Title: Light in Darkness ( Under the Sakura Tree)

Author: MoonShadow

Summary: Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto were best friends when they were younger. But Naruto moved away, leaving a hurt Sakura and a very depressed Sasuke. How will they react to him coming back?...

Rating: NC-17

Pairings (s): SasuNaru

Feedback: desired

Characters: Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto...along with other Naruto characters...

Author's Note: I have sucky grammar when it comes to big words! So sorry! And the characters will be a bit OOC...or maybe a lot so sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters that consist of this anime.

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Chapter 14: New Promises

Naruto stood staring down at the city from a hill just a bit in the outskirts of Konoha. His once crystal ocean blue eyes, were now dull and sad looking. He stood there, remembering and creating thoughts as wind picked up, making his wild blond locks dance against it. Sometimes the strands of hair rested against his face, shadowing his clouded eyes. His face was neutral and without emotion, he looked cold. Not the shivering cold, but the lack of emotion cold.

His black shirt and navy blue baggy pants fluttered against his tan yet pale skin. He stood there looking at his hometown, the sun starting to get ready to hide itself among the white clouds of heaven. He let a small smile reach his lips, but the smile held no happiness, only sorrow.

He slowly looked away and headed down the hill and into Konoha. No longer being able to just see it, but wanting to become part of the scenery, if only for awhile. He wondered around the city, just visiting old familiar places the time slowly evaporating, he soon reached the Kiitsu Park. He stared at it with an anguish looking face, but it soon melted away as he walked inside. He looked around it, memorizing the details and soon enough, he reached the Sakura Tree.

He slowly walked up to it, and touched the tree trunk softly, as if it were made of glass. He carefully touched the detail on the trunk and slowly walked around it. When he had made a full circle, his eyes were driven away from the trunk as a small pink colored petal fell from above. His eyes widen slightly, but soon softened as he reached up and caught the petal in midair. He looked at the petal as it laid in the middle of his palm; he then brought his other hand and slowly ran his index finger across it softly. He outlined the surface and the linings of the small petal.

He then looked up at the branches to see it covered with Sakura flowers that were yet to blossom. He smiled softly, a true one for the first time in weeks, for he caught sight of two already blossomed Sakura Flowers near on the bottom branches. He slowly walked under them and reached up and carefully removed one of the Sakura flowers.

He carefully carried it down with his hands and looked at it; he smiled sadly and looked back at the tree. He quietly bid his farewell to the tree, and the memories that laid with it.

He then looked at the flower he held and he slowly walked away from the tree and out the park. He kept looking down at the flower with sadness as he walked to his awaiting destination, memories of the past flowing into mind…

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Sasuke sighed as Naruto pouted at him, and tried to look away. But his gaze always fell back to the pouting blond. His eyebrow twitched as he fully looked back at Naruto. "Dobe…stop it…" he said.

Naruto continued to pout at him, "Please?" Sasuke just looked at him like if he was crazy before sighing and nodded slowly, which caused the blue-eye boy to jump up happy. "YES! I'M GOING TO THE CARNIVAL WITH SASUKE!" he continued to jump up with joy, not noticing the smile that appeared on Sasuke's face.

After Naruto stopped his actions, he leaned down to where Sasuke sat, under the Sakura Tree, and gave him a quick kiss before smiling at him. "I'm going to get ready!" he said and ran to his house. Leaving an amused Sasuke behind and a few minutes later, followed Naruto's example and made his way to his own home.

Soon enough they were both at the festival, Naruto was in a black shirt with an orange vest on top and orange cargo pants. While Sasuke wore a navy blue sweater with the Uchiha crest on the left arm sleeve and black pants.

Naruto kept pointing out some places while dragging Sasuke along. Sasuke watched silently as his boyfriend played some of the games. At one point, he saw Naruto trying to win a certain stuff fox, but keep missing the bottle in which the ring had to go around.

Sasuke sighed "Let me do it" and took the last ring that Naruto had in his hand and with a graceful throw, it landed around the bottle. The caretaker of the stand smirked and grabbed the fox and handed it to Sasuke, who turned around and handed it to Naruto.

Naruto looked at him and then the stuff fox, he smiled happily and hugged it before wrapping his arms around Sasuke and hugging him tight. "Thanks Sasuke!" he said and gave Sasuke a peck on the cheek before releasing him and hugging his fox once more.

Sasuke smiled a bit, happy he made Naruto happy before following him to the next stand. By the time midnight came around, Sasuke was carrying a variety of stuff animals, from a fox to a summoning frog. Sasuke was still smiling as he followed Naruto, who still carried the fox he had won him. They were heading to Naruto's apartment, Sasuke dropping him off.

