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Forgetting Sasuke	By : CutieSakura Category: Naruto > General Views: 1229 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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~~~~~
�Sakura-chan!� she could hear Naruto call, yet Sakura couldn�t seem to stop running. �Sakura-chan!�
Sakura felt his powerful arms wrap around her from behind, effectively stopping her. He spun her around to face him. �Naruto�� She threw her arms around him, sobbing.
�It�s okay� shhh� it�s alright. I�m here,� he said soothingly.
�He� he didn�t listen,� Sakura said, looking up at him, tears staining her face. �He didn�t even care� I tried to tell him I loved him and he� he�� she broke down.
�He was upset, Sakura-chan. He cares. He cares even more than he realizes. He�s hurt and angry and upset, but he-�
�Don�t,� Sakura replied, pulling out of Naruto�s arms. �Please don�t. Don�t tell me that he cares and that he�s just upset and confused. You heard what he said, Naruto.�
�Sakura-chan...�
�I need to be alone right now,� she replied, turning away.
�Sakura, don�t push me away,� said Naruto softly. �Don�t hide from me.�
�I just need some time to think.� She looked over her shoulder at him. �You understand.�
Naruto�s expression clearly indicated that he did not understand, and that he was not okay with leaving her, but he didn�t want to further upset her, so he dropped the issue, respecting her wishes. �You know I�m always here for you. Always.�
�I know,� she smiled sadly.
He stepped forward, taking her hand in his and squeezing. �I love you, Sakura-chan. Never forget that.�
�I know.�
* * * * *
�Neji, you�re an ass.�
Neji turned to Tenten in shock. After spending the last hour in the clearing recounting what had happened earlier that morning with Sakura that was not the reaction he was expecting. �What?� he asked, incredulous.
�You could not possibly have handled that situation worse. Sakura was trying to tell you how she felt about you, and you dismissed her.�
�She kissed Uchiha!�
�No, Sasuke kissed her. There�s a difference. She didn�t start it. And so what if she kissed him back? She needed to put something to rest in order to be able to put it behind her and move on with you, and she did. From everything you�ve said she was trying to tell you she loves you and you kicked her out.�
�I didn�t �kick her out,�� Neji grumbled back.
�There�s no difference between practically and literally here, Neji, and considering she ran out the door in tears, I�d say she took it very literally. Be honest with yourself. You screwed up and you know it, if for no other reason than because Naruto gave you a look of death. Naruto�s one of the fairest people I know, even if he is, at times, biased when it comes to Sakura. He�s not going to get on you without good reason, and it sounds to me like he had plenty of reason.�
�I thought you were supposed to be on my side,� muttered Neji.
�I am on your side,� Tenten replied simply. �You�re one of my best friends, and you know I�m here for you, but I�m not going to tell you that you didn�t screw up because you did. Badly. Telling a friend when he�s being an ass is just as important as being supportive. You are being an ass. And I�m trying to be supportive, but you have to be open to listening to my honest opinion, and not just what you want to hear.�
�I am not being an ass.�
�No,� Tenten sighed, �now you�re just being childish.�
Neji turned on her, his anger apparent. �She-�
�Was trying to be honest with you, and you turned on her! You had every right to say you wanted some time to process everything and get over it because it really is a shitty situation, but Neji you also made it clear that you blame her for the situation with Uchiha Sasuke.�
�I never said-�
Tenten cut him off, �By telling her that you needed time away from her, compounded by the fact that she feels like you blame her for something she already feels guilty for, she thinks that you don�t want her.�
�That�s ridiculous! I never said-�
�It doesn�t matter what you said Neji! It�s how you said it! You said you wanted time; time to give her to figure out what she wanted. When she tried to tell you she wanted you, you cut her off. That implied in no uncertain terms that you didn�t give a damn about what she was trying to say, or, by proxy, her feelings. And you cut her off by saying that you needed to figure out what you want as well, directly insinuating that you don�t want her. So honestly, Neji, what did you expect?�
Neji�s anger slowly dissolved, replaced by frustration. �I didn�t mean-�
�You didn�t think!� Tenten replied harshly. She took note of the helpless look in Neji�s eyes and softened. �I�m sorry Neji. The last thing you need right now is someone yelling at you. I really am on your side. When I told you to talk to her last night, I meant the two of you needed to discuss how you felt about one another in order to clear the air so that there wouldn�t be any misunderstandings, especially with Uchiha Sasuke trying to stir up trouble between you.
