Unwanted attention- Chapter 14- Final

Life was…it was amazing during those next few weeks. Morning after morning she'd wake up, warm arms wrapped around her, warm bodies pressed against her sides.

She'd never thought they'd be this affectionate, this…open and happy, but she supposed it was good to be wrong for once.

With a content sigh the pinkette gave a lazy stretch, her back popping slightly as she sprawled out over the soft grass, the warm sun only just managing to beat down on her through the overgrown trees.

Yes…she was content like this.

Here.

She'd never imagined that she could feel this way about someone, let alone two people, but all in all she couldn't have been happier with the end result.

Closing her eyes for a moment and listening to the faint hustle of the compound nearby, Sakura smiled to herself, just imagining her two men sitting grumpily indoors, a meeting with their elders having called them from her side earlier that day.

And as much as she …she loved them, it was nice to have a little quiet time by herself.

'Enough is enough child.'

Clenching her eyes tight, Sakura shakily swallowed, her head throbbing uneasily as she shook it from side to side abruptly.

This was why she needed time alone.

This…this voice.

'You've played enough, now come.'

Why, of all times, did it have to pick now to surface? To show itself?

Yes, she knew the voice well enough, the godly woman's tone having engraved in her mind the first time she'd heard it…but why now?

Why? Why would that woman- that monster- pick the one moment she'd begun accepting her fate to chime in? Just when she'd begun to feel happy again?!

Ignoring the mumbled words in her head, Sakura sat up with a sigh, lazily getting to her feet before beginning down one of the lesser used paths nearby.

Lost in thought as she wandered aimlessly, Sakura took no note of the time that passed, her mind too caught up in the finer details of her stay in this time period.

So many possible complications, and so many things she'd possibly ruined…all for the sake of being happy for once? For being loved?

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't, but she…

Too much to ponder, and with too little answers, Sakura quickly found herself frustrated beyond belief, tears threatening to form as she sighed loudly.

And then it happened.

'Child, it's time.'

That massive swell of chakra, one that was oh-so familiar.

Breaking into a run instinctively, Sakura headed straight for it, her feet propelling her forward without a second thought. She ran and ran, paying no mind to how far away it was, paying no mind to how long she'd been gone- or how far she'd strayed.

No, all she knew was that this…this was her chance.

This was her chance, but…

Feeling the enormous chakra ahead of her swell again, the woman slowly sighed, bracing herself for what was to come. It was dark, and she felt so alone out here, so isolated as she looked over the seemingly bottomless drop before her. But this was it…this was what she'd dreamed of, hoped and prayed for…

So why did it feel so wrong?

Why did it hurt so much?

"Sakura?!"

Slowly but surely, she made her way forward, her feet resolutely moving her towards the unknown as she slowed to a walk.

"Sakura…?!"

This was…

"Please…I'm-"

This was what she'd wanted.

"Please don't-"

So why…

"Sakura…please don't leave me…don't leave us!"

Why was she crying?

'It's time to wake up child.'

Another giant swell of chakra echoed across the cliff side before her, lapping at her skin as yells - or were they pleads? - sounded in the distance. She couldn't pay any mind to them though, because before her, seemingly splitting the air not feet away from the ledge, a giant crack seemed to appear.

A hole, a splinter…just hovering there…just like the one that had taken her here in the first place.

Her watery and pained eyes looked it over, catching glimpses of the orange- the yellow- the familiarity on the other side…and she could hear them…oh, could she hear them.

They were in battle, and her ears could only just catch her old teammates voice as it called out to her, seemingly echoing the way it had when she'd left.

Or was this when she'd left?

Had time continued on there, or was it frozen?

Was this ever…was it even…

Was it a genjutsu or was it a multi-dimensional jutsu…

Who knew at this point? Because she certainly didn't.

'It's time to come home.'

"SAKURA!"

Was any of this even real? Had it ever been?

"NO! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! I NEED YOU!"

'I'm….I'm sorry.'

Feeling the vicious waves of chakra begin to batter her body as she stood there, Sakura countered it with her own, her form lighting up, the only light in the area coming from her and the rift before her.

"I'm so sorry…" Grinning widely despite the sob ripping itself from her throat, Sakura braced herself, her feet anchoring to the ground, her hands whipping forward, the oh so familiar warmth of Naruto's chakra just grazing her arms.

"I'm sorry Naruto."

One glimpse of his face, so pained, yet so accepting.

One last look at what she used to call home.

And then her fists struck, her chakra ripping the other apart, the rift frazzling as it fought to stay open.

"You'll be fine, I promise."

Burns, those familiar chakra burns scalded her arms, her grin still in place as she kept going, doing her best to disrupt the chakra in the rift before her, no matter how much it pained her to do so.

"You'll win. You'll win this war and grow up and be so happy."

A smile.

A laugh.

"Sakura-chan! You better be happy there, promise me!"

"I promise. Thank you for everything Naruto. Thank you!"

And then he was gone, the rift closing with a snap, her body being propelled backwards by the small shockwave that formed afterwards.

She didn't hit the ground though. No, she was safely caught, her eyes only just catching a glimpse of the two Uchiha fretting over her before she let out a laugh and lost consciousness, startling them greatly.

Yes, the future is never set in stone.

And if staying here meant she'd be happy…then she'd fight for it.

She'd fight for them.

Sakura Haruno.

Many knew the name, and many more knew her face or appearance. Her bright pink hair was iconic in the medical world after all, and her skill in battle left any who saw even the faintest flash of red clothing shivering in anticipation.

But the war…the war was the thing that made her name for her, even if it wasn't over yet.

Sakura Haruno- The world renowned medic.

Sakura Haruno- Apprentice of the fifth Hokage.

Sakura Haruno- Successor of the yin seal.

Or simply put and know by all- The next slug sannin.

It wasn't often that someone crossed paths with her now and didn't know of at least one of her feats, and it was even rarer that an enemy would attempt to engage her in battle. The shinobi war was harsh though, it was horrifying and seemed to never have an end in sight, but most of all?

It had made legends.

Naruto- The container of the nine tails.

Sasuke- The last Uchiha.

And Sakura…

Sakura had a story all of her own, one she was proud of.