PHILOSOPHIES FOR THEIR HATRED
Wait for me Re-write by RYOUKOx
"First and foremost and ItachiXSakura fic, Kay [;?"
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, but I'll take my chances with Itachi.
Italics-FLASHBACKS
Chapter 2.
The scroll that decided her purpose
Sakura Haruno
The way that he made me feel in the pit of my stomach triggered the butterflies that had always seemed to fly for him re-awaken and buzz wildly yet I wanted to freeze them or something similar so I could think peacefully for a moment.
It didn't work and I stumbled back against the wall away from the doors trying to take in a cleansing breath.
I'd be able to smell his wondrous scent again and if they calmed him, maybe, just maybe he'd accept me.
Then we'd hold hands and smile all day long!
I suddenly had the urge to fall about laughing at my stupidity, it felt as if the 12 year old me had come out to have her say on the matter.
I ignored her knowing Sasuke would never dare hold my hand, but even if he was brought back and he was still as ignorant as ever I think I'd ask to watch over him, like a permanent study.
To watch him at home again just being himself the way that I'd always remembered it, I'd love it beyond imagination.
Just to seem his standing there with one of his pale hands leaning on his waist.
Or just to watch him make his fire jutsu, or just. I sighed stupidly thinking of all the childhood things he used to do that made all the girls easily fall for him.
He would've more than likely grown out of them all; he'd be a strong young man now.
He'd probably not even give a shit about me I though, I sighed though.
But I guess really, I wouldn't care.
My heart seemed to linger in my throat and I felt my hand rise up and stroke the pendant that hung with my key.
It was silver but that wonderful faded kind so it had little black parts on it.
Two blue jewels were in the top and bottom of its oval shape and in the middle stood a fawn playing a pipe.
I don't know why it meant so much to me but I'd always worn it and in a way whenever I wore it, it reminded me of my team seven days and times that were, well happier.
Obviously days now were still happy but when I was younger there just seemed to be so much to care about, for a little while anyway.
My necklace always kept me in a distant dream of thinking we'd stay Team 7 forever.
But dreams, yeah dreams die.
I could hear movement again but it was loud and I took a few steps away now listening at a wall slightly out of sight.
This way if they came out I could pretend I was just walking out from my office on my way downstairs.
They'd never know and I laughed as I thought of 'the perfect crime'.
They were muffled and Naruto was saying something that I couldn't rightly hear.
"But she…. It isn't…. Do that….Sakura-chan!!" I heard in-between muffles.
It felt like my heart had suddenly missed a beat.
My hands shivered and I tried to tear myself from the wall but I found myself wanting to know why, further details, anything as long as I had some explanation.
But they'd gone quite, I'd probably missed something but I felt my heart and found no surprise as it beat so hard I thought it might burst through and shock me even more.
Suddenly Tsunade's chair squeaked and I heard movement and almost instantly I pushed my ear as close to the wall as humanly possible.
"Shizune" Tsunade appointed and I listened intently. "If you ready the scroll and take it to Sakura's ANBU room I'll call her to go there later" there wasn't a word said and I heard Shizune walk away from her seat.
I understood that Naruto had already protested but it wasn't like him to keep this suspiciously quiet.
I heard him muffle some words that I couldn't make out other than slight whispers.
"Naruto, firstly I don't want a word form you about this to me again, And God forbid secondly don't tell Sakura, let her find out by herself. Then at least if she needs you then I'll allow you to talk" I seemed to hear Naruto give a grunt of disatisisfied approval and heard him get up followed by a stream of footsteps and I readied myself to put on a grin and meet Naruto outside.
I had to take a breath though and steady myself mentally I couldn't let them know I'd heard it all.
The door gently opened and I walked forward brightly.
"Hey Naruto, all done?" I asked breezily.
He smiled un-easily and gave me a nod.
Smiling back at him I could feel my heart pounding away in its rib cage, the cage part being quite literal.
Naruto was quiet and I stared at him as if nothing was wrong but I had to really cover the fact I knew nothing and I used a diversion.
"Naruto? Is something wrong?" I asked trying to sound worried; it was a fake type of worry but sounded believable.
I think he must've been a little stuck for words, but it was more than understandable.
