Status: Edited September 2011

Summary: A story where Sakura will be the one who will leave Konoha, for some reason. Then our boys will then discover their true feelings for her. Who will be the one to take over her heart as she returns? Or will she already be taken by someone else?

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

The Person We Could Never Have

Chapter 1: A Forbidden Technique

All the battles had ended. Still, there were a few things that had not yet been cleared. Many had sacrificed their lives to protect their country, especially in Konoha. Akatsuki and Orochimaru's group had already been history in the ninja world.

Two weeks after the battle, everyone was still recovering from their were still not accepting the truth, that they had lost the people they loved. Some were already not in their right mental state. Some were still regretful for not having been of use, and some were still trying to survive their critical conditions.

For those who had recovered, and for some who only had some minor injuries, they helped to rebuild the run-down village. They all worked hand-in-hand to finish fixing things early. Konoha had such a wonderful sight, everyone working so hard, and all supporting one another.

Konoha also had announced their two heroes. The two who gave the last blow to end the war. Those two were Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. Still, they were in critical condition, especially Naruto.

Tsunade, who had applied all her medical knowledge, still didn't have the cure, or know how to help Naruto in his condition. Sakura, who worked so hard at finding a solution, still locked herself in the Nara house, where some useful medical books were found.

All medical ninjas were searching for a cure for Naruto's condition. Even the medical ninjas from the country of Sand.

On the 15th day after the war, a thunderstorm had entered Konoha.

In Tsunade's Office

'TUG.'A large pile of papers were slammed on Tsunade's table, and then thunder boomed.

"Tsunade-sama, you still have some paper work! If you don't finish this, it will soon fill this entire room!" Shizune burst out in anger. Thunder boomed.

"Shizune," Tsunade gave a low-pitch growl. Thunder boomed.

"H-h-hai?"she said nervously.

"Is it time already?" Tsunade faced outside.

"For what?" she asked.

"It's been three years already, hasn't it?" Tsunade said.

Shizune thought deep about what Tsunade had said. She remembered something…

"It's still early, isn't it?" she asked.

"Iie," Tsunade answered.

Knock. Knock.

There was a knock on the door of Tsunade's office.

"Come in," Tsunade replied.

The door opened, and a girl with pink hair and emerald eyes appeared.

She came inside, and then closed the door and leaned on it, facing downwards, quite gloomy.

"Sakura…" Shizune said worriedly to Sakura.

Sakura went near to Tsunade's desk, and handed a piece of paper, along with her forehead protector.

"Are you sure about this?" Tsunade asked as she received it.

"Gomen ne, but I have already decided," she said, as she bit her lips.

Tsunade stood up, and walked closer to Sakura, then hugged her.

Tears fell from Sakura's face as she hugged back.

"I know you thought a lot about your decision, and I'm glad that you were able to make a choice, and I really respect it," Tsunade said as she comforted Sakura.

Shizune left the room with Tonton, the pig, to give the two some privacy.

Tsunade pushed Sakura back a little.

"Here, I won't accept this," Tsunade handed over the forehead protector.

"Demo…" Sakura replied as she received it back.

"You will always be welcome here," Tsunade said.

"Iie," she declined.

"Sakura…" Tsunade said in a low pitch.

"You guys always protected me. I've never repaid you guys for anything. I'm useless, and always will be," she stated.

Tsunade slapped Sakura on her cheek. "Sakura, what are you saying?" Tsunade gave a confused look, tinged with sadness. "You've done so many things. You were always there to help and support us. You're not as useless as you think."

"Gomennasai, I didn't mean that. I don't know. The truth is, I'm still confused. Everything happened so fast," she blurted out, while holding her super-red cheek.

"Don't worry," Tsunade said, "I've already been in that stage, so I understand."

"Tsunade-sama…" she said, as she looked at her master.

"Go now. You must go do what you need to do," Tsunade ordered.

"Hai," she said, teary-eyed.

Sakura left Tsunade alone in the room feeling guilty.

Tsunade's POV

"Who am I?"

"Shouldn't I be the one to be pulling her back for them?"

"I'm her mentor.Why didn't I just order her to stay?"

"Baka."

"Aargh…"

Tsunade slammed her hand on the table was split into two. Still she blamed herself for letting go of her student.

End of POV

As Sakura closed the door, tears fell from her eyes.

Shizune, who was at the corner, moved next to Sakura, and handed her a hand kerchief. "Use this, and wipe your face."

"Arigato" she said, as she took the handkerchief from Shizune.

"Sakura, if you change your mind, or you may have some time, maybe you can come and visit us, okay?"

Then Sakura walked away as she waved her hand in approval.

Then Shizune lightened up a bit, as she saw Sakura, whono longer had a gloomy aura, vanishing from her sight.

At the wardroom, where our heroes were recovering…

The door opened. The room had no visitors. Then, Sakura came inside. She looked around, just to see that there were no more people there, just her with Sasuke and Naruto.

After she was able to claim that there were no more people, she then moved to sit beside Sasuke's bed. She remembered the days when she would always be pushed back by him, the times that he would protect her from harm, and the days when he was finally showed who he really was.

She sat at Sasuke's bed, and made some hand seals, then placed her forehead to Sasuke's. She stayed there for quite some time.

Sakura's POV

"I hope this will help."

"As soon as you wake up, I hope you will change your views."

"Thanks for being someone I looked up to."

"And I hope I was able to do my task here right."

She then gave a faint smile as she was thinking about this.

End of POV

She groomed Sasuke's hair, before she left and went to where Naruto was.

As shereached near where Naruto was lying, she stood there for a while and stared at him. She lowered her head.

Sakura's POV

"I hope I'm doing the right thing."

"I never tried to understand you."

"I hope all the times we've been together are the best times of your life." Then tears started falling from her eyes.

"I hope soon, after this, you will move forward."

"I'm sorry."

"I hope the gods and goddesses will be able to give you the right person for you."

Tears fell from her never felt any regret about what she was about to do.

End of POV

She then sat at Naruto's held his hands, and put them on her chest. She whispered something to him then for a little while, seals coming from Sakura's body, transferred to Naruto's hands to his body. After that, she gave Naruto a kiss on the lips. Tears fell on his face.

A white light flashed through the whole wardroom.

To be continued…

Hope you guys like the first chapter! Please review!