Here we everyone. This is the last chapter for this story. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I'm creating a new story so be sure to check it out! It's called Resurgence.

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There have been very few times in his life when Madara had felt true fear. When his brother Izuna was killed, facing Hashirama in a shoot out.

Taking down Itachi Uchiha.

But this, this was on a whole new level. With the other situations, he knew their weak points and their style. He knew how to win, but with this woman, no she couldn't even be considered human, this monster was an unknown entity. She was supposed to have no fighting abilities whatsoever, weak minded, and be crying in a corner waiting for rescue.

The thing before him did none of those.

She stalked towards him like a predator to its prey. Cuts and bruises covered her body from their fight, but they didn't seem to hinder her movements. Actually she didn't even seem to notice them at all and her eyes glowed with an unholy light.

"I thought you'd put up more of a fight, Madara. I must say I'm disappointed." Sakura giggled at the look of slight horror that passed across his face. It's a good thing she trained herself to master reading Uchiha facial expressions or else she would have missed it. Her mind felt clouded by bloodlust and the need to kill- no, to utterly destroy this man.

Madara stayed silent as he contemplated his next move. She had to have a weakness somewhere, everyone had one or two. He noticed how whenever he aimed for her midsection, she always blocked it even if it was clearly meant as a diversion.

That was it.

He waited until she was directly above him and aimed a well placed fist into her gut. Sakura grunted as she fell to her knees and toppled over onto her side, all the fight leaving her body as it felt weighed down by lead. Her mind cleared and the thought of what she had become, even for a short time, made her sick to her stomach.

She was no better than Madara.

Tears stung the back of her eyes as she laid curled up in a ball. She couldn't move and pain radiated throughout her body making it impossible for her to get up, let alone fight. Maybe, Sakura thought, this was the end for her. All those years of running and for what? To end up like this anyway? Dead at the hands of her boyfriend's Uncle? There were so many things she had wanted to do with her life before it ended, like have children and raise a family. Open a small clinic of her own.

While she was lost in her thoughts Madara had gotten to his feet and now stood above her with a satisfied smirk on his ageless face.

"This is how it should be. You cowering at my feet while I stand victoriously above you." Somehow he had gotten a hold of a knife while Sakura wasn't paying attention and raised it above his head, preparing to stab her between the eyes.

She felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she stared death in the face. This was it. This was how she was going to die.

"I'm sorry Sasuke. I failed." Sakura whispered as Madara brought the knife down, hoping against hope that he'd somehow hear her and understand.

"I will enjoy the torment on his face when he sees that he had lost everything for a second time." When the blade was an inch from her face a gun shot rang out as a bullet nailed Madara in the hand, making him drop the knife. Sakura moved her head to the left to avoid the falling blade only to see Sasuke and Naruto in the doorway, guns at the ready and aimed at Madara. Sasuke's eyes burned like hellfire as he took in the sight of his uncle about to kill the only woman he could ever love. Sakura looked awful with the cut, blood, and bruises covering her being, along with various rips and tears in her clothing. Seeing her in that state made him want to kill Madara slow and as painfully as possible. He walked to the man with his gun raised and pointed between his eyes.

"Here is where you were planning to kill Sakura, isn't it? Then this is how you will die. How dare you take what is mine? How dare you cross me?" With each word Sasuke's voice rose to an alarming volume until he was roaring. Madara chuckled darkly at his nephew's anger.

"I would have killed her too. It's unfortunate and disappointing that she didn't stop breathing like Itachi did."

The mention of his older brother sent Sasuke over the edge as he pulled the trigger and even though the bullet passed between Madara's eyes, clearly killing him instantly, Sasuke kept shooting.

Sakura couldn't take the crazed look in his eyes and gathered up all her strength to run up behind him and wrap her arms around his torso.

"Stop it Sasuke! He's dead already! He's gone! He can't hurt us anymore!"

With her head against his back Sakura could feel the raggedness of his breathing until he turned around abruptly, securing her in his arms.

She was stunned for a moment until she heard him whispering something over and over again.

"You're okay. You're alive."

Sakura smiled bringing her arms around him in turn.

"That's right. I'm here. I'm alive and I'm okay."

After a few moments Sasuke pulled away, his glare more fierce than ever before.

"I'm not sure if I want to kiss you right now or shoot you for this. Seriously Sakura. What the fuck were you thinking?"

Sakura averted her eyes, very aware of her stupid actions and arrogant way of thinking. Steeling her nerves she met Sasuke's angry glare once more.

"Then I'll choose for you."

She grabbed his face in both of her hands and crushed her lips into his. She knew that it would take awhile for him to let her out of his sight again, but at the moment she couldn't bring herself to care. They were alive and they had won. If this had taught her anything it was that life was too short to spend in constant fear and worry. As if he were thinking along the same lines, Sasuke deepened the kiss making Sakura's already wobbling knees weak.

Somewhere behind them was the sound of someone clearing their throat.

"Ya know I'm still here right?" Naruto said awkwardly trying to look anywhere but at his two best friends.

The two broke apart and Sakura giggled at his reaction. It was typical Naruto.

"Sasuke! I have something to tell you. Itachi isn't dead. Madara has been keeping him in a coma all this time."

Sasuke stilled and searched her eyes with his, hoping that this was true.

"How do you know Sakura? He could have just told you that as a sadistic joke. We all saw my brother die."

Sakura shook her head.

"I saw him Sasuke. It's really him."

Without another word Sasuke was out the door and running through the halls, searching for the brother he had thought dead. Naruto placed Sakura's arm across his shoulders so she could limp next to him as they followed after Sasuke.

Sakura smiled brightly.

Everything would be okay now.