She was above average

I'm not strong.

People say I'm strong, especially for someone my age, but they forget about me as soon as they see Naruto and Sasuke.

Those two go beyond the boundaries of strength.

I'm not a genius.

Many people say I'm smart, and I guess I am, but as soon as they see Sasuke at work, I seem like a child. I am smarter then Naruto, but even that is often superceded by his animal instincts.

I don't have special powers. Everyone knows that's true. Naruto has the Fox spirit, that lends him incredible chi. Sasuke has his Sharingan eyes. I just have a better control over my chi then most.

I am above average.

They are incredible.

And for years and years, I was fine with that. I was just happy to coexist with them as their teammate.

It was an honor to fight with them.

But then we split apart.

Sasuke left to be with Orochimaru, Naruto with Jiraiya, and me with Tsubame.

Then gradually, people came back.

Naruto came back from his training, older then when he left, and a few days later, he brought Sasuke back.

The village wasn't quick to trust the 'betrayer' again, but Tsubame said that everyone gets a second chance, and within a year Sasuke became part of the ANBU.

We often got together, Sasuke, Naruto and I, but we just didn't fit anymore.

Or, at least, I didn't.

Naturo and Sasuke became friends again, but they had both surpassed me in so many areas that we couldn't connect.

That day, part of my heart died.

I am above average.

They are incredible.

But that doesn't mean I have to die a meaningless death.

Gritting my teeth, I crawled over to Ino, my best friend.

Blood poured from the wound in my throat, and I knew that if I didn't stanch the flow I would die soon.

I didn't care.

Ino lay on her back, blond hair spread around her face, eyes blank, with a large stab wound in her stomach.

She was unconscious, and loosing blood fast, but she was not going to die today.

I placed my hands over her stomach, and summoned the whole of the chi left within my body, before also summoning the remainder of my life chi as well.

I murmured the correct words and mimicked the correct hand signs for the healing.

After all, memorization skills are part of what made me above average.

A soft glow emanated from beneath my hands, and I felt myself being drained of life.

I wonder if anyone will miss me?

The glow flickered for a moment, and my eyes became fuzzy.

It doesn't matter anymore.

I'm dead either way.

And I'll be damned if I die an average death.

The light let out a short burst of brightness, and then immediately went out.

Ino's breathing steadied, and her eyes flickered into awareness.

"Sakura?" she breathed.

Sakura let out the smallest of smiles, and Ino slipped back into unconsciousness.

Pink hair and aquamarine eyes flickered for a moment, and then all stilled.

And with a soft 'chu' of escaping breath, Sakura fell to her side on the battlefield, blood still draining out of her neck, though her heart was no longer pushing it out.

Five minutes later, Naruto and Sasuke came upon the scene.

They immediately checked Ino, since her wound was the most obvious, and were relieved to find her fine.

"Sakura-chan?" Naruto asked, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

It looked like she was sleeping.

The young girl, no, the young corpse rolled onto it's back, blood readily apparent on the pale throat.

Silence reigned.

Before thetears, and thescreaming began.

Sakura had been above average.

But she had died as incredible.