Author's Note: Okay, this is my first EVER Naruto fan fic. It's SasukexSakura, don't like, either give it a shot or go back. I'm pretty sure it starts out just like almost every other SasuSaku fic, but please give it time, I'm sure it'll come into its own. Warning, the rating WILL go up. I know this because I have just finished ch.3, and there's a lemon. You have been warned. I plan to update this as often as I can, but remember, I'm writing and typing this, so it will take some time. Please read and review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto-san does. All I own is a headband with a leaf on it.Chapter One: Five Years
"Five years," said a pink-haired kunoichi quietly as she stared wistfully out of her apartment window. "Five years he's been gone now. I wonder how he is?"
Haruno Sakura was leaning on the counter in her kitchen, watching the clouds glide through the skies over Konohagakure. In the five years since Uchiha Sasuke's defection, Sakura had grown into a beautiful seventeen-year-old. She was four inches taller and had more grace than she did when she was twelve. Her pink hair had grown down to mid-back, where it seemed to swirl and shine when she moved. Also, she had developed now, filling out and becoming rather curvaceous. All in all, any guy in Konoha would say she was definitely attractive, though Yamanaka Ino was still the favorite among most of the men.
However, one thing that had not changed about her was this: Sakura was still head-over-heels in love with Uchiha Sasuke.
Yes, she had tried to move on, tried to forget him, but she could not. Sasuke held some kind of power over her, and she was captivated by him. Everyone else had forgotten about the Uchiha, moving on and forming real relationships; Ino and Shikamaru, for example….
Coming out of her dreaming, Sakura glanced at the clock.
"Oh, Kami-sama, I'm going to be late!" she exclaimed, gathering her bag and running towards the door. "I promised Naruto and Kakashi-sensei that I'd meet them for training. I'm gonna be so late!" And the door closed with a snap.
Sakura raced out of the building and ran down the streets of Konoha towards the training grounds.
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Uzumaki Naruto stood next to his old sensei, waiting for his teammate to show up. Suddenly, he spotted something pink barreling its way towards them.
"Hey, Saaaakura!" he called, waving to the kunoichi.
Sakura skidded to a halt in front of her old team. Bowing, she said, "Sorry I'm late!" As she stood, she said, "But today I'd thought I'd stray from the path of life," smirking, stealing one of her old sensei's excuses.
Kakashi smirked under his mask, realizing the joke. Naruto, however, did not.
"Sakura," he said, pointing a finger at her, "you're starting to sound just like Kakashi-sensei! Next thing you know, you'll be reading his Make-Out Paradise books!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. Naruto had matured (in addition to becoming a jonin like Sakura, he had also shot up several inches), but he was still the stupid idiot he was when they were twelve. Sakura balled up her fist tightly and brought it down on his head without an explanation.
"So," she turned to Kakashi, "what do you want to work on?"
"Well, I was thinking we could work on your evasion skills," said Kakashi, withdrawing two handfuls of kunai and shuriken. Suddenly, he lobbed them at his former students, who immediately jumped into the air, avoiding the weapons.
Sakura jumped into a nearby tree and turned to face into the forest, hiding herself. She heard Naruto land in a tree near her. Then they heard Kakashi's voice.
"This test is the one I know you both just love…the bell test!" he said cheerily, jingling the bells so they could hear them. "You remember what to do. Go!"
Sakura turned to Naruto and indicated that they should move further into the trees. When they were sure that Kakashi would not hear them, they began to plan.
"Okay, Naruto," said Sakura, the planner of the group, "you go to the right, I'll take the left. You distract him and I'll grab a bell, then, when he's surprised, you grab the other bell."
" 'Kay," agreed Naruto, nodding his head. "Let's go!"
They jumped into the trees again and raced to the edge of the forest. Sakura landed stealthily on a tree branch high above the ground. Cautiously, she peered down below to her former sensei. He was just standing there, reading his latest Make-Out book, humming happily to himself. The two bells were on eight side of his waist. Sakura nodded to Naruto, indicating that it was time to act.
Naruto sprang from his tree and threw three kunai down at the jonin. Kakashi looked up and smiled knowingly.
"What!" he said chuckling. "I don't believe it! Don't tell me that just because Sasuke's gone, you two have given up on your teamwork—"
He stopped suddenly as he felt a slight tug at his waist. Looking down, he barely had time to register flying pink hair before it whipped past him, stealing a bell. Still shocked and trying to find the culprit, he felt another pull on his other side and saw blonde hair rush past him, taking the last bell.
Kakashi looked behind him and found two very satisfied ninja.
"Nope, Sensei," said Naruto, throwing his bell into the air, "we haven't given up on our teamwork."
"In fact," said Sakura, sticking out her tongue and winking while twirling the bell in her index finger, "it's gotten better!"
