A/N: This is what I imagined happened after the retrieve Sasuke arc failed. I didn't have NaruSaku in mind when I wrote this, but it seems like there's some hints here and there, huh? Which is wierd...cause I don't even like NaruSaku :p

DISCLAIMER: Kishimoto sensei owns it and always will :)


After the mission to retieve Sasuke failed, what little there was left of Naruto shattered. He returned to Konoha silently, and walked straight to his house, not bothering to even give the Godaime his report.

He laid down on his bed and thought. Thought about how he couldn't save him, thought about how weak he was, but mostly thought about Sasuke himself, and how fucking oblivious that boy was.

No matter how much he tried, no matter how much he thought that by not crying, he was showing strength, tears still spilled from his eyes.

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Sakura was never one to suffer alone. She externalized her emotions, and let others help her carry the weight. That's why that night, she walked to Naruto's apartment. She didn't even bother knocking; she simply walked into the house, crossed over to the bedroom, and sat down next to the sobbing, broken boy.

Feeling the bed dip from her weight, he sat up and swung his head around harshly. He relaxed when he saw Sakura there, thankful that he could live without his mask for a little while longer.

"Sa—Sakura-chan…" he said. "I—I'm sorry, it's just…it's just…"

"Shh, Naruto, it's alright. Calm down, I'm here," she smiled softly, but even Naruto could see that it was forced. She gathered him in her arms, holding his upper body close to her. He tensed at the sudden closeness, but his intense need for someone, anyone, caused him to relax against her. His tears returned with a renewed vigor, and for the first time in a long time Sakura felt helpless.

She held him in her arms as he cried, comforting him with soothing circles and words of reassurance. A few tears fell from her eyes here and there, but they weren't for Sasuke. She had already cried for him, already mourned him. Her tears were for Naruto, because no matter what she did, no matter what she said, only Sasuke could heal him. Only Sasuke could take away this pain.

Naruto clung to her like a lifeline, for only she could understand; only she could know how much Sasuke truly meant to him, and how deep his connection with the boy really went.

She wrapped her hands around his shoulders, letting him bury his head in her neck, letting him know that he wasn't alone, and that he would never be alone.

Sakura wasn't sad anymore. No, her sympathy for Sasuke had long left her. But…anger…anger was different. She pulled Naruto closer to her, almost forcefully, and damned Sasuke for his stupidity, his naivety, and his fucking selfishness.


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