Reaching You 君に届け
by Her Pretty Smile
Synopsis: One fateful day, Uchiha Sasuke found a familiar, lifeless body floating in the river. Out of flat curiosity, he inspected it and found out that it was no other than his ex-teammate Haruno Sakura. [Ongoing]
Warning: Unbeta-ed. May contain amateurish mistakes. Also, this fic is canon-based, so expect full-blown efforts on in-character quality and plot and character development. Hopefully, just hopefully, there won't be any plotholes in this story. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto owns it.
Guys, this is just a TRYOUT, all right? If I receive reviews that give me the 'go' signal, then I will continue this. By estimation, this fic would probably take up about at least ten chapters. I don't know. :)
Kimi Ni Todoke 君に届け
'Reaching You'
Chapter I
Shi to Ketsudan 死と決断
WHEN HE OPENED HIS eyes, he felt the same feeling that had struck him when he was training yesterday: the sudden piercing emptiness and foreboding.
It had unnerved him, but nevertheless he kept his usual stoic mask in place, ignoring the seemingly tiny claws of dread threatening to break his focus if he was still determined not to acknowledge it.
Now he was starting to get really annoyed, and the fact that he had to be extra focused and early today for training because of an upcoming 'mission' from Orochimaru didn't help matters much.
Sliding out of bed with ease and natural, fluid grace, Uchiha Sasuke took his katana and weapons pouch and got out of the room, all the while gritting his teeth slightly.
Something's up, he thought. And I am not liking what it implies.
x-;x;-x
SO FAR, EVERYTHING WAS all normal.
He'd easily destroyed several training dummies that were perched on the river using Chidori in mere seconds.
Next up was concentrating the sparks of electricity on his hand to channel in the water towards the built obstacles.
But before he could proceed on that, he sensed something.
His defenses instantly slid up reflexively, and he gripped the hilt of his katana as he waited for the slowly approaching disturbing presence.
And what met his eyes the next moment caused a small frisson of surprise inside him because he hadn't expected it.
It was a body.
A body floating lifelessly on the river.
Approaching it with distant wariness, he tightened his grip on his katana, onyx orbs boring through the indiscernible figure.
When he got considerably closer, he saw a flash of pink hair before it bobbed underneath the water.
His eyes went wide and filled with disbelief; he distractedly allowed himself this brief moment of weakness before letting it disappear into thin air once again as he closely inspected the pale, lifeless, female face.
"...Sakura," he murmured in concealed shock, instinctively swooping her up in his arms and noting her cold skin and dry wounds.
It was all so surreal.
She's... dead.
"Who killed you...?" he whispered quietly, allowing a small slip in his composure.
Because even if he often denied it, the fact that Naruto, Kakashi, and Sakura, in other words, Team 7, were the precious people in life didn't ever change. The bond the four of them had was special and unbreakable no matter how much he waved it off as insignificant.
And because Haruno Sakura was the first person he'd thanked ever since his clan's massacre.
One of the three lights within his darkness was now gone forever.
And it infuriatingly broke a piece of him.
A piece of him that may never be recovered again.
x-;x;-x
AFTER BURYING HIS EX-TEAMMATE in a somewhat secluded area, he retired into the confines of his room where Kabuto and Orochimaru were unexpectedly waiting for him.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun," the latter mused, licking his lips as he eyed his future vessel. "I saw that touching little scene of yours earlier."
Sasuke felt the beginnings of a mild headache occurring. I have no time for this, he thought, irritated.
Kabuto looked faintly amused. "Are you sad that she's gone now, Sasuke-kun?" he asked in an almost sly tone of voice.
"Shut up," Sasuke intoned darkly, his onyx eyes glaring reproachfully and sending a clear 'back off' signal.
"Now, now, Sasuke-kun," Orochimaru said. "No need to get so angry. In fact, Kabuto and I are here because I am going to inform you of my decision-or rather, I should call it a 'gift'."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "And pray tell, what kind of 'gift' is it?"
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "I am going to revive Haruno Sakura with Edo Tensei."
End of Chapter I: 'Death and Decision'; Shi to Ketsudan 死と決断
A/N: And that's the end of the tryout. If you're puzzled over the fact that Sakura's body had coincidentally showed itself to Sasuke, then the answer to that is going to be revealed in the later chapters... That is, if this'll be continued. :)
