7 year is a long time, when she came back that summer, they weren't the same anymore.
This story is rated T but I might add some M contents but I will warn you ahead. Anyway, the first chapter is on their childhood so you can skip if you want. This chapter is all flashback, if you don't like flash back go on to second chapter. That's when the story begins.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
AND beware of my grammar problems, English is not my first language, so I will try to proofread as much as possible.
REVISED: 1/10/15
Chapter 1(I should say prologue)
Summer is a season of joy and warmth, and to the 4 years old Haruno Sakura, this summer is the first time she experienced the true warm she longed for.
Just a week after little Sakura's birthday, the family decided to move to Tokyo from Hokkaido to start their new life. Little did she know, this is the place where she met her two irreplaceable friends, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
It all started then.
Sakura, a brave and adventurous girl, is a positive and lovely child. Everyone she knew loved her for her cheerfulness and her can-do spirit.
Unlike most children, she has a unique personality that some adult finds it strange but loves her for the way she is. Haruno Sakura, for a 4 year old, has never shield a tear after the age of 2. She never had even if she fell painfully on her face, got scold by her parents, or got slap on the face.
Her parents find her strange and sometimes did not want to admit her as their child. "She's weird." They would say to their friends.
Sakura knew her parents don't love her, but does it matter? She loves them, all she wanted is a compliment from them even if is just a smile. It might be asking too much but she wanted them to hug her, to pat her head, and to tell her that she did a good job. It might not happen soon, but she will wait for that day to come.
July 20th, they moved into Tokyo.
The new home she was about to stay is not big or pretty compared to the two houses on her left and right, in fact, it might even be twice or triple times smaller than the other two. Why is there such huge difference? No specific reason, simply she's poor, and they are rich.
But she doesn't care as long as she could stay with her parents. Even if they are rarely home, she will wait until midnight or a few days till they come back.
It's dark at night, she's always scared and lonely but she never showed. Worry is the last thing she wanted her parents to feel for her ( or if they actually feel that way). She understood they have economic crisis so she never ask for anything. Children at her ages were given so many stuff, new clothes, toys, games,…. She never needed any of them. A dinner with her family will do.
That day of the summer, she met them, her neighbors, the Uchihas and Uzumakis and their two sons who were the same age as Sakura.
"Ohaiyo, my name is Haruno Sakura." She smiled.
"Uchiha Sasuke." The shy boy turned away with his pink cheeks.
"Yosh! Sakura-chan, my name is Uzumaki Naruto." The blond hair boy showed his 1000 watts smile.
They were the first one to compliment her hair color.
From the day she moved into her new home, the wheels of her life began to turn.
It was all because of her two irreplaceable friends. They were the ones who gave her the love she desperate for. From that day on, they were considered inseparable. The three children met up regularly everyday for their little adventure around the neighborhood or hang out in the park nearby. The part with the most fun was planting flower seeds near the park. It's just something they look forward to daily. Even without toys, or anything, all they need was each other.
Every day after they went out, they would always come back before dawn with muddy hands and dirty shirts along with a satisfied smile. Naruto's tou-san would always be on his side even if his mom flipped out about how dirty he gets.
Sasuke's oka-san would smile and wipe the dirt away from his son's face before giving him a welcome back hug.
Sakura would watch them with a sweet smile, but inside, she's hoping even if is just once, she hope her mother would welcome her home.
"Sakura-chan, let's play again tomorrow." They both hug her tightly as if they saw through her.
Months after Sakura moved in, Sasuke and Naruto have never gone a day without seeing her. Because Sakura's parents were rarely home, the two always invited her over to join them for dinner. And once she accepted the offer, the other would come over so they can hang out together. And once they come together, party will start. Mrs and Mr Uchiha and Uzumaki forever welcome the adorable girl to come over. She was a cute angel compare to their sons.
During Sakrua's 5th birthday, it was the first birthday in her 5 years of life that she actually experienced the feeling of celebration. That morning, still quite cold from the late March wind, Sakura went over to Sasuke and Nauto's house asking if they want to come to the little mountain to continue their adventure from yesterday, but they both said they were busy. So she went by herself with some lunch and snacks she packed. As usual she climbed a few trees and play along the river, picking up unique stones she found.
It was fun, but lonely at the same time.
By the time she decided to head back, it was already 6 o'clock. She got back around 6:40, and as usual the house was dark without anyone. She hated the dark but there was really nothing she could do about it. Walking over to the light switch, she reached up slowly with her little hands. The moment she turned on the light, her heart almost beat out when something popped and flowers started to land on her from above.
Adjusting to the sudden surprise, she saw her two friends standing in the decorated living room, along with some deformed foods on the table. Cake was barely standing, cookies were all black, and was that a cabbage in the pot?
Maybe is not eatable, but she didn't care.
Sakura was too happy for their effort. It was the first time someone celebrated with her, it was better than she had thought. Jumping towards them, she gave them a bone crashing hug.
That day, they ate happily (or forcefully) and afterwards end up getting food poisoning together. But they were satisfied that they got to be in the same room in the hospitable.
When they started school at the age of 6, every girl in the school were jealous of Sakura that she got to hang out with the two most popular idols in school. They hated her for her closeness with their lovely Uchiha and the outgoing Uzumaki. The president of the Sasuke and Naurto fan club was the hardest to deal with. Her name was Ino. Ino, as the club president, always find ways to bully Sakura so she could get away from the two boys, but of course, the little brave Sakura never care.
She hated violence so she never hit anyone, sometimes the girls draw on her table, sometimes they take away her lunch or mock her accusing her forehead or hair, but Sakura never response. They can continue to do whatever they want; she doesn't care if she does not have any other friends as long as she has Naruto and Sasuke. They were all she need.
