Intro

He's been there for as long as I can remember… Ever since that day….

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Sobs echoed out as she cried her heart out, for losing a mother was hard for someone just beginning to be aware of the world around her. To lose her mother at this age… Really felt painful. Her father and brother mourned in their own way, but she had no one to go to.

"Hey… What's wrong?" She tried to stop the tears at the voice.

"I've lost my mommy…" She sobbed out, though her crying and mind to her to say such a thing sounded far from it. But the person understood what she said, and looked on sadly.

"I see… I wish I knew what it was like to lose family…" Her crying died out as she looked to who said that, her eyes and face red. "Having no family of my own, makes it hard for me to know how much it hurts."

"No… Family?" Her eyes finally fell on a young male, older than her with bright blue eyes that held a lot of sadness and worry. "Who are you?" The young lad glanced about.

"My names Naruto Uzumaki… Who are you?" Naruto asked with a smile. The girl smiled back, but it was hard with tears and other liquids on her face.

"S-sakura…" She brunette smiled as Naruto stood. Sakura glanced about as she looked to see how he would have found her in the garden; there wasn't an entrance beside her home. "Where did you come from?" Naruto glanced to her bewildered.

"In all honesty, it's hard to understand myself… But I come from konoha, the hidden leaf village." Sakura stared, unsure of where that was, only familiar with her home. "I heard you crying, and I found myself hear…" He walked back over and sat down, his hand rested on her head as he smiled. She smiled back, thankful he was here somehow, and it she felt better, even from such a short while.

Naruto chuckled as he pulled out a cloth from his pocket and handed it to her, indicating to wipe her face. She responded so… "Thanks…" She glanced to Naruto who nods.

"Sakura…" Both their gazes drifted to her father who walked up. "You alright?" Sakura nods with a smile.

"Thanks to Naruto…" Her father looked confused as he made out what she said.

"Who's Naruto?" Sakura looked to Naruto and he did alike.

"He's Naruto…" Sakura stated pointing to the blond child. Her father looked at Naruto, and Naruto found like he was being seen clean through, like at home. Her father smiled, he understood now. In order to cope, Sakura's mind had formed a false person. Someone who she could talk too…

It was strange; to think someone so young was so imaginative at a young age. "Does he want to come in for lunch?" He felt better to play a believer than anything else.

Sakura looked to Naruto, he was unsure about this, but agreed. "Okay." Sakura responded and both stood. Her father nods and returned to the house, he'd speak about this to his son and mention not to push Sakura on this, she'll grow past it. Sakura looked to Naruto and took his palm, Naruto smiled also as he took back, his cloth.

As her father looked back to her, he looked puzzled, where was that cloth she just had?

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To begin with, they thought it was a phase, no it wasn't… To me he was there every day for most of it… Then when it came for bed… I was there with him every day….

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"Wow…" Sakura gasped, she looked to Naruto curiously as they walked the streets of his home. It was so big and different to where she was from.

"You like it here Sakura?" Naruto asked with a smile, getting weird looks as he spoke to thin air. Both Naruto and Sakura had become aware that no one could see him when she was about. But for once, to come to where Naruto was, made Sakura very happy, and it was the same effect here.

In either place, neither could be seen or heard apart from one another, and both could feel contact from each other and gain a piece from each other's world.

But to them, they didn't care; both were close friends over the time Naruto had come to be round Sakura, because they were each other's first friends.

"I love it here Naruto!" Sakura responded, having been beyond a year now and her vocabulary improving, she had willed for many nights to finally follow Naruto to where he went and finally it happened. Naruto grinned, she was amazed of the ninja village and Naruto was amazed with her home town, seeing two different worlds from each other's side.

"Ah Naruto…" Naruto turned to see an elderly man walk up. Sakura stepped behind Naruto somewhat worried. "How are you today my boy?" Naruto grinned.

"I'm well old man I've been showing Sakura about the village." Naruto said looking to her. The elder looked at nothing and looked confused.

"Sakura?" Naruto blinked, that's right.

"Oh… She can't be seen by anyone here... Only I can see and hear her." The elder looked confused as Sakura spoke up.

"Who is he Naruto?" She knew Naruto had no family, but to respond as such to this person was… Not normal.

"He's the hokage, Sakura, the strongest ninja in the village." Sakura looked to the hokage in awe as the old man chuckled, be was beginning to put two and two together.

