Sakura Blooms (#1 Sakura Trilogy)

Sakura Blooms: [Chapter 64]

The mission was not at all going as Naruto envisioned it. Although Sakura and Shikamaru may have called it poor planning on his behalf, it just made sense to him—get Sasuke back.

Shitshitshitshit. Easier said than done. Naruto wipes away at the sweat accumulating above his lip and swore. This Kimimaro guy was a tough opponent. But I can't give up now—! Shikamaru, Chôji, Kiba, Neji... Chôji had been the first to sacrifice himself, taking on Jirōbō to let the others pass. Shikamaru has stuck around for a while before also leaving. Next had been Neji, who convinced the group that he was the only one that would be able to stop Kidōmaru, the spider-like boy, from shooting his projectiles at them. As much of an asshole he was, Naruto hoped he would make it out alive. The third member to give themselves up had been Kiba, who had by then deduced that the twins conjoined at the hip, Sakon and Ukon, were somehow able to track them. He and Akamaru, being able to use use combo attacks, went off into the woods near the river to fight.

Shikamaru subjected himself to fighting Tayuya, a long-distance fighter with a nasty attitude. She had been given the job of carrying the barrel in which Sasuke was resting, but as soon as she was cornered by the two shinobi, a boy, the one Naruto was currently fighting, swooped in and snatched it from them. Naruto remembered Shikamaru's grim expression. "You're the only one that will be able to stop Sasuke. But be careful. His curse seal could activate. Just make sure you use your head, Naruto."

"Dammit!" Naruto launched towards Kimimaro with a rasengan in hand, only to be dodged swiftly. The blonde growled and rolled once before picking himself up, just in time to see a group of broken bone being shot at him. He idly dodged, sweat beading his forehead, and he sighed in relief after the attack was done. Naruto looked up at the sky accusingly. "Shit!"

The barrel that had been lying on the ground far from his fight began to shake. Both Naruto and Kimimaro stopped to look at the source of noise. Suddenly, the barrel popped open with a cloud of smoke, and as it dispersed—"Sasuke."

Blinking the dazed look from his eyes, Sasuke glared sharply. "Naruto." After receiving a nod from Kimimaro, the Uchiha shouldered his large bag and turned away from them. Just as he was getting ready to leap on the top of the tree closest to him, he said, "Don't bother trying to get me. This is the life of an avenger." Near the base of his neck, a black tomoe pattern was spreading.

"Sasuke!" Naruto gritted his teeth. This is my last chance! He yelled a strangled battle cry and charged Kimimaro again, only this time, a blur of green intercepted him, plowing into his opponent. What?

As the dust cloud settled, Naruto openly gaped. "Eyebrows!"

A certain boy with a bowl cut and large eyes turned around, grinning and giving Naruto a thumbs up. "Do not worry, Naruto! I will take over here! And don't worry about the others; Suna is also on their way here!" His eyes slid over to Kimimaro, who was getting up. "Get Sasuke-kun back! We believe in your youth!"

Naruto only nodded solemnly before dashing past Kimimaro, sending a small prayer to Kami for Lee's safety. However, the white-haired man seemed to be fixed primarily on Lee.

:::

Naruto managed to reach Sasuke at the valley where Hashirama and Madara battled their differences out. Huffing, Naruto called out tiredly, "Wait, Sasuke! You can't leave!"

Annoyed, Sasuke turned around. "Don't try to stop me from my destiny. I was born an avenger, and if I have to die for the cause, then I will." Even if I have to leave for Orochimaru. He rolled his shoulders uncertainly, pondering whether or not the blonde was foolish enough to draw him into a fight. After zoning in to his surroundings and a bunch of clones in obnoxiously-colored jumpsuit, Sasuke concluded that yes, Naruto was an idiot.

:::

Lee could hardly believe what was happening. The enemy that had crushed his leg was now helping him? The boy dodged another bone projectile and looked up to see a giant tidal wave of sand come crashing down on Kimimaro. The boy in green winced sympathetically, but lowered his head in honor of his opponent. He was a youthful man and a more than worthy opponent.

Lee looked up to see Gaara approaching him. He bowed hurriedly. "Thank you, Suna-san! If it weren't for you, I may have not been here to thank you!" Mid-bow, he peeked up only to find not a blood-lust aura, but one at peace. Lee straightened up and offered a hand, smiling. "I hope Konoha and Suna relations can soon be more prosperous than ever before."

The redhead stared at his hand before nodding slowly, his usually blank face lit with a very small smile. "I, too, pray for an era of peace. I apologise for the actions I did a few months ago. I was not in my right mind." Gaara paused, then turned, Lee following suit. "I hope Naruto succeeds."

Both boys watched the dark clouds above the mountainous range in front of them gather.

:::

Sasuke huffed, the effort from even breathing taking its toll. He continued to breathe heavily, watching Naruto do the same. Rushing forward silently, he told himself, this is the end. Crying out, Naruto ran to meet Sasuke, and they exchanged slow blows that reminded the two of their spar at the Academy.

"Go Sasuke-kun!" All the girls at the Academy cheered for the dark haired boy, who looked bored but still respectful of his opponent, like Iruka had told them to be. A short blonde girl pushed through all of them to get to the front. "Beat him, Sasuke-kun!" She shouted, then squealed when he looked at her.

Above the majority of the spectators sat a small pink-haired girl in a tree with a branch jutting out enough for her to sit down on. No one paid attention to her.

The blonde boy, Sasuke's opponent, scowled and complained loudly. "How come this bastard is liked by everyone, dattebayo?!" Naruto, he had learned, was quickly reprimanded by Iruka.

Sasuke smirked to himself. This would be easy, and it would be another thing to tell Itachi, Oka-san, and Otou-san when he got home from the Academy when they all sat down for dinner.

But that was when Sasuke had a family. His dark eyes hardened, and Naruto sensed his finality. In a short spur of adrenaline, Sasuke managed to shunshin behind Naruto and knock him onto his back. Naruto's eyes opened in surprise but the way his body hit the ground ensured he couldn't get back up. Tired, but still fighting the exhaustion, Naruto eventually slumped after struggling to get up. His eyes slowly closed, the rain washing away the dirt and blood on his face. Eventually, Naruto's eyes closed, but not without shooting a look of conviction to him.

Sasuke's legs wobbled, but he stayed up. He slowly shuffled over to Naruto's body, the rain making his clothes stick to his clothes like a second skin. He closed his eyes, leaning his head back and taking in the scent of petrichor, until his head eventually leaned forward, and Sasuke fell to his knees. Rain dripped from the tip of his nose unto Naruto's face, and Sasuke's eyes opened slowly. Even kneeling, his body ached, and his muscles screamed from the pain. Even with using the curse mark, he was weak. However, Sasuke slowly pulled himself up off the ground and hobbled his way to Orochimaru and away from the village.

I'm not too good at writing fight scenes. I hope you didn't mind. How was the chapter?

How will Sakura react?

Will Sasuke return?