"ιтѕ тнє вєgιηηιηg.."- ѕαѕυѕαкυ ѕтσяу

The battle was over, there was rubble everywhere. A once great mountain was brought down on top of the three shinobi who fought with the intensity of gods. On a hill overlooking the still crumbling mountain a pink haired Kanoichi stood.

“Naruto! Sasuke!” she cried out and began running down as fast as she could, the dust settling from the collapse. She sensed her old sensei behind her, as she raced to where she saw them last before the mountain broke apart and came down on top of them. Her heart in her throat she stopped a moment not seeing them anywhere. “No.” she whispered though no tears were in her eyes. She wanted to cry but she knew that it wouldn’t bring them back or help to find them. “Kakashi Sensei do you see them?” She asked as the silver haired shinobi appeared beside her.

Scanning with his sharingan his head turned slowly. “There.” He pointed and jumped to large rock. “Under here Sakura.”

“Right!” She focused her chakra into a single punch, sending cracks and shattering the large boulder into tiny pieces. Together they pulled the rubble to the side until they saw two bodies laying beside each other face down. Her hand covered her mouth horrified by the blood and gore of their injuries. She checked for life signs. “They’re both alive, we have to get them back.” She said and began to prepare them to be moved.

Kakashi held Sasuke in his arms and after a bit of healing Naruto’s eyes opened. Sakura always amazed at Naruto’s abilities and helped him to walk away, leaving the body of Madara Uchiha to be uncovered by the black ops. “Sakura, will Sasuke be alright?’ Naruto asked in a raspy, tired voice.

She gazed ahead at Sasuke’s head laying limp in Kakashi’s arms. “I hope so.” Her heart wrenched, for the first time she was beginning to let Sasuke go, beginning to feel something more than friendship for Naruto but now…. Hinata almost died for him and all this time she was pining away for someone who might have never come around. Even now she wasn’t sure he would stay.

(Two days later at the Leaf)

“I’m fine!” Naruto shouted trying to break free of Iruka’s grip on him. His body wrapped from head to toe in bandages.

“Naruto you need to stay in bed,” Iruka said grunting trying to keep a grip on him but failing as Naruto slipped from him and slammed hard to the floor.

“OWW!”

“I told you.” Iruka chuckled picking him up and dragging him to bed.

In the next room there was a contingent of Anbu standing in and outside of the room. Kakashi was sitting beside the bed where Sasuke was still unconscious. He sensed someone come in and looked up. “Sakura.” He stood up as she slowly made her way in.

“They say he’ll be fine but he’ll need to rest,” she said quietly knowing he already knew that. Frowning she fought the tears. “Naruto is awake if you want to see him. Iruka sensei is having trouble keeping him in bed.” She laughed, but it was weak.

Putting his hands nonchalantly in his pockets Kakashi said, “Well then I better go and see to him.” He motioned the Anbu out of the inside of the room to give her some privacy. If it were anyone else they would have never let Sasuke out of their sight. Sakura nodded her head as Kakashi left the room and was silently grateful he was so well respected in Anbu society.

Sitting down beside the bed looking at the beaten face she once knew, the face she could see when she closed her eyes. He wasn’t the same as he was before, but then neither was she. “Sasuke,” she said quietly not really sure if he could hear her. The tears snuck down her cheeks. “Why did you have to be so blind Sasuke? Why did you leave the one place with the people who…. love you and would do anything for you?” She clenched her fists tightly closing her eyes. “Why are you so stupid Sasuke?!”