Previously...

"Kiba, Akamaru, and Kya will have to track down Naruto. Most likely he is trying to get as far from the village as he can until the Kyuubi becomes too much for him to handle...Hinata, Neji. When we get within a three mile radius I need you two to do the same as Shino, observe Naruto's chakra and also explain what his physical appearance is...I am going to be staying behind to prepare for the Zetsu's attack along with TenTen, Choji, and Ino," said Shikamaru.

To Sasuke, "You will be our best chance at getting Naruto knocked out. The easiest way to make Naruto unconscious is, of course, a genjutsu. But you will be competing with the Kyuubi as well, so focus on that and everyone else will fight if Naruto proves to be hostile...Then, once Naruto is subdued, return back to the village. The Zetsu's are expected to arrive in roughly four days. That's the amount of time we have to find Naruto, knock him out, and bring him back. Got it?"

Chapter One: Vermiculus Lacrymis (Crimson Tears)

Sasuke

Six years ago, if you were to ask Uchiha Sasuke if he would defend Konoha, he would have laughed and then killed you for your stupidity in asking the question, just for being the unfortunate victim of not knowing that his brother had been ordered by that very village to kill his clan. His family. Six years ago if you were to ask Uchiha Sasuke if he would fall in love with Uzumaki Naruto, he would kill you for suggesting the very thought that had always pester the back of his mind but never quite make it to the forefront of his concerns.

Now, if you were to ask him if he would defend Konoha, he would respond with a single nod of his head while knowing the only reason would be for his brother. Ask him if he loved Uzumaki Naruto now, and he wouldn't offer any agreement or disagreement with the statement, but if you look closely at his lips you can see him smiling, very softly, which is as good of a "Yes" as you will ever get from him for now.

But, ask him if he ever thought of Naruto dying, or of his clan and what had occurred within its ranks, his temper will snap and he will kill you without hesitation...

"Sasuke."

Uchiha Sasuke paused on the thick branch of a pine tree, his right palm pressed onto the dark brown trunk. His black jacket clung tightly to his slim, yet muscular, torso and the collar brushed against the underside of his chin. Midnight black bangs fluttered around his cheeks while shinobi leapt by him, each barely glancing at him before moving forward as he waited for the caller of his name to reach him.

The raven's blood-red eyes scanned the forest floor below his feet, noting that a grey wolf with a stripe of ginger running along its back and a scar on its left flank was running alongside of Akamaru and Inuzuka Kiba. That was Kya. A female wolf with enhanced chakra capability given to her by the Inuzuka Clan, gifted with the ability to extend her claws and make them harder than steel, tipped with poisoned silver and advanced speed and agility. The wolf seemed to notice Sasuke's stare, glancing over her flank and locking her shocking yellow eyes with his before returning to focusing on her chase.

And who, exactly, were they chasing? These people and animals in front of Sasuke...the answer lies in nineteen year old Uzumaki Naruto. Sasuke's best friend, rival, and lover. Fighting for his life against the fox demon of Konoha, Kyuubi no Youko, which was breaking past the seal placed upon him by Naruto's father and slowly corrupting Naruto's mind and body until he could be free to wreck havoc once more...

A day had passed since the group had left Konoha in search of Naruto...

A rush of wind on Sasuke's left blew the Uchiha's hair past his chin, and his eyes flicked to the left to see Hyuuga Neji staring at him with pale, pupiless lavender eyes. "What, Neji," Sasuke sighed out and noted that the ANBU's eyebrows pulled together in annoyance. "We need to talk," the brunette said and held out a scroll to Sasuke, the pale parchment tied by a small red string. The seal of Konoha was stamped over the constraint with white wax.

Picking off the small circle and unraveling the scroll, Sasuke glanced forward to see the vanishing figures of the Rookie Nine in front of him. Neji noticed this and pointed at the paper to get Sasuke's attention. "We'll catch up," the ANBU muttered. "This is important." The raven spared Neji a quick glare before returning his eyes to the paper. On it was a detailed black swirl, with kanji spread outward like spokes on a wheel in looping writing.

