"eat up Naruto…" she commanded, showing the spoon into his face. Naruto glared and crossed his arms, refusing to swallow the 'infected' food. Sakura sighed.
"Naruto, I know you are the Hokage, but stop acting like a child and eat…"
His gaze rested on her hands. Scars that have been made recently and years back, with a soft swift of his hand his traced the biggest one, making her twitch in surprise.
"Naruto!"
He looked up and grinned, making her want to strangle him. "What is your problem? I am trying to help you here…"
He turned his face in disgust. "Not with that stuff in your hands…"
She sighed again and slammed the pottery back on the table. "What the hell is your problem, I am trying to help you…" she said, more like a statement than a question.
Naruto turned his face back to her, watching as she brushed her pink hair behind her ear. His eyebrows moving downwards, Sakura looked up and tilted her head to the side. "Something wrong?"
"Sakura…why did you save the tsuhikage…"
Her eyes widened a bit before she scratched her neck. "Well…uhm…because…" she noticed the confusion in his eyes and sighed.
"The thing is…" her hands went to her lap. "While I saw you lying there…I suddenly remembered everything we went through, and…I remembered…"
As if the theme was something completely common to talk about she picked up an apple from her bag.
"I remembered how we used to be together, team seven…" a pause. "How foolish we really were…"
She picked up the knife from the table and began to cut the apple.
"I think…I sorta needed to make him live…I needed to be responsible for a foreign life so I wouldn't depend on you so much…that you were alive…" she smiled, "I guess it was my medic feelings…the urge to make people live…"
She lowered the knife and Naruto followed it with his eyes. "Maybe because I felt guilty…like he was the same as everyone else, he has someone who loves him, cares for him. I think…I saw Sasuke-kun in him…despite how cold, evil and harmful he can be to others we still cared for him…"
-
"I love you Sasuke-kun! I love you so much!"
-
Her eyes rested at the sharp edge of the knife.
"I think…I pitied him…I don't want to be responsible for his death, knowing that if I chose to let him die someone will hate me…"
-
"How can I smile again…knowing that it was my fault that he died…?"
-
"However…you…I…"
"Naruto-kun…" a shaky voice spoke from the doorway, causing both of them to turn their head. Hinata whose head was bandaged, and had a large bruise on her left arm stood there twitching nervously. Sakura noted the look she gave Naruto and sighed, knowing that she would only be in the way right now.
"See you later Naruto…" she said and placed the apple on the table.
-
The apples flew through the air as Sasuke rejected her simple gesture of affection. Both she and Naruto stood paralyzed, watching the Uchiha heir glare at his blonde companion, Sakura forgotten.
Always forgotten.
-
"Ah, Sakura-san…" an older voice spoke from behind, making her turn surprised. "Rin-san? What can I help you with…?" Rin smiled and handed her a medic list with names, most of them having a mark.
"I have to go Sakura-san, Kakashi-san asked me to join him at Obito's grave…" Sakura noted the sad expression when Rin said Obito's name.
Sakura took the list and smiled. "Of course Rin-san, I will take over; I just finished my own list…"
Rin stared at her for a while before smiling. "Sakura-san…you seem happy…"
"I do?" she muttered puzzled with a hint of surprise.
"Yes…maybe it was good for you returning to Konoha, meeting with your old bonds, old friends…"
Sakura pouted and placed her hands on her hips. "I haven't seen anyone except Naruto and Kakashi lately, not even Ino."
Rin chuckled, something that was foreign for Sakura. "Well, you do seem pretty close to the Hokage…" she blinked with her eye, motioning the pink haired girl to follow her thoughts.
-
"It sure is nice of you to treat your girlfriend Naruto-kun!" the Ramen owner winked.
-
"No! Rin-san! Geez…I thought you knew me better than that…" Sakura exclaimed, clearly in shock that the elder woman even suggested such a thing.
Rin continued smiling. "I think he is a nice boy, and you are a nice girl…maybe you should look at him in another way perhaps…"
Sakura glared, "we will not continue this conversation Rin-san" she turned around on her heals and marched off into the other directions, leaving a smiling Rin behind.
