There are really so many things that I want to say! But I will leave them for the epilogue.

This is it guys. This is the last chapter. [aside from the epilogue]

[Two updates in one day... just for you, because the previous chapter almost killed me too.]

For now, let me say this: I have so much love for those of you who were consistently leaving me reviews, I honestly don't know if I could've gotten to this point without you. I had so much motivation to write this story because of you all. Thank you so much.

- I told you that I was thinking about writing a sequel...well, I have already written the first chapter and have a vague plot planned out for it. So if you're a fan of this story, please check out the sequel when I post it. I think I'll have the first chapter up the same day as I post the epilogue for this. I'll let you know!

So I hope that you have had as much of an amazing ride with this story as I have. It's been such a blast, and I've got so much inspiration now to write some other fics. So if you're interested, please give me a follow.

Enjoy this final chapter before the epilogue, and the coming sequel in the Sacrifices Universe.

Alex xx

Part Seven: Dark
Chapter 22

Itachi watched Sakura with pride as she decimated the battlefield below him with a single fist. She was glorious in battle, and her determination was second to none. She would never let someone harm her loved ones, and he knew in his heart that Zetsu wasn't going to stand a chance against her. He was already agitated by her words and had become reckless from Tenji's interference and Madara's clear change of heart.

Everything was going according to plan.

He just needed to wait for the right moment. It was hard to do with the Nine-Tails. He'd calculated for the appearance of it, but he remembered the devastation it had caused when he was a child, and he had seen how powerful it was when tamed by a jinchuuriki. Things could easily go awry.

He kept careful watch over the situation, all the while keeping an eye on his chakra levels. The Susanoo used an enormous amount of it. He watched as Sakura screamed at Zetsu, provoking him into leaving Madara, and then he materialised the Totsuka sword and Yuta Mirror of his Susanoo. The weapons of his Susanoo were the endgame. If Indra and Asura hadn't believed that the two of them were capable of sealing away Zetsu without their assistance, the Otsutsuki brothers would never have let them leave that chakra plane without telling them what they needed to do. So Itachi had assumed they already had the necessary tools to seal him away.

He saw Zetsu take Sakura by the throat and Itachi sprang into action. With Zetsu distracted and enraged, it was easy for him to make his move unnoticed. His sword only had to touch its victim for it to work, but he wanted to make Zetsu hurt.

Panic surged through him when he saw that Sakura's eyes were wide and afraid. She couldn't get rid of Zetsu.

"SAKURA!"

He'd never felt his heart stop like that before.

But he saw Tobirama flash behind her and rip her away from Zetsu, who disappeared into the sake jar and he sheathed the sword, locking Zetsu away. He let out a breath of relief, Zetsu was gone. It was over, and Sakura was safe. Relief and tiredness flooded his system until he heard the roar of the Nine-Tails. Now that Sakura was safe, he could turn to the threat. One that he knew Hashirama could deal with, especially since he had gone into his impressive Sage Mode, but that he also could. Side by side he fought with Hashirama, beating back blow after blow from the Nine-Tails.

Another tailed-beast bomb formed, and before anyone could react, Tobirama had flashed it away again and it exploded in the distance.

Itachi watched as the Nine-Tails eye shifted and its attention caught something else. Something that made Itachi's heart stop. He saw it happen with his Sharingan. The giant front leg of the Nine-Tails moved up and then came crashing down.

All Itachi's instincts screamed at him to protect her. His Susanoo vanished as he flickered in front of her, ready to do whatever it took to get her away. Her eyes widened with shock and fear, her hand reached out to him. Tobirama flashed behind her and he felt that same relief before he felt everything and nothing all at once.

Pain, so much pain.

He felt the claw of the Nine-Tails slice him open, he was almost surprised that he remained in one piece as he flew through the forest, hit a rock and rolled onto the ground, landing face up. He lay there, feeling strange and light, but also so deeply rooted to the ground. Detached. That was it, otherwise, he was sure he'd be screaming. He shakily managed to lift his hand from his stomach and look at it. He smiled faintly. That was a lot of blood.

He let his hand drop and coughed as blood spluttered from his mouth. Dying made it hard to breathe.

