Scattered Memories


Summary: Scattered memories; a dark future. When Sakura loses her memories, can she overcome her fears and regain her memory all the while trying to save Sasuke from the horrible future fate has given him?

Pairings: You'll find out: D Unless, of course, you're smart enough to guess!

Disclaimer: These characters are NOT mine, I just torture them. XD All Naruto characters are copy-righted to Kishimoto-sama. The plot is ALLLL MINE though.

Time Setting: Right before the Sasuke Retrieval Arc.

How to Read:

"Speaking text."

'Thought text.'

Last Time: It only took a glare from Sasuke for Naruto to become very serious.

"For Sakura, I guess?" He asked, taking the envelope.

Sasuke nodded. "Give it to her in the morning…when she wakes up. Make sure she doesn't follow me, either. You know she'll try."

"Yeah." Naruto offered a small smile, but instantaneously turned back to a frown. There was no room for smiling now. "I will."

With his letter delivered, Sasuke began walking toward the window, the easiest way out of the room without being caught. "Oh, and Naruto…" He said, sitting on the sill, turning back toward his teammate.

His blue eyes flickered and met with soft black eyes. "Yeah?"

"I always thought of you as my brother." He vanished.

Naruto smiled, a small tear running down his cheek, clutching the envelope in his hands. "Me too."


Chapter 9: The End of the Beginning


"…oh god…" Sakura sighed, snuggling with her blankets and pillow. She did not want to get up.

Still under the covers, she rubbed her tired eyes and groped for the clock on the stand next to her bed. It blinked "3:46am" back at her.

"Great…another sleepless night…" She mumbled, pulling her covers up even more and rolling away from her clock. She could at least try to get back to sleep.


'What's going on…?' Sakura thought. She had her eyes open, she was sure of it, but she could see nothing. It was completely pitch black. "Hello?" She asked to the darkness.

"Hello?" Her voice echoed back.

She sighed. 'Great…' She stood up slowly, cautiously looking around even though she couldn't see anything. 'Where the hell am I?'

As if on cue, an almost blinding light came to her right, like a door had opened in a dark room.

She turned to it, shielding her eyes as they adjusted to the light. "Naruto?" She questioned, seeing the silhouette of someone walking away from her. She could tell from the outline of the hair it was Naruto. "Naruto!!" She cried. "Where are you going?!"

She watched as he continued to walk away from her, to her left…as someone else split away from him and walked to her right.

She looked at the other…watching both of them walk away from her. One toward the light, the other toward the dark…

"Naruto?!" She was utterly confused; who would she go with? She sat down on her knees, too confused to do anything else.

"It's okay, Sakura…" Two voices spoke at once. "We'll always be here for you…"

"Always be...?" She questioned, looking at the both of them. "But you're leaving me!" She cried.

The boys disappeared and the light vanished with him. "No," An even more powerful voice spoke. "It's you who have not chosen…"

And suddenly she saw it.

A cracked mirror displaying the images of Naruto…and someone else…. It was right in front of her, both boys just staring at her with a soft look.

She stood up slowly, walking toward this misty mirror. "But I don't understand…" She stood infront of it, emerald meeting one blue and one black eye.

"Sasuke…" The powerful voice said. "His name is Sasuke."

Sakura squinted her eyes at him, tilting her head slightly. "Sasuke?"

"You must choose."

She looked up trying to meet the face of this voice. "But I can't! How can you expect me to?!"

"Than you will loose them both…"

And the mirror shattered.

Sakura awoke with a scream, sitting straight up in her bed. "What the hell was that?' She mumbled, rubbing her forehead. She looked at her clock and sighed.

"I guess 8's better than 4." She mumbled, drowsily getting out of her warm bed, wiping sweat from her brow and tears from her eyes. "When did I start crying?" She asked herself, while she changed clothes.


A few minutes later, she walked out of her room and down to the kitchen, surprisingly meeting up with a wide-awake Naruto.

"Morning, Sakura-chan." He said slurping up some of the ramen in his bowl. "Sleep well?"

She rubbed her eyes and sat down next to him. "Not really. I had the strangest dream this morning."

He looked up at her. "Really?"

She nodded, "Yeah. It was just…weird…I was in this dark…" She looked up, trying to find the best word to explain it. "Space, I guess…and you were there…"

He tilted his head. "I was?"

"Yeah, but you were walking away from me…and you wouldn't answer me…and there was someone else too…another guy. He was walking away too, but toward the darkness and you were walking toward this light." She explained.

He nodded. "Okay."

"And then, you both disappeared and some voice told me I had to choose…"

"Choose what?" He set his bowl aside, wanting to hear more about her dream.

