Pulp's here! I have not been posting recently because I had nothing to post about. But I decided that I'd go back into writing fanfictions, and let me tell you now, Anything BUT Weak would have been longer, but that was just a test drive to see if I could keep it up, and eventually I did.

So anyway, I'll be writing this one. Hopefully it's longer and each chapter isn't too short. I have a thing for Sakura-Centric fics, and I just got out of a Time Travel story trance, so I think I've read enough to know how it works.

This new story is about Sakura coming back in time from a war-ridden future, not anything like the future the Canon story displays. Like always it will be SasuSaku because I will enjoy writing this, you hear me?

Plus, I suck at anything else. Anyway, please enjoy. This story will be slightly AU, a bit OOC. Hopefully this isn't bad. Anyway, read up! No pics! Review please!

Enter: Restart!

—Restart—

She covered her ears instinctively as another explosion let off a million yards to her right. Even though there was space between them, she could still feel the sweltering heat radiating from those God-forsaken black flames.

She expertly dodged the vines snapping at her ankles and swiftly tilted just out of reach of the sharp twigs, not touching a hair on her dirty pink head.

Emerald eyes darted to and fro, veiled with noticeable paranoia as her boot slapped the ground, the wear clear as they squeaked when she went across.

Her lips were split, dried blood on the side of her mouth. There were tear stains darting down her face, still visible among all the caked dirt and sand.

Another explosion a few millions yards again, this time behind her. She pursed her lips, suppressing a choked sob. She tightened her hands around the sun-kissed package held gingerly in her arms as she rushed to get to the medical tent.

She could feel tears stinging her eyes; this time he had gone too far. A hole through her best friend's chest and gut, all he wanted to do was help. Naruto was innocent. But Sasuke...

She felt herself stiffen, as if he would come upon her at any moment.

Sakura didn't know what she saw in him. She was cold-hearted, vengeful, arrogant and condescending. He was insane. And sadly, also unbearably strong.

He captured all the Bijuu and they move under his command, killed Madara and Obito, and took over the Five Great Nations as a dictator, and everyone knows he won't be off the throne.

All they can do now is wait.

Sakura has seen her friends drop like flies to his iron fist, and watched revered and feared Ninja bow to his demands forcefully, scared for their lives. She's seen the true dangers of war, the tragedies.

She could only wish to die peacefully.

Another explosion to her left. Luckily it was too far away to be felt and the interval between the two was so large it seemed like the fight was coming to an end.

Most likely in the enemy's favor.

After a few more minutes of running, she finally saw the medical camp in the distance.

Covered in an intricate genjutsu, it only looked like more running was soon in order. But if you recognized certain patches of grass and intelligently placed rocks, you would know your destination.

Sakura quietly dispersed the illusion, her dirty fingers forming the correct handsigns and she rushed into the small area.

It reeked of blood and antiseptic, the floor still grassy and the walls smeared with red liquid. Bodies were sprawled on small futons all over the walking space, gaping wounds slowly killing them as too little medic mins rushed around, doing their best not to cry.

She raced to the back, where the emergency patients were held, and saw Ino and Tsunade working together on a man who's chakra was flickering, and soon...it was gone. The healing abruptly stopped and they just stared at the corpse blankly, almost as if they didn't know what just happened.

Quietly, so quietly in fact if she didn't have her training she wouldn't have heard it, Tsunade muttered, "Burn it."

Ino's usually cheery eyes turned an even darker shade as she robotically prepared get rid of the body.

Just another day in the life of a medic-nin at war.

"Tsunade-sama! Ino! Its Naruto! We need to get him help!"

Their heads whipped over to her trembling form so fast she thought they might have whiplash as Ino roughly shoved the body onto the ground without remorse, as the only person capable of even touching Sasuke might slip through their hopeful fingers.

All three of them worked to gently but hurriedly stabilize Naruto, and Sakura could feel her eyes sting. Her stomach clenched as she listened to the heart monitor speed up. Her eyes widened and she worked faster, hands roaming his body jerkily. She repeated her mantra of 'Don't go, don't go,' as she rushed to save her best friend from the unforgiving clutches of the Shinigami.