It was sad really, Naruto had no friends his age, so it only explained that his mind would conjure up one. He should spend more time with the boy. "Would you both like to come round with me? I'll explain for Sakura if she wants." Naruto himself could do with a few history lessons of Konoha anyway and speaking it to Sakura might teach him something new.

"Okay!" Both Naruto and Sakura responded as they grinned to one another.

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He was brave and strong in my eyes, and it upset me when I saw people see ill of him. I comforted him as he would me, and if I was ever scared or lonely, he wasn't far. Our times were uneven, unsure when we would meet, and it never stopped surprising us… Hmhm, like a little game…

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"Okay students… We shall be studying chakra… Now, turn your books to page 30…" All the students turned their pages to their spot and Naruto leaned on his elbow bored, this wasn't fun.

"What you doing?" Naruto slipped off his elbow in surprise as he yelped. The class stopped and looked to Naruto who grinned embarrassed much to their teacher's annoyance. As the class returned to normal, Naruto sighed as he looked at his book. Sakura sat beside him and looked about curiously, she'd never been with Naruto to school before… This must be his first day maybe? "This the first day?"

"For you yes…" Naruto muttered as he listened, Sakura smiled and looked forward, listening also. She would soon be old enough to start schooling and looking forward to it. Though she doubted it be anything as nice as this.

As the lesson went on, with the teacher questioning students about certain things, Narutos mind drifted till his name was called. "Naruto Uzumaki…" Naruto looked to see the teacher in front of him.

"Eep… Um, yes sir?" The teacher held his book up and looked to Naruto.

"What were we just discussing?" Naruto sweated.

"About how chakra, when over used can leave you very exhausted." His head turned to Sakura quickly, surprised she was willing to help. She smiled and he looked back to the confused teacher. Replying exactly what Sakura said.

The teacher was surprised, never expecting him to have listened from the way he was sat looking into space. "Very well… Guess you are paying attention… Then please continue to read from where I left off?" Naruto nods with a gulp. Sakura pointed to the line.

"Thank you…" Naruto muttered and Sakura smiled with a short nod, happy to help as he stood.

Days passed and she'd pop in and out, making him jump, but he got her back by doing the same. She reminded him of important things that he missed, and was surprised she was taking it in. Someone two years his junior was paying attention to this stuff, she must really like it.

"Henge no jutsu!" Naruto yelled as he tried to transform into the hokage. Sakura sat watching with excitement, hoping for a success, but when it failed, she watched sadly and looked annoyed at those who laughed. Naruto growled at their laughing. "Just you all wait!" He yelled as his henge faded. "I'll become hokage some day got it!"

His dream, to become the villages protector, and been seen with respect by all. She was awed by his belief and hoped he did it.

"Yeah right, maybe if all the other good ninja die first!" One yelled as many laughed more. Naruto walked passed them all to his seat and Sakura waited till he sat and hugged him to comfort him, he was strong willed and her comfort and her belief that he would do it, made it all better.

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"What are you doing you little monster?" Sakura growled annoyed as she glanced from her seated spot to her brother.

"Meditating!" She commented back before turning back and mimicking Narutos stance.

"Meditating?" Toya, her brother commented confused. "What you meditating on? How not to make so much noise as you walk the landing..?" Sakura growled, why does he torment her so much…? If only she could use chakra, she'd use a jutsu to squash him.

"It's to a line my chakra… Naruto's teaching me…" Sakura stated in a matter of fact tone as she returned to her seated place. Naruto smirked at Toya, though the male couldn't see it. But Toya wasn't too much a believer of this 'imaginary friend deal.' His mother watched over them for a while and said Sakura was fine with her friend. Could she really see someone?

No matter what, this person seemed to be only visible to Sakura and for part of him, he was glad someone was willing to be there when she needed it, though he wasn't keen about him teaching her stuff she didn't know about.

"Just be careful…" He muttered and walked off.

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Five years we spent our time together and while it labelled us apart from everyone else, being name called and picked on. We were always there to pick up the pieces since we couldn't stop what was happening…

I just wish… That this day that happened, I could have…

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"Where is he? After him!" Footsteps echoed over their panting breaths. They'd been running for ages now, they didn't seem to quit. Why him?

Sakura was scared, even if they couldn't see her, she was scared for Naruto also. Naruto ran with fear in his eyes, these people were out to get him. It was just a joke, why would they grab that bat to teach him a lesson; normally it's just a telling off. Why today of all days?

