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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.

Chapter List
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Disclaimer: Not mine.
~~~~~
�It�s okay, Sakura-chan,� Naruto said, reassuringly. He held his arms open, waiting for her to walk into his embrace. �I�m here for you, always.�
�Naruto!� she cried, throwing her arms around him, sobbing hysterically, �Naruto, I thought you were dead! I tried to save you but it didn�t work and I thought� oh, God, Naruto, I thought I�d lost you!�
Naruto�s eyes softened as he held her to his chest, stroking her back. �You�ll never lose me, Sakura-chan. Never lose me� never lose� me� never� lose��
�Sakura?�
Naruto was violently pulled away, leaving Sakura standing alone in the darkness. The sound of someone calling her name reverberated loudly within her mind, driving her insane. �Sakura?�
�What!?� she screamed furiously, startling herself awake. She stared into Kakashi�s concerned eye as he knelt next to her; she flushed immediately. �I�m sorry, Kakashi-sensei� I didn�t realize.�
Kakashi reached out, wiping her tears with a quick flick of his finger. �You were dreaming.� She nodded.
Sasuke sat up beside her, looking around. �Getting ready to move out?� he asked.
�Yes,� Kakashi replied, glancing over his shoulder. Sakura and Sasuke looked over in turn, immediately regretting doing so, seeing Izumo shifting Naruto�s body on his back. �As soon as you two are ready.�
�Thanks,� Sasuke said in reply. Kakashi got up and walked back to the group. �You okay?� he asked Sakura.
�Honest answer?� she said with a forced laugh. He merely nodded in agreement, getting to his feet and helping Sakura to hers. He was about to turn away when she stopped him. �Sasuke, about last night�� he looked at her expectantly, �thank you.�
He smiled, nodding. He walked over to talk with Kotetsu about something, leaving her on her own for a moment.
�Sakura?�
She turned at the sound of Neji�s voice. �Yes?� she asked with a sharp edge to her tone.
Neji winced, but collected himself. �Sakura, I�m sorry for what I said to you last night.� Sakura�s expression softened, encouraging him. He continued, �It was� insensitive.�
Her look of acceptance and forgiveness melted away at his last comment, replaced only with bitterness and sarcasm. �But the fact that it was �insensitive� doesn�t make it any less true, does it?� Sakura turned away, walking over to Kakashi and Sasuke, leaving Neji standing helplessly alone.
�We need to get going,� Kakashi said to the group. �The earlier we return�� his voice trailed off, not needing to finish the statement.
* * * * *
It took three hours to reach Konoha. The sight of the wall crumbling to pieces would have caused Sakura to gasp were she not already so jaded.
Kakashi had taken possession of Naruto�s body, holding him in his arms, allowing Asuma to cover him. �Asuma and I have to report to the Hokage; the rest of you are free to go. Get news of your families and friends.�
Izumo and Kotetsu took off immediately. Shikamaru looked to Sakura and then to Neji before taking off as well.
Neji looked at Sakura, who appeared torn about what to do. It was obvious she wanted to go with, but clearly she was in no shape to. �I�ll-�
�Sakura,� Sasuke interrupted him, �I�m taking you home. We�ll meet with Tsunade later.�
Sakura looked to Kakashi for confirmation before nodding. Sasuke wrapped his arm around her waist in an effort to brace her. She looked once more at the black drape covering the body in Kakashi�s arms before feeling Sasuke tug on her, pulling her away.
People were cleaning up in the streets, already starting on repairs and tidying up their homes and shops. Many looked up and stared as the Uchiha boy and the Haruno girl passed by, looking numb.
Sakura rested her head on Sasuke�s shoulder as they continued to walk by. The idea of using a henge crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. She noticed several people start to approach before stopping in their tracks and turning away. She had no doubt that Sasuke had something to do with it.
They approached her apartment, and Sakura was relieved they hadn�t encountered any shinobi. She wasn�t ready to hear anymore painful news, and she certainly wasn�t ready to give it out.
She fumbled for the key in her shuriken pouch. Once she produced it, she unlocked the door. Sasuke came in behind her, closing the door. After slipping out of her shoes, she put the key back in her pouch, removing it, along with her leg guards and arm bands, tossing everything on the kitchen counter as she passed. She began removing her clothing as she made her way down the hall, tossing her shirt and skirt on the floor as she entered her sunlit bedroom. Clad in only her shorts and a sport bra, she made her way to her bureau, instinctively reaching for her favorite article of comfort clothing.
She pulled the shirt out of the drawer, about to pull it over her head when realization hit. Her legs went out from underneath her as she started to cry.
