Why Do You Fight For Love?

Alright, I have nothing much to say, so let's just get to the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and I'm pretty sure I never will.

Chapter 7: One Contagious Emotion

Sasuke is here…

Kakashi is here…

…But where is Sakura?

Naruto growled in frustration, his emotions beginning to rise above the surface. Without much effort, he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, his narrowed eyes searching the streets below. He only leaves for a few months…and this is what happens to his village? All those years of promising himself to protect the village no matter what and this is how he protects it?

He could feel the Kyuubi's chakra swirling around in anticipation but he merely suppressed it without much more thought. Naruto could not lose control for fear he may completely destroy the Hidden Leaf Village. The village was greatly damaged and he had no desire to further damage the village or his comrades.

His gaze swept over the streets seeing nothing but destruction and chaos. He could hear screams and see citizens of the village running around, panicking among the dangerous streets. So much blood had been spilled already, and for what? What was Orochimaru's goal in the end? Would he-

"N-Naruto!" Said boy turned his head, knowing the familiar voice. Sasuke?

Without thinking, he jumped down into the main street. "Sasuke?" Besides all the fallen corpses, he could see his former teammate's fallen body. Blue sparks of electricity danced around Sasuke's body, restraining Sasuke from moving.

"Y-Yeah." Naruto slowly made his way over, stepping over the bloodied corpses that filled the street. The sight was enough to make Naruto's insides twist in sickening pain. No one deserves this… Absolutely no one. He tried to keep his hardened gaze on Sasuke, but out of the corners of his eyes, he could make out all the pale faces.

Naruto stopped a few feet away from Sasuke, deciding whether or not to really help his former teammate. Sasuke noticed this, and said nothing. The silence between them seemed to stretch on forever, but Naruto chose to end it.

"Why should I help a traitor?" Naruto stared down at Sasuke, his gaze hardened on Sasuke.

"Why should you?" Sasuke replied, his gaze impassive. Sasuke resisted the urge to flinch when another electrical current swept through his body, electrocuting him. Naruto's gaze flickered momentarily with a hint of pain and hurt from long ago.

"Why, Sasuke? Is this the only way to gain power? Destroying your former village, just to gain power from someone who isn't going to give you anything?" Naruto asked, his eyes surveying the crude scene around them.

"I only do what is necessary." Sasuke answered, his gaze slightly wavering.

"This is necessary?! Destroying our village?!" Naruto roared furiously, feeling himself lose control. "The village that is your home? The village that loved and cared for you? You want to destroy that village, this village?"

"I should just leave you here to die, Sasuke!" Naruto continued, without relinquishing his narrowed gaze on Sasuke. He could feel the Kyuubi's chakra beginning to swirl rapidly, but he did not attempt to stop it now. Realization had donned on him, and it was too harsh.

"Perhaps you should leave me here to perish, Naruto…but that wouldn't help the village, now would it? It would only mean losing yet another valuable shinobi." Sasuke countered, his voice emotionless. "All the information I've gained on Orochimaru would be lost, now wouldn't it?"

Naruto said nothing, his hands clenching and unclenching painfully. Naruto closed his eyes, not knowing what to do. "Naruto…" Naruto remained quiet, only listening. His heart already ached enough with pain and hurt, why damage him anymore?

"Sakura is here." Naruto eyes shot open, staring at Sasuke with disbelief. Sasuke and Naruto locked gazes, crimson clashing with cerulean.

"…Is that true?"

"Yes. She is trying to save the village…" Naruto stepped near Sasuke, not yet believing that their female teammate had really returned. "…Alone."

"What?" Naruto's mouth opened slightly, not yet understanding. He dropped to his knees beside Sasuke, the sparks of electricity beginning to diminish. "What do you mean, Sasuke?"

Sasuke sat up stiffly, his limbs aching terribly. "She joined the Akatsuki, Naruto." Sasuke's words struck Naruto's heart like a finishing blow. Naruto shook his head in denial.

"Sakura is loyal. She wouldn't do that, Sasuke." Naruto replied, trying to convince Sasuke. Sasuke's gaze on Naruto was dead serious, letting him know that he was telling the truth. The horrifying, groundbreaking truth.

Naruto bent his head, his eyes closing as pain engulfed in his heart like a burning fire. Silence fell on them, excluding all the battle cries and screams of distress. Everyone deserves a second chance…especially my teammates.

"Sasuke-teme…" Naruto bitterly smiled as his head snapped up. Sasuke stared at him, slightly shocked. His eyes reopened, fiery determination flaring in its dark blue depths. Naruto outreached his hand towards Sasuke. Sasuke only stared at it in mild disbelief as if not believing this was happening.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, even you. If what you say is true, than Sakura-chan deserves a second chance as well." Sasuke felt himself smirk slightly, a smirk like the ones he used to use back in the Genin days.

