Naruto (c) Masashi Kishimoto

Dedication: Within Temptation for writing an awesome song. Oh, Stitch and Sara get props too.

The moon was round and full, that fateful spring night; the air was crisp with a coming spring storm and Sakura looked at the picture of Squad Seven on her dresser. Everyone was smiling, everyone expect her, that is. She was pouting in the middle. Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto were grinning on either side of her, while their masked sensei, Hatake Kakashi, was smiling over them. At least, they assumed he was smiling. It doesn’t matter anyways anymore, Sakura thought as she placed the picture facedown on the dresser. They were holding me back. It won’t be a problem anymore though, Sakura picked up her leaf headband and looked at it, before she shoved it into her bag. She looked around the room one more time, before leaving.

The streets at this hour were unearthly quiet, but that didn’t really bother Sakura that much. She was use to silence, it had engulfed her life ever since her parents were murdered. All she heard was the hoot of an owl and the tick-tack of her shoes on the cement. She walked with her head down, her feet more interesting than the scenery around her; Sakura brought her head up when she heard another set of footsteps, they sounded hurried and they were coming behind her.

“Sakura!”

The pink haired girl turned around and frowned when she saw who it was.

“Go back to bed Uchiha, I’m sure your mommy will be worried sick if she finds out that her precious wittle boy is missing,” Sakura sneered. Sasuke frowned.

“What has gotten into you lately?” he asked, fearlessly walking up to her.

“Like you would understand,” Sakura began walking off towards the village exit. She suddenly came to a halt when Sasuke grabbed her wrist.

“Maybe if you explained it to me, I would be able to understand and I can help you,” Sasuke whispered, his obsidian eyes bright. Sakura yanked her wrist away.

“How could you even began to fathom my pain? My loneliness! You’ve always had your parents, your friends, and your clan! You’ve always had people around that loved and cared about you,” Sakura gave a bitter laugh. “I’ve had nobody! Nobody from the start!”

“Sakura,” Sasuke whispered.

“Go back to bed Sasuke,” Sakura began heading towards the gate.

“I’ll scream,” Sasuke called out to her. “I’ll scream and yell and then go get Naruto, who’ll yell and scream until he wakes up the entire village!”

Sakura looked at him, “You’re annoying, you know that?”

Sasuke blinked. “Sakura, don’t go! Please! Don’t go!” Sasuke shouted.

“You can’t stop me Sasuke,” Sakura continued to walk off.

“Sakura, I’ll help you…I’ll help you get your revenge on whoever it is! I’ll help! Just stay here! Where you belong!” Sasuke shouted. Sakura paused before looking at her feet.

Sasuke gasped softly when she was suddenly behind him. “Sasuke,” Sakura whispered softly. “Arigato,” and she whacked him on the back of his head with the butt of her kunai, knocking him out.

“Sasuke? Sasuke, can you here me?”

“Mikoto, give him some space, you’ll smoother him.”

“Oh, hush, Fugaku!”

“Mother?” Sasuke moaned, slowly opening his eyes.

“Oh, thank goodness you’re alright,” Mikoto hugged her son, and Sasuke looked at his father and then at the village exit. “I was so worried about you, I thought you ran off,” Mikoto rocked her son back and forth. “What were you doing, sneaking around the village at night?” Mikoto held her son at arm’s length.

“I have to go…talk to Naruto,” Sasuke pulled away from his mother, heading towards the Hokage Tower.

“I wonder what that was about,” Mikoto frowned.

“I don’t know, I’m sure he’s fine though,” Fugaku shrugged.

“He’s never been the same after Itachi disappeared,” Mikoto stood up.

“Hn,” Fugaku headed back towards the Uchiha district. “Coming Mikoto?”

“I suppose,” Mikoto turned and followed her husband.

“Naruto….Naruto wake up!” Sasuke poked his childhood friend in the head.

“Whaddya want teme?” Naruto moaned, and then did a double take when he realized Sasuke was right outside his window. “Whaaa!” the blond hyperactive knucklehead ninja tumbled out of bed.

“Tch,” Sasuke rolled his eyes.

“Sasuke, you can’t go scaring people like that! It’s unethical!” Naruto shouted.

“Is your father up?”

“Of course, he is Hokage, why?” Naruto rubbed his eyes, pouting.

“Sakura…she left last night,” Sasuke hung his head.

“And you didn’t stop her!?” Naruto looked at the Uchiha heir.

“I tried, but she wouldn’t listen,” Sasuke frowned.

