~*Deliverance*~

Chapter One : A Promise

Sakura awoke the very moment the intruder stepped foot into her camp, despite the fact that he moved stealthily. She kept her breathing natural, her heart rate normal, to appear dormant as before. He underestimated her, as he always had thought though it wasn't always an incorrect assumption as it was now, and thus believed she was truly asleep. Sakura hated being taken so lightly mostly, but it worked to her advantage this time. He wouldn't expect her counter attack- wouldn't even see it coming. Sakura felt his chakra signature close in on her, and though no sound could be heard from his approach, not the rustling of leaves nor the crunching of foliage underneath his feet, Sakura knew he was coming nearer without haste or hint of hesitation. He had something in mind, something he considered, some premeditated plan. As this simple fact struck her, Sakura knew it to be true, deep down, she felt slightly apprehensive.

Sasuke crept up to the sleeping girl on the forest floor soundlessly until he stood right over her, looking down at her as he did his feet. When he had spotted her in the woods earlier that day, presumably on her way back home to Konoha after a mission, Sasuke couldn't let this chance pass him by. Really, what was the probability of coming across another opportunity such as this? The time off he had been given by Orochimaru he had spent wandering the forests of Fire Country in aimless nostalgia, and he just happened to stumble across the girl that had been haunting his dreams ever since he left. Fate, it seemed, was on his side; at least for tonight... But really, one night was all he needed.

The Uchiha crouched down in front of her sleeping figure, getting a good look at her before she woke. Her visage was truly something to behold; it was quite the sight for Sasuke's sore eyes. Pale, roseate hair framed a heart-shaped face, skin as pure as ivory silk. Her dazzling emerald eyes were hidden beneath the thin lids of her eyes, he noted with disappointment, and her light, rose dusted lashes protruded. Her full, pink lips trembled with each breath she took, beckoning him to come closer; he gladly obliged at this notion. Sasuke lightly traced her features, the back of his fingers sliding down her cheek with a slight tremor. Was he trembling? Surely not; Uchiha Sasuke would do no such thing. Then again, Uchiha Sasuke would not caress Haruno Sakura's face while she slept- or so he thought, previously. She changed him... And he didn't yet know if he liked that or not- if it was a good thing, or a bad thing.

Sakura barely managed to keep her breathing and her pulse under control as he came closer, anxiety swelling with each step he took until she thought she'd burst. She felt him loom over her seemingly sleeping form but maintained her facade until she deemed that the time was right to strike. He crouched down and nothing else, which only confused Sakura even more than she already was. When she felt his calloused digits brush over her skin she reacted, swiftly pulling a kunai out from under her pillow and slashing out... But he did not retreat, didn't even flinch, much to Sakura's dismay.

The moonlight shone down upon the glade, lighting the area with an opalescent, milky iridescence. Sakura saw him then, underneath that haunting, midnight glow. She nearly gasped at the sight but managed to keep herself composed in fear of giving him the satisfaction of surprising her, despite that it was under a less platonic sense. The luminescence made his skin glow a ghostly alabaster, his stoic features set in stone. His eyes reflected no light what so ever; the darkness of his obsidian orbs seemingly eradicating it like an impenetrable verse of black darkness in which no light could permeate. His raven hair framed his handsome features and Sakura's heart ached at the sight of the man who had plagued her dreams for the last nine years. The last thing she noticed about him was the thin, crimson line on the back of his hand. Blood beaded from the deep laceration and ran down the seams of his flesh until it inevitably dripped off his hand, ruby droplets catching the light before falling onto the forest floor with a diminutive splash. Sakura repressed the urge to smirk- she, Haruno Sakura, managed to put a scratch on the Uchiha Sasuke... Though he had let her, she noted with irritation, and they both knew it.

"It's been a while... Sakura." Sasuke began, his tone betraying nothing. His casual remark struck her as ironic, their roles strangely in reverse. Wasn't she the one who tried to gain his attention with small talk? Sakura, of course, shoved this at the back of her mind for further inspection at a later date. She had other matters at hand to tend to.

"What are you doing here, Sasuke?" Sakura demanded, voice low in the night despite the fact that they were the only two in the area. Her eyes narrowed, flashing with a defiant green fire that secretly thrilled him. Now that she was awake he was able to admire those viridian orbs, though he'd never admit it. He vaguely noted that she seemed to have dropped the honorific off his name, but that wasn't unexpected. He wouldn't expect anything less of an enemy.

