Read Author Notes below! Thank you CrimsonCrush for being my beta!

Disclamier: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 1: Christmas Party and Old Face

Christmas is around the corner and everyone in Leaf village is overjoyed, except for Sakura Haruno. The reason she is not as excited as everyone else is because she has realized that this is the very first Christmas that Sasuke is gone. The Pinkette's heartache hasn't eased, even though she has felt his absence for a full year; since he left the village to go see the evil Orochimaru to seek power. She will try to put up a fake smile to her friends, family and Naruto. Deep down everyone knows that she hasn't been the same since the day Sasuke left the village.

"Sakura, Honey! Ino is here to see you!" Sakura's mom shouted from downstairs. Ino is Sakura's best girlfriend in the village, they have known each other since they were little kids. The Pinkette didn't want company over at her place; she really wanted to be alone and sulk all day. Footsteps were coming closer to her room upstairs and Sakura turned to see her blondie friend.

"Hey Sakura! Merry Christmas Eve!" Ino smiled cheerfully, as she sat down next to Sakura on her bed and stared into her jade eyes.

"Not in the mood today, Ino. I am not in high spirits today, okay? I'm sorry... can you leave me alone?" Sakura said gloomily as she buried her face in the fluffy pillow next to her.

Ino wasn't going to take no for an answer, she was bound and determined to cheer up her best friend, "Suit yourself and waste a perfect holiday…" she stated as she got up from the bed and started walking toward the door. "Because…I am throwing a Christmas party tonight at my place, and pretty much everyone is invited."

The Pinkette raise her head up and look at her friend with a curious face, "Sounds fun…okay I will go! What time?"

"Hehe, seven o'clock tonight at my place, obviously, and don't forget to dress up. You're more than welcome to bring food or presents! Hopefully I'll see you there billboard brow!" Ino smirks as she dashes downstairs before Sakura screams at her for calling her "billboard brow" That was the nickname Ino called Sakura when they were little kids, because unfortunately Sakura has an enormous forehead.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH INO PIG!" Sakura screeched with anger as she swung her arms around with fury. As she heard the door slam from downstairs, she exhaled deeply and smile crossed her lips. It was just like Ino to try to get Sakura out of the house and at least try to be outgoing.

'That Ino…she knows how to cheer me up, I felt like myself just now,' Sakura thought to herself. She gazed at the clock and noticed it's four in the afternoon, and got up from her bed and went to go take a warm shower.

A few hours later found Sakura doing her make-up and curling her long pink hair. Then she slipped into a well-fitted silky red dress; it made her feel good getting dolled up. As she finished up in the bathroom she walked back to her room and checked herself out in the mirror. She then caught a glimpse of a small silver box sitting on a shelf to her left.

"What is this again?" Sakura questioned herself as she opened it; inside were three necklaces. The necklaces are orange, blue, and pink jewels that wrap around the silver chain.

Suddenly a tear slide down her rosy cheek because she remembered these necklaces quite well, and instantly a memory came flooding back in her mind.

…

One year ago, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were at the Hidden of the Sky waters on a mission. As the mission was over Sakura wanted to do personal shopping, but the boys would rather train than go shopping. So it was a beautiful day for Sakura to go shopping at a luxurious village.

As Sakura was walking outside and going stand-to-stand to look at the valuables, an elderly women called her over to the stand.

"Welcome my dear, I have a treasure you cannot refuse!" The elderly women smiled brightly. The woman pulled out a medium-sized silver box and slowly opened it. Sakura's jade eyes widened as she saw three jewels shining under the bright sunlight. A gasp escaped from her mouth out of admiration for the beauty of the treasure.

"As you see dear, these necklaces are one of a kind. The orange resembles bravery and kindness; the blue resembles light and darkness; the pink one resembles power and love. The proper term to call these treasures is "Bond Chains" Whoever wear the three will forever be happy and will have an everlasting friendship." The elderly woman spoke as she awaited Sakura's answer.

"Why offer it to me, ma'am?" Sakura questioned as she tilted her head.

