Well everyone. My first fic. I planned to make this in multiple chapters with some tie-ins. I would like to know your thoughts.
Please be honest and straight to me in all fairness. I want to improve if it catches on.
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. But if I did, Sasuke would have died by a disease instead of Itachi.
A New Era in Konoha.
Chapter 1. Prologue to Konoha's future.
The Alliance agreed to return to their villages for a quick break. The battle against Kabuto's Edo Tensei army and Madara's modified Zetsu's was straining. Kabuto and Zetsu were defeated. All the 5 divisions of the army combined they managed to put a stop to Kabuto's plan of obtaining the Sharingan and Zetsu's hidden reason to serve Madara. Their stock of ninja tools ran out so everyone returned to their village to resuply themselves. Naruto already returned from training with Killer Bee after mastering the final stage of his tailed beast form, becoming Kyuubi itself. The 5 Kages finally decided to let the last 2 remaining Jinchuriki's appear in the assualt against the last remaining members of Akatsuki. First they decided to take down Sasuke Uchiha, followed by the leader itself, Madara Uchiha.
The fight between Naruto and Sasuke was fierce, rivaling that of The First Hokage and Madara Uchiha himself. Their attacks were on a level Madara himself made the comparison. Naruto's new Kyuubi form was countered by Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Sasuke's Susanoo was countered by Naruto's Kyuubi form.
The fight continued on and neither of them seemed to be able to win it. That was until Sasuke used his Sharingan to cast Tsukoyomi. Knowing Naruto's weakness to Genjutsu he waited till the time was right and wanted to destroy his spirit. However an image of Itachi showed up in the genjutsu releasing Naruto from his hold and they started to talk within the genjutsu.
Itachi tried to persuade his brother to stop to walk the path of vengeance and accept his final request to revive the way Itachi intended for him. Sasuke was blinded by the thought that Naruto was using his brothers image to drive him into confusion. He replied that dream was gone and the only way to truly revive the clan was killing all who opposed it.
Naruto knew Itachi was everything to Sasuke and from the moment Sasuke offended Itachi he knew it was all over. There was no way that Sasuke could be saved from the darkness if he attacked his own brother. Naruto did what he had to do. He helped Itachi's spirit to kill his brother by using a jutsu he casted on his eyes before he died. He wanted to make sure that Sasuke used his eyes for good instead of evil.
After Sasuke's demise, Naruto headed straight to Madara. The combined forces of Naruto, Killer Bee and the army Madara finally fell. The world was rid of Akatsuki, the Uchiha and the world's biggest threat yet. But because Madara was defeated didn't mean it was all over.
The 5 Kages agreed to have a meeting once a year to maintain ties to each village and not to have anything happen to the Jinchuriki's again. But there was still the matter of the 7 tailed beasts who were freed after Madara's defeat. There wasn't much of a war between the 5 Kages of the power of them, since they quickly reached the conclusion that the beasts were originally split among the villages before Akatsuki came along. Every village helped to capture the beasts again so that the balance between nations was restored.
Sakura was spending time with her family and friends. She had some time now. The ninja's who fought didn't have to go a mission for 2 months so that they had the change to get their personal lives back on track. However, being a member of Konoha's medical staff, she would still have to make shifts at the hospital once in a while.
Celebrating the victory of the allied forces and a new era in history. After the celebrations and ceremonies honoring the heroes of war, she headed home and started to rethink her life after everyting that has happened.
Sakura: ''So we finally came to the end. After all the fighting and deaths we've seen, this war was eventually decided by the outcome Naruto and Sasuke's fight.''
She remembered the day in which Naruto stated that he will die alongside Sasuke if he needed to.
*Flashback*
Naruto: "If you attack Konoha, I will have to fight you... So save up your hatred and take it all on me, I'm the only one who can take it! It's the only thing I can do! I will shoulder your hatred and die with you! Because I'm your friend!"
Sakura: ''Naruto's here because he's made up his mind... my resolve is nothing compared to his now! I'm supposed to be a ninja, but all I've ever done is lean on him and cry... I was supposed to change that... I came here and I thought I was ready. But I can't do anything... I can't say anything. The only thing that remains for me... is to believe in them!"
*End Flashback*
Sakura: ''But still he didn't die alongside Sasuke. He knew he was needed against Madara himself, but he still took Sasuke's death not as hard as I thought he would. He was actually relieved about what happened. Just what on Earth happened between the 2 of them while the forces were facing Madara?''
