The Story After and Before

Note: Happens after Shippuden, Sasuke's back. Itachi's condition is unknown for now

Pairings: NaruHina, SasuSaku, ShikaTema, NejiTen

Ages:

Team Kakashi/Kurenai/Asuma-16

Team Gai- 17

Temari-Do I really need to tell you? Okay I will, 19

Disclaimer: Okay...how can some teenage girl own Naruto when it's owned by a adult guy?

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Prologue

A team of five Konoha shinobi jumped from tree to tree looking for their target. He has been reported seen around the village and the Fifth Hokage had sent them to either find out what he's doing or chase him out. The rain poured heavily down upon the five but none of them cared, all they cared about was to complete their mission.

"What do you think he's doing?" murmured the only kunoichi in the group to the team leader.

"To be honest...no idea" the leader replied.

"Sasuke..." whispered the blond following the kunoichi

"Hold on..." the team leader ordered, the other four stopped next to him, he turned to a ninja next to him, "Neji can you take a look? See if he's around?" Nineteen year old Hyuga Neji nodded and activated his Byakugan. The 360 degrees vision scanned the forest and spotted Sasuke lying on the forest ground, his chakra supply surprisingly low.

"Yes...I see him..." Neji informed the group, "lying on the floor, about 150 meters to the north west. His chakra supply is low but don't let your guard down"

"...Sasuke!" The kunoichi went ahead of the group, her green eyes suddenly filled with tears.

"Sakura wait!" the blond shouted after her. He went after her.

"Sheesh! I'll never understand Kakashi's team..." the leader muttered.

"Don't worry..." The fifth member said, "go on Akamaru, track them for us. Don't worry Shikamaru, they'll be fine" The huge dog next to Inuzuka Kiba sniffed the air, the scents of Uzumaki Naruto and Haruno Sakura where fresh compared to the scents of earlier patrols of Konoha ninja. Akamaru found their scent trails and the rest of the team followed. The leader, Nara Shikamaru in the lead, followed by Kiba and his huge dog, Akamaru and Neji they kept moving until Neji's Byakugan found the two in a small clearing, Sakura was kneeling next to a figure lying on the ground while Naruto was standing next to her. As the rest of the team arrived, Sasuke opened his dark eyes and looked at his past comrades.

"I'm sorry..." he moaned, "I truly am sorry for leaving the village" Naruto, Shikamaru, Kiba and Neji glared at him remembering when they along with Akimichi Choji went to retrieve him. Neji and Choji was nearly killed by two of the Sound Four who was escorting him to Orochimaru, but here he was, lying in a puddle of rain, cleaning the blood that was flowing out of his injuries. Sakura's expression had more sympathy for the missing-nin but her eyes also had a furious expression as she remembered how her friends got injured because of him.

"Then why come crawling back now?" She growled, "you had five years to do that and you come back now?" Sasuke shifted his head and he held her expression for a second.

"Sakura..please! I want to talk to Tsunade-sama" She continued to glare at him. The last trickle of hope flowed away.

Flashback

"There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you!" a younger Sakura screamed, "that's why...take me with you" Sasuke turned around with a little smirk on his face

"You still are annoying after all this time" She looked at him startled for a moment. He made a swift movement so he was standing behind her and whispered a "Thank You" before knocking her out.

End of flashback

The other ninja let out a really frustrated sigh. If Sakura caved in she'll persuade the others to help him. Shikamaru simply hoped that she won't agree to help him that easily. Sakura and Sasuke continued their 'staring match' until Sasuke dropped his gaze and sighed. Sakura however consulted her teammates.

"So?" She asked Shikamaru in a low voice.

"I'm not so sure..." Shikamaru admitted

"That act of his...he must be desperate if he's acting like that" Kiba pointed out.

"Psst! If it is Sasuke at all!" Naruto burst out

"It is Sasuke" Neji pointed out, Akamaru gave a little bark of agreement.

"So?" Sakura asked again, this time a little less patient.

"I think.." Shikamaru lowered his voice so the others leaned forward to listen, "we should get him to tell us why he's here, if he's lying we should know" he nodded towards Neji and the others agreed. They all turned to Sasuke again, who was staring at the sky ignoring the rain drops pouring down upon him.

"Sasuke...what are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked him, with a voice that showed no hostilely

"I..came back to..." That's when he fainted.

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Three Days later

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"Sasuke?" Sakura peeked into the Uchiha's room bringing him a white daffodil. Sasuke was sitting up now and feeling heck a lot better under the gentle care of all the medics, especially Sakura. He looked at her.

"Yeah, Sakura-chan?" She nearly dropped the vase in surprise, he called her Sakura-chan, he never did before. (Or did he? I never pay attention to the honorifics)

"oh um...I brought you something" She placed the vase on his bedside table and sat down next to him on a chair.

"I guess you want to know why I came back right?" he asked suddenly

"Yea...in fact the entire village is dying to know"

"Sakura...I can't tell you until I tell Tsunade-sama and Kakashi-sensi...what happened since I was away?"

"Oh...we all advanced to Jonin, Ino's leading her own team, and Temari is staying longer than she used to"

"Why?" Sasuke asked, suddenly interested

"For Shikamaru!" Sakura squealed, "and Naruto wised up to Hinata and guess who melted Konoha's number one ice cube, Neji into slush?"

"Tenten?" Sasuke grinned and made a mental note to himself to bug Neji about it later, "Sakura listen.."

"Yes, Sasuke-kun..what?"

"I came back partly because I want to return to the village and partly for...you"

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End of Prologue

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PRK: Yes Sasuke's really OOC, but live with it! Leave a review! And NNG is taken off for editing, the first chappie sucked.