"I've been given a private duration from my dealings in Oto for the time being." He replied swiftly without missing a beat, deciding to answer her question in earnest if only to humor her. Sakura observed him skeptically, still strained in a defensive stance though he just crouched in front of her, forearms resting on his bent knees and fingers laced together in front of him. An owl hooted in the distance, a seemingly insignificant detail that managed to complement the atmosphere.

"And why, on your 'days off', are you here bothering me?" She snapped coldly in an attempt to hide the tiny flutter of hope in her chest. What was he doing here? Did she dare to assume, dare to think the thoughts she had once forbade herself to think? Could he possibly be... Coming back home? Sakura remembered his earlier words; I've been given a private duration from my dealings in Oto for the time being... The last four words eliminated the possibility of his return, which saddened her immensely though she'd never admit it. That being the case... What was he up to?

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Sasuke lifted his hand, the blood long dried in flakes contrasting with his ivory complexion, and wrapped his fingers loosely around her neck in a manner that would imply strangulation. Sasuke's hand was more than large enough to completely encircle her tender throat; how easily he could snap her delicate neck with a single flick of the wrist. His grip tightened significantly and Sakura could feel her pulse accelerate, as could he, and her breathing became labored. Her eyes widened and flicked up to meet his gaze, which was cold and aloof as it had always been.

"Would it be so difficult to believe if I told you that I wished to see you? That I've dreamed of seeing you for the better half of the last decade?" He asked softly, entranced with his hand on her neck. Sakura stared at him dubiously, suspiciously though in shock, as her inner hung on to every word that fell from his mouth. Was he implying what she thought he was? No... Uchiha Sasuke was not the longing type, especially not for Haruno Sakura of all people. His gentle words conflicted greatly with his rough actions, his grip never faltering around her neck. He was playing at something, she knew, and the very thought enraged her. She was not to be toyed with- she wasn't the same lovesick girl from nine years past, who would be willingly manipulated by him if only to please him.

"Forgive me if I don't believe every word that falls out of your mouth, Sasuke. You haven't exactly been around much lately to gain my trust." She spat back sarcastically with a glare, voice slightly strained under his hold. Sasuke was slightly surprised at her hostile demeanor towards him, especially in her vulnerable position. He was pleased to see that Sakura had some nerve, standing up to the person who held her life in their hands... But what shocked him most was that she stood up to him, of all people. Was it possible that she no longer held him in the highest regard? That she no longer... Loved him? How incredibly ironic, Sasuke thought with wry amusement, that I have longed for her all these years after rejecting her love, and now she seems to be rejecting me when the tables have turned... But he would not give up that easily. Uchiha Sasuke did not dream of her all these years only to be denied. His obsidian eyes narrowed in displeasure... His hand dropped from her throat to rest limply at his side.

"What do you want, Sasuke?" Sakura inquired, voice no longer brimming with animosity. Instead, it was full of a weary sorrow that was almost overwhelming in its intensity. Given her tone of voice it seemed she still cared about him somewhat, Sasuke reasoned. Her distress was a good sign in this aspect... Though, at the same time, he didn't want her to feel such anguish with him as the causation of her pain. It was a new feeling, strangely alien in its selflessness, and it radiated through him uncomfortably. The urge to make someone else happy... Was a new concept to him. He didn't know what to say in regard to this situation and, being an avid believer that actions speak louder than words, Sasuke answered her question.

Sasuke leaned forward quicker than she could pull away and sought out her mouth, his lips meeting hers in a ghost of a kiss- a mere brush of the lips- and his hands rested gently on her shoulders, holding her still when she tried to resist. His forehead pressed against hers afterward, their noses barely touching, and Sakura stared at him in shock for the umpteenth time that night. Was she dreaming? Uchiha Sasuke had just kissed her... Uchiha Sasuke had just kissed her. It wasn't heated or full of passion, rather, it was brief and wistful... Full of something she didn't quite understand. It was like he was trying to tell her something... How very like Sasuke to speak through actions rather than words, Sakura mused with mild annoyance.

"I need your assistance, Sakura. You're the only one who can help me in this regard..." Sasuke whispered solemnly, meeting her gaze with an unflinching resolve. Sakura simply stared at him dumbly, unsure of what to say.

