A/N: I was writing a chapter for one of my other stories when I was listening to "Bring Me To Life" from Evanescence when the idea clicked in my head. Thus the name, Bring Me To Life. Hope you enjoy.
Bring Me To Life
Summary: After Sasuke left, Sakura didn't know what her purpose in life was anymore. Her presence has becoming nothing. When three years pass, Sasuke comes back to Konoha. At his return, Sakura is at a mix of emotions. "Save Me From The Nothing I've Become."
Chapter 1 – His Return
The rain pounded hard against the buildings of Konohagakure. The sound of thunder and lightning filled the cold air.
((SFX: Drip… drip… drip…))
The sleek beads of moisture slipped down the walls of the Hokage mansion, thunder cracking and echoing in the halls.
Sitting in her burgundy seat, drowned in files of paper as they piled into mountains before her, Tsunade furiously worked her pen, signing documents she was too busy to give even a second glance as she shifted them from her sight once finishing autographing them.
However, feeling her eyelids droop over her distinct gold eyes, she allowed a short yawn to escape her lips. Her body dipped forward before she felt her head come in contact with the mahogany wood of her desk, slanting herself against the furniture.
"Just a little nap… won't hurt…" she murmured in reassurance to herself as she allowed desperate needing sleep to overwhelm her form.
((SFX: SLAM!))
It was two o' clock in the morning when the well renowned, cold hearted Uchiha Sasuke burst through the door of the Hokage's office. The loud noise of the door crashing against the wall woke up the sleeping Godaime.
Her body jerked, her head snapping up as eyelashes fluttered open. Her vision blurred from her sudden awakening, focusing on the black figure a few yards before her. Upon realizing whom it was after a few moments, the lightning flash revealing the identity of the person, her gold eyes widened.
"Uchiha… Uchiha Sasuke! What are you doing here? You're a rogue ninja, you have some courage to think that you can just come here and not be punished for betraying your ties with Konoha." Her eyebrows knitted closely together, her voice was seething with venom and hate.
However, despite her disapproval, the Uchiha walked further inside in slow, leisure steps, halting his steps once he reached the front of the blonde woman's desk.
The Godaime didn't back down from her firm position for a second in reaction from his draw closer, her gaze as hard as a diamond. The former missing nin smirked at this, rising his arm as gold eyes darted towards what he was holding in his grasp, only for her eyes to narrow upon seeing him clutching a fistful of hair.
In a swift motion, he arm swooped over the mahogany desk, dropping the severed head of Orochimaru against the counter.
"Am I forgiven?"
His voice was low, yet rich in texture. Impossibly smooth, yet just as deadly.
My past teammate was taken down by this fifteen year old brat?thought the Godaime, remembering the ANBU black ops that had tried to take the snake sannin down but failed to do so.
"So, I see you have grown stronger," was all her response.
Not strong enough to kill Itachi… thought the raven-haired man bitterly, nodding solemnly.
"Tell me…" his deadly voice demanded, "where my old team is."
Propping her elbows upon her desk, she laced her fingers between one another. "You think you can just come back so easily just because you defeated one of Konoha's enemies?"
Sasuke let out a low threatening growl, but Tsunade remained unfazed. After all, she wasn't called a sannin for nothing. "You think you can threaten me, Uchiha? What, you expect me to forgive you just because you brought back a severed head? I don't forgive you, let alone trust you, but lucky for you it's not my decision to make was to what your punishment is to be—that chore is given to the Village elders."
"Where are they now?" hissed the Uchiha, dark onyx orbs flashing.
I'll make the elders accept me back. I didn't use my time to come back here for nothing.
The Godaime scoffed at his inquiry. "Not likely that I would be the one to tell you that. Not until you've proven you're loyalty to Konoha that I would even bother to consider asking the Village Elders' whether or not you should return without punishment or with punishment."
Sharingan bled through his pupils, the crimson pulsing dangerously as tomoes swirled. "Do you expect me to beg and plead?"
She grinned wickedly in response. "Possibly."
"Don't hold your breath, old woman." His expression remained neutral. "I never said I wouldn't use force."
The hissing of snakes filled the air as the slithering reptiles began weaving themselves around Tsunade's form. Once bounding themselves around her arms, they began crushing her in the vice grip of a cobra.
Almond pupils narrowed at this, using her incredible strength to snap herself free. She knew that with the Uchiha's stealthy move, most other ninja would have fallen prey. But, as aforementioned, she was not called a sannin for nothing.
