Author's Notes: It has been such a long time since I've written a NaruSaku fic, and this one was honestly quite a special one that's been on my mind for a long time. Let's just say it's an different variation of the finale of Naruto that plays out the same except a few different takes especially when it comes to Naruto and Sakura.

Chapter 1:

Next to You

Life has never been easy on anybody. I can say that about many out there in the world. One must toughen up and learn to never give up, and live to accomplish everything. Hopes. Dreams. All the naysayers stood a testament to that belief, but I couldn't stand the thought of the idea even at all. Give up? It's a fool's errand? Leave those ambitions to the wayside because in the end that would lead nowhere. Only pain and misery. I felt it just meant that person never tried hard enough and gave in too quickly to the darkness. There were many times that I felt that way, and it left me with questions. Where would I be, had it not been for all the people that pushed me to where I needed to be? I already knew the answer to that question. That's what I wanted to believe anyway.

A sense of doubt creeped up within the more I kept thought back to that.

The sound of those wailing tears left me shattered. I could remember that moment like it was yesterday just outside the gates of Konoha. Before being dispatched on a mission with Shikamaru, Choji, Neji, Kiba, and Akamaru.

All I could do was smile, "Sakura, you sure do care about Sasuke... I know all too well!"

She clutched tightly onto her shoulder sides, "Naruto... Thank you..."

"It's okay. I'll bring Sasuke back for sure!" I continued with a thumbs up in her direction with my eyes closed happily, "That's my promise of a lifetime, Sakura!"

A promise I had finally been able to fulfill to her after three long years. A fight to the death that cost my arm in the process of the final phase of The Fourth Great Ninja War. Even though many shinobi throughout the world had survived. There was still so much that needed to be done for the sake of peace and harmony amongst all the villages. For me that understanding also came to fruition when I gave him back his discarded headband as he began a new journey of atonement for everything. I couldn't be happier than that while I sat by on the bench with a soft sound of the winds that breezed through my blonde hair.

I'm still going to be Hokage... you can count on that Dad, and of course you too Mom...

"Find someone like me..." My mother's words echoed.

"I'm sorry mom, that might be a little tough..."

Only then did a voice say, "Hey, fancy seeing you here, Naruto!"

My eyes caught a glimpse of her silky petal-like pink hair and grassy green eyes before I realized she stood just a feet away from me, "Sa...Sakura!"

"What's the matter?" Sakura asked curiously, "You look like the world just flipped upside down?"

"Oh come on Sakura, that's crazy talk!" I quickly refuted in disbelief and waved my hands around, "I was just simply enjoying the view."

She points over at my surroundings, "By yourself?"

"Enjoying the view, remember..." I continued as a trail of water fell from my face.

"With no one around..." Sakura continued with a raised eyebrow and her hands crossed, "That doesn't sound quite right to me..."

"What do you mean..." My eyes suddenly widened in shock with an open mouth, "Oh my god, Sai has finally gotten to your head!'

"Uh... No!" Sakura quickly shaked my shoulders back and forth, "Come on Naruto, who do you take me for? I'm not that desperate!"

"Huh?" I blinked in confusion, "Well... You're pretty!"

"So that doesn't mean..." her cheeks glowed after she paused her mouth, "Oh... Did you really?"

"I didn't say a word." AlI I could do was face the other direction away from meeting her curious gaze, "Slip of the tongue... Yeah slip of the tongue."

Sakura gently placed her hand on my shoulder, "Naruto..."

I took a deep breath quickly and faced her, "I said you're pretty!"

"Hey chin up, there's nothing wrong with a pretty best friend." She answered softly then sat next to me, "Especially after everything we've been through..." and twirled the side of her silky pink hair around, "It's because of you that Team 7 is back together, you made our dream come true."

"Listen above everything, I'm just happy to make your dream come true." I gave off the same smile as that day, "Bringing Sasuke back to you!"

"I am really happy about that..." Sakura gripped onto the side of her denim skirt, "Sasuke means the world to me. I don't think I could ever imagine a world without him in it." as she looked over towards the gate, "Yet... I feel he always finds a reason to leave us behind."

"After everything he's gone through..." I took a deep breath with my hands behind the back of my head, "I can see why he had to go."

"I know, but even with that..." Sakura's eyes wandered off as she flicked the side of her hair back, "I can't help, but get this shaking feeling off that's bothered me for so long..."

I asked, "What do you mean?"

"This place means a lot to me..." She rubs her fingers against the side of the wooden bench we sat at, "It's where Sasuke and I had our first real conversation together... the first day we were assigned to Team 7."

The first day we were assigned? Just her and Sasuke... "Which one..." Before I could finish it flashed through my memory... It had to be...

"It was about you!" Her face turned red instantly, "Of all things Sasuke wanted to get a general impression, and... For some reason he never brought it up before leaving the village again..." With her hands smacked against the wood, "I mean we both sat next to each other... the same way I'm next to you right now...!"

Oh my god... Why is this now coming back to me? A drop of sweat fell off my face once more... Keep it cool, Naruto... Act natural... "That is weird... I mean you two are a couple now. Why would he just forget that?"

"We're not a couple, Naruto..." She continued as a teardrop fell from her face, "It's why I didn't ask him... to take me with him...These last six months after the war... When he was still behind bars... It hurts and I still decided to see him off..."

My hands centered around my forehead, "I'm sorry, Sakura..."

She cracked a slight smile on her face and tapped my side cheek, "Hey it's not like you're at fault with this. It was just a dream of a naive little girl."

"I know, but why are you telling me this now?" I asked.

"You've always been there to hear me speak, and..." She relinquished the teardrop from her eyes, "I need you to hear me out once more again, please?"

A smile beamed to her "It's okay, I'm here!'

Originally I was planning on writing out this story a simple one shot, but while I was writing it out midway... I knew there was so much more I could explore with the dynamic of Naruto and Sakura's relationship as its been shown throughout the story with changes made to the canon. At the same time, It's also me finding a new found love and appreciation for NaruSaku again after such a long time. As for when the next chapter is going to come out? Let's just say each chapter will be released on a self paced schedule, but Chapter 2 will drop really soon most likely between the 15th and 19th of this month. Hope you all enjoyed this first debut to Blossoms in the Wind, please feel free to share your thoughts, and as always thanks for reading.