Haunt: Where it all began
6 years have passed ever since Sakura and Naruto saw Sasuke's shadow casting on to them after the final battle with the founder of the Akatsuki. His final words rang loud and clear in their minds.
- - -
"Don't go looking for me."
I'm long gone.
- - -
Naruto had gritted his teeth and wanted to lash out at him; to yell, shout, and scream for him to come back. Back to them. And that everything else did not matter anymore. Sakura held him back, her arms gripping around his solitary frame withholding the anguish and betrayal she felt as he disappeared in a swirl of clouds.
Naruto body shook with anger, despair, loneliness and many other emotions as he saw Sasuke vanish from his sight once more leaving him and Sakura alone again and Team 7 to be always incomplete. Where had he gone wrong? What had Sakura do wrong? Sakura threw her arms around Naruto and sobbed, tears spilling out, staining his ragged clothing with salty liquid.
The only thing that they had remembered on that faithful day was his unruly ebony locks, how it had framed his face so perfectly despite after the long neck-to-neck fight, the smell of dried blood that covered him from head to toe and the dark crimson gaze of his eyes.
- - -
"SASUKE!!!"
- - -
Perhaps that was how it all started. Sakura finally agreed to date the blonde. But no matter how both they both tried to hide it, they knew that there was always one part of them missing. One look was all it took. They had both arrived at the same conclusion. They would find him and reclaim their missing piece. No matter what it takes.
A summer passed.
And they were getting no closer to achieving their original goal. The Uchiha seemed determined to evade their path.
- - -
"Do you think we will ever find him, Naruto?"
"Don't say things like that, Sakura-chan. Of course we will find him. Definitely."
- - -
Yet somehow, his voice had also sounded unsure to him.
Another few months of sleepless nights passed as Naruto and Sakura hugged each other tightly in the night when they slept, trying to compensate for the lack of one more pair of warm comforting arms around them. How they missed the smell of charcoal and tomatoes that he carried around. Theoretically, burnt tomatoes weren't supposed to smell good; it should have smelt horrible but the Uchiha still managed to pull it off.
As they watch the dying embers of the flame, Sakura stared up at the sky, looking at little jewels that sprinkled upon the velvet night sky. Naruto stared wistfully at the pale orange moon that hung proudly among its fellow stars. It was a full moon.
- - -
"Hey Sakura-chan…do you think he is looking up at the sky now watching the moon?"
"Naruto how cheesy can you be?!"
"Ouch!"
"But as cheesy as it is, I wish he were looking at it with us too."
"Sakura-chan…"
- - -
While catching to take a bite at a food stand before resuming their search at the borders of the land of fire, Naruto and Sakura both heard a rumor that was floating around; apparently the Uchiha was heard to be finally found dead on the edge of the forest while fighting of some of Konoha's ninjas. It didn't sound real. In fact it sounded so ridiculous that Sakura rolled her eyes and couldn't help bursting out in laughter when she first heard about it.
- - -
"Sasuke being killed by some Konoha ninjas? As if that could ever happen. Right Naruto?"
"Yeah. He is strong. That bastard probably can't stand such a blow to his pride if he were to be defeated by them…"
- - -
But even so, she could never run away from the millions of 'what if's dancing through her mind every night before she slept. Naruto could only hold her close whenever she starts to hyperventilate about what they would actually do if he ever disappeared. Would they be torn apart? Could they even continue to live without him? Naruto tried not to think so much and tried to assure her that it would never happen. Their beloved would return to them when he finally snaps out of his stupidity.
Right?
Right.
- - -
"Hey Naruto, what are you going to do when you finally meet him?"
"I'm going to beat that bastard up until he can't walk for the whole week."
"Well I'm going to make sure that he won't be able to move for a month! Shannaro!"
- - -
Tsunade snapped at last and rounded up a group of ANBUs to bring them back to Konoha. What would the other villages comment if two of their best shinobis had decided to abandon their duties just for the sake of one comrade? This would not do. They would have to stop all this nonsense at once. If they wouldn't, she would help them to. Even if it is by force.
Two weary ninjas were dragged back all the way to Konoha with their wrist bounded with chakra strings.
- - -
"This is so not cool…"
"Having to stop our search…"
"All because Tsunade-baa-chan wants as back."
"Naruto!"
"Sorry, Sakura-chan."
"…it's alright."
- - -
Sympathetic glances from villagers and ninjas were tossed to them as they walked through the town to the Hokage tower. Naruto and Sakura ignored them, their eyes only staring blankly ahead.
- - -
"Snap out of it you two! You both can't go on like this! Your duties are also as equally important! What if…"
Tsunade ranted at the both of them furiously. Sakura glance at the ground guilty. Naruto tried reason with the ferocious twin-tailed blond to no avail.
"But Tsunade-baa-chan…"
"No buts, Naruto! From now on, you and Sakura are thereby banned from stepping out of Konoha until further notice."
"Tsunade-baa-chan!"
"Tsunade-sama!"
It's for your own good.
