Author's note: I was browsing through Deviantart when I happen to stumble upon this picture of, well, Naruto's evil twin, for a lack of a better term. And it got me thinking...which is bad 'cause then it leads me to writing things like this. I'm enjoying writing it so far. My dog Hamburger, however, thinks I may be neglecting him. Such a whiner.

Chapter 1: The Secrets

The dirty man looked up to the gate with a hint of crazy in his dark blue eyes and destruction in every step. This was the place at long last! This village would serve his purposes of a new home until he could take his "business" somewhere else. It was small, and judging by the villagers that had passed him on his way here, all waving and smiling and greeting him, it was also full of imprudent fools.

No matter, he thought, they won't be so happy-go-lucky while I'm here.

And with that malicious thought, followed by a hollow chuckle, presided to step foot into the welcoming perimeters of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

They looked like your average teenage couple out on a dinner date.

He was seated directly from her as she happily chattered on about work, the weather, her weekend plans. He would nod, and occasionally even put his two cents in, to keep the conversation two-sided.

Yes, they looked like a typical pair to an outsider. But to the residents of Konohagakure, they were two colleagues bonding over a hard day's work.

She was the apprentice to the head of the village, instantly making her a target of outmost respect and high-ranking office. A girl whose inhuman strength could only be rivaled by her short temper. Quick to play referee to her two teammates, Sakura Haruno was brains, brawns, and beauty, in one.

Seated across was a man whose black eyes of pure obsidian followed his pink haired teammate like a trained hawk. His name, well known from afar due to his deadly speed and even deadlier family history, kept the gawkers at bay from ruining their meal. To most, his posture and quiet demeanor looked nothing more than that of a relaxed man drinking tea. Maybe going as far as to say he was bored. But Uchiha's weren't known for doing anything they didn't want to do. So having Sasuke Uchiha sitting in a restaurant enjoying the company of others rather than his own for once was proof enough he wanted to be there and nowhere else.

"So I was thinking of changing shifts with this nurse-"

"You mean the one who jumps through hoops every time you enter a room? That nurse?"

"Yeah, that one. Maybe ask her to work Saturday for me so I have more time to spend with you, Naruto, Sai and Kakashi. Well, if we could ever track Kakashi down on a Saturday, which is doubtful."

"Do you even know her name?"

"I think it's something like Tamako or Taka…T-something."

"Hn."

"So, your thoughts?"

"I think you should ask and stop being rude not giving her a name."

"I meant about Saturday."

There was a pause before he finally admitted ,"Why does it always have to involve those idiot? Why can't it be just us two for a change."

But even to the insiders who dwelled in the village, they just didn't know how deceptive ninjas could really be. For you see, Sasuke and Sakura's relationship went far beyond mere comrades in arms. Theirs was a relationship in secret.

At his comment, the pink haired girl giggled in glee, while the raven haired boy tried not to blush at the electrifying sound coming from her rosy lips. "You know exactly why not. People would talk-"

"So let them talk."

"-and we would never have a minute to ourselves ever again."

At this, he did not respond.

"It would be nothing but Sakura and Sasuke this and Sasuke and Sakura that. And we both know how much you value solitude, Sa-su-ke."

"Sparing a couple hours of peace and quiet to be with you does not in anyway sound like signing your death, Sa-ku-ra."

At this, she could not stop the smile that spread over her face. She knew Sasuke's wish to be together with her. It was she who was ruining everything. Her and her stupid fear of commitment. The panic that the gossip of their union would burn the town to the ground was just a cover-up story to buy some time until she could think of a better reason not to go public.

And at the beginning it had worked.

Sasuke, like her, was reluctant to announce their unity to everyone. It was, after all, something so intimate and personal, something he did not do so well. But it was recently that Sakura had noticed Sasuke's willingness to let go of some of his own fears for the sake of his happiness.

Boy was she ever the biggest, most selfish bitch that ever walked the earth.

Gently massaging his knuckles with her thumb in a comforting manner, she tried to convey her plea without actually giving herself away. "Patients. It'll payoff in the end."

"Hn," he grunted, but gently squeezed her hand in a return of affection. "It had better. I am tired of holding hands underneath tables like we are up to no good. It is childish."

"And awkward," she gave him a knowing smirk. He in turn bent his head away from her damning/infuriating pointed look.

There was once a time Team 7 and Sai (because Sasuke would never see him as a fellow teammate) went out to share a meal. Sasuke couldn't resist reaching over (underneath the table, of course) to hold onto Sakura's soft and delicate a warm hand…well, he had thought it was her hand at the time.

"WHO THE HELL KEEPS TOUCHING ME!" Yelled a clearly flustered Naruto. If it weren't for Sakura's quick apology at the incidents, things would've gotten uncomfortable for sure.

Sakura kept massaging his hand with hers and all was right…well, almost.

"YOU TWO!"

They looked over to a woman, mid-forties early fifties, who had just come in scaring more than half the clientele.

Judging from her harried state, Sakura analyzed, she must have been looking everywhere for us. But what for?

"YOU MUST STOP HIM!"

"Uh, sure thing," Sakura replied, humoring the batty woman.

"He's dangerous, and only you two can take him out. You know him better than anyone else. If both of you were to deliver the blow, he'd never see it coming! He trusts you!"

"Uhm, pardon me, ma'am. But who might you be talking abo-"

"I'd never thought I'd see the day," the woman said, almost to herself. "He was always so nice and friendly. Bah! What fools we all were!"

"Yes, fools. Every last one of you. But who-" before Sakura could finish questioning the woman, she was gone as quickly as she had come. Sakura turned to her partner. "You didn't happen to hear who she was freaking out about, did you?"

But right as Sasuke was shaking his head, the woman's voice, louder than before (if at all possible), screeched out, "NARUTO UZUMAKI MUST DIE!"

The two secret lovers turned towards the direction of the street where the woman had run off to. Then swiveled in the opposite direction to stare at the third member that made up Team 7 who had just walked out of the bathroom from a bout of vomiting to stumble upon a disaster zone.

"Uh, I'll, uhm…be right…" And off he took running towards the toilet once more.

So yeah, that was the first of it...I'm debating with, well, my dog at the moment, of whether I should post this picture up. It probably wouldn't help -thats 'Burger's excuse. I think it would. Helllooo! It's called painting an eff-ing picture! Yes, I swear at my dog.

A lot.

Anyway, comments, questions, concerns? Feel free to write me up. And what's your take on this picture business? Say yes and help me take my dog down!