Notes:

Italics = old memories or character thoughts

I don't own Naruto or any characters associated with it. All credit goes to the respective author

This is my first NaruSaku one-shot. It is pretty lengthy but I did my best to try and capture all aspects of Naruto and Sakura's relationship over the years. The anguish and complexness of their whole relationship has had my attention for a really long time, so I decided to come up with a story where they finally come to terms with their feelings for one another, even if it is for a brief period of time.

Even though it's a sad fic, I hope you enjoy! :)

If You Love Me Let Me Go


"Come on Sakura-chan you can do it!"

"S-Sakura-chan, you're so great!"

"I know how much pain you're in because of Sasuke. But don't worry, I'll bring him back. Promise of a lifetime!"

"Naruto…baka," a pained whisper left the pinkette's lips as she stared brokenly at the tall, blonde boy lying in her lap and the single bloody hand he had wrapped around both of her wrists. Crimson flowed freely through her pale fingers as she tried to desperately stop the flow of blood coming from the wound in his chest. She had tried everything, she had tried all the medical techniques she had been taught, but none of them were working. Not a single one.

Both of them knew what was happening, they had known for some time now, but the pinkette refused to even acknowledge it as she continued trying desperately to do what she could to save his life; a life that had devoted so much time and energy to keeping her happy.

"It's okay…you don't need to cry you know," at the sound of his voice a broken sob left her lips and the tears she tried so hard to hold back came falling freely down her cheeks, landing on the dark rubble lying underneath their bodies and his tan face. Through her blurred vision the pinkette could see the blonde's eyebrows come together in obvious agony as he stared wordlessly at her face, concern obviously lining his features.

Even now he was worrying about her; worrying about her more than he was worrying about himself. And no matter how angry she was at him for it she wasn't surprised. Because he had always cared about others more than he did himself. Naruto was a selfless person; a person who'd do most anything to help out someone in need. He didn't care if that person was as selfish, careless, and useless as she was. He didn't care if that person had hurt him and not given him the time of day like she'd done countless times.

No, the boy in her lap had learned to care and love everyone regardless of who they were because he knew what it was like to be alone. He knew all too well. As a kid he was hated and ostracized by the very people who were supposed to support him. He was treated cruelly and frowned down upon by almost everyone, and didn't ever feel the type of love most felt on an almost daily basis.

He had nothing while everyone had everything, but he didn't let that mere fact guide him towards the path of hatred many of those before him had followed. The boy in her arms only used those experiences to further motivate him to do good and love with no bounds.

And it was because of that reason the pinkette couldn't bear the thought of letting a person as rare as him slip away from the world; a world that had so much left to learn from a person as important as him.

"Naruto…Naruto…N-Naruto…" she was pleading now, his name leaving her lips like a mantra as she began shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry."

A small, painful smile touched the blonde's lips at her words as he gently rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. The hand he had dreamt of holding for as long as he could remember. "You have nothing to be sorry about Sakura-chan," he looked away from her face, fearful that her pained expression would bring tears to his eyes as well. "You've done so much for me already, and I can't even begin to thank you enough."

His gentle, heartfelt words broke Sakura's heart in two as she stared lovingly at his handsome face which was now marred by a series of bruises, cuts, and blood. He didn't deserve to look like this, all bloody and broken. He deserved only pure happiness and peace. A peace Sakura felt she couldn't give him. Why can't I ever help him when he needs me most? Why? The painful question echoed in her head for what seemed like an eternity and as expected she had no answer. She never had an answer when it came to him, only questions.

"Hey, will you let me through or not!?"

"S-Sakura-chan?"

"Naruto! Move your ass! I want to sit on the other side of you!"

"W-What?"

"What do you mean what!? Sasuke-kun can I sit next to you?"

At the memory of those words, those very words she had said not too long ago, the pinkette winced, an enormous amount of guilt flowing through her veins. How could she be so mean? How could she be so selfish when she knew just how much that blonde knuckle head admired her? Why did she have to take advantage of his kindness and affection just to take care of her own selfish and deluded motives? The answer to that question hit her like a tidal wave. Because she was as selfish as selfish could get.

"So today we'll be assigning 3 man teams that will be headed by a single jounin instructor. Team 7 will be composed of Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki –"

"Yes!"

"And Sasuke Uchiha."

"Kya! Hell Yeah!"

Back then she didn't understand just how valuable the blonde haired trouble maker would be to her as a team mate. She didn't understand just how much he'd mean to her as they grew up and faced the same hardships together. She just didn't know…because she cared only about one thing, one person, and that person didn't give her the time of day and treated her much like she treated Naruto. Sakura knew how much it hurt being ignored and put down by the person she loved, yet she still continued pursuing the avenger, discounting and ignoring the very person who did everything to protect her and make her happy.

"Naruto I beg you! Please bring Sasuke-kun back. I couldn't do it! I couldn't stop him! The only person that can save him now is you. Please!"