"What do you want, Sasuke?" She asked again softly, but this time her voice was curious rather than dismal- inquiring rather than demanding. Sasuke was silent for a moment, pondering her words and organizing his thoughts. What did he want? To him it was rather obvious. He wanted...

"A matriarch." He murmured before kissing her once more. If her eyes were capable of widening any more they would have, but she was limited for physical reactions of surprise; abandoning her shock and embracing the opportunity, she deepened the kiss with fervor. Sasuke wanted... A matriarch? And he said she was the only one that could help him in this regard... He, Uchiha Sasuke, wanted her, Haruno Sakura, to be his matriarch. She couldn't believe her ears, but then again, she didn't have to; she only had to recognize the feelings and intentions behind his kiss, decipher it down to its simplest form...

It was then that Sakura felt it- the twinge of emotion behind his actions. It was- dare she utter it at risk of jinxing herself?- adoration. Pure, genuine love, true and simple. The notion appalled her- since when did he, Uchiha Sasuke, love her?- and she wouldn't have believed it in a million years if someone had told her but here they were, embracing and kissing underneath the moonlight, basking in the fairy-tale like atmosphere and the lovestruck emotions that it brought.

Sakura's compliance encouraged him to advance, and Sasuke gently pushed her down onto her back and settled between her legs without breaking the kiss. He would remain gentle as to not scare her off, despite the desire raging in his veins to take her. Sakura surprised him when she broke the seal of his mouth with her tongue, sweeping the inside of his mouth in an exploration long overdue. Each sensual stroke of her tongue made it increasingly more difficult to control himself, but he welcomed it nonetheless. Sakura broke the kiss by taking his bottom lip in between her teeth and tugging gently, and Sasuke groaned lightly at her boldness. Sakura, somewhat surprised at his reaction, looked directly into his eyes to discover a heavy lidded gaze with barely contained lust within those onyx depths. Sasuke took advantage of her moment of distraction to sweep down and place a trail of open mouthed kisses down the ivory skin of her neck, leaving dozens of love bites all the while as telltale signs of his presence. His hands roamed Sakura's body, caressing every mere centimeter and worshiping her in all her exotic beauty, and for the life of him Sasuke couldn't seem to remember why he had ever rejected her affections to begin with.

Pushing the thought to the back of his mind for the time being, Sasuke gripped the zipper of her vest and tugged it down slowly to give her plenty of time to back out... But she didn't. She did, however, shrug it off to provide further access, which surprised Sasuke once again though he wasn't complaining. He took the hem of his shirt in one hand and pulled it off over his head to reveal his lean, muscular body, the moonlight giving his alabaster skin an ethereal glow. The only thing separating them now were the bindings wrapped around Sakura's chest, which he made quick work of. Grabbing the kunai Sakura had used earlier to cut him, Sasuke sliced through the wrappings in a single, fluid movement with expert precision. The midnight air chilled Sakura's exposed skin, gooseflesh erupting as a result, but Sasuke's large, warm hands heated her up more than what was necessary to make up for it.

His exploration of her neck traveled down to her newly exposed chest where his tongue snaked out to savor her skin, which tasted slightly of sweat and arousal. Sakura gasped, equal parts pleasure and surprise, when Sasuke sunk his teeth into the tender flesh of her breast, tongue encircling her rosy nipple. An angry red mark was left behind as he continued downward with his quest. When her medic skirt and shorts hindered him, Sasuke's eyes flicked up to hers before his fingers curled over the edge of the clothing, slowly pulling it down inch by inch without breaking eye contact. Sakura whimpered in anticipation, his leisurely pace frustrating her, teasing her.

"Sasuke...!" She gasped, half pleading, half warning. Sasuke paused to smirk in amusement, raising an eye brow at her antics, and she blushed before covering her face with her hands in embarrassment. Sasuke pulled her hands away with a frown, holding hers in his own and giving them a comforting squeeze before looking her in the eye.

"Don't do that... I want to see." He murmured, his gaze softening. At the sight of Sakura feverish and lustful, face flushed and breaths in short pants while biting down on her lip gently, Sasuke felt an overwhelming desire to claim her... To make her his, once and for all. His matriarch, his Sakura. A come-hither look gleamed in his eyes and Sakura swallowed nervously at the predatory gaze, aroused at the very sight.

