Hi everyone! I'm bored and decided to make this story about my favorite Naruto pairing- Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. My very first FanFiction, anyway have fun reading and take it easy on me.

P.S.: I don't own Naruto or any other characters of the manga. It all solely belongs to the brilliant mind of Masashi Kishimoto.

Never Forget

"Memory is a child walking along the seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things." –Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal

Chapter 1: Surprise of a Lifetime

After the war was over, no signs of the lone Uchiha avenger were seen for the past 5 years. Along with his so-called team, the famous team Taka was nowhere to be found as well. Naruto along with the other Konoha shinobis keep up with their search. But with no such luck by their side, it seems everyone have given up their hope of ever finding the last remaining Uchiha and his lackeys.

Just when Naruto was just about to hit his 21st birthday; luck was like a rain that has been washing his special day with a blessing. It was raining the day he came back. He was all alone walking along the huge gates of the Hidden Leaf Village with nothing but his shadow behind him. And to everyone's surprise, he just walks straight past Naruto along with Kakashi and just continues on his journey towards the Hokage tower.

The Hokage and the newly revised council, with the elders nowhere to be seen in the vicinity of the court... decided on the Uchiha's fate. Letting him stay within the Interrogation prison until the hearing is over, despite Naruto's protest. The hearing have last for three weeks, and to Naruto's surprise. They have only decided to give him a one year probation and one year of no missions of all rank except if the Hokage ask for his assistance in certain missions.

After sealing the fate of the Uchiha, the Godaime ordered him to be check in the hospital for 3 days for his physical and mental health. To everyone's surprise, he just began to follow all their orders but has only asked the Hokage for a small favor of letting him stay in his clan's compound and given the permission to train everyday in Konoha's training grounds. And with that, the Hokage granted his small favor.

Sasuke as some of the people in the village would never forget that name since after the fourth shinobi bloody war. A cursed name as some may say, while others would say that it is a disrespectful name since he was given the name of the Sandaime's father. And he gave such tarnish on the name of one of the greatest shinobi of all time. But Sasuke paid little or no attention at all to other people's hearsays. But the villagers would just look at him like an insect that needs to be squash immediately or a guy infected with an incurable disease that everyone needs to stay away from.

For the past 3 months, Sasuke would do the same thing almost every day. He would go outside just before the dawn and return from within the darkness of the night to his old house so that the villagers may not see him go freely to the training grounds. But of course, he still made some civil connections to Naruto and the Godaime. As his closest friend, Naruto was always there to accompany him. But in the Uchiha's point of view, more like annoy him most of the time.

"Eh teme, why do you always have to keep yourself lock up in that dirty old house of yours? Why don't you hang out with us all the time? Get to know the other guys." Naruto suggested.

"Hn." A monosyllabic term of the Uchiha, which either means yes or no.

The pair where walking down the road on a bright morning just as the sun was about to reach its peak in the sky; the blonde had finally convinced the Uchiha to go for a nice walk around the village and have lunch at his favorite place- Ichiraku.

"Well, what's it's gonna be? Care to join us later for some meat and a few bottle of sake?" the blonde suggested. But the dark-haired male just keeps on looking forward and didn't care to answer such a stupid question. The pair walk their way towards Ichiraku, (with Naruto talking almost all the time and Sasuke either listens or stares straight ahead) and the owner of the bar named Teuchi was happy seeing Naruto, but was very surprise in seeing Sasuke. Within the span of time, Sasuke have already spent in Konoha; he never once visited and eaten a ramen in Ichiraku and that surprises the owner a lot.

"Isn't this a very surprising day indeed, if it isn't my favorite customer coming along with Sasuke Uchiha himself. What will you be having today boys?" the owner asked. "I'll be having the usual old man! And make those two orders already." Beamed the excited blonde. "And you what will you be having for today?" asked the old man to the dark haired one. "I'll be having whatever he is having." Sasuke coolly said. "Good choice and your orders will be ready in a while." Said the owner and just went inside to make their 3 orders of their ramen in an instant.

