Kei-Kei Yuki: So, I'm thinking about rewriting The Last, only a few chapters as I really wasn't able to get out all the ideas I had in mind, and parts of it seem a bit rushed. So yeah, be on the lookout for that! I tried to do Sakura and Hinata characters justice, seeing how many things played out different from canon. Did I do a good job, please let me know!

Heartache

"Just... just why are you willing to risk so much for him, Naru-chan?" Hinata asked, feet embedded in the snow. Everyone paused and shared a look at Hinata. The Hyuuga heiress bowed her head low, but everyone could see her shoulders tremble, hands balled into fists.

"Hina-chan..." muttered a concerned Naruko. When Hinata raised her head, nothing but pure hatred could be seen in her byakugan eyes.

"Guys, we should leave and give them some space." Sakura signaled to the group, who understood the situation and decided to give the two best friends space.

"Sasuke-kun! Sasuke-kun! It's always about him! What's so special about him, huh?!" Hinata tried to be understanding, but memories of Sasuke's retrieval mission replayed in her head. Her Naru-chan beaten up, the smile gone from her face, crying for the missing Uchiha. Hinata would never forget that gut-wrenching scene. That night when she returned from the hospital, anger consumed her soul, breaking the training dummy with her Gentle Fist until her hands bled and the sun rose the next morning.

Yet this anger only grew the more she saw that the so-called bond between Naruko and Sasuke did nothing but chip away at her beloved sunshine. "I love you, Naru-chan, but..." Hinata gritted her teeth, a hand clutching at her chest.

"Hinata..." Naruko slowly walked toward the girl who dared to befriend her. The girl with a beautiful soul who stuck by her side all these years since their friendship started. The girl who went against her clan to maintain their friendship, knowing it did nothing but further increase the disappointment they already held for her.

"I know you care for him, but he doesn't deserve it! He doesn't deserve you! Naru-chan, I know you want to save him, but I can't stand on the sidelines and watch the person I love with all my heart slowly break for a person who doesn't even deserve it! It hurts, Naru-chan! It hurts so much!"

Naruko wrapped her arms around Hinata, running a hand through the Hyuuga heiress's smooth raven hair. "Hinata... I'm sorry." Three simple words needed to break Hinata's heart. Naruko clutched Hinata tight as they dropped to their knees. Hinata's eyes burned with tears, finding the world both cruel and unfair.

A piece of Naruko's heart broke when she heard a sob escape Hinata's voice. Not that far away, Sakura was crouched down behind a tree. "Hinata..." Sakura could relate to Hinata's feelings, having gone through her own ordeal of heartbreak. Then again, who didn't know of Hinata's love for Naruko? A person would have to be blind to miss it or be oblivious like Naruko.

Kiba stood beside Sakura, eyes locked onto the crying Hinata. A flash of pain appeared in his eyes before ripping his eyes away from the scene. Sensing the turmoil of his partner, Akumaru rubbed his head against Inuzuka's leg.

"There's a lot I can't explain, but he needs me, Hinata. I'm so grateful to have a person like you in my life. You always gave me courage and stood by my side when others ignored or talked down to me. I deeply wish I could reciprocate those feelings you have for me. Maybe in another life I did, and we got that happily ever after ending, but... I can't. I'm sorry, Hina-chan."

Naruko hated hurting Hinata like this because, honestly, she didn't deserve it. A part of Naruko even wished she could return Hinata's love, but she couldn't lie to herself, nor Hinata. "I'm so sorry, Hina-chan! Please forgive me!" Naruko whispered into Hinata's ear. Another chunk of Naruko's heart broke as another sob escaped Hinata who clutched Naruko so tightly that her nails dug into the blonde's back.

But Naruko didn't mind the pain. "I hate him! I hate him so much! I HATE SASUKE UCHIHA!" Hinata screamed with raw hate and pain that everyone in a near radius heard and took pity on the broken-hearted Hyuuga Princess. A downpour of salty tears rained from her pearly eyes.

Instead of getting angry, Naruko brushed Hinata's hair, saying nothing as she allowed Hinata to vent all her feelings. Silently apologizing in her head for breaking the sweet girl's heart.

"Sakura, it's you."

Sakura stood across from her old teammate and couldn't believe how much the young boy from their genin days had changed. Those eyes that stared at her held nothing but pure detachment. Pointing a look at the redhead bleeding out on the ground, Sakura could do nothing but shake her head and silently apologize to the other.

"A naive part of me hoped I could talk some sense into you, but I see that is no longer an option." Sakura threw off her cloak. "Sasuke-kun, I know you're in deep pain. So deep that it's about to swallow you whole. Maybe in another life I could've saved you from it. Maybe things work out differently between us." A bittersweet smile overcame Sakura's face, but Sasuke showed no reaction.

"But I'm not the heroine of this story. Naruko, she cares so much about you! She's willing to risk it all for you. Despite how much everyone tells her that you are a lost cause. She continued fighting for you. To Naruko, you are worth the effort of sacrificing her own life, but Sasuke... I can't watch her do that to herself." Sakura pounded her fists together. Determination gleamed in her emerald orbs.

"Never again will I stand on the sideline. Sasuke, I wish I could understand your pain, but Naruko comes first! This time I'm going to be the one to break your bones and tie you in a neat bow for Naruko's sake!"

Sakura took off, fist aimed at Sasuke, only for the other to disappear and her fist to hit a destroyed piece of concrete that shattered upon impact. Sakura knew this battle was futile, but recalling the heartache scene with Hinata and Naruko made Sakura understand what lengths Naruko would go to save Sasuke.

"Don't worry, Sakura-chan, I'll definitely bring Sasuke back!" A vision of a young Naruko flashing a confident grin appeared in Sakura's head.

"Cha!" Sakura flew down from above, ready to throw a punch, only for Sasuke to catch her wrist and fling her aside. The battle between the ex-teammates continued, though it was mostly one-sided with Sasuke having the upper hand, but Sakura refused to back down.

"He needs me, Sakura-chan." This time the vision showed Naruko soulfully muttering these words as she stared up at the moon. The light in her eyes was dim, but Sakura could still see the shimmer of determination that shined bright.

The young kunoichi's body was covered with scratches and bruises; she panted heavily as she picked herself up and smirked. "Is this the best you got? You're holding back on me, Uchiha. Maybe you're not as far gone as I thought, or are you not taking me seriously enough?" This last thought deeply angered Sakura. Green chakra covered her fist as she came at Sasuke with everything she got.

For a brief moment during their battle, Sakura's eyes locked with Sasuke, and a pang shot through her chest, recalling all the happy times Team 7 shared. Even though they were short, Sakura missed those times. Wondering if Naruko was born with parents, if Itachi didn't kill off Sasuke's clan, how would've things played out for them?

Before Sasuke could stab Sakura through the heart with a chidori, a small red seal mark appeared on Sakura's neck and transported her elsewhere. A warm grip held Sakura in their arms. Trailing her eyes up, Sakura got teary-eyed when they clashed with Naruko's.

"You did good, Sakura-chan. Now it's time to tag me in."

End of Heartache