Sasuke resumed his quest down her body, pulling her skirt, shorts, and panties off in one fell swoop once they proved to be an obstacle. Her eyes widened in shock and she instinctively felt the need to cover herself but as she raised her hands to do just that, Sasuke growled at her in warning... Sakura stayed still. He kissed down her newly exposed body, completely disrobed and vulnerable before him, until he made his way down to the apex of her thighs where a patch of pink curls was waiting for him. Sakura looked down at him in confusion- what on earth was he doing?- when his less than innocent intentions finally dawned on her.

"Sasuke, wait-" She was cut off abruptly when his tongue flicked out of his mouth to taste her, lapping at her moistened folds which were damp with her arousal. Sakura gave a strangled cry that echoed throughout the night and Sasuke felt his pride as a male spike at the sound, his own arousal becoming evident. He made note of every move that made her gasp or shudder, preserving it to memory before repeating it. Sasuke had never before been this eager to please, but he felt he had something to prove... He had to show how much he cared for her, that his intentions and feelings were nothing if not genuine... And so here he was, his head between her thighs; not that he minded. Sakura tasted a tad bitter, he decided, but it was to his liking. He hated sweet things anyway.

The musky smell of sex tainted the night air and a wail of ecstasy heralded Sakura's climax, her body undergoing a series of sporadic tremors. Sasuke's hands traced the outside of her creamy thighs in a soothing manner as she came down from her high, her mind still clouded with the satisfied haze of post-orgasm. Sasuke settled back in his place hovering above her and looked into her eyes, which were still heavy with desire. He then proceeded to remove his trousers, releasing his hot, throbbing length before advancing. When Sakura felt his hardened member against her leg, tip glistening with fluid which smeared the inside of her thigh upon contact, she sat straight up in shock. She still had her doubts, and if they were going to take things any further then she needed answers.

"Wait, Sasuke... Stop." She said firmly in a tone that meant there was no room for argument. Sasuke watched her with slight confusion, cocking an eye brow at her in response. Sakura opened her mouth to speak then shut it again, speechless.

"What is it?" He asked patiently and Sakura sighed, her head down.

"Sasuke... How can I be your matriarch? Especially when you're out here, and I'm in Konoha. I can't leave Konoha, Sasuke, please don't make me choose..." She pleaded quietly on the brink of tears, not having the courage to meet his eyes. Sasuke was silent for a moment in contemplation before he spoke carefully.

"You don't have to leave Konoha, Sakura... I'll come for you." Sakura's eyes widened in surprise.

"You mean... You're coming back home, to Konoha...?" She asked, her voice wavering with unmasked hope. Sasuke looked into her eyes, her beautiful, viridian eyes, and spoke solemnly.

"Hai... I'll come back Konoha and accept whatever sentence I am given, if deemed appropriate. But on a few conditions." A grin spread across her face and she nodded enthusiastically, unperturbed despite whatever circumstances he spoke of.

"I still have some business to attend to before I come back. After training me for the last nine years, the time has come for Orochimaru to take me as his next vessel. I won't let him take me over... So I am going to kill him." Sakura looked alarmed at this point, but Sasuke continued uninterrupted.

"Once he's out of the way, I'm going to hunt down Itachi and avenge my clan once and for all..." He seethed, voice dripping with animosity at the very name of his elder brother. Soon, he promised himself. It wouldn't be long until he got his revenge, the fruit of his labors, thirteen years of plotting coming into fruition. The feeling of Sakura's hands on either side of his face brought him out of his hate-filled reverie and he looked down at the woman in his arms.

"I'll wait for you, Sasuke. I'll wait for your return, no matter how long it takes." She pulled him close and hugged him, the side of his face resting on her upper chest and her arms around his shoulders protectively. Sasuke's eyes widened and he stilled in surprise before slowly raising his arms to wrap around her waist in a tight embrace. He pulled away from her and cradled her face in his hands, their foreheads touching and his thumbs wiping away the few leaked tears, and for the first time that night... Sasuke smiled.

"Sakura... Arigatou." He told her once more, repeating the words from long ago. She beamed, eyes dancing with happiness, before pulling him down for a kiss, which he deepened. Sasuke's hands traced down her body, from her chest to her ribs, making leisurely circles around her navel, until he reached her sex. Sakura shuddered and sighed under his touch, his fingers sliding over her swollen button and entrance without actually penetrating.

