Chapter One - Sasuke's Return

It was a peaceful summers day in Konoha. The wind was extinguishing most of the dry heat, and the main streets were busy with citizens and travelers alike. The quietest place in the village was probably the visiting entrance, which was empty with the exception of two Konoha ninjas who sat awaiting to greet visitors and check their ID's. They were sitting in silence.

"Who's that coming down the path?" one of the men asked suddenly, pointing into the distance. "I didn't think we were expecting anyone else."

"A traveler?" suggested the other, squinting at the figure.

Whoever it was, he or she was walking rapidly towards the gate, and it wasn't long before they could make out the boy's finer features.

He was wearing long back ninja pants, sandals, a tight-fitting black t-shirt that showed off his newly defined muscles (though perhaps not intentionally), and a piece of rope was tied around his neck from which hung a single blue crystal. He had dark hair that hung in front of his face and dark eyes.

He wore a blank expression on his face as he passed through the gates. It had been four years since he'd been there last, but it all looked the same. He wasn't wearing a ninja headband, but the guards recognized him all the same.

There was a moment of stunned silence before one of the guards choked out, "Uchiha... Sasuke."

Sasuke just gave a polite nod and made to continue when the second ninja finally found his voice and yelled, "Oi! You think we're just gonna let you walk in knowing you work for Orochimaru?!"

Sasuke turned and stared at the at the ninja before he said calmly, "I have killed Orochimaru. At the moment I obey no one." with that, he turned and continued walking, leaving the stunned ninjas to digest this latest report.

XxXxXxX

Nara Shikamaru was the first of his friends to spot the former-missing-nin on the main street. At first he was so angry he was shaking. How dare he come back, after what he did to Sakura? And after half of his friends almost died on the mission to save him. Did he care?

But he did come back, said his inner, calmer self.

What did he mean by it, exactly?

Just talk to him. But be civil, please. A fight wouldn't do - would attract unwanted attention. And Sakura would kill you.

Taking a deep breath, he strolled over to where Sasuke was observing some crystal beads on a nearby stall.

"Sasuke," he said by means of a greeting.

Sasuke turned. "Shikamaru," he said, inclining his head slightly. "congratulations on becoming Jounin." (A/N: I dunno if I spelt Jounin right.)

"Hai." Shikamaru said quietly. "Arigoto. Er - how long have you been back?"

"I've just arrived. I was a fool, Shikamaru. I've come to acknowledge this, and then I will leave. I am not welcome here."

"You aren't staying, then?" Shikamaru let out a low whistle and rubbed the back of his neck. He looked extremely uncomfortable. "Troublesome..." he muttered, and then looked at Sasuke in the eye. "In any case, you'll need to see Hokage-sama. Mind if I walk with you?"

It quickly became apparent to Sasuke that he wasn't going to have much a choice as Shikamaru steered him down one of the side roads that lead to the Hokage's tower. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Sasuke's curiosity overcame common sense.

"Why do we take this road when the main road would take us to the Hokage's tower so much faster?" Sasuke asked, immediately feeling very foolish.

"As you may remember, Uchiha Sasuke, Sakura-san's apartment is on the main road," Shikamaru said while staring straight ahead. "It would be best, I believe, if you didn't greet her or make her aware of your presence in any way during your stay. I worry... about the effect your leaving again may have on her.

"She's not the girl you remember. Everything about her has changed except the deep, almost unhealthy love she has for you. I don't want her hurt any more then she already has, for your sake as well as hers. But I must go. I have no doubt we will meet again." and then he was gone.

XxXxXxX

Tsunade gave him two weeks in Konoha to do what he had to and get out.

Without thinking, Sasuke left down the main road, and only remember what Shikamaru had told him when he caught site of the familiar yellow building. Curiosity won, and he picked up speed.

What are you doing? he asked himself.

Just one glance... this is what he'd come for, wasn't it?

Are you sure you want to know?

Sasuke ignored this thought and rushed to her lemon-yellow apartment building. And then he saw her, standing on the deck, staring absently into the distance. His heart plummeted painfully, and he almost gasped in shock.

If he hadn't known Sakura's emerald green eyes so well he never would've recognized her. The first thing that became apparent was that she had lost a lot of weight. Her Konoha headband fit comfortably around her waist and her arms looked like two sticks attached to her body.

She had traded her red dress in for a midnight blue one with a plunging neckline. The flowing skirt it was attached to fell to her ankles and swished softly in the wind. She had dark circles under her eyes and her permanently blank expression gave you the impression that she had quite forgotten how to smile.

But it was her hair that shocked Sasuke the most. Her beautiful, bubble-gum-pink hair had been roughly cut to her shoulders and dyed a dark, inky brown.

That was about when he heard a familiar voice yell, "you bastard!" and he felt a sharp pain as two kunai hit him squarely in the chest. He distantly heard Sakura's screams, and saw crimson blood on the road in front of him.

He fell to the ground, aware only distantly of the activity all around him. "Sakura... chan..." he whispered, and slipped into unconciousness.