“Why didn’t you just slug her in the gut or use your chidori?” Naruto asked.

“Unlike you, my parents raised me to never hit a girl if I can help it!” Sasuke pointed out.

“Well, my dad’s Hokage, so there!” Naruto stuck his tongue out at Sasuke.

“Get dress; let’s go see if your dad will let us form a rescue squad or something,” Sasuke grumbled.

“My dad isn’t gonna send a platoon out for one genin,” Naruto pointed out. Sasuke glared at the blond jinchuuriki.

“He will. I’m Uchiha, my name actually carries some weight, unlike the Uzumaki name,” Sasuke growled.

“Hey! Do not diss my mother’s name!” Naruto shouted.

“Just get dress idiot,” Sasuke sighed, and hopped down to the street below Naruto’s window to wait.

Minato looked up when his son and his son’s best friend came into his office. “Naruto, I didn’t expect you up this early,” Minato smiled.

“Well, I would still be sleeping if teme hadn’t gotten me up,” Naruto elbowed Sasuke.

“Sasuke?” Minato looked at the dark haired Uchiha boy.

“Minato-sama, Sakura…she…she left the village last night, permission to gather a team and go after her,” Sasuke informed the Hokage.

“Sasuke, I know you are a chuunin now, but you can’t just come in here a demand that I assign you a team to rescue your friend,” Minato shuffled the papers on his desk.

“You don’t understand, Sakura is not just my friend and teammate, she’s…she’s special to me, and I have to get her back!” Sasuke slammed his hands on his desk.

“I’m sorry Sasuke, but my answer is no,” Minato looked into the black eyes of the Uchiha heir. Sasuke bit his lip, trying to keep his frustration and anger in check.

“Is it because she’s a girl?” Sasuke asked.

“No, its because I’m not going to waste my ninja’s valuable time on one genin,” Minato pointed out.

“What if she goes to Tsunade? Or Orochimaru? Would you send a team out looking for her then?!” Sasuke asked.

“I don’t know Sasuke, she may just have left for some personal time alone,” Minato sighed.

“Bull shit!”

“Language Sasuke,” Minato chided.

“This is just like when my brother vanished! You didn’t do anything about it!” Sasuke shouted.

“Sasuke,” Naruto glanced at his friend that at his father.

“Sasuke, your brother’s disappearance is a tragic event,” Minato sighed.

“No! You were just too lazy to send a platoon out to find him! You don’t even know why he left! Or what happened to him! You just didn’t care about my brother! He was one of your precious ninja! Why didn’t you send out a team then, huh?” Sasuke shouted.

“Sasuke, there are reasons why I didn’t send a team out to look for your brother,” Minato rubbed his forehead.

“Whatever,” Sasuke pushed himself away from the desk. “You just don’t care about Sakura, like you didn’t care about Itachi! They are just tools to the village! Well, he was my brother and she was my friend!” Sasuke snapped.

“Sasuke, its not going to help if you yell at my dad,” Naruto whispered.

“I don’t care,” Sasuke allowed his eyes to turn crimson. “I’m going to go get her and bring her back, and then I’m going to go look for Itachi,” Sasuke growled.

“You do that and you will never be allowed back into this village again,” Minato stood up. “Think of your mother Sasuke, how would she deal with the fact that she lost her two sons?”

Sasuke paused, eyeing the Hokage, but closed his eyes in defeat. “Fine,” Sasuke walked out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.

Wind ruffled his black hair as he sat on the dock, hugging his knees, staring into the clear pond. How many times had he and his team swam in the pond together after a particularly grueling mission? How many times had they stargazed on the shore late at night after a wonderful meal at his house? “It’s all over now,” Sasuke tossed a rock dejectedly into the pond.

“Sasuke?”

Sasuke turned to see his father, his face looking older than what he really was. Sasuke snorted and turned back to staring at the pond. “I heard what happened with the Hokage,” Fugaku walked up to his son.

“He’s an idiot anyways,” Sasuke growled. “He won’t let me go after Sakura and he won’t let me go after Itachi,” Sasuke pressed his forehead against his knees.

“Your mother has dinner ready,” Fugaku attempted to change the subject.

“I’m not hungry,” Sasuke growled. Fugaku sighed and headed back to the house.

“I’ll tell your mother to keep your plate warm if you want,” he called to his son.

“Hn,” Sasuke continued to brood, ignoring the growling of his stomach. He forgot how long he sat there, glaring at the water as if the water caused all his troubles, he didn’t even jump when Naruto hopped down besides him.

