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There was a sword through Inoichi’s gut.
It didn’t hurt. Not anymore. The part of Inoichi’s mind that wasn’t sluggish from cold and blood loss recognised that that wasn’t a good thing, but there was nothing he could do. His chakra was spent and the blade buried deep in the rough concrete at his back, and Inoichi’s attempts at pulling free had only resulted in blacking out.
He couldn’t get free. He couldn’t call for help. Every movement tugged and tore and ripped through muscle and bowel, and it was all Inoichi could do to keep his breathing light.
Inoichi had long since been reconciled to the fact that he might die in the service of his village. It had been drilled into him from the day he was born. He had been sent on a mission, had been caught, and now he would die.
Ino was at home, sleeping soundly in the belief that he would be home in a few days, and Inoichi didn’t even try to keep the tears from falling. He could accept his own death, but the thought of Ino’s grief broke his heart.
There was a crash in the distance. Inoichi tried to raise his head, but his muscles were useless.
“Inoichi!”
Chōza. That was Chōza, and if Chōza was here then so was Shikaku, and hope sparked in Inoichi’s chest. They would find him. If anyone could find him, they would.
More shouting, more sounds of doors being broken, but Inoichi’s vision was blurring and every muscle felt like lead.
“Inoichi! Chōza, he’s here!”
Hands were on his shoulders, and Shikaku swore, then gentle hand tapped his cheek.
“Inoichi? I need you to open your eyes for me.”
He might as well have asked Inoichi to climb a mountain, but it was Shikaku, and Chōza, and there was nothing Inoichi wouldn’t do for them. He forced heavy eyelids open, and squinted at the two brown blobs before him.
“That’s it, that’s good, Inoichi.” Shikaku’s hand squeezed the nape of his neck. “This is going to hurt, but we’re here. You’re going to be fine.”
Somehow, Inoichi found the strength to nod. Chōza gripped the hilt of the sword, then all Inoichi knew was pain.
Unconsciousness was a relief.