Author's Note: Finally... chapter 9. Thanks for your patience to read my fic. -

Disclaimer: Borglerjishdgahfjkhawuisdjkvnm,zcvkjsdhiasgfiadfuiasfsdjkvnskhfisuh... mean? I do not own Naruto.

Chapter 9

Lee froze when he saw the familiar dragon. It was Tenten, for sure. Ino shocked by the scene and asked instantly, "What is that dragon! What happened!"

"It's Tenten…" said Lee slowly. He closed his eyes. "Now the person who fight her… must be dead with nothing left but the blood."

"GRRRRAAAAAHHH!"

BOOMM! Naruto earned his body again, bleeding. The boy crouched and screamed in pain, his body was red by his blood. Sakura quickly jumped to her teammate, tried to calm the boy down. Sasuke dropped to his knees, panting. He closed his eyes in dismay when the seal began to react…

"Traitor!"

Sasuke opened his eyes, glanced to his side as Orochimaru flashed towards him. He had no time to react…

CRASH!

A Rock-nin stared in fears as the blood showered him. He saw the scene and now glared at the girl. That girl was all worn-out. She couldn't even stand… But she killed Orochimaru-sama's right hand… If I killed her…

The Rock-nin smirked. He took out his katana. He conveniently jumped to her back, ran in high speed, and then stabbed the katana until it emerged between her ribs…

"Gotcha!"

Orochimaru's hand was stopped a few centimeters from Sasuke's chest. He glared to his back, to Tsunade… Her arm was stabbed through his chest. Orochimaru's eyes were full of anger and hatred.

"You forgot me, Orochimaru."

A Kusanagi suddenly appeared behind Tsunade. Using his last power, Orochimaru guided the Kusanagi towards her back.

"DIE!"

Tenten froze the moment she felt the katana stabbed her. She slowly tilted her head downward, to the blade that appeared below her breast. Blood slowly ran down her chin, dripped to the ground. She's too weak to react, or even to think of anything…

The Rock-nin smirked slyly and said, "If I give your head to my captain, I'll get a re…"

The death aura behind him was petrifying. The Rock-nin didn't even get the chance to look back when a strong palm was flat against his back—stopping his heart from beating. When the Rock-nin dropped dead to the ground, the enraged Hyuuga Neji quickly caught his teammate's fallen body. Neji hugged her closed, his Byakugan scanned for any internal injuries. He soon felt fears creeping to his heart. Her injuries were fatal and her chakra began to fade. Despite all the wounds, Tenten opened her deep brown eyes. She gave her partner a weak smile and said softly, "You came… Neji…"

It was her last word before she closed her eyes once again.

"Tsunade-sama!"

Every Konoha Jounins there shouted when the Kusanagi stabbed her right through her heart. Tsunade cough a little, smiled triumphantly, and said, "Where the leaves dances, there's where the fire burns… The shadow of fire will enlightened the village… and a new leaves… will born…"

Neji jumped over the roof, carrying Tenten in his arms. She was surprisingly light, as he lifted her bridal style. The prodigy narrowed his Byakugan when he felt her blood dripped from her wound. The katana was still embedded in her belly, but thanks to it, her blood didn't spill out more. Neji fought back the fright and guilt in his heart. He couldn't let her die! Not when she was in his arms… not when she was in his reach…

Just… don't make him realize how helpless he was now…

The invaders retreated once they saw Orochimaru had been defeated. All the members of The Twelve Jounins—except Tenten and Neji—were circling Tsunade and Orochimaru's dead bodies. Every one of them was trying to hold back tears. They didn't know whether they had to laugh or to cry. Shino crouched beside Tsunade's body and said, "Now… There's no more Orochimaru that threatens us…"

"That's right," complied Kiba. Akamaru whined beside him. "But there's also no more Tsunade-sama that protects us."

Everyone went silent. Sakura closed her eyes as she healed Naruto. Tears dripped down her face. Her master… had gone forever. Sasuke touched her shoulder lightly to comfort her—only made her cried even more. Naruto closed his eyes and said, "Tsunade-obaa-san… and Ero-Sennin… will meet each other up there, right?"

Hinata smiled at the saying and said softly, "Let's hope it happens. We better pray for them now…"

When they were just about to pray, as soft thud was heard behind them. Neji finally arrived there… with the dying weapon mistress in his arms.

"SAKURA!" shouted the prodigy. "Save her! Please save her!"

