A/N: This is my first fanfic in almost five years, but I've always been a huge SasuSaku fan. This chapter is just an introduction and is my vision of Chapter 699 in Naruto.

Summary: Now that the war is over, Sasuke's finally returned, but with a heart shattered and thoughts frazzled. Sakura, however, is there to help mend him, support him, and if necessary, watch his back leave one more time. Can Sasuke learn to love Sakura as she has loved him, or will she always love someone only capable of ever saying "Thank you"?

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any affiliations with the franchise.

Please… please… Kami have mercy! Sakura frantically thought as she moved through the woods with Kakashi on her side. He could feel her anxiety… or was it his? He wasn't sure, not that it mattered in the end. The silence was eerie, certainly unwelcome between the two ninja. At least a battle cry was proof enough that someone was alive, but this silence!

If only one of you would make noise! Sasuke, Naruto! Sasuke and Naruto had finally come into view as Sakura and Kakashi stopped on the side of the crater. Sakura's eyes darted, her actions couldn't keep up with her thoughts, and her thoughts couldn't keep up with her emotions, Damn it all to hell! Was all she could muster in her frazzled state; that was until her eyes landed on their goal, the two of them there were.

Oh, God. She made sure Kakashi could support himself, making quick eye contact him was a mistake, that look he gave her. Almost as if saying to prepare for the worst, not what she needed! Ugh, Kakashi! She practically tripped over own feet getting down the gapping drop from where she was to where her most important people were. She stopped just before them, her facial expression concerned and broken.

"Sakura-chan!" Naruto chimed. Air. Sakura had to remind herself to breathe, she wasn't sure when she forgot to inhale but she definitely didn't remember until she saw Sasuke's eyes and heard Naruto's voice.

She was still going at 110, the notion of seriously considering anything upon finding her best friend and the love of her life alive was out of the question. What felt like an eternity of silence to Sakura must have only been a few moments to the world, but she welcomed it. Only minutes ago her mind was bombing with thoughts, terrible, terrible possibilities and little hope. Her heart, still pounding against her ribs, had begun to slow, and as she allowed her remaining chakra to swell in her hands, she numbed. She didn't recognize her eyebrows furrowing, nor did she feel it when she bit through the side of cheek. To her, the world was still, her boys were alive, and she was… well she wasn't sure what she was but she was next to them, and for now, that was enough.

She had almost completely lost herself in thoughts of nothingness, almost completely numbed her heart after the events of the war and events of her personal life, when he spoke.

"Sakura, I…" Sasuke mustered.

"Don't… I need to concentrate." Sakura said quietly.

Part of her cursed mentally, she wanted to snap at him, dammit! She couldn't believe him! How indecisive can you be, do you want to kill your best friend and ignore my existence or do you want to accept you're a part of our lives?! Yet, hearing her name from his lips almost completely shattered her. It confused her, she was happy, she was angry, she just wanted an answer! It hurt, however, thinking of an answer.

In that split second, she knew. She knew she was just a teammate. She was just the right piece to fit the three man team puzzle. Never had Sasuke needed her, not once did Naruto need her. She wasn't necessary during anything, just after, just like right now. Help in combat? No, of course, why ask the only, new female sanin who surpassed Tsunade for anything in combat? The importance of her friendship? Forget that, too. She was nothing to him in comparison to Naruto's friendship and knew she never would be. He hadn't hesitated to "basically" ripping her chest out to make sure she stayed away from him and Naruto's big finale aka just the biggest fucking confirmation of their friendship she'd ever seen. She knew. She knew she loved someone who would never love her back. She knew she would always watch him, support him, and love him even if he were to love someone else. She knew she wasn't the one Sasuke wanted and it hurt more than anything she could imagine.

