It's been a while, sorry for not updating sooner, but I've been busy.
Anyways let's get on with the story...
I do not own Naruto.
And when its all over...
As Sakura jumped from tree branch to tree branch she replayed her last few days in Konoha over in her head.
* * * (4 days earlier) * * *
Sakura had arrived back from her latest S-ranked mission exhausted and dangerously low on chakra. Before relaxing at home she quickly reported into the Hokage, giving him an overview of the mission and telling him that she would hand in the report in the morning. Collapsing onto her futon Sakura couldn't muster up the will power to take off her grimy clothes; the shower could wait till the morning. Kicking off her boots Sakura let herself fall into a deep dreamless sleep.
For most AMBU the relaxation periods between their missions consisted of a few days at most, but Sakura happened to be one of the few that were privileged enough to have a week in between them. If she hadn't been one of Konoha's top medical ninjas she would have blamed Naruto for her shortage of missions.
For a long time she had been thinking of taking a break from the shinobi realm. Sakura loved her village, but she had been through so much in the past few years she just wanted to get away from it all. Most of all she wanted to find herself again, sure she had gotten over Sasuke, but that didn't mean she was going to bounce back and go on with her old life. No, she was sick of her life, it was so basic, so routine, she got up, helped out at the hospital, went on missions, hung out with the occasional friend every other weekend, etcetera; in Konoha there was nothing new, nothing different.
The next morning when Sakura awoke, she quickly wrote up her mission report and headed off to the Hokage tower. Before going there though, she stopped by Ino's family's flower shop to say hello. The blonde was her best friend along with Naruto. Both of them had moved on from Sasuke a long time ago, but unlike herself, Ino had found someone new, that someone being Chōji Akimichi. The two of them had been dating for the past year and Sakura wouldn't be surprized if they got engaged in the next couple of months. It was one of the things she was going to miss out on, but she knew that Temari would step up and fill her shoes in the role as best friend for Ino. The two blondes had bonded after Ino caught Shikamaru and Temari making out in the hospital after Shikamaru was injured during a 'training session' with Kankuro- who had just found out about their relationship and asked Shikamaru for a 'casual' sparing match. To say that she kept it a secret was a lie, Ino had practically announced it to the whole village before Temari shut her up. Of course then Ino forced Shikamaru to buy flowers for the sand Kunoichi every time she visited the village. And after a while the two just became close friends.
Walking into the flower shop Sakura found Ino arranging a bouquet of Bee Orchids and Orchid Lilies, with some Gypsophila popping out here and there. Turning around the blonde quickly jumped to hug Sakura.
"How was your mission? Did everything go as planned? You didn't have to sleep with anyone right? 'Cause I'll kill Naruto-baka if you did." Ino continued to ramble on for the next few minutes till Sakura covered her mouth.
"My mission was fine pig, nothing went wrong, and do you honestly think Naruto of all people would send me on a mission where I was required to sleep with someone?" Sakura shook her head at the blonde woman's antics.
Laughing slightly Ino turned around and continued arranging the flowers. "Yeah, yeah whatever forehead, so I have this guy friend who's single and he's looking for a-"
"If you set me up on a date with Kiba or Kankuro-san I will murder you." Sakura glared hard at the blonde, too many times before had Ino tried to set her up with one of the shinobi from Suna or the village.
"Actually it's neither." Ino turned away from her work once again.
"Do I know them?"
"Yep."
"Then no."
"Aw but Sakura, you don't even know who." She wined.
"Fine who?" She crossed her arms.
"Gaara."
Sakura's eyebrow began to notably twitch, her glare hardened and she all but burned holes through Ino's skull. "Hell no."
"But why? He's a nice guy, he's Kazekage and most of all he's drop dead gorgeous."
"No, pig. It would never work out and plus he's Naruto's best friend." Sakura loved Ino really, but it was at times like this that she just really wanted to knock some common-sense into the girl.
"Fine, I'm just saying forehead, you should start looking for a guy." Ino sighed giving into defeat easily.
"Pig I've had a few boyfriends before and right now it's not a good time to be looking for one." Sure she had dated a few guys, well only two but neither of them really worked. First was Neji, after being promoted to Jōnin she had been put on a few missions with him and after the third or fourth they started dating. It was never serious and after only a few months the two of them broke it off. Neji was now happily dating Tenten, it had been obvious that he was in love with her, but Sakura went for him anyways. Then she started dating Sai, her former team mate and they dated for a solid nine months before they too broke things off. Thinking back on she notices how she never wanted a relationship that lasted, both of the guys were not emotionally there for the relationship- Neji because of Tenten, and Sai because, well he just isn't emotional.
"So you're really serious about leaving?" Ino looked her directly in the eye.
"Ino, you know that I've needed to get way for a long time," Sakura began. "Now since Tusnade has taken over the hospital, Naruto's Hokage, Sasuke is in jail, and you're with Chōji-san, I finally feel as if I can leave, and have no regrets about it."
Sakura grasped both of Ino's hands, "Ino-pig you're my best friend and I love you, but I need to go. I promise that I will come back, I just don't know when yet. Maybe in a year or maybe in 10, 15, I don't know, all I know is that I can't stay here forever."
Wiping the tears that rolled down her face Ino pulled her best friend into a hug. "I'll miss you."
Standing back Ino smiled brightly at Sakura, "So when do you leave?"
"Soon, within the next week, I just have to say goodbye to everyone."
"I need you to keep this safe for me baka, and when I get back it had better not have gone missing." She joked as she handed over her Hitai-ate to Naruto.
Tears leaked from the Hokage's eyes as he pulled Sakura into a bear hug. "When you get back I'll have become the best Kage in the world. Believe it!"
Laughing Sakura hugged Naruto one last time before stepping back, "Well you and Gaara can fight over that title. Tell Kakashi-sensei I'm sorry I couldn't tell him goodbye in person. Goodbye Naruto."
And with that Sakura turned around and left, she only had one more person to go and see, Sasuke.
Sakura would miss all her comrades and friends, but she was happy to leave it all behind her for now. Speeding up as the sky darkened above her, Sakura hoped she would make it to the small village before sunset; she really didn't want to sleep in a tent.
I don't have a clue when the next update will be and I'm sorry if there's mistakes I just typed this up and only reread it once or twise.
Review Please.
Rhea
