Idea: Bukiyo-Nikku

Writing(from here on out): El-Chico-de-Fuego

Overall, I liked my version of chapter one better, but he did a good job, except the block format :P

Anyways... Chapter 2 is finally here! I have taken over the writing for this series, with Bukiyo-Nikku editing and changing dialogue around a bit. For those of you wondering how long this is going to run/how often we update this, I can answer your questions!

1. This will be longer than 5 chapters
2. This will be updated bi-weekly (give or take a day or two)

Anyways, for those of you interested in reading my version of chapter one (the one Bukiyo decided to turn down due to its sheer length : ) just PM me and I can e-mail it to you. Just remember that I wrote these so you can't host/distribute it on your or anyone elses' website(s) without my expressed permission (like you would want to anyways ;P)

Also, just remember that Naruto is NOT my creation. I DO NOT, in ANY WAY, SHAPE, or FORM, own the rights to Naruto or any of its other characters, plotlines, ideas, etc. (If he did, viz just might go bankrupt)
Enjoy Chapter 2.


The sun was beginning to set as Sakura headed out from the hospital. Sasuke was safe and had already begun recovering from what Tsunade said was a beating like no other, and Sakura was dwelling on the events that had occurred over the last 24 hours as she was heading home. Ever since the previous night she intercepted Sasuke before he knocked her out, she had felt nothing but despair for what might follow.

But what was it that she was feeling now? Ever since Naruto had returned, her entire attitude and outlook had changed completely. Now that Sasuke was back, she had another chance to win him over and keep him here. Now that Sasuke was back, team 7 was whole again. Now that Sasuke was back… he could continue his training under the supervision of Kakashi and, as Tsunade stated at the hospital, "more than likely a few ANBU Agents as well." Even if Sasuke had to be constantly watched due to his recent attempt to flee the village and seek a ninja who had betrayed Konoha and killed the Third Hokage, Orochimaru, it was better than him having escaped and being out of her reach for good.

The biggest downside to Sasuke's supervision was that if more than a few ANBU were watching his every move day and night, how could she bring herself to make a move on him? They would hear every word of what they would be talking about, and that thought did not amuse her. She wanted to talk to him alone, but even before they entered the Chuunin exam, he had always wanted complete solitude, which was now obviously out of the question. But, even if Sasuke were to run away again, it wouldn't really matter. From the reports she had overheard at the hospital, Sakura managed to understand that Naruto's training had apparently greatly surpassed that of Sasuke with Kakashi. And, if things continued the way they were, Naruto would be able to bring Sasuke back should he attempt to flee again.

She arrived at her doorstep as these last thoughts echoed into the back of her mind. She quickly dismissed any further thoughts regarding the day's events and focused on the dinner her mother had placed on the table for her. It was really annoying when her mother attempted to talk of Sasuke, saying that if she really liked Sasuke so much, she should be more dedicated to him. Sakura quickly dismissed her mother's remark, finished the rest of her dinner, and proceeded to get ready for bed.

After she had showered and slipped into her nightclothes, Sakura attempted to sleep away the day that nearly decimated her hopes and dreams. But, try as she might, sleep would not come. Instead, thoughts of team 7 and their missions together flooded her mind. Although, this time, her thoughts weren't mostly about Sasuke; they included a bit of Naruto as well.

She remembered their first mission, in the Country of Waves, where she and Kakashi ended up fighting a formidable Hidden Village of the Mist ninja named Zabuza, while Naruto and Sasuke fought his genius apprentice, Haku. She remembered how she felt all hope was lost when Naruto and Sasuke were trapped within Haku's Ice Mirror Bloodline Technique, and how much she cried when she thought Sasuke had died. She remembered watching them both train until nightfall, sometimes even falling asleep in the woods and only returning for meals. They both got stronger both physically and skill-wise, while she simply improved her already-outstanding chakra control.

Still, sleep would not come, and her mind drifted again. Now, memories of the Chuunin exam were milling over in her mind. The challenge of the Heaven and Earth scrolls, where Sasuke and Naruto almost died again, only, this time, saved by her desire to protect her teammates no matter what, came rushing in, clear as day. Sasuke, or maybe even Naruto, could have handled the three Sound-nin by themselves, but, with her current abilities, she could not. If Lee had not stalled the Sound ninja long enough, she and her teammates probably would not have survived. Even her long-time rival Ino had lent a hand in stopping the Sound ninja, until Sasuke woke up, looking scarier than ever. Sakura had easily noticed his power, the seals covering his body only reinforcing that. The seals she knew were from who she now knew was Orochimaru, who was seeking for Sasuke for some reason.

