Chapter 1 : Discover, Love, and Heartbreak

Sakura -22s

Neji -24

(Sakura's POV)

Today was like any other day of the year. I had finished my training, and I was now at the city archives doing some research. I was looking through old scrolls and documents. Some of these scrolls were over 1000 years old. I searched through the documents and found a land no one had been to in a long time. It was home to the Legendary Avatar. Avatar Korra had died well over 1000 years ago. After reopening the so-called spirit portals, the Avatars were no longer needed in the world. I knew the story well, but I have always dismissed it as a fairy tale. I mean honestly, one person who can bend all the elements, with just a few hand movements. The story sounds like madness. Many ninjas spend their wholes lives learning to control just one element, and with many hand symbols. I will take these scrolls to Tsunade and see what she wants me to do with them. I picked up the scrolls and headed out the door. As I was walking down the street, I saw Neji headed the same direction as me and I caught up to him and he smiled.

"Hey, Sakura, need some help?" Neji asked.

"Sure." I said, and he reached out and took the scrolls from me.

Neji and I had been friends for some time now and had developed a really good friendship. There were times that I felt his stare on me even when I wasn't looking, and I have begun to wonder if he had developed feelings for me. Anytime that thought came into my head I would brush it off as my imagination. He was so handsome and could be with any girl he desired, why would he choose me out of all the women. I sighed and looked at Neji who was now carrying all of the scrolls.

"So where are we headed to?" Neji asked.

"I need to talk to Tsunade about these scrolls." I said.

"What is wrong with them?" Neji asked.

"They speak of someone called the Avatar, and there hasn't been one in 4000 years, give or take. They say that he or she can control all the elements. They can also take away a person's bending, as they call it, and connect with their past lives. Apparently, the world still lies in wait for a new Avatar to be chosen. There was more to read, but it was all nonsense." I said.

"It's not just some story." Neji said.

"I believe it is. Stuff like that just doesn't exist." I said.

"It does Sakura. My great, great, great, grandfather was the first Avatar to be seen in over 100 years. When he died Avatar Korra took over." Neji said, and I just gawked at him.

"If that is true, then can you bend the elements?" I asked in a teasing voice.

"Sadly no, such knowledge has been lost to my family." Neji replied.

"Then there is no proof that such people existed." I said. If Neji had no proof and so therefore there was no need for an argument.

"Just because you can't see a visual of bending does not mean that bending does not exist." Neji said.

"Someone like the Avatar who can control all elements just is not plausible. Just think of how crazy that sounds." I snorted.

"The last Avatar was Korra. A new one will be chosen when the time comes for an Avatar to exist once again. the world is not in need of an Avatar. The spirit portals were opened, and peace has been throughout the land." Neji said.

"How do you know so much about all of this?" I asked.

"I just do." came his short reply.

"Okay." I said, what wrong with him all of sudden.

"We are here." He said and opened the door for me. I walked through the doors and up to Tsunade's office. I knocked on the door and waited for a reply, but no answer came. I knocked again, louder this time, but was still greeted by silence. I began banging on the door. This time I heard something crash to the floor, A few grunting noises, and Tsunade cussing. I opened the door to find Tsunade only half awake and a bottle of sake on the ground busted. She was either hungover or drunk out her mind. Great.

"What do you want Sakura?" She slurred.

"I brought you some scrolls, Neji believes they speak the truth but I think it's a bunch of rubbish." I told her.

"Hand them here." Tsunade said. Neji walked forward and laid the scrolls on her desk, and he left without saying goodbye. Normally he always says bye, we are good friends.

"It's going to take a few hours to go through all these documents, but these scrolls speak the truth." Tsunade said.

I nodded my head, I didn't wait for her to dismiss me, I just ran out the door to go find Neji. He was nowhere in Hokage tower, or anywhere surrounding it. I looked all around but couldn't find him. I walked through the streets checking in every shop hoping that I could find him. I looked on top of buildings, I looked on the training ground, and I went to his house, it was like Neji disappeared. I sighed, it was getting late and I wasn't going to find Neji. I made my way home, and once I got there, I noticed Neji standing by my door. I looked into his eyes to see that he was distraught.

"Sakura, thank gosh. I have been standing here for hours. I have been worried." Neji said.

"I went looking for you, because I thought that I had upset you." I said.

"You never upset me to begin and besides I could never stay mad at you." Neji said.

"The Great Neji Hyuga is worried about me and is being nice. Did I enter another universe."? I said.

