Sasuke and Naruto were sat on wooden chairs, waiting just outside Hokage Tsunade's office. Sasuke was slumped down in his chair, absent-mindedly twirling his sheathed sword between his fingers into the floor. His eyes were blank, unseeing. Naruto turned towards Sasuke in his chair, eyebrows furrowed.

"Will you please tell me what's going on now, Sasuke?" Naruto asked the downcast Uchiha. He was getting seriously worried about his friend. Sasuke had been back in the village for two years now and had been genuinely happy. Naruto had seen a carefree, fun-loving side to Sasuke he didn't know existed up until five months ago. Since then, Sasuke had gradually withdrawn socially, failing to engage in conversation and eventually he had stopped leaving the house altogether. This was the first time he'd left the confines of his home and the first time that Naruto had physically seen more than the Uchiha's deep crimson eyes from behind a small crack in his front door for nearly two months. He just couldn't understand what had changed.

"Please, Sasuke..." Naruto entreated cautiously "Is it something to do with... Sakura?"

Sasuke's breath caught at the back of his throat at mentioning of that name. Naruto carefully analysed the Uchiha's face as it creased and silent tears began to stream down his cheeks. Naruto suddenly felt physically sick with worry.

"Sasuke, if something's happened to Sakura, you have to tell me now!" he stood, almost toppling his chair over and towering over Sasuke. "Is she hurt?"

Sasuke took in a few shuddering breaths before lifting his tear-drenched face up to the visibly shaking Naruto. "Sit down, Naruto. There are a few things you should probably know..."

Naruto, now on the verge of tears himself slowly sat back down on his wooden chair, not once taking his eyes off of Sasuke.

Sasuke leaned his head back against the wall and stared up at the ceiling, tears still cascading down his face. "You know... obviously, that Sakura and myself have been a couple for a year and a half now." He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he now couldn't keep a secret any longer, especially from his and Sakura's best friend.

"Well it's been great, Naruto. I'm so in love with her. Without her my life would have no meaning, no purpose... I'd be an empty shell. She was the part missing from my soul, for all those years." Sasuke choked a small laugh "I was such a prat back then. She was right there, in front of me all along and I couldn't even see it."

Sasuke clenched his fists and tightened his jaw to prevent himself from having a complete breakdown. "I know you understand what I'm talking about here. It's the same for you and Hinata. She completes you in the same way that Sakura completes me."

Naruto nodded in agreement, knowing full well what Sasuke meant but continued to listen intently. His stomach was churning in a way that told him something was very wrong here. He was terrified at the direction this conversation was going.

Sasuke swallowed. A large lump had formed in his throat making it difficult for him to go any further but he pressed on. This was it. Naruto had to know now. "I suppose I first noticed something wasn't quite right about..." Sasuke breathed in deeply "...five months ago now... Sakura has never been a jealous girlfriend. She's always been one hundred percent certain of where she stood with me since we got together. I've treated her with all the love she deserves from me and more. If she wanted it, I'd physically tear out my own heart to give it to her." Sasuke paused for a long moment while he collected himself.

"I'd just returned from a mission with Ino and Shikamaru somewhere between Suna and the River Country. I'd been away for just over a week and needless to say all I could think about from the moment I left to the moment I returned was seeing Sakura's face and holding her in my arms... It was about 9pm when we arrived back in Konoha and I'd asked Ino and Shikamaru to go ahead and report to the Hokage without me. I wanted to waste no more time not seeing her, not holding her... But..." Sasuke stopped again, leaning forward, fresh tears spilling onto the floor "I walked through the door, I called her name... She was so mad at me..."

X

Sasuke ducked to the side as a plate was hurled at his head and crashed into the wall beside him. He tried to approach her but she continued to throw whatever she could at him, screaming at him to get away from her.

"Get AWAY from me Sasuke! You can't act normal after spending over a WEEK with that fucking Ino!" Sakura screamed at him, tears streaming down her cheeks. She grabbed a table lamp, wrenching the plug out the wall and threw it at Sasuke's head.

"Sakura, please stop this! I don't understand; please tell me what I've done to upset you!" cried Sasuke as he dodged yet another plate.

"I've been here, Sasuke. For over a week worried sick about whether you were going to come back to me! Worrying about what that sly bitch Ino would do, having you all to herself!" Sakura, now out of things to throw backed away from Sasuke across the kitchen. "She's ALWAYS wanted you, Sasuke! She's ALWAYS tried to take you from me!"

Sasuke, still trying to approach the enraged, tearful kunoichi jumped back as she hurled the round kitchen table over at him. "Sakura, what are you talking about? I love YOU! I've always loved you, why would I ever want to hurt you? Please Sakura, this is ridiculous!" He started to cry too, feeling helpless and not knowing what to do to calm down his pink-haired beauty.

"You'll leave me for her! I know it!" She yelled at him, pulling at her own hair. Sakura was backed into a corner now, with nothing to throw or to defend herself with. Sasuke cautiously and slowly stepped towards her, hands raised up to show he wasn't going to hurt her. Sakura completely freaked out, totally losing herself in despair and anger. She sent a barrage of punches into the Uchiha's chest, forgetting even to use her signature move in using chakra to strengthen the punches.

Sasuke took the punches, allowed her to hit him and waiting for her to exhaust herself before she fell weakly against his chest, sobbing and clutching onto his shirt. He carefully wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him. He leaned down, breathing in her scent to calm his senses. After a few minutes he spoke in a low, gentle voice "Sakura... You are the reason for my existence. I would never leave you. Ever. I love you."

Sakura, still leaning helplessly against him whispered "I love you too..."

X

Naruto's eyes were wide with horror "Sakura... Sakura did that?"

Sasuke nodded "But that's only the beginning..."


1/3

Just so you guys know, this is only a 3-part story. Constructive criticism welcome :)