"Have no fear for when I'm alone I'll be better off than I was before."-Eddie Vedder

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Naruto plopped onto the grass clearly exasperated from the days work. He sighed deeply closing his eyes, unfortunately the sun continued to beat down on him and his pink haired companion. Turning his head ninety degrees he poked an eye open to examine her as she lay nearly three feet away from him on the same grassy plane. She, like him, had shed her shirt earlier due to the intense heat and the hard labor. So, as a result her upper torso was mostly exposed aside from the black sports bra that gracefully accentuated her naturally beautiful curves. Today she had also traded her skirt for a plain black pair of ninja pants, more appropriate for the dreary task of clearing the rubble from Pain's invasion of Konoha. "So how long are you going to stare at me?" She spoke without opening her eyes

He was abruptly brought out of his silent observation by her blunt question. However he decided to completely ignore her and he answered with a question of his own. "You worked pretty hard today, are you tired?"

She turned her head to his direction. In the process her eyes lazily opened revealing those striking emerald eyes. It occurred to him then why so many men had become infatuated with her. The years had treated her well, slightly changing and molding her into the kind of woman men yearned for and women envied. She had grown to a comfortable average size, not too short or tall. Her silky, pastel pink hair was still a shorter length and was currently pulled back into a messy ponytail. She had the most beautiful skin, lightly tanned and incredibly smooth. Her arms were toned, her shoulders strong, and her tight stomach displayed her perfectly sculpted abdominals. But what really drove him and the rest of the male population insane was her beautiful curves, the right sizes where put all in the right places. Sakura had really become a woman in these last few years. But what was amazing was that she, for some ludicrous reason failed to notice this about herself. Naruto was still admiring her when she spoke again, intending on giving him an answer to his question.

"I suppose I am, but it's not like I'm gonna sleep anyway." Her tone was laced with bitterness. Her statement was in fact true; ever since he left she started a habit of terrifying nightmares and sleepless nights. So ever since that terrible, humiliating night sleep had evaded her and she soon developed insomnia.

"Sakura-chan you should really get that checked ou-." He was abruptly cut off when she suddenly spoke over him.

"Naruto really, I tried all the tricks and it never works, so I think its time to just accept it and just deal." She got really annoyed sometimes when people tried to take care of her and after what had just happened her patience was running low lately. A little wave of guilt passed over her as soon as she saw the hurt look on his face, after all he was just trying help her. She quickly thought of a way to make it up to him.

"You know I've been craving some of Ichiraku's ramen lately, how about you and I get some dinner there tomorrow or something?" She asked pushing herself to a sitting position. The blonde's cerulean eyes lit up instantly.

"Hell yes!" He shouted. Sakura gave him a soft smile. Ramen was truly a sure way to his heart. "Hey Sakura-chan you sure we can't go tonight? I'm starving!"

Sakura let out a lengthy breath. "Lets keep it tomorrow, I have to do some ….stuff." Naruto responded with one of his questioning looks, clearly giving her the "eye."

"Perhaps you could take some time to shave your face this afternoon instead." She teasingly poked him in the side of his face, which was coated with a thickening layer of dirty blonde whiskers. Naruto made a face and brought both hands to his rub his rough cheeks.

She stood and pulled her dark grey t-shirt over her head. Looking down she chuckled at the sight of her blonde friend still rubbing his rough face. It appeared he still wasn't used to shaving.

Naruto had also changed a lot over the years. He had experienced a growth spurt like most boys do and he now stood at least five inches taller than her. It was evident how hard he had trained during his absence. His skin had become darker from the sun and an occasional scar could be spotted. His muscles had been well developed. His arms bulged, his chest and shoulders broad and toned, and his stomach hard with muscle. And of coarse the facial hair had started, even a few miniscule hairs graced the center of his muscular chest. But one thing that could never change were those sparkling blue eyes, the bright blonde hair, and the toothy grin. Even age had nothing on his personality and that did Sakura just fine. She enjoyed the fact that Naruto was always his loud, obnoxious self; it was something constant she could rely on. These days there weren't many things she could rely on.