It was like asking him 'So are you gonna tell your best friend that she has to go retrieve someone who could and probably will kill her?"
As I thought, he wouldn't answer.
Or at least he was struggling.
"Yeah fine" He began, his eyes never left the floor in front of him. "I-I'm just worried about my mission. That's all" He said trailing off of his seemed to blink very slowly.
I was shocked to know he'd lied but it was part of my plan.
"Hmm? How come what did Tsunade tell you?"
He scratched his head; his brain wasn't quick enough when it came to cunning plans or lying.
"Nothing really, just a retrieval mission for some type of expensive..." he looked around him and must've caught sight of something.
"Expensive... fans that's it retrieval mission for expensive fans!" He said smiling triumphantly.
I guessed he hadn't realised that a retrieval of expensive fans wasn't a mission that he really needed to worry about in the slightest.
But I knew he wouldn't tell me about my own mission and so I just left it as we walked back down the steps.
It was weird really, initially the thought of the mission was scaring me so much that I wanted to curl up into a little ball and refuse to come out but really this was probably good for me.
The pit of my stomach seemed to disagree though as it was almost boiling over and making me feel sick beyond belief.
My head felt as if it were spinning on a wheel and I could feel my heart only now dying down into it's normal beats as I'd scared myself so much.
But how was I supposed to let Naruto know that I was scared, that I was... petrified.
He must have picked up upon my little day dream though as he was uneasily watching me as I clutched my folder tightly to my chest.
"Sakura?" He said and I looked at him instantly.
My reactions must've been heightened or something as he seemed taken aback by my sudden reaction.
"Yes?" I asked blinking, trying terribly to calm my frantic nerves.
He paused for a moment and I looked at his as he struggled for words.
We walked on slowly just reaching the bottom of the Hokage's steps.
"Never mind" He said quietly and looked away from me.
I obviously couldn't say a word, even if I wanted to. Naruto and I both knew an eaves dropping was a bad habit that shouldn't be practised to overhear missions.
Vital information could've been being discussed and no-one needed an eaves dropper hang about to find out what was going on.
I blinked away from him, my green eyes fixed on the dusty road that we both trod on.
People were now scurrying the streets as it neared half past one in the afternoon.
Looking around most of the people around were Mother's doing their needed grocery shopping but I stopped watching them when I heard a sniffle come from Naruto's direction.
I looked over to him and saw his face turned from mine and one his arms raised up wiping his face.
Was he crying over me?
I hadn't even left yet.
What was I saying?!
I hadn't accepted anything yet, I wasn't going anywhere. Why was I being so stupid?
I was still set in my ways thinking this was surely to dangerous for me to ever think about accepting.
Sasuke and I were close as friends and he knew I loved him unconditionally but like he would care, everyone else knew my feeling for him and yet he would rather kill me than spend five more seconds acknowledging me.
I'd be giving up my life for someone that I couldn't capture anyway.
Naruto sniffed again and I looked up at him my heart giving an ache.
I knew Naruto missed Sasuke almost as much as I did, but it must've been hard for him.
If I accepted the mission and Sasuke (which he probably would) killed me in action, Naruto would have… no-one.
I couldn't leave Naruto; he meant so much to me now.
He needed other people to be there, we'd been so happy as a little trio.
Naruto was the sort of person that when living alone and having no-one could see people better than him as equals and would surpass them. He had friends now and that made him the equal he'd always wanted to be and yet now knowing he still had goals he had support for them.
Maybe if I brought Sasuke back Naruto could show him just what he'd always wanted too.
I smiled on the inside before the sound of another sniff came from Naruto's direction.
Realising how ridiculous my thoughts were I placed a hand on Naruto's back.
"What's up?" I asked generally worried.
Naruto hesitated and pulled me aside for a moment.
He turned me to face him and he seemed to be crouching down, he made me feel short and his strong arms wrapped around me tightly at that moment.
I could feel him crying into my shoulder and I put my own arms around his muscular body.
He didn't say a word and neither did I, but in a way I didn't really think right then we needed them.
We both were quite content just standing there, hugging in public.
For a little bit we had some quite disrespectful noises made but I ignored them, this was Naruto I couldn't have cared less.
He suddenly let go and stood himself up straight.
