Authors Note: Hello dear readers, let me start off by saying your encouragement on this has not been overlooked! In the last few months I've had to deal with health issues and job issues and potential homelessness, and so writing has been a bit outlet for me, I just haven't had the chance to update the actual chapters. That being said a lot of this story is written and planned out, it just needs corrections and then posting. Thank you so much for your continued support! That being said, please note that this story does NOT have a Beta, therefore there will be mistakes by the handful. Don't waste either of our time pointing out my painful grammar, trust me when I say I've used every form of online spell check one can whilst re-reading my chapters an almost painful amount of times. There comes a point where one has to simply say 'fuck it' and post the chapter, mistakes be damned.
On the bright side of me taking so long on one otherwise simple chapter, it's given me time to iron out details and plan ahead for the future of this story, all exciting things I promise, so please bear with me.
Title: If I Live
Author: ALightLit
Beta: - MIA (as in Missing In Action)
Type: AU
Status: Incomplete - Ongoing.
Rating: T (Rating may change due to maturing characters.)
Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto!
Pairing: Undecided.
Word Count: 1,342
Intro: It took one minute, one choice, and one girl, to mess all of Orochimaru's plans up. Sakura Haruno managed to beat fear – with love. She moved in front of her crush as a last resort. However, every victory has its price.
R&R
"There is nothing like a dream to create the future."
― Victor Hugo
Sakura sat before her senesi, hunched over in pain. Her top had been discarded, leaving her only in her chest bindings and the slightly baggy pants. Modesty was forgotten as the mark on her shoulder fluctuated dangerously.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura gasped out, fighting the urge to claw at her neck as he carefully withdrew, the seal was fully drawn out and ready to be completed.
The older man ignored how her voice changed with the seal as it attempted to take over.
"I know Sakura-chan," He spoke gently, "It'll be over soon."
The sealing itself was excruciating. Sakura screamed her heart out as the cursed mark fought against the seal, trying to find a lapse of weakness in it to break free. There were none.
In the end, she collapsed, breath coming in hard gasps as everything dimmed and blurred.
"Ah, so it's been sealed?" Fear shot down the young girls spin at the sound of an all too familiar voice, but she could do little other than move from where she'd fallen. Numbness prickled at the end of her limbs, slowly spreading, all she could do is flicker barely open eyes up to meet golden orbs.
Orochimaru smiled, and Kakashi all but crouched over Sakura's fallen form, killer intent oozing from the ragged man.
"Oh?" The Sannin laughed cooly. "What could you possibly do to stop me Kakashi-kun?"
"I'll fight, I'll die if I have to, but you won't touch her." Lightning was born from Kakashi's anger, dancing across his arm as the noise of birds chirping filled the air. "I'll drive this through your che-"
He choked off at the end, a strange, guilt-ridden expression shining through behind the mask.
"Chest?" Orochimaru laughed again as the color drained from Kakashi's face. "You are an expert at that, aren't you Kakashi-kun?" He took a slow, deliberate step forward, his sandals scrapping on the ground eerily.
Kakashi let out a near-feral snarl.
"No worries old friend, I won't take her today." Orochimaru was too calm in a situation that could escalate at any the drop of a pin. "I want the full set."
Molten orbs connected to Sakura's dimming vision, and her head swam as he was suddenly crouched over her, Kakashi staggering in the background where the pale man had stood only seconds ago.
A body substitution? Sakura noted dimly as her sluggish mind fought to race across all the possibilities, how on earth had he managed that?
"You are going to be brilliant," He murmured, cool hands fretting over her hair and across her burning shoulder, soothing the pain as he went.
Kakashi charged right as Sakura finally gave in and slipped away to darkness.
Her last thought swam around how surprisingly gentle Orochimaru had been.
[If I live]
Naruto and Sasuke stood across from each other, grim-faced.
"I didn't think I'd be fighting you so soon, Naruto."
The blonde in question nodded slowly and looked almost uncertain.
"Your ankle…" Sasuke frowned at the open-ended question and shook his head once. Naruto seemed to be able to read his expression and nodded solemnly.
"If you are both ready," The proctor coughed, "Begin!"
Neither boy moved, the crowd shifted anxiously.
"You need to pass, right Sasuke-teme?" The Uchiha looked startled at the sudden knowledge that was shining in Naruto's eyes. "In order to make your dream...your ambition a reality..right?"
Sasuke had gone very still at this, eyes hard, shoulders hunched.
"We'll help," Naruto rushed on suddenly before his friend could go on the defense. "No matter how far we have to go, how long it takes, we'll be with you every step of the way, Sakura-chan and me!" The teen finished almost breathless, the need for his teammate and best friend to understand how far he'd go for him appearing in the almost fervent gaze he held.
There was another pause as Sasuke considered these words. He could almost see it, though the vision itself was far off and fuzzy. He knew they were all heavy hitters in their own ways, and depending on how they trained in the years to come is how the team would come together.
However, if he really thought long and hard about it, he could see the three of them - maybe four if he could count in Kakashi - hunting down Him together. Naruto and Sakura helping when needed but otherwise there as a support system when he took down the last living member of his family.
Or did he have a new family of sorts? Was Itac- was He wrong? Would Sasuke really have to live in his hatred in order to grow stronger? Could he really rely on Naruto and Sakura?
...Sakura...that was right, they needed to hurry to get to Sakura.
Naruto was shaking as he watched the shadow of understanding flash in Sasuke's onyx orbs, a wide grin slowly spreading across his face.
"I can put my dream on hold," Naruto went on, eyes wide with the possibilities. "We'll grow strong together, all three of us, and when we get back from fulfilling your ambition I'll be Hokage, and you can revive your clan and Sakura-chan...we'll help her with whatever her dream is too."
"I don't want to fight you when we're both injured and exhausted, and definitely not when our teammate needs us." Naruto squared his shoulders, his trademark, sunbeam smile suddenly breaking forth and lighting up the room.
Sasuke's eyes widened as Naruto walked forward five paces, though him never tensing for an attack seemed to be a testament to the bonds that had formed in such a short amount of time.
He reached forward, caught Sasuke's lax hand in his own, and formed the symbol for 'Harmony' one would normally make after a spar. The silent promise of their actual fight in the future was there.
"I forfeit, believe it!"
.
.
.
tsuzuku
Question for this chapter: Coolest jutsu you can think of?
Bit of a short chapter, I know. But it's better than no chapter, ne?
(end with a boom or a bang)