Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Naruto nor do I own the series, manga, whatsoever. Although I did come up with this story that I have created myself with the help of many others. Special thanks to full- metal-souske for helping to bring this story back to life and improving it in a greater way. Special thanks to darnod for also helping me on this story. I just want to say thanks to everyone who understands my reasoning for starting the story over and I thank you for baring with me and who've helped. Okay the revised vision of Twisting Love. However, you will notice changes in the story, which appear to attain to making the story longer. I hope you enjoy reading this fanfic and...well thanks for reading.
Feedback is most appreciated and encourages me to keep on with the story. Oh and I'll will try to update this story as frequently as possible.
Chapter 1: Realization.
"Hold on Sasuke!!" Sakura shouted with all her strength. She and Naruto obtained to take hold of both Sasuke's hands.
Sasuke was on the verge of falling off the edge of a mountain due to the loss of much needed chakra. He is drained dry to the pulp; no physical vitality, no chakra to easily aid him, nothing.
Team 7 decided since after a mission, which they were almost killed in, that they would train hard and long without the help of their sensei, Hatake Kakashi. They sparred for endless hours, using ninjutsu, taijutsu, and tactics they've learned to test their ability even though they knew this would be fatal. And despite the basic logic behind the situation this...is what fate has in store for them.
"Just let go. I'll be fine." The stubborn Sasuke noted to his companions with blood dripping from his mouth. He peered down to see the rushing waters of the ocean, crashing up against the rocks. He knew that if were to fall: he may die.
Sakura shook her head with tears bursting through her pale emerald eyes. "No Sasuke! I'll never let go! We'll pull you up...just hold a little while longer, please!"
Sasuke refused her request. "Let go."
"Look Sasuke, you don't have to be such a baka at a time like this!!" Naruto screamed at the boy he called his teammate. Him and Sakura struggled to pull up Sasuke. They were becoming weak and the weight of Sasuke was beginning to take its toll on their arms and body. They all ran out of chakra.
Sasuke puffed. "Naruto. Let go."
"SHUT UP AND JUST HOLD ON!!" Naruto inclined to frustration, suitable of Sasuke's lack of importance to the situation.
Small fragments of rocks tumbled down the mountain, meaning that Naruto and Sakura were dawning to slip right along with Sasuke, which they would all fall in the dangerous water.
Sakura's hands became moist of sweat and Naruto's did also. They didn't know how long they could hold onto Sasuke until...his fingers slithered through their hands.
Sakura gasped in horror, watching her beloved comrade fall at an extremely fast pace into the mordacious ocean: the water dissolving the Uchiha's body. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She reached her hands out for him but she knew it was far to late.
Naruto eyes enlarged to great dimensions. He was awestruck and shocked to the see what just has happened to the person who he always wanted to battle against in a real fight-to the death. "No...it can't be..." He thought there was still hope that Sasuke was alive and to this assumption he summoned Sakura. "Sakura. Come on let's hurry to see if he's-" He turned to face her, taking in the scary, depressed look on her face.
Sakura doubted that Sasuke's body was even visible to the eye. So how would she ever think he could be washed up onto the shores so hastily? "Right but-"
"Come on Sakura!!" Naruto ran down towards the bottom of the mountain cliff with the ounce bit of strength he still had left.
Sakura quickly followed after him.
------------Mountain's Bottom--------------
They made it to the spot where Sasuke had fallen at. Not even a hint of his existence was spotted nor sensed by the two.
Gasping for air, Sakura made known of the situation, taking inhalation of air after every word.. "He's not here...Naruto where could he be?"
Naruto was fully taking in the death of Uchiha Sasuke. He did not think it was possible for Sasuke to die this way. "Wow...it just...it can't...no," He paused and let it out all at once, "SASUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
His voice echoed through the mountains and the forest they both just came from, rippling through the air.
Sakura finally submitted to the tears and cries. She'd wail and wail until she could no longer do so. She was helpless-nothing never more tragic than this has ever happened to her...never.
Her sobs came more. "I wasn't even...able to say goodbye before he left. I miss him. Sasuke!" She cried her eyes out and begged for him not to depart.
Naruto couldn't resist anymore. He allowed himself to let a single tear stream from his sapphire eyes. "Sakura...I'm sorry. I wasn't able to...save him..."