�I know the situation sucks beyond the profound, but that�s why it was so important that you fixed things. I don�t want you to feel like I�m taking her side; I�m not, but she did the right thing. She came to you with the intention of telling you what had happened between her and Sasuke, despite how hard it would be, and that she cares only for you. She wanted you to know, and to be upfront and honest about it so that she wouldn�t lose your trust. I�m not saying that you didn�t have a right to be hurt and upset by what she said, but by handling it the way you did, she likely feels now that she�s already lost you.�
Neji looked up at the sky. His shoulders drooped as he sighed. �I never meant for Sakura to think I don�t want her. I do.� He turned to Tenten, �All I wanted was some time to sort things out so that I wouldn�t be angry with her. I didn�t want her to say she loves me because we�ve never actually said it to one another before, Ten, and I didn�t want this morning, with everything that�s happened, to be the first time. It would�ve tarnished it.�
�I understand,� she said softly.
Neji raised his eyes to meet hers, �So I really screwed things up.�
�She said she would wait for you to come to her. I�d give it another day or so, because even though your first instinct is to immediately search her out and fix it, she needs time to calm down, just as much as you. So give her some time to cool off, and then find her and tell her how you feel. How you really feel.�
Neji�s lips formed a sardonic smile that made him look even more dejected, were that possible. �I probably just drove her straight to Uchiha.�
�I hate to say it Neji, but that�s a very real possibility.�
* * * * *
Sakura knocked gently on the open door, tentatively stepping in. �Kakashi-sensei?�
�Oh, Sakura,� he replied, looking up from the latest Icha Icha book to see her. He looked comfortable, propped up in a sitting position.
�Have a few minutes?� she asked, smiling warmly.
�All the time in the world,� he said lazily, dog-earring a page and closing the book, setting it on the table next to his bed.
The medic in Sakura took over and she automatically pulled his shirt up to check how his healing was progressing. Her keen eyes took note of his terrible posture, which was nothing unusual for him, and the bored, blank look on his face. �He must be going out of his mind with boredom,� she knew. �It looks good. If you�re lucky, Shishou will let you out in the next day or two.�
Kakashi�s visible eye sized up his student. �Not that I don�t appreciate a checkup from my favorite medic, but there are plenty of other healers and nurses here to keep me out of trouble. What�s up?�
Sakura smiled serenely. �This was a mistake�� she realized. She figured coming to check on Kakashi would take her mind off everything going on and allow her to focus on medicine and healing, �Rather than my life falling spectacularly to pieces.� Widening her smile, she laughed, �What makes you think I wouldn�t just want to stop in and see how my favorite sensei is?�
�I have no doubt you would want to just drop in and see your favorite sensei,� he said, his smile evident underneath the mask. His tone however changed as he continued, �But you�re a horrible liar, Sakura, and that sweet smile you�re giving me is bull shit.�
Sakura�s eyes widened at hearing Kakashi curse, which was rare and unusual for him. �You�re too astute for your own good, Kakashi-sensei. It�s going to get you into trouble.�
�I�m not the one in trouble.� Sakura looked up to meet his eye. She knew him well enough to know that despite the bored, blank look on his face, the look in his eye meant he was serious, and he wouldn�t drop the issue.
�You knew,� Sakura said, finally caving as she sat down on the bed next to his legs. She saw his eyebrow raise. �About Neji and Sasuke. About what they were fighting about.�
Kakashi sighed, leaning back against the pillows. He looked at her thoughtfully.
�Why didn�t you tell me?� she asked.
�It was something that you needed to figure out for yourself,� Kakashi replied quietly.