It had always been about Sasuke. For as long as she could remember she had been chasing after his attention and love; the love he didn't want to give her. She had been so stupid back then, so impressionable and fickle, falling for a guy who felt nothing towards her. A guy who went out of his way to ignore her and make her miserable….a guy who had abandoned her and forgotten about her even after she had poured her heart out and confessed her love for him.

Tears continued slipping from her emerald eyes as she reflected upon all the time she'd lost and all the pain she'd caused the person in her arms. She couldn't comprehend how he could even stand being nice to her after all she had done to him. If she had been in his shoes she would have despised whoever played around with her feelings, but Naruto wasn't selfish like she was. Naruto loved with no bounds. He loved her.

And it was now, as he lay dying, that the pinkette finally realized she loved him too. "Naruto, you can't leave. Not now," she pressed her palms down harder on his chest praying that it'd be enough to stop his bleeding for just a little while longer. "You still have so much left to live for. You still have to become Hokage remember?" A small smile touched her lips as she remembered his childhood ambition; his ambition to become Hokage and earn the respect of everyone in the leaf village.

A small, choked laugh came from the blonde and a smile as big as hers made its way to his lips. "You still remember that?" his voice was laced with light humor.

"Of course I remember baka! You've been yelling about it since we were in the Academy!" If it hadn't been for the situation at hand, Sakura would have given him a light hearted slap on the shoulder. Here he was again, making light of an already dark situation. How did he do it?

The air around them was silent, as the pinkette put all the energy she had left into healing his broken body. She wasn't sure how long she had been here, fighting to save his life, but judging from her lack of chakra and energy she could assume it had been a while. She could feel her reserves of chakra quickly slipping away, and with new found desperation she began doing all she had been taught to do, ignoring the little voice in her brain screaming at her that this wouldn't work anymore. Once her chakra ran out there was nothing she could do…Naruto would….die.

"Sakura-chan," the affectionate nickname he often used towards her cut daggers through her chest. "It's okay, you can stop now. There's nothing you can do."

Her body tensed as a wave of helplessness and guilt made its way to her chest. He had already acknowledged what was happening to him, and it was time she start acknowledging it to, and let him know exactly what she was feeling in her heart before it was too late. Internally she wished this could have happened at any other time except this one, but fate being the unpredictable thing it is stopped that wish from becoming a reality.

"Why do you always try to comfort me, Naruto?" The question left her lips in a hushed whisper as she tilted her head down so her bangs could cover her eyes. "Even when I don't deserve it you do so much to help me and make things bearable."

The blonde in her arms let out a tiny, almost exasperated sigh at her question and began using his finger to trace small patterns along her skin again. The gesture felt oddly comforting, and instinctually the pinkette twisted her hand around so her fingers could twine with his bloody ones. Naruto felt a blush make its way to his cheeks and his weak heart beat flutter. Sakura-chan the girl of his dreams was holding his hand, and for the first time during this whole ordeal he felt at peace.

"Because I care about you Sakura. You're one of the most important people in my life you know?"

"I know… but why," her voice broke and a fresh set of tears began pooling in her eyes. "Why would you care about me after everything I did to you when we were kids? Why would you care about me when I put you down and used you to get to Sasuke? Why would you even care about me after I relentlessly pursued him instead of you and treated you so poorly? Why Naruto!" she was yelling now, and without even looking at her Naruto could feel the anguish in her voice. She was so angry, she was so regretful, and she sounded like she was saying she was unworthy of all the love he had given her. This wasn't the Sakura he knew. He wasn't used to her feeling so broken and beat up because of him. This wasn't right. It wasn't.

"Do you really want to know why those things didn't matter to me?" he lifted his gaze up to her face waiting for the small nod that would prompt him to continue. It took a while, but once he got it he continued on fearlessly, allowing the words he had wanted to say for all these years slip past his lips. "It didn't matter to me because I love you Sakura-chan. I love you so much it hurts."

Before she could even stop and think about what to say next her mouth was already moving in response to his confession. "I love you too! That's why you can't leave!" her voice was getting louder and louder with each coming second. "I still have so much to do for you, so much to make up to you!" she closed her eyes tightly. "If you love me you can't give up. You have to keep fighting. Please! Fight this! I know you can!"

At the sound of her pleading the blonde felt his eyes well up with tears. He had wanted to hear those words from her his whole life. He had wanted to hear her confess her love for him since he first met her at the academy. He had fantasized about it for so long, and now that it had become a reality he felt so accomplished, so loved, and accepted. Without his consent images of the life they could have had together began flashing through his mind. He saw everything; their first real date, their first kiss, their beautiful wedding, his hokage ceremony, their children…They were all beautiful images….

A sharp pain went through Naruto's chest as he realized just how much he was going to miss out on…how much happiness he was going to be robbed of. Sakura would never be by his side ever again, encouraging him, loving him. Not for a very long time… A single tear slid from the corner of his eye and down the smooth expanse of his cheek.