"Sakura" he said softly looking up towards the sky.
I blinked at him before replying.
"Yes?" I said in a wondering tone.
He sighed slightly.
"If you left Konaha, for a little while, would you make sure to write me?" He asked.
I tilted my head in confusion.
"Firstly, I'd never leave Konaha" I said a smile fakely plastered on my face...
"And secondly when do I ever step out of those gates without you beside me?" I said pointing in the direction of the hugely exaggerated Konaha gates.
Naruto's smile seemed to soften and he hugged me again for a little bit, but it was half hearted he knew if I accepted the mission he wouldn't be able to accompany me.
With the Kyuubi still trapped in his body he'd be easy bait while out with a girl like me and no back-up.
In all circumstances, this was going to be impossible.
As Naruto looked away from me I looked down the road, Naruto's place was quite close and as we neared it he felt like this was the last time he'd speak to me.
It wasn't but I could tell it from the way that he seemed to stare at me every five minutes and then when I caught him he flushed a deep red and looked away in utter embarrassment.
At first I guess I thought it was sort of flattering but, it wasn't for anything other than I guess, maybe he was thinking it was the last time he'd see me.
And that's why I let him, if I accepted the mission I'd more than likely be assigned straight away and not have the time to see Naruto before leaving.
I mean If he'd been given the mission, I'd want to take in every detail of him before I left.
The last time I expected to see Naruto though was a day far, far from now.
When we were both very old and understood what it was to die from old age rather than in action, poisoned or some other un-natural cause that threatened our lives most of the time.
Naruto glanced at me then for a long time and when I looked at him his eyes didn't move and I smiled at him.
People around us must've figured we'd gone insane staring at each other while we walked slowly down the road.
Something caught me eyes and I noticed us walking past Naruto's apartment.
Well it wasn't an apartment; it was just where he lived.
I poked him gently and signalled to the high window of his room and he blinked at me for a while before looking and scratching his head while his infamous grin held up his cheeks.
My heart fluttered to see his real smile lighting up and I smiled back at him genuinely and he (yet again) quickly embraced me, not daring to say a word before he pushed of springing up toward his open window.
I watched as if to see him turn and wave at me but he didn't, he usually always did and I wondered if it was really that hard for him to say goodbye to me.
Looking at the floor I knew I might never go back to him and maybe that was for the best.
If I left Naruto know I'd remember the last time I'd seen him he would've smiled at me whole heartedly and we'd laughed and smiled as we usually had done.
---------------
The stalls blew up the smell off spicy ramen and it made me feel slightly sick and I decided it best to start heading back home before Tsunade ordered me to go to my ANBU room.
It was going to be a very dreaded note from Tsunade and all I really wanted to do was not think about it but as I walked through the busy streets I couldn't even distract myself onto the many passers that fled through the road. No, my mind had stuck onto the thought of seeing Sasuke again.
Weirdly at the thought of his name I seemed to hold a blink longer than normal.
It hurt to even think about his name let alone the person himself, but the more I pondered it the more I thought maybe it would be good for me.
I wouldn't be able to contain myself with the joy I'd feel if I retrieved Sasuke from Orochimaru's safely.
I'd be forever classed a hero.
Laughing at myself suddenly snapped into my head as I sounded like a younger version of Naruto.
A hero? Me?
The words didn't fit into the same sentence correctly.
I wasn't the sort of girl to receive praise of a daily basis for my heroic actions.
People thanked me yes, all the time.
They'd thank me for all my finished paperwork, for organising the appointments at the Hospital, for helping out in the ward when they needed help and for taking that extra bit of time to make someone feel at home.
But it wasn't really enough, who ever wanted to be remembered for passing out prescription pills at the hospital or for typing up the last of someone else's work load?
Certainly not I and that was for sure, I knew it.
I felt bad though, before that had always satisfied me.
With the warm smiles that people gave me as they passed me by in Tsunade's office I never really needed much more than that.
I'd smiled back and not say a word, because obviously (unlike some others I could point out) I respected my rank and how high our Hokage was.
In a way though I hated myself for not being more, flamboyant.
Wishing to have my time where I could shout out at her that she wasn't doing her job right and that if she wasn't willing to pick up her stacks of paper behind her then maybe she wasn't fit to be a Hokage at all!
