Author: Yukari Rin
Series: Naruto
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Uchiha Sasuke x Haruno Sakura, with a bit of Team 7 OT3 on the side.
Theme: #02 - the cruelest month
Rating: K
Notes: the obligatory "waiting" fic
Disclaimer: Naruto and related properties belong to Masashi Kishimoto and related parties.

Sakura shifted her weight to her other foot and swallowed the lump of fear and worry that was lodged in her throat. It was several hours since Naruto had left with Shikamaru and the others, but she refused to move from her spot in front of the gate. Incoming clients and returning ninja stared at her with curious expressions before moving along quickly. The outgoing ninja, aware of the situation involving Uchiha Sasuke reacted differently to her amongst themselves. Some pitied her; others whispered a prayer that her teammates would return alive, soon, and safely. All swore to keep a lookout for him, even if they were going in a different direction.

The day turned into night and Kakashi returned with a battered Naruto, but no Sasuke. She burst into tears as Kakashi finally handed the blond over to waiting medic-nin. He walked over to her, unsure of how to comfort her. He reached out to place a hand on her head, but both of his felt held down by lead. In the end he gave up, sighing and dropping his masked mood of slight indifference and letting her see how heavy the loss was weighing on him.

She cried herself to sleep that night, a mix of angry and sad tears that most would mistake for sadness only.

She stayed away from Naruto in the hospital, not because she hated him for not keeping his promise, but because she didn't want to cry in front of anyone anymore. She knew that if Naruto looked at her with his blue eyes full of sadness and hurt that she would waver. That's why she had spoken to him like that; she was trying to hold herself together.

As soon as she was sure she could hold herself together in public she went to see Tsunade. When the Godaime accepted Sakura as her apprentice, Sakura contained herself until she reached the exit of the Hokage Tower and ran to the field where she had become a Genin. She leaned against the pole she had sat in front of that day and swore to herself that she would grow strong enough so that she would never lose a precious friend ever again.

But as her training began, Naruto left with Jiraiya. They ate breakfast together at the Ichiraku before he visited places special to him before heading off. Neither of them spoke very much, both lost in their thoughts over their teammate (neither wanting to add "former", because that was like saying they didn't care about him anymore, and that would be incorrect.). When they had finished their meal, she offered to pick up the tab. He agreed and they left together. Before they parted Sakura enclosed Naruto in a loose hug and told him not to be an idiot and get himself killed.

The next evening Kakashi returned from a solo mission and stopped by her parents' shop. He bought a bag of candy that he wasn't going to eat and asked her how she was. She replied that she was keeping busy with her training, and told him about Naruto. He nodded and headed out. The next day he was gone again, and Sakura rarely saw him afterwards.

Once Chouji had healed enough to return to active duty Ino joined him with Shikamaru on missions while Asuma took on more and more solo missions. It got to the point where even when Sakura was too exhausted to train that she couldn't spend time with her blonde friend since the girl was always away. Sometimes Sakura felt as if Ino was leaving her behind again, but she would shake the doubt from her mind and train more.

Sakura threw herself into her training, wanting to learn as much as she could. Day after day she surprised Tsunade with how far she was progressing, but Sakura couldn't shake the memory of Sasuke telling her to spend time training and not asking for dates. She trained and she trained, but with no one to confide in and show off to she felt isolated. The days wore on and she would return home from the Hokage Tower exhausted and fall asleep within minutes. Her parents worried that she was pushing herself too much, but Sakura shook off their concerns by saying she was finally getting somewhere, please don't ask her to stop. They eventually stopped asking about her days when she was awake, and since she worked best in silence, it felt like she was living in a word without sound.

A month passed like it was five years, the hurt of Sasuke's departure still fresh each morning. Each day became a little more bearable, but she knew she would never completely heal. She knew she would always love him; but she was learning how to be strong enough to get him back. That was what kept her motivated when she was lonely; that and Naruto's words.

"We'll bring him back together."