"If you love me Sakura, let me go."

The blonde's words took the pinkette off guard as she looked at him past her blurry vision with wide eyes. Did he just say…?

"If you really love me Sakura-chan, you should stop trying to fruitlessly save my life. We both know I'm too far gone anyway." His lips were shaking. "You have to conserve your energy. There's a war going on after all."

What was all this talk about war and saving chakra? How could he worry about that at a time like this?

"Naruto, what are you talking about?" the pinkette was a sobbing mess now. "If I really loved you I'd be saving your life and healing you right now. But I can't! I can never do anything right!" the agony collecting in her chest felt unbearable as she thought back to all the times she had failed him as a team mate and as a friend. How can I even be considered a kunouchi? A disciple of the great fifth hokage? If I can't even save my team-mates life?

"Don't talk about yourself like that Sakura," the hand wrapped around hers squeezed down on her fingers lightly. "You'll always be a winner in my eyes. A strong, smart, and admirable ninja. Believe it!" Despite the obvious tears flowing down his face he smiled, a care free genuine smile.

He really was an idiot. A complete knuckle head…but god did she love him. She loved him so much.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry….I'm sorry…" the string of apologies left her lips every few seconds as she heard her tears dully hit the rocky ground underneath them. "I'm sorry that it took me so long to realize how important you are to me. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you when you needed me most…." she squeezed his fingers tightly in her small hand. "I'm sorry that we couldn't live the life you always wished we could. I'm so sorry I can't help you."

The blonde couldn't see her face very clearly from where he was because of his blurry vision, but he could still vaguely make out her beautiful features; her pretty emerald eyes, and her candy pink hair. Even when she was sad she still looked beautiful…He was going to miss his little cherry blossom so much...It pained him so much inside knowing that he wouldn't be there to physically watch her grow into the strong ninja he knew she was. But he knew she could make it. She had to. She deserved to live a happy, long life, even if it wasn't with him by her side. She deserved to have a life with no regrets.

"Please don't hold yourself responsible in any way for what happened here, Sakura," he raised his free hand up and extended two fingers towards her.

"Promise me that you'll not live your life in regret remembering only the bad things you've done. You don't deserve to live in anguish. And I definitely don't want to see you like that." She looked at his fingers with pained eyes and hesitantly brought her free hand to her chest, not ready to accept his invitation of promise just yet.

"Looking back on it, my life has honestly been perfect, every single part of it. Sure there may have been a few rough patches, but that's okay, because I had people like you lift me up and convince me that life was worth living." She tightened her hold on his hand at his words and bit down on her lip, holding back another sob. She had to be strong for a little longer. She had to allow him to finish what he wanted to say.

"You don't have to feel bad about our childhood and not paying any attention to me. It wasn't like it made me like you any less," another small smile. "Just knowing you were there for me was enough Sakura. And now that I know you love me back, whether it be in pity or genuine feelings, I can die with no regrets, just like I've always wanted." The blonde could feel it becoming harder to breathe with each passing second but he kept willing his heart to beat, so he could make sure she was in comfort for the very last time.

"Naruto-baka," she repeated the words she had used just a few minutes before. "I love you for real. I really do. So much."

Without any more hesitation the pink haired kunouchi pulled her free hand away from her chest to clutch his two fingers. Emerald eyes met blue for a split second before the kunouchi bent her face down towards his so she could place a gentle and warm kiss on his soft lips. She had already lost her voice to her tears, so she reacted in the only way she could, conveying to him through touch her dedication to fulfilling his last wish. It was the least she could do for him. It would tear her apart inside being happy without him but she'd do it…just for him. Just to make him happy for once in her life.

The two ninja broke apart for air just a few seconds later, and Sakura felt the blonde's warm breath caress her cheek as he spoke what she didn't know were his last words to her. "I love you Sakura-chan. I'll always be looking after you…believe it."

Their lips connected once more and moved gently with one another for what seemed like an eternity. Everything in that moment seemed so right and so perfect, and if Sakura could give her life to relieve that moment for just a few seconds more she would have. But when his lips slowed against hers, and his hold on her hand loosened it finally dawned on her that he was gone, and that she could never experience this moment with him ever again. She gently pulled her hand away from his and placed her fingers on his neck, checking for a pulse but just like she expected there was none.

He was gone…her best friend…her protector…the blonde idiot she had loved so much…was gone. With a heavy heart she fell on top of him, allowing the sobs she tried so hard to hold back escape her throat. Her broken cries could be heard echoing in the cool night air, but no one came to comfort her. Not one person. She was alone. So very alone…

There was a saying that the best people always died young, and it seemed like Naruto was no exception.


A/N: I'm not going to lie, I got somewhat teary while writing this…but don't get me wrong I'm still one tough cookie :) I was considering continuing this story and writing a series based on Sakura's life after these events but I'm still undecided. Feel free to rate, follow, or review! It'd mean the world!

- Emi-kun17