The snakes recoiled with a loud jeer, baring sharp fangs as they slithered back to their master. The raven-haired shinobi remained unaffected, Sharingan bleeding back into onyx orbs dulled with lack of interest.
In the short time that had passed, his crimson eyes had scanned the subconscious of Tsunade's mind, being able to do so the minute the blonde sannin looked into his eyes. His eyelids hooded over dark pupils, turning around and he sauntered leisurely towards the door.
"If you want to regain my trust, Uchiha," Tsunade called when the fifteen-year old shinobi reached the door, "then I will assign you back on the team that you once were close to. They know you best, and judging from what they say about you and how 'loyal' you are to Konoha, I will decide from there whether or not to present your case to the Elders. Do we have an understanding?"
Sasuke turned around, a wicked grin on his handsome face with the Sharingan activated. "My old team, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura? I severed my ties with them years ago. Do you honestly think they'll give you an 'honest' report?"
"You give them too little credit," the legendary medic nin answered, "and it's no longer Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura. I've added a member in your… 'absence'. His name is Sai, and you'll most likely find that you and him are very alike."
"You tried to replace me."
"Precisely," Tsunade said, "Quick-witted as usual, Uchiha. Now, I have work to do. Tomorrow you will meet with your team. I'm sure you remember where to meet and when to do so, correct?"
The raven-haired male grunted in return, heading out of the area.
Once he was out of her sight, Tsunade resumed her paperwork, filling out a few more only to find herself asleep against her counter… again.
Sasuke awoke in his "old room."
Haven't been here in a while, absentmindedly thought the Uchiha to himself, ebony eyes glazing over his space. Soon his gaze fell onto the frame he knew contained the old picture of Team Kakashi, the framework still facing down as he left it.
Obsidian pupils lingered on the object for a few moments. Hn, I wonder how everyone's changed…
Already in his usual attire, having not bothered to change for the night as he only rested a few hours nonetheless, he swiftly strapped the sword of Kusanagi on his back.
He remembered what Tsunade had said to him before he left.
"Uchiha!" The Godaime had called out a few moments after he had left her office. "There's something you should know about your former team. As you've probably figured out, everyone's changed. When you see them, don't expect them to be as weak. I know for a fact that Naruto's been under the training of my other former teammate Jiraiya for three long years, not long after you left. And Sakura's been my apprentice as well, in medic skills and physical ones. Their strengths have increased, just like yours. Do not underestimate them."
Pink hair swayed in the light breeze pleasantly.
Haruno Sakura walked over to the bridge, Team Kakashi's usual meeting area. Her footsteps drew nearer towards the area until she resigned to leaning against the ruby railing by her elbows, her back facing the water below.
Almost instantaneously she felt another chakra approach. She merely blinked, not bothering to make a move.
"Ohayo, Sai."
Soon the ruffle of the bushes ceased near her as the figure approached. A fake smile dawned Sakura's features as she pointed it towards the black-haired boy, watching him strode over to her casually.
"Ah, so you sensed my chakra, hag. Why does that surprise me?"
Sakura rolled her apple orbs in reply.
Arrogant as ever, just like— immediately her thoughts ceased, her thick lashes lowering over emerald eyes.
"Hag," Sai called out, noticing her change of emotion.
"What?" she bluntly responded, her voice carefully blank, almost in similarity to a certain Uchiha.
"Ah, you're thinking of the traitor again. You really need to get over him, he disrupts your emotions all the time. One should control these so-called 'feelings' better if you are to be fit for a shinobi, wouldn't you agree? Unless, you no longer are fit—"
His statement halted when a vice grip grasped his throat, constricting it threateningly.
"Don't you dare finish," she seethed, emerald eyes blazing with fury. "You don't understand anything because you've never had to deal with what Naruto and I went through."
He shrugged nonchalantly, clearly unfazed. "Try me."
Sakura released the grip on his neck, folding her arms across her chest. She walked to the railing of the bridge, staring at her reflection from the water.
It took me two and a half years to get my emotions back in check… thanks to Naruto's return. But still… I just am still not the same as I was before Sasuke left. I just can't be. I know it, Naruto knows it, Kakashi knows it… everyone knows it. It was simple, yet complicated, yet such was the truth.
"You're an asshole, Sai." Her voice was a mere whisper, pastel pink hair hiding her face from view.
