Quote of the chapter: "What more can I do? I am still painting flowers for you." -Painting Flowers by All Time Low

Warning: Fluff ahead ;)

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         cнαpтer 12

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"Naruto!" Sakura screamed and held the bars of her cage as Naruto vanished in a blink of an eye, swamping into a portal.

Sasuke targeted Taiki and used his elbow to attack his enemy's neck then teleported in order to grab Naruto. Although Naruto was already gone when Sasuke just had the time to save him.

"You bastard!" Sakura dashed a kunai towards Taiki who had his playful smirk on his mysterious features as he was down on the ground.

Taiki stayed in his current position, refusing to tilt his head. The sharp weapon went through him and he faded along with the powerful breeze.

"Damnit where is Naruto?!"

An evil laugh echoed through the woods just when Kakeru showed up. "You'll never see your friend ever again."

With every passing second, Sakura's anger would increase until she will lose control. "Why not?" She charged towards the enemy and punched him, though he was out of sight.

The man became visible when he abruptly appeared on the top of the branch. "I placed him in another dimension and the only one that has the ability to go in and out if different worlds would be me or else they would die without the capacity."

Sakura's teeth were trembling in anger while she crush her fists. She was mad, or the proper term would be-furious. "You are so dead."

However, Sakura refused to believe that Naruto would be gone in just a simple snap.

For goodness sake, he survived the fourth ninja world war and now he died because of a simple criminal? She just did not understand. She just did not believe that reality happened.

Or maybe, she just could not accept that he was gone.

...

"Tsk." Sasuke muttered as he got his balance.

Just as he was unable to catch Naruto, Taiki used this as his advantage to bring Sasuke further away from Sakura with his one heck of a blow technique-so that they will have an easier time in defeating them when they are separated.

In the depth of failure to save his friend, Sasuke had even more tension to kill these two men.

At first, he only thought that it was a simple ambush. However the thing is, they were not after the princess.

Sasuke's eye twitched in controlling his anger. He really had enough of Taiki's antics. He ran and attacked him with much speed. Though he a powerful wind was pierced through his body.

Taiki laughed in menace. "Is that all that the Uchiha could do?" He continued to mock Sasuke with his words. "I thought he'd be a challenge!"

Sakura's eyes widen in surprise. Is it possible that Sasuke would die in just that?

In a spark, a blade pricked the tree's trunk where Taiki was standing as his neck was a bit sliced and was trapped due to a long sword. Taiki's orbs followed its trace and was quite shocked to see the Uchiha's sharingan filled up with hatred. (***)

"Gullible." Sasuke's lips curved into a toxic smirk while he commented. Apparently, he also sent lightning to his katana to which Taiki was electrified-in this case, Sakura was able to relax.

Taiki vanished with the passing breeze and appeared at the ground. "Let the fight begin."

Sasuke was now full of rage and anger as the battle between the two (hotties) started.

"It's your turn to die."

...

"Look at you, so helpless. Can't get out of a cage and none of your little friends could even help you."

The man in front of her was insulting her while she was getting beat up by Kakeru's light clone that is unattackable. She was stuck in a cage so she was unable to fight-which also means she is weak in Kakeru's eyes.

Sounds of the mocking laugh awakened Sakura's inner madness.

That was it. No more low expectations. No more hoping on her teammates. It was her time to fight.

Sakura noticed that the bard are indestructible. She remembered what her teacher Kakashi had told her before. If crowded, the only choices left are to go up or down.

The bars covered even above her head which means the only free space is below.

A brilliant idea popped in her mind. "You have underestimated me so much." She remarked, making the ground shake from her punch as she escaped the jail-like bars and the clone also vanished into smoke when the bars were destroyed.

Superhuman strength really is handy.

Sakura stepped back and formed two shadow clones while she fastened her pace and attacked Kakeru.

Obviously, Kakeru got out of Sakura's plan by entering into one of his portals-running away. Though Sakura had already expected this to happen, which is why she made clones. One of them also went in the portal with the enemy but she disappeared with the lack of capability. The real Sakura and the other clone both gave punches when Kakeru went back to the battlefield, exiting another portal.