It was almost funny to him that in the second he'd decided to act on emotion and instinct alone, he'd made a fatal mistake. It would've been far easier to avoid this situation if he'd simply stopped the claw with his Susanoo. He supposed it would be amusing to Shisui to know that the cool, intellectual genius, Itachi Uchiha, died because of human emotion. He just wanted to protect her, Sakura, the woman he loved.

The world seemed to be getting darker, even though it was barely midday. He blinked. He just wanted to see her one last time. His Sakura.

He heard her scream his name. She came, she was there, she was alive. There was so much he wanted to thank her for, to tell her. But a feeling of peace was settling over him as he looked at her face and heard her tell him she loved him. He loved her too.

Their love wasn't a firework. It didn't come suddenly like a raging fire. No, their love was slow and building. It was smoldering passion and colour and warmth. It was the kind of love that Itachi had only heard about. He didn't really think it existed, but he was glad it did, and he was glad he felt it with her.

One last kiss. One last look at her pink hair, her green eyes, her beautiful, so, so beautiful face.

Itachi drifted into death at peace.

Tobirama found being a sensor a gift and a curse.

Today, it had been a curse.

He'd felt the life of Izuna Uchiha flicker out, and now he felt the life of Itachi Uchiha be cut off as well. Sakura's chakra was so low it was flickering between life and death. He cursed. Madara had just enough chakra thanks to Sakura that he was just out of danger of dying.

He watched with some awe as his brother fought the Nine-Tails. No one else in the world could hold their own against this tailed-beast. It was easy to forget, with all his ridiculous personality quirks, that his brother was the most powerful shinobi in the world. But he thought that Itachi might have rivaled him, even more than Madara. Not that he'd be able to find out since Itachi had just died. Tobirama was bitter, and he made a quick choice. Hashirama would be fine, his chakra was barely half-way spent. He flashed to Madara, placed a hand on him, then transported them both to the seal that he'd placed on Sakura.

He closed his eyes with sorrow at what he saw.

Itachi was sliced open by the claw of the Nine-Tails and blood poured out of him. His eyes were closed, and his face looked oddly at peace. Sakura was gripping his hand, her head lay on his chest, her hair wet with blood, her lips smeared with it.

She was still alive. Barely. He hurried over to her and with some regret, removed her from Itachi's corpse. He saw that her stomach was also cut open. She was going to bleed out. He cursed and reached into his pack.

Tobirama was many things, but unprepared was not one of them. He was not a skilled medic-nin, but he was Senju and had learned many skills. From his pack, he withdrew a seal that was only ever to be used in an emergency and placed it by Sakura's wound. The bleeding stopped and Tobirama used all his focus to produce the medical chakra and stitch together her wound. It wasn't much, but he managed to repair most of the bleeds and some internal damage. He needed a better-skilled healer to do the rest. He removed the seal and bleeding started again, but it was slower and less now. Quickly, he took out a bandage, lifted her shirt and packed and wrapped the wound. It would have to be enough.

He looked between the three bodies on the ground with a heavy heart. Whatever happened from here on out, it was going to be a long road to recovery. But it seemed that the threat Itachi and Sakura had been afraid of was gone, and Tobirama was thankful for that.

He stood when he realised the Nine-Tails suffocating chakra was retreating. He flashed to his brother, landing beside him on the head of his summons. The Nine-Tails roared as he disappeared.

"You defeated him?" Tobirama questioned his brother.

Hashirama nodded tiredly, the Sage marks fading from his face, and his summons disappeared with a poof. They both landed with little grace on a leafy branch that Hashirama created to catch them.

"Only just," he replied. "He's retreated because he knows I can subdue him. The Nine-Tails is a threat to the world. I don't doubt that he'll return for us one day, especially after today."

"Your wood style is the only thing that works against him," Tobirama said seriously as they both hopped down the tree towards the ground. "He'll be wary while you live."

"Where are the others?" Hashirama asked.

Tobirama closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking at his brother seriously and sadly.

Hashirama looked at him in horror.

"No, it can't be. Who?"

Tobirama placed a hand on his shoulder and they flashed to the place the others were.

"No, not Itachi," Hashirama said sadly.

"Sakura will die if we don't get her medical attention immediately," Tobirama said. "And Madara needs attention now."

