AN: Here is my new fanfic… 'Count on us' is sort of put on hold at the moment, I will continue it but I plan to do this one first because I'm more inspired. I maybe will post one chapter from time to time for 'Count on us' but I can't promise anything. However, for this story, I will surely update more often. Well, enough talking, time to read… Hope you will enjoy it!

Title: Change is not always good

Summary: Sasuke just came back and Sakura is more and more distant towards Naruto. Will he be willing to do everything to get her friendship back or maybe even a little more?

Characters: Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke

Takes place during Shippuden, after Sasuke kills his brother.

'Blablabla' : thoughts

___

It was night time, the owls were flying and the wind was making scaring noises. From the forest around Konoha got out two figures, two men. One was standing using his last strength and was carrying the other on his back. The blond made one step and collapsed. The darkness seemed to be enveloping them but never touching the blond man. Brightness and warmth came from his body. Nobody could guess what he was thinking. If someone was watching him from a distance, he would have thought that this man was exhausted and crying because of the pain he was in. But if someone was watching him carefully and closely, he would have seen his smile, a true smile of happiness. He was finally able to keep his promise to the person he most loved. He was finally able to bring him back: Sasuke Uchiha.

All that happened after that was very quick. The next morning, they were found, both bleeding and both almost dead. One seemed to be devastated, his black hair was darker than usual and the other one seemed to be incredibly peaceful, his blond hair playing with the wind. They were brought to the hospital where a pink kunoichi healed them. Before closing his eyes, the blond whispered to his best friend and long time love: "See, told ya I'll bring him back." The pink-haired girl smiled and hurried into the surgery room. The Hokage was already giving the first aid to the two patients. "Sakura! I need you! Help me with Sasuke." Sakura walked towards the bed and couldn't help but admire the raven-haired shinobi. 'He's even more handsome than in my memories.' And, without anymore thought, the operation started. It wouldn't be useful to describe the whole operation on the boy. Of course, some moments were more dangerous than others, some more stressful than others but hours later, the two great medical ninjas were proud of their work. I will also not tell you about the second operation done on the blond ninja because it would be unnecessary, boring and most of all because it was successful like the first one.

Days later, the two former teammates and best friend got out of the hospital. Naruto had only one though in mind: finally, he was able to eat some ramen in Ichiraku. Sakura was waiting for them there and he just knew he was going to enjoy his afternoon. The other boy, Sasuke, was thinking of this new part of his life. Sure, he was happy to be in a proper village, a house, but his hate of the village was still here. He couldn't do anything now, not with the bunch of ANBU following him all around the village night and day, but maybe, one day, he would be able to avenge his clan. Oh, he would not destroy the entire village or kill a lot of people, he had realized this type of vengeance was useless, but he had an idea in mind, a terrible idea.

"Hey guys, how are you?" Sakura was waving at them from the restaurant.

"Hi Sakura-chan. We're fine, how about you?"

"Yeah, fine," answered Sasuke.

'Still talking a lot I see,' thought Naruto.

"I'm fine. So what do you want to eat?" They all ordered their food and started chatting.

"So, Sasuke, what are you going to do now? Even if you can't be a ninja right now, there's surely something you would want to do, isn't it?"

"Sure."

"And what's that?" Sakura felt the need to push the discussion or she knew there would be no discussion at all. 'He's still the same mysterious guy, I love it!'

Naruto was also thinking about Sasuke, but not in the same terms: 'He's still the same jerk he was. Even more maybe, well, at least as he was at the academy. It seems all the time we spent together doesn't count.'

"I'm thinking about training a lot for when I'll be a shinobi again."

"That's so cool Sasuke-kun."

Naruto was looking down in his bowl. 'And Sakura is becoming again the fan girl. What is happening? I know a while ago, if she had seen me like this, so down, she would have talked to me to make me feel better. But today, she's just looking at stupid Sasuke. I shouldn't have brought him back… but I did it for her. I would do anything if it makes her happy.' Naruto looked one more at Sakura who was smiling again. He hoped she will stop him but as he said he was going, he just received a:

"Bye Naruto"

"Bye dupe."

And that was it.

___

It has been two days since the former team 7 had shared their lunch. Since that day, Sakura hadn't talked to Naruto, not even during training. She had instead spent all her days searching for Sasuke, talking to Sasuke, dreaming of Sasuke. All her life was once again turned towards Sasuke. Ino, who had been a fan girl like Sakura was, had succeeded in forgetting or more getting over this part of her life. Of course, she was happy to see him again, but just as a friend. When Ino and Sakura had a talk about him, he didn't turn out well:

"So, what about Sasuke?" Ino asked as calmly as she could.

"What about him?"

"Well, you've been a lot with him lately, is something going on?"

"What? NO! I would like to but…"

"You would what??? You still care about him?"

"Isn't it obvious? He's still handsome and mysterious and strong and all…"

"So you're telling me you didn't grow up at all during all these years? You still think like that? I'm so disappointed… Can't you see what really matters?"

"It is you who is disappointing me! How can you say that?"

"He's a traitor, he has hurt everybody I care and you should care about and…"

"A traitor, you…"

"YES! And you disgust me!" Ino left Sakura's house and Sakura stood there for a few minutes, wondering why Ino was acting like this. 'She's jealous, that's all.' And Sakura went on with her day, pretending the feeling of hurt in her heart was not there.

___

"Hey Sakura, what's up?" Naruto wanted them to be like it had always been. He had came to her place in the morning to pick her up like he did before and when she opened the door, he stood in front of her, grinning.

"Nothing really. Why are you here?"

He looked at her with sadness in his eyes, "I'm here to pick you up, like always," hoping she would by miracle actually remember.

"Oh…" She didn't catch the disappointed look on Naruto's face and smiled back at him. "Don't worry about that anymore, Sasuke-kun is coming every morning now. You can save yourself more time to sleep!"

"He… what?"

"Come on, you just did that because he was not here."

"NO! I did it because… because…"

"Because of what?"

"Because I thought we were friends, that we cared about each other."

"Don't say that, of course you're my friend… but Sasuke is back, so I'm spending more time with him, to, I'd say, catch up with him."

"But why are you pushing me away?"

"I'm not…"

"Yes, you…"

"There he is!"

Sasuke was indeed coming towards them with absolutely no way of knowing what he was thinking by the look of his face. "Hi Sakura, we're going."

"I'm coming, I'm ready." She jumped out of the doorway and took Sasuke's arm. "You look stunning today Sasuke-kun."

Sasuke turned his head to see Naruto with tears in his eyes. He passed his arm around Sakura's shoulder, leaned his head towards her and smiled a devilish smile. "I sure am."

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AN: I hope you enjoyed this first chapter. If you did, and even if you didn't, please REVIEW!!! Thanks a lot. I will answer every review…