COMPLICATIONS

PerkyGirl23

Author's Note: Heya guys! Just wanna introduce my new fanfic, entitled Complications. This is my first NINJA-world fic, unlike my other fanfics which were based on reality and not on the true ninja world. Sorry if my terms aren't correct, because as I said, its my first ninja – world theme fanfic in Naruto… soooo, that's it.. I hope you'll like it.. I also appreciate those people who will put in reviews… I don't care whether its positive or negative… what matters to me is the reviews, anyway so that I can improve my fanfics better…. Well so long… JA NE!

I don't own Naruto…

CHAPTER I – DÈJA VU

The cold, eerie air prickled her skin in a snowy night. She slowly opened her eyes as she stared at the alarm clock on her bedside table. It read 11:23 pm. She got up from her bed, gazing through the snow-covered houses and road on the window of her bedroom. It had been a tiring day for her, and she wondered why she couldn't sleep. Her gaze fell to the hexagon-shaped frame beside her alarm clock. It held the photograph of a white-haired, half-masked man standing behind his three students, smiling merrily. Although it's merely his pair of eyes that are visible, it seems that he's glad. His arms were spread wide, his left arm wrapped around the shoulder of a sun-kissed blonde boy with cerulean-blue eyes. His arms were crossed in front of his chest. He was also smiling obnoxiously at the other boy in the picture, where the white-haired man's right arm was draped on the good-looking boy's shoulder. He has a jet-black hair and a pair of piercing dark eyes to match, he is gorgeous. He seems to be frowning on the blonde boy; but the frown did not show anger or resentment-it was a playful frown. In the middle of the two boys was a pink-haired girl, smiling childishly in the picture, looking exceptionally glad by the fact she's surrounded by her friends. It was just like her. Her team. Team 7.

Suddenly, as though a feeling of dèja vu swept her. She dropped the photograph on the cold, marble floor. With trembling hands, she picked the photograph on the floor. She ran her finger through the crack on the photograph caused by the fall. The crack separated the raven-haired boy from his other team mates. With an astonished expression, she placed the photograph back on the bedside table and sped out of her room.

oOo

Only his own footsteps can be heard from the cold, snowy night. With a large backpack and both hands in his pockets, he slowly walked across the road in that silent night. Somehow, he felt like a burglar in his own town, leaving at the middle of the night where all townsfolk are fast asleep, not knowing what was happening. As he was nearing the Konoha gates, he sensed that someone was following him. The chakra signature was familiar, and as he sensed to know whose chakra it belongs, he closed his eyes in frustration.

" Sasuke,'' the voice said.

He sighed deeply. True enough, the voice belongs to her. He didn't expect her to discover him leaving.

" Sakura, " he greeted coldly as he turned around to face his pink-haired team mate, drenched in the snow and shivering like a prairie dog.

" Where are you going? "

" It's none of your business,'' he snapped.

She smiled sadly. Her smile shattered something inside him. His guilt, maybe. Guilt of bringing sadness and suffering to his team mate who never failed to help and care for him in his times of need. She bit her lip and sighed deeply.

" But this is the road taken by the ninjas who left town, " she stuttered.

" ….. "

" Sasuke, please. Please be sensible. Don't go to him, "

His brows knitted in frustration. " Who? "

" Orochimaru, "

" Like I said, it's really none of your business. Go home, Sakura. It's late. "

Her lips, chapped by the cold, trembled at his statement. " I'm not going anywhere until I've persuaded you to stay, " she said defiantly.

" You're annoying, "

She smiled sadly again. " That's the second time you've told me that. The first time is when I mocked you about your parents long time ago, "

" Just go home, "

Her lips, trembling, and fresh tears threatening to fall any second showed in her face. However, she tried to fight it not to show on her face.

" But why, Sasuke? What good will it do? Revenge will not bring back your parents back from the grave, "

His piercing black eyes stared at her. His dangerous eyes. " You will never understand, "

Finally, the tears she's been fighting hard not to fall betrayed her. Fresh tears spilled out from her emerald-green eyes.