"How?" Hashirama asked him, kneeling beside Itachi's body.

"Protecting Sakura," Tobirama answered, his voice thick with emotion.

Hashirama placed a hand over Itachi's heart.

Tobirama swallowed, feeling every bit as emotional as Hashirama was, but not allowing himself to show it.

"Hashi," he said quietly. "We have to get back to the village, now."

Hashirama nodded.

"Can you take us all?"

Tobirama swallowed. He'd never transported more than one other person before, but this wasn't the time for hesitation.

"Of course."

They flashed back into the village, on top of Hokage tower, surprising those who were gathered there.

Tobirama fell to his knees, panting at the strain of transporting five people.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Tobirama!"

"Lord Madara!"

Cries echoed around him, and Hashirama stepped up into his role as leader. Issuing orders for medics, the hospital and that the village can stand down. The threat was over, defeated. Tobirama was helped to his feet by Toka Senju.

"Are you all right?" She asked him.

He nodded, feeling sweat roll down his cheek.

"Fine. I just need a minute."

"I'll take you to the hospital," she said, concerned.

"No," he said adamantly. "I need to be here for Hashirama."

"No, Tobi. Go with Toka," Hashirama said, appearing beside him. "Have your chakra checked. Watch over them both."

Tobirama let out a deep breath and nodded. He could do that, he could watch over them, just as Sakura had watched over the village, just as Itachi had sacrificed his life. He wasn't going to let Sakura die now. There wasn't a chance in hell.

While Madara was in a chakra exhaustion coma, and without Izuna being alive anymore, the responsibilities of the Uchiha Clan fell on the shoulders of Yuri Uchiha, through the bloodline of his wife. Technically, it appeared that their son was the next heir after Izuna. Hashirama was certain that Yuri Uchiha would've preferred they handed off the responsibility to someone else, and plenty of the older males seemed slightly disgruntled by the sudden change in Yuri's status, even if it was only as a stand-in for an infant.

But Hashirama liked Yuri, and despite his obvious grief and the terrible circumstances, Yuri was a capable leader. He was thoughtful and concerned about his clan, but also had a deep respect for the village, which Hashirama liked.

Izuna Uchiha was given a funeral worthy of the heir of the Uchiha clan. With the absence of his brother, a heavier gloom over the clan, who were all in mourning over their loss. Izuna had been well-liked and well-known. He'd been a teacher to the children, a flirt and a joker to the women, and a respected warrior to the men.

Hashirama's heart broke for Asami Senju, who he learned had become very close with Izuna, becoming close enough to him for Izuna to be able to slowly set aside his hatred of the Senju clan. The Uchiha had a closed clan ceremony for his funeral, but Yuri persuaded them to hold a secondary ceremony for the village immediately following. Many of the Uchiha were surprised at how many villagers wanted to pay their respects.

Itachi's ceremony was smaller. Much because he was technically only adopted by the Uchiha family, although they didn't know the truth of his heritage. Both were buried in the Uchiha cemetery at the Naka Shrine.

Hashirama wasn't satisfied with just funerals for them, however. Izuna and Itachi had both died in the service of the village. They'd died heroes. He wanted, no, he needed something more to be done for them. But he could do nothing until Madara woke up, and Sakura.

Madara Uchiha didn't wake up for eleven days. His chakra depletion was severe, but the doctors thought that the trauma of his eyes was also keeping him asleep while he healed.

Hashirama practically slept in the room, and he was there when his friend awakened and shot out of his chair to Madara's side when he saw the man's eyes blink. Madara looked unfocused at the roof for a few moments before Hashirama saw him look directly at him. Madara took a deep breath and turned away.

"Why couldn't you just let me die," he murmured.

Hashirama looked at him.

"Would you have let me die?" He asked, equally quiet.

Madara didn't reply.

"They held a ceremony for Izuna four days ago," Hashirama told Madara, sitting back on his chair.

Madara stilled in the bed.

"Why wasn't I awakened for that?" He asked, anger trembling in his voice.

"Madara, you've been in a chakra exhaustion coma for eleven days. No one could wake you," Hashirama explained patiently.

"Sakura could have, where is she?" Madara turned to face him.

