A/N: No, I won't nag you anymore. Just enjoy the chapter.
Sakura begins her journey
Sakura tightened the leather strap on her backpack. She wasn't entirely sure if she was doing the right thing. But she knew that if she didn't do this, it would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Naruto and the others had failed. They were five, strong and talented boys, but they faced a defeat. Neji, Choji and Naruto himself had to fight for their lives for a long time before they were healed from the injuries sustained on that mission. And even if several months had passed since then, in Naruto's eyes, when he looked at Sakura, she could still catch a glimpse of guilt. He felt remorse because he was unable to fulfill the promise he had made to her.
Oh well, he didn't need to suffer the thought anymore. Now she was going to start moving.
After many weeks of training under Tsunade-sama, Sakura already could manage a lot. She occurred to be a bright student, just like Shizune in due time, and the Fifth Hokage praised her very much. Sakura didn't tell her that she would have to abort the training now, at least for some time. She knew that her shishou would want to stop her, and she had been doubtful enough herself if she should go. She didn't need any additional obstacled. With the knowledge she'd already mastered she could do really a lot, however she still lacked some essential abilities to finish the training. But there was no getting out of it, she couldn't just idly sit there and wait anymore. There was little likelihood that Sasuke would return by himself, on his own free will. He needed help from the outside. She didn't know yet what kind of help would that be, but this was exactly what she was going to give him.
She didn't tell her parents. They, just like the Hokage, would try to turn her back from the once chosen track. They might even use force to make her stay in the village. Besides, they just wouldn't understand. To traverse such a large part of the world, not even knowing in which direction, for a traitor? They would see it that way. For Sakura it was a search for a beloved person who meant to her more that her own life.
That was exactly that one and only reason for which she had decided on the journey. She loved him the whole time. After all those squabbles and quarrels, after all those times when he had hurt her, she still loved him. Because unlike other girls, she didn't see in him only an impossibly handsome boy. She also saw a person hiding his past from the world around, in fact needing support. Sasuke-kun would never admit it, but she knew that it was true. Maybe he hated her, maybe he despised her, or maybe she was totally indifferent to him, but she didn't care. So much time had passed, but her love for him had never dimmed. And she knew that it would not dim for the rest of her life.
She didn't tell Naruto as well. Maybe she should. He was Sasuke's best friend after all, even if they fought with each other mercilessly. But he would want to go with her then. And she felt that she had to make the journey alone. In any case, Naruto had once risked his life so that Sasuke would come back. The Uchiha himself caused the blonde to be admitted to hospital in a critical condition. She didn't want to risk their second meeting until she was sure they would not intend to kill each other. Besides, she was afraid that it would end up with her being constantly defended and protected by Naruto, as always. And this was precisely what she tried to escape from when she asked Tsunade-sama to accept her has her apprentice. She wanted to be a useful member of a group, not a ballast to them.
She was curious what Naruto would say when he discovered that she'd disappeared… The thought made her sigh with guilt. She supposed he would be angry that she hadn't told him, that she had not taken him along. And sure thing was he would be worried, since…
"I'm important to him," thought Sakura. "But for me, the most important one is Sasuke-kun. I'm sorry, Naruto…"
She checked if the buckle of the backpack held strongly enough. Once more she cast a glance at the table when she had placed the letter to her parents. When they find it, she would be far away already. In due time Tsunade-sama had taught her the trace-masking technique as an extra ability. It would come in handy now. No one would follow her. No one would stalk her and force her to return.
Because she wasn't going to return. Not without Sasuke-kun.
Under cover of darkness she sneaked out of the house. It was quiet on the streets, only a dog barked now and then. Sakura looked around and chose the path to the left.
After a dozen or so minutes she reached the highway, the only road that led to the outside of the village. It was here where her last talk with Sasuke took place. It was here where she told him, how much she loved him. It was here where she heard his farewell "Arigato"…
And it was here where she woke up on a cold, stone bench, abandoned by the one that was more precious to her than anything. Tears welled up in her emerald eyes, just like then, when the rising sun announced the arrival of a lonely morning.
"I'm coming for you, Sasuke-kun," she whispered quietly. "Wait for me. I'll be there soon."
She adjusted the backpack and resolutely, with her head up, she crossed the border of the Hidden Village of Leaf.
Sakura began her journey.
A/N: Ok, so this is the beginning! Now you get the idea. Sakura-chan is going to find her Sasuke-kun… Will she succeed? Will we get a nice SasuSaku reunion scene? What obstacles is our kunoichi going to face? What enemies are going to stand in her way? Read further and find out!
Reveiw please! If you have any suggestions, they are more than welcome. I already have some ideas stuck in my head but you know, everything might come in handy...
Next chapter: Sakura-chan meets a girl. Can she be of help to her? Can the girl be of help to the kunoichi? It's the beginning of a great adventure!