Sai ignored the comment, knowing that if he cared for his life he would keep his mouth shut. But despite this fact, he didn't bother to make a retort, finding the silence that followed a comfortable one.
It was then the bushes rustled again.
"Naruto, if that's you," Sai commented, not bothering to take the time to check the chakra signature as it probably was Naruto (by logical reasoning, doubting Kakashi actually showing up on time.) "Don't bother, Sakura's in her 'mood' again."
((SFX: Ruffle, ruffle))
The bushes tousled roughly, but instead of a blond head, a different one graced it's presence.
"Well, well, if it isn't Sakura…"
"And you are?" inquired Sai, still not used to the normal poise of socializing.
This shinobi… there's an evil aura radiating off of him, and it's strong, the painter mused, blinking obsidian eyes upon his thoughts.
Onyx eyes flickered from the blossom-haired kunoichi to the ninja beside her.
"You must be Sai." A degrading sneer fixed itself on the speaker's features. "They chose a pathetic weakling like you as my replacement?"
It took Sai only a few seconds to realize the identity of the unnamed shinobi.
"Uchiha Sasuke. Weak as I may seem, at least I'm not a traitor."
The artist soon found himself hoisted in the air from the grip on his collar, obsidian eyes boring down at the onyx flashing dangerously back at him.
"What was that?"
"You're a deserter."
The painter jerked swiftly, aiming a kick at the raven-haired male's stomach. The Uchiha's grip did not falter in the least, instead, he allowed the balls of Sai's feet to rest against the coarse ground of the bridge.
The whole moment that had passed, Sakura had witnessed with her stunned finger. Her emerald eyes were expanded as wide as saucers, her mouth hung open slightly. Her whole body was beginning to numb over as many thoughts collided roughly in her skull.
One minute she was thinking about him, the next the subject of her thoughts was there before her, after three years of absence.
He had grown, she had blindly noticed. His hair was longer, no longer parting in the middle as raven bangs occupied his forehead, no longer sporting a Leaf Village headband as of years. His clothing style had changed into one similar to Orochimaru, minus the purple bow latched around the sannin's waist. She could see from the open v-cut of his shirt that his body had grown leaner, the traces of taut muscles now dawning the fifteen year old's torso.
And yet, at the mere sight of his presence before her, her mouth had grown dry, her body numb. She lost all feeling of contact, too stunned to bother to let herself realize this was a reality. She didn't want it to be a reality, for the swirl of emotions hit her were too many and too great, too much for her mere body alone to handle.
Fear, Anger, Love, Sadness, Happiness, Hate, but most of all… Pain.
Sakura could feel herself growing dizzy, a shaky hand rising and clutching strands of pink hair.
After a few moments the young kunoichi forced movement to her legs, walking over to where Sasuke and Sai stood. Rising her hand, her fingers lightly pressed against a pressure point on Sasuke's wrist, causing him to release his grip on black-haired artist. The Uchiha glimpsed at the pink-haired girl in response to her action, onyx pupils void of any emotion.
"Don't tell me you actually care for this weakling. Last time I checked, you told me you loved me."
Sakura looked up at him, glimpsing upon the wicked smirk directed towards her. Shiny emerald orbs bored into onyx orbs, dull and plain.
Ebony eyes narrowed at her expression. This is the change Tsunade was speaking of…
"No hug for my return, Sakura?" The girl's name rolled off his tongue smoothly, his tone cocky and taunting.
She made no reaction back, merely kept staring at his face, jade pupils roving over the chiseled, sharp features of his cheeks down to his jaw. Her lips had grown dry with her closed mouth, her body still not responding. Everything around her seemed still.
((SFX: Ruffle, ruffle))
The bushes rustled once more, a new figure spawning out.
"Hey, Sakura-chan! Sai!" the cheerful blond called out. Naruto sauntered over to the two with a salute using his index and middle finger, his usual beaming grin plastered on his face.
A few seconds later cerulean eyes doubled in sight upon the presence and sight of his former best friend.
"Sa… Sasuke-teme! What the— What are you doing here?!"
His cheerful disposition dissipated immediately, eyebrows knitting together as he stepped beside his pink-haired teammate.
"No friendly greeting from you, too, dobe?" questioned the Uchiha, his expression neutral. His arm moved swiftly, placing a firm grip on his katana's sheath.
