Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

A/N: Well, Sorry for the late update. . .Anyway, jaz wanna say to all those Neji/Sakura fans, Hmm? Please be a little patient, because it might take a while before Neji would enter the scene; satisfy yourself with Sasuke first, we can add up Neji later. Hehehehe. . .

Read and Enjoy. . .!

Beta-reader: Skye

Chapter six

Haruno Sakura couldn't stop the tears; she tried repeatedly but failed. The three judges became silent, especially Sasuke, who just kept staring at her with emotionless eyes. Inside, deep in his heart, he was terribly sorry for what he had done.

"I. . .I want to forget about Gaara," Sakura whispered, brushing her crystal tears away with the backs of both hands.

Kakashi glared at Sasuke, as if he was saying, 'This is what you want, right? Now you got it, satisfied already?' Then he looked at Naruto.

"Please, Sakura. . ." Naruto whispered, breaking the silence. He tried to stand up to console Sakura but Sasuke held up an arm to stop him.

Sasuke stared at Naruto. "I started this mess, let me take care of it," Sasuke said calmly.

Naruto looked at him with a surprised expression, Sasuke was going to take care of a crying girl? He never cared for anyone! Usually, with this kind of situation, he would just let the girl cry her heart out and simply leave halfway through.

With a surprised look still plastered on his face, Naruto sighed resignedly and left the whole thing to Sasuke.

The aforementioned teen took a deep breath and stared pointedly at Sakura. "Do you like singing?" he asked.

Sakura was surprised with the question. She looked at Sasuke suspiciously, and warningly inquired, "What are you saying, Uchiha?" She glared.

"Just answer the damn question, Haruno," Sasuke replied impatiently.

Sakura nodded curtly.

"Then, Haruno. . ." Sasuke smiled and sat back on his chair. ". . .Sing."

'What the hell's wrong with ya? After everything you did? Are you crazy! I'm outta here!' Inner Sakura roared.

"I can't stand another second in this room with a bastard like you!" Sakura shouted while following her Inner self's advice, wiping the tears from her eyes. She began to walk away, infuriated.

Naruto tried to stand up and stop Sakura but Kakashi gripped his arm and pulled him back down. Naruto looked at Kakashi, cocked his head and said, "Let's leave this to Sasuke, ne?"

Before Sakura could reach the doorknob, she heard Sasuke chuckling.

Incredibly irritated, Sakura looked back then shouted, "What's so funny, Uchiha!"

"You're weak."

"Wha. . . What!" she was taken aback. Her blood began to boil.

"I said you're weak." Sasuke coldly replied, "You're too weak to move on, to forget about your past. You don't think about the future anymore, nor the people that truly care for you."

Sakura was livid, but she remained silent.

"The first time I saw you, I thought you were a strong and lively girl. There was this bright and cheerful aura surrounding you, one that could make anybody happy." Sasuke spoke quietly, but Sakura had no problems hearing him. "But now. . . What happened to it?"

Sakura blinked. She was surprised to hear such words from Uchiha Sasuke, an infamously cold-hearted jerk. Naruto and Kakashi were pretty darn shocked too.

"I was wrong, you are weak, a pathetic little weakling." He finished his lecture. "You're not worth any of our time."

Sakura then looked back at him, straight in the eye. She stormed back to the judges' table and slammed it with both hands, not breaking her eye contact with Sasuke.

"How dare you say those things to me?" Sakura screamed, "You want a song, you damn Uchiha! You'll get a song!" With that she stomped back into the center of the stage.

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk inwardly. He leaned forward, waiting patiently for her to start.

Sakura brushed her tears away yet again and sighed. Anger did not make a good song. No matter how irritating the look on Uchiha's face was, she had to do her best.

'I am not a weakling. . . I will prove it. . . I will move on. . . I. . . I can do this!' Thoughts of encouragement flitted through Sakura's mind. She stood up a little bit straighter, and finally, she sang.

8-year-old Sakura gazed interestedly at the deep blue sky above her. She was amazed with the stars; they all looked so peaceful and calm. Smiling, she wished she could be like them, just like them.

Suddenly one of the stars started falling from the sky. She held her mother's hand tightly. "Mama. . . What's that?" she asked, pointing at the moving ball of light.