"Because I have seen you with those boys, you three look so close. Please dear, take it." she responded.

Sakura nodded and offered the woman money to buy the necklaces. "Thank you!" Sakura received the box and skipped happily away as she spoke, "Hehe, I will wait for Christmas to give them to Naruto and Sasuke!"

As the pretty kunochi disappeared, the elderly women chuckled to herself quietly and said, "Oh dear…I forgot to mention to her, if she wears hers then she will surely find her true love. I wonder who it will be. Young love... sure miss it, hoho!"

…

"I remember that now…man it feels like yesterday…" Sakura said in a sad voice.

As she lifted up all three necklaces at once she said, "The pink one would be for me, the orange would be for Naruto, and then the blue one would be for Sasuke…" As she says his name out loud, her heart squeezed at the sound of it. This feeling... she hates this sadness… The pinkette put the necklaces back in the silver box and put the box in her red purse, then left her house.

At Ino's house, there were many Christmas decorations decorating the outside; rainbow lights surrounded the place. Sakura felt a little nervous walking in but she inhaled and let her breath out as she knocked on the door awaiting someone to open it.

"Sakura! You have arrived, yeah!" Ino squealed like a little girl as she gave Sakura a loving hug; the perfume Ino was wearing smelled elegant, like French vanilla. "Please come in, everyone is already here!" The door closed behind Sakura as her eyes widened in surprised.

Ino's living room was very jolly as decorations of Santa, Reindeers, Angels, and Snowmen graced the walls and her tree. The snack area had sweets of cookies, gingerbread houses, candy canes, and a big bowl of eggnog. Everyone at the party was enjoying themselves as they ate, mingled, and laughed. Then out of nowhere the group heard a loud cry from the bathroom causing everyone to fall silent until the door swung open with force, denting the wall.

It was Choji Akimachi, the largest person at the party. He came out looking very furious as he wore a Santa costume, the white beard and hair slowly falling off as he is moved around like a madman.

"INOOOOO! I am going to kick your butt!" Choji declared as he walked closer to the girl. The blondie started to get nervous as she ran behind her teammate, Shikamaru, to be her shield.

"Woah! U-Um okay…Choji what on earth are you wearing…?" Shikamaru asked calmly as he twitched while Ino tucked his shirt.

Everyone was watching the unusual scene and trying not to laugh because if they did they would have hell to pay because Choji would crush them in a second. Sadly, two individuals couldn't help but stir some trouble.

"HAHA Choji this is just perfect! So have I been a good boy for Christmas?" Kiba smugly said as he held in his laugh and his eyes became watery.

"May I sit on your lap Santa?" Naruto joined in the fun. The two young boys were dying on the floor of laughter. Choji's face was getting redder by the second and Shikamaru was sweating and turned around to glare at Ino.

"I know you have something to do with this mess. Are you that devious?" The lazy ninja gave Ino an annoyed look.

"L-Look!" She stammered impatiently, "I needed some entertainment for the party and Choji was the perfect size-or I mean, perfect person for the job." Ino sighed and looked at the angry Choji and gave him a sympathetic look, "Listen if you wear the costume a little longer, you may eat anything you want okay?"

The mention of 'food' made Choji grin like a child and get hyper, "You got yourself a deal! Now show me the snack bar!"

Slowly everyone started to calm down from that excitement and started to enjoy themselves. Sakura walked over to the counter and poured herself some eggnog until someone tapped her on the shoulder. It was Hinata the sweetest girl in the village, and a member of the Hyuga clan. A lot of people admired her gentleness and beauty. Sakura secretly envied her and wished she could be more like her.

"Hello Hinata how are you doing? Enjoying the party?" Sakura smiled cheerfully.

Hinata look a little trouble and twirl her fingers around circles and shyly stared into the Pinkette's eyes, "W-Well. I been wanting to ask you this so please don't get mad. D-Do you like Naruto…?"