He knew she was lost in thought, otherwise she'd be showing more facial expression or giving herself away somehow that she knew he was watching her. Sasuke just soaked her in, he was tired, but she was here and he couldn't look away from her. He had messed up, he messed up so bad but somehow not only was Naruto here but Sakura was rushing to their side. She hadn't ignored his wounds like he expected, like would have made sense. She had shown him just as much attention as she had to Naruto. He didn't understand. Naruto was there for her, he watched her grow, he supported her, and Naruto saved Sakura from Sasuke's clutch! He fucking tried to kill her, and yet here she was, healing him. On the battlefield, she was determined to make it known that she loved him still. Just like Naruto had never given up on him as a friend, Sakura had never given up on loving him even though she had a hundred and one reason and then some to let him die right there. He knew he'd never be able to understand how he deserved Naruto and Sakura.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke said, never breaking his gaze from his cherry blossom. I'm so sorry, Sakura… please, look at me. His heart stopped, he was sure of it. If he could move, he wouldn't be able to. He didn't know when, maybe it was during the chunin exams when she had been beat to hell and back again for him, maybe it was when she tried to throw herself in between him and Naruto on the hospital roof all those years ago, or maybe it was when she confessed the first time the night he left, but Sasuke needed her. He needed her to smile at him when he barely grunted at her, he needed her to annoy him and he needed her to bring life and love and laughter back into his heart.

"Sorry? For what?" She replied. A lump formed in her throat. Breathe.

"For everything I've done," he stated. For breaking your heart when you've only ever cradled mine.

Naruto only watched. It was bittersweet, but it was pure. He loved them both so much. They were his best friends, they were his family. He couldn't help cracking a huge smile at the situation, they were together; Naruto was smiling, Sakura was crying and Sasuke was torturing her, just like good ole times. C'mon, Sakura! This is as close to Teme confessing as it's going to get! Naruto thought.

"You'd better… Geez...," Sakura mustered through tears. Stop! Stop crying! She tried to control herself but failed, she was the strongest kunoichi she knew, literally, but fate hated her! Sasuke had her heart completely, he managed to break it and mend it at the same time. She hated and loved him for it all at once!

"You are so much trouble! Stupid," she felt satisfied with the last addition, because maybe that would be all the insult she could ever muster to his face from her heart. She felt the same about her place in his eyes, but she loved him regardless. At least he apologized. That was enough for her for now.

Kakashi looked on from the cliff. Seeing them as they were he couldn't help but recall the first meeting of Team 7. What they had endured from that time so many years before to where they were now was not was Kakashi has expected, but to him, it made them all that much more precious. They were his kids, they were his family, too and he loved them each unconditionally.

"They've finally returned," smiling Kakashi pulled his Leaf headband back down over his Sharinganless eye. Looking back at them, he found a joker like smile planted on Naruto's face and a very welcome grin on Sasuke's. Sakura would dry her tears and join them soon. It was then that Kakashi knew the world was as it should be.

"Alright! Yeah! Let's go get everyone else out of this jutsu, I'm ready to snuggle Hinata!" Naruto roared, pumping his only fist in the air and gloating in his romantic bliss at the thought of Hinata's presence.

It wasn't until her amazing act of heroism and love that he realized he loved Sakura but he had misinterpreted his feelings. He loved Sakura like a sister, more than any actual brother could love a sister but that was the closest he could describe it. Sakura could never be replaced to him, she was his little cherry blossom whom he had watched grow into an amazing Sannin like Sasuke and himself. She never faulted in her devotion to Sasuke, not only as a teammate like Naruto but she never faulted in her love toward him and because of that Naruto admired her. Hinata, however, he could plant one on her!

Naruto's face shot red when he realized where his mind was going, looking at Sasuke and Sakura he thought maybe a little time alone wouldn't kill them. Gazing up, Naruto spotted Kakashi.

"Hey, before we do that, actually, I need to go see Kakashi about… um… a thing, hold on for just a few!" Naruto exclaimed before jumping up the cliff to Kakashi. Leaving Sasuke and Sakura to themselves for a few moments.

The tension grew immediately.

Cliffhanger! I felt a recap of 699 was a good place to start. Obviously, from here on, nothing will be supported from anything in the manga. I tried to keep it as close to the original for this chapter, though. From now on, it'll start to be my own ideas. I draw a lot of inspiration from fanart, especially now anything to do with Sarada. I hope to update a chapter a week. I'm thinking I'll have something probably around Wednesdays or Thursdays. Hope you liked it!