Strike to Kill
Title: Strike to Kill
Warnings: Death, angst, blood and tears.
Summary: When a ninja fights another, both strike to kill, but only one can win.
Note: I have... no idea who dies.
~ * ~
"You must come at me as if to kill me," Kakashi said, his expression not wavering from cheerfulness. Naruto hesitated. He didn't like the idea of killing anyone, but if this would help him become a ninja, he would do it.
"Naruto, help me, I need more bandages!" Sakura cried, snapping her head to the side to eliminate the tears forming there. It can't be, I won't let you die!
Naruto clones brought back bandages from all corners of the room, all sharing the same look of concern and fear. He watched at his teammate worked, first bandaging everything she could, tightly, then working with her chakra to heal the wounds.
It's not working, I'm not fast enough, Sakura screamed to herself as she poured more and more of herself into the work. A hand on her arm distracted her as she felt her own life force following her patient.
"Sakura, there's nothing you can do," Naruto said, defeated.
Naruto? Giving up? "No, Naruto, I can do it, just let me--" Sakura began, and was cut off as Naruto crushed her to his chest, ignoring the not insubstantial amount of blood covering both of them.
"Our first lesson together was that ninjas strike to kill," Naruto reminded her softly, tears dripping down his cheeks.
"Our first lesson was about *teamwork*," Sakura sobbed. She understood now why Tsunade was frightened of blood. It seemed to burn her, brand her for her failure.
One of the clones moved to cover the still face, hiding the oddly peaceful expression of the body. The person had died defending the person he cared for most. After all, a ninja always strikes to kill.
End