Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. I DO own Youshi Garukin (Yes, he's back! It's the prequel silly.) Ai Mizuri (now known as Kaori) is owned by xEMOtIoNaLLyCOnSTipaTEDx-

A/N: Here's a faster update to make up for the wait and the shortness of the last chapter.

Chapter Eight - The End Of The World

Three days later Sakura and Naruto were training in the end field. Naruto was trying to keep Sakura's worry at bay by challenging her to snatch the bell off him. So far she was yet to beat him. "You're never going to get it, Sakura-Chan!" he smirked at her, urging her to try again. "You might as well give up."

"Ha!" announced Sakura, seconds before she lunged at him, took his legs out from under him before he could even register that she was mobile, and stood over him triumphantly dangling the bell from her right hand. A broad smirk spread over her face. "You were saying?!"

Naruto looked up in disbelief. "How the hell did you do that?!"

Sakura placed one hand on her hip as she offered the other one to help her friend back to his feet. "Are you forgetting who my boyfriend is?!" She laughed slightly as she spoke. Naruto took the offered hand and clumsily climbed back to his feet, muttering "Should have known." under his breath.

"HELP!"

All nearby heads were instantly spinning toward the east gate. Kaori, who had been sent out by Tsunade on a routine patrol, was struggling to stay standing under the weight of the injured man she was carrying.

"What happened?!" shouted Naruto as he and Sakura raced to Kaori's aid.

"I don't know. I just found him like this!" gasped Kaori. Several others converged on Kaori, each supporting a different part of the injured man's body.

Sakura fought back the panicked scream when the injured man's head fell back as he fought to stay conscious.

It was Youshi.

"Oh Kami!" whispered Naruto as he took in the extent of Youshi's injuries. The man had been beaten to within an inch of his life. His hands immediately sought out Sakura's trembling shoulders and pulled her in to a comforting hug.

"Youshi!" came Tsunade's voice as she raced toward the scene. "Youshi! What happened? What about Itachi? Where's Sasuke?"

Youshi's eyes were nearly rolling into the back of his skull as he tried desperately to focus. His shaking hand stretched out toward Tsunade but his weakened state only let him reach Sakura.

"They're both dead." he rasped out. "They killed each other."

Youshi's world turned black as he slipped into the welcome embrace of unconsciousness, totally unaware of the shouts and screams as Sakura joined him.

***

Five days past. Five days of unimaginable anguish. Five days of pain that nothing and no-one could mend.

Sakura had become little more than a walking shadow. Naruto, Ino, Kakashi and Tsunade tried everything they could think of to bring the pinkette they knew and loved back to them. Even Sai tried to help, drawing soothing pictures for her. Lee made vow after vow to protect Sakura and help mend her breaking spirit.

Naruto spent night after night trying to sooth his best friend as her endless tears fell and her heart shattered just a little bit more.

The only thing that seemed to bring Sakura any kind of comfort, was Youshi's recovery. She would spend endless amounts of time tending to him, listening to his apologies for her loss.

"I'm so sorry, Sakura." "He was too badly injured." "There was nothing I could do." "His last thoughts were of you."

Sakura tried her best to ignore Youshi's words of attempted comfort. She couldn't bare to tell him that it hurt to hear them. That simply mentioning Sasuke's name was tearing her apart inside.

Five days after returning, Youshi was released from the hospital. He immediately went to the Yamanaka flower shop and asked Ino to give him a bunch of Sakura's favourite flowers, his way of saying both 'sorry' and 'thank you'. Ino thought it was a beautiful gesture but worried how Sakura would react to it. The second Youshi left the shop, Ino called reinforcements in case Sakura hit meltdown.

Ino's fears were confirmed. The second Youshi handed her the flowers, the tears she had been fighting to hold back erupted. She fell to her knees but Youshi caught her before she could hit the ground.

Ino and her reinforcements arrived mere moments later. Hinata and Ino had to forcefully restrain Naruto and Neji from re-introducing Youshi to his former medical state. Youshi apologised repeated to Sakura for upsetting her and announces that they are all going drinking in his uncles club. He announces it as his way of making it up to Sakura for upsetting her.

***

Sakura woke up the next morning feeling like death warmed up. The entire world felt like it was spinning and she was sure her lunch, or was it dinner, was about to make a reappearance. Groaning, Sakura bolted upright but instantly stopped herself as the pounding in her head dramatically increased.

Sakura groaned again as she sat up again, slowly this time. Her vision was blurred beyond belief but fortunately, her heart was still in alcohol induced shock to remember to be in pain, a fact that Sakura was more than grateful of.

Of course, that gratitude died the second her vision cleared.