She began to walk away when she heard Naruto call after her. "Sakura-chan you know you could just stay with me instead of Sai, my place is a lot closer."

Sakura shoved her hands in her pockets and sighed heavily. She wished he would just let it go, there was a reason she had chosen to stay with Sai instead of him. During the invasion her tiny apartment had been destroyed, and she had the generous offer of shelter with either Naruto or Sai. She had felt terrible seeking refuge with Sai. She knew how much it would mean to Naruto if she had chosen to stay with him, but she also was aware of how in love with her he was. She would have liked to be with Naruto but she couldn't do it because she felt it was selfish to use him that way when she could never return his feelings.

"Naruto…" She paused. "I-, I just need to be alone."

"But Sakura-chan I—"

"And please drop the suffix, I'm not a girl anymore." She knew that was harsh, but she was sick of everything. Sick of people trying to coddle her, sick of feeling everyone's pity. She didn't deserve any of it. Even after all she had gone through and how much stronger she had become, she still didn't feel worthy.

She walked away from him without another word, she didn't know what else she could say.

Instead of going back to Sai's place she decided to saunter around the village and quarrel with her thoughts alone. Night had fallen and the parts of the city that had been untouched by the invasion lit up and glowed in the darkness.

Instead of joining the other villagers in the lively night life she stood in the shadows unnoticed to everyone. She had pulled a pair of black Ray-bans over her so that no one could see her eyes. The phrase that said that "eyes were a window into the soul" kind of took an effect on her. She didn't want anyone to look into her soul. In her mind underneath it all she was broken and scared. Under no circumstances did she want anyone to see that.

She leaned heavily on the wall to the ally she was standing in. Searching in her pocket she drew out a half empty pack of smokes and a stainless steel lighter. Placing the cigarette in her mouth she flipped open the lighter and lit up. Exhaling a cloud of smoke she began to think of how everything used to be.

When she was a scrawny Genin everything had seemed perfect. There was her lazy sensei of course. Always cool and witty, and how he would always read those perverted books of his. Naruto was always loud and slightly obnoxious, but he always knew how to put a smile on her face. And then there was him. Sasuke, Uchiha. The boy, now man that in her mind was responsible for the pathetic state she was currently in. Just thinking of his cold black eyes and beautiful face made her bite down on her cigarette.

Reaching into her pocket again she drew out a wallet sized photo of the original team 7. She glared through her shades at the raven haired boy. Regret hit her harder than a speeding truck as she looked into those endless onyx eyes. How had she allowed herself to love him so freely? Looking back now it seemed so stupid she almost hated herself. She should have known not to get so close to him. She should have never formed that bond with him. Because when you love people you only get hurt, and that's exactly what happened.

She blew out another cloud of smoke.

By this time in her life she was used to enemies hurting her, sometimes she even expected it. But feeling the betrayal of a loved one was a feeling she just couldn't bear. It hurt ten times worse than any of the many losses she had already suffered. "I wish I had never met you ," she whispered looking at the scowling boy in the picture.

A homeless man not too far away strummed his guitar and sang in hope for spare change. People seemed not to notice and continued to walk by.

Again she longingly looked at Sasuke's picture. Her chest tightened.

The man strummed and he sang.

Have no fear, for when I'm alone I'll be better off than I was before.

Her viridian eyes were locked on his deep black ones.

I've got this life, I'll be around to grow…

A shaky hand drew the lighter from her pocket.

Who I was before, I cannot recall.

She stared at his beautiful face.

Long nights allow me to feel I'm fallin, I am fallin. The lights go out.

She gripped the lighter tightly in her hand, still trembling.

Let me feel I'm fallin, I am fallin, safely to the ground.

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

I'll take this hole that's inside me now, like a brand new friend I'll forever know.

She stuck the lighter and a white flame appeared.

I've got this life…

Her shaking hand brought the lighter to the crinkled picture.

And the will to show..

The flame engulfed the paper, destroying the image of his perfect face.

I will always be better off alone.

The ashes fell to the ground. She took what remained of her cigarette and dropped it on the ashes, smashing it with her foot.

"I'm better off alone."

She turned bitterly and walked into the darkness, the ashes left behind.