A/N:Alright, hey everyone. I know this is kinda late. I wanted this chapter out yesterday but what with all the 911 specials that came out I just had to go back and rewrite some stuff in this chapter. OH, and heeeey I didn't take an entire year to update so that's a plus a guess.

Okay, so fair warning to everyone about this chapter: I TRIED my very best to capture the emotion. It's hard and I don't think any one can better do this then an actual survivor so again, I did my best. This chapter was easier because I wasn't running on a time limit like when the towers first get hit, or when they fell and I didn't have to research as much about floor/stair/elevator plans BUT finding information about Ground Zero was freaking difficult, there is virtually no sites that focus on people who were stuck/saved from the collapse so I had to go on instinct/I had to imagine myself in this situation which was easier said then done...

SO, without further ado...

*HOLD ON A SECOND* I got my first hateful comment a few minutes after I posted this chapter. Now this person was GREATLY offended that I have written a fanfic on this tragic event. I'm sorry if this story offends anyone, I really am. BUT if it does, don't read it. That's all I can really say about that.

Hate me all you want and shoot all the profanity you want as well. BUT know this, it hurts to be insulted like that. You can comment on how you've lost someone but you're not the only one and even if I didn't personally lose anyone. I FELT the pain as if I had because at the time my father worked in NY and when I was at school and heard the news I was FUCKING SCARED TO DEATH. I thought I lost my father and to know that people out there didn't get the reassurance that I got, the reassurance of knowing my dad would be able to come home in a few weeks, safe and sound, it got to me.

I wrote this story not to rub in peoples faces the tragedy of 9/ll but to somehow in a very minimal way describe how it must have felt. To illustrate the hopelessness of that day and fear and pain of those who had to sit back and watch, knowing they could do nothing to stop it.

If you find this story more offensive then "footage of the twin towers falling set to Benny Hill, the Lucky Star OP, and the Crazy Frog song" then I don't know what to say...I wrote this story mostly for myself a way to put down in words how I feel. I used characters from the Naruto Universe, not to fulfill some sick fantasy I've got but simply because they are already developed characters with well-known personalities, which makes this fanfic easier/shorter to write then if I had to create some imaginary people instead.

Again, I'm sorry if I've offended anyone.

Chapter 5: Ground Zero

"Ten years have passed since a perfect blue sky morning turned into the blackest of nights. Since then we've lived in sunshine and in shadow, and although we can never unsee what happened here, we can also see that children who lost their parents have grown into young adults, grandchildren have been born and good works and public service have taken root to honor those we loved and lost."

-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg-

...

It took a few minutes for the dust to clear enough so that they could at least see each other. At this point none had the strength to hold back the tears, even Gaara cried silently. The phone that Sakura had been gripping so desperately now slipped out of her hands, landing on the ground and in seconds was crushed by the trampling feet of those still on the run.

"Naruto, Sasuke, Choji….everyone…We've lost them…"

(Ground Zero - 10:30 a.m.)

Large, white, clouds of dust and shattered glass swept past the streets and any open or unprotected area. Chocking, the people, who were left behind or who couldn't run fast enough, staggered to safety. Some, blinded by the clouds, chose to crouch beside buildings, cars, anything that provided some type of cover. Sirens drowned out any lingering screams, and the footfalls, of those who were still trying to get farther away, trampled the sound of a child's cries as he clutched to his mother in fear.

A small group, hidden away in a dark alley, watched as people ran past them. All were on the ground, huddled together in a quiet circle as they waited for the hazardous clouds to lift.

Rubbing his face, Kiba was the first to speak, "We should call Iruka."

The tears Sakura had been trying and failing to keep at bay broke through the last of her restraint, running down in fast torrents as she buried her face deeper in her arms.

"My phone's in my bag." She whispered quietly.

Gaara, who was closest to her, reached for her purse and quickly pulled out her phone.

With quick fingers he dialed Naruto's guardian's own cell. There was a tense quiet as they all waited for the inevitable.

"Hello?"

The fingers around the phone clenched and Gaara pressed his forehead against the rough brick wall of the building they hid behind.

