Sasuke's eyes had turned red earlier doing the fight, and it was in this moment that finally understood what Itachi had meant when he called it a curse. Even with tears in his eyes, he would never forget this moment. For the rest of his life that sight of Sakura giving up her life to protect him would haunt his nightmares.

If he had looked at Haku he would have seen a boy just as shocked. Never had Haku thought that any of those kids were ready to make the greatest sacrifice. He felt respect for the girl.

With shaking his hands and Sakura's blood, he moved her unresponsive body of his own. He watched in horror as the lynx dissolved into nothing. He ignored everything about him and focused on trying to find a pulse. Nononononononono. Not somebody else he cared about died.

For a second all Sasuke wanted to do was seek vengeance for his fallen teammate. To tear out his vocal core with his bare hands. To bath in his blood while giving him a slow and torturous death. He quickly shook the thoughts away and began to perform CPR instead. He was so focused on the task that he didn't even take note of Naruto's arrival. His astounding among of clones kept them safe.

If he hadn't still been watching her with the Sharingan Sasuke wouldn't believe what happen next. The very second, her heart was beating again a diamond showed on her face.

Suddenly that whole bridge shook and he could hear parts falling into the water. Roots shot out from the water. They seemed almost extremely angry or if Sasuke was honest, feral in nature. Their intent was clear. Destruction. The mirrors were destroyed in seconds.

Before the boy got far the roots got a hold of his leg and pulled. The sound that came from having one leg ripped off and the scream of pain would echo in his head for weeks. It was then Zabuza came for the boy. He cut through everything in his way almost fanatically trying to reach the boy. Kisame followed right after and kept cutting them while Zabuza carried the boy.

No matter how far back they went the roots followed. They ended up retreating and part of him felt disappointed in how anticlimactic this way. How unjustified it was. There was no closure. He heard yelling and saw that the roots began to attack Gato's men that had appeared further down the river in boats.

He watched as golden dust began to swill around the air before white fur covered in dried blood was back. The sight made him cry anew in relief. Jina gave a cry of relief and hopped over to the unmoving fur.

It was gone the next second when he watched him beginning to lose a bit of the dust. He snapped his head around to look at Sakura and saw her bleeding out. God, there was so much blood. So many wounds he didn't know which one he should start with.

He didn't have to think about it cause Obito had shown up and taking the girl and feline away. He felt like he could breathe again. They would make it right again. He trusted Obito to get here somewhere safe in time.

The entire stone bridge was destroyed, but in its place stood one made of roots that turned into trees with branches so closed knitted that it works as a cover for the rain and was blooming flowers. Apple trees.

"Kakashi-sensei where is Obito going?" Sasuke asked once he realized that his older cousin wasn't moving towards the village. Not brothering trying to stand knowing he would just fall again. Looking down Sasuke saw all the blood he was covered in, Sakura's blood. God, he hoped the hospital had O-negative in wait.

"Sakura needs more help than we could hope to offer her," Kakashi said while looking Naruto over. Once that was done, they both came over to Sasuke and all three shared a glance.

They had won, but it felt bitterly hollow.

There was nothing Minato could do now after that shit-show. The remaining members of team 7 stood in his office. Not even one of them seems to dare look him in his direction.

"Form this moment on Sakura and Tobi is removed from team 7 the rest of you will be suspended until I have found her replacement," he said when it became clear they didn't have anything else to say. His face remained neutral as they all snapped up to look at him. Honestly, Minato felt that Sakura deserved the right to choose if she wanted to stay. He just couldn't see why she would want to stay. He just didn't want to end up like her parents who show up and try to control her life without her knowing.

"Wha- you can't just do that!" Naruto yelled outraged at him.

"NARUTO! Your teammate is in critical condition. That means Sakura might be dying right now due to this mess. You will find that I can, and I will as the Hokage. Now quiet down or so help me I will send you both back to the academy to learn the basics that you are clearly missing, that and basis human decently." Minato snapped. It was time for Naruto to realize that being his son didn't mean favoring. Here in this office, he was Hokage first and father second.

He watched the hurt and bewilderment on his son's face. He saw the way Sky curled in on herself before running towards Momo in hope of comfort. Once she was close Momo purposely took a meaningful full step back. Just standing there for a second looking down at her before turning around and moving towards her spot under the desk. It was surprising enough that the confused and hurt otter simply stood still in the middle of the room. There was silence for a long time before Minato felt the need to continue.

"Now I suggest you take this time to reconsider what being a team is," Minato said dismissing the boys and turning his eyes onto his own students instead. Suddenly feeling tired for another reason.

Once the boys were gone Minato got up and turned his back to the two younger men. He stood there looking out at the village while trying to contain his anger. He wasn't sure whether his students, the situation, or the shit show that would follow angered him the most.

"Normally, if any other teacher had acted like you two buffoons did, I would give you a demotion each and make a note to never again allow you to have students" He informed them coolly. Maybe it had been wrong to take them out of ANBU?

Where had he gone wrong with these boys? Had he blinded himself to their flaws to not see the mess this would become? Had he shown too much favoritism towards them in the past?

"There are no words for my disappointment and frankly I haven't yet deiced if that will be the consequents, but heed my words there will be coming consequents… You made your beds now you get to sleep in them. Dismissed." He said looking at them over his shoulder shortly before turning back to the streets.

Once he was finally alone Momo came up to him. A small whine left her as she rubbed her head against his hand. He had made a terrible mistake this time. Looking back at his deck Minato saw the two candidates that Ibiki had suggested together with two applications for new teams.

Once outside the tower, Obito went to the hospital at once. It didn't matter that Obito had been running for days without stopping in hopes of saving her. He knew he wouldn't be able to do anything else than worry if he didn't go see her first.

"I'm looking for Haruno Sakura," he said once at the desk. Once he got the room and floor number he was gone.

God, what had he done? What had his inaction allowed to happen? He should have known that something like this would happen.

She was so very small in that big bed with so many tubes. Sakura was small for her age and the adult bed made that clear. Kami, Obito couldn't bear to look at her for more than a couple of seconds before vomiting into the closes bin.

He watched as she crashed and flatlined again. The third time since arriving. He couldn't stay here any longer. Couldn't stay here and watch Tobi turn to a pile of dust again. Obito did just like last time this happened he ran and hoped Rin would forgive him for his cowardness.

Obito wasn't sure if he could ever get sight of her blood on his hands out of his head when if he scrubbed them clean till they bleed.