I laughed at myself as I turned the corner of the street on to the familiar surrounding of my street.
I'd never dream of saying those sort of things to Tsunade and neither would I get away with them in a million years, I was unsure how she put up with Naruto.
He had some nerve but I was always sure that she'd reach that line sooner of later and lash out at him by the ear telling him that he can spend the night with our captive S-rank criminals.
She never would though, she knows better than to lock up her best shinobi.
I shook my head trailing off when the matter at hand was Sasuke.
I didn't even know what I'd have to do to get him back, all I knew was he'd be retrieved.
Maybe there'd been some new technique I'd be able to use to get him to wilfully co-operate.
But I seriously doubted it and almost laughed at my own stupidity.
If there had been a new technique discovered that made wanted criminal wilfully agree to do whatever you wanted there would be no accessible crime records.
Every criminal would have a useless purpose.
I laughed quietly to myself as I neared my home and crossed the empty road, but as I crossed I noticed a black (and please excuse my description) But a black, thing go speeding around a back road to the far right of a house near mine.
Watching it I focused on rare features to see what I would use to identify them by.
I saw a large round pink looking ball held in front of the woman.
It was easy to define it was a woman by… well, need I explain?
But then I realised, it was Shizune.
The short dark hair hadn't given it away and I almost chuckled when I realised the "large round pink looking ball" had been Tsunade's pet pig Tonton.
Sighing though, I knew where she was headed.
The back roads behind my house all took you to different locations but the main road (Which she was following) took you straight to the ANBU dorm.
The scroll would be for me but for now I just led my head drop slightly forward as I pushed the house gate and walked to my front door.
I could see Shizune totter round a tree through my window as I entered the house and as I closed the large door behind me I was glad to be inside and slightly out of the madness that was around today.
Anger fused me up being that it had started quite well.
But what was I to do, with a new mission looming in the unspoken air I just had to make the most of all the time I already knew I had.
And I guess in a way I was glad I knew, this way I could prepare myself for the worst, anything could be written in that scroll.
I felt my beating heart give an extra hard thump against my chest, what if Sasuke had written to Konaha enquiring about me
that was why they were asking for me?
Maybe I was their only way to get him back.
My body shivered at the thought, I'd be so undeniably happy if he'd written, yet the butterflies in my stomach fluttered and I worried.
Sasuke could be the cruel person I'd always hated in him now.
If he'd write to Konaha enquiring for me he could be asking about anything.
Then a lump in my throat could be felt, if he wanted my body for his return.
Whether Konaha was giving my body to Sasuke as a sadistic present to get him to return. I guess I didn't know.
But I didn't think about it and just hoped that Konaha was loyal to its citizens.
I doubted highly that they would willingly let me kill myself to bring back a criminal with the possible man power to take them all out.
I guessed it was best not to think about it, I was already trying my best to take my mind off the way Naruto's face would look if I walked out of the gates without him.
It was like a death sentence for me to leave and we both knew it.
Well maybe he didn't know that I knew it, but I did and it hurt.
Right deep down inside of me, it seemed to rip me apart.
Because I knew that I wanted to live to see the smiling faces of my dearest friends.
I wanted to see Naruto become Hokage!
And the dorm would hold pretty much the end of my life, yet I found myself wanting to go.
Just to see, not to accept it just maybe a glance at what the scroll said.
----------------
The wind blew in through the kitchen window and I realised I'd been standing on the backside of the door for almost a half an hour as I pondered the thought that now seemed to be on a constant loop in my mind.
But as I walked into my kitchen and stared out of the window at the way Shizune had headed, I knew; I couldn't dare face the walk to my dorm knowing what fate I could have.
If I never opened it at least I could stay in the blissful time where I was free of problems.
Yet I wasn't free of problems being that my mind would still be thinking of him, and that scroll and the mission.
But I couldn't go.
I could barely think about anything else and so I had to tear my mind away.
I looked around me and could see the disgusting way that my house had been left.
There were cups and plates left from days before if not weeks, I always found it difficult to bring myself to clean a kitchen.
For any other room it never seemed to make a difference to me but a kitchen seemed too grimy but I soon found myself sifting through the very same plates and cups placing them at the sink and turning on the water letting them soak for a little while.
