The dust that the fight had caused made it hard to see, but you knew it was just an excuse.

Who else could it be? That messy mop of silver, the mask... he'll, you could even recognize the scratches on the uniform. But.. maybe it was just the dust right?

You stood unmoving, still frozen even after a full 5 minutes. You could see the blood trickle down his face, the sunken eyes... had he used the new sharingan ability? Most likely, considering the blood dripping from the eye.

Suddendly there was no more dust between you two. Your leg was bleeding from tripping, but how could your brain even formulate the thought in yoir current state? No, not with him-

Even if the dust was gone, his face was blurred to you. Not enough for you not to focus on the the wounds on his face.

You couldn't really.. feel anything. But why would you? He had promised he wouldn't leave you, so why would he? He always kept his promises.

Your knees stung a bit- you felt that- as your got closer to him. Had you fallen to your knees? Likely.

You lifted your hands, one moving his hair out of the way, the other on his pulse.

Choji at his side gasped, but quickly lowered his gaze, as his father, too, couldn't bare to look at you. He gently took Choji aside, giving you a moment.

There's no movement on his neck. No pulse.

No pulse.

Blue lights start raining all around you, but the oitside world doesn't matter anymore. Why should it, when he isn't in it?

And he sits up with a gasp.