AN: Hey, people! This is my second fan fiction so I hope you like it. The characters are towards the end a bit OOC so if that's a problem then help me out. The majority of the story will be written in Sakura's point of view and the rest will be normal. I'd absolutely love reviews and flames are welcome. Any questions or comments please review and I'll post responses on the next chappy. Hope you like it. Eventually SakuSasu but you'll have to wait a while. Hope you like! Ja ne!
Gaara's Cherry blossom
Warning:
I don't own Naruto or I'd be rich but this story's mine so no taking!
Also I'd like to warn people that this story will be rated T for the moment but eventually will be rated M so letting you know now so you can decide on your own. (Not for quite a while though)
Something's Gotta Give
Chapter 1: Something New
I was sitting on a bench watching the sun sink into the horizon. Damn how I wish I could sink with it. It was so peaceful out now, as the bird chirps were replaced by the crickets nearby. I watched the sky change from the orange pink hue to the dark blue, speckled every once in a while with the diamond stars of night.
The disappearance of light brought me back to my current location and my sore aching muscles. I was just kicked out of the hospital by Tsunade-sama. 'You need rest before you pass out. It's not healthy to live like this where others always come first. You have been here for forty-two hours straight in what... ten minutes? Out NOW!'
So here I am. I think she worries too much. Helping people is my life when I'm not gone on month long missions. It eases my mind so I think of nothing but my work. I can't imagine not working in the hospital. Thanks to Tsunade, I'm top medic in the fire country surpassing her, as I'm often told.
Since Sasuke left, I've been training with the fifth hokage on a daily bases in medicine and in stamina for combat. With the monstrous strength so generously given by my second sensei and my training with kodachi, in combination with advance training techniques, I've been striving to live up to my promise.
When Sasuke left me, I wasn't able to stop him. I was not strong enough and had nothing to offer him to stay. I gave him my sole, my company, my love, and even my life if need be. I'd fallow him anywhere and do anything he could request of me … But it wasn't enough. He left me despite every sacrifice I'd make for him, leaving nothing in return but leaving me unconscious on this bench before whispering a brief 'thank you'.
'Thank you?' Thank you for what? I never really did anything worthy of thanks when I was a Genin. I was the weak one on the squad; the one who needed protection. No more. No more will I walk in his or Naruto's shadow. I foraged my own path and I'm still on it. This is my promise, not just to me, but to Sasuke and Naruto and even Kakashi sensei. I won't need protection from anyone at anytime, ever. I promised to get stronger and to be at their side, if not a stride ahead of them in power and ability.
I don't know what Sasuke was thanking me fore but I can now say the same thing to him, 'thank you' for making me wake up, thanks for the will to push myself to catch up. Well, now I've caught up. I am here and I'm finally content. How I wish I could see his face.
I wish to see him again. I have grown out of the silly crush since he's been gone. I mean, seven years is a lot of time to sort things out. I still love him but I've buried that for years now. Thanks to watching Sasuke for so long, I've learned how to shove everything to the side, burry it deep, or burn it and leave the ashes in the dark depths of my mind. Hmm, it's been a long time since I last smiled. It's always training, hospital shifts or missions. No time for happiness.
Naruto grew concerned at first, but now after such a long time of the new me, being like this, it's to be expected. I've been known in the rookie nine as the 'replacement Sasuke.' Well, rookie eight anyway. My friends were not sure of what to make of the attitude change, but accepted it as a broken heart, wishing to never to be touched again. I'm the new human ice burg, I've been teased… but it no longer affects me. Ino and Hinata come by every now and again to check on me. They are the only ones that haven't given up hope on me, as I haven't on Sasuke.
New human ice burg, ehh, not that inaccurate now. I guess I would say that I'm like him. Training and missions are all that's important, and when I've been forced by Tsunade to stop and take a break, I do hospital time to maintain chakra control. Though not for the same reasons, we both are on similar paths. A dark empty path of revenge.
His reason is to kill that bastard of a brother, who murdered the whole clan in one night. He was thirteen then, Itachi, the weasel, the Uchiha prodigy, the Uchiha genius. And he killed them for what… test his abilities, that's bull; the one to reach Anbu at thirteen screams of ability. I guess it wasn't enough for him though because he took everything from Sasuke, from a home, to a family, to a brother, to hope, to friendship, to love. I hate Itachi more than death its self. He caused such pain, such hatred in such a young person, his brother no less, destroying any chance at normalcy of life.
