A/N: Hope you enjoy! And I promise it'll get better!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Nartuo series…unfortunately :..(

Italics like this mean its thoughts in a characters head

Forgotten

Ch. 1 Twist of Fate

He ran as fast as he could, he ran so fast his lungs burned and his legs cried. Sasuke took a deep gasp as he ran towards the smoke in the middle of the valley. Orochimaru attacked the village again and was about to take something dear to him. He left his friends to stop him, he couldn't handle another loss. Sasuke decided not to leave with Orochimaru so Orochimaru came to take him instead; he decided to strip everything away that was keeping him at home. Sasuke growled under the night sky as his feet pounded across the grass. He couldn't believe how reckless she was…

_flashback _

The ground rumbled as Sasuke sat on the roof of his home. He looked around in alarm, something was wrong. Smoke and fire quickly appeared in the village and he stood quickly. His eyes widened as large snakes slammed down on the village walls. It can't be… He immediately grabbed all his weapons from his house and ran towards the chaos. It had been four months since Sasuke decided to stay in the village and he had a small hope Orochimaru would give up; he couldn't comprehend how wrong he was. It all seemed like a sick joke as he ran through the village taking in every sight of destruction.

The only reason he stayed was the words Naruto spoke to him during the fight on the hospital roof and Kakashi's words afterwards. Also the heartbroken look his other teammate gave him on the roof that day. He hadn't seen his female teammate since a week after that day. She took it very hard how close he was to leaving and had been under intense training since then. Last he heard she was training under some clan scrolls she found in her basement.

Sasuke sprinted further through the village taking down a few enemies as he went, his seal burned. He's here… It took Sasuke a solid hour of fighting and searching to finally find him, and he could have never expected what he'd see. She was there…painfully fighting him with a gleam in her eyes that he'd never seen before. Her hair seemed slightly longer and she seemed to appear physically tougher than before. His coal eyes widened as a slice was received to her back but unlike the old Sakura she didn't even wince and continued fighting. "I won't let you take him!"

He saw Sakura's demeanor darken as Orochimaru gave a sick laugh, "That boy will become mine the second he loses everything he has left, including you."

Sasuke eyes widened at his words and he automatically screamed her name. Sakura's eyes widened as she turned to him and Orochimaru's grin grew. Sakura's surprised face quickly turned to worried anger, "Why did you come!? You're not safe near him!"

Both gennin's eyes widened as Orochimaru lurched for Sasuke. Sasuke grunted as he was slammed into the ground and looked up in surprise to see another teammate he hadn't seen in a few weeks, "She's right Teme you shouldn't be here!"

Sakura gave a relieved sigh to see Naruto defensively in front of Sasuke and Orochimaru missed his chance to take him. Sasuke scowled from the ground, "Like hell I'm going to let you two fight him! He's after me, I'll kill him."

Naruto frowned and stared harshly at Orochimaru, "Teme…we all know none of us are strong enough to beat him, even together."

There was a tense silence as Orochimaru's grinned and then gave a sick laugh, "Exactly, so hand him over or I'll kill everyone in Konoha."

Sakura growled and rocketed towards him and leaving a good dent in the ground as he jumped away. Naruto gave a light laugh, he hadn't seen Sakura in months either, "Looks like you picked up some new moves Sakura-chan."

Her lips curved up a bit as she glared at the enemy, "I didn't disappear for nothing."

Her words gave team seven a slight hint of bitter sweetness; they had all missed each other in their own way but hated to be reunited for such an event. Sasuke stood firm and watched Sakura's back, she was so different. The old Sakura would be too terrified to even try to battle Orochimaru; she had knocked the fear out of herself. Orochimaru licked his lips at the amusing bond of the three in front of him; he looked forward to tearing it apart. Sakura took in a slow lightly nervous breath, "Naruto, you ready?"

He gave a hard nod and pushed Sasuke farther behind as cold sweat formed on the back of his neck, "You know it!"

Sasuke then watched in surprise as his two teammates went all out at Orochimaru. Despite being apart for so long their teamwork was good even with all of Sakura's unknown new attacks. Her taijutsu increased immensely and she had learned two earth jutsu; they were basic but a great new asset to her skills. Sasuke prepared himself to jump in as well; he was tired of standing by, but was screamed at to leave.

