Me: Hey guys! It's Kimi with a brand new story! So I've been thinking about this for a few days and I've got tons of ideas on what I want to do. I know...there are a bunch of time traveling stories out there. But since you're reading mine I hope you are at least a little interested for what I have planned. Anyways! Here is 'If/Then'! Love you guys!
Have you ever wondered what a small change could make in your life? Like talking to the shy girl in class or stopping at a shop besides going straight home? Your fate is decided in the choices you make. And that was no exception to any of us. Some chose the path of darkness, engulfing them to where they were unrecognizable to anyone that knew him in the past. That path was taken by Sasuke Uchiha. Others take the path of light, making them the hero they always dreamed about. That path was taken by Naruto Uzumaki. Then there was people like me not fully good nor evil. But is our fate truly determined by the choices we make? Or are we pawns in some twisted game where that's what we think?
I looked over seeing Naruto put white flowers on a newly marked grave. It was Naruto's wish that the person would be given a proper burial. He didn't want his best friend to be remembered as a traitor who left us all to take vengeance on his older brother, because in the end Sasuke died helping the village. I didn't want to watch Naruto say goodbye to him. It would make everything too real. Yet I watched him, none the less kneel down to Sasuke's name with a serious expression, he sat there for a minute before he finally spoke up.
"I know why you did what you did," Naruto started off with his voice cracking. "I know why you pushed people away, why you left, and why you never killed us when you got the chance. You were trying to save us. Even though I still think you should've trust us to help you, I get it. You don't have to worry anymore Sasuke. The council is being punished for what they made your brother do to your clan. The village is safe now because of you. I promise I will protect it with every ounce of my being. And I'll keep my other promise, I will always be there for Sakura." He paused for a moment putting his hand on the gravestone. "I'm going to miss you, Teme."
Naruto stood up wiping his eyes with his black sleeve. When he put his arm down he forced a sad smile onto his face and walked over to me. I couldn't cry in front of him. I am the one who needs to be the rock right now. Once he reached me I pulled him into a hug. Once he realized what I was doing he let all of his tears out knowing no one else was there to see.
"I wish there was something more I could have done to save him," I whispered. He pulled away putting his forehead onto mine.
"There was nothing either one of us could have done to save him."
I don't believe that.
The next day…
"I'm sorry to call you two in while you are still grieving," Tsunade said studying our still tear soaked face. "But you two are the only ninjas available right now so I don't have a choice. We received word that Madara is on his way to the Sand Village as we speak. I need you to protect Gaara at all costs."
"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Naruto and I said at the same time. We nodded before going back to our own houses to prepare to leave.
When I got home I automatically went to the old Team Seven photo.
Everyone was full of life at that point. It looked like a family photo, Kakashi is the cheerful loving father, I was the youngest annoying sister, and Naruto and Sasuke were the bickering brothers. I thought our lives were so perfect at that point to which I would never have thought only a few years later this would happen. It breaks my heart thinking about how everyone but me had something terrible going on in their lives.
It's no wonder why Sasuke thought I was annoying.
I always said that I was the only one who could understand him, the only one who could help him. Did the thought of love really make me so blind? If there was anyone that could even comprehend what he was going through it would be Naruto.
"Sakura," my mother called from the kitchen "are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I called back with my voice not going along with my lie. "I'm going to be gone for a couple days. Tsunade-sama is sending me on a mission and I don't know how long it's going to take."
"Come meet me here before you leave so I can give you some snacks for the trip," She said as I ran up the stairs to my room. I went over to my closet grabbing the clothes I needed along with my weapons pouch. I threw them carelessly on the bed not caring that the tools fell out when they landed, closed my bedroom door, changed into my outfit, before going to my mirror.
The past couple years my hair has grown out to a little past my shoulders. Because the bangs also grew longer I put two hair clips on the left side of my hair where I usually put my bangs. My outfit is a fishnet shirt under a red crop top, red skirt with two Haruno symbols intertwined, and a pink piece of fabric going down a little past my knee cap on the left side. I have my usual shoulder and knee pads along with my fingerless glove.
I walked over to my nightstand where I usually put my Leaf headband when I paused. Because sitting above my headband was a eerie similar one with a scratch going across the middle of it. It was Sasuke's. I asked Tsunade if I could keep it as a memorial to my fallen comrade,
I pushed the thought away grabbing my head band and put it in between the fishnet on my stomach and my red skirt (kind of what Ino does).
"Sakura," Naruto's voice said surprising me. I turned to where the voice came from seeing Naruto sitting on the ledge of my window staring at me. His expression looked sad like it's been for the past few days. Knowing him it's going to be years before he could move on from the sudden death.
Naruto's outfit has changed a little over the past few years. His orange sweater is unzipped showing his black tee shirt, orange sweats, and the usual ninja sandals. The only thing that's really changed is the amount of black in his outfit.
"Hey Naruto," I said forcing a smile on my face. "Mom made us some snacks for the road if you want to go get some." He shook his head leaning it back on the window.
"You don't have to be strong all the time." My eyes widened at him knowing what I'm doing. "I'm not stupid. You were like that when Sasuke left and you're doing the same thing now." I sighed looking at the time. It's already been half an hour since we received the mission.
