What She Lost

by Taijutsudemonslayer

Sakura comes to terms with her decisions...and regrets.

No matter how many...times I save your life.

No matter how strong I become.

No matter how many times I say that I love you.

All you will ever see...

Is someone else...who isn't me.

Naruto, battered and bloody carried an unconscious Sasuke Uchiha on his back, Choji, Shikamaru, Neji, and Kiba ran to the village gate just in time to see Naruto bringing the Last Uchiha back into Konoha. Kiba and Choji took the knocked out ravenette from Naruto before he himself fainted.

Two months later...

Naruto was walking out of the hospital, a stoic expression on his face, he'd done it.

He kept his promise to Sakura and brought Sasuke back, but she hadn't even come to visit him when he was recovering in the hospital.

No one had other than Tsunade, Yugao, Tsume, Gaara, Temari, Lee and Tenten.

A week has passed since Naruto got out of the hospital, He goes straight to the Hokage Tower and requests to be put in the ANBU.

That was eight years ago...

A lone figure ran through the heavy brush frantically, terror in his green eyes. He stopped running to catch his breath.

"I...think...I l-lost-." the man panted, suddenly a tanto blade came out of seemingly nowhere, slicing the guy's throat clean open. Blood gushed out like a geyser, as the man's vision faded, his last image was of a man wearing a black Tengu mask.

Hokage Tower, Konoha

Tsunade Senju, the 5th Hokage of Konoha bid farewell to Team 8 after they had given their mission report,

"You can enter now, Tengu." Tsunade said.

Instantly an ANBU appeared in front of her desk kneeling.

"Mission complete, target eliminated Hokage-Sama." Tengu said flatly before pulling out a scroll and putting it on the desk.

"He had stolen this from the library, one of your special medical ninjutsu scrolls."

Tsunade smiled.

"Good job Tengu, you are dismissed."

Tengu bowed silently before vanishing.

Once he returned to ANBU HQ, Tengu removed his gear and mask, slipping back into his "normal" persona, Naruto Uzumaki once more. Leaving ANBU Headquarters, Naruto walked through the village, a steely calm aura surrounding him as well as a steady stream of killing intent that he was radiating to keep people away from him.

"Naruto! You're finally back!"