- - -
Many weeks few past without notice. Sakura decided to continue her work as a medic nurse in the Konoha hospital while Naruto went to idle around when he had finished training. Nothing was ever the same. Sakura had tried to avoid Naruto while Naruto did the same. They couldn't see each other without feeling the same pang of pain within the hearts.
Tsunade let up the sentence after observing that they were no longer trying to force their way out of Konoha.
Everyone had changed.
Sakura continued to drown herself in work while Naruto took over the pervy sage's name and continued his line of work. (Of course that doesn't mean that he had continued with the Icha Icha volumes)
Sakura had strived her hardest to become the best of the best, continuous driving herself to the limit, earning her the position as one of the best medics known all around.
Naruto had travelled to the other villages to created more bonds and connections to Konoha, should it ever come in handy, never staying in Konoha for more than a day or two long before handing in his report and setting out again. He never did forget to train however, and went on many S-class missions, earning him the title similar to his father's the "The Yellow Wind of Konoha".
The gaping hole of their hearts was never satisfied. Not even after all their achievements.
What had become of Team seven?
Perhaps it was mean to be this way after all?
Tsunade didn't think so.
- - -
"Naruto, Sasuke, I wonder sometimes where you all have disappeared to. I barely even see you guys anymore. Sasuke's already far too gone…Naruto, please, wherever you are, I pray you will never turn out to be like him. I don't think my heart can take it anymore if you vanish forever as well…"
- - -
"Sakura-chan, I'll never forget the promise we made ever since Sasuke went to Orochimaru. I don't want to let you down but this is something I got to do. I'll drag the bastard's body back to you if it's the last thing I ever will do. Wait for me, Sakura-chan."
- - -
Sakura woke up the next morning, her heart pounding quickly in her ribcage. She wipe of the sweat that appeared on her forehead and looked out of the window towards the foreboding sky. Something bad was going to happen. She knew it. She could smell it in the air. Clenching her fist tightly, she got out of her soft bed and started with her daily routine. Sakura hoped that what was going to happen that day wouldn't be what she thought it was…
"Sakura! Sakura! SAKURA!"
One of the younger, inexperienced nurses sprinted towards her screaming at the top of her lungs.
"What is it? You know you shouldn't be running about in the hospital-"
"The hokage wants to see you! She says that it is very important. Something about a guy name Sasuke or was that his name-"
Sakura's face turned pale. Her parched lips moved but made no sound.
It couldn't be.
She dropped the clipboard she was holding and anxiously made her way to the tower at the speed that even the wind would envy.
Not after all these years.
Had Naruto been able to knock in some sense to Sasuke finally?
Or did he come back by his own?
Anxiety bubbled within her as she gripped the door handle tightly.
"Tsunade-sama, may I come in?"
"Yes."
She opened the door slowly. The first thing that she caught a glimpse of was bright yellow hair.
"Sakura-chan! It's been a long time since we seen each other!"
"How about Sasuke? Where is he? Tell me!"
The room suddenly went silent.
"Sakura, please don't panic on what we are about to tell you."
She looked at her mentor and her apprentice before looking back at Naruto whose eyes refused to look at her. A cold stone dropped into the pits of her stomach.
No…please not let it be what she thought it is.
They stood to the side as she walked slowly towards the body laid on the bloodstained table. He looked as regal as ever, even until death. There was not a single scar nor blemish on his face. His expression was as cold and expressionless as ever, perhaps a little more relaxed. A drop of water landed upon the face, followed closely by another and soon, a whole torrential downpour continued.
Sakura lifted her one of her hands shakily to caress the porcelain skin. So cold. So lifeless. It was like his was never alive to begin with.
Just like a doll.
"Sakura-chan, I'm so sorry. I should have prevented it from happening, I should have been the one lying there, I should have…"
"Stupid! How can you say that! I-I loved you as much as that idiot there!"
She rushed forward to his warm embrace and cried.
She knew from the start that it would always end like this.
He knew that it was an impossible dream for them to always be together.
But they had hoped that a miracle would happen.
"That bastard! How can he leave us like that! And always giving me the hardest part of the job…"
"He told me in his last breath to tell you that he had always loved me and you…"
"Stop it Naruto, I don't want to hear it anymore!"
"..right from the very beginning…,"
"Shut up Naruto!"
Sakura hiccupped, her eyes red and puffy with tears. She tried to escape from his hold. Naruto held her tight. She looked away from him, afraid of what she would see. He grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. His eyes were darkened with pain, guilt and most of all, grief.
"Look at me!"
She stilled.
"…till the very end."
She let out another loose sob.
Naruto could only grabbed her tight and hoped that he wouldn't crumble as well.
Tsunade and Shizune looked at the pair with unbidden sadness. They did not deserve such an end.
The clock continued on with its lonely chime and the rain had started to pour.
Why?
Why?!
WHY?!
This idea has been lurking in my mind for some time already.
Don't disappear just yet! There's a sequel.
Review? Make an author's day happy today!
Luki