She sighed in fatigue. "Well, this cracked mirror appeared in front of me and in pieces, you were on it…but other places were that other guy….ummmm…." She thought back to her dream, trying to remember the name. "Sasuke. That was his name."

Naruto almost choked on air. "Sasuke? Are you sure?!" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah. I remember cause he was cute…" She smiled. "But anyways, that voice told me I had to choose…but I couldn't…"

With her answer, he had no doubt in his mind that her memory was completely back…and she was ready to remember Sasuke. The only thing was…was it too late?

"…and the mirror shattered."

"And you woke up?" He asked.

"Yeah…" She set her head upon her arms on the table. "It's so confusing, Naruto-kun…"

He sighed deeply, shutting his eyes. "Sakura…I think it's time you know what's going on."

She opened her eyes and sat up, looking at him curiously. "Do you mean…"

He smiled sadly and nodded. "Yeah." He fished in his jacket pocket. "Here it is…" He pulled out a white envelope and set it on the table.

She eyed it. "Is that for me?"

He nodded.

Cautiously she reached for it, picking it up and pulling out the letter. "Who's it from?" She asked him as she unfolded it.

He refrained from looking at her. "Just read it. You'll understand then."

'Hm…this isn't like him…' She thought, eyeing him before her attention shifted to the letter. What was eating him? 'Oh well…I'll find out soon enough…' She smiled. Finally, after all this time, she got to find out what was missing.

'Haruno Sakura,

Just to warn you, I'm not good at writing letters.' She laughed at the warning. 'Do you remember last night, Sakura? When you were with that guy…sitting below the stars?' She smiled, remembering the night… 'That was me, Sakura. It was me all along. I wanted to tell you so bad, wanted to kiss you right there…but I couldn't. You see, for your own safety, I must defeat that man…my brother…I can't live knowing he's alive, out there somewhere, waiting for me…The only thing is, I don't know if I'll make it back alive….' Her eyes widened a bit and she continued to read on. 'So, in this letter I'm giving you the coordinates of where our battle is taking place…so that if I don't come back you can at least get my body. That night, Sakura, was a night I'll never forget. I'll never forget you, Sakura, the only girl I've ever loved. I know it really didn't seem like it when we were kids…but I didn't know how to tell you…and I didn't want you to get hurt, with my brother still out there…You've got to understand that everything I did was to try to protect you.' As she continued to read tears fell from her eyes, but she didn't know why. She had developed some feeling for that guy, him…but why was she crying over something she didn't even know? 'I know that these three years have been difficult for you and I can't even begin to think about forgiving myself for doing that to you, but it all comes down to one thing. I love you more than anything this world can give me and I'll do anything to be with you and only you, Sakura. Even if it means dying for you, I'll do it. If you'll wait for me, Sakura…please…wait just two days…and I'll come for you. I'll explain everything and more…just wait for me. Please. I love you so much, Haruno Sakura.

Uchiha Sasuke.

As if she had been hit with a ton of bricks, memories of the Uchiha came flooding back, making her cry even more as she gripped the note tightly.

"…Sakura?" Naruto asked quietly, seeing her tears and how tightly she was gripping the note.

She hiccupped and continued to stare at the name. "I remember everything…" She whispered quietly. "I know now…" She spoke louder and looked up at him, smiling. "Thank you, Naruto."

He simply looked at her. "Huh?"

She chuckled. "I know that everything over these past three years, stubborn as you were in not telling me, was for my own good…" She explained. "But…. There's something I've got to do." She stood up rather quickly, leaving the note on the table and heading for the door.

Naruto blinked and got up even quicker than she did, hopping over the table and landing right behind her as she opened the door, grabbing her wrist and stopping her. "Wait, Sakura!!"

She turned around, grabbing her wrist back and glaring at him. "What?! I've got to go after him, Naruto! If he doesn't come back…" She eluded to a very painful situation for the both of them, staring into pristine blue eyes.

"I know…but…you can't go…" He looked away from her, beginning to blush a bit.

She ruffled her eyebrows and looked at him. "Why? I've got to tell him that I love him, Naruto…if I don't now, I might not get the chance!"

"Yeah, but why do you have to go to him?! He's not the only one who loves you, you know!!" He yelled back, his courage raging in him. "It's not fair, Sakura! I'm the one who took care of you, fixed his mistake and you still love him?! Where's the sanity in that, dammit?!" He screamed at her.

Taken aback, Sakura stared at him. "Naruto…" She said, eyes soft and voice softer. "…I didn't – I didn't – "

"That's because you've never looked!" He continued to scream, making her wince. "You've only ever noticed Sasuke! Oh, Sasuke!" He mocked her cries at said raven years before.

