Recap

"Thank you Asuma-San, I would love to stay and chat but I've got friends to follow," Then I turned towards Shikamaru, who had already sat on the ground "We are so definitely a good team." I smiled one last time before rushing after Naruto.

Story:

Okay, first things firsts, everything has gone to shit. No doubt anyone in the area, ninja or not, could feel the chakra in the air. I felt it long before I had even gotten close. This chakra was Shukaku's, no one could deny the obvious evidence.

The first piece of evidence being a materialized Shukaku, which happened to have Gaara in it.

I could feel Isobu stirring inside me. It was obvious that he was just as uncomfortable as I was. Speaking of being uncomfortable, my back was still sore from the fight with Chikako. Most likely, the medics couldn't fully treat it do to the situation.

Looking around, I spotted Naruto on a giant toad. That's not hard to miss. But where are the others? Sakura and Sasuke? Oh there he is. Sasuke is not far from here. I made my way over to him as fast as I could.

"Sasuke!" I shouted worried about the curse mark that had noticeably spread across his face. Situation considered, I'm glad he seems otherwise okay. "Are you alright?"

"Hima...," he trailed off nodding.

"Your such an idiot. You shouldn't have followed Gaara so recklessly. What if you had been killed! You aren't like us!" I shouted before calming down. "I'm glad you're alright."

"When did Naruto get this strong? And what do you mean by us?"

"Hmm? Well he's always had a lot of chakra considering he is an Uzumaki and all three of us are jin—"

Hoshi popped her head out of my bag interrupting me. She turned her head left and hooted. Sakura! She was pinned by sand! Gaara must have done this. Grabbing Hoshi, I set her down next to Sasuke. Maybe she'll be of some comfort.

"Please keep an eye on him Hoshi."

The chakra I'm getting from the sand isn't per normal. Infused with Shukaku's chakra. Of course that means conventional ways of rescue most likely won't work, which throws my regular water jutsu out. In this case, the jutsu caster needs to be defeated. If that happens then the jutsu should come undone.

"Sasuke, you stay here. I'm going to back Naruto up." I said jumping away towards the fray. "Isobu, you going to back me here? It seems it gonna be a jinchuriki fight."

First things first, I should probably talk to Naruto. Right as I was about to jump over to Naruto and his giant toad, they transformed into... a giant fox. The Kyuubi? I may be a little outclassed here. As of now, Isobu and I can't transform. Well, no, it's actually just the toad using a jutsu to appear as the Kyuubi. I watched as they attacked Shukaku, and then as he punched an asleep Gaara.

As quickly as I could, I climbed up the fake-kyuubi and jumped to Naruto's side.

"Hima-Chan!?" He seemed surprised and relieved. "Does that mean, you and Shikamaru beat those guys?"

"They didn't stand a chance. After all, Shikamaru and I are an amazing duo," I smirked cockily before muttering, "and Shikamaru's sensei Asuma showed up."

"Ehh..." He gave me a look before continuing. "I'm glad the both of okay, I was really worried."

Suddenly, the reality of the situation kicked back in. Gaara, Jinchuriki of the Ichibi, or Shukaku, was going on a rampage. This situation is an actual threat to our lives. As much faith as I have in Naruto, defeating a rampaging tailed beast was no easy feat. Upon close inspection, I saw Gaara inside the head of Shukaku. He was awake and seemingly in control.

"We need to hurry and get this guy and save Sakura! I'm going to try and borrow some chakra from the Kyuubi." Before I could even respond he began trying.

"Yeah, don't worry I'll protect you." With a sigh of exasperation I turned my attention to Gaara. "Gaara! It's me, Himawari. I'm the girl who... uh... oh this is embarrassing... never mind. I'm a Jinchuriki like you!"

"Regardless, I'll kill you all." He grunted sending two pillars of sand out. One towards me and one towards... Sasuke!

"Naruto!" As I shouted he was surrounding by orange chakra. Trusting he could handle the one aimed towards us, I leaped towards Sasuke.

Everything hit all at once. The sand spear shot through my abdomen, but just as it exited it turned loose sand. My vision started to turn hazy as I started to fall to the ground.

"Himawari!" I heard Sasuke yell as I landed in the ground with a thud that sent painful tremors throughout my body.

Was I going to die here? Has everything in my life led up this? Dying here? Dying like this? I could feel my breathing become erratic. I don't want to die here. I just got my family back. Hinata would be heartbroken. My new team. Naruto never took me to Ichiraku. Sakura and I would never hang out again. Sasuke... he needs somebody he trusts beside him. Briefly, the image of Shikamaru passed my mind. I regret that I didn't make a move the night of the festival. Maybe it better this way though. He'd be too attached if I had.

"That brat will pay for hurting you!" Isobu roared from within me. His chakra was pouring out of me in that all too familiar tailed beast fashion.

"Isobu! Please calm down." I begged. "I chose this. And Gaara was being influenced by Shukaku."

"Very well." Like that his chakra disappeared. I'd like to think that the fact I refused his power meant something.

"Screee," squealed Hoshi. She cuddled by my face while nudging my nose.

"Himawari!" Suddenly I realized the presence of Sasuke next to me. He had set an unconscious Sakura next to me.

"Sasuke..." I whispered as a blood got caught in my throat. Sasuke gently pulled my head unto his lap and turned my head sideways so I didn't choke. "I don't want to die." I cried.

"Then why did you save me..." He muttered. "You have so much more to live for than me."

"I wasn't there for you when you needed it, I at least could be now." At this point I was sobbing. "I just wish that I could have been there with you longer. With everyone."

"Hey, don't talk like that," I could see his eyes watering a little bit. "If we get you back to the village, you should be fine. You weren't stabbed in any arteries."

"Sasuke... you know the village is too far away."

"What about your Jinchuuriki abilities? Naruto can heal pretty fast."

"Unfortunately, while I do heal slightly faster than normal, the super healing is a Kyuubi thing. I do have superb control over coral though..." I laughed despite bleeding out. Hoshi was continuously crying out beside me.

"What if I..." A look of hopelessness and despair flashed across Sasuke onyx eyes. With a look like that, I remembered he had already lost all of his family. Honestly, I was probably his last happy link connected to before the massacre. Could I really leave him like this?

"Use your fire style."

"What?" He immediately looked shocked knowing what I meant.

"Use your fire style to cauterize it. It will stop the bleeding, and I have a better chance of making it." I reached for his face and cupped his cheek affectionately. "Everything will be alright. After all, how could somebody as strong as me die like this?"

"A-alright."

Sasuke laid me back down on ground as gently as he could. Seeing as I only had fishnet protecting my stomach, it wasn't too embarrassing for him to pull it up. Honestly, I should wear something more protective. He gripped my hand tightly and smiled as reassuring as he could.

The last thing I remember is screaming loud enough for the remaining birds in the area to be startled off.