Chapter 1 - Chance Meeting

Exiting the large green gates of Konoha wasn't always accepted when it didn't deal with a mission but Sakura had the need to get away from others. She had been restless and she couldn't concentrate on her material so she decided the best thing was to leave the busyness of the town to the outer forest surrounding Konoha.

When Sakura was sure she was alone, she found a warm rock to lean against and laid her pack down. She whipped out her medical book and read through many chapters of the basics she had been taught early on. As soon as the topic got to the harder things she started writing down notes along the side panels. Her handwriting was distinguishable against the printed words but she liked how her script was feminine in contrast to the type.

The wind picked up and her thoughts drifted away from the material to days in the recent past.

Admitting to her self that she had high respect for most people only added fire to the fact that she didn't like how her future was looking. Her mother had recently informed her that her father was discussing matrimony with other parents to see who would match well with his daughter. Sakura tried hard to hold back a groan. She didn't like the thought of her father picking who she'd spend the rest of her life with…it should be her choice. Thankfully he hadn't found anyone yet that caused him to push a relationship but he did have a couple men in mind.

Sakura had just put her medical book away when she started to sense someone else. It was a large amount of chakra but the direction of it was not known. Camouflaging within the thicket of brush made it easy for her to see all the way around her.

The person had chosen the typical path that led to Konoha but she wasn't sure if they had good intentions.

Listening for any movement Sakura pinpointed where the individual was and stilled her breath. As soon as the footsteps neared her, she jumped in front of them to stop their advancement to her village.

Inhaling quickly but staying alert, Sakura was stunned.

"Sasuke."

He stood relaxed and sure of himself, looking mature and wise. He had gotten rid of the awful outfit that Orochimaru had given him. He presently wore a black overcoat with the Uchiha clan fan symbol over his heart, a tight white undershirt, white pants, and black shoes. His hair looked ever the same as when he left. He definitely had grown well into his masculine jaw and manly muscles but she feared a side of him. The side of him that she wasn't able to witness over the last several years he had been gone. Had he grown to hate people? Was he influenced by Orochimaru in the ways of vengeance and hatred? Could she trust him at all?

"Sakura," his voice came out strong and bold with a tint of surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come home."

"You can't go back through those gates," Sakura said firmly from her stance a few feet away from him.

"I've settled my first issue. I need to complete the second oath from long ago."

"I can't let you do that, Sasuke." Sakura's eyes were stinging with emotion that she refused to let take over her. He wasn't going to see her cry. She had cried enough as it was over him.

"Complete my goal or through the gates?"

"Through the Konoha gates," she stated, trying not to clench her teeth too much in the effort to remain calm.

"Nande?"

"They will kill you within 24 hours of your return. By leaving your village and taking that despicable man as your sensei you committed a crime that is punishable by death."

"You're worried?" he asked, expressionless.

"I don't know how much you've changed or how much control Orochimaru had on you, but I don't want to hand you over to them before knowing where your heart is," she replied feeling good that she had still not shed a tear.

"You needn't worry. Orochimaru is dead and Itachi has been taken care of."

"That isn't what I was looking for…" she murmured meaningfully.

"I want to resurrect my clan where it was originally formed. That is all the reassurance you should need," he stated softer than any of his previous statements. Her aggressive position slackened into a full stand.

Sakura sighed as her feeling of emotion poured out of her eyes. "If only that were the case, Sasuke," her voice shook as she spoke and she hated herself for it.

Sasuke could tell she was giving it her best to keep it together and he felt unexpected compassion for her. After a pause he walked closer to her but before he got within arms-length she backed into a fighting position again and glared through her tears.

"Please, don't come any further." She quietly gulped down a sob that lodged itself in her throat.

"Don't cry, Sakura," Sasuke said gently.

Sakura was amazed at his sweetness but remained in the stance.

"What do you care, anyway?" she asked, sliding more control into her vocal chords.

"More than you know, in fact," he appeared before her and was able to capture her wrists so she would look at him and not attack. "Find it in your heart to trust me again, Sakura-sama. If your love for me back then was true, I know you can conjure up some faith in knowing that I want only good things for Konoha and my future life."

"No more revenge?" she questioned after some silence.