"This is Naruto's seal, the Shiki Fuujin," Neji explained. His pale, gloved hand pointed at the middle swirl as Sasuke stared. "Shikamaru wanted you to know two things. Killer B is going to be the one redrawing the seal along with Sai and Tsunade-sama. And..." The brunette paused to clear his throat, "...If possible, we are to place another seal on top of the Shiki Fuujin until we return to Konoha. I'll be preforming it along with Hinata-sama. It will observe Naruto's chakra flow and stop it from spiking if the Kyuubi tries something, but it is still a very weak sealing technique. It should buy us some more time to keep Naruto unconscious, however."

Sasuke nodded and continued to stare at the Shiki Fuujin on the paper. "The Uzumaki Clan specialized in seals," Neji began to explain quietly. "The Shiki Fuujin is based off of those skills by the Forth Hokage. The seal Hinata-sama and I plan on using is likewise originating from the Uzumaki Clan, but it is weaker because of the amount of chakra required to preform it in full would kill anyone not of that lineage..."

"Anything else," Sasuke asked flatly and abruptly rolled up the scroll and refastened the red string around it, handing it back to Neji. The Hyuuga shook his head and narrowed his eyes at Sasuke slightly. "I know you're worried," the brunette murmured and turned, facing the direction the others had run off in. "We all are. But, Sasuke...this detached behavior is unacceptable. In order to capture Naruto and the Kyuubi we all need to coordinate together as a whole...and it will not be possible without your corporation. You are the one responsible for putting Naruto under, the key to this mission's success. Do not forget your role."

Neji spoke no more after that and sprung off of the branch, leaving Sasuke staring at his retreating back.

Glowering, Sasuke leapt after the Hyuuga and quickly passed the ANBU up, the chakra pouring into his feet searing the wood below every time he landed on a branch and leaving smoking footsteps in his wake.

Roughly twenty minutes passed after that and the Uchiha had blown past Hinata and Shino, returning to his place right above Kiba and the two canines on the forest floor. Kya was constantly baring her teeth as she ran, and Akamaru seemed to be growing more and more hesitant and fearful with each step; the dog's ears fell flatter against his skill and Sasuke could hear quiet whimpers coming from the dog. "Fifteen kilometers east, guys," Kiba called up and swerved slightly to the right, his voice flat and saddened.

"Hinata, Neji, get ready to go up front," Sasuke called back to the Hyuuga's without looking back and waiting for a reply. Small, tick like bugs began to fly past Sasuke's shoulders and ears with small buzzing noises, hovering in front of his vision briefly before zooming into the space in front of him and vanishing into the trees leaves. Silently, Sasuke kept track to himself of how many miles were left in this trek until they discovered Naruto.

Six miles in and three left to go, Akamaru and Kya suddenly halted as the wolf snarled harshly, digging her paws into the ground. Sasuke paused in the tree he had landed in, concern for Kya, Kiba, and Akamaru warring with the intense drive to save Naruto as soon as possible while Hinata, Neji, and Shino stopped by his right. Glancing over at the Hyuuga pair, the Uchiha saw both of their Byukagan's activated and scanning the treeline ahead while bugs floated around Shino's hooded head.

Hinata suddenly gasped softly and Neji's torso stiffened. "What is it," Sasuke demanded and looked forward as well, Sharnigan active. He saw nothing, mostly likely because he was still too far away from whatever the trio were observing for his eyes to see..."There's a dense concentration of chakra up ahead," Neji muttered. "It almost looks like...lava of some sort," Hinata elaborated quietly. "Bubbling and thick...and orange..." Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"That's the Kyuubi," he muttered angrily. "We know, Sasuke," Neji snapped back. "In ratio to the chakra I'm sensing, it would appear that Naruto's chakra is being sucked inward, inside of the Kyuubi's," Shino added on. "The orange chakra is acting like a vacuum..." "The dogs can sense it too," Kiba called up and glanced at Kya when she growled. "Fine, dog and wolf," the brunette muttered and stuck his tongue out at the wolf. "Kiba, focus," Neji ordered.

