I Love You More Then Anything Else

This time, I didn't dream of this one. I made it myself. Have you ever wondered what Sakura's life would be like without Sasuke? And with only Naruto who loves her more than his own life? What if she thought Sasuke was gone forever? Will she try to love Naruto instead?

"There, all done!" the fifth hokage heals the psychological damage don by Uchiha Itachi to his younger brother.

"Sa-Sa-Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura was crying out his name as she hugged him tightly.

"How are you Sasuke? Are you all right now?" Naruto asked. He knows that Sasuke wouldn't really answer him, but it was just his way of showing that he cared. He looks up to him. He considers him as a true friend. But even though, he still considers that Sasuke is his rival when it comes to winning Sakura's heart.

She really loves him. Naruto murmurs to himself this statement a lot. In front of him, Sakura shows her strong affection for Sasuke. He just couldn't take it anymore. His heart was being torn to shreds by the sight in front of him. He had no choice but to walk away and try to ignore and forget about it, but a part of his heart wants to stay and see the smile on her angelic face. Her smile gives his heart light, taking him out of the darkness and all his misery. He wanted to see the smile of the one person he loved the most. But though Sakura's happiness gives him happiness as well, his life still wouldn't be complete unless she loves him back.

"Everything's all right now, Naruto! Sasuke-kun's okay!" tears were running down her reddish cheeks. Naruto wanted to wipe them off her face, but he was scared. He does love Sakura, but the feeling isn't mutual.

"Hey! Now that he's okay, why don't we all go to Ichiraku and eat? My treat!" Naruto just smile and hides his true feelings. Behind his cheerful smiles and laughs is a very dark place where all his sorrows are hidden.

"I don't think that's a good idea. Sasuke-kun needs some rest. I'll just stay and watch over him." Sakura still doesn't understand.

"Okay then! I'll just come back in the morning to check on you guys!"

"Thanks Naruto! Goodnight!"

"Goodnight!" Naruto dragged himself home. He was practically torn apart by that event.

But a dream can change all…

Sasuke was asleep…he was twitching and turning restlessly…he was having a dream…more like… a nightmare…

'You want to kill me don't you? You to take revenge on me don't you? If so, you have to be strong! Foolish little brother, hate me, detest me… only then will you be able to defeat me!' a vision of a full-powered sharingan bothered his sleep. He was almost used to this dream for he sees it a lot. But the scene changed…there were for shadows in front of him. He was growing weak. He couldn't move. Again, he saw the time when he was visited by the dreaded "Sound Four". It was as if it replayed in his head. It was telling him something. It was a very bad omen.

"If you stay here and continue to play around in this pathetic and dainty little town, you'll never be strong!" these words echoed in his head over and over. "Join us! You know who you should go to! Peace will never make you strong…neither will your little friends!" he was captured by these statements. He was trapped. There was nothing he could do to stop the words from pulling him to a place where he saw a horrible sight of 'snake eyes.'

He saw Sakura slowly drifting further and further away…Naruto, Kakashi… and the whole village of Konoha. He wanted to chase them. He wanted to go after them, but he still couldn't move. Then, behind him, stood his brother. Behind him was the sight of his clan…one-by-one…dying. It was the one time when he wanted to cry. He was caught in the middle. At one side was Itachi, taunting him to take revenge, and the other side was the people who mattered to him…slowly drifting away. Something was telling him that if he picks Itachi, he'll become strong and finally be able to defeat him and if he goes after his friends, he will live weak and die weak. And, as usual, his rage got the better of him. He picked Itachi. He set aside the people who mattered. He sacrificed his new-found happiness with whom he loved. Once again, he made a careless choice…

…and he suddenly woke up

He woke up with Sakura asleep, her head resting on the edge of the bed and holding his hand. He slowly let go. He let his anger decide for him again. He got dressed up, and then he packed. He softly kissed her forehead, then he walked away.

"Sasuke-kun?" her soft voice stopped him from walking away. "You're not leaving, are you?" but he still couldn't answer. "Please, tell me you're not leaving!" but he still can't force himself to lie to her.

"Go to sleep!" this was all that he can say to her. He was being torn in half by what he feels and what he wants.

Sakura started crying. "Sasuke-kun, you can't leave! You can't! You can't!" the words she wanted to say were still trapped in her lips. Sasuke didn't answer. Flashbacks of their 'happy' Team 7 times overflowed their heads, until finally, the words came out… "Sasuke-kun, I love you more than anything! You can't leave me! I know why you want to leave! You just want to take revenge! Please stay! Stay here with me! I'll do anything for you! I'd even help you with you revenge! Just please, stay!" it wasn't her speaking. It was her heart crying out loud how she feels. "If you take revenge, you won't be happy! No one will be! Especially me! You're always telling me how painful it is to be alone! Well, if you leave me, that's exactly how I'd feel!" her words were tearing him apart. He wanted to stay. His heart was telling him to stay. But his vengeful soul wants to be strong and leaf. But he has decided… he was to leave.

Then Sakura felt something. She faintly heard Sasuke saying "Thank You, Sakura-chan!" and then her vision was turning darker and darker. She passed out. Sasuke put her on the bed and then he left.

3 years after…