A/N: So the prologue was really short I know, but I hadn't noticed it was going to be so little. Microsoft works…it deceives me. XD
Thanks to my reviews here from:
C.A.M.E.O. 1 and Only: To answer your question. Yes, I had planned on it. Even though the main pairings are Hinata and Naruto and Sasuke with Sakura, I'm going to try and incorporate a few others in as well. Thanks or the review.
I.Plead.Ignorance: Thank you for the nice review. Your concern is that she'll be like the young Sakura eh? I hadn't planned on it. Since I want this to be more so a difficult story for the characters, having her like she used to be would deafen the whole story and make it seem childish.
Icygirl2: Is this update soon enough? lol. Thanks for the review as well.
Sasukefaves: Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad to see you are enthusiastic about the battle. I'll try to keep you guess as much as I can. I mean like that and tease people. O
And last but not least:
Susakuru: Thank you for the review. I aim to please, so here is your new chapter!
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WARNING: MAY CONTAIN some SPOILERS
I did forget the disclaimer I now realize, so I'll add it here
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters or any such thing from the show. It belongs to it's respective owners and not to myself.
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Recap:
As he collapsed backwards, his eyes rolled and shut as his head slammed down on the ground at Sakura's feet. "S…S…Sas…uke…?" She choked out through her disbelief, as she landed on her knees and raised his head to her lap.
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Sakura gasped as she saw the serene face on her lap…it was really Sasuke. Naruto had drifted to her side, just thinking she was healing a random person, not paying great detail to who it was. He stayed to her side fighting off three opponents at once; a bold testament to his strength over the passed four years.
Sakura's hands shook as she rubbed through his hair. It was hardly the place to have an emotional attack, but she was nearly blind to her surroundings, now causing Kiba to take care of her other side…but he noticed an all too familiar scent. 'Uchiha…?' , he though with a kink in his nose. Kiba dropped down from Akamaru's back, and turned around . His suspicions confirmed, he ran over and peered down at Sakura.
"When did he get here? And what the hell is going on?" Kiba's voice had sustained it's rough qualities from when he was younger, and his fangs gleamed dangerously with the setting sun. After the young Uchiha had left, he left a bitter taste is many mouths. But, Sakura was unable to answer the question, only focusing on getting Sasuke's limp body out of this mess., it was obvious he needed further treatment and would need more extensive elements of treatment, possibly even surgery.
She slowly rose, and Kiba looked at her strangely. Sakura seemed saddened but a bit angry at the same time. Knowing how she acted at times, he became a bit frightened. She looked towards him with a rougher look in her eye and spoke up softly. "Help me take him back to the safe house." It was more of a demand, which he complied in. Kiba loaded Sasuke onto Akamaru's back and helped Sakura up after he had mounted the large dog himself taking them back towards the safe house.
The fighting had died down a little as Sasuke was taken away. Naruto caught a brief glance, enough to notice now who Akamaru was carrying, as the large dog ran off. Naruto and the rest had controlled this sector for the day, and as the fighting siezed on both sides to rest, night fall came. Naruto began to run after Akamaru, but he was stopped by the feeling of a smaller hand on his wrist.
Hinata was gripping his hand. She was panting and a little rough here and there, but overall still in good health, "Where are you going?", she asked in her usual soft tone. Naruto gave a warm smile in response, his hair longer now, looking more like the Yondaime of o-so-long ago. "It's weird but…I think Sasuke is back." She too could remember how badly Naruto beat himself to retrieve Sasuke, and so she harbored some resentment towards the young Uchiha.
Kiba had returned shortly after, without anyone else on Akamaru. The large beast made it's way into the crowd of Chuunin, and Kiba slid off his side. Naruto turned around to face the boy with canine characteristics, "So is it really Sasuke?" At this Neji and the rest of the chuunins tensed., and Rock Lee noticeably frowned. "Really who?" Neji asked, as if clarifying what everyone else had on their minds. Frankly, he could feel the distaste settling in his stomach. Ino perked up, but felt a protective arm drape around the back of her waist from Shikamaru, who only listened attentively as Kiba spoke next.
"Yeah it's really him…he looks to be in really bad shape though, so…I'm not sure what'll happen with him. I'll be surprised if Tsunade doesn't give him some version of hell for betraying our village like that." Naruto felt a pain with those words. He may have felt angry towards Sasuke for doing what he did, but he still feared for his old team mate.
Meanwhile at the compound , safe house, and functioning hospital, Sasuke lay strapped with an IV in his arm pumping fluid to his unconscious form. He was decked out helplessly in bandages, while Sakura looked down over his clipboard checking over everything. With a sigh she sat down on the stool next to the, slightly higher, bed.
Sasuke looked so helpless yet at once he looked peaceful. In fact, Sakura could count the amount of times she had ever saw him like this on nearly half of one hand. Frankly, she didn't know how to react; he had been gone for so long that she had almost…dare she say, forgot about him? Maybe not quite, but it was close. She had given up hope and just assumed she would have died content and alone.
He hadn't stirred since they bandaged him up and she, and the rest of the hospital staff, thought it better for him to rest. A lot of thoughts poured through her mind now that she had gotten a grip on her mind that is. Subconsciously, she brought her hand up to his larger hand to the side and touched it, though afterwards she realized what she was doing and pulled away. She didn't want to give in to him, for she thought now that any kind act she did towards him was out of pity. Sure, the feelings were still there, but she wasn't the same as she used to be. Like she thought, she would have been content alone.
