naruto uzumaki · ninja war · romance · ink manipulation · fourth great ninja war · loyal · insecure · anime · multi-pov · protective
The sky is a sickly, bruised purple, thick with smoke and drifting ash. The Ten-Tails' second colossal bomb hangs above the shattered landscape like a second sun. Naruto kneels in the dirt, Sakura's glowing hands pressed to his bleeding back. Minato strains, teeth clenched—he has nothing left. Sasuke's voice is hollow. Kakashi shuts his eyes. Around them, the surviving shinobi bow their heads, a final, silent surrender. In that heartbeat of quiet, Naruto's gaze cuts through the haze, frantically scanning the crowd until it locks onto you, you.