"Iruka…"

(10:40 a.m.)

It was dark, creaking and metallic groans soon grew quiet as the destroyed building settled.

In the darkness, under beams of steel and concrete, a pair of bright blue eyes flickered open.

With gasping breaths and a cough of white dust the figure moved slightly.

'A-Am I dead?' Naruto thought . In an attempt at getting up a surge of hot, heavy pain shot up his arm to his spine.

"AH, FUCK! Fuck, fuck, fuck…!" Naruto pressed himself as much as he could back onto the ground. A few ragged breaths later and he managed a whisper, "Nope, I'm… definitely not dead."

Licking his lip, which was really a useless effort, Naruto moved his other arm. When no pain arose, he felt around his body until he got to his injured arm. Shakily he touched it and hissed when a smaller shot of pain ran through him.

Jaw clenched, Naruto laid his head back down, and trying with everything he had to calm his nerves.

'Okay, that arm is definitely broken but I can still feel it.' As if to prove it to himself he struggled to wiggle the fingers of his broken arm, cringing as bolts of electric heat raced up his arm. 'This is good…pain is good. For now.'

It was too dark to see what surrounded him but his eyes were able to adjust just enough to see something protruding from his arm.

Tears stung the corners of his eyes and he looked away. He looked farther into the darkness when a single thought invaded his mind. 'SASUKE!'

"S...Sa…Sasuke." His voice was quiet and the dryness in his throat didn't help. Frustrated, he banged his head back and began to chew desperately on his bottom lip. It was a pathetic attempt, he knew, but it surprised him when his teeth actually broke skin. The few drops of blood that escaped was all he needed to clear his mouth, even if it wasn't much.

"Sasuke!" His voice came out stronger now. "Sasuke, where are you!" No reply.

With his good hand he reached out. At what? He didn't know but he tried. He stretched as far as his body allowed, when his fingers ran across soft skin.

"Sasuke?" Naruto shifted the best he could and felt out next to him again, prodding the figure that was only about two feet away.

A low groan escaped the figure and Naruto felt a sudden elation pass through him. In the situation he was in at the moment, finding out they were still alive was as good as it was going to get for the time being.

"Naruto?" A shift in the dark and Naruto was able to see clouds of white dust fall as Sasuke moved.

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked, his brows furrowing in concern. His own arm was broken and being held down by something unknown so for all he knew Sasuke could be injured as well.

It was quiet and Naruto could hear as the other moved around, inspecting his own surrounding for the first time.

"I think I'm alright…my head hurts and it's too dark to see anything but...I think I'm fine." Relief washed over Naruto. A few heavy coughs escaped Sasuke before he continued, "How about you? Are you hurt?"

Naruto sighed and nibbled at his recently cut lip. "I'm fine…but…"

Sasuke's ears pricked up at this. "But…what?"

"My arm…it's caught under something and it hurts like hell…"

"Can you move it at all?" Sasuke's voice becoming more alert as he spoke.

"Y-yeah, a little. I can move my fingers but it hurts when I do."

"Shit…"

A time passed when only their shallow breaths could be heard; both contemplating on what to do next.

"Can you move at all, or are you stuck?"

"I don't know, hold on." Naruto laid quietly as he heard Sasuke's body shuffle a bit. Sasuke had moved closer to where he assumed Naruto to be when he bumped into something, knocking it down. The metallic sound rang through the small pocket that held both men.

They held their breaths and Sasuke stilled, when he felt a small shake.

"Sasuke, what happened?" The other whispered, worriedly.

It started small, the shaking. Then a stream of dust and rock started to fall above Sasuke. The moans of protest that came from the rubble inches above him were all he needed to hear to know he was in trouble.

"Ah, fuck! Naruto, cover your face!" Sasuke yelled desperately as the walls above him literally started to cave in. He dragged his body quickly and as close as he could to the blond before the whole space he had just laid in collapsed.

He clutched onto the figure he could now make out in the dark and covered him the best he could as the broken structure around them screeched and fell apart around them. Small rocks pelted Sasuke's back and he grunted when one rebounded and went right past his face, hitting him on one side before falling away deeper into the rubble.

