A/N: Only 5 reviews and a long chapter!!!! wahwahwahwah!! T-T I just started this and finished this yesterday. Short...not really. And to answer a review...NO YOU MORON!!! READ! HIROSHI IS NOT DEAD!!! Goddammit! read!

Chapter 8: Hopeless Life

Hiroshi's body fell limply to the ground. No one noticed. They were all trying to understand what had happened.

Sasuke had not fulfilled his promise to Itachi. He left Sakura in pain. Hiroshi will die. No, that's not true. Hiroshi will not die; he will lose his soul.

Sakura was sitting there dumbly, as if she was in a nightmare, a never-ending dream. Itachi was gazing at her. Wondering what he shall do to her. While he was deciding, Haruka brought her gaze on Itachi's hand, which held the kunai. She took one out herself, waiting for him to make his move, Itachi saw nothing and noticed nothing.

Itachi stared at the place where Sasuke had been pushed off. Then slowly, he did something incredible. He shed a tear. The purest tear, filled with longing and regret.

"Sasuke…san." Haruka was the first to find her voice. "He just…died like that…gone." At Haruka's voice, Sakura cried harder and Itachi finally dropped the kunai.

"This is pointless. Sasuke is gone. Dead. He was always stupid…foolish…cu-I mean weak. I'm glad that my son is stronger."

"Hiroshi you…Hiroshi!" Haruka saw Hiroshi lying on the ground and ran to wards him. "You, you idiot!" But Hiroshi wasn't replying. "Hiroshi? Hiroshi! A-are you..." Memories flowed into Haruka's mind.

Sasuke swore on Hiroshi's soul that he would take care of Sakura. If he doesn't his soul will disappear. Most likely, he will kill himself and...die.

"No." Itachi noticed Haruka on the ground beside Hiroshi. He knew what had happened.

"Haruka. There's nothing we can do. Lets go. Come with me, you wont be hurt."

"Shut up. You did this. You made Sasuke swear on Hiroshi's soul. I. Hate. You!" Tears were streaming down her face.

Itachi, not knowing what to do fled.

Days later…

Not long after Itachi left, Hiroshi woke up. His eyes were blank. Hollow. He did nothing when Haruka hugged him and told him that she was glad that he was alive, was he? Hiroshi was emotionless.

Later, Kakashi and Takara found Sakura and Haruka (Hiroshi left) and brought them back to the village where Haruka recovered and Sakura didn't.

A few months later…

Takara, who is now Chuunin, is carrying on with her life. Or so it seems. Haruka was the only one who could understand her "pain" whatever that may be.

Haruka replaced Sasuke as an ANBU, and likes to work alone. She had changed, the 14-year-old "child" seemed like a 17-year-old adult. She is now a quiet person and keeps to herself. But still has outstanding work, missions and (forget looks and form that cannot be described with outstanding) skills.

Kakashi…(moving on)

Sakura keeps to herself and almost never comes out of the Haruno household. The last time anyone saw her was when Haruka had a suicidal mission (Haruka lived) and she was saying goodbye.

Hiroshi was rarely seen. He comes and goes and he pleases. But every once in a while we come into the village. Gets supplies and leaves. Other times, he wanders around doing nothing and usually Haruka had to help him find his way back.

He didn't belong in this world.

Empty. A body without a soul. The agony of life. So painful. How he wanted to die. No emotion was felt, no smile, no laughter, no tear, no scream. An inhuman like human. A brother, a son, friend...an excuse. (Hint, Hint, HINT)

Sakura was no better than Hiroshi. Everyday was slow and painful. Haruka made things better. But...but nothing. Nothing is worth living for.

Death is my only escape.

On a cheery afternoon, Haruka came home from her long and boring mission.

"I'm an ANBU!!! I don't do D-ranked missions!!!!!" Haruka yelled when she found out.

Now she was home. She was so tried that she almost fell asleep when she entered the house. The house was quiet. Not a sound. Haruka presumed that Sakura was in her bed, like always, sleeping or resting. Haruka, like a good daughter, did not bother her. But when dinnertime came and Haruka called Sakura, no one responded. Haruka was curious, and went upstairs to check on her.

No one was in the room. The window was open. Letting a cold wind blow though.

"Oka-san?"

Something was wrong.

There was a note on Sakura's pillow. Haruka picked it up and read it.

The note was simple. The message was clear.

Haruka ran out of the room and the door slammed. The note gently fell towards the ground.

One word. Just one word was on it.

Goodbye.