In honor of Chapter 677, a quick drabble~

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto, or his lovely art, but I can write fanfiction for it :DD

To War

A SasuSaku Drabble

It was so hard to concentrate. The pressure inside of Susanoo was a bubble of heat and energy that was reflective of the fire and power that burned within the raven haired member of her team. He was breathing heavily with exertion from his quick thinking save, but she couldn't focus on anything less than the conversation he was exchanging with her blonde best friend.

The situation outside their protective barrier was dire and in this moment, Sakura had absolutely no idea how to remedy their battle against Madara. The sheer willpower it took to confront the ancient Uchiha was stressful enough with its fail, but being virtually powerless to stop him decimating the world was straining her thoughts. Sakura wanted nothing more than to curl up alone and cry the frustrations out of her system, before finding a solution to their situation. But she couldn't, wouldn't, cry right now. She was a disciple of the Fifth Hokage, a seasoned warrior, a member of the indestructible, albeit unconventional, team seven. This was not the time and she would not—

A hand slid up onto her lower back and brought her closer to the conversation that was being shared by her boys. Light as a feather, she was pulled into the circle of strength and Sakura found her clearness of mind returned. His eyes were directed only to Naruto, but Sasuke's hands were grasping them firmly to him, his right on her back and his left on Naruto's arm. She would have contemplated the strange bonding action from her Uchiha teammate in that moment had the suddenness of the aura of sheer peacefulness surrounding her not occurred. The power of the Sage of Six Paths. Sakura somehow could recognize its effect as it was supposed to feel, so contrary to the power exploited by their enemy.

And it was clearly emanating from the pair, forming a sort of shield to anything that would cause distress. It was … unbelievable. Unnerving. Where did this come from? Was this why they maintained their calm and resolve? Was the source of their ability to succeed locked away within the power of the Six Paths they both harnessed?

"Sakura-chan?" She zoned onto the cross slitted golden eyes watching her in worry just an arms length away, the energy somehow making her feel his anxiety internally more so than seeing it upon his features. He was molten gold and full of the love she knew they shared, but it was painful to see that she had, yet again, become a burden. "Sakura-chan, you don't have to worry. Sasuke and I will keep you and Kakashi-sensei safe, don't worry." There it was. He was worried because he thought she was scared. That she couldn't handle the situation in her state. Always a burden.

"Naruto, I'm not—"

"She's fine." The hard words that overrode her own caused her head to flip to the left and stare at the mismatched eyes of her wayward teammate. Red and purple closely observed her with an easiness she hadn't recalled since their genin days. There was no judgement or disappointment in his gaze, as far as she could read. In fact she could, in the manner with which she felt Naruto's concern, feel the Uchiha's understanding and approval of her presence. It was as if he understood that mentally she was processing the situation and not fretting in fear. How pleasantly unfamiliar yet welcome this look was, the pinkette thought.

"Sakura, this genjutsu …" As always, his sentences were incomplete but the medic nin knew what he was trying to get across.

"Is impervious by normal means. But you can see, can't you Sasuke-kun? You can see passed the genjutsu because you've been in a total eclipsing one before." The tucked away memories flooded her system at the mention of the past. Akatsuki. Itachi. Mangekyou Sharingan. Hospital. Apples. Hatred. Pain. Revenge. Tears. Goodbye. She kept a steady face as she leaned into his supporting hand still pressed against her lower back. He did not pull away.

"I'm not sure. This is … different." For a moment, Sakura was sure he was going to become enraged at the thought of his brother but the Uchiha continued to scan her features with his terrifying and familiar gaze. He was beyond his revenge now. The world was uncertain in its survival and Sakura herself could feel the futility of their past. Everything up until this moment had been child's play and selfish intentions for all parties involved. The only thing that remained was to stop Madara and worry about their lives later.

"So what can we do? At the moment, we are stuck inside your Susanoo with little leeway for standing against Madara." Her sensei was suddenly inside their bubble, still leaning over them but not quite as tall as when they'd been children. To be honest, Sakura had forgotten his presence amidst the concern and reassurance from her two teammates. But she was certainly glad for his level-headed input as they planned their next move.

