It's been awhile, hasn't it? Well, I'm back and with a new story, no less. Crazy, isn't it? Considering I haven't finished the others I have uploaded; the ideas are somewhere floating around in my mind. But, this story is something different; at least different for me. As we all know, Naruto has finally ended. After fifteen long years full of ups and downs; the series has ended and instead of feeling happiness and closure; I'm left feeling hollow and used. Kishimoto sold out and it hurts. He twisted the characters, that I had come to love and cherish, into something that I can't even articulate into words. The Naruto fandom has turned into a toxic battleground of shipping wars and harsh insults; I never expected this to happen.

And so with the madness that had ensued; I am left with these ugly, negative feelings and what best way to express them than to turn them into a piece of literature. So this is where I stand. This is a story of closure; at least for me in a way. It's canon, yet not canon. It starts at chapter 699 of the manga and goes from there. Naturally, it'll be Sakura centric, but it'll explore all the Naruto characters who've we become attached too. It's a story of selfishness, selflessness, desire, love, hatred, pain, comfort, and everything in between. It's essentially a story about growing up.

I will try my best to keep characters true to their personalities; however, this story is about growth and development. People change, people learn. Relationships will be established, but nothing is concrete and some of them will crumble, almost painfully. I hope you'll enjoy the story none the less and please feel free to review or flame, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (this applies throughout the entire story).

Prelude to the End
Recommended Song: Heal by Loreen

'Shikata ga nai;' a phrase meaning "it cannot be helped" or "nothing can be done about it." The phrase has been used by many western writers to describe the ability of the Japanese people to maintain dignity in the face of an unavoidable tragedy or injustice, particularly when the circumstances are beyond their control. Historically, it has been applied to situations in which masses of Japanese people as a whole have been made to endure.

~. . . . .~

"What if I told you….I'd like to come too….?" Sakura's head remained bowed and she could feel the heat from her blush settle on her cheeks. This was the aftermath of the final battle. Sasuke had been pardoned largely due to the efforts of Kakashi, as the Sixth Hokage, but also because of his actions to help aid in the defeat of Kaguya and Madara.

He was pardoned and he was leaving. He would go on a journey to atone for his sins. Sakura kept her head bowed even as her heart raced frantically in her chest. Even after all these years; she couldn't shake the emotions that Sasuke invoked deep within her. It was as if some part of her was ingrained to the Uchiha's presence; something that simply bowed to him.

"My sins have nothing to do with you," Sasuke's response was given in a smooth monotone and Sakura felt her chest constrict painfully as her hopes deflated. She glanced up at him and she offered him a weak smile that he didn't return; she didn't expect him to anyways.

She met his gaze and time froze. Sakura's breath caught in her chest and she blinked as tears rapidly began to fill her eyes. She saw Sasuke. Sasuke degrading her. Sasuke ignoring her. Sasuke leaving her. Sasuke hurting her. Sasuke attempting to kill her. And most recently; the genjutsu of Sasuke's hand jutting through her chest where her heart lied. Sasuke didn't care about her.

'Nothing to do with me…?' Sakura's thoughts echoed in her mind and she choked back a sob even as the man approached her and raised his hand slowly. His sins had nothing to do with her? Even if some of them were in regards to her?

And she loved him.

This was a selfish, caustic love. She was addicted to Sasuke. This abusive, unhealthy obsessive love. He didn't make her a better person. Loving Sasuke made her weak and miserable. His fingertips tapped her forehead gently and Sakura's eyes widened a fraction as she kept her eyes locked on him. He didn't smile. No, Sasuke never smiled at her. But he wasn't frowning and he wasn't regarding her with his usual annoyance or apathy. It was simple acknowledgement. It was most she had ever gotten from him.

They stared at one another in silence for what felt like years. Time dredged on slowly. Sakura waited for Sasuke to speak. He would dismiss her as always, because he didn't care about her. Hadn't he said as much on the battlefield? He had absolutely zero interest in her; as a teammate, as a friend, as a kunoichi, as a woman. He simply didn't care.

"Sakura," he spoke her name in a low decadent tone; it made her weak in the knees and she trembled ever so lightly. This love was torture. Sakura just kept giving, giving, giving while receiving nothing in return. It was an idiotic, childish love. The type where one seemingly didn't know any better.

"Do as you please," the world turned to static around Sakura as Sasuke's words met her ears and she stared at him. Do as she pleased? Was he truly allowing her to come along with him? All types of love could be considered nonsensical, but this love was madness.

Sasuke dropped his hand back to his side and time resumed; everything rushed back to Sakura with violent clarity and she looked at Kakashi beside her who remained silent but seemed surprised at Sasuke's response as well. Sakura turned slightly to look back at Konoha; this was her home, she had fought to protect it and everyone who lived there. Could she really leave it all for one man?

