Prologue

"CHIDORI!"

Lightning rods pierced through one of the enemies' back. He, along with his half-waved sword dropped to the ground revealing his intended target, still standing. The blond man glanced behind to see his teammate and friend had just saved him. A smile of new found drive spread on his worn out face, blue eyes glistening with conviction.

"Nice, Sasuke!" Naruto spoke in gratitude.

In one graceful step, Sasuke put his back to Naruto's, sword in hand, eyes on the opponents.

"Three down, eighteen to go." Sasuke calmly gave his battlefield analysis to his partner. "Ready?"

"You take the nine on your side, I take the nine on my side. Whoever finishes first wins!" Naruto's grin could be heard.

"Hn." Was all Sasuke had to say.

Their heels pushed the ground with enough strength to leave marks, and with that, each was making his way through the swarm of heavy bodies quickly approaching them.

Slash, stab, duck, and move; the two moved in opposite directions of each other, getting further and further away. It has always been like this, working alone for either of them was easy, but as a team, they were undefeatable. With all the distance between them, each knew the exact movements of the other. If one was to remove the battlefield in between, it would seem as if they were in an intricately choreographed dance. They were the opposite of each other's powers; Naruto was as bright as a sunny, grassy meadow in the middle of spring. Nature seemed to flow through him. Sasuke was as dangerous as a calm, deep ocean under the starry summer night, waiting for a reason to rage. They were two sides of the same coin, night and day, darkness and light, the moon and the sun.

No enemy seemed to be able to push the two to their limits. Some foes were challenging, but none were worthy of a long fight. This case, however, seemed a bit different. Initially, the opponents seemed weak and coming at them randomly, but they rapidly grew stronger, more organized. As if the first attacks were nothing but to give an impression of deficiency. It didn't take long for Sasuke to realize that separating him from Naruto had been the plan all along.

Sasuke could hear Naruto's attacks were getting more serious. A far husky roar of "RASENGAN!" assured him that his partner understood the situation. However, this growing physical distance between them meant that they're becoming easier targets, and something must be done to get them close again.

The smell of dust and clashing steel of knives rose. Clinks and clanks of swords. Another slash and another enemy fell in front of Sasuke. A breakthrough in the barrier of incoming threats appeared. Sasuke leapt, making his way closer to Naruto. He twisted and weaved his way defending himself against attacks that seemed to be coming from every possible angle. Who those assailants were and how they were managing to keep up with him and his partner was unimportant. He only needed this sick feeling in his gut to know that something wasn't quite right; that whoever those people were, they weren't good news.

Naruto was being forced further and further away.

A little bit more, Sasuke was pushing himself. This time, his goal was to close the distance. Fending off attacks can wait.

Just a litt-

SLASH! A sharp cold pain pierced Sasuke's back. He felt a warm stream run down his lower back and his legs.

Not good… this is not good. He thought. In his crumbling state, he managed to twirl and stick his sword in whoever had the best of him. Critical hit. Years of training wouldn't let him make a move in any less precision than perfect.

For a few moments where time seemed to stop, Sasuke just stood there; sword connecting his arm to his enemy's heaving chest. Feet pinned to the ground. Eyes focused on a now-dead target. Blood dripping down his clothes; whether it was his or his opponent's was irrelevant at that moment because he knew… he knew what this is.

The end, huh? For it to find me while I'm trying to reach HIM… how ironic.

His legs gave in. His grip loosened. His body hit the ground; first knees, then back, and finally, his head. He could feel the oozing warm blood turn the insides of his body cold. The scent of the earth so close to him was almost sentimental. It reminded him of days when falling to the ground was because he tripped on his own feet while playing. His vision was getting blurry; in the distance, there was a rising cloud of soil and earth, a golden flash darted in every direction. Naruto was handling himself well. His hearing was fading but it was hard not to hear the terrorized cry of "SASUKE!"

