Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Hidden Chapter 4: Reasons
Sasuke walked slowly toward the bridge where the trio usually met. He blinked in surprise. Naruto was standing on the bridge along with Jiraya. Kakashi was nowhere to be seen, (typical) and probably wouldn't be there for another hour or so, but Sakura was nowhere to be seen. Naruto turned and waved to him. He didn't respond.
Sakura finally showed up, looking a little disheveled. Her eyes didn't twinkle like they used to. She didn't say hello. She simply nodded and sat silently. Both Sasuke and Naruto looked at her.
After a while, Kakashi finally decided to show up. He waved coolly, "Why hello! I got st-." Naruto gaped at the instructor.
"No excuses! You're late again!" he pointed accusingly.
"So what's new…?" Sakura added dully. "Well?" She got up and walked into the forest, "Let's go, Naruto, Sasuke." Naruto looked at her strangely. 'hmm… she didn't say Sasuke-kun…' He shrugged it off. 'It's probably nothing I should be worried about.'
Forest…
"HA!" Naruto screamed as he executed a smashing kick. Sasuke blocked and punched back. Naruto flew back slightly. "Uhhgg… damn it Sasuke!" Naruto charged at him. Sasuke watched cautiously and awaited Naruto's attack. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" he heard Naruto yell. Multiple Narutos surrounded him. One held him while the others attacked. Sasuke blinked in surprise but held his ground. He used the substitute jutsu and reappeared on a tree branch.
Sasuke quickly formed seals with his hands, "Katon Housenka!" Numerous fireballs flew toward the shadow clone Narutos. Each one disappeared in a puff of smoke. Naruto dodged the remaining one and hit the ground. He coughed. "Naruto, don't you ever get tired of using that attack?" Sasuke taunted. Naruto coughed again. "Had enough?" Naruto smirked.
"You wish." Naruto got up and wiped his chin.
Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise, "What?!" A Naruto clone appeared behind him. The clone grinned wildly and made a tiger seal.
"1000 years of pain!" Naruto's clone prepared to strike, but Sasuke immediately jumped out of the way. It missed and puffed away. Sasuke sighed and landed next to Naruto.
Kakashi and Jiraya grinned. "Good job Naruto, Sasuke." Kakashi stated, "You two got a lot better. Especially you Naruto, very creative." Naruto flashed his fox grin and nodded. "You trained him well, Jiraya." Jiraya's grin got wider.
"Where's… Saukra-chan?" Naruto peered around.
Kakashi shrugged, "She went off somewhere, 'to meditate' she said." Sasuke's fist clenched, "Don't worry," he said sensing Sasuke's uneasiness, "she'll be fine." Sasuke walked off.
"Eh? Where's he going?" Naruto asked. The two instructors shrugged. Naruto sighed, "Wait up, Sasuke!" He ran after him.
"Where are we going?" Naruto continued to question. Sasuke didn't respond. "Damn it Sasuke… will you just answer?!"
Sasuke's pace slowed slightly. "Shut up Naruto!" He jumped onto a tree branch and Naruto followed. "Sakura has to be around here…" 'hmm…'
They continued jumping from tree to tree until they reached a clearing. It had cherry blossom trees everywhere, and a small pond in the corner. Wind blew the delicate flowers everywhere, creating an illusion of pink rain. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"Beautiful…" Naruto whispered. Sasuke didn't say anything.
The duo looked below them. There sat Sakura peacefully. Cherry blossoms surrounded her; there was one in her palm. She had a far away look in her green eyes, and then suddenly crushed the flower and threw it on the ground. She stepped on it. The wind grew fiercer. Sakura smirked. Suddenly a flash of light erupted from her.
Sasuke and Naruto shielded their eyes. After the light had gone the two peered down toward the clearing. Sakura was nowhere to be seen. Naruto's eyes widened, in the clearing there were no cherry blossoms, there was no pond. It was only a barren wasteland, with dead trees, and old weeds. "Wh-what happened just now…?" Sasuke couldn't answer. 'Gawd this is getting frustrating…' he thought.
Jiraya and Kakashi sat silently against a large, old oak tree silently. The two had decided to train Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura together again, just for old times sake. So, they did just that, 2 years ago… At that time, Sasuke decided to leave the Sound Nins, and return to Konoha. "Orochimaru disappeared" was his excuse. It later turned out that Orochimaru wanted Sasuke's body to sustain his immortality. Sasuke wouldn't allow that to happen, and fought the Sound Nins off until he made it back to Konoha. By that time, Orochimaru's body couldn't last any longer and he eventually vanished.
Unfortunately, Sakura's father died during that period of time, and since Naruto was out training with Jiraya, Kakashi was out doing B-rank missions, and Sasuke had yet to return, she had no real source of comfort. Her mother was torn up about the entire thing. She hasn't recovered quite yet, and Ino didn't really help because all she did was brag to Sakura about her and Shikamaru. (Despite that, she was happy for them) The only person Sakura talked to was Hinata, but that was rare and no one ever saw the two officially speaking to each other.
Then, out of nowhere, Sakura changed. There was no longer happiness in her eyes. She didn't smile, and she distanced herself from everyone. Rumors spread around Konoha like wild fire, saying that her mother was abusing her and sorts of things like that. Of course, that was never true… But Konoha eventually got used to Sakura's change, and everyone went on.
Sakura walked home alone. She didn't want to wait for her teammates, though; she knew they were going to follow her. So she rushed home. She sighed when she arrived.
"Mother?" she called out. No answer. Sakura walked past the living room and into the kitchen. She found her mother sitting at the dining room table sipping on hot tea. Her mother didn't glance at her.
"Enki…" Her mother whispered. Sakura glared at her mother.
"He's dead mom. It's only me here." Her mother lifted her gaze toward her daughter, but dropped it. Tears began to spill from her eyes. Sakura's fist clenched tightly, "Damn it mom! He's dead! Its been over two years would you get over it already?! You were always lecturing me to act a little bit more mature, and now look at you! I have to play parent now mom, and I'm sick of it!" Her mom continued crying. Sakura snarled and ran to her room. She slammed her door and covered her head with her pillow. She could still hear her mother weeping from the other side of the door.