Hearing the loud thud on the floor, Sasuke came rushing in to find Sakura crumbled in a heap on the floor, clutching something in her hands, wracked with sobs. He went to her immediately. �Sakura��
�I didn�t even realize,� she said, looking up at him, a pained, distorted smile on her tear streaked face, holding the offending bright orange material out to him. �I was about to put it on, my favorite shirt, the one I always wear when I feel like crap because it�s soft and it�s comfortable and it makes me feel better,� she continued, working herself into hysterics, �Because it�s his, Sasuke. It�s his, and it still smells like him and now he�s gone!�
Sasuke wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him as she cried.
* * * * *
Tsunade stood up as they entered; her face fell as her eyes went to the black cloth concealing what was in Kakashi�s arms. �Too late,� she whispered.
Neji watched as Jiraiya immediately slipped up beside her, ready to brace her. She gripped his arm, steadying herself. �We expected this, Tsu,� he said gently.
She took a deep breath and stepped forward. Her eyes met Kakashi�s, silently asking his permission. Kakashi nodded, not about to tell her no. Her hand grabbed the black cloth, but after hesitating, she released it rather than pulling it back.
�Put him in the other room,� she said quietly, tilting her head to the doorway that led to the Hokage�s private quarters. Kakashi wordlessly complied.
Tsunade turned her attention to Neji and Asuma. �The rest of the team?� she asked, her voice quaking.
�Everyone returned safely,� Asuma said slowly, weighing his words before speaking. He didn�t want to say something insensitive, but didn�t want to cause her to panic.
Neji understood Asuma�s hesitation. Tsunade collapsed in her chair, wedged between what remained of her pulverized desk. Her eyes quickly went to Neji. �How is she?�
His eyes widened, surprised she would ask him about Sakura, then realizing the hokage would have no way of knowing what had happened. �She�s� not doing well,� Neji said, calculating each word so as to avoid causing further stress. �Uchiha Sasuke took her home.�
�That�s for the best,� she said absently. Her hand instinctively went to Jiraiya�s as he placed his on her shoulder.
Neji watched her taking deep breaths, trying desperately to maintain composure in front of her subordinates. Her eyes kept darting over to the other room. He couldn�t help but note Jiraiya-sama�s eyes trained solely on her, as though he could not bring himself to focus on anything other than her in an effort to maintain his own control.
Kakashi reentered, looking worn. �Go home, Kakashi. Get some rest. You�ve already done too much,� she said wearily.
�Not before getting the updates,� he replied with a heavy sigh. He was every bit as worn as Tsunade guessed, but there would be no arguing with him.
�Kakashi,� Jiraiya said gently, yet quite firmly, �this isn�t the time to go over the List.�
�No,� Tsunade shook her head, �they�ve been gone. They have no idea what they�ve come home to or what to expect. I�m not about to send the three of you out blindly into this mess.�
She leaned forward, trying to sift through the paper on the floor. Jiraiya stopped her with a gentle touch before retrieving a scroll from the window sill. �Are you sure you�re ready for this?�
Kakashi and Asuma nodded; although he could feel dread and uncertainty filling his gut, Neji did likewise.
Jiraiya unrolled the scroll and began, �Aburame Shidoro, Akimichi Chouza, Ebisu, Hyuuga Meizu, Inuzuka Hana, Kazuko Udon, Mitarashi Ami, Rock Lee, Tatami Iwashi, Tobitake Tonbo, Utane Konharu, Uzuki Yugao, and Yuhi Kin.�
Neji felt his heart stop at the sound of Hyuuga, and let out a sigh of relief realizing it was only a distant relative. Hearing Lee�s name on the list of the dead filled him with a strange sadness, as though everything he believed in conflicted with reality itself.
�And now Naruto,� Tsunade whispered, �he�ll have to be added to the List.� Neji turned away, pretending not to notice the guilty tears starting to roll down the Hokage�s cheeks. �You all did well. You may go.�
Asuma turned, waiting for Kakashi. Kakashi whispered something to Tsunade, though Neji was unable to hear and not willing to eavesdrop. He stepped out of the office, out of the building and into the sunshine.
�This day should be anything but sunny and warm,� he thought bitterly as he walked along the crowded streets. �It mocks those of us who have lost so much...�
He was vaguely aware of the villagers banging away on their hammers, fixing up their homes and shops, as he went past. His thoughts were conflicted. �Do I go to Tenten and Gai, to gather with my team and mourn the loss of Lee? Or do I go home to tell Hinata-sama that Naruto�s dead?�
His duty was to Hinata. Tenten and Gai already knew about Lee, but Hinata-sama was anxiously waiting for news of Naruto, and considering what the news was, Neji knew it should come from him.