�Having a little warning would have been nice,� Sakura said harshly, �perhaps it might have prevented all the damage that�s been done.�
�Damage?�
�I�ve been getting so frustrated, so stressed out, and this entire time you knew what their problem was! You knew they were fighting over me! And you never said anything! I even talked to you about it, seeking advice from you, my teacher! And all you said was that the problem couldn�t be resolved until the issue they were fighting over was resolved. How is anything supposed to be resolved if I�m the issue?� she cried, jumping to her feet.
�How was I supposed to know, Kakashi? How? The entire time we were team seven, Sasuke pushed me away. And then he just left! Then he comes back and he�s friends with Naruto, and he�s friends with you and of course I�m the last bloody person to even find out he�s here! And then he starts fighting with Neji all the time, for reasons I can�t even begin to understand. So tell me Kakashi, why, knowing Sasuke for as long as I have, why in the hell would I think he was interested in me?�
Kakashi stared at Sakura in mild surprise. �If it never occurred to you, then how exactly did you come to this conclusion?�
�Sasuke made it pretty obvious when he showed up at my house last night and kissed me,� Sakura spat back.
Kakashi chuckled. �Well he never was good with words.�
�Glad you find it so amusing,� said Sakura bitterly. �Yes, he just showed up and kissed me, telling me he�s finally realized that he wants me, and then he proceeded to leave and go try to beat the crap out of Neji.�
The smirk slid off Kakashi�s face. �He didn�t,� he groaned in horrified belief.
�Oh, no, Kakashi-sensei, it gets better!� she said with sarcastic enthusiasm, pacing wildly across the small room. �Apparently, Naruto broke up the fight just before they killed each other. Literally, by the way. I arrived to find Hinata near catatonia, Naruto and Sasuke beaten beyond bloody, and Neji gone.�
�Sakura, I-�
�No, I haven�t gotten to the best part,� Sakura interrupted, grinning fanatically, shaking visibly. �I finally found Neji this morning. I told him what had happened with Sasuke, and I tried to tell him that I loved him and wanted to be with him, but he said he needed time and space to figure out what he wants and he kicked me out.�
Sakura realized she was losing all composure. She turned away, trying to get a hold of herself. �Damn it!� she chided herself, �He is the last person I wanted to fall apart in front of� He�s going to think I�m weak and stupid.� Her thoughts only fuelled her frustration. �I am weak and stupid,� she muttered.
A strong hand gripped her shoulder, turning her around. Sakura closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before reopening them to look up, meeting Kakashi�s exposed eye. �You are neither weak nor stupid,� Kakashi said gently, yet firmly. �If I thought Sasuke would act as stupidly and rashly as he did, I would have said something to you. The fact of the matter, Sakura, is that he arrived only days before you did. All I knew was that for years, you pined for Sasuke, and since he�d come back, I expected that whatever you felt for Neji, you would need some time to figure out your feelings for Sasuke.
�I was concerned that if I brought Sasuke�s intentions to your attention, it would influence you in making your decision. I never thought for a moment that Sasuke would risk his probation by attacking Neji.�
�Probation?� Sakura echoed, trying to wrap her mind around the concept. �Intentions?�
�Sasuke is on probation. He�s not allowed to leave the village for another year. He made a deal with the Hokage, the details of which I�m not able to disclose. By instigating a fight with Neji, or any Leaf Shinobi for that matter, Sasuke is in violation of those terms.�
�Meaning what?�
Kakashi stared gravely into Sakura�s eyes. �I don�t know that yet.�
�You said Sasuke�s intentions. What intentions?�
�You should discuss that with him,� Kakashi said gently.
�I�m asking you.�
�It�s not my place to tell you. Even with everything that has happened, and I truly am sorry things have panned out the way they have and that you�re as upset as you are, I can�t tell you. You�ll have to ask Sasuke.�
Sakura nodded. She lifted her gaze to meet his. �I�m sorry I fell apart on you like this,� she said, embarrassedly. �I really did just come by to see how you were doing.�
Kakashi shrugged, which she took to mean as �no big deal,� and left it at that. He squeezed her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile before walking to the window.
