This is my very first Naruto fan fiction. I recently started Naruto, and I really enjoy it, so I wanted to contribute to this growing fandom. I hope you all enjoy it. This is just the preface, so that means the actual story begins once I post chapter one. I hope I do the characters justice, and like I said, I just started Naruto Shippuden and am progressing. So if I write something that doesn't fit or seems wrong, I'm sorry. I'm still watching and catching up on it.

Preface

I don't know what it was, or what to even call it, but I know it was a cruel fate right from the start. After everything that had happened, after all the pain, losses, and grief, I thought I would finally be able to settle down with my friends and simply live. I just wanted to live, is that too much to ask for? How am I expected to move on with my life and nurse my scars in the process, if I'm constantly forced back one or two steps? It just wasn't fair.

Nothing was ever fair.

Damn it, look at me now. Lady Tsunade would be really disappointed if she saw me like this, I really can't let her down, especially after giving her my word. Besides, this wasn't her fault, she gave me a choice, and I was the one who agreed on the arrangement. However, I was so caught off guard with the news, how could I have responded with any real logical sense? At this point, nothing made sense. I guess I simply wanted to prove to myself and to others, that I was not a naïve weakling anymore. I wanted to show my strengths, to not be pushed around anymore or to be taken for granted.

I'm Sakura of the Hidden Leaf Village, medical ninja, and apprentice of the famed Tsunade. The woman has done so much for me and more, guiding me, acknowledging my strengths as well as my weaknesses. It was Lady Tsunade's training and teachings that encouraged me to accept the fact that I had qualities that made me needed. She helped me in discovering my confidence, to not stand by in fear. She taught me to not let my will falter and to stand and fight in order to heal the wounded; to make a difference.

I wasn't the same little girl from six years ago. No, I refuse to be a burden, to not fight my own battles. Lady Tsunade would skin me alive if I ever backed down now, and it was up to me to continue her legacy. Something like my current mission shouldn't detour me of my goal, it doesn't matter who else was involved. I will no longer be afraid. Something like this shouldn't discourage me; did it leave me wondering on how bad things could turn out? Absolutely. Would I let that stop me? Not a chance.

Lady Tsunade trusted me for a reason. She entrusted me with this mission, because she knew someone like him would not be able to break me. Not like he did all those years ago. Because Lady Tsunade knew full well that I would not go down without a fight, and that I would not make things easy for anyone involved.

As I raised my head up towards the night sky, I could still feel my left hand throbbing with the heat of his cheek and my most recent actions. I realized I was still panting, the adrenaline finally leaving my body as I smacked my forehead. "Nice going, Sakura. You won't hear the end of this one…" I muttered, but I held no regrets, that bastard deserved it.

His eyes darkened as they narrowed down to slits, taking in the stoic look on my face. I didn't budge, nor did I bother looking at him as that sinful gaze continued to try and see through me. I felt myself bristle, wanting to snap at him and his stupid haughty look. It was hard to imagine how hung up I was as a little girl, always tailing after him; now, everything he did was so damn annoying.

The air suddenly grew cold, and I did all I could to not shiver, especially with him so near. As we sat down on top of the hill, I lifted my knees up and hugged them, placing my chin on my knees for better comfort. It was all I could do to keep me from walking away from him. Nothing was said, but I could still feel the way his eyes drilled a hole in my face, and I was growing impatient.

If he kept this up, I swear…

However, the young man beside me suddenly spoke, the coolness of his voice making my heart sputter in surprise. I silently scolded myself for such a childish thing, ready to ignore him and his lame attempts at conversation. But it was what he said that finally made me snap. "Why do you suddenly get so worked up over that idiot?" And by 'idiot,' he meant Naruto.

I felt my skin flare up with anger, making my heart suddenly race with indignation at what it was he just said. Did he really just bring Naruto up? Out of all the people he was the last person who was allowed to remotely bring up Naruto in any form. It was because of him that Naruto and I spent years trying not to drown in the pain and sadness that he caused, and now he wanted to bring Naruto up like nothing ever happened?

My anger boiled underneath my veins, and I suddenly began to shake, but more out of fury than anything else; fury towards him and all his crap. Using the sudden courage provided by my rage, I suddenly pushed myself off the ground and shot up onto my feet. I whirled around and finally made my eyes make contact with his dark, cold ones. A tinge of surprise flickered within his gaze, but he immediately smothered it with a look of his own annoyance.

He opened his mouth to speak once more, but this time I wasn't going to let the jerk do that. "Shut up!" I screamed, feeling my chest heave as the adrenaline soon pooled into my insides, making my heart grow wild.

"Don't talk about Naruto because you are beneath him! I care about Naruto more than anyone here, because he's been there for me all these years! When you left, it was Naruto who caught me as I fell. When you left, it was Naruto who suffered alongside me. When you left, it was Naruto who didn't think I was an idiot for crying over you, because he knew exactly how it felt to be stabbed in the back! When you left, it was Naruto who moved heaven and earth to go find you! When you left, it was Naruto who still had that hope that you would return to us someday!"

I didn't care if I was too loud, or if people saw us. I didn't care about the anger that seeped onto his face as I screamed at him. I didn't care about anything concerning him anymore, because I was too hurt and too cautious to let him hurt me again. That was not going to happen.

"Naruto had no one growing up; all he ever received was hate from the villagers, and being held in contempt. Even my parents talked about how much of a monster he was. Despite all that pain, instead of growing up hating the world, he used that to make himself stronger! He didn't let hate, anger, and revenge take over his life, he rose above that! So that's why you're beneath him!" I yelled, feeling my eyes brimming with tears, making his image blur.

"You are nothing like Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha!"

