Hello! It's me again! I am so sorry for the hiatas. I have been so busy with work and school. Hopefully you guys will forgive me. I hope you all love this story.
Much love, Pan!c
The city was lit with street lights and open restaurants and bars. Streets were scarce, except the few bodies that roam the city's clean and neatly paved sidewalks at night. Laughter filled the air. A lone figure walked toward the crowded bar, whose participants were loud and full of alcohol. As the figure approached the building, a handsome young man with a bright shock of yellow hair and innocent blue eyes smiled and shouted over the congregation, "OI! Sakura, come over here!"
A woman with a curvy figure and light pink hair walked over to a huge group whose noise and merriment outdid every other being in the room.
"I'm sorry I am so late." She said to her teammates. "Tsunade kept me over to do a CAT scan on a new patient."
"No problem, Sakura," said Kiba. "You only missed Ino's strip tease."
"I did not do a strip tease, Kiba!" shouted a beautiful, young blonde.
Sakura giggled and sat next to a woman with black hair and white eyes. "How are you this evening, Hinata?"
"I am great!" Turning her face to Sakura, she spoke the next words softly. The younger woman leaned into her, speaking into her ear, "The Hokage wants to meet you at the office tomorrow morning."
Slouching slightly, Sakura sighed and grabbed Hinata's drink, finishing it in one gulp.
"Someone is having a hard day. What happened, Sakura? Did Genma give you a…"
"Shut it!" Sakura hissed at Ino.
Hours of taking, laughing, and making crude jokes to one another, the morning was approaching fast and the group said their farewells and escaped to their houses. Naruto,
Sakura, and Sai walked with arms linked and stupid grins on their faces. After seven years of trying to bring Sasuke back, the relationship that started out rough, ended to be a sweet and loving friendship.
"Well, good night guys. I'll see ya around." The men hugged her. Naruto gave her a brotherly kiss.
Gasping for breath, Sakura reached for the phone. She had one of those dreams again.
Dialing the number, her breathing calmed.
"What the heck, Sakura." A sleepy, deep voice mumbled.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. But I had that dream again."
The line was quite for a moment and then a sigh escaped his mouth. "I'll be over soon."
It phone went dead. Sakura reclined back into bed and let a single tear fall down her cheek.
The battle was awful. Sakura and Naruto were breathing hard. The opponent was tough, almost impossible. As Naruto was about to do Rasengan, the opponent came from the rear and struck Sakura through the back.
"SASUKE!" Shouted Naruto.
Sasuke sheathed his kantana back the holster as the young women fell to the ground, motionless. Dark eyes gleaned over the corpse. A battle cry was made. Dark red and orange chakra filled the sky. The nine tails' chakra was blazing. A burst of air sent Sasuke flying, ramming into trees. Getting up from the rubble, the ebony haired man stood and widened his eyes.
"Amaterasu!"
A gulf of black, devouring flames came fast to Naruto. The flames consumed the poor, helpless clone. Naruto, who was a master of the ninja arts at sixteen, attacked his best friend. Punches were thrown left and right. From far away one would think it was a beautiful dance.
A body hit the cold earth. Sasuke crawled to the numb body of a woman lying in her own blood. Her face was pale and lovely. Her body had matured drastically over the two years. Hips gained a womanly shape, her face had thinned, and lips were full and desirable. Sakura was beautiful. Sasuke gentle touched her face with a bloodied knuckle. A smile escaped his handsome face. He coughed blood. Naruto had truly beaten him. Forcefully, he got up on his elbows and studied Sakura's face again. Leaning down, he softly placed kisses on her cheeks, nose, and chin. How will they ever forgive him?
"I'm sorry," he whispered and placed a chaste kiss on Sakura's lips.
Rolling over on his back, Sasuke looked at his friends. Tears gathered in his eyes and he breathed his last breath.
Naruto walked through the house and found Sakura curled up on the sofa, watching Walker, Texas Ranger. Smirking to himself, he sat next to her and leaned his head onto her lap.
"You only watch this show when you are either sad or bored."
She lifted a corner of her mouth, "It's the only thing on that isn't stupid or about gay people."
Laughing softly, he pulled them to their feet and enveloped her into a hug. "I love you, Sakura."
Letting her tears cascade down her face, she nodded her thanks and released him.
"Don't let Hinata think I'm going to steal you from her."
"She knows you are like my sister. Don't worry."
Naruto picked her up and carried her to the bed. Kissed her on the cheek and started to leave, but a hand caught his.
A tiny, hoarse whisper came out of a full mouth, "Please forgive him. He was trying to be good."
"I know, Sakura. I know."
Letting the door click softly behind him, Naruto walked into the dark night of Kohona. It was early fall, the air was light and fresh. It had a clean, crisp feel to it.