Title: Rasengan
By: Midnight Unicorn

Disclaimers: Not mine, no money. Look for the companion fic Chidori

It can't end any other way and they both know it.

"I'm not sorry," he mumbled through a broken jaw.

The other tries to smile but it's hard with his cheek ripped open. "I know. I'd be worried if you were."

They're struggling to absorb these last moments, their last chance before the demons clawing away at both of their insides get out and control their bodies.

Not this time.

It's not about the Kyuubi, or Konoha. It's not about Itachi or the Snake Sannin.

It's about them.

"Can you do it?" the other asks, red eyes fading to blue. He's burnt himself out, body and soul, tracking down his friend, his brother.

"It's not me in question, dobe," he replies, a shadow of his old affected disdain cutting through the blood in a faint smile as his eyes stopped swirling red and were endless black pools.

They are standing; he has a hand on the other's shoulder to balance on a leg broken backwards; the blood on his hands doesn't show in stains on the torn black jacket.

"Ready?" the other asked.

He nodded, drawing his hand back; though missing three fingers the flow of chakra was so familiar he almost didn't need the hand seals.

"Chidori!"

"Rasengan!"

The last thing he sees is the smile of his friend, his rival.