I shined up the counter and took a few deep breaths leaning against the newly polished counter.
It had seemed shorter than I'd expected but distantly I heard the Grandfather clock chime loudly and I could feel my body shudder with its sound.
I actually hated being alone in the downstairs of my own home; it was empty without other people.
Unlike the upstairs, because well usually a family would live downstairs.
Being upstairs it was just as if I was alone anyway.
My mother would sleep in her room and I'd sleep in mine, we'd barely cross paths upstairs but while standing alone in the Kitchen I felt lonely.
Like I was in need of someone's constant company, I guess to keep me happy, to keep me sane, without him.
Without Sasuke.
But with the news of this new mission, my thoughts were occupied.
My once wandering vacant mind was now filled with question, but also… boundaries.
I pushed away from the counter and wandered my home; taking no detailed attention to my familiar surroundings and just merely pondering today's events. They'd really affected me, even without obvious intention. But then again once being told the information I had could you blame me?
I scanned the vicinity and found my sea foam eyes glued to the clouds that passed through the light blue sky.
Maybe I was destined for this crucial mission, when his midnight eyes had looked at me that very last time, they'd done so much more damage than anyone could've expected. I could see them even now, six years after, like he was still only stood mere centimetres from me.
My mind followed the winding path into the part of me that longed for him still, the part of me that had stayed 12 years old and could see him stood still, hands in his pocket and his head bowed to hide his selfless smile.
I closed my eyes and could see him clear as day, but he blurred as droplets made their way down my face.
They were warm and as I wiped them away I wondered how I could still accumulate tears when you would've thought I ran.
I was then interrupted as I heard a rapping sort of noise at the door; this was then followed by the sound of shuffling feet, two short raspy coughs and then a calling of my name.
A familiar process if any and I knew that it was best to wipe away my last tears and inwardly smiled at Naruto's oblivious state; the poor boy didn't even notice that he always repeated this process whenever he decided to visit me at home.
Part of me wished to tell him but then the other part queried and I quite liked to know it was him. Therefore knowing it was him would always freak him out when I'd know it was him before answering.
But yet I sighed knowing that he could be playing Tsunade's "barer of bad news". I called to him saying that I was coming while desperately trying to hide my blurred vision but his constant rapping increased and his voice had the hint of anger that put me on edge.
My hopes that this visit would be pleasant then diminished as I realised he never got angry with me.
I began then to quickly jog toward the door and could see his dark shadow through it, still.
Stiff.
I took a deep breath and as I reached for the handle I knew he wouldn't greet me with his everyday smile.
No, upon opening the door he just stood there, head down.. Silent.
"Naruto?" I asked, bending slightly as to see his whiskered face.
He gave no reply, just fumbled in his deep pockets.
I blinked at him before moving aside and gesturing him to enter.
He obliged- yet his head still bowed down as before. I knew then what was to come but silently I just let myself close the door and savour my peaceful moment before Naruto began with unavoidable bad news.
His breathing was steady, yet his hands hadn't stopped themselves fidgeting since he had screamed out for me earlier.
So unexpectedly I took his shaking hands causing his to glance up at me with a distant, lost look in his cerulean eyes. I blinked and he stepped away from me, his back to my face.
Inwardly, I managed a chuckle knowing that I'd have to fake a reaction for Naruto's sake.
But the tall blonde sighed and his hands fell to his sides; one of which loosely holding a scroll.
My heart made an extra-thump in its rib-cage as he seemed to chuckle under his breath.
"I knew I'd be alone in the end-" He didn't finish his sentence but his hand seemed to wipe a stray tear.
"Naruto I-"
"Sakura-chan" He interrupted me. "Often even the strongest and most successful of shinobi die alone" He paused, a cough overtaking him and I reached my hand toward his back but at my touch his body stiffened and he took a sharp, audible inward breath. "Never would I want to see my friends die alone Sakura"
I nod in his direction and he acknowledged me although he hadn't been facing me.
I just knew he knew y'know?
----------------
For a little while silence had struck both Naruto and myself, it was unusual for us both to stay this quite but at the same time neither of us seemed bothered.
