Sprouting Wings

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Chapter III

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Challenging Fate

They laid on the soft grass, staring upwards at the white clouds drifting above. The air was cool and a gentle breeze slightly ruffled Sakura's pink locks.

"I wish it could always be like this, just you and me, and we don't have to worry about the whole village being against us." Naruto quietly whispered.

Sakura smiled softly. "That would be nice wouldn't it? How was your training with Jiraiya-sama?" She was quick to turn the conversation somewhere else.

"I'm glad you asked Sakura-chan! That old man might be perverted, but he sure is strong! Wait till you see this new move he taught me, the rasengan. I'll be the most powerful shinobi in Konoha history!"

"You did not get seriously injured right? You know I can't always be there to heal your wounds, not that you really need it anyway….but still." Sakura said gazing downwards.

He has been training with the Sannin for nearly three years already, and she missed him a lot. She missed his bright smiles, and their days eating ramen at the local ramen stand.

"You need to have more faith in me Sakura-chan! But we did have some close encounters with the Akatsuki now that you mention in."

"Eh? You had a run in with the Akatsuki? Did they find out? That you had the….kyuubi." She lowered her voice at the last word.

"Nah, Jiraiya and I have been staying in a village in wind country since that's where the Akatsuki is currently hiding. I don't really get to do much, but the old man's been trying to infiltrate their hideout. He has a spy in there."

Sakura fell silent, pondering over Naruto's words. "I'm just glad you're safe." She said now sitting up.

Sakura lifted a hand to touch his face, her fingers running over the whisker marks on his cheeks, and his cerulean eyes closed as he enjoyed the feel of her warm hand.

"I was so worried about you…." Sakura whispered.

She was worried sick. She didn't even want to think about what she would do if she ever lost Naruto one day.

Most of all, she was worried about fate being against them.

Worried about the things that were beyond their control…

Naruto wrapped an arm around her and brought her closer to him and buried his face in her hair, reveling in the flowery fragrance as he inhaled her scent.

"Sakura-chan…I've been thinking….after my training is done, we can both start a new life, and it will just be you and me!"

She was about to reply but he cut her off in his excitement. "Staying in Konoha is out of the question of course, but we can live somewhere else, somewhere peaceful and safe."

"But what about being a shinobi? It's what you've always wanted…"

Naruto expression became serious and he took a moment to think about the question. "Maybe, but what I really wanted is just to be with you Sakura-chan! I don't care about the rest."

Sakura was touched. She stared at him, taking in his spiky, blonde hair and the cheerful grin that was always on his face whenever he stared at her. When she finally looked into his cerulean eyes, she was taken back for a moment at the intensity of his gaze.

Could they do it? True, she loved him and wanted to be with him, but would the cruel destiny that have always tortured them so since the moment they both landed in the orphanage really let them be together?

Would they be able to have a happy ending?

"It's almost too good to be true," she finally said, down casting her gaze to her lap.

"I'll make it happen Sakura-chan!" Naurto exclaimed, with a serious look in his eyes.

In moments like these, Sakura truly believed Naruto can accomplish anything he puts his mind to. It's his tone. The way he is so passionate in everything he does, and she believes that maybe he can make the impossible happen.

"I will need a wife of course," he said suddenly, looking away as his faced turned a deep crimson.

Sakura's eyes widened at his words.

"I know I can't give you everything you want. I can't give you all the luxuries, but I promise Sakura-chan, I will make you happy!"

She felt tears pooling in her eyes now, and panicking, Naruto quickly stammered "But you don't have to—"

She wrapped her arms around him and buried her head on his chest. "Baka, of course I would be your wife."

A large smile broke out of the blonde's face, and he laughed before saying, "then it's decided, I'll tell Jiraiya and before the full moon festival I'll come back for you."

Naurto took off a crystal-jem necklace and tied it around her neck. "Jiraiya gave it to me when I first told him I wanted to be Hokage. It was the First Hokage's necklace. It symbolizes all of my dreams, and I want you to have it Sakura-chan."

He gave her a sheepish look as he said, "That way, you'll always think of me when you wear it!"

She touched the valuable necklace, feeling the cool sensation of the crystal beneath her finger, and a warm smile slowly formed on her lips as she stared up at him and nodded.

"Hai."

In ten days, he'll be back.

In just ten days, they will be together…

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And so Sleeping Beauty fell into a stupor, waiting for her prince to come

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It was funny how in the matter of days, the temperature had dropped so much. Now, as she waited by the river bank, the willows no longer swayed to the wind, the birds did not chirp cheerfully like last time, and the clouds were a depressing gray.

It was going to rain soon.

The river was restless, and Sakura fidgeted as she leaned against an old willow.

Naruto…where is he?

Sakura jolted awake. She did not realize she fell asleep. She felt moisture on her cheek and looked up to see that indeed, it was raining.

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It was past midnight and she was drenched and cold. But Sakura refused to go home, besides it's not like she could sleep anyway.