"We have to get to Madara." Naruto, silent until now, glanced around the three of them slowly. He had probably been speaking with the kyuubi as was often the case when his quietness prevailed, and had come across the answer to something. "We stop Madara, the genjutsu breaks. That gives us an opportunity to take him out." For a moment Sakura was processing her own theories on combating the ancient Uchiha, but her reaction to Naruto's words was voiced by another, less eloquent member.

"No shit. You thought we were going to sit in here forever?" The pinkette, though in complete agreement with the obvious words, felt herself bristle at Sasuke's attitude. Naruto wasn't the brightest, but his point was valid. What else were they supposed to think about?

"No asshole, I was making a plan!" the blonde retorted, ripping his arm loose from his best friend's grip and trying to knock him in the head. One moment the medic nin was internally scolding the Uchiha, the next she was rebuking the Uzumaki for his immaturity. Weren't there better ways to decide a course of action?

"Restating the obvious isn't making a plan," was the pointed reply. He caught the hand waving precariously close his head and removed the hand that had been keeping her close to aim his own light punch at the shorter male. Naruto had mimicked his receiving action, however, and now the two were interlocked in a glaring match with raised fists and grasping fingers. Somewhere near her, but further than before, their teacher sighed with a heavy "maa, maa" to express his discontent. Sakura was a bit flabbergasted. They were at WAR and all these two could do was argue about stupid comments?

"Enough!" She caught a pair of their hands and separated their bodies by physically planting her own between them with her enhanced strength. There was enough space for them to grasp each other if they tried, but their antagonism died down the moment she furiously pierced their eyes back and forth. Golden crosses and swirls of red and purple warily observed her as she huffed at them.

"Naruto's right that we need to get to Madara and stop him somehow, but Sasuke is right that we can't sit here forever and attack from within Susanoo. The staffs of the Sage weren't enough, so we'll need something like a binding or sealing jutsu to contain Madara." Her mind was pulling out a strategy as she spoke, wondering how they could manage such a feat. As she spoke, her hands that were latched onto Naruto's left arm and Sasuke's right fell to her sides until she had slid her grip around their fingers. They watched her think as the air took a turn back toward the serenity she had been engulfed in earlier. Naruto laced his fingers in her own to reassure her that he was listening, and Sasuke didn't pull his fingers free as she had expected him to.

"If only Minato-sensei was here. He was exceptional at sealing jutsus." Kakashi was staring up at the dome of purple surrounding them as he voiced his thoughts, present in the situation and yet far away.

"Yeah, but Dad's probably out there, under the genjutsu too right? Just like Hinata … and the others …" the questioning tone of her best friend replied. Sakura only needed to glance at him to know he was concerned. Oh what she would do to give him some reassurance that all would be well soon. The only comfort she could respond with was the grip to his fingers. He glanced to their connect hands and gave a small smile.

"Most likely. The only safe place is here right now." Sasuke morosely quipped, knowing that a nonverbal communication was occurring between his two teammates. In that moment he tried to free himself, but the pinkette held tight and looked to him with a sadness that paused his actions.

"But to face Madara we have to go out there," Kakashi echoed out.

"So … we need a distraction," Sakura quietly realized. "We need to fight off Madara, distract his focus from the Tsukuyomi until we can awaken the Fourth, get him over and seal him."

"But Dad's lost his arms. He can't seal without them." And the light at the end of the tunnel vanished. A ninja without arms was useless when concerning this sort of thing. Orochimaru had been a prime example of that. Without Kabuto, the Sannin would never have been capable of—

"Then he'll use me." The reaction would have been comical had they not been discussing the world's future. Naruto's confusion left him open mouthed and stuttering, while Kakashi's eyebrows jumped into his hairline. Even Sasuke had narrowed his gaze as he was about to object. Now was not the time though. "If I can't find any spare arms to re-attach to his body, then he'll just have to use me to do it. I've trained in sealing techniques with Tsunade-sama. I'm not the best, but I did rank high when taking my practice Jonin practical."

"Sakura-chan, no!" Her connection to both her boys' hands loosened as the blonde turned to pull her to him between his arms, gripping her shoulders. "It's too dangerous and if you go near Madara, he'll tear you in half!"

