Chapter 52 – To Those Who Meet Their End

"To think they would target innocent children," she muttered in disgust, hands drifting through the air and at her command, her lower half disappeared into pieces of paper. She knew exactly how much paper there was floating around, turning themselves into shuriken: three thousand, seven hundred and forty-two.

"Don't lose your head," came the order of her lover, despite the fact he was also stuck in a place of angered disbelief. "Remember: we are not to get involved in this battle more than what is necessary. Our duty is to protect the innocent and the vulnerable."

Stepping forward as another group rushed towards the trio, Nagato held up his hand, strengthening his stance while summoning the chakra he needed. "We have no choice but to fight now, Yahiko. Hokage-sama sent us here with the vulnerable for this very reason."

"To show we're not monsters," Konan agreed and at her words, the paper that had not been folded into shuriken came to her back, lifting her off the ground and above her team as they formed into wings. "Our sole purpose in life is to protect."

Smiling, Yahiko closed his eyes. There really was no use in arguing when they tag teamed him like that. "Yeah."

They were stationed at the Hokage Monument, watching over the shelters that were currently hiding a great fraction of the villagers, including the elderly and the children. It sickened them all that there were orders to dispose of them, that there were those who thought nothing of it. Cornering the vulnerable like trapped animals in a slaughterhouse.

Brown eyes opened, fixating on the supposed leader of the enemy group. "We split up," he ordered of his closest friends. "Nagato, you are our trump card. I want you to stay-"

"We fight together," Konan and Nagato said simultaneously, expressions grim.

"We're stronger together," the redhead added. "Our teamwork is better than it's ever been."

Yahiko couldn't remember when exactly they'd stopped following his every order, or even why. They were no longer afraid to question him. They refused to give anything less than their all. Like Nagato stated: their teamwork was better than it'd ever been in the past.

And he loved them for it.

"Then we'll protect the vulnerable together," agreed Yahiko, not upset in the least about his easy defeat.


"Oh!"

The booming voice of his sensei, along with his sudden attack on the beast, had his blood boiling, had him clenching his fists as adrenaline began pumping through his veins. They had their orders from Pakkun and Rock Lee would be lying if he said he wasn't excited. Yes, it was a scary experience going up against two tailed beasts, but he believed in his beloved sensei's strength and in return, his sensei believed in his. They had the power of youth on their side.

Following up on his sensei's attack, Lee came in from the left, the pair of them nothing but a blur of green spandex, black hair and thick eyebrows as they joined the battle to protect the hospital.

It was a gruesome sight. There were bodies everywhere – some belonging to the enemy's side, but many of their own. His heart ached in response, but it also strengthened his determination to protect those who were left.

"Shannaro!"

His aching heart skipped a beat at the sound of her angered yell and Lee looked up in time to see tens of their enemy raining down around them, crashing into the ground with sickening thuds.

"Focus, Lee," Gai ordered seriously, their backs touching. "Now is not the time to start daydreaming."

"Glad you could both make it," said Tsunade breathlessly. Her body was littered in bruises, cuts and dirt, but she was enduring. Lee admired that tremendously. "Sakura's up there," she stated with a jab of her thumb towards the sky.

Following the direction, Lee narrowed his eyes at the sight of the hospital so high up in the sky. During the run towards the battle, of course he'd noticed it was no longer there, but he'd assumed it was Kakashi's doing. How wrong he was to underestimate Haruno Sakura's strength. Neji had already told him how vastly she'd improved. He should have been expecting it of her. After all, even if they were not the average 'geniuses', he and Sakura were geniuses of hard work and perseverance. They overcame the obstacles thrown their way. It was why he loved her so dearly. She was like him in more ways than they'd at first realised.

It was with that thought that he lowered himself into a fighting stance, smirking. There was so much going on around him that he couldn't tell who was friend of foe, but he had his mission: take down the jinchūriki, or at the very least, remove them from the village and hold them there to lessen the destruction and deaths.

Unlike when he was younger, it was easily that he opened the first four gates, eyes narrowing.

He would make Sakura and Gai-sensei proud.

He would protect their beloved village.


"This is absurd."

Sighing, she folded her legs beneath herself, her hands resting delicately on top of them. As expected, her husband was beyond displeased about their situation. He wished to aid the others, to fight on the front lines and regain his status as a powerful shinobi.