In just a short while, the 3 bowls of steaming noodles was served and Naruto was excited than ever. Gulping the hot noodles and soup in an instant. While the owner's daughter name Ayame, was blushing upon giving Sasuke his order of the delicious treat. "Well Sasuke-teme, there's another thing that haven't change around here huh? Your eye candy looks still attracts women." Naruto said. While Sasuke just ignored his comment by saying "Whatever."

"Speaking of women, where is your girl Naruto? I 'm not used seeing you without her by your side." the owner suddenly asked out of the blue. Then they were both shocked when Sasuke had asked. "You got a girl?"

"Yes I got a girl for your information, since you have been avoiding us, I for once have a very special lady in my heart and that lady has a name; her name is Hinata." Naruto proudly stated. "The Hyuga heiress?" asked the dark haired male with a disbelieving look painted on his beautiful face. "Yes! We've been in a legal relationship for 3 years now and we're just gonna get stronger you'll see. Naruto retorted.

The owner of the bar interrupted them once again, when he ask Sasuke that he doesn't know much about the things that are happening around the people he knew growing up. While Naruto answers that it is because he is rotting himself in his house and solely spends his time training alone every day and night. While avoiding everyone he knows, including his own team. Sasuke has learned about the latest news about the people he knew from Naruto and with some help from the old man.

He had learned that Shikamaru has been in a one year relationship with the Kazekage's sister, Temari and later broken up with her to realize he was in love with his team mate Ino. "That boy sure was full of surprises too, when he suddenly broke up with the Kazekage's sister and I thought he would be the one to start another war so that we can feel the Kazekage's rage." The old man shared. "Gaara is not like that at all, in fact he's actually relieved that they have broken up, I think he feels sorry for Shikamaru being beaten up almost every day by his sister. And to think that guy has all the luck in the world for being a genius, but he just broken up with a troublesome woman to be with an even more troublesome woman. I think Ino is just the worst. Hahaha…" Naruto added while containing a laugh.

He also found out that Choji Akimichi, Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka are now being properly trained to become the heads of their respective clans. Although, Naruto shared that Choji is still fat as hell and keep on munching on anything his hands can get on. He is also the shoulder to lean on when Shikamaru and Ino are having one of their lover's quarrels. Shino as always was quiet and is sometimes seen along with the rest of team Kurenai in training the late Asuma and Kurenai's child. And Kiba is always training with Akamaru and most of the time seen with different types of women. "I gotta warn you Sasuke-teme, Kiba is now within your love field and will stop at nothing to date almost every beautiful girl he meets. And these girls are now thinking he's the perfect boyfriend or something. But I owe him one time, because without that bastard I don't think Hinata and I will ever be dating in the first place. Heh…" Naruto shared. And Sasuke responded with, "Like I care about trivial stuffs like that."

Naruto continued while the old man butted in at times. Rock Lee is now one of the most famous taijutsu teachers in the academy along with the guidance of his ever loyal Sensei Gai. "Well, wouldn't believe that bushy brows is a sensei now but what's even surprising is that he is now popular among kids due to his skills in teaching. And bushy brows sensei is always with him, always asking for a duel with Kakashi sensei and talking about youth to the youth. Kinda weird actually. Hehehe…" as stated by the blonde boy. "Don't be talking like that about them Naruto, Gai-san is a very respected man." The old man retorted. "Respected or not, he is still weird to me. Heh." Naruto laugh and thus, annoying the old man further.

Tenten, the only girl in the group has been in a three year relationship with the Hyuga prodigy, Neji. Everyone expected them to last longer until it will lead to the two marrying each other in the end. But somehow they broken up and leaving a bitter note on their relationship. "After breaking with that bastard Neji, Hinata said that Tenten just suddenly decided to go to Kumogakure and trained under Octopops." Naruto added. "It's Killer bee-dono Naruto, learn not to use codenames boy." The old man quickly said. And with Naruto replying "Whatever, old man."

"By the way, Kakashi-sensei is still the same as always. I think he will never change: always the single type, reading almost every kind of porn there is out there and disappears especially when you need him the most. Rrrrhhhh…. And Tsunade-baa chan would always get mad and be drunk and...—"Naruto was suddenly interrupted with a question from the Uchiha avenger.

