Adult-FanFiction.org : Naruto

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
- 26
- 27
- 28
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
~~~~~
�Good to see you out of bed,� Sakura said, entering the bathroom Naruto was currently showering in. His figure was obscured by the frosted glass.
�Sakura-chan!� he said happily, his voice echoing off the tiles.
�How are you feeling this morning?�
�Tired�� he admitted, �I think probably like you felt after healing Kakashi-sensei. Not sick� just, like� drained.�
�Understandable,� Sakura said. �You�re still getting your strength back, and it takes time.�
�Yeah� I don�t like it though.�
�I know. You�ll start feeling better in the next few days.� She sighed, leaning against the counter. �I brought you something to wear for this morning.�
Naruto shut off the water. �It�s not anything of Sasuke�s, is it?� he asked, grabbing a towel and wrapping it around his waist.
�No,� she smiled, �I stopped by your apartment on my way here this morning.�
Naruto nodded, �Thanks. His clothes are a little small on me and I wouldn�t want to show up this morning looking like I�m trolling for dates.�
�I left a shirt and pants laid out for you on the bed,� she replied. �But I�ll give you some privacy. I�ll be in Tsunade-sama�s office when you�re dressed.�
She started to head out, but Naruto grabbed her wrist, stopping her. �Stay.�
�Okay��
He led her back out into the bedroom, where he turned his back to her and started to get dressed. Sakura sat down on the bed. Naruto pulled up his pants, asking, �What�s going on between you and Sasuke?�
Sakura almost choked. �What?�
Naruto turned to face her. �He�s looking at you differently.�
�Naruto�� she sighed, �this isn�t the time for this conversation.�
He walked over to her, sitting down next to her. �Sakura-chan� he�s my best friend-�
�Naruto, I know all th-�
�But you�re more important to me than anything,� he finished. �I�m worried about you.�
Sakura wasn�t sure whether to hug him or punch him. �Naruto. You literally came back from the dead. Just for once, please, worry about you.�
�I�m fine, Sakura-chan. It�s you-�
�I�m fine, Naruto,� she replied, �and the rest of this conversation can wait until later.� She stood up. �A lot has happened, and I�ll tell you everything, but right now isn�t the time.�
Naruto consented, �Alright Sakura-chan. But afterwards��
�Yes, afterwards.�
Naruto grabbed the shirt, pulling it over his head and standing up. He swooned. Sakura rushed to his side, steadying him. �I hate this,� he muttered.
�It�ll pass. And you�ll have to deal with me looking after you just as you looked after me.�
�Yay,� he smiled back.
Sakura helped him get his shirt tucked in and got him into Tsunade�s office, where she, Jiraiya, Kakashi and Sasuke were all waiting.
�How are you feeling?� Tsunade asked.
�Let�s get this over with,� he replied with a heavy sigh.
Tsunade merely nodded. �Kakashi, you may join the ranks waiting outside. Word has already spread through the village that Naruto�s dead, and I want to handle this in a tactful manner. The three of you will wait just inside for my signal. Understood?�
Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto sandwiched between them, all nodded.
�Good. Kakashi, Jiraiya.� The two men followed her out.
* * * * *
Neji stood by Tenten�s side, holding her hand as she stared forward with unseeing eyes. All of Konoha�s shinobi turned out, lined up in some semblance of order, waiting for the Hokage to arrive. At the head of the columns was a long table, upon which were all the photographs of the fallen shinobi for whom they all gathered to pay their respects.
Neji looked around, hoping to spot pink hair out of the crowd, though he could not. He saw Kakashi, but Sakura and Sasuke were not with him. �Odd� she has to be here somewhere��
Hinata fell in beside him, Kiba and Shino next to her. �Nii-san.�
�Hinata-sama,� he whispered back. She tried to smile, but her eyes were sad.
�Tenten,� she said quietly in greeting. Tenten nodded to her, but was unable to speak, her eyes already glazed over.
Tsunade stepped out, Jiraiya at her side. The crowd fell silent. �We are gathered here today to honor our fallen heroes.�
Neji could feel Tenten�s embrace around him tighten. He pulled her close.
