don't own Naruto.
She watched the small leaf dance by her blue sandaled foot as the Haruno waited for the inevitable. It was just as she bent over to pick up the leaf the air shifted, and she froze in her maneuver. Her darkened emerald orbs slid up the silhouette till she landed on spinning crimson eyes. She felt her form tense, waiting for the expected. She recoiled and sat back onto the iconic bench, ready for this new part of her life to be taken away.
She didn't know how many tears she shed that day. She knew that she didn't try to force it, she just let him pass. But their conversation was what had her curling into herself, petite form shaking with the force of her emotionless sobs.
She locked her gaze with him again, and watched his already prepared form for the nonexistent onslaught of begging. Contrary to popular belief she sat there, unmoving. Her forest green eyes held no spirit, and he could feel the Curse Mark radiating through her sharp gaze. It was overwhelming. She spoke which nearly elicited a jump from the other party, "I see you're leaving."
She watched him quickly harden, a mask revealing only the slightest of uncertainty slid back onto his features. "I am. Don't come for me." he responded coldly. Her gaze dropped back to the leaf and she picked it up, her victim gently held in between her fingers. "I don't care. You don't even have to come back. Just know that Naruto will be looking for you. " Her eyes darted back over to Sasuke, noting he advanced closer. "You've changed." he inquired. Her eyes came back to the leaf. She could almost see the boisterous blonde now, interrogating and degrading her for not doing the right thing. She inserted her chakra into the plant, watching it crackle and crumble into ash. "I am no longer who you think I am. All I ask is that you come back to Naruto. To the Leaf."
"What about you?"
"What about us?"
"We were nothing."
"To me you mean nothing."
"What changed?"
The pinkette's eyes fluttered closed as she allowed one stray tear to slip down her cheek. "I know what I will become, and you have nothing to do with it. Maybe, one day, that will change."
She felt Sasuke's eyes linger on her and they stayed in silence for a few moments, Sakura finally looking up, eyes morphed into an amethyst purple to see his retreating form. "When I come back..." she closed her eyes at his words once more, anticipating his next sentence. "...I will be stronger than you. See you soon." Then she felt him disappear, all that was left were the unmistakable foliage that represents her hometown. She took that moment to burst into silent tears that held no meaning, just to alleviate her pain.
She knew that this was coming, ever since his brother paid a visit.
Yet she still felt a part of herself die that day.
She knew that soon she would be an unmarked force of power serving The Village Hidden in The Leaves. She didn't want that day to come, because she didn't know what was happening to her. She was scared, yet completely confident.
Either way, there was no turning back now.
So she just sat there on her bed, lulling herself to sleep with songs her late mother would sing to her when she was young.
The next time she would die a little was when Naruto would leave for training.
It was funny, her being one of his most loved people yet he didn't even come to tell her he was leaving. A part of her still died, but much smaller and less important. The few weeks before this day had been spent hardening herself, not even the most aggressive emotions would be getting past her blank slate.
So she watched with her mask of indifference as she was just in time to watch the second retreating form that meant the world to her. She sat on the bench for the second time, and furrowed her brows.
Her mask cracked.
She mended it immediately and knew that was going to be the last time.
Soon, days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months, before she knew it she was healing under Lady Tsunade's tutelage. Being the fifth month she vaguely remembers the day she first asked for training.
Sakura knocked on the doors of the Hokage office, decision already made. She heard the faint signal for her to approach and pushed the wall between her demise and her destiny open with vigor. She walked boldly up to the Hokage's desk, and planted her arms at her side, shoulders squared.
Just the way she'd walk in any room, as if it would be her last.
"What do you want?" her Hokage asked sternly, put out by the boldness her small form released. Her dark eyes slid from the seal on her forehead to her light brown eyes.
"Train me."
Sakura sighed and closed the hundredth book she'd read on the human body's anatomy. She stood up swiftly and brought the remainder of the yet to be finished texts with her and made her way home. She passed the Uchiha Compound. The only thought was 'that place is so depressing. It could be a great new shinobi community.' She passed a certain blonde's apartment. 'I can smell dirty socks from here.