Sasuke shivered and peered closer through the trees. "What are we waiting for then," he asked. "We need a plan of attack," Shino explained. "It's obvious that Kiba has us all beat when it comes to raw power," Neji murmured, seemingly to himself. "It would make more sense to have him go on first. But the Kyuubi is tricky. Hinata-sama and I need to try and block as many chakra veins in Naruto's body as we can before we attempt any sort of frontal attack...Shino, can your bugs eat away at the Kyuubi's chakra?"

Sasuke watched Shino shake his head slowly. "The chakra is demonic," he explained. "It acts as an acid to anything except its host, and even then that only applies in the first stage of the host's transformation. My bugs would be incinerated before they had a chance to get close enough to eat away at the chakra." Neji's expression became displeased. "Very well," the brunette muttered. Everyone was silent as the Hyuuga continued to think over various plans he had come up with while Sasuke tried to analyze every angle that they could approach Naruto from...

"...Alright, here's the plan," Neji murmured. "Kiba, come up here." The brunette appeared behind Sasuke while the raven turned to face Neji fully. "Hinata-sama and I will start off, attempting to block Naruto's chakra channels. Kiba, when I give the signal you and Akamaru are to go in and try to incapacitate Naruto. Shino, your bugs are going to intercept any chakra bursts Naruto tries to send at us. If it means they get burnt, so be it. Sasuke, when I tell you, you are to try and put Naruto under, whether it's with a genjutsu any sort of attack. Everyone is aware that you are the only one who has a hope of matching Naruto's power."

All of them nodded once at Neji's instructions as Sasuke's fists clenched in anticipation.

"Here we go then," Kiba muttered and returned to the ground, but not sitting atop of Akamaru and instead running alongside the dog while Akamaru and Kya growled in protest of approaching the threat instead of retreating. The group in the trees quickly trailing behind, each of their hands clenched into tight fists as they ran.

Two miles into their run, Sasuke's sharnigan was finally able to see the catostrophe Hinata and Neji had witnessed earlier.

Just as they had said, a massive bubble of orange chakra was reaching through the gaps in the leaves in front of him, boiling over much like lava and seeming to sear and scorch everything it touched. A small explosion rocked the earth suddenly, and the group in the trees lost their footing on the branches they stood on, tumbling to the ground while Akamaru and Kya yelped in surprise.

Sasuke heard something roar in front of them.

"Let's go," Kiba called urgently and picked himself up, brushing dirt off of his Jonin vest and sprinting ahead. "Kiba, wait!" Neji called futilely, extending his palm out into Kiba's direction before clenching his fingers and pulling his hand back. "The idiot never listens," Shino murmured and stood as well while Sasuke continued his run on the ground, gritting his teeth as the temperature around him noticeably increased and began to burn his skin. A constant gust of warm air brushed against his face, uncomfortably heating his black jacket and blue pants until they were nearly unbearable to wear as underbrush whipped at his skin, while mist-like orange clouded the area in front of his eyes.

His hands then passed through a line of bushes and entered empty, searingly hot air, followed by his torso. Skidding to a halt, Sasuke found himself barely stopping his momentum in time to stop himself from falling into a massive crater that had been carved into the earth. Bits of tree and debris littered the walls of the hole, pieces of smashed boulder jutting out like spikes. Clinging to one of shatters was Kiba, crouched on all fours and snarling at something that was kneeling in the mass of orange that had been growing more and more dense as Sasuke had approached.

Moments later, Hinata appeared at his left side and nearly toppled down into the hole as well, followed by Neji, Shino, Akamaru, and Kya. The two canines snarled, and Sasuke noticed Kya extend her claws as her hackles rose and the fur on her neck stood on end. "Neji. Hinata. Do you see anything?" Sasuke asked over the sound of rushing wind, peering into the dim and seeing a hunched figure within the dense bubble of chakra, but even his sharnigan couldn't identify who the person was.

