"Happy Birthday…" she whispered to herself, wondering how she had lasted this long. Twenty years…she was twenty years old. The youngest of the Rookie Nine, no, the Rookie Seven, she corrected. There are only seven of us left. It had been eight years since Sasuke left. And five since Naruto followed. Naruto had promised to come back with Sasuke, smiled at her and told her not to worry, he would take care of everything and soon Team Seven would be restored. That might have been the only lie Naruto ever told.

She knew he had probably died trying to fulfill his promise to her. Maybe they had killed each other. Death was the only thing she could imagine keeping Naruto away from his beloved Kohona. The only thing keeping them both from her. Yet, a little part of her heart believed that it wasn't true…wasn't possible. Naruto couldn't be dead…he had so many things left to do. He was to be Hokage. He was to be the greatest one Kohona had ever seen. She believed in him. Even when the village he loved didn't. He had to be alive…because that little piece of her heart that wasn't broken yet would not withstand if he truly was gone forever.

There were a few who still clung to the hope that Naruto had not fallen to Sasuke, or Akatsuki, or Orochimaru…or any other enemy the shinobi might have. She was not alone in her belief in him. Jiraiya was especially adamant that Naruto was strong enough to face whatever difficulties he came across. He believed Naruto would return when he was ready and needed.

You are needed, Naruto…we need you. She didn't understand how he couldn't know how much his friends needed him. How much his village needed him. Things were looking dark for Kohona and Suna. The Sound had steadily grown stronger, despite the efforts of the two allied nations. War was brewing and when it came, she wasn't sure Kohona would be left standing. As Tsunade's protégé, she was privy to information most were not and it did not look promising. Kohona was strong and so was Suna, but in recent years their weaknesses had began to surface. She had never realized the effect Naruto had on others besides Team Seven. Maybe because she had been blinded by her jealousy toward Ino and her obsession with Sasuke. But Naruto really did change every one of the Rookie Nine, and even Neji, TenTen, and Lee. He was their morale and their cheerleader. He made them believe that the impossible wasn't beyond their capabilities. But if something could stop him, the unstoppable and unwavering Naruto Uzumaki…then what hope was there for those who he left behind.

These thoughts were never far from her mind and they often caused her to cry herself to sleep. Shinobi rule number twenty-five: a ninja never shows emotion. That was one rule she had never been able to follow. But she didn't have to, because she had a different way of the ninja…his way of the ninja. If he truly was gone, she would not allow what she had learned from him die.

She fell asleep, holding the picture of two twelve year old boys, glaring at each other, one twelve year old girl smiling, and one masked jounin looking in to the camera. It was all she had of her old team left and it was her most precious possession.

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They were some of the strongest Kohona had to offer…and they were failing miserably. Ten shinobi against one sannin…and they were no match for Orochimaru. The day had come, the war had started and Kohona was crumbling. Kiba dodged an attack, but was hit with the next one. He wasn't moving and Sakura raced to his side…she concentrated her chakra into her hand and healed his most serious wounds. Soon she would be no help at all. Soon Orochimaru would grow tried of this battle and they would be lost. Soon her friends would start dieing. Some scouts had gone to alert the Hokage and Jiraiya, but she feared they would be too late. Kiba was still heavily wounded, even with her assistance. Across from them was Ino, bleeding and fighting to get up. Could this really be the end?

"Hey you snake! Fight me!" Sakura's head turned toward the voice…the energetic, cocky voice…a voice that could only belong to one person. Fight me…

"Naruto?" his name caught in her throat and tears blurred her vision. Naruto…

"You were right, nii-chan, as usual. Kohona really did need us."

Her heart stopped. She couldn't breathe. That tone of indifference and cool calm… "Sasuke?"

No…it was impossible…but then, if anyone could pull off the impossible, it would be Naruto. She watched the fight, half in disbelief. There was her team. Her best friends. The two boys who changed her more then she would ever let either of them know. Naruto swept his arms down and two long swords appeared. Sasuke drew his sword. Orochimaru attacked. The two boys moved together as if they were performing a choreographed dance, anticipating the others move with no more then a look. Just as Orochimaru was about to land a blow on Naruto, he disappeared…and reappeared near Sasuke. The fight raged on…and on. Sasuke began to look more ragged and looked like he was about to run out of chakra. Naruto took out a kunai and sliced his palm, Sasuke did the same. "Brotherhood Regeneration Justu!" They shouted in unison. Suddenly all of Sasuke's wounds were gone and the appeared on Naruto.

"What kind of justu was that?" Neji asked quietly next to her, in awe. She watched them fight, unable to do anything else. Naruto moved so gracefully in battle, not at all the way he used to. He used be clumsy and reckless. Soon it became obvious the all three of the ninja fighting were growing tired. Naruto still seemed the most energetic, though. Some things never change. But this battle was obviously ending soon, that was obvious. The outcome wasn't as certain. That is until Naruto sliced Orochimaru's head off with one of his wind swords. It happened so fast, she did know it was over for a few seconds. Until the head slipped off of the snake sannin's body. And Naruto fell to the ground. Sasuke caught him, just before his head hit the stone ground.