Chapter II Mistakes

.

.

The day they received the mission

Naruto's POV

"Knock Knock"

Ughh. It was too damn early in the morning and I was still in the midst of my beautiful dream of Sakura-chan and I dating, when a knock woke me up from my fantasy. I struggled to get up of bed but managed to force my body up to open the door. It was 6 a.m. and I just got home from a mission. I swear if this was some unimportant news I am ready to kill whoever was outside my door. I didn't bother asking who the hell dare to bothered me as I opened the door with no care in the world.

"What is it?" I yawned while asking

It was an Anbu.

"Tsunade needs to see you in her office urgently"

And without waiting for my reply, the Anbu vanished without a trace. I went back into my room and readied myself for the meeting. I better get it over with. As soon as it's done I could go back to sleep.

….

It was freezing cold outside. It's almost winter and I enjoyed the cold. It gives me this incredible positive feeling for change. Yeah it's going to be a great winter I could feel it. But I'm still damn too sleepy so I doubled my pace to the Hokage's office.

I arrived at Tsunade's office and as usual I didn't bother to use any courtesy as I rushed into her office.

"BAA-CHANNN! Do you really have to wake me up this early?!" I immediately complained after getting in her office.

SFX: PUNCHH

"Really Naruto, you can be so rude!"

Sakura. With just her voice alone it made my day. Now I was finally awake not with the painful punch on the head she gave me but the sweet voice she had (even if she was angry at me). Oh Sakura..

"Naruto what are you looking at?"

"Oh.. ugh.. Hey Sakura-chan.. You look pretty today"

She rolled her eyes and ignored my comment again. She does that every time I praise her thinking I'm just fooling around. If only she knew that every praise I gave her comes from my heart from the day we first met at the Academy til this day. She may be smart but she is oblivious to the fact that I'm not kidding around. Sometimes I just wanna grab her and tell her we are not little kids anymore that I'm not playing around with your emotions. Sigh.

"Stop it you two and please take a seat" Tsunade sighed, obviously annoyed by our bickering. She took two glassful of sake before finally talking to us.

"I'm sending you both to a mission" Her voice sounds very serious. I didn't dare made any remarks.

"We have located Sasuke"

Sasuke..

They finally found him ha? Sasuke, that big jerk. He just disappeared on us after the fight between Madara. He was no longer to be found. Team Hawk disbanded and now he is on his own. Finally I can punch him in the face and make him see the light. Stupid Sasuke. But I couldn't hide the glee from my face. I'm so relieved they found him.

"You and Sakura are going to go after him for good. Don't stop until you made him come back to Konoha. He's too dangerous to be scouting around the villages. He is at best when he is in Konoha. You leave immediately."

"YESS! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE FINALLY GETTING HIM BACK! I'M GONNA WHACK THAT JERK! WAHAHA WAIT FOR ME SASUKE!"

Yes I was unbelievably excited. It's been years. I felt like this time we are going to bring him back home for good. The hide and seek can't go on forever. I grabbed Sakura's hand and told her how much I'm excited for this mission. She didn't react much but I could hear her heart beating fast at the mention of Sasuke's name and how she breathed a small sigh of relief. I knew she was happy.

"We'll get him Naruto" That's all she ever said but those three words meant so much to her than anyone can ever fathom.

Tsunade gave us the location and told us to get out of her sight because we were causing her head to ache. We left the office happy and rejuvenated.

We went our separate ways for awhile to prepare ourselves for the mission. Sakura and I met at my favorite ramen stand to grab a quick breakfast together. Sakura + Ramen + The chance of getting Sasuke back = my life is finally changing. Finally.

"Naruto you shouldn't eat too fast."

"I'm just too damn excited for our mission Sakura-chan" I answered with my mouth still full

She laughed. She looked so beautiful while laughing.

"I can't believe your hurrying to finish your bowl of ramen for Sasuke"

"That way we can eat here again with Sasuke after getting him back. The sooner we leave, the sooner Sasuke would be with us"

"Still you would choke yourself to death if you don't swallow your food properly"

"I have the best medic nin beside me. I don't need to worry"

Then I saw her blush before hitting me hard I almost vomited my food out.