Now she was upset. "That's not true and you know it!" She yelled louder, covering his yell.
He bowed his head, knowing this was true. She had always, in some way, shown more concern for him than anybody before her, other than Iruka.

She smiled. She had finally gotten him to look down, away from her and took her chance. She bolted for the door – that Naruto blocked – trying to get past him.

She almost got her way, until she was heavily heaved backwards, falling on her butt. "What the - ?"

"I don't think so."

She looked up, seeing a grinning blond stare at her, his arm held out. 'Damn'. She cursed, realizing it was his arm she had run into.

"I told you before, Sakura. You can't go." He continued to smirk. He reached his hand out to her, which she took.

Rubbing her butt as she was pulled up, she felt a few tears coming to her eyes. "Why?"

He chuckled. He'd figured Sakura would've known why she couldn't go to him. "Because, silly," He ruffled her hair. "If you went, Itachi could use you as leverage."

She oh-ed.

"He could kill you too…and neither of us would be very happy."

Her eyes flicked to his, twisted into worry, confusion and sadness at the same time. "But I'm not happy. I need to tell him…at least let him know what he's fighting for is back." She answered very quietly.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry…it's a no can do."

Sakura's eyes narrowed dangerously and her lip curled into a smirk. 'Well…if I can't just make you let me go…I'll just hafta stop you first!' She sighed first, gathering up a bit of courage. Then she slipped her arms around his neck, pulling him dangerously close to him. "Sure about that?" She asked, her breath tickling his lips.

Naruto was at a loss for words, staring at her half-lidded eyes. What sparked this change in Sakura all of a sudden? 'No, I can't let her do this…she's just trying to…trying to get my guard dow – ' But he was too late.

Sakura had already executed her plan, kneeing him right in the stomach. She let go of him, but then caught him and helped him to the floor. "I'm sorry, Naruto. But this is something I've got to do, whether you want me to or not." She whispered as he groaned on the floor. She ruffled his hair, planting a kiss on his golden locks. "I'm so sorry."

After grabbing the letter she was gone.


Like a bat out of hell, Sakura raced through the city, across the bridge Team 7 used to meet at and most importantly, the path that had led to Sakura's amnesia.

She couldn't help it, nor did she want to stop.

Finally after three years, she had a purpose – other than being protected.

Before she knew it, she found herself at the Valley of the End, glancing at it momentarily and remembering the fight between Naruto and…

Sasuke.

Her eyes wide, she stopped at on a branch, looking down into the watery basin. She remembered it vividly; also remembering something was said to her, from Sasuke. She pictured the scene in her mind and a small gasp escaped her mouth. "I love you." She whispered.

"That's what he said." She continued, lingering for only a moment more before heading off, further into the forest.


She sighed, wiping sweat from her brow, looking in on the two dueling brothers. She had kept herself hidden well, pushing her chakra to zero, unable to be detected. Which was a good thing. If she was found…

Well, Sakura didn't want to think about those consequences. She just wanted to tell Sasuke she loved him and get the hell outa dodge.

Unfortunately, that plan wasn't going to be as easy as thought out.

'I'll just have to hope he makes it out of this and tell him when he wins…' She thought, watching as the brothers fought with pure genjutsu. It was amazing to her – someone who was particularly good with genjutsu – looked like a child compared to them.

The older one…'What was it again, Itachi?' Scared her more than anything.

She realized now why Sasuke always acted as if he hated her. How could he even bring himself to tell her about this…this monster while he wasn't strong enough to protect her? And if he wasn't strong enough then, why would he even tell her that he loved her?

Sakura had so much buzzing on her mind, going back to previous memories between the two and linking things together, that she didn't even notice it.

Everything seemed to make sense to her now.

It was only then did she pay attention.

Pain seeped from her cheek and as she winced, she felt the new cut upon her cheek. "What the…" She mouthed, wiping off the blood with the back of her hand. It was quite useless, seeing as she kept bleeding.

She looked back to the battlefield, eyes locked upon the blurs below. It only took seconds for her to figure out they were – at least Sasuke – using shuriken from seals on his wrists.

'I wonder where he got those…' She thought, watching them intently. She couldn't help but be a "backseat ninja", trying to help him by telling him where Itachi was…even though it was just in thought.

Even if just in thought, he moved precisely to her thoughts and it almost seemed as if he could win. It made her smile, knowing that even apart, they were still connected in some way.

At least she had the advantage of a clear view of the battlefield, making it easier for her. It wasn't as easy when she realized the Fuuma Shuriken Sasuke had thrown and landed in Itachi, landed into a fake Itachi.