She was nodding off to sleep now, slowly but surely. Reminiscing about past missions was interesting, but boring none-the-less. Before her dreaming began, she remembered her last hopeless moments before Sasuke knocked her out. She could hear herself telling Sasuke to stay, because she loved him and, if he stayed, every day they would do something different and always be happy. She remembered how weak and needy she felt begging him to stay. And then, she fell asleep…


Sakura's Dream

It was sunny outside and she could feel herself basking in the radiance of the sun. The leaves on the tress were swaying back and forth, in rhythm with the wind, and everything around her was normal as it should be. She was somewhere in the middle of the forest, and in the distance she could hear the rumble of water falling and the clash of water on rock. Wishing to explore the place her dream put her in, she decided to follow the noises.

The air around her was peaceful, and the entire world seemed to be in a state of complete tranquility. Even her footsteps made no sound, even though this was a dream. To her this was the perfect day, one on which she would love to walk with Sasuke and talk about each other, and it seemed as if almost nothing could upset this peaceful atmosphere.

But then, she heard an explosion. and another, and another. What was once quiet and tranquil was quickly becoming a war zone, it seemed, full of rumbling and explosions. She even heard a rather distinct growling sound, as if some sort of animal was making all this noise.

Sakura stealthily approached the place she heard the sounds coming from, and peered through the edge of the bushed to try and catch a glimpse of what was going on. She noticed two figures, but only their silhouettes were visible in this light. She dared not move any closer, for fear of being noticed, so she simply sat and waited for them to move into better positions so she might identify these two ninja in her dream.

Their appearances seemed familiar somehow, but the way they fought was nothing like anyone she had seen before. The one on the far side, who was facing her, began to move. No, he only seemed to be moving. Instead, Sakura noticed his silhouette changing shape, becoming larger and lower to the ground. The figure was now on all fours, on its haunches ready to strike. The other figure seemed frightened, almost as if he didn't realize had happened to the other ninja. All Sakura could discern from when the large figure lunged forward towards the now-frightened ninja was a blur of yellow fur, and then… she woke up.


Reality

She awoke to her mother's voice, "Sakura! Wake up or you are going to miss breakfast!" Her mother's voice could not have come at a worse time, waking her up at the climax of her dream. Who were the two ninja fighting in her dream? What were they fighting about? These questions, and more, made her curious to see what the outcome of their fight would have been. She had recognized the fact that they seemed quite familiar, but she didn't know any ninja who could change their shape and strike that much fear into their enemies, nor did she know anyone who fought at the level which those two did, excluding Kakashi and the Hokage, Tsunade.

"Sakura", her mother called from the kitchen. "Eat your dinner and get to the hospital! Who's to say that Sasuke-kun hasn't picked up and ran off again?"

There she goes again always trying to get Sakura to get Sasuke and settle down before any of the neighbors did first. She was more annoying than ever lately, especially after she found out what had happened the night Sasuke had run away, intent on finding Orochimaru, and gaining the power promised to him.

"Sakura! If you don't come and eat right now, I am going to force you to work with Ino at her family's shop… for free!"

This wasn't the kind of thing Sakura had in mind for the next couple of months, so she quickly abided by her mother's constant nagging and ate her dinner.

"You should go see your teammates in the hospital", Sakura's mother said calmly. "I heard the Hokage say she felt Sasuke-kun could get up and move around today. Maybe you should go help him get out of his bed and walk with him until he recovers completely."

She really liked to push the issue, didn't she? "Whatever, Kaa-san, I'll go see Sasuke in the hospital and help him. He is my teammate after all."

"Only your teammate?" her mother replied with a grin. "Given up on him already, have you? Are you going to let Ino-chan beat you that easily? Or maybe it's Hinata-sama or Tenten -san that you think has won him already?"

Couldn't she just drop the issue? It was her decision on what she would do today, and listening to her mother bicker about settling down was definitely not on that "To do" list.