Her semi-long pink hair stopped in its swift death match against physics and reclined on her back as she disabled the seals put on her apartment door and walked in to the sight of a cold and barren living room, devoid of any life. She flicked on the generic lights and plopped her texts on the generic low table. She walked into the generic kitchen and put the generic kettle on the generic stove. The only semblance of life was the special chamomile tea brought in straight from Kumo, that she makes the monthly trip for by herself. She robotically sat down and opened one of the texts overflowing her usually empty table and began to read.
Only once did her teammates cross her mind, and her lip twitched.
That would have to be fixed.
Over the span of three years her chakra control has only gotten better, her lessons with Taki and Tsunade (also newly Maito Gai) have only gotten harder, her mask had only gotten stronger, her Rank had only become more fearful.
She hasn't seen any of her friends, and when she does she doesn't spare them a backwards glance. They were in the way of the bigger picture anyway.
Before anyone, even herself knew it, she was an ANBU, just another one of the nameless, faceless soldiers recruited for the village.
Their unbreakable masks, physically and mentally, pleased her.
And soon came the day where Naruto would return.
She was at the front gates, reclining on a nearby bench, tea cup and mission report in hand, double-checking her flawless work when there was a familiar screech. Her eyes reluctantly dragged up from the pages to stare at an orange blur and a leisurely walking old man with long white hair, disgruntled expression on their face.
She had imagined a reunion taking place so many times, usually involving her mask instantly cracking and her running up to her old teammate, teary-eyed.
Yet she couldn't even bring herself to move from the bench, it didn't seem important, and her spot has already been warmed.
So she easily let her eyes descend back to her mission report, halfway done organizing the already perfectly done paper, and took a long drag of her oolong tea, then proceeded to repeat this process.
Soon she found herself before the Hokage's office, newly trimmed hair flowing neatly behind her as she let herself in, only to see a pair of cerulean blue eyes staring straight at her. Her instincts told her to beat it as she narrowly dodged a tackle on Naruto's part. She noticed how he didn't look and act much different; same old same old. Her attention quickly shifted to her shishou as she gently dropped her report down on her desk and took her leave, along with muffled cries of "Sakura-Chan!" Behind her, already knowing that he would find someway to her.
"Sakura, I need you in here please."
Sakura found herself bowing before her teacher before anyone could even blink. Naruto gasped at the unexpected sight and Tsunade looks with indifference. "You will go with Uzumaki Naruto and Hatake Kakashi to Suna for an emergency. Their Kazekage, Sabaku Gaara has been kidnapped. Find them and kill whoever is responsible." She tossed a mission Scroll which Sakura easily caught without looking up. "Information is on there. Go on ahead, find Kakashi and get packed." As the two ladies ignored the only males indignant cries, Sakura quickly skimmed the mission Scroll and tossed it behind her at Naruto, who scrambled to grab it. She watched his face contort into a emotional frown before her eyes as she watched with moss colored eyes. She spun on her heel and made her way to the door.
Hand placed on his shoulder, she whispered flatly, "its good to have you back, Naruto."
She could practically feel his eyes widening as she shunshined off towards a few places Kakashi might be. A few eggplants and burning books later, Kakashi was dragged off to Team Seven's old Training Grounds, in actual tears.
Naruto was waiting for them, surprise and...something shown clearly on his face. He walked up to Sakura as she let loose her form hold on his collar. He beamed.
"It's been a while, huh Sakura-Chan?"
He gave him one of her best empty smiles. The seal on her neck to ward off the one in her eyes burned. "Yes it has been. Hopefully you have improved." He pumped a fist in the air then to his chest. "Don't worry! I'll protect you, Sakura Chan!" Sakura felt her vision blur and felt her eyes darken a few shades. She watched as Kakashi hastefully put distance between the two, Naruto oblivious and very frightened.
Protect.
It had always been a taboo word for her, so many meanings yet she is compared to the worst one. How could one automatically assume that since someone has not been with you nothing about them has changed?
Like usual, Sakura could not hide the emotions that sped through her eyes. Yet every other feature on her face was still as stone.
Soon the test started.