Sakura's eyes widened in panic. This was not her bedroom. Nor was it Ino's bedroom or Naruto's spare room. Her Inner was almost at mental breakdown. Where the hell are we?!

The sudden shifting of a previously unnoticed weight on her legs, sent shivers of terror racing through her system, frying her already damaged nerves. Sakura was too afraid to look but knew that she had to. It was a decision she instantly regretted.

Sakura was laying, semi-covered by the sheets, in a bed that was not her own. Her clothes were scattered across the floor with her bra hanging from the bedside lamp shade. "Oh shit!" she muttered to herself as her eyes took in more of the unfolding scene before her.

She was naked, her limbs were tangled with another naked body and the slight sting between her legs left her in no doubt about what had happened the night before. Turning to face her mistake, Sakura had to swallow the scream that threatened to erupt from her throat, along with the bile trying to escape her stomach.

Youshi was gazing up at her, a smirk of sexual aftermath glowing on his face. "Morning." he whispered huskily, leaning closer to plant a kiss on her shoulder.

SLAP!

Youshi's head spun to the right, a trickle of blood flying from his now split lip. Sakura ripped herself out of his embrace and shot from the bed, ignoring the protests from her still suffering brain. She grabbed her clothes and dressed as fast as she could.

Just as she tried to grab the door handle, she heard Youshi's overly proud voice.

"I only did what you asked me to do."

Sakura spun to face him, her eyes blazing with such fury, such rage, that Youshi actually drew back in fear. He'd been given a look like that before, it had been more dangerous coming from Sasuke but it was only too obvious that Sakura's look held the same deadly intent.

"I asked you to help me forget, NOT get me drunk and take advantage of me!"

Several pictures flew off the wall, shattering as they landed, from the force of Sakura slamming the door behind her.

***

"It'll be alright, Forehead."

Ino tried to sooth Sakura as her best friend sobbed her broken heart out. It had been two weeks since the incident. Sakura had told Ino about what happened the morning after, but had been broken up about it ever since. She had sobbed uncontrollably as she told Ino what happened, cursing herself for betraying Sasuke.

It had been left to Ino to inform the others. Not that she told anyone other than those who had been there that night. She had been forced to threaten Naruto and Neji to stop them from ripping Youshi apart, telling them that doing that would only hurt Sakura more.

***

Another two weeks past and Tsunade had prepared a memorial service for Sasuke. It was all she could think of that might help Sakura to finally let go of her grief and start to move on.

Sai had seen Sakura slowly falling apart, fearing that she couldn't keep going without Sasuke. He came up with a plan of action and spent day after day helping her turn her grief into a physical outlet.

Over the days they worked together, they created a beautiful mahogany chest, no bigger than a shoebox. Sai helped her engrave words in to the inside of the lid, surrounded on both sides by the Uchiha and Haruno clan symbols. Ino and Naruto were called in to help Sakura sort through photographs that she wanted Sasuke to have. Sakura and Naruto both insisted that Sasuke's copy of the Team 7 photograph should be included.

Once the box was finished, Team 7, Neji, Hinata, Ino and Tenten all assembled in the Uchiha compound and watched on silently as Sakura fell to her knees, broken, while Kakashi buried the box between the graves of Sasuke's parents.

***

The news of Sakura's pregnancy sent shockwaves throughout Konoha. It had only been a week since Sasuke's memorial but word had already leaked out about what had happened with Youshi. Naruto, Ino and Neji were convinced that Youshi had done it himself, despite his protests of innocence. Some of the things said about Sakura were far from complimentary but the instant they were said, someone nearby would crush the words and scold the one saying it for being so heartless.

When the Haruno and Garukin families found out, there was only one acceptable course of action. Sakura was already two months pregnant by that point. Her emotions, even her entire being, had shut down, leaving nothing but a vacant, pregnant shell.

The wedding between Sakura and Youshi was arranged before anyone knew it was happening. Youshi was over the moon with the idea and even insisted on certain things he liked being included in the ceremony. Sakura remained a shell, moving on autopilot and muscle memory.

Naruto, Ino and the others tried everything they could think of to stall or postpone the event until Sakura could at least give her opinion on things.

Both families completely ignored their pleas, sticking stubbornly to the idea that they knew what was best for Sakura. The friends could do nothing but watch as Sakura's coma like being was told her own wedding arrangements. It was only when her belly began to swell slightly as she neared her third month that Sakura showed any signs of returning to life.

***

As Sakura walked down the, cherry blossom lined, aisle in her a-line, ruffled at the waist, cream dress, the beginnings of a smile was growing on her face. The chakra signature of her growing baby had finally shown itself that morning.