�I ask for five minutes of silence to commemorate our honorable dead.�
The majority of the shinobi closed their eyes, saying their silent goodbyes, grieving for their lost loved ones. Neji stared ahead, watching Tsunade, his eyes flitting to the pictures on the table behind her. He recognized most of them, and could feel a twinge of pain upon seeing Lee�s picture. Tenten sobbed quietly beside him. He squeezed her. His eyes scanned the photographs once more, realizing one very important one was missing.
�Naruto�s picture is missing� so are Sasuke and Sakura�� he realized. �What�s going on?�
Tsunade�s strong voice rang out through the silence. �These, our fallen comrades, fought bravely to protect the village and the lives of those they held dear. In the face of this sadness, however, there is a ray of hope.�
�What is she...�
Tsunade continued, �One of those believed lost has come back to us.�
�No�� Neji�s mind screamed, �it�s not possible!�
�Uzumaki Naruto.�
Neji watched in total shock as Sakura and Sasuke appeared, Naruto between them, being supported by them.
Several in the crowd gasped. Neji turned to see Hinata collapse in Kiba�s arms. �Neji�� Tenten whispered, her eyes wide, looking to him as though he had any sort of answer.
�Through the quick action of his teammates, Naruto was revived from a fatal state, though was presumed dead due to the severity of his coma. He has since awoken and has come back to us. Naruto,� she said, turning to the three members of team seven, �you and your team may join the ranks.�
Sakura and Sasuke helped him walk to where Kakashi stood, ready and waiting for them.
�The loss of these brave heroes will be mourned, their memories celebrated. We will begin the flower ceremony.�
They began to line up, each holding a white flower in their hand, lying it down on the table to pay their respects. Neji couldn�t help but keep glancing over to Naruto, looking somber and tired, but very much alive. Sakura�s arm was wrapped around him, and he was leaning his head against her shoulder. Sasuke stood guard over them both, taking in everything with his dark eyes.
Neji and Tenten placed their flowers down beside Lee�s photo, and Neji held Tenten close as they walked away. Neji could feel the heaviness in his heart, knowing he would never again see Lee, but could not help but feel a certain amount of gladness to know Naruto was, in fact, alive.
�Forever in our minds and hearts,� Tsunade finished. The shinobi started to disperse, mingling with each other, some going back to their homes.
�Tenten,� Neji said quietly.
�Gai�s over there,� she said, directing his attention to their grief stricken sensei. �Go, say hello to Naruto, and tell him I�m happy he�s back.�
�Ten��
�Go,� she urged.
Neji did as he was bid. Naruto was sitting down on a bench, Sakura sitting on one side of him, Hinata on his other, with her head currently buried against his chest, sobbing. Uchiha stood behind them, his dark eyes daring anyone that approached. Neji paid him no mind.
�Neji!� Sakura cried, jumping up at the sight of him. Relief washed over him as she wrapped her arms around him in an embrace.
�Why didn�t you-�
�Hokage-sama�s orders,� Sasuke replied, approaching. Neji struggled to control his anger.
�I wanted to tell you,� she said quietly, her eyes looking up to meet his, �more than anything, I wanted to tell you, but I couldn�t. I�m sorry.�
From her expression, her tone, the way her eyes stared only at him, oblivious to everything and everyone around them, Neji knew she was sincere.
�I�m just relieved he�s alive,� Neji replied. Despite how hard it was, he pulled himself out of her embrace to approach Naruto. �It�s good to have you back, Naruto.�
�Thanks,� he replied, clearly embarrassed, still holding Hinata against his chest. �Neji, I�m� sorry about Lee. He was a good friend.�
�Yes, he was.� Neji appreciated it, coming from Naruto. It somehow helped ease the pain, knowing that people outside of just their team would mourn Lee as well. It was a comfort.
�Naruto,� Sakura said gently, �it�s time we get you back inside to get some rest.�
Naruto met Sakura�s eyes and nodded. �Come on, Hinata-chan, you�re coming with.�
Hinata wiped her eyes, helping Naruto to stand. Sasuke was immediately on his other side, offering him additional support which he shrugged off.
Sakura said, �Neji, you�re welcome to-�
�Tenten needs me right now,� he replied. He dropped his voice to a whisper as he neared Sakura, �I�ll find you later.�
Her eyes met his, understanding passed between them.
