There you go! The previous prologue was...alright, let's be honest, TERRIBLE :D So here you go, a brand new one!

Broken Bonds.

Prologue: Learning

You don't understand anything until you learn it more than one way. Marvin Minsky

"You've been extremely quiet these days." her voice broke through the silence that enveloped the two of them. Her knees propped up, arms surrounding her bended legs as she laid her chin between her kneecaps.

All around them, surrounded by trees that appeared tall and menacing under the dark sky. She sat with her back against the tree, eyes watching as the avenger of a once prominent and respected clan that was massacred years ago. He did not spare a glance at the girl, his eyes focused on the target on the tree.

"Your point?" his voice was plastic. Like he was hiding something underneath the calm and collected tone. The kunai in his grip glinted in the moonlight as he took a precise aim at the practice target several metres away. With perfect force and accuracy, he twisted into the air and flicked the deadly weapon towards the small black dot at the centre of the swirls of black and white.

A flawless direct hit.

Landing to the ground with minimal sound, he moved agilely towards the target and forced the embedded kunai knives out. Without even sparing a second glance at the female behind him, Uchiha Sasuke replaced the knives back into the pouch. The girl merely stared at his back, unmoving.

"What are you planning Sasuke?" her voice was curious, barely audible, yet it had enough impact on the raven-haired teen. She never saw his expression, but it was resolute, determined.

Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment or so, before opening them slowly. She never saw him move. And when he did, he was already in front of her. Closer than he had ever been. Her chin was still where it had been, her eyes widened as they locked with the pair of impassive dark orbs.

He lifted a hand and drew it nearer to her, caressing her cheek before slowly sliding to trace the curve of her ear, moving the hair that covered her ear away. She sat there, frozen, helpless and utterly confused. Sasuke moved his head and brushed his cheeks on the surface of hers. This simple action sent her palpitating heart to beat even faster.

With his mouth inches away from her ear, he breathed in softly before releasing the words meant for her, and only her.

"Take care of yourself."

As soon as the words escaped his mouth, he disappeared, like he was never even there. She barely had time to register that he was gone, her mind only processing the words he had just delivered. Her heart had surprisingly stopped when he finished his sentence. She didn't even know what he meant at first, but she knew something was wrong, something felt wrong.

The words slowly sunk in, the hidden meaning slowly surfaced. She found no logic in his words. Or rather, she refused to find any sense in them. Her legs refused to move, her arms surrounding her tightened even more as she struggled to gain composure.

Something was wrong.

And by tomorrow, when dawn approaches,

Nothing will ever be the same again.

Ashiyata Haruka would never be the same again.

Because she loved him, she had to suffer the consequences of an unrequited romance.

Because she loved him more than he knew, she had to endure the heartache she knew no one would understand.

Because she knew he would never love her the same way she loved him, she had to move on.

But she would never know…

That it was because he loved her, he had to end something that never started.

Because he loved her more than she knew, he had put on a false pretence and break her heart.

Because he loved her more than he knew it, he would never know how painful it would be for him and her.

It's been a month since Uchiha Sasuke's betrayal.


I've learned to stop crying because of you.

Many chose to continue grieving about this news. His admirers could often be seen sulking and complaining around Konoha.

"Naruto…"


I've learned that some things are just not meant to be…like you and me.



He glanced up at her momentarily, his eyes drained and his shoulders sagged. It was obvious that he had been training twice as hard as he did before. Haruka smiled at him softly, walking across the training field towards him.

"You shouldn't be training so hard, straining yourself right after you are discharged from the hospital is a bad thing."


I've learned that the only thing I could do now is to move on.

"Haru-chan, I can't… I have to be stronger, much stronger than I am now."

She stood in front of him as he sprawled on the ground, panting heavily as drips of perspiration rolled down the side of his face.

"Its no use if you over exert yourself silly." He grinned sheepishly, but turned into a determined look.

"Don't worry Haru-chan; I'll bring Sasuke back, even if he hates me!"


I've learned to live not because of you, but to live for purposes that are more meaningful.

"Naruto, There's no need for you to make such promises. I don't need him to come back against his will."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly, "What are you saying Haru-chan? Don't you want Sasuke to come back?"


I've learned to start anew.

"It'll be great if he decides to come back, but I wish for him to come back willingly. Do you understand Naruto-kun? If you force him back, he'll just run away again." Naruto frowned slightly, looking at the ground.

Slowly, Haruka lowered herself and laced her fingers into his, tightening it encouragingly, he looked up at her questioningly.

"Good luck for your training though, for you, for Sakura and for that teme! I'm sure you'll surpass him one day!"


I've learned so much because you left; I'll learn even more in future…

Naruto smiled brightly back at her, gripping onto Haruka's hand firmly.

"I won't let you down! Dattebayo!"


In future, I'll learn to become a girl that you regret letting go.

Prologue End

Thanks for reading!