Hey guys - the reason why I haven't updated this fic for about three months, was because I was going to take some time out and focus on my other fics and some cool ideas I have. However, I though 'naaaah' and decided to ditch that plan and continue with this series. I've been writing it for about two years now - and if I don't continue, then I'll never finish. Because with each chapter, I get further to my goal.

By the way, I'm very sorry this chapter isn't very long, but I felt that it really didn't need to be - taking into account the situation and stuff ect.

Please review (:

"... Blah ... " - Speech

" ... Blah ... " - Thoughts and flashbacks

" ... Blah ..." - Kyuubi and Haekeri

Betrayal 3: Destiny's Darkness

Chapter Two: Here and Now

-&-

Four years later.

"Thank you very much." Sakura Haruno shot a smile in the direction of the customer who had just left the store, clutching the huge bouquet of lilies. The girl's smile switched immediately to a frown as she tried to busy herself with re-arranging the already perfect vase of tulips on the counter in Ino's flower shop. She was feeling very restless that very morning. Even after she had woken up and pulled open her curtains to the grey rain - she felt uneasy.. edgy.

The twenty-two year old sighed heavily and rested her chin upon the polished surface of the till. She blatantly ignored the 'refill paper' flashing on the mini screen and let her mind wander aimlessly elsewhere.

Dammit - why did she have to do that? Was it not only two days ago when Tsunade had given an hour sermon on 'how-not-to-daydream-during-surgery-you-stupid-girl!'?

"'Lives are at risk here!'" Sakura mocked quietly. "Well no shit. And here I was, under the impression that I was operating on vegetables."

She sighed once more and lazily flicked open her mobile phone, fresh from her shorts' pocket. No messages, no missed calls, no nothing. Well it was only two minutes ago that she last checked anyway. Honestly - if she didn't want this job in Ino's shop, then why did she agree to do it anyway? It made every Thursday and Friday go nail-bitingly slow.

Well at least she had a job, Naruto hadn't bothered and relied solely on the money received from petty missions. They together had conquered some major ones too, but since Kakashi died, team 7 had kind of... Well evaporated. So Sakura had no momentum any more to continue becoming a ninja and settled for part citizen, part medical worker.

The days now seemed longer and passed by with a huge effort. She could honestly feel herself falling painfully into complete zombie-mode. Soon enough, she'd be questioning her existence on this earth and would prefer being better off like Kakashi or Kimoko.

Kimoko.

Sakura still didn't like to mention that name, even after four years it still brought back painful memories from when her friend had died. It seemed to Sakura as if everyone else had moved on though. Naruto, Sasuke, Shu .. Even Ashi - Kimoko's son! Even in Konoha, major changes were occurring all around the town. For one thing, Ino had gotten herself hugely pregnant by dear old and confused Shikamaru, while Tenten, Hinata and Temari had landed themselves great career opportunities and marriages - not to mention that Neji and Kiba were running their own ANBU squads now.

Everyone had moved on. Except Sakura.

.. Or that's how it felt anyway.

And what about that stupid prophecy?

She was alerted out of her sub-conscious by a sudden vibrating, she reached down and whipped out her phone again, scanning the screen with squinted eyes.

"Sakura" the text message read. "I need to talk to you and Naruto later on. It's pretty important. Come round about 6. Sasuke."

She thrust it back into her jeans. "Not even a 'how are you?'" She grumbled.

Due to the time on her pink watch, it was nearing three, so Sakura could close up right now and head home for a nice shower and some dinner.. Oh who was she kidding? Naruto would be on the sofa with a glass of sake and kicking off his slippers so the whole house stank of socks.

She supposed he changed too.

Sakura hastily got up from the little stool behind the counter and grabbed her bag which was concealed behind her. She changed the window sign to 'closed' and quickly locked up and deposited them through Ino's letterbox next door. She clacked down the empty cobbled street in her sandals and embraced the near silence.