Hello my lil chicklets : ) I know you guys have been waiting for my current story I have up, but I don't like it as much as I should... So, I'm starting a new with something more well developed and better! If you want more details on that, please go check out my other story and there will be a note there explaining! Anyways, I hope you find this one better! 3

My heart sped as I raced down the dungeon like halls of Orochimaru's hell. I was growing out of breath and opening the cell doors to find no Sasuke didn't exactly make matters better. Finally, I had enough of the constant disappointment. I slid down the stone corridor that was faintly lit by torches and tried to catch my breath. Sakura caught up with me and could read the melancholy expression on my face immediately. "We'll find him." She reassured halfheartedly. I wanted to believe her, I really did. However the current situation made any glint of hope for that rather bleak. She collapsed next to me and tangled her fingers in mine in attempt to calm my nerves. "How are you feeling?" I asked, circling my thumb on her shaking knuckles. "I could be better." She breathed, still catching her breath. "Like you said, we'll find him." I scratched my forehead and leaned my head back on the wall behind me.

My heart slowed and my breath became easy. "Damn it." I whispered, slamming my foot on the ground. Sakura looked over at me with a frown on her face. "Don't give me that look. We need to stay determined." I shot up and continued to sluggishly continue down the corridor. "Naruto, we're too weak right now. We should go back." Sakura hopefully suggested. "I've made it this far. I must keep going. You can go back if you want." I dragged my feet along the cold cement and leaned against the side walls to support myself. "I'm going to get help." Sakura mumbled. I could hear her rushing footsteps edging farther and farther away from me each second. "Sasuke." I groaned, feeling my chest tighten and my knees give out.

I walked for what seemed like hours, but a beautiful like shone straight ahead that gave me the will to continue. "Sasuke." I kept repeating until my tan skin touched the warm sun. I looked around and saw nothing but brown boulders and small patches of grass covering random parts of the ground. "You shouldn't be here." A faintly familiar voice spoke above me. I glanced up and saw a tall figure with hair black as night swaying in the light wind. "Sasuke?" I questioned, still unsure of who the person was. "Naruto." With that response, I automatically recalled the tone of voice. "Come home, please? Everyone is worried about you. I'm worried. Just please come home." I pleaded, shading my eyes with my hand from the sun. "Sounds tempting, but I'll have to decline your offer. However, I can compromise." Sasuke winked, and swiftly jumped down from one of the boulders and then landed in front of me. "A compromise?" I asked curiously, almost intrigued. "Precisely, it seems like you want me back correct? Well well, how about you come with me?" Sasuke offered, but with more of a demanding tone peeking out behind it. "Come with you? Why would I want to do that?" I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Then I guess you really don't want to be my friend." Sasuke lowered his voice and directed his onyx eyes away from my blue ones. "Why are you acting like you actually give two shits about me? You left the village without second thoughts. You're heartless." I shoved him away slightly.

I watched as Sasuke searched through his brown bag until he finally smiled at the object he was looking for. He pulled it out to reveal the picture that had been taken of Team Seven, us, three years ago. Small tears threatened to well out my eyes, but I blinked them out slyly. He handed to me and stared at it with memories of us back in the day. It was before Sasuke had a curse mark, before Sakura had cut off all of her hair, before the exams, and also before Sasuke left for what seemed like forever. "Why have you kept this?" I asked, my voice sounding shaky and sad. "When I left, I still wanted a piece of you guys with me." He replied, gently snatching the photo out of my hands. "So, if you wanted to still have a piece of us, why won't you come back home to have the real thing?" I continued interrogating, raising a confused eyebrow. "If I were to go back, all of the village would want my head. I had two choices. I could have declined Orochimaru's offer and left myself vulnerable to any attacks that he made, or I could have been selfish and chose vengeance in order to protect what I cared most about." Sasuke was staring at the ground but when he spoke the word 'care' he glanced up at me. "Please just come with me Naruto. I've longed to see you again. It would be too difficult to see you walk away from me." Sasuke clutched my hand and tugged me gently towards him. "But I-" "Sh." Sasuke touched his forefinger to my lips. "No buts, just a simple answer." He removed his lips and I replied with, "Okay."

And that's the end for this chapter! You can expect the next chapter to be when Naruto and Sasuke travel to his secret hideaway. ;) Tune in next week, hopefully! Good bye!