Star-Crossed: The Illusion's Ember

Prologue

Thank You to Anonymous_Artz for this wonderful cover ♥️♥️... Go check them out, they have wonderful stories if you're interested with Sakura Haruno.

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Sakura had been proudest of her team when they worked together to defeat the Rabbit goddess, Otsutsuki Kaguya.

It was almost the only time she had been proud of her team because, let's be honest, team seven isn't united. With Sasuke's drive for revenge, Naruto's thirst to outshine Sasuke, Sakura being initially weak and hormonal, and Kakashi's low key favoritism, the team was a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode.

The team could have been the teamwork incarnate because of how many times it's been told to them. It's been taught and beaten into them since their first meet up in the bell test. The very thing that Kakashi has taught them endlessly.

Teamwork was suppose to be their strength but they broke, they were ripped apart and they continuously crumbled from then on.

It started slow for Sakura. She was first protected and treated unreliable, a small thing she didn't notice. Then, she was left out from important events that happened between her teammates. She wasn't there to help Sasuke with his brother, she wasn't there when Naruto went off to find Tsunade, and when she finally wanted to be able to help the two fighting in the rooftop, she was stopped by Kakashi himself.

That day, team seven started to turn south.

First, Sasuke left to seek Orochimaru for strength; next, Naruto left to train with Jiraiya without a goodbye; last was when Kakashi started taking up more A class or higher missions to forget the stress. This left Sakura to fend for herself.

Because of these events, Sakura decided she wouldn't want to be a burden and be a bother anymore. She decided not to rely on others and start relying on herself more to bring back her teammate. She begged Tsunade to train her so that she won't be as useless as she did back at the wave mission and the chuunin exams.

All those years of training under the Sannin's tutelage made Sakura stronger and perceptive. An intellectual who is also sensitive and forgiving.

She grew out of that miserable fan girl who always kept chasing and impressing her 'Sasuke-kun'. She was tired of that. She was tired of being seen as that one fan girl that Team seven always saved.

She knew better now and she is proud of herself and her team to finally be able to execute proper teamwork.

She is happy to finally be able to stand side by side with her teammates. So happy.

It's been three months after the war against Kaguya ended. The destruction left from the fight has already been cleared out and gradually repaired. Large tents that were set up as makeshift healing wards are being taken down because the hospital has been repaired and running.

It was a normal day for Sakura as a head medic. She was making her way to the hospital when she came across Sasuke and his merry group of misfits. They were a colorful bunch with colorful personalities.

"Hn" Sasuke stopped in front of Sakura as if it was a form of greeting. Well, Sakura thinks it's a greeting, the 'Uchiha' language isn't really a language she was willing to learn.

"Hello to you too, Sasuke" She was winging it. Sakura smiled at the Uchiha politely and continued on her path back to the hospital.

"Sakura, I'm sorry!" Sasuke apologized. Sakura was surprised by this and turned back to the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan. "I'm sorry for trying to kill you that day."

Sakura smiled, her heart swelled with pride. This was her teammate being mature and asking for forgiveness. But his apology was misplaced.

"I've forgiven you a long time ago Sasuke, but I think your apology is sent out to the wrong person." Sakura said as her eyes turned to the Uzumaki girl that was giving Sasuke an adoring smile.

Sasuke turned back to his team with a small smile on his face, it was small but it's there. "I owe them too, I still apologize with everything I have done to you though."

"That's alright Sasuke, now I need to go to the hospital, I'm still head medic you know... See you around!" Sakura laughed and turned back around to return to her trip to the hospital.

She wasn't even three meters away from the group when a bright light shot down from the sky and engulfed her. It started pulling her up and it made Sakura panic. She added chakra in the soles of her feet to keep her grounded but the light seems to not let her do so. It was like walking on ice, every time she takes a step she slips. She heard the faint sound of screaming from beyond the light and she could swear that Sasuke was screaming her name. She tried so hard to pull herself down but the force was stronger and sucked her upward.

The force was strong that it squeezed Sakura's breath out of her lungs. The screams grew distant to her ears and Sakura blacked out.

'What was happening?!!'

The civilians and ninjas were left to gape at the spot with a large scorch mark that the light had left. The absence of a certain medic nin had everyone's heart hammering out of their chest.

Sasuke's eyes were wide with fear and sadness. He didn't notice that tears were already making their way down his face until Karin wiped them away.

"N-no!" Sasuke mumbled.

Sasuke had enough comrades and loved ones dying on him. Now Sakura disappeared with the bright light too. Something took her away just after they mended their relationship! What a cruel joke!

"SASUKE!" Sasuke heard a familiar blonde jinchuriki yelled. Naruto jumped over the wall of civilians and run to where Sasuke sat.

"What happened? Where did that bright light come from, dattebayo?" Naruto asked again to the teary Uchiha. The Uchiha still didn't respond as he stared at the spot where the pink haired ninja once stood.

"SASUKE-TEME!"

"Sakura was there..." Karin spoke up, pointing at the large mark on the floor.

"Wha-? What do you mean dattebayo?" Naruto was still confused with everything.

"Sakura is dead, the bright light has burnt her" Karin spoke again, almost uncertain of what to say.

"She isn't dead!" Sasuke said.

"What do you mean, dattebayo?" Naruto all but mumbled. "I just saw Sakura this morning heading for work, believe it!"

"We also stumbled into her, we were parting ways when the light took her!" Sasuke said, his hands balling up in rage. "The light took her away!"

"We have to take her back!" Sasuke yelled at the jinchuriki, much to Naruto's surprise. Naruto doesn't know how to respond to Sasuke's sudden rage but if Sakura was truly in trouble there's only one reply he can say.

"We will get her back Sasuke! Believe it!"

Team seven is really cursed with bad luck, aren't they?