[Naruto AU, angst, bittersweet]

"Sasuke! Please! Don't go!"

The Uchiha froze in his steps. That voice...

"If you leave, I'm going to be alone!"

The night was silent with the exception of her sobs and his heavy breathing.

"Sakura..."

"Please! Don't go! If you're going to go... Then... Then take me with you!"

Sasuke shut his eyes, "if you came with me, you'd only be a burden to me. You'd slow me down and there's nothing you could do to help me."

"S-Sasuke, please, I love you! Please... I'll do anything for you!"

Sasuke slowly turned to face her, eyes still shut. He opened his eyes and looked at her, "anything?"

Sakura paused, nodding, "yes. Anything."

"Then." Sasuke walked up to her, taking her hand, "I want you to stay back. You have a family to take care of."

"No, Sasuke!" Sakura shook her head, "I've done what I needed to! I can't wait any longer, I want to stay with you forever, the rest of the way!"

Sasuke sighed, "why can't I ever just win with you?"

She smiled as she squeezed his hand, "is that a yes?"

He nodded curtly, a small, sad, smile on his face, "I don't want to do this, but I suppose it can't be helped."

A wide smile played on Sakura's lips as she wrapped her arms around him, and his around her. The wind moved around them, tossing their hair in each other's faces and blowing the tears that escaped from both of their eyes.

"Sakura..."

"I love you, Sasuke."

"I don't want you to come with me..."

"But I have to..."

Sasuke shut his eyes and wiped them, and when he looked back up at her, she'd grown to be the mature sixteen-year-old she became in the Fourth Ninja War. The wind blew through and now they stood before each other as adults, just before the two left the village after their marriage.

"I've done my part, Sasuke." Sakura cried, a smile illuminated her face past the tears, "it's my turn to be with you."

"But... Sarada..."

"I guess..." Sakura's voice cracked, "it can't be helped."

"Alright." Sasuke leaned down to kiss her forehead, then took her hand securely in his, "then let's go."

...

...

...

Mama!

The tears fell from Sarada's eyes as she gazed upon the frail woman in the hospital bed.

"I'm sorry... She's gone..."

Sarada cried into the pinkette's unmoving chest as her teammate stood behind her, his hands on her shoulders, comforting her.

"Sarada..." Boruto whispered, "I'm sorry..."

Sarada wiped her eyes as she shook her head and moved her hand to hold Sakura's smiling face, "she's... She's gone to go be with Papa. I know that wherever they are now, they're together again. That's all I could ever want for both of them."

"Sarada..." Sakura and Sasuke turned to look back at her as they slowly faded from her mind, sad smiles on their faces, "thank you, Sarada. We love you. Don't ever forget that."

Sarada squeezed her eyes shut and smiled, "I'll miss you both, and... I love you... Mama... Papa." 

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Written by xX_Fang_Xx