Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, but I do own this plot.

"Dialogue."

Actions.

Thoughts, basically Inner Sakura.

Enjoy the fic!

A Vow means Nothing

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A young teenaged kunoichi rummaged through a cardboard box looking for an old medical textbook. A pink haired woman stood behind her, surveying the scene. Upon finding what she needed, the kunoichi blew the dust off the book. Something else, however, caught her eye.

"Hey, Sakura-sama, what is this?" she asked, holding up a smaller box hidden underneath the heavy textbook.

"Oh, that? It's just a bunch of old photos. You can go ahead and look at them if you want, Yumiko."

Yumiko opened the box without another word and pulled out quite a few pictures. Some had a black-haired boy, but many had a blonde boy and a silver haired man. There was also a blonde haired girl and even the Godaime herself among many other ninja. Some even appeared to be from as far away as Suma.

Most of the pictures featured the ninja as young teenagers, but a few of them featured people in their late teens and early 20s.

"My parents have a couple pictures with some of these people in them. Who are all these people, anyway?" Yumiko asked, pointing at a particular picture.

"Being as young as you are, you probably don't recognize most of these faces. You should recognize the names though. The silver haired one is my old sensei, Hatake Kakashi."

"Wow."

"Yep. The scowling blonde is Uzumaki Naruto and the other one is Uchiha Sasuke. I'm in the center there."

"Cool! So these were your teammates?"

"Yes, once."

"Kakashi is on the council, isn't he? I've seen him before at the ramen stand."

"Yes, he is. I'm not sure how he even got on the council in the first place though."

That pervert!

"I've heard about Naruto a couple of times too. All I know is that he was a jinchuuriki and would sacrifice himself in a heartbeat for Konoha. What happened to him?"

What should I tell her? He was fighting his best friend, who killed him? The best friend I once loved, but shattered what was left of my heart ten times over. It's the truth though. She has the right to know.

"Naruto died about twelve years ago. He was fighting his former best friend Sasuke, the boy you saw in the picture. Sasuke only wanted to render him unconscious, but Naruto wouldn't let him escape again. The battle went way too far. Sasuke was forced to chidori him right through the heart. I was there, but even I couldn't heal that."

"Oh, I'm sorry. What happened to the Kyuubi?"

"We don't know. Naruto's seal containing the Kyuubi was gone though. We haven't seen the demon since."

Gone just like his goofy smile.

Naruto never fulfilled any of his promises. He even boasted and called it 'his way of the ninja.' When we were kids, he'd always go on about becoming Hokage someday. He could have made it too, if he hadn't been so obsessed over his second goal, bringing Sasuke back.

Now he's dead, and neither goal was fulfilled. All he left behind was tears and broken hearts. Hinata never was quite the same after that. Jiraiya was pretty upset too. He left and didn't return for another couple of years.

What's worse was his promise to me. He said he'd bring Sasuke back. I believed him too. I look back and wonder how I could have been so naïve. Sasuke didn't want to come back, not for me or anyone else. I was just the annoyance.

I couldn't heal Naruto's wound, and neither could the Kyuubi. Now I know how Tsunade felt about Dan dying right in front of her. It was one out of so many times I was useless. There, I made a vow. It wasn't unlike my previous vow, to protect my friends at all costs, and never again be a hindrance. Even I couldn't fulfill that.

I vowed that I could actually make a difference for all of Konoha. Not for my friends, nor my family, but for Konoha as a whole. The only bonds I needed were with this village, my sensei, and my own pupil.

Naruto may not have been able to keep his vows, but I could, to the very point of insanity and death.

"Uchiha Sasuke? As far as I know, he betrayed this village for his own power, killed his sensei, another of the legendary sannin, and wants to kill his brother to avenge his clan. Right?"

"I want to say that's wrong, but it's all true. He just left one day, nearly resulting in the death of the shinobi who were sent to rescue him. I was the last person to talk to him before he left, but I couldn't stop him. No one could. We didn't stop from trying though, especially Naruto."

"So that's what led to Naruto's death."

"Yes. He promised me he'd bring Sasuke back. To-"

"You loved Sasuke, didn't you?"

Why did that girl have to be as insightful as her father?

"Yes, I did. I still do."

"Were you upset he never came back?"

"Yes, I suppose I was. It wasn't Naruto's fault, so I can't blame him. He gave up his life for that vow."

"It's sad to think he never finished it."

"He always used to tell us he'd be Hokage too."

"Interesting. So what were Sasuke's vows?"

What about to break my heart!

