There are some people who live in the future, pushing and moving, always moving. They see what can be and what will be- a straight path, where the future calls to them and they accept it eagerly.

There are some people who live in the past, looking back, always regretting. They see what could have been, what should have been- a clear path, where their goal is to change life back to before.

There are some people who live in the present, taking each day as it comes, loving and worrying and laughing. They may not be able to understand the past or the future, and their goal may not be anything deeper than a childhood crush that has slowly bloomed into love.

They are traveling in opposite directions. The ones before them know it, because the sannin stretched apart as well, stretched until there was nothing there but a few old memories and a familiar name connecting them together.

She thinks she's stronger than that. She thinks her team is stronger than that. It will not happen again, she thinks, because she loves them and they love her and they love each other even as they use their fatal attacks on one another. The three of them were a team, are a team.

She grabs onto two hands, one rough and tan, the other pale and delicate.

The Rasengan and Chidori meet, fury, anger, frustration, and she knows they'll be propelled backwards, farther and farther away each time they meet.

She's crying now, again, but it's okay. Because their hands are still clasped in hers. The future is calling desperately, and the past is pushing away, and the present is barely holding on.

She wills herself not to let go.