It was weird, but Sakura felt herself relaxing as scenes from their past, before everything went wrong, played through her head. She let it a dry chuckle now and then, as what felt like the Fourth's son's life flashing before her eyes.

"Sakura-Chan!"

She turned her head quickly to see the exuberant form of Naruto bounding up to her, his smile contagious. She couldn't help but let it infect her lips.

"Wanna go on a date with me?"

"Naruto, how many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested?"

"I'll never give up!"

She out a short laugh as they started to catch up to Kakashi-sensei. She could see the village in the distance.

"Well, instead of a date, why don't we go eat out as friends? My treat!"

She watched his face light up, if it could get any brighter, in excitement for the inevitable ramen he will be freely consuming.

"Yay! Thanks, Sakura-Chan! Ramen, ramen, RAMEN!"

"-kura, Sakura!"

She snapped her head up towards her shisou, silently inquiring. Her face went down cast and Sakura felt her heart drop to her feet. She let her hands go down to her sides as salty rivers of despair flowed down her face.

He's gone.

She dropped to her knees, nerves jitterbug from the impact to the dirty floor, heaving dry sobs as rage welled up inside her. She pounded her fist against the ground and screamed a silent scream, and Ino drew circles on her back with her own tears, tears of hopelessness, falling from her eyes.

Tsunade went over to her prized pupil and pulled her into a hug, and watched as the tears drew clean lines down her overly dirtied cheeks. The pink-haired medic leaned into the hug instantaneously, grasping at her mother-figures shoulders.

"Sakura...you need to complete the Jutsu."

The green-eyed girl froze, and her eyes widened. Her tears halted and she looked up fearfully into her mentor's eyes. "I...I c-can't do it," she reasoned. "I'm not strong enough. I'm not determined enough, I'm not healthy enough, I'm-I'm not- I can't-" she started hiccuping as the tears started anew. The Slug Sannin pulled her into yet another embrace.

"You are the only one who can."

Sakura's eyes cast downward and she gulped. Of course, it could only be her. The nuisance. The useless one. The one who needs protection.

She reluctantly got to her feet, and intertwined her hands with Naruto's cold ones. Her knees started shaking, and she gripped him tighter, uttering a quiet prayer for his life.

'Naruto would have wanted this.'

"Tsunade-sama. "

She looked up, determination hidden in those weary jade orbs. Tsunade felt pride swell inside her, as her pupil gave one last squeeze then let go.

"I'll do it."

[Restart]

The brush glided softly against the concrete floor, making intricate symbols and designs. Sweat rolled down the girl's forehead as she persevered. She would finish this seal.

Her cracked lips pursed as the smell of burning flesh overtook her senses. The nurses are burning the bodies again. Her eyes darkened gradually, as she thought how it would be her turn to set it on fire once more.

'I wonder if Naruto is in that pile...'

Her brush sped up, and Sakura told herself that after this, everything would be better. After this, she would fix everything that went wrong. After this, there would be no war and there would be no death. She would be able to keep her friend's innocence, and save millions.

All on her shoulders.

She must save the world.

Her brush stopped abruptly as she finished her last digit, and Sakura stood up straight. She flashed through hand seals, the dark green jewel on her forehead elongating and disappearing, black lines crisscrossing against her rough skin. She felt her chakra reserves surge and deplete as the pattern took everything out of her.

They had been planning this for years.

And she would not mess this up.

The pinkette remembered the look on her face when she was told there was a way to travel back in time. In any other circumstance it would have been sketchy, but back then it was more normal than anything else in the world.

She remembered all the medic nins available depleting their chakra to do the Reanimation Jutsu, just so she could train with the dead and find out everything she would need to know. She remembered all the stealth missions she went on, going through rubble and finding salvaged books to educate herself on time travel and historical events.

Everything they had done for her, it all led up to this moment.

"Sakura-chan!"

