AN: Hi! Ok this is my first Naruto fan-fiction. I hope you all like it. Please R/R! I hope you like the First Chapter! Sadly I do not own any part of the Naruto series or it's characters.
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Sakura sat on the edge of her small twin bed staring at a stack of boxes through her tear filled eyes. It was a normal apartment that any shinobi would appreciate. Her twin bed sat tightly against the wall. At the foot of her bed a door placed hiding the tiny closet. On the opposite wall was an area with a small sink, a tiny oven with two burners that served as an oven. Tucked under the counter on the other side of the sink was a tiny fridge. The area had the minimal amount of counter and cupboard space. Down the wall a little further was a door leading to what you could hardly call a bathroom. A single window next to her bed was the only source of light that filled the small room with the dim light of the rising sun.
But to Sakura it was a prison. Cold and empty, she felt like the walls were going to close in around her. She shuddered at the imprisoned feeling that came over her. She wiped a stream of tears from her flushed cheek as she looked over her shoulder to a scroll rolled out on the bed next to her. She sighed and picked it up reading it once again.
Dear Sakura,
I hope the apartment is to your liking. It was the best I could do under short notice. Again my deepest sympathy, please feel free to come to me for anything. You are my most prized apprentice.
Sincerely,
Tsunade
P.S. Happy Birthday!
'Huh some birthday' She thought closing her eyes, another stream of tears running down her cheek. She rolled the scroll up and slid it into to her vest pocket.
She was right it wasn't much of a birthday for the young kunoichi. Her parents had split up two days prior. Both turning there backs to her, neither willing to put a roof over her head for just one year until her eighteenth birthday.
She had no choice but ask Tsunade for help. Being her apprentice for over two years now, Tsunade was happy to help in any way possible.
Majority of her nights were spent at the hospital working and studying. She spent her days training with Tsunade. She hardly even went on missions anymore. But for a chunin at only seventeen she was one the most skilled medic-nins in the village. Tsunade was not surprised when the young kunoichi passed her in skill and precision as a medic. Her skill to master even the most difficult of procedures was almost unheard of.
And it was just last year Sasuke had returned at the mercy of the village. It was then he declared to her, rather harshly, that she would be nothing more than a comrade and friend to him. After crying for what seemed like an eternity over the Uchiha, she chose to dedicate herself to Tsunade for training and to her medical studies.
Within the last year she almost became an outcast to her other teammates. Naruto disappeared with Jiraiya all the time to go off and train. Kakashi spent most of his time on missions and even when he was around he always spent his time training Sasuke. It seemed her life was going changing fast. To one day having a family and comrades, to being alone almost seemed to happen overnight.
She had gotten to be better friends with Ino over time. But soon tried to avoid her, when she kept trying to hook her up with all kinds of guys. She just wasn't interested in guys, especially after Sasuke.
"What's the point?" She said with a sigh. It didn't even matter that it was her birthday. She figured when there was no one to spend it with what does it matter. She could feel the tears beginning to build up again. "Come on girl pull yourself together. You're not weak." She scolded herself wiping the last of her tears away.
She stood kicking a small box sending into the wall trying to put her misery aside. "Maybe I should just spend the day training, since Tsunade ordered me to take the day off." She sighed and made her way out the door.
She soon was walking in down town Konoha. Oblivious to the bustle of life around her. She walked head down lost in thought and misery.
"Hey Sakura!" A voice yelled from behind her, snapping her out of her daze. She turned to see Kiba running towards her. "Hey you alright? I only yelled your name five times."
She gave him a small smile. "Yeah I'm fine, sorry about that I just got a lot on my mind."
He looked over face. Her eyes still slightly puffy and red from crying. 'She's been crying' He thought.
"Was there something you needed Kiba?"
"Well I just wanted to tell you that there's a meeting tonight. The Hokage wants all twelve of us to attend."
'A meeting, why didn't she tell me herself?' She thought "What time?"
"Her office at 8pm. No one knows what it's about but we're hoping it's a mission. I can't remember the last time the gang had a mission together."
"Alright" She sighed quietly.
"Sakura is there something bothering you." He asked concerned.
"Actually I was wondering if you would like to do some training with me today."
"I would love too except my mom's got me training with pack today. How about tomorrow?"
"Ok……..Yeah……….Sure" She muttered putting her down.
"Sakura are you sure you're okay?" He asked as he took a few steps towards her.
She could feel him getting closer and quickly shot her head back up giving her best fake smile. "Yeah I'm perfectly fine. What would make you think something was wrong? Don't worry about it, tomorrow sounds great. I guess I'll see you at the meeting." She quickly waved and rushed off leaving Kiba completely confused by what just happened.
