The wind whipped harshly around Sakura, curling her hair around her neck, but her eyes remained steady on the man before her. He looked smaller than she remembered, but then again he had discarded his cloak long ago. Her mouth was dry and her throat tight, with fear or excitement Sakura didn't know. Her chakra gathered quickly, concentrating it to her left foot and she began to run splitting the earth instantly towards the man. He was fast, but Sakura all ready knew that. Jiraiya's training wasn't for nothing as the clang of metal rippled through the air. Her breath stilled as the weight was lifted from her katana and her arms returned to her side as she slowly turned to face him.

"You've improved." His voice called out and it sounded like he was pleased.

"Of course. I didn't come all this way to be killed by you." Sakura retorted placing a hand on her hip and settling into a seemingly relaxed position. Her heart was beating excruciatingly fast with each passing moment, but she made herself remain calm. "You will be the one dying here Itachi." She could almost see the smirk curl onto his lips with his amusement at her as she steadied herself into an attacking stance. Sakura's pulse roared in her ears, silencing the world around her as she waited, the seconds stretching into minutes. Then they were attacking each other, a flurry of slashes slicing through the air and the repeated clang of metal echoing around them. This is it. Sakura told herself as she launched from a tree shattering it into tiny little pieces. You can't fail here. Not after everything you've done.

"Is this all you've got? Oy...oy..oy I've got a long way to go." Jiraiya muttered while shaking his head in disbelief. "Especially if you expect to survive this."

"I don't." Sakura spoke over ragged breaths as she struggled to stand from under Jiraiya's weight. He applied more pressure to his foot causing her squirming to stop as her lungs screamed for air.

"Why are you doing this?" He questioned while leaning slightly to prop his elbow against his raised knee.

"Because I hate him." She paused her lungs need for air was overwhelming. "I hate him for killing them, but also for not killing me. You have no idea what it's like to be the only one left." Sakura gasped in between heavy breaths and turned her head as she felt the sting of tears. Jiraiya looked at her long and hard, studying her struggle to keep the tears from slipping down her cheeks. He removed his foot from her chest beginning to walk away, pausing briefly.

"Well then lets skip the basics and move on. The probability of you surviving this attack is low, but if you succeed your enemy will die for certain."

Sakura's knuckles dug deeply into the earth as her lungs expanded painfully for air. She gripped the katana tighter as she slowly rose from her crouching position and turned to face Itachi. Blood seeped from the wound on his cheek, staining his porcelain skin as his face remained expressionless. Time to end this. Sakura thought darkly to herself as she felt her blood mingling with sweat slip down her back. Her katana dropped to the ground as she began to form hand seals keeping her concentration on the feet in front of her. They vanished from her sight and Sakura's gaze ran wildly over the terrain as disbelief began to rise with in her. Fingers enclosed tightly around her throat, slamming her into a tree and forcing her to stop forming hand seals as she grasped desperately at the arm holding her. No it isn't possible. He shouldn't be able to move that fast anymore. Sakura thought frantically as air stopped moving into her lungs and her feet attempted to gain a foothold to help support her weight. She could see the seething hatred in his expression as he wiped the blood from his cheek and his crimson eyes locked with hers.

"Tsukuyomi"

She was standing, her clothes soaked in blood as she watched a fierce battle below in the village of Konoha. An explosion rocked dangerously close behind her, but she remained still confusion heavy in her brain.

"Na...Naruto?" Sakura's voice croaked as the young blond came to stand by her side with a grave expression on his face. "Naruto." She yelled louder turning to face him, but he didn't acknowledge her. He continued to walk and Sakura lunged trying to grab hold of his arm, but vines sprung from the earth forcing her on her knees. "Don't Naruto. Stop please stop." She screamed as salty tears ran down her cheeks.

"Sai take care of the perimeter. I'm going to find Itachi." Sasuke yelled and Sakura turned to see them running towards her.

"Sai...Sasuke." She struggled fiercely against her bonds, but they only cut deeper into her flesh. "Stop please stop." Sakura pleaded as they ran past her. Sasuke gave a nod to Sai as he tore off to find Itachi and Sai pulled out his scrolls scribbling on them fiercely. "No this...this isn't real...they're dead. They've all ready died." She muttered while rocking herself back and forth trying to shut out her surroundings. She could hear the clang of metal as people screamed for help and a heavy metallic scent invaded her nostrils. Everything was exactly the same from that day. Something warm splattered on her face and Sakura's eyes shot open to see Sai standing in front of her with a look of pain on his face. "No...nooo not like before." Sai dropped to his knees grasping her shoulders and she could hear his laboured breaths.

