Author:
UnknownShinobi
Title:
Between
Category:
Anime – Naruto
Disclaimer:
If I owned Naruto I wouldn't be wasting my time doing his, now would I?
All characters, countries, and jutsu pertaining to the Naruto belong wholly to Kishimoto Masashi.
In no way am I trying to claim ownership of Naruto, it is merely a basis for this story.
Following Apply ONLY to the current chapter.
Warnings:
None
Pairings:
Minor one-sided NaruSaku
Other:
Written during Ethics in the Media
Sakura-centric
Suprise! Decided to give this to you early!
Speech/Though Guide
"blahblahblah" normal speech
'blahblahblah' thought
"blahblahblah" flashback speech
"blahblahblah" Kyuubi
Between
Chapter 2: Remembering the Past - Regrouping
Here is Team 7 again, five years after the first. She's framed this time, being the shortest in the group. Naruto's once more on her left and Kakashi behind her. To her right is Sasuke's replacement, Sai. Fingers gently brushing over their faces, she can't help but think of how happy they are, though she knows that isn't the case. To anyone else, their smiles seem genuine, but she can see the hurt they hide. They had failed to bring Sasuke back to Konoha with them, their seventh unsuccessful attempt in the last half of a year. It was his words, though, that hurt more than their inability to bring him home.
-FLASHBACK-
"Kakashi-sempai?"
"D-don't worry about me, Sakura. Help Naruto," His eyes roll back into his head as unconsciousness due to chakra exhaustion overtakes him. Turning as she stands, she quickly takes in the entire scene. Sasuke is walking in her direction, ink spattered across his porcelain features – a telltale sign that Sai's attack has failed. Circling around her former teammate, she finds Naruto supporting an injured Sai. The grimacing Anbu's right hand has been completely broken and blood – she's unsure whom it belongs to – paints his face. Naruto himself seems a bit too hesitant. He's trying to come up with some way of defeating the nukenin he considers his best friend without resorting to other sources of power.
"This is what Konoha sends to drag me back to the Land of Fire. Three children and a jonin; a team barely able to hold their own against a small force of my guards. Team 7 should know well enough by now that I do not desire to return. My only goal in this life is to destroy that man and avenge my family. If Orochimaru must have my body to achieve such power than I resign myself to that fate," His scarlet eyes are focused on Naruto, on the blond who now averts his gaze. "Why do you wait, dobe? You have the ability to destroy me – to stop me before it is too late, and yet you waver."
"W–were I to kill you, Sasuke-teme, my promise to Sakura-chan would never be fulfilled…"
"Your promise to that pathetic little waif is insignificant. I left to become strong and to obtain the power needed to destroy the man I once called brother. Konoha couldn't offer me that. Just look at yourselves."
-END FLASHBACK-
Their smiles seem to portray their happiness but they've always been good at wearing masks. She can tell by looking in their eyes. Naruto's being consumed by the guilt of not being able to make his Sakura-chan happy again; he had promised himself he would get stronger, strong enough to drag Sasuke's sorry ass back to Konoha and he's fail not only Sakura but also himself. Kakashi's eye seems as void of all emotion as the day he introduced himself to his three genin pupils. He almost lost another team today, in an ambush he should have forseen. And Sai – Sai is difficult to read, but Sakura feels she understands. He's reminded of his own inability to save a man he called his brother.
She's caught between them again. As a medic-nin it's her job to heal their wounds and relieve them of pain, but she too is hurting, she too is broken inside.
Sun hits glass in a bright glare, attracting her attention to the next photograph in the sequence.