Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Poison ❯ The First Snow ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

She was already in her black dress when the knock came at her door. She was ready, well ready to go, not ready for it to be the truth. She opened the door and Sasuke stood there all in black and Naruto behind him dressed very similiar. She liked the blonde boy better in his usual bright cloths, Sasuke however seemed to look much better in black.

Sasuke looked the same as always, face stoic, no emotions to be shown, yet some how, to her, he looked sad, maybe because she knew him well enough to see through black eyes. Naruto, however, wore his heart on his sleeve as usual and you could still see the red puffiness in his eyes, she hurt for him.

She nodded to the boys who were waiting and stepped outside. No, she wasn't ready, but they headed to the place they knew so well, ready to carve his name into the stone. She hadn't known... She could have saved him, but she hadn't known. She was focused on the younger boys, her comrades. The fight was still hazy but in her mind her sensei could do anything, he was invinsible, she never knew, and she blamed herself. She could see in her team mates eyes they blamed themselves as well. But SHE could have saved him, if anyone could, it would have been her, the medic nin. And now... now? Now Kakashi-sensei was gone. Tears bit at her eyes... she couldn't stand the thought, he had been more of a father to her than her actual father. His place could never be taken in her heart and obviously team 7 would never be the same, though only a 3 man team, he had taught them every thing, including how to love and work with eachother. She looked to the black haired boy, she knew out of everyone that this HAD to mean the most to Sasuke... rather he'd show it or not, it did. Sasuke didn't have a father, and never had had one that understood him. Now, again, he's lost the one person who really did understand him well. She hurt for him.

Neither boys knew, as she trailed behind, like always, that she would be visiting two graves today. Tsunade had entered the room that day after the boys had left and had explained that Sakura's father had become very ill and was unwilling to let anyone know until he was beyond help, he had been waiting on his daughter to come home. He died the day Sakura had made it back to the hospital with a smile on his face. Sakura cried in Tsunade's arms... Why? Why so much loss? So much pain? She really wanted to dissapear, but then she was reminded of all that she did have. She had her friends, and Tsunade, and her mother still, though she had never been close to her. Ino came in, she had been told, she apologized about earlier, she apologized about everything.
She could be jealous, vain, and selfish, but she was a good person, and still one of Sakura's best friends. Hinata came in, Sakura would have to say that Hinata was her best friend, though they never had a lot in common Hinata could get along with anyone and she was good at listening. Sakura begged both girls not to tell anyone yet, especially the boys, and they complied reluctantly.

She was brought back to reality when Sasuke stopped infront of her. There were more people there than they thought. She glanced around, really everyone she knew was there and even some she didn't know. Suddenly she didn't feel like crying anymore. She was almost happy. Kakashi was so dearly loved. So many people he had effected. And everyone came to show they cared. He had practically raised them and they were all grown up now, at a very young age, but shinobi HAD to grow up fast, and team 7 did. Because of him, he had given them all he had and in a world where he had once believed he would always be alone he found he had his "kids" and in the end he gave his life so that they could continue to grow and learn and love and oneday love some one else so
much that they would give there life for them and in the end she had given team 7 one thing that could never be replaced, Sasuke. Because of Kakashi, they had him back.

She thought more about her sensei, thought about how much she loved him, as a teacher, as a father, as a friend. He meant so much to all of them. He was a touch lazy and FOREVER late to everything, they always said he'd be late to his own funeral. She laughed a bit at this, his body wasn't there yet. He never showed much of his true emotions, but when he cared he made it obvious, he had put his ass on the line MULTIPLE times to ensure they would grow up. He was a pervert, a bit careless at times, but he awlays made them laugh, he taught them so much and meant so much to them. And here she was, all grown up inside, was he proud of her? She prayed he was, she knew he was proud of the boys. She half expected him to show up 30 minutes later and wonder where everyone had gone. His kids always waited on him. They always would. She hated to see him go, wish she had known, could have said goodbye, could have said thank you, but she knew, that he knew. His life as a shinobi was over. But there paths would cross again, she knew that their four souls would be forever entertwined. He would always be a part of their lives and for eternity his lessons and teaching would be remembered.

His body arrived shortly and the ceremony began. The whole thing was a blurr and she was lost in her thoughts the entire time. Only a few soft gasps and whispers caught her attention and it seemed Sasuke was going to speak. For once in her life, she wasn't hanging on his everyword. She could hear his voice, smooth and calm. He didn't shed a tear or show the slightest bit of emotion, he was screaming inside. She then realized that this was Sasuke's first appearence back in Konoha, outside the hospital that is. She stared at him but the words he spoke she couldn't hear. She couldn't concentrate. She just wanted it to all be over. She wanted to visit her father's grave... since she had missed the burial while in her coma then just go home and sleep. Sleep until the next mission where she could concentrate on that, and only that. It would all be over soon... she zoned out.