He did have a fair idea, however.

"...No," Hinata managed to say over the noise, "There's j-just a b-black blur.." Neji seemed to grit his teeth. "Shall we proceed, Hinata-sama?" The brunette asked tensely. Sasuke looked to the side and saw Hinata nod once, her eyes wide. Neji then glanced over at Sasuke. "Make sure Kiba knows when to go in," he said. "What exactly is your signal going to be," Sasuke muttered in reply. "It should be obvious," Neji explained and then leapt forward, Hinata close behind him, their forms quickly vanishing into the orange fog.

Buzzing at Sasuke's right alerted the raven that Shino had sent his bugs into the fray as well, small brown dots entering after Hinata and Neji. "Sasuke," Kiba called up from the spike he was crouching on alongside Kya and Akamaru. "What," the Uchiha replied without taking his eyes off of the mist, every muscle in his body aching to go in and find Naruto. "What's Neji's signal gonna be?"

Sasuke blinked once as a small burst of orange chakra bubbled forward towards him. "You'll know when you see it," he said as a flare of blue, almost white, chakra exploded deep in the mass of the demonic substance in front of them. "They found Naruto," Shino informed quietly as bugs passed back and forth from his body and into the fray. "How bad is the Kyuubi getting," Sasuke murmured back. Shino's fingers twitched as he held his hand in the air to catch some of the bugs flying towards his head.

"...The bugs can't get close enough to tell," the brunette finally replied. "They're getting incinerated. But...Neji and Hinata aren't dead yet. So..." "So that's a good sign," Kiba finished from down below. Shino nodded while Sasuke returned his attention to the orange in front of him. Another white-blue burst expanded within the bubble, and the chakra suddenly seemed to dip inward on itself and shrink, no longer filling the whole of the crater and retreating about four feet.

One more flare inside of the chakra and then the orange receded back another two feet. Something clicked inside of Sasuke's mind and he glanced down at Kiba, suddenly understanding what Neji's signal was. "Kiba, get in there," the Uchiha ordered. "Neji's signal was the chakra shrinking!" Kiba nodded and looked over his shoulder, eyes on Sasuke. "Do you want Kya in there too?" The brunette asked quickly while his legs visibly tensed, preparing to pounce.

"...Yes," Sasuke said slowly and turned his attention to the wolf. "Be careful," he called to the russet and grey canine, who simply snarled in reply and was the first of the trio in the crater to jump forward and into the chakra. The Uchiha's body remained tense as snarls and yowls were added to the sound of sickening pops and bubbling coming from the chakra, as well as soft battle cries that were slowly rising above the noise level. "Still nothing?" He asked of Shino.

The boy seemed to be sweating now, whipping at his brow while soft pants were escaping his lips. Sasuke felt slightly concerned, but brushed it aside as a loud cry of pain shattered through the chakra barrier. "...No, not yet," the brunette managed to grit out. "The chakra is...fading away. Whatever...whatever Neji and Hinata are doing...it's working.."

However, just as Shino finished his sentence, the chakra flared to impossible heights above their heads and arced over the treeline, covering the two in its shadow while a heavy weight slammed into Sasuke's chest, sending him flying back until his back connected with a tree trunk. The base that had stopped Sasuke's fall cracked and toppled back as Sasuke looked up to see a writhing Naruto on his stomach, clawing at empty air and snarling while Kya appeared above the blonde's head, silver claws aimed at Naruto's throat.

"Shit!" Sasuke screamed out as red and black chakra flared from Naruto's arms and burned Sasuke's chest, searing away his jacket and leaving festering blisters on his skin. Pushing away the urge to shove Naruto away, Sasuke instead rolled to the right and fought Naruto's flailing limbs, shoving the boy to the ground just as Kya was about to tear into Naruto's neck.