Nervously, her eyes scanned the field, looking for him, begging to find him before he attacked. Seeing a blur of movement, the real Itachi, – somehow before Sasuke did – her body moved before her mind could and she teleported to the field.

She couldn't stop herself.


You tend to do crazy things when you're in love.

And Haruno Sakura was no different.


Sakura had seen it before Sasuke and her mind too slow, her body moved first. Little seconds passed as she landed on the field, pushing Sasuke with all her might out of the way.

All he saw was a flash of pink and red.

Itachi hadn't even caught it, his sight diminishing by the moment, he couldn't tell Sasuke from Sakura from a plant. It was just too hard to see…but his attack had landed on a body…so he went through with it.

Sasuke watched, eyes unimaginably wide. 'It's…it…it can't be…' Sasuke started hyperventilating.

It was her.

Sakura.

But why?!

Sakura had felt the blade pierce her stomach flesh, the kick that sent her flying and the barrage that left her body so bruised and battered, when she landed with a thud…she couldn't get up.

But she made herself get up, blood seeping from her wounds. No way was she giving up now.

Sasuke hadn't given up after three years and if she did, she could never face him again.

Shakily, she stood, holding her stomach wound while her arms still bled, trying to look at her opponent. It was futile, seeing as her sight was just as unfocused as Itachi's and since she had lost so much blood already.

Itachi, standing opposite from her, found his opponent – whom he thought was Sasuke – amusing. 'He should be dead after that…I hit all the vital points…well…all but one…' He smirked and vanished.

Sasuke, who had since fallen over from Sakura's push, frantically looked for Itachi. His mind and pulse raced. 'I've got to get her out of here!' He thought, getting up as fast as he could and racing over to her.

He was too late.

Itachi appeared infront of her, hunched over from the run and kunai poised in hand. As quick as lightning, he slashed upward, feeling a warm liquid hitting his face. He smirked and pulled back, feeling his job was finished.

Itachi had landed his mark, trying to get Sasuke across the chest but because Sakura had taken his place, his target moved further up, slashing her across the neck in an upward angle, even reaching her jaw and cheek.

Sakura was dead before Sasuke caught her falling body.


Sasuke held Sakura, the girl he'd loved since childhood, in his arms as he slowly fell to his knees. Tears were forming in his eyes as he looked at her.

Sakura's head was tilted back, arms limp and bruised. Her usually warm, kind – yet somewhat violent – eyes were cold and piercing while her hair hung back, showing the slash upon her neck and face.

Sasuke shook her quietly, trying to wake her up in a worthless attempt.

Sakura would never wake again.

He realized this and pulled her onto his lap, holding her tightly, burying his face in her chest, crying silently, wishing he could've done something. 'I can't…I won't…' His thoughts became nothing. At least until he remembered his purpose for being here in the first place; to kill Itachi.

And the job wasn't even finished!

Not wanting to let her go, he hugged her body tightly and reluctantly set her down, closing her eyes as he softly brushed her tear-stained cheek. 'I guess she realized what was going to happen….' Scanning her, he noticed the small envelope attached to her belt. "She knew…" He mouthed, smiling a very watery smile.

Closing his eyes, he sighed, revealing his position to Itachi.

"I'm not that stupid, little brother." He stated, staring into nothingness.

"You knew all along."

He smirked. "Oh yes. It was my plan all along. The girl just decided to make her death come quicker – and much to my enjoyment as well."

Sasuke did not answer with words.


Bruised, burned and blood-covered, Sasuke returned to Sakura's body, kneeling infront of her, sighing.

"It's finally over." He said quietly, as if she were going to answer him.

To him, it hadn't sunk in yet. It was almost as if she were in a coma and was going to wake up sometime in the future.

Even though, without her…there was no future.

He heaved a heavy sigh, easing his hands underneath her and picking up her body. He suppressed his tears and jumped off; leaving a place he'd never come back.

Maybe he would.

He just couldn't leave the other body there, too.


Yes yes, i know. It's been WAY too long. School's getting closer to ending and of course, the closer it gets, the harder and more homework they feel like giving you. "OHH it's almost over!! Let me give you 28347923874908 more problems to do!" x.x WHY?! but anyways, i REALLY didnt' want to go into detail about Sasuke and Itachi's battle, seeing how it hasn't ended yet, so i left it up to the imagination. The real inspriation of this whole story goes to a picture, really. No joke. I found it a while ago, a picture of Sasuke holding Sakukra (just like in my story, go figure. xD) and it having TOO LATE faded on it. If anyone want's the picture or knows who drew it, i'd love to know, because i want to thank them. After seeing it, i just had to make a story, and this is what it's become. Only one more chapter, though:D Thanks for reading!!!