I swatted at the stupid black thing hovering around my head. Why did we need to have this stupid bug around anyway? Pakkun would've worked just as well…and less work too!

I resisted the urge to just smash it. Shino would have my head if I came back with his precious pet smeared on my jacket. After months of persuasion, presents, and the occasional begging, we finally convinced him to lend us 'Aoi.'

What the hell is up with that name, anyway? The thing was black, not blue! Why not name him a good, sturdy name? Like, Ramen, or Ichiraku? Perfects names there!

I lost my train of thought as Sakura sped past me.

"S-Sakura-chan?!" I called to her. "Wait!"

Where was she going without me? And in the wrong direction, too!

"I'm just checking the cliff, Aoi might be wrong!" She called back to me and sped up.

In a few moments I had completely lost sight of her—it unnerved me greatly. I know she's a more capable shinobi than myself, but I still worry she could be kidnapped. I grinned to myself at the thought of her being kidnapped, kicking and screaming. Probably getting a few good shots down below, too.

After amusing myself with the thought for a few minutes, I raced up to meet Sakura. She was standing with her back to the valley, grinning.

"Naruto," she called to me, "I found—AH!"

I choked as her foot slipped and the cliff crumbled below her. I was still to far away to do anything of use.

It's okay, I reassured myself, she'll live through a minor spill. She can cling to the sides with chakra anyway.

As I met the cliff's edge, my heart dropped into my stomach. Sure enough, Sakura was there, free-falling face first into the valley. But that wasn't what was scaring the shit out of me.

Large boulders loomed over her, probably dislodged from her slip. They were going to crush her the moment she hit the ground. There was no escape. Maybe I could…

I tore off my jacket and readied myself to launch over the cliff. Just as I was tensing my muscles for the launch, someone grabbed me from behind, restraining me. Pale—almost white—skin adorned the arms that held me from Sakura.

"Sai!" I screamed at him, "Let me go! Sakura-chan will be crushed!"

He didn't let up. "You can't save her, Naruto. You may even just dislodge more boulders."

His voice was tense, pained. This was hurting him too.

I stopped struggling.

"You're right. But…but what can we do?!" The panic in my voice was obvious. I turned to look him in the face.

He stared at me with his blank eyes, "Call her name. She might be able to save herself once she notices the boulders."

I didn't waste another moment.

"Sakura-chan!" I called down to her, "Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan!"

Damnit, why wasn't she responding?! She hadn't already passed out, had she?! I needed to be louder, the boulders were gaining speed!

"Sakura-chan, Sakura-chan!" My voice broke. They were getting too close.

Sai finally decided it was time to help. "Sakura-san, look out!"

Finally, she reacted. She turned over, a look of amusement on her face. A heartbeat later, it turned to terror—and realization of the situation.

"NO!"

I felt as if I had been smacked by a thousand Tsunade's. She wasn't going to be able to get out of the way.

I watched in numb shock as her body hit the hard ground. The boulders rained around her, missing her by inches. But I knew what was coming; one of the larger boulders was shadowing her body.

In the last moment, I screamed.