" No, Sasuke. What I don't understand is why you're leaving us. After all these years, haven't we been a family to you? "

He bit his lip guiltily. He chose not to respond to her statement, for he also didn't know how to answer her question. True, team 7 have been good to him, almost like a family. Kakashi treated him like a son, while Naruto, even though they considered each other as rivals in all aspects, they still cared for each other as real brothers do. And Sakura. Sakura had been a true friend for him, taking care of him when he was sick or wounded. She is a friend, mother, and sister to him. He turned his back to her.

" Please, Sasuke. Stay. We'll make you happy. We'll make you forget your revenge against him. "

" Nothing can make me forget my revenge. I am an avenger. "

Suddenly, to his surprise, she flung her arms around him, her pale, delicate hands wrapped around his waist, and her head resting against his back. He could hear her sobbing and choking with tears, like a child abandoned by her mother.

" Please stay. Stay with us. With me. " she cried softly.

" Why? Why are you stopping me? " he asked in frustration.

Silence followed. And then-

" Because I love you, Sasuke. "

He closed his eyes, biting his bottom lip. Again, guilt swarmed through him a she said that. He sighed.

" Why Sakura? I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you, "

" I don't care. As long as you're with me, I'll ask nothing for return, "

He grabbed her hands wrapped around him, and slowly, he began unlocking her hands from his waist. He turned to face her.

" Listen Sakura. Go on with your life. You will learn to let go of me someday. "

She shook her head vehemently, sobbing more. " No! I could not! Sasuke, please. If you don't want to stay, then just take me with you. I'll help you with your revenge. "

" No, " he said sharply. " I have no use for you, "

For the third time, she smiled, a painful one, tears pouring down on her face. " True, I am not skilled enough to be a help for you, but still, just take me with you. I'll be a good company for you. I can't live without you, Sasuke, "

This is too much, he thought. He couldn't take it anymore.

" That is enough, '' he replied coldly. " Go home, Sakura, "

He turned his back away from her, ready to leave Konoha. But then-

" No! If you go, I – I'll call the ANBU to stop you! ''

Just then, with one swift movement, he was behind her. The cold wind swept by, matching the gloom in the air and the gloom in her heart.

" Thank you, Sakura, " he said as he struck her across her back. Blackness surrounded her consciousness. When she woke up, she saw him walking away from her. Then, with an uttered cry, she realized that it was not the Otto village he was heading but straight to the slimy mouth of Orochimaru. His mouth was held wide open, his long, sticky tongue almost like a red carpet in which Sasuke was walking. Orochimaru's large head was floating in midair, through the darkness. Sasuke continues to walk towards Orochimaru's mouth, his back turned towards her. Orochimaru's snake-like yellow eyes glinted with malice as he cackled wickedly.

Sakura ran to follow Sasuke, to save him from Orochimaru's grasps. But he was miles away, and it seems that how many steps she took, still, he was going farther and farther, away from her reach. When she couldn't take it anymore, she shouted with all her might. " SASUKE! "

As though as miracle had happened, he stopped at her voice. He slowly turned his head towards her and she gasped.

The body was Sasuke's, but the face was definitely not his. The hair become somewhat longer and tied into a loose ponytail that hung below his shoulders. There were also lines across his face caused by stress. Somehow, the eyes were the same, but narrower, and the eyelashes were longer. They really look alike each other, except that he was not the one she loves. Uchiha Itachi smirked.

" Where is he? Where's Sasuke? " she asked frantically.

He smirked, and then took something from his Akatsuki robe. When he took out his hand, he was already holding a cylindrical flask containing a yellowish fluid inside. And floating between the fluid was a pair of Sharingan-activated eyeballs. Sasuke's eyes. His beautiful eyes.

" No….this can't be happening..he's alive… " she stammered, dropping to her knees.

