I'm so sorry, readers! I completely forgot to update this story!!!!
Author:
UnknownShinobi
Title:
Between
Category:
Anime – Naruto
Disclaimer:
There's a reason why this is called a fanfic…But I can't seem to remember why…
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:
Naruto Arc II
Pairings:
Father-Daughter KakaSaku, Implied SasuSaku, One-sided SaiSaku, NaruSaku?
Other:
Written during AP English
Sakura-centric
Speech/Though Guide
"blahblahblah" normal speech
'blahblahblah' thought
"blahblahblah" flashback speech
"blahblahblah" Kyuubi
Between
Chapter 3: Remembering the Past – Together
There are five of them now, all smiling like one big family. Or at least that's what they were in her mind, for Ino had once told her that she was thinking too generally.
-FLASHBACK-
"Oi Sakura, mind if we walk together?"
She stops and pockets something as Ino catches up to her.
"Hey, whatcha got there, forehead girl?"
"Nothing… Ummm… We haven't seen each other for awhile, Ino. How's life?"
"A picture of you're team? Awwww, you're all so cute together!"
"Ino-pig!!!!" She turns to see her so-called best friend holding the photo she had just hidden.
"You're so lucky, Sakura! To be on a team with three guys who absolutely worship you. All I get is lazy Shika and Mr. I-think-everything's-edible Choji. Speaking of which… I think I saw that female sand-nin running around the village today. I have to go find Shikamaru before she does. See ya around, forehead!"
-END FLASHBACK-
Ino had seen her as overly blessed, and she supposes she is. She's always been the only girl on Team 7 and she's gained the love other her teammate. They love her in different ways, though, and she understands that.
Kakashi sees her as a daughter, a conviction completely apparent in his casual position on the bench, holding his prized orange book yet watching the rest of his Anbu squad out of the corner of his eye. Trust Kakashi-sempai to always be on his guard, even if it's just for her sake.
Sai's sitting next to him, eyes half closed and a genuine smile plastered on his face as he leans back to rest his head against her stomach. He's being doing that more often now, smiling for real instead of that emotionless grin he used to give her. But after two years of working together she still finds him to be a puzzle. Just when she thinks she knows him, he shows her a different side. Two years ago she thought of him as little more than a brother who liked to tease and annoy her, but she's not so sure now.
To her right is Sasuke; a smile lighting up his face, touching even his coal black eyes. He smiles only for her, only for the girl who after ten years unreciprocated feelings is finally loved back. The Uchiha is different now; more open, more willing to let her in. But in some ways he's still the same – he still has yet to kill his brother, to avenge his clan. Sakura's not sure if he's still pursuing that. He seems preoccupied nowadays, distracted from his life-long mission by a certain kunoichi – a pink-haired one to be specific. The arms draped over her shoulders, hands clasp over her chest tell her that Team 7's solemn genius has a new goal: to protect the one person in the world that to him is worth more than his own life.
But it's the boy on her left, the boy whole never seems to grow up and yet is more mature than any of them, that confuses her the most. His relaxed stance, bright eyes, and golden hair make it hard for her to accept that it's him, to accept that this is the same boy who once followed her about like a lost puppy, the very same boy who once wore his heart on his sleeve for all the world to see. But it's his mouth that verifies his identity. It's the way he's caught a strand of her hair, and the way he smirks at her as she looks up in surprise – as if to say "I told you so…"
"Naruto…"
He's the one person who was always there for her. The person she can always count on to be there.
"You baka."
But he seems so distant now.
"Why?"
The glint of his eye, that sorrowful look she knows so well betrays him even as he speaks.
"Because Sakura… Just because…"
She misses the old him. Misses the kid who would stop at nothing to get her attention.
"Sasuke's waiting for you, Sakura… You should go."
Misses the boyish grin that used to appear right when she needed to see it, even if she didn't want his company, even if she knew he was just masking his pain.
And she's forgetting… Forgetting his loud proclamations… Forgetting his habit of coming between her and Sasuke, just in time to save her from humiliation… Forgetting the way he used to add that endearing suffix to her name. And as much as she hates to admit it, she misses that the most, misses that one action of his she once disregarded.
It hurts too much to continue to look at this snapshot of the past and her eyes are forced away. The throbbing pain reminds her where she stands. She is their glue, the one thing that keeps Team 7 from falling apart. She is the one person that can keep Sasuke and Naruto from lashing out at each other, even in such things as a friendly brawl. She's the one who deals out the punishment to her two idiot companions while Sasuke and Kakashi-san look on with glee. And it's only by her doing that the great Copy-cat Ninja of Konoha dares not be more than and hour or two late to their meetings.
Author's Note:
Hello Readers! Oddly enough, this is my first fanfic where I haven't written an author's note after every chapter.
Well, on to the important information. "Between" was originally written to be a oneshot, but I decided to split the story up so that each photo had one chapter. What I am trying to get at is that if you're one Sasuke's otaku I suggest you don't read the next chapter. If you're a die hard SasuSaku fan I don't suggest you do either.
I don't have anything against the characters or the pairing; it's just how the story worked out.
As it is, the story could very well be considered complete were it to end here.