Stand By Me

Chapter 29 – My Blood

'That feeling that doesn't go away just did.

And I walked a thousand miles to prove it.

And I'm caught in the crossfire of my own thoughts,

The color of my blood is all I see on the rocks.

As you sail from me.'

Sakura snuck into Konoha in the dead of night. She'd seen the changes before, briefly, but they still struck her. The changes Madara had made couldn't have been more different from how Konoha had been. But she couldn't think about that. Not now. This time, for sure, she would kill him, as she had originally planned. Her feelings for Sasuke had gotten in the way and she knew now that he had been right all along. Feelings were a weakness. If she hadn't felt the way she did about him, if she hadn't held back because she'd wanted him to be her first, Madara would be dead now.

"Report,"

Sakura flattened herself against the wall. Around the corner, the Shadow had grouped. Returning from the battle won at Kumo.

"I have what Madara-sama requested."

"Bring the sacrifice forward."

Sakura heard footsteps and held her breath, peeking around the corner just as the unconscious body was dumped onto the ground. Her heart stopped. The girl who was slumped so frailly on the ground…was Hinata.

"We managed to secure the Suna girl as well. The two were together."

"Did you capture any Jounin?"
"No, the Hyuuga boy was our target, but he got in the way when we tried to secure the sacrifices and we needed to put him down."

What? Neji? He couldn't mean Neji. Sakura swallowed. First Ino and now Neji. She had foolishly believed that all of them could survive this together, but it seemed that fate had decided against them. The thought was enough to depress Sakura.

"Commander!" another Shadow had joined them. "There's an intruder!"

Sakura froze, ducking back into the safety of the cover of night, as she listened. "What?!"

"Only one sir, entered the barrier not too long ago,"

"Spread out! Find and kill on sight!"

Sakura swallowed. She was sure she'd passed through the barrier like Tsunade had shown her, but somehow they knew she was here. Sakura weighed her options. Running seemed the safest bet, or at least the one with the highest survival rate. But Sakura didn't care about that. All she cared about was doing what she came here to do. She would have to fight her way through. Sakura braced herself and stepped out of the shadows.

x-x-x-x

Naruto and Killer Bee rushed through the trees. They headed for the Valley of the End, as Tsunade had told him. But Naruto had to force himself to stay on course. Every part of him wanted to turn back. To fight with them, but he couldn't. This was what he needed to do. For everything to work out, they had to reach their destination, and the Kage had to keep Madara there for as long as possible. Naruto wiped a hand down his face and when he opened his eyes again, he slid to a stop on the branch.

Below them, in the clearing, thousands of white Zetsu were marching. Naruto wasn't sure where they were going, but he knew Madara was with the Kage. So the person behind this must be…

"Kabuto."

Bee nodded. "I'll take care of things here, yeah! You go on ahead, bakayaro konoyaro!"

Naruto stared at Bee. "Old man Bee…"

Bee nodded, holding out his fist to Naruto. Naruto took a deep breath, refusing to believe that this was another goodbye and again avoided the urge to stay behind. Naruto knew that he needed to move forward no matter what. He slammed his knuckles against Bee's. For a tense moment they stood like that before both leapt away, not looking back and pushing forward. Naruto went on. He needed to get to The Valley of the End, this time, he promised himself, things would be different. If he lost again, it would be the end. He would really die and all that would be left is Madara.

x-x-x-x-

Sakura never made it. Hands ripped her back before the light hit her. Sakura thrashed around just as the hand came up, closing over her lips.

She knew who it was within a breath. The way his body seemed to unconsciously meld with hers. His hands, all too familiar on her, around her.

"Sakura," he hissed into her ear, his lips brushing her skin. "I swear, if you make a sound, I'll kill you right now."

Sakura stiffened and his hands tightened around her. But all she could think about was her mission. She needed to kill Madara now. The only way to do that would be to sacrifice Sasuke as a distraction. To push him into the light, but Sakura knew the only reason she wanted to do that was for revenge. To make him feel just a bit of what she had.

"Don't try anything." He warned, his lips brushing her again and Sakura hated to admit how it distracted her. "I knew you would come here. Clearly I was too late to stop you."

He knew? Had he come to save her? Somehow the thought wasn't reassuring at all. "He isn't worth a suicide mission, Sakura. He isn't even here."