"We can talk about this later, Naruto. We are running late already and there is no way I want to get on Gaara's bad side after seeing what happened to Lee." He chuckled at the memory even though it wasn't one to laugh about.
"Yeah I guess we should be going." He sighed running his hands through his now longer blonde hair. It made me think that he is starting to look more like his father. I walked over to my friend placing my hand on his shoulder with a evil smile on my face. I couldn't wait to go on this mission because...
"Let's go kill the bastard that killed Sasuke."
"Don't go charging towards Madara when you see him," I instructed Naruto hoping he would listen to me this time. I looked over my shoulder as I hopped onto another tree branch seeing his face scrunched up. I sighed knowing that he wasn't listening to me, he's probably thinking about how he would rip the man to shreds. "Naruto!"
"What?" Naruto yelled snapping his face to me. I landed on the tree giving him my most serious look I could muster up. He stopped next to me not being phased by my facial expression.
"I don't need someone else I care about dead! I want to kill him as much as you do but we can't rush into a fight with someone as powerful as he is. We need to come up with a plan!"
"Sakura-"
"I mean it Naruto!"
"You should really listen to her," A third voice came out of nowhere. I knew that voice anywhere, it's the voice of the Devil himself. I grabbed a kunai from my pouch then automatically threw it where I thought the voice came from. When my eyes adjusted to the place the man wasn't there. Dammit.
"Sakura! Watch out!" Naruto yelled. I turned around seeing Madara darting towards me with a kunai in his hand. I dodged it easily as I tried to punch him with my chakra filled fist failing. My fist flew through his stomach just like it always did.
"Naruto do something!" I yelled as Madara looked at me with his one showing sharingan.
"What if," Madara whispered loud enough for only me to hear. "That's the question roaming through your head constantly."
"Shut up," I growled through my teeth trying to reach for a kunai with my other hand still in his stomach. I was barely able to touch my pouch before his hand grabbed mine.
"What if there was a chance to change things?"
"I highly doubt even though have the power to do that. Even if you did I wouldn't believe you." He chuckled.
"Razengan!" Naruto yelled right before Madara dodged pulling me with him. An explosion came from where we just stood which was caused by Naruto's jutsu. I looked at the long spiky haired man who was still looking out to where the explosion was. I couldn't move either one of my hands no matter how hard I pulled.
"Your teammate's death was a tragic accident-" Madara started.
"That you caused!" I yelled still trying to pull my hands out to no avail.
"I needed him for my own plans. Without him I won't be able to accomplish what I want which is where you come in."
"Let go of her!" Naruto yelled jumping to where we stood holding up his fist. Madara ducked making Naruto land the punch on my face. The blonde stood there stunned as I gave him my worst glare.
"You are lucky I can't use my fists right now." I said before coming up with an idea. I looked over a Madara giving him a mischievous smile seconds before I hopped off the tree branch dragging him with me. As we fell down his eyes opened wide obviously surprised at my sudden movement.
"Sakura!" Naruto yelled. It was only a second later that we hit the hard ground. My breath was automatically taken out with me as I heard many things in my body break. The black haired man landed next to me at the same time so I'm not sure if the noise of bones breaking weren't just mine, although he must have around the same amount of injuries I have.
"You should know better that something as daring as that wouldn't affect me," Madara slyly said with no clear indication of pain in his voice. I slowly turned my head trying not to hurt it more than it already was to see the man chuckling to himself with my hands still in his grap.
"I don't know what you're planning but there is no way in hell that I would ever help you." He laughed even harder than before.
"You don't have a choice." I looked down to where my hand was still stuck in his stomach to see that his stomach has turned into a small whirlpool. "You can't escape once a body part is inside so don't try."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I told you. Sasuke is needed to finish my plans, that means I need him to live."
"Why send me?" He paused before answering.
"You're the only one who can save him." That was the only thing I heard before I was pulled in by the whirlpool in the man's stomach.
"Sakura," a voice called. Mom? Am I'm back home? "Wake up! You're going to be late for your test!" Test? I forced my eyes open seeing that I was back in my room. Red walls, white carpet, and books scattered everywhere. I slid out of my maroon comforter walking over to my door. When I passed my full length mirror I stopped. Looking back I almost screamed.
"What the fuck?" I screamed. Well 'almost screamed was a lie. My mother showed up barging through my door a second later with her face fuming. Her face almost matched her crimson hair.
"What did you say?" She asked screaming also. I shook my head realizing what just happened.
"I'm sorry! I just didn't realize that I'm running really late and it slipped out."
"I better not hear you say anything like that ever again. Now get ready." She slammed the door as she left leaving me still surprised about my reflection in the mirror. Long pink hair, six inches shorter than I was before, and weak arms.
I've turned back to being twelve.
Me: Hey guys! I hoped you like the first chapter of the story! And just to let everyone know, the names of the chapters are actually song titles from a Broadway Musical named the same as this story. Just to let you guys know I am on twitter: Animefreakchan. Please review! NO FLAMES OR I FLAME YOU! I love you guys so much!