With a heavy heart, he headed home.
* * * * *
�Nii-san!� Hinata cried as Neji entered. She threw her arms around him, hugging him quickly before pulling away, looking at him expectantly. �Naruto-kun?�
�Hinata-sama�� he started, his voice failing him.
She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. �He�s gone, isn�t he?� she asked, biting her lip.
�Hinata-sama, I�m so sorry,� Neji said, embracing her.
She clutched him tightly, unable to hold back a heart broken sob.
�What�s going on?� the stern voice of Hyuuga Hiashi demanded as he entered the room to find his daughter in tears. �What is this?� Hinata looked at her father, crying too hard to reply. �Hinata, you will pull yourself together.�
�Uncle,� Neji said calmly, trying to soothe Hinata who only cried harder at her father�s admonishment, �I�ve just returned from a failed rescue mission.� Neji�s pale eyes locked on his uncle�s, �Uzumaki Naruto� he�s� he died.�
Hinata�s legs started to go out from underneath of her at hearing the actual words. Neji held her up, still looking at Hiashi, daring him to criticize.
Hiashi said nothing for long moments, staring at his nephew and his daughter. �Hinata,� he finally said. She turned to him, her eyes fearful. Instead of lecturing, he said, �Hinata, I truly am sorry for this loss. I know he meant a great deal to you.�
Hinata nodded through her tears, unwilling, or unable, or both, to let go of Neji. He nodded to Neji before stepping out.
�Nii-san�� she cried desperately, fisting Neji�s yukata in her hands. He�d never seen his cousin�s face twisted with so much anguish. He scooped her up in his arms, carrying her to her room. He lay down next to her on her bed, holding her, letting her cry.
* * * * *
�Sakura!� someone called from outside, pounding on the door.
�I�ve got it,� Sasuke whispered in her ear, untangling himself from Sakura and standing up to get the door.
�Sa-suke,� said Ino as he opened the door, clearly surprised at who greeted her. She paused, looking at him for a minute before stepping forward and, catching him completely off guard, hugging him. �I�m so sorry, Sasuke.�
Sasuke merely nodded, one arm wrapping awkwardly around Ino in a returned embrace before pulling away. �She�s in the other room.�
Ino nodded, heading down the hall. �Sakura?� she said quietly, knocking on her bedroom door.
Sakura rolled over to face her friend, her eyes still red and puffy from crying before she fell asleep. �Ino,� she tried to smile.
�I am so sorry, Sakura,� she said, sitting down and throwing her arms around Sakura. Sakura hugged her back tightly. �I came as soon as I could.�
�Thank you,� Sakura replied, pulling away to look at her friend. �What about you?�
�Chouji�s dad,� Ino said.
�Oh, I�m sorry. I hadn�t heard.�
�Chouji� well, he�s not doing well. Shikamaru�s with him right now. Needless to say, our fathers are both very upset as well, but when Shika told me about� I had to see you.�
Sakura nodded in gratitude. Sasuke appeared in the door. �Anything I can get you?� he asked.
�No, we�re alright. Thank you,� she replied. Sasuke nodded, going back into the living room.
Ino turned to Sakura. �I�m surprised Neji�s not-�
�I don�t want to talk about Neji right now,� Sakura cut her off.
Ino�s eyes widened. �Did something happen?�
�A lot has happened, Ino. Sasuke is the only one who understands exactly how I feel right now, and of the two of them, he�s the only one who hasn�t judged me.�
�Judged you?� Ino asked.
�Ino�� Sakura said slowly, trying to bite back her tears, �I really can�t talk about this right now.�
�Right,� she replied, shaking her head, �I�m sorry. I didn�t mean to push-�
�You didn�t push�� Sakura said, taking her hand, �I just� I can�t. Not right now.�
�I understand,� Ino nodded. �I�m devastated by the loss of Na� I can�t even imagine what you must be feeling right now. I just want you to know that I�m here for you. No matter what. Anything you need. Okay?�
Sakura nodded. �Thank you, Ino.�
�I�ve got to get back� my dad� Chouza-san was his best friend. But if you need anything��
�I�ll let you know.�
Ino hugged Sakura once more, squeezing her tightly to give her the only comfort and reassurance she could before walking out. Sakura could hear her say goodbye to Sasuke before leaving.
He appeared in her doorway, looking at her. �You okay?�
�Do I look okay?� she asked with a laugh.
