"Kushina!"

Faster, faster, faster.

Tears swept from cerulean eyes as wind stabbed into them. Fragments of blond hair tossed off of a multicolored blur. Words consisting of only one enunciation split the air.

Faster. Faster still. All problems could be solved by simply running faster.

The blur repelled off a tree branch, using it to boost its speed farther. Faster.

"Kami-sama, please! Help me!" the voice beseeched. "Kushina!"

Another landing. Another pushoff. Even faster. The Yellow Flash didn't have the nickname for nothing. He was proving it right even now.

Speed, so much speed, and yet he was still so far away. Not nearly close enough. Too much distance, not enough time.

Faster. The Flash was an elongated blur now, the speed distorting and blending colors.

Faster.

Would it be enough? The Yellow Flash went faster and faster. If there was an upper limit to his speed, he hadn't hit it.

The blur landed on another branch, but nearly fell when he felt an almost physical wave of Killing Intent. He looked up to the horizon. It was now dominated by a massive fox with nine flowing tails. "No…" He whispered.

He pushed off again. Faster and faster, but speed couldn't make any difference now. It was too late.

He reached the bowl that the Demon Fox stood in. Below, at the Fox's feet, was an unholy ceremony. His scarlet-haired wife was below, trussed up in chains. The Masked One, who had released the fox, simply stood there as Minato flashed down, grabbing Kushina and rushing back.

Why would he stop him? She was as good as dead without her biju, and very little could stop the Fox.

Minato looked down at the love of his life. Her eyes had dark circles, and shudders racked her thin frame. Normally a Jinchuriki couldn't live at all after the extraction of their biju, but Kushina still breathed.

But it wouldn't be for long. For all of his speed, Minato Namikaze wasn't fast enough when it counted.

Even his speed couldn't prevent the death of his most loved one.

Okay, that's my new one. Kinda just came out of nowhere, got the idea randomly. If this note seems somewhat random, it's because I'm sick. If you liked this, please review, then check out my other stuff. I'm trying to boost my somewhat anemic review count.