She wiped away at her tears and acknowledged him. She could see his eyes full of tears and regret. It wasn't his fault only, she thought-she too felt the blame for his death. "Naruto...it's not just your fault." She bit her lower lip and bursted into more tears. "It's my fault too!! I let him slip through my hands and even if he was just a crush...it felt more than that you know! He was our companion more than a companion...a friend. And we just...let him die..." She settled her nerves and groaned. "Sasuke."
Naruto could feel the anguish she was feeling. "Sakura..."
More tears from the pink-haired girl fled from her frame. "Sasuke...Naruto. Sasuke..."
Naruto walked over to Sakura and held her in his arms. He was surprised she didn't knock him out for that but in this moment...his comfort is needed. To relish away the pain they both felt.
She nearly collapsed to her knees as she cried in his arms. He had to adjust himself to help her calm down. "Sakura it's getting late and we...we need to head back." He stopped to think of what everyone would say.
Sakura shakily shook her head while wiping away her tears.
They both walked towards the forest which lead the way to the place they call home in each other's arms.
As they stride to Konoha Leaf Village the two of them thought long and hard of Sasuke and what they would say to the Hokage and everyone, who even cared for Sasuke.
Sakura got lost in memories of Sasuke. His face, his presence, his hair, the warmth of his touch...and all. Regret, resentment, sorrow...was all she felt of.
Naruto is feeling the same way but as a person who endeavored much pain and suffering in his younger days, he learned to come over the tears and crying.
"Sakura. Can you walk on your own?" Naruto's arms were holding her up and he was tired.
She nodded and pulled away from his embrace as they walked. But soon after only seconds of aimlessly trying to find the way to the village, she collapsed to the ground: face first.
Naruto without delay came to her aid and lifted her up in his arms. He stared at her tear-stained face with his sapphire eyes and continued on the journey.
----------------Konoha Leaf Village---------------
The people stopped and stared. Most of them gasped at the site. Sakura being carried in Naruto's arms. Many of them thought horrible ideas. Many pointed.
However Naruto didn't care of them. He was determined to get to Hokage Sarutobi with the significant information of Uchiha Sasuke. But soon he felt guilty of his death and the townspeople made it even more worse when they began to glare at him. Sad days were bound to come.
"Old man." Naruto addressed the Third Hokage with Sakura still in his arms.
Sarutobi turned around to view the boy who would always call him "old man" but to only be jolted. "What has happened? Why is your comrade in your arms? Where is Kakashi? Where's Sasuke?"
Naruto set Sakura down on the floor and set her up to lean against the wall. "Well the answer to all of your questions..." Naruto choked a bit and then spilled it all out slowly.
Hokage Sarutobi reaction: stunned. He wouldn't think something to ever happen like that. He summoned one of his secretaries and had them order the ANBU and some jounin to search for Sasuke's body. He picked up a smoking pipe. "You felt as though you needed to improve eh?"
Naruto nodded. "Not just me...Sakura and Sasuke-we all felt the need to do so."
Sarutobi blew a smoke circle from his mouth as he blew on his pipe. "Where was Kakashi when all of this was happening?"
Naruto groaned. "I don't know. We didn't have him come along. We wanted to test our abilities against each other..." His voice faded away as he talked.
Sakura was regaining her conscious. Her vision is a little blurry but she realized where she was at. "Naruto? Third Hokage?" She softly cried out to them.
Naruto turned to look at Sakura as she stood up. She dusted dirt specs from her blouse and prepared herself to speak. "Did you tell?"
Naruto nodded miserably.
"I see-" She was interjected by Hokage Sarutobi.
"Why did you both allow this to happen? Even if you felt that your skills were not up to par that does not mean to go swinging at each other with all your force!!" He slammed his hands down on the table. "And now we have a dead boy at our hands. What am I going to tell the people of Konoha? A practice which got out of the ordinary?"
Sakura mumbled her response. "We took it too far. I'm sorry-" Tears trickled down her face.
"We ninja do look at the past but to the present. We do not dwell on such deaths. We look up to them as a great sacrifice but in this case...we lost a chuunin to a mere test of strength." Hokage Sarutobi took a another inhalation of his pipe. "All we can hope for now is for the ANBU to find Sasuke's body. You are both dismissed."