“Hey, teme,” Naruto was munching on some onigiri. It had his face on it, so Sasuke guessed it was made by that Hyuga girl. “Hungry?”

“Not really,” Sasuke muttered, he looked at his headband that he was holding in his hand, then back at the water. “There’s only one thing I can do, Naruto,” Sasuke whispered.

“What’s that?” Naruto asked around a mouthful of food.

“I’m going to run away and get stronger then I’ll bring Sakura back,” Sasuke looked at his friend.

“What? No! You can’t just leave the village like that, teme!” Naruto nearly choked on his food.

“I don’t care, I’m going to do it,” Sasuke placed his headband on the wooden deck, both boys were oblivious to the golden eyes of an unwelcome guessed watching them.

“Sasuke, what about your parents? What will they think? And my dad will…he’ll be pissed!”

“I honestly don’t care Naruto; they don’t understand what Sakura means to me,” Sasuke looked at the sky.

“Okay, say you run away. Who are you going to go to get stronger?” Naruto asked.

“Orochimaru,” Sasuke shrugged.

“Why him? He’s one of Konoha’s most notorious missing-nin!” Naruto waved his hands wildly in the air.

“Because, he’s strong, and I’ll get stronger under him,” Sasuke closed his eyes. “Besides, Sakura most likely went to Tsunade, its only logical that I should train under Orochimaru if I want to defeat Sakura at some point,” Sasuke whispered, resting his cheek against his knees.

“Sasuke, think about what you are doing! If you leave and go train under Orochimaru, my dad will have to classify you as a missing-nin! You may never return to the village…ever! And think about your parents! I don’t think your mom can handle the fact that she has two sons that turned traitor,” Naruto pointed out. Sasuke snapped his eyes open, his Sharingan spinning lazily, before he tackled Naruto.

“Don’t you ever imply that Itachi is a traitor! I don’t know why he left that night, but I know he’s no traitor! My brother is a proud member of the Uchiha clan and shinobi of this village! He isn’t a traitor!” Sasuke shouted, slamming Naruto against the wooden deck.

“Sasuke calm down,” Naruto gulped. Sasuke huffed and let go of Naruto. “I’m sorry I said that, I should be more careful,” Naruto looked away. “I’m just saying that I think your mother is still upset that Itachi left, for whatever reason; and I don’t think she’ll be able to handle it if you left too,” Naruto said.

“My mother is a kunoichi, she’ll be alright,” Sasuke muttered.

“Yeah, but she’s a mom first,” Naruto pointed out.

“Hn,” Sasuke shivered against the cold breeze.

“Please Sasuke, don’t go, don’t throw your life away,” Naruto stood up. “If you stay I’ll help you get stronger,” Naruto smiled.

“No, I’ve made up my mind, I’m going to find Orochimaru,” Sasuke whispered. Naruto just sighed and walked off. Sasuke stayed a few more minutes before he too, headed back home.

Sasuke looked at the note he had written. He hated leaving his parents, especially his mother, but he had to rescue Sakura. He vaguely wondered why he loved a girl that wanted nothing to do with him, but then again, love was a funny thing. Now, if only he got the courage to ask her out on one date or admit to her face that he liked her. “So, you want to find Orochimaru-sama, ne?” a smooth voice asked. Sasuke turned to see a white haired boy.

“Who are you?” Sasuke’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m Sakon,” the boy said.

“And what do you want?” Sasuke growled.

“You want to find Orochimaru-sama, don’t you?” Sakon asked.

“Why do you care?” Sasuke slung his pack onto his shoulder and turned to face Sakon. “I can find him on my own,” Sasuke pointed out.

“Oh, you think you can find Orochimaru-sama by just wander about in the wilds?” Sakon asked.

“Yes,” Sasuke frowned.

“I highly doubt it,” Sakon grinned.

“Then why are you here?” Sasuke asked.

“Well, I know where Orochimaru is, my friends and I will be willing to escort you to him,” Sakon replied.

“Really?” Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, but if you don’t want our help, that’s okay too,” Sakon shrugged.

“Meet me on the hill outside the village, at midnight,” Sasuke whispered. Sakon grinned evilly.

“You got yourself a deal, kid,” Sakon then left the young Uchiha heir alone. Sasuke turned back to the note he was almost done writing, he looked out his window where Sakon was before her grabbed the note and hopped out the window.

“I never thought I’d have to watch both of my friends leave,” Naruto whispered from a lamppost. Sasuke paused and looked at Naruto.

“I’m only going to Orochimaru to get Sakura back,” Sasuke pointed out as Naruto hopped down.

