RED

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me.

A/N: My writing has been rusty due to the fact that I haven't written an actual story since like high school. I'm still trying to re-edit this chapter, but I'm having the hardest time getting it to my liking. So not wanting to spend another hour reading this again..I just decided to upload it. And now, I'm going pray that I actually finish this story.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The End

He was back.

That was the first thing that came to her mind as she stared at the white ceiling. She knew where she was. She had spent the last six years trying to prove herself, prove that she was a capable kunoichi so that the next time she saw him, he would finally acknowledge her in some shape or form. But all that effort was rendered futile when she realized that no amount of hard work or dedication she had, would succeed in landing a blow on him, let alone bringing him back.

Their latest meeting was during the last bit of the war. Madara taken her captive knowing that Naruto would eventually come looking for her. She had been on the verge of losing consciousness when she caught a glimpse of Naruto and Sasuke heading her way. But it was those two words that came out of Sasuke's mouth, that killed the last thread of hope of ever saving that boy – man she thought she loved. "Kill her."

"Haruno-san, you're awake! How are you feeling?" Sakura recognized her as one of the nurses she had been training before the war broke out, Yuki or something.

"How long have I been out?" She tried to sit up but felt a wave of nausea hit her before falling back on her pillow.

"Three days now. Naruto came by not so long ago to see you."

Naruto. Trying to fight the dizziness, Sakura pushed back the covers and let her feet touch the cold floor. "Where is he?"

"Haruno-san! You can't get up yet! He just went to check up on Uchiha-san. He usually comes back later."

Sighing, she climbed back into bed.

"If you need anything, just call me. I'll come check up on you later!" Sakura nodded and Yuki quietly closed the door behind her.

Right. He was back.

She'll just have to wait until Naruto briefs her on Sasuke's condition. Years ago, if someone asked Sakura how she felt about Sasuke, the answer would have been automatic – that she still loved him. But now, her thoughts were a mess. Over the years her friendship with Naruto had grown to the point where the line had started to blur. She knew he was still in love with her, albeit not in the same way as when they were twelve, but it was something deeper. It was no longer that childish infatuation, but utter devotion and caring that Sakura couldn't understand. She didn't know what he saw in her. Although Naruto didn't out rightly display his affection for her anymore, there were times when she would catch him looking at her.

"Well, this is nice. Naruto, thanks for walking me home."

Silence.

"Naru-"

Sakura was about to comment on his non-talkative behaviour tonight when she realized he had stopped and had been looking at her. Their eyes locked. At that moment, she didn't know what it was that she felt. All movement seemed to have come to an abrupt stop. Sakura had never seen him look at her like that before, and it made her stomach do flips. Even in the dark, Sakura could see the blue. Clear Ocean blue. She could almost see her reflection – wait, what? Since when did she get so close?

"Um..." It was her who broke eye contact first.

"Hey, Sakura-chan…I know it's a little late.. and I know you're probably tired..but.."

Since when did asking Sakura out on a date become so hard? He's done it plenty of times before.

"But, do you want to go to Ichiraku's? My treat! And-and it doesn't have to be a dat-"

"Okay."

That was when it all first started. That one date led to another and another and another. Sure, she might not have liked Naruto in exactly the same way she liked Sasuke, but it didn't meant that she didn't like Naruto at all. He had also gotten more attractive over the years, and Sakura was definitely not the only one who noticed. During the other dates, she saw those timid smiles the various girls from the village gave and the giggling from the trail of his mini club of fangirls.

Not to mention the many annoying Hello, Naruto-kun's he got in a morning.

Naturally, she felt uncomfortable – jealously and her anger would often flare, leaving Naruto in confusion.

-Snap- Sakura broke the chopsticks she was holding in her hands.

"Uh…Sakura-chan, if you didn't want ramen, you could've told me earlier.."

"You're right, I don't like ramen. But I'm sure that one of those girls from this morning would like some!" What the hell was that, Sakura? Why would you say something like that?! "I..I'm sorry, Naruto. Let's just eat."