It wasn't entirely about protecting the village and their comrades – it was mainly about his pride, which was why Mikoto didn't fight against their son or his orders. Itachi understood his father's reasons for fighting and he wanted him as far from the battle as possible. A shinobi who fought for selfish reasons was a liability. They would make fatal mistakes. Even a man as great as her husband was capable of becoming a nuisance.

"Try not to show your agitation," she said softly for the sake of the children. They were already terrified, cowering together, the sounds of their teeth chattering and whimpers of fear doubling the helplessness Mikoto could feel. "The civilians rely on us for strength in times such as these."

"Strength?" he repeated coldly. "What strength do I have to offer? My own son believes me to be weak."

Mikoto did not respond. She knew it was pointless. Once Fugaku was locked in that head of his, there was no arguing with him or trying to get him out of it. For all he complained about the elders, he was beginning to resemble them a tad more every day. It was both amusing and alarming, for she didn't want to think of herself as being anything like the elder women. Hopefully it was only Fugaku – Mikoto had a while to go before she was classed as an elder.

"Should anything happen," she began, though paused as two children ran in front of them, rushing to their grandparents who welcomed them warmly, their relief forcing Mikoto to bite back a smile. "It will fall to us to protect the civilians should the enemy manage to get through the squads outside."

"Aa."

"In order to do this, we must be ready. We cannot allow our personal conflicts to hold us back."

Sighing, he muttered in return, "The children are the future of Konoha. Until they are ready to protect themselves, we must fight for them."

She smiled.

There was the man she'd grown to love.


Dropping to the ground, he rolled out of the way, unsheathing his katana in one smooth movement and ramming it into the enemy behind him. Just as quickly he yanked it back out, slitting the throat of another.

Kakashi was in safe hands. A squad of ANBU operatives had collected him, wanting to protect the guy who would no doubt become the next Hokage, despite how much he despised the position. Where they'd taken him, he had no idea. He was safe and that was all that mattered.

His eyes glanced to the left, narrowing before he jumped, effortlessly dodging the woman attempting to sneak up on him from underground (after Sakura's pushing, he and Itachi had worked on the troublesome blind spot, the training sessions doubling as bonding sessions). In the same second, his katana was coming down on her face. She didn't even have the chance to cry out. Didn't know it was coming until it was too late. There was probably no pain, though he couldn't promise that.

"Sasuke."

Someone brushed against his back momentarily. They hadn't needed to speak for him to know who it was, however. "Naruto."

"Sorry I'm late," he said cockily and Sasuke could tell without even looking what expression would be on his face. "Dad wouldn't let us join until now."

The Hokage would have his reasons for that and while Sasuke wished Naruto had been fighting alongside him right from the start, he understood those reasons. Until they knew exactly what was going on, both of the jinchūriki had to remain hidden and guarded. They didn't know if it was all a distraction to steal both halves of the Kyuubi. They didn't know if they were sent to assassinate the Hokage. Of course, Naruto probably hadn't understood in the least. He'd probably given his father hell for it.

"Forget it," he muttered in response and strengthened his stance, holding out his katana. "You're here now."

"Right," he said and it was obvious he was grinning. "So where's Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei? We'll fight as a team."

Who was he to give out orders? Scoffing, he replied, "Sakura has a more important mission, whereas Kakashi barely saw any action. He's out cold and I doubt he'll be waking up any time soon."

As expected, Naruto fell out of his stance and rounded on him, his loud demand to know what the hell had happened echoing around the battlefield.


He wasn't entirely sure what he would do when he saw her again.

Spinning on his heel, he met a katana with a kunai. At the same time, he threw out several shuriken at another attacker, breathing out a fire jutsu to encase the weapons.

Being separated from someone he loved had never been so difficult. Knowing Sakura was out there, fighting with every fibre of her being, trying more than just her best to protect their village, made it impossible for Itachi to focus entirely. Not because he didn't believe in her strength, but because he wanted to see it again. Wanted to see that fierce look in her eyes. The way she held herself as she declared with actions alone how far she was willing to push herself for her village. The way she held absolutely nothing back. He wished to witness what made him fall so hard for her in the first place.