Hashirama clenched his teeth and looked at the ground.

"Hashirama. Where. Is. She?" There was a slight panic in his voice.

"She's alive," Hashirama said with a sigh. "But… she's also in a coma."

"She hasn't woken up?"

Hashirama shook his head.

"No. We don't know when she will." The unspoken word between them was: if.

"Why?" Madara asked with a frown.

"She was badly wounded. Tobi did what he could, but after she'd had her chakra stolen by Zetsu, and then given almost everything else she had to keep you alive, she couldn't heal herself." Hashirama hesitated. "But they think the mental trauma is what will keep her under, given her history."

Madara's frown deepened.

"What trauma?" His eyes flickered to Hashirama's. "Where's Itachi?"

"The Nine-Tails tried to kill her, and Itachi took the blow. He didn't survive, and she couldn't save him."

There was a silence in the room between them. Madara turned to look at the ceiling again.

"Was he buried with Izuna?" He asked.

"Yes, the same day. At the Naka Shrine," Hashirama replied.

"Leave me be, Hashirama," Madara said quietly. "I'm tired."

Hashirama stood and looked at his friend, who had turned away. He didn't miss the tear that rolled down Madara's face. Hashirama left the room feeling weight on his shoulders like he never had before.

He reached Hokage Tower and sat heavily on his chair. A young Sarutobi boy had somehow ended up his assistant after following him around for the last week, like Hashirama was some kind of idol, helping out with strange tasks until Hashirama decided he couldn't get rid of him.

"Rei," he called out tiredly.

Rei walked in eagerly, but his disposition quickly adapted to the low mood Hashirama was in and he became serious.

"Yes, Lord Hokage?"

"Send a message to Yuri Uchiha, tell him Madara is awake."

Rei's eyes widened.

"Lord Madara is awake? Is Lady Sakura?"

Hashirama gave a small, sad shake of his head.

"Not yet, and if you see Tobi, tell him the news too."

Rei gave a nod and left quickly.

Finally alone in his office, Hashirama bowed his head until his forehead hit his desk and let out a great sigh. So many terrible things had happened in the last two weeks, but somehow he needed to keep pushing the village forwards. He stayed there for a moment, gathering strength until he heard the door open and felt Tobirama's presence.

"Hashi," Tobirama said.

Hashirama always liked it when he called him that. He didn't do it often enough.

"I received a reply from the Nara. They've agreed. They'll be here in two weeks with the other two clans."

"That's something good at least," Hashirama said, forcing himself to sit up.

"I also heard from the Inuzuka and Hatake."

Hashirama frowned.

"I don't know the Hatake."

"They're small, but their warriors are very skilled. They'll be a good addition."

"Good. Any word yet from the Hyuga or Aburame?"

Tobirama shook his head.

"No, but that's not surprising."

"No," Hashirama sighed. "They're stubborn in their nobility."

Tobirama scoffed.

"The Uchiha and Senju are also nobility. They're just far more snobbish than us."

Hashirama quirked his lips.

"You sound like Sakura."

Tobirama rubbed his forehead tiredly.

"She rubbed off on me."

"Any progress on the seals?" Hashirama asked hopefully.

He looked tired at the mention of them.

"We need to call an Uzumaki here," he said. "I need assistance."

"There's always a first time," Hashirama replied, almost cheekily.

"Ask Mito. Invite her to come here and have the wedding as well," Tobirama suggested. "As soon as possible is a good thing, isn't it?"

Hashirama blushed.

"If you insist," he said slowly, and Tobirama rolled his eyes.

"I'm going back to my research," he said, turning and leaving. "Don't bother me unless you're about to die."

"I know you love me even though you're so cruel!"

Once Hashirama had left and Madara was alone, he allowed several tears to fall from his eyes before he forced them to dry. He'd never been one for crying, and he didn't want to do it now.

Eleven days. He'd been unconscious for eleven days. Izuna had been dead for eleven days. He felt bile rise in his throat, and Madara vomited over the edge of the bed onto the floor. He wanted to rip his eyes out of his skull. He could still feel his fingers being forced into Izuna's sockets. Madara wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt disgusting in every sense of the word.

The door opened and a timid nurse came into the room.

