Hello, my precious...esssss... 3
Chapter 3:
Understood-
A Chance to Understand What She Meant
"Mom, why do the best people die?"
"When you go to a garden, which flowers do you pick?"
"The most beautiful ones."
About 4 years in the future...after the 4th Shinobi War...with Naruto and Tsunade
"Ne, Granny Tsunade," Naruto said, his eyes foggy. There were traces of dried tears on his face. He was wearing his old green t-shirt with the red Hidden Eddies symbol on the front and his face had bandages where Sasuke had hit him. He still had both arms intact, just bruised.
Normally, Tsunade would have beat the shit of of the young man, but she felt so hollow inside, she didn't have the strength to do it.
Right now, they were in the Hokage's make-shift office in the middle of reconstruction. After the final battle, Sasuke mutely decided he would break the genjutsu and set the Tailed beasts free in the process. When Naruto came to Tsunade, with Sakura's cold, pale body cradled in his arms, Tsunade thought she was just injured and she was unconscious. She could see the peaceful smile on her apprentice's face and she felt relieved to see her unharmed. Then she saw the hole.
Unfortunately for Tsunade, her fantasy was short lived.
FLASHBACK TIME: AFTER SASUKE BROKE THE GENJUTSU AND FREED EVERYONE...
Naruto laid Sakura down, her head elevated on his lap as Tsunade calmly walked to him and kneeled down next to her, smiling a little. She was still thinking she was just injured. Her hands glowed minty green as she hovered her hands over the gaping hole in Sakura's chest.
"Wake up, Sakura," She called gently, trying to get her to react. She wasn't. She didn't move a muscle.
Tsunade wasn't even aware that there were tears building at the corners of her eyes. "Sakura, I said wake up!" She said louder.
The tears streamed down Tsunade's face and dropped on Sakura's peaceful face. "Sakura Haruno, as your master, I command you to wake up!" She yelled to her, and her voice cracked. She has never yelled at Sakura, but it flew past Sakura's deaf ears.
Naruto and Kakashi sadly watched the heart broken master of their teammate. Naruto started to cry silently as well.
Tsunade continued to yell at her as she healed the gaping hole, until the wound was full healed. Tsunade used so much chakra to heal her student, she didn't leave a scratch.
It showed how much she loved her apprentice. She didn't want to see her like this. It hurt just looking at her.
"Granny Tsunade."
She glared up at Naruto through the tears. "Who. Did. This?" She asked in a menacing voice, pausing at every word. Naruto's eyes widened, shocked. If looks could kill, Naruto would be dead already. Her eyes were hooded but her eyes were dark and blood lust showed in them. She will hunt who ever done this to her student to the end of the Earth and give them the worst possible death imaginable.
Naruto was silent for a moment. He didn't know what to do. Tell Tsunade Sasuke killed Sakura or keep silent?
To his relief, Kakashi spoke, his voice grim,"Gomen, Tsunade-sama. But I believe this is a bad time. For all of us."
Tsunade was breathing heavily and the light in her eyes dimmed. The blood lust in her eyes was replaced with sorrow and she looked down at Sakura's face, which was stained with her tears and Tsunade used her sleeve to gently wipe them off.
She threw herself over Sakura, sobbing into her chest. "Sakura, please wake up. I didn't get to -"
"TSUNADE-SAMA!"
Tsunade was startled and looked up at Naruto in shock. He never called her that before. Something must be really serious that he had to break her from her trance using her boss name.
"What's the matter, Naruto?" She asked as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. She had started crying sub-consciously again. Images of her dead apprentice and the blood that soaked her hands flashed in her mind.
She looked back at Naruto, trying to forget the horrible memories.
"Gomen, Granny Tsunade. I know that," Naruto paused, trying to think of a way to express the situation. "It's been really hard on you. It's been really hard on all of us. Ino won't come out of her room and Lee has been running laps around the area without any breaks and crying at the same time. There's practically puddles of tears all over the streets." He added, attempting to lighten the mood. It worked. Sort of.
Tsunade's eyes brightened slightly in amusement, but it wasn't cheerful. She had a small smile on her face, but it was sad.
Naruto continued grimmly. "Anyway, that's not what I came to talk to you about."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow in question.
"Before Sakura died, she told me to tell you this." Naruto paused to clear his throat. "I quote, 'Tell Tsunade-sama that I finally understand'...or something like that."