Sakura, almost ran out of chakra herself, stared in shock at the image of Tenten. She was far from her usual cheerful way. Now her body was half cold, with the katana emerged from her chest. Lee quickly ran towards his teammate, wept, and shouted, "The beautiful flower! Tenten! What had happened!"

"Oh my gosh…" Ino covered her mouth with both of her arms. Chouji hugged her. "She… is she…"

"SHE'S NOT!" barked Neji quickly. Everyone frowned at him. "She's not! Sakura! Cure her! Please! Now! Cure her!"

"Sa… Sakura-chan… I'm alright," Naruto shrugged away. "Cure her instead…"

"But…" Sakura cut her own complain. She almost had no chakra left. She cured Naruto because Naruto had Kyuubi chakra that helped her. But... despite herself, she reached towards Tenten, hands shaking from exhaustion. What made her move was the image of Neji's eyes filled with fears, something she never witnessed inside those emotionless white eyes. A smile crept up her face as she put her hand on the wound caused by the Katana. She slowly slid the Katana while healing the wound, trying her hardest not to open it wider. She winced when her left arm muscle began to hurt again. She ignored it and used her Shosen no Jutsu on Tenten. But she was still dying and her wounds were grave. It was impossible to cure her.

"I… I don't know if I could…" said Sakura weakly. Neji stared at her. "My chakra… is not enough… Her wounds are fatal and I…"

"Then used mine!" Neji reached out his hand. "I still have enough chakra in me!"

"Neji-san, it's not that…"

"Then what!" Sakura was taken aback by Neji's reaction. "I don't care! Just… cure her! If you don't have enough chakra, I'll give mine! If it's because I can't do any medical jutsu, then teach me now! Just… Do something! Don't let her die! Don't let her… die…"

A drop of tear fell from the cold white eyes. Everyone stared in surprise as the Hyuuga prodigy broke down from his glacial cell. He was known for his cold, heartless attitude… but now he showed everyone the human side of him; the side that was created by none other than the woman who was now dying in front of him… the woman he couldn't save.

"Just… don't let her die…" Neji gazed down at the face of his teammate. Tears streamed down his face as he spoke, creating another wound in his heart. "Don't… let her die, Sakura… I know… I couldn't save her… I couldn't get there in time to stop the stab… I couldn't help her when she was fighting… I… I couldn't… I couldn't save her… not even for the tiniest thing… the tiniest… thing… for her… But just... don't... don't let her.. die..."

Silence crept down upon them. Sakura broke it by saying, "Give me your hand."

"What?" Neji looked at her in surprise. Sakura repeated, "Put your hand on top of mine. We cure her together. But I don't know if our chakra could support the jutsu… I need more than…"

Her speech was cut off when Lee's hands joined hers and Neji's. The bowl head grinned and said, "Enough now?"

Sakura closed her eyes and then shook her head.

"Unfortunately not. At this rate, all three of us may lose our lives and…"

Now Hinata who reached out her hands. Her reaction was followed by the rest of the Jounins. Finally, all eleven of them were holding hands—even the half-conscious Naruto.

"All of you…" Neji looked at his comrades in surprised. Kiba grinned and said, "Naa… don't show such a face again, Neji! It doesn't suit you!"

"Kiba's right!" added Ino, punched the prodigy on the shoulder. "Your strong image will shatter! Cheer up! She'll be alright!"

"Just watch out if she doesn't!" Chouji grinned widely. "We gave our chakra too! It's nutrition from our food, ya know!"

"It's the energy of youthful love and friendship!" shouted Lee. His eyes were full of youthful tears—remember: sunset background, crashing wave, flaming eyes. "Tenten shall be with us again!"

"It's troublesome," Shikamaru yawned. "But it worth it."

"Seeing my rival cry give me the chill," Sasuke shrugged. "I hate it."

"Our chakra shall support the jutsu," said Shino monotonously. "If we combined it, she'll be OK. Anyway, that's what we call teamwork."

"She'll live, Neji!" shouted Naruto, gave Neji his fox-grin. "BELIEVE in it!"

"Neji-nii-san…" Hinata's face full of determination. "Your effort is not in waste… It never is."

"It's enough now!" Sakura smiled brightly. "She won't die!"

And then, a blinding light covered all of them—beating the light of the silver moon above them.

Author's Note: Oooohhh... sooooo sweeeeettttt! I'm not a romantic type, I know. But I love this kind of friendship. Well, anyway, you like it or not, please review! And I guess... This one's not the last after all, ne? STILL TO COME! CHAPTER 10! YAHOOOOOOO!