-Memory-
Five years ago Naruto left the village to train with Master Jiraiya, Sakura watched him leave but didn't say goodbye. They had gotten into a fight the night before about him leaving, he came to her house when she didn't show up to his farewell party the rookie class decided to have for him. He was upset he didn't see his remaining teammate there and wanted to make sure everything was okay, deep down he knew it wasn't but he wanted to check anyways.
"Sakura?" he called out when he opened the door to her apartment.
"What are you doing here?" she said coldly.
He flinched at the coldness in her voice, "I just wanted to come check on you since you didn't show up to the party." He answered quietly.
"Why would I want to celebrate you leaving me, you're just like him! You're leaving me just like he did, and I can't stand the sight of you now. Everyone leaves and here I thought you would be the last person to do that, but I was wrong!" she shouted pushing him out the door. She ignored the hurt in his eyes and kept going, "I need you now more than ever and you're just going to up and leave me and act like it's no big deal that I get to watch everyone else run around with their teams when both of my teammates just up and fucking left me?!" hot tears fell down her cheeks.
Naruto just looked at the ground, he hated the fact that he was leaving her but he had too. He had to become stronger and hopefully one day Sakura would understand that. She let out a frustrated scream and slammed the door in his face locking it behind her. Little did she know that everyone else had come in hopes to rally her out of the apartment and heard everything; walking back he decided to end the party and just head home for the night since he had to be up early. Not realizing in that moment that everyone that overheard would turn on her that night.
He waited by the gate as everyone came he said goodbye and they hoped to see him again. Lee even challenged him to a rematch once he returned; he smiled and slowly walked away hoping that Sakura was going to come and say goodbye but she never did. Defeated he turned and walked out of the gate with Jiraiya.
-End memory-
Tsunade snapped him out of his day dream and back into the present; "Naruto, are you listening?' she sighed and continued "You're a target because of the nail tails, you have to take this seriously. We don't know what could be lurking around waiting for you to leave the village. There have been several reports of creatures lurking around the village but they don't leave the cover of the forest, so anyone passing through should be safe as long as the stay on the path; but for now I want you to stay in the village okay?"
Naruto left her office and made his way to his favorite place to eat, running into Ino and Hinata along the way.
"It's so nice to see you again Naruto, when did you get back?" Ino asked.
"Not that long ago actually, I was headed to get something to eat and then I was going to go see if Sakura was home." As he finished he watched their faces fall.
"Why would you want to go see her after she treated you so poorly before you left?" Hinata asked quietly.
"She's my teammate, and I understand why she was so upset that night and I want to see her and clear the air so things can go back to the way they were." He said "I think I'll go see if she wants to get something to eat with me."
He turned towards her place but felt a small pull on his arm to stop him, he turned around to see Hinata looking down out the ground, "W-why don't I go with you since you were already headed that way?" Naruto was starting to grow confused but the way they were acting.
"Why don't you want me to go see her, where is Sakura?" his tone changed making them look away.
"She doesn't live here anymore; she was basically run out of Konoha and now the rumor is she lives somewhere in the forest." Ino said.
They watched as his face twisted into anger; "Why would Sakura be run out of the village?!" he didn't give them time to answer as he raced towards the gate.
He flew through the open gate and ran down the path; he frantically looked around for anything. He flew through some brush and made his way around looking for foot prints or even a trail that's been used a lot; since the sightings with the creatures Tsunade mentioned earlier no one dared step foot off the trail so anything that he fins must belong to Sakura.
His anger flared as he thought about her living out her alone with monsters and bandits lurking in the shadows. He couldn't wrap his mind around why everyone would turn on her like this; she got along with everyone, she was always there for anyone who needed help and she was one of their medics.
A shadow caught his eye and he stopped, he jumped back as the creature slowly revealed itself.
What the hell is that Kit?
-With Sakura-
She raced through the tree tops looking for the presence she felt.
No one comes out this far, why is someone in the middle of the woods?" she asked herself.
She's been out here for a little over 4 years; she watched these creatures move in. She's watched how they hunt and how they weaken their prey. The monsters bodies seem to be rotting away with poison running through their veins, their claws are coated in it and their victim would be in extreme pain if they scratched or bitten. She watched them hunt, they never seemed to eat what they caught it was more like a sport, the thrill of the hunt; something she didn't enjoy watching
She kept herself hidden as she got closer pulling the hood up on her black cloak; she quietly made her way forward peeking through the brush. Her eyes widened; it was Naruto, he was lying on the ground yelling out in pain, her stomach turned watching him struggle on the ground.
He was holding onto his chest and she could see the blood running through his fingers; she watched as the beast was about to make another strike. She moved swiftly catching the beast off guard; she slammed her fist into its side sending the wolf like creature crashing through the trees.
She grabbed his arm and boltinf for her cabin, is she could get him inside she could save him.
I will not let you die Naruto!
