Things Fall Apart

Chapter two: West End Girls

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. If I did it would be pretty dark.

Sasuke rejected her and Naruto left her go train. Now Sakura is alone and left to pick of the pieces. Maybe Sasuke isn't the only one who needs saving from themselves. NaruSaku

Warnings: Underage drinking, death, sex and some other things….

Too many shadows, whispering voices
Faces on posters, too many choices
If, when, why, what?
How much have you got?
Have you got it, do you get it, if so, how often?
And which do you choose, a hard or soft option?
(How much do you need?)

-Pet Shop Boys

It's been three days since the now infamous party. As Sakura walked down the streets people stare at her like… they used to stare at Naruto.

He was labeled a monster and she is labeled a whore. She wonders if there is a difference.

Lee and Kiba avoid Sakura, as if they had nothing to do with her. Sakura doesn't really care. Yeah it hurts but that what boys are best at

She wonders if Naruto will avoid her too.

Sakura's training progresses. Tsunade is in awe; even Shunize was never able to master the art of her super strength yet Sakura is able to almost make it look easy.

Tsunade has heard the rumors but hasn't asked Sakura about them. She decides that tonight the two of them will have a little talk after training is done. Tsunade knows how Sakura feels, and hope she can help her.

Sakura is nervous as she sits in her chair. Tsunade is looking at her, waiting for her to say something, anything, but the room is silent.

"I won't force you to talk about it" Tsunade says "but I know how you feel"

"You know nothing" Sakura snaps surprised by her own voice, "sorry" she mutters before looking at the ground.

"Your worth so much more than your giving yourself credit for" Tsunade says, her eyes beam with truth "when are you going to stop being so hard on yourself, it not your fault that Sasuke left and its not your fault that Naruto go hurt."

Sakura looks up and meets Tsunade's gaze. There is no judgment in her eyes, no hidden malice or competent, only pure understanding and a desire to help. She smiles for the first time since Naruto left, "maybe I'll be alright after all" Sakura says to herself quietly.

Two months pass since her conversation with Tsunade and now Sakura stares down Neji. It's the final match of the third chuunin exams and everyone is on the edge of their seats. Sakura had decided to take the exams again this time filling in for Shikamru on his team. She blazed through the first and second exams and had beaten all her opponents in the third so far.

She knew that Neji would be tough but was prepared for the fight of her life "If Naruto could do it then so can I" she said loud enough for Neji to hear.

"Bring it on," he said with a smile "I've been waiting for this"

After the exams Ino holds a party in Sakura's honor, after all it not every day that an opponent comes around that's strong enough to beat Neji. Ino still can't believe it herself.

There is no liquor at this party (at Sakura's request) and no "Dare," only friends talking about how the world would soon change for them.

Sakura is happy but wishes Naruto could have been there to watch her wipe the floor with Neji. She smiles to herself and wonders what will he think of her now.

"I want you in AMBU" Tsunade tells Sakura as if it's the most natural thing in the world. "You'll excel plus they are in dire need of an excellent combat medic."

It's been six months since the chuunin exams and two years since Naruto left. Since then, Sakura has lead squad after squad on successful missions. The villagers have come to respect her as one the foremost ninja in her generation, and there were even whispers that a promotion to Jounin was soon to come.

Sakura stared at Tsunade in shock "I don't know what to say"

"Just say yes" Tsunade cut her off. "You have done a complete 180 and have proven yourself more than capable. You are more than ready for AMBU."

Sakura smiled "Well then I guess I have no choice. When do I start?"

Three months pass and Sakura wonders how she lived before AMBU. In those three months, not only had Sakura been promoted to Jounin, but she had also been made an AMBU captain. Ino had joked that Sakura had replaced sex with violence. Sakura got a little sad at the thought of Ino. Since going into AMBU the two of them spent very little time together.

A lot had changed for Sakura since AMBU. She hadn't had sex since her encounter with Kiba at her birthday party, an incident that she deeply regretted. She had since realized that both she and Kiba were just using each other. Kiba was too afraid to admit his feelings to Hinata and Sakura missed Naruto and was using Kiba as a substitute.

As for Lee, she realized that she turned to him because she knew that he would never reject her. Neither he nor Kiba were what she wanted, or needed.

'What about sensei' a little voiced nagged in the back of her head. Sakura settled on the idea that it just happened and never would again. It was exciting and made her feel wanted, but in the end, the thought of it made her feel sick.

She also realized that she wasn't truly in love with Sasuke (yes she could finally say his name). She thought back to when he left and when she told him about her feelings. It all felt so silly now. She knew that she would never join him in leaving the village, or follow him down his bloody path of revenge, however in that moment the felt like forever ago she would have said anything to keep him from leaving.

All that was left was sorting out her feelings for Naruto. He was everything that she wished she were. He was bold completely uninhabited and unabashed, strong, courageous, loyal, dependable. He could make friends with any one because he was able to empathy with pain so well. He was unpredictable and exciting, so full of life and wonder.

Suddenly something dawned on her; she didn't just want to be like Naruto, she wanted to be with him as well.

Naruto entered the village. After three years it looked the same. He looked over to the hokage statue and saw that Tsuande's face had been added. Naruto laughed to himself 'I guess they finally got around to adding her old mug up there' he thought.

He wanted to see what else had changed so he decided to take a tour. The roman stand looked like it had a fresh coat of paint, while the library looked like it was in desperate need of one. The hokage mansion still held the same gleam it had when he left. He smiled at that; he defiantly hadn't wanted that to change. The streets still looked like endless patches of brown, but the people walking them seem different. They seem older more mature, less judging. The smell of the village hadn't changed. It still gave off the sent of a bull-fighting arena after a rainstorm. It was a hard smell to describe yet it was unmistakable once sniffed.

As he rounded a corner, he was met with vibrant green eyes.

"Sakura" he said his voice surprising even himself.