Of Desperation and Devotion

Disclaimer: Eventhough it breaks my heart to say, I do not own Naruto. (hmmmmp…)

Timeline:

Sasuke's Departure – Rookie 9 are all age 12

Sasuke's arrival – Rookie nine are all age 18

Present time – Rookie 9 are all age 22

Prologue:

It was 10 years after Sasuke's departure from Konoha. 6 years before he went back after killing Orochimaru and Itachi. We was subjected to a 1 year probation which means no missions for 1 year and he has an ANBU guard in the 1st six months of his probation. He was also prohibited to use his sharingan until Tsunade has examined his cursed seal and confirmed that it has vanished with no side effects to his body. He still went to training but only with Kakashi and team 7. After the probation he took the jounin exams and passed. He has been a jounin for 3 years.

Sakura was promoted chuunin when she was 15, three years after Sasuke left for the sound. At 18 she took the jounin exams. She had a rigorous training under Tsunade and became konoha's top mednin and jounin. At present she's the head of the Emergency and Surgery department of Konoha Hospital.

Naruto is still Naruto. After Sasuke's Retrieval Mission, he started dating Hinata. At 20 he proposed to her and was married a year after despite the objections of the Hyuuga Clan members. Hinata denounce the title of being heir to Neji inorder to take the Uzumaki Surname. Tsunade proclaimed Naruto his Hokage-in-waiting 3 months before and was starting to learn the ropes of the job. The training will last for 3 years before he will officially become the sixth Hokage.

Team 7's friendship, once shattered, was rebuilt and everything was going smoothly for them. Konoha, with out the Akatsuki and Orochimaru as threat, is continuously progressing. Life was as peaceful for everyone. . . or so they thought.

Chapter 1: The revelation

It is a very beautiful night. Cherry blossoms trees are on their full bloom. The stars are bright and the moon is full. The atmosphere emits an aura of calmness. However, a pink haired kunoichi is feeling otherwise.

Contemplating on the past events that had happened the last two months there is only one word that can describe what's she's feeling right now. Weak. Oh yes, the long standing remark of Sasuke has been repeating in Sakura's mind for the past 3 hours that she's sitting at the Cherry blossom grove.

Weak. She feels weak that she could not stop Sasuke from leaving Konoha 10 years ago. Weak, that she's not able to do anything to help in Sasuke's retrieval mission. Weak, that eventhough she's now a high level jounin and mednin she still cannot stop her emotional outburst. Weak, that she's not been able to move on. Weak, that upon Sasuke's arrival after 6 years of absence she's realized that she still hold the same feelings for him. Weak, that the friendship that she and Sasuke had established for the past 4 years did not go beyond friendship. Weak, that almost everyone has somebody to love and share their life with. But most of all she feels weak that after 10 years she still loves Sasuke the same way she does when they were still genins.

'Why the hell can't I move on?' She thought. "Even Ino has gotten over Sasuke and now engage with Shikamaru. Naruto is married to Hinata. And Chouji, kiba, Shino and Tenten are dating. Even Lee has gotten over me and IS dating. My god! I'm so pathetic. I'm even pathetic than Neji." She groaned.

Well, the Rookie Nine and Gai's team had really matured over the years. Naruto married Hinata after countless obstacles thrown at them by the Hyuuga clan. Ino is already engaged to Shikamaru after he confessed. And well the other Rookie nine Lee and Tenten are dating with the exception of Neji, the human block of ice. (but he's still hot). What's more frustrating for Sakura is that even Sasuke is on the dating game. He changed from being a solitary guy to konoha's playboy. (OH well, you can't blame the guy… he's really hot and you can't help to just drool over him. wink).

Last month he was dating a cute blue eyed brunette chuunin that came from a wealthy family. Last week she saw him with a raven haired chuunin at a cozy restaurant and she could see he is really enjoying. At both times she can't help feel jealous that he's feeling happy but not with her. But the last straw was 3 hours ago when she saw Sasuke kissing Misao, a blonde hazel eyed jounin under the tree near the ninja monument.

"Damn, Damn, Damn" Tears fall unbidden from her emerald eyes. It hurt so much to see that. It was one thing to see Sasuke dating and its another thing to see him making out with another girl.

Anguish wrapped over the pink haired kunoichi. She continued to cry helplessly when a set of arms wrapped around her.

"Hey Sakura-chan, what's wrong? I've been trying to find you for the past hour. Did you forgot that were gonna have a get together party at the bar tonight? Naruto's worried voiced penetrated her senses.

"Um… I'm (sniff) sorry. I (sniff) forgot."

"hey come on. Were gonna miss them. I'm sure everyone is already there. Its already 10:30."