The ceremony was quick. Youshi had demanded it that way, stating that he didn't want extra stress placed on his wife-to-be. Naruto and Neji, among others, were convinced that Youshi just didn't want to give anyone the chance to interrupt.

As Sakura and Youshi left to sign the necessary forms to finalise the marriage, the others were asked to make their way back to the Garukin household for the reception. Neji and Tenten announced that they were only attending for a short while, to support Sakura. Many of the others agreed, they were all still convinced that a major mistake had just taken place.

Naruto nodded to the others, saying that he needed some air after watching such a farce before joining them in supporting Sakura during the reception. The others nodded, Neji patted him on the shoulder before he led the others away.

Naruto walked away from the blossomed aisle, the silk ribbons and the lace backed chairs. He was disgusted at himself for allowing this to happen. He had promised Sasuke that he would protect her, it was his best friends last request, but he had failed her, he had failed both of them. He had not been strong enough to breach the joint forces of the Haruno and Garukin families.

Naruto sighed heavily and shook his head. Sakura was a Garukin now, but she was still his team mate, his best friend. Naruto closed his eyes and lowered his head. "I won't fail you again, Sakura-Chan!" he vowed to the passing breeze.

Naruto slowly raised his head and opened his eyes. His heart almost stopped. There was a figure moving through the tree line, the signature of their chakra hidden but the anger was coming off them in waves. Thinking they could pose a risk to Sakura, Naruto concealed his own chakra and quickly made his way around their position, ready to cut them off from the bride, the groom would have to defend himself.

Closing in on the intruder, Naruto dropped from the tree canopy, took a fighting stance and almost passed out from shock.

"TEME?!"

The figure before him straightened up, Sharingan eyes flickered and soon, Sasuke's coal depths were gazing at his friend. Naruto's eyes locked on to the carefully wrapped and tenderly held wild flowers in Sasuke's hand. As Sasuke pretended he wasn't crying and Naruto pretended not to see, Naruto's mind took him back to the meaning behind those flowers his friend so carefully held.

Flashback

"What are you doing, Teme?" asked Naruto as he caught Sasuke sneaking around.

The Uchiha just glared at him, one hand firmly hidden behind his back. "None of your business, Dobe!"

They had been returning from an escort mission to Wave Country. Kakashi had ordered everyone to take a break after Naruto's continual complaining about his feet hurting and threatening to tell Sakura, who had stayed behind in Konoha, training under Tsunade, that they weren't taking proper care of themselves.

Determined to find out what Sasuke was hiding, Naruto created a shadow clone, who appeared behind Sasuke and quickly snatched a bunch of wild flowers out of the Uchiha's hand.

"Flowers?!" gasped Naruto. "You're picking flowers?!"

"Shut up!" snapped Sasuke.

Naruto's face turned red, a cross between embarrassment and slight anger. "Who the hell are you picking flowers for? You've only just started dating Sakura! If you're picking them for some other girl, I swear…"

"They're for Sakura!" stated Sasuke quietly, although his eyes had turned threatening at the accusation.

"But… why?" asked Naruto, still confused about what was going on.

Sasuke sighed heavily as he shook his head. "Fine. I'll tell you. But…" he locked eyes with Naruto. "This goes NO further!" Naruto quickly nodded, willing to agree to anything at that point if it meant cracking one of Sasuke's secrets.

"Every time we're apart, if one of us is on a mission without the other, we bring something back to show that we missed each other. Sakura makes small kunai out of wood she finds, and I bring her wild flowers."

Naruto was both shocked and touched by the new revelation. He simply smiled, patted Sasuke's shoulder and walked away, leaving the Uchiha to finish his gift gathering.

End of Flashback

"We were told you were dead." stated Naruto as he followed Sasuke through the backstreets of Konoha. "Youshi barely made it back." Sasuke growled angrily and his pace sped up. Naruto continued to follow his friend, trying to reason with him.

"Sakura wouldn't betray you, Sasuke! She loves you! Please! Don't be angry with her, she wasn't exactly given a choice in this." pleaded Naruto, now struggling to keep up with the Uchiha's furious pace.

Suddenly, Sasuke stopped. Naruto looked up, only to find himself standing in front of Sasuke's family home. It took Naruto a few moments to realise that he was now alone, and hurried to follow Sasuke inside. He found his friend, tearing clothes from drawers and his wardrobe and slamming them into a bag. Naruto felt his heart breaking at the sight.

"You're leaving, aren't you."

"Don't be angry, Naruto." said Sasuke in a mocking tone. "I don't exactly have a choice in this."