"Sakura-chan, you okay?" murmured Naruto, worry evident in his voice as his neck craned towards the kunoichi.
Emerald eyes blinked slowly, turning to face her blond-haired companion. "Yes, Naruto," her response was a mere whisper. "I'm fine, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm not the same little girl as before, remember?"
"Che, I'll say."
In a flash the raven-haired male moved in blinding speed, appearing behind the blossom-haired ninja. Sakura whipped around, jumping backwards as she felt her back collide with Naruto's upper torso.
Wha—When did he get there? Her face was astonished at his incredible speed.
I knew he was fast, but his speed probably surpasses even Lee's! Both Naruto and Sakura thought at the same time.
"I see Kakashi's late as usual," noted the missing nin quietly. "Might as well use the time to spar." The Uchiha pointed his onyx gaze towards his two former teammates.
"You want to challenge us?" Naruto asked, reading the Uchiha's gaze.
"Che, I see you've improved in your smarts, dead-last."
The kyuubi vessel scowled at his insult, his hand clenching in a shaking fist. He watched Sasuke pull his sword of Kusanagi out of it's sheath, the weapon's blade shimmering from the glare of the sun.
"Show me how much you two have changed."
Dark ebony orbs flashed as he disappeared using his incredible speed. Sasuke appeared behind Naruto, about to thrust his blade into the blond's back when he saw a hand appear, deflecting the katana. The raven-haired shinobi glanced idly at the owner of the hand.
"Adequate choice of defense," spoke Sasuke evenly, his voice directed to Sai. "…But not good enough."
Stealthily changing the direction of the blade by twisting it sideways, his arm jerked, aiming directly for Sai's stomach. The painter jumped, landing on the palm of his hand as he pushed his body backwards once more. He narrowly escaped the sword of Kusanagi's sharp edge.
Still not finding the need to use his Sharingan, the Uchiha prepared himself to strike again until he noticed from his peripheral vision a chakra-filled fist heading towards him. He quickly reacted, catching it and twisting it so the hit reflected against it's owner.
Onyx orbs glimpsed upwards against the holder's face, immediately recognizing Sakura from the namesake of her hair.
Upon viewing this, he twisted her wrist furthermore, aiming her deadly punch from her face to the ground, diverting the hit.
Seeing his movement, large sea green eyes widened. He could have used my own move against me… Why didn't he do it?
Humph, maybe he's going soft.
Not likely, you saw the way he acted. He's gotten colder and more arrogant than before… hasn't he?
Inner Sakura shrugged in reply upon the inquiry.
This led Sakura to become even more lost, her brain racking with confusion.
"Sakura," he called to her, snapping the girl out of her thoughts. His hand caught the flying fist of Naruto's heading towards his direction, grasping the knuckled punch firmly in his pale hand as the fierce fist shook in his grasp. "Why did you change?" His brisk, poignant tone made the question resonance more like a statement.
Emerald eyes glanced upwards, viewing the face of the Uchiha. A collision of emotions flashed in her eyes, clear as water. Seeing this as well, Naruto paused his attacks, looking at Sakura with widened cerulean eyes.
"Sakura-chan…" Slowly he spoke, his voice in clear shock. "You haven't showed that much emotion since—"
"—Since I left," Sasuke finished for him.
In response the blossom-haired kunoichi whipped her head away, pastel pink hair framing her face. She glanced down at the palms of her gloved hands.
((SFX: Poof!))
The smoke cleared, revealing the one and only Hatake Kakashi, one hand pocketed idly in his pockets whilst the other held his infamous orange novel. His only visible coal eye glazed over the contents of his book contently.
"Yo," the silver-haired jounin greeted simply.
Glimpsing upwards as he viewed the members of his team, he paused upon seeing the fourth member. Noting presence of the Uchiha, hardly any emotion crossed the still serene face of the ex-ANBU. A ghost of smile appeared beneath his mask.
"Godaime-sama told me you would re-joining us, Sasuke. Welcome back."
At the welcoming the raven-haired shinobi merely nodded, taking a few steps as he leaned against the burgundy railing idly, eyelids hooded over dark eyes indolently.
Then Kakashi turned over to the pink-haired teammate.
"Sakura, Godaime-sama wishes to see you." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a scroll and lightly tossing it to the girl who caught it with ease.
In reaction, Sakura nodded, emerald eyes scanning over Sai, Naruto, and Sasuke briskly before dissipating in her own cloud of smoke.