Sasuke traced Naruto's hand gently, his fingertips barely touching the skin of the panting boy. The sound of the irregular heartbeats was getting to the two Uchihas. It wasn't suppose to be this way. The bright bubbly blond isn't suppose to be so quiet and so still, he isn't suppose to be struggling to survive. His beautifully tan skin isn't suppose to be a sickly pale shade, he isn't suppose to be gasping for air and struggling with the pain.
Sasuke looked up when he heard a muffled choked sob. Itachi's hands were clasped around Naruto's and the older Uchiha's head hung and body trembled. Itachi is crying. Sasuke realised with a start. He rarely seen Itachi let out such emotions. Itachi always hid himself away when something was troubling him, putting on a cool mask of indifference that doesn't look all that different from his usual resting face - that's why he could hardly ever know when his older brother was in pain or struggling with his troubling thoughts. Itachi is so strong mentally and physically and so kind hearted that they always thought he was too kind to be a shinobi. Itachi trembled a little harder when more powerful sobs wrecked his being. He didn't make a single sound after the initial accidental choke. Itachi buried his face into the bedsheets avoiding his brother's short gaze. Sasuke looked away respectfully after, knowing the older man wouldn't want anyone seeing this, not even his own brother.
Sasuke himself had tears running down his face, but he refused to make a sound. He had to be strong for both the strongest people in his life when they are now in need of support and comfort. Even the strongest will need to have some support from friends. Even the heroes will need saving. Itachi and Naruto saved him and supported him multiple times, both emotionally and physically, now it is Sasuke's turn to support them.
Itachi took a shuddering breath as he stopped crying. It was gut wrenching to see the little sunshine in so much pain. He had promised himself when he first met Naruto that he would protect the boy at all cost. Look what had happen despite his promise. He was so angry at himself yet he couldn't contain his own sadness. The tears that had gathered in his eyes just rolled down his cheeks and kept going even though he tried to stop them. In the end he ended up crying silently, remembering Naruto had once told him that it wasn't good to bottle things up. That was the first time he cried in front of anyone. Afterwards, he started going to Naruto for a listening ear. Naruto was the only person that listened with empathy, the rest listened with sympathy that's what he hated the most. He didn't need people to pity him, he wanted people to understand!
The boy had his own problems yet he was still willing to lend a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. He was always smiling and trying to not be a burden to everyone. He thinks he is  burden that no one needs to carry. Itachi had tried to get the boy to tell him about his own problems but the boy would just grin and say there was nothing to worry about even though Itachi had just saved him from an angry mob of villagers that were beating him up. The boy just smiles at everything and everyone. He makes people happy but he always forgot about himself.

"Why are you two... crying?" A weak voice gasped out breaking them from their own train of thoughts. Itachi and Sasuke's head both shot up to stare at the owner of the voice. Naruto spasmed as a wave of pain came through him. Sasuke lunged for the nurse button while Itachi tried to comfort Naruto. "Its okay. You're safe now, we'll protect you." Itachi murmured as he ran his hand through the blond boy's hair. Naruto recovered from his struggles just enough to smile softly at the two Uchihas. "Thank you." Came out quietly from the weak boy as blood dribbled out from the corner of his lips. The brothers froze in horror. Naruto's eyes slipped closed and the dreaded long beep of the heart monitor met their ears before they were pushed out of the room by a few medics whilst Tsunade started her desperate attempt to get the boy's heart pumping again. If you die...