This is only my 2nd fanfic, so please forgive me on anything I mess up.

I'm not an avid Naruto fan, but I do greatly enjoy the characters and their development with the plot. I want to make sure some of my Naruto facts and history is correct, so if it's incorrect, please tell me.

Reviews are greatly welcomed.

Full Review: When a raging Sasuke is spotted near Konoha, it's up to the rest of Team seven to stop him. But nobody could have predicted what came after. "These people should be dead, gone. So then why am I staring at Uchiha Itachi?"

A/N: Bold is when inner Sakura is speaking,.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto in any way or form.

Chapter 1: Broken Memories

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I…I love you more than anything!

The heart wrenching memory replayed in her mind.

If you are by my side, I will make sure that you will not regret it. I will make every day more enjoyable, and you will be happy!

A tear crept to the corner of her eye.

That's why…I beg you! Please stay here!

It welled up, threatening to fall.

I will even help you with your revenge! That's why…please…stay here with me…if that's not possible, please take me with you.

. . .

After all this, you're still annoying.

The tear fell, leaving a lonely streak on her face.

Sakura…thank you.

Sakura woke abruptly, gasping and trying her best to hold in her tears. She pulled the covers closer to her trembling body. Choking on a sob, the tears she held back flew swiftly down her soft face and soon enough, tears racked her body, her sobs becoming harsher.

Dammit Sakura! I though we already moved on!

I thought so too…

She glanced at the clock, sighing when it read 4:21AM. Her shift at the hospital wasn't until 7AM, but in the state she was in, she couldn't fall back asleep. Finally making her decision, Sakura wearily pushed herself off her bed, slowing shuffled to the bathroom, stripped herself of her sweat and tear drenched night shirt, and stepped into the steaming shower as soon as the water was hot enough. She sighed in contentment, relaxing as the water massaged her tense muscles and gently flowed down her nicely curved body. She was now 20, and her body had appropriately filled out her curves. Though Sakura envied people like Hinata or even Lady Tsunade for their huge chests, she still considered herself fairly attractive. Twenty minutes later, she stepped out of her bathroom, a fluffy towel hugging her body. She plopped down on her bed, the sheets absorbing the water from her long, bubble-gum hair as it fanned out on her pillow. After ten minutes of lying there, Sakura finally grunted, got up, and walked to her closet. She wanted to take a walk, to take her mind off of certain people.

She pulled out a blood red, sleeveless shirt with her family's symbol on the back, with a zipper that adorned the front, reaching from her chin to the bottom of the shirt. She put on a mesh shirt first, the sleeves reaching her elbows. Pulling on a pair of tight, black shorts that went down to her knees, with one leg wrapped in white wraps holding a kunai pouch, Sakura also took out a short, black, miniskirt.

She looked at her jounin vest, and contemplated on the decision of wearing one or not, but she decided against it. She wasn't going on a mission or anything, just the hospital. Sakura's mind was pulled into the memory of the day she finally achieved the jounin level. A year ago, she had passed the jounin exams, proving the world that she wasn't the weak girl everyone knew when she was twelve. But she doubted people even thought of her like that since Tsunade had announced that Sakura had passed her in every way, both in medicine and strength, two years ago. She briefly wondered how Sasuke would react if he knew how strong and independent she was now, but quickly shook the thought off in case bad memories would resurface.

Shrugging off the sorrow that welled up every time she thought of Sasuke, Sakura substituted the jounin vest for her long, white, medic coat. Tugging on her knee-length boots, she was about to walk out of her room when a tapping sound came from behind her. Quickly pulling out a kunai, Sakura relaxed when she realized it was just an Anbu member, waiting patiently for her to open the window. Undoing the seals that securely locked her window from unwanted visitors, Sakura allowed the Anbu to relay his message to her.

"The Hokage requires your presence immediately Haruno-san. He said to meet him in his office as quickly as possible."

Nodding her head, the Anbu disappeared, and Sakura raced out her door towards the Hokage tower, wondering what was so important that she was needed at 5AM.

Sakura swiftly jumped through the open window to the Hokage's office, and met with Naruto's eyes, distress and worry held in them.

"You called for me Hokage-sama?" she asked, bowing her head in respect.

"Sakura-chan, I told you like a hundred times! Stop with all the formalities! I've been your best friend and teammate for like, 8 years!" Naruto exasperated.

She scoffed, "My 'best friend' is Hokage and carries the responsibility for the whole village on his shoulders. It definitely calls for the formalities." She smiled at the memory, when Naruto was finally appointed Hokage just a few months ago. He looked so happy that day, it almost made Sakura cry.

Said person chuckled, but then quickly turned back to the issue at hand. Looking at Sakura straight in the eye and warily watching her reaction, he stated, "Sasuke was just spotted only a few miles from the village. Reports say he's heading towards here…and that he didn't exactly appear…sane. At all."

Sakura stared at Naruto, dumbfounded, "W-what?"

He continued, "He's serious Sakura-chan. He's seriously going to attack Konoha."

Sakura, unable to form any thoughts at this, whispered, "What are you going to do Naruto?" the words barely coming out of her mouth.

He sighed, defeat evident in his broken stance. Pulling a hand through his hair, he replied, "I have to think about the village first Sakura-chan," He looked at her, silently begging for her understanding, "I have to issue out the order. I don't have a choice. He has to be stopped."

She looked at him with broken eyes.

"Please Sakura-chan, believe me, I don't want to, but it's the only choice."

She took a step back, her hands reaching out for something to steady her. She blinked, anguish seeping out of every pore in her body, then slowly, as if willing it to take an eternity, nodded. "I-I understand Naruto." She held back hot tears, feebly attempting to will them away.

Sakura we're stronger than this, dammit! We have to be strong!

I know.

Then pull yourself together! We can't let Naruto feel guilty for his actions!

I KNOW. I will be strong…for both of us.

Sakura knew Naruto was falling apart in the inside. Sasuke was a brother to him; a best friend, a rival. He was family. He was one of Naruto's first bonds. But they both knew that the day would come where they'd have to face Sasuke in battle, until only one came out alive. They knew, but they didn't want to admit it.

Author's Note: So what do you think? Should I continue with this? And please, suggestions are needed! What do you think should happen?