"Naruto…Let's help Sakura." Despite the dying sparks, he also outstretched his hand. He clasped his hand onto Naruto's, both tightening their grips. Naruto stood up, helping Sasuke to his feet. Sasuke could freely move now, the effects of the paralyzing jutsu worn off completely.

They let go off each other's hands, both ready to help save the village. "Sasuke, I don't care what you do much anymore. All I care about right now is finding Sakura and saving the Leaf Village."

Naruto and Sasuke both jumped onto the roof without any effort. Sasuke turned to Naruto and their gazes locked on one another within seconds.

Naruto couldn't help the confident, friendly smile that formed upon his face.

Even Sasuke couldn't stop his famous smirk from appearing.

"Likewise."

"Hey, Lady!" The young boy shouted loudly, trying to find the mysterious woman. He couldn't help trying to find her because she had this special aura around her that filled his senses. "Lady!" The boy shouted again, slightly pouting in displeasure. Great going, Hikaru, you lost the lady…

Hikaru turned the same corner that he had watched the pink haired lady turn, but she was nowhere in sight. The rain poured down on him, soaking his ragged clothes. He shivered, feeling a cold breeze blow past him. "Lady, Come back!" His dark chocolate eyes curiously looked over the ominous street, feeling his fright beginning to return.

"Please!" Hikaru cried out desperately, but nothing but deep rumbling thunder answered his call. He flinched instinctively, hugging himself. He hadn't realized until now but he was on the edge of crying.

Hikaru wiped his eyes, wondering if he was wiping away raindrops or tears. "Please come ba-" Lightning flashed against the sky, making him jump in terror. Without thinking, he ran under a nearby dark oak tree seeking shelter and protection.

He cautiously looked up, watching the sky through the few leaves that still hung to the tree. More lightning streaked across the sky as if threatening the small, terrified boy. Please lady…Help!

Out of the corner of his eyes, another flash of lightning brightened the village below the massive storm. Hikaru felt his eyes widen in growing horror, hearing a large groan and ear-splitting crack. In what seemed to be slow motion, he turned his head to face the large oak tree, his mouth opened in horrifying awe.

The shadowed tree seemed to loom over him, leaning towards him inch by inch every second. He felt his mouth open wide to scream, but nothing came out. His limbs seemed to be too numb to take action to run to safety. No…no, no, no, no!

The large tree leaned further forward, the sound of its foundation uprooting. At the last second, he felt himself able to move but more importantly, able to scream. Without hesitation, he turned and ran as the looming tree crashed down. Pain surged through his little body as he felt himself let an unearthly wail out in despair.

A heart-piercing scream echoed throughout the sky, freezing Sakura's heart instantly. The scream continued endlessly as her acute sense of hearing tried to locate the direction of such a horrifying scream. Sakura retraced her steps, instantly locating the direction. Hold on…

Naruto felt an aching pain pierce his heart, feeling nothing but sorrow and grief for whatever may be in such terrible pain. He had never heard such a horrifying sound and it only encouraged him to find Sakura even more. God, Sakura, please don't let that be you!

Sasuke immediately bolted across the rooftops, already making his way towards whatever poor creature may be dying. He could feel the hair on his neck raised from such a high-pitched scream. His senses were on red alert as he jumped from one rooftop to another.

"Hurry up, Naruto!" Sasuke searched for any familiar chakra signatures near by, but they all were unrecognizable. Then for a split-second, he felt the chakra signature of their teammate, but only for a brief moment before it was gone.

"I'm coming…I'm coming!" Naruto replied tiredly, his ears ringing from the horrible noise.

"I sensed Sakura…" Sasuke whispered softly, not yet believing it.

"What, Sasuke?"

"Sakura is this way!" Before Naruto could reply, Sasuke jumped over another street onto another slick rooftop. In only a few minutes, Naruto lost track of Sasuke and he couldn't help but feel alone. Naruto resisted the urge to sigh as he followed slowly after Sasuke. You may not realize it Sasuke …but you care for Sakura more than you would ever admit.

Does this possibly mean we have a chance of becoming Team 7 again?

When Sakura reached the location of the noise, the sound faded away until only the thunder rumbling in the storm above was heard. The sight before her slightly worried gaze only made her move closer by the need to save the poor boy.

The large tree she had passed by before was now laying down on the ground with the boys lower half trapped. The boy was familiar…She had seen him when she gave the group of huddling kids her Akatsuki cloak.

