Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto(presented by Dattebayo. Produced my Masashi Kishimoto(sp?)). I do however own this piece of fanfiction which you are currently reading.

Author's Note: What's happening to the reviews? You guys mad at me for short chaps or something? It'll get better, I swear.

Start Chapter

Naruto, or "N" as he was simply known to Sakura, walked with her, and May towards the training ground. There, waiting for them, was a brooding boy, with a girl squealing by his side, proclaiming her love for her. Fate it seemed, had to be ironic.

'Sakura-san, was it?'

'Yes. N-san was it?' Sakura thought something was suspiscous about his name.

'Yes. I was just about to say, how ironic it is, for me to see your team. How the girl fawns over the boy. My old team was like that, my girl teammate was always around my boy teammate. And i was foolish enough to fawn over my girl teammate. In the end...she was left with nothing.'

Sakura twitched uneasily. This guy...it was like he was talking about her team. Her old one. She really didn't want to remember. Not after what Sasuke did to her, leaving her like that. Not after what she did to Naruto, pushing him away like that.

'Yes, N-san. Very well. We should start with introductions. May, Toshizo, and Kasumi, you start.'

'But sensei, I don't know anything about you yet, while these two already know you.' said May

Sakura twitched. She herself had said that same thing, albeit differently. She also noted that she's been twitching a lot since she met this N, and May.

'Very well. My name is Haruno Sakura. My likes...are my friends, family, and my team. I dislike immature brats. As for my dream...My dreams were long ago crushed...By two people. Go ahead with yours, Toshizo.'

'Very well. My name is Toshizo. I never knew my parents, and no one in town knows of them. Therefore, I don't have a last name. I don't really like anything. I dislike...' he immediately shifted his gaze to Kasumi, who in turn, started sniveling. ' My dream is find out who my parents were, and how they died.'

'My name is Kasumi Kagome. My friends call me "KK"! I like'...she shifted her gaze towards Toshizo...' and i don't really dislike anything. My dream is to...'she looked at Toshizo, and started giggling

Sakura just stood dumbfounded at her team. The similarities were unparalled. Sakura and Sasuke...Toshizo and Kasumi.

'My name is May. I like ramen! I learned from one of my friends to hate the time it takes for ramen to cook! And my dream is to be generally respected by everyone!'

Sakura nearly fainted. How was this happening?

'Big brother! Everyone else went! Why don't you go?'said an annoyed May to an indifferent N.

'Fine, fine. My name...is of no concern to you. Just call me "N". Well, let's see...My likes and dislikes...My dream is all but lost.'

'HEY! We only found out to call you "N"!' yelled Kasumi

'N-san, you must be new to these exams. During these times, teachers don't really train their students per say, we just give them ideas and techniques to toy with on their own.' At that, Sakura then started giving instructions to her team, and went with "N" to the shopping district.

'So, N-san, what do you want to do?'

'I heard of a very famous ramen restaurant here called "Ichiraku". Could we go there?'

Sakura, almost started crying. So many mentions of her team in one day...She was going crazy.

'Could we talk first, N-san?'

Quickly sensing something wrong, he said "sure". They went to memorial stone. No one was there, save the two of them.

'It's just, that meeting you and May, reminds me of so much of my old team. I, too like Kasumi, went for my teammate...His name was Sasuke. You don't know him, but he betrayed Konoha about 8 years ago. My other teammate...he liked me a lot...I drove him away, in blind hate...And i could never say i was sorry, because he died...and i...i ca-'

'It's ok.' N, quickly grabbed Sakura in a hug. Sakura, through her sobs, didn't notice he smelled of miso.

'Sakura...'

'Yes, she said looking at him.

N stood up, walked for about ten meters. When he was at that distance, he said

'I've always loved you, Sakura-chan. And i forgive you.'

Sakura was shocked. Her mind was starting to click. When it added two plus two, and got four, she quickly yelled

'Naruto!'

Naruto pulled down his hood to reveal his face. Sakura gasped. Naruto was changed. He still had that mischievous fox grin, but...his eyes...there was something different about them.

'Sakura, Sasuke is going to attack Konoha, with Orochimaru by his side, this chuunin exam. The Akatsuki are here to kill both of them. I, and my comrades, the ones you saw at baa-chan's office, are going to kill Akatsuki.'

Sakura gasped. This was too much for her. Both her teammates were here? She broke down crying. Again.

'Sakura. This...thing...with Sasuke...and me...don't get involved with it.'

'What? Why? He's my teammate too!'

'But, this thing...it would crucify you.'(Sakura gasps at this). And that is why,we must say goodbye.'

'What! So soon! No, Naruto don't leave me!'

'I will stay with you only until Sasuke and Orochimaru arrive. We will get to know each other again...Until nothing, possibly will remain. And when I leave, maybe you'll realize...or maybe you already have, that that's all there ever was to it...That sadness... It will well up in your eyes, and flow like a waterfall of tears.'

'Naruto...I...'

'Do me a favor...Please don't tell the others...'

'You know...those other former rookies. They shouldn't know that he and I are here. At least, not until I'm gone.'

'Alright...Why don't you stay in Konoha? Nobody remembers, Naruto. Everyone else is almost dead, and-

'It doesn't matter Sakura. When you, and those others...did that to me, you did more than just drive me away. You killed me. Over and over again.'

'Thanks for forgiving me, Naruto.'

'Sakura...I...'

Sakura ran up to him, and kissed him. He returned it, then let go. She stared at him questioningly. Sakura, I love you. I always will. But not like that anymore. You already said it before...

Flashback

Team 7 just got back from a hard day's mission, and were currently at Ichiraku, eating ramen.

'SAKURA-CHAN!Will you please go out with me?'

'NO NARUTO! CAN'T YOU SEE? WE AREN'T MEANT TO BE! I'M NOT THE ONE FOR YOU!'

End Flashback

'But Naruto. That was so long ago. And you know I didn't mean it...please...'

'Regardless...Sakura, I don't know. I'm empty inside. My mind...because of the trauma of what you all of you did...because of all those years of hatred...I'm mentally unstable. I'm dangerous. We can't be together.'

The two of them just stood there. The wind started rustling. It was actually evening already. The only thing that could be heard...was the sound of crickets...

End Chapter

Author's Note: Alright guys, I really need your review for this...Should this be a Naru/Saku, or a Naru/OC? Should he turn Sakura down? VOTE! Also, tell me how my writing is doing. It's encouraging for me to write longer chapters, when i get praises, or critisisms(sp?). Especially now that I have so much going on in my life. My gaming clan is currently in a war with another clan, and to top it off, it's the Medusa V campaign in Warhammer 40,000.

"And that is why, we must say goodbye."

-ThouShaltKill