-
"Ano…Naruto-kun…thank you for rescuing me back then I really appreciate it…" Hinata began to fumble with her fingers and couldn't look at him for one second.
Naruto grinned. "Hey! I am not the Hokage for nothing you know"
Hinata smiled, still not looking at him. "I know…Naruto-kun, and…and you are great at it…"
"Ahahahahaha!" he laughed, his cheeks red from the sweet comment. "Of course I am!"
Hinata stopped fumbling with her fingers and moved to her pants. Naruto looked up again. "Oh! Hey Hinata! How about we go out and eat once I am out of this dreaded room…"
The white-eyed Hyuga girl stared at him surprised before she fell backwards with a loud thump.
"Hinata!"
-
"Hm…it's Sakura…"
Like slow-motion she felt herself turn her head abnormally slow, teasing her eyes was the grim picture of her former friend. Her eyes wide as realisation hit her senses.
"Sasuke…"
There was no way; it couldn't be the boy standing on the cliff, looking down at her.
"…-kun…"
-
Naruto got curios when someone knocked on the door again. "Who dares to disturb the Hokage!" he grinned. With a soft creek it opened, causing Naruto's eyes to widen.
"Ero-sennin?"
"Yo Naruto…geez what has happened to you huh? Girl-fight…"
"…………………Ero-sennin you pervert…"
-
"Don't worry, just rest a couple of days and you'll be ready for trial." Sakura said uninterested in the Kage before her. He smiled.
"You are a nice medic, but I never really caught your name…"
She looked at him sternly. "Haruno Sakura…"
He continued to smile. "That's a pretty name…" she glared. "Still don't trust me Sakura-sama…"
She pushed him down in the bed and checked his fever. "I have a reason not too, you almost killed my best friend and his friend…all of Konoha for that sake, my family…I have no reason to like you either…"
His smile was replaced with a frown. "And I could say the same thing to you Sakura-sama…"
"You could, but it was you who chose to attack…you knew the consequences…" she turned her head and tilted it to the left, forcing a smile on her face. "That is why I treat you like you do…you might have precious persons to you, but I will not let you take mine away…"
"I see that your fake smile hasn't changed…"
Sakura turned her face around and so did the Kage, wondering who spoke to her in such a rude manner. Her eyes widened in a happy surprise. "Sai!"
As he always did he smiled kindly and Sakura had learned a long time ago how to see through his real and fake smiles. This was a grateful one.
"I heard you came back and I thought that I should kindly visit my old team-mate as a friendly gesture…"
She placed her hands on her hips. "Geez…you are even worse than Naruto..."
Sai stood emotionless but she noticed that his left eye twitched a bit. "I would prefer that you didn't refer me to that dope with a Pen-"
A hand quickly covered his mouth as she whispered dangerously. "You listen to me…there is a Kage in this room…so "
"behave…"
He was quiet for a while before nodding, knowing when to stop with this girl, unless he wanted a broken cheekbone. No, Sai had never enjoyed it.
The Kage seemed amused by the situation. He chuckled inwards; maybe this was how the Konoha ninjas behaved around each other, the women bossy and the men weak. This made him wonder how the Hokage had managed to defeat him at all.
-
"I won't let you destroy my dream!" the blond-haired boy screamed as he assembled the rasengan in his hand. "I won't let you kill my precious people…" cracking his knuckles before he flew towards the petrified TsuchiKage.
"I have lost one too much!"
The pain hit him and the strange twirling sensation in his stomach was anything but soothing. "Because you didn't kill your best friend…!" Naruto slammed his fist into his face.
"Because you didn't make your best female friend go away! Loosing her too!" tears streamed down Naruto's face as he hit him again.
"Because you weren't alone! You probably had people with you all the way…!"
The rock ninjas eyes widened as they saw their Kage fly to the ground.
"Because I love those I have more than anything! Because I lost what I treasured the most!"
-
He frowned, and wondered who his female friend might be.
What had made the kid so strong?