"Hey lady!" Sakura turned her head slightly, watching as a young boy with disheveled short black hair and shining brown eyes waved at her for attention.

"Will you save my village?" The boy asked; hope beginning to show in his shining chocolate colored orbs. Sakura pulled her chakra enhancing gloves over her hands tightly, her surprised gaze on the boy.

"Yeah. I'll save our village."

Sakura ran towards the boy, her blood running cold at the horrifying incident. The boy had his head down to the ground, only his shining black hair showing. She felt grief grip her heart, but she tapped the boy lightly on the shoulder. "Hey kid…"

At the sound of her voice, he stirred and slowly raised his head to face her. He winced when he tried to move any further, having most of his body under the massive tree trunk. "You have to hang in there, okay? You are going to be safe soon."

The injured boy coughed a bit, his eyes gleaming with pain. "L-Lady…" Sakura gathered chakra into one of her fists as she forced a smile onto her face.

"Shh.. Be quiet and relax." The boy sniffed, tears running down his cheeks onto the dark street. Sakura felt a twinge of resemble from the Genin days. She had been weak, she had cried. Sakura may not have been strong then, but she was stronger now…and she had the strength to help this boy.

"By the w-way, Lady, I have a name…" Sakura blinked, her focus slightly averted to the boy instead of the job at hand. Another memory resurfaced of long ago when she was still getting used to Itachi. He didn't respect her enough to call her by her real name, but she argued back until he finally accepted her request.

"I-It's Hikaru…" The boy murmured, his body relaxing slowly. For being so young, he seemed to be intelligent for his age. Just like myself…We are alike…Hikaru and I.

"Haruno Sakura." Sakura greeted him, a small genuine smile on her features. Without warning, she stepped forward and punched the tree. Hikaru gasped in shock, his dark chocolate gaze staring at her in awe. The tree trunk slammed into a building, immediately breaking into many pieces of splinters and limbs.

Without hesitation, Sakura carefully examined his lower half, checking for broken bones and severe wounds. She felt herself grimace, seeing his right leg broken with blood spread over the torn pair of pants he wore. It seemed to be the only major problem other than a few minor injuries such as gashes and small fractures.

She picked him up, avoiding touching his broken leg. I would heal him here…but I have to preserve my chakra for later…I'm sure the medical-nin at the hospital will help him. It almost looked like she was cradling Hikaru from a distance to comfort him.

"Hey, S-Sakura-san?" Hikaru asked, his eyes showing with innocent curiousity. Sakura looked down on him for a second, showing him he had her undivided attention. Sakura began running at great speed towards the direction of the hospital, the old burning buildings and stormy sky blurring.

"When you said you w-would save our village…Does that mean you are a ninja of this village?" Hikaru groaned slightly, his body tensing as pain exploded through his injured leg. Sakura only increased her speed, knowing Hikaru wouldn't be able to stay awake much longer.

"…Yeah. I was a Jonin once…" Sakura murmured, her eyes having a distant, far away look. "That was a long time ago though." Sakura motioned with the arm that had her Leaf Village headband wrapped around it. Hikaru slightly smiled, his eyes shining with pride.

"The Leaf Village is the best place ever!" He shouted with glee, giggling even though he was in pain. Sakura felt a twinge of regret, feeling herself nod in agreement. Yeah…and I feel like a foolish idiot for ever leaving it.

Even though she was talking with Hikaru, her senses remained on alert. She searched for foreign chakra signatures, but so far, she hadn't sensed any at all. Where are they? Have they left? Sakura blinked in disbelief. Yeah right…Orochimaru wouldn't back out until the whole village is erased from existence.

"Also, S-Sakura-san, I wanted to know…" His doe-like eyes filled with determination. "Do you think I'll be as strong as you one day?" Sakura couldn't help but feel a bright smile, one of the bright smiles she used to always display for everyone in the Genin days, form on her face.

"Yeah…I'm sure you'll be as strong as me, maybe stronger." Sakura answered honestly, feeling admiration towards the young boy.

"Would you train m-me?" Sakura said nothing, not wanting to hurt the boy anymore. The hospital was in sight, her gaze locked on the familiar building. At least, the hospital hasn't been damaged yet… I can't help but wonder why though.

Hikaru blinked in confusion, "Could you?" Sakura sighed wearily, wanting to reach the hospital as soon as possible.

"I truthfully do not know, Hikaru-kun." Sakura replied, stepping warily into the entrance of the hospital. Her gaze fell onto the secretary of the hospital, who was currently shuffling through reports frantically. Nurses were running around in a panic, including Ino and Shizune. Many of them had blood-covered uniforms on, indicating they were still working hard with what help they had.

