Notes:
This is my first multi-chapter completed fanfic. I've held onto this work for a couple of months and kept going back to edit it, but I realized I'll never be satisfied with it. It was supposed to be a threeshot, but I decided to split it up for ease of reading.
He roughly grabbed a fistful of her vibrant pink hair, yanking her head back. She met his gaze with a look of pure loathing, her eyes burning with defiance.
"Just fucking kill me already," she snarled through gritted teeth.
"...No, I can't."
Despite the white-hot hatred for this man coursing through her veins, she couldn't ignore the raw anguish in his voice. His lone visible eye was a window into a shattered soul, haunted by the ghosts of his past and drowning in an ocean of regret.
A chill ran down her spine as an unwelcome feeling crept in—sympathy? Her mind reeled in horror and confusion. How could she feel an ounce of pity for the monster who had tried to murder her twice, who had brutally slaughtered her parents in cold blood?
Because at that moment, she recognized the look in his eye all too well. It was the same devastating pain of loss that she saw in the mirror every day—the agony of having everyone you love ripped away.
And it nearly shattered her completely.
Haruno Sakura was an ordinary 17-year-old student. Her drive led her to her dream university, where she was on a fast track to graduate in just two years. But this path came with sacrifices. She longed for the leisurely pace of her peers, but the reality was that university was expensive and she needed to fast-track her way through it.
During the day, she attended her classes, absorbing knowledge like a sponge. After class, she would rush off to her office job as an administrative assistant at a clinic. It may not have been glamorous, but it provided her with a quiet space to read and study. And when things were slow, she had the privilege of conversing with Dr. Senju, an intelligent woman whom she had idolized and studied since she was young. As a pre-med student, they wouldn't let her do much more than observe, but even that thrilled her. On the weekends, she worked at Ichiraku's, a dingy ramen bar located in the less-than-savory part of town. The customers could be rough at times, but Sakura's innocent face brought in good tips and occasionally some free food.
After work, she retreated to her small apartment. There, she would hastily eat dinner while trying to keep up with her studying and homework until the late hours of the night. If she finished early, she granted herself a brief reprieve to indulge in some manga or light novels — her only escape from the monotonous routine of her life.
She got exactly four hours of sleep every night — no more, no less.
Her parents were also dead, and a mysterious man kept popping up to torment her, but other than that, she was a fairly normal 17-year-old.
Despite her hectic and demanding schedule, Sakura managed to form a few friendships here and there.
One such friend was her roommate, Yamanaka Ino, a stunning platinum blonde with pale eyes who initially seemed like an unlikely match for Sakura. However, as they got to know each other during their high school days, Sakura found herself drawn to Ino's outgoing and confident personality. She couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by Ino's side job as a model, which only added to her awe for this beautiful girl. Luckily, Ino would often be out late partying or with her latest fling, leaving their apartment quiet and peaceful for Sakura. But when they did get to spend time together, Sakura cherished their friendship. Despite her "bimbo-like" appearance, Ino was actually incredibly intelligent, as someone who studied hard to one day become a psychologist like her father. Her family owned a flower shop, giving her a vast knowledge of flower meanings that she eagerly shared with Sakura. Together, they made an unlikely yet perfect duo of friends.
Amidst her busy schedule of juggling multiple men, Ino always made sure to check in on Sakura. She not only ensured that Sakura was taking care of herself by eating and sleeping properly, but also tried to introduce her to new friends. Among them were Nara Shikamaru, a lazy genius who Sakura believed could have multiple degrees by now if he wasn't so lazy. Despite often losing in their intense games of chess, Sakura relished the rare moments of victory against him.
Chōji was a gentle, kind-hearted boy, who had been teased and bullied for his weight in his younger years. But now, looking at him, Sakura couldn't imagine anyone ever making fun of him. His physique was that of a professional bodybuilder, with bulging muscles and chiseled features. Chōji had chosen to pursue a career as a personal trainer, using his impressive strength and physique to help others achieve their fitness goals.
The Akimichi family, known for their love of food, didn't exactly approve of Sakura's eating habits. But thanks to Chōji and Ino's influence, she had learned to cook more than just cup ramen. The three friends would often have cooking parties together, teaching each other new recipes and techniques. Without them, Sakura would still be surviving on instant noodles and takeout meals.
But her other best friend was an unexpected one. She never would've met him if she hadn't worked at Ichiraku's. He was a regular there, with his bright blonde hair and a smile that never failed to light up the room. Namikaze Naruto was a strange one, always surrounded by people and with a larger-than-life personality that drew others to him like moths to a flame. It seemed like everywhere he went, people followed.
Despite Konoha being a large city, Naruto seemed to know everyone. Sakura couldn't believe it when he walked into the ramen bar with one of her favorite mangaka artists, Jiraiya, though she was quickly disappointed when the old man turned out to be just another sleazy guy. But then again, should she really have been surprised? After all, Jiraiya wrote borderline pornographic content for a living.
And as time went on, Sakura learned more about Naruto's background — how he was actually the son of Namikaze Minato, the former mayor of Konoha who had been assassinated along with his wife just a few years into his office. Despite losing his parents at such a young age, Naruto never failed to boast about them and their legacy.
"Sakura-chan?" Naruto's voice echoed through the bustling restaurant, his face creased with worry.