"Being nice to you should be nothing new. After all we are friends. I am only nice to you though because I love you." Neji said.

"Neji now I know you are making fun of me. Why would you love me when there are other suitable women?" I asked.

"Sakura, you may not believe that I love you, but it is true. I have chosen who I wish to be with. I have spent so much time with your over the past 2 years and over those two years I have fallen more and more in love with you. Your smile, your laugh, the way you hold yourself, and your temper are important to me. I got worried when you didn't come home." Neji said and took a step closer to me.

"So, you were actually worried about me and not made." I said with a smile.

"Sakura make no mistake, I will always worry about you, and I will always protect you till my dying breath." He said.

I smile really big and looked at Neji. It came as a shock that Neji was in love with me, but I was happy that he was finally confessing love to me. I stepped forward and pulled Neji into a fierce kiss. The moment our lips made contact I felt fire burn through my body and I knew that he was the one. This was what I had been waiting for, a chance to be with Neji, a chance to finally be happy. I pulled away from Neji, to see shock written all over his face.

"Sakura, I..." He didn't finish his sentence but continued to stare at me shocked.

"I thought that it was appropriate to kiss you." I said.

It had begun pouring the rain, and I had no porch canopy. I was getting soaked, so I turned to my door to open it only for him to grab my arm and pull me to him. I was now flush against his chest, and my face flushed red. I looked up at Neji, but I couldn't quite read his expression. He almost seemed happy that I had kissed him, but I could also see tears in his eyes. He pushed me against the door, and his lips were only inches away from mine.

"You don't know how happy you just made me." Neji said, and I smiled.

"Why are you crying then?" I asked and reached up and wiped water and tears off his face.

"Only because you have made me happy, and for a second I thought I had lost you because of my inability to speak properly." He said. I went to kiss him but was interrupted.

"Sakura, Lady Tsunade would like to see you." I looked up to see Kakashi, I could tell that he was shocked, especially considering that me and Neji were pressed so close together and me pinned against the door.

"Okay, Kakashi I will be there in a minute." I said and looked at Neji. I wanted so badly to kiss him again, but by the time I leaned in to kiss him again, Kakashi spoke up again. I thought he left.

"No, Sakura now, not later. Now come on. I was told to escort you." Kakashi said harshly.

"What's your deal Kakashi?" I asked.

"There is nothing wrong.: He said in a short voice. I finally pulled from Neji, gave him a kiss on the cheek and followed Kakashi down the steps. Once we were a safe distance away, I stopped.

"Kakashi you are my sensei; I know that something is bothering you. You can't fool me, so out with it." I said.

"What are you doing with Neji?" Kakashi asked.

"I thought that it would be obvious. Neji and I are together." I replied and he stared at me in shock.

"Are you stupid. You can't be with him. Neji is engaged to be married." Kakashi said, and I stared at him shocked and stunned.

"You are lying." I tried to reason with him.

"Kakashi, that's enough. I will walk Sakura to Hokage tower myself." Neji said, and I looked behind me to see him standing there.

"I will walk myself. I want to be alone." I said.

"Sakura, please just listen to what I have to say." Neji pleaded.

"No, you lied to me. You said that you wanted to be with me." I yelled.

"Damn you, Kakashi. You can't just leave things be can you?" Neji yelled, but Kakashi was already gone.

"Neji, I don't understand. You said you wanted to be with me, but yet you are to be married." I said with tears in my eyes. I wanted to be strong, but the pain of betrayal was too much for me.

"Sakura please calm down. Your eyes are glowing." Neji said.

"My eyes are doing what?" I asked, confused more than ever.

"The Hokage will explain. Neji said, and he pulled me into his arms.

"Neji, you shouldn't be holding me if you are to be married." I said.

"I was told to marry her, but I was also told that if I found a woman worthy of the Hyuga name I could marry her instead. I chose you to be my wife, and I will inform my uncle as soon as we are done here." He said, and I gave him a broad smile, and I had tears of joy in my eyes.

"Please don't cry." He said as he pulled me into fierce kiss.

"Neji, I love you." I said as I pulled from the kiss.

"I love you too." He replied.

"We better get to Tsunade's office. It's late, and she hates waiting." I said and watched Neij's face pale.

He picked me up bridal style, and I grinned at him. Neji kissed me one last time before we disappeared and reappeared outside of Tsunade's office. I guess Neji feared her wrath, but who wouldn't. He still needed to clear his intent to marry with Tsunade as well. We stepped through the door to see a very angry Tsunade.

To be Continued.