* * * * *
It was evening. Sasuke insisted on having Naruto stay at his place where there was more room to move around, especially as there was no place for anyone other than Naruto to sleep in the blond�s cramped apartment. They�d taken him back to Sasuke�s and gotten him settled, sleeping comfortably with Hinata still wrapped in his arms.
Sakura found Sasuke waiting patiently for her in the living room. She sighed, sitting down across from him.
�Are you alright?�
�It�s just been a long day,� she replied. �I�m beginning to think Hinata�s never going to leave.�
�Hn.�
Sakura smiled. �To think that one little sound used to annoy me so much, and now it just makes everything feel right.�
Sasuke was suddenly behind her, rubbing the tension from her shoulders. �Sasuke�� her voice trailed off. She was unsure of what she wanted to say. Everything seemed far too complicated once again.
�Shh,� he murmured, his slender fingers kneading the tight muscles of her neck.
�You don�t have to do this.�
�Sakura�� he said, his voice little more than a whisper, �be quiet.�
She had little choice in the matter. She decided to just relax and enjoy the attention he was giving her. She was far tenser than she�d realized, and Sasuke really did know what he was doing. She sighed again, letting her head roll forward, giving him better access to her back.
Sakura could feel the tension give way under Sasuke�s skillful hands. He massaged down her back, hitting key chakra points which relaxed everything. She started feeling drowsy, as though she wanted nothing more than to sleep for days and days. She closed her eyes, giving in.
A hand gently groping her breast brought her to alertness, her eyes shooting open. �Sasuke!�
She turned around to see a smirk on his face, his dark eyes playful. �Naruto and Hinata are both asleep.�
�So?�
He leaned down, pushing her hair aside, kissing her neck gently. �There�s more than one bedroom.�
�Sasuke��
�Sakura,� he said in between kisses, �I want you.�
�Sasuke�� it was hard to think with his lips grazing her skin so expertly, yet she couldn�t turn her racing mind off. �I don�t� I haven�t��
�Made a decision?� he said, tugging the fabric of her kimono over her shoulders, trailing kisses as he went.
�No. I mean yes. I mean� I haven�t made any decisions.�
�And that�s fine.�
�Okay�� she said, confused at what he was getting at. His hand slipped into the folds of her kimono, once again cupping a breast. �Sasuke� I��
�What?� he asked teasingly, his breath on her ear as he sucked gently on the lobe.
�I can�t do this,� she finally managed to say, standing up, pulling out of his grasp, readjusting her clothing. She lifted her eyes to meet his; his expression was one of disappointment, but she saw no traces of anger. �I�m sorry.�
�It�s alright,� he replied evenly, his eyes locked unblinking with hers. �I don�t want to push you.�
�I�m going to go for a walk,� she said, �I need to clear my head.�
�Of course,� he nodded. Sakura could help being irked at seeing his mask slip right back into place. It was hot one minute and cold the next, and the change between the two was so quick, if she didn�t know better, she�d have wondered if it had even happened.
�Be back soon,� she muttered, slipping on her shoes and exiting his house. She sighed her relief as the door slid closed behind her.
�I just want to get away�� she thought. She knew exactly where she would end up, so made the red bridge her destination. �With any luck��
* * * * *
Neji stared out into the water. It had been a long day. He�d spent the entire day with Tenten and Gai, until Gai had finally gone off with some of the more seasoned jounin who wanted to get his mind off things. Tenten had been in need of attention, and he finally got her settled at home; she�d fallen asleep just before he left.
�At least Hinata-sama is�� He couldn�t begin to express his relief that Naruto was alive. It begged a lot of questions, most of which Neji couldn�t answer himself, but really it was irrelevant. �The important thing is that Naruto is alive��
He sensed the chakra presence approaching and couldn�t contain his happiness. He turned around. �Sakura.�
�Neji�� she whispered, walking up next to him.
Neji wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him in a tight embrace. He breathed in her hair, her scent, happy just to be holding her once again.
Sakura clung to Neji, her heart thudding in her chest. Neji pulled away, smiling at her. �You did it.�
She was caught off guard by his comment. �I��
�Naruto,� Neji said.
�Yes�� she whispered.
