I do not own NARUTO.

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|Neverending Bonds|

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I stumbled on a path called life today…

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The day Konoha was attacked Haruno Sakura was sent back in time.

Sakura breathed.

For a moment pain seared through her, her breathing harsh…and then she opened her eyes to be met with cold black ones. Idiot, Inner Sakura thought bitterly, you're such an idiot. Leaving Naruto…and me. "Sasuke-kun," she greeted calmly, as though there was not a sharp katana at her throat. Great. "How are you?"

His eyes narrowed. "Sakura," he said finally. "Naruto."

"Where? I don't see him." Sakura mockingly looked around the ruined alley of Konohagakure and looked back, pretending bewilderment. "Oh my gosh—is he, like, invisible?"

He all but snarled. "Where. Is. He."

"How should I know?" she asked. "After all, I'm just a weak, annoying girl."

"Tell me and you'll live."

Her mocking smile faded. "You know," she said quietly, "that's just not possible now. I'll probably go and kill myself. Ino-pig…Hinata…TenTen…Sai…Neji…Lee…they're all dead. And if Naruto die…dies…then there's no point in living, Sasuke-kun."

His cold eyes had no emotion. "Then tell me and I'll put you out of your misery."

"Misery doesn't cover it. I finally know how you felt." Her beautiful green eyes were suddenly dull. "But unlike you, Sasuke-kun, I'm stronger in emotion. I won't go and do something stupid."

"Then you don't know how I feel."

"You know—you're right. I feel worse. This is worse than what you felt."

"No. It isn't." Sasuke's katana pressed closer and she sucked in a breath. "It's no where near."

And then Naruto burst in.

It happened during the time he died fighting Sasuke, when he killed Kakashi in front of their very eyes, because neither could raise a hand. He rushed in, just as Sasuke's sword slid through effortlessly. In the back of her mind, with her med-nin training, she wondered how that was possible if he went through bone, but the answer scared her so she pushed it back.

The sight of gray dying would forever be engraved into her mind.

Naruto's cry of outrage woke her up and when their fight was over, he died. Just like that, like the Kyuubi didn't matter, he killed his best friend. Kai she whispered, but this was no Genjutsu and she knew it.

The sight of yellow dying would forever be engraved into her mind.

So she stood up, facing the missing-nin, and transferred her life into Naruto. Because Chiyo was not the only one who could die for her village.

The sight of pink dying would forever be engraved into her mind.

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She was floating, nude, and her hair longer than it had ever been before. Opening her eyes hazily she watched as the tunnel—were the stories true?—surrounded her, but instead of dying like she planned the memories rushed passed.

The first time she ever saw a shinobi who happened to have russet hair and green eyes, the first time she saw a kounichi who dodged a shuriken while rolling her eyes, the first time she'd seen her mother cry, her father's dead eyes, the first time she had seen Sasuke with his family, the first time she saw Naruto, the first time she saw Ino, the first time she had seen Kakashi, the first time she'd talked to Tenten like friends, the first time she had looked at Hinata, the first time she killed, the first time she dressed up and danced, the first time she—

People passed.

Tsunade's proud smile as her apprentice saved the life of the young Genin who began calling her Sakura-oneechan and did everything she asked.

Shizune trying to hide the blush as Genma flirts with her.

Kakashi rubbing his head as she healed his wounds.

Ino laughing as Sakura apologized for being a b. Tenten telling her Neji was just—JUST!—her sparring partner. Hinata's confession as she told Sakura Naruto is The One.

Her mother—Father—Cousins—Aunts—Uncles—Brothers—

Her being disowned.

Why are you showing this? Sakura asked. Why?

Naruto saving her life. Sasuke thanking her.

What's happening? What are you doing? Is this a Genjetsu—

Sasuke dying as Naruto cried, his Rasengan smashing through his heart. "Why?" she heard the blond ask. "Sakura-chan never deserved this!"

The sight of indigo-black would forever be engraved into her mind.

But I did, she wanted to say. I deserve this because I let him go, because I couldn't protect you or him or sensei or shishou or her or Konoha. I deserve to die…I do. Ino died in my arms, Tenten whispering her love for Neji as he actually screamed for her, Lee dying thanking her for being there, Hinata clutching her hand, Hanabi crying over her sister's body.