Sasuke ignored their yells as both of them tumbled backwards breaking Naruto's arm and cracking one of Sakura's ribs. He ran forward full of anger despite his friends' protests. He was about to walk into Orochimaru's hands but skidded to halt as someone flashed before him, it was the Hokage. The three genin looked up at her furious face. "Orochimaru…you've crossed the line for the last time."

Orochimaru cracked his neck back and forth and gave a sick grin, "Hello Slug Princess"

There was a tense silence as Naruto and Sakura slowly stood and Orochimaru's mind crossed over the last time he had fought with his fellow sannin. Orochimaru took a small step back contemplating the results of a fight; he still wasn't used to his new body after all. Naruto gripped his arm and glared daggers at the snake, "You'll never have Sasuke as long as I live."

Sakura stood firm pressing her hand against her cracked rib, "You'll have to tear every shred of life from me before you touch him!"

Sasuke stood amazed and moved by his friends' words; they managed to surprise him with their strong bond every time. Tsunade took a step towards the revolting snake, "That's right…you won't touch him or any other person in this village without going through me."

Orochimaru watched as a dozen other Konoha shinobi appeared around him, he narrowed his eyes. He gave a small sigh and snapped his fingers having dozens of his own shinobi appear behind him, "I guess I'll have to come back for you Sasuke-kun," he gave a sick smirk, "you'll just be even more worth taking then."

Orochimaru quickly stepped back onto his massive snake's forehead as all his underlings began to attack. Sakura knocked a few enemy away as Orochimaru ordered the large snake to launch him out of the village. She gave a hard scowl as she jumped over a few enemies. I won't let you do as you please! She rocketed herself and surprisingly got a hold of Orochimaru's shirt. Her teammates eyes went wide as they were both rocketed backwards and out of the village and to the valley a couple miles back.

"Sakura!"

"Sakura-chan!"

_end of flashback_

Sasuke panted as he got closer to the smoke, his heart dropped as he saw a bright flash of jade light. He ran forward faster and could finally see figures far in front of him. His expression slowly fell as a necklace around Sakura's neck glowed while blood slipped down her entire body and a sword was jabbed through her abdomen. His eyes widened as she coughed blood and her hand glew same color of her necklace and she cut Orochimaru's arm off holding the sword. The snake gave a sound of pain as blood spattered from his bare shoulder and Sakura fell to her knees. Sasuke felt like gravity was crushing him as he tried to run faster.

Orochimaru growled in anger and used his left over arm to harshly pull the sword out of Sakura letting her fall to the ground. His eyes gleamed in rage as cold sweat dripped down his face and his sight began fuzz, "You bitch!"

Sakura breathed heavily unable to find the strength to lift herself from the ground as the glow of her necklace slowly started to fade. She hazily looked up as Orochimaru lifted the sword with his remaining hand and began to swing it down. He was stopped as a ball of fire pushed him away. Sakura glanced at Sasuke panting and full of rage. Sasuke prepared to attack Orochimaru but Kabuto quickly appeared, "My Lord!"

Kabuto and Sasuke glared hard at each other but both had someone to tend to and the enemy disappeared in a flame. With their disappearance Sasuke quickly leaned down to Sakura's bloody form. He pulled her into his arms with fear crushing his heart; he looked into her weary jade eyes, "Sakura…it'll be okay, the Hokage will be here soon."

Sakura's lips curved up a bit as she could feel her life being drawn out of her body. She stared at Sasuke's face with an expression she'd never seen before, "Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke shook his head at her breathy whisper, he couldn't believe this was happening, "Don't talk, save your energy."

He could see the grass surrounding them starting to turn red; his instincts said she wouldn't make it but he refused to accept the thought. Sakura looked up at the stars above them as her breathing became shallow, "Promise…you'll stay…"

Sasuke glanced at her in fear and unsure of what to do, "What are you talking about…j-just stop talking!"

Sakura gave a light smile as tears formed in the corner of her eyes, "Promise…you'll never leave…even when I'm gone."

Sasuke's heart stopped for a second, "Shut up! You won't be gone! Nothing is going to happen to you!"