Running into a dead end, they found someone waiting on the fence, so he couldn't escape. He turned round to find his escape closed off. "Got you… Heh…" Sakura shivered in fear, she could tell this wasn't a normal event. In the time she'd been with Naruto it was just harsh words… They really wanted to hurt Naruto this time.

"Get out of here…" Naruto muttered. "They can't do anything to you, please…" Naruto muttered quietly, wanting her to leave and stay safe. She gripped his hand.

"But…" The male in the bat walked up as the one behind closed the gap of escape.

"Please…" Naruto growled, he didn't know what to do and this wasn't something he wanted her to see if it lead to this, he didn't move to scare to fear any other choice but to take the brunt one, hoping that will end it and he'd learn from this also.

"Take this!" Naruto glared hard as Sakura remained with him.

"Get away from me!" Naruto yelled as a large crack echoed out.

Sakura sat upright in her bed, her body sweating and her mouth open slightly. She gasped as she realised what had happened. She abandoned him, because she was too scared to stay though it. She hadn't realised she'd yelled his name, and as it hit her, she cried.

Lights turned on and her father came to her side. "Sakura… What's happened?" Sakura looked to her father, he was really worried, she had never been startled like this, as she never had issues sleeping. She clung to him and cried, cried about how Naruto was in danger and she left him there. Her father hugged her tightly, nightmares getting to her, it really affected her badly.

Toya stood watching worried, if that's the case, what happened to Naruto?

Sakura froze as a palm rested on her own. Her eyes widen as she looked to Naruto, his face shadowed out. "Naruto!" She broke her father's hug and he could only watch as she comforted the invisible being. "Naruto, your okay… I was…" Naruto shook his head. "Naruto?"

"I'm sorry…" He looked to her and smiled. She gasped at the red mark to his head. "It took one strike to knock me out… I hoped they left after that… I just… Never expected it to happen…" He looked away. She was about say something before he reached out and hugged her. "Thank you… For being there for me…" Naruto muttered as he put something in her palm. "Good bye…"

Her eyes widen as she learned back and watched as slowly, Naruto faded away. He held his smile and then he was gone. Goodbye… Why would he say that, she'll see him soon?

Looking down, she looked to the item in her hands and it broke her heart. It was a tag he'd made for his jacket; he'd given it to her… It was his most important thing since he wanted something to label himself in future.

Tears fell, he was sorry he'd had her there, and sorry he wasn't coming back. She didn't hold back, her crying louder than before. Toya watched sadly, whatever happened, it wasn't good and as he looked to his father. He didn't even seem to know what to do.

Both just hoped she'd be okay.

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As the years passed, Naruto became a back seat memory, he never turned up again. And I could never visit him. We moved to a new town and I made friends there, but part of me still misses him… I wish he was here…

I kept his tag on me, and any outfit I wore, even for school; I wore the tag that kept me in belief that I'd see him again.

And when anyway asked, who made it, I would say… My first friend…

Chapter 1

"Sasuke!" Wide eyes looked to the sky, that voice…? Only for a thud to respond as her baton to strike her on the head, causing everyone to stop and look at her.

"Ouch…" Sakura groaned as she held her head.

As after school classes ended, Sakura was busy washing her hands. "You okay Sakura?" Turning to her best friend Tomoyo, she nods.

"Yeah… Just spaced out a moment that's all…" Sakura stated with her hands behind her head. 'But that voice… It sounded familiar…' Tomoyo smiled at her, Sakura did have a unique pose.

"What you doing now then?" Tomoyo asked as they walked to the changing room.

"I'll just go home and rest my head… It's been a long day." Tomoyo nods and when they left the school grounds, they departed.

Sakura hadn't been herself all day, those dreams she'd been having lately, now… that voice… What was going on today, why did that voice sound so familiar?

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On another plain, Naruto ducked and dodged fists and kick as he combated his rival and someone he called a brother. His determination burning to deal with this, he couldn't loose or Sasuke would go to Orochimaru and like hell that was happening.

Both jumped back and clashed attacks. "Rasengan!/ Chidori!" Both attacks collided and knocked each other back.

'This isn't good, we tie…' Naruto stumbled to his feet. Sasuke looked up, thinking to same thing. 'Naruto… Use my strength…' Naruto shook his head. 'No, I plan to fight on terms with Sasuke, this is how I wanted it.' His stubbornness got the better of him and became his downfall as Sasukes body gained a flame black tattoo pattern. 'What the..?'