Tsunade blinked. She wondered, What could that mean?
"What didn't you tell me earlier? " She asked.
Naruto stayed silent, looking away. His face showed sadness. Tsunade nodded in understanding.
Naruto changed the subject. "Do you know what that means?"
Tsunade shook her head at him. "No. I don't recall any-"
She stopped in mid-sentence and gasped. Now she remembered.
FLASHBACK TIME: IN TSUNADE'S OFFICE YEARS AGO...WITH SAKURA AND TSUNADE (A/N: This was right after Sakura's second Chunnin exams BTW. Jiraiya was temporarily sent back to the Hidden Leaf (without Naruto) and was assigned on a slightly dangerous mission but it wasn't serious. This is not an episode. It's just for the story.)
After Jiraiya calmly left the office, Tsunade took a shot of sake out of anger.
"That damn perverted asshole. Going against my orders like that."
Sakura spoke up from her master's side. "I don't see anything to be mad about, Tsunade-sama," She adviced.
Tsunade looked at her with an eyebrow raised in question, still angry.
"Well," Sakura muttered. "Jiraiya-sama got the job done, didn't he? I know he could have gotten hurt -"
"You don't understand, Sakura."
Sakura craned her head in 's face turned serious as she gazed at her apprentice.
"He risked his life for something so stupid, just for a disobeyed my orders and put his life at risk. He could have died."
"I understand that, Tsunade-sama. But I just think that-"
Tsunade shook her head at her, cutting Sakura off.
"I don't want him to die," She said with her face hooded. "I don't want him to die for something like that. I don't want him to die at all. I don't want him to understand what it's like to die. Like Dan. And I hope you never have to either." She added. "I don't want my precious people to die."
Sakura was thoughtful as she listened to her master quietly.
End of Flashback
Naruto stared at Tsunade in shock as he watched her start crying again. She looked as if she was reliving a dream. Or a nightmare.
He walked over to her and had to tap on her shoulder a few times before she came to.
She blinked before she sniffled and wiped her tears away. She cursed under her breath and her voice trembled. "Damn it, I told her already. "
Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion. "You know what it means?"
Tsunade nodded in silence. Naruto wondered what she knew that he didn't but he didn't want to pry. She would tell him when she's ready.
She said quietly, "Let's just hope that she's in a good place with Dan."
Currently with Sakura...with Team 7
Was it really worth coming back in time fix everything? To redoing all these stupid missions? She wondered regretfully.
Sakura sweat dropped at Naruto, who was being attacked by the 7th missing cat they had to find that week. She watched Naruto scream in pain as he was getting scratched in the face. Sasuke continued to be silent as usual. She sighed.
Back with Naruto and Tsunade...
Naruto nodded hopefully and Tsunade dismissed him. He walked out of the make-shift office and started heading towards the cemetery.
He needed to talk to a certain someone and he had a feeling that they would be right there.
He face was full of sorrow and confusion and it really puzzled the villagers he passed. It was unnatural to see the normally cheerful and sunny young man and hero to be dark and sad. But they didn't know Sakura was gone, for she wasn't as well known as Naruto or Sasuke.
As he was walking, he passed by Hinata.
"Hi, Naruto-kun," She greeted him shyly. Her eyes were slightly swollen and her nose was red from crying.
Sadly, Naruto didn't even notice her as he passed by her and continued walking towards the cemetery, lost in his thoughts.
Hinata's gaze trailed after him in sadness. She knew he was probably going through the most pain. Sakura was his teammate and first love.
FLASHBACK TIME: AFTER THE FINAL BATTLE...RIGHT AFTER SAKURA'S DEATH
Once Sasuke had broke the genjutsu and freed everyone, one of the Hyuga confirmed gravely that the battle was over and she came running to help Naruto, to see if he was injured. She hadn't noticed the sad tone in the Hyuga's voice and when he told her that it was best to stay back, she shook him off and ran. When she got to the sight, Naruto was hunched over someone's body, hands and face stained with blood, and crying hard. Sasuke stood off to the side, not awkwardly but guiltily. Kakashi was kneeling next to Naruto, trying to comfort him.
As she got closer, she could see that it was the lifeless body of one of her closest friends, Sakura, laying deadly still and not breathing under Naruto. Her beautiful pink hair was splayed on the ground and even dead she looked graceful and pretty, despite the blood all over her chest, lips, and clothes. Her eyes were closed and there was a peaceful smile on her face.
