Disclaimer

K. I'm not sure if I have to write these things but I will. I don't claim any rights to Naruto or the charecters. I give full credit to the rightful owners, blah, blah, blah. Except my story line. I mean I have no problem with them using it in Naruto, but I want credit if they do. lmao.

Sasuke strolled calmly through the streets of Konoha, greeting the people he was familiar with and nodding to others. His smile, wave and the way he walked told people that he was genuinely glad to see them, but – only noticeable to the people who really knew him – his anxiety showed through whenever his eyes darted up the street, like he was looking for someone. Which he was.

His dark eyes stopped moving around when he caught a flash of bright pink hair, quickly excusing himself from the conversation one of Konoha's dumpling makers had started and he hurried towards Sakura.

Sakura was talking to someone Sasuke didn't recognize, he heard her ask how the woman's children were doing as he approached. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and nodded at the woman over Sakura's shoulder.

"Oh, they're doing great. I have great hopes for the twins, they're in the academy now, did you know that?" The woman asked, smiling warmly at Sasuke in response. "But forget my menial troubles, Sakura, how are you doing? I heard you got three Genin students?"

"Oh, yeah, it's kinda annoying that I'm going to have to go on a bunch of low-ranked missions, now, but someone needs to train them, right?" Sakura grinned at her and waved goodbye before letting Sasuke lead her away. The pink-haired kunoichi tilted her to watch Sasuke as he let his arms slip away from her waist, his hand travelling down to hers. Concern flitted across her green eye. "Too much work again? I told you: take a break every few hours, walk around, get some air, relax."

"Hn…" Sasuke responded half-heartedly, his eyes flickering up to the full moon above them.

"So, the Genin passed the test? Were they as bad as we were?"

Sakura shook her head and leaned against his side. "No, they started out great. Working together flawlessly, but when it got closer to lunch they started getting into fights and strategizing less. Hunger must've gotten to them. They passed, though, barely." She responded, her eyes flickering to meet his. "But don't try and change the subject. When did Tsunade say you'd be getting an assistant?"

Sasuke sighed, knowing that Sakura wouldn't let him drop it until she got the answer she was looking for. "She didn't, I'm thinking that I'm just going to get Karin to file the paperwork for me until Tsunade finds someone. It's not like she's going to do anything with the information, she's a Leaf ninja now, but…." He let his voice trail off, Sakura nodded – understanding his concern. Even if they knew Karin wouldn't turn and betray Konoha, but Konoha didn't know that so it could cause problems if anyone found out. "Though I have considered delegating my work onto one of the officers, maybe Squad five's leader, he hasn't had a good mission in a while. Paperwork is probably looking really good to him right now."

She giggled in response, gently elbowing him in the ribs. "You can't delegate everything, Sasuke. You're the boss, the boss does the paper work, right?" She asked, grinning up at him. "That's your job."

"The boss should also be out there, working with his employees. It's good for them to see who they work for, builds respect." He responded immediately, repeating something he had heard his father say when he was younger.

"Sure, sure. What restaurant are we going to, anywho?" Sakura asked, a grin flitting across her face.

"Sure, I can't change the subject, but you can?" Sasuke countered, moving his hand out of hers and wrapping his arm around her waist instead.

"Hey! I'm hungry, neither of us had lunch or breakfast, I'm just trying to keep us healthy!" She cried defensively.

Sasuke sighed in defeat and gestured vaguely at a small restaurant a block away from them. He had chosen it because it was small and quiet. He and Sakura both hated it when they were in public and people would openly stare – unlike their hyperactive teammate, who adored the attention – so they usually only went out to quiet places. Unless they were with some of the other Jinchuuriki, for those occasions, Ichiraku Ramen had become their 'main eatery' - as Naruto called it. Sasuke stopped outside the restaurant and asked Sakura quiety if she'd stay outside so he could 'check on their reservations.' She laughed and sat down on a bench beside the door. Sasuke ducked inside, he had asked the shop's owner to have their food ready so they could get back faster – Neji had told him that he needed to talk to all the Jinchuuriki about something, if they were all there or not.

When he was sure everything was there, Sasuke moved back outside. A man Sasuke recognized slightly was waving goodbye to Sakura and walking away from her. Sasuke frowned – not knowing where he recognized the man from – and placed a hand on Sakura's shoulder.

"Who was that?" He asked her gently, offering her a hand up. She accepted it and let him pull her to her feet.

"Dunno, just some." She grinned up at him, her green eyes sparkling. "He said that we make a very nice couple, he asked how many children we have."

Sasuke was about to join in her laughter when he realized where he recognized the man from. Dots connected in his mind and he swore violently, bolting after the man. Sakura called after him and he could hear her following him, but he didn't answer any of the questions she was yelling at him - he didn't have any of the answers. When the man didn't come into view immediately, the Uchiha survivor jumped onto the closest rooftop and leaned over the edge, scanning the crowds as he searched for the man. He swore again. At this time of night – right after most businesses closed – it was next to impossible to find anyone in this crowd, let alone a man Sasuke had only met once or twice.

"Sasuke, what's going on?" Sakura asked from beside him, her hand gently gripping his elbow. Concern was etched in every corner of her face.

