Disclaimer---Nope, don't own.

This is going to be a short collection of related drabbles, sooo, yeah...read!


Sasuke was the first to go.

Years of planning, proclaiming he was an avenger. For the few who really understood what happened, it was just the question of when. They just tried to make him feel welcome in the village, a feeling of belonging in a place he thought would never be his home.

One person made the mistake of getting too attached. Although many adored him, this one really felt the deep feeling of love for him. Out of is small group of bonds hers was the strongest and although he tried to break it, she held onto it too tight. Soon, Sakura was tangled on it, she couldn't even let go if she tried.

Not that she wanted to.

Everyone knew Naruto promised to bring him back, and she was greatful and secretly so was he. She was happy he understood and accepted her mistake, the one she made, but didn't regret. But he had another reason, one no one knew. Sasuke saw him, the one that everyone knew about but didn't really know about. And he didn't judge, just fought. He realized under his coldness, the eight year old Sasuke was angry and would not, could not, be normal without Itachi gone. In those lost seconds they were both caught in the clash of power, Naruto remembered before, and knew that after all of this it would be okay. He pulled back. It hurt but the pain in this body subsided and so would Sasuke's pain. Maybe not soon, but eventually it would.

But instead of waiting, he and Sakura would fight, fight to stop Akatsuki, fight to protect the village, fight to help Sasuke, so even if they were not with him, they were a team and eventually they hopefully be reunited.

But now, without the Traitor, they were only the Monster, the Flower, and the Witness.


R&R

More to come...hehe,