AN: Bear with Sakura's annoying voice for the first few paragraphs. She'll gradually become un-annoying and a deeper character. My shot at making Sakura a hero.

Road to Cherry Blossoms

First Path

Prologue: Conflicted

"You're annoying, Sakura. What if you felt the loneliness I felt when my family died?"

Despite my efforts, I start crying. "Don't go, Sasuke, I love you! Please!"

Sasuke stares at me with such cold, bloodthirsty eyes. It scares me so badly, like the time that woman almost killed Sasuke during the Chuunin Exams.

"I think you need to experience the pain I felt. Only then will you understand me. And understand I don't want your love; I don't need your love."

"Sasuke!"

Sasuke flickers away, leaving me all alone under the night sky. Did he leave Konoha? I don't think so. Did my love change him? I don't know what else to do, so I head home.

What's wrong with Sasuke? Is he going to get any better? I know Sasuke will have the strength to handle himself. I know he does, because he's Sasuke. He's strong and flawless. There's nothing an ordinary me can do.

He said some mean things, like he doesn't want my love, but that's not going to stop me from loving him! Sure I'll cry a little, but this won't diminish my love for him. This won't...

I see my house at the last second and stop, almost tripping over my own feet. Mom and Dad will probably be ticked I'm home late. I'll get grounded, I bet. It's so ridiculous! If they don't want me, they can kick me out - I'll go live with Sasuke!

I reach for the doorknob - no, the door is cracked open just a little! Did they leave trying to find me? Or did they leave because they forgot about me? I wouldn't doubt it's the latter.

I push open the door and step into the entrance, ready to shout into the darkness of my house: "I'm back!" But only a few steps away from are...are...

...are my parents. They're lying on the floor, and there's blood surrounding them like a puddle.

I'm sure my breath picks up, because my lungs are burning.

No, no, no - who did this? Who killed them? It wasn't Sasuke, was it? It couldn't be! There's no evidence!

I think you need to experience the pain I felt.

His parents died before him, right? Sasuke killed my parents? He killed my parents? That's not Sasuke! That's not Sasuke I know!

I feel I'm the one who's dying. I drop to my knees. I can't comprehend why Sasuke is able to do something like this. I don't know if I want to consider the fact he'd do this.

"Mom...Dad..."

I know I hate my parents, but I never wanted them to die. Especially not by my Sasuke's hands.

"Mom! Dad! Wake up! Wake up, please! Don't die!"

I shake their cold bodies. My vision heats up and blurs; soon tears pour out, unstoppable.

"Wake up! Wake up!"

I keep screaming that because I can't stand up. I'm shaking too badly and if I leave, Sasuke might come back and do something worse.

No, Sasuke can't do something like this! He's - He's the love of my life! He'd never...

"S-Sakura? What's the matter - oh no..."

"What's going on - oh my goodness!"

"Call the medics immediately! Now, somebody!"

Someone wraps me in their arms and hugs me tightly. It's a woman; she smells just like that perfume I liked a while ago. She places my head on her chest and says gentle words, but I keep crying and trembling.

Sasuke, why? Why would you do this? I don't understand...you can't be able to do this! You're my prince!

Maybe Sasuke is trying to save me from my oppressive parents? Maybe that's why he killed them! So I shouldn't feel sad they died, because they were villains, right?

No, no, villains or not, a part of me love them, and a part of me thinks that Sasuke can't fix his problem.

The woman picks me up, and I get a glimpse of nurses caring to my parents' bodies. Seeing their pale skin under the moonlight makes me cry even more.

I spend the night in the hospital, on one of the uncomfortable benches. A nurse wakes me up - my head hurts - and guides me to their room. Inside is a young girl and her pig.

What's a pig doing in a hospital?

"You're Sakura, right?" she smiles. "It's very nice to meet you."

"So they're dead?" I say. The woman avoids my eyes.

"I had to do some stitching and deal with the massive blood loss, but they're alive," she says. "However, they can't come home just yet. There could be internal bleeding, chances of shock, chances of trauma - oh! I shouldn't list all this to a young girl..."

They're alive. I focus on their bandaged bodies lying on the beds as if they're only sleeping and will wake up once I call their names. It's obvious they're unconscious. Dad would've reacted immediately to my name; Mom would probably scold me for being late last night.

"It's not my first time in a hospital," I say.

The doctor holds her pig a little tighter. "Oh, it makes sense because you're an kunoichi. Um...that's right! Um, a man came by, Sakura. He said as soon as you felt better, he needed to see you urgently by your house."

"My house?" I hope their blood isn't stained on the floor. I want to forget any of this happened.

"Yes, ma'am. Are you okay, Sakura?"

"I'll be fine," I say because explaining would take too much time.

I run out the room and down the hospital stairs to the lobby. That man has to be Kakashi-sensei. He must know if Sasuke's gone. I couldn't stop him from leaving - it's a choice he made willingly.

I dash down the path to my home and can see sensei slouched on the wall, reading that orange book, but I know that's an act. His star pupil is gone. He should be completely wracked with worry at least.

I slow down when I get near. Kakashi-sensei hears my loud footsteps and straightens up to talk to me. "Sakura, your parents. How are they? Are you okay?"

"Kakashi-sensei, please tell me you stopped Sasuke from leaving somehow!"

Sensei stares at me and fails to respond.

"Please!" My eyes starting heating up. "Please tell me Sasuke is okay..."

"Sasuke...has left." My heart aches. "But, Hokage-sama is currently gathering a team of shinobi to bring Sasuke back."

No, my heart feels a little lighter. "Are they still here?"

"It think so. But they might be leaving right now..."

I start running before he finishes. I gotta see who is on that team! Is Naruto on it? He has to be! He cares about Sasuke, I know he does!

I even remember when Naruto came into the hospital room that day. That day when I was cutting apples for Sasuke, but he got mad at me. He hit the apples out of my hand, and I accidentally cut his arm with my knife.

Sasuke stared at the thin, red line, then he glowered at me. I remember shivering. Naruto said something, but I was lost in his cold eyes.

"I'm sorry," I choked out. "That didn't hurt, did it? I'll clean it off." I reached for his arm with my napkin. He slaps my hands away hard enough for a pink mark to form. Naruto yelled, Sasuke said horrible things, and then they were fighting on the rooftop.

Kakashi-sensei redirected their techniques. I remember Sasuke's wound opened even more. Blood dripped out of it. He stared at it, then me, with emotionless eyes.

Sasuke, why? What did I do? It was an accident! I could never hurt you!

In the present, I see a bright orange. I run a little faster. Naruto. Along with a bunch of other boys, but it's Naruto, ready to leave on what has to be a mission.

"Naruto!"

He turns around, confused. His eyes meet mine and light up. "Sakura! I'm gonna get Sasuke back for you - "

"Naruto." I stop, panting. "I...couldn't stop Sasuke...from leaving." Admitting that makes tears fall all over again.

"It's okay, Sakura, I'll bring him back for you..."

"Promise me that you'll..."

That Naruto will what?

"That you'll return just like this - safe and sound!" My voice sounds awful because I'm crying. "That you won't leave me!"

I stare deep into his blue eyes. I want him to know I really mean it. I depended on Sasuke to protect me, but I kept hurting him and he kept hurting me, and now I'll leave it up to Naruto to protect me. I believe Naruto can do it.

Sasuke is done with Konoha, and done with me. But I won't let him go that easily.

I think a long pause has passed before Naruto grins, gives me a thumbs up, and says, "You got it, Sakura! You have my word!"

I feel slightly relieved, but there's still a heavy weight on my shoulders. "Thank you, Naruto..."