Chapter Text
Naruto took a moment to breathe, staring at his expression reflected in the headband. The ache in his hand from the punch he'd just thrown at Sasuke's jaw was there. His joints, muscles, and bones were beginning to experience the effects of the grueling battle. The slight numbness and adrenaline in his body were now barely keeping him afloat, and he knew he wouldn't be so lucky next time. Naruto took a deep breath as he picked up the floating headband, placed it in the back pocket of his pants, and rose from his crouch. Despite his ringing ears, he could hear Sasuke's angry shout and Kurama's small compliment. As he lifting his gaze, he met Sasuke's gaze. No matter how loud his ears rang, Sasuke's plea, "Just give up," reached him.
"I can't do this... Because I'm your one and only friend!"
Naruto's response forced Sasuke to take a deep breath, forcing him to close his eyes for a moment. As they took a deep breath, they both knew what they had to do: save a friend or eliminate another, just to continue on their own path. As the sound of Sasuke's Chidori echoed around them, Naruto braced himself; he wasn't about to retreat or give up at this point.
Sasuke lunged downward, while Naruto lunged upward, concentrating his chakra in his hand for the Rasengan. Naruto could feel the weight, the faith, and the hope carried by the chakra pooling in his hand. His teachers, his father, his mother, his friends, Hinata, Obito, Kakashi, Sakura... Every bond, forged and deepened over time like the roots of a tree, was there. And right in front of him was the person with whom he had perhaps the deepest bond of his life. A friend, a soulmate, and a rival.
Naruto tore his gaze from the Rasengan in his hand and looked at Sasuke directly in front of him. As screams echoed around them, Naruto knew he shouldn't hesitate. He knew, but a small voice inside him (and that voice was definitely not Kurama) chimed in his mind. "What if I accidentally kill Sasuke?" As this thought echoed through his mind, Naruto's momentary hesitation didn't escape Sasuke's eyes or his Chidori. He saw the hesitation, turned his Chidori slightly away, tilted his head, and shielded his skull. Just a second after that brief hesitation, Sasuke's Chidori found Naruto's ribcage and tore a hole.
Naruto's body was momentarily loosened by the blow, and he crashed to the ground harshly with Sasuke atop him. The water, which had been clear just a moment ago, was quickly stained with Naruto's blood, turning it a deep crimson. His heart and parts of his lungs were completely destroyed by the Chidori, and blood rushed into Naruto's lungs and bronchi, flowing from his chest, mouth, and nostrils. Naruto stared at Sasuke, his eyes widening as he stared at him, his lips parted as if to say something, but nothing but blood escaped.
As Naruto's consciousness slipped away and his body was filled with excruciating pain, his final thoughts were filled with the memory of his own failure. Just a few hours ago, he had been a war hero, hadn't he? He had fought side by side with Sasuke, after so many years which he waited for so long. He had been certain he could bring Sasuke back, that he had a chance to bring peace to the world. Perhaps too certain for someone with a hole in his chest in the ground. He was used to all this blood, brutality, and death, but his own death? He'd thought he'd leave more to the world than this, that he wouldn't disappoint everyone who trusted him. But now all he'd left behind was his blood spreading across the water.
It was a good fight, Sasuke. I have lost, fair enough.