As they headed to Naruto's apartment, they passed by Kiitsu Park. Naruto stared at it, then at Sasuke, who gave a nod. They both entered the lonely park, and slowly made their way to the Sakura Tree. Naruto sat down under it, and then laid down, while Sasuke put down the animals and lay down next to him.

Once Sasuke was lying down, Naruto cuddled next to him and Sasuke automatically wrapped his arm around Naruto. They both were looking up at the sky, Naruto's head laying on Sasuke's shoulder and Sasuke's arm around his waist, while Naruto's arm rested on his chest. They silently looking through the thick branched that were filled with Sakura flowers. At some point the wind picked up and sent the flowers floating down on them. Sasuke reached up a hand and caught a flower, he handed it to Naruto, who took it with a confused expression on his face.

"It's for you dobe" was all he said.

Naruto smiled and smelled the soft fragrance of the pink flower. He then looked at Sasuke "I love you Sasuke…" he whispered. Sasuke looked over at him, and gave him a warm smile. "Me too Dobe"

But he seemed to hesitate about something and then motioned to the Sakura flower that Naruto held. "I will continue to until those flowers stop blooming during the summer and the tree dies" he said softly. Naruto smiled and held to him tighter, causing Sasuke to mentally sigh in relief he hadn't made a fool of himself. He looked at Naruto awhile longer before continuing to watch the darkened sky silently with Naruto still in his arms.

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Naruto smiled softly, they had both fallen asleep under the sakura tree in the warm breeze. That was the first time Sasuke had promise, in his own way, to love him forever. At that thought, his face returned to a sorrow filled one. That promise was broken now, and maybe never was meant to last at all. At that thought, Naruto's eyes darkened and slowly made his way home to gather his belongings and then meet Gaara at the airport to start a new life somewhere else…

He continued to walk silently biding his goodbye to his beloved city…

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"Answer me!" Sasuke said as he glared at the 'intruder'. "What are you doing here, Neji!" he asked once more. Sakura turned to him "Sasuke…" in a tone that said Stop-it-this-instant-mister. Which Sasuke only ignored and continued to glare at Neji.

Neji smirked at him "What I'm doing is none of your business, the real question is why are you here?"

Sasuke glared at him harder "I need to speak with Naruto…" was all he said. Neji stared at him quietly and sighed "I suppose you know the truth then…"

Sasuke at first said nothing, and then nodded slowly. Neji frown at Sasuke while he spoke "To bad it's to late…Naruto's probably gone by now…"

"What do you mean he's probably gone by now!" Sasuke grabbed Neji by the collar of his shirt; normally this would scare anyone, but not Neji. He kept staring at the Uchiha Heir with a blank face, unfazed but answered his question either way "I what I mean is that he's probably already left the city."

This caused the raven haired boy to growl and almost threw Neji loose. He punch the wall next to Neji in frustration, he had lost his chance.

Sakura silently watched as Sasuke stood their, his fist still connected with the wall. A small trail of blood leading from his fist down the cement wall; his face was lowered, unableling the others to see his eyes.

Sakura continued to watch him silently, thinking of a way to help. Her expression brightened a bit "Sasuke? Can't you call the airport to see if he's still there?" Sakura's voice was low and full with slight hope.

Sasuke at first didn't seem to hear, but he slowly took out his cell with his bloody hand. He started pressing numbers and asking the people on the other line if the "Naruto Uzumaki's" plane already left. After awhile, Sasuke hung up the phone.

Sakura watched him with anticipation, and then watched as Sasuke looked at her. Her face brightened even more as she saw Sasuke smirking. "We have time to reach it" he said and then took her hand and pulled her a long to the car with impressive speed.

Neji silently watched them speed of towards the airport, his face saddened 'I just hope you make it in time…He deserves happiness…'

Sasuke speeded towards the airport, his mind only focused on getting to the airport. The warm yet cold air hitting him in the face, but he didn't feel it. He kept adding more speed as they drove, Sakura noticing but saying nothing.

Sakura looked at Sasuke silently, before moving her gaze to the road ahead. She hoped with all her might that they reached Naruto before time. She wanted no more than things to go back to the old ways…

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Sakura smiled softly as she looked up at the night sky. The stars looked like diamonds that were shined upon by the moon, which lightened up the sky. She looked over at Naruto who was excitingly looking up at the sky as well. Her view moved onto Sasuke who looked bored but was still staring upwards. They were currently on the hill, which gave them a wonderful view of the city below.

She smiled even more and looked up again, her mind drifting off to a nightmare she had that previous night. "Are we always going to stay friends?" her voice timid.