Sakura looked into his eyes furrowing her eyebrows at his desperate face, "You have…to promise…"

Sasuke's expression started to twist in sorrow; her eyes were beginning to dull. He pressed his forehead on her chest and cursed to himself, "I promise…just promise me you'll be there too."

He looked back up at Sakura's silence and widened his eyes as tears finally began slipping from her eyes. She forced a smile on her face but her eyes gave away her tortured heart; she didn't want to die. Sasuke could hear some faint yelling in the distance.

"I love you."

Sasuke froze and looked into Sakura's paling face, "What…?"

Sakura could only see his blurry form now, "I love you…more than anything."

Sasuke's heart clenched and his ears rung. She loves me… Sakura breathed lightly through the silence; she didn't expect him to respond. She knew he didn't love her back…she was important to him, just not the way she wanted to be. Sasuke clenched his hand around her back that was supporting her up, "I…"

"Sakura-chan!"

Naruto stopped dead once he got in sight of her and his expression twisted in horror as Tsunade and two of her guards came from behind him. Naruto fell to his knees as tears began spilling down his face. Sakura glanced at the orange blur and gave a light smile. Tsunade immediately kneeled on the bloody grass and began flowing healing chakra into her and clenched her jaw. It's too late… The Hokage looked deep into the fading jade eyes seeing her true desire to live; yet she was unable to save her.

The only sound was Naruto's sobbing and continuous chanting of her name. Sakura listened to the sorrowful sounds as her own tears flooded down her face, she couldn't see anymore. The small crowd around her froze stiff as the oval shaped jade necklace around her neck glew. Her hair floated lightly as the necklace gave off a light pressure. Sakura couldn't feel her body anymore; the necklace was a clan belonging she was beginning to learn to use during her intense training but she wasn't sure what it was doing now.

Kakashi soon reached them after hearing about Sakura trying to fight Orochimaru. His shown eye narrowed in fear as he saw Naruto crying from the small crowd and a light jade glow from the center. When he reached them his heart dropped in panic as his female student was drenched in her own blood and turning transparent. Sasuke shook as he could barely feel the fading pinkette's weight in his arms anymore, "No…"

Sakura's eyes were open just a sliver as she heard Sasuke's light whisper, she understood now, "Don't cry…we'll meet again…I promise."

Tears formed in the corner of Sasuke's eyes but his bangs hid them from being seen. His heart shattered as she closed her eyes and gave a peaceful look before her transparent body burst into flickers of jade light that slowly dissolved in the sky. He stood frozen not feeling her weight in his arms anymore but seeing her blood all over his arms. There was a slight pause before Naruto screamed. "SAKURA-CHAN!"

Sasuke's arms fell limp to his sides and his eyes fell dull; he laid his forehead on the ground covered in her blood as a hidden tear slipped down his face. She's gone…She really left… His chest felt like there was a hole in it as he clenched his jaw reliving the same feeling when his clan was murdered. He slowly gripped his hands into the bloody ground as Tsunade held sobbing Naruto and Kakashi kneeled pounding his fists into the ground. His body trembled taking in a slow breath and he finally let out a tortured scream.

_._._._._._._._._

Sasuke awoke in his bed three and a half years later at the sound of his alarm. He turned it off and ran a hand through his hair. That dream again… Sasuke sighed and looked dully across the room, his team seven picture had fallen over. He stood, picking it up and held it for a second. He ran a thumb over Sakura's face as an undistinguishable emotion flickered through his eyes before he put it properly back on his dresser. He gave a small sigh and got dressed. He now wore a navy jacket with his usual collar and Uchiha symbol on the back, a black t-shirt underneath, grey knee length pants, bandaging wrapped down his legs to his navy shoes, and a navy headband.

He left his empty home after breakfast; he was supposed to train with Naruto today. He walked down the streets ignoring the stares of women he'd gotten since he was a child; they didn't mean anything. It's been three and half years since that night. He was sixteen now and nobody had heard from Orochimaru since but Sasuke knew too well that wasn't the last of him. He trained vigorously everyday so he could have strength nobody could reach. He didn't let the hate and rage consume him but his life goal was still to kill Itachi but to also destroy Orochimaru as well. He wouldn't forgive anyone that took something important from him.