" Game over, " Itachi mouthed.

oOo

" NOOOOOOO! "

Sakura bolt upright. Sweat poured from her face, mixed with fresh, salty tears. She looked around her. She was lying on her bed, and she is in her bedroom. She breathed a sigh of relief as she closed her eyes and laid back on her bed again, burying her face on her pillow.

It was all a dream. A nightmare, precisely. She took the photograph on her bedside table and stared at the picture. The crack that separated him from them was still visible. She sighed heavily, placing the photograph back to its original position. She got out from her bed and stared through the window. Nearly five years had passed, and still, the Hidden Village of Leaf looks the same. Only the villagers showed changes that time has passed. Now 18 years of age, Haruno Sakura has grown up a lot. She let her pink tresses grow back into breast-length again, and she grew a lot taller now. Her breast developed slightly, although not as much 'development' as Ino had. Her curves showed themselves more, now that she's of age. Her green eyes were still the same, bright and cheery. However, it held not the same sparkle anymore. She supposed it had gone the day Sasuke left Konoha.

She immediately went into her bathroom and took a bath. Then, she dressed up in her usual crisp white uniform. She was a medic-nin now, all thanks to her shishou, Tsunade-sama who persuaded and guided herto fulfill being a medical ninja. Thankfully, due to her outstanding efforts, she is now the Fifth Hokage's apprentice and was considered as the second-best medic-nin, next to the Godaime itself. Kakashi-sensei was so proud of her, as well as Naruto, who in the first time of his life, treated Sai, Kakashi, and herself to a steaming bowl of delicious ramen the day she was made an apprentice for the Godaime. Ino, her best friend, was there as well, giving her a large bouquet of flowers from her shop.

" I'm so proud of you, forehead-girl. I'm glad you're not brooding on him anymore, "

" Thanks, Ino-pig, "

Sakura smiled to herself. She shouldn't worry too much. She is surrounded with her friends, and even though her parents had died already, Tsunade-shishou and Kakashi-sensei were always there for her like real parents do. She brushed her hair, and, with one final look on the mirror, she went out of her room, exceptionally glad that there would be no harm to befall her once she's surrounded by her loved ones.

How very wrong she was.

oOo

PLOK. PLOK. PLOK.

The dripping of the water from the ceiling echoed throughout the cave. It was such a silent morning in which the chirping of the hummingbirds and the swaying of the trees, as well as the dripping of the water were the only ones that can be heard. A figure dressed in a black cloak painted with red clouds in it was leaning against a tall cherry blossom tree, his eyes closed. He seemed to match the serene area he was in.

The sound of footsteps awakened his senses, as well as the strong chakra signature coming from someone inside the cave. He activated his Sharingan. The figure came into the view, although the chakra channels he could see within the person in front of him was blurry. Damn, he thought. It was due to his overuse of Mangekyou Sharingan the other day while capturing the sixth bijuu.

" You're eyes are worse than ever, Itachi. "

" It is, Pein-sama, "

The Akatsuki leader's Rinnegan eyes bored over him. He was so hard to read, like a tabula rasa, a blank paper.It was too intimidating,

" I know of a skilled medic who can heal your eyes back to its original state, " Pein said.

" …. "

" Our organization needs a medic like her. She is an apprentice to the Godaime. She is no ordinary medical ninja. "

" You wish her to become a member of our organization? " Itachi guessed.

" Precisely. It is necessary to have a medic in Akatsuki. " Pein replied smoothly.

" I see, "

" There is one more thing. We will use her Kyuubi friend as a bait for her to join us, "

" Shouldn't it be the other way around? " Itachi queried, confused.

Pein turned his back towards him, smirking inwardly. " You'll soon see the reason behind all this, "

Author's Note: That's it. So, how was my first chapter guys? I hope you liked it, even though it sounds a bit familiar to other fanfics, but I assure you that the story is very different among them. It's just that I used it as an introduction for my first chapter. Well, I hope you kinda liked it,and I hope you'll put in as much as reviews as you can, for some improvements.

So long…. JA NE!