�What happened?� he asked, wanting to know exactly how it had worked that Sakura was able to bring Naruto back from the dead and not die herself.
�Em� well� You know we thought it hadn�t worked because nothing had happened with Naruto. But something had happened, to me. Remember how I was thrown back? We didn�t know what had happened?� Neji nodded.
She continued, �Kyuubi�s chakra� Kyuubi threw me back. He took the charge from my chakra, from the jutsu, but because his chakra was still intact, not damaged because Naruto is the dominant chakra user who took the impact from the extraction jutsus, he spit my chakra back at me. Shishou said it was like my chakra coursed through the entire chakra pathway, waking up Kyuubi, who, in turn, kicked my chakra out because it wasn�t needed as I intended to use it. It just took a very long time for Kyuubi�s chakra to heal Naruto�s enough to wake him up.�
�I see�� Neji said slowly, trying to take everything in. He reached out for her, pulling her to him in a tight embrace, sighing, �Sakura� there�s so much I want to say��
�There�s a lot that needs to be said,� she replied quietly.
�I know I�ve said it repeatedly, but I can�t begin to tell you how sorry I am about what I said to you,� he said in a rush. �I just� the thought of losing you, I couldn�t bear it. I never meant to hurt you.�
She smiled. �You�re not the only one who yelled at me.�
Neji�s eyebrow arched, �Sasuke?�
She shook her head, laughing, �Naruto.�
Neji smirked, �Yeah.�
�I�m sorry I reacted as badly as I did,� she said.
�You had every right to,� Neji cut her off. �I had no business saying it, at least not at that point in time.�
�I was horrible to you,� she said softly, �and you were just trying to help.�
�I was horrible to you before any of it had even started. What happened two days ago seems like a lifetime ago with everything that�s happened since, but� I didn�t mean for you to think that I don�t want you or that I don�t care.�
Neji paused, locking his eyes with Sakura�s. �Sakura, I love you.�
Sakura�s eyes widened, filling with tears. Guilt flooded her. Neji was right that a lot had happened in just two days. Two days ago she�d been trying to tell him she wanted him and no one else and yesterday she�d slept with Sasuke. There were thousands of extenuating circumstances in between, and yet she still felt as though she�d betrayed him.
�Neji�� she said, trying to keep from crying.
�Sakura, you don�t have to say anything,� he interrupted gently. �I�m not expecting anything in return. I just wanted to tell you how I feel.�
Sakura bit her lip, trying to find the courage to look Neji in the eyes. �Neji� something happened� between me and Sasuke.�
Neji nodded. He�d steeled himself for it, waiting for her to say it. He�d known something had happened, it had to have, but knowing and actually hearing it were two very different things. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Still, he held onto her.
�I�� she started, struggling to maintain control, �so much happened between us� you and me, I mean� and it�s been up or down nonstop for the last three days. I know you didn�t mean to hurt me by what you said that night, but it did hurt, Neji, and I was already so upset and-�
�You wanted someone that you felt could understand you and not judge you for the decision you made,� Neji finished, staring into her eyes. It was hard. It took every ounce of his strength to look her in the eyes, but he forced himself to. He was guilty of that crime, and he would own up to it. �If that�s what drove her to Sasuke, then I�ll live with it.�
�I was� everything was� everything had fallen apart!� Sakura cried in frustration, unable to hold back her tears any longer. �I needed-�
�I wasn�t there.�
�Stop it, Neji!� she shouted, pulling out of his grasp. �Just� stop.�
Neji stared at her in confusion. �Sakura, I��
�Everyone looked at me with those sad eyes,� she said, looking out at the water, tears still running down her cheeks, �eyes that said, �Oh, look at poor Sakura who lost her best friend, we�re so sorry for her.� Then you said what you said, and it hurt. I knew you wouldn�t understand, I knew not even Kakashi wouldn�t understand, but I didn�t need to be told that! Then coming back here, every single person I passed in the street looking at me with those same sad, sympathetic eyes, and all my friends coming up to me telling me how sorry they were that Naruto was dead�
She looked at him, �I didn�t need to be told how sorry everyone was, Neji! I just needed someone to be there! Someone who wouldn�t judge me, or criticize me, or look at me with those god damned sympathetic eyes telling me how sorry they were!