"He wanted to kill his older brother, Itachi, as revenge. Itachi massacred their whole clan when Sasuke was seven. He never really recovered from that."

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know. His old team Hebi is long gone, we took care of them. He's still aiming to kill Itachi though. I haven't heard of him at all in the last five years."

What about the letters you've gotten?

"We really don't know where he is. I guess he'll stay a missing-nin forever. Good riddance!"

Well, Sasuke, you're no better than Naruto, and you don't even have death as a console. You wanted to kill your brother, but he's still stronger than you. He'll always be stronger than you. Always.

I always wondered why you left Naruto alive after your first real battle. The mangekyo sharingan was within your grasp, but you didn't take it. I guess you didn't want to become your brother, but now you have. You're more like him than you know.

At least you both have the mangekyo sharingan. Maybe that will make your final battle that much easier. I doubt you'll win though. You'll never win, never fulfill your promise. Besides, if you do, what would happen next? Would you just strut on in here like nothing has happened and expect me to accept you with open arms?

Not a chance.

You wanted out, you'll stay out. I won't show you mercy even if you beg for it. I don't need you anymore. I need my village and my sensei and my pupil. That's it. There's no need for anyone else. Too many close bonds like that will ruin my most important bond to my village.

You won't even beat Itachi anyway. You'll either run away like a coward or you'll lose. At least then you'll have death to keep you company. You'll even see your precious clan again. And you'll forget all about me. Again.

What am I saying; you've forgotten about me all along. Silly me. At any rate, I don't care anymore if you come back or not. You're finished.

"My dad says Sasuke was a traitor. My mom barely knew him, but said he was brave. He stood up to and nearly defeated Gaara."

"That'd make sense. Your dad and he weren't the best of friends. Your mom didn't even come here often until after he left."

"So what about the other pictures. The former Godaime's pictures in here too. Makes sense, seeing as she was your sensei."

"They're mostly of old friends. Ask your parents when you get home. In fact, as an additional assignment, you have to know most of these faces and their history by tomorrow night."

"That and the medical textbook?" Yumiko groaned.

"Yes," Sakura replied, grinning evilly.

"Fine. See you tomorrow Sakura-sama!"

"Okay. Bye, Yumiko-chan!"

Sakura waited until the door clicked shut before she walked back over to the cardboard box. Underneath the space where the photographs laid, were a scratched headband, a ramen bowl, and a dried out flower.

The scratched headband was Sasuke's. The scratch was from the Valley of the End during Naruto and Sasuke's duel. Sasuke was merely scratched, while Naruto was punched in the gut by chidori. Sasuke left Naruto behind alive, along with the scratched headband.

I guess he didn't want to be associated with us anymore.

The ramen bowl had been given to Sakura on her birthday. She had never used it, as he died the next week. It was a simple whit bowl with Sakura blossoms on it. Yet, it had meant the world to her after he was gone.

I only wish he'd come back. I'd eat only ramen forever to see him again.

The flower was from her visit to the hospital with Ino. Sasuke hadn't been there, but she still held on to the flower, and old reminder of and old friend. With Ino's help, Sakura had gotten pressed so it would stay preserved forever.

You never saw my flower, did you? I sent you others during many other of your stays at the hospital, but I guess you didn't care. I brought you apples, but you through them aside. I visited you every day, but you never responded.

There were more keepsakes, ones that used to bring tears to her eyes. Not anymore. Sakura tried to show emotion on the outside, such as happiness or sadness, but her inside lacked any of the weakness called emotion. Everyone bought it besides Tsunade and Kakashi. The last time either of them had even asked her if she was okay, they got a cold shoulder and a silent threat. To everyone else, Sakura seemed sweet as ever.

I'm anything but sweet now. I'm cold and empty. Only this village, my sensei, and my pupil keep me living. They warm my heart, but not enough, never enough. I haven't felt my heart at all since so many of my friends died, but it first broke when Sasuke left me that one day. He broke it again, the day he killed Naruto. He smashed it to pieces by just leaving after that 'incident.'

Sasuke, that traitor. Recently, he sent me a letter of congratulations and appreciation. I wasn't fooled by it though. Sasuke just wanted to get a tear-filled reaction from me, right? Well he never would. I responded with a simple message of thanks, nothing more. I invited him to the ceremony, but he declined my offer. Now I'm glad he didn't come.

For some strange reason, he keeps writing to me. He asks about my job, all of our old friends, and if I have any additional information on Akatsuki. I give him simple emotionless answers. Nothing more is needed. Once he asked if I would let him back in the village. I was shocked, but answered that I wasn't sure. I'm still not sure.