Despite Naruto's disapproval of revenge he aimed to kill Orochimaru as well; not just for Sakura's death, but for the protection of the village. Naruto had come back with training from Jiraya about seven months ago while Sasuke trained with and surpassed Kakashi. They were both stronger than anybody expected but it wasn't enough for them. Deep down in the depths of their hearts they blamed their weakness for Sakura's death and wouldn't stop till there was no more strength to achieve.

"Hey Teme!"

Sasuke looked at Naruto's confident grin with his emotionless expression as usual. They stood before each other with Sasuke's hands in his pockets just like they did twice a week when they weren't on missions. Sasuke looked at the blonde, "Taijutsu or Ninjutsu?"

They both knew Naruto's genjutsu would never be his strong suit, especially against Sharingan. Naruto crossed his arms behind his head, "Both!"

Sasuke gave a small sigh, "We'll tear the whole training ground apart if we do that Dobe."

Naruto frowned, "Shut up Teme! Fine, we'll do taijutsu."

Sasuke sighed and nodded as they backed away from each other and got into their fighting stances. They went about heir training as they did every other day taking a while to manage a blow on each other and slowly tearing up the landscape around them. They were both chunnin and Sasuke planned to take the jounin exam soon; both of their skill sets were something many shinobi admired. Both males had spent the majority of their life training and going on missions; Sasuke had completely stopped his socializing besides his training sessions with Naruto and Kakashi.

Sasuke flipped back avoiding Naruto's punch crashing into the ground. He searched for the blonde through the cloud of dust with his Sharingan. He quickly lifted his arm blocking a forceful kick, grabbed Naruto's ankle, and swung him into a tree. Naruto crashed through the tree and quickly stood ignoring the small wounds they both had. They lunged for each other again but stopped at the sound of clapping. They both turned to see Kakashi who had recently come back from a long-term mission. "Alright you two, I think you've damaged the training ground enough."

Naruto looked around at all the broken trees and a few cracks in the ground before give a small laugh, "Hey Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi gave a light smile; he tried convincing the boys to stop calling him sensei since they were on a level too high to be called students anymore but they refused. "The Hokage wants to see us."

Naruto blinked a few times in surprise, "Really?"

Team 7 hadn't been on a mission together in quite a while. Naruto quickly rung his arm around Sasuke's neck giving a happy smirk, "Hear that Teme! We have a mission together!"

Sasuke frowned pushing him off, "I told you to stop doing that."

Team 7 missions weren't quite as meaningful to Sasuke anymore; after all, they were missing a member. Kakashi looked at Sasuke's emotionless face knowing what he was thinking, "She wouldn't be happy with you thinking like that."

Sasuke immediately looked at him with a harsh glare, "Shut up!"

Naruto's face dulled, "I can't believe how long it's been…"

Sasuke's harsh glare turned to him and loosened at his expression, "Let's go…"

Kakashi and Naruto watched Sasuke walk away and slowly followed with a dim look; none of them were quite the same. After a tense run they reached the Hokage's office to find a familiar face in the room. Naruto gave a small smile, "Hey Sai"

Sai gave a nod in return, he had been Sakura's placeholder on some of their missions. Tsunade sat in her chair watching Team 7 file in a line in front of her desk; she slid the mission file towards Kakashi. He read it as she began to speak. "There's an escort mission on Taro Island in the sea country to the capital of the country of the next island over. You'll be gone about two weeks."

Sasuke gave a distasteful frown, "An escort mission like that would only need one of us; it's a waste of time to send us all."

Tsunade gave a small glare at him, "Actually you're escorting the candidate for an arranged marriage that will either save or kill everyone on the island."

Sasuke glared remained, "And what the marriage is a fluke?"

There was a tense silence. "Then I want you to kill the dictator in that capital and all his followers."

Sasuke analyzed her seriousness; basically it was an escort mission to stop a war. Kakashi flipped through some papers in the file, "There's no picture of who we're escorting."

Tsunade gave a small sigh and leaned back in her chair, "They didn't send much information, they said it was classified."

Naruto crossed his arms lightly excited for the mission, "When do we leave?"

Tsunade sighed, "In six hours, go rest and pack and I'll see you at the gate." They all nodded and left.

_six hours later_

Sasuke met his teammates at the gate under the night sky lightly surprised that Kakashi was on time. Tsunade had Shizune beside her and her arms crossed watching him stand by his team, "There's no option of failure, understand?"