“Yeah, but there are other ways than running away to some creepy guy,” Naruto pointed out.

“Whatever,” Sasuke looked at the note in his hand. “Naruto,” he looked at his feet.

“Sasuke?”

“If…if my parents start to wonder where I am…tell them…tell them I’ll be back…tell them not to worry and that I’m okay,” Sasuke looked into Naruto's blue eyes. “Will you do that for me?”

“Sure,” Naruto nodded.

“And don’t tell anyone else where I’ve gone…I don’t want your dad to get mad at you for not being able to stop me,” Sasuke muttered.

“Just bring her back Sasuke,” Naruto whispered.

“I intend to,” Sasuke nodded and headed towards the village exit. He stopped and looked at Naruto’s retreating back. “Yo, Naruto!” he called out. The orange clad boy looked at the Uchiha. “Catch!” Sasuke tossed him something and Naruto caught it. He looked down at it.

“Your lucky hawk?” Naruto looked at Sasuke, but the Uchiha boy only grinned.

“For luck and a promise, I want it back when I come home!” Sasuke shouted before vanishing into the night. Naruto grinned and slipped it over his neck.

“Don’t worry teme, you’ll get it when back when you come with Sakura,” Naruto whispered and headed home.

Minato didn’t like whatever his son was planning, but he couldn’t say no to the boy. Not when Naruto demanded to speak with Jiraiya himself. The Toad Sage looked down at Naruto, with a frown on his lips. “You want me to what?”

“Train me for a few years,” Naruto grinned.

“Minato, your kid isn’t serious is he?” Jiraiya looked at his pupil.

“I’m afraid he is Jiraiya-sensei,” Minato gave a sheepish smile.

“I told you, stop calling me that,” Jiraiya rubbed his face. “So, Sakura has finally gone off in search of Tsunade, eh?”

“Apparently,” Minato nodded.

“And Sasuke left late last night and nobody knows where he went or why he left,” Jiraiya looked at Naruto.

“Hey, I have no idea where Sasuke went, and you know I would’ve told Dad if I did, so don’t look at my like that Pervy Sage,” Naruto shouted, Minato chuckled.

“I can’t believe you let him talk to his elders like that Minato,” Jiraiya grumbled.

“So, will you train me?” Naruto asked.

“No,” Jiraiya shook his head. “If you want me to train you to rescue so you can rescue Sakura and Sasuke, forget it, they left because they clearly don’t want to be apart of this village anymore,” Jiraiya said.

“If you are going to give me some fancy longwinded speech, save it; I understand, but I don’t want to get strong just to save my friends, I want to get stronger so I can protect the village as well,” Naruto glared at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya glared at Naruto and Minato silently watched the entire thing unfold.

Finally, Jiraiya smiled. “Okay, kid, I’ll train you for three years,” Jiraiya said.

“Five and you got yourself a deal,” Naruto smirked.

“He’s good,” Jiraiya looked at Minato.

“Well, he is the son of a Hokage,” Minato grinned.

“Okay, kid, four years, I’m sure your dad wants you home at some point,” Jiraiya said.

“Deal,” Naruto smirked, “so…uh, when do we leave?” he asked.

“No, pack your things and meet me at the village gate,” Jiraiya walked off.

“Now…but…” Naruto looked at his father.

“Go, get your things and meet Jiraiya-sensei at the gate,” Minato jerked his head to the window.

“Will you tell Mom?” Naruto asked.

“I’ll tell your mother how big her little boy has grown, just go otherwise Jiraiya-sensei may change his mind,” Minato said.

“Heh, I’ll kick him into oblivion if he does,” Naruto snickered.

“I’d like to see you try Naruto,” Minato grinned, and watched his son leave. “Kushina…you would’ve been so proud of him,” Minato looked at the blue sky that was dotted with clouds.

“Heh, four years of training with Dad’s sensei and when I get back, I’m gonna find teme and help him bring back Sakura-chan, dattebayo!” Naruto shouted as he ran down the street towards the village gate.

“Ah!”

Naruto bumbled into none other than Hyuga Hinata.

“Oh, sorry Hinata, I’m kinda in a hurry,” Naruto helped her up. The shy kunoichi blushed.

“I-Its okay Naruto-kun, it was my fault,” Hinata muttered.

“Nope, I wasn’t watching where I was going,” Naruto grinned and began heading towards the village gate.

“Uh…are you going on a mission?” Hinata whispered.

“Nope, I’m going be training with my dad’s sensei for four years,” Naruto grinned.