Time was short. It was fleeting and precious; Sakura knew that Sasuke would not wait for her answer forever and deep down she already knew her answer. She turned back to the Uchiha, the love of her life and she smiled. It was fake. Cheap, plastic, fabricated as were Sasuke's warm affections towards her.

"Thank you," she replied; her tone was hollow as she stepped forward and she didn't look back to see what expression Kakashi's face held. She wouldn't think about the parents she was leaving behind, the friends that would take note of her absence, the disappointment from Shizune and Tsunade. Sakura blocked it all from her mind.

Sasuke said nothing as he nodded his head at Kakashi and turned to set off with Sakura trailing behind him dutifully. Sakura didn't think. She didn't speak to Sasuke. She didn't look back. She didn't have anything with her, no money, no clothes, no weapons. She couldn't stop to get them; there wasn't enough time to do that.

Naruto met them on the outskirts of the forest. His cerulean blue eyes took in the sight of Sasuke with a look of expectation and acceptance; he wasn't surprised to see Sasuke and Sasuke didn't appear to be surprised to see the blonde shinobi. Naruto's eyes slid over to Sakura's form slightly behind Sasuke and a small smile of resignation appeared on his face.

"I'm returning this," Naruto held out a forehead protector with the leaf symbol engraved in it and Sasuke took it from the blonde's hand with a nod. It was his forehead protector; the one that Naruto had hung onto for all these years in his task to return the Uchiha to the village.

"I'll hang onto this until we can finally really settle things between us," Sasuke affirmed as he clutched the forehead protector into his hand as Naruto held onto the other end. A smile appeared on Naruto's face which Sasuke returned with a small one of his own.

Sakura folded her hands into her skirt as she watched the two men seemingly communicate without words; that was love. A love that transcended brotherhood or simply camaraderie, even love that surpassed that between lovers; it was a rare and nameless love. It was beautiful.

It brought tears to Sakura's eyes.

The moment passed after a short time and Sasuke placed the forehead protector into his cloak. He nodded at Naruto one final time, before he turned to keep moving down the road and Sakura moved to follow after him but stopped short when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Sakura felt like her heart was attempting to leap out of her throat.

"Sakura-chan….please," Naruto's tone was barely audible, but Sakura could hear it clearly as if he were shouting. Please what? Please stay? Please love him? Please don't leave it like this? Sakura's body was trembling and her vision was blurry from the tears in her eyes; she could see Sasuke's form getting smaller and smaller as he moved on ahead without her.

"Naruto," Sakura's voice was thick with emotion as she reached up with a trembling hand to place it on top of Naruto's. There was so much that needed to be said, so much that she wanted to say to him but she couldn't because it there wasn't enough time.

Her love for Sasuke was selfish and it hurt others around her, namely Naruto. Sakura didn't want to hurt her blonde teammate. He was the last person she wanted to hurt. She had a lot of growing up to do. And this was exactly where she needed to start. She squeezed his hand and took a deep breath, before she turned around to face him. She had to face him.

Naruto looked tired. Sakura had never seen such an expression on the blonde man's face and her heart constricted painfully to know she was the cause. His blue eyes were pleading, they were begging her but for what Sakura didn't know. So instead of addressing that, she simply took his hand in both of her own and smiled at him sadly with tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Thank you for everything, Naruto. I...I want you to become Hokage," she stumbled over her last words; they were the truth but not what she wanted or needed to say and from the crestfallen look on Naruto's face, they weren't the words he wanted to hear either. He smiled brightly at Sakura; it was fake. Sakura could see through it as easily as glass.

"Take care, Sakura-chan. Be happy….with Sasuke," Naruto seemed to choke on the last words as he removed his hand from Sakura's grasp and Sakura allowed her now empty hands to drop back to her side. It was like watching the sun become eclipsed by the moon; Naruto's warm seemed to seep out of him slowly the longer she remained in his presence.

Sakura nodded her head; she couldn't find the strength to voice any words and she took a step back away from Naruto. A nauseating feeling settled within her as she turned her back to her teammate; the one person who had stayed by her side and cheered her on through the hard times. Naruto had become a constant in her life; he had made her laugh, made her feel beautiful and strong; he had made her want to be better.

She could barely see Sasuke now and through her haze of tears; she knew she would have to jog to catch up with him but she would. Her pushed the nausea and bile down deep within herself as she made her way after Sasuke; she couldn't bring herself to look back at Naruto. That would break her completely. This was an agonizing love.

Sasuke had her heart.

Sakura needed to get it back.