For a moment, Sakura stood defiantly. Not willing to believe him, but she knew Sasuke wouldn't lie about this. She stilled and slumped against him. Shadows were coming closer and closer and Sakura felt Sasuke's hand slip from her mouth, down onto her throat and then he pressed down on the pressure point in her neck. Sakura's vision dimmed and then everything went dark.

x-x-x-x-

Sakura knew that she shouldn't have been surprised. The Valley of the End was where she opened her eyes. Now, the wind was rustling through her hair uneasily, her green eyes in a steady glare and Sasuke on the other side of the waterfall, staring back at her with empty, dark eyes.

Neither spoke, there was no need. The rush of the waterfall would have been too loud for them to hear each other anyway. Sakura was still angry. Furious at him, because this time it had been different. He hadn't betrayed Konoha or Naruto, he'd betrayed her. Personally. It stung deeper than she would have liked to admit and seeing him now – it took everything in her to control her emotions. They were swirling inside of her, and Sakura wasn't sure if she wanted to attack him or break down. He didn't make any move to come to her, he simply watched her in the most unnerving way. The last time she'd seen him felt like a forever ago. That time where he'd made her feel the most intense winding up of her life. But it didn't matter. She wondered senselessly if she still loved him. If he was worth any more. Sakura thought back to the first time she'd seen him after the war. When he'd come for her so unexpectedly. Killed the people who had been hurting her and even treated her wounds. She wondered if there was two sides to Sasuke. A side that she loved and a side that she couldn't possibly stand. She'd given him everything she could have possible given him. She'd opened her heart fully, trusted him wholly and he had done exactly what he told her he wouldn't. He'd given her to that monster. Sakura wouldn't have denied him if he'd asked her about the cursed seal. That was the part that hurt the most.

Sakura felt her eyes tear up. She knew that she couldn't live in a world without him, but she couldn't live with him as he was now.

Slowly, she took a step towards the edge, ready to jump over.

"Sakura-chan!"

She spun around. Naruto had arrived.

Her eyes went back to Sasuke, the words still on her lips.

This was how it was always going to be, wasn't it? Them on one side and him on the other. Sakura told herself that it was ok. That by now, she was used to it. Used to Sasuke being Sasuke. But she knew that wasn't an excuse anymore. It couldn't be. She couldn't justify what he was doing with the same words that always used to comfort it. Because it wasn't enough. Not anymore.

"Naruto, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Baa-chan said to come. What are you two doing here?"

"Ask Sasuke." She murmured.

Naruto's blue eyes went to Sasuke, who still hadn't moved.

"What happened? Is your training complete?"

"Yeah, we made it in time," was all Naruto said.

"Naruto…this is it, isn't it?"

Naruto closed his eyes and nodded. "But, it isn't the end, Sakura-chan."

Sakura looked away, "I believe in you. You can do this. Not because you promised anyone. But because I believe with everything that you are strong enough."

"Sakura-chan…..thank you."

She smiled up at him and then turned to look at Sasuke again.

"Stay here for a bit, there's something I need to do."

"Sakura-chan, you don't-"

Sakura put her hand on his arm. "I have to do this," and then she went up to the statue and leapt across.

Sasuke met her half way, but neither spoke, and Sakura didn't have the will to look at him.

"Sakura-"

"Just tell me why."

"I can't."

Sakura smiled bitterly. Why had she expected anything more than that? Because she'd stupidly thought that maybe he loved her?

"I don't do anything without a reason, I'm brutally efficient." Sasuke said and Sakura immediately recognized her own words. Ones she'd said to him in a cutting anger.

Finally, she met his eyes. But it still wasn't enough. Sakura put her hands on his cheeks and slowly she kissed him.

"I love you," she murmured, her lips brushing his. For whatever it's worth.

"Only death can bring change in the world, Sakura."

She pushed away from him, fighting every fibre of her being that wanted to look at him.

"SAKURA-CHAN! SASUKE!"

Sakura's eyes sprang open, finding Naruto across the way, and seeing someone between them.

Madara.

Sasuke moved quicker than she'd ever seen him, shoving her behind him. Katana in hand.

"It's truly a sad day when an Uchiha betrays his own," Madara said, landing gracefully.

Sakura saw a flash of orange behind Madara. It turned into a sea of clones.

Madara give a dull sigh and suddenly something seemed to explode from him with such force that it knocked both Sasuke and Sakura back.

Sakura hit the ground hard. Sasuke on top of her, as if he was trying to shield her from the flying debris.

She groaned and Sasuke pushed himself back up. "Susano'o…" he breathed and Sakura pushed herself up to look past him.

"But that's…."

