Someone stop me! I need to update my other stories and I can't stop writing this one. My new obsession is Genma and Sakura for some odd reason that I cannot comprehend lol. And NaruIno? What is wrong with me? Apparently crack pairings are becoming my new love lol. ANWAYYYY…Thank you so much for your reviews!! I seriously almost fell off my chair with your amazing comments!
I don't own Naruto nor do I own Beautiful Disaster by Kelly Clarkson.
This chapter is dedicated to IDontNeedToReply for the longest review I've ever received! Thanks again, and I'm sorry you didn't find that spider lol.
OOOOO
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Defense Mechanism
Chapter Three
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He drowns in his dreams, an exquisite extreme I know.
He's as damned as he seems, but more heaven then a heart could hold.
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Time passes too quickly for your liking, and before you know it, you are already fifteen. You've had three solid years of training under the Hokage, and you are now a respected medic-nin. One of the youngest in history, they tell you, and your smile is forced. Because to you, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how strong you are, how many people you've saved, how many families you've put back together, because in the end, you've failed. You've failed to keep your own family together, you've failed to save your best friend, and you've failed yourself.
...But that small voice pops into your head and reminds you why you go on: Because it's not over. There's still time.
And that voice is right.
So you smile and say, "Thank you. Tsunade-shishou is the best teacher someone could ever ask for."
She is a great teacher when it comes to textbooks, but it's more than that. She's taught you respect, confidence, loyalty, and to never give up hope.
Because she has, she's given up hope on her teammate, and she regrets it every day.
You remember once when you asked her to teach you how to get rid of the pain, and you remember the way she smiled sadly,
"Not all lessons can be taught."
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The day Naruto returns from his years of training is a blur.
You remember crying and running into his arms, and you distinctly remember him hugging you—as though seeing you was the greatest thing on Earth.
When he finally sets you on your feet, he smiles brightly and you break down in laughter. You laugh harder than you have in years because he's here and he's real.
It's been hard for you without him, but you know why he had to leave.
Because he's finding a way.
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When you stand in the Hokage's office, she is looking at you while explaining your mission.
"Your mission is the retrieval of Uchiha Sasuke."
…And your chest hurts. Her gaze softens, and you know she can detect your erratic heartbeat and heavy breathing. It doesn't matter what anyone says, the Hokage is a sympathetic woman. She knows how hard this is for you, because you both know that no one can guess what you will find.
How badly has he changed?
She knows that you and Naruto—and Kakashi—are all holding on to hope.
Don't give up hope, Sakura. Never give up hope. Sometimes, it's the only thing that can keep you going.
She told you that once, and you knew of whom she was speaking.
Orochimaru
It seemed odd how history seemed to be repeating itself. But you can see the truth in her eyes as she speaks. No matter what he does, Orochimaru will always be her teammate—
Friend first.
And nothing else matters.
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You don't like the new addition to your team. He reminds you too much of him. And no, it's not just the looks. It's the personality.
Cold, mysterious, unfeeling.
But there's something else about him that you don't like—because it makes your heart throb painfully.
You don't know what he's after.
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The day you set out to retrieve him, Naruto is energetic, but there is a falter in his step that speaks louder than his bright smile.
He is nervous.
But how could he not be? You all are, truth be told.
You don't know what to expect.
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When you finally see him, it is hard to hear what he's saying. The adrenaline coupled with the pounding of your heart makes it hard to hear.
The only thought in your mind is: He's so beautiful.
"Sakura, huh?" He says to you, and you can't imagine how wide your eyes are. His voice is so smooth—it reminds you of the silk of a kimono, or the smooth texture of chocolate.
"Sasuke-kun." You whisper, and you mentally slap yourself for adding the -kun. He doesn't deserve it.
And if you were honest with yourself, you would have admitted that he doesn't deserve you, Naruto, or Kakashi. He doesn't deserve your smiles, your words of encouragement, your friendship—your heart.
How could he do this? You ask yourself repeatedly.
...And then you remember: He doesn't understand.
He doesn't understand that power isn't everything—strength is.
And Naruto is stronger than Sasuke.
—always has been, always will be—
And then he lunges, and panic grips you so tightly, it's no wonder your heart continues to beat.
Not again, not again! The mantra repeats over and over in your head as your muscles prepare to spring.
...But Sasuke simply stands in front of Naruto, speaking softly, and you can see Naruto shaking—whether out of anger or sadness, you do not know.
Sasuke's blank—dead—eyes flitter briefly to you, so quickly that you believe you are imagining it…
And you try—you try so hard—to block out the rational side of you that says, he doesn't care about you, or Team 7. He probably hasn't thought of your faces at all in three years…
Your hands start shaking at the thought, and you watch as Sasuke's hand reaches for his katana. It happens in an instant, and the next thing you know, the sword is moving quickly towards Naruto's neck.
"Naruto!" You yell so loud, your voice cracks, and before you can register what's happening, your legs are carrying you to them.
You shiver slightly from chills as they trickle across your skin. They only thing making sense to you right now is the fact that Naruto isn't moving—why?—and you're thinking:
I can't lose another.
And then you hear metal on metal, and skid to a halt.
Blinking, you think, Sai?
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Sai and Sasuke engage in battle, and you can't move. You are staring—staring and trying to figure out how in the world this is the person you love. How can a person be so selfish? How can a person leave behind the people that love him in pursuit of revenge? You don't know the answer—but then again, you don't really have time to ponder it when you realize Sasuke is coming at you, full speed, katana poised to strike.
Your eyes widen and Sharingan be damned, you hold his gaze. From somewhere in front of you, you hear, "Sakura!" but all your panic fades when you see the look in his eye.
Perhaps there are those who would say that he is talented at hiding his emotions, and for most, that would be true—but not for you.
There is no malice there, no intent to kill, and if they were watching closely, the others would have seen the slight hesitation in Sasuke's movement. He isn't using his full speed. The shock in your eyes lessens slightly as a different emotion takes it place: pain.
You realize what he is doing, and it hurts so bad, it's hard to believe that you can even feel anymore.
He wants you to forget him.
So he will pretend to be your enemy, all the while pushing you away in an attempt to ease his pain. He is trying to forget Team 7, but you smile slightly because you know,
Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.
So you don't move, and you know the others will wonder why, and instead, you keep your eyes locked to his.
Because even if you don't understand him, you know him better than anyone else.
And he won't kill you.
He can't kill you.
But Yamato is there before you can blink, his wood shielding you from the—pretend—attack.
Your mind cannot process everything that quickly, and before you know it, Sasuke is standing there with Orochimaru. You have to physically restrain the muscles in your legs to keep yourself from running towards them.
What you would do if you reached them, you don't really know.
Sasuke does not look at you again as he disappears, but you really didn't expect him to.
After all, you've seen all you needed to see.
He still cares for you after all this time, and you know that one day, you will meet again…
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One day, Sasuke. One day, I will save you, you promise him.
You will never lose hope. Because after all, there is still time—
OOOOO
By the way, the quotes at the beginning of each chapter are lyrics to the song that inspired the chap.
Reviews will help me get out the next chapter!
Until next time.
P.S. Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it is a quote by Montaigne.