"No."

"No more hate?"

"None."

Her face relaxed a little bit before going on, "No more silence?"

This time he paused before replying, "I can't promise to be more open, but I will try."

Sakura felt hope rise from somewhere locked inside her heart, with his words he unlocked the door to something she thought was gone. 'But the door was still closed', she thought, determined to not give up on her resolve.

Sasuke saw the light from the old day's spring to her eyes, faintly and naturally. To his estimation she had matured sweetly into a strong and beautiful woman. Her wisdom of how to approach him and what to ask, was remarkable. She didn't stutter or blush and her determination spoke of self confidence that he admired. Her wrists burned underneath his touch, so much so that he let go and stepped back a stride from her.

Noticing his tender grip and the soft yet masculine way he looked at her made her toes twitch inside her shoes. Standing barely a breath away from him, after three and a half years, really made her senses go on hyper mode.

Thinking through what he said to her, she had to tell herself to keep breathing. Will he find someone who deserves him and would make him proud? Someone who would -or could- love him more than herself? She was sure no one understood him more than she did. If he picked someone else as his wife she was sure her brain would stop telling her internal organs to work…but then there were girls much prettier than her.

"You're going to have to wait until I can convince Tsunade that you're not a threat. Maybe she will pardon you because you eliminated the fiercest enemy of Konoha."

"Let me come with you," Sasuke affirmed.

Sakura shook her head, "There are those who would not allow you to get as far as the center of the city much less Tsunade's mansion."

"If they take me to the holding cells it will only be temporary." He sounded so positive of his stand that she was reassured about his maturity.

"Yeah, until they announce the day of your execution," she mentioned with a hint of dryness. "Take a chance and trust me on this, you'll want to wait out here…I know a place you can stay."

She led him to a rocky cliff-side. With some minimal climbing she showed him a hideout hidden within the edging.

"Stay here until I get the okay. I'll bring you whatever you need until then."

"Hai." He grabbed her upper arm and turned her toward him more. "Arigatou, Sakura-sama," he replied and penetrated her eyes to capture the moment -without the sharingan. He knew his freedom was in danger and, even though he had hurt her badly, she was still helping him.

"I'll be back later," she pried her arm loose and left without another sound.

Sakura's coldness wasn't a surprise. It hurt him deeper than he cared to admit. He was thankful that she was helping him, especially since he didn't deserve it. Her heart was so big and no one had been able to change that. He pondered about how she had fared during their time apart as he searched the walls for secret compartments.

Did she find love elsewhere? Had she completely given up on him?

Finding blankets within a crevice behind a thin rock he rolled them out and made a place where he could lie down when the time came. He had seen some eatable herbs outside the cave mouth so he collected some for later. He had some food left over in his bag but not enough to last more than three days.

He made himself comfortable on the blankets. He raised his knees and rested his elbows on them. He stared into space as his thoughts wondered.

Through his clothing he could feel the coolness of the cavern wall against his back. It was refreshing from the heat of the day but he didn't like it. The feeling brought back memories that he wanted to forget.

Orochimaru liked things damp, cool and dark. Too much like the snakes that had left his impious side. The snakes were Sasuke's now and they preferred him over their previous owner.

When night fell it wasn't long before Sakura appeared with a bag full of needed things. Her hair was in a pony-tail and she had put the forehead protector across her forehead instead of on top of her hair.

They were silent for a long while as he patiently waited for her to start some kind of conversation.

She made a fire, pulled out some fish and stuck them with sticks to grill for his dinner.

"Naruto would be pleased to know that you have returned," she finally said to him.

"He'll be disappointed that I came on my own and without his help," he replied confidently. He knew his best friend's thinking.

"Maybe after the first shock of seeing you alive…"

"Alive?"

Sakura looked up from the cooking fish and explained, "There was a rumor that you died."

"No trust in my skills?"

"Well, no one saw you get stronger, what do you expect?" she asked flipping the fish over to cook the other side.

Sasuke watched her as the fire lit her figure with golden hues and made her appear very beautiful. Shaking his head to remove the thought, he swore he was loosing all his sanity.

"Did you believe the rumor?"

"I had a hunch you still lived but knowing how evil Orochimaru was…I wasn't sure what to think."