Sasuke's eyes locked on hers, his heart hammering in his chest. His arms darted out and he pulled her against him. "Sakura, if you ever see that man again, promise me that you'll go straight to the nearest Jinchuuriki and contact me somehow. Wait with them until I come get out, alright?" Her mouth opened to ask another question but he shook his head and gripped her shoulders tightly. "Promise me, Sakura."

"I promise, Sasuke. But, who was that man?" She asked, her concern slowly turning to fear as she saw how truly terrified the raven-haired man was. "Sasuke, who was he?"

"I'm sorry, but we're going to have to cancel our dinner plans." He responded, dodging her question skilfully as he glanced over his shoulder. "I'll explain everything when we get back home."

Sakura was about to argue with him but he jumped to the next roof, heading in the direction of the Jinchuuriki District – a large grouping of houses that only held nine people. She swore under her breath and followed him, yelling questions after him in hopes that he'd suddenly feel cooperative and answr them.

Sasuke was waiting on the porch of the main building – their headquarters, of sorts – watching her carefully, as if she were a bomb that was about to explode. Sakura met his gaze.

"What's going on, Sasuke? Who was that and why did he scare you so much?" She asked, forcing her annoyance back so it was replaced by fear – knowing that her fear would affect Sasuke more than her anger.

He reached out and took her hand, gently pulling her into the room. Their friends – the other Jinchuuriki, their teams and the taka members – were sitting around the large main table, food spread out between them. Karin and Ino seemed to be argueing about something, with taka and Team Asuma trying to calm them down. Naruto was bragging about his new Hokage-in-training jobs to Hinata, she was hanging off his every word. The others were all talking about the newest Shinobi or other common topics around the village. Neji's eyes flickered up to meet Sasuke's. Confusion flickered across his face when he took in the Uchiha's expression, his pale eyes moved to Sakura questioningly. She just shrugged in response, shaking her head slowly.

Neji excused himself from the conversation he was in and joining the two by the door."What happened?" The Hyuuga asked immediately, aware that the conversation behind them had quieted some.

"That file you gave me today, it had a photo of a man in it. The man that was the leader of this treason, correct?" Sasuke asked, ignoring the confused look Sakura was sending the two of them.

"Yes, Kichirou Kanbara, one of Orochimaru's old servants, head of the torterer's unit for Sound, fled to Konoha when you killed Orochimaru. Earned his citizenship about two years ago, hasn't been any trouble, until now but that's only because he doesn't want someone as young as Naruto to lead the entire village." Neji responded, as if he was reading straight off the man's folder – which he had probably memorized. "Why do you ask? I gave you my report and didn't miss anything, did I?"

"No." Sasuke responded, his hand tightening sightly on Sakura's as panic made it's way into his veins. "No, you didn't miss anything. I did. I should have made this connection sooner. Damnit."

"That Kichi-whatever guy is the guy that talked to me, isn't he?" Sakura asked quietly, ignoring the look that Neji shot her. Sasuke nodded weakly, realizing just how close Sakura came to loosing her life. She wouldn't have thought that someone with a Konoha headband would attack her so she wouldn't have fought back. If Sasuke hadn't left the restaurant when he did…."He talked to you?" Neji demanded, shooting a look over his shoulder. Aware that the others had stopped talking and were watching them, he herded the two members of Team Kakashi farther into the hall. "What did he say, excactly?"

"Um… He said that he couldn't help noticing me and my 'husband.' Cause he though we were married, I guess. He said he was sorry if he was prying then asked how many kids we have. I told him that we're not married and barely eighteen. He apologized and laughed, saying something about us being close enough that it was hard to believe he was just my boyfriend. He said that young love had always seemed amazing to him and asked how long we'd been going out." Sakura responded thoughtfully, trying to remember his exact words. "I told him and then he said that it would have been five years. I said that I was sorry, then Sasuke came out and he said goodbye."

"Five years?" Neji repeated, his pale eyes locking on her green ones before switching to Sasuke's. "What happened five years ago?"

"Five years ago, that's when I joined Orochimaru. Actually…" Sasuke responded, anger flashing across his face. "Actually, I think it's five years to the day…"

Neji swore and headed back into the room, gesturing at his teammates. Lee and Tenten were on their feet in seconds. "We're heading out. Kichirou Kanbara just went up three levels on our most-wanted scale. Go and esemble our team, tell everyone to pack up and meet me at the gate in five minutes." He turned back to Sasuke. "I think I can safely say that this is no longer about Naruto becoming Hokage in a few months. This is personal. Why would he want to attack you… or Sakura?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, thinking. "If I remember correctly, he was one of Orochimaru's main advisors until I came alone. He never treated me any differently than anyone else so I assumed it was all in the past." He responded, hating that he was the victim in this case. If he was the victim, they 'attacker' – Kichirou – would go at the easiest way to get at him: Sakura. Now he understood why Sakura broke up with him last year, he understood the need to protect the ones he loved. He opened his mouth to tell her to stay near him at all times but she pressed her index finger to his mouth.

"Don't even think about it, Uchiha. I'm an instructor now so I need to go on missions with those kids. I promised and just cause some guy's jealous that a dead guy liked you more doesn't mean I'm going to hide behind you until he's gone." Sakura paused before adding. "Did you really think I'd say anything different?"

Sasuke sighed, shaking his head. "No, but it was worth a try, right?"