Witnessing her love for the village and her compassion for her comrades reminded Itachi why he continued to fight. All along, Sakura had been his source of strength. She had become his reason to continue the soul destroying battle. She reminded him what it felt like to have bonds, reminded him how precious they truly were. Itachi hadn't even realised how far he'd pushed everyone away until he let her in. He had so much to make up for, starting with his little brother. But first…

Turning his gaze on the struggling Kumo-nin before him, Itachi unleashed another genjutsu. They didn't use as much chakra as they used to. Since awakening his Mangekyō, they seemed to have become second nature for him, almost as though he didn't have to think about it. That was better for him considering his stamina.

He would end things quickly.


Where was he?

Pain exploded from his side as another burst of who knows what came from his arm, taking down all enemies surrounding him in one sweep.

She's gone.

There was no stopping his scream of rage and grief, just like there was no stopping the surge of chakra that seemed to erupt all around him. It felt like it was taking control of him, for he surely couldn't be causing so much destruction. But it was him. And just like he didn't recognise his own attacks, he couldn't recognise where he was because she was gone.

Rin's gone.

Hell. That was where he was. A world without Nohara Rin, his fiancée, was hell.

Towering over a fallen man, Obito felt something wooden come from his hand, but he paid it no mind, instead tightening his grip. It was solid. It would cause harm. It would help him unleash the sorrow that was gripping his heart, making it impossible to breathe.

He couldn't see the man's face. Hadn't seen anyone's since Rin had fallen. They didn't matter anymore.

"Obito, stop!"

Why should he? They had taken her from him. The crushing weight in his chest was enough for him to know she was well and truly gone.

"Don't ignore me, brat," someone snarled, their fist slipping straight through his face as he turned towards them slowly. It was a woman. Like the others, he couldn't see her face. He could tell she was panting for breath, however. She'd been fighting for a while. "Don't turn on us, bastard. Rin wouldn't want that."

"Rin," he murmured and glanced at the wooden spear in his hand.

When he looked back up, he could see her eyes. Not the woman opposite him, but Rin's. He could see how frightened she was as the Nibi attacked – he'd seen every second of it like it was in slow motion and because of his Sharingan, it was all stuck in his mind and playing on a loop.

He hadn't been fast enough to save her.

"Look at me," she demanded.

"Tsunade-sama, get out of there!"

He leaned in closer to her, his expression cold and unforgiving. But before she could respond or move out of the way, his spear pierced through her middle, leaving her to stare at him in utter horror, shaking from the agony.

"Rin is dead."


"Tsunade-sama!" they heard the terrified shriek of her assistant as the woman fell to the ground.

"Take him out," a man to his left ordered.

"He's gone rogue," added another in agreement, already preparing himself with hand signs. "If we don't take him out now, he'll kill us all."

Stepping forward and holding out his hand, he signalled for them to stand down. "Leave Obito to me," he stated, his cloak billowing in the wind behind him.

"Hokage-sama, you-"

Blue eyes narrowed on the scene before him. "Obito is my student, therefore my responsibility. I am ordering you to stay out of this."


Ducking, she landed a powerful blow to the chest, forcing the man away from her and in the same second, she spun around, kicking another over the edge. There were so many of them – more than she'd been expecting, leading Sakura to believe someone was summoning more shinobi from behind the scenes. Every time they made a dent in their army, another wave came from seemingly out of nowhere.

So far, the hospital was safe. Like she'd told them: there was no getting through her. She would die before the hospital was attacked.

Dashing forward, she gripped the straps of a man's outfit, yanking him forward just as she slammed her knee upwards. Blood splattered across her face when he coughed it up and in response, she kicked him away.

How long could she keep it up? Sakura stole a quick glance around her. They were closing in, coming in from every angle. Apparently they were only just learning not to attack her one on one, because there was no way she could dodge every attack they were throwing her way. If she tried using her full strength to put distance between them, she could damage the hospital (despite it being sealed away by a thick stone wall). If the landing she created was damaged, they would all fall to their deaths. And they knew that.

There was no way to defeat them, not with the enemy's constantly replenishing numbers and their own stamina draining so quickly.

