Ok new story, I'm starting. Main pairing will be NaruSaku, and don't count on too much angst or anything, I'm not good with this stuff. I plan on making it more humorous, because if you know anything about me, I'm a joker. It won't be like my other story, but how I actually think they would act. Personally, I don't think if Sakura and Naruto end up together it will be angsty and dramatic, more casual and friendly.

Also don't expect in your face romance and fluff. This will take sometime.

I'm not stopping my other story just it'll take longer to update.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, simple as that.

Prologue

Naruto slowly opened his eyes to the sight of the hospital. He noticed some flowers by his bed, his wounds were bandaged, nothing too out of the ordinary. Especially, considering he had been on the brink of death trying to fight off Akatuski with an injured Sasuke.

Kisame attacked Naruto during his routine, retrieval attempts. Except this time he had actually succeeded. He had finally found Sasuke, and he was willing to return, strange as it seems.

Turned out Sasuke had just defeated what he presumed was Itachi, when Naruto arrived. Suffice to say, the battle with Kisame only made things worse. Apparently, the shark was also convinced that Itachi was killed by Sasuke, so he went on a rampage. Itachi, as Naruto would later find out, used his Mangekyou Sharingan, to make Sasuke think he had killed him. Kisame saw the same image, and attacked, to avenge Itachi.

Sasuke survived, by how much Naruto didn't know, or even if he did survive. Sakura hadn't come to visit him all week. In fact, she hadn't come to visit him at all, at least as far as when he has been awake. 'Probably too busy with golden boy'

He spat at the thought. It made him sick to his stomach. He had been with her through thick and thin and here comes the traitor, Mr. Lets-break-my-bonds, and she's still head over heels for him. He calmed himself down, there really was no reason to jump to conclusions. Maybe, she doesn't have time. She was in fact, the most busy 16-year-old Doctor-trainee in all of Konoha. She probably had to help Sasuke out more, seeing as he was injured more.

His door slowly creaked open, and to his surprise a pink-haired medic walked through. She walked over to Naruto's bed and looked through his chart, seemingly ignoring the fact that he was even there. He at least expected a hug or something. It wasn't like he had to take Sasuke. Oddly enough, Akatsuki wanted Sasuke, as a member or a victim, Naruto didn't know. His guess was as a member, due to his victory over Itachi. Regardless the point was he risked his life to save Sasuke when it really wasn't necessary.

"How are you feeling Naruto?" she asked, finally looking up. That was what she said, the first thing she said. Not even a damn hello. He was probably just overreacting.

"I'm okay I guess. I have been recovering for a week," he said avoiding her emerald gaze. Had he been looking at her, he would have seen her wince.

"Oh." She didn't press the matter, because she knew he would eventually come to her to talk about it, like he always did. She still felt guilty that she didn't come visit for a week. She just couldn't confront him. She wanted to tell him she was confused about who she love, she wanted to say to tell him she might not love Sasuke, but she was upset at Naruto. Sasuke was in a coma and she blamed Naruto for not protecting him well enough. She knew he did try, but she had to let it out on someone.

"How's Sasuke doing?"

"He's in a coma. We don't know when he will wake up." She really wanted to avoid that topic. She didn't want to get mad at Naruto. He did risk his life, he could have just left him there. "Why did you make me a promise, if it meant Sasuke came back like this." Yet, she couldn't help it. God she was so confused and a total bitch!

His eyes were downcast, but if she had to guess they probably weren't the same radiant blue she always expected. He spoke up in a meek voice, "Kisame ambushed us, we couldn't do much."

"I know Naruto." He heard what she said, but her tone convinced him, that she felt he could have done more.

A long silence passed and neither of the two spoke. After what seemed to be fifteen minutes, Naruto finally spoke.

"Sakura-chan..." She looked up at him, "if I had left, all those years ago, would you have cried for me... would you've come to find me after eating ramen?" he began listing faster, "would you have asked Sasuke to make a promise his heart didn't want him to keep? Would you have acknowledged him, after he risked his life to save me, only to have my hand through his chest? Would you have trained as hard as you did, to get me back?" He looked away from her eyes, "This whole week I've been sitting here thinking, how different our lives could have been?"

'Naruto...' She wanted to wrap her arms around him, and tell him she was sorry. She wanted to cry, and have him comfort her, like he always did. Instead she tried to answer his question. "Naruto...I..."

"Sakura," she winced. There was no cute, boisterous 'Sakura-chan', but instead a serious, melancholy 'Sakura'. "You don't have to answer those questions."

Again there was a silence and she was about to leave when Naruto said, "Sakura, I'm leaving again."

"W-what?" she said shakily.

"Ero-sennin came by, and we are going on another training trip. There some stuff coming up in the next few years, and I'm going to need to be strong to help the village."

"H-how long?"

"Most likely half a year to a year. Sakura, Akatsuki is getting quite restless, of us Konoha-nin. We seem to be taking too many members," he chuckled lamely.

"Naruto..."

"I don't want to say this or make you worry... but... bye Sakura." She felt her heart shatter. It wasn't a friendly bye, but more of an 'If-I-never-see-you-again' bye.

She finally couldn't contain the tears. "Please, be careful Naruto... and I'm not going to say bye... not yet."

"H-hai, I will, Sakura-chan." Sakura walked out of the door and left Naruto alone, to his thoughts. 'It's promise of a lifetime.'

"Can't you ever use the door, you old pervert?"

"Err...well, gaki are you cleared to go?" asked Jiraiya, who just entered through the window.

"Even if I'm not you think it's going to stop me?" Jiraiya just shrugged, realizing the boy was right. Naruto went home and packed, and later that afternoon they walked out of the gates. 'Take care Sakura-chan. It really is going to suck seeing you with Sasuke when I come back.'

Ok guys, how was it? That is just the prologue. Now I will give you some background about how I plan to do this story. I'm going to make maybe 4-5 arcs. They will be like long chapters basically. That bit with Sakura and Naruto is as much angst as there is. I'm not good at writing angst.

(IMPORTANT) For those as wonderfully inclined in Japanese as me ;), I need help. A few male/female names a couple jutsu here and there. I refuse to have a story with an OC with the name of Johnathan or Natasha. Not going to happen.