Naruto gasped when he had felt Sasuke reach him and he would have rejoiced at this if they're lives weren't currently in peril, again. He clung to his form, until the very last quake had subsided.

He was about to let go of the older man's shirt when he heard a frightening crack followed by a pained moan.

Sasuke fell, just to the side of Naruto and pressed his hands firmly to the side of his face.

"God…DAMMIT!" Trying to curl into himself, his face rubbed past Naruto's arm. A warm liquid dripped slowly onto it and Naruto brought his hand closer to his face.

"Sasuke…y-your bleeding." He felt stupid for saying it but there wasn't much he could do for the dark haired man.

Sasuke gritted his teeth as the throbbing; pulsating pain grew. He could feel his blood trickle between his fingers. His skull ached and he noticed that most of the blood was oozing out of his left eye, he didn't dare open it.

"I…I think…" Sasuke started, he tried to feel around his bleeding eye. His face was swelling quickly but the disturbing part was that, where his eye was supposed to be, there was a soft spot instead, an unusually soft. "No…never mind. I know…I've lost an eye."

He pressed his face into Naruto's side one last time before straightening out the best he could. Unlike Naruto who was on his back, he laid on his stomach which at the moment he was grateful for because his position kept the other boy from seeing his injury.

"Fuck, Sasuke!" Naruto felt the edges of panic over take him. "What the hell are we gonna do now?"

"Calm down, Naruto."

"NO! You just got your fucking eye bust in. My arm is useless and we're stuck, god knows, how deep in this FUCKING SHIT!" Naruto's vision, obscured enough with the darkness was worsened by the buildup of tears. He reached over and grasped at whatever held is other arm in place.

"What are you doing!"

"I'm gonna pull this shit out and we'll take it from there!" Sasuke scrambled and yanked the blonde's good hand away.

"Don't you idiot! It'll only make it worse!" He grabbed the boy's face in his hands and shook him a little to get his attention. "You'll bleed out and make this fucked up situation worse than it already is, do you want that, huh!"

Lip trembling, Naruto scrunched his eyes tightly. "We're so screwed, Sasuke." He tilted his head back a little and reopened his eyes. He could vaguely make out Sasuke's face and he frowned when he felt the blood that had yet to stop, drip onto his face. "How can you say things can get worse? We're trapped down here…we're going to d-"

Naruto's eyes widened as a large hand was slapped over his mouth, making his mouth sting.

"NO."

"But…" Naruto muffled out. He wanted to scream out, yell out to deaf ears that his life could not end here. He wanted to escape his god forsaken hole and take in the fresh, crisp air that was New York, his home. He wanted to hold his friends, he wanted to know they were okay.

"NO!" He couldn't see Sasuke but he felt his eyes on him. Anger, pain, hopelessness, and…determination, he felt all of it. The body above his began to shake and Naruto gave up, burying his face into the larger man's chest. He wanted Sasuke. Today could have been a turning point for them and he didn't want that taken from him.

"I'm sorry…god…I'm just…so fucking scared right now."

"I know but we're gonna get out of here, I promise. You'll be fine." Sasuke went back to lying on his side while still holding onto the blond. "I promise." His grip tightened.

(1:00 p.m.)

He doesn't know how much time had passed but eventually Naruto felt himself awaken as if he had been sleeping, which was odd considering he didn't remember falling asleep and he wasn't in the least bit surprised to find that he was still covered in darkness. He felt strangely calm and he wasn't sure if he should be worried.

Naruto lightly touched the body pressed against him and paled when he noticed how cold the other was.

"Sasuke." He gently began to shake the man. "Sasuke, how much longer do you think we'll be stuck here?" He asked, his voice breaking near the end when Sasuke still made no sign of answering.

The hands that had once held him tightly were now loose and beginning to slip off him.

He swallowed thickly and raised his hand to feel the dark haired boy's face. His breathe hitched when he couldn't feel Sasuke's warm breath. His eyes watered when he couldn't feel any heat at all coming off of his body. And he finally started to cry when he brought his hands up to his eye and felt dried blood caking his face.