"Oh, Sakura, that's a shooting star." Her mother smiled peacefully, her bubblegum hair framing her face. "Make a wish, honey."

Sakura grinned and closed her eyes. Deep in her heart she made a wish, a secret wish for only her to know.

"You can open your eyes now, Sakura." Her mother's sweet voice echoed; Sakura looked up and grinned. Her mother smiled back and patted Sakura's head.

"Well, what did you wish for?" she asked.

"It's a secret!" Sakura blushed.

"Oh, c'mon, can't you tell it to your mommy?" Her mother asked teasingly. Sakura smiled.

"Okay, okay, but it's a secret!" Sakura warned seriously. She didn't want her wish to not come true, after all. Her mother nodded and sat down.

Sakura leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "I wish you and papa wouldn't leave me anymore. I always feel lonely whenever you both go away for work. I mean, sure, there's Ino and Hinata, but that's different," she said happily, "I wish we will be like this forever."

Sakura's mother smiled slowly. "Honey, please understand. We are doing this for you, and only for you because we love you." Her voice took on a teasing tone. "Someday, when you finally meet your knight in shining armor and you finally have your own kids, you'll understand," she laughed.

Sakura's cheeks reddened. "I'm not going to marry, because I'm ugly! Unlike you, mama," she quickly amended.

Her mother sighed and whispered to her, "You are beautiful, Sakura. And I mean that, inside and out." She smiled. "You're a brave girl. Someday, when you finally meet your prince charming, I know. . . you will be strong enough to love. . . even against all consequences."

'You will be strong enough to love. . .'

"Mama! Papa!" Little Sakura screamed, "What happened to my mama!" She asked the person beside her. Even though her right arm was bandaged and there were some bruises on her face, she tried to get up but someone stopped her.

It was midnight and pouring rain. She was being forced to stay calm, but Sakura cried and cried while trying to get out of the ambulance. She knew what happened. They died protecting her. . . her parents died protecting her.

'All because I was weak. . .'

"Please child. . . Calm down. . ." the nurse instructed worriedly.

"Where are they! What happened to my mama!" she cried hysterically.

"I'm sorry. . . They cannot find the bodies. . . Everybody's just assuming that they're already dead," the lady whispered.

Short words, but they changed Sakura's life nonetheless. Tears flowed down her cheeks while she stared numbly at the rain. She was alone. Everyone beside her were like puppets, faceless and emotionless. They don't know what she was going through. . . all they did for her was pretend.

'Starting that day. . .I was marked as weak. . .'

"Sakura! Wait!" A red-headed boy came running up to Sakura.

Sakura's shoulder length hair swayed as she looked behind her. She was in her school uniform and was about to go meet up with Ino and Hinata by the gate so they could head home. It was a surprise to see Gaara running towards her.

"Is something wrong, Gaara?" she asked her classmate kindly, paying full attention to him.

Gaara panted exhaustedly, "Sa. . . Sakura I have something to give you. . ."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, Gaara then grinned tiredly and handed her a bouquet of stunning pink roses.

"These are for you," his smile grew and he walked away. "Happy Birthday!"

She watched the figure slowly fading away. Sakura stared, still a bit shocked, at the blooming roses in her arms. Finally, she smiled ecstatically. When was the last time she smiled like that? Young Sakura sniffed the roses and walked to the gate to meet up with her friends. On the way, she was still smiling. . . and blushing. . .

Gaara grabbed a bathrobe and ran after his girlfriend. "Sakura, wait! I can explain!"

Sakura whirled around and faced Gaara with tears in her eyes. Why couldn't the tears just stop? "Gaara. . . let me go. . ." she whispered weakly.

"Sakura! I can explain everything. . . I didn't mean to! I swear!" Gaara grabbed her shoulders then looked her in the eyes.

"Let go of me. . ." she ordered patiently, looking away. Deep inside she really wanted to burst.

"I love. . ." Gaara shouted.

Sakura's blood boiled, she then faced Gaara, and eye-to-eye she shouted, "Shut the fuck up! Love? You don't know the meaning of that word! You don't know anything! We're fucking through! Now just let your fucking hands away from me before I fucking break them!" she roared, storming away.

"Sakura. . . I. . . " Gaara whispered.

Before Sakura completely left Gaara, she stopped. Not even looking at him, she muttered, "I can. . . I will live without you, bastard. I don't need you in my life!" she shouted, then ran away from her ex-boyfriend.