"Maa, maa, Sakura-chan."

"Sakura..."

She was abducted by a white light, and a tear escaped her eye.

She would change the past, and re-write the future.

[Restart]

Turns out changing the past is a bit more complicated than she thought.

Sakura felt her body stiffen and twitch, before relaxing into the fluffy pink mattress she vaguely remembers having as a child. Her green eyes scanned her surroundings, and deduced that yes, the Jutsu worked.

She would have a chance!

The pressure of her responsibilities weighed down on her once more, though it isn't anything new. The 21-turned-12 girl shot out of bed and quickly made her way over to her full-body mirror.

In her reflection was a lanky girl with cotton candy pink hair flowing all the way down to mid-back, and large green eyes, full of innocence.

She couldn't help the tears that slipped down her cheeks. Finally she has an opportunity to fix something, to do something, anything.

'Let's see just how much I've degraded.'

She thought to herself. She whipped out an extremely dulled kunai (was she really ever this weak?) and with a bit of effort, cut along her forearm. As the blood spilled pain shot through her body.

'So no pain tolerance.'

She then proceeded to create a chakra scalpel, and watched as it formed on her waiting fingertips.

'Chakra control is still impeccable.'

She closed her eyes and focused on her chakra levels. They were meager, like that of a puppy's.

'Oh god. I've got some work to do.'

She had apparently said this out loud, because she heard her mothers voice (she's still alive!) call out to her. "Sakura, you're still up there! You don't want to miss the teams!"

Sakura had a start, not expecting to her her long-dead mother's voice. "That's today?" she mumbled to herself. She left the front of her mirror and rummaged through her drawer absentmindedly, pulling out a red tank with the Haruno crest on it, her old green spandex shorts, and some ninja ankle boots with block heels she doesn't remember owning. The pinkette pulled her hair into a high ponytail and locked her light (way too light) weapons pouch and shuriken holster onto her hip and right thigh. She wrapped bandages onto her shins and forearms, not to mention knuckles and palms and pulled on some gloves spotted on her dresser halfway out the door. The whole time, her mind was somewhere else.

'If I were to change the future, what should I change? I'd definitely keep Sasuke in the village, definitely get rid of Orochimaru and that Curse Mark, see if I the Sound Invasion, show Sasuke the meaning of friendship and that there are two loyal Sannin he can still train under, stall the Akatsuki, hm...but if I change too much, I won't be able to tell what will happen next, and-'

"Forehead! Long time, no see!"

Her musing was stopped as she turned her head to look over at Ino, in all her blond and blue eyed glory. She felt moisture coming to her eyes looking at her, in well health and innocent.

"Not really..." she mumbled to herself. Should she play along? No, she should fix her friendship with Ino now. Last time was much too late.

"Hey, Ino. You can have Sasuke. I don't want him."

The pinkette watched Ino falter, then regain her composure. "Just because you changed your outfit doesn't mean you'll have Sasuke notice you!"

Oh, yeah. She used to wear a red dress, didn't she?

Oh well, good riddance. "I'm serious, Ino. I don't want to ruin our friendship over some boy. Please forgive me?"

She watched her friend freeze in shock, then put on a contemplative look. "...maybe, just because someone needs to tell you how to dress. Really, a tank? Your clothes don't match at all. We'll go shopping." She watched her friend's mouth stretch into a small smile. "See you later...Sakura."

The girl in question couldn't hold back her grin at the thought of her friendship with Ino being re-established. She watched her walking towards her old Academy building, and followed her closely, indulging in some innocent conversation, and soon they were walking through their classroom door.

"Sakura-chan! Sit with me!"

Sakura froze, tears welling up in her eyes at the sound of his energetic voice. Still so innocent. Everyone's still innocent...

She quickly blinked them away and wondered briefly how to go about this. She could sit next with him, but that would cause questions...maybe she'll just sit next to Sasuke.

Sasuke.

She glanced at him looking out the window, silently brooding. She didn't hold anything against him. Not this version of him. He was misled. He was always misled. Maybe she can change him for the better.