She accepted the fact that no mather how hard she tried, no mather how many hours she'd spent training with Tsunade, she will never reach the level they were on. She wanted to talk to him about the events that occured but the pain was just unbearable.
She saw him walking away with Hinata after the celebrations to his house. She coudn't stand the thought of losing Naruto as well after Sasuke's death. He was always there in time of need. And now she had lost him. Never again she would she him make a smile just reserved for her. Never again a simple hospital visit with him would turn out to be a pain. Never again she could have the right to call herself a good friend.
She remembered all the times she'd hit Naruto whenever he did something to her dislike in front of Sasuke. She was so obsessed by getting Sasuke's attention, many people had to suffer for it. Mainly Naruto.
''What did he ever do to deserve the kind of treatment I gave him. I'd hit him, insulted him, make jokes about his ridiculous dream of being Hokage and yet in 1 year he's managed to acclomplish more then I ever will.'' She thought .
''But none of those things hurted him more then that confession I made on him. I was completly out of my mind back then. How is it possible I've been this stupid? I'd called him a baka for years where in reality I'm the real fool here.'' While letting a tear for everytime she just hit him for nothing.
''I discussed this with Shishou and I still remember the disgrace I felt while telling.''
*Flashback 5 months ago*
''Come in.'' The Hokage said calmly.
''Morning Shishou. Can I talk to you for a minute?'' Sakura politely asked.
''Of course Sakura. But be quick since we have to prepare for war again. Have a seat.'' Tsunade replied.
As Sakura sat down she remembered how she thought how to open the conversation between them.
''I...I...I...'' She had the words in her head but lost them the moment evrytime she spoke I.
''Well spit it out already.'' Tsunade answered annoyed at Sakura's stuttering.
''I lied to Naruto about something.'' She whispered softly but still not enough for Tsunade not to hear.
''About what?'' Tsunade answered calmly trying to reassure Sakura that nothing bad will happen if she spoke out.
''About me loving him.'' She said.
''WWWWWWWHHHHHHHHAAAAAATTTTTTTT!'' Tsunade shouted, immediatly throwing all intention not to harm her out of the window.
Sakura coudn't do nothing but cry and hope that Tsunade woudn't punch her head of her neck.
''SHIZUNE!'' Tsunade yelled.
''Yes Tsunade-Sama?'' Shizune trembled in fear at her scream.
''SAKE STASH! NOW!'' Even louder then the 2 previous screams.
A few minutes went by after Sakura told about her actions.
''I understand your motives to make him give up on Sasuke, but making a lie as big as you loving him? I should strip you of your rank and duties at once!'' Tsunade reacted furiously.
Sakura could do nothing but bow her head in shame. Tsunade would have even asked for a restraining order for life but Shizune talked her out of that idea.
''What should I do Shishou?'' While crying at disgracing her master with her actions. ''How could the apprentice of the 5th Hokage fall so low?'' Sakura thought in shame.
''I frankly do not know Sakura. This is something I can't help you with.'' Tsunade answered dissapointed at her actions towards her teammate.
''But I can give you the advice to not to talk to him till the war is officially over. In fact I'm making it an order.'' Sakura was shocked at her masters sudden outburst.
''Sakura Haruno. Hereby I give you the order not to be in the presence of Naruto Uzumaki till the war is officially over.'' Tsunade said strictly.
''But Shishou'' Sakura replied in fear in not seeing Naruto again for months, or never again for that fact.
''No buts Sakura. And Shizune. Tell an Anbu to report Naruto of Sakura's orders.'' Clearly not in the mood Tsunade ordered her and Shizune immediatly out of her office with Sakura's new orders. It was a good thing she already had prepared her gear or else it would have never happend after the conversation.
*End Flashback*
''It's been almost a year since I last spoke to Naruto. I thought he would at least burst into Tsunade-Sama her office demanding to release the order. But nothing happened. And now he has finally moved on with Hinata without considering me, while I am still thinking about how to apologise.'' Even more miserable at the thought that Naruto completly forgot about her.
She'd spent the rest of the night sobbing imaging the blond Jinchuriki took her in his warm embrace like he always did and then cried softly to sleep.
END OF CHAPTER 1
Please leave a review and thoughts about this.