Ironic, Absolutely Ironic

The Start of Something New

The graduation had ended, with Sakura herself getting a shiny new headband, one she promised this time to carefully protected and cherish the day before. Sakura had promised Ino she would hang out with her, over the pretense of discussing the fact that Sasuke was on her team, and not Ino's. Of course, she didn't really care about Sasuke, but she hadn't had time to caught up with her friend. Years of friendship gone down the drain just for some guy. She wasn't going to let that happen a second time.

"You're right, Sasuke is handsome." She agreed wholeheartedly with her friend (or...frenemy in this case), taking the chance of Ino trying to riddle her up to try to make peace with her. "But...I don't intend on chasing him anymore. You can have him." Her easy going smile dropped as she said that seriously, looking at Ino's astonished face.

Ino sputtered, like she had never expected Sakura to say something like that. "Forehead girl! What is the meaning of this?" Her face took on a look that seemed to be softer, a look of concern. She suddenly seemed less fierce and tough. "...did something happen?" Sakura simply lightly smiled at her, a look on her face that made her seem too wise, too old, a look that was weary and carried many secrets. What had caused Sakura to seem like this seemingly overnight? "Nothing happened...Ino-pig." She let out a laugh, feeling the tension roll off her shoulders. It felt nice going back to routine like this. She stood up, ignoring the shout of hey, who are you calling a pig! and started to walk away. She raised her hand up. "Bye, I have to go train and get ready to meet up with my new sensei~" she called out casually, before doing a salute at her friend.

She left with a smile on her face as she ignored the yelling of her friend as she walked into the classroom.

It seemed like she was a bit late, but nevertheless not as late as yknow, Kakashi-sensei. She fondly smiled, remembering his antics, but knew there was a darker and more miserable reason why he was always late. His teammates...she had too, experienced the loss of many teammates she had ate, fought, and trained with. And yet someone Sakura still chose once again to live her life as a shinobi. It was the right thing to do. Or...was it? She quickly shook her thoughts away, ignoring the curious stares of Naruto (oh, he looked hyper as always) and admittedly, the slight glances of Sasuke. She looked away from him, a small jab in her chest reminding her of what exactly he had done. Konoha...all of it. Gone. Destroyed. It wasn't even a betrayal at that point, it was just...him.

And his twisted ideals. She clenched her fists. She knew she shouldn't project her feelings of resentment to a younger Sasuke who would have no idea he would turn out that way, but she knew that she was only human. Whatever, she'll just avoid him. She looked away, and sat next to Naruto. He grinned at her happily, before giving her a thumbs up. Unknown to her, Sakura's smile also grew. She missed him, she really did. She missed his fiery speeches and passionate thoughts, she missed the way he could brighten up everyone and he was so, so, so hardworking.

Sakura admired him, despite how the village had turned against him, Naruto had taken that and used it to strengthen himself! His cheerful "Dattebayos" and "I'm going to be the Hokage!" had more than once cheered her up. If Sakura had been in Naruto's footsteps, she knew that she would have cried, cried, and cried. Like some sort of weakling, who only could clutch on to Sasuke's and Naruto's coattails to save her.

How many times had she done that! "Sasuke, save me!"

"Naruto, help!"

"Kakashi-sensei-"

She was disgusted with herself. Just a girl who had super strength. Nothing strange, or special about her in any way. She sighed, before she was broken out of her thoughts with the arrival of a newcomer. She grinned, shouting a "You're late!" at her sensei along with Naruto. Oh, she had missed him! The last time she had saw him, he had taken a suicidal action to save her and Naruto from a powerful blast. Blown to pieces. Sakura remembered closing her eyes before the blast, yelling in pain and desperation as she sensed a shadow in front of them. The funeral for him later that day was hasty and short. They couldn't afford a big and fancy funeral as they were still in a war, but it was enough. It was more than enough, actually.

For some of her comrades, they weren't even given the liberty of one. It was just piles of bodies, and bodies. It was horrific. She cried that day, in her bloodstained clothes, from herself and also her teammates. He had one of the best teachers she ever had. With his laid back but kind attitude, Sakura had mourned him along with Naruto even when they were forced to move on, to prepare for the next battle that would come. At one point, she remembered wishing for this to be all a horrible nightmare, and for her to wake up. But she couldn't. She couldn't even sleep. She lay there, coughing, feverish, and cold with shock and fear as she tried to survive the night for another day. And another day.

And another day.

Another day.

She had stepped on tirelessly. And fought. All for peace. Nothing but stupid peace. She quietly wondered if they had achieved it at the end. Naruto and them...Ino...Hinata...Sai..

She sighed again, as she and the rest of Team 7 was ushered up to the room to talk about their dreams and motivations. Naruto had gone first, then Sasuke. She frowned when he mentioned his older brother. Itachi...the truth was found out that what Itachi had done was a necessary evil. Sasuke would find that out too late, and had already burned down many relationships with his hate. But she also remembered that Naruto had never given up on him. Even Sakura, who had once loved him, had given up on him.

But not Naruto, she supposed that was what was intriguing about her teammate. He no longer was the annoying and hyperactive kid, he had grown mature and seemed wise beyond his years. It was an profounding effect, actually. Her teammate would passionately fight and speak with people, and if by magic, they would change their attitude. She wondered if his words were laced with something, but she didn't really do much about it. If it was helping, then what was there to talk about?

"My dreams..." She smiled bashfully, and looked to the ground. "My dream is to live in a warless world." She spoke seriously. "I wish to be the turning point for which evil stops." Oh...was that too out of character from her younger years? "I mean...SASUKE-KUN- My dream is to-" She suddenly felt an odd feeling in her stomach, which slowly traveled up to her throat. The feeling was horrible, she could not near spending a future with him. It's impossible for me to stay like this.

Bile- or blood? Holding one hand over her mouth, she quickly fled to the washroom, before emptying her contents in the toilet, heaving. She ignored the concerned footsteps and the voice of Naruto asking loudly what had happened to her.

Since when had she gotten like this? Was this the effects- no. It couldn't be the poison, she had died from that. Was it the thought her 'dream' being with Sasuke? She had been through a war, she knew when something was very, very wrong.

And she couldn't put a finger as to why that is.