"Shut up Naruto and let's go"

"Wait Sakura-chan.. There's something I need to ask you"

"If this is just one of your lame jokes Naruto I swear I'll punch you so hard again"

"Ugh.. Never mind then"

I couldn't ask her. Not yet. But it'll be too late if I don't ask her now. Maybe I'll get the chance to ask her later. Come on Naruto you battled ninjas all your life and you're making one question scare you. Damn it.

"Let's go then"

We left Konoha that day and travelled for two days. I still didn't have the courage to tell her until one night. A night I will never ever forget. It was the first time it snowed and the look on Sakura-chan's face was priceless. A face of innocence like a little girl seeing snow for the first time. It's tough being a ninja. Your innocence is taken away from you. You are taught to kill and here I am looking at a top-class ninja admiring snow.

"Look Naruto it's snowing"

"No it's raining"

SFX: PUNCHH

"I hate you" She was trying hard not to laugh but she couldn't help it.

"Haha I'm sorry Sakura. I couldn't resist" I laughed with her.

We found a beautiful hill overlooking the village below. Tomorrow we'll head into the village and try our luck there. But tonight we are lying beneath the night sky with snows falling from it. Sakura was still playing with the snow and I was staring at her, hypnotized by everything about her.

"Sakura-Chan…" I gulped. I have decided to ask her now.

"What is it Naruto? Don't tell me it's another one of your jokes"

"No" I immediately interrupted. She must have sense the seriousness on my tone as she tensed a little.

"Sakura-chan.." I looked at her trying hard not to fall apart. "Sakura-chan what would.. you do.. when..uhm.. he gets back home?" I still managed to sound stupid.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"When Sasuke gets back home what would you do?"

She looked at me blankly.

"Do you still..uhmm.. love Sasuke?"

I finally asked her.

"Naruto" She looked at me straight into my eyes. "I don't"

If a guy can explode I would have exploded on the spot. She doesn't love him anymore. Yes. I was holding back my scream.

"I thought you.. uhm.. you know…"

"Naruto you're being silly. I don't see Sasuke that way. We were kids before. It was just a stupid infatuation but now I'm over it. Besides things have changed. We changed. You did. I did. He did. I only see him as a friend. Why did you ask?"

"I was just wondering that's all."

"Is there something else you want to ask?"

This time I became 50 shades of red. There was still something I have to ask."

"Sakura-chan.."

"Yes Naruto?"

"Uhmm.."

I sucked enough air and was about to speak when she suddenly screamed.

"NARUTO!"

That chakra. It was Sasuke's and we instinctively followed it. I couldn't finish my question but in a way I was still satisfied. She doesn't love him. I'm so happy and as we followed Sasuke's chakra I was smiling like a complete idiot.

"Sakura, there are two paths. Sasuke might have felt being followed. We need to separate or we'll both lose him."

"Okay Naruto. We'll send signals to each other."

"Be careful Sakura"

"You too Naruto"

And as we go to separate path I couldn't help but feel uneasy. Sakura is a tough girl. She could handle anything but I have this feeling that something's wrong. But I didn't want to think of it and pushed it away from my thoughts focusing on Sasuke's chakra.

.

.

Goddamn it! I knew it! I knew I shouldn't left Sakura! This is all my fault! If something happens to her I'll be damn! Bullcrap! I hurried with all my chakra to Sakura's location. She's in trouble. She's dying. I could feel it.

I could sense Sasuke and Sakura's chakras. Sakura's was diminishing. It couldn't be? Sasuke wouldn't.. no way! Shit I have to hurry.

.

.

I could already see it. The katana on her lower abdomen, the pale color of her face, the suffocating facial expression she has. I screamed so loud, screaming her name. Move Sakura! Fight Sakura! Why isn't she fighting? Damn it! Sakura!

I already used the Kyuubi's power to quicken my pace but all I could see was crimson red.

Blood.

A/N: R&R please. Next Chapter would be a twist!