Naruto was barely recgonizable as Sasuke rolled in the dirt, trying to pin the Jinchūriki down. His blonde hair was becoming overcome with red streaks, fading to black as the crimson reached the tips. Just like the night before, the blonde's eyes were red, but were now rimmed with a deep black much like Gaara's were. His whisker scars were more prominent while flakes of red covered his face, like bits of his skin had peeled away. Long canine teeth poked from Naruto's lips as the blonde snapped his head upward towards Sasuke's neck, seeming to try and rip the raven's throat out.

A long tendril of red chakra was wrapping around Naruto's chest and seemed to be acting like a seperate being, as it shoved Sasuke off of Naruto and crashed him into another tree. A sharp pain lanced up Sasuke's ribcage as his vision became blurry while Kya howled. At first, Sasuke assumed she had done that because he had been injured...but then he saw Naruto leaping at him, his fingernails grown out like claws and a black chakra sphere in his right hand, aimed at the Uchiha's heart.

Sasuke could barely see the blonde come at him, and he tensed his arms in front of him in the shape of an "X" to take the brunt of the blow when a flash of grey and russet jumped in front of him.

There was a bang, and the smell of sizzling flesh, as Sasuke registered that Kya had leapt in front of him.

"...No!" Sasuke shouted, his throat dry from the lack of cool oxygen as Naruto leapt back, growling. The raven dropped to his knees next to Kya, who was laying on her right flank with her left exposed to Sasuke. A large, red gash was cut into her side as she panted heavily, pained whimpers escaping her jaws while her tongue lolled out of her mouth. "Kiba!" Sasuke called desperately as he stared at the wound in his wolf's flank. "Shit, Kya, hang on," he murmured, watching Naruto out of the corner of his eye as the blonde shifted.

In response, the wolf whimpered again and turned her head so her yellow eyes could see Sasuke. His own red and black ones stared back as he read the wolf's emotions, so strong that he could almost hear them as words. Kya was sad, sad that she couldn't have stayed by Sasuke's side longer...but happy that she had had the chance to live with a human such as himself. That her pain was now at an end.

Kya's eyes dulled as her body limped in Sasuke's arms.

Denial built in Sasuke's mind, quickly followed by fury as he slowly raised his head to glare at Naruto, a trail of blood running down his left cheek from his eye...like he was crying blood. A burst of black flames extended from his throat and into the air, aimed at Naruto. The blonde was unable to dodge the attack, and pained screams were elicited from Naruto's mouth as he collapsed to the ground, yowling like an animal and clawing at the fire that crawled over his body.

Setting Kya's body down gently, Sasuke then leapt forward and, ignoring the pain of burns and broken ribs, jumped onto Naruto's body and extinguished the Amaterasu, once more pinning Naruto's arms down and staring into the blonde's red eyes. A crimson tear dropped from Sasuke's left eye onto Naruto's cheek while the two stared at each other. Reaching his right fist back past his head, Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Naruto. "Wake. Up!" He shouted and punched Naruto across his left cheek, snapping the blonde's head to the side.

A low growl came in reply, and Sasuke once more was shoved off of Naruto, scrambling backwards and leaping up with chakra in his feet just as Naruto's fist punched through the empty air he had been standing in just seconds before. Panting, Sasuke's sharnigan eyes scanned the forest floor, the raven feeling suspicious of the blonde's lack of presense. "Fuck you!" A voice shouted behind Sasuke, and he turned to see Naruto launching at him from the other end of the branch he was crouched on.

Sasuke leapt back into a backflip and kicked his legs forward, feeling his left foot kick Naruto's chin while he pushed off of his palms and landed on the soles of his feet. The Jinchūriki was just getting off of his back as the Uchiha stared at him for a few moments, then pulled his katana out of its holster and let a surge of blue chakra crackle along the blade.

