A/N: So it's been over a year...and I decided to write again. I don't know if this is going to be even close to good because I haven't watched Naruto or read about Naruto or have been the slightest bit obsessed with it for the longest time...but I've re-read each chapter and I feel like I can write the next chapter confidently. I'm not sure if anyone will read this, but what the heck, right? Let's see what happens...enjoy.
Yet again...
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Time breaks/Scene skips!
Italics/Regular – Flashbacks with regular text is a flashback in a flashback...hopefully that makes sense. (NEW: Italics with regular text can also be dream scenarios.)
And Italics/Bold used with regular text it stressing the point!
And BOLD in general is to emphasize.
OH! And Regular with Italics is used for thoughts.
I'm sure this sounds confusing, but you'll get it eventually.
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Of course...
Did I create Naruto?
Nooo.
Did I create this fanfiction?
Yesss.
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Retrogression
By: dark dreamerx
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Chapter 7
(So a year later...finally, I've updated.)
"...Sakura,"
he started.
She looked at him without emotion.
Dead.
That fit her perfectly.
Step.
Naruto moved closer.
Step.
Step.
"Will you come with me?"
Closer,
closer.
Until he was directly in front of her.
Blue eyes watched.
Somberly.
At the look on her face.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
And then,
she spoke.
"Haven't you given up...?"
He blinked.
Aghast.
Did she really want that?
Sure, he couldn't forgive her.
But he sure as hell didn't give up.
Not on her.
Not on her innocence that was ripped away.
Suddenly he shot his hands out.
Gripped them around hers.
Tightly.
Pleading.
Silently.
"I wouldn't...ever,"
he whispered.
Sincerely.
A shaky breath.
Ocean blue struggling.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Why...?"
Her voice was ice.
Blunt;
cold.
Naruto gaped.
She gave up;
on herself.
On him.
On Sasuke.
On everything.
She was as good as dead.
And he couldn't stop it then.
Tears welled up.
His beautiful eyes.
Tainted.
Drops cascading past his cheeks.
Disappearing below his chin,
to the hard ground below.
"Sakura..."
All but a whisper,
his voice was.
"..."
She watched him.
Eyes, expression, body...
stolid.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"I..I didn't want..."
He took a breath.
"...to do this..."
Silence,
again.
Then,
in an instant.
His eyes burned.
Burned with determination.
He took his hands back.
Put them in a familiar gesture.
That jutsu.
The Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.
His words were full of vigor.
The pronunciation hard,
crisp.
A calamity would start.
Green eyes never strayed from him.
Watching his every move.
With every intention to counter it.
All at once,
it started.
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"Sasuke...?"
He heard his name.
A small voice.
"..."
"Sasuke?"
Again.
Where was he?
Who was calling his name?
Silence.
"Uchiha Sasuke?"
His eyes opened slowly.
Very slowly.
The light penetrated his vision,
blinding.
Tired.
That's how he felt.
He focused ebony onto pale features.
White eyes.
Hyuuga Hinata.
Concern was etched into them.
"Sasuke," she said.
Pause.
"How are you feeling?"
But,
it was a different voice now.
One with power;
authority.
The Hokage of Konoha.
Tsunade.
It took a few moments for Sasuke.
A few moments to register what was asked of him.
He blinked slowly.
Hastening the pace of his adjusting eyes.
"Am I supposed to...feel a certain way?"
His voice sounded unfamiliar.
Insignificant.
Ignoring that,
his focus was on the the blonde.
She grinned.
"You should feel good...at least."
She chuckled,
her eyes trailing to his stomach.
"I healed you, after all."
It was that statement that made him freeze.
He swallowed something.
Bile.
Then he remembered.
Blood.
A lot of blood.
His blood.
Her doing.
He shivered.
He was cold.
Freezing.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"Sasuke...do you remember?"
Hinata.
She smiled delicately.
Face warm despite the worry.
He didn't answer.
Her voice was gone.
All he could hear was the sound of blood.
That dripping.
And that look.
The murderous intent she had shown him.
His last words to her.
"...Sa—Sakura...I...!"
Gasp.
Raspy voice.
Vision blurring.
Shit.
He couldn't tell her—she wasn't listening.
"...love..."
He took a sharp breath.
Chest burning.
"...you..."
Sasuke remembered.
Every breath, every touch, every feeling.
Everything.
He faintly wondered where she was.
What she was doing.
If she was happy.
He almost died.
She must have been very happy.
Breath.
Oh God.
Nausea.
Sat up abruptly.
Clutching his stomach.
The thought of Sakura...
No.
His Sakura.
Wanting him dead.
He was sick.
To die.
That's what he really wanted.
It sounded pleasurable.
Since that's what she wanted.
He would do anything for her.
Anything,
anything.
"I..."
Pause.
Forbidden words.
"...love you..."
A whisper.
His voice shocked him.
He wasn't alone.
Shit.
He hadn't meant to say that.
Out loud.
Dark eyes met gold.
She knew.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
"We have to...lock her up, Sasuke."
Her voice was stern.
Underlying sadness.
He could tell.
It was her apprentice.
Corrupted.
Practically a daughter.
Different.
Trained and intelligent.
Dead.
"...She will resist."
The Hokage nodded.
"Naruto is trying to catch her."
She sighed.
A hand to her temples.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Hinata spoke.
"Hokage-sama...do you think...he'll be alright?"
She fidgeted with her fingers.
Nervous.
"Yes."
Though doubt was etched in the answer.
Satisfied,
the Hyuuga stood up.
"Maybe he needs someone else..."
Pause.
She stopped.
A hand on her shoulder.
"No Hinata..."
Tsunade shook her head.
"If he needs help...you know the only one..."
Her eyes unwavering.
She looked straight at him.
"...is Uchiha Sasuke."
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"Sakura!"
Naruto yelled.
She was fighting back.
She'd obliterated his shadow clones.
Ignoring his attempts of explanation.
She had no idea what she was doing.
And really,
neither did he.
How am I supposed to freaking catch her?
His head was spinning.
Rumble.
The earth quaked.
Jump.
She missed him again.
Barely.
Kunai plunged at him.
Stab.
His arm was hit.
Gasp.
Stumble.
He clutched it.
Red seeped through his jacket.
Orange darkened.
Damnit, Sakura.
He regained his composure.
Dodged another kunai.
"Sakura! Listen to me!"
Finally,
a chance to grab her.
Arms outstretched.
Hands gripped.
Held her shoulders tightly.
Staring into her endless emerald depths.
"You need to stop this!"
Sky blue eyes begged.
Begged her.
Silence.
Silence.
Silence.
Nothingness.
It was so loud.
Ears ringing.
"SAKURA!"
Maybe if he screamed;
shouted.
Anything.
Maybe she'd hear him.
His teammate stood there.
He could not read her expression.
Then she lifted her hands.
Took his arms gently.
Then clutched them hard.
"AUGH!"
Pain.
Pain.
A lot of pain.
He ripped himself from her.
He was far away now.
Far from her wretched grasp.
Ba-bump.
Ba-bump.
Ba-bump.
Heart beating loud against his chest.
Eyes locked on her.
She ran at him.
"Sakura..."
Whispered to himself.
He finished silently.
Is there going to be a blood bath...
Fast movement.
Fists pounding.
Earthquakes everywhere.
...before we settle this madness?
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A/N: So...what do you think? I'm not sure when I'll be able to update again since I'm starting college on Tuesday (5 days a week) and I also am going to work (4 days a week)...but if I get good reviews I probably will. I miss writing...this felt amazing. Thanks again to those of you who still care. And I am sorry...again.