"Sasuke..." She moaned his name lustfully, wanting their union to be delayed no longer. Sasuke once again pushed her down gently until she laid on the forest floor and he settled himself between her thighs, which quivered slightly in anticipation. He stroked her until she was practically dripping with need- it didn't take long, to say the least- and coated himself with her juices before plunging into her and filling her completely in one fluid motion. Sakura arched her back when he thrusted forward, fully sheathed inside her warmth, and he groaned at the tightness that gripped him. Sasuke began to rock his hips back and forth in a slow, measured pace that drove Sakura crazy.

"Faster, Sasuke... Harder...!" She begged breathlessly, wrapping her legs around his waist in an effort to gain some control and lifting her hips to meet each thrust he provided. As much as he would have liked to take his time, Sasuke knew he couldn't hold out for much longer; not with how she was effecting him, driving him to the edge so easily. There would always be time later, he reasoned, when he was finally free of the obligations and responsibilities that currently kept him away from her; it was all the more reason to defeat Orochimaru and Itachi as soon as possible, so he could finally go back home. Home... It was nice to finally have a place to call home, he decided. The rundown Oto hideouts they bounced around hardly came close to the word, the dirty holes he was forced to live in for nine years smothering him in disgust in comparison to the comfort of home.

Sakura's lascivious cries and the feeling of her clenching him deeply inside her, milking him for all he was worth, took him by surprise as he was sent toppling over the edge without warning. Sasuke stiffened and shouted his release into the reticent night through his gritted teeth, his voice echoing throughout the forest, and Sakura held onto him tightly, fingers digging into his shoulder blades. They panted as they clung to each other, catching their respective breaths. Sakura's sweat slicked body caused a chill to run down her spine from the night-time breeze that swept through the forest. Sasuke's raven locks stuck to the drops of perspiration that had beaded on his face as he panted from the intensity of pleasure he had just experienced.

After a few minutes Sasuke rolled off of her and laid on his back, pulling Sakura with him so she laid beside him. He stared up at the night sky, the moonlight still basking them in a pale, blue light, and observed the thousands of tiny, glittering stars above them. Sakura flipped over onto her stomach, her chin resting on her bent forearms which laid upon his chest, and stared at him in silence.

"Sasuke."

"Hn?" He grunted, eyes never straying from the scenery above.

"I love you." He was silent for a moment before he finally looked down at her with a hint of a smirk.

"I know." Sakura rolled her eyes but grinned nonetheless, resting her cheek upon his chest. She noticed something flash in her eyes, catching the light of the moon. Around his neck was a familiar thin black cord, and hanging from it was a small, red and white fan which she recognized as the Uchiha Clan symbol. Sakura reached out and traced her finger over it lightly, remembering how she had seen it once before in their genin days. Back then when she had asked about it Sasuke had coldly told her to mind her own business so she didn't dare ask now, but it seemed Sasuke had noticed where her mind had drifted.

"It was my mother's." He said quietly as he watched her. Sakura flinched in surprise and retracted her hand at once as to refrain from offending him, but Sasuke reached out and caught her hand in his own before placing them both over the pendant and, at the same time, over his heart. Sakura could feel the cool piece of metal under her hand as well as the warmth of Sasuke's chest, his steady pulse beating under her palm and soothing her. She suddenly began to feel very sleepy laying there with her head resting on Sasuke's chest; his other hand came up to pet her head, his face nuzzling in her roseate locks affectionately.

"Sakura."

"Hn?" She mumbled, knowing full well that was his trademark word. Sasuke looked down at her with a single raised eye brow in question at the gesture, and Sakura laughed quietly.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"You are my matriarch as of now. Though it is not yet on paper, there is no going back. When I return to Konoha we shall wed, making it official." He replied as if it were strictly business. Sakura felt her face heat up at the word 'wed' and grinned like the lovesick woman she was. Ino was going to throw a fit when she found out, but she also knew her best friend would help her plan every last detail of the ceremony.

"With that being the case," Sasuke continued, oblivious to her inner thoughts, "We will move into the Uchiha Manor when I return to Konoha." Sakura's eyes widened in shock, and she looked up at him sharply. Sasuke hadn't lived there since before the Uchiha Clan Massacre because of the terrible memories, and Sakura was appalled that he wanted to go there now. Despite the notion of moving back in his childhood home, Sasuke's face remained impassive as ever.

"...Are you sure?" She asked carefully, with his past in mind. He remained silent for a moment, lost in thought over the same ordeal Sakura was concerned with, before he spoke once more.

