"I might go mad." This was said in a conversational sort of way. Not in a tone of frustration, it was more of a statement of fact.

"Eh... I'm sorry." Dang it Naruto, where are you? The usually calm and collected Uchiha appeared to be floundering in the face of the young girl in front of him.

"Oh, it's no problem. Mother says that I'll be famous and bring the family lots and lots of money." The little brown haired child smiled slightly at this. "And then I'll go on tour in a straight jacket."

"Oh... erm..." The Uchiha was saved by Naruto's appearance at his shoulder.

"Rin, what are you talking about?" Naruto sighed.

"I was telling him about what mother said..."

"That's nice. Run along." Naruto interrupted her.

"Alight. G'bye Uncle Naruto!" Came the cheerful reply and the girl ran off in the general direction of Ino and Sasuke briefly (very briefly) felt very sorry for her.

"Who was that." Sasuke growled at the blonde next to him.

"Her mother isn't... all there. I think it must have rubbed off on her a bit. You just have to get used to her." The Jinchuriiki grinned.

There was a rather long pause.

"Uncle?"

Naruto seemed to deflate a little bit.

"Don't ask."

Sasuke sighed and pushed his way through the crowd and out onto the terrace and the bracing winter air.

Sasuke barely sparred the thick blanket of snow a second glance, he was more interested in the stars. The sky was clear and each star had burned itself into the indigo canvas of the sky. He allowed himself to get caught up in the sight, not noticing Sakura until she lightly brushed her hand against his arm. He jumped slightly at the contact.

"What're you doing out here, Sasuke?" Sakura inquired as she leaned on the railing next to him.

He glanced down at her. "It's too loud in there." The answer was just as emotionless as always.

"But everyone else's in there."

"Hn."

Sakura sighed. Sasuke had a talent for killing conversations.

An awkward silence ensued until Sasuke murmured so softly she almost missed it, "Do you want to go on a walk?"

She decided to take it and run with it. "Sure."

Sasuke offered her his arm like a true gentleman, and lead her through the crowd and out the door.

Their walk wove its way through Konohagakure, but it eventually ended at the bench where Sasuke had left Sakura so long ago. He cleared the snow off of it with a sweep of his hand and sat down, Sakura alongside him.

"Did you want to talk about something?" Sakura questioned glancing up at the stars.

He didn't answer, but she felt a wisp of warmth across her cheek as he lightly kissed her on her lips. Her head jerked down, staring into the Uchiha's indigo eyes. He didn't prolong the contact however, for he quickly glanced down and stood up in one fluid movement.

"I just wanted to say that I was sorry." He shot her a sad smile, and turned to walk away.

Sakura quickly recovered from her shock. "What, you're just gonna leave me here?"

Sasuke glanced back at her, surprised.

"Walk me home?" She offered.

The Uchiha's shocked look quickly disappeared and was replaced by a little (very little) smile. "I would love to."

Sakura hooked her arm through his and as they walked out into the night, she reflected that in the end, she had always known that Sasuke would come back.

A/N: I'm not sure about this one... I mean, there're parts of it I like... but on the whole not my best work. By the way, he's apologizing for leaving, I don't think I totally got that across. I don't actually think this is ever going to happen in the series, but it's a nice thought. I love that opening line though. "I might go mad." Imagine it like a little girl coming up to you and saying, "I might get a doll for Christmas." Anyway, R&R please!