While this was Sasuke's path of revenge, mine was to Sasuke himself. He ripped my heart out and wasn't even decent enough to give it back, not even in peaces. You can't fix a broke possession if it's been thrown away. All emotion has been stolen from me and I can't live like this much longer before something's gotta give. This is where our paths meet again, the will to live, to be free from our own respective curses. I have but a year. We shall see, we shall see.
A small poke came and wiped all thoughts from my mind I look up to see a rather anxious Naruto "Hey Sakura-chan shouldn't you be going home. It's nearly ten. Why are you out so late?" Since Sasuke left, Naruto has become a sort of brother figure towards me, as a close of a brother I'd permit anyway.
I am used to his concern and am thankful he's just not as loud and annoying around me like he was years ago. "Tsunade kicked me out. Forty-two hours straight in the hospital working is apparently 'bad for my health' or something on those lines. Though I'm impressed with the amount of chakra I have as of lately. Forty-two hours is a new record for not passing out and I still feel fine I guess." I was trying to get him to lay off a bit but it seemed to get him more tensed and a frown appeared on his stubborn face.
"I'll walk you home." Yep that's Naruto for you. Stubborn as a mule, but with a cheerful side that gave him his own fan club now. Besides the cheerful demeanor, he had grown more handsome over the years. His boyish face was more defined and he had the muscled body from the years of training, but the young boy she once new was still there.
Somewhere in the seven years that's passed he finally grew a brain, thank Kami might I add, and he finally realized Hinata liked him. They've been together for two years and he's been bugging me lately on how he should propose. 'I don't know about this stuff Naruto. You'd be better off asking Ino or even Tenten.' Each time he'd shrug and change the subject. If was the bubbly girl I once was, I would have been hugging him and helping him no problem, but she's been long gone. I sigh. Now we're both Anbu and I've lost any cheerful spark that was once there.
Might as well get going anyway, though my apartment isn't far. I stand up and we begin down the darkened path to my apartment. It's small and is only meant for one person but what was I going to do with more space? I own little, I'm rarely at home, and haven't had a boyfriend ever to bring home to it, so why bother with more space?
I live on my own now as you might have guessed. My parents were killed, a year after Sasuke left us, on a mission. Ambushed. That's when it fell apart for me. I couldn't save them, too weak. 'It's not your fault.' Well it was my fault that their dead and I'm alone. Alone, I was totally and utterly alone, nowhere to go, no family, no Sasuke. Just me and my dark dingy apartment. Alone is by far the emptiest feeling there is. No wonder Sasuke said being isolated and secluded was so horrible. Is this how he felt...the uncontrollable empty hole where happiness, comfort and love should be?
Everything in my apartment has a place and it is rarely moved which might be a good factor as to why I have a good layer of dust everywhere. Oh well, nothing I can do at the moment. I have a mission tomorrow so I better go straight to bed. I also have an early briefing. No big deal really, just another assassination job. We're nearly there now.
I'm ever so slightly dizzy and my sight is fading. If people didn't know me they'd say I was drunk, but I'd never drank a single day of my nineteen-year-old life. I can see nothing past the dark splotches everywhere and I'm growing heavy. I hear Naruto calling me before I succumb to the darkness.
I wake the next morning to the sun warming my face. Damn sun, I'm sleeping, five more minutes. Before I knew it, I heard the door creak a little and I opened my eye a bit to see Naruto carrying a tray with instant ramen. Typical, two years with Hinata can't change his eating habits or his range in the art of cooking. I roll over to look at the ceiling before sitting up completely.
"Good morning Sakura-chan. Here, I made you breakfast since you're probably still tired. You really shouldn't over work yourself like that." Okay now it makes sence why he's here. I over did it again, I must have. I take my chopsticks and without entering a long argument, started to eat my ramen.
Now I feel the side affects from my workload. My arms and back are sore and my legs are throbbing now. I am tempted to groan but I'm not one to complain. Even if I work at the hospital at times, I still don't like to go there as a patient and that's where I'd be going if Naruto thought I was in pain.
After I had finished the ramen, I shoed away Naruto to pack for my mission. It was going to be a long one. I slip on a pair of my baggy khaki cargo pants, and a black top over the mesh one I wear over my sports bra. I put on my black metal plated fingerless gloves and tie my headband with the leaf symbol over my left bicep. This is my normal training clothes: I'll change into my Anbu outfit before leaving.
I've been complimented on my wardrobe and figure several times, though I don't think I'm as shapely as Ino's build. I have somewhat of a fan club of my own. Geeze, this is what Sasuke went through. Man, these guys are so superficial, only like the 'mysterious' persona. Oh well, being in Anbu, I've developed several escape routes to take depending on the situation.