-
Sakura was out of the hospital late at night, finally ending her work with the patient. Who knew that they could be so demanding at times?
Stepping with tired steps into the lobby she noticed a blond woman sit with a wailing baby in her arms. "Temari?"
The woman looked up, revealing the trademark of many sand-nins, green eyes. They showed her pride and her obvious self-esteem, she was a strong woman. Sakura smiled. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the mist?"
"…" No answer.
"Temari?" her hand softly reached out to touch her shoulder but the figure disappeared along side with the room. Terrified by the sudden change she stepped backwards only to meet the solid body of another person.
"Hm…its Sakura…" eyes wide she jumped forward and turned around. The onyx eyes that had haunted her for years stood before her, cold as they had always been, terrifying as she remembered them.
"B…bu…you're dead!"
She flinched. "Sasuke….kun…" He stared at her emotionless, as if he was in deep thought. Her brain taking over, she pinched her arm, trying to see if she felt any pain.
With a hiss she released her flesh, cursing, she was under a genjutsu. The question was when and how…?
As she felt backwards she realised that this weren't a genjutsu.
-
"Tsunade-sama!..."
It was dark, even when the lights were on Sakura thought it was too dark. "Tsunade-sama…"
Sakura wasn't afraid of the dark, more like frogs, snakes and that bastard Orochimaru. Narrowing her eyes further she stomped through the hallway in search for her master.
Tsunade-sama had offered her to stay over night so that they could continue her special training before dawn. It didn't affect Sakura as much as it should, maybe because she had spend many other nights in the Hokage tower, so she knew her way around.
"Tsunade-sama…"
However, she couldn't find her teacher anywhere. Crossing a corner and a turn to the left she entered the guest chambers. Tsunade didn't keep many of them, mostly Kage's if they came or royalties, sometimes if a friend from the past came by.
Mostly it was just her and Shizune who slept there, sometimes she though she could here Tsunade talk to someone there. It was mostly hissing, like an argument, but she held a different tone, a caring touch.
Sakura was growing impatient and thought that she might as well get some sleep. Walking down the little staircase of only five steps she noticed the light in the room on the corner. Curiosity getting the better of her she used her shinobi skills and sneaked along with the wall.
"Tsunade-hime…what are you doing? I am trying to sleep…" a tired voice spoke. The rustle of clothes told her that her teacher crossed her arms offended as she so often did. Sakura rolled her eyes. Some things just never changes.
"Jirayia I would suggest that you behave…"
"What for? You slam me into the wall anyway…"
"…aren't you supposed to be training with Naruto? Where is he! You know that Akatsuki are searching for him!"
The rustle of the sheets brought her attention. "Tsunade…you are too concerned…stop spoiling the kid…"
The shouji door fell victim to Tsunade's anger, but Jirayia seemed unaffected.
"I would like to sleep Tsunade; Naruto awaits me in the morning…"
She was angry, and the Hokage quickly stomped off, leaving a puzzled Jirayia behind. Was she PMS'ing?
-
Sakura opened her eyes and found herself lying in her bed in the Hokage tower. Trying to control her breath she covered her eyes with her right arm. Unexplainable tears made their way down her cheek. "Tsunade-sama…"
-
"You are not my apprentice for nothing Sakura…"
-
Naruto stretched his toes out, bending them, causing them to crack. Sighing in satisfaction he felt the need to get ready to meet Hinata, it wasn't a fancy dinner, just a friendly chat.
Grinning he stretched his arms upward; he had the feeling that today was a good day.
His door clicked open and revealed his pink-haired partner. "Yo! Sakura…"
"..."
He raised an eyebrow at her missing answer, usually it would be 'baka' or 'baka Naruto', but there was nothing. She had bangs underneath her eyes and she looked like she had been crying. Naruto got concerned. "Sak..."
Before he could say anything else her hand covered his mouth. "Don't…I am fine…go eat with Hinata…" she released his mouth.
"H…Hinata! You knew about that…?"