"You're the one who is helpless for not fighting back." Sakura kicked Kakeru-who was at the ground-when her clone vanished.

"You little b*tch!"

"I'm sorry my name is Sakura, the princess you're looking for already left!" That is when Sakura stabbed his head with a sharp kunai.

To her dismay, he disintegrated and something tells Sakura that he is not dead.

With the sudden action, Sakura was clouded with questions that she did not notice someone was behind her until she was pinned unto a tree while Kakeru was crushing her neck.

"I am not that easy to kill pinky!"

Sakura tried to break free by pondering her forearm near at Kakeru's elbow. Though, her plan failed when the opponent's right hand caught her neck again which much force. She was now craving for oxygen. She could feel her throat being squished as she knew that nothing nor no one could save her. Kakashi went on with the mission. Sasuke is off, fighting with Taiki and Naruto is gone. She knew that she was about to die.

"Say your last words before I finish you off."

"L-Light..." Sakura muttered as her eyesight blurred. All she could see was bright light blinding her eyes. Could this be heaven calling her?

All of the moments flashed back from her childhood. The time she was bullied and she met her first friend.

The time she met Team Seven. Those times they spent together. All the hardships she went through and the jolly moments she cherished.

And of course, the man she always loved came crashing down.

...literally.

"Chidori!"

Kakeru looked back as Sasuke was just in time to strike his lighting towards Kakeru's pendant.

Indigo light escaped the gem and Kakeru's soul as his body crumbled to pieces.

The unbreakable man had finally get to taste a piece of hell.

Due to lack of air, Sakura dropped to which Sasuke caught her gracefully.

Breathing heavily, Sakura's vision began to adjust when she saw the man who saved her. "S-Sasuke?! What are you doing here? How-"

"Let's go." Sasuke was about to stand up but Sakura refused to move until her questions were answered.

"Wait, what about Naruto? He's gone..."

Sasuke took a little time before answering. "He's not dead."

"But we saw him-" Sakura paused when she saw the solemn gaze of her ally.

"He is not dead Sakura."

"B-But..." She remembered the time  she spent with Naruto. From when they were young until they grow up. He was the one who was always there to cheer her up. He was the one who served as her brother. He was the one who gave her hope when her love was taken from her.

With that she broke down in tears. Who would not anyways? If the person you love for extensive years would be gone in a snap. That may be life but the pain is still there.

Sasuke somehow understood Sakura's pain so he took her in his arms and he became her crying shoulder. He did lost his whole family, the people he loved and frankly this was Sakura's first time to lose someone she cared about all her life-or to Sasuke it was the first time.

When Sakura calmed down after a few minutes, she began to think about the current situation. "What happened to the other guy you were fighting?" She attempted to stand up but she tried lost her balance because of her wounds that she got from Kakeru's clone and lack of energy.

"Stuck in a genjutsu." Sasuke explained as he noticed how Sakura moved in discomfort. "Are you okay?"

Sakura moved to sit up. "Yeah, I just need to-argh." She slightly revealed her belly to see bruises underneath.

"You need to rest."

"N-No, I can manage." She replied with a smile as she attempted to stand up once again though she felt as if she was flying.

She took a peek, only to find out that the icicle has his arms at the back of her body, he was carrying her gently.

"What the-Sasuke put me down!" She squirmed to get out of Sasuke's grasp until she stopped.

"I'm gonna get you for this Uchiha! I wasn't that stupid to get inside your genjutsu you bastard!"

They heard Taiki's voice as they heard footsteps nearing them and Sakura automatically wrapped her arms around Sasuke's neck due to surprise.

"Now you want me to carry you?"

"Yeah yeah, let's just go please." She stated while looking towards where they heard Taiki's voice with fright in her eyes.

Sasuke smirked teasingly after her reply though Sakura's sight did not catch it as he hopped off to their stop.

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By the time Sasuke and Sakura reached the meeting point, the sun had already set and Sakura's injuries have partly recovered.

The princess and Kakashi were seated as the flames of the campfire served as their spurce of light and heat.

