The Battle Ends

"Fool, even if you die," she said calmly, her tone devoid of emotion, "I won't die..."

"Don't do that again! You almost died, you know that!"

Sasuke simply looked at her and smiled.

She was kneeling to the side, tending to the wounds on Sasuke's right arm. They were bloody holes pierced by Kimimaro's bone spurs, with several pieces of flesh missing. The Ice Clone had only done some hemostasis. Just now, Sasuke moved slightly, and the wounds that had only healed on the surface reopened.

When Sakura picked up the bandage to bandage herself, she realized that she didn't have many left.

Originally, relying on his Yin Seal and Medical Ninjutsu, he didn't need to carry many bandages; the ones he did bring were only for emergencies. Who would have thought the fight would escalate to this point...?

She placed Sasuke's hand on her knee, wrapped the last of the bandages around the wound on his wrist a few times, and then tied a tight knot. When she looked up, she saw that Sasuke was staring at her.

"What are you looking at?" Sakura noticed his gaze and was slightly taken aback.

"Look at you," Sasuke gently shook his head, "This is the first time I've seen you so disheveled, so badly injured..."

"You're crazy..." She rolled her eyes at Sasuke. "What ninja doesn't get injured?"

"But you rarely get injured before," Sasuke.

Indeed, she rarely got injured in previous battles, not even with just a scrape... Even when she faced Orochimaru, she was only exhausted, although that battle was just Orochimaru toying with her.

Unlike this time, his whole body was covered in wounds, as if he was trying to make up for all the injuries he had suffered in previous years.

"This was almost a fatal wound." The black-haired boy raised his hand with some difficulty, pointing to a shocking bloody hole in her collarbone.

"Not even close, I've activated Cherry Blossom Impact mode!" Sakura said nonchalantly.

I touched it and found that the wound was only a few centimeters away from her aorta and trachea, narrowly avoiding a fatal injury.

She slapped Sasuke's hand away. "Alright, your hand's barely touching the ground before you start pointing and meddling!"

"We're out of bandages... use this as a substitute for now." She took off her tattered, beggar-like Anbu vest, tearing it into strips. "Bear with it, I need to lift your leg a little."

"Hiss--" Sasuke gritted his teeth, but the pain from her movement still made him gasp. He endured the pain and said, "Where's that Water Release technique you used to use? Why don't I see you using it anymore?"

"That Ultra-Pure Water technique?" She focused intently on performing Medical Ninjutsu on Sasuke, not even looking up, and said, "It's too difficult to prepare. The battles Chunin Ninja Exams used up all the amount I produced over the past few years. I've been so busy lately, so I haven't been able to save up much."

"Furthermore, the Ultra-Pure Water is too slow; it's starting to fall behind my fighting pace, especially in high-speed combat, just like Gaara's sand, you should know that..." [Note]

"Wasn't your fighting style similar to Gaara's? That kind of fighting style is very safe," Sasuke calmly, gazing at the white clouds above.

"Why change it? Close combat makes you too vulnerable to injury."

The pink-haired girl glanced at Sasuke with her clear, spring-like eyes.

She understood what he meant, the emotions implied in his words.

Why should we change?

How wonderful it would be if things were like they used to be.

The members of Team 7 are now like white clouds, gathering together and then dispersing.

Even after finally getting them together, they only appear as overlapping shadows, creating an illusion.

"Because... Team 7 has already disbanded." She stopped what she was doing, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Sasuke with a calm and gentle gaze, like she was looking at a child who didn't want to grow up.

"I can no longer hope that anyone will stand before me without hesitation during battle, like you and Naruto."

Sasuke turned his head away, avoiding her gentle, tender gaze.

"Team 7... we'll reunite again," he said stubbornly.

In Team 7, who values this camaraderie the most? Sakura Haruno always knew that it wasn't the usually aloof Sakura, nor the sunny and cheerful Naruto, nor even the ever-smiling Kakashi.

Instead, it was Sasuke remained expressionless with a blank face.

Both Naruto and Sasuke value their comrades highly. However, what Naruto craves is the recognition of his comrades. As long as Sakura and Sasuke continue to support him and stand by his side, even a short separation will allow him to reminisce about the good old days and move forward with a smile.

What Sasuke longed for... more was the companionship of his comrades.

Unlike Naruto, he didn't lack recognition. What he feared was the profound loneliness that would follow the loss of his family.

People who are used to being alone are not afraid of being alone; only those who have experienced the warmth of family will be so afraid of being alone.

This is the subtle difference between the two.

As his teammate with whom he spent every day, Sakura Haruno understood his feelings. She simply shook her head.

"You, me, and Naruto will reunite. But Team 7 is unlikely to reunite. We all have our own paths to walk..."

Sasuke watched silently as she treated his wounds and talked to him.

He opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Sakura was right; they had already gone their separate ways.

He will join the Anbu, form a new team with new teammates, rise to the Jonin, and become a team leader like Kakashi, leading three adorable juniors to form a new class.

Then, watching the newcomers build bonds and become comrades-in-arms like Team 7, they gradually grow up and eventually leave the class to go their own way.

This cycle repeats itself.

Each person writes their own life story.

And he also falls in love, marries an outstanding woman, and has a new Uchiha bloodline.

Of course, during this time, when he becomes strong enough, he will seek revenge on "that person" and completely settle the grudges of the Uchiha.

At that time, the relationship between Team 7 will become like that between Kakashi and Might Guy: sincere, enduring, and as calm as flowing water, rather than fiery.

As Sasuke gradually sheds his adolescent delusions, he begins to understand some things, but subconsciously chooses not to delve into them.

Sakura Haruno continued, "Besides, I'm not the kind of ninja who's used to being protected. Hiding behind the battlefield as a turret-type ninja is certainly safe, but it also restricts my actions and prevents me from doing much."

"I understand your desire to protect your comrades... because that's how I feel too!"

"Just like this time."

She tied the bandage around her wound into a bow.

The black-haired boy clenched his fist.

"Next time, it will be my turn to protect you!" he said forcefully to Sakura.

"Keep dreaming!" Sakura Haruno's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile. "I'm not as pathetic as you..."

"Hmph, whatever, next time you'll just be watching my back."

"Tch~" The girl chuckled lightly and said, "You can't even stand up and you're still talking big... At least wait until you've returned to Konoha and recovered from your injuries before saying such things!"

"Alright, don't move. There are still two wounds that need to be treated. Hmm...?"

She suddenly turned around and looked behind her.

(Chapter 1. Bad luck! I moved today, and made a mistake this morning, losing the rest of this volume. Half of my drafts are gone, and they're all due for these two releases... Ouch! I'll post this temporary chapter first. I might not finish the next chapter by 7 PM; I'm very busy today.)

Please don't criticize!

(The Three Rivers Festival is almost over~ Please add to your favorites and recommend!)

[Note: The presence of this substance will diminish after the procedure Ultra-Pure Water.]