At least he can't betray me by being a correspondence. There's no way he could hurt my village either. I won't let him. I won't let him near my heart again, nor near the thing my heart holds closest. Maybe I can let him back in eventually. When he no longer poses at threat, at least. He's not getting anywhere near me, as far as I'm concerned.

The problem is I can't hate him, I can never hate him. I still love him, so I had to get rid of the part of my heart that felt that way. Now there's just an empty space, reserved for him. Just like the cold part of his heart reserved for me.

He's responsible for so many deaths, so much heartbreak. It's his fault Naruto is dead, along with so many of our prized ninja. Most were my friends, along the Konoha 12, composed of the three rookie teams plus Gai's team.

Now, only five of us are left, four of us aren't filthy traitors. The others are dead.

Shino.

Kiba.

Choji.

Ino.

Lee.

Tenten.

Naruto.

All gone forever. It's partly my fault. I should have been able to save them, but I couldn't. Now, I can and will save the rest. I will protect this village with my life.

It seems kind of sad neither Naruto or Sasuke never fulfilled their dreams. They deserved it. So many others never had their dreams fulfilled their dreams either. Lee never lived to age 100, like he wanted to. Kiba didn't die with Akamaru at his side. Akamaru's still here today. Tenten never married the guy of her dreams.

Even those alive never finished their dreams. Hinata never told Naruto of her crush, and now she never would. Neji never married the girl of his dreams.

There is some silver lining, even if only I can see it. Lee remained youthful for his whole life, going out in the glory of battle. Kiba would one day see Akamaru again and his faithful dog misses him too. As Tenten died, she finally told a certain shinobi she loved him.

As far as I can tell, only Shikamaru is the truly happy one. He married and has a daughter. She's kind of like him; a genius and a leader. She's also like her mother; energetic and motherly. She has a loving family, is dedicated, and has excellent chakra control.

Maybe that's why I chose Nara Yumiko as my pupil. She reminds everyone of a younger me. I feel old now, probably just how Tsunade felt. I still consider her my sensei, but she doesn't teach me too many things any more. At least I still talk to her. She knows how I'm feeling at least, if even I don't admit it.

She knows the true meaning of self sacrifice, of putting this village first. She did it so many times. People say I'm just like her. I guess that's true. She lost a loved one at an early age through betrayal. She lived a life, broken until recently. She's the only one who truly understands.

Maybe one day I will no longer be broken too. I know I must stay strong on the outside, but my inside is collapsing. Even I know no remedies for a broken heart.

It just isn't fair. Neither Naruto or Sasuke ever finished their goal. Maybe Sasuke will, but I still doubt it. Even if he does succeed, he'll still be broken too.

Life just isn't fair, I guess. As I look up at the Hokage Mountain, I can see my face carved neatly into the stone. My face shouldn't be there, Naruto's should. This is his dream, not mine. I never thought I'd be Hokage. They offered me the position just after Naruto's death, when Tsunade retired. I accepted. It would help me with my promise to this village, after all.

Naruto should be the face etched in the mountain side. He should be sitting in this chair, in this position. Sasuke should have been brought back by now, his dead brother right behind him. Maybe we could have married if he'd ever warmed up to me. He wanted to revive his clan, after all.

Neither Naruto or Sasuke finished through with any of their promises, and probably never would. It seems very few people here have gone through with their many promises. So far, I am one of the blessed, cursed few to have my wish granted. I was no longer a hindrance, but a role model. I just never knew what I'd have to go through to get it.

As for me, I'll finish my promise and protect this village until the day I die. Maybe I'll die fighting, or just go peacefully in my sleep. Who know? I'll never finish serving my promise in this world, and live in a world inside my head, were all promises were fulfilled.

Vows take meaning. Vows take lives. Vows can ruin us forever. Or, they can make us stronger. The vow has to realistic, backed by ambition. Fate has his hand in things as well. For many of us, vows have caused us to sacrifice our lives. For me, my vow took away my values, my important things in life. I only need three things though: my sensei, my village and my pupil. I'll protect them until the day I die. That's my true bittersweet vow.

So, did you like the ending? I decided to make Sakura Hokage for some weird reason. Now she has a pupil, the daughter of Shikamaru and... Well, I'll let you guess who it is. I apoligize for killing off so many characters, but it's essential to the storyline. Poor Sakura. She needs to learn to cope.

Special Update: Based on several reviews, I've decided to continue this story. It will be a two-shot, possible three-shot. I'm working on the second chapter now, and should have it posted by tomorrow. After reading it, tell me if you would like a third chapter. Thanks.