Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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A cool wind drifted down from the dark clouds circling just above the temporary campsite, hidden under the trees protective canopy.

A small, petite figure stood with her hand resting against the bark of a branch, her feet spread apart so that she could keep her balance against the brutal wind that was threatening to carry her away.

As she tilted her head to gaze back down at the sleeping forms below her, she silently made an oath to protect them, no mater what happened on the mission she was just recently assigned to. She refused to stand back in the sidelines and watch as her friends fought with their very lives on the line. No longer will she become a hindrance. A deadweight.

No. This time she would do something usefull. This time, she wouldn't get in the way. It was all up to her now.

With a small smile on her face, she turned back to face the upcoming storm that was headed their way.

Sparks of lightning could be seen miles of ways as a loud crack of thunder shook the trees sturdy branches. The figure instinctively jumped away from the violently shaking branch to land on the soft ground below, now muddied from the silent drops of rain that came down from the ever darkening sky.

'Sakura...?'

The form turned her head to the left to see a certain blonde huddled in his sleeping bag, kept dry by the green tinted tent propped up against the sturdy surface of a nearby tree trunk, perfectly camouflaged with the forest surroundings.

Her gaze drifted from his sleeping form to the crackling fire that hissed with each raindrop that touched its dying embers.

With a smile lifted on the corners of her delicate face, she began to gently poke the burning flames in order to keep warm, watching as the wood cracked and erupted small sparks of light into the air. Almost like fireworks. Leaning her head back against her shoulders, she gently began to rub her stiff shoulders, smoothing out the tense muscles underneath. She then proceded to tilt her head side to side, sighing as her neck popped on either side of her head. How she envied Naruto and Kakashi for having the opportunity to sleep the night away, safe and warm under the sheltering cloth.

Goosebumps began to appear alongside her arms just at the mere thought of it. With one hand draped around her huddled knees, the small figure pulled up a tan hood that concealed her shivering body.

'Sakura….'

A lump began to form in her constricted throat. 'How has it come to this…' The form shook her head, letting a small pink strand escape from under the shelter of her thin cloak.

'I just don't understand…' She closed her eyes trying to fight back the tears that clung to her. 'Sasuke…'

Sakura felt a yawn crawling up into the back of her throat, but forced it not to make its presence known. A few seconds later, Sakura felt her mind slide into a troubled sleep, her back resting against a nearby tree.

(Flashback)

The sides of her ribs were beginning to ache with the struggle to breathe as she raced through the gates of Konoha with Naruto clamped tightly around her shoulders.

They both had severe cuts all over their bodies, she had tried to heal the worst of the wounds…but with that battle, she and Naruto were drained of chakra and risked fainting from chakra depletion. She had to hurry.

She forced herself to move faster by pushing the last of her chakra towards her feet, determination written throughout her eyes. 'Naruto…'

The gash in her side was beginning to bleed again as her wound re-opened. She felt herself flinch at the needle like pain that shot up her side with every step she took. She was drenched in Naruto's sweat as well as her own.

Her lungs were begging her to stop, her muscles screaming for her to take a break. She could feel the trickle of blood on the nape of her neck, but pushed the thought a side.

'Faster, we have to move faster…before they…'

"Naruto! Hang on just a little while longer, we're almost to the Hospital…" She whispered .

Naruto, who was already half unconscious, could only let out a soft grunt in reply.

She was now gasping for air, not to mention she was feeling rather light headed and her eyesight kept drifting in and out of consciousness.

'I'm loosing to much blood..'She thought.

As they neared the hospital, a few shinobi stopped to stare at the passing figures flying on top off the rooftops, their pace never slowing down as the pink haired shinobi burst through the hospital doors, her hand clutching to a nearby wall for support.

A few nurses tried to calm the frantic pink haired woman, but before any of them could lay a hand on her, she collapsed to the ground in a pool of blood along with the now unconscious blonde…

Snap!!!!

(End of flashback)

The petite girl jumped up from her position by the fire with a kunai held close to her now sweating form.

She stared at the direction from which the sound came from, eyes penetrating the surrounding darkness. Taking a step foward, she threw her kunai at the nearby brush, her muscles tensed in case anything came out.

Silence met her.

The hood fell from her head, exposing her shoulder length pink hair, with the red leaf ninja headband tied neatly behind her ears. Her bright green orbs took in everything around her, leaving nothing untouched by her sharp hues.

Her cheeks were a rosy red, lips chapped from the cold. A crack of thunder tore her gaze away from the forest to the sky, as tiny droplets of water began to pour down from the inky black sky.

Her breathing slowed down from its sharp, rapid gasps to calm, controlled intakes of air.