They all nodded and Tsunade gave a small sigh, "Not that I should have to worry about one of my best teams failing but good luck."

They nodded once again in were gone in the blink of an eye. Tsunade stood there for a moment and looked up at the starry sky. Watch over them for me…

_a few hours later_

The current Team 7 moved forward silently through the forest; they should reach the ocean dock by morning. Sai glanced at his teammates, they were on good terms and Naruto made him a better person but…he could tell he could never fill void that their past teammate left. He believed that was why Sasuke never bothered speaking to him, along with his anti-social personality. He saw Sasuke training sometimes and he could tell by his demeanor that he was desperately trying to reach an invincible strength. To Sai, Sasuke couldn't get much stronger but he wouldn't dare say it.

_flashback_

Sai walked through the village at sunset back towards his home. It was his day off and he had spent most the day reading on social behaviors. He passed by the village's massive graveyard for shinobi and stopped seeing familiar figures. He glanced down seeing the rest of Team 7 standing before a grave. He watched curiously as Naruto laid a bouquet of flowers on the grave. He narrowed his eyes trying to focus more on the men below. Naruto and Kakashi had sad smiles but Sasuke held a tense, lifeless expression. He watched carefully as Naruto's lips moved; Sai's eyes widened a bit and he decided to move on. "Happy Birthday Sakura-chan…"

_end of flashback_

Naruto looked blankly out at the forest before him as he continued jumping; she was on his mind again. It was a given that Team 7 could never forget their pinkette friend but some wouldn't expect them to think of her everyday. Every time they looked at their team picture or saw something that reminded them of her; it was like she haunted them. Naruto was destroyed over the event; he loved her at the time after all. He wasn't really sure what had become of his unrequited love. When he thought about her he still held a feeling of endearment but it wasn't the same as before; she was obviously still considered a precious friend but he wasn't sure if he loved her as a sister or something more…

Naruto frowned and shook his head. He didn't know what he was thinking, it didn't matter anymore. His blue eyes dulled; he would give anything to get her back. Kakashi lead the team forward through the forest, it was starting to rain…He gave a glance back but only to be met with dull gazes, he frowned. I shouldn't have mentioned her earlier… A dull gaze fell upon Kakashi's own face; their team never really was the same. He finally thought his team was on the right track after Sasuke decided to stay in Konoha but then Sakura disappeared. He wondered nearly everyday how different they'd be if she lived, if she stayed with them. He at first found it hard to believe she was gone since her death wasn't normal but after years passed he knew she'd never come back.

Sasuke paced himself as he continued trudging forward, the sun would rise soon. The rain didn't slow him or the team down at all and they all knew if they stopped for cover they would miss their boat. Sasuke had been in a slightly bad mood ever since Kakashi mentioned Sakura; well…a worse mood than usual. He already knew she wouldn't be happy with the way he acted but it wasn't like he could be what he wasn't. "Don't cry…We'll meet again…I promise." Sasuke sincerely believed she would come back since her body disappeared and there wasn't actual proof she died but lately he was starting to give up. It had been so long since that day and he found himself tired of waiting, it was painful. Sasuke looked up as the shore was finally in sight, he would do anything to change that day.

_a few hours later_

Team 7 sat bored on the ships deck as it swayed up and down on the waves; they would reach the sea country by the end of the day. Naruto laid on his side propping his arm as a pillow, it stopped raining a few minutes ago. Naruto closed eyes finding sleep to be the best way to pass the time. Sai watched Naruto drift asleep and resumed back to his sketchpad, he wasn't sure what he was drawing yet but it was a good way to let the time pass. Sasuke stared bored at the sky with one of his knees propped up; he should have brought a scroll to study. He leaned his head against a wall of the boat and closed his eyes.

_in dream_

Sasuke looked around the empty white space not sure of where he was. He started walking forward but still saw nothing but endless white space. He gave a small sigh of agitation. "Sasuke-kun…"

Sasuke immediately turned around to see a young face that haunted his mind for years. He saw Sakura wearing her usual clothing and smiling at him the same way she did the day she left, sad. Sasuke's expression furrowed as he took a few steps toward her, "Sakura…"

"Please don't give up."

