Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Naruto. I did Sakura and Sasuke would totally end up.

Prologue:

Sakura raced through the trees.

Outer Sakura, faster Inner Sakura said worriedly it's those people again.

"I know" Sakura mumbled, jumping to another tree.

Why had this happened? It was just supposed to be an easy mission. It wasn't supposed to...

Sakura! Watch out!

A body slammed into her, knocking her off. A kunai was thrust into her ribs, striking her heart. She gasped, and then fell, hitting the ground.

No! No, Sakura! Inner Sakura screamed don't, don't go! Don't... He'll get you; so don't... Sakura, tell him I watched over you! I kept my promise. Tell him, tell him Mika didn't lie.

"I... promise, sorry..."

Sakura's eyes closed.

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Sakura never returned to Konoha. Her body was found, dumped outside the gate.

Naruto was the first one to arrive. He couldn't bring himself to touch her. He could only stare at her, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"S-S-Sakura-chan" he whimpered, reaching out, his hand inches from her cheek.

She just lay there, unmoving. If he tilted his head, it looked like she was sleeping, or unconscious.

"Sakura-chan... no" he mumbled. She had been his family, his sister; the one to give him advice in dating Hinata. Real advice, unlike Jiraiya and Kakashi who just made perverted comments.

But now, she wouldn't...

A shadow fell across them; Naruto looked over his shoulder at the frozen Uchiha.

"Why weren't we there teme?" he asked "we could have saved her."

The Uchiha knocked him aside, and Naruto let him. He stared at them; watching as the Uchiha held her to his chest, his face dry of tears, and his face expressionless. He just cradled her against him, holding her tightly, as if he had forgotten how to let go.

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"Sakura's dead" Sakura's father said flatly "Mika has passed on."

"I know" Sakura's mother bit her lip "tell me when he arrives."