CONSUMED BY DARKNESS & SAVED BY LIGHT
CHAPTER 1: Bad News
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Today was April 22nd, the anniversary of Sakura Haruno's betrayal. She left Konoha in the spring, her favorite month of the year. This day made it a very gloomy day for Naruto Uzumaki. She has been gone for 3 years now.
He couldn't believe how fast time went by. Hell, he was turning 18 in October. But his life over the years haven't been so bad. Naruto fulfilled his dream in becoming the Hokage. He couldn't have been more happy with himself. He was 16 when he become the Hokage.
A couple months after Naruto was announced as Konoha's new Hokage, Sasuke Uchiha came back. Yes, he finally came back home. After he killed Itachi he had nothing left to live for. He intended on going back to Konoha and probably having most of the village trying to kill him.
But, most of the villagers and ninja were too shocked when they saw him. Sasuke was lucky that Naruto was Hokage now. He was able to get the elders to cut Sasuke some slack. Surprisingly, Naruto was able to convince them to not sentence Sasuke to death.
Sasuke was sentenced to six months in prison and he had to tell Konoha everything he knew and what happened while he was gone.
Naruto couldn't believe how well Sasuke was following orders. 'Maybe he really does want to be a loyal citizen of this village again...' Naruto thought to himself.
Sasuke told Naruto and the Elders everything he knew and proved his loyalty through and through. So, on a mutual decision the elders agreed to let Sasuke live among the villagers. Though, Sasuke could not go on missions just yet and he had to be under watch at all times.
They couldn't just trust him so quickly. They all had to take this slow. Naruto didn't care how long it would take, he was just happy to have one of his friends back. His next goal; To get Sakura Haruno back in the village and team 7 will be one again.
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[Flashback: Naruto's Pov]
Sasuke came back to the village about 6 months ago. No one could ever know how much this means to me that he is back. I just wish Sakura was here to see this. I can just imagine her smile and her tears coming down her cheeks. She was so emotional, but you at least knew she cared for Sasuke dearly.
But, I will cherish the fact that Sasuke is back. He has been in prison for 6 months now. Today is the day he gets out. He finally gets to be apart of this village again.
I was sitting in my office doing all this paperwork. I swear the Hokage gets way too much work. Man, how did Baa-chan manage to do this job? It's exhausting!
But, as I continue to look over all my work I hear a knock at the door. "Come in," I said. In walked a guard and Sasuke himself. I smiled at them. I excused the guard so I could speak to Sasuke myself.
"Sasuke."
"hn."
"I don't really know what to say...I just. I'm glad you're finally back."
"Aa...Well, can we skip our reunion? I'd love to finally get to an actual home with actual food and a bed."
"You will get to go to your home soon. But, first there is a matter we need to discuss," I've been dreading this conversation. I need to tell him about Sakura and how she betrayed the village, like he did. I'm not sure how he'll react.
"Naruto. What is it?" Sasuke looked impatient.
"It is about Sakura," I said with a serious, but sad look on my face.
"Aa. What about her?"
"She is no longer apart of our village." Once that left my lips Sasuke's eye widen and he stilled. I knew it would be unexpected news.
"What do you mean no longer apart of this village?"
"Sakura left the village three years ago. She betrayed the village just like you did. We have no idea where she is. I want to find her Sasuke. I need your help."
"No. Find her yourself." And with that said Sasuke left my office to go to his home in the Uchiha compound.
[Flashback ended]
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Once Sasuke came back to the village he never left. Him and Naruto became best friends again. Sasuke seemed to have a change in him now that Itachi was gone. He seems softer and relaxed. It is almost like a weight has been lifted off of him. Yet, he still has that arrogant personality of his.
The village has come to trust Sasuke again. There are still those who don't trust his loyalty, but Sasuke was sure that would happen. Naruto believed Sasuke was happy though, to be back home.
Now, it has been a week since April 22nd and things are about to change drastically.
"Naruto-sama! Naruto-sama! Naruto-sama!" Konohamaru was yelling for Naruto while running towards Naruto himself and Sasuke. The two were out walking around.
Naruto didn't like staying up in his office for hours and hours. So, he devoted his time to just walk around the village and make sure everything was up and running well. Some villagers would stop him and talk to him about some concerns, complaints or complements about how things were going.
Today was just a normal day until Naruto heard his name called. He turned around to see Konohamaru, his new apprentice running toward him and Sasuke.
Konohamaru looked worried. He finally reached Naruto and said, "Naruto-sama. You are needed back at your office. It's an emergency!"
Naruto's widen. This hasn't happened for awhile. Everything seemed so peaceful that nothing bad could happen. Clearly, Naruto was wrong.
Naruto, Sasuke and Konohamaru run back to the Hokage's office. When the three got into Naruto's office the Elders and Tsunade with Shizune were all there.
"What the hell is going on?" Naruto yelled growing more impatient and worried. This must have been more of an emergency than he thought. Something was terribly wrong.
"Quiet down you idiot. Naruto! Sasuke! You both need to take a seat." Tsunade was growing more impatient and she needed a drink badly. With the news she was just told this is not going to go over well.
"Baa-chan! What is going on? Seriously, everything was going great what could possibly be the matter?" Naruto was restless.
"We have called both of you here because it involves Sakura Haruno." Finally one of the Elders spoke up.
"What happened to her? Did we find her?" Naruto sounded both worried, but hopeful. It concerned Sakura. Maybe the search team finally found her. Team 7 might soon be reunited once again. But, sadly Naruto's hopes were shattered in seconds.
"The search team didn't find her. But they found where she was hiding. They even found some journal entries. There were only two entries though, explaining everything she did while she was gone and her thoughts and feelings. We believe there were more entires before these ones, but we could not find them. Therefore we believe she destroyed them. Also, the entires were detailed about what happened to her during the time she was gone." Tsunade explained rather quickly.
"Where are they? I want to read them! Do they specify where she is located? Can we find her using the entries?" Naruto was gaining hope. This was the first time in years that they caught track of her.
"No, Naruto there is more to the entries than you think."
"Wh-What do you mean, Baa-chan?
Tsunade handed over the two journal entries that Sakura wrote. (The entires she wrote would be what you guys read as my prologue.) Both Sasuke and Naruto sat there and read both entries together. Everyone else in the office waited for them to finish.
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"SHE'S DEAD? There is no way she is gone. Continue the search we will find her!" Naruto was fuming. He was too shocked. There was no way this was true. It was unlike Sakura to just kill herself. Why? Why would she do this to them!
"hn. Naruto calm down." Sasuke was growing annoyed. He couldn't believe what he just read either, but all Naruto's yelling was giving him a headache.
"Calm down?! You're telling me to calm down? We need to continue the search. Even if she is dead we must find her body!"
"Naruto what will you tell the villagers? They still feel as though we are still in danger because of her." Shizune chimed in.
"We have proven these entries to be hers. We shall announce her death as soon as possible!" One of the Elders added their opinion.
Naruto never expected any of this to happen. He didn't want to believe any of this. He wanted to believe Sakura was alive and out there somewhere. But the journal entries and where they were found were proven to be Sakura's. What was he suppose to do? Keep up hope that his friend was still alive and continue to let his village live in fear? Or should he except the fact the she may be dead and relieve his people of their burden?
He was the Hokage now. The people had to always come first. Naruto finally looked at everyone in his office. He came to a decision.
Naruto finally spoke, "We will announce to the village tomorrow afternoon that Sakura Haruno is dead."
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And that ends the first chapter to the actual story. I'm pretty excited to get to the part about Sakura. That will be in the next chapter. I hope to get it out as soon as possible! :)