I never wanted to leave her...the kids...my family... I never did...but I had no choice. How could I not see it? I let my guard down too quickly. I should have been more vigilant that night. I was arrogant, stupid, cocky... It's funny...she told me it'd be my downfall one day. I guess she was right.

I could hear their screams now, especially hers. I tried but I couldn't hold on. I started seeing figures in the background. The light was too bright to see their faces but I knew...I knew who were there. My mother and father told me they'd welcome me when it was my time back then. I don't think they thought it'd be so soon either.

My body was weak. No matter how much I tried, my limbs fell flat against my body. I could only look at my wife as I silently begged to stay with her. It was getting harder to breathe as the blood filled my lungs, I was on borrowed time. My body felt numb, cold to the touch. I could feel the tears fall from the corner of my eyes as I tried my best to grip my wife's hand back but alas...I couldn't. Her pink hair tickled my nose as she fell forward. She was screaming for me to stay with her. I wanted to... I want to... but I can't.

Memories flashed before my eyes in slow motion as if a slide show was happening in front of me.

I found myself in a wildflower field. A pink blur ran past followed by a blonde. My eyes followed the two and I realized as soon as I got a clear look. It was us. Sakura and I. This flower field is where I first saw her, where I fell in love.

A powerful gust of wind blew against my body which caused me to fall back and hit the ground with a loud thud. I opened my eyes to see the scenery has changed. It was night time and the stars were out in their trustest and brightest. I looked to my right and...there it was. Me and her. Once again. I looked at Sakura and myself holding each other close under the stars. I leaned in as did my memory self to hear it. My first I love you. Sakura looked up just as shocked as the first time. I remember the hesitation in her eyes right before she kissed me.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake and just as quickly as it happened, it stopped only to be broken apart. I felt like I was falling for hours before I landed in the cold snow. Heavy snow surrounded me, but that didn't matter, I knew where to look. Turning just in time, I was able to see the proposal. The ring was a diamond-shaped cherry blossom. Even when I tried to buy the wedding ring, she refused. She loved that ring...

But, in just a blink of an eye, I was somewhere else. It was our bedroom. I cautiously sat on the springy bed as I waited for the door. And just as I remembered, she burst through the door with joy holding the pregnancy test. She was so excited, so full of joy... I always wanted to be a father, give my kids what I didn't have. I don't think that's possible now...

Familiar laughter rang through my eyes as the scenery began to fade. I closed my eyes and covered my ears as the laughter intensified. Once it stopped, I opened my eyes to see...to see my son, Shinachiku. He was staring at me. Those bright green eyes, which he inherited from his mother, were full of wonder. He was such a calm kid, another trait taken from his mother. I heard Sakura call to him from a distance and watched him run to her side. Two steps forward somehow put me behind a camera, then I realized. This was our family photo. Sakura held our youngest, Arashi, in her arms as I held on to our middle child and only girl, Hanami. Shinachiku was in front smiling just as bright, a trait he did inherit from me. My body moved its own as I moved under the cloth.

"One."

I felt a hand on my shoulder from behind, white long hair made its way into my peripheral. The familiar grip made me shake. Off to my right, ankle-length red hair stood beside me. On my left, a darker blonde stood with his Hokage cloak covering most of his body.

"Two."

The bright light from the beginning came back around, brighter than before. For a final time, tears welled in my eyes. I knew what this means. I didn't make it. I want to say no. I want them to leave me alone. I want to stay... But I don't have that option. I took a deep breath as I tightened my grip on the camera. The pain in my chest began to fade. I could feel myself having less control over my mind.

"Three."

It was time to go.

Click