holding up, Kit?" the demon fox asked me.

"I've been better." I responded. I looked at my reflection in the pool of water at my feet. My skin was pale, and felt cool as well as clammy.

"I've tried everything to repress the poison…but it seems to have a curse intertwined within the toxin. I don't know how to break it." The demon fox explained.

"Why am I here and not awake Kyuubi?" I asked, hoping it wouldn't be too horrible.

"You're currently in a coma…and from what I believe, it's been close to a week now. You're only barely alive right now, even with my chakra helping you. You are breathing and functioning on your own though." Kyuubi said in a serious tone. Okay, things weren't looking good.

"Wait, I can't die! What about Sakura-chan?!" I shouted.

"She's actually holding your hand right now while you're lying in a Konoha hospital bed. You were quickly transported from Sunagakure after about half a day of treatment." Kyuubi answered.

"But, I cant' feel her." I protested, feeling a little sick.

"She's there. So is Kakashi, Iruka, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Sai, all of your friends from the academy, Anko, Asuma, Kurenai, Konohamura and his friends, Gai, Shizune, and the Sand Siblings." Kyuubi reassured.

Kyuubi…I don't want to die….not like this! I feel alone, and it feels like I'm back in my twelve year old body again. I don't want to die alone…" I said, shaking a little.

"You're not alone though. Everyone is around your bed right now in the hospital. You couldn't be any safer than now." Spoke the demon fox.

I looked up at the gigantic demon fox, who now was comforting me like a parent trying to care for a child.

"Kyuubi, do you know if there's some way to say…goodbye to them?" I asked him. He let out a thoughtful growl, then looked at me.

"Well, yes, but it can only be done within a very short range, like a foot or less away from your body…you can transfer one's spirit to your mind via chakra. It's a very arduous process though." He replied.

"That's fine, as long as I can speak with Sakura-chan one last time." I sighed.

"Okay then. If you feel fine with this, then I'll begin the transfer. You'll need to lend me some of your chakra though. Just a small amount is good." Kyuubi spoke. I complied, and closed my eyes. I felt a weird sensation run through my body, and felt Kyuubi's power flow through me as well.

"Kyuubi, what's going on?" I asked.

"I'm trying to find a pathway to Sakura so I can transport between her body and your mind. It's hard to do…and call me crazy, but she sort of has a two soul in one body thing going. It's rare, but not unheard of…at least not to me." The demon fox replied.

"Okay, then do you need more chakra?" I asked him, ready to do so.

"Only a small bit, Kit. You're in no condition to go and willingly give up chakra right now." Kyuubi answered.

I let out a bit more chakra, and felt a stronger flow run through me and Kyuubi. Hopefully this would help reach Sakura.

"Sakura…please. I need to see you one more time." I pleaded, letting the flow run through my mind.

End of chap.8- I know you'll hate me for this, but, I'm cutting the chappy off here. So, what do you think? Did you cry? Laugh? Yell? Well, R&R me, and I'll have more soon. I'll probably be finishing this with about 10 chapters total, so things are winding down. Be back with more soon!