"Ah, you finally came." Kakashi stated while Sasuke placed Sakura on the ground. "What happened?"

Just when Sakura layed on the ground, she finished healing herself since she regained enough chakra. "We wiped out all of them then the two idiots came and we killed one of them."

"Oh I thought the two idiots were Sasuke and Naruto." Kakashi commented, receiving a glare from the Uchiha. "Speaking of it, where is Naruto?"

Sakura's body tensed at hearing the question as she wobbly stood up. "I need to get fresh air. Excuse me." She reminded her team as she walked into the woods with the feeling of sorrow.

"Yes, where is that man?" The princess added leading to Sasuke's irritation to which he merged into the darkness, following Sakura's path.

The princess gave Kakashi a questioning expression while the masked Hatake shrugged his shoulders in innocence.

...

A shimmering spark caught Sakura's trance when she sat above the tree branch as her thoughts were disturbed. She went nearer towards the bright object, only to see her numbchuks at the edge of the the other branch.

"How did?" She stretched out her arm as she scooted beside the branch, careful on falling. Once she got the item, she pushed herself back to her original place however her leg accidentally lost balance and fell the branch.

She prepared for landing but instead of breaking her back, she felt as if she was caught by a trampoline. "Geez, so many people saving me for one day."

She opened her eyes and saw two arms holding her safely.

"Be careful."

GUESS WHO OMFG

OMFG

OMF

OM

O

"I thought I lost you damnit!" Sakura squished him like it was the end of the world.

"S-Sakura-chan, y-you're gonna lose me if-AIR!" Naruto blurted as Sakura let go of her grip and went down from Naruto's arms.

When Naruto inhaled for oxygen, Sakura smacked him right in the face.

"Ouch, that hurt Sakura-chan!"

"How the hell did you survive? We were worried you idiot!"

Naruto brought out the bracelet from his pocket as he grinned when he answered. "Bushy brows also gave me a gift dattebayo."

Sakura was honestly glad that Lee was able to give them those gifts. It really saved their lives. She kept her numbchuks inside her pack while she thought of it. "Okay, but we saw you went in the portal. How'd you use the invisibility pendant?"

"Kaka-sensei came back and he used hia sharingan to trick you guys and the enemies to think I went in."

"You didn't trick me." A new person joined the conversation.

"Well duh, you have sharingan too teme." Naruto stated in as a matter of a fact tone.

"Sasuke, why didn't you tell me?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shrugged in reply. "You didn't believe me when I told you."

That got Sakura speechless. He did say that Naruto was gone. It was her fault for not believing.

"So there you soldiers are." They heard a feminine voice from above as they averted their gaze upwards. Shocked to see the princess flying.

"What the- you can fly?!"

"I'm from the land of sky, of course I can." She explained as if everyone knew it.

"Why didn't you tell us that?" Sakura questioned as the princess flipped her hair while floating in mid-air.

"It's your job to know about my information and why should I?"

"I blame Tsunade-baachan for not telling any information to me." Naruto said in his mind.

"Because it could bring you to safety a whole lot easier!" Naruto replied, in the verge of face-palming.

"And you could've flew across the river than letting me carry you." Sasuke gave his deadliest glare towards the princess who just blushed in return.

The princess coughed in a fake manner. "It's your mission to protect me anyways so there's no point."

Naruto folded his sleeves he took a step nearer towards the princess. "Why I outta-"

"It's getting late. Let's go rest now, shall we?" Kakashi held Naruto's right shoulder as they all gave their consent, dropping off the topic. "We don't want to be late on or scheduled trip on the boat tomorrow."

Naruto automatically dropped his sleeping mat and layed down carelessly when they went back to their temporary space. "What a day."

The princess went inside her tent-she is royalty-before she prepared to go to sleep.

Sasuke also fixed his sleeping mat near the campfire wherein the fire is now blown by the cool breeze.

Sakura, on the other hand, had other plans. "I'll take the first watch."

"No, I can-"

Kakashi was interrupted by Sakura's expression.

"Please?"

A sigh of defeat escaped Kakashi's lips. He could really see the determination in his former student's eyes. "Alright, you have my permission."