None of them noticed her, seeming to be engrossed in the moment.
For some reason, a part of Hinata's mind felt relieved in a messed up way. She always, genuinely considered Sakura her best friend and never her love rival, but now that she was gone she actually felt like there was nothing to worry about.
But the majority of her mind was swimming in deep sadness. She just lost one of her best friends and she knew how much Sakura meant to Naruto. Even though he wouldn't admit it, Sasuke too. She could see how much he cared about her although he tried to hide it. Sakura meant so much to everyone, of course including herself. It just wouldn't be the same without their kind, loud, pink haired medic friend.
She started to cry silently, praying for Sakura and hoping that she rest in peace.
End of Flashback
With Naruto...
He stopped a few feet away and gazed at the young man he spent most of his life hunting down to bring him back. Naruto's face was calm. It didn't show anger, sadness, or even a little happiness that he was back.
His face was dead serious.
"Oi, Sasuke," He called. Sasuke's back was turned to him and he stood in front of a grave. Sasuke wore a black cloak over his bruised body. He had many bandages, around his head, one on his face, on his arms, and he had both his arms.
Naruto could see there was a circle carved into the stone and a four petal cherry blossom carved under the circle. He read the words carved under the two symbols:
Beloved by family, cherished by friends, and a shinobi who served her country well,
Sakura Haruno
R.I.P
1997- 2014
Shinobi Medic Daughter Friend
The circle was the Haruno family insignia and the four petal cherry blossom represented Sakura.
It had been days since the funeral for Neji and Sakura past. Their names had been engraved in the stone for K.I.A. Tenten and Lee constantly visited Neji's together while Naruto, Ino, and Tsunade visited Sakura's. Of course they visited each other's and put flowers on their graves too. Neji and Sakura's graves were loaded.
But Naruto, Ino, and Tsunade went at different times and rarely saw each other, wanting to be alone. He never saw Sasuke. Until now.
Sasuke didn't respond to him and he continued to stare emotionless at her grave.
Naruto walked up behind him and called again louder, "Sasuke."
Sasuke didn't show it but he was startled as he turned to look at Naruto blankly. Although he tried to hide it, Naruto knew he was hurting just as bad as he was and that was saying a lot. Sasuke's face was void of emotion but Naruto knew him better. He could see the bottomless sorrow that filled his dark eyes.
Sasuke answered the untold question Naruto had been wanting to ask him.
"I'm leaving today, Naruto," He answered.
Naruto nodded but didn't say anything. Naruto looked away from Sasuke and gazed sadly at the grave. There was a long moment of silence.
The long silence was killing Sasuke.
As if a flood gate had been opened, Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the collar of his shirt and there was a frantic look in Sasuke's eyes.
"Why aren't you saying anything?!" He yelled incredulously at him. Sasuke knew he killed Sakura and Naruto knew Sasuke did it too and yet he hasn't said a word about it since he broke the genjutsu. Not one word. And the guilt Sasuke felt was eating him from the inside.
Naruto smiled sadly at him. He gently put a hand on Sasuke's arm that grabbed his collar.
"It's okay, Sasuke. But there's nothing to say," Naruto said quietly.
Sasuke looked at him in disbelief. Nothing to say? Nothing to say?! NOTHING TO SAY?! THERE'S SO MUCH TO SAY!
"Besides, it's not your fault."
At this, Sasuke froze. His head hung low and his eyes were hooded as he let go of Naruto and turned away from him to gaze at Sakura's grave.
"It is my fault," He growled and he turned to glared at Naruto. How could Naruto say such a thing? He knew it was him who killed her, yet he denies it by saying it wasn't his fault. Is he really so important to Naruto that he would just let him pass by after killing his first love and their dear teammate?
"But," Naruto continued and Sasuke stopped glaring at him to raise an eyebrow in question. "I will admit that I am mad at you."
Sasuke didn't show any surprise, not that he was. Naruto was supposed to be mad at him in the first place. He killed Sakura for Kami's sake. And Sasuke felt like shit.
"Because she died without you returning her love."
Sasuke stiffened. There was a horribly tight feeling in his chest and he felt guilty, sad, and mad all at once. He turned away again, his back facing Naruto. "Naruto," Sasuke began and his hair fell over his face. "I wasn't going to tell you this but..." He trailed off.
Naruto's sad face turned into one of confusion. "Hm? What is it?"