Pushing off of his right foot, Sasuke ran at Naruto while the blonde growled, an extension of red chakra pushing out of the Jinchūriki's body and moving to the right of the raven. Leaping up, the Uchiha twisted in the air and extended his katana at Naruto's back as he landed behind him, his momentum pushing him forward just as Naruto dodged his attempt at a stab. Naruto then turned around and twisted his right arm under Sasuke's, gripping the raven's shoulder and lifting him into the air, flinging him over the blonde's head and onto the branch. The wood shivered but did not give way as Sasuke stood and wiped blood from the corner of his lip.

More chakra filled Sasuke's katana and he once more pointed it at Naruto, forming a blue-white spear that then launched at the blonde's chest. Naruto dodged the attack and crouched onto all fours, more skin suddenly peeling from his body and floating into the air around him before disintegrating into nothing. The red tendril that was wrapped around Naruto's body suddenly landed on the blonde's left, forming two arms and legs while mimicking the Jinchūriki's stance.

A small growl sounded from the blonde as he then ran forward, barely giving Sasuke time to raise his blade and parry the vicious claws that were slashing at his chest. His eyes connected with Naruto's just as a red hand shoved into the side of the raven's face, pushing him off of the tree and onto the ground. The chakra is acting seperately of Naruto's body, The Uchiha noted while Naruto followed his descent downward and landed a few feet from his body, the red form still intent on crushing Sasuke's throat while he backflipped away. Just like before...

His mind flashed through vague memories of fighting a twelve year old Naruto in a similar state as this.

Gotta trick both of them at once then. The Kyuubi can't get out. Sasuke clenched his jaw as he glanced behind his shoulder at Kya's body before returning his attention to Naruto and the forming figure of the Kyuubi. Another memory passed through his head, of Naruto underneath him and the moonlight shining on his face as he whispered the Uchiha's name...

Sasuke tightened his hold on his katana.

Aiming the blade upward at the sky, Sasuke briefly surged more chakra into the blade as he reached into his weapons holster and pulled out six kunai, throwing them forward so that they landed in a straight line, aimed at Naruto. The blonde and the red chakra figure growled as Sasuke flung two more kunai at them, connected to each other with steel wire that lashed around the blonde's torso and sent him into a tree trunk, tying the blonde to the wood.

The red Kyuubi form snarled and began to advance on Sasuke as he brought the crackling blade of his katana down onto the loop of a kunai just at his feet.

Lightning burst from the steel and onto the dagger, jumping from one kunai to the other and extending at Naruto, passing through the red Kyuubi and causing the figure to howl before collpasing to the side just as the lightning hit the wire tying Naruto to the tree. Pained screams ripped from Naruto's lips as the blonde was electrocuted, Sasuke sprinting forward and launching himself at Naruto again with enough force to break the tree and several behind it, sending it to the ground in a cloud of dust, twigs, and leaves.

Coughing, Sasuke raised himself up on his palms as he again stared into Naruto's enraged eyes and winced as the burns on his chest flared. Focusing all of his chakra into his eyes, the raven attempted to pull Naruto's mind into a genjutsu. The blonde's crimson eyes dulled slightly and started to close while Sasuke's heart pounded. The only noises he could hear were the Kyuubi's screams, his own blood in his ears, and Naruto's heavy breathing...

Naruto's eyes closed fully as his body relaxed under Sasuke's...it was over.

Sasuke continued to hover above Naruto, making sure the blonde was unconscious as the Kyuubi's wails diminished to nothing behind him, the red and orange chakra diminishing from the blonde's torso and folding inward on itself, back into Naruto's stomach. Exhaustion rushed over Sasuke at the sudden drop of his chakra, and his arms gave way under him and sending him falling on top of Naruto.

A small groan of pain escaped his mouth when his broken ribs and raw skin were shoved onto Naruto's chest while the side of his face was pressed into the blonde's chest. Laying there, Sasuke could hear Naruto's heart beating under his ear and feel Naruto's chest rise and fall with every breath he took.

