"Kotetsu!!" He collapses after the devastating blow that could kill him. "Kotetsu!!" I run over to him, blood pours out of a gash in his stomach. I take him in my arms and hold him close. "Kotetsu… Kotetsu." Tears start rolling down my cheek. "Izumo…" he whispers, "I…" he coughs up blood and groans from the pain. "Shhh Kotetsu, you'll be fine. I know it. I'll make sure of it." I can't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks. I take one of his hands in mine. "I love you…" I don't know what to say to him. "I love you too buddy. Hang in there." Sakura runs over and starts healing him but he goes limp and breathless. "Izumo!" I look up, tears continuously flowing. "Yes Asuma-sensei?" He looks down at me and my best friend whom I cradle in my arms. "Take him back to the village, take him to Tsunade. Shikamaru! You go with him. Make sure Kotetsu is seen to as soon as you get there. There is still some life in him so you'll have to be quick." I stand up and carefully throw Kotetsu over my shoulder. "What a drag." Shikamaru complains. "Come on you lazy-ass." I say wiping the tears away so he doesn't see.

We run back to the village. The village we know like the back of our hand. In my mind I run through the quickest way to Lady Tsunade's office. Through the main gate, down the back road that links up with the hotel, to the left of the Akimichi household, yes, that's it. "Hang on Kotetsu, we're nearly there." I hear his breathing slow and become shallower every second. I keep running, past the hotel, up to the Akimichi's household. Choji runs out in front of me and Shikamaru quickly runs up and pushes him out of the way. I run up the stairs and kick the door down. "Tsunade!" I yell, panting to get my breath back. She looks up from her meeting with the Kazekage. "Help! Quick!" I run over to her desk and carefully lay Kotetsu down on it. "My apologies Kazekage, this is something I must attend to." She gets up and bows to the Kazekage as he leaves. "Shikamaru! Go to Asuma; tell him Kotetsu is in my hands now."

I carefully place her chair cushion under Kotetsu's head. "This will hurt a little." I take Kotetsu's hand in mine and watch as Tsunade heals him. The gash slowly closes up as the chakra flow pulls the skin back together. "That should do it." She wraps some bandages around his chest before calling for the guards. "Take mister Hagane down to his room, carefully might I add, and make sure no-one other than mister Kamizuki…" She turns to me, "Izumo, I know I don't have to ask you to do this, you two are best friends…" She trailed off. I swiftly stand up and punch the table, "I will do anything it takes to make him better again, anything." I look over at the guards as they carry him out, "Even if I had to give him my life I would." Tsunade rests a hand on my shoulder, "Kotetsu is lucky to have a best friend like you."