"What about Sakura?" Sasuke curiously asked. He was expecting that Naruto would tell some latest news about her since she is their closest female friend and team mate as well. Both males were shocked and don't know how to respond to his question. Leaving Sasuke more curious about her and therefore ask "Well? What about her?" Naruto immediately thought of an answer. "She's always busy you know. The hospital work and stuff, Baa-chan is always asking her to work to the bone and always go on these certain missions to give medical assistance to our neighboring villages. Hehehe… and besides she's a workaholic too you know."

"Hn." Sasuke wasn't sure whether to believe his answer or not so he decided to call it a day and immediately stood up from his chair. He thanked the old man for the nice meal and paid his part of the meal. Naruto, seeing his friend go, decided to stand up and follow him when suddenly the old man grab his shirt. And he pointed that Sasuke has only paid his part of the meal and that he has to pay his own part too. Seeing that, Naruto scream "Sasuke-teme, I thought you were going to pay for today since this is the first time we ate ramen again in five long years!"

Sasuke couldn't care less about Naruto and his silly whining. He continues to walk and thinks deeply until he realizes that he was in a part of the village he didn't want to see again or any time sooner. He was in the road where all of it happened. The road leading to the entrance gates of the Hidden Leaf Village. It is the only road that will lead you to the exit of the village, the same road he walked on when he decided to follow his destiny once. He looked around some more and his eyes were widening for a bit when he saw the bench. The wind became chilly and the leaves started to dance around within the area. Everything seems nostalgic when he suddenly sees a blur of a person he least expects to see after being in the village for such a long time. And that blur of a person is calling out a familiar name.

Behind him, Sasuke has sense the presence of the blonde boy calling his name as well. "Sasuke-teme! I was looking everywhere for you, you've hidden your chakra pretty well and I was about to ask you to wait and lend me some mone -"

"Naruto! Over here Naruto!" said the familiar tune. Naruto's eyes were big as saucers when he saw who it was. While Sasuke remain silent and glue to his place; his eyes were observing the familiar person running excitedly towards them. "Sakura-chan!" The blonde boy suddenly shouted while raising both of his hands above the air. In a second of a fraction, Sasuke's eyes were widening a bit when Naruto had said her name. He observes her from head to toe. He was very surprise to see her hair longer than before covering her entire back and reaching her buttocks. Her hair was surprisingly the same color as it was when he left, the cotton candy colored locks that sway with the wind as she ran. And her skin was surprisingly pale in complexion but soothes her well. And for her body has filled with womanly curves, added with the clothes she is wearing such as an official kunoichi vest and a black dress designed with a pencil skirt at the bottom showing of her long and creamy legs paired up with the boot like ninja shoes. But most of all, her face seems relax, carefree like she's not experiencing any problem at all.

As soon as she reaches them, to Sasuke's shock… his eyes widen for what seems longer than the usual. For Sakura just ran past him in an instant and into Naruto's comforting hands in the form of a tightly warm hug.

He just stood there for a second or two, thinking if he should just face the two of them or just walk straight ahead as if nothing had happen. He was just beginning to think on going with the latter instead. But something just stopped him from moving when he heard Sakura shouted another familiar name.

"Neji-kun!" the girl with the strawberry locks shouted. And to further surprise Sasuke, Neji and Sakura were in a very cozy position and Neji leaning on Sakura's lips and closing on the gap between them. With Neji deepening the kiss while Sakura blushing on madly. Sakura, in an instant became aware that they are not alone, pulled away from him and just looked away. Embarrassed on Neji's sudden actions in public. When someone spoke out of the blue…

"So this is why, why you ignored me…Huh? Because you're with Hyuga now?" the dark haired male in the background has firmly stated. Naruto on the other hand was becoming tense while sensing the equal amount of tension within the group of people in front of him. He stayed quietly stilled until she has spoken.

To top Sasuke's surprise list that day… were the only words that came out of her mouth "Who are you?"…


To be continued…