She looked away and quickly buried her face in her bowl, however not missing the way the corners of Naruto's lips lifting slightly, almost in a teasing manner.

"Whatever you say, Sakura-chan."

Because of the war, the progress of their relationship had been put on hold, with her duties as a medic-nin and him being the kyuubi container they were all trying to protect. But that wasn't the only thing on pause. Her feelings, or what's left of it anyway, for a certain avenger were finally beginning to fade. All those moments spent with Naruto made her forget the ache in her heart, and as her feelings for Naruto grew stronger, those for her ex-teammate weakened.

How was she supposed to know that he'd be less than thirty feet way from her right now? How the hell did she not consider the possibility that he'd actually come back, despite all the other failed retrieval attempts? This was not taken into account. Now, it felt like someone taken all of her feelings and put them into a jumbo lottery machine and random thoughts were being spitted out.

God, this was hurting her head. Sakura, stop thinking so much.

She rolled over onto her side and forcefully shut her eyes. Go to sleep.

"With that being said, report to my office next week, just because you killed Madara doesn't mean you're off the hook. I'll have to speak with the council before deciding on your punishment."

"Hn."

"You should be grateful, Uchiha. If not for your sharingan, you'd be facing death right now! So don't you dare give me that attitude!" Tsunade was in good mood even though her voice didn't show it. To be honest, she was glad that Madara was dead and that the war was over. Seeing the amount of bloodshed each day reminded her of the Second War, except this time, she was not out on the battlefield. Instead, she was forced to watch her precious people sacrifice their own lives to protect their nation. Which, in her opinion, was worse.

However, the return of the Uchiha did complicate things…

"Teme! You hear that?! We're finally going to be together again!" Naruto was the happiest of them all; he had been looking forward to this since the day Sasuke left Konoha. "Me, you, Sakura-chan, and hell – even Sai! Team seven is back!"

"Naruto, Tsunade-sama didn't restore his status as a shinobi. He can't be a part of team seven.." Kakashi turned his eyes towards Tsunade. "Yet."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. She knew that he was trying to pressure her into lightening the punishment and allowing them to reinstate team 7. Kakashi might not have shown it, but she knew that he still blamed himself for the whole Sasuke predicament. He had taken ridiculously dangerous missions near the sound border in hopes of catching the Uchiha, and everytime someone reported a sighting of him, Kakashi would be the first to volunteer to investigate.

"Like I said, I'll have to speak with the council." Although she already knew that the Uchiha's return would not sit well with those two hags, she'll just have to make something out of it. "Let's go, we'll let these two catch up."

"Well, I'll see you two later," Kakashi hopped off the window ledge and walked towards the exit. Before closing the door, he added, "Oh, and Sasuke? Welcome back."

Sasuke smirked. Finally.

"So teme…" Naruto Naruto had gone through different scenarios in his head on how to get their team back together, but so far this was not going as planned. This was…for a lack of a better word – awkward. "Are you feel–"

"Is she dead?"

Naruto closed his mouth and blinked. "Is that all you have to say? After leaving her on the bench six years ago, and not to mention trying to kill her, that's all you have to say?!" Naruto was furious. Yes, Sasuke was his best friend, but that doesn't give him a free pass back to Sakura.

Sasuke turned his head to meet Naruto's eyes. "So is she?"

Naruto had spent the last couple of years trying to help Sakura forget about the pain this bastard had caused, and now Sasuke decides to care. He was not going to let this happen again. Sakura deserved someone better. He wasn't about let Sasuke trample her heart for a second time. So he got up, gave that jerk one last glare and left.

Sasuke watched him leave and narrowed his eyes when he heard the door slam shut. He let out the breath he had been holding since asking that question. Naruto didn't answer him. He had been getting answers all evening but didn't get the answer to the one fucking question he had cared about the most.

How the hell was he supposed to apolo – explain if he didn't know if Sakura was dead or not?!