"You should also go and see that other teammate of yours. You know the one you always complain about for being a complete moron, incapable of doing anything correctly? It seems as if he didn't screw up this time, you should go and apologize and thank him for what he has done for you, salvaging what could have been the end of your life with Sasuke."

"Whatever, Kaa-san", Sakura replied. She didn't need to be told twice. Naruto had succeeded where she had failed, no matter how much she didn't want to admit it. It seemed he truly didn't just give up, and he actually beat Sasuke on top of that. It seems Sasuke's presence on team 7 isn't simply to make up for Naruto's ability. Now it seemed team 7 was two excellent ninja balancing out her ability instead. But enough of this thought, she had to go to the hospital to see Sasuke, and make sure he was all right.

As Sakura headed out her door toward the hospital, she thought she glimpsed a blur of yellow, like in her dream, but it was just the sun slowly climbing over the treetops. She walked past Ino's house and turned the corner, heading straight towards the hospital. The chilly wind was blowing in her face, filling her body with a deep cold sensation, but she kept on towards the hospital, where it was safe and warm.

Her body felt almost completely numb as she entered the hospital. The nurse at the desk was silently filing papers when Sakura approached the desk.

"Umm… excuse me", Sakura said meekly. "I am looking for the room Uchiha Sasuke is in." She knew the room. It was the same room he had been in since the Chuunin exam, but Tsunade-sama made it a regulation to check in at the desk anyways, so no unsuspected visitors show up.

"Oh, good morning there, Sakura-san", the nurse replied, not looking up. "Sasuke-san is in room 24. I will check you in, so you can go ahead and go in and see him."

As the nurse scribbled her name on the clipboard under room 24, she noticed that three other names had already been checked in to his room, one of which was Ino. It figures as much. Ino always gets an early jump on things. She is probably already fawning over him, causing him more pain than he is already in. When I get my hands on her, won't she regret it!

As she slid open the door to room 24, she could see Sasuke and Ino sitting down, Ino in a chair, Sasuke in his bed. Neither of them was talking, as if they were waiting for someone. As fate would have it, that person was indeed her.

They both looked up as she walked into the room. She walked towards Sasuke and was almost about to talk when she noticed there was a third person in the room, her Sensei, Kakashi. He was standing along the far wall, reading the same book he always did, never seeming to finish it. It was he who spoke first.

"Sakura, glad you could make it", he said to her, not looking up from his book. "We have been waiting for the better part of an hour for you, and were just about to come and get you ourselves, except that Sasuke is still recovering from, well… you know…" He let it drop.

"I'm fine", Sasuke replied. "I was just knocked out, nothing serious happened."

"Nothing serious happened?!" a fourth voice exclaimed. "You almost die and you have the audacity to say that 'nothing serious' has happened?! It took more than 16 hours for the best medical ninja in Konoha, including myself, to heal the wounds you incurred during your little 'fight' where 'nothing serious' happened."

It was Tsunade. The way she spoke was too authoritative to be anyone else, that, and the fact that she was the best medical ninja in Konoha alone. "But", she started again. "What happened yesterday is not the important thing at the moment. Naruto's whereabouts are currently unknown, as with his current condition. He, unlike you, Sasuke, did not receive any medical treatment directly after your 'fight', so his condition may be just as bad or even worse than yours was."

She had a look of concern on her face, one the almost screamed her emotions to everyone in the room. "And so, this is why I am charging you three, yes, even you, Sasuke, to go with Kakashi to find Naruto and report his location and condition to me. It is about time you all stopped skulking about the past and do something constructive for once I think. You leave immediately, so prepare what last-minute items you may need, and begin the mission."

And with that, Tsunade strode from the room, her yellow ponytail a yellow blur as she exited the room and quickly turned down the hallway, bringing Sakura's dream back to the forefront of her mind.


Summary

This is the second installment of To Keep a Promise series. This chapter regards the thoughts and feelings of Sakura after Naruto returns with Sasuke, acting weird, although it's not as if she cares, so long as her Sasuke is back.

Regarding my writing structures, I write third person objective for the entirety of the story. If you don't like, then don't read it. For those who like the story but think I do not include enough dialogue, let me set your mind at ease. I love to write dialogue; it's just that this chapter wasn't really meant to be chock-full of it. If you want more dialogue, then next chapter, you will definitely get it. To quote a very, very, very, VERY terrible line, "Believe it!" (Please don't kill me for saying that! It was meant to be a joke!)