"I knew it." Sasuke cursed lowly. Shoving himself up and sprinting back towards the waterfall.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura called, pushing herself to her feet and taking off after him.

Sasuke ran at full speed, kicking himself off the edge and going down.

Sakura stared down after him. Naruto was holding his own against Madara's Susano'o, but it was an ultimate defence, and she hoped desperately he could break through. With a deep breath, she leaped, dropping down after them. She rushed right in and she swore Madara gave a laugh when he saw her. Susano'o's arm slashed at her and Sakura jumped back, her eyes moving over it. She was no expert, but to her eyes there were no weaknesses in it. No way she could break through with brute strength. One thing was clear, Sasuke would have to lead this battle. He knew both the Sharingan and Susano'o. Silently it was decided between them.

"We need height!" she called to them, and she saw Naruto nod in agreement. She watched both him and Sasuke bite their thumbs before she bit her's.

"Kuchiyose No Jutsu!" they called in unison.

"Interesting." Madara said. "Come."

The tree of them went forward and as Sakura was fighting, she tried to recall the war. She wondered if the masked Madara had ever used Susano'o. But she couldn't remember, and at the moment, it didn't matter. In this moment, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were together. Fighting together as if they'd never been apart. And to Sakura, that was enough.

Sasuke circled Madara, Amaterasus exploding over Madara's Susano'o, as if Sasuke was testing its power somehow. The Eternal Mangekyo blazing in his eyes as he went around, analysing every possible thing. The snake moved through the water lithely, and Sasuke attacked with precision. Every move set to some kind of goal. Madara, though, wasn't even breaking a sweat yet. Sasuke's chakra began to swirl around him. His own Susano'o coming to life in a bright haze. Sasuke paired Susano'o's arrow with his Amaterasu. Naruto was supporting Sasuke, knocking Madara's attacks back, while collecting enough chakra to enter Sage Mode. Soon, Sasuke came to her and it was Sakura's turn. Right off, Madara blasted a Katon attack at them and Sakura jumped down, slamming down into the water and creating a powerful wave. The fire hit it head on and it erupted in a ball of steam, hissing away. Sakura hopped back onto Katsuya, as Sasuke fired another arrow at Madara. This time, though the arrow pierced the armour if only by an inch. Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Katsuya shot acid from her mouth, it hit Madara's Susano'o dead on. The chakra around it seemed the fizzle and burn away before Madara secured the breach within a second. Sasuke's eyes flipped to Sakura who was staring at the place where the acid had hit, she was whispering intensely to the slug.

Naruto stood, his eyes transforming under the effects of Sage Mode. Quickly he created a Rasen Shuriken and shot it at Madara. As Sasuke predicted, the Jutsu would have no effect. He also suspected that Naruto couldn't use his Bijuu mode at all, since Madara could control the Kyuubi.

Which meant only that Naruto was at a disadvantage in this battle. But somehow, Sasuke knew that Naruto would find some way around it, he always did. He needed to, for Sasuke's plan to work. But that would have to wait until later. Sasuke had an idea that might give them an opening to attack.

x-x-x-x-

Tsunade stared up at the sky. She could feel the life slipping from her, finally, mercifully. The pain had dulled a while ago leaving only a dull sort of remembrance that it was there. It had been so easy for him. Even the combined strength of the Kage hadn't been enough to bring a single man down. Even if that man was Uchiha Madara. Vaguely, she wondered how her grandfather had done it. How they had gotten that impossible godlike strength. The clouds, white and fluffy-looking rolled by thickly. Slowly, Tsunade felt her eyes get heavy and she wondered if this was really it. Was she really going to die?

"Hokage?"

Tsunade didn't need to turn her head, because she couldn't and also because she knew who it was.

"Are we going to die?" Gaara asked.

Tsunade huffed and the action is painful. "Probably. Yes."

He fell quiet and Tsunade closed her eyes, but the darkness didn't come – instead, she saw him. Not Dan, not Nawaki. Jiraiya. She saw the way he looked at her, the way he smiled. The few times she'd allowed him to innocently touch her. The heat of his hands on her back, shoulders, arms. The way she wouldn't admit it rose goosebumps on her arms. Out of everything, he had been her biggest regret. Because she had caused his death, because she had never been able to admit to herself that she'd been in love with anyone other than Dan. And she hadn't been able to save both men. A part of her had always believed she would die before him. So she could keep on lying. So she would never have had to admit anything. His death had been a turning point for her, a realization of all the regrets she had. Tsunade always wondered if he had any regrets. But she imagined that he didn't. Other than never telling Naruto the truth, and maybe a regret for herself. Eventually, tears rolled down her cheeks before she could stop them. Why did he have to be the last person she thought about? She'd resolved never to think about him, because even now, he was the only man who could truly make her cry.