But then two attacks seemed to appear from thin air, a fire attack followed by that ridiculous Rasenshuriken and for a split second, she felt safe, she felt like it was possible for them to win. That feeling multiplied as her boys appeared by her sides, with Naruto gently touching her in a move that could've been seen as an accident, but they knew it wasn't. He was telling her it was okay. He was there now. It was all going to be okay.

"You ready, Sakura-chan? Sasuke?"

She smiled slightly, relief flooding through her system and filling her with new strength. "Yeah," she replied confidently.

"Aa."

They could do this.


What was happening? Something was trickling down her throat, something scalding, making it impossible to breathe. And why couldn't she move? Where was she? What had happened to her? Why couldn't she move?

"Tsunade-sama!"


"We won't make it in time," she said breathlessly, ignoring the sharp branches as they whipped at her face and body, leaving cuts along her skin. "It's already started. Can't you feel that?"

"That's why we must hurry," came his dark mutter. "Before they're all slaughtered like animals."

"Shit," said the third person on their three-man squad. "I hope the messenger manages to make it. We could do with all the backup we can get. The three of us won't be enough."

His eyes narrowed. They were still a fair distance from Konoha, but already he could hear the screams of terror and the cries of battle. It had his blood boiling, the beast inside him screeching with excitement. "If you have time to talk, you're not moving fast enough."

"But we'll be exhausted and useless-"

"Shut up and get moving, otherwise there'll be no one left to save."


They were trying to climb the platform Sakura had created.

He would not allow that.

Kicking off from the ground, he used the wall of the elevated ground to run across, darting towards the enemy and landing finishing blows on each of them. Sakura was trying her utmost best to protect the hospital. No matter what, he would defend her. He would protect her. He would offer his assistance.

"I will not allow you to harm Sakura-san," Lee stated and raised his hand, preparing himself to strike again.

"That's the way, Lee!" he heard Gai gush from somewhere below him.

He smiled, but then focused his attention on the rampant Nibi. The Hachibi was more reserved in its attacks, he'd noticed. Perhaps it was the jinchūriki's subconscious? Whatever it was, he hoped it would last until the end of the battle.

Another landed beside him, his breathing harsh but appearance otherwise unruffled despite the green flames flickering around his body.

"Lee."

"Yes, Gai-sensei?"

"Follow up on my attacks. Do not falter or create any openings. Backup will soon arrive, but until then we must fight as though we are alone in this. Do you understand?"

He nodded once, expression grim.

There was nothing more said, which was unlike his sensei. However, Lee understood why. Gai was nervous. It didn't happen often but when it did, it never failed to unsettle them both.

Using the platform as leverage, Gai vaulted from it.

"We shall take this outside of the village," he yelled, fist slamming into the face of the Hachibi, followed by an unstoppable kick from Lee, their combined strength knocking it over the wall of the village like it was nothing. "We have done enough damage as it is!"

Lee stole a glance over his shoulder, watching the Nibi through narrowed eyes. How was he supposed to take it down? Gai was too busy with–

Just as he turned to defend a group of preoccupied Konoha-nin, a humongous slug fell on the Nibi from above, slamming it to the ground.

"Quick," Katsuyu ordered of the Konoha-nin. "I can only hold the Nibi for a short while."


They needed more speed.

Gritting her teeth, Sakura first grabbed Naruto's arm, since they'd used the move once before and he knew what to expect. There was no falter in his Rasengan as she spun, launching him at the enemies, just like there was no falter from Sasuke's Chidori when he realised what she was doing, nodding once at her. He was flung across the battlefield too, his Chidori screaming louder than his victims, whereas Naruto's didn't have the chance to scream, the deafening boom of his Rasengan silencing them.

Her boys were up in the air again a second later, giving her the opportunity to summon huge amounts of chakra, using shock waves instead of actual punches to get the remaining enemies away from the hospital, throwing them off the ledge. Even if they somehow survived the shock wave, they were as good as dead, she knew that already. Nobody could survive a fall like that.

"Don't let them near the hospital," Sakura reminded them.

"They need us down there, too," Naruto muttered, peeking over the edge once he landed.

What the hell was she supposed to do about that? There was nothing she could do. She was already–

Wait.

"Naruto, create three clones and leave them here. Your chakra reserves are great enough for that, right?" He nodded once, already summoning the three clones and more, stationing them around the hospital. She smiled softly. "Thanks."