Sakura was jolted out of her reverie and quickly handed menus to both Naruto and his companions. She froze, her heart pounding as she realized who they were: Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi.
She had crossed paths with Sasuke several times in the past, as someone who was frequently dragged to Ichiraku's by Naruto. The blonde boy even tried to set them up together once, which was awkward as hell, considering their shared history. His dark hair and eyes matched his brooding aura, but there was no denying his handsome features that turned heads of all the female patrons whenever he entered the ramen shop.
But it was Itachi who caught her attention now. With long black hair cascading down his back and gentle eyes that held a hint of exhaustion, he exuded a quiet beauty that left Sakura breathless. But she was not enamored by either of their attractiveness. Instead, her heart palpitated, being taken back to days that she tried to forget.
"Sakura," Itachi's voice greeted her like honey, smooth and velvety. She had hoped that he didn't notice her, but as she met his eyes, she knew that was just wishful thinking. His gaze held recognition, sharp and unwavering. "How have you been?"
Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, and even Sasuke's usually stoic expression faltered for a moment before he regained his composure. "You know Sakura-chan?"
"It's been a while since we've seen each other," Itachi replied calmly.
"But how? From where?" Naruto pressed on, curiosity brimming in his blue eyes.
'I guess Sasuke never told Naruto why the blind date was such a bad idea,' Sakura mused.
Itachi didn't reply, his silence speaking volumes.
Sasuke scowled and subtly nudged Naruto, a silent warning to drop the subject. Naruto, on the other hand, still looked confused but wisely kept his mouth shut. Despite his initial shock, he seemed to understand the unspoken rule of not digging any further.
Feeling uncomfortable under their curious stares, Sakura forced a bright smile onto her face — one she reserved for dealing with lecherous customers or entitled old ladies — and responded politely, "I've been doing fine, Uchiha-san." She didn't bother asking about his well-being before turning away to attend to another table.
As the jingling of bells announced another customer, Sakura's head snapped towards the door. "Kakashi-sensei," she greeted with a forced smile. He was her and Ino's former high school AP Psychology teacher, a man who simultaneously held the position as her favorite and least favorite teacher. His silver hair defied gravity and his face was always hidden behind a black mask, making him an enigma in their class. He was often late, read straight off the slides, and gave tests that were straight out of the textbooks while he silently read one of Jiraiya's smutty comics in front of them. Though not the best teacher academically, he had been there for her during the difficult times, the one who found her when she needed help the most. And despite his flaws, he was a great mentor in life, ensuring that she was taken care of.
"Sakura-chan, I heard you have an exam tomorrow in your psychology class," he said with a crinkle of his eye. "Good luck — Professor Yūhi's a tough one."
She crinkled her nose and rolled her emerald eyes. "You know I've already memorized the entire textbook."
He chuckled and ruffled her pink hair as he passed by, taking a seat at his usual booth. "Of course, my favorite student is exceptionally intelligent."
But Sakura knew she wasn't a genius like Shikamaru or Itachi or even Kakashi — who she'd learned that earned his degree at just 13 years old. Life's circumstances had pushed her to work tirelessly, to push herself to the limits in order to be the best she could be. She may not have been born with natural brilliance, but she was determined and hardworking, willing to put in the effort to achieve her goals.
That night, she returned home from a long day of tutoring and work to her tiny but cozy bed. As she settled into bed, she reached for her latest isekai manga with fervent enthusiasm. The pages of the book seemed to come alive as she read, immersing her in a fantastical world of adventure and romance. Eventually, her eyelids grew heavy and she drifted off into sleep.
In her dreams, she always found herself in the same place — a hidden ninja village that felt like home. It was a parallel life where she grew up alongside her dream self, experiencing every milestone and challenge as if it were real. She dreamt of falling in love with Sasuke, a stoic and skilled ninja from the Uchiha clan, which made it weird every time she first met the boy in real life. She dreamt about hearing about the Uchiha Massacre, though how a boy as gentle as Itachi managed to kill his own family, she'd never know.
She dreamt of meeting other familiar faces in the Ninja Academy, like Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji. Ino protected her from the bullies in her academy days and helped her pull her out of her shell.
She dreamt of befriending Naruto, a loud but lovable orphan who had big dreams of becoming Hokage one day. In her dreams, they went on missions together and formed a strong bond that mirrored their real-life friendship.
She dreamt of graduating from the Ninja Academy and being placed on Team 7 with Naruto and Sasuke, under the guidance of Kakashi. The dynamics within the team were just as chaotic and dramatic in her dreams as they were in real life.
She dreamt of their mission to Nami no Kuni, the Land of Waves, where she witnessed first-hand the brutal reality of being a ninja. She also experienced the Oto invasion during her Chūnin Exams and the heartbreaking death of the Third Hokage.
She dreamt of Naruto bringing back Tsunade as the Godaime Hokage. The woman's temper was a raging storm, fierce and unpredictable like her real life counterpart.
She dreamt of Sasuke leaving the village and Naruto promising her that he would bring him back.
But in her dreams, she couldn't help but feel the pain of being left behind as everyone she cared about continued on their journeys without her.
And when she opened her eyes, she realized it wasn't a dream.
Notes:
Surprise! It's an isekai! So not really modern AU.