"And I'll regenerate," she insinuated as she flicked her bangs away from the markings she sported. "Besides, you'll watch my back, you always have. I trust you to take care of Madara." For a moment she was only watching Naruto, her knuckle-headed but sweet and kind childhood partner, before two smoldering eyes popped into her mind's eye. "Both of you," she amended, taking a glance around to Sasuke who was watching their exchange with furrowed brows and a frown. "Sasuke can use his Rinnegan to battle Madara despite the Tsukuyomi and Naruto, you can feel Madara and fight him blind. You're more than capable."

"And I'll cover Sakura while we hunt for the Fourth." Kakashi was watching them all with admiration, completely believing in this impossible mission they were set out to do together. Sakura couldn't have felt more relieved that he had her back right now. " It's a pretty good plan, at this point. We don't have any other options and the strain of Susanoo and the Strength of a Hundred technique is going to wear out Sasuke and Sakura soon, Naruto. We have to think logically and use our resources carefully."

"Kakashi's right. And as long as you don't look to the moon, you'll be okay." The raven haired ninja's tone left no room for nonsense. They were going to go with this craziness after all. Sakura gently detached herself from Naruto's arms so she could face them both, but moved away enough to see them without having to flick her head back and forth. "I'll give you each a share of Susanoo's chakra to keep you protected from the genjutsu above you," he added in a flat, determined tone that was classic of his vocalizations. Sakura had the image of a purple haze cloud above her head and would have laughed at the image had the blonde's genuine concerns not overridden her momentary humor.

"But Sasuke, you'll be weakened!" Naruto yelled in a panic immediately and Sasuke's exacerbated face was reminiscent of their childhood. The unintentional smile crawling up Sakura's face was pure affection.

"My stamina isn't that low, idiot. Besides, that old man's power is mine to use too. I can do it." The smugness of his tone wasn't missed but all of team seven forwent reprimand. There was no question that the Uchiha was on par with Naruto in terms of strength now, and once the real fighting started up again, there would be no room for jibes and gloating.

"Alright then, a good plan and teamwork. Let's get this right kids. We might not get a second chance." At Kakashi's words they all gave their signs of approval and collectively started shuffling. Naruto was pumping his fists and rolling his shoulder while their dark haired teammate closed his eyes and took a calming breath. Kakashi ambled over, patting the two male teens' heads on his way over to her before speaking to Naruto in a hushed tone. Sakura was ascertaining her chakra reserves and consolidating memories of sealing jutsus when the chakra she'd know miles away was instantly within inches of her. She saw the zipped white top before her and raised her eyes to meet with a single red Sharingan and single purple Rinnegan.

"Sasuke-kun?" she automatically whispered. He was close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off of him again. The smoldering nature of his Susanoo was unavoidable but the calmness of his Six Paths power balanced it out.

"Sakura …" He was hesitant with his tone but she saw he was struggling to get something off his chest. In all honesty, she was sure there were a million things he needed to get off his chest, and she had double that to tell him, but she would not pressure him in any way. The results of that kind of pressure had an adverse effect on the Uchiha and she didn't want to move backwards here. They were finally together as a team again.

"Sasuke-kun, you … don't have to say anything you know." She decided to reply after an extended silence and the toiling within his mismatched eyes. "When this is all over, we can say everything that we have to say. With no time limit or restriction." She smiled with a sad heart, wanted to tell him so much more. It was not the time though. There needed to be no more burden from her on his shoulders. "Just, stay alive Sasuke-kun. I need you to stay alive until then."

Tears were brimming at the corners of her eyes. She was not supposed to cry in front of him again. No. And yet, she couldn't stop herself. In the last moments of her safety they came full force and she had to look down or risk the blaze in his eyes from engulfing her whole. But as the tears glazed her cheeks in a stream, her body refused her and shot forward to catch the raven haired male in a painful hug, rubbing her nose into his chest. He smelled of sweat and blood, of fire and old linen, but the scent comforted her much as the soothing power within him did. It was such a Sasuke smell that nothing else could compare to her faded memories of his scent in their childhood. But when two stiff arms rose to grasp her gently as she cried quietly to him, Sakura was preparing to be berated and insulted. Of course he'd despise her clinging to him like a little girl. He didn't care about her feelings and her need to save him. He was an Uchiha, a man of his own strength and volition. She meant nothing to him anymore.