I just merely pondered his words, there were only two explanations I could think of; Naruto had no idea that I was secretly informed of my mission and was going to explain his statements or that he knew that I'd overheard his earlier conversation with Tsunade-sama and his statements had been his way of letting me know that he'd hate me to die on my lone mission.
Either way he suddenly turned to face me showing his teary eyes but warm smile in a way that I knew he was trying to hide how he really felt. Lonely, deserted … Lost.
The feelings he'd felt when every one of his close friends left him.
Funnily enough he was mirroring emotions that I'd tried so hard to hide on numerous occasions.
His free hand cupped my face and he let another single tear once again roll down his face before closing in on me. The scroll he'd once held had dropped and made a large clatter on the floor but he didn't seem to care as his now free hand held the other side of my face then he did something unexpected.
He leaned in and slowly closed of his cerulean eyes from view and his lips hovered mine slightly; his musky yet fresh scent lingering in my senses.
He moved forward and bumped his lips onto my own as if accidental and there he was… kissing me.
My eyes closed and a million thoughts flew through my mind.
My best friend, cupping my face, kissing my lips and yet although it should have been wrong it wasn't our moment of lust or passion.
No, when he was there in front of me with his eyes letting tears fall freely he was kissing me in fear.
Whether fear of losing another lifelong friend or fear of never being able to kiss me at the opportune moment, I didn't care.
His kiss was showing the care he couldn't tell me in his own words.
So as I broke the kiss and hugged him close it was out of friendship for the only boy who had ever cared to understand.
Naruto Uzamaki, a name you never could forget.
He sighed and let his large hands that had just been gripping me tightly, fall to his sides as he placed a gentle kiss upon my forehead.
"Sorr-"
"There's no need" I said interrupting his apology. My eyes creased as I smiled at him and he blushed oh-so-slightly before giving a half genuine smile back at me.
It was weird, Naruto and I had grown into our understanding of each others mental and physical strength but when it came to intimacy and feeling both of us seemed apologetic and weak.
Naruto sighed and picked up the scroll he'd previously dropped.
I blinked though, as he held it out to me.
I lifted my hand and touched the soft green ribbon that tightly wrapped the scroll and my eyes slightly widened knowing that Green ribbon always meant S-rank missions.
"You don't have to Sakura-chan" He said and I signalled a dignified nod toward him, but looking at it's unopened state and already knowing what it would say how could I possibly refuse.
Gently I unwrapped the green ribbon and watched as it fell to the floor gracefully; filling the floor space between Naruto and myself, I then let the end of the scroll unravel and unknowingly had began to read the kanji of my name.
Yet Naruto stopped me and tugged at my arm while looking towards on of the low sofa's that resided in the room next to this. Knowing what he was implying I followed him without realising the even he'd have to sit down for this.
Once perched on the end of my seat I spread the scroll out on the coffee table in front and began reading, as did Naruto.
----------------
Haruno Sakura,
Since I met you and your team colleagues all that time ago I knew that you were wishing to excel above them and be treated as an equal. Being that Naruto and Sasuke seemed at such a higher level than you, it degrades your well-being and you have less confidence, you live your life being saved.
But you are not weak Sakura; you just need to save yourself.
The first; My Grandfather once told me that it isn't physical strength of a shinobi that matters but their ability to see a loved one leave you but know that without tears any shinobi can live and still feel a spirit with them.
At the time it made no sense to me but I believe now because you have cried many tears for you to live on happily you need the recognition from him.
You have mental and physical strength and yet the one that left you was your re-assurance, he is your heart.
Mission Details:
Required shinobi to leave Konahagakure (Hidden village in the leaves- Land of Fire): Haruno Sakura
Age: 18
Retrieve: Uchiha Sasuke
Items origin: Otogakure (Hidden village in the sound- Land of Sound)
Dispatch: None
Assassinate: None
Companions: Take no one, unless wanted.
Information:
I the Hokage of Konahagakure and
We the Shinobi of Konahagakure give permission to send Haruno Sakura from the Hidden village in the leaves to retrieve Uchiha Sasuke, missing Nin for questioning upon his whereabouts and other vital information.
The required shinobi for this mission is forbidden to deliver or assassinate any and if the aforehand are taken out then serious consequences will be required.
