Fragmented Remains
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
A/N: This story is an extension of my other story, Sasuke (Not Uchiha), except with an alternation: In this story, seventeen-year old Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura do not die (like how they did in SNU, at least), Sasuke does not travel back in time, and the Voice In His Head does not appear. Pure canon, with eventual SasuSaku. It's not necessary to read SNU (unless you really, really want to get spoilers for this story... but of course, SNU doesn't tell everything for Fragmented Remains).
Lately, all that pops up for SasuSaku are high school AUs (which gets pretty redundant after a while). It's sad. I don't think anyone believes in canon SasuSaku anymore.
Fragmented Remains starts a couple of months prior SNU's start of "past life". Ask me (in PM if you don't want to review) if you have any questions regarding this chapter. :)
Prologue
He stood, overlooking his once-prosperous village—
"KAKASHI-SENSEI!"
He hadn't arrived soon enough.
The Jounin's last words had been simple.
"I'm sorry..."
Carrying that ever-smiling façade behind his mask, the earth around him shattered in slow-motion.
Fire erupted, and the ground fell...
She knelt down before her Kage, hiding her face—
"NO! SHISHOU! NO, LET ME—"
"Sakura...listen," her mentor whispered, her life energy blinking, wavering.
The kunoichi stopped, eyes wide, filled with shocked tears.
"Live..."
The proud woman closed her eyes, and slumped to the ground.
Her lips, smudged by blood, were curved into a smile.
The ex-Jinchuuriki stirred.
Over the horizon, fire burned in a distance.
The Fourth Shinobi World War raged on.