Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto, the characters, or the story. They all belong to Kishimoto Masashi.

Prologue

I remember the days when we were Genin; the days when the thoughts of death and betrayal were hard to imagine. I can just remember those days so clearly. I was the weakest of Team 7, but the one with the most intellect. Maybe that is why I remember it all so clearly. The fact I am the one who wanted to be like them.

Yet that is in the past now. Try as I might, I want to move away from those memories of him. Those vile memories of the one who betrayed us all, and I still cannot forget him! He's dead now, and all I can do is remember his face. That is all I can do, even though I have someone else to care for me.

Uzumaki Naruto. Why did I shove him aside so much throughout the years? I really don't know the answer to that…I probably never will. What I have learned is that Naruto is my best friend. He's helping me through every little thing and knows it will take some time for me to forget him. No, I do not mean to forget Naruto. The other him. I do not want to think of his name.

Then there is dear Sai. He is still as weird as ever after the ten years of our friendship. We've really connected and I can tell that he looks to me for emotional advice. I've always cherished him. And I'm so glad we met. He's taken a lot of the pain away by drawing silly pictures of Naruto for me.

I just wonder, though. I feel as if there is no hope left in the world. Will there be hope again? Will I ever get over him and move on? Will I fall in love with Naruto someday? Or…am I already in love with him?

Author's Note: I would like to mention something. I always do prologues first, and this short. I will not be able to post the next chapter until Friday afternoon or evening, when you will see the long first chapter. This is to show how Haruno Sakura is feeling towards the death of her old teammate, Uchiha Sasuke. She is coping with it via friends. I would also like to mention that I do not need a betareader at the moment, for my mother is my betareader. She has always read my work before I put it anywhere. She is a writer herself - although retired - and knows my style.

This is not meant to be rude towards anyone. I just wished to point this out to all of you! Thanks for reading!