"But… Sakura…" stammered Naruto. Sasuke was barely holding back the tears by this point. He glared at Naruto. "She has Youshi now."

"He was almost killed helping you! She almost died hearing that you weren't coming back!" snapped Naruto, desperately reaching for something, anything, to make Sasuke stay and fight.

"Liar!" snapped Sasuke. "Youshi didn't do anything, other than steal Sakura! He wasn't involved in my fight with Itachi. Worthless maggot just stood there, watching. His report wasn't all wrong though. If Karin, Suigetsu and Juugo didn't find me when they did, I would have been dead. I spent the last two months just trying to get well enough to get back to Sakura and what do I find? I find her getting married to the bastard who left me for dead!"

"What?!" gasped Naruto.

"Something wrong with your hearing, Dobe!" mocked Sasuke cruelly. Naruto felt the colour draining from his face as Sasuke's words hit home, hard. "He abandoned you?!"

"They both did!" Sasuke snapped again, his anger starting to get the better of him.

"NO!" Naruto snapped back, his voice firm and determined. "Sakura never abandoned you! If anything, she's abandoned herself. She's nothing but a walking shadow because she thinks you're dead! You are the only man she has ever loved, will ever love!"

"If that's true, why did she get married to him?!" Sasuke's voice seemed to bounce off the walls, he was so angry.

"Because she was forced to!" snapped Naruto. "You were dead, he got her drunk, she woke up beside him. Couple months later she found out she was pregnant. Their parents forced her into marrying him."

Sasuke suddenly seemed so lost, so broken. "She's… p… pre…. Pregnant?"

Naruto instantly regretted telling him. He had never seen Sasuke so destroyed. Everything about the man was crushed by that single word.

Suddenly, Sasuke's packing began once more, faster, more determined this time. Naruto knew now that there was nothing he could do to stop him from leaving. "Wait. Sasuke, please? Give me five minutes. If you're really leaving us, there's something you should have."

At the simple nod from the Uchiha, Naruto took off running as fast as he could, he had to make it in time. He grabbed a kunai from his weapons pouch and started digging as soon as he reached the family graveyard. Only once he had the box securely held, did he rush back to the main house.

Naruto burst back in to Sasuke's bedroom and sighed with relief when he saw the Uchiha standing by his bookcase. Sasuke turned to face Naruto and regarded the box with cold eyes. "What's this?" His question was answered seconds later when Naruto opened the box and the inside of the lid came into view.

Sasuke,

For wherever your path takes you, you never need travel alone.

Forever,

Sakura.

Sasuke smiled, truly genuinely smiled, as he read the words before him and traced his fingers across the immaculately painted clan symbols. Naruto stayed silent as a single tear trickled down Sasuke's cheek. "Please don't be mad at Sakura."

"I'm not." came Sasuke's barely audible whisper. "She thought she'd lost me. That I was never coming back. She did what she had to, to survive."

"Yeah," Naruto whispered back. "But when she finds out that you're al…"

"No!" Sasuke interrupted. "I've torn her world apart enough for one lifetime. She has a chance to be happy now. She's married to Youshi. I wont destroy her new life the way I did her past."

Sasuke carefully lifted the small box, placing it gently in his bag before closing and tying it and pulling it on to his shoulder.

"Perhaps it's better for her to move on from me. I've never brought her anything but pain. She has a chance to get past that, past me. Let her believe that I'm dead." Sasuke chuckled strangely as he moved closer to the door. "In a way, I am."

Naruto tried to hold back the urge to grab his friend. He understood now. Sasuke needed him to let go, to let him move on as he was allowing Sakura to do. Naruto remembered times in the past when he had accused the Uchiha of being selfish. However, now, watching him walking away from the only woman he had ever truly cared for, just so she would have a chance to be happy, Naruto was being slapped in the face with how wrong he had truly been.

***

"You know, Sakura." whispered Youshi in his new wife's ear as they danced. "You could have escaped all this. You didn't have to keep the baby."

Sakura smiled softly at her husband but the glare in her eyes was all too visible. "There is no force on earth, that would make me kill this child!"

Youshi grinned proudly and swept his hands across her hips to rest them just above her ass. "Thought so." he smirked. "All those times, you were just pretending not to like me. Yet here you are, my wife and having my child."

Sakura smirked now but her eyes showed a twinge of sadness. "I may have been forced to be your wife but don't ever forget, Youshi! You and I both know. This baby might not be yours! I won't kill my child because it could be Sasuke's!"

To be continued…

A/N: For all of you currently screaming out to know what really happened during Sasuke's battle with Itachi, fear not, that chapter will be coming, you'll just have to wait. Trust me, it WILL be worth it!