They both nodded their heads.
Sarutobi left out a note that he felt was important. "Naruto. Sakura."
The two turned around to face him.
He sighed deeply. "Do not tell anyone of this until we find out what has truly happened to Sasuke."
The nodding of the heads again. They left out full of sorrow.
-------------
"Sakura?" Naruto addressed her full of concern.
She observed him with teary eyes. "Yes."
He managed to hesitate his question. "Do you want to come over my house and..."
She shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head in defeat. "Sure. I have nothing better to do."
"Hmm...okay. Come on!" He pulled her by the arm and led her to his house. To cheer her up out of the depths of misery.
-----------------Naruto's House----------------
"Okay. Your place is a filthy!" Sakura squirmed around standing on top of his couch.
Naruto find her accusation to not be right. "Look. There's only a few dirty dishes and some dust."
Sakura disagreed. "Then why does the coffee table look all foggy-like?" She shrilled and screamed. "AH!! THERE'S A SPIDER!!"
Naruto started to affright her even more. "Where?"
She pointed to the ceiling. A dangling spider above her head. She jumped into Naruto's arms.
He caught her and set her down. "I'll get it! Hmph, girls are such sissies." He strolled over to the area where the spider was until Sakura grabbed his arm.
"You want to say that one more time?" She spoke in a low and evil tone.
Naruto huffed. "Yeah. Girls are such-" He was punched in the face by Sakura's burly fist.
She dusted her hands together and decided to get the spider herself. Slowly she crept little by little to the tiny black arachnid, swallowing her fear down to stomach.
Naruto had a plan of evil wickedness up his sleeve. He spooked himself over to her and latched onto her arms!
"AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" She screamed.
Naruto giggled and laughed out loud.
Sakura clenched her fists together and began to crack her knuckles. "Naruto..." she alleged clearly annoyed.
He laughed even more. "Sorry! It was just too funny at the time! Okay, okay. Here let me help you!"
He stood on the couch and motioned for her to come over.
Sakura nervously stood before the spider and with a jolt, she smacked it across the room.
Naruto rushed to spot where it landed and picked it up. "Sakura!! Your friend wants to speak with you!!" He lurked over to Sakura with the spider in his hand.
"Naruto! If you come any closer I will...kick you in the-"
Naruto halted and dropped the spider. "You're bad Sakura. I know what you were going to say." He stomped the spider to the death.
She sighed in relieve. "I just don't like bugs." She shivered to the thought of one crawling up her leg. But the thought was real. She gradually bended her head downwards to see what was the source of the soft touch and to her surprise...it was Naruto, running his fingers gently across her leg.
Smack!!
"Ow..Sakura my face..." he massaged his cheek carefully.
"You should have known that was coming. Hentai!!!" She shouted. Now she thought his abode was really dirty and she wouldn't put up with it anymore. The place didn't look that bad although in her eyes it appeared so. "Naruto." She commanded for his attention.
He fixed his stance and saluted her. "Hai, sir!" He giggled quietly.
Sakura established to tap her foot on the ground and disregarded the fact he just called her a "sir" instead of "ma'am". She advanced to the closet, which held all of cleaning utensils and items. "Naruto."
"Hai, sir-"
"Call me a sir one more time and you will find yourself hanging out the window." She bended over to get a mop and bucket.
Naruto's eyes cherished the visual. Her well rounded ass in his face and maybe he would get lucky and see more...
"Are you staring at my butt?" She asked as she threw him a sponge for the dishes.
Naruto shook his head. "Na-ah...nope! Not at all! Hehehe..."
She took out the cleaning supplies and shut the closet door. "Alright. Now we are going to clean this place. Top to bottom."
Naruto whined. "But it's not even that-"
"Look at the dishes." She pointed to them.
"Okay?"
"Now go make friends with them!"
Naruto dragged his feet to the pile of dishes. "I don't wanna-"
"Quit whining!!" She smacked the floor with the broom and motivated herself to sweep.
It appears that the two are trying to get over Sasuke's death by not thinking of him however...they were. So Naruto and Sakura distracted themselves with cleaning for the time being, which would be a difficult mission for Naruto. Let's just say this mission is ranked A in Naruto's book.
And that's how they ended the day.