"You are not hurt."

"Sai" She whimpered desperately and Sakura felt her stomach knot.

"I'm glad." His thumb traced her lower lip before gently kissing her and she could feel the warmth of his body against her own. He felt real. Tears rolled down her cheeks at the familiarity of his kiss while her body shuddered with grief. He drew back slowly his usual smile plastered on his face before falling to the ground and his blood pooling around Sakura.

"Sai...SAI!!" She screamed and her struggle resumed as tears dropped onto his passive face. It was all happening like before and Sakura looked to see Sasuke running into the clearing to help deal with an ambush. Hordes of ninjas sprung from the forest lining surrounding Sasuke and overpowering him. He fought hard using his signature move of chidori and eventually releasing the cursed seal to defeat them, but was gravely injured in the process. He continued to fight and Sakura's gaze tore from him when she heard Naruto's yell to see him delivering the final blow to kill Pain. Blood gushed from his chest as he smiled at Sakura and she shook her head in disbelief when he fell to the ground dead.

"Sa...Sakura." His voice was weak over the scrapping of gravel as he dragged himself along the ground to her position.

"Sasuke." She whimpered at seeing his battered body.

"Itachi...he." Sasuke coughed spluttering blood. "Manipulated everyone. He...stop him Sakura."

"No...Why did you come back? You could have killed him!" She spoke in disbelief and Sasuke only shook his head.

"Don't be stupid...you guys have...always needed my help." He smirked at her and she wanted to scream at Sasuke for him being the stupid one. "Go. The archives...he." Sasuke paused clutching his side in pain.

"Stop. I can help you." She begged looking at him desperately.

"No. Go Sakura...GO" He hollered with the last of his strength and Sakura closed her eyes remembering her response. She had nodded to him saying she would be back to help them and tore off in the direction of the archives. She confronted Itachi managing to destroy what he was looking for, but he simply left her unconscious. Something she had loathed every day. It's all my fault. If only... If only I had been stronger they might still be here today. Sakura opened her eyes to see Naruto standing beside her and began to shake uncontrollably as the event began to repeat endlessly.

Something sharp jarred Sakura in her side and she could feel rocks digging deeply into her exposed skin. The ringing in her ears increased along with distant muffled yells and Sakura opened her eyes. Her vision slowly adjusted as she watched a silver haired ninja in front of her. Kakashi? She slowly blinked in confusion watching him stumble back clutching a grievous wound and bleeding profusely. Is this another jutsu? She tried dispelling it and sat up quickly. Movement caught Sakura's attention and she looked to see Itachi standing with an indifferent expression on his face as his sword dripped with blood. His chest contained a gaping hole and he gave her one last glance his eyes still crimson red before falling to the ground motionless.

Sakura's heart stopped. She scrambled from her position hurtling herself to Kakashi's side and dropping roughly onto her knees ignoring the pain. Her hands began to emit green light as her chakra began pulsing through his body trying to heal the numerous wounds.

"Hold on Kakashi." Sakura cried urgently seeing his struggle to remain conscious. The wind twisted its way around her body as panic settled deep with in her and she suddenly became angry. "Idiot...why did you follow me?" She spoke harshly as her salty tears fell delicately onto his tattered vest and she waited for his answer.

"I wanted...to be selfish." He managed to say in between gasps for breath. She could feel his pulse weakening as his very life force soaked the earth around them. There was so much blood.

"No...not you to. Don't leave me Kakashi." She was desperately flitting between injuries trying to heal the ones that would save his life. His palm cupped her cheek while his thumb wiped away the tears that would not stop falling. "Stay with me." Sakura requested calmly, a hint of pleading in her voice as her gaze captured his. His hand dropped from her face and her voice screamed his name only to be lost in the wind.

Oh noes!! Well ok now we're on the rollercoaster of emo land, but whatever. Anyways if people are curious as to where Kakashi was at the time of the attack, he was in another part of the village helping out. He may be an awesome ninja, but he can't be everywhere.

Cance