The last thing she felt was the fire.
Fire coursing through her veins to consume her, and the darkness creeping in. She knew that she had done the right thing to save her teammate.
Those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum. So, if this was the end, at least she could say she did it for the greater good of the village, the greater good of the team, and the greater good of her friends.
The last thing the enemy heard was the scream of Naruto's despair as it turned into rage.
Tsunade felt that something was wrong, the air around her had whispered a tone of warning in her ear. She stood from her desk, taking two determined steps towards the doors to her office before two ANBU appeared kneeling before her.
The ANBU with the Hawk mask looked up at her, "Hokage-sama, there is an emergency." Tsunade felt the chill run down her spine at those words, her feet already beginning to carry her towards the door.
The other kneeling figure spoke softly, just as Tsunade's hand touched the handle of the door, "Sakura Haruno…" Tsunade was gone before he could say more, a soft whirl of wind the only sign she had been previously standing there.
Tsunade's feet touched down on the steps of the hospital, her feet already carrying her through the doors. The staff that was hurrying around froze at the strength of which the front doors crashed open. "WHERE IS SHE?," Tsunade screamed at the frozen staff. A pale hand gestured to the Intensive Care ward, and Tsunade was already gone.
Shizune was standing over Sakura's still body, the skin of her arm that Tsunade could see to the side of Shizune was pale as death. Shizune turned to face Tsunade, her hands still glowing green as they hovered over Sakura's still body. "Her… her eyes…," Shizune whispered. Tsunade glanced down at Sakura's face for the first time, seeing the empty sockets where her beautiful green eyes should have been. Tsunade heard Shizune continuing as she moved closer, touching her student's pale face. "She has been poisoned, her body is trying to purge the poison, but we need you…," Shizune said.
Every other nurse and doctor stepped aside as Tsunade's glowing hands laid gently on the barely breathing body of the woman who she loved like a daughter.
A couple of hours later, Sakura rested in a hospital room, her body healing from the shock of the injuries she received. Her two teammates were on either side of her bed, each holding a hand of hers. Sasuke's usually impassive face leaned against her hand, tears threatening to spill over.
"It's my fault. He wanted to take my eyes… you saved me at the cost of your own," Sasuke whispered into her hand.
Tsunade stood in her office, facing the window, staring into the distance as the door opened.
"You summoned me, Hokage-sama," the stern and emotionless voice filled the quiet room.
Tsunade turned to face the source of the voice, "Uchiha-san… as you know, Team 7 has returned from their mission and Sakura Haruno was gravely injured." Fugaku Uchiha nodded, he had heard what had happened from his youngest son.
"The Kiri nin wanted the sharingan, Sakura shunshined in front of him at the last second," Tsunade paused, looking down, a frown formed on her face, "The nin ended up plucking her eyes instead. Without a transplant, she will never…"
Fugaku stood before her, his face still blank, as he had heard all of this from his son when he had entered the village.
"Uchiha Takeo's body," Tsunade started. Fugaku's face began to frown, already understanding why he had been summoned. "A transplant could be attempted. I understand the gravity of my request, Fugaku-san. She gave her eyes for Sasuke Uchiha, would your clan do the same for her?"
Fugaku turned to face the same window that Tsunade had been staring out of, looking off to the hospital in the distance. "You are aware of what you are asking. You ask our clan to allow an outsider to gain the secrets of the Uchiha clan," Fugaku stated, the reluctance to believe what she was requesting in his voice.
"I ask you, not only as your Hokage," Tsunade pleaded softly, "Please."
Fugaku's mouth set in a straight line, the tension in the air palpable. Finally, he broke the silence, "We cannot allow the secrets of our clan's kekkei genkai to be shared outside of the Uchiha clan."
Tsunade turned to face the window, resignation setting into her weary bones.
"She will become an Uchiha," Fugaku said with finality in his voice. "If you wish to return her sight, she will be wed to my son," Tsunade looked at Fugaku's face as he continued to stare out the window.
"Itachi Uchiha."
Sakura's senses were assaulted by the smell of antiseptic, the smell instantly familiar and comforting. Her eyes automatically began to flutter open as she sat up in the hospital bed, but still, she saw nothing but darkness.
The memories of the battle came bubbling up to the surface, threatening to consume her. She felt a rough hand touch hers gently, she knew that hand, her posture relaxing as her head turned in that direction.
"Shishou…," Sakura croaked out, her voice hoarse from disuse.
"You did good," Tsunade said, before pausing, "I have something I need to tell you…"
"Why won't you let us see her?," Naruto yelled at the nurse blocking the hallway he knew Sakura was in.
Sasuke stood behind him, empty eyes staring down the hallway to the room they had last seen her in.
"Hokage-sama said she cannot have visitors," the nurse informed them, her voice coming out less firm than she wanted.
Naruto pushed past her, heading for Sakura's room, Sasuke following behind. Naruto slammed open her door, "Sakura-chan! You're awake! Tsunade tried to say you couldn't have visitors, but that doesn't apply to us, right?"
Sakura didn't respond or turn to face them, she simply continued to stare out the windows. Sasuke felt guilt eating at him, burning like acid through his chest.
"Sakura…," Sasuke started. Sakura's shoulders visibly stiffened, she continued to stare out the window. "It's my…," Sasuke said before trailing off as Sakura finally turned her head to look back at them.
Blood red met charcoal. The swirling tomoe in her eyes bore into his soul.
"Fault"