Fragments of Life Chapter 1: Pieces of the Past, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: BELIEVE IT! -screams- My poor poor ears! BELIEVE IT! BELIEVE IT! BELIEVE IT! I don't own Naruto! BELIEVE IT! BELIEVE IT! BELIEVE IT!

Oh god, it brain washes you! Run while you can!

Forgetting her past gave her another chance to live. Recalling her friends gave her a reason to smile. And his return gave her another chance to realize, she had fallen in love with him, all over again.

Because history repeats itself.

And they were meant to be.

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Fragment 1 -

Pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Featuring a pink haired girl resting against the trunk of a wilted cherry blossom tree. Sakura petals dance through the air as the tree is left bare and empty. A black raven rests on one of the tree branches. Its red eyes carefully watching the pink haired girl. She stands up, and her hand reaches out towards the raven. The bird only tilted its head before quickly flying away, leaving a small trail of its feathers to fall towards the ground. Her hand stays outstretched as a single black feather lands on her palm. A bitter smile is painted on her face as she watches the raven fly further and further away. She lowers her head and brings both hands to her chest, clutching the black feather close to her heart.

"Please come back..."

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Fragments of Life

Chapter 1 - Pieces of the Past

Listen to the song Eternal Snow (the slow version from Full Moon Wo Sagashite) while reading this : D That song inspired me.

Dear Sasuke-kun.

Hi! This is Haruno Sakura; it's very nice to meet you! I'm so glad that you're reading this! I really really like you! You're super cool! I'm in your class you know? The girl with the pink hair? Green eyes? Lets have a lunch date sometime!

With lots of love from the beautiful, Sakura

"Naruto," The microphone buzzed. "Naruto, do you hear me?" The voice was mixed with static. Naruto continues jumping tree to tree but gently puts his hand on this headset. "Yeah, I'm here-dattebayo." The blond stops on a thick tree branch and quickly make an arrow mark with a kunai before proceeding. "Good, we've received information on where he is, and this time, his exact location, there's no doubt in it. He's currently engaged in another battle. I advise you to wait till he's tired before going in." The voice instructs the Chunnin.

He stops jumping, landing near the tree top, he keeps hidden behind the leaves of the tree. "Yeah, I think I see them." A hand rests against the truck as he peers down at the dusty battlefield.

"Good luck. Sakura's counting on you."

Dear Sasuke-kun,

I'm so excited that I was paired into your team! I'm sure we'll be the best team out of all of them! (minus Naruto of course)

So, about that lunch date...

With lots of love, Sakura

The smoke clears. His figure is hunched over, but he's still standing. His breathing uneven, his body was cut, blood seeping everywhere. But he did it. He completed his goal. And he was going to die right beside the very man he hated. It didn't matter. His brother was dead before him, so he was content (he thinks). It's been a while since he's felt something other then anger and loneliness. So what he felt right now, he really didn't know. His life goal was completed, so he could at least rest well knowing his family had been rightfully avenged. So why then, does the feeling of emptiness still linger within him?

Dear Sasuke-kun,

I noticed after the mission to Wave country that I was lagging behind. Of course, I'll probably always lag behind you... But even Naruto... I was so scared when I saw your body lying unmoving on the ground. Maybe after you heal, I'll treat both you and Naruto to ramen (and maybe Kakashi-sensei too, that is... If I can find him before Naruto starts complaining about leaving him be)

Yours Truly, Sakura.

Blue clashes with onyx. They both knew this day would come. Naruto expected to save his best friend before it had to come to this. He didn't want to forcefully bring him back, but it had to be done. Sasuke expected to see both of them there, along with their former grey haired teacher. But instead, only one pair of eyes matched his stare. Where was the other two?

He had planned on going back after he was done. By free will or not, he had planned on going back. Maybe after being senseless and having another all out battle with Naruto, to have their pink haired team mate run between them, begging for the two to stop with tears flowing from her eyes. They would stop fighting (because both of them would never hurt her), she would then proceed to her friendship speech, of how they were family, how she still loved him with all her heart. Maybe add a little group hug, and then they would return together, as if they we're never once separated.

But she wasn't there.

Sakura was not here, standing beside Naruto in the battlefield. She was supposed to be here. She was supposed to help Naruto bring him back.

Unless... She had given up on him?

No.

She promised she'd always love him.

But... How long has it been?

A long time (he supposes), almost 5 years since he had left.

Sasuke-kun.