Surely Naurto well come any moment now. Maybe he ran into some missing nins on the way to her, and was delayed.

She believes in him, and because she believes in him, Sakura ignored that nagging feeling at the back of her mind.

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Sakura woke the next day still in a daze. Her entire body was sore, and her eyes hurt since she was sure she cried herself dry last night. Her chakra was depleted and she still didn't know how she was in her own bed.

Forcing herself to dress and eat, she took a long shower before heading off to the river bank again.

I will wait for him until he comes…

The next few days were the worst Sakura had ever experienced in her life. She woke everyday unable to move her limbs, and her heart felt utterly broken.

Surprisingly enough, Tsunade did not reprimand Sakura for her often absence from the hospital or bring up the topic of the prince again. The nurses that always chattered happily and greeted her with warmth hushed when she walked by.

They were cautious of her, Sakura realized one morning as she passed by two nurses in the break lounge. They were afraid that if they crossed her, word would travel to the heir and they would receive the same punishment given to Lady Ino.

Due to her frequent absence from the hospital, she hasn't been able to see Sasuke for over two weeks now. He must have been busy, Sakura decided. He is next in line for the throne after all.

Uchiha Sasuke was the least of her worries right now.

That night she walked sluggishly to her small apartment carrying her cherry blossom embroidery umbrella. She could not go to the river bank tonight. It was raining much too hard and she had to pull a late shift.

Which is why she was stunned to find a small crowd of girls excitedly whispering to each other outside of her apartment building. Seeing them confused Sakura, since they were obviously all merchant girls judging by their expensive and elaborate kimonos. So what were they doing here?

The girls all fell silent when they caught sight of her approaching, before dispersing to allow her to get through. She fumbled as she tried to open the door with her key and finally, the lock turned and she pushed the door open.

Sakura could still feel the girls' glares resting on her back when she stepped in and flicked on the light switch.

The pink haired girl dropped her umbrella as she stared at the three figures sitting around her small table.

They were waiting for her.

…

It was awkward seeing the skilled and highly honored Neji Hyuuga and the powerful head of the Hyuuga clan sitting at her table. Her shishou was beside her and the three influential figures of Konoha made her feel so small and powerless.

"M-Marry His Highness?" Sakura stammered, unable to fully register what Hiashi just told her.

"I-I can't," She couldn't suppress the panic rising rapidly and she turned to Tsunade for support. "Shishou, I…"

Tsunade stared back at Sakura, who all of a sudden seemed to have become a lost little girl. Tsunade's eyes filled with sorrow as she silently cursed at herself for not being able to do anything for the girl.

She was so weary, and being here was the last thing she wanted. A bottle of sake sounded really good right now. "It came as a shock to me as well."

"The council of Konoha did not agree to this at first, and we have tried many times to persuade Uchiha-sama from his decision, but he refuses to listen. This was specifically requested by His Highness, and he had already convinced the elders and a majority of the council to agree to the arrangement." Hiashi said. Judging by this tone, he clearly indicated that he did not approve of the prince's choice either.

"But, I'm a commoner, I don't even have a clan…I just can't," Sakura pleaded. "I'm not suited for this position, and I will never be able to have the grace displayed by the palace ladies. So please…"

"We are well aware of that." It was Neji that spoke this time. "Uchiha-sama is breaking all the rules by going through with this proposal, and yet he doesn't care a single bit. He has made that quite clear to the council. This is what he wants, and since he is heir to the throne, we have no choice but to give in to his demands."

Sakura was rendered speechless.

He is the heir, and she didn't have a choice to obey.

There was nothing she could do, and Sakura clutched the crystal necklace around her neck, as if it could somehow shield her from the events that were unfolding around her.

Sakura waited until the two men were gone and it was just her and Tsunade before she finally lost all her energy and slumped to the ground. Her shoulders shook, and Tsunade felt so much pain as she stared at the girl before her.

The sobs began to wrack Sakura's frail body, and Sakura realized….

Fate was so cruel to them.

-xxx-

Author Note-

Third chapter done, and the wedding scene comes next!

I was so excited when I wrote this chapter, since are unfolding rather nicely. When I planed this, there were some places I was stuck on, but I'm glad this wasn't a problem once I started writing.

I really hope you guys are all enjoying this story as much as I enjoy writing it. I first decided to write this after taking a short break from fanfiction because I had wanted to improve my writing ability, so I really want feedback as to how I did, any mistakes I made, and just overall comments on the story.

I want to hear what you guys think! For each chapter so far, I have gotten around 10-15 author alert notices and been added to many favorite lists, so it's a bit disappointing when I don't get feedback. I want to hear your thoughts so I can improve my writing abilities!

So with that said, please tell me any mistakes you find, or comments and questions you have.

Thanks, and till next time! (I have the next chapter partially written, so expect another chapter somewhere around spring break:) )

-Aurora