It was a dark and gloomy morning.

The gale of the storm brewing ahead was rough. The cold, heavy rain droplets pelting into her eyes made it difficult to navigate. The thunder crackling after the lightning struck added to the further blinding of her vision. Was this reaction due to their battle? It was a possibility. Their powers had become otherworldly in such a short period…

Yet, undeterred, she forged ahead, her sensei by her side. The pods, which had held everyone captive, were now beginning to bloom and open. Everyone was being released. It was over. And as much as she longed to check on them, her mission was clear. They were important, but not as much as her resolve to see this through.

Because without them…

A cold shiver rippled down her spine as she slowed alongside Kakashi's pace decreased. Tears shimmered in Sakura's eyes. The rain was freezing, but the sight of the Valley of the End… Or what had become of it… was breathtaking.

In the most horrible way.

It didn't exist anymore. It was but a crater, and at its center… Naruto and Sasuke lay… unmoving.

They were too late. Gently kneeling between her two friends, she placed her hand on their throats, hoping beyond hope she would find a pulse.

There was none.

"Sakura," Kakashi's concerned voice resonated, her sensei kneeling before her with a genuinely sorrowful expression, doing everything he could to hold back his sorrow to check on her.

"I knew it would come to this…" Sakura attempted to wipe the tears from her eyes with her sleeves, failing as the sobs came. "I just wish it… Didn't. …Naruto did what he said would… He shouldered all of Sasuke's hatred."

"And died alongside him to try and save him."

How long since she had visitors? She had waited so long for her children to return. The door was open, but they never returned.

But on this day, she had so many who stepped through the door and found their way into her garden. Her world would soon be lively once more. They needed guidance… Especially the youngest amongst them.

She felt lost.

"Hm?" A shining light glistened in the starry abyss she inhabited. Gazing toward the dazzling display, she frowned as a shadowy pulse resonated next to it before they both began to fade. Holding her hands out toward the stars, the stars of light and darkness were drawn into her hands. "Curious. You both were meant to shine for so much longer and far brighter. Alas, your world has been deprived of such a beautiful display."

Turning her gaze upon the stars that fell into her garden, the mechanical woman pursed her lips before gently taking the stars in hand. "But this is most fortuitous. Your journeys will continue. Allow me to rebuild you…"

"And let your light shine upon those that need it."

His head was foggy. Every muscle ached. There was sand everywhere. In places that it shouldn't be!

"Ugh…" Naruto groaned, sitting up, and sand shifted beside him. He scrunched her brow and scowled, lifting his cupped left hand and letting the grains fall from his fingertips. "How did I get here? And why a beach?"

Sharply snarling as a knifing pain radiated from his temple, Naruto rubbed his forehead. He pursed his lips and glowered, taking stock of the situation and whistling. "Now that's a tree! But seriously, how'd I get here? Wasn't I… Huh?"

"What was I doing?" Naruto furrowed his brow, trying to recall what he was doing last. Instead, a sharp pain coursed through his veins. He grimaced, his eyes glassed over before exhaling, reaching to massage his temples. "Great, don't remember what I was doing… Or why is my arm missing?!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed, holding out his right stump of an arm before his eyes. He had sworn he could feel his hand moments before. Even now he felt his fingers moving. But there was nothing there.

Only a healed wound.

"Okay, so I was in a fight. I know that… But against who? I remember... A war?" Naruto frowned, glancing around him, searching for any clue as to how he arrived here and maybe what could have done this to him. And where could anyone he possibly knew be? He didn't see any sign of conflict. Where was everyone?

His vision hovered on the beach for a moment longer when he saw a complex black and red scythe buried in the sand.

Slowly pushing himself off the bed of sand he laid upon, he walked over to it. Grasping it with his left, Naruto brought it over to examine it. He wasn't sure why it was left beside him, but maybe someone left it or dropped it? Perhaps they were the person that left him in this state? He shook his head before his eyes glistened over. Nah, that wasn't likely.

Still, it was likely they knew something, so he studied the scythe for a moment, hoping it would trigger a memory. He exhaled pitifully as he was clueless on who it belonged to. But it was the most intricate and complex weapon he had seen before. What purpose were all the gears for? And there was a switch? He was half tempted to flick this switch and find out…

Shaking his head at the thought, he gazed into the jungle before him. "Mah, maybe if I find whose scythe this is, I can figure out where I am and how I got here."

"And why I ended up like this?"

I hope you enjoyed this concept.

It came about when talking to reader on the last concept and reminded me just how oblivious BWY were of how broken Ruby was. Yes, they all had their own issues (and honestly, I can't fault Weiss as she just lost her home).

So the concept really took off as Naruto is someone who, while being concerned with his own issues, would not hesitate to help a friend in need.

Anyways, like always, if would love to hear from ya. If you like a concept, the more I hear back, the chances increase that it will get a lease on life! Been working on Guiding Light, A Book of Change, and Hushed Dreams so hoping one of those chapters will come out relatively soon.

So until next time my friends, Peace.