"It was not your fault but mine,

And it was your heart on the line,

I really fucked it up this time,

Didn't I my dear?

Didn't I my dear?"

-Mumford and Sons

A pink haired woman walks slowly through a cemetery in the young hours of morning, a white envelope with the name "Naruto" written on it, clutched in her hand. She closes in on a black headstone, and kneels in front of it, her emerald eyes glassy and distant...

o0o0o0o0o

Dear Naruto,

First of all, I want to apologize to you. Now, I know what you're thinking; and you're wrong. I do owe you an apology. So, from the very bottom of my heart Naruto, I am so very sorry. None of this was supposed to happen. None of it at all, and it was never my intention to hurt you the way I did.

For many years, I was blinded by what I thought was love. And because of this "love" I pushed you away, and treated you like you were beneath me. Nothing could have been further from the truth. It was I who didn't deserve a friend like you. You were the best friend that I have ever had the privilege to know. You alone pushed me to be my best, you alone cheered me on when I had all but given up on everything. Not one other soul I meet in this shitty world will understand me the way you did. Sorry I didn't mean to get all sentimental there, thinking about you does that to me sometimes. Where was I? Oh yeah, the whole "blinded by love" thing...

Sasuke. Just what can I say about him?

From the first moment I saw him, I knew that someday soon, he would become a force to be reckoned with. And the day Team 7 formed, I discovered an incredibly strong emotion rearing up from within me.

I'm sorry. I was just a little girt who knew nothing of the world, and was naive to it's darker aspects.

That unfathomable emotion in my heart was not love. Not even close.

Admiration. That's what I felt. Sasuke was everything I wanted to be. He was a strong ninja with a sharp mind, and looked up to by all. I thought that if I could only make him mine, then it would prove that I was worthy of the title 'kunoichi.' If I could obtain 'the best', then I would be able to call myself 'the best' as well.

Right?

I know what you're thinking, and you're right. It was the stupidest thing I have ever believed in, and it remains one other the biggest regrets I have today. The only way to receive respect or power or admiration, is to earn it. You taught me that.

But them, after a while, the three of us grew closer. I found myself yearning for contact with our little makeshift family every day. Our time together as Genin were some of the best days I have ever known. But, despite that I came to think of you two as mine, I still pushed you away, choosing instead to faun over Sasuke, and think myself better that you.

But I saw it all Naruto. I watched you change into a powerful shinobi in front of my very eyes. And I found that I was envious of you. I thought to myself. "How is it that someone like him, could have reached such heights, while I remain a hindrance, a girl to keep in the background, who could never hope to catch up to either of her teammates?"

But those thoughts dimmed after awhile, after I began to love every moment of Team 7's time together, after we all began to accept each other. And then our whole world shattered around us, changing forever. And Sasuke left, destroying our family. And no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't get him back. So I came to you, crying and pleading and begging you to bring him back for me.

I ignored the hurt in your eyes Naruto. I was to caught up in my own little world to see how much pain I caused you.

I know, I know. You and Sasuke were like brothers. You would have gone to Hell and back for him. And for me.

I really didn't deserve to have you in my live Naruto. I should have told you how amazing of a guy you were.

I'm sorry I was too late. But I swear to Kami-sama, that that day in the forest; as I watched you and Sasuke kill each other, the only thought in my mind was, "Please let Naruto live. Please. I'll do anything. Just, please."

Which brings me to the second reason as to why I'm writing you a letter you will never see; and that is to tell you that I loved you so very much, Naruto. I'm sorry I was to stupid to ever realize that. It was only as I was trying to piece your broken, bloody body back together that I realized that I needed you in my life. You had become completely necessary for my existence, Naruto.

Tsunade said that if I wrote you a letter, I would feel better about going on without you, about not being strong enough to save you. She thinks it will help my get rid of the guilt I carry. But honestly, I think that idea is complete bullshit. I can't deal with life in this village anymore, not without your presence, not when everywhere I go, I'm reminded of you in some small way.

Which brings me to my third and final point; saying goodbye. I'm afraid that this is the last time I will ever visit your grave. I'm leaving Konoha to travel the world, to spread my knowledge of medical jutsu to others. Maybe it will help them more than it has helped me.

You will always be my dearest friend, Naruto. You will never be far from my thoughts, and I will always love you more that I have ever loved anyone else.

Goodbye Naruto. I love you so, so much.

Haruno Sakura

o0o0o0o0o

A pink haired woman kneels beside a glossy black headstone, tracing gently over the named carved there. She places a sealed envelope lovingly on the grave, and rises gracefully from the cold ground. A large pack adorns her back, and she walks slowly, yet resolutely, to the large gates of her village. She disappears quickly in the early morning mist.

Not once does she glance back.