Requested by: Samehadaa
Prompt: Goodbye (My muse watching yours die).
Music muse: In the End – Black Veil Brides
I own nothing but the words in this fiction. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. A request written by a drabble prompt on tumblr.
War is something that is not easily avoided. It is something necessary for ninja and civilians alike to live somewhat peacefully beside one another, for in the brain, the need to fight is stronger than that needed to maintain peace. Konohagakure had been in turmoil over the past few months. Genin, Chuunin, and Jounin alike were left with ghostly images dancing over the mere shadows of the people they once were; toughened only by the destruction of the village they had once known and loved. Even after the defeat of Pein by the one and only Naruto Uzumaki, there lingered a ghostly silence over the once bustling village.
The dead, the missing in action, the almost fatally injured were remembered with heavy hearts as the construction grew to a standstill for the remembrance of the lost – a hymn of silence for those forever lost, and a silent prayer for those buried beneath the rubble.
Again, they found themselves in the midst of battle, fatalities were high, and the injured were higher, and higher. Once strong, and hopeful chakra signatures were dulling, and fading. Feral screeches of the team mates lost were amidst the clash and roar of war and for but a moment, Sakura pondered what on earth they were doing here. Battle. Fighting. Bloodshed. Her own fingers were stained with both dried blood, and a more fresh coat.
Neji was lost. Tsunade was in a critical condition and Naruto—
Sakura's head snapped upwards; fingers glowing dull green in an attempt to heal the lacerated flesh of a young Genin who had managed to sneak into the battlefield under the promise for glory, and her eyes settled on the blonde. The second a blade was forced through his chest.
For a moment, her chest squeezed as she expected Naruto to disappear in a plume of smoke; come fighting back with numerous shadow clones or a rasengan… But nothing. Blue eyes were wide, and for those lingering moments, a silence swept over the battlefield. Blood dribbled out of the corner of grinning mouth. Those eyes, had searched out her. Against her better judgement, Sakura had risen to her feet and was pushing and shoving past the fighting shinobi; gathering the occasional fistful of chakra to punch a few shinobi – whether they were on their side or not, she didn't care – out of her way before she ducked, and skidded on her knees to catch the idiot before he fell.
"S-Sakura-chan," he gurgled.
She couldn't reply. Her tongue felt heavy, and already his blood was sinking into her clothes. His breathing was irratic, and a finger lifted to press against her lips. "S-Shh, just hold me," he murmured.
Tears stung bitterly at her eyes, sweeping over her cheeks and dripping onto his bruised, bloodied, and dirtied face. "Naruto, I can heal you if you just give me—" His eyes started to slip shut, her hands slapped against his cheeks, and screams tore from her throat, as the erratic rise and fall of his chest slowed, and drew to a halt.
"NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!"
Finger continued to slap against his face, as, even he died with a smile on his face. Sakura's forehead rested against his; and her screams continued to echo throughout the battlefield.
For the first time in days, the air was silent.
Shinobi stopped fighting.
And for a moment, the Konohagkure village, and allies, felt the crushing blow of despair contained within the wails.
A cry for someone so brave, and beautiful, lost in a battle of greed.
All remember – Uzumaki Naruto.