Sakura started feeling heated on the face and blinked multiple times trying to register what her friend asked her. "W-what! N-No! O-Of course not! He is only a friend and my teammate why would you ask me this?" Her heart felt like it will burst any second.

"Sorry for asking this randomly I was just wondering…I heard you two have been hanging out with each other a lot." Hinata whispered shyly and felt relieved. It's true the two have been somewhat spending a lot of time together lately. This year had been a tough one for them, and because of that Sakura didn't see Naruto as the annoying knucklehead he was. She could actually call him a friend.

Out of nowhere Naruto, the hyper-active ninja, waltzed over to the girls with a big smile, "Aren't you guys having fun?"

Hinata slowly nodded and walked away quickly, blushing fiercely. It was Naruto and Sakura hanging out, and she felt uneasy all of the sudden.

"Sakura what's wrong?" Naruto asked with concern.

Sakura looked deeply into Naruto's aquamarine eyes and tried to figure something out. Why would she be so embarrassed for Hinata asking her if she 'liked' Naruto? It troubled her, but Naruto asked her another question. "Do you mind going outside with me? I want to give you something private."

As they both stepped out, they felt the winter breeze, which was chilly and made Sakura rub her arms up and down to get warmth. Then suddenly she felt something cover her shoulders and back, it was an orange jacket and her jade eyes looked at Naruto.

"This will keep you warm, Sakura." Naruto said sweetly, flashing his heart-warming smile.

"T-Thank you Naruto…" Sakura blushed while squeezing his jacket.

Naruto put his hand in his pocket, and grabbed a little red present wrapped with a white ribbon. The blonde boy handed it to the Pinkette. "For you! Merry Christmas I hope you like it... Kakashi-sensei gave me some shopping advice…so be honest do you like it? " Naruto awkwardly scratched his spiky blonde hair.

Sakura was shocked that Naruto bought her a Christmas present, curiously she opened it and inside was a cherry blossom keychain. "I love it! Thank you Naruto, I will put it on my house keys."

Naruto watched her facial expression light up like a Christmas tree and thought that she was absolutely breathtaking… he wouldn't say it out loud but gave it away in his loving gaze. Sakura looked up and question his gaze, "Is something wrong?"

"No…I am just happy to see you smile. Haven't seen you smile since-"He stop his words not daring to finish.

"Sasuke." Sakura finished what Naruto couldn't bring himself to say. She stared out at the scenery of the pure white snow till Naruto said something.

"Can't believe this is the first Christmas that he is gone…I mean we three are a team till the end, you know?" Naruto said with sadness.

Sakura looked at him and saw pain in his eyes, and felt so stupid that he of all people would understand what she has been feeling all this time. She didn't want to be sad anymore, so she pulled out a present for Naruto and smile kindly, "For you, goofball, Merry Christmas!"

The Blondie felt so happy receiving a present from his favorite girl, and couldn't wait to open it as he did an orange jewel shined. "Whoa! This is so cool thank you Sakura so much!"

"Hehe you're welcome, see I have one too." She flashed her neck with a pink jewel shining. "Truth be told I bought this awhile back, this was a gift for all three of us. So the blue one belongs to Sasuke… The necklaces represent our bond and we will always be happy." Sakura squeezed her necklace. Then she turned around and said something without thinking, "Will us three ever be together again?"

"Sakura…Sasuke will come back to the village someday and if not I will fetch him myself! Remember. I promised you, and I plan to keep it. So please believe in me and never give up." Naruto pat her on the shoulder, till a shadow is hovered over them.

Both of them looked up and they wanted to faint because of who they were seeing. Sakura's heart was beating uncontrollably... she couldn't hold back her words, "Sasuke…"

"Long-time no see…Naruto…Sakura…" Sasuke says softly.

Author Notes: Hii everyone! I know some of you may be confused, but I decided to RE-EDIT this whole story! I know this is my first story and it had A LOT of grammer mistakes. I am sorry about that. Crimsoncrush edit this chapter and did an amazing job! I am so happy with it, and it's so much better! Expect new/better chapters. Thanks for reading! :)

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