I was running faster now that I sensed Sakura. She was my best friend since Kiba had become distant when Shino went to Suna as one of the ambassadors to help with relations. I also finally confessed to Naruto and he asked me to go out with him I had been worried about going on such a long mission at first but reassured me that it was alright and that everything would be fine. I was slightly worried about Sakura she had been kind of depressed when I left. I knew everyone had been leaving her out of our gatherings but I knew that was do to the fact that she had been working a bit more lately.

I hoped she was okay and everyone was including her again since she had taken time of to be with her friends again. As I was getting closer I wondered how her training with Tsunade had been going. I knew that she had come close to her mentor almost to the point where they had become more like training partners.

When I came in to the clearing sakura had a nostalgic look in her eyes however the minute I touched down her eyes turned dead it scared me at first then they lightened her whole appearance changed like some curse had been lifted.

"Sakura-chan!" I exclaimed as ran over and hugged her she tensed before relaxing and hugging me back awkwardly.

Sakura POV .

I had been standing waiting for Hinata to come up thinking about how things used to be imagining that they were still that way. I was still Tsunades apprentice, Naruto was still asking me to ramen every Friday, Ino is still taking me shopping, I still practice with lee the villagers still look up to me in short my life wasn't swirling cesspool of crap it really is. This was just a fantasy but I had taken to putting a small genjutsu on myself it wasn't much but it added enough reality that I could believe it and lift my spirits I had found this jutsu after my parents died. I stopped using it when hinata saw that I had started losing my grip on reality then figured out why she told tsunade who got me to stop. I had started using it again after I figured out that my life was going down the scummiest tubes around I knew no one would care they would probably all be glad that the 'pink disgrace' went loopy. But still I couldn't just give up then I would be giving in to those…those ingnorant, self-absorbed, egotistical…MORONS! After having these thoughts I decided to drown myself in my addicting genjustu my only comfort. Soon I was snapped out of my reverie by someone landing next to me immediately my face assumed cold mask I had be forced to assume. Turned and saw hinata standing there smiling at me. It had been awhile since anyone had smiled a warm smile at me it gave such comforting warm feeling it felt better than my genjutsu. Well almost.

"Sakura-chan!" hinata said as she hugged more viciously then a bear. I froze not expecting any sign of affection. Then Irealized what was happening and decided I should hug her back.

"I missed you so much" hinata said still hugging me like a plush toy. Figuring I should bask in this affection while it lasted.

"I missed you too hinata" I mumbled loudly my voice sounded odd from lack of use

"Why don't we head home" hinata said stepping away still smiling. I was saddened by the fact that she wanted to get home quickly. I wanted to pro long this affection for a while longer

"Okay but lets walk and take our time"

"sure"

End sakura pov .

When we landed for the night we brought out our sleeping rolls and provisions then set up camp near a small stream. I had been wondering what was with sakura she hung on my every word, then got a look of sadness then disgust every time I mentioned konaha when I asked her about it she simply said it was fine smiling her best, albeit, fake smile. After we had a small dinner I said that I take first watch and that we should get as much sleep as possible to get to Konaha fast as possible. When I said this she looked heart broken then her face turned blank as she agreed with and said to wake her up when it was her turn. I was again worried for her but could see that she would deny any thing wrong. I jumped up into a tree and turned on my byakugan. But put it within a smaller range so as not to waste my chakra. As I was sitting up in the tree I notice sakura's chakra pulse slightly when I took a closer look it seemed to be a small genjutsu she had cast on herself.

'strange why does that look so familia…'

"!" I realized where I had seen that genjutsu before 'I thought she had gotten over her addiction' I jumped down hoping that she would stir but she didn't I could see the chakra being put into the jutsu had increased and was continuing at a slow rate however if it kept up she would have died from chakra depletion In a few hours.