This caused both Naruto and Sasuke to look her way, "What do you mean Sakura?" Naruto asked. Sasuke said nothing, but also looked interested to know. Sakura didn't look at them for awhile before sitting up and moved so that she was facing them. "I mean…are we always going to be together…like this…" she said motion to them.

Naruto stared at her confusingly but nodded "Of course we are, right Sasuke?" he said sitting up and looking towards him. Sasuke nodded but still looked confused about something "What brought this on?" he asked as he sat up, facing both of them.

Sakura blushed slightly, and looked away before answering. "I dreamed…that we weren't together anymore…that we all went our separate ways and never saw each other again…it…frightened me…"

Sasuke looked at her before sighing and slowly made his way to her. When he reached her side, he sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Naruto also followed suit and sat on her other side and wrapped his arm around her shoulder too.

"We'll always be together, no matter what" Naruto said and looked at Sasuke as he spoke. Sasuke smiled a bit and nodded in agreement "For once the dobe is right" he said amusingly as he watched Naruto glared at him while pouting. They looked back at Sakura who giggled slightly and nodded "Thanks guys…I just hope so too" she said and hugged both of them.

"We will! Believe it!" Naruto said as he grinned at them, silently closing the unsaid promise.

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Sakura's whole being filled with hope and determination at that memory. 'We will keep that promise Naruto…we will…'

They continued to drive quickly, and soon enough they reached the airport. Sasuke practically ran out of his car and into the airport. While Sakura stayed behind to lock the doors before she followed Sasuke inside, she looked around the packed airport and spotted Sasuke in one of the front desks.

She quickly made her way towards him while dodging crowds, as she squeezed in between two people; she saw Sasuke lower his face and bring his fist down on the desk. She stopped walking, her heart sank and her eyes watering slowly. Her new and old promises were now broken…

Sakura slowly and silently started crying, they hadn't reached Naruto in time. They weren't able to heal the wounds that Itachi had created…

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Journal,

It's been two long weeks since that day we lost Naruto again, and let's just say…things are going back to normal. Is as if Naruto was never here to begin with…

Sasuke is back to his moody self and I'm back to smiles again. We hang out after school a lot more than before. Like old times…except without Naruto. But, for some odd reason…we're more at ease than before…I know it sounds strange, but it's true.

Last week as me and Sasuke were under the Sakura tree, out of nowhere…Sasuke told me about the Romeo and Julian play. How I never knew? Is still a mystery to me, I think it was around the time I had the chicken pots (which I hated). He opened up to me, Sasuke…The Sasuke. Which was a shocker but it warmed me to know, he can trust me. He also told me about how he and Naruto came together, it was cute! I can't believe Naruto acted shy! But it was adorable none the less. I must admit, I do feel slightly jealous that Naruto won Sasuke's heart. But I'm glad for them; they were made for each other…I just hope they come together in the future…besides I have Lee now. He's actually quiet good looking in his own way, but not close to Sasuke's looks. But I like him none the less…

That reminds me; we made a new promise…Me and Sasuke. I guess that's why Sasuke is more at ease, cause he knows he'll have Naruto back with him. I'm glad...because now Sasuke has something to look forward to...

Our promise was to find him…To bring him back and keep our old promise, to bring our best friend back, to go back to the old times. And that promise, we plan to keep. Even if it takes us the rest of our lives…but we will have him back…

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Sakura and Sasuke sat under the Sakura Tree; Sakura was looking up at the sky, a black covered journal opened in her lap, while Sasuke's head rested on her shoulder, currently sleeping. Sakura looked at Sasuke and then back at the sky, her eyes shinning with new determination and hope "You hear that Naruto?...we're bringing you back home" Sakura said out load. The wind picked up and surrounded her and Sasuke with petals of the certain tree they were under, one of the petals ghostly going across Sasuke's lips, before moving away from them. The wind slowly drifted across cities and towns, carrying the pink sakura petals. It continued to drift slowly before reaching a certain town…

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A blond haired, blue eyed boy looked outside the window, and was startled to see the wind carrying pink sakura petals. Ones that didn't grow in that certain town, he smiled sadly and lifted a hand to capture the petals. When he opened his hand he saw three united petals, he stared at them and from a far…he heard promised whispers from past voices…

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MoonShadow: The ending sucked! …I tried though, I had it well in my mind…but when I came to writing it down…I failed T-T but it was okay fro the most part. Anyway, I said to read this author's note, well sorry about that, but I'll be explaining things in the other page thingy So please read the other if you want to know about another certain story! (That has to do with this one, I bet most of you already know what I'm talking about). Anyway R& R!