Hope
It was dark today. A LOT darker than usual, even though, Konoha had been having some extremely odd weather lately. Tsunade was never one for mystics and the 'All Knowing', either. But, even she was starting to believe something was going to happen... Oh well. The voodoo can wait. But seriously! Naruto has REALLY got to hurry up. This is the first time anyone here has been on a mission without some kind of leader, and Naruto, where IS he!
Swiftly, but not even close to revealing my true flaming anger, I strode over to Ino and Shikamaru who were idly chatting, not taking any notice of the delay.
Ino still had her long yellow ponytail, almost mimicking Shikamaru's, except for the fact that his was cut short and looked more like a pineapple. Ino was still wearing the purple belly-shirt and the matching skirt, and Shikamaru still hasn't changed looks since becoming a Genin. As I marched over I realized how long it's been since the whole rookie nine have been together.
Yet again, Sasuke's face splashed into my mental pictures, as vivid as ever. Konoha just hasn't been the same without him, and the fact that rookie nine was complete was a lie. You can't replace Sasuke. Nobody can ever try and succeed.
"Have you guys seen Naruto?" Ino shifted her head toward me. Slowly, she flipped her blonde hair with her hand.
"Ugh! Sakura! Let it go! He'll get here, don't worry!" She rolled her eyes and faced Shikamaru, him being, well, Shikamaru... gave what sounded like a 'how troublesome.', and went on talking with Ino.
Geez Does anyone around here see the importance of this mission? We had to deliver a forbidden scroll to a temple! If we wait too long, some twit is going to catch whiff of this mission, and we'll have some serious trouble if that happens.
"Eh! SAKURA!" I knew that voice. There is a god! Naruto has finally come!
I let out a breath of air I didn't know I was holding and swung around.
"Great! Now we can leave!" I waved to everyone else, "Come on! I want to get home by Friday!"
xx
We had taken off pretty fast. And had already ran well over five miles.
"You guys...I feel we should camp here tonight. There's a river over there," I stated and walked into a clearing, large enough for all our tents and supplies, plus room for a fire. Eh... Even though I am shorter than everybody else, Ino by an inch or so, Naruto by five, and Shikamaru by half a foot or something, they all take me very seriously. Let's just say, inner Sakura isn't exactly rainbows and sunshine.
Speaking of sunshine- there wasn't really any- but it was getting dark, probably around eight, I guessed. Great! Our team was making pretty good progress despite leaving late. Only half a days time 'till the temple, we drop off the scroll and then we're home free!
I quickly set up my tent and made a fire, putting a pot of water over it to boil.
"Sakura?" Naruto sneaked up behind me, making me flinch.
"Ugh! NARUTO! What? I- Naruto?" He looked more somber than usual. Almost sad, but not quite, "Naruto? Are you okay?" I stood up and gave him a hug, "What is it..." I hated seeing him sad. It just brings down anyone nearby.
He sniffed, "I was late today because I was getting some ramen for the trip. But I forgot it!" My grip became stiff. WHAT! Not only was he late for their departure, but it was all because of his BELOVED RAMEN!
"NARUTOOOO!" A growl was emitted from my throat as my free arm grabbed the now boiling water pot and hit him across his head. As he fell from my left arm, I grabbed him by the collar, shaking him like a rag doll, "Don't EVER do that again!" I dropped the bright blonde jinchuuriki and slowly made my way over to the tent I made. I didn't really want tea anymore... Just a nice, warm blanket to cuddle... I really need a boyfriend. But, I can't. Not since Sasuke. I feel like I shouldn't meet anyone just in case he decides to come back to Konoha. Just in case he comes back to me...
I slowly layed down, sprawling under the sheet. As I close my eyes, I think, 'Maybe tomorrow he'll come' and drift off to sleep...
xx
"Sakura!" I was swiftly shaken out of my reverie. Why now?
"SHUT UP!" Was all I could muster at that point... I was too tired for much verbal abuse towards Naruto.
"Sak-" A pillow muffled his face, knocking him to the ground... Silence. I sighed, and rolled on my stomach putting my arms under my chin where my pillow once was, "Sakura! We have to go! The Akatsuki are attacking the temple!" At this, my eyes flew open.