�You really should get back in bed, Kakashi-sensei,� Sakura chided.
�I�ve done nothing by lay around for the last few days. I can use the stretch.�
�If Shishou finds you, there�ll be hell to pay.�
�Then it�ll be our little secret,� he said playfully. �You go take care of all that you need to. I�m not going anywhere� sadly.�
�Um� thank you, Kakashi-sensei,� said Sakura.
He acknowledged her and dismissed her all with a wave of his hand. Sakura, smiling to herself, walked out the door.
* * * * *
She walked down the street, unsure of where exactly her steps were taking her. �It wouldn�t be the first time I just randomly walked around and ended up just where I would need to be,� she mused. There were large crowds of people walking through the downtown area of the village, most eating lunch before dashing back to their jobs and such.
Looking up, she saw Rock Lee in the distance. She started to make her way over to say hello, but stopped, seeing Tenten and Neji approaching him. She quickly ducked behind around the corner of a building, not wanting to be seen by Neji. Her teeth gritted together tightly as she tried to fight the tears welling in her eyes.
�Perhaps I should go find Naruto�� she thought to herself. Talking with Kakashi had helped her get out some of her anger and frustration, but Kakashi lacked open warmth and the ability to make someone feel at ease no matter what the situation.
Within moments, she was pounding on Naruto�s front door. �Naruto?� she called out after a moment. �Please be home�� she thought desperately. �Naruto!�
There were footsteps coming from with. She sighed with relief. The door swung open. �Oh, thank God you were here, Nar-� the words died on her lips seeing Sasuke standing in front of her. �Oh.�
�He left just a little while ago,� explained Sasuke. His eyes studied her curiously. �Are you okay?�
Sakura stared at Sasuke dumbfounded. He was the last person she wanted to see at the moment. �Okay, second last,� she admitted silently, �I�ll take him over Neji at this point� but would this make the situation with Neji even worse?�
�Um� I�m fine. I just really needed to speak with Naruto,� she replied, turning away to leave.
His hand shot out, grabbing her arm. �Sakura��
�I have to go,� she replied quickly, trying to wrench out of his grasp. �That�ll make three men you�ve run away from today,� Inner Sakura chided. For no understandable reason, her conversation with Kakashi came back to her, reminding her that there was something she needed to talk to Sasuke about. She shook her head, �Um... I��
Sasuke continued to look at her, baffled. �Yes?�
�Sasuke, I need to ask you something.� She bit her lip, realizing that standing in the doorway of Naruto�s apartment was probably not the best place for this conversation. �Can we� go somewhere� that�s not here? I mean� just��
His features softened a bit; he nodded. He stepped forward, releasing her arm to close the door behind him. �Wherever you�d like.�
�Just somewhere private,� Sakura replied, �I mean� Naruto�s� you know. Not here.�
�I understand,� he said.
Sakura followed Sasuke�s lead as they walked through the village. The crowd started to lessen and then finally disappear altogether. Sakura felt her stomach sink as they approached the red bridge, but Sasuke continued across it without stopping. He led her into the forest, finally stopping at a clearing that had once been used for shinobi target practice but was now overgrown and deserted. It looked like no one had been there in ages.
Sakura looked around at the old, splintered targets and the brush all over. �I�ve never seen this place. Where are we?�
Sasuke turned to face her. �Not far from the Uchiha district. This was the clearing I would practice in during the academy days,� he said quietly, �with my brother.�
�Sasuke�� she whispered. She stared at him, really looking at him, taking in his dark eyes, his jet black hair, his beautiful face which was set in an expression Sakura couldn�t begin to fathom. Her mind raced to find the right thing to say at being given such a personal insight into him, but before she could settle on any one thing, the words tumbled out. �Why here?�
Her eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping at her own horrifying stupidity. �I didn�t mean��
Sasuke actually laughed. �It�s okay Sakura,� he replied calmly. �You said you wanted to go somewhere private to talk. I already know what you�re going to ask me. We won�t be interrupted here, and there�s a certain level of appropriateness.�
Sakura�s mouth opened and closed as she tried to sort through the thoughts racing through her convoluted mind. �How could you possibly know what I-�
�You asked me the night we first saw each other,� he cut her off, �why I returned. I didn�t answer you then. The truth is that I wasn�t sure. I made a decision, but upon returning I immediately started second guessing that decision. Naruto was distant, Kakashi aloof, and every shinobi in Konoha hated me, with reason. I didn�t know what I expected from Naruto, considering everything that happened between us, but no matter what happened with him, I knew there was at least one person who would be happy to see me. But you weren�t here.