"I think I…cared for her." Came the Kazekage's voice again.

Like her, he had also been thinking the same things. Is this what death was? Summarizing your life's regret?

"Who?"

"Sakura."

Tsunade felt herself smile. "It would have never worked."

Gaara falls silent again and Tsunade opened her eyes once more.

"I always knew that." He said. "This feeling…isn't really something you can stop."

"You're not alone in that." Tsunade told him. "I guess it's easier…letting go when you're aware of the stakes."

"Not really."

Tsunade gave a low laugh, causing blood to fill her mouth.

Next to her, the Kazekage gave a horrible cough. "I hope…" he says weakly. "That Naruto becomes a wonderful Hokage,"

"He will," Tsunade said hoarsely, slowly, painfully turning her head to Gaara. He gave a shuddering exhale. His body stilling completely.

Tsunade stared up at the sky. Yes, Naruto would make a wonderful Hokage. The greatest one. Tsunade could see him, in her mind, leading the shinobi world into a time of peace. She could see him as a great leader, a Jinchuuriki. A Namikaze and an Uzumaki. She felt herself smile. And one last time, Senju Tsunade closed her eyes. "Uzumaki Naruto. I'm betting on you." And then she, the Fifth Hokage of Konoha let her last breath leave her.

x-x-x-x-

As Sasuke had told her through his Sharingan within but a second, Sakura told Katsuya to attack again and then she jumped from the slug's head, pushing as much chakra as she could into her fist. She could do this, she had to. She only needed to break through. Sakura aimed her punch at Susano'o. Right where Madara was waiting, but she never hit. Instead, she went right through. Madara reached out casually, his hand circling her throat and Sakura let out a cry.

Naruto and Sasuke froze, their bodies stilling completely.

"Do you know why I wanted to kill you, Haruno Sakura?"

Sakura's hands went around his wrist, squeezing as hard as she could, but her strength seemed to have no effect on him.

"Because to her, you are like a daughter."

"Obito. That's enough." Kakashi's voice came from behind Madara, his kunai raised to Madara's back.

"Obito?" Madara laughed sarcastically, throwing Sakura aside like a dirty rag. She hit the water hard, skidding along it until she sank down.

Madara ripped the mask off and tossed it aside.

"It's not…" Naruto whispered.

Sakura pushed herself out of the water, her eyes finding Madara's face and then going to Sasuke's. He knew. She wondered for how long, but at this point – to her it hardly mattered if it was Madara or Obito, as long as the man died, things would change.

"What have you done with Obito?" Kakashi demanded and again, Madara laughed. "He's probably dead in the same place where I found him. He turned out to be rather pathetic." Madara turned to Sasuke. "Somewhat like you."

"Of course, he was useful for a time. You played your part perfectly, Hatake Kakashi," Madara turned to said man. "Obito's love for the useless girl was holding him back."

Kakashi's hand tightened around the kunai, his Sharingan spinning. "What are you talking about?!"

"I orchestrated the entire thing. I knew she would try and be a martyr. Konoha seems to be full of those." Madara's eyes flipped to Sakura. "Shall we get this battle started? It's always more fun after someone dies." He's in front of her in a second, Sakura only has the time to feel her eyes widen when Madara's kunai appeared in her vision.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto cries but Sasuke gets there first. "Chidori!" Sasuke slammed it into Madara's back, over his heart, just as Naruto yanked Sakura away.

Madara turned quickly, grabbing hold of Sasuke's extended arm, there was a blank look on his face as he pulled the Kusanagi blade from Sasuke and slammed it into his chest.

There was a quiet moment around the clearing, and then blood splattered from Sasuke's mouth. Sakura stared, everything inside her stilling.

"Sakura-"

"Just tell me why."

"I can't."

"I don't do anything without a reason, I'm brutally efficient."

"I love you,"

"Only death can bring change in the world, Sakura."

Sakura's scream pierced the air around them.

Naruto was running towards the young Uchiha, Kakashi was rushing towards Madara and Sakura fell to her knees, sinking into the water, a white hot heat exploding from the back of her neck.

x-x-x-x-

That's it for this chapter. Only two left after this. Chapter 30 and then the Epilogue.

New Chapter on Monday!

Read and Review please! Let me know what you guys thought!

Zana-Lee

xoxo