Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the lyrics from Vertical Horizon's "Everything You Want"
Created on: 7/13/09
Completed on: 7/14/09
Look At Me
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know
He remembers the day when he had just turned six. He was in a park hiding under the slide. People were so mean back then. Not that they're entirely nice now, but it's an improvement. There had been a little girl with pink hair just standing there, getting picked on. Because of her forehead. People were (are) so stupid. At that time he considered himself a coward. He didn't help the little girl. Because he couldn't help himself.
He saw her again when he was eight and she had just entered the academy. Her hair was held back by a red ribbon, showcasing her forehead, but she didn't seem to care as she smiled at another little girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a commanding attitude. The pink haired girl's name was Sakura. She didn't get picked on anymore. She had a friend. And she didn't need him to save her.
Sakura was 12 and so was he. They had just been put on a team together. Him and Sakura were going to take over the world, just them two...and their stupid butler, he guessed. Stupid Sasuke. Sasuke was quite and angry and mean. And Sakura thought the world of him. She was so pretty. She thought he was a pest. What did she see in Sasuke anyway?
She cut her hair and got beat to a pulp protecting him─ well probably more Sasuke than him, but either way she protected him. And she was amazing against Ino, pushing Ino right out of her head. Kakashi said that was unheard of. He just smiled and thought maybe she'll teach him that. He knew that wouldn't happen though. When Gaara attacked and Sakura tried to save Sasuke-and failed, he added, he had come in and showed his power. He protected Sakura from Gaara, because she was one of his precious people and he didn't want to be a coward this time.
Sasuke left. And Sakura's heart was broken. She begged him, (him!), to bring Sasuke back ─to her. He smiled and told her, "I'll bring him back, Sakura-chan! 'ttebayo." He never goes back on his word. That's his ninja way...or was. Either way he came back to the village empty handed and with a whole in his chest. She still loved Sasuke.
He trained with a Sannin, just like Sasuke (only better). He became stronger, just like Sasuke (only better). He still loved her (more than Sasuke, always more, because Sasuke doesn't love her). She still didn't care. But there is more acceptance in her eyes. They are a team and the future he painted that first day in the academy might come true, without the butler. He doesn't need a butler though. He can make his own ramen.
He saved the village. He stopped Pain. He made Nagato see sense (his sense anyway). He watched as people were revived, from the dead. And he was a hero. The village loved him, respected him, saw the good in him. And somebody loved him. But it wasn't Sakura, never Sakura.
He stands on the head of the first Hokage at the Valley of the End staring Sasuke down. Sasuke is garbbed in Akatsuki's signature cloak. And he knows that Sasuke isn't coming back. He knows that his promise of a lifetime is broken. And as they fight he sees nothing in Sasuke's eyes and wonders what Sakura ever saw in them. He wonders what Sakura ever saw in his eyes, but he realizes he doesn't really care anymore. And Naruto doesn't know why.
"Everything You Want" was the inspiration for this one shot. I added the lyrics hoping that it would help make the ending a bit clearer. I can't believe how difficult it was trying to get the lyrics to be centered without gaps in between each line. XP
Constructive criticism would be appreciated. :)