At lightning speed I sprung up on my knees, knowing I had some pretty bad bed-head... Ugh! It can wait! A temple is being attacked!
While I was mentally face-palming myself, I tossed the various items I had unpacked the previous night into my pack
"Naruto! Is everybody ready?" I yelled, rolling up my blanket.
"Yeah! What should we do? Shikamaru's telling me that him and Ino are going to leave now and go around the temple to attack from the back!" That was a good plan!
"Tell them to go, okay?" Finally, I was packing my tent, "Naruto, we'll go the front way!"
stuffing my now crushed tent into my backpack next to the scroll, I slung it over my shoulder.
"Come on ,Naruto, let's go!" I said, waiving my hand to signal to go in to the trees. What a wonderful day today is...
After Naruto positioned himself on the tree branch I was stationed on, we started to move forward. But Naruto looked distressed... He wasn't bubbly like usual.
I swerved to avoid a tree trunk, "Naruto... are you okay?"
Almost immediately he turned away and mumbled what sounded like a 'I'm fine', but who would believe that?
"Naruto!" I may have sounded just a little too stern, "Ugh... Naruto... What's wrong?" Trying to smooth out my hair was proving to be a mistake, for I'm sure it just caused my short tresses to become wavy at unappealing areas... Damn Akatsuki!
I quickly turned to look at Naruto. He was pausing like he was in need of words. I felt, actually, kind of... bad for how he was feeling right now.
"Tsunade..." How does Shishou come into this? "She... Didn't want you to know... She was afraid... that you would go after him..." That was all Naruto had to say... I knew what he was talking about.
Once again, Sasuke's face pops into my head... But, wait... Why would she not want me to know?
The trees around us began to thin. I dropped to the ground, now starting to sprint, Naruto right next to me.
"She said she had been worried for you... Tsunade didn't want so much protection around you, she said that you weren't stupid, but against her own wishes, the elders had somebody watch you... They too were afraid for your safety," Naruto turned towards me. He was smiling, "Baa-Chan told me that Sasuke was in the Akatsuki!"
What?... Suddenly I stopped. What? Why? How? Itachi was in that group... Why would Sasuke join the same group his brother died in... Why?
"No. NO. NO!" I didn't want to hear this. Not now, "NO!" I could feel my eyes become wet and my vision began to blur. This wasn't happening! This couldn't be!
These words... Those words... They were like the top of a tower... they completed it, even though it was just a small addition. To me... Those words hurt. Those words broke me. Why! "SASUKE!" I wailed out for the whole world to hear. As the realization began to deepen, I fell to my knees. At this point all I could do is cry. All I can ever do is cry... "Sasuke... That means... He didn't have intentions... Of coming back! He wasn't ever? Sasuke... Was always going to be a rouge. Why..." I was almost peaking over the edge of insanity at this point... How could such small and insignificant information be so detrimental. I always thought it was that Sasuke had gotten beat-up pretty badly after killing Itachi. That he was recovering before returning to the village. That he was accepting the fact that his goal in life was now fulfilled. But... I never thought, even for a second that he wasn't coming back... How I was wrong...
I slowly rose to my feet, teetering on my heel as I wiped my now red and puffy eyes.
Why did I cry like that... How is it that whenever anything like this happens I become emotional...Why?
I looked at the ground, my bangs covering my eyes from Naruto's view... I had to compose myself.
The jinchuuriki took hold of my shoulder as I momentarily clenched my fists. The thought of fighting Sasuke became off limits in my mind. My inner-self wouldn't let that happen...
"Sakura... We have to hurry. THEY'RE at the temple-"
My had snapped up and requested silence, "Naruto..." I quickly bobbed my head up into a normal position. I was still frowning, "I would have been more worried for you, Bijuu!" I smiled with a glint of playfulness in my eyes. My elbow nudged his stomach, at that time ,being all I could reach.
"Come on! We have a temple to rescue!" I started on my sprint again, this time I was pushed by motivation. This time Naruto and I would come back with a group of five, not four!