It's ok, Naruto… He wanted to say. It really is alright. He wondered if his friend could see his smile. He wondered if he even managed to draw a smile on his face or if he was too weak to show it. Ah well, those things didn't matter anymore. For the twenty years of his life, he managed to make one regretful decision after the next but for some reason, dying like this, in battle with his only true friend by his side seemed like one decision he won't regret.

Me too… Sasuke thought, I wish you could hear me reply to your question… I wish I could tell you myself; me too, Naruto…. me too.

Sasuke's eyelids were getting heavier. His eyes were half closed. They were no longer starry… more of cloudy and hazy. He could no longer make out what's in front of him.

It's over.

He's ready.

And at that moment, a dark shadow appeared on top of him. He couldn't identify him as an enemy or a friend, and at this point, it didn't really matter. But this figure had something familiar to it, something so soothing.

"Sasuke," the figure spoke in a deep calm voice. His cool aura was a contrast to this burning battle.

That voice… who are you? Even in this time, Sasuke was wondering why his mind was fighting so hard to deny this man's reality. He felt as if he knew the man. But why can't he recognize him, why can't he accept his existence?

"Sasuke… you made many mistakes in this life," his serene voice pulled Sasuke away from the field and wrapped him in warmth and… safety. "What if you were given a second chance… what would you do?"

Sasuke wanted to speak out this one last thought. Maybe, whoever this man is, he can convey his feelings to the one person that mattered to him. He tilted his head slightly, squeezed his eyes and opened them wide again. He wanted to get one last clear look at his childhood friend. Between the clouds of dirt, gushes of blood, and screams of falling bodies, there he seemed to be moving in a rhythm of a waltz that no enemy was capable of breaking. With all the chaos, Sasuke could feel two blue eyes glancing at him for split seconds between dodges. Or maybe, he was just yearning for them. His entire being was washed over with comfort. His life had meaning… his death had meaning. With the metallic taste of blood in his throat, the sharp pain of daggers that hit with every breath. Sasuke finally murmured.

"… him… help him… make him… happy." A string of blood started coming down the side of his mouth. It was true; if Sasuke ever had a chance at life knowing what he knew now, he'd dedicate it to Naruto's happiness. He wanted to go back to a time when Naruto needed someone the most and be that someone. He wished he'd be able to replay that warring state that was his childhood. If only…

"This time, be wiser." A beautiful, almost satisfied, beam was in that voice.

Wha—

Before Sasuke could realize what was being said to him he found himself drowning in a dark seemingly bottomless abyss. The world that was in front of him swirled and twisted, and the shadows and shapes overlapped with the glowing streaks of the morning sun, ultimately fading into obscurity. He didn't feel any danger. He didn't feel threatened or alienated. In fact, for a few moments, he felt completely in place. As if he was falling but there was no end, there was no fear of pain…

Just gliding.

Before given the chance to question his own situation, the world started untwisting again. Colors were being defined, objects reshaped, and the sky was redrawn in front of him. This time, the beaming shades of the sun were gone and a darkening twilight with a ceiling of thick trees was set in front of him. The loud screams and clashes were replaced by the crackling of dried leaves. The thumps on the battleground settled into the buzzing and chirping of birds and bugs preparing for their slumber. The cold scent of blood and dirt became of flowering buds and old oak trees. His wounds, however, seemed to be sedated but not quite relieved. As if the imminent danger was lifted but he was still in numbing pain. He couldn't move. His thoughts were getting more and more clouded. His consciousness was drifting away.

He fought with every fiber of his will to stay awake. How did he get here? Was it an after-life? No. This is real. He knew this place. It felt like a past memory. Like he could walk blindfolded between those trees. He knew his way home from here.

His mind could no longer keep up, it started shutting off. The frames of trees blended with the sky. The singing birds were quieted away. And just as he was fading, he heard a far hail. A figure was approaching… fast; a grey haired man with a barely visible face kneeled next to Sasuke, quickly examining his wounds.

"Oy! You! HANG IN THERE!"

… Ka… Kakashi?! Was Sasuke's final thought before his head tipped to the side, eyes closed, mind finally slipping into some much needed rest.

tbc