She glared at him. "Naruto I am not stupid…why would you dress like that if it wasn't for the fact that you were going on a date, and the only girl I could imagine you ask at the moment is Hinata…so off you go…"
Naruto came to the conclusion that Sakura was scary when she was in a bad mood. Strangely it seemed like a deja-vu of their past, but without a Sasuke in it. With a stiff face he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Sakura…what is wrong…"
She stopped, and looked into the wood of the desk, closing her eyes. "Not now Naruto…you have a da-"
He tightened his hold on her. "No! You are the person I care about most in this world! You know me for who I am Sakura…and I know you…I try to…and I don't like you hiding things for me…"
She sighed. "Not now Naru…"
"Sakura! Don't do this to me…please…"
A small splat was heard when a small drop of water hid the hard surface of the desk. Sakura had already covered her eyes with her right hand, causing Naruto to worry even more. "Naruto…" she hiccupped.
If he wasn't so worried about her he would have smiled, knowing that what he saw now was the Sakura he had always known. However, when she turned, her eyes wore a pleading look, he felt his heart leap.
"Naruto…"
she broke down right then and there. Her eyes full of tears that seemed to have no end, her face covered by her hands as if shielding herself from the world. Naruto was frightened and against all of his logic he did something he had never done before.
He hugged her.
-
Temari awoke lazily and turned in the bed. It was a small house in a poor envirement, and according to Shikamaru they were pretty rich. Groaning she buried her head into the soft texture of the pillow, sighing comfortably.
"Temari-san…I think your husband wants to speak with you…" Temari opened one eye and watched the owner of the house stand politely in the doorway. "I don't have husband…" she muttered.
Tsunami frowned. "I know that you had a fight with him not so long ago, but thinking of a divorce so early is-"
"We are not married…"
The older dark-haired woman stared at her surprised and then at the baby. If she knew the Suna well enough it was a taboo having a child outside marriage…
"But…"
"Don't worry….when I recover I'll go home and leave the boy alone, let him find a wife, and get his own children…"
Tsunami didn't like her way of thought and sat beside her, Temari's child secure in her arms. "Well…don't you want to stay with him…?"
"I am a sand, I have higher priorities, things like that comes second…" she stared at the flowery pattern on her pillow. "We are from two different countries…we are split between ourselves…" the darkness from her eyes felt comfortable to her. "We are not children anymore…he knows that…sacrifices needs to be made…"
-
Don't underestimate the pride of a sand woman, when she is hurt she will do everything to abandon you, and she will do it in the cruelest way, and the most hurtful way. If she leaves you kindly, without any misery it is worse than the latter. Because then you can be sure you'll never see her again.
-
The Hyuuga resident was big, but not as big as the Hokage resident. Naruto grinned big, it was dark but the moon shone brightly. Hinata fumbled with her fingers beside him, wondering what to say, the embarrassing silence continued.
"So well…" he started. "We are here…thanks for the dinner Hinata!" he grinned. The black-haired girl blushed a bit crimson, turning her head away. "Y…you are welcome Naruto-kun…"
"You fine on your own now? Because my desk must be flooding with papers right now…" he frowned when thinking about how much Sakura would scold him when he got back. Hinata noticed and quickly bid him farewell, which he grinned at and waved, watching her walk her way back into the Hyuuga resident, a small blush visible on her face.
-
Sakura sat silently on the ground, her knees folded and her hand touching the name of the tombstone. "I can't believe Tsunade let you burry this far away…"
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the cool surface. "I don't understand, years pass by and the pain seems to increase so much…" her hand touched the spot above her heart, wondering why her heart suddenly ached.
"Oh Sasuke-kun…"
"We loved you so much…I ne…never wanted it to become like this…"
She sat still for a while, drying her eyes, even though she weren't crying. When she stopped she stared at the name, whishing that she had seen the person alive beside her, cold glare or not, he would still be there. Maybe, just maybe he would love her.
She placed her head on her knees and closed her eyes.
She just wanted to see him, she just wanted Sasuke to know how much…
...just how much she loved him, with all her heart, she never wanted to kill him, never wanted to be responsible. All she wanted to was to teach him how to love, and maybe love her back…with Naruto by their side.