�I needed that, and Sasuke was the one who gave that to me.� Her tear filled eyes met his, �I never wanted to hurt you Neji, and I�m sorry that I have, but��
Neji stepped forward, wrapping his arm around her. �I understand. I wasn�t there-�
Sakura smacked him away. �I�m not asking you to take responsibility, Neji.�
�I wasn�t what you needed,� he said softly.
�It was my decision,� Sakura said forcefully. She sighed, her tears finally stopping. Her voice dropped to a whisper, �It was my decision.�
She looked at him, hating seeing his pained expression. Neji turned away, looking out into the water. �So you�ve made your decision.�
�That�s not what I mean,� she said, tentatively approaching him.
He turned to look at her. �You and Sasuke��
�Neji� things happen. A lot has happened. I care about Sasuke,� he turned away; she continued, �and what my feelings are for him beyond that, I don�t know. I love you, Neji,� she said, seeing him turn to her, his white eyes widening in shock, �I love you, but I don�t know if we�re going to be able to make it work.�
Neji stared at her at a total loss for words. Sakura had just said the one thing he�d been waiting their entire relationship to hear, and yet in context it was breaking his heart. He could only nod.
Sakura continued, �I need time, I think, to sort everything out. I need to make the choice that�s best for me and what I need.�
Neji nodded. It was ironic to think that pushing her into this, time away, was what started their initial fight. �Perhaps it�s for the best that things happened this way�� he thought sadly, �If only I had listened to her then, instead of pushing her away��
�I know that I�m probably asking for too much from you, especially after�� Sakura�s voice trailed off.
�No,� Neji replied, and he realized he�d meant it. �I need time to deal with everything that�s happened, it�s true, but Sakura� I still want to try. I�m not going anywhere.�
Sakura nodded, whispering, �Thank you.�
Neji pulled her into his arms, holding her against him. It hurt, knowing she�d been with Sasuke, but he couldn�t hate her for it, and the fact of the matter was he loved her.
Sakura burst into tears once more, her head on his shoulder, her hands fisted in the material of his yukata as she held desperately to him. �I do love you, Neji.�
Neji pulled away, looking once more into her deep green eyes. �And I you, Sakura,� he whispered, kissing her lips gently.
Sakura stared at him another moment before finally tearing herself away, taking off into the darkness.
* * * * *
She couldn�t go back to Sasuke�s, not now, not after just having told Neji. She knew Sasuke and Hinata both would be able to care for Naruto, give him anything he could need. �I just can�t deal with Sasuke right now� even though I know he�s not trying to push, I just� I need time away from them both.�
She managed to find her key buried in the folds of fabric and let herself into her apartment. It looked so different from what it had that morning. Her sanctuary seemed a little less familiar and a lot more foreboding. �Reflecting the turmoil in my heart, no doubt,� Sakura mused.
Though something didn�t quite feel right. Something was amiss. She fingered a kunai in the holster tucked underneath her short kimono.
Her hand slid to the light switch, which she turned on, kunai ready. Her eyes widened in surprise at finding an orange clad blond sleeping on her sofa.
�Naruto!� she yelled, walking over and waking him up. �What are you doing here?�
�Sakura-chan�� he smiled, sitting up, wiping sleep from his eyes. �You�ve been gone a while.�
�You didn�t answer my question!� she scolding, sitting down next to him, wrapping an arm around his waist to support him if he needed. �You�re supposed to be at Sasuke�s.�
�I am at Sasuke�s,� he replied simply. �Or a bunshin is anyway.�
�Naruto! You�re supposed to be getting rest.�
�I�ve been doing nothing but resting for the last two days. I�m tired of resting. Granted, I�m not up for any missions yet, but just lying in bed day and night is boring. Besides, I�ve gotten at least two hours of sleep on your couch, so I�m good for at least another four hours before my next nap.�
�You need to go back to Sasuke�s!� Sakura chided.