One by one her friends told her one excuse after the other. It seemed her idea of training was not working out, and she hated to train alone. Soon she found herself standing on the bridge where the famous team 7 met on many occasions. She rested her arms on the railings and hung her head. 'Yeah some birthday indeed, even my friends don't have time for me. Not one even remembered my birthday.' She thought once again fighting the urge to break down and cry.
Out of the corner of her eye she suddenly saw Kakashi walking across the bridge. His nose stuck in his Icha Icha book. He passed right behind her not even taking notice of his former student.
"Um…..Kakashi-sensai?"
He looked over his shoulder to see the pink-haired kunoichi. "Sakura, I didn't see you there." He said with a half-smile.
'That seems to happening a lot today' she thought bringing a frown to her face. "I was just wondering if you could do some training with me today." She asked quietly.
"Well I really can't I am already late for an appointment and I…." He stopped when he notice a tear run down her cheek. 'Oh man she's crying I don't have time for this.' He thought. "Sakura is there something wrong?"
She just turned and began walking away. "Sakura" He said confused. She just put her hand up as if to say just forget it and disappeared down the path.
'Of course he couldn't, everybody has something to do or a place to be.' She slowly made her way to training grounds bound and determined to forget. She began to run a few laps once again getting lost in thought.
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It was getting close to 8 o'clock and the waiting room outside Tsnudae's office began to fill up. First to arrive was Shikamaru and Choji. Followed soon after by Ino, Hinata and Tenten giggling rather loudly. Shikamaru just shook his head 'Troublesome' he thought. Kiba, Shino and Neji arrived soon after. Lee showed up with Gai, followed by Asuma, Kurenai and Kakashi. Sasuke showed up shortly after. There were minutes to spare, when Naruto came barging through the door. He stood panting. "Am I late?"
"No, when did you get back?" Ino asked
"Just now" He said still trying to catch his breath.
Over the course of the last few years they built a friendship between them all. All had shared missions, traveling, and they were all now chunin and were called upon to do there fare share of missions.
Shizune opened the large door and smiled "Please come in"
They all filed into the large office. Tsunade sat at her desk scribbling something down and quickly added the paper to a large stack. She finally looked up at the many faces that now filled her office. Naruto stood scanning the room for his pink-haired comrade seeing he hadn't seen her in months.
"I have called you all together for a very important mission; I need it to be handled immediately. There is a……"
She was interrupted by Naruto being his loud obnoxious self. "Hey, Where's Sakura!?" He asked still scanning the room.
"I told her the meeting was at 8" Kiba said.
"I saw her this afternoon." Ino added "She didn't seem like herself."
"No I suppose she wouldn't" Tsunade said rubbing her temples. The group looked at her confused seeing that they did not know of the current events in the young kunoichi's life. Before she could explain anything Izumo ran into the room, pushing past the startled chunin.
"What is the meaning of this!?" She yelled jumping to her feet demanding an answer.
"Pardon my intrusion, but something has happened." Izumo said bowing his head in apology.
"What is so important you that you need to come barging in here unannounced?"
He held out his hand revealing a hidden leaf headband. Blood staining the cloth around it. "And who does that belong to?" She asked her voice sounding more concerned. The occupants in her office were trying to see what was going on.
Izumo reached into his vest pulling out scroll also stained with specks of blood. "This was found with it." Tsunade snatched the scroll from his hand and rolled it open. "We believe the Demon brothers are involved" Izumo said bringing his gaze up to Tsunade.
She looked at the scroll her face grew angry. It was the letter she sent Sakura. "DAMN IT!" She yelled slamming her fists down on her desk, making everyone jump back.
"What's going on Granny?" Naruto asked growing impatient.
"Alright as you all know we've been tracking some rogue ninja's who have been trying to steal our medical procedures." She said sitting back down angry as ever. "It appears they captured one of our medics right out from under us."
"What? Are you serious? Who was it?" Naruto asked.
Tsunade glanced up at Naruto then fixed her gaze on Kakashi. "Sakura"
The chunin all at once jumped into action. There voices loud and buzzing in Tsunade's ears. "QUEIT!" She yelled. The room quickly grew silent.
"Madam Hokage, Why Sakura?" Ino asked.
"Sakura is one of our most skilled medic's; her knowledge of our most secret procedures even passes my own." She explained.
"Are you sure it was Sakura?" Kakashi asked
"Yes I'm positive" She held up the scroll. "This is the letter I sent her just yesterday."