"Ex-Excuse me, Lord Madara, do you need assistance?" She asked.

"Where is Sakura's room?" He asked. His throat felt dry and painful.

The girl frowned.

"Next door," she answered. "I'm sorry. You're not well, I'll get the doctor."

She quickly backed out of the room and closed the door. Madara sighed and sat up. He didn't want to be in bed any longer. He needed to see her, just to know she really was alive. A rush of dizziness caused his vision to flash white for a moment and he put his hand to his head. Sakura might not wake up. Her history of fainting Madara assumed that's what Hashirama had meant, since Itachi had implied it had happened before, in combination with her recent injuries and trauma. She was like him, he thought grimly. Helpless to save a loved one. She watched Itachi die like he watched Izuna.

The door opened.

"Lord Madara, I'm glad you're awake."

Madara looked up and saw a male he'd never seen before.

"I'm Madoka, your doctor."

Madara did not care at all who he was.

"I want to see Sakura," Madara said.

"Of course. First, we need to clean that," he said, motioning to the sick on the floor. "And check out how your body is doing."

"You didn't hear me," Madara said in a low and threatening voice. "I want to see Sakura."

He and Madoka stared at one another and finally, Madoka sighed, slightly aggravated.

"Fine, but as soon as you see her, we're doing our check-up."

Madara threw back the covers of the blanket and saw that he was wearing a short white kimono shirt and white pants. He scrunched his nose at them. He disliked the style and the glaring white. With a sigh he stood, and swallowed, standing a moment to test his balance before striding out of the room. Madoka led him to the door to the left. He opened it and Madara walked in alone.

Sakura lay on her back in the bed. The blankets covered up to just below her shoulders. Madara walked further in and saw that she looked like she was sleeping. Like she might wake up at any moment. When he saw the rise and fall of her chest, he felt a flush of relief so strong he almost fell over. He swallowed and walked out of the room quickly.

That was enough. That was enough.

Sakura was alive.

Itachi was dead.

Izuna was dead.

Madara clenched his teeth and fists as he walked back to his own room. He sat on the bed and allowed Madoka to do his check-up, answering monosyllabically until Matsuri arrived, holding Kagami. They stared at one another, and then Madara couldn't help it. He screamed at the doctor to get out. Matsuri stood calmly in the door, cradling Kagami in her arms until Madoka left with an irritated huff and Madara calmed down.

Kagami started to cry and Madara winced at the sound. Matsuri walked over to Madara and sat with him on the bed, shushing Kagami, who calmed immediately at the sound of his mothers soothing. Matsuri put one small arm around Madara's broad shoulders and Madara broke down. He cried like he never had before.

Izuna was dead.

Izuna was dead and he was never coming back.

His brother was dead.

He failed. He failed.

It took another month before they thought to check the house that Sakura and Itachi lived in.

During that time, Madara had left the hospital, and gone to see the grave of his brother.

The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi had settled in Konoha.

Mito and Hashirama had married in a ceremony that Madara had been forced to attend at the threat of Hashirama tying him to his chair with his wood jutsu.

Tobirama had enlisted Mito to help with seals to cover Sakura's room in so her body wouldn't deteriorate while she was in a coma. It didn't look like she was going to wake up any time soon.

Hashirama had sent Tobirama and Madara to the house in the woods when Madara recalled that Sakura had been writing something before the battles began, something she said he hoped he'd never read. They all took that to mean it was something that they would only see if both she and Itachi died.

Madara opened the door and there, on the table in the living room, covered in a thin layer of dust, was a pile of scrolls. He and Tobirama unrolled one each and Tobirama laughed.

"They left us a village," he said.

Madara saw that he was right.

History. Infrastructure. How the village had been in their time. Plans. Ideas. Things that could be different now. But that wasn't the only thing they left. Not the only thing she left.

There was one single scroll different from the rest of them. Smaller, and tagged with his name.

For Madara.

A message from Sakura. He hated the way his heart jumped at that, at how he was secretly relieved that Itachi was gone.

He didn't read it. He couldn't, not yet, not in this house. He tucked it in his shirt and gathered the rest with Tobirama.

Madara closed the door to Sakura and Itachi's house, feeling like he just closed the door on something much greater.