Naruto started at her indignantly, �Not until you tell me what�s wrong.�
�What?� Sakura asked, feigning surprise. �Nothing�s wrong.�
�Well that perfectly explains why you�ve been crying, for the last hour from the looks of it.�
Sakura hated him right then. �Look, this is not the time. You need rest-�
�You can�t drag me back to Sasuke�s.�
�Watch me.�
Naruto tangled himself into her sofa, grabbing on for dear life. �You like this couch too much to smash it up just to prove a point! I helped you pick it out!�
�Naruto!�
�Tell me why you were crying and I�ll go back to Sasuke�s!�
�You are infuriating!� she shouted, tugging hopelessly on him.
�Tell me, Sakura-chan! You�d better just tell me or I�ll make you sorry.�
�Naruto!� she screamed, yanking harshly on his waist.
Naruto suddenly let go, sending both of them flying backwards with the force of Sakura�s pull. Naruto managed to get himself behind her as they hit the wall. �You fucking dumb ass!� she yelled.
Naruto wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. �Tell me.�
Sakura sighed, realizing that Naruto had energy enough to not let this go, and she�d be better off just giving him what he wanted so he�d willingly go back to resting. �Alright. You win. But at least let�s sit on the sofa. This isn�t comfortable.�
Naruto grinned at her, pushing her to her feet; Sakura spun around, taking his hand and helping him to his. They walked over to the sofa that had just been attacked, rearranged the cushions, and sat down.
His blue eyes pierced hers, �What�s going on with you and Sasuke?�
�You certainly don�t mince words, do you?� she said sardonically. He stared at her with concern. She sighed, �We slept together.�
�I figured,� he nodded.
�How�� she wondered aloud.
�A guy doesn�t look at a girl like that unless something�s changed. The way Sasuke�s been looking at you, Sakura-chan� it was obvious.�
�Oh�� she whispered. �If it was obvious to Naruto� how many other people noticed?� she wondered, suddenly feeling uneasy. �But he didn�t-�
�Won�t say anything. I asked him about it too,� Naruto replied. �But that�s not important. I guess you and Neji��
�I don�t know,� she admitted, finding a spot on her floor suddenly quite fascinating. �I just saw him, just now. I told him what happened with Sasuke.�
�And?�
�He actually tried to blame himself for it,� Sakura laughed, �how stupid is that?�
�Not stupid at all if he did something to warrant responsibility,� Naruto said honestly. �Sasuke had mentioned he wasn�t� supportive� of the jutsu you�d used� on me��
�No,� Sakura admitted, �he wasn�t.�
�Well� I can understand why he wasn�t-� Sakura cut him off with a dirty look, but he continued anyway, �but I can understand why you were upset. And I know Sasuke would understand, and that�s what you needed, right?�
�Stop trying to make it sound like I didn�t screw up, Naruto,� she said sadly. �I know I did. Because now I�ve hurt Neji, and I�m dangling Sasuke�s emotions on a string, and-�
�What do you want, Sakura-chan?� he cut her off.
Sakura stared into the sapphire eyes she loved, realizing for the first time they were probably her favorite sight in all the world. �Time,� she said softly, �I just want some time to sort this all out.�
�Then time is what you�ll have,� he said firmly. Sakura shouldn�t have been surprised when he scooped her into his arms, pulling her to him, but she was. She rested her head against his shoulder, happy to be in his reassuring embrace.
�Don�t worry about Neji, or Sasuke. Just worry about yourself. I�ll handle them.�
�Naruto�� she chided again. She tried to fight a yawn, but couldn�t.
�I�m not the only one that needs rest,� Naruto said.
He picked her up, despite her very vocal protests, carrying her to her bedroom. He set her into her bed, than laid down beside her. �What about Hinata?� asked Sakura.
�She�s got a me too. Course it�s not the real thing, but she doesn�t need to know that. Teme will wake up in the morning and be all pissed because he�ll know it�s a fake, but what�s he going to do about it?�
�Beat down every door in Konoha looking for you,� Sakura yawned. �He was really upset, thinking you�d-�
�I know. But I�m not, and it�s over. Get some sleep Sakura-chan. I�m not going anywhere tonight.�
�You�re an idiot,� Sakura whispered, starting to drift off to sleep, �but I love you.�
~~~~~

A/N: Sorry it�s taken me a while to get this chapter up! So much going on! Anyway, leave love, and please don�t forget to vote for me at www.nfa.narutofic.org. ^__^
- 26
- 27
- 28
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Forgetting Sasuke