I deserve to die, but I don't want to.

Will you change the past?

Why not?

Will you take on more challenges than before?

I doubt it's possible.

Will you make sure Konoha never dies?

My home…

Save the world? Save the entire world? It'll all be in your hands.

Who is this?

Yes or no.

…If I could.

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You won't be able to tell anyone you're from the future.

Sakura woke up.

It was sunny, unlike the rain she felt moments ago. Her body felt different—stronger, heavier, refreshed. A few seconds later she heard a noise she thought she'd never hear again—her aunt, the one who took care of her since she was eight years old.

She flew off her bed, and immediately came to face with her mirror. Her mouth dropped open and a second later she screamed as loud as she could—as loud as her smaller lungs would allow.

She heard footsteps and Sakura watched as her hand went to her mouth. "Naruto," she said clearly, testing her voice. "Sasuke-kun. Kakashi-sensei, Tsuande-shishou. Ino-pig."

"SAKURA?"

She whirled around as she came face-to-face with her aunt Hana. "Auntie," she whispered. "Auntie…Oh, Kami-sama it's really you!" She threw her arms around the woman that died on a mission from Sound.

"What are you talking about?" asked her bewildered aunt. "Sakura, did you have another nightmare? Oh, sweetheart. It's okay—remember? Today is the day you're going to become a Genin! Won't that be fun? You and your team are going to—"

"Today?" she whispered.

"Yes! You could hardly go to sleep! It's 'Sasuke-kun' this and 'Sasuke-kun' that. You want him to be on your team so very badly that—"

"Oh my God." Will you change the past? Will you take on more challenges than before? Will you make sure Konoha never dies? Save the world? Save the entire world? It'll all be in your hands. Yes or no. …If I could. That wasn't Inner Sakura? Or her imagination? What if…what if it were Kami-sama himself?

"Sakura?" Now there was real worry on her aunt's face. "Sweetie, are—"

"When does the academy start?"

"In ten minutes. Oh, shoot. You'll be late by a few minutes by now—you have to eat breakfast and the walk is about ten minutes itself. Well—"

Pulling off her nightgown and throwing off the red dress and her shoes, Sakura dashed down the stairs and out the door before her aunt could blink.

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"You won't believe how fast Sakura was out of bed! Not a real look in the mirror once!"

"Really? She must have been late to school, Hana."

"Well, yes. She was supposed to be late by five minutes."

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She brushed her hair with a tiny brush she had in the pocket of her dress (which was funny, because in a year it would be replaced by small scrolls) she must've have put in late last...last night. Tying on her Konoha headband, which was hanging on her hand, she passed by Nekimo-ojou-chan's mints—leaving the right amount of change she threw four in her mouth. Sucking on them like crazy she hopped onto a roof and sped.

Never in her entire life had she felt like this.

Sure, there was the time when she found out Sasuke was on her team, and when she healed her first patient, the time when Ino and her made up, but that could never compare. Ever. Because this was no Genjutsu, this was no dream. She would turn history around and there was no one who could stop her. No one.

Not even Sasuke.

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"Hana? My little Ino says Sakura got there on time—even earlier. Were you mistaking the time?"

"…No."

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What? Teammates failing is BULLSHIT!

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A/N:
So yes this is another story. I know I know—I'm thinking what the hell too. But this was on my mind for a while—make Sakura better. Make her better! There was a particular quote from her I found—"Naruto's here because he's made up his mind... my resolve is nothing compared to his now! I'm supposed to be a ninja, but all I've ever done is lean on him and cry... I was supposed to change that... I came here and I thought I was ready. But I can't do anything... I can't say anything. The only thing that remains for me... is to believe in them!"—and while I was thinking YES! FINALLY YOU GOT IT! I was also thinking on how girls are made weaker than guys in anime—unless the main heroine is a girl she's pretty much useless. So please support me in the fact that I will try to give the part to Sakura as she deserves. Or, in some people's tastes, she doesn't. I mean no disrespect to the creators of Naruto (I like it Very much) but c'mon people! Make her do something AMAZING. And sometimes, like in the earlier eps, I just wanna shake her for being a dunderhead.