"I see!" said Kakashi, grinning. "I'm impressed!" Naruto grinned. "Alright, I'll treat you two to some ramen."
"YES!" yelled Naruto, pumping his fist into the air. "Hey, Sensei, you're not putting a limit to your tab, are you?" he asked, walking beside his former teacher.
Sakura hung back a bit, wanting some time to herself. Kakashi had brought up Sasuke again, and it only made her heart hurt to think about him. She missed him dearly.
'Kakashi-sensei would always treat us to ramen when we got back from long missions,' thought Sakura. 'And Sasuke would always come, even though he said he wasn't hungry.'
Naruto had finished questioning Kakashi and noticed something missing.
"Huh?... Hey, Sakura!" he yelled, turning around. "Are you coming?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah," said Sakura, beginning to catch up. "Wait up!"
"Hmm," mumbled Kakashi, eyeing his former student. Ever since he had met her, he had been able to read Sakura like a book. And right now sorrow was written all over her face. However, he decided no to interfere; this was Sakura's life.
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"You wanted to see me, Tsunade-sama?" asked Sakura, stepping into the Hokage's office. Sakura had just finished her shift at the hospital.
"Hmm…?" mumbled Tsunade, looking up from her papers. At first, Sakura thought that her master was drunk (as usual), until she spoke again. "Oh, Sakura!" Tsunade said, jumping up. "Yes, I wanted to speak with you. Have you seen Naruto or Kakashi lately?"
"No, why?" asked Sakura, closing the door and walking to the middle of the room.
"I called for them earlier; I wonder where they are?" muttered Tsunade, returning to her desk. Suddenly, the door burst open and Naruto fell into the room.
"Heh, heh, sorry about that," he said, standing. "I was looking for Kakashi, but I couldn't find him."
"Here I am," called a voice jauntily. Kakashi stepped into the room, a smile beneath his mask.
"Sorry I'm late, but I was stopped and asked to rescue some children from a burning building."
"Kakashi," said Tsunade warningly.
"What?" asked Kakashi, shrugging and sweat dropping.
"A—we haven't heard a word about a fire, and B—you haven't a drop of soot on you," said Sakura.
"Uhh…" stuttered Kakashi, looking quickly down at himself. "Well, Sakura, you always were the sharpest on the team. Sakura looked pleased with herself.
"So why are we here, Tsunade-baa-chan?" asked Naruto, unable to bear the anticipation any longer.
"Oh, right," said Tsunade, rustling amongst the papers on her desk.
"I have a very important mission here," she said. "And I want you three on it."
"Wahoo!" exclaimed Naruto, jumping into the air with glee. "What is it, Baa-chan, huh? Huh?" he asked as he danced around. Sakura beamed him on the head, calming him instantly.
"A group of ninja from Hiding-in-Mist have been attacking out ninja as they leave for their mission.
"I want you three to find and defeat them. I don't care how you do it, just get it done."
"Yes, Ma'am!" said Naruto, saluting.
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Sakura found tree-hopping with her old team relaxing. It would be rare that they were assigned missions together now that she and Naruto were jonin. But for now, she enjoyed the reunion.
Sakura's clothes had also changed. She had long since outgrown her clothes from when she was fifteen. She now wore a solid black long-sleeved shirt under an outfit much like the one she had when she was twelve. It was long, hanging below her knees and was black with red flowers. The collar was embroidered with small red flowers the stretched to the sleeveless shoulders. The black shorts she wore stopped halfway to her knees and slim, black legwarmers covered her calves.
Sakura stopped momentarily to tie back her hair. Then she began to jump again, catching up.
"So where do you think the Mist ninja are?" asked Naruto.
"I don't know, but if you don't be quiet, they'll be here, idiot!" said Sakura, looking around.
"Let's stop for the night," said Kakashi, noticing the twinkling stars.
"Yeah!" said Naruto, dropping into a clearing. "I'm hungry! Let's eat!"
Once the firewood had been gathered and stacked, Kakashi set about lighting a fire. He sat there for ten minutes, clinking two rocks together.
"I wish Sasuke were here," said Sakura suddenly. "He could've had this fire lit a long time ago with his fireball jutsu." She rummaged through her bag.
"Here," she sighed, handing Kakashi a match. When he gave her a 'why the hell didn't you do this ten minutes ago?!?' look, she simply shrugged.
"I forgot."
After they had eaten, they turned in for the night. Lying in her sleeping bag, Sakura stared up at the stars. Suddenly, she heard shuffling next to her. Looking to her left, she saw that Naruto had sat up.
"Hey, Sakura," he said quietly, looking up at the sky.
"Yeah, Naruto?" she answered.
"Do you still like Sasuke?" This got her attention.
"Naruto, that is so rude! How can you ask that? It's none of your business!"
"You've been so different since he left," continued Naruto, unperturbed. "It's depressing to watch you."