"Housenka no jutsu!" Multiple fireballs fired at Naruto and the young male dodged, only for Sasuke to be on him, having him but the throat. "Got you Naruto…" Naruto growled, and watched as Sasuke's other palm glowed as the chidori flared.

'D-damn it…' Naruto growled, this couldn't be it, Sasuke pulled his palm back ready to finish this. In that moment, a memory came to him of a girl smiling beside him. 'Sakura…'

Sasuke lashed out, his hand dug through Naruto and out the other side, but Naruto wasn't out to be finished as he deflected the strike from the heart. 'He used his arm to deflect the killing blow… No matter, this should be enough.'

'You'll become hokage I know it! You won't let anyone down!' Tears rolled down his cheek as anger boiled. 'You've never let me down, and I won't let you down!' Naruto's hair flared as red chakra boiled to life.

"Argh!" Sasuke jumped back, trying to feel his arm after nearly having it crushed by Naruto grasp.

"What's going on?" Sasuke muttered confused. Naruto stood on slack feet, chakra flaring off him in waves. 'What is this chakra?'

"Sakura…" Naruto muttered, the brunette flickered in his mind. He let one person down by abandoning them, but for someone else, he was damned he fail again. "Argh!" Before Sasuke's eyes he watched Naruto's wound heal and the blond blue eyes turned red as he steeled his resolve.

This fight wasn't over yet. Sasuke scowled.

"What the hell are you?" Sasuke roared. Naruto growled.

"I'm your friend!"

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"What do I do? What do I do now?" Sakura muttered as she paced, how did she end up like this? To open a magic book and send all the 'clow cards' everywhere to god knows. And to make it worse, she was tricked by Keroberos to into gathering them all.

The only problem was… She didn't have one card to use!

Sakura groaned as she sat down and brushed her hair. She couldn't do this; she was just a normal school student, not some sort of ninja. Her window burst open and there was a sudden rush of wind. "What is that?" Sakura stood, dropping her brush as her hair was blown back. Quickly looking to the sky, both she and the small guardian of the clow cards watched the large bird fly over head.

"That's the fly card! Let's get to business for your first capture, cardcaptor Sakura!" Sakura looked to Keroberos and took it in…

"What!"

Leaving the safety of her home, Sakura took off after Fly on her roller blades, Keroberos and herself both having issues fighting the heavy winds. "Fly is abnormally strong!" Keroberos yelled. "These winds are not right!"

As the bird landed from its flight, Sakura and Keroberos faced the large bird down. "How am I, going to capture that!" Sakura yelled, Kerobero looked on at Fly, how indeed? Even he didn't know. "Keroberos!" Sakura yelled as a large gust blew Sakura along the floor.

"Sakura!" She righted herself and stayed low. She was scared; she didn't know what to do… "Sakura come on get up!" Keroberos called as he flew beside her. "Don't start panicking here." Sakura's form shook.

"I can't do it! I don't have anything to capture Fly… I'm scared Keroberos!" Keroberos looked back to fly as it released another gust, Sakura's low crouched form slid back a bit. "I can't do anything!"

She was right, but letting her believe it was something he didn't want. She released the clow cards, she had potential… But right now, what could they do…

"I wish he was here…" Sakura stated aloud and Keroberos looked to Sakura confused.

"Who…?" Sakura gripped her tag, she knew someone could handle this, and it was 'him'.

"Please…" She muttered. "Come back to me and help me…"

Her voice travelled through the air and it ended up travelling through the forests as it a silver haired ninja carried a lone figure on his back. Blue eyes opened as he recognised it. 'Sakura…'

'Do you want to go to her? She sounds like she needs you…' The nine tails voice whispered into his mind. 'You did your job; you stopped Sasuke and did it for that girl… Do you wish to go help 'this one'?' Naruto nods slowly.

'Kurama, take me to her… Please…' The fox in the cage smiled at the request. The boy only deserved it now, he'd done a good thing and his heart called for another. The fox stood on his hind legs and pressed his palms together.

'Let's go to her then… Uzumaki boy…' Naruto smiled.

"Sensei…" Naruto muttered, getting Kakashi's attention as he carried to lad while Sasuke was carried by medical ninja. "Thank you for being my sensei…" Before he could ask what he meant, Naruto vanished. And all the weight of the boy, faded into nothing.

"Naruto!" The ninja stopped, Kakashi glanced about… 'Where did he go?'