Kakashi hastily backed away from Sakura, while she didnt even advance.
Naruto took this moment of uncertainty to really assess his old teammate. She had cut her hair shorter than he last saw it, and she had tons more muscle build than before, where he remembered her as lanky. Her features sharpened and lost all of the childhood chub and her most dominant feature were her dark green eyes, eyes he once remembered to be lighting up and the most beautiful leaf green. Her eyes showed no spirit.
He couldn't even recognize her. Not after the Chūnin Exams.
He noted the way her face gave way no surprises, emotion devoid. Her mask was perfect, and he almost missed the way her attention flew to him, telling him to get his head in the game.
He inwardly shook it off and took a stance.
He jumped to his teacher.
He was effortlessly thrown to the ground then into the trees.
He looked up to see eyes of green staring disinterestedly down at him.
No matter what she did she would always be beautiful.
Naruto watched the way she planned everything out, and was gone before he could even see her blur. She leaped down and took the bells, no one noticing her move. In an instant she was back and handed one to Naruto. His eyes reflexively widened at the speed of it all.
Sakura was gone.
Power...what does it do to you?
Soon, the time came for them to leave. She healed Kankuro with just a few beads of sweat managed. And soon, they rescued Gaara, Sakura doing it all by herself. She killed her Akatsuki opponent covered in scratches and bruises and gashes and cuts, along with a tired Lady Chiyo in her arms.
He was so oblivious to think that she just needed rest, yet everyone could feel her chakra fading.
And soon..
He could feel him.
His best friend's chakra.
He's here!
Naruto went running down the hideout, Sakura trailing behind him. "Sasuke!!!" he kept screaming at the top of his lungs. Sakura was about to grab his collar before a newfound burst of speed had him on his knees in the rubble. Sakura lightly jogged up next to him, palm on shoulder once more, sending a jolt of healing chakra through his system and he was immediately upright. He looked, tears in his eyes, at the sight of a 15 years old Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura followed his line of sight.
He only got taller.
What will she do now?
Was the question playing in the Last Uchiha's mind. He watched as she didn't even acknowledge his presence, instead looking towards where Naruto was looking, the idiot. He watched her dark eyes asses his build, most likely assuming the worst.
Was it bad he assumed she wouldn't be like this?
Soon, she breaks the gaze and instead stares toward the sword he wields. A gleam of something enters her eyes.
He watched, slightly baffled as she walked forward, ignoring Naruto's pleas and cries to 'stay away, he might be dangerous.'
Soon he was face to face with the last person he had spoken to before he left.
She only got taller.
"Sasuke."
Her voice was not feminine in any way, husky and solid. Her half lidded eyes were blank as she stared straight through him, attention on the weapon to his side. "Can I see your sword?"
"Did I really make this much of an impact on you?"
"You never have, never will. This is just the result of my continued training. You two are long dead in my eyes. The sword."
He sneered fiercely. The nerve. The nerve! What makes her think she can talk down to him? She is the lower one, he is stronger! She is just weak! So he pushed her off the cliff she just climbed and unsheathed his sword.
She dies HERE.
As he thrust his sword towards her neck he watched as it was taken out of his grip forcefully while she had not moved a muscle. She caught it with the hand he knew was not her dominant and wielded it like a pro. She threw it behind her where it stuck into the ground near Naruto who yelped like a loser, and Sasuke felt an unknown force tug on him as he went downward. She caught him by the wrist and threw him. He caught himself, eyes slightly wide.
[I]What has she become?!
Before he could even blink she was already in front of him, sword poised at his neck. "We are no longer equals. This is between you and me. Just know. Naruto will be waiting for you. "
Her watched her fiddle with the sword till she was able to make a perfect Fire, Water, and Lightning copy. Then she tossed his katana back which he caught effortlessly. He felt rage rise in his chest.
HOW DARE SHE!
He jumped towards her, katana in hand as she advanced toward him.
This was what they were waiting for.
No more holding back.
END OF PART 14
Mm, how's the story going? You enjoying it? It's gonna end soon since this is my first fanfiction so I cut it short. Hope you liked that chapter, maybe I'll finish the entire thing today.