"Wha—?"
"I think it's time you moved on, Sakura," said Naruto, finally turning to face her. "What happens if we can never bring him back?"
"Don't you think I've tried?" cried Sakura, sitting up. "But for some reason, I just can't let him go! I can't stop loving him and I won't give up on him!" She stopped to think. "Besides, Hinata didn't give up on you, did she?"
Naruto blushed furiously. It was true. It had taken much coaxing and hinting by all three Sakura, Ino, and TenTen, but they finally got Naruto to see that Hinata liked him, and he finally asked her out.
Naruto clammed up and laid down, conversation forgotten.
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The next morning, the remainder of Team Seven could be found tree-hopping, making their way towards where all the other ninjas had been attacked.
"Sakura, keep up!" shouted Naruto from his lead position. "Just because the Uchiha isn't here, doesn't mean you should slow down!"
"Shut up, Naruto!" yelled Sakura, eyebrow twitching.
"I don't see why you like him, Sakura, he doesn't care for you."
"Naruto…" growled Sakura in warning. Kakashi heard his two former students bickering.
"Not much has changed," he sighed, ignoring them.
"—he always ignored you, Sakura," continued Naruto.
"Shut up, you idiot!" shouted Sakura.
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion behind them. The three ninjas dodged the flying debris.
"Good reflexes," said a chilling voice. Turning around, the Konoha shinobi saw their enemy; a large group of ninja covered from head to foot in black. On their heads were the hitai-ate of Hiding-in-Mist.
Everyone in the enemy group made hand signs, and the three Konoha ninjas were surrounded by doppelgangers.
"What do you want?" asked Naruto, balling his hands into fists.
"Are you the guys who've been attacking Leaf ninja?" asked Sakura, gripping three kunai.
"We are," said the one who spoke earlier; he appeared to be the leader.
"Why are you attacking our ninja?" Sakura asked, hands tightening around the kunai.
"For the fun of it, I suppose," responded the leader, putting his fingers to his chin, as if thinking.
"WHAT?!?" exclaimed Naruto, eyes bugging. "You mean you've been injuring people just for the hell of it?"
"Well…yeah!" said the leader. "And I will enjoy fighting you!"
Suddenly, all of the doppelgangers advanced, beginning to attack. Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura began launching shuriken and kunai into the horde. The doppelgangers slowly disappeared with a pop. The only the originals were left. There were six of them.
"Hmm, better than I thought," said the leader. Turning to his flunkies, he said, "Okay, split up. You and you (he pointed to the two on his left), you take the blonde loud-mouth. You and you (the two on the right), come with me, we're taking the Copy Ninja. You (he pointed to the one in front of him) take the girl, she seems the weakest."
'What?!?' thought Sakura. 'Weak?!? I'll show you who's weak!'
"Let's go!" called the leader. The Mist ninja attacked their designated targets, forcing the team apart and driving them to different parts of the forest.
Sakura and her ninja were left alone in the clearing.
"You're weak," said the Mist ninja simply. "I intend to dispose of you quickly."
"Bring it," said Sakura, folding her hands. The Mist ninja charged at her, throwing several kunai. Sakura made her hand signs. In a poof Sakura had split into three. All three Sakuras withdrew kunai and shuriken from the holsters on their thighs and ran towards the Mist nin.
The Sakuras launched their weapons at the nin. He jumped and avoided the first two, but was caught by the other four in the leg, arms, and face.
Sinking to the ground, he held his arm while blood poured from the gash in his cheek.
"You're stronger than I thought," he said, getting to his feet.
"Told ya," said the Sakuras.
"However, you're still no match for me."
"Wha—? I'll show you!"
The doppelgangers disappeared in a puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared, it revealed Sakura running full-speed at the nin. The Mist nin ran at her, throwing bombs. He veered his course as they exploded, showering Sakura with dirt and rocks. Then the nin rushed past her. Sakura felt something attach itself to her thigh. Looking down, she saw a scroll had wrapped itself around her entire leg. Suddenly, she felt extreme pain wrack her body. She arched, trying to get away as blinding light surrounded her.
"Th-the scroll," she muttered, "it's…it's stealing my…chakra."
"So you've figured it out?" asked the nin, rising to his feet. "You're smarter than most. But that won't save you now."
Seeing the Mist ninja rushing at her, Sakura brought her hands together, manipulating what was left of her chakra into them.
When the Mist nin was a foot away, Sakura drew back her fist and plunged it into his face with a loud "Cha!" smashing his nose. She heard a satisfying crack! which told her she had broken his skull.
Dizzy from chakra exhaustion and blood loss, Sakura collapsed onto the ground.
Deeper into the forest, a lone ninja heard the sounds of a fight and a faintly familiar battle cry. Turning around, he rushed in the direction of the noise.