No, she will change him for the better.

"I guess." She watched his face twist into shock than contentment. His crush was going to sit with him! He would be reveling in this for days.

Sakura slowly made her way down and sat in between Naruto and Sasuke. She felt the latter' eyes in her, trying to burn a hole into the side of her head. Instead of favoritism she kept her eyes in front, and hoped she wouldn't break down into sobs.

Slowly but surely, the day passed and it was finally time to announce the teams.

"...Team 7, Naruto Uzumaki-" she watched him look up suddenly alert, "-Sakura Haruno-" he jumped up and laughed,"-and Uchiha Sasuke." he slumped into his seat, depression rolling off him in waves. She let out a small giggle; his mood swings were so entertaining. "Your sensei is Hatake Kakashi." Her mood turned somber, as she remembered her old teacher.

"We need to split up."

She gave an incredulous look to her teacher, who looked completely serious in his statement.

"Kakashi-sempai, we can still do this together, I--" an explosion let off to their right, tousling their hair and ash billowed over the ground, constructing their throats as they hid behind the large stone slab.

"We need to get Sai out of there. I'll be a diversion. "

"But Kakashi's-sempai, I--"

"This is for the best."

"I don't want you to die!"

"Sakura! Snap out of it! This is our mission, it comes with the job...I hope I'll see you soon. Live long for me, okay?"

"O-...okay."

He fled the scene, and she said a silent prayer as she went the other way.

That was years ago, and she still hasn't seen him.

"-ra, Sakura-chan!"

She looked up with a start and whipped her head around. There weren't many people in the room, and everyone was staring at her. She slumped in her seat. She needs to stop putting herself in these moods.

"S-sorry, Naruto...I was just thinking."

"Thinking about what?"

'Oh, you know, just how to save the world.'

"...Stuff."

"What stuff?"

"Shut up, Dobe."

"Gah! Teme!"

That was precisely the moment the pinkette tuned her teammates out.

'Hmm...the only way to get Sasuke to notice me in a more trusting light would be to build team spirit, and to show I have strength. At my current skill level I'm at least a low Chūnin but I have yet to see my taijutsu, so that could change in time...I'll help Naruto out with that prank, and make glaringly obvious changes in my lifestyle. Yeah, that'll work.'

As soon as everyone else left the room, her blonde friend proceeded to whine about their sensei being late. Soon after, he snickered evilly and propped a chalkboard eraser into the wedge between the door and the wall. It was time.

"That won't work, Naruto." rehearsed Sakura, unknowingly beating Sasuke to the punch. "...let me help you add a little flare."

She watched smugly as Naruto's eyes shone with anticipation. "Awesome! You're so smart, Sakura-chan!" She chuckled apprehensively. Why was she so mean to him?

They talked out tactics for awhile, and gathered the necessary materials for their ultra prank. A smoke bomb, syrup bucket, paint balls and a whole lot of intricate wires later, they had their trap set.

They walked innocently back over to their seats, purposely distancing themselves and preoccupied themselves easily. Sakura pretended to read while Naruto might have actually fallen asleep (he always looks the same), and soon they saw a fingerless gloved hand peek out of the door frame.

They grinned sadistically.

A lot of things then happened in quick succession. As soon as the eraser fell, the traps glinted for a split second, alerting their sensei of his danger, yet too quickly for him to react.

The smoke bomb attached to the eraser went off and covered his body in a black gas, so he wouldn't move. The water bucket came crashing down, and as Sakura and Naruto discreetly pulled on a string paint balls came at him from all directions, exploding in a splash of color barely visible underneath the thick smoke. When it cleared however..

Sakura smirked as she felt his chakra signature appear behind her just before the prank started, and all they would see would be a thoroughly vandalized Academy chair.

She was not proved wrong.

Sakura ignored Naruto's indignant shouts of shock and surprise as turned to her sensei, not even bothering to conceal her grin.

"My first impression of you guys...I don't like you."

The green-eyed girl smiled nostalgically; this would be fun.