As I walk to the Hokage tower, there's no sign of my personal mob. Thank Kami! I quickly nock on the door and Tsunade calls me in. I enter the room to see Kakashi, Naruto, and Neji. I didn't think I'd be taking the mission alone but I was so hoping for it. Kakashi was reinstated as an Anbu three years ago when Neji passed the exams. Naruto and I passed the same test a year later, just after celebrating Naruto's birthday. I entered and bowed my respect to Tsunade, which was replied with a nod. I straightened up and Tsunade began the mission briefing. "This is an S ranked mission which I've assigned to the four of you. You will leave at eleven o' clock." we all nodded for her to continue.
"You will be going after missing-nin Uchiha Itachi who has been seen near the hidden mist. You are to bring him here for questioning and for appropriate punishment if possible." They all nodded though Naruto and Kakashi were a bit edgy after learning the name of the target. Neji and I both just stared, unchanging, not blinking or showing any hesitation, totally stolid. "You are permitted to force him by any means necessary but I want him preferably alive. If there are no questions you are dismissed."
With that said, I poofed away from the room, back to my apartment. Sure, Naruto's my friend but missions come first then answering the usual third degree about my health from my ex-sensei and old teammate. I quickly change from my clothes to put on my all black Anbu uniform. I still wear my mesh shirt but a long sleeve black shirt goes over it to cover the black tattoo on my arm. I wear similar pants as I always wear but black and a little tighter fitting. Last, to complete the look is my tiger mask. I chose it because it's worn by the fierce warriors of our village. 'Suits you to wear it.'
I guess it does because on a mission, that's just it, it's a mission. That's all that matters and if the mission, in order to be completed requires bloodshed, then I give it just that. I've learned to kill when necessary but not because I like to. I at first was torn between duty and my thoughts, but since they are buried so deep, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. I quickly strap my kunai poach to my right thigh, my shurikan holster to my left hip, and a poach on my right hip for medicines. I grab my bag of supplies, extra clothes and more weapons and run to the gate pulling my kodachi sheath on as I run.
Of course, I'm the first one there. Neji showed up before two minutes with Kakashi and Naruto fallowing ten minutes later. We quickly discuss our route to be taken to the hidden mist village and we leave.
We jump from branch to branch at a leisurely pace for us but is actually barely traceable to the normal human eye. I follow in stride with our captain, Neji as we run through the thick foliage of trees. The other two are close behind leaving the 'ice cubes' to lead the way. "Don't let emotions rule you Haruno." Neji calls to me. I glare daggers his direction. "Where have you been Hyuga?" I reply. I swear if he could see the look I am giving him, and looks could kill, he'd been dead a long time ago.
Sometimes I wonder why he's captain. We both may be 'ice cubes' but at least I don't make rude comments. If only I'd had that damn byakugun, I would have been the captain. I already am the team strategist, its medic, and up to par with them on ability, not to mention the massive strength. What else do I have to do?
He just nods and I could swear I herd a chuckle, but I let it go. For my training, I used the Hyuga prodigy as comparison to the youngest and last Uchiha prodigy's strength. If I can beat Neji then Sasuke's no sweat. He's so lucky that we were form the same village because if we had ever met in battle otherwise, Neji and I, he'd have his ass gift wrapped and handed to him.
We were nearly to mist when we stopped to make camp. The boys set up every thing from the tents to a fire while I went to a nearby stream, fish for dinner, again. Same routines as always, I get dinner (usually fish), they set up camp, I cook, and then they give me the third degree. I guess the only thing left is to endure the many questions during dinner, and then I can get some rest. I'm still slightly tired from last night so I hope the lecture won't take long. Once I've finished cooking I pass a fish to each person, Neji last just to piss him off, and we have a moment to eat in silence.
I can see Naruto and Kakashi-sensei surveying me out of the corners of me eye. I swear everyone is so overly paranoid lately. While I cleaned up from dinner, oh did I mention I'm the team maid too, Kakashi pulled me to the side. "Sakura, maybe you shouldn't have come on the trip with us. You've been over working yourself since he left. I don't think it's in your best interests to…" I cut him off before he decides to have Neji send me home. "Kakashi I'm fine. I've worked so hard for this. You can't possibly stop me now. Try it and I won't hesitate..." I didn't need to finish my sentence since he knew how it ended. I brush past him and walk into my tent. I plop down on my sleeping bag and stare at the ceiling of my small tent.