"Looks like they're congregating down there. It's worse here than anywhere else in the village," muttered Sasuke, his red and black eyes narrowing intimidatingly. "The Nibi is the biggest threat, however." Glancing up briefly, he added, "The Hachibi is gone. Gai is taking care of it."

Alone? She frowned and prepared herself for the drop onto the battlefield. "We'll do a surprise assault, which should give Lee-san the opening he needs to join Gai-sensei."

They both nodded.


They all knew when Team Seven arrived on the battlefield.

Holding up her arm to protect her face and neck, Shizune stepped closer to Tsunade, watching the explosion of punches and deadly jutsu worriedly. They'd taken out a chunk of the enemy (one of Sakura's punches alone had done that), there was no doubt about it, but jutsu of those magnitude would affect them, also. What on earth was Naruto thinking? Though, saying that, he was throwing the Rasenshuriken instead of holding it in place. Two, in fact.

She bit back a small, proud smile. The three of them had come so far, had overcome many obstacles together. They'd been separated along the way but they'd come back together, stronger than ever.

Shizune felt her gaze soften as she watched Sakura snap out orders a second before Sasuke's Chidori Nagashi was surrounding the three of them, freezing the enemies closing in on them. Following up on the attack, Naruto created clones and sent them out to finish them off. It was like looking at another version of Tsunade, a sight that warmed her heart.

But then their eyes met the sight of the Nibi, each faltering in their individual ways. Clearly they hadn't expected to face the fully transformed tailed beast so soon in the battle. Shizune frowned worriedly and stole a glance at the woman beside her.

They'd improved vastly, there was no denying that. But were they capable of fighting against the Nibi?


It was chaos.

Tilting his head to the left, Shisui narrowly avoided the katana aiming for his right eye. His gaze narrowed on the strands of hair that danced around in the wind and the moment they began to fall, he disappeared from sight, his movements too fast for others to see. They only felt the agonising pain of his kunai cutting through them all, causing fatal injuries.

How many attempts was that now? Seventy-three. Seventy-three people had tried to take his Sharingan since the battle started – mostly ROOT – and they all failed. He understood their reasons. It wasn't entirely because they wanted his Sharingan for themselves. It was so he couldn't use it against them. They were trying to lessen the threat against their forces. Shame it wouldn't work. As long as he was breathing, he and his body would forever remain loyal to Konoha.

Shisui already had his plans for what would happen should he meet his end. Itachi knew of them also, despite his friend disliking the turn of conversation. For shinobi, it was imperative they had backup plans. Say he had a family one day – an amazing wife and children who made him prouder every day. He'd want some form of safety net for them should anything ever happen to him. If he was captured or defeated in battle, he would want Itachi to take care of his family. Not solely because they were close friends. It was because Itachi understood what it was like to be forced into the shinobi lifestyle. He would fight until the bloody end to ensure his children were allowed to choose their own path in life.

However, Shisui did not have a wife or children. He didn't even have a partner. He was too busy with his missions and protecting the village. So his priority was himself. It was the secrets his body held. As a precaution, in case he, for some unknown reason, could not activate the jutsu that would destroy his body, he and Itachi had conjured a technique. The technique itself was gruesome and he knew it would hurt like hell, however, it was necessary. When the time inevitably came for his departure, Shisui had ordered the crows to respond to his draining life force and take his eyes. They were to take them straight to Itachi, for there was no one Shisui trusted more than him. He would ensure his eyes didn't fall into the wrong hands.

He sidestepped a handful of shuriken and reached up, catching one expertly before it struck him between the eyes. The woman opposite him was panting for breath and covered in blood, her piercing amber eyes glaring hatefully at him. He'd long since grown used to such disdain. Being who he was, being prepared to fight tooth and nail for Konoha, meant he would have enemies all over the world. Most simply chose to avoid him until they had a solid plan to defeat him.

Was the woman before him about to become seventy-four?

She rushed him without hesitation, her dark brown hair loose around her harsh features. Her uniform was in tatters and spotted with blood, much like her tanned skin. Reaching into her pouch, she pulled out more shuriken, launching them at him with chakra. As he deflected them effortlessly, she made several hand signs and reached for her kunai, attempting to catch him off guard with imaginary shuriken as well as the kunai directed at his face once she'd closed the distance. His eyes didn't miss a thing, however. Catching her wrists, he stopped the hidden kunai from being shoved into his chest, eyes narrowing once more.