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She trailed her fingers over the engraved letters on the cold stone, carefully tracing each word. Her vision was blurry from tears but there was no sense in trying to read it anyways, she knew it was her father's grave. She was alone. Her mother hadn't even come to see her at the hospital. Though she had never been particularly close to her, her mother had atleast always been loving, she was a bit more of a Daddy's girl though, those days were over. Her silent sobs contiuned until she realized she wasn't alone, she looked up to see Hinata standing silently beside her.

"Ino-chan wanted to come, b-but she said she doesn't know how to handle things like this very well. That is, well I mean, I guess I really don't either, I just... I didn't want you to be alone." Hinata stuttered out. Sakura gave her best friend a smile that lied. One that said she was to strong to cry, despite the tears pouring down her face and replied, "I'll be fine Hinata-chan, really. I just need a little time to think and then I'm going home." Hinata could tell that Sakura wanted to be left alone. There was only one person in this world could make her happy at the moment and that person wouldn't show he cared even if he did. Hinata knew that, she was glad Sasuke was home, because she knew it would make Sakura happy, but at the same time it created a whole new set of problems. That was pointless to think about at the moment however. Sasuke wasn't going to comfort Sakura and Sakura didn't even want him to know and she didn't want Hinata to comfort her. Hinata sighed and turned away, it hurt her to even look at the girl sometimes. She sighed again and set out on her way home, it was going to be hard to keep this from Naruto.

Sakura watched as her friend left silently. She felt like a burden at the moment, like a big burden to everyone she was around, she felt useless, but then again, she always had been... all she could think to do was just go home and see her mother and try to comfort her. She stood silently and turned away from the grave, making her way slowly back home.


She could hear her mother sobbing from inside before she even opened the door. Reluctantly she pushed the door open and stepped in, making her way to the kitchen where her mother sat, head on the kitchen table sobbing. The woman never even looked up at her. Sakura stepped closer, "Oka-san?" she asked, reaching out to touch the woman. Her mother batted her hand a way a tad violently. She continued to sob for a minute before replying, "This... is all your fault..." she choked.

"wha.. what do you mean..?" Sakura asked feeling confused and betrayed.

"He ws waiting.. for you... all he cared about is you... and what do you do? You run off... to go find that damnedUchiha who was never anything more than trouble anyways. Tell me! If he ran off in the first place, do we really need him here!?" Her voice grew louder as she turned to face her daughter, eyes filled with so much anger.... Sakura could say nothing. Her mother had never treated her this way before... and what now? She was being blamed for her father's death? And all because she wanted to save the person she loved.

"Just leave..." her mother said turning away again, voice being drowned in sobs again.

"Oka-san..?" Sakura repeated hesitantly, tears burning at the back of her eyes again. What the hell???

"You heard me... I don't want you here... just get out, " she turned towards Sakura again, "GO! GET OUT OF THIS HOUSE!!!" She stood pushing her violently towards the door... Sakura did little to sturggle and next thing she knew she was on her door step in the snow. She could do nothing... just lay there in the snow... the first snow of the year. Her lip was bleeding, she was cold, and everything seemed to go all wrong all at once. She felt so lost. She was supposed to be happy. Sasuke was home. And he wasn't even trying to run away or anything. And most likely there would be no hearing or nothing since Tsunade-sama understood the circumstances. This should be a happy time... but so much bad... so much.... pain...


She had no idea how long she had slept and didn't care... it was pitch black out side except for the nice new blanket of snow, covering not only the ground but her as well. She sat up half dazed and brushed some of the snow from her clothing. She didn't think of where she had to go if anywhere at all. She just stood and started wandering, because she does that. When she gets lost in herself she wanders. She kept wandering, for God only knows how long, until she was infront of the door again, the same door she always found despite that she set off with no destination. She ran her fingers over it. It was cool as always and when her fingers reached the knob she yet again found it unlocked. She pushed it open and braced herself for the cool, stale, breeze that usually flowed from inside the house. But it never came. Instead a bit of warm air rushed over her and shocked her a bit. Then a hand reached out and stopped her from behind like always. When she turned to meet Naruto's gaze she found nothing but an emtpy charcoal stare.