"Where did you find these?" Shikamaru asked.
"We discovered them at the training grounds. There were obvious signs of a struggle." Izumo answered.
The room grew silent. The air filled with tension. Tsunade watched as the faces before her began to look troubled.
"Man she asked me to train with her today, if I had, this might not have happened." Kiba said as if blaming himself.
"She asked us too, but we were too caught up in shopping." Ino said referring to her and Tenten.
"I told her I had too much paperwork." Shikamaru added.
"How many of you did she ask!?" Naruto yelled growing angry.
One by one hands started rising until all but three hands were raised. Tsunade, Izumo and Naruto's.
"You mean to tell me that she asked all of you and you just….."
"Naruto!" Tsunade interrupted. "There is no time for this now. I need you all to break up into groups and bring Sakura back."
"Yes Madam Hokage"
"Now go you must find her by morning."
"Yes Madam Hokage"
They all quickly scattered out of her office. "Kakashi"
"Yes" He turned in the doorway.
"You do know if we don't find her by morning…."
"I understand" He interrupted and quickly followed after the group.
"You all have ten minutes to gather your things and meet at the gates. Is that understood?" Asuma ordered. They all nodded and scattered.
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Morning came all too quickly. "The sun is coming up." Saskue said as he quickly made his way from branch to branch.
"Yes, we are going to have to head back soon." Kakashi said.
Naruto stopped dead in his tracks. "What the hell are you talking about?! We can't quit and let them take her."
"Naruto! There is no hope for Sakura now we must return and…."
"I am not going back until I find her!" Naruto argued.
"The Demon Brothers are no ordinary rogue ninja's Naruto. They gather there information and quickly dispose of the victim." Kakashi stated.
"Wha….What are you saying?" Naruto muttered.
Kakashi just looked away. Naruto looked at him then over to Saskue his arms crossed, leaning back against a tree with his eyes closed.
"We should head back." Kakashi said.
"NO! I am not just giving up! Naruto yelled.
"WE HAVE NO CHOICE NARUTO, SAKURA IS DEAD!" He yelled
Naruto's mouth dropped and Saskues eyes shot open, both stood staring at there sensei.
"But……….How?………Why?" Naruto couldn't find the words to say. He was in shock at what his sensei had said.
"Let's get back to the village." Kakashi ordered.
Soon enough they returned to the village entering through what seemed like at this moment unwelcoming gates. They stood face to face with their long time friends and comrades who seem to bare the same sad and distressed look upon there faces.
"We must report to the Hokage" Kurenai said motioning Asuma, Gai and Kakashi to follow. They quickly disappeared into a whirlwind of leaves.
The silence that lingered in the air among the young chunin was almost unbearable.
"D…Do...Y…..You really think she's…" Hinata muttered with her head hung not even able to finish her sentence.
A shiver traveled down Naruto's spine as he recalled Kakashi's angry words. They played over and over in his mind. 'Sakura is dead…..Sakura is dead.' He hung his head and clutched his fists closed. "No…." He whispered. They all now looked at him with sad confused expressions. "No, she's not dead, she can't be, Sakura is stronger than that. I won't let her die" He turned quickly making his way back out of the gate.
He was stopped by hand grabbing hold of his arm. "It's useless Naruto you'll only be risking your life." Shikamaru said not loosening his grip.
"And" Naruto growled pulling away from his grip.
"She's gone Naruto let it go" Sasuke said
"How can you all just stand there…..I can't believe this. How many times did she risk her life for us?! She needs us and you guys just stand back and…...Besides you all should feel guilty, if anyone of you would have been there yesterday none of this would have happened." Naruto growled glaring at his comrades.
"That's enough Naruto" Kakashi ordered appearing before him. His voice angered and stern. "There is no need to point fingers at anyone. Whats done is done."
He could here sniffles from Ino and Hinata in the background as they tried to hold their tears back.
"Now everyone go home. You all have new missions tomorrow." He said glancing over his shoulder. They stood there like statues unable to look at him. "That's an order." He demanded. They slowly began to scatter. "Naruto you stay"
"What do you want?" He hissed.
With a deep sigh Kakashi began. "Naruto you cannot blame them, they cared deeply about her too."
"Whatever" Naruto said pushing past him. He made it a few feet away when Kakashi yelled after him.
"Naruto, you are not the only one hurting. And if you keep this up she won't be the last friend you lose. You can trust me on that."
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AN: So what did you think? Please review. I hope on getting the next chapter up soon. :)