"What about Naruto?"

"He claimed there was no way but we didn't find you or hear about you for another year and a half."

"Do you think he gave up on me?"

"No, never, but I do know it was hard for him stand up for you here while everyone gave up hope…"

"Did you?"

"Give up on you?" she questioned without much feeling in her words.

"Hai," he was a little astonished she didn't blush when she talked to him about himself.

She shrugged and handed the stuck fish over to him, "You know how I feel about revenge, 'a man who desires revenge should dig two graves'. Isn't that how the old saying goes?"

"Sounds about right…" Sasuke responded without looking into her eyes.

Sakura saw the guilt that lined his face but she also noticed how much he had matured from what all he had been through. Maybe he could be trusted…again.

Picking at their dinner allowed time to think of news that she thought he would care about hearing.

"Temari is ambassador for Sand and has been here for a couple years to learn how to teach their young genin."

"That makes sense to me."

Sakura glanced up at him and continued, "Ino is still under Tsunade and me, learning the way of a medical ninja."

"Is she talented enough to learn what you have?"

Sakura wasn't sure how he knew how much she had learned in his absence and gave him a searching look, "She started last year. I'm sure she's doing great in all her training from Tsunade."

"I doubt it, she only knows of womanly decorum."

"How do you know so much about us as people when you haven't been here?"

"I had training in finding things out. I learned things that aren't necessarily ethical to a nice village such as Konoha…"

"Maybe I shouldn't let you in," she said without a trace of joking even though she did it to test him. Getting the reaction she hoped for, Sasuke quickly searched her features.

"Sakura-sama, don't think I have any bad feelings toward Konoha."

Sakura held back her comment and stayed quiet for the benefit of a peaceful meal. She wanted to believe him, desperately. The only two things giving her pause were his flight out of Konoha and the speech he had made to them when they had finally found him after their many searches. He had made it obvious that he didn't want their help.

She had had so much trust in him…so much respect. As Sakura sat there nibbling at her food, she knew that if she didn't help him out she would regret it in the long run.

"Nobody has gone near your family's estate…they're scared that if they even walk in the courtyard they will be struck dead."

"Not surprised."

"Are you planning on remodeling the original or will you start somewhere else?"

"I plan to get the original back to its former state." Sasuke was trying to sound nonchalant about it but Sakura noticed the passion for his plan to go exactly how he wanted it.

"I'll help you." Her face held no emotion, just determination.

Sasuke raised his head and searched her face, "You will?"

"Hai," Sakura replied.

"Nande?"

"Because I consider you a friend," Sakura responded and got up to leave.

"Matte, Sakura-sama."

She paused in place and looked into his deep eyes.

"Arigatou," he said without blinking.

"You're welcome…although I question how much we will get accomplished considering you still aren't allowed in the village."

"Regardless, your willingness to help me is beyond repayment."

"Don't mention it," Sakura gathered whatever she needed to go back and waved before disappearing into the dim light of evening.

--

It took a good amount of persuading on her part but Sakura got Tsunade to listen to her argument and really think about the possibility of letting Sasuke back in without a price on his head.

"You're sure that he is done with the issues of the past?"

"He promised me and that is why I am promising you."

"You still care for him, don't you?" Tsunade said with a tender glare.

"That is not what this is about." Sakura looked away because she still couldn't figure it out herself.

"He still may be dangerous to Konoha," Shizune replied from her stance by the window.

"I don't believe that he is," Sakura responded.

"You have spoken with him?"

"Hai, Shishou, I brought him dinner last night."

Tsunade's eyebrow turned up at this news and she laced her fingers together on her desk.

"I don't need the details, Sakura, but you must be careful. What if he is using you?"

"He isn't, I'm positive of it."

"How do you think the village will act to all this?"

"Maybe there should be an announcement about his return and his intentions of coming back for his family name."

"It's risky, and that leaves room for others causing him trouble…"

"I thought of that too, but if he comes back he is better used for us than against us."

"We need him…" Shizune concluded thoughtfully.

"Alright, I'll get some men to escort him in. I want to talk with him myself." Tsunade wrote down names for Shizune to call on. "In the meantime, be careful Sakura."

"Hai."