Even though I'm exhausted, I can't find sleep. It's something I can't point out. Was it … adrenaline? Hmm… I guess I've worked hard enough for even my body to be curious of my capacity. I roll over to find a more comfortable position, but sleep still manages to elude me. I just lie there, thinking about what my ex-sensei had said. I know that what I said I meant with all my being and I think he saw it too. Uchiha Itachi, the reasons I have problems. Hopefully, that weasel will get what's coming to him… and I'll be the one delivering. Somehow knowing this helps me find some peace and I drift to sleep.
Normal Perception
The shinobi sit around the slowly dying fire; watch the log beneath the orange blaze crackle to create the delicious warmth they longed for on this fall night. They remained there quietly for a while until Sakura was undoubtedly sleeping. Naruto was replaying the night's events like a movie.
Sakura sitting on a bench, then walking half way home when she collapses. He had carried her all the way home and placed her in her bed. He pulled the dark blue and black covers up to her chin and wander to the door. He walked into the kitchen and made some tea for him to drink. He returned to the room, mug in hand, and sat in the chair in front of her desk. It had piles of medical scrolls and jutsus Sakura had been developing on her own. Naruto looked through the various scrolls looking at everything from theoretic jutsus to the hand seals of those she'd created and perfected. 'So this is what she does with her time.'
Sakura stirred while mumbling some thing incoherent. She rolled on to her stomach and continued her ramblings. He continued sifting through the scroll until Sakura moaned. He glanced at her and found her to sweating with a grimace across her face. A nightmare. He pulled the chair closer to the bed. He got a damp washcloth and placed it on her head to help her cool off a bit.
She started mumbling again but he caught a few words here or there. "…Sasuke…don't…bastard…Itachi…hell no." she bolted up from her sleep glancing around as if searching for something. She grabbed a kunai from under the pillow, which Naruto swiftly removed from her grasp. He pushed her down onto the white pillow to let her lower back-length hair spill over it. "Sakura, it's just a dream." She lied the staring at him then nodded before retreating into the depths of her mind, away from him, away from the world, away from her problems. He watched her enter the dreamless sleep before returning to his chair.
"Kakashi-sensei, can Sakura-chan handle this mission?" Said person looked up, as did Neji. Kakashi had a pained look on his face while Neji listened intently for an answer. "I know she can do this with her eyes closed talent wise… but I have no doubt that if we had heard of Itachi's whereabouts, then it's likely Sasuke has too. I'm not sure how that situation will be handled but I'm not guessing good. He's either as good as dead or we'll be looking for a kunoichi by the end of this."
They all looked over to the tent containing the only female on this mission. All nodding in agreement to the last few words mentioned. A flood of light came through the flap in the tent as Sakura slipped out of the tent, blowing out a gas lamp as she came into the light of the fire. She, despite only a three-hour rest, looked fully awake and rejuvenated. "I'll keep watch until morning. You need sleep." She said softly. She walked over to a tree stump by the light of the fire and sat there watching them and the surrounding forest of their camp. The men glance at each other and quietly retreat to their tents for their turn at rest.
Sakura sat on the stump, watching the fire die to a low glow. She stayed quiet looking around often and searching for any threatening chakra signature. Sensing none, she watched the sunrise over the wooded hills to bring the day's warmth and light. It wasn't long, while she was in her world of plotting and scheming, that her companions had awoken and started to pack up the tents. They quickly ate their instant ramen, courtesy of Naruto, and destroyed any evidence of the presence of a camp being there.
They took to the trees again hopping from branch to branch. They continued until they reached the outskirts of the mist village. They set up a temporary camp and left to search the area nearby. They found nothing except for a natural hot spring in the woods. They searched for hours and came across nothing. As they turned to go back for lunch, sakura felt a spike in chakra somewhere in the distance. She looked up and saw birds scattering from the trees around the area she felt the disturbance. She took of at a dead run, a fraction of a second before her team felt the chakra spike.
She entered a small thicket closely fallowed by her team. She listened for any movement. She herd birds, thousands of birds, chirping as one. No those aren't birds, she knows the sound well. Before anyone could stop here she poofed away in a swirl of cherry blossoms saying, "I'll handle this."
AN: Thanks for reading. If you review, I'll thank you for all eternity. But seriously, I love to hear from my readers so please review. I'll try to post often but I also have to work on my other story More Than a New Friendship. It's about Gaara and Sakura incase you like that couple. Thanks again!
