• All flowers wilt (Sakura Time-travel)

Introduction

I spent most of my life wondering, why do flowers wilt? When I asked my mother, she would always say,

"Sakura, if a flower could never wilt, would it be special anymore?"

I looked up at my mother and then down at the rose I'm holding. I pouted. "Does that mean me and you will wilt too?" Tears ushered to my eyes and the warm liquid stung, making me blink.

"I don't want you to wilt, mama." I whimpered.

She looked at me with a soft expression. "Sakura dear, even if that happens, I'll always be with you. Here." She placed her hand on my heart.

Not wanting to argue with my mother any further, I nodded and walked away.

It's funny I'd be thinking of this as I'm dying. I looked up at Naruto who was still screaming while his face is buried in my chest. Weakly lifting my hand, I ruffled his hair. His head snapped up in surprise and upon seeing my face, he only screamed and cried more when I coughed up blood.

Cupping his face between my blood stained hand, I brought him closer to my face. He placed his hands on my remaining one while my thumb rubbed circles on his left cheek.

I smiled at him. "Ne, Naruto? Could you smile for me.... one..... more.... time?" It became harder to speak as my body became sluggish and numb.

"Sakura," he cried, but despite the tears, he gave me his signature smile.

I felt my hands losing grip. "Tell..... Sasuke," I wheezed as it became harder to breathe. "He's... a bastard." I chuckled amusedly.

I felt him pick me up and start running. I guess I'm very lucky, considering I was chidori-ed in the stomach and rasengan-ed in my right shoulder, where my arm used to be, and still alive.

I guess it's because of the Byakugou slowly healing me with whatever chakra I have left. If I did survive this, -Which I doubt because I've already lost too much blood- I'd never be able to go back to being a medical-nin.

"Naruto," I rasped out as my eyes tried to close. "I'm sleepy." He looked at me worriedly as he kept running. "Shh, Sakura. Don't talk." He sobbed out.

"Don't close your eyes either." He said when he seen my eyes start to droop. I nodded and forced them to stay open.

"We won't... make it." He growled angrily at me. "Yes we will! Don't say that Sakura!" I chucked again, the action hurting one of my broke ribs.

Even though I'm in a weak state and low on chakra, I still felt their presences behind us. His chakra swirled viciously, letting me know he's guilty and worried. Sasuke and Kakashi ran closer behind us.

"Naruto -" "shut up and don't talk!" He snapped at me. I shut my mouth and looked ahead, spotting the gates with Tsunade-Shisou standing there, waiting for us with a smile.

She became worried as we got closer in her her line of sight.

When she saw me barely clinging to life and drenched in my own blood, she became horrified. "Sakura!" She screamed running towards Naruto.

He laid me down and I laughed looking at Tsunade. "You idiot! What's so funny, you're dying dammit!!" I laughed harder, Ignoring the burning pain in my chest. "Haha... Shisou.... if you make..... that expression...... you'll wrinkle." Each time I spoke my voice became quieter.

For some reason as I was dying I feel like that time I consumed too much alcohol. Very numb and stupid as my vision couldn't concentrate on one thing.

She began to cauterize my arm and I screamed and writhed in pain. Everyone who was watching winced and looked away. I gasped for air as she made the pain go away with her soothing healing chakra. She began healing my stomach when I felt my eyes want to close.

"Sasuke," he looked up and I noticed the tears streaming down his cheeks. "Come here," I weakly beckoned him over while Tsunade tried to heal me.

He wiped his cheeks and walked over. "This.... is for.... Naruto." I weakly punched him in the chest. "Shannaroo," He only stumbled backwards.

I then turned to Naruto. "Sorry, Naruto, looks like this will..... be the last. Aishiteru*."  My arm fell and my eyes graced me to a peaceful darkness that felt so comforting.

The last thing I saw was their horrified and terror stricken faces.

In the distance, I swore I heard Naruto and Kurama scream my name.

Aishiteru is the Japanese word for, 'I love you.'