"Thanks, Kaka-sensei!" She remarked cheerfully as she climbed up the tree branch, where she sat a while ago.

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Sakura jolted up her position when she felt a movement in front of her. However she cooled down when she realized who it was. "Damnit Sasuke you scared the hell out of me." She claimed as she felt her head throbbing to which she caressed it due to instinct.

"You can't protect us if you're in that state."

"I'm the medic, it's my job to keep you guys safe!" She unconsciously stated rather loudly. She sighed and raised her orbs to the moon. "I had enough being a burden." She stared at the moon as she recalled the time Sasuke saved her from Kakeru.

Sasuke was never a man of words nor a man of comfort so in his situation right now, you may say he is probably doomed.

"You are not a burden." Sasuke stated, refusing to meet her gaze.

"Tss. Sasuke I have always-"

"Konoha and the five nation's medical area would not be this advanced with cures without you. Naruto would even die due to the loss of blood if you weren't there. All of people would die without you. Don't you dare say you're a burden because you're not." By this time, they were both locked in an intense eye contact. "Don't let yourself crowd with negativity. That was my mistake."

And there you have peer counselor Sasuke and you may think that the message above is the longest line of Sasuke Uchiha in this book so far because it is.

Silence echoed as few minutes passed when Sasuke decided to break the awkward atmosphere.

"I'll take the second shift."

"But-"

"Like you said, you need to protect us. You can't protect us in that condition of yours." Sasuke backfired and Sakura mentally twitched.

Damn this guy is good.

Since the headache would not leave her brain and she was dramatically tired, she sighed in defeat. "Fine, you win this round." She stood up from her place.

"Oh and Sasuke?" Sasuke glanced back at her just when she called. "Thanks." She gave one true and heart-warming smile.

Sasuke nodded as remark, however Sakura could see his ghost smile plastered on his expression to which increased her joy.

It really did make her happy that Sasuke cheered her up and that it may be served as proof that Sasuke is reaching out, for their friendship.

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"Thank you for bringing me back home safely." Princess Bich bowed respectfully and she averted her vision towards Sakura. "And sorry for being mean to you umm.."

"Sakura." The pinkette reminded.

"Yes of course, Sakura."

Sakura accepted the apology-even though her inner wants to beat the daylights out of her-since she was once like that so why not give a second chance? It is not like they would see each other again, anyways.

They were at the entrance of the gates at the land of Sky. With guards around protecting the safety of the village.

Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "Well, let's get going then."

"Before you go I would want to ask Uchiha Sasuke something." She said, a tint of blush painted at her cheeks.

The four exchanged looks but agreed in the end.

"What is it?" Naruto encouraged to continue since he doubted that Sasuke would even answer.

The princess looked in another direction when she asked. "W-Will you be my husband?"

Glass shatters.

Sakura felt a pang of pain smack through her heart and she, Kakashi and Naruto had their jaws dropped as shock was an obvious reaction at their faces though Sasuke did not even flinch. Maybe he had it coming?

"No." Sasuke simply replied with a blank expression.

On the other side of the boat, the princess was not expecting that answer. "Well umm okay then. Goodbye?" She mumbled, leaning towards Sasuke for a kiss?

"Let's go." Sasuke remarked, walking off.

Typical Sasuke. His replies were as expected of the three.

"Don't worry, he's just like that." Naruto tried to comfort the princess, but she tooj it the wrong way.

"Fine! I'll have whatever I want anyways!" She huffed, leaving them.

"Well that was awkward."

"Why does he get all the girls, dattebayo."

"At least the mission is accomplished, let's go back home."

The three just shrugged it off as they caught up with Sasuke.

Sakura thought, however, the time when Sasuke saved her and gave her advice.

Is she falling again? Or has she even moved on?

Then the time when the princess asked, she felt something inside her heart. She did not know what it was but all she clearly knows is that she is still painting flowers.

END OF CHAPTER 12

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//PUBLISHED.4.6.15.//

You'll understand the message of this chapter soon ;)

I updated for only after a few days omg #achievement

Thanks for reading, don't forget to vote & comment!

:)

~TheSketcher