Thick layers of blood and dirt were caked under her cracked fingernails as she took in the scene before her. Bodies. Bodies everywhere, on the ground, in Kaguya's draining genjustu trees, and...in the arms of their loved ones as they cry over their battered and abused bodies. The foul stench of death filled her nostrils as her glassy eyes looked at the body that was in front of her. The sunshine. The sunshine of this war, this fight, and her life was dead. Naruto laid on the ground with his head in her lap with a big wide smile. Sakura's emerald eyes stared into Naruto's blue and once lively ones and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. But she wouldn't cry, no she wouldn't. The last things that he made her promise to do were the following;
"Smile, Sakura-chan. I know that things are hard, but I always smile. It gives me a pick me up! And it also eases others."
Sakura's chapped pale lips forced themselves into a smile, making her look more broken than before.
"And stay strong! I know you kinda feel left behind 'cause Sasuke and I have some special justsu's and stuff but remember you're strong too! You're really smart and super strong."
Sakura's eyes glossed over with tears of anguish as the sight of losing her best friend. She couldn't look into his eyes, she felt like he was watching her weakness. Watching her break down.
"Lastly, don't give up, Sakura-chan! You're one of the stubbornest, people I've ever met. You've cheered me up a lot. And even though I won't be here to cheer you on anymore, I just want you to know that I'll always be cheering. Even if you can't see me and stuff...I'll always be there for you."
Sakura's slender calloused fingers closed Naruto's eyes as she looked at him with pure sorrow and regret. He died peacefully, with a smile on his face and in the arms of one of his best friends. She started to cry. Not those pretty girl cries, but the ugly nasty sobs that only people with pure heartbreak could understand. It was as If time stopped, all she could see was Naruto in her arms and all she could feel inside...was now emptiness. Sakura clenched her fist so tight her nails drew blood. If only she could protect him, if only she was there when he needed her.
"Ah, but you can..." Sakura's eyes snapped up to see an older man in his forties with a grin dressed in some type of robes she had never seen. "I'll give you the time, anything that you might need to stop that war before it ends. All you have to do is two simple things."
"W-what?" Sakura's voice cracked painfully as she looked up at the grinning man. This whole situation seemed very suspicious, but she didn't care. If it was a chance for her to save Naruto and end the war, she'd take it.
"You must protect the fire dragons kin. And lastly-"
"What is the Fire Dragon's Egg? What does it even look like-"
"You also must find and protect a treasure. It is the utmost importance-"
"But what's the treasure-" Sakura was cut off mid-sentence as the man glared at her, a clear hint that she should let him finish. "Sorry..." Sakura mumbled and then he continued,
"The Fire Dragon's Egg. It hides in plain sight but when it's found it will shine." Sakura scrunched her eyebrows up in deep thought as she tried to soak up all this information, "And as for the treasure..."
Sakura's eyes flickered towards the man as she felt the atmosphere change. She flinched as she felt the sheer amount of remorse and grief he held.
"I'll do it." Sakura's bold voice echoed around her before her once distant forest green eyes shimmered and fired up into blazing determined emerald. She looked his dead in the eyes then repeated, "I've got this. I'll do it." The pure warmth and happiness that radiated off of him were enough to even make sakura cheer up a little.
"The treasure that you need to find and protect...is the One Piece." Sakura saluted as she made her promise.
"And if I do this, I'll get the chance to end this war?" The man started to shimmer and slowly fade away.
"Yes. You'll be able to save this world. That, I promise you." Before he disappeared she shouted,
"Wait! What's your name? How do I find you?"
"My name is Gol D. Roger and I was the king of the pirates." Sakura was in awe about the presence he gave off. Strong and intimidating...and kind. Like Tsunade. She felt herself grin a little before saying,
"My name is Sakura Haruno, and I'm going to find the One Piece, find the Fire Dragon's Egg, and win the Fourth Shinobi War!" Roger gave a jolly bellowing laugh and a wide grin,
"Then go forth! Be prepared, the sea's are full of challenges. But you can handle them!" Sakura smiled widely as she was filled with hope. That she could bring Naruto back, so he could be the Hokage. So that he can help everyone win the war and defeat Kaguya once and for all. Her smile faded as she realized something, she felt off, something was wrong. When she looked down at her lap to see if Naruto was there, her eyes widened as she saw nothing. Sakura's head almost got whiplash from how ard she was looking around her. Nothing. She was floating in a sea of nothing. Before she even had the chance to freak out she heard his voice,
"You got this Sakura-chan! I believe in you!" She looked up only to see Naruto standing next Gol D. Roger grinning wide. Sakura felt her eyes water before breaking into happy tears,
"I'll do this, Naruto! For you, for our team, for our world!" Sakura was screaming at the top of her lungs as she said,
"Now it's my turn Naruto! It's my turn to prove my growth! To prove my love for the village and honor the friendships we've made!" Naruto gave his signature thumbs-up as tears fell from his eyes. Gol D. Rodger placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder signifying that it was time to go. With one more proud look, Naruto looked at Sakura before nodding at Roger. Like fireflies, they burst into little lights before fading out completely. Happy tears stained her cheeks as she closed her eyes and felt herself fade away. With a smile, she closed her eyes and excepted her new fate. She would save them, she would save them all. Little did she know that when she woke up, things would be more than challenging. That life itself was flipped in a way that even the original people who existed in that world would be affected too. But she'd deal with that later, but for now, she had one thing ringing in her soul;
"My name is Sakura Haruno, and I'm going to find the One Piece, find the Fire Dragon's Egg, and win the Fourth Shinobi War!"
And with that, Sakura Haruno embarked on her journey, willing to risk it all to save everyone. The question is, will she succeed? Find out next time on
ONE PIECE: A NINJA'S PATH