"Sakura!" I called as ran up to her no response I was worried because the last time she had done this was after her parents death but we had stopped her before she decided to 'join' them. I had told Tsunade so that she would help her that combined with all her friends helping through it had been just what she needed I wondered what could hae gotten her so depressed that she would turn to it again.

"SAKURA!" I yelled as I slapped her as hard as I could. She fell over and started to shake off the after affects of the genjutsu.

"wha…how did I get here I…"she saw me then seemed to remember that this was reality "oh right." Her voice sounded heart broken her face turned into the blank mask like it was nothing "guess it's my turn" her was emotionless voice sent chills down my spine. "No, its only been 10 minutes, sakura why were using that jutsu again I thought you had gotten over your parents death"

"I am" her voice was truthful but then why would she be using it again

"sakura…why were you using it then talking about stuff help more remember this is a forbidden jutsu because it will kill you.."

"So, maybe I could do something right for once…" the last part was mumbled but Hinata heard.

"Sakura! Don't say that… wait, how long have been using the jutsu?" I need to know how bad the damage was.

"why?"

"Because saku I'm worried about you please tell" I looked at her but she was trying to hide her face however, I still hadn't turned off my byakugan I could tell her mind h ad become muddled I knew that the jutsu could do this but it wasn't just that it was almost as if she were scared to let me in all of a sudden I remembered how the trip she seemed to shy away from konaha then I remember what I said. About getting back fast as possible and how much she didn't want to go there.

" Sakura," she flinched when I said her name like I was going to hit her or something "your acting as if I don't want to be your friend anymore."

At this sakura inhaled sharply and shook looking like she was having a small seizure with her head down bangs hiding her face.

"p-p-please…d-don't say t-tha-at… please" I was completely shock at her voice it was sad, no, miserable the tears and pleading and stuttering like I did when my father was mad at me. After seeing this realization hit me. My mind is very quick due to the years of silence to hide my stutter. Her walls and mental barricades were broken and behind them was just a scared lonely girl.

"ohh, saku-chan I'm sorry I didn't mean it." I said rushing over and hugging her allowing her to sob into me. I had never seen her like this she had always been strong even when sasuke had left she hadn't cried like this. I wonder what had happened to break her down so much?

"T-T-They l-leffft me they h-h-hate me please don't l-leave me." She said this through sobs although I managed to understand.

"I won't leave you, I promise," I said as softly and sincere as any person could. I now knew what had broken her down. "Who left you?" I asked hoping I could help her with her break down.

"e-everyone…they all decided I was t-to w-weak a-and that I…I d-didn't deserve t-t-to… to liv-v-ve" she started cry harder I was stunned surly someone would've seen and helped her. Tsunade, shizune, Ino, Naruto all hang around her enough that they would notice.

"Have you told anyone else about this?" Hinata was trying to figure out the whole story but she couldn't figure out how it had gotten so bad.

"n-no, w-who would care n-nobody l-l-listen to me a-any(hic)way" her voice was calmed down although she was still crying she seemed to be calming.

" what? What about Tsunade or Ino or Naruto-kun?" sakura gave a bitter laugh

"why would they help me they h-hate me just l-like everyone else" I was shocked that she said this as these were those closest to her.

"sakura tell me what happened" and she did, everything from karin's arrival to Tsunade's banishment. She was in tears by the end of the story I felt a few fall from my eyes. Then toward the end I felt rage at how she had been treated. I was also disappointment in Naruto for acting the way he had but hoped he could be convinced that he was wrong.

We sat like that for hours me holding sakura her clinging to me as if I'd disappear otherwise. Eventually she calmed down abd fell asleep all her emotions coming out at once. I laid her down by the tree and covered her up.

While I was grateful she had finally opened up to me I was disappointed in everyone and furious with Naruto and Tsunade for pushing her so far. While had others had known she was going through depression after her parents death, but only they and I knew the details and how close she had come to killing herself. When we got back I would have to talk to them. With thoughts of justice in my head I continued my watch.