This is written in a strange style, even for me; the point of view changes aren't marked per se, but each time there is one of these " -- " it means a change of some sort. This is a narusaku, regardless of how it starts, and there will be some ooc because I'm not a good enough writer to portray them nearly accurately enough. I'll try though, to be faithful enough. Also, I try to write the Romanized Japanese words as they would be pronounced, so Jonin will be Jounin, Chuunin will be Chunin, et cetera.
If tons of you have a problem, drop me a line and I'll change it.
Remember:
Italics- thought
Bold- Any inner entity, Kyuubi or Sakura.
Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.
Prologue
The bitter tears fell unbidden, coalescing with the silent raindrops trickling through her rosette hair onto the limp body held before her. The verdigris canopy, soaked with blood, his blood, limply mourned in the scarring after effects of the epic battle taken place mere moments before.
This was not how it was meant to be.
"Naruto…" She murmured, unable to tear her gaze away from the gaping hole slowly bubbling out his blood.
No
Not now
She replayed the incident again in her mind, coming to terms with nothing except the fresh shock that it was her fault; and nothing would ever change it.
--
"Already bringing out the 2nd level, Sasuke-kun" He smirked, coughing blood into his hands.
"Dobe, I have a timeframe to keep." The aggressor sighed, disappearing in a flash.
Time slowed for Naruto, as his plan had finally come to full circle. This was where it ended.
"You should have used the fox's chakra, idiot" He heard float past his head, as he parried a crushing blow. "Maybe then you would have stood a chance." The Uchiha finished, his fist deep in Naruto's stomach.
"Heh"
Naruto disappeared in a puff of smoke, revealing the real one behind his brother's back.
Naruto quickly got him into an arm lock, grinning.
"Sasuke….this….is where it ends" He struggled. "Sakura-chan, now!"
The pink haired kunoichi was there in an instant, kunai clutched in both hands.
"Ah…Sakura-chan…nice of you to show up" Sasuke smirked
A stagnant pause, the criticality of the situation momentarily forgotten in all parties.
"Do it" He continued, grinning.
The momentary pause, the silence, echoed louder than the clattering kunai that tumbled to the ground.
"Sakura-chan…" Naruto sighed, defeat cracking his voice.
Sasuke backflipped, kicking Naruto in the chest, knocking the wind out of the Uzumaki and sending him into a charred tree. He glanced down at Sakura, his Sharingan paralyzing her in fear.
What have I done…
He turned around, tainted electricity racing down his arm into his gray palm.
"Tsk tsk Naruto, I told you to use that fox."
He turned to face her, ambling slowly….
Slowly…
"Sakura-ch—"
She heard his grim laughter cut off after she turned away; a sickening squelch echoing in the distance. Burning flesh began to waft its way around her, and she passed out.
--
Shaking the memories out of her head, she focused on the task at hand.
You aren't dying on me yet, Uzumaki
This became her mantra as she poured her chakra into his barely living body, repeating it over and over again as if to assure the body as well as herself.
Seconds turned to minutes.
Minutes to hours.
Hours to exhaustion. She collapsed upon the broken boy, tears and salt coating her grimy face; her eyes coming to rest upon his still head.
Blond…
Beige…
Whiskers…
Blue?
"Sak—"
And all was black…
--
"Saku—"
Darkness…
"ra?"
Her clouded eyes squinted open, allowing only the barest hint of light to enter.
Blonde….
Naruto?!
She shot up, embracing the surprised person tightly.
"Naruto!"
"Sakura…" Tsunade held her loosely, looking slightly abashed.
Tsunade-sensei…
"Gomen Tsunade-sensei, I….mistook you for someone else"
"No kidding" She shook her head, leaning back and taking an all to serious sigh.
"Tsunade-sensei, how did I get here?" Sakura leaned back in her hospital bed, absorbing her surroundings for the first time.
Her eyes were still adjusting to the sheer whiteness that is standard of hospital rooms. White flowers, white walls, white televisions, white pillows, white sheets, white uniforms. She'd definitely make a complaint once she figured out what on earth she was doing there.
"Sensei, Naruto…he…is he?"
"He's in the room next to ours, Sakura…Alive, healthy, but…resting."
"Who found us? How did we get here?" Sakura pressed onwards.
"Found you? Sakura…Naruto-kun carried you here on his back…" She sighed, getting up.
Baka…
"You're cleared to go, Sakura" Tsunade yawned, already at the door. "I want a full report on what happened on my desk by next week."
"Hai…sensei"
--
Naruto chuckled lightly, stretching his back out.
So she still hasn't gotten over him…after all these years. What's it been now, 6, 7? We've already killed Kabuto, Karen, hell, everyone but him, and she still hasn't…passed…that love.
He couldn't help but smile. Its not that he had become a sadist, merely his only way of dealing with pain since birth was laughter. The brief hope that maybe it could be better didn't exist for him because all he knew was let down; be it by the hands of enemies or friends.
He had a depressingly easy time getting over the fact he had been stabbed through the chest…again…by his 'brother', as a result of his love interest's never quenched desires.
Well, that's life…saving her life from the man she loves.
He sat up, stretching out his arms and legs.
The hag'll get over it
With that profound last thought, he leapt out his open window into the cool breeze. Being a loner most of his life, he grew to respect the fresh breeze that blew in from the forest; With so little to appreciate, why not?
Landing deftly on a tree branch, he enjoyed the cool shadow cast by it. He dragged his gaze across the horizon, across all the territory he swore he'd protect. Now, as a Chunin. Tommorrow…
Hokage
His eyes scraped across the sheer rock wall with the previous Hokages staring steadfast into the sun.
That is true immortality, no jutsu could ever replace the feelings caused by these people.
Naruto glanced down at the people, bustling about the town square worrying only about tomorrow night's dinner.
"You were wrong, Orochimaru…"
He sat down in a meditative position, thinking about his path in life. His goal, dream, of becoming the greatest.
What does that really mean? People like Itachi…Orochimaru…Sasuke. They obtained power for greatness. People like the third…
He shook his head, grinning at the memory of the old man.
He was the only one I'd ever consider great.
He shrugged off those serious thoughts in light of a newer, more…primal urge. The only thing that would come in between him and thoughts of his ream was the third most meaningful thing in his life.
Ramen, Ramen, Ramen.
"Ahhh, I haven't had any in forever!" He jumped down, dashing to Ichiraku's.
--
"Naruto?" Sakura blinked, clearing her emerald eyes as she surveyed the empty room.
"Sensei said this was the room…was she mistak-" She stopped as she spotted an orange and blue jacket strewn carelessly on a chair.
Yeah, it's his room! She frowned.
Careless bastard!
Fin
Author's Corner: I don't know if that's too short for you guys, but it took a lot of thought to write it. Tell me where you guys want it to go, aye?
Cheers,
FallArbor