“F-four y-years!?” Hinata gasped.

“Yep,” Naruto nodded.

“Ah…okay, well…um…good luck,” Hinata whispered.

“Heheh, thanks Hinata,” Naruto waved and ran off. Hinata watched as the blond jinchuuriki vanished into the crowd.

“I’ll be stronger too, Naruto-kun,” Hinata whispered, before she turned around and ran back towards the Hyuga compound.

Sakura looked at the imposing blond woman. “Why should I take you as my apprentice?” Tsunade asked. Sakura shrugged.

“Maybe because we both understand what its like to lose people we care about,” Sakura replied.

“You were a four year old child when your parents were killed, I was a grown woman when I lost my lover, there is a difference,” Tsunade pointed out.

“Doesn’t matter, the pain of lost is the same, I’ve lived for eight years with that cold suffocating void left by the death of my parents, I can only imagine how long you’ve lived with the void your love left,” Sakura pointed out. Tsunade bowed her head.

“You are a clever child,” Tsunade looked up at Sakura. “And I see potential in your eyes, so long as you don’t use the skills I teach you in benefit of Konoha, I’ll take you on as my apprentice,” Tsunade said.

“Oh, believe me, I have no reason to return to Konoha,” Sakura growled. “I have bigger plans.”

Sasuke followed Kabuto deep into the underground catacombs of Orochimaru’s lair. “Now, when you speak to Orochimaru-sama, remember be respectful,” Kabuto said.

“I don’t care, I’m just here for the power,” Sasuke growled. He didn’t like his traveling companions and he certainly didn’t like this little bug either. He was here for one reason only, for the power to rescue Sakura. Kabuto grimaced but open the door anyways.

“Orochimaru-sama, I brought the Uchiha boy,” Kabuto said.

“Ah, excellent,” Orochimaru smirked, his yellow eyes bright in the darkness. “Make sure he stays still Kabuto.”

Kabuto grabbed Sasuke. “What the hell? Let go of me!” Sasuke shouted, struggling to free himself from Kabuto’s grip, but Kabuto didn’t let him go. Sasuke looked up just as Orochimaru’s head shot out of the darkness; the Uchiha heir’s eyes grew wide and he screamed as Orochimaru bit his neck. He clapped his hand over the wound. “What did you do to me?” he growled.

“I simply gave you some of my power,” Orochimaru replied. Sasuke stumbled a few steps towards Orochimaru before falling onto the ground. “Kabuto, take him to the sick wing and monitor him,” Orochimaru ordered.

“Yes, Orochimaru-sama,” Kabuto picked up the boy and walked off. Orochimaru smirked.

Uchiha Itachi sat atop the hill, completely aware of his unwelcome visitor. “It seems that the girl and your brother finally left Konoha,” the visitor replied.

“I see,” Itachi whispered, seemingly disinterested.

“What are you going to do about it?” the visitor asked.

“Nothing for now,” Itachi flicked his sanguine gaze up at the azure sky. “The girl…I think we’ll have a new member in a couple of years,” Itachi whispered.

“Really? And what of your brother?” the visitor asked.

“Let see what the fates have in store for him, shall we?” Itachi whispered.

“Excellent idea,” the visitor agreed and left, leaving the Uchiha to ponder the events that were unfolding.

And so ends chapter one.

I really didn’t like how it ended but it kinda just whacked me over the head and told me to end it now, before it got icky.

As you can see it’s an AU within the Narutoverse.

Itachi is a member of the Akatsuki, and apparently in the inner circle.

Tsunade is a missing-nin, though doesn’t wish any harm against Konoha.

Sasuke leaves for Orochimaru in a different manner (I’m going to have Karin seal the curse seal at some point during his stay with Orochimaru, I think…I don’t know. Can he still use jutsu without it being sealed?)

Minato is alive, though Kushina is dead.

Sarutobi sealed the Kyuubi in Naruto.

Sakura wants revenge because somebody killed her parents.

The Uchiha Massacre never happened! Yet, how can Itachi be a member of the Akatsuki if he never killed his parents? That’ll be explained…later.

Sasuke is secretly in love with Sakura.

Sakura hates Sasuke.

Naruto and Sasuke are best friends. And the item Sasuke gave Naruto was a necklace with a hawk charm on it. Itachi gave it to Sasuke when he entered the academy as a gift. So its special to Sasuke and it always brought him luck.

And that’s all I’m gonna tell you. I hope you like this story. Again, its SasuSaku/ItaHana.

R’n’R

DJ