You know... Both you and Naruto made me so worried during the Chuunin exams. That cursed mark you received from that man... I tried my best to protect the two of you. I hope it was enough... I can't thank you two enough for always saving me. I hoped this time I was able to return the favor. Please rest for now, and let me be the one to protect you.

From your friend, Sakura.

"Have you come here to kill me? Or bring me back?" The sole (barely) surviving Uchiha asks in a cool voice, despite his current condition. Naruto stares at the teen before him, at his (former) best friend, blue eyes narrow. "Neither." He says. "I'm only here for Sakura-chan's sake." He pauses for a moment. "If I had it my way, I'd kill you on the spot." Naruto reaches in his pocket, slowly bringing out a red headband. "But I'm doing this for her." He tells him, holding out their teammates headband.

Sasuke eyes stared the forehead protector in Naruto hands, so many questions ran through his mind. Is she hurt? Is she happy? Is she... dead? He looks up to face the blond again, tears building up from the corner of his blue eyes. One more push of his buttons and he would burst.

He blinks. "Then, why isn't she here helping you?"

Sasuke-kun.

You've been distant lately... A lot more then usual. Please stop fighting with Naruto. You guys are best friends. That time when I ran between your chidori and Naruto ransengan... I'd do it again, anything as long as you two stop fighting.

Your friend, Sakura.

Naruto's grip on her headband increased. "You'd know the answer to that if you didn't leave." Blue eyes cast a shadow on the ground. "All of this... Nothing would've happened if you had stayed back home, in Konoha. You'd still have friends, a family, and a team." Naruto looks up with tears rolling down his cheeks, dripping to the ground. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and pasted on a small bitter smile on his face.

"And maybe, Sakura would still smile like she used to."

Sasuke-kun, you're leaving aren't you?

From Sakura.

Sasuke was sent back tumbling to the ground seconds after Naruto had appeared in a flash before him, giving him a powerful uppercut. He coughed while propping himself back up using his elbows. Standing back up he wipes the blood away from his mouth and glares at the blond before him. "You're at a great disadvantage, Sasuke." Naruto muttered in a dark, low voice.

Sasuke didn't say anything, because he knew he was telling the truth.

I miss you so much Sasuke-kun...

- Sakura

Sasuke muttered a curse to the heavens as he gripped his wounded arm. He was already bleeding heavily after the battle with Itachi, which he had just barely survived himself. But now... Now Naruto was the one fighting him in this weak state. He knew if the blond wanted, he could easily kill him on the spot in his current state, but he didn't.

Another kick in his stomach. Sasuke felt himself being pulled up by his collar. His eyes were getting heavy; he found it hard to keep them open. And for that moment, Sasuke didn't know if listening to that friendship speech (that was for sure to come sooner or later) and having his life spared was worth all the pain he was feeling right now.

Naruto eyes pitted the raven haired teen's current condition. He was in control now; he was the one ahead, leading the way. But he didn't want to achieve his goal in beating his best friend like this. No. It was wrong. His grip on Sasuke's collar tightened. "You wanna know why she's not here? Huh?!" Naruto screams in his face. "You wanna know why she isn't the one out here, being the one kicking your sorry ass home, even after she's trained and trained for years?!"

Sasuke-kun... I'm training under Tsunade now... Naruto's gone to train with Jiraiya... Why am I still writing these letters... you may... (never) ask? I guess I'm just a bit lonely here. Don't worry though; I'm not wasting my life moping away. I'll train and become strong. Then maybe both me and Naruto can bring you back home, where you belong.

Sincerely yours, Sakura.

"..." Sasuke chooses to remain silent, even though his mind protested. Breathing was getting harder for him, it felt as if there was only a small trace of oxygen in the air for him to take in now. But he knew it was just him, there was oxygen everywhere. His lungs must've been damaged. He wanted to say 'tell me then' but he found out his voice had left him.

Naruto glared at the wounded Uchiha, giving him no sympathy at the current moment, he throws him into the ground. A dust of sand flies into the air from the impact Sasuke's body had made when landing roughly onto the ground. Naruto bit his lower lip as he stared down on the raven haired avenger. "She's in a fucking coma you asshole!" The blond shouts at him. Sasuke's eyes widened a fraction as his head looked up.

Naruto has both hands to his side, balled in fists, with tears streaming down his face.

"And it's all your fault!"

Sasuke-kun, it's been 3 years. And we still haven't heard anything about you. Has he taken over your body yet? Have you finally achieved your goal in defeating your brother? Where are you right now? Alive? ... Dead? I hope you're safe. Please come home, everyone's waiting.