When Sakura walked in, several people stopped in stare in disbelief. Ino stared at her in shock with a hint of guilt as she walked toward Sakura warily. Icy blue clashed with emerald, Sakura's gaze impassive. "…H-How, Sakura? We searched for you…but here you are in the Leaf Village…" Ino murmured, her gaze disbelieving.

Shizune stood beside Ino, a worried look across her features. Hikaru shivered against Sakura, his earlier fright returning. "That does not matter now, Ino, we all have a great problem on our hands." Sakura replied lightly, the rest of the people immediately understanding.

"Ino, can you take care of Hikaru-kun for me?" Sakura turned to Ino, her gaze serious. Ino nodded, opening her arms out to the boy. Hikaru looked up at Sakura with pleading eyes.

"Please, Sakura-san, I wanna stay with you!" Hikaru begged, his dark chocolate eyes shining with fresh pain. Sakura shook her head, disagreeing.

"They will take care of you, Hikaru-kun, don't-"

"If y-you're gonna leave me…then at least answer one last question." Sakura raised an eyebrow, confusion etched across her face. Ino nodded to Sakura, a reassuring smile upon her lips for Hikaru's sake. Sakura sighed in defeat, urging him to ask his question.

"Sakura-san, I wanna grow strong like you…" Hikaru began, his voice louder than usual. "..but if I'm gonna be strong like you…I have to know what you fight for…" Sakura stared at the boy, wondering if she knew the answer. Images of the Leaf village, team 7, Itachi, and the protecting all the ones she cared for, all the ones she held precious to her appeared in her mind. …All the ones she loved even if they didn't show they cared or loved her back…

Sakura felt warmth fill her heart as tears threatened to fall. A heart-warming smile formed upon her face, intriguing all the people who were listening. "Hikaru…everyone fights for something different, but I…" Sakura paused, not sure, if this was really, what she wanted herself to believe. I fight for the Leaf village…I fight for Team 7…And I fight for Itachi even if he does not love me or care for me or even cares for his former village…All I can really say is…

I love them all even if it means I have to risk my life to save them even if they would never do the same for me. I don't care if they don't love me or care for me, I'll love them and protect them no matter what is in my path. Sakura closed her eyes, bending her head slightly so her bangs hid her face from the others. That truly is my ninja way. It is what I am willing to die for and it will always be.

"Hey Forehead Girl…You still didn't answer his question." Ino reminded her softly. Sakura raised her head again, her emerald eyes shining with fiery determination and something that reminded Ino and Shizune of the old Haruno Sakura from the memorable Genin days. They couldn't help think the Haruno Sakura of so long ago had returned, that she was standing in front of them in all her glory.

"..Hikaru, I fight for love." Sakura answered simply, but everyone in the room felt the warmth and hope from the girl's answer. Sakura carefully gave Hikaru to Ino, glancing at them last time. "…and I'll always fight for it, no matter what the cost." With that said, her form disappeared before them.

Hikaru glanced around the room, a shocking sight developing before his eyes. Hikaru stopped his gaze on Ino, who had a few tears running down her content face. A strange emotion shone in all their eyes, and Hikaru didn't think he would ever see it during the war. Hikaru knew it was Sakura's doing, and he couldn't feel prouder to see it in everyone.

Hikaru snuggled close to Ino, his eyes shining with same emotion as everyone else.

Hope.

Was that a good chapter? I'm surprised I got it up so fast! Less than 2 days, I think? Well, the next one will be up before Wednesday I hope. I'm very inspired right now, and this only helps me type up these stories so quickly.

Oh, Hikaru means light. Seems like he really is spreading around light, isn't he? All the hope and light to go around. :) We'll see him again sometime, but that isn't for a while. He plays a major role in the plot line and you will see so for yourself soon enough.

I have a very special treat for you…A preview for chapter 8! Hope you will like it. :)

Preview of Chapter 8: Deception and Disbelief

Sasuke spat out blood, feeling the blade still lodged within his stomach. "I thought I told you…" He growled, his voice laced with hatred. "I am the avenger, and no one kills my brother except me." Sasuke could feel blood dripping down his skin as he forcibly pulled the bloodstained katana, ignoring the pain as the sharp blade cut his hand.

He flipped the katana, catching the hilt and tightening his grip. He pointed the sword towards the man who had made such a fatal mistake. "…And for making that foolish mistake, you must pay."

Ooh, I'm interested now! I'm ready to go make that in a few minutes…Anyways, hope you look forward to it.

Thanks for reading, and for reviewing on the last chapter. :) Please review!

SharinganAnbuSakura