The Willow Maiden [Naruto]

{36} I Want To Remember

"Sasuke!" Ruka shouted when the hideout explodes. Sasuke had a hold of Ruka's wrist while he glared at Sai who survived the blast.

Sakura was the second person to arrive at the scene, then Naruto. While they stare up at their own teammate, Sasuke is whispering in Ruka's ear, "All I wanted to do was protect you, Ruka. . . I should have came for you once I knew you were alive. So forgive me for not being there when you needed me. . ."

"Sasuke. . . ?" Ruka whispers back with confusion. She wanted to understand what he was talking about, but no memory of him showed up in her mind.

"It doesn't matter if you remember me or not. What matters now is that I have you back and I'm not going to loose you again."

"I . . . Naruto!" Ruka exclaims when she sees him. .

Sasuke looks at his old teammate and rival with cold eyes before looking back at Ruka.

"Don't hurt her, Sasuke!" Sakura screams at him while glaring. There was a long pause, all 3 teammates staring at each other before Sasuke speaks up.

"Hm. . . I would never hurt Ruka." Sasuke closes his eyes, then opens them. "It is you who I want to hurt." In a blink of an eye, Sasuke is in front of Naruto with one hand on his shoulder.

Ruka drops to her knees and holds her wrist, then looks at Sasuke. The more she looks at him, the less she remembers. However, 'What did he mean. . . Being there for me when I needed him most. . . ?'

Her thoughts are interrupted when she hears the sound of a thousand birds. Ruka snaps her attention back to where Sasuke went and snaps when she sees Naruto hurt. Sai had gotten hit with the chidori while Sakura stood there, horrified at what Sasuke was doing.

"Naruto!" She shouts and extends her arm out. Thorns extract from her body and attach themselves to Sasuke, wrapping around his torso, legs, and arms. She gets in front of Naruto and shields her arms out to her sides as she glares at the Uchiha. "Do not hurt him! . . . I will not let you hurt Naruto. . ."

". . .You really have changed, Ruka. Tell me something. How is it that you can remember Naruto, but not me? Why is it him?"

"Because. . . Because he made a promise to me. . . I remember everything. Every word he has told me and he kept his promise. Like he promised that he would protect me, and he has been doing that ever since I have returned. He promised that will never leave me, and he never did. I remember all that he has told me, even back in the Land of Snow. Naruto. . .is my light. But I am sorry for not remembering you, Sasuke. If you come back to the village, maybe, I might remember something about you."

"I can't return to the village, Ruka. You won't understand."

"You are right, I will not understand, and I might never understand your reasons, but what I want is my memories to return to me so I can stop experiencing this madness. . . Everyday, I try to remember what I was like with everyone. The people I have met, and the memories I have shared with everyone. It is scary for me, but I am willing to do whatever it takes to have my memories back. So please. . . Come back to the village, Sasuke. I want to remember the person you were to me."

Sasuke's eyes widen at Ruka's words. Deep down he misses her and wants to be with her again, but he couldn't go back. Not yet. Not until he got his revenge.

Before Sasuke could say anything, a kunai was thrown at Ruka. "Ruka, look out!" Naruto got in front of her in time, having the kunai hit his shoulder.

"Naruto!" Ruka catches him as he falls to the ground. With this, the thorns around Sasuke were released and Sasuke went to where Kabuto was.

"What a lovely reunion. Squad 7 back together again." Kabuto smirks. "Too bad we can't stick around. It's time for us to go, Sasuke."

Sasuke doesn't answer Kabuto as he stares at Ruka holding Naruto from behind. The two look at each other without saying another word. "Let's go, Sasuke." Orochimaru appears beside him.

"Right." Sasuke nods his head and the 3 of them disappear.

"Naruto, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Ruka." Naruto painfully smiles at Ruka after pulling out the kunai in his shoulder. To be useful, she sings the Song of Healing to heal his wound. "That was Sasuke just now. . . He was apart of this team."

"I see. . . He did not seem all that kind when he saw you and Sakura. . . I am sorry that you had gotten hurt because of me. . . I will try to be more useful next time."

"Don't be sorry, Ruka. You did great. You led us to this hideout and to Sasuke. He hesitated for a second there when he saw you. It means he hasn't forgotten about you. He misses you, you know."

"Will I encounter him again?"

"Sure you will. We both will. And we're going to bring him home. Together." Ruka rubs the top of Ruka's head as he smiles at her.

"Mm!" Ruka smiles back.

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