She began to reach out with her chakra in order to scan the surrounding area for any signs of an unwanted presence, but came up empty handed. It wasn't long before she was drenched head to toe in the rain water.

'So it is you after all…'

"Hey Sakura! What are you doing out there in the rain like that? Are trying to catch a cold or somethin?"

A blond headed shinobi popped his head out from the shelter of his tent. At the mention of the pink haired Kunoichi's name, Sakura turned her attention from the omnious clouds to face her most beloved friend, Naruto, with a sheepish smile painted on her face.

"No, I'm fine Naruto," She lied.

Sakura met Naruto's speculating gaze with one of her fake smiles.

"You should probably get some more sleep, the sun wont be coming up for another few hours and….."

"You were thinking back to that day weren't you," Naruto cut in with a blank look on his face, his fists curled up into a tight ball by his side. Sakura could only look away. The rain was beginning to let up now, and she silently pulled her hair across her shoulders to squeez the rain water out of her salmon-pink locks.

"Of course not. I just thought I heard a sound is all." Sakura flung her hair back into its rightful position and gave him a thumbs up before jumping up onto her lookout post.

The clouds were beginning to move west, as the cool north wind blew against her shivering body.

'If this weather doesn't let up soon, I'm sure to have a severe cold by morning' She thought with a smirk on her face. Before Sakura could turn back to the campsite to retrieve a thicker cloak, a flash of orange and black caught her by the wrist.

"Hey Sakura, Ill take the rest of the watch. You should go ahead and get some rest while you still can." Naruto said with a wink before releasing her hand. "Don't forget about our mission , okay? I mean, we cant have a tired medic Nin with us all day tomorrow!" Naruto called out with one of his goofy grins lighting his face.

Sakura couldn't help but give out a shaky laugh.

"Don't worry too much about me Naruto, I can take care of myself." Sakura replied with a grin on her face. "Dont forget who saved you after ...that fatal blow. The one with Orochimaru and Kabuto." Flashes of Sasuke suddenly began to flash across her mind as Sakura said the snake Sannin's name. Sakura's head came down as a burst of anger flared up inside her.

She lifted her fist up into the air and punched a nearby tree as a source to rid her frustration, pretending that it was Sasukes face for a moment.

Sakura could hear her inner self scream out in horror at what she just thought.

'You know that you still hold feelings for Sasuke-kun!'

'Dont you have something better to do!?' Sakura thought back fiercely.

'Just admit it. You do still hold feelings for him!'

'Ill do no such thing!! He left Konoha, Naruto and Kakashi!' Sakura let all of her depression slip away into her concious. 'He left me....'

Not even Sakura's inner self could deny that little fact.

Naruto reached out with his hand to try and comfort the shaking girl, but pulled back when he saw the deep crack in the tree. "Dont worry Sakura-chan. We'll bring him back just as I promised to you all those years ago!"

"It doesnt matter. He'll just run away again..." Sakura knew it was true, and so did Naruto.

A sad smile made its way to her lips as she thought back to there Genin days.

'And to think that i used to be one of his crazy fan girls...'

Naruto let a smirk light up his face as he casually pulled his hands behind his head, undetered by her words. "Yeah, whatever you say Sakura-chan! Even if he does, we'll just drag him back."

Naruto looked up into the night sky before turning back to face Sakura again. "Alright well I'm off." Naruo said with a thumbs up.

Naruto glanced over his shoulder one last time as he jumped higher into the tree-tops. "Try and get some sleep Sakura-chan."

"Yeah." Sakura replied with a jerky nod.

Sakura stood on the slick tree branch a little shocked, before nodding her head in thanks. She then reached out with her hand to try and suppress a yawn as her eyes began to flutter close.

'I guess I never noticed how tired I was…' Sakura thought back to herself. With one last glance at the retreating blonde headed shinobi, she turned on her heels and hopped down from her perch to snuggle her way into the warm blankets already laid out for her near Naruto's tent.

'You were always looking after me, Naruto...' She thought with a yawn escaping her lips. She dug her head closer into her soft pillow before she slipped into unconsciousness, taken away by a dreamless sleep.

'….Sakura'

It was then that the direction of the wind changed, and a retreating figure disappeared from within the forest, leaving behind nothing but the peaceful night and a silent promise.

'They will be glad to hear about you, cheery blossom…'

And with that, he took off, a smile creeping upon his face.

(A/N) Hmm...so i wonder who that could be?

Alright, so first chapter up! (YAY!) Second chapter will probably be up tomorrow, seeing how I've already written it :)

Yep. I haven't really thought up a plot just yet, so I'm just following wherever my words take me :) And don't you worry, sasuke will be making his appearence in the next chapter

(I hope this story turns out ok!! Cross your fingers!) Ok, so thanks for reading!! PLEASE REVIEW!