Through the Darkness To You (Sasuke x Reader)

I looked up — and what I saw made my heart skip.

"...Naruto?" I whispered, stunned.

His entire body was wrapped in red, swirling chakra, pulsing wildly like a living flame. His hair blew with the force of it, and his eyes weren't the usual warm blue — they were sharp, fierce, burning with something dark and powerful.

This... this wasn't the Naruto I knew.

He looked like a force of nature.

The air around him crackled, heavy and terrifying. I could feel the heat of his chakra from where I sat — and it sent chills down my spine.

What is this power...?

The masked ninja stood a few meters away, frozen in place, clearly stunned too.

And then, without warning, Naruto attacked.

He moved like lightning — faster than I could even track. His fists hit hard, the bridge echoing from the impact. The masked ninja tried to dodge, but Naruto was already behind him, slamming him into the ground.

"You HURT my friends!" Naruto shouted, his voice deeper, rawer.

The masked ninja managed to throw senbon needles toward him — but the red chakra pushed them back, melting some midair. Nothing could touch him now.

I stared in shock, my mouth slightly open, my arms still wrapped around Sasuke's limp body.

For a moment, I forgot how much pain I was in. I forgot the coldness in my limbs. I forgot everything — because Naruto's power was blinding.

Another hit.

Crash.

Crack.

I flinched as another shockwave of chakra burst out, rattling the broken remains of the ice mirrors around us. Naruto looked like he was glowing — no, burning.

And then, beneath all of that—

I felt... something.

It was small. Barely there.

But real.

My fingers, still pressed to Sasuke's chest, caught a slight movement—so faint I almost thought I imagined it.

I froze, breath caught in my throat.

"No..."

I pressed my hand flat over his heart, scared to even hope.

Then it happened again.

Thump.

My heart jumped.

Thump. Thump.

"Wait..."

I leaned in, eyes wide, tears welling again—but not from fear this time.

His heart... it was beating.

Sluggish. Weak. But there.

A sob escaped me, my lips trembling as I whispered, "Sasuke...?"

Another small breath rose from his chest.

My hands flew to his neck, checking his pulse again—yes, it was there, faint but steadying. A flicker of life. A thread of hope.

"H-He's...alive," I breathed out, the words shaky and full of emotion. "He's actually alive..."

Tears spilled over my cheeks again, soaking the collar of his shirt. My chest ached from how hard I was crying now. Not from grief this time—but from overwhelming relief.