"Genjutsu?" he questioned with a hint of disbelief. "Do you know who you are up against?"

Dark eyebrows twitched, her upper lip curling.

Tightening his hold on her wrists, he dispelled the genjutsu. It hadn't been anything extraordinary, hence his disbelief. It was average at best, which meant it was probably an act. The woman before him was the decoy.

"No matter," he murmured. A second later and his Mangekyō activated, staring down at her coldly. "I will find your plans out one way or another."


Why couldn't she move?

"Now, Sakura-chan," she heard the familiar voice order. "We'll attack that thing together."

"You can't go straight into that transformation, idiot-"

"What else am I supposed to do, Sasuke?" came his angered growl. "People are dying! Just look-" There was a noticeable crack in his voice, the beginnings of a sob, but he toughened up. She wished she could see what was happening. "I'm doing this for Rin-nee-chan."

Wait, for h–

"Naruto, look out," she heard the haunting cry of Uzumaki Kushina. "Move!"


For a moment, she was in awe. Standing on the side lines, protecting Tsunade while she was being healed by her assistant, she watched as her son began the transformation. It was the first time she was witnessing it for herself, for they asked of him to refrain from going all out unnecessarily. For those brief few moments, however, the power he radiated was breath-taking. It left her motionless, shocked by the powerful waves of chakra that caused all fighting to come to a stop around them, everyone suddenly wary.

She should have been expecting it.

She should have known they'd attack while he was halfway through the transformation and vulnerable.

It was like all Konoha-nin present tried to protect him, tried to protect the Hokage's son, but not a single one of them made it in time. Not even herself. No matter how hard she pushed herself, no matter what attacks she launched at the Nibi, she couldn't help him. She couldn't protect her baby.

She couldn't save her son.


She watched him go down, watched his blood splatter onto the ground and up the wall of her platform, watched it staining the horrified features of his mother, who was suddenly frozen in place, tears filling her eyes and arms weakly outstretched, unable to catch him as he fell face first into the dirt.

She tried to save him. Hell, Sakura placed herself between the Nibi and Naruto and still… she failed. The damned beast simply reached over her, unaffected by the attacks launched its way, barely affected by the shock waves created by her punches. Turning slowly, she looked up at the tailed beast, her strength draining out of her similar to the way the blood was draining from her best friend's motionless body.

Gone.

Another precious person gone.

The Nibi released an earth quaking roar, blowing her hair back off her face and… all Sakura could do was stare at the blue beast with wide, horrified eyes, falling to her knees uselessly.

Gone.

Gone.

They were both gone.

She felt so cold, so empty. Why were they fighting? Why did they have to die? What was the point in any of it?

"Sakura, get out of there," she heard Sasuke snarl, already moving to grab her.

They wouldn't make it in time.

But then another huge version Katsuyu was popping into existence with Tsunade standing on her head, the pair of them dashing forward and the former spitting acid towards the Nibi, forcing it to back off and leap into the air. But just as it did, Tsunade was coming down on it from above and swinging her fist down on its head, yelling out angrily as the punch connected and immediately slammed it back into the ground. She didn't stop there. Surprisingly, there were tears in her eyes and a sorrowful cry leaving her lips as her feet came down on the beast with powerful stomps, followed by another punch. Then another. Another. Until they were disappearing from view, hidden beneath the crater her shishou had created through the force of her blows.

There must have been a falter in her movement, must have been a moment of pause, because only a second later and there was a flash of blonde. They only saw her for a second before Tsunade was crashing into the platform holding the hospital, causing it to shake threateningly. It would hold, something in the back of her mind told her. It would hold. It was strong. Secure.

Strong hands yanked her to her feet. They guided her towards the lifeless body being clutched desperately to his heartbroken mother's chest. Sakura wanted to fight it. She didn't want to see him. She couldn't. It'd been years and she still saw Ino's final moments in her dreams, the state of her body breaking her all over again. She couldn't have Naruto's added to that. She couldn't. It'd kill her.

