The Ghost of You

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, anything related to Naruto, or related to shonen jump (besides a few issues of it and such lol)

A/N: Well this is my second naruto fanfic and first time trying angst. I tried to convey a little on how things might of changed if the major characters had it rougher. This is going to mainly focus on Sakura and how she has changed but don't worry Naruto is in there along with the other characters we all love, well most of them at least. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 1: Life, Death, and Rebirth

Hatake Kakashi ran full speed to where he had just felt a dark chakra burst. One of his faithful nin-dogs, Pakkun, ran beside him. It was at this moment that the sky had decided to open up and it started raining. Slowly at first, then it began to get heavy, like the world was crying over the events that had just took place. The two had just arrived at The Valley of the End, a fitting name for it. Because it was here that a relationship between comrades, a friendship, and a secret love between two people had just came to a crashing end.

The shinobi and dog landed besides a body. The left arm was just a pulp of bone and flesh, burns from the curse seal of heaven were apparent across the pale flesh of the raven haired boy. Beside Sasuke's body was the torn, bloody remains of a orange jacket. But it was the look in Sasuke's eyes that had shocked Kakashi. Leaning down, the boy smiled weekly and then handed him something.

"Tell Sakura, that I'm sorry. Tell her that she was my friend," he looked away for a second before looking back to Kakashi, his newly acquired Mangekyo Sharingan flashing as he drew the older man into his consciousness. He showed the battle to Kakashi and what had happen to Naruto before releasing the white haired jounin, "Tell her that I am truly sorry for killing Naruto..."

The raven haired boy had just looked peaceful now that he slowly slipped away. A squad of medic-nin appeared just at the moment and took in the scene.

"What happen?"

Kakashi looked down at the item Sasuke had given him. It was half of a leaf headband, broken by a chidori hit to the head, covered in Naruto's blood. He silent stood up and shed a tear before speaking, "Uchiha Sasuke is dead. Killed by wounds received during a battle with Uzumaki Naruto."

The Medic nodded then looked around for Naruto, "And where is Uzumaki?"

"He was killed by Sasuke, according to Sasuke."

A young pink haired girl paced back and forth. It had been three weeks since her sensei, Kakashi, had left to bring back Sasuke and Naruto. She had spent every day either in Tsunade's office or at the gate. Today she was at the gate watching for them with anticipation. It was at this moment that the Medic squad that was dispatched had slowly appeared in the distance.

Haruno Sakura had ran out to meat them with joy in her face. That joy was short lived as the jounin sensei grabbed his student and dragged her away from the squad. She had seen the pained looks in their faces as they carried one stretcher into the village.

She looked up at Kakashi, "Where is Sasuke? Where is Naruto?!? Where? Where are they!?" He just shocked his head and handed her a blood stained letter. It was addressed to her. Opening it, her eyes went wide at its contents. A letter from Naruto and a single key.

Dear Sakura,

I'm not sure why I'm righting this, but if all works out then you'll never see it anyway. If you are reading this, it means that something has happened to me. Well, I love you Sakura, with all my heart. Always have, always will. I'm leaving you the key to my apartment. It's yours if you want it. Well I better finish this up. Shikamaru only gave us a fifteen minute break.

Love you always,

Naruto

Sakura was speechless, she looked at Kakashi and handed the letter to him. He just hugged her after reading it and said two simple words, "I'm Sorry."

It was six months after the memorial service. Tsunade had the council make a memorial for Naruto. It was simple, the half of his headband embedded into a slab of obsidian. Under it was a inscription: "Never forget your precious people, they are your strength." It was erected in the square before the hokage tower and had been visited by many ninja over the months. Tsunade sighed as she walked up to it and noticed a single red rose on the ground before it. She had found one there everyday. The blonde hokage thought of her student, the one leaving the flowers. Sakura hadn't said much for the last few months. Her actions spoke clearly enough.