"Sakura. . ."

Sakura finally opened her eyes and felt tears with it. She looked at Sasuke, who was listening attentively. Then her gaze shifted to Naruto and Kakashi, who looked really amazed and surprised. Probably at the fact that she was singing while crying, she decided. Sakura brushed her tears away and decided to finish the audition. She took a deep breath and sang the highest notes. . .

"I was wrong, you are weak, a pathetic little weakling."

Yes. . . she was weak. Uchiha was right all along; she was not strong enough to love. . . She was not strong enough to move on. . . She wasn't even strong enough to try.

She was ready to give up. . . . ready to fall into oblivion.

Suddenly, she looked at the judges. The tears still couldn't be stopped, they were streaming from her beautiful emerald eyes. She stole a quick glance at Sasuke. . . he was smiling? It was incredibly minute, but it was sweet and she swore she could see of care and a bit of pity on his face.

Sakura was surprised, yet inside she felt warm. She felt someone was there for her, ready to care for her, willing to love her.

Kakashi and Naruto looked really pleased and relaxed, unlike Sasuke, who continued to gaze at her with deep serious eyes. Sakura suddenly felt uneasy, and just wanted to finish the silly audition and go on with her normal life. A life without Gaara.

She smiled inside. She would be strong. It was silly of her to think about giving up, she wasn't going to lose to a bastard like Sasuke. She was going to prove to everybody that she was no weakling. Just like her mother taught her.

She continued to sing, full of courage and confidence.

Finally, the song ended. Kakashi applauded, a grin creeping onto his face. Naruto grinned and gave her an exuberant standing ovation. Sasuke wore a pleased look on his face and clapped his hands. He chose to stay seated, however.

Sakura smiled and bowed, signaling the end of her song. Sasuke stood up with an cocky smile on his face.

"Well, Sakura. . . Good work," he congratulated.

Sakura smiled the sweetest smile she knew. "Thank you, Sasuke," she replied. "Oh, I forgot to give you this."

Sasuke felt a sharp stinging pain on the left side of his face, he looked really shocked. Sakura slapped him. Haruno Sakura just slapped Uchiha Sasuke! Kakashi and Naruto both had their mouths hanging open.

"Goodbye, blue-haired bastard," Sakura spat, "Hopefully for good." The pissed-off teen stalked out of the room.

The three were silent. Sasuke was still surprised, yet glad at the same time. He touched his stinging cheek, where Sakura slapped him, and laughed.

Naruto whispered to Kakashi, "Whoa. . . That went well, Sasuke's going crazy!" He joked while Kakashi smiled and nodded.

'Finally, you're back, Sakura. . .' Sasuke thought to himself.

Outside the audition room, an impatient Yamanaka Ino greeted her friend. Sakura looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but just sighed wearily and strode ahead. She was too tired to do battle with the forces of Ino again.

Ino followed her, "Well. . . we're a bit silent today. Aren't you going to tell me something about what happened inside?" she asked excitedly.

Sakura sighed. "I tried my best. . .but I guess it's not enough," she lied.

Ino smiled. "That's okay. . . at least you tried," she comforted her friend.

Sakura couldn't stand lying to her friend and stopped walking, turned to face her eye-to-eye and breathed heavily. "Ino, I walked out of the audition," she sighed, already resigning herself to her fate of never hearing the end of this conversation.

Ino's eyes widened. "What!" she asked, her tone one of disbelief.

"I'm sorry. . . Sa-. . . Something came up," Sakura said tiredly. She looked at her friend with teary eyes.

Ino started to reply, but noticed the redness in Sakura's eyes. Realizing that Sakura must have been crying, Ino stopped talking, and simply patted Sakura on the head.

"Oh well. . .You tried your best, and that's fine with me," she smiled, "I understand, Sakura."

"Thank you. . . Ino." Sakura grinned with relief. No long-lived lectures for today, at least.

"But still. . ." Ino joked, "You're treating me to ice cream!"

"Sure, Ino. . ." Sakura smiled, she might as well start being strong for the people around her now. For the people who care for her, like Hinata and Ino. . . and especially for herself. Although she sighed, she knew that she would always have friends to support her, through thick and thin.

'I will be strong enough. . .'