Naruto glided thought a white space, his body healing as he travelled. 'Please… Save me…' Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"I'm coming…" Rings of light appeared in the tunnel he travelled till it all turned back.

Sakuras cries died out under the birds screech, Keroberos looked back to the bird. It was going to attack again. "Sakura! Snap out of it!" Sakura clenched her teeth as she held onto the tag tightly.

"Please save me! Naruto!" All sound died out as a palm rested on her shoulder.

"Okay…" Eyes widen slowly, this voice from today. "Heh, no need to cry..!" Her eyes lifted up till she made contact with bright blue ones. "I'm here, so no more tears okay!"

Eyes watered and she cried again as she latched onto the blond. Naruto smiled softly as he hugged her. "Sorry I've been gone so long… But I'm here now." Sakura looked up to him as he pulled her upright.

"Please don't leave me again; I don't want to lose you a second time!" She yelled burying her head into his chest, her friend was back and she didn't want to lose him again. Slowly, Naruto and Sakura's eyes met.

'Complete the contract… boy…' Kurama's voice rung out in his mind and Naruto leaned forward. Sakura's eyes widen, but her body didn't react as she closed her eyes. She stepped forward and hugged him tightly. 'Well done… Now, let's get wild!'

Time passed in an instant for Keroberos as a bright light shone behind him. 'Sakura?' Turning to the bright light, Fly screeched as it unleashed a burst of wind. But before it reached them a shockwave pushed it all away and made the large bird stumble. Sakura was on her hands and knees as she looked shocked. Naruto stood facing the large bird, his body cloaked in a bright orange garb, different to his suit he battled Sasuke in.

"Let's go Kurama!" Naruto yelled as he swung his arms out and two kunai appeared. The young male crouched as he prepared. "A hero is here to save you Sakura!" Naruto dashed forward as he moved to deal with the bird. Keroberos flew to Sakura.

"Sakura… Who's that?" He looked to the male distract the large bird.

"He's… My friend…" Sakura stated as she stood. "He's Naruto Uzumaki, a ninja of konoha!" Sakura held her key tight. 'You came to save me, and I'll fight with you now.'

She felt safer, and more confident… The one she relied on from such a young age and helped her when she was down has come back to her. And she could only now stand and feel the need to help. "Naruto!"

Naruto landed and turned to the girl. "What?"

"Capture Fly, we need to seal it!" Naruto looked to the bird, capture? He was trying to kill the thing, but if she said so.

"Okay! Make it fast what you need to do!" With that he leapt back at the bird. Sakura took a breath as Keroberos looked on. Sakura slowly began the chant, the seal appeared beneath her.

"Release!" Taking hold of the staff, Naruto turned to her before he dodged the large foot of the bird and flew over head. Naruto clashed his kunai and threw them forward.

"Kage kunai no jutsu!" The kunai multiplied and a large net of chakra encased the bird. "Now Sakura!" Naruto yelled as he landed and the bird was trapped beneath the net.

Sakura nods as she rushed forward she stopped before the bird and took a calm breath. "Return to the guise you were meant to be in!" Swinging her staff up, she swung back forward. "Clow card!" A responding ping echoed as the large bird battled to escape and was warped into the card. But as it descended, it landed in Naruto's grasp.

"Seems like you've been having trouble…" Sakura nods embarrassed, but his gaze turned to something. "Come out now!" Sakura jumped and looked about as the wind picked up. A second being appeared and Naruto stepped in front of Sakura, "You're the one causing this heavy wind." The being nods.

"That's Windy." Keroberos stated, the being smiled amused. "Hang on, you're a gentle spirit!" Windy nods again, for once having some fun. Before their eyes, Windy began to fade and turned into a card, landing in Sakura's palm. "So that's where she went… She wanted to just have some fun I guess… So unlike her…" Keroberos stated.

"Here, this is yours too." Sakura looked to the Fly card and then Naruto. She smiled and took the card, glad to have two now.

Naruto smiled, "I'm glad to see you again Sakura." Sakura nods before she hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Naruto… For coming to aid me…" Naruto smiled, he missed her and was happy to see she missed him too.

Both were content with the friendship they missed so much, and wouldn't let it go again.

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Oh man! I'm hoping this is the final push to get me passed the writer's block. I hope you all liked this, as I loved this idea that came to me and I just had to do it.

As to explain what happened to begin with, well… It'll all be explained in the shadow card chapter