Footsteps were approaching quickly, the raven noted, but he was too tired to lift himself off of Naruto and greet them. He heard a soft voice that was a lot like Hinata's call his name, as well as...Kiba's voice, curse and say something about Kya...

Kya.

Sasuke's eyes snapped open just as they were about to close and focused on Hinata's worried lavender gaze, her Byukugan dormant and blood trickling down from her forehead to her chin. "Sasuke-kun," she said and shook his shoulder, sending waves of pain down the raven's spine. The Uchiha groaned and managed to push himself off of Naruto's body, fatigue weighing his limbs down while Hinata helped him lay down on the forest floor.

"Sasuke-kun, Naruto...is he unconscious?" The Hyuuga heiress asked once Sasuke was still. His throat too dry to respond, Sasuke simply nodded in reply. Hinata's eyes briefly flickered above Sasuke's body and he saw sorrow pass through her gaze before she returned back to the raven. "I'm going to h-heal the burns," she murmured. "I...you definitely have s-some broken ribs...maybe a punctured lung...but I d-doubt that. Your spine might be bruised...but other than that a-and chakra exhaustion...you should be able to get back to Konoha f-f-fine.."

Sasuke nodded and let his mind drift while Hinata healed the worst of his wounds.

Once she was done, he sat up noticably easier, suddenly remembering something. "Shit, Kya," he gasped out and stood, ignoring Hinata's surprised gasp and suggestion that he should stay lying down, running towards Kiba and Akamaru. The two were huddled around a grey mass on the leaves cluttering the ground, the white dog whimpering and yowling while Kiba's blood and sweat streaked face was pulled into a frustrated and sad expression.

"Is she...is she alright," Sasuke panted demandingly while he stopped by Kiba's left shoulder. The brunette slowly glanced up at Sasuke...and shook his head in denial.

8-8-8-8-8-8

"She died protecting you, man," Kiba said softly from Sasuke's right as Akamaru finished kicking the last of the dirt over the pit that was now Kya's grave. A crimson and yellow sun was just setting over the Fire Country, shadows pulling from the bases of the tall trees surrounding them as well as the one Kya was now buried under. Yellow buttercups and white clovers that Hinata had picked were planted all around the grave, along with a single red rose Neji had managed to find among the debris created by the crater the Kyuubi had made earlier, laying on top of the area where the wolf's head would be.

Neji's hand gently clasped onto Sasuke's shoulder as the raven stared blankly at the freshly turned dirt in front of him. Kya had been there for him through everything in the past three years, on every mission and listening every time he ranted about Naruto, Itachi, or whatever the fuck he wanted...and now she was gone. "She may not have been trained to be one, but she was one hell of a ninja dog...wolf," Kiba murmured, seeming to forget the fact that Kya had been a wolf. Sasuke snorted softly as he remembered how agitated Kya would get whenever Kiba referred to her as a dog.

"We should s-start heading back," Hinata said softly from behind the trio. She was busy making sure Naruto stayed unconscious as well as healing the wounds the Kyuubi, along with the rest of the group, had inflicted upon him. Kiba and Neji stepped back while Sasuke stayed in place, Akamaru rubbing against his side briefly. "Need a few minutes?" Neji asked. Sasuke nodded.

Once everyone had left him, Sasuke knelt down onto on leg and stared forward at the grave in front of him. His throat felt choked as he imagined Kya standing on top of the dirt in front of him, yellow eyes flaring and her claws extending from her paws. "Thank you...for everything," he murmured, and then stood up again. "Goodbye...Kyabi."

Turning, Sasuke didn't look back as he approached the group behind him while his eyes landed on Naruto's burnt and bruised body. "I'll carry him back," he said. The others seemed to understand that statement was not a request; it was a demand.

Leaning down, the Uchiha gently picked Naruto up in his arms and let the blonde's head rest against his bare chest as they made their way back to Konoha, a remnant of blood dripping from Sasuke's eye and splashing down onto Naruto's cheek.