I'm trying to increase the relationship between Naruto and Sakura for good reason. It makes it all the more dramatic later on!
"He's not so bad." Sakura inquired.
"Are you KIDDING me?"
I had gone two and a half years without him and survived. But had I not had Sakura, Kakashi, and the support from anyone else that I got, I might not have been able to live.
I realized how much of a part of my life he was, even when we hated each other.
Sakura and I were heading home, preparing to go on a mission. We were supposed to find out about a spy's rendezvous.
"Naruto, you'll just have to accept him. He's a member of our team now, and…" Sakura began in a lecturing tone.
"I can't accept him!" I growled back. "And he'll never, EVER replace him!"
The past two and a half years had been hell.
Only two months after Sasuke's departure, I left the village for the rest of that two and a half years. But not like he had. I went with Jiriya to train. Reluctantly.
Jiriya had told me only the day after Sasuke's departure, that the Akatsuki were planning to come for me again. In three years. They wanted me to have developed more.
I had protested that I didn't care. My goal was to go after Sasuke before Orochimaru could use his body.
Jiriya told me that Orochimaru had selected a new body before Sasuke could arrive there. He could not perform the body transfer for another three years.
So reluctantly, I went to train with him. The training was to prepare me for Akatsuki, and catch up to Sasuke.
That was when I nearly hit the breaking point.
Without Sakura, I had came close to snapping many times. I had drawn out Kyubbi in my anger, and battled Jiriya. I nearly killed him. I had gotten the third tail.
My sadness had gotten to me as well at times, but not as much as the anger.
I returned to Sakura, ready to go after Sasuke again.
While I was gone, she had been trained as a medic ninja by Grandma Tsunade. She was nearly as good as Tsunade herself. She also had the brute physical strength now. Tsunade had trained her in both areas.
Sakura was happy.
She hadn't been hit as hard by Sasuke's departure as I thought. She wasn't constantly depressed, and wasn't constantly faking every smile.
Like I was.
After a mission to rescue Gaara, (Newly appointed the KazeKage,) when he had been kidnapped by the now in motion Akatsuki, we were set off in place of a spy.
Sasori, one of the members after Gaara's demon, had been killed by Sakura on the mission. His last words were explaining that he was supposed to report back to someone he was spying for. He didn't tell us who, but he said it would give Konoha more information on Orochimaru. He said that we meet them on the outskirts of Konoha in three days.
A day has passed since then, and here we are.
"You know…Naruto," Sakura began.
"What?" I snapped, still in a foul mood.
"He sure looks a lot like him."
I scoffed. "Not nearly as good! He's way better than that disgusting freak!"
Tsunade suggested that we take a replacement for Sasuke. Kakashi too, who had been injured badly on the previous mission.
Kakashi's replacement was an awesome, calm Jounin named Yamato. He was creepy. Really creepy. But other than that, he was just neutral in my mind.
"Did you hear the things he said?" I continued to argue with her.
"Yeah," She replied, seeing my point. "He's a jerk."
"A vulgar jerk," I added.
"Because you aren't." Sakura replied sarcastically, but with a smile. "Swearing is considered vulgar, though I admit you have cut down."
"HEY! At least I don't talk about penises like they're food, or fashion or weapons or…whatever!"
Sasuke's replacement couldn't have been worse. He had called Sakura and I horrible things, he constantly talked about male genitalia, and the worst part was his smile.
It was like he found the things he did amusing. He either had his eyes closed with a sickening smile, or a menacing, otherwise blank look. No other emotions.
"That's true." Sakura muttered. "But we need his help. This could be vital in finding Sasuke."
I nearly stopped walking, but covered it with a fake stumble.
"Oh, sorry." She nearly whispered.
No one had said his name out loud since he left. In context, we always knew who 'he' was.
"No, it's fine." I shook my head. "I'm just not use to it. It doesn't bother me." Much.
Our walking got considerably slower, and we stayed silent for a few moments.
"When we get back," Sakura said suddenly, perky. "We can get ramen or something! I'll buy!"
I knew she was trying, so I couldn't blame her. Actually, I was thankful for her. It just wasn't working very well.
"Thanks." I managed.
She stopped moving, so I stopped too. She stayed put for a moment, then reached up and grabbed both of my hands with her own.
I was three or four inches taller then her now, and we had both gone through a major growthspurt. She kept her hair cut short, and mine was the same, if not a little longer. Both of our faces had lost their roundness, and we both changed in body shape. She got curvier, and I got a better build, though I was still small compared to all of the male Genin in my class.
"I know how important this is." She said. "How important he is. I'll do everything I can…To bring him back. For both of us."
I squeezed her hands and smiled. "You're the best, Sakura."
I didn't have to wait for her to be out of sight to go home. She knew.
As soon as I got back from training with Jiriya, that was the first thing I did. Went home. Where I believed was home, anyway. Sasuke's mansion. I still slept there, and cleaned when I had the time. Like it was more hope for me.
I was both depressed and obsessed.
The pillows still smell like him. I can't bring myself to wash the covers.
We got packed, and an hour later were heading out to the spy's rendezvous.
I don't know where Sakura stands in the field of love. Whether Sasuke is still there, or someone else.
I still know where I stand.