Sasuke shook his head at her attempt at humor. She looked terrible and beautiful at the same time, wearing her black shorts, barely hidden underneath the huge orange shirt that swallowed her petite frame, clashing horribly with her hair. Her cheeks were still puffy from crying, but her eyes were the most brilliant shade of green he�d ever seen.
�You look tired,� he said, walking in and sitting down next to her.
�Every time I think I�ve finally run dry, it starts up again,� she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. She felt his arm automatically wrap around her. �You know, you keep asking me how I am, but you never say how you are.�
She felt him stiffen, just slightly, next to her. �I once lost everyone I cared about, and I swore that I would never lose another important person, and yet I have.�
�I can�t imagine-�
�You already know,� he cut her off. �Naruto was� annoying, frustrating, irritating, infuriating, and yet he was the best friend that I ever had. He understood me like no one could, and he was able to reach me on a level I thought no longer existed, and for all the stupid shit I did to him, he forgave me for all of it,� Sasuke said, his own eyes filling with tears despite himself. �And Sakura, he loved you; he loved you more than anything in this world.�
�I know,� she said, embracing Sasuke as, this time, he came undone.
* * * * *
It had been a little while since Hinata had fallen asleep. Neji knew he had to find Tenten. He hadn�t even seen his team yet since he�d been back, since Lee�
He couldn�t think about it. He gently untangled himself from Hinata and left the estate. Neji found himself heading in the direction of their training grounds, knowing he would find Tenten there, and sure enough, upon approaching, he found the kunoichi sprawled out on the ground, weapons littered all around her. His sharp eyes noticed a deep cut in her leg.
�Tenten!� he said, rushing over to her, examining her leg.
�It�s nothing,� she replied, dismissing him, seemingly not caring about the blood running rather profusely from the wound. Neji ripped the bottom of his hakama, wrapping the cloth around her thigh to stop the bleeding. �Really, it�s nothing,� she replied tonelessly. Neji sat down next to her, waiting for her to say something.
Tenten was oddly disconnected, as though she was there, but yet everything that made her Tenten was completely gone. Even more unsettling was the fact that she just stared straight ahead, unseeing, into the trees, as Sakura had done the night before.
Finally she spoke, �How was your mission?�
�Not good,� he replied.
�Naruto��
Neji, unable to say the words, only nodded. �We were too late.�
�I�m sorry.�
�As I am.� Neji turned to her, wishing she would just give in and release the tears welled up in her eyes. �I�m sorry I wasn�t here for you last night, Tenten. Truly I am.�
�It�s not your fault. You did what you had to do.�
�Still, I wish I had been here��
�I�m actually glad you weren�t,� she said softly. �I fell apart last night, when I found out. It couldn�t have been more than an hour or two after you guys left to go after� We all met with Tsunade-sama who filled us in on what had happened, that a rescue team had been dispatched, and that we were still getting casualty reports in. She pulled Gai and me aside and told us.�
Tenten paused, looking up to the sky for answers she would never get. �Gai�s a mess,� she said with a laugh.
�Of course he is. And of course he�s so overcome he can�t even consider how any of the rest of us feel,� Neji said with an edge of bitterness.
�We�re all grieving Neji,� Tenten replied softly.
�Yes, we are, but Gai needs to realize that he wasn�t the only one who loved Lee. Nor was he closest to him.�
Tenten looked at Neji, her brown eyes filled with gratitude, confirming all of Neji�s suspicions. When they�d found out, Gai lost it, and everyone�s priority was comforting Gai, the sensei who�d lost his favorite student, overlooking Tenten, the simple teammate. She was so much more than just the teammate though.
�Lee loved you,� Neji said quietly, wrapping his arm around Tenten�s waist, pulling her to him. �He loved you more than anything in this world, and that�s not something to be overlooked. Lee loved you.�
�Neji, please�� Tenten whispered, looking to him desperately with tears in her eyes. �I� I can�t� I can�t do this� I�ve only just-�
�Stop being so strong, Ten,� Neji said gently, �it�s me. Just let go.�
Tenten turned to him, throwing her arms around Neji, burying her face against his chest, clinging to him for dear life as she cried.
Neji felt tears slip down his own cheeks as he mourned the loss of his friend and teammate with the one person who could understand his pain.
Somewhere, he knew Sasuke was doing the same with Sakura.
~~~~~

A/N: For those of you who have expressed concern at the shifts in certain relationships, I will not give anything away, but what I will say is that whatever happens, stick it through to the end. You might really miss out if you don�t. ^__^
Thanks to all my lovely reviewers who give me the inspiration to keep going. I�m excited about what�s coming up, and I can�t wait to share it with you all! As always� you know the drill!
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Forgetting Sasuke