His eyes widened a little as tears slipped down the thirteen year old pinkette's face. "Please don't give up on me."

He took a few more steps as her voice quivered. "Don't give up waiting for me."

Sasuke automatically ran to her as blood started slipping away from her sudden wounds. "I promise I'll come back!"

Sasuke reached out to her bloody crying form but she burst into specs of jade light the second he touched her. He stood desperate as the jade light faded and the white mass around him faded to black. He clenched his jaw and stared at the drops of her blood and tears at his feet, "Sakura!"

_out of dream_

Sasuke slammed his eyes open managing not to move or make a sound. He glanced at his team around him relieved that hadn't taken notice to him. Sasuke tilted his head to the side and clenched his jaw; he just wanted it to stop. He was tired of having dreams like that or of her death every night. He was tired of waiting. It would be less painful to give up than keep waiting. Everyone waited at first but Kakashi gave up a year later and Naruto had a few months ago. Sasuke was the only one who thought she might come back but how he wished he could give up too; but as painful as those dreams were, they made the hope of seeing her again even stronger.

_a few hours later_

Naruto stretched as they stepped out of the boat at nighttime to be met by an older man. Kakashi stood before him and shook his hand, "You must be Takakura-san"

The old man with short grayish brown hair and goatee nodded, "Yes, thank you for coming."

Introductions were done and Takakura led them into the town. He was the leader of his small village on the island. The village they were led to was the center of island decisions; the island capital per say, but it was a simple town with no electricity and no protection. Sasuke glanced around seeing flickers of candles from inside homes as the leader continued talking.

"The leader of the nation, Katsurou-sama, requires heavy taxes that we cannot pay. Since we cannot pay taxes our island will go under raid by his soldiers unless we offer him a suitable exchange."

Naruto frowned hating the sound of the dictator. "He suggested to us we offer all of our…beautiful women."

Naruto snarled with disgust over the idea. "We were going to send pictures for his selection but someone volunteered to be taken to him."

Kakashi nodded, "Brave girl."

Takakura nodded with a grim look, "Truthfully he might have chosen her anyway, but she's one of the most cherished people in our village that we didn't want him to know of. The kind child said she would sacrifice herself to repay us for everything we'd done for her."

Sasuke watched as the leader's face twisted with sadness, he hated the decision he was making. "But Katsurou-sama heard of her and expects her to be there in a week to be wed to him and never to see us again."

Naruto frowned in sympathy for the man, "And she accepts that?"

The older man gave a hard nod, "With every fiber of her being. She's willing to throw her life away to protect us. So please…keep her safe and happy till the last moment she has of her freedom!"

The team nodded at the man's saddened whisper. Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder as they reached the door of the house they were entering, "You can count on us."

The door was opened and the grateful man led them in, "This is the home you'll spend the night in. Wait here as I go get the two you'll be traveling with."

They all nodded again as Takakura traveled farther into the house and left them waiting in a wide empty room. Naruto crossed his arms as they waited, "I think we should just go kill the guy and let her stay here."

Kakashi shook his head despite his yearn to agree, "We can't get Konoha involved unless the meeting goes badly."

Sai nodded, "Besides she already made her decision, she has prepared herself."

The team looked up at Takakura stepped out of the shadows and two female figures could be seen slowly moving forward. The middle-aged man gave a sad smile, "Forgive the wait, she's not in the best of health."

Sasuke blankly watched as he could see the taller female figure guiding and supporting the other. Once they emerged from the shadows his world stopped. Everyone but Sai stopped dead as their bodies went numb from shock. Sasuke's eyes went horridly wide and watched as the smaller female looked at them with a small, weak smile. His hands began to shake and his ears rung as her small silhouette was dressed in a simple white dress an inch above her knee. His jaw was slack as she blinked her sparkling jade eyes and her long pink hair floated behind her. He took a small step forward disoriented from shock, "Sa…kura?"

_authors notes_

So what do you think? It's an idea I've had going through my head for a long time now and I wanted to see if it was worth writing and continuing. I don't think it flows the way I imagined it but it'll get there. And I had to leave a cliff-hanger, I couldn't leave you thinking she was dead now could I? You probably wouldn't read it if I did. There will be a painful twist in the next chapter that you can probably figure out by the title but tell me what you think! :)