Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.


Chapter 1

Tears

It was raining in Konoha village. It was raining on the day everything changed.

Does the rain symbolize tears? If so, why aren't there more? Did only we love him?

Haruno Sakura sat in a window of the Hokage's main administration building, watching the rain fall and grieving for those who would never return to her side. She wept knowing that the two people she loved most in the world fought each other because of what she had done. Because of her, one had died.

She had heard Kakashi's report through the Hokage's office door. It was a mark of how shaken up the two were that they hadn't noticed her until she fell against the door when her legs gave out. Tsunade had knelt down and tried to enfold Sakura in an embrace, but she had run down to a lower level and locked herself in a room where she had cried her eyes out. She had tried to not hear it, she had tried to forget it, but Kakashi's report would forever resonate within the confines of her soul.

Hatake Kakashi stood in front of the 5th Hokage rigidly with eyes full of sadness. Sakura was hidden outside the slightly open door. "Godaime Hokage-sama, I followed Naruto and Sasuke's trail to the Valley of the End where I observed two Akatsuki members leaving the scene. I was unable to determine their identities. Upon closer inspection of the site I discovered that Naruto and Sasuke fought a long battle in that area. I then confirmed via Pakkun that the two forehead protectors left on site were in fact Naruto and Sasuke's. What Pakkun also divined was that Sasuke had left in one direction and Akatsuki in another, and there is no indication that the two came into contact with each other."

Tsunade placed her hands on the desk and looked directly at Kakashi. "What of Uzumaki Naruto? Were you able to locate him? "

"I could neither find him nor…nor his corpse. From what Pakkun has told me, he lay seriously injured near where the forehead protectors were left. The blood we found confirms it. If he left that spot, he was moved by another power and not on his own steam."

Tsunade gripped her desk tightly. She knew the answer but couldn't help asking the question anyway. "Can we then assume that he has been taken by Akatsuki?"

Kakashi looked down at the floor. "……Yes."

Tsunade gripped the desk harder. "Is there any possible way to track them from the site?"

Kakashi looked out the window at the deluge. "Water washes away all sins…or at least scent trails. It's impossible to track either party at this point."

Tsunade's fingers began to make indentations in the wood. "So he is dead then…"

At this point Sakura's legs gave out in shock and she fell down, causing both Tsunade and Kakashi to turn in shock toward her. They had called to her as she ran, but she couldn't hear them anymore. All she heard was the beating of the raindrops against the windows.

Sakura remembered Naruto's promise to her at Konoha's gates, believing that her selfish wish had not only failed to bring back Sasuke, but killed the one person who would have done anything for her. Crying and holding herself, she silently screamed for Naruto or Sasuke or anybody to tell her it was alright, everything would go back to the way it was. No one came.

Kakashi Hatake felt broken. He had begged the Godaime Hokage to send out a search party in the faint hope that he could track akatsuki. He knew there was no chance at all, with the trail this cold, but he felt compelled to do something, anything at all to alleviate his guilt. He knew that it would have been suicide to take on two akatsuki, but he wanted to be able to make a difference this time. Obito, Rin, his sister, his father, his master, he had failed them all. He cared for his students; he had watched them grow stronger in the year that he had taught them. He had failed them too. Naruto is dead, Sasuke has gone over to Orochimaru, and Sakura has fallen into grief. Because he is Hatake Kakashi, he feels as though the pain will rip him apart. But because he is Hatake Kakashi of the Hatake clan, ex-ANBU, and jounin of the hidden leaf, he will put himself back together, control his emotions, and do his duty.

Tsunade walked down the hall to a room where she knew Sakura would still be grieving. She grieved as well, for the third person she had sent off on a mission with that cursed necklace. Tsunade thought Naruto had broken the curse by winning it from her, but she had been wrong again. She paused in front of the door, not knowing if she even had the right to console the girl. No, she wasn't a "girl" anymore. Not after this. I wasn't.

The sound of the door opening brought Sakura's head up slowly. She saw the Godaime Hokage standing in the doorway with an inscrutable look on her face. Tsunade stood silently for a moment, shut the door quietly and sat down. Thinking that Tsunade would offer words of consolation and really not wanting to hear them, Sakura lowered her head slowly and began, "Tsunade-sama I don't need…"

"I'm not here to offer empty words that would not fill your loss. I'm here to make you an offer." Tsunade finished.

Looking up sharply in surprise and confusion Sakura blinked. This was not what she had expected.

Tsunade, noticing her surprise, continued. "Sakura, I would like you to become my apprentice."

If anything, Sakura was more confused. "Why…why me? Why now?" Sakura asked.

Tsunade looked at her with all seriousness. "The reason I ask this of you is because you possess the two most important things required for an outstanding medic ninja. You have precise chakra control, and perhaps even more importantly, a reason to keep fighting."

"My reason…what? I don't know…"

"Only you can know what your reasons are for fighting. I can give you the means to carry out your goals if you train under me. I'm not saying it would be easy, but you will be able to settle some accounts."

"You mean revenge?"

"If those are your goals, then yes."

"It isn't. Sasuke's reasons are not mine"

"What is your raison d'etre then?"

Sakura frowned, concentrating. "I don't know what my reasons are."

"But they exist?"

"Yes."

"Then I'll help you find them Sakura. I ask again, will you be my apprentice?"

"Yes."

There was silence between them and the only sound that could be heard were the sounds of raindrops falling.

"Well then," Tsunade said, standing up straighter and becoming much stricter, "you will report to my office at dawn tomorrow."

Sakura looked up sharply, shocked. "So soon?"

Tsunade, with her hand on the doorknob, not turning to face her said, "I've had to learn, Sakura, just as you will; that the most expedient way of dealing with pain is to work so hard you don't have time to think about it. With any luck, I might be able to keep us both working that hard."

Tsunade opened the door and left, walking toward her office. Sakura stared at the door long after the Godaime left, contemplating her words. She thought about what Naruto would do in her place. He would move forward, I'm sure of it. I can't stop now. Sakura slowly stood up and looked out the window. The rain had slowed, but the clouds were not leaving anytime soon.

Tsunade walked back to her office thinking. It sometimes seems to me that the name of Hokage is cursed. Those who covet it fall in some of the worst ways imaginable. Shodaime and Nidaime fell before their dreams could become reality, Sandaime was killed by his own student, the man he'd hoped would succeed him, and Yondaime died leaving his infant son with both blessing and curse upon him. Am I cursed as well? To watch Nawaki, the Dan, and now Naruto, all who desired the name, all who were killed because I gave them my blessing? Maybe I can yet make a difference. All I know is, if I stop moving forward, nothing will change, and nothing will end.

The Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure Village walked into her office and began to work.

On the border of the Fire Country, a silver-haired man watched over a priceless treasure, a treasure that no one but him knew existed still.


This is my first Fanfiction. Please read and review. Constructive criticism is appreciated.

-Commedia