However, sometimes her anger has a limit. One day, just a little before lunch time, the fan girls walked over and started to mock her saying that she was ugly or she doesn't worth being with Naruto or Sasuke. At first, Sakura didn't care; all she was thinking at that moment was how long they were going to continue this since she wanted to meet up with the other two for lunch as soon as possible. But as soon as she felt someone pulled on her bracelet, she quickly pulled her hand back and tell them to stop. The bracelet was very important to her; she got it for her 5th birthday from Naruto and Sasuke. She got two, one blue and one golden, each on both of her wrists. They were the first gift she ever gotten, she will treasure them no matter what. What bothers her was that why they both got the same kind of present, she asked them once but Naruto and Sasuke just look at each other with an annoyed face and pointed at each other, "He copied me."
So when the fan girls started to make fun of her bracelet and grabbed Sakura's wrist trying to yank it off, the girl reacted for the first time. Using her left hand, she held it into a tight fist, at first the others watching thought she might hit the girls but then she pounded her hand hard against her table, so hard that it made a table cracking noise. The girls immediately backup and the boys flinched.
" Please don't touch it." She was mad. In fact it is the first time she got so mad over something. All the girls step out of her way as she walked out the classroom. They never mess with her again.
Their years passed by fast, in the third year, they went to the New Year Festival together with Sakura wearing a Kimono Sasuke's mother lend her. The kimono was in a shaded pink adorned with cherry blossom across the bottom and slightly on the top. It was beautiful.
After Naruto's mother helped Sakura put on her kimono and did some effort on her hair, the two boys flushed red when they saw the pretty girl step out the room. She always looked like a tomboy to them and had the tomboy feeling all the time, but after seeing the girl side of her, they decided it wasn't bad at all.
On their fourth year summer, they went to the beach for 3 days and 2 nights. 8 year old Sakura wore her strawberry swimsuit making the two boys wonder if she liked strawberry. Just like how she wins over them with everything, she got the victory for swimming the fastest, eating the most watermelon, and racing across the beach.
At night, the three slept together on the second floor and their parents on the first. Without letting their parents noticed, they sneak in some shave ice along with a huge bottle of coke. After they were sure their parents were asleep, the three naughty children ate the 5 people serving ice and drank 3 bottles of coke while watching the moon and counting stars.
The second day, they got caught and got scolded but with Minato being such an easy dad, they got away with only a few chores to deal with.
The fifth year was one of the most memorable of all. The first day of July after the children's last school day, they head to Kyoto to do something they'd longed for a long time, camping.
After setting up all the necessary tents and materials, the three goofed off for their little adventure around the mountain. First stop, they fished along the river and for some reason, the 2 boys talkative conversation became a endless argument.
Naruto and Sasuke glared at each other while Sakura picked apples from the tree. After 20 minutes or so, they finally got tired of arguing, instead, they made a bet that the winner who gets the most fish will get a kiss on the cheek from Sakura. Even if they said they will stop the argument, it started again two minutes later.
They continued with "I'm gonna win" or "No, I'm gonna win" for the whole time, too bad that they weren't watching out for the prize, at the end, Sakura won the race. She smiled in triumph. The boys sighed in defeat and the pinked hair girl received two kisses on each side of her cheek.
They went tree climbing, and much to their frustration, Sakura won the race again.
At night, the three slept in one tent and the adults sleep in another. Knowing them, they wouldn't be good enough to stay in this mini tent the whole night. Wildness is calling for them, the kids told themselves. So when they were sure their parents were asleep, they sneaked out. After getting tired of wandering around the forest, they went over to the huge rock they found earlier that day and lied there to watch the night sky.
It was beautiful. From below, they can see the dark sky getting split in half by the bright Milky Way. They started to count but by the time they got to 20, they had already given up. Staring at the night sky for a moment, the three giggled as they each point out the images form by the stars. Though, through the whole time all Naruto saw were Ramen pictures.
While they lied there, a glimpse of light went across the sky. Without wasting any time, the three quickly sat up and hurriedly make a wish before the star power disappear.
What did they really want?
Adults would think they probably wanted new toys or new clothes, but no, they wanted something more important.
What they wish is a bond that will never disappear.
"I wish we could stay together forever." They prayed silently in their head.
On their six year, the year of departure came. For the 10 year old Sakura, she cried secretly in the corner when she learned she will be moving back to Hokkaido. Even though it is hard, she buried her pain silently inside so it would not show. Sakura assured them she will be keeping contact with them; she would send mails to them each week telling them how things are going. Despite her bright smile, she can never hide the façade from Naruto and Sasuke. They knew she had been crying quietly by herself. She's not as strong as she seems.
She will be lonely.
Due to her parent's constantly changing work, she never had any close friend, this is the longest bond she'd ever had, and she doesn't want to leave them.
On the morning before her departure, Naruto cried so hard while Sasuke bitted his lower lip with all he can to control his emotion. But it still failed miserably; tears were dripping down despite his pleading to stop.
Sakura give them a hug telling them she will be ok. She looked down afraid that seeing their faces will make her cry, "Don't cry Naruto, Sasuke, I will never forget you guys." Her voice started to shake.
"I say don't cry, dummy…." a tear rolled down her cheek then the water beads filled her eyes blurring her vision.
As much as she wanted her tears to stop, they didn't." Please don't forget me." She wiped her tears away.
With a final hug, Sakura got on the car. It was raining that day but their tears were more than enough to soak their shirt. When the engine started and the wheel began to turn, Naurto and Sasuke chased after it waving and shouting they will never forget her. The pinked hair girl watched with a sad smile until her two best friends are out of sight.
But never did she know that departure was the last time Naruto and Sasuke was the way they were.
Chapter 2, Sakura will be 17.
Guys leave me feedbacks and suggestions please:D