AN: Yeah, another writing exercise I did, based on the CPR scene. Thought I'd share it here. Not like my sister is going to read it, but this is still dedicated to her since it's her birthday today (promise I'll get you something better lol).

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when the heartbeat stops,
her will keeps him going
22 March 2017

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Sakura was already so, so tired. Her worn vest and tattered undergarments were enough to show the pains and heartache of the war. Her usually smooth skin was smudged with dirt and grime, and her hair was soaked with suds of mud and dried blood.

But she didn't worry about that: she only had one concern at that moment.

Naruto laid helpless, for what felt like the first time, unconscious and slowly leaving her.

He was never someone she ever had to particularly worry about before. As they grew and became close teammates and friends, she learned to never underestimate him.

Naruto became the hero of their village. He was strong and dependable, to the point she put all her faith in him, only him, now.

And this was one of the only times she was truly worried - mortified. She couldn't make out why her usual medical techniques weren't working as they usually did when her green chakra would seep through his muscles and replenish his wounds. Why she couldn't reach him at all. Her eyes darted towards the back of the other man, moving them to another location, in hopes he would have answers.

She didn't have time, however, to worry about where they were going anymore.

All she heard was silence, his chest terrifyingly still.

His heart stopped beating. He was too busy dying to give her his usual smile - that warm smile she remembered so thoroughly - from the cress of the corner of his lips, to the deepness of his blue eyes, to the way the dark lines on his cheeks seemed to rise with a pink hue.

Her hands didn't shake, and she didn't cry like she would have in the past when she felt no pulse. No, because this time crying for him wasn't the only thing she can do anymore. She now had sharper eyes, looking at him more as a medical ninja than someone close - it was necessary, if she didn't want her hands to shake at the idea of everything stopping in place - just like his heart, just like him.

Her eyes were trained, as she knew the precise location to make the incision - to make him bleed but save him at the same time. She did this with care but in a haste, knowing she was pressing for time.

Her teeth gnawed and ground against each other, never being this careful with his body as she was now. She had to break a rib or two, but all necessary to reach his unresponsive heart.

She squinted her eyes, because they were moving so fast, it felt as though the little grains of sand were getting in them.

She was already so exhausted. She was almost out of energy. Yet she pushed herself, because there was never a time the man underneath her wouldn't do the same for her. There was never a time he wouldn't push himself with the unreal determination of a hero: he was formidable and relentlessness. He never gave up, and neither would she. Never will she give up - never on him.

So she pumped all her chakra directly to his heart, squeezing and squeezing it so blood could flow out and throughout his immobile body.

"Stay with me, please stay with me," she pleaded, her own heart seeming to beat at unimaginable rates to make up for his own. Her fingers pinched the bridge of his nose, slightly raising his head before she moved closer, her lips meeting his before she breathed air - life - into him.

She continued to do this, not stopping - never stopping - until he could gasp in air for himself, until his heart could move on it's own. Sakura never stopped believing that it would, because Naruto couldn't just die, not here, not now. She had too much faith in him, and she placed all her bets on Naruto, because he was going to be Hokage, he was going to live so he can fulfill his dream.

She absolutely refused to let it die today - not today, not ever. His dream was in front of him, so close she herself can practically touch his Hokage robes as she fixes them and makes sure to take the wrinkles out. She can already imagine herself placing his hat just right because he would be too excited to put it on straight. She can see the stupid grin he would have that would resonate throughout the entire village, like the brisk winds that would dance with the leaves.

Those images continue to be her motivation, making her squeeze tighter, blow harder, try harder. She pulled all her strength from the deepest part of her core, hoping it could be enough ("never enough," the back of her mind cried), but she didn't stop. She kept analyzing his chest, hoping it would rise and her efforts were working.

She felt them lower to the ground, finally, but she couldn't focus on that now. She continued to watch his chest, continued to blow air into his lungs, continued to constrict and release his heart, in hopes that he would survive, that she can save him.

It was then as she continued to do these things, that she realized she now shared the same dream as Naruto.

She will forever fight tooth and nail to keep that dream alive.

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AN: Like I said, just a little writing exercise I did. I hope you guys enjoyed it, though. Okay, and I'm also thinking of making some type of request fic (maybe), but mainly short oneshots, if anyone is interested, lemme know. If not, welp... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

In either case, figure you should know I'm working on a few NaruSaku oneshots still and another project. Don't forget to please vote on my profile on what I should work on next! Till next time!

Happy birthday again, Lexi! ❤️ (okay, wow, did not expect this emoji to work. I am seriously squealing right now that it did. It's the little things, am I right? xD )