I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters;

I simply manipulate them for my own means of entertainment.

Fate Is A Wondrous Thing
Chapter One: The Beginning of the End

She had promised him she would wait, together they would bring him home. Promises, seemed to be a thing to break; because the last had met such an end and this, was her only back up. They would never be together the way they were before, she knew this. However, he still meant the world and this dream was all she needed.

"Itachi-san..." Sakura whispered in a soften tone, the breath that fled her lips would wisp in the breeze that passed; causing the raven hair's lock to feather forward and pull from their stationary position. Everything was so entwined in that moment, even more, she dare lean further forward; the short tresses framing her face flutter in, dancing with those of the elder Uchiha. "I-Itachi-san?" Her muscles quivered, the weight she placed in her arms staggered as she suddenly drew in a sharp breath; only now noticing just how close to him she was.

"What?"

"Sasuke..." A whisper lost on a parted breath, so soft it barely filtered the air.

Slowly releasing that held breath, her emerald pools glittered against the moonlight that filtered through the trees above. She was hesitant and fearful; the drumming in her chest rang so loudly in her ears she knew he could hear it. In that moment, she looked away; her cheek bones flushed over in the most bright shade of crimson. All the time she vied for his attention, all the actions she forced out of her self to be his focus; right now she wanted to be furthest thing from his mind, only now, when she was his fixation.

With a sigh, the young female's eyelids fluttered closed on a defeated thought. It had been, so far, nearly two years since Naruto left with Jiraiya and even longer since Sasuke had fled Konoha in the night. Both had left her here and neither had yet to return; what was once her three-man team had become this image of a lone girl who watched in admiration from afar. Somehow, it had happened again, she was watching their backs and was nothing more than a victim; again.

"If this is what it takes, if I have to fight for you... I will".

It was her turn for a promise and as she vowed, it was her turn to take charge. Those long days of training and the even longer nights had taken their effect; the sweat and tears would never make time go faster, not anymore than it would if she waited patiently for Naruto to go at her side. She always had something her former comrades did not, she was smart yes, but she could also be the logical one. Many things had come to her; from having the cunning and ploys from the youngest Uchiha, to the tricks and theatrics of Naruto.

"I can do this, I can prove... Just watch me..."

Time had passed in slow seconds that lingered into minutes, that abruptly transformed to nearly three hours. It had been so many times that the young Haruno stood before this mirror, more times than not it was to admire and preen her reflection; this time, however, the person staring back was someone she barely recognized. Sure the same emerald pools were watching her, but the expression was far more dreary than she had come accustom to.

Pressing her flattened palms to her waist, she absentmindedly patted out the creases in her top before giving her image a determined nod. Tonight was the night; she had everything she presumed she would need, her bag was packed, her alibi was left with her mother; as was the one she'd need to present to the Godaime. The simple ruse would give her at least a week of travel, a week before she was thrown on the radar as a Missing-nin; a week before her friends would look for her.

Time was being cut close and if she was going to stand up and do what she had been planning, now was the time; the changing of the watch on Konoha's walls, the moonless eve, even the breeze was perfect.

"Fate," she whispered, a warning to her image in the glass. "fate is wondrous thing..." Exhaling in a quick breath, she snatched her bag from the floor and flipped it over her shoulder; continuing in a quick pace out the open window into the night air. She moved in such haste to help avoid the thoughts of what she was leaving behind, hesitation was the enemy. As beautiful a dream as seeing him again was, she was afraid of what it could bring and even more so; leaving those around her.

With the howl that laced itself in the night air, in moments, she was simply gone.

"Speak, Haruno-san". Only after a paused second that touched eternity, did she flick her eyes to him in the utmost fierceness, her voice shaking despite her sudden assured composure.

"I think... I love you".

This was really more of a teaser/prologue, the first real chapter will be out shortly.