It's her. She is my best friend, the one I look to for comfort and acceptance. Naruto may always be there for a challenge, someone to push me to become more, but she is the one. Of course he is one of my best friends too, but she is always there next to me. She's the one I seek out when I'm lonely. Even if Naruto would understand my situation better, she draws me in. Like the ocean calls the rivers home, she calls me to come to her. I never even considered the possibility of her being the closest to me until she already was. There is always a flash of pink and red in my peripherals, a radiance of green that I could never ignore.
I've never given in to those desires. I've never fallen into her arms, heavy as stones with fatigue. I've never called for her comfort at night when the nightmares start and eat away at me until the morning sun seeps in. I've never asked for her to sit with me when the flashbacks come and go. I've never asked to hold her hand when I don't feel strong enough. I've never outright asked for anything, just silently placed myself within her vicinity when I needed support and never thanked her for it. She wedged her way into my life despite my protests and efforts to keep her at bay and I lost sight of it because of my growing rivalry with the knucklehead and need for power.
I picked her, as soon as I noticed the bond we shared, to rebuild my clan with. She would be worthy. I even accept that my son could have pink hair or their sharingan wouldn't be as pure. I accept the large forehead my kids would no doubt get from her, the outright display of emotions that my clan lacked that she displays so easily, and all other negatives that came with her. But I also accept the hope that her brilliance would be passed on. Her bright emerald eyes would be reflected into our children. Her natural talent for chakra control and quick learning would be excellent.
But I can't miss her, it's too late.
—
I can't stop. Naruto and Sasuke thought as they watched her move.
Sakura ran to the boys, putting herself between them to stop their attacks. The static from the chidori in Sasuke's hand made her hair stand the closer she got. Kakashi followed after her from a larger distance, hoping his speed made up the difference. Time slowed. Everything looked sharper, but there was no noise. Kakashi reached for the boy's wrists, just grazing the fabric of Naruto's jacket. He was once again too late.
Blood splattered the ground as it spilled from her large wounds and lips. Red stained her face as a look of agony ripped across her. Naruto shuddered as he felt her soft flesh rip in unnatural ways under his chakra. Tears already filled his eyes as the complete realization of his actions sunk in and his arm pushed through her. His face was twisted in horror as he watched his teammate's hand rip through her chest. Sasuke's bloody hand reached towards him, still full of blue lightning.
Sasuke's hand was very warm as he tore through her and then very, very cold as his blood soaked hand hit the open air across her body. He watched as her stained lips muttered something he couldn't quite make out.
"Sakura!" Naruto's shrill scream alerted everyone nearby. He pulled back his Rasengan attempting to catch her before she fell, but she was hanging limply on Sasuke's arm. Slowly, the raven-haired boy pulled his arm from her chest cavity and helped her as she fell. If she had been hit with just the Rasengan, the internal injuries caused from the force of Naruto's chakra wouldn't have been too hard to heal, but the Chidori was devastating, especially since it was fully charged.
Sasuke laid her down gently, shaking as he did so. His onyx eyes were wide as he fully took in the scene before him. Her petal tressess fanned out around her, soaking up the blood on the ground. Her green eyes were growing dark as life left her. A soft smile spread across her lips as she looked up at her boys, her best friends.
Kakashi fell to his knees, regret gripping his heart tightly once again. The all too familiar feeling of cold loneliness creeping up his throat. He slowly crawled over to his students and stopping at the girl's feet. She is so still, so pale. His fists banged the concrete below him cursing the sadistic fates. He did not shed tears, he had no more left to give. How could fate keep allowing this to happen right before his eyes?
"Ssss-orry guys. P-please….don't fight." She weakly placed a hand on their cheeks, smearing blood across them. Then, after a minute, she fell limp. Her breathing stopped. Her eyes were dark. The small smile stayed. Sasuke looked down at his bloody hand and felt the blood on his face begin to dry. His mind shattered as he went back to his childhood, rewatching his family slaughter. Pain ripped through his head as his Sharingan burned the image into his mind. Slowly, blood trailed towards him, pooling at his knees. The pain in his head sharpened as his eyes morphed into the Mangekyo.
"SAKURA" An ear piercing scream ripped through the entire village.
It was at such close range I couldn't miss her. I couldn't even diverge the blow. Sasuke's eyes grew sharper as his new advancement developed, but as the color drained from Sakura's lifeless body, so did the color leave his world. He was nothing without the pinks and greens she brought. Everything turned to black.