She's running. There is a layer of dirt and sweat clung to her that she can't get rid of, dried blood, crusts of dark maroon in her nails that she can't get rid of. And the bitter, bitter taste of burnt ashes and iron in her mouth. She's running- stumbling - through the forest. Her breath is uneven, grows more ragged with each step. Her muscles are burning. She's tired- exhausted but, she can't stop. Her heart is beating, drumming harshly like a constant reminder against her ribs. And she can't stop. Faster, faster, faster her heart beats. And she grits her teeth, clenches her hand and pushes her self to the limit. Doesn't stop even when there's a burning itch in her throat that's driving her crazy, the buildup of iron - bitter so bitter, until the pressure is too much and she vomits blood. She runs and runs and runs away. Because it's all Sakura Haruno knows.
She pushes her forward and forces her muscles to move- then, suddenly she can't move.
Her legs aren't moving even as she pushes all of her willpower, all her strength into them. They won't move. Sakura curses, desperately trying to move forward. But, it's not working.
And that's all it takes- a second of silence in the forest in the light of dawn. A second of stillness and everything falls apart.
Naruto is dead.
Suddenly, she can't breathe anymore, can't summon any more strength. Her legs crumble under the weight of everything. And—
Sakura falls.
—
Then, he is here.
Sasuke steadies her, catches her before she can hit the ground. His arm wrapped around her waist as she lets out a shaky breath, slumping slack against his chest and-
Her world drowns in darkness as- a hot orange bleeds over the world- as the sun rises to its place in the sky— as a kaleidoscope of bright colours fades to bright blue—as the world spins alive and
everything falls apart.
—
Sakura is slack in his hold, light. And yet, also heavy.
There's an emptiness in his heart he can't explain, the taste of burnt grey ashes vivid in his mouth as the hot orange from the blazing sun washes over his face.
The sky is a bright clear blue he can't look away.
He looks away.
Instead, he stares at Sakura's unmoving form in his arm.
In the morning forest, the silence is echoing loud.
His ears ring with echoing silent words of the dead.