Past and Present
Chapter 7: Moving forward
When someone is hurt, she or he tries her or his very best to move forward, despite the fact that it isn't easy to live another new life.
……..
It's been three days since Sakura and Sasuke's break-up. Sakura's friends were dismayed when they found out about their separation and they all hold personal grudges over Saya, who has been rumored to be Sasuke's new girlfriend and the cause and effect of the separation. However, Saya doesn't mind at all. She was happy and well contented, even though every friend of Sasuke and Sakura hated her.
Saya was indeed a strong person, hiding her face within a mask.
……
However, Sakura tries her best to forget the past, even though it was hurting her within.
Sakura always start her day with an exhausting training by herself at the same training grounds they used when they were still genins and under the supervision of their sensei, Kakashi. She was practicing one of Tsunade's moves when she is bothered by a certain someone, it was Naruto.
Naruto stood below the shady tree where they usually rest after training. He has finally recovered from the food poisoning and was now more energetic as ever. He walked up to Sakura and handed her a pork bun wrapped in an aluminum foil.
"Thanks for this Naruto, but I am still not hungry." Sakura said, looking at the pork bun on her hand. She tossed it back to Naruto, who looked at her with a worried face.
"I've been told a while ago that you broke up with him." he said.
Sakura just smiled after hearing him speak. She realized he didn't even say Sasuke's name, it's as if he hated that person. She turned around and threw a kunai at a tree and she began to laugh. A bull's eye!
Naruto watched her. Her laugh was a fake. "I thought you both love each other."
Sakura's laughs ceased and she clenched both her fists into tight iron balls. Naruto watched her back; her breathing was heavy as if she was enraged. Sakura turned to look at him into his eyes and there was something on her green venomous eyes that troubled Naruto.
It was a look of defeat. An expression hiding something.
"We did, but every relationship has an end, right?" she exclaimed, taking her pouch bag from the ground.
"It will end in a very reasonable reason, Sakura! What's the cause of it?" Naruto's voice was like growls of a hungry tiger.
Sakura looked at him with a surprised expression. She thought of the reasons behind their break-up; the red haired and green- eyed girl and the sudden change of emotions of Sasuke's. She walked closer to Naruto and tapped his shoulder lightly.
"I don't love him anymore, that's all," she said calmly before walking passed him in a swift motion.
She was lying.
Naruto turned to follow her. Sakura paused when she heard his footsteps coming towards her. She turned around to look at him, now in an expression of a person hurt and in pain. Sakura wanted to cry, but she told herself after that incident that she would never have an emotional breakdown especially when she is trying her best to move forward again.
But it isn't easy to move forward, it will take months or years before forgetting such a dreadful experience. That's what she thought.
"You're lying! With that looks, I bet you're lying to me! Just tell me the reason behind it. I just wanted to help you!" Naruto shouted seriously.
He likes Sakura even up to this point, even though he tries his best not to hurt himself again. He has Hinata now, what more can he asked for? Hinata was just like Sakura, calm, sweet, kind and most of all loving, but his feelings for Sakura never changed a bit.
Was it loyalty? Or is he having difficulties to move onwards too? Just like the girl before him?
Sakura smiled at him. "You cannot do anything, Naruto. Sasuke's changed. He has Saya now." She explained without looking at him straight to his eyes.
It is a sign of guilt.
"Who the heck is Saya?" the name was familiar to him. He stared at Sakura with a furrowed brow and he began to remember the day he was poisoned.
It was the same girl he saw with Sasuke before their mission to a random village. He recalled her physical looks. He cannot easily forget about that girl for there is something in Saya that Sakura have; the green colored eyes.
"That girl who poisoned me? Am I right?"
Sakura nodded. "That's her! Saya Yamamura of the country of waterfall." Sakura exclaimed.
Naruto began to laugh. Sakura looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"She's not that pretty you know! Why the heck would Sasuke choose a girl like her? You're more beautiful than her!" Naruto exclaimed, still laughing.
Sakura smiled to herself. "You're just telling that to make me happy, but thanks anyway!" Sakura exclaimed. "You're helping just a little bit!" she winked at him and then moved on forwards.
Naruto chased after her and caught her by her arm and he jerked her around to face him. Sakura stared at him surprisingly. The blonde haired boy wrapped his arms around her and gave her one big hug. Sakura blushed bright crimson.
Was it a friendly hug or there is something about it?
"What are you doing?" Sakura pushed him away from her.
Naruto scratched his head and smiled out broadly. "A friendly hug!" he replied.
Sakura rolled her eyes and patted him on is head. Naruto glared at her, she is treating him like a dog when she did that patting, but he doesn't mind. He made her smile, that's what matters most to him by now.
…….
"Blonde hair's making a move with little miss perfect." It was Saya. She was listening to Sakura and Naruto' conversation beneath a tree just paces away from them.
She went for a little walk that morning when she found Naruto running towards the woods. She followed him and just her luck… she found Naruto with Sakura.
During her short time of stay in Konoha, she had almost known every chuunin, especially people connected to her boyfriend.
"Of what I have heard, blonde hair is dating that Hyuuga heiress. What if I tell that girl that her boyfriend is hooking up with little pink hair over there. That will make a scandal!" Saya snickered, making her way out of the woods to search for Hinata.
…….
"Sakura. You can always ask me for help. Don't worry, I'll talk with Sasuke and straightened your feud." Naruto said, giving his friend a thumbs up.
Sakura smiled. "Thank you. When I'm in need, you're always there to help me out." She exclaimed, giving Naruto a hug.
Little that they have expected, they were being watched from a far.
Saya was standing just across them at an opposite street. She was holding a camera on her hands and unfortunately she took a picture of the two of them hugging. She had a plan. She wasn't contented with ruining Sakura's life. She despises her still. She was about to show Hinata the picture that same day.
Saya smirked and walked off. A devil renouncing her near victory.
……..
"Where will you go now?" Sakura asked, looking at Naruto, who began to blush.
"I'm having a date with Hinata tonight. Ne Sakura, should I bring her flowers or a box of chocolates?" he asked seriously.
Sakura stared to the blue morning skies. "Anything. Anything that comes within your heart." She exclaimed. "Hinata is lucky to have such a caring and sweet boyfriend like you."
Naruto blushed and scratched his head. "That's why I want Sasuke and you to be back together, so the famous love team in Konoha will be back in business again!" he laughed, smiling at Sakura.
……….
"What are you talking about?" Hinata asked confusingly.
Saya grinned and moved closer to her and showed the picture of a blushing Naruto hugging Sakura.
"They look cute together, right?" Saya snickered, placing the photograph to Hinata's trembling palm.
Hinata stared at the picture with a horrid look. She crumpled the photograph and began to cry, her tears wetting the earth soil beneath her feet. Saya stared at her with a triumphant smile.
"Hate her Hinata! Hate her!" Saya whispered to Hinata as the young heiress broke into an emotional breakdown.
"I told you Sakura, this is not the end of your suffering, the game has just begun!" Saya smirked, with a ravenous look of triumph.
……..
Sorry for another late update!
Next chapter spoiler: Saya's evil motives for Sakura are revealed and so is the horrid past of her life.
Review for an update.
