A/N: I desperately want Team 7 to have a happy ending. I guess this is my attempt to give them one.
Patchwork
- Prologue -
"No! You can't die! Not now! Not after everything!" The pink-haired konoichi sobbed, hands glowing with a gentle aurora over the pale chest. Tears flooded from her emerald green eyes.
Kakashi sighed, "Sakura…" His voice strained, heavy with sorrow and remorse. How could he have let this happen? He seemed destined to ruin every team he captained.
"Don't Sakura me yet!" She growled, refusing to divert her eyes from her work, "I am NOT going to let him die."
Kakashi hesitated, wanting to say more, but decided against it. There was nothing words could do now. Nothing could ease the anguish engraved on Sakura's face. He slumped to the ground, his eyes never leaving his students.
She'd been at this for over an hour now. She'd already attended to Naruto, who was unconscious but stable. Her chakra levels were reaching a critical low; there was no way she could keep this up much longer. She wasn't going to be able to save Sasuke too.
"Dammit," she cursed under her breath. She'd saved countless lives before, but what did it—the skills, the countless hours of training, everything—matter if she couldn't save those most important to her?
Rain soaked the cold, hard earth. Beyond her stifled sobs, everything was silent.
"Sa…ku…ra." Sasuke briefly cracked open his eyes before losing consciousness again.
Relief flashed through Sakura's eyes. He was going to live.
"You did it," Kakashi smiled, "Wait, what are you doing?! If you use any more chakra, you'll…"
Kakashi's words did not stall his student's rapid hand seals. 'I have to save Sasuke. Even if it means losing my life, I will save Sasuke-kun!.'
The medic ninja collapsed to the ground.
Kakashi knew then Team 7 would never be the same again.
TBC