"H-Help him," Kushina begged, shaking hands bringing her only son closer, uncaring that his blood was smeared across her skin and uniform. "Sakura-chan, please… Help my son!"

Her knees buckled, falling harshly to the ground and her breath left her. A medic knew when a patient was lost and…

Tears filled her eyes.

Naruto was…

He was…

No.

No one else!

Green chakra encased her hands and she all but lunged for him, hands going straight to his chest and the second she realised his heart had stopped beating, she cut into the side of him with a chakra scalpel, using more chakra to keep her hand sterilised as she reached into his chest, gripping his heart and urging it to beat.

"Naruto." Her upper lip curled. "Please, Naruto."

His face was bloody and already bruising, his sightless blues eyes making her shiver. In her rush to help him, she left him laying in his mother's arms, but fortunately for her Kushina understood that he had to be on his back. Tears fell freely down her cheeks as Kushina gently lowered him to the ground, brushing the bangs out of the way and kissing his forehead sweetly.

"You're going to be okay," she promised him. "I'm here, okay? When you wake up, I'll treat you to ramen, but we won't tell your dad. He'll scold us, y'know."

The second she leaned back, Sakura pinched his nose shut and lowered her mouth onto his, forcing air into his lungs. All the while her hand continued to squeeze his heart steadily.

Come on, Naruto.

Please!

Someone fell at his other side and at the sight of bloody hands, her eyes snapped upwards, fierce anger obvious until she saw who it was and had it been possible, she would have paled. Opposite her, with barely any energy left at all, knelt a wheezing Rin. Her brown eyes were hazy and heavy, threatening to close permanently at any moment and blood was spurting from her side. That didn't seem to bother her, however, as Rin summoned what little chakra she had left to help.

Sakura's eyes narrowed and she pulled her lips away from Naruto's. "Rin-san, please stop. Save your chakra for yourself."

But instead she smiled sweetly. It was a smile tainted by the blood on her lips and teeth and Rin took as deep a breath as possible. "Naruto-kun… Sensei's son. Kakashi's student." Her smile widened momentarily. "He's… a precious person to me."

"Forgive me, Rin." Both their wary gazes moved to Kushina. The woman looked utterly broken as she reached out, cupping Rin's cheek softly. "But you're a precious person, too."

And then her hand came down on the back of her neck.

The redhead caught her, gently laying her down beside Naruto and at the curt nod to continue, Sakura did so. But just because they had stopped fighting, it didn't mean everyone else had. It was a point proven by the many Kiri-nin that attempted to take advantage of their grief, throwing jutsu and weapons straight for the Hokage's wife. All were deflected by Sasuke, who stood before them, fiercely protecting them all.

But the sight of the fast approaching Nibi filled Sakura with dread, because while Sasuke was admirably strong, he was not capable of fighting a tailed beast – not even Naruto had been.

Just as the Nibi rose its paw and prepared to swipe at them, that flash of blonde appeared before them again, body outlined in yellow chakra as she caught the paw and gripped a tight hold of it, growling between clenched teeth, "Don't think you've finished me off yet!"

And then Tsunade was launching the gigantic cat through the air with the help of her superhuman strength, following after and striking a single punch before one of its tails slammed her into a building a couple of streets away, the wall crumbling around her.

"Shishou," she cried helplessly. What was she supposed to do?

"Stay here, Sakura," Sasuke ordered, already darting towards the woman. "I'll check on her."

"But the Nibi…!"

She was cut off by Kushina shakily standing to her feet, her once beautiful blue eyes bleeding to red as a fiery cloak covered her body.

"Leave it to me," she snarled, visibly shaking from the raw power radiating around her. "It seems Kurama and I can finally agree on something."

Her sudden leap into the air had the ground beneath her feet crumbling and once away from the villagers, the transformation continued until they could no longer see her real body. It didn't stop with a single transformation, though. It was the full thing, leaving her absolutely breathless because when the hell had Kushina managed to control the Kyuubi's power successfully? Never. She'd never been able to do it. So why was she suddenly able to stay in complete control of the full transformation?

When she spoke next, Sakura could have sworn it was no longer Kushina's voice, for it was much too deep, growling out viciously, "Naruto must live!"

And many, if not everyone, froze at the haunting battle cry of the enraged, desperate Kyuubi.