The pink haired kunoichi had basically a breakdown at the memorial. Rain had mixed with her tears as she just cried out their names. Everyone had lost a friend, but she lost two teammates. Two friends, a boy she had wanted to love and a boy that protected her because of his love. Since then, Sakura had pushed herself in training. Tsunade had took her in as her student, but was worried that Sakura was going to breakdown permanently if anything else bad happened. Of course the older lady was trying everything she could to help the child. Everyday saw improvement in Sakura's mood, but also marked the slow drain of emotions.

Three years ago was a hard time for Konoha. Many fine shinobi were lost, but a new generation of ninja had arose. Though this particular bunch was only 16 and 17. They had all suffered lose and pain. Couples had formed and teams were rearranged. Skills gained while old fears were shed. ANBU had also gain the skills of two of them, though one was questionable. That particular one was heading back to the village from a mission. Just a passing glance would tell anyone she was a woman. Her body, though lean and muscular, had curves in all the right places. The long pink hair was tinged with red highlights as it trailed behind her in the wind. It was bound up into nine ponytails, and along with the pink fox mask, had earned her the nickname "kyuubi". Well if she wasn't around, it was the kyuubi looking bitch. If ANBU members were emotionless, she was the poster child for it. Her cold jade green eyes showed no emotion while she carried out missions.

"Your late," came a voice as she landed on top of the hokage tower.

"Fuck you, Shikamaru, I completed the mission and returned as fast as I could," was her cold reply.

Shikamaru just sighed and lead her down into the hokage's office. Jiraiya looked at the two that wandered and sighed. Why he had agreed to take over for Tsunade as she visited Suna on business, he would never know. Now he had to deal with Fox. He had met her when he trained Naruto and at his memorial service, but that was when she was pleasant. Now, she was just cold and uncaring.

"Jiraiya-sama, I have the information from Suna," Fox said efficiently as she handed the older man a scroll.

"Please remove your mask, I like to actually see who I'm talking to." was his reply. She hesitated and then complied. Sakura had grown into a beautiful young woman. Though there were some weird changes. After Tsunade taught her the body manipulation jutsu, instead of using it to increase her bust or maintain a youthful appearance like Tsunade. Sakura had used it to lengthen her canines, and give her cold green eyes slitted pupils. That and the way the kunoichi did her hair, made her look a lot like a fox. "How was Suna?"

"Hot."

"I see, well then," He read the scroll and made a face. Was this right? Sasori of the red sand was captured and brought in for a bounty? While that was surprising being Sasori was a S-ranked criminal and a member of Akatsuki. The truly surprising part was the note Tsunade had attached to the scroll. It said to watch out for mist or fog. The bounty hunter had used it to conceal his presence, but she saw a flash of blond hair and a half of leaf headband. "Sakura," He said in a serious tone, "I'm taking you off ANBU, and giving you a week off."

"But, I am ne-" Sakura began.

"What you need is a week off, if you don't take it off. I'll see to it personally that Tsunade and Shizune paralyze you from the neck down while I read to you from my books," An evil grin appeared on the sannin's face as he knew she hated those books with a passion, "All of them."

Shikamaru shuddered from the killing intent rolling off of Sakura as she just nodded and left. He spoke up to the sannin, "Was that really necessary? She can be... Troublesome."

"You heard the rumors of the ghostly bounty hunter right?"

"Yea"

Jiraiya leaned back in his chair before adopting a serious face, "He was in Suna, Tsunade saw him and swears up and down that is was either the Yondaime or Naruto."

Shikamaru sighed, "Hokage-sama has started drinking again, troublesome."

"I don't think so, Naruto's body was never found. Just tell the others to watch out for fog or mist," Jiraiya dismissed the boy and went back to his paper work. He certainly hoped that Tsunade fell off the wagon instead of what he just implied to the Nara boy. If it was Naruto, where had he been these three years.

A/N: I will try to expand on the various changes of the group over the next few chapters leading up to surpriseing events, hope it meets your standards and as always reveiw for better chapters! suggestions are always helpful!