Sincerely yours, Sakura.

"1 whole year..." Naruto turns around. "Almost one whole year..." His voice drifts off. "She hasn't opened her eyes for almost a whole year." He pauses. "I haven't seen her smile for two."

Naruto bends down to pick up the red headband he had dropped during the fight. He stares at it. "And what have you been doing for the past 2 years... While she was suffering?" Sasuke watches the back of his orange jacket with half closed eyes. "Training? Cutting all your ties with Konoha?" Naruto assumed in a quiet voice. Sasuke remained quiet. Naruto turns his head over his shoulder, looking down at the almost unconscious teen.

"Whatever you've done, it surely hasn't gotten you far."

Sasuke-kun, a guy named Sai was your replacement in our team. He kind of looks like you.

From you know who.

"She's broken. Leaving a girl who loves you with all her heart after she confesses her feelings... She's strong. Stronger then you think. She trained for the 5 years that you've been gone. She snapped at those who dared to bad mouth you, even though she first handedly saw you leave Konoha. And she kept believing..." He carefully puts her forehead protector back into his pockets. He leaves both hands sheltered within his track pants pockets and takes a few steps towards the fallen avenger. Naruto casts a towering shadow over him as he looks down at Sasuke.

"Everything... She does everything for you. Yet you throw her away like trash..." He says in a low tone. Naruto paused for a moment. "Why do you always get everything I've always wanted?" He asks the teen who was lying on the ground in the softest voice.

Sasuke felt his eyes slowly closing. He felt himself being picked up, thrown over a shoulder.

"She's broken, you broke her, and now, your coming back to fix what you broke."

Sasuke had no chance to protest as he dropped into unconsciousness.

4 years... Its been four long years without you. Many people have given up hope. But me and Naruto still believe. We're stupid idiots, aren't we? But... We're your stupid idiots, we won't give up. I'm heading out for a mission now, I'm going with Naruto and Kakashi and Sai. We're heading out to Sound. A part of me wishes that we'll bump into each other while we're there... But I know when to stop dreaming. Wish me luck.

I really don't need to sign, since these letters are no longer written in words and just in my head (I've stopped writing last year, aren't you proud?).

But I'll sign my mentally constructed letter anyways.

From Sakura.

The blond hokage sat down on her black spin chair, quickly shuffling through the piles of papers on her desk. She grabbed a light brown envelop, pulling out a few white sheets "Patient number 093, Haruno Sakura. Case of coma, and predicted cased of traumatic amnesia to come. No signs of waking up as of yesterday night, 8:38pm." Tsunade read aloud her student's medical folder to the gray haired man in front of her.

"Doesn't look too good..." Kakashi commented.

"No. It doesn't." Tsunade agreed with the jounin. She got up from her chair. "I'm going to do my daily check up on her now since my regular rounds are done. Would you like to follow?" She asks the copy nin. He nods. Tsunade leads the way out of the room, still holding onto her students profile.

My eyes feel heavy, I'm bleeding. I took a shot for Naruto during that mission, am I going to die? I can hear Naruto sobbing my name. I wish he would stop. My head hurts, my hair is sticky from my blood. But that's okay, I don't regret saving Naruto (even if it'll bring me my end). The only thing I regret was not being able to save you... So my last thoughts before I go will be of you. I'm sorry for not being able to save you from your inner demons.

Good-bye Sasuke-kun. If you're still out there, please come back, Naruto misses you. I miss you a lot Sasuke-kun, but I don't think I'll be able to see you again. I love you so much it hurts, but as I'm slowly fading away, I think the pain will subside.

- Sakura.

I love you, Sasuke-kun.

The plain white hospital sliding doors open, revealing a sleeping pink haired girl. Her face looked angelic, as her pink hair was laid out on top of the white pillow she lied on. Sun rays peaked through the windows, emitting a small light over her bed. Kakashi looked at his 17 year old student as she peacefully laid on the clean hospital sheets. "Today is the 365th day you've been like this." He pats the top of her head.

"One full year has passed without you... Sakura."

A.N// Tada! And there's the first re-written chapter of my old story Remember! (which will be deleted soon since this story is now up) Yes, I have changed the title, and summary for the story (I think its better then the old one) And yes, I've changed a few other things (can you spot them?) -sniff sniff- Ooh! Do I smell a new love triangle in the air?

So? Hate it? Love it? Compare it to the old version?

Please review!

Or I'll have Naruto come and haunt you with a flashlight under his chin screaming "believe it!" in the middle of the night!