It was in that moment that Sasuke rose in a slow, threatening manner, taking a step forward, but I didn't falter. I wasn't scared of him. I loved him, once. But it was a child-like love, one that was innocent and full of hope that maybe someday, he could love me back. That didn't exist anymore; he broke my love and further shattered it with his actions. I don't think I would ever be able to forgive him, nor do I want to forgive him.

His cool breath suddenly fanned over my face, but as ominous as he looked, I stood my ground. My fiery eyes collided with his frigid cold ones, and even then, I did not let him define me. I did not let him force me into submission. Not anymore.

Parting my lips, the heat of my words fell from my mouth, sharp and angry. "No one else deserves praise and admiration like Naruto. You're constantly fighting a battle that he's already won, and it angers you because you know I'm right. You lost. And you know what else?"

I should have stopped there, but I was too high on adrenaline to even think straight. The way his eyes solidified with unfathomable fury should have been my key to get the hell out of there. But I didn't run; Lady Tsunade taught me better than that. My words suddenly pierced the momentary silence.

"I wish I could have loved him the way I used to love you."

I had intended to finally walk away at that point, but I wasn't expecting his reaction. I wasn't expecting his next movement as he gripped my arm tightly. I was expecting a verbal confrontation, for him to insult me in way only he knew how, to try and belittle me. However, none of that came; what came next was what had me reeling.

Before I knew it, the sudden heat of his body slammed against mine, nearly suffocating me as his scent invaded my senses. Strong arms circled around my small frame, holding me prisoner against him and locking me into place. The force of his actions left me in shock, and Sasuke killed off any opportunity I had left to fight him off.

"What are you…?" I gasped, but my words died in my mouth the second I glanced at his face. Sasuke's anger was still in place, but it was also blanketed over with a strong sense of possessiveness. Cold eyes screamed want, but not the kind that made him want me as a person or in a physical and emotional sense. No, Sasuke wanted me, like a man wanted a new weapon or possession. I was simply a thing he wanted.

Because Sasuke lived to rival against Naruto, Sasuke wanted nothing more than to take something of his.

And take he did.

I truly fought against him, to push against the weight of his body, and to break free of the bonds that were his arms. Even as he buried one of his hands within my pink locks, I still fought him. Even as he branded my lips with his own, I still fought him, and I would continue to fight him.

Sasuke…

Oh, how I had imagined so many times on what his kisses would feel like. How I dreamt of the day he would gently take my face in his hands and share something with me that I so longed for. I had so many dreams back then that involved him. I wanted him to be my first kiss, my first date, my first…everything. I wanted him to be my first of everything.

But not anymore.

Not like this…

"Stop it…" I whispered frantically, trying to push him away by his shoulders, but it was no use. Where my mind screamed in protest, my body did not follow, and I cursed myself for it. It seemed to me that my body had always longed for his feel, to be embraced by his person. His heat washed over me, and his scent overwhelmed me almost completely. His kisses were demanding, and every time I tried to turn my face away, he forced me back in with his palm.

But his taste…

No, I needed to snap out of it! "Get off me!" I finally screamed, throwing my knee into his gut and getting the reaction that I wanted from him. As his grip loosened, grunting at the sudden jab, I took the newly found opportunity to strike his face with my palm. The air was filled with a resounding slap, trailing off into the night. Not being one to miss another opportunity, I quickly threw in a good punch while I was at it.

But this time, Sasuke dodge away from my attack, forcing my fist to land on a nearby tree and uprooting the entire thing, sending branches, dirt and debris flying everywhere. "You jerk…!" I yelled again, turning my body to fully face him, only this time, I stopped. Feeling angry and disgusted at what just happened, I let my arm drop back down to my side. Cursing the Uchiha, I finally crossed my arms, staring at the place he once stood, before he disappeared.

He was gone again…

"I won't be so careless next time…" I whispered to myself, clenching her hand tightly into a fist. Sasuke had crossed the lined, and he did it out of spite, too. As I quickly wiped the tears off my face, I finally allowed myself the chance to finally lower my arm. Stupid Sasuke and his need to prove his point even if he didn't have a damn point to prove in the first place!

Just as I was about to throw in the towel and kick Sasuke's ass to the curb, Lady Tsunade's voice filled my head, making me stop and falter slightly. Why did I accept such a thing? That's my only regret, agreeing to such a crazy mission, sacrificing my freedom in order to keep Sasuke in line. Who better than for me to keep an eye on him? Besides, no one trusted him, even if he did try to extend the olive branch several months ago. People didn't forget, nor forgive easily. No one can brush away the pain Sasuke caused, so he really needs to stop acting like what he did wasn't a big deal.

Despite all that, Lady Tsunade did have a point. We all needed to watch over Sasuke and keep tabs on his moves for the next year or so, just to make sure he wasn't up to anything fishy. Sometimes, though, I wish that weren't the case, so that I could continue my life in ease and not worry about that Uchiha bastard.

"Sakura, I need someone on the inside for this; I don't trust anyone else but you. I know I'm asking for a lot, which is why I'm not ordering you to follow me on this. This is your choice. Will you help me?" Tsunade asked, leaning forward on her desk, unwavering eyes settling over my person.

My determined gaze stared back at her, showing her the will she embedded within me. Parting my lips, and ignoring the frantic beating of my heart, I nodded. "For the sake of the village, My Lady, I will do as you say."

For the sake of my village, I will face whatever sacrifice. I needed to keep an eye on Sasuke, to keep him out of trouble, and to report to Lady Tsunade about any strange findings. This was my life's mission, to shield the village from Sasuke Uchiha, but that didn't mean I'd go down without a fight. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it meant becoming engaged to him.

Even if it means becoming Sakura Uchiha…

There you have it. I hope you review and tell me what you think. I hope to update this very soon.