But the arms did not push her away. They reached around to envelope her in an awkward manner, and Sakura forced her eyes open as she saw the weaving the made up his shirt. Was … was Sasuke returning her hug?

"Sakura. You're still," she held her breath as she felt him inhale, "annoying." The liquid stopped pouring from her eyes. She couldn't quite process what he had said to her with trademark exacerbation and the smallest hint humor. Her actions weren't disgusting to him? He was … Annoyed?

"Thank you." This time the words were whispered close to her head and a memory of the past came to hit her full force. Those same words, in a different lifetime ages ago. She gripped the back of his shirt with her fingers, twisting the fabric and hoping to the powers above that she wasn't somehow already trapped within Madara's genjutsu.

"I'll stay alive," he breathed down into her hair, and she was sure even Naruto and Kakashi's ninja hearing wouldn't be able to pick out the murmurs he was sharing with her. If not for the fact that he was speaking to her, Sakura wouldn't have heard it either. "But you must stay alive too. And then we'll speak." For a moment their breathing was in sync and Sakura felt Sasuke's slow beating heart lull her into a trance. The promise, although not outwardly expressed, was there. They would speak after this was all over. He swore it to her. Nodding her head minutely, she didn't care anymore how much of a trainwreck her face was. The only thing that mattered was this new promise to speak in the future. Sasuke and Sakura. An overdue conversation for two.

She pulled away from his chest and braved a glance to the left where her other two teammates remained. Both had passive gazes that said they would not interrupt what was transpiring. In this instance they were respecting the relationship their fellow members shared. And the medic nin couldn't have been more grateful.

She smiled hopefully at the man before her. "Then we'll speak. It's a promise." And I'll tell you, even if you don't feel the same, how much I still love you.

"Aah." They pulled apart to a respectable distance and Sakura brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. She's cried for the future and she would cry no more until the battle was over. This was not a promise she'd fail.

Assuming all that was necessary had been exchanged, Naruto and Kakashi, an aura of flowing molten gold and worn out gray and green, came over to them. It was time to take out their enemy. Standing beside her teacher with her renewed vigor, Sakura watched as the Susanoo broke apart into four smaller sections at Sasuke's control, a cloudy haze that prevented the light that was suddenly speckling the ground from touching each member of team seven. The air returned to the smell of charred stone and blood and dirtiness, and unlike the stifling presence of Susanoo its former glory, the smaller barrier keeping them safe was nothing more that a bubble above each of their heads.

"Yosh! Let's go Sasuke!" Naruto announced heartily as he turned his back to them to prepare for their final confrontation. Sakura couldn't help her last words to them in the heat of the excitement as they prepared to jump into a fray of life and death.

"Naruto! Sasuke-kun!" They both glanced back at her in wary confusion, but she merely gave them a thumbs up and said, "Kick Madara's ass!" An affirmative shout and agreeable grunt were here immediate replies.

"Knock 'em dead Sakura-chan!" the blonde screamed as he vanished.

"Sakura … stay alive!" Though the words were plain enough, the pinkette's heartstrings were tugged as she nodded to his disappearing form.

"I will," she quietly retorted and Kakashi smiled through his mask at her and brushed his hand affectionately through her matted pink locks. It was time to get this mission started and help her boys out as best she could to save the world.

"Let's go Sakura."

"Right." This fight would end in their favor. And they would win. Team seven would make sure of it.

=(Fin)=

Excuse me, but this wrote itself, yes it did~ Idgaf if haters gonna hate me or whatever, TEAM SEVEN AND SASUSAKU FOREVER! And yes, I was one of those people who was like, "Is Sasuke hanging on to his bae Naru by the arm and Saku bae from behind? KISHI, MOVE THE DAMN SPEECH BUBBLE!" Anywho, read the drabble if you feel like it, and note since I am, in fact, not Kishimoto-sensei, I took liberties with stuff~ Yeah …