�I had a disciplinary hearing with Hokage-sama. She said she understood the difficult nature of the situation and that due to the horrors of my past, and the fact that I would cooperate in every way asked of me, I would be granted a certain leniency. I was placed on probation, meaning I can�t leave Konoha for a year. I have to earn back the trust of the village. Kakashi was supportive, as much as he can be anyway, and through a lot of difficult conversations and beating the shit out of each other, Naruto and I were able to repair the damage I�d caused.
�And then you were here, back from Suna. The moment I heard you�d returned I went to find you. It didn�t go well. You were cold, distant, mistrustful. Whatever I was expecting from Naruto and Kakashi, I wasn�t expecting that reaction from you.�
Sakura nodded, her eyes locked on Sasuke�s as he continued, �What I said to you last night Sakura was true. What you said to me that night left a mark on me. I didn�t want to hear it at the time. I admit that at the time, it didn�t matter. But the longer I was at Orochimaru�s, the more I began to realize I�d made a mistake. I was growing more powerful by the day, but I was not growing stronger.
�Instead of being haunted by the dreams of my family being slaughtered, I was dreaming of Naruto, of you. Nightly, I would hear Naruto tell me I was his brother; I would hear you crying out your love for me. It was wearing. It was angering. I wanted to leave it behind. You weren�t supposed to matter, but no matter how hard I tried to forget you, to put you behind me, I couldn�t.
�I came back because I need to understand what it means. I came back because I need to understand Naruto�s power in order to find my own.� His black eyes locked on hers, �Because, Sakura, I need to stop dreaming about you.�
Sakura stared at Sasuke in stunned silence.
Sasuke stepped forward, taking her hand in his. �That first night we talked, I felt like things were different between us. I didn�t know how I felt. Things were awkward, strained. As I said, yours was the one reaction I knew I could count on and it was vastly different than my expectation. Seeing how distant you were, I couldn�t tell you this. There would be time to rebuild your trust, time to confide in you and figure out why I dream of you all the time. But suddenly there was Neji, being everything you always wanted me to be. I was angry. I was jealous. And I apologize again for what I did last night. I didn�t handle the situation well.�
Sakura finally found her voice. �Kakashi said that fighting with another shinobi was a violation of your probation. Are you��
�I spoke with Hokage-sama this morning, telling her what had happened. That�s where Naruto is. He went to speak on my behalf. I don�t know yet what will happen.� Sakura nodded. �When you took me home last night, I meant what I said. I won�t interfere with you and Neji again. If he�s what you really want, I�ll respect it.�
�I don�t know if there is a �me and Neji� anymore,� she said quietly. Sasuke�s eyes widened slightly. He waited for her to continue. �We talked this morning. It didn�t go well.�
�What happened?� he asked, his tone one of concern for her.
�I-� Sakura stopped, her head spinning around with Sasuke�s to the leaves, rustling in the breeze that sent tingles down her spine.
Sakura was up in the trees in an instant, Sasuke immediately behind her. They took off in the direction of the village. She could see the foliage thinning as they approached.
She leapt from the branch, barely touching the ground before hearing a deafening blast. The explosion of the wall quaked the earth, knocking her off her feet. Sasuke landed next to her, catching her before she hit the ground.
Her eyes met his. �We�re under attack.�
~~~~~~

A/N: Hope you guys like the latest chapter. You know the drill. Thanks!
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Forgetting Sasuke