"Oh…oh no. No, no, no." Naruto's constant shaking became increasingly violent and just when he thought it was over, just when he thought his entire reason for staying alive had vanished he felt a small movement beneath his fingertips. Stopping, he ran his hand to rest over Sasuke's chest.

He held his breath as the skin beneath his fingers and Sasuke's shirt rose and fell softly. It was barely noticeable but it was there. Naruto sighed and wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on his forehead.

"God, don't you fucking dare leave me, you bastard…" He whispered. They were still in a hell of a lot of danger but at least Sasuke was hanging in there. He glanced back down at the silent man next to him and bit his lip anxiously. "We need to get out of here…" Naruto looked to his other side and tried to wiggle his fingers. To his horror, he found he couldn't or at least he didn't feel it. With sudden determination, Naruto grasped the offending object that was impaling him. With a final quick look to the figure next to him, he adjusted his fingers around the object and gritted his teeth as he yanked it out in one swift motion.

"Son of a-" Naruto pulled his arm close and clutched it tightly as renewed pain flooded his senses. With his mouth shut he breathed heavily through his nose, his face scrunched up in agony. He wasn't sure if taking the thing out was a good idea or not, like Sasuke said, he could bleed out, but Naruto knew he felt much better. Aside from the excruciating pain, at least he wasn't stuck to the floor now.

It was only a matter of minutes before the numbness returned and Naruto gladly accepted it. Throwing whatever the hell had been holding him down; he focused now on keeping the body nest to him warm. Sasuke was getting colder in contrast to the unbearable heat his own body was experiencing. The closed in space was suffocating but that apparently wasn't having any affect on Sasuke's limp form.

"Dammit, Sasuke…wake the hell up!"

There was suddenly a weird tingling sensation underneath him, jolting his attention back to his surroundings. Naruto looked around but it didn't look like another cave in, no clouds of dust, no falling debri. The weird vibrations went on long enough for him to locate and grab whatever was underneath him.

When he brought it up he had to squint at the light that shone from it. Being in complete darkness for so long, it took awhile for his eyes to focus, but when they did…

"My…cellphone…?" He said aloud in disbelief.

Naruto looked at the screen of his long forgotten phone. It blinked and vibrated evenly as it reminded him of the meeting he was supposed to have today.

He was shocked of course. All this time his phone had survived the collapse and he just couldn't even begin to believe his luck.

Quickly he flashed his phone light next to him and was half expecting Sasuke to wake up and grin along with him. He didn't of course, which brought Naruto back from his euphoria. They were still in danger and Sasuke's life was hanging on by a thread.

With no more hesitation Naruto brought his phone back to his face. His bars were gone, there was no way he could make a call but that didn't stop him from trying. Spending the next few minutes, hours, days, he doesn't know, he calls 911 constantly in hopes that one makes it through. His phones battery decreases slowly but to Naruto it seems it's dying much too quickly. He furiously dials one more time, waits with growing anxiety as the phone rings in its mocking tone. He's just about to hang up when he hears a click on the other side.

"Fire Department."

A/N: WAIT. Before I get any angry comments or something I need to explain a few things:

1. When you call 911 you ARE NOT immediately directed to the fire department. When you call you're taken to the NYPD operators THEN to the FDNY but for dramatic/fictional purposes let's just pretend this isn't so, okay?

2. If you are an expert in the medical field or some professional first aid kit guy or some crap like that and find that Naruto ripping out the beam from his arm is irrational or stupid well...sorry. If it were me, stuck in a situation like theirs I can confidently say I wouldn't know what the heck to do and I sure as hell wouldn't want some sharp, pointy object impaling my arm. Weather it was stupid move or not, someone with inexperience or no knowledge of this sort of stuff wouldn't know any better.

3. Yes...Naruto managed to get signal under, who knows how many feet, of concrete and steel. I don't know how to defend this, it just happened.

Uhm, I won't explain anything else, you'll just have to wait till the next chapter now BUT if you do have question feel free to ask.

FYI I was kinda thinking on ending it like this but I figured that would just be mean SO the next chapter will be the last and I will end this story properly.

!Comment/Review/Ask Questions/etc. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!