"The ghosts of my past will not hinder my goal. The Uchiha Clan will be restored in its rightful place, in the Uchiha Manor. And one day, the whole Uchiha Compound will flourish as it once did." He stated finally with resolve, masking his emotions out of habit. Sakura smiled back up at him comfortingly, knowing full well the gravity of the situation and how much it meant to him. As soon as she got back to Konoha, Sakura decided, she would break her back cleaning it inside and out, fixing it up like new after being deserted for so many years, for Sasuke's return so he could start his life anew. Start their life, anew. Sakura began to fall asleep to the rises and falls of his chest with each breath he took and his steady heart beat, a small smile on her face.

Sasuke looked down at the dormant woman in his arms and thought of things from long past. She had been annoying when they were children, there was no denying that. Her materialistic views that overshadowed being a ninja had secretly infuriated him, and her clingy nature bothered him to no end... But when things started to look dismal, she had been there for him. She had been there to bring him back from the darkness in the Forest of Death, she had been there to hold him in the hospital after the chuunin exams, she had been there when he had left Konoha... Sakura had always been there for him when he most needed someone, despite the fact that he remained aloof and didn't ask for her help.

She had grown and matured in the past nine years for the better, in both body and mind. She still kept her hair short and choppy- he approved of the fact that she was now taking her duties as a ninja over something as trivial as hair- but he found that it suited her more. She was no longer that clingy, lovesick girl any longer; in fact, he remembered quite distinctly that she had tried to kill him at one point a few years back. She had failed, she had hesitated at the last second because she still loved him, but it was great progress...

And then he began to dream about her, the woman who could shatter the earth beneath her feet with a single punch and heal nearly every manner of wound imaginable, being the most talented medic second to only the Hokage herself. Her violent, destructive nature balanced with her compassionate, nurturing disposition. That strong, self reliant woman had plagued his mind like a mental illness for years, at first making him despise her even more... But somewhere along the line hatred had turned into love, and here they were nine years later.

Sasuke sighed quietly and pushed Sakura off of him reluctantly before searching for his discarded clothing. He pulled his pants on and kept his eye on the sleeping woman who was wrapped up in a blanket, a content look on her face, as if she could disappear at any moment if he wasn't careful enough. The only time his gaze wandered from her was when Sasuke pulled his shirt over his head, Uchiha Clan symbol emblazoning the back, when it blocked his vision. He was about to tuck the necklace under the hem when another idea struck him. He looked down at the pendant, hesitantly contemplating, before he unclasped it from behind his neck. Crouching down to Sakura once more, he gently placed the necklace in her hand.

"Bear me a child, Sakura..." He whispered before lightly kissing her forehead; she didn't stir, the small smile on her face not faltering for even a single moment, and then he left just as silently as he had arrived.

Day break came all too soon for the pink haired woman resting in the forest. First light stretched out from the horizon to bask her in shades of peach and amber, contrasting greatly with the natural shades of sage and sienna in the woodland. The dawn sky was cyan, the light blue a silent promise of a clear, cloudless day. It was the heat from the rays of the sun that woke her, tingling her exposed skin with a light breeze. Sakura stretched out her limbs, stiff from sleep, and slowly realized she was the only one in that clearing. She sat up, clinging the blanket to the front of her nude body, and reached out with her chakra in search of another signature... But there was none, save for various forest animals, meaning she was completely alone. Sasuke had left her... But he would be back.

It was then that she noticed something was out of place- or rather, something was in place that wasn't before. Sakura looked down at the warm piece of metal in her hand, holding it in the light to see it better. Upon further inspection Sakura realized the object for what it was; a familiar thin black cord, hanging from it a small, red and white fan which she recognized as the Uchiha Clan symbol. It was my mother's... Sasuke's voice entered her mind from the previous night. Sakura smiled wistfully to herself, missing him already. Arigatou... Sasuke.

A/N: Hello, all, thanks for reading my newest story! I have high hopes for this story and already have over 13,000 words written so far, though I just only uploaded the first chapter. This is my first SasuSaku, as I'm going through a phase right now. Originally this was going to be a one-shot but it seemed to grow overnight into a chapter story, as all my one-shots seem to do (Falling Inside The Black and Kenbosho included). =_= Again, thanks for reviewing, following, favoriting, and just taking the time of day to read this. It means a lot to me! x3 Until next chapter (which won't be long), sayonara! ;3

Japanese vocabulary:

Hai: yes

Arigatou: thank you