Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Hidden Emotions ❯ Thank You, Sakura ( Chapter 1 )

I do not own Naruto. But I would definitely like to own Sasuke. ^_^

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Sasuke tried to brush away thoughts of his past as he prepared for the day. Tsunade-sama had ordered for Sasuke and his new team to begin training together every day in order to get comfortable around each other again. Sasuke was nervous. Had it really been so long? It had. His former team members who he had said next to nothing to in so long would now be accompanying him every day. Sasuke knew how difficult it was going to be to hold his feelings back. He knew he couldn't for long. It was possible for this long since he saw them so little. But now he had no choice. He couldn't say no to Hokage. Not after Konoha had graciously accepted him back after what he had done, after he left.

 

Sasuke pulled on his shoes and folded his blankets. He couldn't be late on his first day even though he knew Kakashi would be. Sasuke stood in front of his door with his hand out to the doorknob. He took a deep breath and tried to push all emotion aside. He opened the door and walked out. The sky was bright today and it was unreasonably hot lately. He walked to the meeting place in front of Ichiraku and saw Naruto and Sakura were already there. They were standing a fair distance from each other. Sasuke knew Sakura and Naruto were not on good terms although he didn't know why. Sakura noticed Sasuke first and started gushing and excitedly waving instantly.

 

“Sasuke-kun!” she greeted him, “Welcome back, Sasuke-kun!”

 

Naruto turned when he heard Sakura greet Sasuke. He smiled and waved silently. Naruto didn't say much these days. Sasuke assumed it had something to do with whatever happened between him and Sakura.

 

Sasuke held back his smile and simply threw a “Hey,” towards them then leaned up against a fence with his arms crossed. They didn't wait very long before Kakashi showed up with his nose stuck in a dirty novel. He put it aside to say something to Sasuke.

 

“Sasuke, we're very pleased to have you back on our team. It's been a long time since we've all worked together so it might be a little awkward at first but I expect all of you to put your full strength into missions and training and do your best. We're no longer teacher and students. We're all equals. There will be times when I won't be with you on missions. You will be expected to make your own decisions and act accordingly.”

 

Everyone nodded their heads to show they understood.

 

Kakashi smiled behind his mask and put his hand on Sasuke's shoulder. “It really is nice to see you all together again.”

 

 

Sakura smiled simply at the sight of Sasuke every time she looked his way. Sasuke had always hid his emotions but Sakura's obsession with him really had always bothered him. It wasn't until after Sasuke left Konoha that he realized it was more than just a schoolgirl crush. She had poured his heart out to him that night. She had asked to come with him. He was numb to it then. He was completely closed off. But Sasuke came to understanding with himself sometime in those 4 years he was gone. He realized a lot of things. He realized people loved him. And he had left them. He realized Sakura had loved him. And he left her. Sasuke didn't know if Sakura still loved him. He didn't care as long as she smiled at him like that.

 

Kakashi motioned for them to follow him. So they did. Kakashi led them to the Memorial Spot where they had first done the bell test. It felt good to be there again, together. Sasuke knew they repeated the bell test without him long ago.

 

“We're going to split up and fight today.” Kakashi said and then he looked at Naruto. “You will be fighting me. Sakura will fight Sasuke.” He looked at the two of them and they agreed. “You two stay here and fight.” Kakashi and Naruto fled off to fight at a distance.

 

It was a split second before Sakura charged at Sasuke with bare fists. It came as a shock and Sasuke barely dodged it. He stood back and looked at her in disbelief. She was fast. She had anger in her face. A lot of anger. Sasuke had a feeling that this was a personal. She pulled a kunai out and came at him faster than before. This time he was ready. He pulled out one of his own kunai and held it up to block hers. She was a lot stronger than he had expected and the force flew him back with her on top of him. When they landed Sakura instantly threw a first at him which he dodged. She hit the ground and it shook and broke apart from the charka explosion. Sasuke was speechless. What the hell?! He thought. What the hell is she trying to do to me?! He realized the broken ground could have been his face. Sasuke threw Sakura off of him and stepped back. She came at him again and again while all he did was dodge her.

 

“SASUKE!” Sakura shouted “Fight me!” Sasuke couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth. This is the girl that obsessed over Sasuke for so long and would never dream of hurting him. What was she saying?

 

Sakura screamed at him again, “Fight me, you coward!” as tears formed behind her eyes. Sasuke then knew that this was personal. She was angry at him.

 

“Sakura...” He said in a whisper of confusion. He said it so confused it almost sounded like a question.

 

“What?! You don't want to fight me?!”

 

Sasuke could see the anger turning into hurt as she spoke and began to show some on his own face. As soon as he realized it, he wished he could take it back. But he saw it was too late by the look on her face. She looked shocked as if she had just seen something terrible but amazing happen. He didn't know what to do and so he tried to take it back anyway. He put the blank expression back on his face not sure how she would react. He saw her get even more shocked then anger filled through every muscle in her body. Oh, shit. She flew at him. He couldn't dodge it this time. She hurled him back until they hit a tree. She pinned him so he couldn't move.

 

“Sasuke! Damn it! Fight me!” She squeezed her eyes shut as she screamed and tears flew out but the angered look on her face remained. Sasuke just stared.

“Are you even listening to me?! Why won't you fight me?!”

Sasuke felt a frown come to his face and tried to hold back tears. It wasn't working. He clenched his teeth and tightened his jaw until it hurt hoping she wouldn't notice the sadness in his face. But she did. She loosened her grip on his shoulders and dropped her head while her screams turned into sobs.

“No, Sasuke..” she sobbed for a few seconds more before bursting into a crying yell

“Don't do this to me! Not now! Not after so long!” she started to trail off

“Just fight me…” Her eyes were bloodshot now from crying and her cheeks shining from her tears.

 

Sasuke loosened his jaw. “Sakura-Chan… I'm sorry..” he said quietly. When she heard him she began to cry louder and yell again “You're sorry?! Sasuke, I waited for you! I waited for so long! You left me! I asked to go with you! I wanted to be with you, Sasuke! And you left me…” She trailed off. Sasuke's lips were almost trembling now. He felt a pain in his heart. Sakura seemed to have said all that in one breath and now she was catching her breath and sobbing uncontrollably. Sasuke didn't know what to do. She started breathing normally while still crying and then said so quietly it was barely audible “I would have done anything for you.”

 

That hit Sasuke's heart harder than he would have ever expected. He cupped her chin and pulled her face up to his since he was quite a bit taller than her. He looked straight into her eyes.

 

“Sakura..” She stared back like her very life was hanging on that next word. “Thank you.”

She was breathless. She had replayed those words in her head millions of times over the years. That was the last thing he had said to her before he left. Sakura's tears came hotter, quicker, and fuller than before and she let her body go limp. She expected to fall to the ground when she realized Sasuke was holding her. Her face was nestled comfortably in his chest and his arms were tightly wrapped around her. When Sasuke realized she let her body go limp he sat on the ground and leaned his back up against the tree. Sakura was laying in between his legs with her face still in his chest. They just sat there. Sakura kept her head on him while listening to his heart beat under his muscular chest. Sasuke held her. Neither of them said another word.