"Naruto, I can't." she answered. She feels so tired and she thinks that she can't hold her emotions in front of their friends.

"Aww… Sakura-chan. You have to come. Hinata will have my hide if you won't come. And besides everyone is coming."

"I'm sorry I really can't."

Naruto is beginning to be pissed. He knows why his bestfriend is crying and he knows why she wont come to the get together party. But still it pisses him off that Sakura's feelings for Sasuke is as stagnant as a mountain and Sasuke is indifferent to her feelings. 'God, I hate being the in between these two.' He thought.

"Now, Haruno Sakura. I know why are you crying and I know Sasuke is the reason but you can't ditch your friends because of him. Everybody has moved on maybe it is your time to move on too."

"I tried Naruto. Believe me I tried a million times but I just can't." she sobbed hysterically. The blond hokage-in-waiting can't do anything but wrap his arms around her and rub her back.

When her sobs subsided, she tried to fix herself and stand away from Naruto.

"Naruto please just explain to them that I'm not feeling well."

"No Sakura-chan you are not getting out of this one. You better do something about your face and come with me or I'll drag you to the bar with your eyes puffed and red nose."

"I'm not getting out of this one whatever reason I give you, am I right?" she eyed him

"Hnn." Is all Naruto's reply

"oh well. But you promise never to leave me unattended. Please stay with me until the end of the party or at least don't leave me alone there. Alright?" she asked

"sure Sakura-chan. I'll even include Hinata-chan to the deal." He smiled

She quickly performed a jutsu to refresh herself so that she'll look that she has not been crying for the past 3 hours and grabbed naruto's arm on their way to the club.

Naruto glanced at the pink haired woman clutching his arms as if it was her lifeline. He's really worried about her. She has not gotten over Sasuke. 'She'll continue to hurt herself if she's not going to take a step to forget about Sasuke. She's doesn't smile like the way she used to. And eventhough she would tell everyone that she doesn't love Sasuke anymore, I know better.' He secretly sighed.

When they arrived at the club almost everyone is already there. Ino and Shikamaru are sitting side by side with each other. Shikamaru's arm is draped haphazardly on his fiancee's waist. Chouji, neji, kiba and tenten are drinking sake. Lee was beside Shikamaru drinking orange juice. No one dared give Lee anything with alcohol after they found out from tenten that he'll go berserk even with just a drop. While hinata walked over to Naruto and lightly kissed him on the mouth.

"Sakura, you are late." The white eyed girl remarked to Sakura. She had gotten over her stutter ever since she and Naruto started dating.

"I'm sorry but oh well, I'm already here now." She smiled.

"yeah, so lets start the party." Naruto said

"Umm, naruto-kun, sasuke is late. We'll have to wait for him." answered his wife

"What? Teme is late? I wonder what's keeping him? Maybe he has a date prior to----- Ack!"

"NARUTO-KUN!" hinata elbowed her husband to silence and glanced at Sakura

"Um-Um… ahh.. hmmm… maybe he got something to do? Ahehehe…" he said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"Yes, I think so." Hinata answered still glaring daggers to her husband. "Better sit down and drink sake and enjoy ourselves."

"Hai."

They walked over to their table and sat with ino and Shikamaru. 20 minutes had passed and Sakura was drinking sake and talking to the two couples when suddenly Ino stopped in mid-sentence. She was starring at the door while her mouth is wide open.

"honey, what's wrong?" asked Shikamaru.

"That is what's wrong." She motioned to the door. Everybody who noticed her turned and tried to see what surprised their ever enthusiastic blond friend.

What Sakura saw crumpled her world. She saw Sasuke hand in hand with Misao approaching their table.

"Damn" she heard Naruto muttered under his breath

When Sasuke approached their table he stopped and smirked.

"hey everyone. Sorry I'm late."

"That's ok Sasuke. Sakura was late too." Hinata answered when she recovered from shock.

"hey, Uchiha who's the chick?" Kiba snickered while eyeing Misao

"What your mouth dog boy." The 22 year old sharingan user growled. "She's off limits"

"Oh yeah?" challenged the Inuzuka boy

"Yeah." Sasuke said then turned to address everyone.

"Everyone, I would like you to meet Misao, my girlfriend."

A/N: hey guys, I hoped you liked the 1st chapter of Of Desperation and Devotion. Next chapter will come after a few days I promise. Please, please, please, give me a review so I'll know how to improve my next chapter. I'm a great fan of Naruto and I love reading fanfics. I just hope that I don't fall short of your expectations. Thanks in advance for your reviews. This is my first fanfic and whatever comments and suggestions or even flames that you give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.