"Sakura-chan?"
She didn't look up.
The sound of footsteps hurrying across the stones should be comforting, but Sakura wanted to be alone.
A hand on her shoulder made her tense. "Sakura-chan…w…what are you doing out here?"
"…"
"Sakura!"
"Leave me alone!" she screamed and buried her head further into her knees. Naruto looked sad, rejected somehow. "Sakura-chan…"
"Goddamnit Naruto! I don't need you to comfort me! I am fine…"
He sighed…and sat down beside her.
They sat like that for a long time before Sakura finally turned her gaze upwards and met his.
For some unfamiliar reason his cheeks suddenly flushed and she narrowed her eyes. "Why are you doing this Naruto…?"
"Eh?"
She turned her gaze towards the grave. "Always helping people…wanting them to try their best, and they do…you make them trust you with their life…and even let you decide whether or not they should live…" his blush disappeared and she let him touch her back again.
"I don't know Sakura…I just think…" he met her gaze.
"I don't think I can watch you die…I just…" his hand wandered unconsciously to her hands and he took it in his own.
Naruto knew she needed comfort, but he was surprised the she let him touch him.
"I don't want to be alone Sakura-chan…"
Her eyes were normal as she gazed back at him. He grinned awkwardly, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "…and you shouldn't be alone too…"
When her face came nearer his, his eyes widened in surprise and nervousness. His cheeks were a bright red colour and so were hers, maybe a bit lighter perhaps, but it was visible.
It was a strange situation; here they sat, beside a tomb of their old best friend. A companion they had killed unwillingly. So close to each other, and if Naruto had to be honest he had never in his life been so close to a girl, and never one he had loved as much as her.
"Naruto…" she whispered and closed her eyes, her lips and inch from his.
Naruto felt all of sudden that he couldn't breathe, there was no way he could do this, it would destroy everything! Their friendship! They were just companions; they hadn't had contact for six years!
Yet his mouth moved by a force he couldn't help, she was afterall…
"Sakura-chan…"
They sat like that for a while, an inch from each other, Naruto's hand in her right, and her left hand on his shoulder, her own head titling a bit to the right. She wanted to kiss him; no doubt about that.
She might have some sort of feelings for him, but Sakura was not that kind of person to start a relationship on such weak kind of emotions. So why was she about to kiss him?
She opened her eyes and saw the nervous yet exited look on his face, his eyes closed.
She closed her own and whispered. "Don't…just forget what happened here tonight okay…"
Naruto relaxed a bit and sighed. "Yes…"
Then she kissed him. A light cherry kiss on his unexpected lips and he tensed immediately, his heart racing, just like when he was twelve, but something prevented him from enjoying it…
…to be honest, Naruto thought it was wrong, so he pushed her away.
"Sakura-chan…I…I just can't…it feels wrong…"
Sakura had an expressionless face when he said those words, as if she wasn't listening, Naruto frowned and stood up, making sure that she followed him. She brushed a hand across her lips, which Naruto didn't see.
Turning his head back to her he dragged her with him. He had taken the job of walking both of them home to the Hokage-tower. Because something went completely wrong that day…
-
"Sasuke-kun"
-
Edited first time.
A/N: don't worry! Arrgh! I know I made them OOC, and you can flame me for it.
1: you said it was NaruSaku!
It is! However, I need to show the progress, even though it was a bad NaruSaku moment, and don't expect anything until 2 chapters ahead. This is a NaruSaku with a few other pairings.
2: What is wrong with Temari?
Nothing, she is just Temari, might be clingy but she isn't stupid, she knows Shikamaru, and it is obvious that the baby wasn't wanted, so she wants Shikamaru to continue his own life, with his own lazy dreams, because she has the ability to live on by herself.
3: I want NaruHina moments!
There will be a few…….but I am not worshipping the couple, so don't flame me about it.
4: What is wrong with Sakura?
What is wrong? Oh, where to start. How would you behave if you were responsible for your best friend dead?
Everything is copyrighted by Kishimoto.
Review or flame me if necessary.