Sasuke's hands balled into fists. "Yes, before my plans were to become the ultimate Hokage and rule over the Five Great Nations," He admitted. "But you know how I wanted to rebuild my clan?" He asked without looking at him.
Naruto nodded wordlessly.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. "...I was going to propose to Sakura after I became Hokage."
Naruto's eyes widened as he gaped at Sasuke in disbelief and he sputtered. "Y-you were going to use Sakura as your..." He trailed off in horror.
Sasuke turned to look back at Naruto angrily. "Of course not! Who do you take me for?" He half asked-half yelled at Naruto.
"..."
"...Nevermind. Don't answer that," Sasuke sighed before adding, "I meant that I..." His voice faded and he felt his face turn hot. He quickly turned back to Sakura's grave, so Naruto wouldn't see his face.
Naruto craned his head curiously at Sasuke. "You meant what?"
Sasuke could still feel the heat in his face and he didn't say anything. He was afraid he might stutter. He fought himself whether to tell Naruto or not. In the end, the truth won.
"Naruto," he began and Naruto nodded to signify that he was listening intently. "I...l-l-l...Sakura," He finish with relief. Unfortunately, his voice had turned into a whisper, quieter than Hinata's.
Naruto's brow furrowed. "Sorry, I couldn't hear you. Could you repeat that?"
Sasuke ground his teeth together and he muttered through gritted teeth. "I," He began and took a deep breath, trying to come himself down. His heart was thumping at a thousand miles per second and it felt like it was about to rip out of his chest and run away. "Love...Sakura." He finished, his voice neutral and he finally turned to look at Naruto to see his reaction.
Naruto's eyes widened again, but they quickly narrowed at Sasuke in anger. Pure, fire red anger in his now Kyuubi-state eyes, vertical slit pupils perpetrating Sasuke's dark eyes.
The next thing Sasuke knew, he was thrown off his feet and knocked to the ground, the wind knocked out of him. He gasped, trying to make sense of what just happened. He looked up to see Naruto standing over at his feet, glaring at him and his mouth in a snarl.
"Don't joke like that, Sasuke!" He yelled angrily and Sasuke could see the tiniest of tears building at the corners of Naruto's eyes. "You're disrespecting Sakura!"
Now it was Sasuke's turn to yell. "It's true!"
"Then why? If you really loved her, why didn't you tell her? You knew she loved you with all her heart yet you pushed her away!" Naruto yelled at Sasuke.
"Because she deserved better!"
Naruto stared at Sasuke in surprise.
Sasuke took a deep breath before he continued steadily ."...The reason why I didn't tell her was because I knew she deserved someone better than a criminal like me."
Naruto continued to gazed at Sasuke. He never thought he felt that about Sakura. He knew that Sakura was important to Sasuke, but he hadn't thought that the reason why he kept pushing Sakura away was because he thought it was best.
Sasuke's face seemed to look distressed though.
"It wasn't just that though," he added. Still on the ground, he looked back at Sakura's grave.
"I never imagined the last thing she would tell me was that she didn't want to see you dead." He said with a half smile. "When I looked at her eyes, they reminded me of Itachi. Hard, unwavering. But I also saw strong anger and hate in them too." His voice had become hushed, pained from the memory.
Naruto's eyes widened. "What are you saying, Sasuke?" He knew what was coming but he didn't want to believe.
Sasuke paused before speaking . "Sakura resented me in her final moments."
Later that day...at night...
Sasuke stood in the entrance to the village as he gazed into his birth home. He was alone, nobody to see him off. It seemed as if the whole village was covered by storm clouds. The sky was completely gray, not a bit of sunlight shone through.
His face held no emotion as he fell into deep thought.
This isn't right, he thought.
Somewhere in his mind and heart, he knew it wasn't supposed to end like this. With Sakura's death, Naruto so depressed and sad that he's ignoring Hinata and giving up on him, and him leaving the village. Permanently.
It just doesn't feel right, he thought.
He turned and started walking out of the village.
I don't want to be at home if it means the girl I love won't be there.
Too many painful memories.
Hey guys!
This chapter is dedicated to all Sakura haters! Lately I have seen a lot of Sakura-hating on the Internet and it's starting to piss me off!
This chapter is about how much Sakura means to everyone and how it would be like if she were to be cut from the series.
They need Sakura. Sakura's strong in her own way.
Anyways, thank you readers for looking at my story. I'm already starting the next chapter. I'll update soon!
