"Don't worry, Sakura-chan, it's the promise of a lifetime."

That was what he said, all those years ago… and with each passing day, each passing moment, she found herself regretting making him do it more and more. Because with each passing day, she felt herself missing him more and more.

"Oh Naruto." she whispered into her pillow, allowing few fresh tears run down her cheeks and onto her sheets.

Flashback, 5 years ago

It couldn't be true, could it? All the rumors, that said that Naruto was coming home, with an unconscious figure draped upon his shoulders. It couldn't… was it true? Was it true that after all these years, Naruto had finally been able to bring Sasuke home?

It was like a dream come true.

No, it WAS a dream come true.

Heart in her throat and thumping at the speed of sound, Sakura ran outside and towards the gate to welcome both members of her long-separated team. Team 7 was no longer anything but a memory, if anyone had anything to say about it.

As she ran, a plethora of thoughts bled through her head, swimming about and making her incredibly dizzy. How had Naruto, dead last, been able to finally defeat his childhood rival? It didn't make any sense.

Sure, over the course of the years, Naruto had gotten stronger… waaaayyy stronger. But Sasuke had become stronger still. There was absolutely no way that pathetic little Naruto could have dragged him home willingly, right? So… how had it even happened?

However, her mind went blank and mouth went dry the moment she stumbled upon the gate, eyes beholding a scene brought straight out of heaven if she had anything to say about it.

Even though he was greatly injured and was hobbling with the extra weight on his shoulders, Naruto spared no time in flashing the pink-haired girl his award-winning smile with a weak thumbs up.

"H-hey… S-s-sakura-chan." He coughed out moments before he passed out.

"S-s-sakura-san?" a voice filtered into Sakura's ears, breaking her trend of thought. "Are you alright?"

Looking up at the Hyuuga heiress, Sakura took a moment to realize that Hinata had truly grown, along with the rest of them. She was no longer that stuttering little girl who only began to show any sign of independence during her first chuunin exams, yet neither was she the still-shy girl with a more-than generous chest.

Hinata had grown into a beautiful woman, and was now waiting for her second child along with her husband, Kiba. At first, everyone was really shocked hear that the two were going out, they had kept it a secret for the most part. The only reason that Sakura knew ahead of time was because Hinata and Sakura had grown a lot closer since Naruto's departure, and shared almost everything with each other. Regardless, Sakura had put on a pretty well-constructed 'surprised' mask when Kiba and Hinata had told everyone.

She had enough practice with her 'happy' mask that she wore every day now.

"I-I'm fine, Hinata-chan." Sakura smiled an incredibly broken smile towards her close friend. One that, surprisingly enough, would even fool Ino. However, Hinata didn't need her Byakugan to tell something was wrong.

"W-was it about N-Naruto-kun?"

Sakura blinked, surprised that Hinata was even able to talk about her first crush so easily. While everyone had taken the news hard, Hinata had been one of the most distraught. That and… well Sakura as well.

As a stubborn, rogue tear rolled down the rosette's cheek, she could only nod sadly as her memories flooded back into her mind.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you are hereby condemned to death for your traitorous acts against the village of Konohana and its citizens." came the voice of an elderly councilman.

There was a shudder that ran across all those who attended, followed by a roar of protest. Among the protesters were Naruto and Sakura, who were definitely shouting the loudest.

"You can't do this!" Naruto practically roared, "he didn't know what he was doing! He was under the influence of the curse seal!"

Of course, he knew in his heart that it was a lie, but no… he couldn't have brought his brother back after so long, just to see him get executed! It wasn't right! Sakura, on the other hand, wasn't doing that much better.

"BASTARDS!" She screamed, trying to run forwards and assault the councilmen, only to be restrained by a rather somber Tsudane. "Hokage-sama! You can't let them do this!"

Tsudane couldn't answer, only turn her gaze ashamedly to the side. It was out of her hands. If the council wanted to see blood, they would have it.

"SILENCE!" The leader of the council roared, slamming a staff onto the ground to signal it. However, it took a few tries before the crowd's noise finally died down. "The judgement passed against Uchiha Sasuke is final! This is not up for discussion! Now that the verdict is passed, this meeting is adjourned!"

Sasuke didn't even flinch. He was expecting this. He had been expecting this ever since the day he left Konohana. People weren't forgiving, they didn't give second chances, they weren't like Naruto.

Naruto. For a moment, a pair of onyx, emotionless eyes turned to meet a part of horrified and outraged bright blue ones. However, this only lasted a moment before Sasuke reverted his attention back forward, as an ANBU officer stepped forward to bring him back to his cell.

Unable to hold back, Sakura broke down, tears flowing freely from her eyes. No… no… no… this couldn't be happening, they had finally gotten him back and now… this?!

Why were the fates so cruel to them? Why couldn't fate just smile on them once during their pathetic existences? Why? WHY?! It just wasn't fair!

"Wait!"

Everyone froze, heads turning to the source of the noise. If they hadn't recognized it from his voice, they would have recognized him through the means of seeing his head full of bright blond hair. Sasuke was halted moments before he reached the door that would forever take him away from the sight of his friends.

"Is there something you wish to say, Uzimaki Naruto?" The leader of the council raised an eyebrow. What did the Kyuubi possibly want to offer?

For a long time, Naruto's fists were clenched at his sides, shaking from a mixture of rage and horror. No… he couldn't let this happen. He wouldn't let this happen. The blond-haired boy's jaw was set in a grim line as he mentally prepared himself.

'Don't worry Sakura-chan, it's a promise of a lifetime.'

"If you have nothing to s—…"

"TAKE ME INSTEAD!"

Despite what everyone had initially thought, Sakura did not jump all over Sasuke after his return. Quite the opposite, actually. In fact, even after five years, Sakura had not chosen to date any man. Her excuse was simply that she didn't have the time, or had to focus on training, or didn't want to ruin a friendship.

But everyone with half a brain knew that it was a lie.

Not to say that Sakura wasn't attractive at all, that in itself would be a complete lie. Over the past five years, Sakura had achieved the absolute pinnacle of beauty that other women could only be jealous of. Her rather lacking chest as a child had grown and definitely filled out, along with a rear that could make Ero-senin fall over with a nosebleed, (though, that wasn't really saying much.) Her hair was as pink as ever, still at the same length as it had been since she cut it back in the forest and held back with a red, Konohana hair band.

Any man that didn't try to chase after this girl was a fool.

However, any time a man would come to her with a bocay of flowers, or a love-note, she would just kindly decline. Any man who attempted to persist past that quickly learnt exactly why she was the Hokage's student.

"I miss him too." Hinata admitted, taking a seat next to Sakura's form on her bed, lightly wrapping an arm around her friend's shoulder and rubbing it gently. "B-but… sometimes we have to move on."

"… How can you say that?" Sakura whispered lowly, a couple more tears rolling down her cheeks. "How could I even think about that when I'm the one who caused all of it?"

Hinata sighed, before shaking her head lightly. Tenderly, the Hyuuga girl wrapped an arm around her bulging stomach, smiling down at it thoughtfully. "You move on… because he would have wanted you to move on."

With that, she stood up to leave the rosette to her thoughts, only stopping at the door to look over her shoulder.

"He never cried." Hinata's soft voice rang out sadly, "No matter what."

Once Hinata was gone, Sakura silently broke down into tears. 'I-it's all my fault…'

A/N: Hey all, this is my first Naruto fic, so sorry if some things are off. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter!

Please R&R!