Only Time Will Tell
Originally Written by XxLizzie-chanxX

Ch. 6

"Team 7 Reunited"

Naruto followed behind Sasuke as he led the way to where he sensed chakra.

"Sasuke what is it? Can you see anything, hello I'm talking to you?"

Sasuke looked back and put his hand over Naruto's mouth.

"Dobe be quiet, we are not alone here. Ino under someone's control. What the hell is going on? Who could be controlling her? I sense Sakura, but I don't see her. Be quiet and follow my lead."

Naruto stayed silent and followed Sasuke on full alert. Then he spotted two girls one that looked like Sakura and another that looked a little like Ino. He tapped Sasuke.

Sasuke got angry and grabbed his arm.

"What are you doing? I am trying to concentrate here. Let me go dobe before I make you."

Naruto gulped and pointed.

"Look Sasuke it is Sakura and Ino. What is she doing here? Do you think it could be a trap?"

Sasuke shook his head.

"You're still clueless. Of course it is a trap now be quiet. Let me handle it you stay here."

Naruto glared.

"We are still a team, I am going with you. Besides Sakura is our team mate. I am worried about her too Sasuke."

Sasuke sighed.

"Fine then come on and be quiet. I mean it Naruto, not a sound. Or I will make you silent."

They both followed the girls quietly until Naruto stepped on a bar and made it hit the wall. Sakura looked behind and pulled Riku back.

"Shh someone is here. Maybe it's Orochimaru, be quiet and be careful."

Sasuke looked and heard Orochimaru's voice.

"What the hell, I killed him. How did he survive? Why can I hear his voice speaking to Kabuto. Naruto stay close by me. We are about to come face to face with Orochimaru."

Naruto looked.

"Huh, I thought you destroyed him? Sasuke why would we be able to see him if you killed him?"

Sasuke looked and shook his head.

"I don't know but he survived somehow. He will not be so lucky this time I will destroy him! If he survived I am not free. I am not going to be one of his followers any longer. I am back at the village with the people that care about me. Sorry it took me so long to figure it out Naruto. All I wanted to do was avenge my family, never expected for it to go that far."

Naruto looked.

"That is not all you forgot Sasuke. There is more than you think that you should know."

Sasuke looked at him.

"Like what exactly, tell me dobe. What else did I forget about? Well I am waiting."

Naruto glared back.

"Figure it out yourself. Right now we have to help Sakura."

Sakura was walking not watching where she was going and accidentally bumped into Sasuke. Riku looked and stared.

"Sakura where did you go? Oh no Master Orochimaru is coming and I can't find Sakura. He's going to destroy me if he finds out I let her go. She is the main bait to get Sasuke back here so Orochimaru can take over his body."
Sasuke appeared.

"Oh really I am here. How did he survive, answer me now. Answer my question or I'll slit your throat! Answer me now!"

Sakura grabbed Sasuke's arm.

"Don't she helped me escape. He was using me as bait to get you. He knew if I was captured you would come for me. I don't know how he knew but he did, and I don't want you to go to him. I rather die Sasuke-Kun I meant what I said when you left! I never stopped loving you though I did try to forget what you meant to me."

Orochimaru appeared and laughed grabbing Sakura.

"Well well Sasuke do you think you're seeing a ghost? Now either surrender to me or I will kill Sakura! Your body is what I need to survive! Now drop your weapon or I will kill her! You know I will now come to me!"

Naruto looked and stared.

"Sasuke do something! Will you get over yourself! Are you that selfish that you will let him kill Sakura?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto and knocked him out.

"Let her go now Orochimaru! You got what you wanted, now let her go she has nothing to do with this. You want me here I am, now let her go!"

He threw his sword down and went to Orochimaru. Orochimaru laughed and threw Sakura at the wall knocking her out. Riku looked and stared.

"He gave himself up for her. I guess he really does love Sakura. What do I do now? I can't save Sakura. Naruto is knocked out, it's hopeless now this is my entire fault!"

She started to cry.

Kabuto started the incantation and Sakura came back into consciousness. She saw Sasuke in front of Orochimaru and screamed.

"NO Sasuke-Kun don't! Please don't die for me! Sasuke Don't! "

Sasuke laughed as his clone appeared behind Kabuto and used his Chidori on him!

"CHIDORI NAGASHI!"

