* Naruto's point of view *

I noticed myself staring at the gangster for too long as he was spacing out. His eyes seem to look for an answer, gazing at nothing but empty spaces.
I snapped out of looking at him, and turned to the bedside table. My vision and mind still blurry, on impulse and addicted to the euphoria, I took another syringe from the table and shot myself up.

I hated this reality.
Just take me away..
Far away from here.

I could hear Sasuke's chattering, but I could barely hear any of it.

I was high up in the clouds, and my problems seemed so far away. Every time I close my eyes, my eyelids seem to get heavier. I felt intensely drowsy but it was okay. I wanted to sleep. I was tired. Really tired. Not physically worn out, but mentally.

Really tired...
Really really tired...

"Hey! Hey! Naruto! Don't sleep! Hey!" Sasuke started calling out to me, the man who ruined my life.. His voice started drifting further and further away. My vision slowly blurred into darkness. It was getting harder to breathe, as if something was compressing on my chest. I could feel my body choking.

"Naruto! Hey! Breathe, breathe Naruto!"

* Sasuke's point of view *

"Honestly, I started fucking with you for a reason. I really despised you for what you did and who you were. You acted as if you were untouchable and I had to prove that you weren't. But maybe I don't regret what I did. After all.. From this, I got to know you. I don't think I can ever regret that.." I turned towards him as he was falling silent. But a new syringe dropped from his limp hand, and he seemed to fading into slumber. But this didn't seem natural.

"Hey! Hey! Naruto! Don't sleep! Hey" I called out to him, but he was failing to stay awake. He started breathing real heavy before choking as if he was under water gasping for air.

I carried him to my car and drove as fast as I could to the nearest hospital. My gang members were on their motor cycles around me, making sure everyone gave me space to take over. I sped past traffic lights and people. I couldn't give a fuck. The only thing faster than my car was my heartbeat.

I got there and immediately carried him into the emergency department. They got him on a hospital bed and pushed him into the ER.
I sat at the waiting area, pacing. My gang members were all standing in a straight line against the walls.

I was just so angry at myself, how did I not realize what he had done when he done it right in front of me? I had never been this unobservant.

I wanted to barge in there so bad, and I knew I could but I don't want to distract the doctor right now. Every second is precious.

Out of the corner, Rock Lee came dashing towards me. "Sir, someone has taken down our men at a pub at East district. I think they are challenging us, they took the women and money."

I stopped pacing, turned around to look at him. "So let them." I muttered out quietly.

Lee raised his brow, "But sir.. by doing so, we might look more vulnerable and they might attempt to attack more places-"

"I said let them. I'll deal with it later. For now, I got other things to worry about." I signaled him to fuck off, shooing him away.

He dare not speak another word, as he could already see I was agitated enough.

The doctor came bursting through the ER doors.

I dashed to the doctor as he pulled his mask off. "How is he?"
My heart was in a frantic state, my mind was clouded with nothing but pure anxiety.

At that moment, I realize I couldn't lose him.

"The patient is..."