As her mind raced with thoughts, she spoke to the unconscious figure ahead of her. "Was leaving us worth it?…Did you even do what you set out to?" Her voice was slightly cracking, but she maintained her composure. When he left, she was saddened, hurt, and she felt betrayed. His exit was cold to her, and it stung every time she thought about it.
Unbeknownst to Sakura, the Gondaime rested her body, leaning on the door frame, with a softness in her medium brown eyes. "So this is the famous Uchiha Sasuke I heard so much about? Less than an hour in the hospital and the rumors and news are already flying. " Sakura nearly jumped upon hearing Tsunade's voice. She relaxed and pivoted on the stool to greet her sensei. Sakura nodded positively in response to the Gondaime's first question.
"I'm not going to let him off easy, you know?" It wasn't a question but more like a direct statement. "I don't expect you to." Her reply seemed a bit distant, but she knew what had to be done. Tsunade laid a hand on Sakura's shoulder and squeezed it slightly. "Just don't worry about it, he'll learn soon enough about how wrong he was, and then…who knows I may let him go, but first I need to figure out the severity of this situation again to determine his punishment…" Tsunade trailed off a bit, listing her things to do, but her voice turned to a soft mumble that only she could understand.
The others had took their time with arriving at the hospital, dead beat tired, and exhausted to their limits for the most part. Tenten held her left arm, bandaged, close to her side, while Neji looked at her with a more thoughtful and softened expression than usual. Akamaru was made to stay outside, but Kiba and the rest filed in, reaching Sasuke's room. The room was small, but it held the lot of Kiba, Naruto, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, Neji, and Tenten comfortably along with it's current occupants.
" Tsunade? Is he going to be okay?" Tsunade was a bit taken back that Naruto had not addressed her with 'Granny' in the name, but she could see the distress on his features. She smiled warmly and closed her eyes, "He should be fine, but it may take him a few days to get over his injuries. Afterwards, I'm going to have to take him in myself, I don't want this getting anymore messy than it has to be." They all nodded while Neji excused Tenten and himself, so he could take Tenten home to let her get some rest on her own. The rest had left including the Hokage, as she had other things to look after, but left Hinata and Naruto in the room.
Naruto looked towards Hinata, who looked quite tired. Her choppy hair had stayed somewhat the same, the length only changing a bit, to where her hair came to her jaw line in choppy layers. Naruto gave a sigh and spoke with his deeper voice, "Why don't you go on home and get some rest?" He placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her forehead softly. Even after all their time together, she still gave off small blushes at his displays of affection. She nodded in comply with his request, and he hugged her warmly before she left.
After Hinata's exit, Naruto gazed towards the two he had remembered doing so much with. He made a mental note to beat Sasuke to a pulp, when he was healthy enough, for leaving and evading him all this time. "I promised to bring him back, but looks like he made it here on his own…" Naruto tried to lighten up the atmosphere a little, trying some slight humor by recalling events and such. Sakura never really laughed or chuckled, in the least bit. Naruto knelt down beside Sakura with the same look as she: saddened and a little depressed. "I wonder…why he came back." There was an essence of thickness in the air that either of them didn't care for.
They were both caught off guard when Sasuke grunted, but he soon stopped moving once more. The only indication he was alive, was is steady rise and fall of his chest. "We should probably leave and let him rest. Sakura, you must be tired." His voice was laced with concern, and he turned himself. "If you are going to stay here. Inform us if you hear anything or if anything changes." Naruto stalked off and out the door leaving Sakura to herself. She eyed Sasuke one last time, drinking in his newer characteristics, until she left out the door as well.
While all of this went on, Gaara and his army were mobilized just outside their village. To his side was Temari, Kankurou had been left behind to keep things around the Village of Suna in check. The Kazekage and his sand ninja set off on their journey towards the village of Konoha.
Gaara was now much more different and more selfless than he had ever been. His realization with Naruto, a while back, had changed him for the better. He turned his dark eyes towards Temari who was smirking, "What's that smirk about?" He eyed her suspiciously. Ever since, he had told her she was coming with him to Konoha, she had been a little…different. "Nothing, it's just been a while since we've been there, and besides I'm looking forward to killing some scum bags." She pounded her hand against her palm as if to capitalize on that statement. Gaara hadn't realized she was so pumped for the fight. Which of course he couldn't blame her…it had been a little while since any of them touched a good challenge. Their pace picked up after a little while and soon all of the ninja behind them, had picked up their feet and ran now for their destination, full speed ahead.
Somewhere in the mountains, Jiraiya looked up as a messenger pigeon, embellished with the symbol of the Hokage on it's wings dropped a rolled up piece of paper on his head, and then left in the opposite direction. He made a curious noise in his throat and picked up the paper, unrolled it, and read.
Jiraiya,
I'm not asking you as Hokage or as an old friend, but as both. Konoha is being invaded, and I fear we may lose this fight. The village of the sound has come in attacking us with everything they have. I have yet to see Oorichimaru, but I fear he may show up. Please, I ask that you help us because even you can make a difference with us alone.
Asking with urgency,
Tsunade
The letter seemed a little formal, but he knew Tsunade had rarely called upon him unless it was a dire emergency. He crumpled the letter into an unruly fold and tucked it in his pocket. He knew what he had to do…and so he set off to go to the hidden leaf village.
TBC
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A/N: So, basically I'm hoping this is quite a bit longer than the prologue, four pages on a works document, so you would think it would maybe be something…XD
Any way I hope you enjoyed it, and don't feel obligated to click the button at the bottom, but I would appreciate it.