Faithfully, Tsunade. (Fifth Hokage)
----------------
I felt as if I needed to read the words again, to check.
Like it was unreal, I began to start again on the scroll but a single tear fell and hit the kanji of "Faithfully" making it blur therefore unreadable.
Naruto's hand lifted my chin and I cringed knowing that he'd see my teary eyes once again.
Yet I found myself hating my own words as I saw watery trails also on his whiskered face.
Yet again, Naruto had known just how I felt, if not better than I did.
My eyes warmed to his half hearted smile and I never felt as understood as I did then. But his smile faded and his head dropped down.
"I broke my promise Sakura-chan" He began and he lifted his head back up making his eyes bore into my own. "I can't do it, I can't bring him to you" His voice was hinting at somewhat hysterical. "I tried, I did"
His head lowered again and he bit his lip and I saw obvious tears still brimming the surface of his eyes.
"Sakura, I did" He began his voice now wavering with also a deep sadness as well as its previous hysteria. "I tried so hard, I tried, tried" Before I knew it his repetitive words had lulled me making me oblivious as he grabbed me and let his arms pull me in. "I'm sorry Sakura" He began to bury his head into my shoulder.
Even though I was considerably shorter than him he still seemed to fit.
His scent was still lingering him and as I felt warmth around me I could help but fit my arms around him.
"I tried" He whispered.
"So hard.
I tried.
I did"
"I know Naruto, its okay now" I whispered back.
----------------
Naruto had left pretty quickly after I'd told him I accepted he couldn't bring Sasuke back. We stopped hugging and suddenly our peaceful embrace became un-easy and awkward. But I'd flashed Naruto a sweet smile and walked with him down my street before hugging him once again and watching him slowly walk away.
It had been like a goodbye but less … formal.
----------------
The Fifth Hokage
Tsunade.
Lifting a familiar miniature cup I sighed to myself wondering if I'd done what was right for her. But then again I could do nothing now.
It was her choice whether to go or not and yet I felt as if I was pressuring her.
But it was the only way I could show her my trust in her, she was perfect for the retrieval and no-one would benefit from it as much as she.
Tonton was breathing peaceful on Shizune's lap as usual and I laughed knowing really I should take better care of him, he was my pig after all. Shizune however was not so peaceful, in fact she was anxiously biting her nails and her eyes were darting around every now and again.
Suddenly a barely audible whine was heard and I shook my head letting my eyelids fall over my eyes and sipping from my cup.
But a loud squealing was heard and my eyes shot open focusing on a dark haired woman.
"She can't do it Tsunade-sama" She said to me while pacing back and forth afore my desk. Tonton lay dazed on the floor grunting at his sudden fall and Shizune almost squished him while doing her repeated pacing.
"She is a capable girl, she can look after herself" I began using my re-assuring tone once again on Shizune but she interrupted by slamming palms on my desk and making a stubborn face.
"But this capability Tsunade. This is death!"
At that note my muddyish looking eyes narrowed and an unfamiliar, think silence entered the room. I knew Shizune like the back of my hand and I knew a lot of the time she overreacted yet at the moment the worry that filled the features of her face was the exact same worry that was boiling in my stomach.
"Death or not, this is Sakura's choice. I don't wish to lose worthy shinobi but Sakura-"
"Knows him" Shizune had taken the words out of my mouth and I just nodded slowly as her eyes seemed to glaze.
Who better to send, I knew that on the inside Sakura would have never let Sasuke take his dreaded steps out of Konaha.
But if things did lead to Sakura's death I think anyone who knew her would be pleased to know she died in pursuit of her only loved one.
Tonton snorted and Shizune picked him up abruptly.
"I trust her, she will do whatever she can to bring him home" I said standing from my comfortable chair and facing the series of large windows that looked across the village.
My eyes scanned over the roads and I heard the faint footsteps before the sounds of an opening door then a closing door and footsteps again; slowly fading.
"I do trust you Sakura"
A/N- I'm not sorry for this tiny bit of NaruXSaku becuase I think it brings them closer togther and it is explained. I do hope everyone liked this chapter I'm hoping to keep it as eventful as this -
Please review I really need the advise -
I love you all
RYOUKOx