Kabuto's body fell to the ground into ashes and he grabbed his sword and yelled at Naruto.

"Get Sakura out of here now! I am behind you now move it dobe!"

Naruto came out of consciousness and grabbed Sakura running at top speed as Orochimaru's hideout crashed to the ground in rubble. Sakura saw the whole thing collapse and broke down in tears.

"Sasuke No! You idiot why did you risk your life for me! I almost had you back and now I have lost you forever! SASUKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!NOOOOOOOOO! I LOST YOU ONCE AND NOW YOU'RE GONE FOREVER! NOOOOO!"

Naruto held her as she cried on him and tried to hide the tears.

"Sakura-Chan now he's a ninja with honor. He gave his life for someone he cared a great deal about! He will go down in history as a hero not a rogue ninja and he did it because he never mind. Let's get back to the village and tell them the sad news."

Riku looked back and saw Sasuke running but also noticed he was week. Her purple belt disintegrated and she could think for herself again. "

Sakura and Naruto look it's Sasuke. Oh no he's hurt. He needs medical attention. Come on help me carry him back to the village. He needs medical attention immediately or we will lose him!"

Sakura and Naruto ran to help Riku carry Sasuke back to the village. They all carried Sasuke back to the village and immediately took him to the infirmary. He lay in the bed unconscious and Sakura cried over his still body.

"Sasuke-Kun please snap out of it! You shouldn't have risked your life for me. Please wake up I can't lose you again. "

Ino appeared and put her hand on her shoulder.

"Sakura-Chan he gave his life for you. I guess everyone was wrong and that he truly did love you. Too bad it ended this way. Did he ever tell you how he truly felt about you after you confessed your love for him?"

She shook her head.

"No he just brushed me off and left. Then even when we did meet again he still treated me the way he used to. He didn't die for me, he did it to clear his name no other reason. Maybe I was dreaming that I was anything to him but an annoying brat. If you don't mind I want to be left alone now. Ino just leave me alone!"

Naruto saw Sakura run away in tears and ran after her. Sakura felt his hand on her and she slapped him.

"Don't touch me Naruto I want to be left alone. Just leave me alone! Sasuke died to clear his name, not because his feelings changed toward me! I am still annoying to him and it is time I just admit it! Go to Hinata and leave me alone now!"

Naruto shook his head and walked away listening to Sakura crying. Hinata spotted Naruto and pulled on his jacket. Naruto-Kun he is awake! He wants Sakura, he asked for her when he started to gain consciousness. Where is she?"

Naruto shook his head.

"She doesn't care anymore. She wants to be left alone. I tried to tell her how Sasuke felt about her but she blew me off! I always knew that he loved her just can't believe he never told her himself. Now he wants to tell her how he feels about her she doesn't care. Let's go Hinata-Chan."

He took her hand and they headed to the hospital where Sasuke was now sitting up in the bed. Naruto and Hinata entered and saw Sasuke. He looked at Naruto.

"Naruto where is Sakura? Didn't you tell her I am awake?"

He sighed.

"Yes I did and she doesn't care. I don't blame her either. You are so ridiculous, why couldn't you just get over yourself and tell her the truth Sasuke? While you were gone she never lost faith in you when others did. She always went to your house and broke down in tears after you left the village after she confessed her love to you! It is no one else's fault but your own it serves you right. The way you treated her since you got back!"

Sai entered and looked at Sasuke.

"So is Orochimaru really gone now? Did you kill him this time Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked up.

"Yes Sai he is gone. I couldn't bear to see Sakura killed because of me. I had to protect her, she means the world to me. I am so stupid, now that I am back and never returned my love for her I lost her forever. Just because I had to avenge my clan I was so blind and didn't see what I had in front of me. That night I should've just told her the truth."

Sakura entered the hospital and looked at Sasuke.

"Do you really mean what you just said Sasuke-Kun? Do you really love me or are you just saying that to feel better? Well I am waiting Sasuke."

Sasuke looked up and smiled slightly at her.

"Come over here and I'll show you if I meant it or not. Can we be left alone please Naruto, Hinata, Ino, and Sai! Do you all mind I want to talk to Sakura-Chan alone. "

They all exited the hospital and Sakura sat on the bed looking at him eating his food.

"So how do you feel Sasuke-Kun? "

He looked at her.

"I have a really bad head ache and the rest of my body aches, besides that I am fine. "

To be continued….