Hello! This is my first attempt at writing a Naruto fanfic. So this will be a short one-shot, just to see how it goes.

This one-shot is from Sakura’s point of view. I really didn’t like Sakura that much in the beginning, but now (episode 160) I’m really starting to respect her. And later, she just kicks ass! (was that a spoiler? Oh well.. sorry if it was) This is about her, after the departure of Sasuke. She takes, sort of, a objective look at herself.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto: not it’s jutsu’s, it’s characters, nor the world itself. I just own this computer, and this story. If I did own Naruto, Sakura wouldn’t have cried when Sasuke left, but her Inner Self would have come out and kicked his ass! (sorry, just had to say that)

Left alone

When Sasuke left, I blamed myself. Later, I blamed myself even more; the sight of Naruto, covered in bandages, with his toothy grin plastered on his face while saying: “Don’t worry Sakura-chan, I will bring him back. It’s a promise of a lifetime!”, it just made my heart ache.

I think that was the moment when I finally realized that Sasuke had been right: I had been weak, and annoying. And what was it again that the Sound-nin had said to me in the Forest of Death? ‘If you have the time to be pretty, train more!’ I can’t really remember, but it was very humiliating for me, sitting on the ground like that, tears of frustration streaming out of my eyes.

That also had been a crucial point: I cut off my hair, long hair which I thought would guarantee that Sasuke would like me. Never had I been more wrong.

He just pushed me away again, calling me annoying.

I have decided never to let any of my friends get hurt again because of the silly, annoying, weak, pathetic me.

Oh yes, no-one ever told me, of course, but I could guess from their pitying looks, and their little sighs, that people (especially Kakashi) thought I shouldn't have become a kunoichi.

After all, ninja are not to show their emotions, right? Well, I can’t count all the times I cried in the past.. year? Half year? I don’t really remember. And most of the times, I cried because of Sasuke. Or out of self-pity.

Because no-one ever seemed to notice me; why should they? I was on a team with Sasuke and Naruto.

Sasuke: The Uchiha prodigy. Sharingan user. Brilliant at nin-jutsu and also fairly good at tai-jutsu. A genius. Already on his way of becoming an excellent ninja.

Naruto: Most surprising ninja. Kyuubi container. Uses his kage-bunshin for all purposes and it always helps him out. Mastered the Rasengan, the famous chakra-ball attack (1)of the Fourth. He may not have a bloodline limit, but he is one of the strongest of the Rookie Nine; he did beat Neji and Kiba. Also on his way of becoming an excellent ninja; maybe even Hokage, as he was always screaming every time, everyplace.
Well, today I have decided that I won’t be known as ‘team-mate of...’or ‘Kakashi’s student’ or anything like that! I will be known as Haruno Sakura, the girl who was left but did not fall, did not loose herself to self-pity.

I have to admit, the astonished faces of Shikamaru, Kakashi etc when I dispelled Ino’s jutsu with help from my Inner self, they gave me a sort of satisfaction. And it’s like a sort of drug: I want to see that sort of faces much, much more. And I will, I’m sure of that.

Someday I will be recognized for the person that I am. And someday, hopefully, Sasuke will also see that person.

After I have punched him in the face, of course.

(1) I had no idea how to call it, so bear with me.

AN: I decided to end this fic lightly. You know, I thought it was a bit depressing. And the story didn’t quite go the way I planned it. Oh well.. please review! Give me advice/ constructive criticism, it’s what I write for. Reviewers get.. erhm.. a cookie. See ya!